Community Support For Troy's College Materials

Hi! We’re raising funds to support Troy's purchase of a new computer for his online college courses. He completed his GED and began his college education while incarcerated and is now continuing that education after serving for nearly 30 years. Let’s generously move communal support so that Troy can thrive!

Troy Spann, originally from South Central Los Angeles, currently works for Urban Alchemy, supporting the unhoused community in Hollywood. His work in the world is redemption, healing, and re-humanization. Troy was incarcerated at 16 and given a sentence of Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) and was caught in the school-to-prison pipeline.

While incarcerated, Troy worked on himself around personal accountability, healing from trauma, feeling remorse, doing repair, his own spirituality and self-respect. As he matured, he started wanting more out of life than just merely existing and doing time. He became connected with Human Rights Watch, various campaigns, projects, educational opportunities, mentorship and leadership roles and was ultimately re-sentenced and released in late August 2021 after serving nearly 30 years. Troy feels a deep gratitude, inspiration and comradeship towards the largely Jewish individuals and institutions that showed up to support him through this process. He is allowing himself to dream big about his own future while wanting to give back to the community and be part of real systemic positive social change. In his free time Troy gets together with friends, visits the different areas and sights in LA, and goes on hikes. Troy is living his life.

From Troy:

Hi everyone! This is an update from me, Troy Spann.

Top of the day, I voted for the first time! It’s exciting to be able to let my vote make a difference in a direction of change for the better.

This past spring I spoke with legislators in Sacramento on behalf of Human Rights Watch National Leadership Council to eliminate Life Without Parole. Recently I spoke to a graduating class of public defenders at UCLA and was able to be impactful on their journey into the criminal justice system.

In October I began the Bridge Program at Antioch University with the goal of working toward a bachelor’s degree. “The Bridge Program provides University level education for students who may not otherwise have access to higher education. Each week, Bridge students attend class to begin college, to earn up to 15 transferable units of university credit, and to study philosophy, literature, art history, writing, and urban studies – all free of charge.”

This first semester I am taking Art History, Writing, and Communication. The Art History class has allowed me to appreciate the language of art, meaning, I look closely into all the different dimensions of the painting. The painter is talking to the viewer and expressing their ideas, beliefs, and emotions. I am able to distinguish different styles of painting by different artists. It allows me to travel back in history to the time when the painting was made.

The writing class is helping me express my ideas and dig deep within myself and connect with my emotions. I am learning about writing drafts and using correct punctuation. The Communication class has allowed me to analyze my relationships with co-workers, family, and friends. I am trying to use a humble approach.

I continue to participate in the Restorative Justice Committee with Bend the Arc when I’m not in class. I’m now Nefesh Kin, with a team facilitating the Nefesh Pen Pal Program with incarcerated and outside pen pals, and participated in my first High Holy Days with the community.

My full-time responsibilities have grown at Urban Alchemy first to Area Lead Supervisor of Hollywood, and as of last week moving to the San Fernando Valley as Area Lead Supervisor and to establish a new office in the community.

I am humbly reaching out and asking for support in buying a MacBook as all my classes are online. This will greatly help me to be organized and do my classwork efficiently as well as attend to my responsibilities at Human Rights Watch with the National Leadership Council to eliminate Life Without Parole.

Any generosity is highly appreciated.

Truly,

Troy