Episode 13: Creativity as a Foundation of Resilience with Cyrus Gray III
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This episode, featuring Cyrus Gray III, demonstrates how creativity can support resilience, even under extremely difficult circumstances. In Episode 11, I talked with Dylan Hayre about the creativity in his criminal justice reform work. In this episode, we hear about the criminal justice system from the perspective of someone who found himself behind bars for nearly five years, four of those awaiting trial for murder, all the while maintaining his innocence.
This episode is very personal to me, as you’ll hear. I served as a juror on Cyrus’ trial, which gave me a troubling window into the criminal justice system in Texas. It ended in a mistrial after the jury could not come to a decision. His case has now been dismissed.
Our conversation focuses on Cyrus’ story and his efforts to navigate the criminal justice system, advocate for himself and others, and ultimately win his release. He embraced the power of community to foster positive changes to the system. I see this as a fundamentally creative act.
Credits: The Syncreate podcast is created and hosted by Melinda Rothouse, and produced by Christian Haigis with assistance from Michael Osborne in Austin, Texas. Creative development and video production by Shuja Uddin and Devon Foster at Tishna Films. Artwork by Dreux Carpenter.
If you enjoy this episode, you might also like our conversations in Episode 11: Leadership, Values, and Criminal Justice Reform with Attorney Dylan Hayre and Episode 12: Creativity, Inclusivity and Community Theater with Sharanya Rao.
Episode-specific hyperlinks:
Article: “Pre-Trial Injustice” by Cyrus Gray with Matthew Clair
Article: “Criminal Injustice: A View from the Juror’s Box” by Melinda Rothouse
Book: Privilege and Punishment: How Race and Class Matter in Criminal Court by Matthew Clair
Article: “Five Years, and Counting, Without Trial” by Brittany Kelley
Article: “Hays County Sets Trial Date for Man Stuck in Jail for Five Years” by Brant Bingamon
Free Devonte Amerson Linktree with Additional Links & Information
Mano Amiga - Criminal Justice Reform Organization in San Marcos, Texas
Show / permanent hyperlinks:
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