PHILADELPHIA - A formerly incarcerated Philadelphia man won a Pulitzer Prize Award for his work co-hosting a podcast about reentering society after decades behind bars.Luis "Suave" Gonzalez was jailed as a teen and spent over 30-years in the prison system.
He was released from custody in 2017 and has spent his new lease on life working hard to give back and make his own way. Suave is a self-taught artist with work displayed and sold at Morton Contemporary Gallery in Center City.
He launched the Mural Arts Restorative Justice Program while incarcerated in Graterford Prison. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Suave created a ‘Heroes of the Day’ exhibit that honored 100 essential workers.
And every Christmas Suave provides a shopping spree for families impacted by gun violence. "I was given a second chance for a reason," Suave said. "So every good that I do goes toward that you made the right decision in letting the right person out of prison."Suave isn't trying to forget his life behind bars, instead he's sharing his experience as a way to advocate for formerly incarcerated people who reenter society.