Felix Guzman

Felix Guzman was raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. He spent time on Rikers Island twice in 2005, and both times requested to be placed in the mental health observation unit to work towards sobriety. Discussing the prevalence of gang violence in the dorms, he recalls being so anxious that he experienced a "pins and needles" sensation throughout his whole body. Guzman credits poetry with saving his life, and advocates for reinvesting into communities to break the cycles of incarceration, with an emphasis on arts programming. When asked about how Rikers should be remembered, he says, "(...) [with] infamy (....), to not be spoken of unless it's to provide a healthy conduit for change of action (...) And the conversation should always be about abolition, community safety, and inclusivity." He is currently working on two initiatives: Poetry Saved My Life, which showcases poetry as a tool for therapeutic intervention, and The Neurodiversity Project, which will provide grants to those who were formerly incarcerated to pay for autism and ADHD testing. He is a member of the New York City Council Commission on Community Reinvestment and the Closure of Rikers Island. (Summary written by Carson Stachura)