About
Shining in the Shadows is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization initiated by incarcerated people and devoted supporters of the incarcerated community. Creative art programs are the driving forces of transformative change in the CDOC making Colorado prisons safer and therefore the community of Colorado safer. When incarcerated people return to society with specific skills/training that they acquire in prison; their re-entry is more stable, they have more favorable chances of gaining employment, and continuing a career path that supports a better quality of life worth living.
​
We celebrate the contributions of all featured artists and don’t believe it’s honoring to have them defined by the worst actions of their lives. However, we do express our deepest concern and care for the victims and their families. We don’t minimize any actions committed that caused harm to them, or how they’ve been affected. With our sincerest regards, We pray for true restoration and healing.
​
​​
Our
Story
Denver Arts & Venues | City and County of Denver
Shining In The Shadows Inc, was funded by the City and County of Denver Music Advancement Fund.
​
2021-2022
​
This year, we received over 50 dynamic and impactful proposals from individuals, businesses and organizations across Denver proposing music-centric projects to acknowledge the vital role music plays as an agent for economic vibrancy, education, community innovations and positive social change. After reviewing each proposal thoroughly, we are excited to inform you that your proposal will be funded for this round! We sincerely enjoyed reading through your concept and applaud the strong commitment to imagining the role music plays in our community.
​​​
2022-2023
​
This year, we received nearly 150 dynamic and impactful proposals from individuals, businesses and organizations across Denver proposing music-centric projects to acknowledge the vital role music plays as an agent for economic vibrancy, education, community innovations and positive social change. After reviewing each proposal thoroughly, we are excited to inform you that your proposal will be funded this year. We sincerely enjoyed reading through your concept and applaud the strong commitment to imagining the role music plays in our community. We look forward to hearing more about how the funds can make an impact through this program and in our community.​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
"We believe in opportunities to create space for infinite possibilities."
Our Mission
Our mission is to positively innovate the exposure of art and music produced by incarcerated people. We seek to restore effective community relations through formative contributions of the incarcerated.
Our Values
Integrity, Diversity, Community, and Creative Synergy are values indicative of the artists and musicians featured by SITS. Being true to your most authentic self, embracing the uniqueness in difference, and creating community through art and music is what we’re
all about.
Our Vision
Incarcerated people making the world a better place through the impact of their art and music.
Art and music production is being produced in a mode that’s unprecedented. This enables incarcerated people to gain industrial skills relevant to the art and music industry. They can use these skills for future career opportunities, further education, and resources/public connectedness.
Public connectedness is a significant component in transformative justice concerning incarcerated people for two reasons;
1) It allows the public to participate in the intervention
of incarcerated people making meaningful contributions to the community through the impact of their art and music.
2) It provides an opportunity for incarcerated people to express humanity in a way that reduces idleness, improves vocational relationships between inmates and staff as well as the communities they remain connected to.
THEORY OF CHANGE
Shining in the Shadows is the initiative of incarcerated people effecting change from the shadows of confinement. As it concerns the incarcerated, we believe that change is sustained through the willful devotion to serve others and initiate meaningful contributions to the community from the inside-out. We believe that productivity of incarcerated people is at the heart of transformative justice.
If incarcerated people have a platform devoted to improving community relations, then he or she can effectively initiate meaningful contributions
to society through collaborative projects inspired by their trials, tribulations, and journey of change.