San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

Veterans’ 29th annual Toys-for-Tots giveaway

by

The holiday spirit enriched the Main Visiting Room for five days in December. For two consecutive weekends, the fully decorated seven-foot Christmas tree was the busiest place at San Quentin. Inmates and their families took pictures in front of it.

For the 29th consecutive year, Marines from the San Bruno Recruitment Station donated toys for children of inmates at the prison. This year, the veterans at San Quentin put out over 500 toys for the kids, the biggest donation received in the last six years, said Gary Cooper, president of the San Quentin Veteran Group.

This annual event was a humbling reminder why San Quentin veterans share Christmas weekends with families. It brings joy and happiness watching children smile and say “Thank you” after selecting a gift in the toy room, Cooper said.

Children enjoying a day in the San Quentin visiting room with their parents and toys

Children enjoying a day in the San Quentin visiting room with their parents and toys

This year’s veteran’s group was represented by Cooper, Tony Burch, JoJo Robinson, Benny Werener, Zakee Hutchinson, Carl Raybon and Stan Baer, who all watched the children choose a gift. They had toys for kids of all ages.

While some children waited patiently in line to enter the toy room, others looked through the window glowing with smiles of excitement waiting for their turn. There were Tonka trucks, plastic cars, construction sets, battery-driven remote control toys, lunch pails, a large variety of stuffed dolls, Barbie dolls, monkeys, trivia and board games, puzzles and elephants. Other favorite selections on display were action heroes, boats, basketballs, soccer balls, baseballs and bats.

Julie Kane drove from San Jose with her two kids, Riley, 8 and Kai, 4, to see her best friend, Nick Bucci. Kai saw the Monster High dolls and got so excited she took the doll off the table and ran over to her mother, radiating with delight, saying, “Mommy, look.”

Inmate Sonny Nguyen’s 11-year-old nephew, Ethan, came from Colorado to see him for the first time. He was so impressed, all he could say was, “What a variety of toys.”

Several younger kids saw toys that captured their imagination, and were too excited to say anything. Four-year old Kamille likes the Beatles, so when she saw the Beatles doll, all her mother could say was, “She knows all their songs.”

Hutchinson said, “The kids bring us so much joy and happiness, it’s just so much fun giving something to someone who really appreciates it.”

Werner said, “This is my last year participating in the program here at San Quentin. I’ll be going to another prison before the next holiday. I’ll really miss it. But, this has always been an opportunity for me to give back to kids. I missed out on being a father during these times.”

“This is my way of sharing with others, just seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids whose eyes light up when they see the gift they like; what a great feeling,” Cooper said.     

“This is my 10th year, and it seems to get better every year. It’s so encouraging to see the engaging. When asked about the meaning of Christmas, appreciate something so simple as a toy. It’s the giving back that I enjoy,” said Robinson.

Inmate Ladell Jackson and his wife, Elayne, said they hope that this will be his last Christmas in prison. “I am going to the board next year, and I’m looking forward to celebrating this joy outside of prison.”

“Christmas season is always the time to remind ourselves of how important family is,” inmate John Lam said.   

“Holidays are important times of the year, regardless if you are inside or outside of prison. The best qualities shared during the holiday should be the same qualities we should share all year,” inmate Larry White said.

If an incarcerated veteran wants to learn more about VHV or if they or their family may qualify for additional benefits, please contact:

Mary Donovan, Executive Director of VHV

PO BOX 432

San Quentin, CA 94964

mary@veteranshealingveterans.org

The VHV website is veteranshealingveterans.org

 

Trump pardons legendary heavyweight champ Jack Johnson


http://sanquentinnews.com/domestic-violence-advocate-speaks-restorative-justice-symposium/

What Christmas Means To Me

San Quentin News’ Senior Editor honored

by

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom talking with Juan Haines

Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom talking with Juan Haines

For giving a voice to the voiceless, Juan Haines, the San Quentin News senior editor, was honored with The Silver Heart Award by the Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

“I was never after the gotcha story or the investigative piece trying to find corruption,” Haines said. “I just wanted to tell regular people’s stories because outside these walls, those are the voices that are never heard.

“I couldn’t do my job without the trust of my fellow prisoners,” Haines said in an interview. “A lot of my fellow prisoners think that we have all sorts of restrictions, but the truth is the administration treats us like any other professional journalists.

“I am astonished at how much of what we do is directly from the support of professional journalists who have spent years mentoring us in their craft. I feel that the award doesn’t just belong to me, but to everyone who makes the San Quentin News a reality.”

Haines is recognized as a man who knows how to listen and to draw out the real story without the need to sensationalize or humiliate.

“According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company.

“The state typically spends $71,000 a year to house an inmate. It costs about $5,000 total to help put one [incarcerated] student through community college”, reports Fast Company.

Calling Haines “fearless,” journalist Nancy Mullane said, “Something in Juan says, ‘I’m a thinking incarcerated journalist, but I’m going to work through those challenges and get as close to the truth as I can.’”

Mullane has been reporting on San Quentin for a decade and is the co-founder and executive producer of the podcast Life of the Law. Mullane also serves on the board of the SPJ Northern California Chapter and helps to facilitate the satellite chapter of the SPJ San Quentin (the first of its kind in a prison), the East Bay Times reports.

In announcing the award, SPJ said that as a reporter and key editor at the San Quentin News, Haines has “encouraged other first-time journalists to use their time in prison to report on the courts, the prisons and the conditions of their incarceration.”

Accepting the award on Haines’ behalf were Watani Stiner, a former San Quentin News reporter released on parole in 2015, and Lizzie Buchen, a former news adviser for the paper. The Silver Heart Award was presented at the 2017 Excellence In Journalism Awards Dinner on Nov. 9.

