Dozens of incarcerated men showed that they could guide their rage into power and transform themselves into peacemakers before a Nov. 21 audience that included local mayors, prison administrators, public safety officials and fellow convicted criminals.
The violence prevention program, Guiding Rage Into Power (GRIP), held its fourth graduation of 72 San Quentin State Prison inmates, along with 12 inmates who had completed a domestic violence counselor curriculum.
“GRIP taught me to be accountable for my crime, to stop looking at external factors,” said Vaughn Miles, 41, who graduated from GRIP last year. “It’s an obligation for taking a life, causing a mother hurt that will never be quenched. My senseless act can’t be undone, but I refused to sit around and make it anymore senseless.”
Conceived by Jacques Verduin, GRIP is a comprehensive offender accountability program.
“It is a best-practices model, born from 18 years of pioneering and working with thousands of prisoners,” its program read.
Verduin is executive director of Insight-Out, a process used by GRIP, which takes participants on a healing journey deep inside themselves to come back out transformed and ready to serve others.
The Insight-Out process uses former prisoners as “Change Agents.” The Change Agents say they are ready to give back to the communities they once took from, work with at-risk youth and teach those who are still incarcerated.
Esmirna Tibay, who is inmate Damon Cooke’s girlfriend said that she has noticed “big changes” in Cooke. “His anger is gone,” she said. “If it weren’t for GRIP, I might have left him,” she joked — “maybe,” she added, smiling at him.
“I’m really excited to be here because I get the opportunity to witness lives being and continuing to be transformed,” added Natalie Tovar, a Walkenhorst Customer Relationship Manager.
Speaking to the graduating inmates, then Acting Warden Kelly Mitchell said, “Each one of you, who have the courage and understand the hurt you’ve made, we welcome you. I know you can make a difference. We all have the chance to be a peacemaker. I want you all to take that pledge. I look forward to seeing you on the streets.”
Mitchell said that she sees a big difference between Pelican Bay and San Quentin. She said that programs like the ones at San Quentin bring down the amount of inmate violence. She continued talking about how programs help offenders once they are released from prison.
“Our inmates get out and stay out,” Mitchell said. “Only two lifers have come back since I’ve been here and both only for parole violations. So I know it makes a difference.”
The GRIP program recognizes its graduates through a ceremony called “A Rite of Passage.”
The Rite of Passage reads, “Together we learn that being free isn’t just a geographic fact; it’s not just the other side of the gate. At the heart of being free is not knowing where you are, but knowing who you are. That identity is sustained by building a tribe or community that helps remind you how and where you belong. The larger community that bears witness to the GRIP graduation ritual serves to actualize this right of passage when members transition from offenders to servants.”
Robert Frye, a GRIP graduate, paroled from San Quentin several months ago.
He said that he is currently employed as an electrician and that he and several other San Quentin alumni conduct speaking engagements at local colleges and youth facilities, touting GRIP, Victim Offender Education Group and Restorative Justice practices.
“Today is a glorious day. It’s a day of recognition,” added another paroled GRIP graduate, Richard Polma. “What a beautiful thing to be free, knowing that the work we’re doing helps create true peacemakers. These men are saving lives and are carrying the peacemaking word to the world. That’s the greatest gift we can give toward public safety.”
Gayle McLaughlin, who termed out as Richmond mayor, now sits on the city council and continues to support the self-help group The Richmond Project.
McLaughlin said that “Richmond Rises” is an anti-violence group that welcomes returning citizens to a safe environment. “There’s a real commitment by the men in The Richmond Project to give back to the youth,” she said. “We are working on a one-stop center in Richmond for returning citizens, called the Welcoming Center.”
“Excellent, beautiful feeling to be here — my son came all the way from Sweden to be here,” said inmate David Jassy, 40, one of the graduates. “GRIP teaches getting in touch with your emotions and emotional intelligence and conflict resolution. We’re all humans and we’re all the same; we just go through different journeys. These are things I want to teach my son. I want him to see that all these men chose certain paths, and this is where they ended up. Since I can’t be out there and teach him, at least this gives him an opportunity to see a role model. Even if just for a few hours … It takes away from the stereotypical … I hope it inspires him to be a peacemaker.”
“I sincerely hope Jeffrey Beard and all the wardens recognize the excellent programming being offered at San Quentin. It should be funded and offered at all California institutions,” said Mike Daly, a senior probation officer.
Eric Villanueva: The number one reason I became involved in the GRIP group is to stop my violence and to have the tools and knowledge so never again will I feel the need to do harm to anyone.
Johnnie Walker: What I got out of the GRIP program is number one; how to stop my violence and do no harm; number two; how I practice turning the tool from the GRIP program into life skills; and number three; the importance of becoming a peacemaker.
Joseph Demerson: What I really enjoyed about the GRIP program was that the program created a safe environment for me to analyze my past to be able to understand my present emotional state. Secondly, GRIP allowed me to process the pain from my past with a deep understanding of emotional intelligence.
Clayborne Dennis: Being part of Tribe 654 has opened my eyes to understand not to take things personal and to be patient with my actions in order to respond to things instead of reacting. Be in peace Mr. Clarence Hill!
Charlie Thao (Tribe 654): Through GRIP, I learned that hurt people hurt people, healed people, heal people, and that only through forgiveness of ourselves and from others that can cease this rage.
Thomas R. Jeffery: In GRIP I’ve learned to put a handle on violence, how to stop and think, how not to take everything personal, how to embrace life, the good and the bad.
Lam Hong: From GRIP, I learn to stop my violence and do no harm. Best of all, I learned to develop emotional intelligence. Now I am free from problems and blame. I now know to trust my experience with my identity.
Jeffery A. Williams (Tribe 654): Most importantly, the GRIP program has clearly demonstrated my part in becoming a peacemaker. I and I alone am responsible for how I respond to life’s challenges.
Tare Beltranchuc: The GRIP program has equipped me with the tools and techniques to cope with potential violent situations in a skillful manner.
Jaime Sanchez: About the GRIP program, I learn that even though I grew up in a difficult place and that a lot of my character defects are the result in grand part of my up-bringing. I do not have to remain stuck in my old ways but instead I can choose to become a better person, a person capable of being what I was meant to be in the first place. A person which new priority is to be a peacekeeper.
Johnny Gomez: The best thing about graduating from GRIP was the expression of pride on my mom’s, dad’s and son’s face.
Benny Wiggins: What I’ve learned in the GRIP program is process my emotions by feeling them and releasing my emotions assertively and properly non-violent communication.
Ricky Penaloza: What I get out of this self-help group GRIP is how to deal with my anger, attitude and feelings for other people and how to communicate as a peacemaker.
Damon L. Cooke (Tribe 654): If we live long enough, changes are we’ll experience the crossroads of “Integrity” and the questions that haunt us all when confronted. GRIP is the answer.
Ron Ehde: The GRIP program has helped me to come out of my shell to learn, grow and be a part of something bigger than myself.
Jesse Smith: I have a sense of understanding and insight into my feelings that have been bottled up for so long. I also have dealt with problems better. Now I’m able to take a step back.
James Wortham: I understand my sensations, emotions and thoughts and how they coincided in harmony allows me to be more compassionate and respond skillfully.
Terry Clark (Tribe 654): GRIP helped me to understand victims impact, to make amends and make peace with the life. I had no right to take, to transform myself to become a peacemaker.
Ernest Hill (Tribe 654): What GRIP means to me and what I gain from the program is the self of family and being willing to express any feelings and emotions without individual judging me behind showing those emotions.
Rahsaan Thomas contributed to this story
