Inside-Out Alliance of Kansas, Inc.
From My Heart to the Youth of America
by Kevin Risby
Thank you for reaching out to me, giving me an opportunity to share my story of incarceration. From my heart to the youth. I thought at a young age I was supposed to be the most violent, vicious hardcore person to gain respect from other people, not knowing I was setting myself up for failure. I would like to give advice to the youth and explain to them gang life, life of crime (always) catches up to you, being you means more than selling drugs, having a gun, or just staying in the streets. The life of crime always wins, and by winning, I mean locked up forever or death, there's no rules or loyalty in this game, trust me the people you are hanging out with will turn on you in a minute. The prison system is full of people that was thinking like you right now. Your freedom & life means more then respect or money, if it doesn't you will be right here or dead and those are the hardcore facts to this life of crime and gang life. I’ve been in prison for 24 years there's nothing cool about that for real, It’s sad but if I can change one kid to not follow the life of crime or gangs then I’m happy about that. Trust your gut trust your family, trust your heart. I was where your at right now, hard headed not listening, being grown, not knowing I was setting myself up for failure. It’s hard telling someone what to do with their life and how to live it but trust me when I say this (All bad things must come to an end) there's only 2 options prison or death, pick one. Don't hesitate to change your life for the greater good and become more than the streets. Don’t hesitate to say no, I’m good. Don't hesitate to use your mind. Don't hesitate to choose a better path. Because the Judge won't hesitate to give you life without parole, or the next man won't hesitate to kill you. Respect your fellow man and community, embrace change, love life because there's no do-overs. Being a man who holds yourself to the highest standards than the next man will prepare you for life experiences. All I ask you to do is be better than the men and women behind these bars. Thank you for reading, I hope this letter changed someone