Stiner read Haines’ acceptance speech to the crowd:

“Growing up with the realities and truths of my life, I made my choices and those choices brought me to prison…during more than two decades of incarceration, through a complex process of maturation, self-examination, friendship and education, I’ve changed from being a criminal with an identity crisis to a man with a sense of who I am and where I want to go. Being a journalist, and now senior editor for San Quentin News, is a big part of how I got there.”

Haines has been in prison since 1996 for multiple bank robberies, armed only with a paper bag. He expects to go before the parole board in 2021.

http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
Boatwright

Lt. Graham retires after four decades of service

by

Lt. Donald Graham

Lt. Donald Graham

The big day arrives. The number one lieutenant is retiring from San Quentin State Prison.

It’s Friday, Nov. 17, and Lt. Donald Graham walks into the Captain’s Porch at 7:03 a.m. as he has done for the past 10 years.

“According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company.

Watch Commander Lt. Ceracedes greets him from his office, “Hey Donald…this…is it…the final one!” Graham smiles. “Yeah…this is it, Buddy,” he says before sitting down in a chair.

The lieutenants chat about the activities of the night before and discuss the current day’s events. After a few laughs, Graham gathers his lunch bag and jacket and leaves the Watch Commander’s Office.

He untangles his keys before inserting one into the Assignment Office’s door and unlocking it for what is to be his last time as the Assignment Lieutenant.

The phone rings as he enters. He hurries to place his lunch and jacket on a desk and answers the phone. “Graham,” he says, starting off his day of solving problems. Shortly after, Jonathan Castillo walks in and greets him as he hangs up. They chitchat about the daily assignments and reports and discuss the ducats to sort out.

Approximately 30 minutes later, Lt. T. Millender says, “Graham, I need your keys.” And without hesitation, he takes the department’s keys off his personal key ring and hands them over to her.

After working 42 years at the institution, he’s retiring.

https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/

When asked how it feels knowing this is the last time he will use the keys, he reflects for a moment and says, “…I think it’s finally setting in.”

It’s been a good tour of duty for the former Air Force veteran and college graduate turned correctional officer, sergeant and lieutenant. “I’ve really been blessed,” he says.   

Graham has been unlike many other correctional officers. While some try to keep their distance from inmates, he has been approachable. If an inmate needed a new job assignment, Graham would do his best to arrange it. If they wanted to get into a vocation, he’d help. Education, same thing. He even sat with inmates in the chow hall just to answer questions.

Lt. Donald Graham

Lt. Donald Graham

For many CDCR employees, retirement marks the beginning of a whole new life. Graham is no different. There are a few things he wants to spend time on, but duck hunting before the season ends in January will be number one on the agenda.

Starting in April 2018, he and his wife will visit Japan and the Philippines. They’ll spend a month visiting with her family and friends, and in the summer “spend some time in Cabo, Mexico,” he says, smiling.

“Traveling is fun for a while but I’ve been working most of my life. I really don’t want to stop. There is plenty of work out there though,” he says. Graham recently spoke with Jill Brown, former warden at San Quentin, about working with her part-time, two to three times a week, in a transitional housing program in Alameda County. “I’ll only be answering phones, simple stuff like that.”

But his desire to work will compete with other possibilities. He’s beginning to find the role of grandfather interesting. “I mean, I have to try it for a while,” he says. “I’ll get a Labrador puppy for me and the kids.”

With all of this extra time on his hands, besides duck hunting, he plans to spend time fly fishing and playing slot machines. “I enjoy the casinos,” he admits.

“The state typically spends $71,000 a year to house an inmate. It costs about $5,000 total to help put one [incarcerated] student through community college”, reports Fast Company.

Looking back over 42 years with the department, Graham shares some of his memories and experiences as a correctional employee.

He explains that the department once had a “Temporary Community Release” program that allowed an inmate to attend an outside-sponsored event. Correctional staff escorted the inmate.

“I volunteered for this assignment because I liked the idea of giving them the opportunity to experience meeting people from their communities,” Graham says. “I liked the public-relations part because it gave a different impression of San Quentin.” As part of this release program, Graham escorted inmates to funerals when a family member died.

Lt. Donald Graham

Lt. Donald Graham

Graham says one of his more hilarious experiences occurred when an inmate dressed up like a woman and tried to escape from the visiting area. But a transgender inmate recognized “something unusual about the escapee’s physical appearance” and immediately notified staff. The escapee was detained and rearrested.

When pressed to talk about one of the darkest moments at the prison, he deliberates for a moment, puts a hand on his chin, and looks at the ceiling: “There were a lot in the ’70s and ’80s,” he says.

In 1985, Sergeant Hal Burchfield had been working Carson’s First Watch and was walking alone on a tier talking with inmates about the lockdown they had been placed on after a racial incident between the Blacks and Hispanics. “He was that kind of guy…always concerned about the inmates,” Graham says.

When Sergeant Burchfield reached the middle of the tier, he stopped to talk to an inmate who then stabbed him a number of times. “Hal staggered down the tier, collapsed and died before he got to the door to call for help,” Graham recalls. “He was a good guy, one of my best friends, I was a pallbearer at his funeral.” 

Graham moved through the ranks quickly, was promoted to sergeant after seven years, and made lieutenant in ’86. He says he had “good times” at San Quentin. “I never wanted to promote to captain. Back then, captains had a lot more administrative responsibilities. I liked working with the general population and correctional staff. I like problem solving.” 

