Cellblocks to Mountaintops

After serving more than 25 years in prison, Sterling Cunio goes before the most important audience of his life: the Oregon Board of Parole. His supporters and attorneys argue that Sterling has rehabilitated, and deserves a second chance for a life beyond prison walls. But even if that’s true, does that mean he should be set free? Locking him up for the rest of his life won’t bring his victims back, but will it send a messa...

Sterling Cunio used to play football and ride bikes around the neighborhood with his friends.  He won The Most Mannerly Kid award.  But several tragic circumstances changed the trajectory of his life, pushing him into foster care, and later the juvenile justice system. What happened? How did he come to commit such a horrific crime?

Watch Sterling’s lawyers explain the complexities of his case in our 3-minute video: A Lega...

In 1994, Sterling walked into prison a scrawny, 17-year-old biracial kid. His mettle was immediately tested by a much older white supremacist cellmate. That first night would set the tone for the years to come. But eventually,  he would discover new ideas and new ways of being -  in unexpected places.

Sterling adjusts to living in prison and meets a friend for life - get to know him in our mini-documentary,  Anthony’s Sto...

Relationships with people in the outside world are essential for maintaining hope, working towards rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism. Letters, emails, and in-person visits from friends and family bring a shred of humanity to an otherwise inhumane environment. In Sterling's case, he found a pen pal that would become very dear to his heart. And in writing, he began to express himself in a way that people would finally ...

Sterling’s intense educational pursuits led him to a class on restorative justice, where  he developed a vision for completely changing the toxic prison culture where he’d likely spend the rest of his life. What started as a path toward forgiving himself grew into a tool for brokering peace and mediating clashes between gangs inside. We hear from Danielle Sered, a foremost expert on alternatives to incarceration.

For an i...

Should juveniles who commit murder ever be given a second chance, or do they deserve to be locked up for life?  In 2012 that question made its way to the Supreme Court in a landmark case argued by renowned attorney and activist Bryan Stevenson. While not a slam dunk, their ruling gave Sterling hope for an eventual release. 

Watch Sterling share some good news with his friends in the video Fresh Hope. In The Rehearsal...

Everything stopped in 2020 with the global Covid-19 pandemic, but in Oregon, another catastrophe was underway… unprecedented wildfires. Prisons across the state were forced to evacuate, adding even more strain to an outdated infrastructure. The twists and turns of Sterling’s legal battles finally come to a head.

Watch Sterling’s attorneys and loved ones react to the results of the hearing in The Decision.  See Anthony’s l...

Sterling’s new circumstances bring both joy and challenges in ways he hadn’t anticipated.  Meanwhile, legal advocates, community groups, and nonprofit organizations actively work to create alternatives to incarceration by facilitating opportunities for mediation, accountability, and transformation.

Correction:  At the end of the episode, we mention the East Bay Arts Alliance.  The correct name is the Eastside Arts Allianc...

We are happy to introduce the Making Amends podcast which was recorded at Oregon State Penitentiary around the same time, we started filming Cellblocks to Mountaintops and features some of the same people - most notably Anthony Pickens. Listen to Episode 1of Making Amends to hear even more about Anthony’s journey of redemption. 

Violence was a constant in the lives of both Anthony and Theron, starting at a very young age. O...

Take a look behind the scenes as Director Lydia B. Smith and Host Phil Stockton discuss the making of Cellblocks to Mountaintops. 

They chat about how this project came together, Lydia's original vision, and Phil's experiences teaching theater in prisons. They also delve into the importance of the arts in prison and the ways in which the current criminal justice system fails both incarcerated individuals and survivors.

Resonate is a podcast series from Rancho La Puerta, hosted by Barry Shingle. In each episode, the show explores heart-centered thoughts on well-being and life from expert presenters whose core message aligns with the motto at Rancho La Puerta: “Siempre Mejor,”—Always Better.

Cellblocks to Mountaintops director Lydia B. Smith joined Barry Shingle last month for an inspiring conversation about her journey on the Camino de San...