CNN commentator Van Jones, Jones was at San Quentin on May 10 working on his latest show, The Redemption Project. It consists of eight episodes that feature restorative justice in action. Jones, a political pundit and author of Beyond the Messy Truth: How We Came Apart — How We Come Together seeks to tackle Americans’ toughest challenge — how to get Americans working together in the age of Trumpism. “We need a positive populism,” Jones said. “Right now, Donald Trump is using negative populism that divides people with a neo-Nazi … [Read more...] about Van Jones’ Redemption Project
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San Quentin mourns the loss of a 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 the loss of a long time friend and volunteer
San Francisco DA Gascόn stands apart from law enforcement to endorse bill
Former Los Angeles Assistant Police Chief and current San Francisco District Attorney George Gascόn announced his support for a new bill in the California Assembly that would change a necessary force standard for police shootings under state law—and was the only representative of California law enforcement to do so, according to Southern California radio station KPCC. Under the proposed bill, introduced by Senator Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and Assemblywoman Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), prosecutors could question officers involved in … [Read more...] about San Francisco DA Gascόn stands apart from law enforcement to endorse bill
Fathers and families: A traditional celebration
Father’s Day came early for dads at San Quentin State Prison. On June 1, incarcerated fathers started filing into the main visiting room for the annual Get on the Bus (GOTB) event, which brings families together for Mother’s and Father’s Day. GOTB works with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) months in advance to coordinate the one-day event. “This is the only visit I get every year,” said Ruben Becerrada, who has been on Death Row since 2009 “It feels great to be able to spend time with my family. It’s … [Read more...] about Fathers and families: A traditional celebration
8th Day of Peace celebration held on SQ’s Lower Yard
After nine days of quarantine, San Quentin celebrated its eighth Day of Peace on May 19. Live bands on a makeshift stage played classic rock, reggae and rhythm & blues to entertain hundreds of inmates as they mingled with dozens of community members and prison staffers. Several artists drew their interpretations of peace in a sidewalk art contest. “This day is beautiful. It’s amazing. The band is good. The music is good. Smiling, everyone can get together and live in peace,” said Pat Mesiti-Miller, an outside sound-designer for the podcast … [Read more...] about 8th Day of Peace celebration held on SQ’s Lower Yard
Out of prison but not yet free
Borey (PJ) Ai has served his sentence in the California prison system, but he is not yet a free man. Even as he walks the streets of San Francisco and rejoins his family in Stockton, he can’t loosen up, can’t let his guard down. “This could be temporary. Any day this could be taken away,” said Ai, who is under the supervision of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and could at any time be deported to Cambodia, a country he has never set foot in. A black GPS ankle monitor sits just above his right Nike, sending his whereabouts to ICE … [Read more...] about Out of prison but not yet free
SQ parolee helps troubled teens through the creative outlet of music
By the time John Wallace was released from San Quentin, he had written 75 songs. John Wallace, 39, who discharged in 2003, founded a project called STOP (Surviving the Odds Project) to help deter at-risk youth from falling into the school-to-prison-pipeline. Fifteen years after his release, he’s showing kids the creative outlet he wished he had at their age. The former gang member now empowers at-risk youth through musical self-expression at Legion Beats in San Rafael, reported the Marin Independent Journal. His first class of 13 students … [Read more...] about SQ parolee helps troubled teens through the creative outlet of music
Repairing a guitar leads to repairing chairs for the community
At the public library in Benicia, children and parents value the craftsmanship of San Quentin inmates. SQ’s Furniture Shop recently volunteered its services for the restoration of more than 40 children’s chairs badly in need of repair. “The care and effort which was put into the chairs and the quality of the work was great,” Helaine Bowles, Library Administrative Assistant, recently told the Vallejo Times-Herald. Lacking funds to repair or replace the chairs, the Benicia Public Library heard about SQ’s Wood and Upholstery Shops and contacted … [Read more...] about Repairing a guitar leads to repairing chairs for the community
Raising awareness of California’s ‘Life Without’ policies
More than 100 advocates, family members and friends chanted, “Drop LWOP, drop LWOP, commute all 5,000!” at an Oakland town hall on March 24, denouncing California’s use of life without parole sentences, also known as LWOP. The California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) hosted the event to educate the general public and raise awareness about the state’s LWOP policies. California has approximately 5,000 prisoners serving life sentences without the chance for parole, according to the CCWP press release. “We believe that all people in … [Read more...] about Raising awareness of California’s ‘Life Without’ policies
Pendarvis Harshaw share tales of Oakland’s history
Pendarvis Harshaw recently spent some time inside San Quentin showing inmates creative ways to tell their personal histories. He used OG Told Me, his own memoir, as an example. It reads like a graphic novel. Its photo gallery of Original Gangsters (OGs) includes quotes of streetwise advice. Harshaw’s “turf,” East Oakland, serves as the backdrop. Your turf was where you grew up. Some of us had parents or grandparents who actually owned the land. For others, that land was nothing more than where your mother’s Section Eight voucher was accepted. … [Read more...] about Pendarvis Harshaw share tales of Oakland’s history