Lt. Donald Graham

Lt. Donald Graham

Around 10 a.m. on Graham’s last day, SEIU and correctional employees start coming in to say farewell. There’s an overwhelming number who say, “Don’t go!”

“I’m going to miss him” says Ronda Wisher, administrative assistant for the associate warden. Lt. Millender, who’ll work the Assignment Office until there is a permanent replacement, says the same thing.

“He’s the best lieutenant; he’s never changed; he’s awesome,” Ianya Young says.

“Congratulations on a well-deserved retirement, I’ll miss you and the snacks in your office. Thank you for being you,” Dina Durano says.

Latrell McDaniels, one of the Assignment Office Technicians, has spent 10 years working with Graham. For all processing related to strategic offender management system and/or job assignments issues, he has relied upon her expertise. She feels like a brick has been removed from her foundation: “One of my pillars is missing,” she says.

“He’s the best example of the kind of employee CDCR needs…he brings fairness, balance and a much needed light to so much darkness; he’s such a light,” says Father George Williams, Catholic chaplain.

Summing up the hallmark of Lt. Graham’s 42-year career, Watch Commander Lt. Frank Ceracedes says, “Donald…is a great trainer … a great mentor and…a great friend.”

A look inside the bustling San Quentin prison library


http://sanquentinnews.com/cdcrs-information-officer-critiques-san-quentin-news/

Coming back to prison to help bridge the digital divide


 

Living the good life after prison

by

What does it take for a man coming out of prison to be successful in society?

It took moral support from community members for formerly incarcerated Nathaniel A. Johnson, support such as that from Pastor Steve “Big Red” Sanderson.

“The state typically spends $71,000 a year to house an inmate. It costs about $5,000 total to help put one [incarcerated] student through community college”, reports Fast Company.

Without this kind of encouragement, Johnson might have ended up back in prison. He is now a production associate at Tesla, making enough money to afford season tickets to the Oakland Raiders.

“The struggle for him was off and on,” Sanderson said. “The temptation was largest when he couldn’t find work or when his hours were cut. I knew his heart, his character, how hard a worker he was. [His struggle] opened my eyes to just how hard it is for former inmates to get jobs.”

While serving 26 months at San Quentin State Prison for drug trafficking, Johnson faced Sanderson, known as “Big Red,” on the basketball court through Prison Sports Ministry. San Quentin allows teams from the community to visit the prison for sports activities with incarcerated teams.

“I thought, ‘Prison ministry and also getting to play basketball?’” Sanderson said. “This is a combination of my two favorite things. I played on the team Imago Dei—‘the Image of God.’”

“According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company.

Sanderson described Johnson as the SQ Warriors’ best player back in 2011. Sanderson was pretty good too, so they matched up.

“It made my time (in prison) go by hecka fast,” Johnson said. “It was my version of the NBA.”

With them being the same age (both now 32) and having similar skill levels, they gravitated toward each other and bonded.

In between lay-ups, the Warriors shared stories about their lives, and the visitors got to know them. Johnson expressed his desire to pursue higher education.

“I told him that I worked at colleges in Oakland,” Sanderson said. “I told him he should get in touch when he got out; I would try to help him.”

Johnson described paroling on Jan. 13, 2012, into a world reluctant to employ a formerly incarcerated person. He came home to a sick grandmother, who told him he couldn’t live with her. Shortly after returning to society, he got his girlfriend, Shani, pregnant with twins. With nowhere to live, he needed a job badly and this allowed employers to take advantage of him.

“I was working doing janitorial stuff but a lot of mischievous stuff was happening,” Johnson said. “The people who do hire you, reluctantly, they’re sort of shady. I got cheated out of a lot of my money.”

Johnson used what little he made from the janitorial job to get his first apartment but had no furniture.

Johnson, remembering Sanderson’s offer, reached out to him. Sanderson helped Johnson enroll at Alameda College in August 2013. He only stayed in school for one semester.

“I was getting discouraged, walking everywhere, BART every day, my grandma was really sick, and I couldn’t get the financial aid for school so I dropped out,” Johnson said.

Then his grandmother died.

“At that time, I thought the reason my grandmama had passed away was because I didn’t help her enough,” Johnson said.

He struggled to find a career, while raising twins that were born three months premature.

“There were hecka problems with the pregnancy,” Johnson said. “My wife went to the hospital one time at like 22 weeks, end of the second trimester, stayed in there 4-5 weeks. One baby was born 1 pound 13 ounces and the other, 1 pound 6 ounces.”

Sanderson continued to meet, encourage, pray and play ball with Johnson. He would pick Johnson up on Thursdays, and they would have coffee or go to a high-school gym and play basketball with buddies.

They became buddies, too. Sanderson performed Johnson’s wedding ceremony to Shani. Johnson went to Sanderson’s wedding. Sometimes they double-dated.

“I would look at it as he was my friend; he was my brother—no helper mentality or ulterior motive for me,” Sanderson said. “I wasn’t going to let him navigate his situation alone: I was looking for job opportunities for him, too. Even though I might not always be available, I was always accessible.”

Things got so bad for Johnson, he planned on stealing. In that moment of weakness, he reached out to Sanderson.

“I called Sanderson, and he wasn’t picking up his phone,” Johnson said.

In the vacuum of a missed phone call, other community members, including a complete stranger, stepped up.

Johnson headed to a Walgreens with bad intentions. As he walked around the outside of the establishment, hesitant and looking shady, a man called out to him, “Are you here to work?”

“If it’s work, I’m always here to do it,” Johnson responded. “Are you paying?”

“Hell yeah, I’m paying; get over here and get to work!” said Gary, a New Yorker in California to do some demolition work.

