Ayoola Mitchell On Mother’s Day in 2010, Ayoola Mitchell’s middle son, D.V., was murdered in Oakland. His killer was never found. Fifteen months before that incident, in January 2009, Mitchell’s oldest son survived 17 gunshot wounds. Again, the assailants were never prosecuted. “After experiencing trauma and/or tragedy, you either become bitter or you become better. One thing for sure, you will not be the same,” said Mitchell, a long-time San Quentin volunteer. Ayoola shares her experiences in various prison forums and … [Read more...] about A Mother’s Day never forgotten for Ayoola Mitchell
Prison Programs
San Quentin’s 52nd annual Native American Pow Wow
Healing sister, Mike “Lil Voice” Powell & Gregory “White Eagle” Coates dancing to bless the ceremony Native American spiritual leaders from across California and the na- tion brought the spirit of family and the traditional healing dances to San Quentin’s 52nd annual Pow Wow. Colorful dancers from Oklahoma and elders from Oregon mixed with the local Native American prisoners to celebrate the sacred circle of life. “We came to let the men know that they are warriors and not gang members. A warrior takes care of his family,” said … [Read more...] about San Quentin’s 52nd annual Native American Pow Wow
Artist and mentor Pat Maloney retires
Pat Maloney in Arts and Corrections Pat Maloney 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. Maloney 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. Maloney 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 Maloney 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
Cori Thomas brings attention to criminal justice system with play
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
Lifer: A play about former SQ resident Glenn Bailey
The cast of Life after the performance Playwright Dr. Ayodele Nzinga was already collect- ing stories of communities impacted by the carceral system when she met Glenn Bailey, in 2014. She had just started work on “Beyond Bars: Growing Home,” a performance that explored how returning citizens processed the trauma of coming home, inspired by interviews with men recently released from San Quentin Prison. Bailey had just come home himself, after serving 52 years inside. His tale is remarkable in its own right. But Nzinga was quick … [Read more...] about Lifer: A play about former SQ resident Glenn Bailey
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
Founder of San Quentin’s Buddhadharma Sangha remembered
Seido Eishu Lee Seido and Norman Fischer at Green Gulch Responding to a call from inmates interested in starting a Zen group, Seido Eishu Lee founded the Buddhadharma Sangha inside San Quentin State Prison in 1999. He went on to serve as the Sangha’s Head Teacher until his retirement in 2015. Seido Eishu Lee Lüssen de Barros passed away peacefully on March 6 surrounded by family, friends and Sangha. He is survived by his wife, son, three stepchildren and six grandsons. Since the day Lee founded it, the San Quentin Sang- ha has … [Read more...] about Founder of San Quentin’s Buddhadharma Sangha remembered