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
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
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
One member of Black liberation group paroles
Black activist Debbie Sims Africa overcame a decade of parole denials and finally received her freedom after serving nearly 40 years within Pennsylvania’s prison system. Africa and eight other MOVE members were all jointly convicted of a policeman’s murder in 1978. MOVE is a political organization founded in 1970s Philadelphia to protest rampant police brutality. The officer died during a raid on MOVE’s residential headquarters, detailed in a recent workers.org article. Africa, now 61, is the first of the “MOVE 9” to be … [Read more...] about One member of Black liberation group paroles
Pipeline protester takes plea deal
Standing Rock activist Red Fawn Fallis recently accepted a federal plea deal in order to avoid facing trial for the attempted murder of a police officer that took place at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest, according to the website unicornriot.ninja. Authorities claim that Fallis fired three shots at them during her arrest while protesting against construction of the North Dakota pipeline in October 2016. Her supporters describe the charges as inconceivable. “None of us could believe it. We just collectively burst into tears,” Eryn Wise, a … [Read more...] about Pipeline protester takes plea deal
Exclusive screening ‘From Incarceration to Education’
University of California at Berkeley filmmakers visited San Quentin for an exclusive screening of “From Incarceration to Education,” an original documentary about four formerly incarcerated persons who successfully became UC graduate students. The April event included a question and answer session with first-time directors Skylar Economy and Christian Collins. They were joined by two of the film’s formerly incarcerated stars, Richard Rodriguez-Leon and Shalita Williams. "SNY [Sensitive Needs Yard] ...comprises roughly half the … [Read more...] about Exclusive screening ‘From Incarceration to Education’
More women and mothers winding up behind bars
As the female population behind bars continues to rise nationally, so does the number of mothers. Consequently, their children face traumatic and lengthy separations from their primary caregiver, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. “When you incarcerate women, you incarcerate the whole family,” said Lavette Mayes, a woman who spent more than a year in Cook County Jail because she had no way to raise $25,000 for bail on a domestic aggravated assault charge. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as … [Read more...] about More women and mothers winding up behind bars
Reintegraciόn y trabajo dificil para Ex-Convictos
Ex convictos continúan siendo estigmatizados por su historial criminal, en particular al intentar buscar un trabajo legítimo. Sin embargo, los empresarios están enfrentando una creciente presión a nivel nacional para cambiar sus pólizas de no ofrecer empleo a ex convictos. Una vez que un preso se reintegra a la sociedad, encontrar y mantener un empleo se convierte en el principal factor que determina sí un preso tiene éxito o regresar a la prisión. El movimiento “Ban the box” buscar revocar las pregunta de “si” o “no” a cerca de felonías … [Read more...] about Reintegraciόn y trabajo dificil para Ex-Convictos