Johnson and his daughters, Naomi and Sheyane, at the Monterey aquarium

Johnson and his daughters, Naomi and Sheyane, at the Monterey aquarium

Johnson said, “It was one of those God moments. Afterward, he told me, ‘I knew that you weren’t here for work, but you looked like you could use something to do.’”

As Johnson searched for a career to feed his family, a nurse bought him auto mechanics textbooks for school. He used the books to pass auto mechanics and an introduction to engines class.

In 2014, he graduated at the top of his class from Cypress Mandela, a vocation apprenticeship program that includes a life skills course.

When he was growing up, Johnson didn’t have any community support. When he was born in 1985, his mother was addicted to drugs, and his father wasn’t around.

“In the crack era, she got caught up into that party lifestyle,” Johnson said. “I had no potty training. I was 6, 7, 8…getting woken up and kicked out of the house at 1 a.m. so they could have crack parties. So I had this attitude ‘I’ma f*&# you up if you say the wrong thing.’

“When you look at the movies, you always see someone along the way who comes up and says, ‘Don’t do that.’ I was in the middle of the jungle and no one came along and said, ‘Don’t do this.’”

On parole, Sanderson became the voice of reason that kept Johnson out of trouble.

“We would talk about what ‘right decision-making’ looks like for him,” Sanderson said. “It was great to see the transformative work that Jesus was doing in his heart and mine as well—it was a really transformative experience for me.”

Johnson tried various careers, including as a laborer—ignoring his fear of heights to climb telephone poles for a wireless phone company and cleaning a bank.

Now Johnson’s twins, Naomi and Sheyane, are healthy 4-year-olds. Additionally, on March 1, Tesla hired Johnson to put together seats.

Johnson said, “I’m 10K good; I’m forward progression right now.”

One of the first people Johnson shared his success with was Sanderson.

With his brand-new Raiders season tickets, Johnson told Sanderson to pick a game to attend.

“That was a really special moment for me,” Sanderson said. “This friendship that God really gave us…It all was the product of God, but also the recreation ministry and the ability and opportunity to go into San Quentin.”

Johnson continues to play basketball when he can and Sanderson continues to play basketball at San Quentin.

“God reminds me of the fruit of this ministry. And really the story with Nathaniel reminds me that going in there regularly is important,” Sanderson said. “We met through the basketball ministry, through recreation. We get to remind them that there are guys out there that care about them. To show them healthy, fun competition as well—to bring some of that back into their lives.”

–Kate Wolffe, U.C. Berkeley student contributed to this story

Coming back to prison to help bridge the digital divide

Parolees’ hard transition from stigmatized past

Exclusive screening ‘From Incarceration to Education’

Ear Hustle wraps up first season with over six million downloads

by

Earlonne Woods, Nigel Poor and Antwan Williams on the Lower Yard

Earlonne Woods, Nigel Poor and Antwan Williams on the Lower Yard

The hit podcast Ear Hustle, launched from inside a prison, started its first season with the goal of starting a dialogue about incarceration and humanizing people inside. With 6,268,176 downloads, it has achieved more than it ever dreamed.

“I thought people would be interested, but I didn’t think it would be so big,” said co-host Professor Nigel Poor. “I see the emails, Twitter, Instagram and I still don’t understand what it means. People tell me it’s huge; it’s changing people’s minds.”

Ear Hustle features stories told by incarcerated people, often revealing the universal nature of life, no matter where you live. The show is co-hosted by Earlonne Woods. Antwan “Banks” Williams acts as the sound designer, both serving prison time at San Quentin.

“I’m proud of the listeners for not having a judgmental ear,” Williams said. “We had people in politics, wardens of other institutions, and people at schools commend us. I’m proud because being incarcerated, people normally throw a wall up.”

Dozens of media outlets covered the rise of Ear Hustle without an indictment of its subjects or creators including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Vogue, NBC’s The Today Show, NBC News, USA Today, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.

After winning a podcast contest hosted by Radiotopia, Ear Hustle had to produce 10 episodes from behind the walls of San Quentin State Prison.

“I’m proud that Lt. Sam Robinson (Public Information Officer) allowed it to happen,” Woods said. “I’m also proud of the fact that Julie Shapiro (Radiotopia executive producer) and the Radiotopia staff had the vision to choose us.”

Poor said, “I am really most proud of how it is bringing people together. Proud of the hard work, hitting problems and not giving up and keeping in mind that the product is bigger than us, and we have a responsibility to put out really good stories.

“I have a lot of gratitude to the San Quentin community from the administration to the guys in stories and the guys who listen. I think it’s really great. I’m pretty sure this couldn’t happen at any other prison.”

The podcast took off from the first episode, hitting number one in Canada, then hitting number one on iTunes after the Today Show featured them. Yet its inventors don’t feel the magnitude of their success.

“I’m still in here,” Williams said. “We haven’t seen the response on the internet; we haven’t heard the chatter.”

Woods added, “Most of what we see (social media responses) is what Nigel brings in. When tours come through and there’s a variety of different people and they have heard of Ear Hustle, I think that’s when you get a window to what it’s really like—that people really received it.”

Nigel spoke of a listening event in Toronto she attended on behalf of Ear Hustle. Woods and Williams couldn’t be there, so they showed video clips of the two before a packed audience, who clapped for about 30 seconds.

“What an amazing experience being in a theater packed with people listening to Ear Hustle. Who would have thought that would have come out of a prison?” Nigel said.

Ironically, their biggest challenge was not having enough of something prisons usually provide plenty of—time.

Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor interviewing Perry Simpson for an episode of Ear Hustle.

Earlonne Woods and Nigel Poor interviewing Perry Simpson for an episode of Ear Hustle.

Woods, who normally runs laps a few times a week, said he gained 20 pounds because there was no time for anything but Ear Hustle.

“We’re always completing a story. We do edits, sound design, listening sessions, change things around,” Woods said.

He added that the story is never completed until Poor takes the approved story outside of the prison and beyond his second thoughts.

For Williams, their biggest challenge was, “trusting each other because we all have different views at times, trusting that our vision is the same. We’re all trying to get to the same place, not letting our egos and desires get in the way of something so successful.”

Ear Hustle turned Poor’s volunteer work at San Quentin into a full-time job. In addition to co-hosting and editing inside, Poor runs the social media pages on the outside. She has taken a one-year sabbatical from teaching photography at California State University, Sacramento.

“My biggest challenge is trying to find balance in my life because everything I do is Ear Hustle,” Poor said. “The only time I’m not working on Ear Hustle is when I’m sleeping or at the gym. Thank God I have an understanding husband.”

So far, Poor doesn’t miss teaching. “I don’t have time to miss anything except my husband,” Poor said.

Looking back over the season, each has their favorite episode except Poor, who loves all of them.

Two episodes stand out to Woods: “Misguided Loyalty” and “Left Behind.”

“Those are my favorites based on what they both represented,” Woods said. “Misguided Loyalty hopefully will steer youngsters away from gangs. Left Behind shined the light on a lot of guys caught up by the three-strikes law. It’s Curtis’ (the main character) plea bargains and tribulations of being locked up.”

Williams said, “Boom Boom Room” (about family visiting) probably is my favorite because I’m really close to Mav, and I know his wife and son personally. To give people an opportunity to know him like I know him … ‘rawfully’ honest and vulnerable about his situation, is always a good thing.”

Ear Hustle earned eight-episodes for the fall and spring seasons for next year.

Woods and Poor expect the next seasons to be better based on the experience gained working together as professional colleagues.

“We had 10 episodes to understand the process,” Woods said. “So our next eight episodes will be way, way profound. I want to have college courses teach Ear Hustle, dissect Ear Hustle and make somebody do a thesis.”

“We didn’t know how to do this when we started; we learned as we went along,” Poor said. “And we need all three of us to make this happen.”

Williams doesn’t feel pressured to repeat last year’s success.

“It’s not about repeating anything,” Williams said. “What we wanted to do was start something, start a dialogue and spark change. It’s about opening a lane for other things to happen. It’s about creating a space and a time where change needs to exist in everybody’s mind. If next season is successful or not, I think we will be OK. We’re still human; life goes on after the judge slams the gavel.”

To listen in on Ear Hustle, go to: www.earhustlesq.com or follow them on Twitter and Instagram: @earhustlesq.

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise


http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
https://sanquentinnews.com/game-theory/

Cuando las amenazas se vuelven realidad

by

La violencia doméstica es un problema continuó, de acuerdo a un reporte del FBI. Estadísticas señalan que una de cada tres mujeres y uno de cada cuatro hombres en los Estados Unidos han experimentado algún tipo de violencia física por parte de sus parejas íntimas. Los esposos son cinco veces más susceptibles de asesinar a sus esposas que viceversa. Una tercera parte de los homicidios cometidos contra las mujeres han sido perpetuados por sus esposos, ex-esposos, novios, o ex-novios.

Melvin Konner del Wall Street Journal subrayó en un estudio reciente sobre la violencia doméstica, “la pregunta clave se refiere a la relación entre las amenazas y la violencia en sí”. 

Justicia rota

Justicia rota

En un estudio la Doctora T. K. Logan, mencionó, “Para mi, las amenazas son señales claves”.  “Tenemos una tendencia a ignorar las amenazas por que son demasiadas, sin embargo, deberíamos enfocarnos al significado de las amenazas y no ignorarlas”. La Doctora Logan considera que el problema principal en los asuntos de violencia doméstica es la capacidad de poder determinar cuando las palabras indican un peligro real.

El estudio de la Doctora Logan fue publicado en un periódico académico titulado “Violencia  y Victimas” en el mes de febrero en el cual provee algunas herramientas confiables para predecir la relación entre palabras ofensivas y acciones violentas. La Doctora Logan denominó su estudio, “Si No Eres Mía, No Serás De Nadie Mas”, la cual es una amenaza típica que los hombres usan para controlar a las mujeres. Otras amenazas incluyen “Te Voy A Dar Una Paliza” y “Te Voy A Desaparecer”.

La autora del artículo, Dr. Logan, descubrió en su estudio, que las amenazas tienen un significado importante. Las mujeres que fueron amenazadas con frecuencia no solo fueron diez veces mas susceptibles a experimentar violencia, si no que también fueron cinco veces mas vulnerables de ser violadas en relación a las mujeres que únicamente fueron amenazadas una sola vez al mes. 

Como evidencia que el sistema legal sí funciona, el estudio reveló que la intervención de las cortes mediante órdenes de restricción ayudó a disminuir dramáticamente las amenazas para lastimar y las amenazas de muerte, de un 83% a un 19%. La investigación de la Dr. Logan también incluye unas posibles alternativas para mejorar la intervención de las autoridades que les permitan identificar y monitorear aquellas personas que representan un gran peligro.

A pesar que la violencia contra las mujeres ha disminuido con el paso del tiempo, aún continúa siendo un gran problema. Los descubrimientos de la doctora demuestran que las palabras que usamos son las que adquieren un gran significado cuando se tratan de la violencia doméstica.

