San Quentin’s Lower Yard opened on Independence Day to a carnival-like event that kept hundreds of prisoners entertained all day. A Christian coalition of young incarcerated men, Graced Out Ministries, sponsored the festivities. “The idea was to bring young men and people of all ages together to express their gifts and talents and to let everyone know that God loves them no matter where they are,” said Graced Out organizer Dwight Kennedy. Graced Out Ministries and the Protestant Church collected donations to give away cookies, chips … [Read more...] about A competitive spirit reigned during the Fourth of July celebration at SQ
Holidays
Juneteenth weekend celebration at San Quentin
Public Enemy The 2019 Juneteenth weekend at San Quentin concluded with speeches and musical performances in the prison’s Catholic Chapel. About 70 inmates and a handful of outside guests attended the evening event. The prison’s R&B band New Syndication of Funk (NSF) was the driving force behind the music playing songs such as “What You Won’t Do For Love” by Bobby Caldwell. Lee Jaspar delivered a memorable solo on guitar, and Rico Rogers was unmatched with his solo on the keyboard. Inmate Paul C. Hamilton was one of the organizers … [Read more...] about Juneteenth weekend celebration at San Quentin
The uplifting experience of Good Friday at San Quentin
Watson Allison, who spent more than 30 years on San Quentin’s Death Row, was one of many in awe of sunset ser- vices for Good Friday — the day Jesus Christ was crucified. Allison stood inside the Protestant Chapel as light filtered through its blue-tinted windows, dusk approached and men-in-blue mingled. Listening to Raul Higgins slapped the congas, Albert Flagg’s fingers danced on the piano while Greg Dixon rang out his piping organ. Dixon switched to a Fender guitar, adding a new dynamic to the drumming of Sincere Carter over Leonard … [Read more...] about The uplifting experience of Good Friday at San Quentin
Happy Mother’s Day from the women at the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility
Happy Mother’s Day
FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL YOUR UNDYING LOVE I LOVE YOU MOM DUSTIN HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY WE LOVE YOU MICHELLE SMITH & CARLOS SMITH I LOVE YOU MOM, YOU THE BEST! -FRED … [Read more...] about Happy Mother’s Day
San Quentin celebrates Holy Week
Holy Week is the Catholic Church’s most sacred time of the year. It is the remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. The celebration at San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel, which was open to all, started with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, April 18, and ended with Vespers on Easter Sunday. “This is the high point of the Christian year, and it goes back to the earliest celebration of the Church,” said SQ Catholic Chaplain Father George Williams. Thursday night’s mass began with the Last Supper celebration. “It … [Read more...] about San Quentin celebrates Holy Week
Celebrating the holiday homecoming of incarcerated women
Nancy Skinner with volunteers and formerly incarcerated women at the event After prison, women face different reentry barriers than men do, primarily be- cause women have much greater responsibilities (as caregivers, parents and relationship supporters to family, intimates and their communities and social net- works) than men do. When women go to prison and jail, the roles they have served become lost to the people who relied on them. Compounding this problem is the reality that women do not receive the same types of support they give … [Read more...] about Celebrating the holiday homecoming of incarcerated women
Happy Valentine’s Day to the special people in our lives
From Michael Johnson Happy V-Day Mom! Michael Johnson with his Mom Valentines Day Jhonnie Simon and Cahantelle Simon Shane Goddard & Maria Goddard Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you for a wonderful 8 years. Love You. “Our Love” Lovell and Tracy Keller Mark 10:9 On behalf of your new and improved son and brother. Happy Valentine’s Day! Thank you for all your love and support Reginald & Ruby Ours is official God Bless our love Tonia, My best friend & love of my life. There is nothing more precious and heart warming … [Read more...] about Happy Valentine’s Day to the special people in our lives
Christmas
Gun towers, barb wire, concrete And fear, They seem to fade away Around this time of year. Just when this world seems to tear you apart Let us hold Christmas time close to our heart. thoughts of Christmas Are warm and sentimental even the guards are less temperamental for doing hard time to joy and good cheer let us all get along as we bring in the new year. Poem By Gary Valentine. … [Read more...] about Christmas