Charlie Spence KidCAT Chairman and Co-founder Charlie Spence committed serious crimes as a teenager, but he transformed his life during almost 22 years in prison. “I know I can’t change the effects that I’ve had in the past, but I can change the effect I will have in the future,” Spence told the San Quentin News. “I believe life only matters in the effect it has on another life.” Spence started his incarceration as a confused 16-year-old who called 911 in an attempt to save the man his friend killed during a botched robbery. He … [Read more...] about KidCAT co-founder Charlie Spence home after 22 years
Curb Service shares truth, harmony and love
Rob Woods, Aaron Davis and Chris Balderas on stage performing From an Oakland street corner to San Francisco’s “Tenderloin” district to San Quentin State Prison, the music of freestyle collective Curb Service screams of power, truth, harmony and love—lots of love. They arrived at the prison on Feb. 22, six men and one woman who would soon erupt from their quiet demeanors to become superstars for an hour and a half in SQ’s Chapel B. “I could feel the energy when I walked through the gate,” said Kalin Freeman, who goes by the stage … [Read more...] about Curb Service shares truth, harmony and love
Coalition For Justice: furthering community reform in prison
Every six months, new relationships are forged and the power of community becomes renewed through San Quentin’s Coalition For Justice (CFJ). The self-help program’s latest cycle produced 23 graduates. These men gathered on Feb. 13 alongside their volunteer facilitators and incarcerated mentors to receive their certificates, celebrate together, and reflect on their personal transformation. “We don’t just teach social justice here,” said CFJ President Darnell “Moe” Washington. “What makes this group so different is that we go further … [Read more...] about Coalition For Justice: furthering community reform in prison
Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Kid CAT members with hygiene products donated from the residents of San Quentin for Huckleberry Youth Multi-Service Center A group of San Quentin prisoners collected money and hygiene items for Bay Area homeless youths. “Even in prison, guys got that spirit of giving,” said Gregory “Eagle” Coates, a member of the youth offender organization Kid CAT. Gregory Coates, Tommy Ross, Nou Phang Pang and Kid CAT Chairman Si Dang loading hygiene products in the rain “It’s always rewarding, especially for the guys that’ve had the … [Read more...] about Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Prisoners contributed their input on criminal justice reform
Participants sitting in a small circle share their personal experiences in the San Quentin Protestant Chapel Criminal justice reform took center stage at a San Quentin State Prison forum that brought together inmates, social justice advocates, formerly incarcerated citizens and public officials. “Reform has to change, as we all together are changing,” said Assemblymember Timothy Grayson, D-14th District, Concord. “We all still are rehabilitating. When I leave here, I’m going to tell people I just came from a place called ‘Project … [Read more...] about Prisoners contributed their input on criminal justice reform
Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
Students in the Kurt Huget guitar class On an otherwise quiet Sunday evening, nine guitars rang out in harmony and transformed San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel into a raucous concert hall. “This was a great opportunity for us to communicate musically with no boundaries and just let our hair down,” said volunteer instructor Kurt Huget. He showcased eight emerging artists from his weekly guitar clinic as they all plucked and strummed their way through a handpicked playlist of crowd favorites. “I just love these guys,” Huget said. “They’re … [Read more...] about Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
An incarcerated Black college student challenged the nation’s prison educators to rethink how they consistently force predominant White cultural perspectives onto the non-Whites who fill their classrooms. James King’s voice reached across the country to Indianapolis by way of video, where he introduced an academic paper he co-authored with Prison University Project (PUP) colleague Amber Shields at the National Conference on Higher Education in Prison. Amber Shields with James King (video screen) presenting their … [Read more...] about Incarcerated student challenges educators at national conference
Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster
The successful San Quentin Kid CAT program for youth offenders is expanding to Lancaster Prison, thanks to help from three former inmates. “It was really the guys inside’s hunger to get the program,” explained Tommy Winfrey, who left San Quentin in 2016. “There was a hunger there to change their lives. I saw the same concern and willingness to change that I witnessed during my time at San Quentin.” Kid CAT alumni Winfrey, Philip Melendez and Anouthinh Pangthong recently visited Lancaster to help them start their own Kid CAT chapter. After … [Read more...] about Former youth offenders start Kid CAT program at Lancaster
Professor Shaheen Pasha rethinks her views about life behind bars
When Professor Shaheen Pasha’s childhood friend, Tarik, was sentenced to life in prison, she was forced to rethink her views about life behind bars. Now the multimedia reporter and University of Massachusetts-Amherst journalism professor focuses her career on illuminating mass incarceration’s hidden universe. Her friend’s sentencing also made her aware of the lack of rehabilitative prison programs. “In the back of my mind, I knew I needed to do something,” she said. “I had to confront my own innate biases and fears.” Before her work in … [Read more...] about Professor Shaheen Pasha rethinks her views about life behind bars
The restorative power of creative writing: Incarcerated people find healing through the written word
Inmates captivated a San Quentin audience of more than 100 on Oct. 20 in the Catholic chapel. They told stories inspired by their childhood, life in prison, dreams and nightmares. “Writing—that’s what saved me in prison,” said Joe Camacho, a former prisoner and alumnus of the writing program called Brothers in Pen. “It became a survival skill to take the stress away and to not think about where I was at.” More than 20 inmates read the stories they had written with the encouragement of instructor Zoe Mullery. “Writing—that’s what saved me in … [Read more...] about The restorative power of creative writing: Incarcerated people find healing through the written word