May 25 was not a typical Sunday on San Quentin’s Lower Yard. Amid the morning tennis matches and basketball games that inmates play against the Bay Area community, dozens of Texans came to walk laps and raise funds in support of children who have endured trying times.
The originators of the fundraiser are inmates Stephen Pascascio, Sam Johnson, Dwight Krizman and Gino Sevacos. It was the fourth one held at San Quentin.
“I met Vanessa Stone six years ago,” Pascascio said. “When I asked her what she does, she said that she raises money for traumatized kids around the world. When I brought the fundraising idea to the administration, they were fully on board. The rest is history.” He added, “It is an honor and blessing to help such a worthy cause.”
Inmates, prison staffers, Bay Area people and representatives from Amala Foundation walked the first lap in silence as the soft sounds of Love is Space, a devotional song by Deva Premal, filled the air.
Upon completing the lap, walkers engaged in intimate conversations.
“After walking a couple of laps with an inmate and talking, sometimes you get this knowledge and experience that’s unexpected,” said Texan Cranston “Breez” Smith, 23.
Breez is a fourth grade teacher, who five days earlier was in a classroom with about dozen 10-year-olds. He’s participated in every San Quentin Amala walk.
The Amala Foundation represents children from more than 20 countries, with 16 languages and various religions. The foundation holds weeklong residential summer camps in Texas and California for teenagers from around the world. The California summit, scheduled for July 21-27 in Foresthill, still has space for young men ages 14-18 who live in California. For more information go to www.amalafoundation.org.
“During the day, there’s a morning circle where participants can share in prayer from their culture,” said Amala representative Eden Trenor. “All meals are cooked together as a way to unite without language,” she said. “There are sports, games and talking circles.”
Trenor said the summits do not use traditional classroom settings. The children meet informally. “It’s about cultural exchanges,” she said.
“What I learned from the peace summit is, no matter what your past, there’s a connection that can be made from just being your authentic self,” said a purple-shirted Amala guest, Hanlon Johnson, 20, who’d just come from the Texas summit. Hanlon lives in Marin County. He said it was his first time inside San Quentin.
San Francisco native Matthew Makins, 67, said it was also his first time in San Quentin, “I am thrilled that we’re sharing the moment.”
An emotional Vanessa Stone said, “I cannot tell what you are giving. I thank you for that.” Stone sang a song about the values of human life. She said the lyrics were inspired by words from the Dalai Lama. “Thank you for not wasting your human life,” she said.
“Happiness is not a limited resource,” Stone said. Amala representative Nanny said, “Thank you for showing me what a man can be.”
“I invite you to think about your life. Transformation is here,” Stone said. “What you’ve done today is to connect with a world without question. I invite you to allow yourself to be born again. Never underestimate the power of God.”
Evelyn Apoko, abducted and held captive in war-torn Uganda, survived a bombing raid and eventually made her way to the United States.
“I do not blame them for what they’ve done to me,” Apoko said, referring to the soldiers who bombed her. “We were all doing what we thought necessary to do to survive.”
Apoko said, “I look beyond my own imagination through the work that I do with Amala Foundation. The foundation has given me the voice — a voice possible in the village, and in prison. We all deserve peace and justice in the world.”
“It’s such a blessing to be here. It doesn’t matter where you come from. We’re all people. We all have a heart,” Johnson said. “The main thing I’ve learned from Amala is that we’re all people with a heart. It’s all here. We don’t have to search for it. So, let’s all live together. We are all one tribe, one village.”
Vid Francis, 26, said, “When someone gets beyond understanding that hurt people hurt people, they understand that life is life.”
“After lap, after lap of walking with you men, I’ve come to understand that you are not defined by the act that got you here,” Francis added.
Breez performed a couple of Spoken Word pieces with inmate Antwan “Banks” Williams. In the first one, Banks began with, “I don’t wanna make a move … Thank you Jesus, for giving me what I need,” followed by Breez rapping, “revolution sharp enough to cut the noose ’n’ knot.”
The second Spoken Word piece had Dwight Krizman playing congas and Lee Jaspar adding guitar. The inspirational performance ended by Banks saying that he feels “blessed for today, because tomorrow is not promised.”
More music came by Krizman, bongos; Jaspar, guitar; Joe Mason, bass; Gino Sevacos, guitar; JulianGlenn “Luke” Padgett, keyboard. The song Let us Pray was written for the Amala children.
Jun Homomoto assisted Community Partnership Manager Steve Emrick in escorting guests in and out of San Quentin.
“This event allows you to be involved in something larger than yourself,” Emrick told the inmates.
The fundraiser ended with more than 200 participants joining hands.
