FreeCharlieNow |
Charlie has accomplished more during his imprisonment than almost any other inmate - NATIONWIDE. He has earned NUMEROUS artistic AND writing awards. He wrote a play entitled 'The Bamboo Cage' about POW's - with the assistance of external veteran's groups. Charlie interviewed former fighter pilots and American POW's to obtain first-hand accounts of their experiences. HE WAS THE FIRST PRISONER TO BE AWARDED A NATIONAL WRITING AWARD FROM MENSA, THE HIGH- IQ GROUP (132+) THROUGH THE AMERICAN MENSA FOUNDATION. He won the first of many national writing awards from the PEN American Center in New York City - an international literary organization. He is also an accomplished artist with many, but not all of his creations, shown to the left and below. More will be added soon... Charles Norman has quite possibly spent his time in Florida prisons more productively than any other prisoner ever has. His accomplishments at various prisons throughout Florida illustrate the life of a truly exemplary man during his lengthy imprisonment. He has tirelessly worked in a wide variety of educational, vocational, religious, and self-improvement programs over the past 20 years teaching and helping literally THOUSANDS of his fellow prisoners while developing considerable skills along the way. Charles has repeatedly been praised by correctional staff for his leadership, organizational skills and ability to manage large work crews of inmates. A review of the certificates awarded to Charles while in prison provides a glimpse of the scope of his prison activities but does not tell the whole story. After coming to prison and being processed at Lake Butler Reception and Medical Center, Charles was sent to Union Correctional Institution at Raiford - known as 'The Rock. Raiford was featured in a story presented by Dan Rather on "60 Minutes" as being one of the most notorious prisons in the country. Many men sent to "The Rock" can't take it and check in for protection. Many others succumb to the siren song of depravity and sexual violence only to become prison homosexuals. Charles Norman made none of those choices. Charles chose a path of positive accomplishments and good work. He became involved in the GOLAB Program, a prisoner self-help program provided by a private corporation. Charlie thrived in this program and was offered a job as an administrative assistant to the GOLAB coordinator, Mr. Rodney D. Hansen. One of Charlie's first accomplishments while in GOLAB was to obtain an "Apple" computer for use in the program. This WATERSHED event paved the way for the use of microcomputers by prisoners - a major realignment of correctional thinking in Florida! IT IS BELIEVED THAT CHARLIE IS THE FIRST PRISONER EVER ENTRUSTED WITH A VIDEO CAMERA, VCR, AND VIDEOTAPES IN PRISON! Charlie also organized criminal justice seminars that included presentations from college professors and law students from The University of Florida AND Florida State University, county judges, prosecutors, legislators, including Senator George Kirkpatrick, criminologists, psychologists, parole officials, Department of Corrections officials - and the MEDIA! Charles has continued to further his intellectual capacity while in prison. He developed his computer skills in the business occupations classes taught by Pasco County teacher Vivian Barnard and studied graphic arts and printing in the PRIDE of Florida print shop AND produced special projects for DOC Secretary Louie Wainwright, assistant Secretary Harry K. Singletary, GOVERNOR BOB GRAHAM, and many other Florida State agencies! He also developed the "WINNERS PROGRAM" that tutored illiterate inmates AND was elected president of THE JAYCEES as well as leader of the FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES. |
AWARD WINNING ARTIST... |
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| 'THE BAYSHORE BALUSTRADES' IN TAMPA |
| 'WINTER WONDERLAND' MEDIUM - ACRYLIC ON CANVAS |
| 'MERRY AT FLAGLER BEACH' MEDIUM - ACRYLIC ON CANVAS |
| 'FRANKLIN AND POLK' 1994 11" x 14", MEDIUM - PEN AND INK METHOD. THIS DRAWING CONSISTS OF THOUSANDS OF INK DOTS AND LINES! |
| SUPREME COURT JUSTICE THURGOOD MARSHALL SCULPTURE BY CHARLIE. IT WON A STATE PRIZE! |
| 'PASS-A-GRILLE CASINO' 1990 ORIGINAL 22" X 30", MEDIUM - WATERCOLORS. ONE OF A SERIES OF PAINTINGS AND DRAWINGS BASED ON THE HISTORY OF THE TAMPA BAY AREA! |
| 'FLORIDA HERON' MEDIUM -OIL AND ACRYLIC |
| 'LEOPARD' 1996 MEDIUM - ACRYLICS |
| 'MT. FUJI' IN JAPAN. PAINTED IN 2002-2003 |
| 'PASS-A-GRILLE CASINO' IS CURRENTLY IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND WAS VALUED AT $1,500.00 IN THE EARLY NINETIES |