Dion Mayer is an artist, writer, and musician who not only found, but cultivated his talents in these various mediums throughout his incarceration. As a juvenile, Dion was certified and sentenced as an adult. He has spent his time while incarcerated re-imagining and re-inventing himself. In 2018, he began taking classes with MPWW (Minnesota Prison Writing Program). He attributes his development as a writer to the shared sense of community and creative environments MPWW teachers, volunteers, and incarcerated participants help each other to facilitate and co-create. In 2020, Dion earned an Associate of Arts Degree through Inver Hills Community College. In 2024, he also earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree through the TREC program offered by Metropolitan State University.