“ A lot of institutions are discriminatory against people with records . . . I received a nice transfer scholarship at Siena Heights University . I ’ m glad I made that choice , because I made some really great relationships .”
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“ A lot of institutions are discriminatory against people with records . . . I received a nice transfer scholarship at Siena Heights University . I ’ m glad I made that choice , because I made some really great relationships .”
Above : Aaron often takes his students on field trips to correctional facilities . Here they visit the Ohio State Reformatory where the movie " Shawshank Redemption " was filmed .
“ He is an ex-con , but that works to his benefit ,” said Hague , who also is in Kinzel ’ s corrections class . “ He gives you that perspective that you don ’ t always get . You know he ’ s been through it . He ’ s just not sitting there telling you what ’ s going on . He ’ s giving you personal experiences .”
Kinzel said he is up front with his students , as well as anyone else who wants to ask him about his past . He said that has been a key to his success .
“ Everything is out there in the public now ,” he said . “ I always joke that I was in the convict closet for like six years ( after ) coming home . And since that time , I ’ m just completely out about it . That ’ s what has gotten me employment .”
He often takes his students on field trips to prison and corrections facilities , and works with the University of Michigan ’ s Prison Creative Arts Project , which brings visual , written and theat rical art to inmates in southeast Michigan prisons ( photo left ).
“ If you were to bump into him on the street , you wouldn ’ t even know ( he was an ex-con ) unless he told you ,” Hague said of Kinzel . “ He ’ s just down-to-earth .”
Thinking Outside of the ( Check ) Box
Kinzel has seen all sides of the criminal justice system . And he said there are parts of it that need to be addressed . One is giving people like him a chance to succeed once they are released from prison .
“ Give people a chance to get back into the workforce and prove themselves ,” Kinzel said . “ The biggest thing is the cultural stigma behind the people who are convicted felons . … And when they go find employment , that little box comes up . It can still deter people from giving them an opportunity .”
He also said the focus — and resources — should be redirected to fighting violent crime rather than drug enforcement .
“ We ’ re throwing money at drug enforcement , but we ’ re not throwing any money at finding these rapists and child molesters and armed robbers and violent criminals ,” Kinzel said . “ We need to shift the focus more to the people we are afraid of , not mad at .”
He said his story is the exception , not the rule , when it comes to the outcomes of ex-cons .
“ I ’ m like an anomaly ,” he said . “ We need a program to reintegrate ( ex-cons ). I did it on my own through sheer luck , determination and just stubbornness . I reached out to others . I want to learn . I want to progress . That ’ s the secret sauce . All of my jobs have been through networking .”
He realizes some people will never want to give him that chance to succeed .
“ Some are not too happy about me being here ,” Kinzel said of his teaching position , which he hopes one day will become full-time . “ I can understand that . When most people get to know me and they see my work ethic and my personality and my determination … I ’ m just going forward , going up , doing really well .” u
Reflections Summer ’ 17 | 19