What is the value of $6,000? Alexander Lewis, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania paid with 37 years of his life because of a bank robbery of $6,668.50. 

 

After being convicted of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault, unlawful restraint, two counts of violation of the Uniform Firearm Act and resisting arrest from Lewis did his time of 13,505 days. Finally leaving the State Correctional Institute of Pittsburgh (SCI) in 2008, Lewis walked out as a free man, and against the odds, never returned. 

 

Lewis immediately began turning his life around and going straight for the first time. As a teenager, he made a living hustling on the streets. In fact, his first crime was beating up the boys in the neighborhood to steal their clothes and shoes. These petty crimes were simple ways to survive on the streets at the time, he said. 

 

“We’d always be thinking about how to survive," Lewis said, thinking back to the life of crime he shared with his friends. "The stealing was first, that was more so not to steal to steal but to be able to not look so bad…It became a way of life."

​

"We'd always be thinking about how to survive."

 

Rather than dreaming of getting a better education or going off to college, young boys like Lewis had to “get their PhD or masters degree in the streets," he said. Being tough enough to get what he wanted ruled Lewis’s young life. 

 

“We said if you did some hustling in the street, then you’re more prepared for the penitentiary because you’re used to functioning under pressure. In the prison they apply pressure all the time,” Lewis said. But he was determined not to become hardened  or

“have a lot of hatred in my heart. I really tried to find ways to help myself.”

​

Convicts have their choice in prison to learn and study and try to make it easier for themselves when they are released, Lewis said. Like many others, he took advantage of what was offered because he knew in the end he had to support himself. 

 

Lewis looked forward a second chance to become a productive member of society after his release, he said. Instead he found obstacles to finding a job, getting news clothes and finding adequate housing.

 

People he had grown up  with looked after him, Lewis said. They became the most important part of his life, reminding him of the lessons he had learned as a child and helping him to stay free.

​

While serving time, Lewis worked to keep his mind right and  better himself. Looking forward to helping the community and giving back more than he was ever given was the dream that sustained him. He created mottos to tell himself every day.

 

“One of my mottos was to take control of time and not let time take control of me,” Lewis recalled.

​

"One of my mottos was to take control of time and not let time take control of me.”

 

Lewis worked to take control of his life, turn around the negative memories, and use them to help the community he belongs to now. He works now with a Think Tank of former inmates, academics and community members that meets weekly on the Duquesne University campus.

 

Lewis is convinced that the way he helped himself was by helping others. Hoping to share his story and keep the young people in his community from making the same mistakes he did, he shares his knowledge and dreams with as many people as he can. 

 

“When some things are close to your heart and you’re able to bring about some positive changes, that’s always a good thing,” Lewis said. “It’s just kind of sad that it took me so long to be able to do what I want to do, and that is about bringing about unity on the planet. You got to start with your community first. So, I feel fortunate with the line of work I’ve been able to do.”