So much extraordinary talent lies hidden behind prison walls, and singer-songwriter Charles Mason Monroe is a perfect example. Who I am is unimportant.What is now more important than ever in the history of this human race: love over hatred, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance.It is vital that those who wish good for the world become unrelenting as examples of this world we wish to help create, that it may be made manifest before us. Battle with yourselves that you may make way for the birth of your higher form. Love thy neighbor, thyself, and thy enemy all the same, and remember that beyond the illusion of division, all are one under God. Finally, know that God is and lies within the innermost parts of man. May the light of Immanuel be with you all. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Listen to how Lamonte Grady turned himself around while at a pit stop in prison. I am a . . . parent, thinker, hard worker, positive person, connector, potential employer.I’m passionate about . . . educating the youth; mentoring young men and at-risk kids.I grew up in a single-parent household with three brothers and one sister. My oldest brother was paralyzed since the age of five. I thought I had to be the provider and protector of the family, so I quickly grew up and jumped headfirst into the streets. Once I got older and gained a greater understanding of life, I realized I made a lot of horrible decisions. I now dedicate all my time and energy to figuring out ways to connect with the youth. I want to help rebuild and bring together the same community I was helping to tear apart. Hope and belief are all you need to make change. I believe in myself and every person in this world. When we stop thinking selfishly and start thinking on a collective level, great things will happen. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

A truly gifted and lyrical poet, Shawn Chick takes us on a journey through heartbreaking tragedy but ultimately towards redemption. I am a…quick learner, lover of pizza, always on the lookout for the next opportunity for jokes.Shawn is from Enid, Oklahoma. He found himself in prison at 17 after a brief layover in Patrick County, Virginia. His mom will tell you he’s 45, but he prefers his age in dog years, which is 6. He is a self-taught, award-winning artist, a writer, and -- apparently – a public speaker. He is a kid at heart and has an affinity for music, movies, coffee, and Saturday morning cartoons. He considers himself privileged to have trained and bonded with dozens of rescue dogs inside prison as well as out, and he loves that work. Having taken full advantage of prison libraries, Shawn has read thousands of books and considers himself a literary critic/book nerd. He continues at every opportunity to honor the memory of his sister, Shelly Vessell Gravely, and he dedicates his TEDx presentation to her and his family. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

As a young child, James Steele wanted to be a policeman, but by 16 he was incarcerated. Listen to his story. An idea worth spreading…Everyone serving a life sentence should live and prepare as if they’re going home tomorrow.James A. Steele, having bypassed his youth and been certified as an adult by the courts, was then reborn in prison and raised by books and treatment programs. Thirty-three years into a life sentence, Steele has become a role model. He barely knew how to read and write and is now a published author of non-fiction. He is also an accomplished artist whose work has been featured on the BET network. He is ambitious and passionate about helping others. He aspires to one day have various platforms to demonstrate possibilities by modeling the way he gave himself a chance to become the person he was meant to be and no longer what the streets demanded. He hopes one day to break toxic youth subcultures by equipping young people with useful tools so they can discover their true potential. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Ben Davenport volunteered in prison with his church group, and it changed his life. Listen to his story. Ben J. Davenport, Jr., is the Chairman and CEO of First Piedmont Corporation, a regional waste management and disposal company.Ben is a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research and Go Va. He also serves and chairs the Board of the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education and serves on the boards of Hargrave Military Academy and the Future of the Piedmont. Ben is a former Virginia Tech Rector and former Virginia Game Commission chair.He and his wife, Betty, are natives of Chatham, VA, and members of Chatham Baptist Church. Ben graduated from Hargrave Military Academy and Virginia Tech and served in the US Coast Guard. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Jeremiah's journey from justice offender to justice defender has been nothing short of miraculous. Prepare to be inspired. Coming from a broken family, Jeremiah turned to the streets for love and joined a gang at 13. He did not have an education or job skills before entering prison at 19. Jeremiah lost all his closest friends and a younger brother to gun violence, so he decided to denounce his former lifestyle and now uses his influence to reform criminal organizations from the inside out.A social justice visionary who advocates ways to build redemptive and equitable prison reform policies that bridge the gap from corrections to community, Jeremiah believes in restorative justice as a path to greater public safety. He has been developing a gang-intervention module called EMBODY, for which he is seeking accreditation and implementation in the VA DOC to mitigate gang violence through public safety awareness, treatment, and education/job provision. While incarcerated, Jeremiah has earned a GED; plumbing, masonry, and culinary trade skills; a biblical seminary degree; and paralegal certification. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx