The Insight Prison Project (IPP) known for its restorative justice groups such as the Victims Offenders Education Group is not normally associated with the art community at San Quentin. However, IPP has recently introduced a new group, The Artistic … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2013
San Quentin Avon Breast Cancer Walk
Amid the sounds of tennis balls hitting the hard court, basketball players yelling for the ball, and geese squawking as they fed on bread crumbs and grass, inmates at San Quentin began the first of two days of an annual walk-a-thon to help find a … [Read more...]
A Restorative Justice Dialogue
At age 17, I married my high school sweetheart, graduated from high school, got a well-paying job at a major aircraft company and became a devoted father, all in one year—1965. I guess it would be correct to say that we were well on our way to … [Read more...]
One Father’s Perspective on Sports, Raising a Family and Reality
I met author Jeff Gillenkirk at a baseball game between the San Quentin All-Stars and the Pacifics. The Pacifics is an independent baseball team that hails out of San Rafael. According to the team manager, Mike Shapiro, “The Pacifics provide the … [Read more...]
Win-Win Outcomes For S.Q. Dog Program
Not many people are aware that the San Quentin Fire Department co-sponsors a dog training program called “Pen Pals of San Quentin” funded exclusively by the Marin Humane Society. The program houses dogs going through behavioral and physical … [Read more...]
San Quentin Islamic Community Graduates 30 Men After Ramadan
At a celebration after Ramadan, San Quentin’s Islamic community held a graduation for 30 students who completed three spiritually based classes. The celebration after Ramadan is called Eid-ul-Fitr, which means reoccurring happiness. The classes … [Read more...]
Construction Tech Class Seeks 27 Students
A new vocational course at San Quentin seeks 27 dedicated students, according to the prison’s education department. “This curriculum will ground the trainee in the basic knowledge and principles of carpentry, masonry, concrete finishing, electrical … [Read more...]
Prisoners Submit Essays to Yale
Last year, The Yale Law Journal asked prisoners throughout the United States to submit essays on their perspective about how the law affects their lives. The editors said they received “about 1,500 responses from people all across the United … [Read more...]
Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin
Democracy Among Veterans The spirit of democracy thrives among a group of veterans inside the walls of San Quentin. In July the Vietnam Veterans Group of San Quentin held the annual executive body elections. In a tight race the group elected US Army … [Read more...]
San Francisco Debates Need for New Jail
San Francisco’s sheriff and the city’s Chief Probation Officer have opposite ideas when it comes to the city needing a new jail. Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi believes the city needs a new jail, whereas Chief Probation Officer Wendy Still told the San … [Read more...]