The Bay Area’s gypsy swing, band Beso Negro (Black Kiss) treated San Quentin prisoners to acoustic musical mastery at its Sept. 29 event, which was San Quentin’s final yard show of the year. Loud applause and whistles greeted the group, as lead singer/guitarist Adam Roach’s piercing vocals opened the 90-minute set. Bassist Cheyenne Young, guitarist Eli Carlton-Pearson and drummer Ethan Turner filled out the ensemble. “They were bad ass,” said inmate J. Esparza, who plays with the prison house band Continuum. “They were phenomenal. They … [Read more...] about Beso Negro performs in year’s final yard show at SQ
CA leads nation in women on Death Row
California leads the nation with 23 women on Death Row, but the condemned women are largely invisible and forgotten behind bars, and their stories rarely see the light of day. California has more than three times the number of condemned women in Texas (six on condemn) and in Alabama (five on condemn), according a Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) report. The women on California’s Death Row are housed in Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla. Until 1933, they were housed in San Quentin in the Women’s Ward. They … [Read more...] about CA leads nation in women on Death Row
Celebrating SQ’s 12th annual Addiction Recovery Day
Opening up or remaining anonymous was a hot topic at San Quentin’s 12th annual Addiction Recovery Day, Sept. 29. “One of the things I’m seeing is the stigma around addiction,” said visitor Daniel Petersen, of the Support 4 Recovery organization. “How can we change that if we remain anonymous? People need to see the face of recovery. “I’m employed—I have a relationship with my family. It’s about choices today, because you know the consequences,” Petersen added. “I still know where the liquor stores and drug dealers are. By sharing our … [Read more...] about Celebrating SQ’s 12th annual Addiction Recovery Day
Pow Wow celebration sees return of Native leader
Lee Polanco was a correctional officer in San Quentin from the late 1980s to the 2000s. He still has family working within the prison. “I worked Death Row, the housing blocks and the gun tower,” Polanco said. “But being a C/O wasn’t my calling. The Creator had bigger plans for me.” Now 81, Polanco returned to San Quentin Sept. 7 to bestow the ceremonial blessing to open the Native American Religious Group annual Fall Pow Wow. Tribal drums and coordinated dances echoed in San Quentin’s visiting room, as Polanco, draped in a blue and red … [Read more...] about Pow Wow celebration sees return of Native leader
Seattle spend 4 days with A’s on the Lower Yard
Nicole S. grounded out to the pitcher, but she made history. Accompanying a Seattle baseball team on a visit, Nicole became the first woman ever to bat a hardball at San Quentin State Prison, which was established in 1854. Holding her baseball bat high and wearing a burgundy jersey with Seattle pasted on the front and No. 5 on the back, Nicole played in a Sept. 15 exhibition game and faced Mike Kremer, San Quentin’s A’s civilian sponsor, and worked the pitcher to a 3-0 count. Kremer throw an off-speed pitch which Nicole smacked, … [Read more...] about Seattle spend 4 days with A’s on the Lower Yard
A’s triumph over LA Bulldogs in doubleheader
The visiting Southern California Bulldogs ran into a red hot San Quentin A’s baseball team in an Aug. 25 double- header that was described as “magical,” even though the hitters dominated the pitchers. In game one, Bulldog Jake Garvey smacked a booming home run over the left field fence to the cheers of his family. The Bulldogs brought their own fan club, mostly Garvey’s family and a group of umpires from their Southern California Adult Baseball League (SCABL) games. “I go everywhere my son goes to play ball,” said Penny Garvey. “As a mom … [Read more...] about A’s triumph over LA Bulldogs in doubleheader
Project Avary march
When a parent winds up behind bars, the children suffer the stigma of that incarceration. That was the message from Project Avary attending San Quentin’s 2nd Annual “March for the Next Generation.” The Sept. 8 march brought together prisoners and young adults, who have been affected by having an incarcerated parent. Project Avary (Alternative Ventures for At-risk Youths) teamed up with San Quentin’s Kid CAT (Creating Awareness Together) youth offender program in organizing the march. “Growing up, the family tells you not to talk about … [Read more...] about Project Avary march
Building lives through health and wellness TRUST
It was a bittersweet day at the 13th Annual San Quentin Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training (TRUST) graduation ceremony August 16, as 70 men graduated from three different programs. It was the announcement that Ameeta Singh, a 10-year volunteer for TRUST, was leaving that drew the sadness. Singh taught and wrote the curriculum for the Health and Wellness Group. The program is a 12-week course that deals with trauma and the way it affects a person’s behavior. It also teaches how to heal unresolved traumas. “It’s … [Read more...] about Building lives through health and wellness TRUST
San Quentin musical event showcases lyrical artists
Rap music has become heavily materialistic lately, but true “MC-ing” resurfaced on San Quentin’s Lower Yard, as visiting artist Kev Choice Ensemble and an array of young San Quentin lyricists moved crowd. At the August 24 yard show had a mosh pit of young prisoners “turned up,” as their generation calls it. They danced wildly, pumped their hands in the air and popped invisible collars on their state blue shirts, as they surrounded the makeshift stage. The multi-talented pianist and rapper Kev Choice was the definition of positive … [Read more...] about San Quentin musical event showcases lyrical artists
SQ A’s down Sonoma Birds
The visiting Sonoma Birds locked horns with the San Quentin A’s baseball team in an Aug. 22 defensive battle. The Birds, however, fell to the home squad 7-3, after a late inning meltdown. “These guys are good,” said Steve Solis, Birds head coach. “When we were invited here, we jumped on it. “We came without having knowledge of prison life, but it was an opportunity to give these guys (prisoners) a sense of normalcy—whatever that means,” Solis added. The Birds are a part of an expanding baseball program at San Quentin. This is their … [Read more...] about SQ A’s down Sonoma Birds