8 Questions with New York City’s Big Personality: Robert Galinsky
Not everyone wants to go to prison, but you sought it out… Why do you do you want to go to jail? I am tired of the bystander mentality that our culture is comfortable with. I am finished with watching, commenting, and then carrying on as if I can’t have an effect on the world’s condition. I was put on this earth to participate wholly and I believe everybody was put on this earth to participate wholly and to not simply “share,” “comment,” and “like.” Sharing, commenting and liking are good only if they are attached to doing, so I love going as close to the heart of the problems I see and I try my best to bring hope and knowledge to that space. And this doesn't mean I have to go to the other side of the globe. There are solvable problems and headaches right at my doorstep and just down the street that need resources and help… and I'm here for that.
What is the most compelling aspect of working in jails and prisons with youth? Watching the faces of young people as they discover new things about their character through the information we exchange and the experiences we have together in that dismal environment. “Confined But Not Defined” is a lesson plan I have developed and it explores role models, mentors and the qualities of those role models and mentors. Once these kids recognize that they actually already have the same qualities as their sports heroes, famous celebrities and their teachers, it’s a whole new world of empowerment for them and that is the most compelling aspect because now we can fly!
What is the most compelling aspect of working in jails and prisons with youth? Watching the faces of young people as they discover new things about their character through the information we exchange and the experiences we have together in that dismal environment. “Confined But Not Defined” is a lesson plan I have developed and it explores role models, mentors and the qualities of those role models and mentors. Once these kids recognize that they actually already have the same qualities as their sports heroes, famous celebrities and their teachers, it’s a whole new world of empowerment for them and that is the most compelling aspect because now we can fly!
Speaking of role models and mentors, who are some of yours? My role models include: my father Saul S. Galinsky, my mother Jeanne C. Galinsky, my peace spreading and creative colleagues Dr. Jeni Stepanik, Nile Rodgers, Monica Watkins, Jamal Joseph, Amy Seham, Deep Singh, the Honorable Judge Bruce “Turn ‘em Loose Bruce” Wright, Mark Schoenfeld, Josh Harris, Terry Schnuck, William Kunstler and finally one of the greatest leaders in the past 100 years, Malcolm X. Google any name that you don’t know and see what they do, they are wildly impressive people who care about our humanity.
How does the work you do with incarcerated youth connect to your New York Reality TV School? It doesn't matter if you're a prisoner, a politician, the president of a company, or a reality wanna be… everybody has a message they want to tell the world and my work is based on getting clarity on the message and then delivering that message in the most effective way possible. When in prison or jail, we work with what I call a “Studio Mindset.” In the studio the artist strips away all distractions and goes to work. In the kitchen, the chef does the same. In the auto shop the mechanic does the same. In the laboratory the scientist does the same. So in prison, all distractions (mobile phone, TV, Internet, family, friends, drugs, booze, good influences and bad influences) are stripped away. What are we then left with? What we are left with is just our character and what we want to convey to the world. So in the workshops we work on questions like: Who are you? What do you have to say to the world? How best we can develop and communicate that so that you can spread your power, and be in your power? The “Studio Mindset” is a key to answering those questions, identifying and achieving goals.
How does the work you do with incarcerated youth connect to your New York Reality TV School? It doesn't matter if you're a prisoner, a politician, the president of a company, or a reality wanna be… everybody has a message they want to tell the world and my work is based on getting clarity on the message and then delivering that message in the most effective way possible. When in prison or jail, we work with what I call a “Studio Mindset.” In the studio the artist strips away all distractions and goes to work. In the kitchen, the chef does the same. In the auto shop the mechanic does the same. In the laboratory the scientist does the same. So in prison, all distractions (mobile phone, TV, Internet, family, friends, drugs, booze, good influences and bad influences) are stripped away. What are we then left with? What we are left with is just our character and what we want to convey to the world. So in the workshops we work on questions like: Who are you? What do you have to say to the world? How best we can develop and communicate that so that you can spread your power, and be in your power? The “Studio Mindset” is a key to answering those questions, identifying and achieving goals.
What do you see the biggest reasons are, that our youth find themselves incarcerated? It would seem the obvious answer is poor decision making and that is true, but when I look deeper, I see these bad decisions stem specifically from abusive upbringings in the home and in the communities. 95% of the boys and girls I work with have been abused by a family member or a friend, right in their own homes, and that creates zero trust and zero self esteem. So imagine making decisions from that low, low view of yourself. The very space that is meant to be a sanctuary, home, is actually the least safe place to be. And then when the kids step out of their homes there are a whole new series of very specific factors working against them: stop and frisk, racial profiling, underfunded schools, neighborhood crime/disfunction often informed by popular media and entertainment. It’s a lot for a teen to contend with.
