Scott Lawrie When the young Scottish lad Scott J. Lawrie was introduced to the country’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, it was the beginning of his fondness for poetry. His introduction to American poetry came through the Beat movement. However, his connection to San Quentin came through an obscure poet who did time here—the late Ed “Foots” Lipman. After Lawrie researched Lipman’s works, he published Only By Flashlight and sent a copy to Zoe Mullery, who holds a weekly creative writ- ing class at San Quentin. Only By Flashlight was … [Read more...] about Scott J. Lawrie’s poetry was inspired by an ex-con poet
Education
Artist and mentor Pat Mahoney retires
Pat Mahoney in Arts and Corrections Pat Mahoney spent the last 40 years coming inside San Quentin to mentor incarcerated artists on the finer points of art; however, he’s best known as a keen listener and caring person. Mahoney is one of the founders of the San Quentin Arts in Corrections program, sponsored by the William James Association. He retired from the Arts in Corrections program last February. Mahoney helped create the Upper Yard mural with the Helen Caldicott quote: “We are the Curators of life–We Hold it in the Palm of our … [Read more...] about Artist and mentor Pat Mahoney retires
Google attends San Quentin mixer
Harry Hemphill speaking about graduating from the coding program The morning of April 11 started with fun and games with participants from Google.org and incarcerated coding students as a way to socialize. The first game, the circle name game, an icebreaker consisted of everyone yelling out his or her name and that of the person next to them as fast as possible, which was easy to see that the day was going to be relaxed and fun. Subsequently, the room was broken into groups to play Charades, Game Night and then Family Feud, San … [Read more...] about Google attends San Quentin mixer
More credits offered under Prop 57
“As of May 1, 2019 (under new emergency regulations), people can earn 10 days of (Rehabilitative Achievement) credit for every 52 hours of participation(in eligible self- help and volunteer public service activities), up to a maximum of 40 days credit per year.” The programming credits under Proposition 57 have been enhanced once again, and many inmates are happy to see these changes. Inmate David Hill said, “I think it’s a good thing; it’s going to make me more inclined to stay in my groups now that the credit hours roll over into the … [Read more...] about More credits offered under Prop 57
Senate Bill 3435 Beyond the box for higher education
About two-thirds of post-secondary institutions ask applicants to submit criminal history, according to The Crime Report. The Center for Community Alternatives found that 25 percent of these schools bar applicants with criminal history from attending. This prevents individuals who have already paid their debt to society from finding success going forward. There are an estimated 70 million American citizens with criminal records, according to The Crime Report. Colleges and universities can help remove barriers to higher education for … [Read more...] about Senate Bill 3435 Beyond the box for higher education
Students have great impact on UC Davis after prison
University students, who are formerly incarcerated, are changing life and perceptions on their campus by taking over a college classroom to challenge traditional teach- ing methods and holding informative seminars to bring awareness to who they are as students. Beyond the Stats (BTS), an organization of formerly incarcerated and system impacted students at the University of California Davis introduce a panel discussion and a class course title Education as Freedom: AKA “Amerikkka This is How You Made Me,” last year and continues to grow. … [Read more...] about Students have great impact on UC Davis after prison
Dr. Gabor Maté lectures at SQ’s Enneagram event
Susan Olesek, Jason Griffin, Ronell “Rauch” Draper, Dustin M. Baldwin and Dr. Gabor Maté Once a week, Susan Olesek comes inside San Quentin to help incarcerated men discover the roots of their personalities and how it plays into the way they see everyday life. The program she oversees helps men realize how life experiences mold personalities and how negative experiences create behaviors that turn into serious problems. Gabor Maté was invited to San Quentin, on March 1, to lecture on brain development, trauma and addiction to an … [Read more...] about Dr. Gabor Maté lectures at SQ’s Enneagram event
Stanford joins with SQ in collaborative engineering project
Stanford and TLM students of the Unlocking Innovation Inside Prison project Stanford students and prison inmates joined forces by participating in a ten week engineering course aimed at finding solutions to social problems. The collaboration grew out of a chance encounter, about 10 years ago, between Stanford Professor Tina Seelig and venture capitalist Beverly Parenti. The two stayed in contact and floated around ideas. Seelig came to San Quentin about four years ago to observe The Last Mile (TLM), an entrepreneurial program and a … [Read more...] about Stanford joins with SQ in collaborative engineering project
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
Addiction Recovery Counseling Director moves on
Rick Baez leaves San Quentin after 13 years Michael Kirkpatrick, Nou Phang Thao, Edward Scott, Rick Baez, Quinten Walker and John Lam Recovering addicts in San Quentin said goodbye to long-time volunteer Rick Baez in the Addiction Recovery Counseling (ARC) program. “A lot of people in society tend to think people in prison are throwaways, especially those with addiction issues, but that hasn’t been my experience work- ing here,” said Baez, 74, director of the ARC program. “It has been my experience that men with the opportunity … [Read more...] about Addiction Recovery Counseling Director moves on