The award-winning San Quentin News has become one of the few prison projects ever to hold its own fundraising gala in California. The Nov. 23 inaugural event, hailed as “historic,” took place at Marin Shakespeare Company’s headquarters in San Rafael and was attended by 43 supporters, who donated more than $2,000 for the newspaper. The dinner, which was well attended despite the rain, attracted formerly incarcerated persons, current volunteers and community members interested in social justice. Although the paper’s staff … [Read more...] about San Quentin News hosts fundraiser gala for community supporters
SQ News
Around the World
Buddhist Monk in the Himalayas at the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan approximately 12,000 feet above sea level Andy Alpine, co-facilitator of Developing a Positive Attitude - underwater in Roatan, Honduras … [Read more...] about Around the World
UC Davis launches social media campaign to combat ex-prisoner perceptions
A group of formerly incarcerated university students is launching a social media campaign designed to combat society’s negative perceptions of ex-prisoners. The University of California at Davis students call their campaign “We Are All Students” (WAAS). The aim is to help others to respect former inmates for who they are as people. “We are producing a year-long social media campaign that conveys the social situations and experiences of people who attend higher education in the shadow of incarceration,” Zach Psick told the San Quentin … [Read more...] about UC Davis launches social media campaign to combat ex-prisoner perceptions
Prison journalism gaining traction throughout the nation
Prison journalism is gaining popularity in California and America, including San Quentin. For several years, inmates from coast to coast have been receiving instruction on how to write as journalists for prison publications. Several prisons within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) already have newspapers and newsletters. Others have contacted the San Quentin News to inquire on how to start their own publication. “An inmate publication means any journal, magazine, bulletin, newsletter, newspaper, or … [Read more...] about Prison journalism gaining traction throughout the nation
Monica Campbell takes over San Quentin News’ Journalism Guild
A change came in late September for the San Quentin News Journalism Guild. The guild’s volunteer instructor, Yukari Kane, is bound for Chicago to begin the next chapter of her life. She is passing the reins to former Harvard University Nieman Fellow Monica Campbell. “[Kane] put us in way capable hands,” said Marcus Henderson, the Journalism Guild chairman who has spent more than two years with Kane. Though Henderson is sad to see Kane go, he has confidence in Campbell’s abilities. Campbell attended San Jose State University and has written for … [Read more...] about Monica Campbell takes over San Quentin News’ Journalism Guild
Returning citizens tend to be more politically involved
Political science professors Hannah L. Walker and Michael Leo Owens allege that formerly incarcerated individuals tend to be more politically involved in regions with abundant non-profit organizations that support their re-entry efforts. In an opinion article posted in The Washington Post, Walker and Owens chronicle their study and explain their conclusion. They used data that had been gathered through an online survey done by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois during August and September of … [Read more...] about Returning citizens tend to be more politically involved
AROUND THE WORLD NOVEMBER 2018
“Some 70 million Americans have a criminal record – a number equal to Americans with a college degree,” according to the Brennan Center for Justice. New York Times July 27, 2018 “Zero Tolerance for Zero Tolerance” http://sanquentinnews.com/san-quentin-news-merchandise/ http://sanquentinnews.com/actor-danny-trejo-escaped-death-penalty/ http://sanquentinnews.com/nightmare-one-incarcerated-dreamer/ http://sanquentinnews.com/arnulfos-dream-continues-prosper/ … [Read more...] about AROUND THE WORLD NOVEMBER 2018
SQ Journalism Guild promotes next class of writers
The Journalism Guild of San Quentin held its first formal graduation in the prison’s Garden Chapel in late September. More than 50 people attended the ceremony, including current and former students from UC Berkeley, who worked with the men in the Guild and San Quentin News. “I’m filled with so much pride,” said Yukari Kane, the guild instructor for the last two years. “You remind me of why journalism is important.” “It’s been such a privilege,” Kane said before congratulating the men and presenting them with certificates of … [Read more...] about SQ Journalism Guild promotes next class of writers
San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise
GO HERE TO SEE SAN QUENTIN NEWS & WALL CITY MERCHANDISE! Buy a mug, t-shirt, tote bag or sticker and support the San Quentin News and Wall City magazine. Inmates at San Quentin strive to report on rehabilitative efforts to increase public safety and achieve social justice. Net proceeds of merchandise sales go to Friends of San Quentin News via the Social Good Fund and support the inmate journalism programs. Merchandise purchases are not tax deductible. To make a tax deductible donation, click here to give directly to Friends of … [Read more...] about San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise
Jon Spurlock BIO
Jon first met the San Quentin News team as part of a social sector-focused experiential learning course during his Berkeley-Haas MBA program. He led the team of fellow students that developed a business plan to ensure the long-term sustainability of the newspaper and to achieve the SQ News staff’s big hairy audacious goal of providing free access to every prisoner in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Jon completed his MBA in May 2015, including coursework in effective non-profit board governance. He stayed on as a … [Read more...] about Jon Spurlock BIO