Tell us about it the fundraiser you’ve planned for August 12.It’s the party of the summer! Come dance to three different DJs: Andy Rourke from The Smiths, Hank Shocklee from Public Enemy and rising star DJ CherishTheLuv. Come eat and drink your face off with food and drink generously provided by: Two Boots Pizza, Local Roots, Ovenly, Anna Mae’s Cheesecakes, Nuchas, Josh Wines, Caffe Unimatic, and Peroni Beer. Come bid on our live auction: two tickets and a meet and greet with Trevor Noah of the Daily Show, specially curated items from East Village Vintage Collective, original artwork created by incarcerated teens, a Caffe Unimatic Coffee pot and more. Come and hear: IMPACT Repertory Theater, Kwame Binea Shakedown, poet Liza Jessie Peterson, singer Caroline Burns, award winning actor Roger Guenveur Smith and surprise guests. Lastly come to have fun with an incredibly diverse ‘audience’ of people in the business of changing the world for the better.
What is the fundraising goal for Literacy for Incarcerated Teens and Galinsky Coaching? Our goal is to raise 50 thousand dollars so that in the next year we can: go to more prisons/jails throughout NYC, build stronger relationships with the prisons/jails we already are in, train more teachers to do the work, continue to bring special guests in, continue to build and maintain libraries in these facilities, develop more and more interesting and evergreen curriculum, and to purchase iPads, tablets and other equipment to bring into the prisons and jails in order change the lives of students so they become better people and in turn, make the world better too!
You’ve performed and have been involved in shows and events Off-Broadway, in ballrooms, clubs, cafes and arenas from New York, to London, to India and now you’ve done a show at the infamous Rikers Island Jail. What was that like? To be honest, it vacillated between surreal and absolutely normal. I produced a first of it’s kind show for over 150 women at Rikers in March of this year and it was an absolute knock out. Primarily because of the people I brought in with me to speak and perform. The great Libby Moore (Oprah Winfrey’s former chief of staff) wowed the women with her life lessons and confessions, DJ CherishTheLuv laid down incredible grooves throughout, my student poets expressed their inner pain and joy through poetry, and Harlem rock star Kwame Binea and his band got everyone on their feet grooving to his original tracks as well as some classics. This was an unprecedented concert experience that had everyone laughing, crying and rejoicing with hope for each person. Much like I would want at any show in any venue.
Any final thoughts you want to share? If you haven’t bought your ticket to the august 12th fundraiser, get them now as we’re close to sold out and please go to our online auction and bid, or donate on an item (see links below for both). Also I want to thank the team at Literacy for Incarcerated Teens for their trust and belief, Ed Bennett of Bennett Media Studio for his generosity, Barella Shakoor Kirkland for her curation skills and Francesca Ely-Spence for her dedication and hard work producing the auction and event with me.
Event Link- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galinskylit-fundraiser-tickets-26253511961
Online Auction Link- https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/galinsky-coaching-lit-597
What is the fundraising goal for Literacy for Incarcerated Teens and Galinsky Coaching? Our goal is to raise 50 thousand dollars so that in the next year we can: go to more prisons/jails throughout NYC, build stronger relationships with the prisons/jails we already are in, train more teachers to do the work, continue to bring special guests in, continue to build and maintain libraries in these facilities, develop more and more interesting and evergreen curriculum, and to purchase iPads, tablets and other equipment to bring into the prisons and jails in order change the lives of students so they become better people and in turn, make the world better too!
You’ve performed and have been involved in shows and events Off-Broadway, in ballrooms, clubs, cafes and arenas from New York, to London, to India and now you’ve done a show at the infamous Rikers Island Jail. What was that like? To be honest, it vacillated between surreal and absolutely normal. I produced a first of it’s kind show for over 150 women at Rikers in March of this year and it was an absolute knock out. Primarily because of the people I brought in with me to speak and perform. The great Libby Moore (Oprah Winfrey’s former chief of staff) wowed the women with her life lessons and confessions, DJ CherishTheLuv laid down incredible grooves throughout, my student poets expressed their inner pain and joy through poetry, and Harlem rock star Kwame Binea and his band got everyone on their feet grooving to his original tracks as well as some classics. This was an unprecedented concert experience that had everyone laughing, crying and rejoicing with hope for each person. Much like I would want at any show in any venue.
Any final thoughts you want to share? If you haven’t bought your ticket to the august 12th fundraiser, get them now as we’re close to sold out and please go to our online auction and bid, or donate on an item (see links below for both). Also I want to thank the team at Literacy for Incarcerated Teens for their trust and belief, Ed Bennett of Bennett Media Studio for his generosity, Barella Shakoor Kirkland for her curation skills and Francesca Ely-Spence for her dedication and hard work producing the auction and event with me.
Event Link- https://www.eventbrite.com/e/galinskylit-fundraiser-tickets-26253511961
Online Auction Link- https://www.charityauctionstoday.com/auctions/galinsky-coaching-lit-597
