Before There Were Bars

The third anthology by the students of POPStheclub.com, Inc, a California-based nonprofit. POPStheclub.com, Inc. creates and supports clubs for high school students in California and beyond who have endured the pain of the prison system. For the most part these are the children, siblings and other loved ones of those who are or have been incarcerated. Too often any association with the criminal justice system leads people to silence. In POPS the Club, students find not only community, understanding and wisdom, but they discover that In telling their stories, they are able to untangle the web composed of stigma, sorrow and shame associated with incarceration, and they also inspire others to understand experiences and worlds too often hidden from our view. Their stories and artwork speaks to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, to all those who wonder what it would be like not to hide. Their honesty, clarity of vision, resilience and courage will inspire.