Non-violent Communication (NVC) es un programa que está disponible en la prisión de San Quentin y que ofrece herramientas efectivas para reducir el uso de un lenguaje agresivo que fomenta la violencia. Este programa enseña que la violencia física, el abuso de drogas, la violencia doméstica y el abuso emocional son “expresiones trágicas de unas necesidades no satisfechas”. NVC es un programa que va mas allá de la violencia en sí, y se enfoca en el origen de los factores que ocasionan la violencia. Además ofrece herramientas para solucionar problemas de la vida real sin recurrir a la violencia.

—Traducción por Marco Villa y Taré Beltranchuc

COMO  REGISTRARSE

Las clases de NVC Basics 1, Basics 2 y Next Step se llevan a cabo los miércoles de 3:00 a 5:00 p.m., en el área de la educación. Las hojas de registración están ubicadas en el edificio de la educación y en North Block. Las clases de NVC Basics y Next Step están disponibles en H-unit los miércoles de 3:00 a 5:00 p.m. Los estudiantes pueden obtener información acerca de la registración para estas clases en los dormitorios 4 y 5 mediante el programa Stand Up. Otra alternativa para registrarse en este programa, es presentarse una semana  antes del inicio de las clases y hablar con los facilitadores del programa. Las clases inician cada trimestre. El siguiente ciclo está programado para el mes de Diciembre.

México lucha para erradicar la cultura machista

Los Deltas Ganan el Campeonato del NASL


https://sanquentinnews.com/abogado-senala-preparense-para-su-libertad/
http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
 
Boatwright

Counselors recognized at 11th Annual Recovery Day

by

Kristin Lobos, Dr. Davida Coady, Michael Kirkpatrick and Tith Ton talking about recovery

Kristin Lobos, Dr. Davida Coady, Michael Kirkpatrick and Tith Ton talking about recovery

Seven San Quentin inmates have completed a three-year intensive program qualifying them as addiction recovery counselors.

They were recognized at the 11th Annual Addiction Recovery Day, along with representatives of Peet’s Coffee and Tea, financial supporters.

The program required 2,240 hours of counseling training to meet the educational and experience criteria for professional certification. The graduates were: John Bergeron, Gregory “White Eagle” Coates, John Lam, Edward Scott, Nou Thao, Martin Walters and Quinton Walker.

Peet’s Coffee was recognized for the generosity of its employees, who donated a portion of their Christmas tips to support the ARC program.

The total drug-overdose deaths was 64,070 in the 12 months through January 2017.”  The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 27, 2017 wsj.com/usnews

“Opioids, such as fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone and hydrocodone, killed more than 34,500 people in 2016.”The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 27, 2017 wsj.com/usnews

Recovery saved my life,” said Walters, who added that he has been sober for nine years. “It was a journey. I have been in many dark dungeons in these state prisons. But I found love for myself and the tools to stay sober, and now I’m certified to continue to help others.”

The local Peet’s staff shared Walters’ desire to give back to those harmed by addiction. Peet’s district manager, Rick Ramirez, and outlet store manager, Mallory Olmstead, came to the event on Sept. 23 and spoke about how their family members’ struggles with addiction prompted them to advocate for donating to the ARC program.

“Recovery saved my life”

“We are proud to help,” Olmstead said. “You can see the impact it is having, and we will take that back to our stores. I had family suffer from addiction and didn’t get help they needed, and to see the drive of these men makes you want to move forward.”

Ramirez added, “My father was an addict and died. I grew up around a lot of guns, violence and alcoholism as a child, and it was very scary. I’m just glad I made some good choices and had an uncle that was a good example.

“Coming here makes you appreciate what you have,” he continued. “What these men have shown is that if you open up yourself, you can have an impact. They have taught me to start thinking the same.”

The small crowd of visitors and the incarcerated were treated to the smooth sounds of the San Quentin Music Program, which was sponsored by prison staff member Raphaele Casale. San Quentin’s house bands received thunderous applause for several original songs, and visiting comedian Mark Lundholm, a former prisoner himself, had heads rolling back with laughter.

Mark Lundholm performing his stand-up routine

Mark Lundholm performing his stand-up routine

“I mow the warden’s lawn so I can do whatever I want here,” said Lundholm. “You can always tell who the new inmates are because they are the ones always moving around. The hard-chiseled ones have been around a while because they just stand there. That’s how you spot the new COs (correctional officers) too, they always moving around, while the older ones are just waiting around for retirement.”

Lundholm heckled a few inmates and staff and joked about his time in prison and his own struggles with addiction. But he got serious with the crowd when he shared how his father molested him.

“My father taught me how to use my words because I had to protect my brothers,” Lundholm said. “I learned to use comedy to defend myself. I also learned you must forgive the perp because, if you don’t, you will become one of them.”

Lundholm encouraged the men in blue: “Don’t wait for someone to tell you that you are great. You have to tell yourself that now; when I was in prison I told myself that and look where I’m at in my life.”

Dr. Davida Coady, ARC volunteer instructor, called each graduate to the podium to receive his diploma, and each gave a short speech.

“It’s about somebody believing in you, and that’s what we give our clients (other prisoners),” said certificate-earner Thao. “A lot of people in San Quentin suffer from low self-esteem but won’t admit it. That’s why we try to build courage and self-worth in our clients, because living in a false reality can keep you in a world of drugs and alcohol.”

Thao stressed the importance of knowing the difference between having a Relapse Prevention “Plan” and a Relapse Prevention “Program.”

“A program is about communicating your needs and wants that helps you get through your impulse behavior,” Thao said, “while a plan is just something you have on paper.”

