Alliance for Change held a banquet honoring community volunteers and reaffirming its goal to change the narrative. The event featured guest speakers Niaz Kasravi, PhD, and co-founder Nathanial “Shahid” Rouse.
Alliance for Change is a Social Justice group.
“We are bridging worlds and learning from each other,” said Kim Richman, PhD, Alliance president. “It’s time to change the narratives; it can’t wait any longer.”
“We need your voices and determination. I want to thank you and honor you. Keep up the work,” said Kasravi.
She is deputy director of the Anti Recidivism Coalition and the lead researcher and associate for Domestic Human Rights Program of Amnesty International USA. Like Richman, her Ph.D. is in criminology. Kasravi is a former NAACP criminal justice director.
“Every department has a co-leader who is inside and outside (community volunteers). We don’t just talk it; we live it. We help guys not to recidivate and be community leaders,” said Karen Lovaas, a board member on the education team.
“We teach people the different theories of justice and how to achieve it in a pro-social manner. Also, we make sure when people leave prison, they have the resources they need to be successful,” said R. Malik Harris, the inside finance and development co-leader.
These resources include a Welcome Home backpack with a starter cell phone, a Clipper card (public transportation pass), toiletries and assistance in obtaining birth certificates and Social Security cards.
Alliance has campus organization at the University of San Francisco and San Francisco State University, according to Nathanial Whitaker.
The event started with Kasravi. The Iranian native spoke of being surprised to find America’s criminal justice system broken. Kasravi said she takes comfort that you can advocate against injustices in American, while exercising dissent in Iran puts your life in danger.
Kasravi took the podium at San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel and said, “The Narrative (tough on crime) we knew was the course to self-destruction. It leads to the U.S. having five percent of the world population but 25 percent of prison population with African-Americans bearing the brunt.
“The new coalition wants to focus on non-violent and drug offenses, but they are missing the point… no one is talking about addressing the racial inequality, the dehumanization. I don’t think they go far enough to discuss why people ended up here in the first place. People need an opportunity for redemption. Do everything you can to never come back and don’t lend credibility to this narrative,” she said to the crowd of about 150 inmates and guests
Rouse spent 30 years incarcerated, but now he’s a registered voter and a married man.
“He’s a case worker, helping marginalized people find affordable housing and health care. He coordinates Alliance’s Bridge Project which offers a support group for newly paroled people in the Bay Area,” said Richman, introducing Rouse.
It was Rouse’s first time back inside after being one of the founders of the group, along with Erin O’Connor and Harris.
“I am looking at a bunch of men who have made the decision to be better men than who they were and the things around them,” said Rouse. “I never expected the crowd I see today, the many faces, the new members. Having a person stop me and say, ‘Thank you for starting this group for the changes it has made in my life is huge.”
A delicious meal was served and cooked by John “Yayah” Parratt, Karl Freelon and Jerry Williams.
Then Thompson-Bonilla spoke.
“Changing the narrative doesn’t mean changing the conversation; it means action,” said Thompson-Bonilla. “The problem with the negative perception is that it stains reality. I’m looking at the men in blue, and I know that it doesn’t fit.”
Afterward, the men in blue gave awards to Marisol Beaulac (case worker), Berklee Donavan (case worker), Lovaas, Nate Whitaker (SFSU Alliance president), Lily O’Neal (re-integration team), Nick Macker, Nathanie Moore (co-leader of education) and President-founding member Dr. Richman.
“It means so much to be recognized,” said Donavan.
“Thank you. This means a lot to all of us, but more than the piece of paper, we appreciate the space that makes this possible,” said Moore.
“We have access to the leaders of tomorrow and today. I think we should take advantage of that,” said Ricky Gaines, the inside event coordinator.
Also honored was Alliance’s chief sponsor. “Mana Jaundoo works an eight-hour day, then comes and sponsors our program. She’s not here because of a terrible family tragedy. We are with her in spirits,” said Richman.
Raphaele Casale was thanked for filling Jaundoo’s shoes, which kept the event from being canceled.
“She’s my sister from another mother with a heart of gold and no agenda. Her cause is my cause,” said Casale about why she answered Jaundoo’s call.
Richman also thanked the administration and Chaplain Mardi Jackson.
The graduates of Alliance for Change, cycle nine, were honored for completing the course on July 13. The Social Justice class is Monday through Thursday for two hours a day. It was the first group for many participants.
Charlie Spence completed the group and became a Pro Team co-leader. He spoke about Alliance’s concept of justice.
”Our relationship with justice is how we treat other people, how we feel about ourselves. Not as a single event in time but as a continual journey over the course of your life — a living and thriving concept in which we are all connected,” said Spence.
The other graduates were Alex Bracamonte, Anthony Clark, Anthony Denard, B. Raheem Ballard, Carlos Smith, Chuck Nicholson, Charles A. Ross, Conrai D. Jackson, Dan Kramer, Darryl Schilling, Gary Contreras, Gary Roberson, Jaime Sanchez, James Brady, Jason Samuel, Kenneth Donaghe, Kenneth J. Vernon, Ladelle Jackson, Ralph Brown, Ramon Watkins, Rodney Roberts, Salvador Zapien, Wayne A. Boatwright, and William Barnhard Jr.
Contreras was recently found suitable for parole.
“If I am lucky enough to get out, I want to thank everybody,” said Contreras.
Darnell “Moe” Washington’s 50th birthday and Donte Smith’s birthday two days later were celebrated by Richman who lead the singing of “Happy Birthday.”
Inmate Shadeed Wallace-Stepter, executive secretary/of public relations, was acknowledged for graduating from Coastline Community College earlier that day as was Travis Westly.
“Great day…a graduation, a proposal and a banquet…it’s as good as a day gets in prison,” Westly said.
He earned an AA degree in social and behavioral science from Coastline Community College, plus his girlfriend accepted his proposal.
Harris gave a speech about six degrees of separation.
“We need to expand this out. You may not think that you know people but you do. You are all connected to Obama through six people. Kim Richman knows Joan Peter-Cilia, who knows Condoleezza Rice, who worked for George Bush, who has been hanging out with Bill Clinton, who knows Obama,” said Harris.
Alliance member Anouthinh Pangthong closed with this comment: “Each and every one of us has a story, a song. How can the world know about us if we stay quiet?”
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