Cori Thomas Thomas (center) with the cast for the first rehearsal When the Rattlestick Theater commissioned playwright and San Quentin volunteer Cori Thomas to write a play in 2016, she penned a draft featuring a 62-year-old man who has been incarcerated since he was 16 called Lockdown. At the time, she had never visited a prison or envisioned having her first play, which debuted in New York City, become a tool for discussion about the criminal justice system. “It’s about a group of people who are incarcerated and the challenges they … [Read more...] about Cori Thomas brings attention to criminal justice system with play
Prison artists display their work in San Rafael’s Bartolini Gallery
Lamavis Comundoiwilla painting “Kufu” and “Candice” done in a style he calls Fusion William James Arts and Corrections sponsor Carol Newborg Incarcerated artists under the tutelage of the William James’ Arts & Correction program produced “museum- quality” paintings that were displayed at the Bartolini Gallery in San Rafael from Jan. 16-March 28. “It’s just truly museum quality in so many ways,” said Libby Garrison, who cu- rated the exhibit. “They [the artists who are incarcerated] maybe have never been to a museum or never … [Read more...] about Prison artists display their work in San Rafael’s Bartolini Gallery
Options program graduates men from San Quentin’s reception center
Options facilitators (in-blue), Kathy Narasaki, Tom Gorham and reception graduates holding their certificates Fermin Fernandez says he used meth for 41 years starting when he was 13. “I thanked the officer for arresting me. I wanted to quit but couldn’t just quit.” In January, Fernandez was a member of the first Reception Center graduation class of the Options Recovery Services addiction initiative. In September 2018, the Options program took its incarcerated counselors where none had ever gone before – the Reception Center – to help men … [Read more...] about Options program graduates men from San Quentin’s reception center
Incarcerated athletes celebrate the new year through sports
Darren Settlemeyer leading 1000 Mile running Club members on the Lower Yard Men at San Quentin watched the New Year come in on small television sets locked inside their cells, but when the yard opened the following morning, basketball players and runners celebrated 2019 through sports. “It’s a great start to a New Year,” said SQ Warrior Dontaye “Twin” Harris. “It’s like being out of prison for an hour.” The championship game for a full-court basketball tournament took place on the Lower Yard on New Year’s morning. Team “Put It … [Read more...] about Incarcerated athletes celebrate the new year through sports
1000 Mile Running Club’s record breaking marathon finishers
Neither delays, wet weather or injuries prevented 1000 Mile Running Club members from recording breaking performances at the 12th Annual San Quentin Prison Marathon. “It was an extraordinary performance by the club after all the obstacles that we encountered trying to finally run the 12th Annual San Quentin Marathon,” Coach and Sponsor Frank Ruona said. Two records were broken under a cloudy sky with off and on light rain. Markelle “The Gazelle” Taylor, who hopes to parole in February, broke the Club record he set in 2015 with a … [Read more...] about 1000 Mile Running Club’s record breaking marathon finishers
Evaluating the impact of Black activist athletes
Dr. Harry Edwards speaking at a Roundtable event at San Quentin with Forty-Niners in the audience including Eric Reid For over 50 years Black professional athletes have used their platforms to fight for equality, often at the cost of their careers, but are they making a difference? “I’ve been talking about this s--- for fifty years and ain’t nothing changed since Mexico City in 1968. Nothing!” John Carlos told a Sports Illustrated writer in a 2018 telephone interview. On Oct, 16, 1968, during the start of the The Star-Spangled … [Read more...] about Evaluating the impact of Black activist athletes
Oldest starting San Quentin Kings player still has it
Oris “Pep” Williams trying to block Ryan William’s shot At 57 years old, Oris “Pep” Williams is one of the oldest players on the San Quentin Kings and one of the best. For him, basketball has been life changing. “I love the camaraderie of the game and it keeps me in good health,” Williams said. “It makes me feel worth something again, as oppose to when I was on the streets using. My self-worth wasn’t good then at all.” Williams said he started playing basketball when he was seven years old at South Saulito, right near Marin … [Read more...] about Oldest starting San Quentin Kings player still has it
RJ forum discusses the topic of intellectual disabilities and healing
Mrs. Leigh Ann Davis flew in from Texas to speak at a Restorative Justice (RJ) symposium at San Quentin on the topic of supporting people with intellectual disabilities. She also stressed the importance of overcoming shame and speaking out against abuse as paths to healing. “Shame is a huge issue we are not dealing with,” Davis said. “Shame is the prison and we have to find our way out.” Davis is the director of criminal justice initiatives for The ARC, an organization that works to help people with disabilities. The ARC has 630 chapters … [Read more...] about RJ forum discusses the topic of intellectual disabilities and healing
Brown signed two laws giving the public more access to police records
In 2017, police officers shot and killed 172 people in California. The police didn’t have to make public any records that could help distinguish between self-defense and murder. Recently Gov. Jerry Brown signed two laws that give the public increased access to police records. “Californians have a right to know when officers are dishonest, use deadly force,” said Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley) to the Courthouse News Service. Skinner introduced the first law under Senate Bill 1421 requiring internal investigation records of police … [Read more...] about Brown signed two laws giving the public more access to police records
Green Team recruits two men off the yard to beat Warriors
A road closure left the Green Team with only five players, including the 65-year old Don Smith, for a full court game schedule against the San Quentin Warriors, so they picked up two guys off the prison yard and won 99-92. “I was worried coming in with four guys,” David Liss, who played college basketball for Pomona, said. A shutdown highway left Prison Sport Ministry’s Green Team players Kevin Kelly, Antoine Maddox and Charles Lowery stuck in traffic with no way to reach San Quentin State Prison in time for the game. Alex Nesbitt a … [Read more...] about Green Team recruits two men off the yard to beat Warriors