Visitor Daniel Petersen of the Support 4 Recovery organization shared how the dyslexia he suffered from as a kid led to addiction.

“I felt ashamed, alienated and different,” Petersen said. “And at school I would start fights so I wouldn’t be exposed. Then I got introduced to drugs. I got praised for my high tolerance for drugs and my ability to score drugs. I went from snorting, to smoking, to shooting dope.

Daniel Petersen of Support 4 Recovery speakingis

Daniel Petersen of Support 4 Recovery speakingis

“I had a friend murdered while he was stealing car radios, and I had a close friend die from an overdose,” he continued. “I was sitting in a dope house and started to cry. I knew I needed to change. I checked into New Bridge Foundation and began my delicate road to recovery. Once you place recovery first, everything else will fall in place.”

Petersen said he just celebrated 19 years of sobriety in June.

Kristin Lobos, from Support 4 Recovery, spoke about having a teenage daughter who went through an addiction and is now five years clean and has an 18-month-old baby.

“I just live in a space of just loving her,” Lobos said. “You just have to build a system of doors of recovery they can walk through. But they have to have the courage to walk through them.

“That’s why I like coming to these graduations, because a lot of people don’t understand the rewards of having a family member in the recovery process. It’s a healing journey and not just a dark scary place. It’s about walking that path with your loved one, and I’m walking mine with my daughter,” she added.

The event ended with a pledge to maintain sobriety and to continue to help others.

“This is our community,” said Walker, another certificate earner. “It’s necessary for us to step forward and begin to help and heal each other. I’m thankful for being a part of this team of counselors. We know what it’s like to feel hopeless, so we are here today to say there is hope.”

A special thanks went out to the ARC volunteers and sponsors Dr. Davida Coady, Tom Gorham, Ric Baez, Tom Aswald, Kiki Kessler, Martina Spilman, Judy Bassen and the San Quentin administration.

Veteran benefits helping of the incarcerated

by

Members of the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quention

Johnny Gomez, 50, has been down 21 years, but thanks to being a veteran, he can still help his child. Gomez’s first parole suitability hearing will be in May 2024.

“My uncle had fought and died as a Marine in Vietnam, so that’s what I wanted to be,” Gomez said. He was 19 when he made the decision to serve, looking for steady work and a better life.

“I didn’t think I was that smart a month into basic training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) San Diego,” Gomez laughed.

His military career was cut short by a back injury suffered during basic training. After six months of treatment, Gomez was sent home to await a final determination and was granted an honorable medical discharge thereafter.

“I qualified for VA benefits, and I needed them — full medical, full dental. I thought that was it,” Gomez said.

San Quentin was where Gomez learned that his honorable medical discharge qualified him and his family for a range of additional benefits. 

“We were at a veterans’ banquet, and I was talking to our outside advisor, Shawn,” Gomez said. Shawn Stevens is the advisor for VIP (Veterans Information Project.) When he understood that Gomez had a service-connected disability rating, Stevens went to work.

“Your kids are eligible to attend a California state university — full tuition,” Stevens said.

“I was floored to find out both my kids could benefit but also that I was eligible for certain job training as well,” Gomez said.

It will be years before his release. “I am concentrating on school now. I’m taking PUP (Prison University Project) chemistry with lab. I only need seven more classes to earn my AA at PUP,” Gomez said.

While still years away from a parole suitability hearing, the VA is committed to helping Gomez find housing upon release.

“Shawn went above and beyond for me. He even helped my son fill out the paperwork and explained how he needed to present it to the VA representative at a college,” Gomez said.

If veterans wants to find out if they qualify for additional benefits, they should ask to speak with Mary Donovan of the Veterans Healing Veterans from the Inside Out (VHV) program. The VHV meets on the first and third Thursdays of the month in the ARC building, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

“No matter if currently involved in a group, we will help you,” said Ron Self, VHV’s founder and program developer.

“The VHV plans to work with our veterans on Death Row as well,” Self added. “There are approximately 70 self-identified vets on Death Row, and we want to help them and their families find out if they qualify for any additional VA benefits.”

If an incarcerated veteran wants to learn more about VHV or if they or their family may qualify for additional benefits, please contact:

Mary Donovan, Executive Director of VHV

PO BOX 432

San Quentin, CA 94964

mary@veteranshealingveterans.org

The VHV website is veteranshealingveterans.org

New Rules for Veterans’ Transitional Housing


http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
Boatwright

SQN launches new website, SanQuentinNews.com

by

The Last Mile inmate coding program, Code.7370, has designed a new website for San Quentin News at www.sanquentinnews.com.

Inmate Harry Hemphill built the website. He graduated from the coding class in April 2015. His work is the third iteration of the website since it debuted in 2010.

Harry Hemphill (center) at work with other coders

Harry Hemphill (center) at work with other coders

“I’ve acquired a lot of technical skills,” said Hemphill. “I’m passionate about giving back to the community.”

According to Hemphill, the project was budgeted for 150 hours of work, but he said it probably took a little more time. He said working on projects for other companies was fun, but having an opportunity to do work for San Quentin News was “engaging and exciting.”

Another Code.7370 graduate and former San Quentin News staff writer, Aly Tamboura, who paroled in October 2016, developed the previous website.

Hemphill worked closely with Tulio Cardoza, who left San Quentin in 2011. He now works as a staff member for Code.7370.

“It’s an honor to be back, and even more of an honor to support (the program),” said Cardoza. “People here take the opportunity they’re given and run with it.”

“Tulio was an asset to get information I didn’t have readily available to me,” said Hemphill. “He gave me the tools and support I needed to get the job done.”

