The Art of Return: A Community Performance Celebration

Join us for a high-energy performance and conversation involving justice-impacted artists and extending themes from the Institute’s ongoing exhibition, Home Free: Ohio Artists Envision Pr*son Abolition. Throughout the event, artist performances will be interwoven with audience reflections and a light-touch open-mic moment—all with a focus on community building and shared understanding.

This free event is open to all, with no experience required. All attendees will receive free admission to the Institute galleries, including the Home Free exhibit.

This event is presented by the , with generous support from The University of Akron and the .

Andrea “Draye” Mitchell is a 37 year old singer-songwriter from Cleveland, Ohio. Andrea has sung her whole life starting in church and high-school choirs. She continued to pursue music into adulthood, up until the time she was arrested. During six years of incarceration, Andrea managed to still sing and share her voice. She met both founders of the Returning Artists Guild there, and upon her return home has been an active member ever since. Andrea’s goal is to invoke feeling in a world that has become numb. If she can make you feel, she has done her job.

M’chal Prosperity, originally from Jacksonville, Florida, is a spoken-word artist and writer who transformed 13 years of incarceration into fuel for purpose. Music and poetry are their air. Their mission is to inspire, motivate, and connect through unapologetic expression.

Montez Mickens is a videographer, photographer, musical artist, and creative epoxy designer. Mickens was formerly incarcerated for over a decade. As a returned citizen, he has managed to create three successful businesses using all of his artistry.

The event will take place on the 3rd floor of the Cummings Center building in the Institute for Human Science and Culture. The street address is 73 S. College Street Akron, Ohio 44325-4302 (on the corner of Mill and College Streets).

A wheelchair accessible ramp is located on the northeast side of the building, near the main entrance. The building, including the Institute, is wheelchair accessible. A wheelchair is available to loan for those visiting. Please contact us ahead of time with any accessibility requirements so we can work together to make your visit comfortable.

For more information, see our accessibility page: https://uakron.edu/chp/about-us/accessibility.

Complimentary visitor parking is available in the lot directly adjacent to our building, which includes four visitor spots and one accessible parking spot near the front door. Three additional complimentary visitor spaces are available in Lot 30, on the corner of College & Market Streets.

Paid parking is available in Lot 40 on Mill Street, just a short walk from the Cummings Center. Visitors must scan the ParkMobile QR code and enter their vehicle license plate. Additional metered parking is available on College Street. Metered parking is $1/hour and is operated by the City of Akron via the Flowbird app.

Local bus service is provided by Akron Metro. Stops closest to the Cummings Center are at Mill & College; E. Market & College; and Main & E. Bowery St. Further route details are available from Akron Metro.

For University of Akron students, faculty, and staff, the Roo Express stops at the nearby College St. Circle and at Fir Hill Towers.

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Host or Publisher Cummings Center for the History of Psychology