Do You Have Something to Say? Exercise Your Voice

I have three biological children—a son and two daughters—whom I love deeply. However, due to my incarceration resulting from a reckless and criminal lifestyle, I have not been present in their lives. My two youngest children, now adults, never had the opportunity to meet me in person. Our entire relationship was built through letters, phone calls, and text messages via Global Tel Link tablet communication.

I have been inconsistently present in my oldest daughter's life since her birth—more absent than present. While sharing my story about missing my children's lives is deeply painful, hearing my children voice their own experiences—the pain, shame, and disappointment they endured, and the psychological scars they still carry—will forever impact me.

These experiences have made me profoundly empathetic toward all those who feel voiceless, especially children. My 10-year-old grandson represents the future, and he speaks up, speaks out, and speaks with clarity. Every chance I get, I make sure he knows: "I HEAR YOU, GRANDSON!"

This is why voices matter. This is why we must listen. This is why every young person deserves to know they are heard.


Raymond Galbreath
Chairman, MOVTT