Originally published in the Winter/Spring 2023 edition of the Virginia Defender, issue 71, printed March 22. Reproduced here for accessibility and archival purposes. To find other stories in the Winter/Spring 2023 issue or to download the full PDF, see this post. For other issues dating back to 2012, see the Full Issues page.

My name is Cavonza Teasley. I’m currently residing at Lunnenburg Correctional Center in Virginia.

I’m an activist, mentor and public speaker from inside these walls, because I understand that practice motivates success.

My purpose is to continue to help others fight for justice and rehabilitate themselves from recidivism. This is why I’m trying to start a nonprofit organization that will allow me the opportunity to prevent the youth from coming to prison and to save lives after prison.

The name is called S.P.O.C., which stands for Serving & Protecting Our Communities.

My mission is: To build support groups inside our communities so that the youth and law enforcement can converse their issues on common ground in order to lesson neighborhood tension and prevent juvenile delinquency.

My Vision is: To lesson the burden of the government by building community centers or learning centers to provide a safe & healing environment for our community and police with any service that’s needed to prevent crime and gun violence.

S.P.O.C was created when I decided to reform myself from living this so-called thug way of life to becoming a productive citizen. I had to learn the value of Fatherhood, which means to protect my home and my community.

Therefore, my goal is to “reverse” the negative way we see COPS, so that we All can come together and S.P.O.C (Serve & Protect Our Communities)!

If there’s anyone who wants to support this cause, please contact me so that this idea can become a reality. Thank You!

From your brother in the struggle!

Cavonza Teasley #1129038

LUNENBURG CORR. CENTER