Several News staff members participated with getting the website ready after learning how to add San Quentin News editions, May 2017 through September 2017, to the website.

Because inmates do not have access to the Internet, News staff transferred photos and text from the newspaper’s Adobe InDesign files to WordPress software on a server in the coding program. Once staff members added the information on a stand-alone station in prison, outside Code.7370 staff placed it on the San Quentin News web page.

The idea for a new website was first presented in 2013 when students from the University of California, Berkeley Haas School of Business wrote a 56-page expansion plan for San Quentin News. Later, donations and a grant from The Reva & David Logan Foundation provided funding to make it possible.

Steve McNamara, an adviser to the News since it was revived in 2008, and adviser Jon Spurlock, who wrote the “Haas Plan” while attending U.C. Berkeley’s Graduate School of Business, negotiated with The Last Mile to get the project underway.

McNamara built the first website for San Quentin News. He purchased do-it-yourself software, read the instructions, and with the help of his son posted snapshot versions of the newspaper online.

“What was missing in my primitive version was a search function and a sophisticated design that newspapers have moved to with their web versions,” said McNamara. “Now we will have both.”

After nearly a decade back in operation and almost 100 published editions, San Quentin News now has a website that some say rivals many mainstream newspapers.

Snap shot of the new SQ News' website

Snap shot of the new SQ News’ website

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise


http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
http://sanquentinnews.com/the-100th-edition-san-quentin-news/

Arnulfo T. Garcia a dream continues to prosper

San Quentin’s big transition as non-designated facility

Shakespeare troupe brings on comedy and drama

by

Energy was high and humor flowed like good ale when performers in costume of Old England mixed with the audience at the San Quentin Protestant Chapel prior to the performance of two plays. The Shakespeare at San Quentin troupe held performances of Measure For Measure on May 12 and Richard II on May 19.

Like Hamilton, these characters from the deep past were brought to life with a modern twist of music and dance, plus lots of jokes and sword fights.

Actress Caroline

Actress Caroline

On Oct. 19 and 20 the actors will perform original skits based on the lessons learned in the Shakespeare plays.

As if under stage direction, the outside guests arrived and were greeted to the sight of a group photo being taken of the cast and crew. The inmate-performers mixed with professional members of the Marin Shakespeare Company, have been working twice weekly for months.

Measure For Measure deals with criminal justice, and its plot was summarized before the performance began. “How do we as a society determine what is moral, ethical and legal and what is not? How do we enforce the law? Duke allows Angelo to step in and enforce the laws while the Duke travels. Really he plans to watch how Angelo governs disguised as a monk,” said Suraya Keating, director of the play.

King Richard II was set up by Lesley Currier, echoing our current national politics. “Richard’s not a good king. His advisors are not experts, and even so Richard II won’t listen to them, therefore, he says things that he shouldn’t. Disputes are settled by force and justified by God’s will — the duel.” 

“The power of the duel was right out of the movies with swords, tumbling and all sort of acrobatics,” said one guest.

If you were the king, what would happen if you lost everything?

“Programs like this make the prison safer for staff, inmates and are a true means of rehabilitation”

“The best things in life aren’t things,” was Keating’s takeaway from presenting this wonderful show. “Acting is 90 percent listening to others and ourselves” and the drama is what happens when we don’t really listen to each other. We seek to work with our performers to bring out this tension, said Keating.

Sonia with Sara in Measure for Measure

Sonia with Sara in Measure for Measure

The guests in the audience included the parents of Sara Sincell, who played Isabella. Her parents came from Maryland, as did her brother and sister-in-law, who also came to see the show.

“Programs like this make the prison safer for staff, inmates and are a true means of rehabilitation,” said Currier, who has organized such plays in San Quentin for 14 years.

This feeling was echoed by the actors.

“It set the tone for us by having the professionals perform with us. The physical humor was wonderful and helped me to understand the play,” said Eddie DeWeaver, who played the Warden in Measure for Measure.

“I used to wait for others to give me justice. By being able to see mercy (as a performer), I am able to give my younger self justice and peace,” said Jason Robinson, a South Central LA seventh-grade dropout grown into a Shakespearean actor in Measure for Measure.

“Make lemonade out of life. Whatever you believe about yourself, you can make come true. Imagine that,” said Belize Villafranco, who portrayed both the First Herald and Lord Willoughby in Richard II.

Performing before a live audience really makes a difference. “We humans often live in the past. Then we neglect to live in the moment. Acting brings your full attention to the moment,” said Jad Salem, who portrayed Sir Stephen Scroop in Richard II.

Most transformational was the admonition “Don’t own what you don’t create,” a realization that LeMar “Maverick” Harrison has gained through performing.

Juan Meza added, “I think about justice every day — is this what my victims wanted for justice? What about the youth that committed a crime? Did they have justice? Everyone wants justice — even that young man I was that committed the crime that sent me here.”

The performances were coordinated by the professionals of the Marin Shakespeare Company, which has sponsored Shakespeare at San Quentin since 2003. This organization has taken its San Quentin-learned process on the road and currently has programs launched or planned at eight California prisons.

Coming Oct. 19 and 20, 2017 at 10 am:  Parallel Play:  Original Theater Inspired by Shakespeare: autobiographical theater pieces written by the men of the SQ Shakespeare program.

Thanks in part to the California Arts Council; individuals can see videos of past SQ performances at www.marinshakespeare.org

http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/
http://sanquentinnews.com/folsom-womens-prison-puts-stage-production-shakespeare-play/

Prison reform could free 30,000 inmates says CSJ


Boatwright

Translate »