K.A.G.E. Universal Headquarters - A Safe Space for ‘Artivists’
Through arts and culture, KAGE Universal advocates for freedom, justice and equality. Now, more than ever, we need to breach the walls that polarize people - economically, socially, culturally, racially, religiously, geographically and otherwise. KAGE Universal works to ignite cohesion and action amongst organizations and individual activists and artists, and to promote the concept of the Artivist.
One of the driving forces that keeps KAGE Universal ignited is the “Agreement To End Hostilities” - a political document drafted by the organizers of the California Prisoner Hunger Strikes of 2011 and 2013, calling on prisoners throughout the state to use diplomatic means to settle their disputes. Like KAGE, The Agreement to End Hostilities recognizes solidarity as a powerful act of resistance and a necessity in any successful struggle for change.
All KAGE programs aim to empower artivists on both sides of the prison walls through the building of bridges and partnerships, and by supporting ideas, programs and projects of incarcerated Artivists. KAGE Universal promotes and facilitates legal and civic action and peaceful resistance to injustice. KAGE initiatives and projects include media publications, mentorship programs, direct actions, and the development of the KAGE Universal ‘Artivist’ House.
“We see the work we hope to do together as a homecoming, a connection between inside and out that is forged through engagement, proximity, solidarity and a promise of accountability on both sides of the prison walls.” Min. King X, Founder of KAGE Universal
‘Peace is the new cool’
Los Angeles Prisoner Artist, Donald "C-Note" Hooker is a poet, playwright, performing artist, award winning visual artist, and is known as the King of Prison Hip Hop. His works have either been exhibited, performed, recited, or sold, from Alcatraz to Berlin.
Larry Hoover is one of our longest held political prisoners. Having been held captive 50 years, the last 28 of which have been spent in Amerikkka’s most secure prison, ADX (Flomax) in Colorado. LIBERATE OUR ELDERS!
Art by Robert Thomas #985408
13th Forward is a legislative coalition of advocates, grassroots organizations, and impacted people working to end exploitation and brutality within our prison labor system.
Art by Robert Thomas #985408
Artivist in Action: Using Art and Activism to Build Solidarity Behind the Walls
In this workshop, ArtivistKadre lead facilitator, Minister King X Pyeface, will demonstrate "Artivist in Action" using various art mediums to create campaigns and plans of action to uplift voices and build solidarity with Komrades behind the walls and within impacted communities. This workshop will feature various examples and uses cases, along with hearing from ArtivistKadre Members from inside California prisons.
Minister King X Pyeface, of K.A.G.E. Universal, was born, and is from Oakland, CA. He is a rapper, producer and "Artivist," who spent six years in federal prison and eighteen years in California state prison, where he was the youngest New Afrikan organizer during the 2011-2013 California Prisoners' Hunger Strike. Minister King X Pyeface is the Director of California Prison Focus and co-organizer of Community Artivist Read Book Club. Minister King X Pyeface's mission is to free New Afrikan elders, political prisoners and organizers of the California Prisoners' Hunger Strike through support of the Agreements to End Hostilities, and as lead organizer for the campaign Liberate Our Elders.
The Vision: Chairman Kwame Shakur’s vision for the Program of Decolonization and children participating in the New Afrikan Academy.
Art by Robert Thomas #985408