For the first eighteen years of my life I was in society, for the past eighteen years of my life I have been incarcerated... Serving a thirty-six year sentence for murder and use of firearm. Exceedingly remorseful for my role in that 2004 criminal act, yet I am no longer that eighteen year old boy... Today I am a thirty-six year old man, a married man, to a woman that is beyond extraordinary! I'm a role model to an eleven year old young man/honor student whom I love as my own. I pride myself on education, productiveness, and positivity. During my time in prison I have earned three certificates from a bible study correspondence school. I have also created three programs... T.R.A.V.E.L., which targets crime prevention, gang prevention, stopping the violence and deescalation. Five steps to C.O.D., which targets understanding, communication, how to remain on a positive path, money management, and diversity. I created F.O.C.U.S. as well and I'm proud to say that my wife unveiled that program in Feb.2022 at the Charles Houston rec. center. F.O.C.U.S. engages in positive dialogue with at-risk youth, teaching them how to cook and sending them home with food for their families. I'm also the co. founder of the nonprofit foundation Incarcerated Lives Matter VA, which is the very organization that my programs function under. My organization hosts feeding the community events every Saturday thanks to my wife Amber Crocker, Keesha Johnson, Glenda Coleman and many more of their friends and family. I can't thank those women enough! I'm looking forward to a time when I can be alongside them all loading the truck, unloading the truck and feeding our communities! Before I conclude my petition I will say this... I do not have parole. I am doing 85% of a thirty-six year sentence. To know what my calling is in life makes asking for the public support of my early release that much more comforting. Upon my release I not only will fight for reform and equality, I will be taking my organization Nationwide. Incarcerated Lives Matter GA, Incarcerated Lives Matter FL, Incarcerated Lives Matter CA, etc etc.. I desire for my organization to have transitional houses and schools one day... So to all of you who are in support of my early release I truly do thank you! And to those who are not in support of my early release, it's okay. EVERYONE can still attend our events and pick up food and household supplies... I wish you all blessings... 
Love and Peace,
Derek Stephens,

website: www.ilmva.org

twitter: @LivesVA