Dịch giả: Danny Nha Hồ và David Bờm Lê Cách đây vài thập niên, trong khi truyền giảng phúc âm thì Mục Sư Tom Phạm đã phải rời bỏ phòng nhóm, nhảy lên một chiếc xe gắn máy để chạy trốn hiện trường vì bị chính quyền Việt Nam rượt đuổi. Nếu bị bắt vì tội truyền giảng, Mục Sư Tom sẽ phải ngồi tù. Bây giờ Mục Sư Tom ngồi tù mỗi tuần một lần với nhiều cọng sự viên của ông để chia xẻ phúc âm với tù nhân. Mục Sư Tom cho biết Chúa đã kêu gọi ông đến … [Read more...] about Lớp Học Kinh Thánh Việt Nam Tại San Quentin
Profiles
The importance of good character and integrity in prison
Cost of reputation, Part 1 Editor’s note: Survival in prison often depends on reputation. A good reputation confers respect and longevity. A bad reputation may result in being ostracized, extorted, assaulted or, worse, murdered. This three-part series will feature stories of survival and redemption. “When I first came to prison I wanted to be left alone, not to be harassed or victimized by other inmates,” said Marty Walters, 50, who has been incarcerated 30 years for first-degree murder. “So, I acted like a tough guy and made weapons because … [Read more...] about The importance of good character and integrity in prison
Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ
Decades ago, in the midst of preaching the gospel, Pastor Tom Pham exited the podium, hopped onto a motorcycle and escaped the scene as the Vietnamese authorities approached. If caught preaching, he would face incarceration for violating laws prohibiting religious services. Now, he sits in prison, once a week, with his colleagues sharing the gospel with the men inside. Pastor Pham said God called him to San Quentin five years ago. He came to San Quentin’s Protestant Chapel as a guest and met several of the incarcerated Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Pastor Pham’s message of love in and outside of SQ
Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
Donna Hylton, who was abused as a child, spent 27 years in prison and wrote a book about how she turned her life around. She said her mission today is to be “a voice for the silenced” women still in prison. At age 20, Hylton was sentenced to 25 years to life for her role as a nonviolent accessory to kidnapping and second-degree murder. She is finally freed. Hylton’s childhood was a living hell. She was abandoned by her mother in Jamaica, N.Y., at age 8, according to the article by The Glow Up. At that time, she was subjected to … [Read more...] about Formerly incarcerated author, Donna Hylton
Dr. Downey overcomes hurdles
Dr. Downey, a staff psychologist at San Quentin, is no stranger to overcoming obstacles in life. “I fell behind in grade school because no one knew I was deaf,” Downey said. “It wasn’t till middle school that I got the resources that helped me adjust.” Her hearing disability became something that gave her a distinct perspective. “I like the silence because you can be with yourself, but there is a need for the chaos that is in the world,” she said. “Coping with the struggles is what helps mold us.” There were times when Downey … [Read more...] about Dr. Downey overcomes hurdles
After 22 years Antoine Brown is a free man
After receiving a commutation of his sentence from Gov. Jerry Brown, Antoine Brown became the latest Kid CAT member to be found suitable for parole. “During his 22 years of incarceration, Mr. Brown has demonstrated a clear commitment to his rehabilitation,” Governor Brown stated in his Dec. 23, 2017, commutation of Antoine Brown. “Mr. Brown committed a senseless crime, but he has shown a clear rejection of violence and gang activity for many years. In light of his age at the time of his crime, his positive conduct in prison, and … [Read more...] about After 22 years Antoine Brown is a free man
Last RISE inmate graduation for Dante Callegari
Dante Callegari has announced his retirement after training hundreds of San Quentin inmates in modern construction technology (MCT). The announcement came Aug. 28 at the graduation for the first class of the job-readiness program called RISE. “We do a lot here at San Quentin to teach job skills,” Warden Ron Davis said at the event. “There’s Dante’s program, coding and the machine shop. There’s a lot we do here to give you guys the skills to get a job and stay out.” RISE aims to prepare incarcerated people how to interview for … [Read more...] about Last RISE inmate graduation for Dante Callegari
Building lives through health and wellness TRUST
It was a bittersweet day at the 13th Annual San Quentin Teaching Responsibility Utilizing Sociological Training (TRUST) graduation ceremony August 16, as 70 men graduated from three different programs. It was the announcement that Ameeta Singh, a 10-year volunteer for TRUST, was leaving that drew the sadness. Singh taught and wrote the curriculum for the Health and Wellness Group. The program is a 12-week course that deals with trauma and the way it affects a person’s behavior. It also teaches how to heal unresolved traumas. “It’s … [Read more...] about Building lives through health and wellness TRUST
Alisha Coleman: Change Agent
Nobody needs to tell Alisha Coleman what jail is all about. She has been there and knows what it’s like from the inside. She spent time in the San Francisco County Jail in 2012. It was there that she was introduced to the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) through the FiredUp! Group. Since her release, Coleman has been lending her voice and protest for change to California’s criminal justice system. She participated in this year’s “No New Jail Summit” in San Francisco and the national “Mama’s Day Bailout” project. Coleman … [Read more...] about Alisha Coleman: Change Agent
San Quentin mourns Dr. Davida Coady long time friend and volunteer
San Quentin mourns the passing of one of its volunteers, Dr. Davida Coady, whose humanitarian work with Cesar Chavez, Mother Teresa and third-world countries has impacted disadvantaged children, refugees, addicts and lifers. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Coady,” said Tith Ton, an inmate at San Quentin and addiction counselor trained by Dr. Coady. “Forty years ago she provided medical aid to my mom in a refugee camp in Thailand. Forty years later, she taught me how to become an addiction counselor to provide treatment for others … [Read more...] about San Quentin mourns Dr. Davida Coady long time friend and volunteer