When I first came into San Quentin I had no expectations; what I found exceeded any expectations I might have had. I came for the TRUST (Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Teaching) food sale in May. I was invited by a professor I met at San Francisco State, a volunteer with the TRUST for over a year. A food sale is quite an experience, watching the hard work of the prisoners and the many volunteers. The men in TRUST asked me a lot of questions. Many wanted to know if prison was what I’d expected. My response was that I didn’t have expectations, surprising some. Partly because I’ve seen very few prison stories on television in the first place. In addition, I try not to judge people without good reason. Forewarned about the type men I would meet, I really enjoyed the experience of working side by side and talking with them. I learned a lot, about both prison and them.
The next time was I came to San Quentin for a TRUST general body meeting. Since that meeting I’ve been coming in twice a week, participating in the weekly Thursday workshop as a co-facilitator. The topics that we cover can apply to anyone’s life, learning a great deal during these workshops myself. It’s great to hear the men’s perspectives on the various topics and issues that come up during the sessions. What’s even more impressive is that the men actually facilitate the classes themselves; watching their weekly preparations and planning is amazing. The men of the San Quentin TRUST have greatly impacted my life. My coming to S.Q is more than luck to me. I’ve learned a completely different side of San Quentin, one rarely portrayed in the media; a side that more people should know about.
