We were lucky to catch up with Hugo Gonzalez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hugo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

The Success Stories curriculum is a meaningful project that I Co created. It s focus is on how toxic masculinity and patriarchy play a vital role in decision-making. The curriculum recognizes the need to address these societal issues and aims to empower individuals to make better decisions and prioritize their lives. CNN filmed a documentary, “The Feminist On Cellblock Y”, in 2018. https://images.app.goo.gl/gCt2QsWmG5wEcgkn6

Developed while serving triple life in prison, the curriculum is designed as a 12-week program that initiates a trajectory of deep self-enquiry

One key component of the curriculum is understanding a healthy version of success. By challenging conventional notions of success and encouraging participants to define their own, the curriculum allows for a more authentic and fulfilling pursuit of goals.

Another significant focus of the curriculum is the difference between a victim mentality and taking personal responsibility. By shedding light on the dynamics of power and oppression, participants are encouraged to examine their own role in their lives and take ownership of their actions.

The curriculum also emphasizes vision and goal setting, providing participants with the tools to create a clear path for personal and professional growth. By mapping out their aspirations and breaking them down into achievable steps, individuals can make progress towards a more meaningful and purposeful life.

Overall, the Success Stories curriculum is a remarkable achievement, born out of adversity and a commitment to personal growth. By addressing toxic masculinity and patriarchy, it aims to empower individuals to make better decisions and prioritize their lives. Through deep self-enquiry, understanding of success, personal responsibility, and vision-setting, participants can embark on a journey towards positive change and personal growth.

In addition to our focus on personal growth and empowering individuals, the Success Stories curriculum strives for it to play a vital role in providing alternatives to punitive punishment. By offering real avenues for accountability, the curriculum promotes restorative justice principles. It recognizes that traditional punitive measures often fail to address the root causes of harm and inhibit genuine growth and transformation. By offering a space for individuals who have caused harm to reflect, learn, and take responsibility for their actions, the curriculum provides a meaningful path toward accountability and healing.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Overall, the Success Stories curriculum is a remarkable achievement, born out of adversity and a commitment to personal growth. By addressing toxic masculinity and patriarchy, it aims to empower individuals to make better decisions and prioritize their lives. Through deep self-enquiry, understanding of success, personal responsibility, and vision-setting, participants can embark on a journey towards positive change and personal growth.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our focus is on personal growth and empowering individuals, the Success Stories curriculum plays a vital role in providing alternatives to punitive punishment. By offering real avenues for accountability, the curriculum promotes abolitionist principles. It recognizes that traditional punitive measures often fail to address the root causes of harm and inhibit genuine growth and transformation. By offering a space for individuals who have caused harm to reflect, learn, and take responsibility for their actions, the curriculum provides a meaningful path toward accountability and healing. Thousands of participants have graduated from Success Stories, many of them were sentenced to life and now live in the free world thriving and representing their community in a positive way.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

For a very long time I never thought that I would ever see the free world again. Arrested as a 16-year-old, charged and then sentenced to prison as an adult left me with no hope for the future. The governor at that time stated that no lifer would ever leave prison other than in a pine box. Somehow someway I held onto whatever hope I did have and kept moving forward with the goals of being a better person, not only for myself, but for all those around me, even if it meant, never getting out of prison. I took every lesson learned to heart and now I’m able to do this for a living, speaking from the heart was once considered a weakness, and I now recognize it as a strength.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.successstoriesprogram.org/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/hugogonzalez173?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/Nw9y928G5go?si=D75seF6TyYEZ7Agh