Welome to The Critical X-Change,
we are a Connecticut based trauma informed arts organization that works with youth who are impacted by the criminal justice system. Utilizing the art of storytelling as a platform for healing and guiding our youth on their journey to be positive resources and leaders for our community. We use storytelling, poetry, performance, and collaborative art‑making to help young people reclaim their voices, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to thrive.
Creating. Healing. Building. Leading.
CRAIG GORE
FOUNDER
As a juvenile, Craig navigated homelessness, juvenile detention, and the absence of a father he never met. Those experiences gave him an intimate understanding of the fear, confusion, and trauma many young people carry. As an incarcerated adult, Craig began to reclaim his purpose and got involved in the Center for Prison Education at Wesleyan University, where learning became a path toward empowerment and leadership. That journey led to the creation of The Critical X-Change — a program for "justice impacted youth” rooted in storytelling, performance, and creative expression as tools for reclaiming voice and building community. Craig's work is driven by a commitment to empower and magnify the voices of the youth in his community and to ensure that no “justice impacted youth feels unseen, unheard, or disposable.
JASON"JAHSUN"DORSEY
CREATOR
Jason “Jahsun” Dorsey is a poet, playwright, and teaching artist from New Haven whose work transforms lived experience into socially engaged art. Drawing on personal histories that include homelessness, incarceration, and systemic racism, he creates poems, plays, and narratives that explore resilience, liberation, and community healing. His writing blends layered metaphor with historical awareness, speaking to current social realities while preserving insight for future generations.
influenced by freedom movements and the collective strength of communities that rise in the face of adversity, Dorsey grounds his artistic practice in spiritual reflection and expressive, socially rooted poetics. He draws inspiration from real‑world voices and struggles, shaping them into art that serves as testimony and a catalyst for change.
His forthcoming memoir, Shades of Survival: A Poetic Life, chronicles his evolution as an artist and advocate, highlighting how creativity can emerge from survival and become a pathway to empowerment.
Our Mission
To use the creative arts as a platform for amplifying voices of our youth impacted by the criminal "justice" system, fostering a community grounded in critical & creative thinking, and transforming pain into purpose. Cultivating artistry and leadership amongst impacted youth empowering them to be sources of light, healing, and power within their communities.
"We create spaces for artistic expression for 'justice' impacted youth to showcase their talents and share their impactful stories..."
Craig Gore, Executive Director,
The Critical X-Change
Our Initiatives
Creative Writing & Poetry & Performance Workshops: Participants explore identity, community, and personal narrative through guided writing and performance exercises.
Leadership & Critical Awareness Training: Participants utilize art as a tool to analyze the world around them, make empowered choices, and advocate for themselves and their communities.
Mentorship & Support: Participants receive consistent support and guidance in their artistry from teaching artists, community leaders, and peers.
Community Showcases: Participants share their work publicly, building pride, visibility, and connection.
