The Prison Story Project is sad to say that Matt passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, March 17, 2022. He was a dear friend, mentor, father, husband, poet, and teacher. The Prison Story Project takes consolation in his deep love of sharing his experience, strenghth, and hope he passed on to the incarcerated women and men he served.

Matt wrote this to those he served:

I’ve seen incarcerated men and women share their stories and feel a weight lifted while also giving their experiences and ideas back to society. Those of us involved with the Prison Story Project don’t see any difference between you and us, just the prison walls. Regardless of our pasts or your pasts and regardless of those walls, we can meet in the space words create and share stories and ideas. We bring our story-telling-know-how to you and bring your visions of the world back to us.

The fact that your stories have not been told, that the only expression of your life other people hear is silence, builds a wall of silence which we hope to transform with your words. Maybe your stories can help steer one young person on a different path, or maybe your vision of the world can convince one judgmental person to view other people a little more mercifully. Honestly, we don’t know what will happen. As writers, we take the first giant step and agree to make something together.