This newspaper has previously reported on the life and untimely death of former editor Arnulfo T. Garcia. However, Garcia was much more than editor of the San Quentin News (SQN), he was a towering visionary and dreamer.
Unlike most dreamers, he had the rarely bestowed persistence and determination to carry out his dream. The result was the newspaper’s Social Forums and the respect of news organizations from around the world.
“Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice. NEW YORK TIMES July 27, 2018 “Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance”
Under the guidance of Garcia, the San Quentin News transitioned from being a reporter of news to being a source of news. Through the News forums, Garcia was able to let criminal justice decision makers experience the results of their decisions.
Nicholas and Monica Garcia, Sabrina Garcia, Carmen, Arnulfo and Nick Garcia
Those decision makers were then able to get feedback from inmates regarding inmate families and the communities. The reach of Garcia’s work went well beyond the prison walls. His determination to make SQN into a respected source of criminal justice information cannot be overstated.
In December 2017, Garcia’s family began the Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation to carry on Arnulfo’s dream. Supported by the Horse Club Foundation and the Con-Ex Restorative Justice Project, the Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation is developing its initial program of a horse ranch style reentry facility.
New Executive Arnulfo Garcia hard at work inside San Quentin News, 2016
As a former writer on this newspaper, I had both the honor and pleasure to know and work with Garcia. Arnulfo’s powerful impact on inmates and aspects of the corrections system, led me to believe that Garcia’s dreams were built on a solid foundation. He had expansive dreams and wanted to provide solutions and reforms that would generate results, not more effort.
Arnulfo’s idea related to reentry facilities and expanding San Quentin News as the voice of the voiceless. He wanted to address inequalities created by flaws in the criminal justice system. One of the biggest difficulties for paroling inmates is successful reentry back into the community. As Arnulfo and his family grew up with horses, he knew the value of caring and providing for horses as a way to learn responsibility.
With over 150 years of combined horse experience, the value of horse sense is well recognized in the Garcia family. The Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation associated with the Horse Club to allow paroling inmates to experience the responsibility associated with being an equestrian.
The Horse Club is a membership association providing sanctuary, refuge and a retirement haven to horses for which there is no caretaker. By teaching parolees how to care for horses, the Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation believes that Arnulfo’s dream and mission will be fulfilled. Paroling inmates will learn to provide for horses while learning to reenter the community as a contributing member.
From illegal immigration and reentry facilities to criminal justice news, Arnulfo had broad and extensive ideas to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. He continuously reported that it all begins with acknowledging responsibility for our actions. From that basis, Arnulfo taught that one can then begin a new journey of progress.
As directors of the foundation, Arnulfo’s siblings. Carmelita, Nick, Jesus and Art, are committed to the fulfillment of Arnulfo’s dream. Arnulfo’s sisters Leilani and Maria are also pledged to the pursuit of Arnulfo’s dream. Through Arnulfo T. Garcia Foundation, Arnulfo’s dream, mission and legacy live on.
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