Toys collected for the Veterans’ Toy Drive in the SQ visiting room It was toys and smiles all around as dozens of children came to visit their dads in San Quentin State Prison at Christmas-time. “It’s all about the kids,” said Tony Burch, vice chair of the veterans group that sponsored the Toys for Tots event in its thirtieth year. “I just love to see the expressions on the faces of the kids,” said Army veteran Garvin Robinson, long-time secretary and treasurer of the Veterans Group at San Quentin. Robinson admitted that sometimes … [Read more...] about Veterans’ toy drive is “all about the kids”
Prison Programs
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
Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Kid CAT members with hygiene products donated from the residents of San Quentin for Huckleberry Youth Multi-Service Center A group of San Quentin prisoners collected money and hygiene items for Bay Area homeless youths. “Even in prison, guys got that spirit of giving,” said Gregory “Eagle” Coates, a member of the youth offender organization Kid CAT. Gregory Coates, Tommy Ross, Nou Phang Pang and Kid CAT Chairman Si Dang loading hygiene products in the rain “It’s always rewarding, especially for the guys that’ve had the … [Read more...] about Kid CAT’s hygiene drive raises money for homeless youth
Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
Students in the Kurt Huget guitar class On an otherwise quiet Sunday evening, nine guitars rang out in harmony and transformed San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel into a raucous concert hall. “This was a great opportunity for us to communicate musically with no boundaries and just let our hair down,” said volunteer instructor Kurt Huget. He showcased eight emerging artists from his weekly guitar clinic as they all plucked and strummed their way through a handpicked playlist of crowd favorites. “I just love these guys,” Huget said. “They’re … [Read more...] about Eight emerging artists turn chapel into raucous concert hall
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
SQ Shakespeare troupe performs skits about trauma and healing
The cast of the SQ’s Shakespeare Parallel Play Nine original skits put modern personal trauma and healing on full display this past October. The audience discovers how Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors had inspired a troupe of actors to present original works of how trauma is passed down across generations until a choice is made to heal. The troupe used intimate personal skits to express complex emotions arising from bullying, death, jealousy, revenge, betrayal, cancer, to loss of a parent. People in the audience participating in a … [Read more...] about SQ Shakespeare troupe performs skits about trauma and healing
Female prisoners and advocates fight against breast cancer
The fight against breast cancer found advocates and support from women prisoners and staff at the California Institution for Women (CIW). The prison raised close to $2,500 at its 2018 Avon 39 “Making Strides against Breast Cancer ” walk. The American Cancer Society (ACS) partnered with Avon 39 for the prison event. The September 30, event was sponsored by the prison’s “Lockdown for a Cure team” that consisted of the women prisoners and staff. The women prisoners showed their support by participating in an institutional food … [Read more...] about Female prisoners and advocates fight against breast cancer
Prison to Employment Connection teaches returning citizens job skills
A record number of inmates at San Quentin State Prison completed the Prison to Employment Connection’s (PEC) eighth session and graduated in November. About 40 inmates finished the program. This gave them the opportunity to assess their employment interests, learn resume-writing and how to conduct themselves during an interview. Potential employers meeting with Prison to Employment graduates At employer day, the men spent two hours using what they learned on how to present themselves to more than 30 employers, … [Read more...] about Prison to Employment Connection teaches returning citizens job skills
Kid CAT curriculum now available
Attention Readers: Kid CAT Childhood development curriculum and facilitator manual is now available. If you are interested in creating a Kid CAT branch/youth offender support group at your institution, please have your sponsor/volunteer or community partnership manager contact Kid CAT Speaks c/o San Quentin News, 1 Main Street, San Quentin, CA 94964 for a copy of our curriculum and facilitator’s manual. The curriculum’s objective is to help participants address the root causes of criminal thinking, childhood trauma and violent … [Read more...] about Kid CAT curriculum now available
Veterans Healing Veterans organizes Shakespeare plays
A group of San Quentin veterans joined with Shakespearean actors on Nov. 29 to portray the experience of service and sacrifice. Veterans Healing Veterans actors and the audience warming up before the play A banner greeted the audience VETERANS HEALING VETERANS FROM THE INSIDE OUT (VHV-FTIO), a group with a mission to represent the imprint each generation of veterans leaves on the next. Lesley Currier directed the performance, a joint enterprise between VHV and the Marin Shakespeare Company (MSC). “Taking that leap of faith with us and … [Read more...] about Veterans Healing Veterans organizes Shakespeare plays