Robert Bruce Garrett The San Quentin community came together on Sept. 18 to pay tribute to the life of Robert Bruce Garrett, 69, who passed away July 30 after a long battle with cancer. He was born Feb- ruary 1, 1950. Garrett, known to his friends as Lucky, leaves behind dozens of fellow men- in-blue, who said he was their barber. Others said they passed the day playing his favorite game, dominoes. Many more of his friends were in a Christian fellowship with him. John “Gillie” Gillies be- came friends with Garrett at another prison … [Read more...] about Remembering another fallen brother: Robert Bruce Garrett
Historical fiction gives account of the slave trade
Homegoing, a debut novel by Yaa Gyasi (2016), explores the unhealed wounds of slavery, compellingly rendered through several hundred years, seven generations, fourteen characters over a span of two continents. The title, “Homegoing,”comes from an old African-American belief that death allowed an en- slaved person’s spirit to travel back to Africa. The saga, which is conveyed in interlinked stories, follows two African tribes connected by half-sisters unknown to each other. One sister becomes a part of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, while … [Read more...] about Historical fiction gives account of the slave trade
Poet and thespian Donté Clark visits San Quentin
Donté Clark Poet and thespian Donté Clark, 29, visited a classroom at San Quentin on Aug. 11 to talk about his experiences of being a young Black writer from North Richmond, Ca. “On the surface, my writing is about my feelings, but it’s also about freedom,” Clark told a group of six incarcerated men sitting with community volunteers, who are educators for Academic Peer Education Program (APEP). Clark added, “I always wanted to come inside a prison to teach–but what can I offer? I came to understand, if I can’t give information, … [Read more...] about Poet and thespian Donté Clark visits San Quentin
San Quentin workers donate more than $7,000 to non-profits
San Quentin workers donated more than $7,000 of their paychecks to two non- profit organizations selected by Warden Ron Davis that serve young people in the San Francisco Bay Area. “I took so much from society. Now I can give back,” said Ronald Bruce Carter at the Oct. 15 check presentation. Tracy Herrmann said, “It’s a big difference from the past, when I’d take.” JVP employee Tracy Herrmann Paul Huyck added, “It’s a good thing to donate money to help society.” The three men are part of the Joint Venture Program, which was … [Read more...] about San Quentin workers donate more than $7,000 to non-profits
Study advances alternative form of criminal justice
A new study outlines a restorative justice strategy based on “public redemption” that the authors claim produces lower recidivism rates than traditional criminal justice punishment strategies. Public redemption, the study claims, produces an avenue for offenders to tell the truth and be accountable for bad deeds with an outcome that’s beneficial to all parties in the community. The University of Pennsylvania Law School wrote the research paper, “The Opposite of Punishment: Imagining a Path to Public Redemption.” “Our criminal … [Read more...] about Study advances alternative form of criminal justice
Retail giant Alibaba gives workshop on working in E-commerce
As part of an interviewing workshop, Peter Stern, from online retail giant Alibaba, told about two dozen incarcerated computer coders that learning Mandarin is a big plus, if they want to get a job with the E-commerce company. Although the Chinese firm does not have a policy on hiring formerly incarcerated people, Stern said that his inspiration to be involved with San Quentin’s incarcerated population came after visiting the entrepreneurial program, The Last Mile (TLM). TLM, established in 2012 by venture capitalists Chris Redlitz and … [Read more...] about Retail giant Alibaba gives workshop on working in E-commerce
No More Tears violence prevention program originates from the heart
No More Tears’ Lonnie Morris right) and members of Healing (center) with Mattie Scott (center for Our Families and Our Nations As the sun was setting on San Quentin, dozens of incarcerated men and Bay Area citizens gathered in the Protestant Chapel to break bread, on Sept. 14, in celebration of No More Tears, a violence prevention program. Mick Gardner, executive director of the program established in 2002, revealed that in the last three years, 43 participants of No More Tears returned to the community and none returned to prison. … [Read more...] about No More Tears violence prevention program originates from the heart
Two restorative justice classes celebrate completion
Incarcerated men and community members from the local San Francisco Bay Area met in San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel on Aug. 16 to celebrate the graduation of two restorative justice programs. The Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG pronounced “vogue”) and Next Step honored dozens of incarcerated men who completed the year- long programs, sponsored by Insight Prison Project (IPP). “The transformation I see in so many of you is why we keep doing the work that we do,” said IPP Executive Director Leonard Rubio. Rubio talked about the … [Read more...] about Two restorative justice classes celebrate completion
Jurists look to San Quentin
Alameda Public Defenders seek input during forum Prisoners seeking to understand the role of public defenders invited Alameda County Public Defender Brandon Woods to San Quentin to talk about his vision for public defense. He said he is working to make significant changes to improve defense outcomes. The purpose of the Sept. 6 forum was to “promote public safety by building a bridge between public defenders and the incarcerated in order to develop strategies that address the social, environmental and economic conditions that foster … [Read more...] about Jurists look to San Quentin
SIDEWALK CHALK CONTEST
SIDEWALK CHALK CONTEST Just outside the Receiving and Release building 40 incarcerated men sat, squat or bent over and held chalk of every color to decorate a 32 inch by 32 inch square on a tar surface with the artists’ meaning of peace. It’s all for The Day of Peace https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_PeaceSidewalk Chalk Contest. Hines, who facilitates the William James Association https://williamjamesassociation.org/prison_arts/ sponsored Arts in Corrections program in San Quentin, would determine first, second, third … [Read more...] about SIDEWALK CHALK CONTEST