The Women's Issue, Summer 2019. Editor-in-Chief Marcus Henderson Staff Writer Kate McQueen Staff Writer Molly Kittle Art Director Jonathan Chiu SQ PIO Lt. Sam Robinson Warden’s Office Raphaele Casale CDCR Information Officer Bill Sessa Adviser William Drummond Adviser Sarah Horowitz Adviser Doug Levy Adviser Dan Fost Adviser Alastair Boone Adviser Alissa Greenberg … [Read more...] about Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: THE WOMEN’S ISSUE
WALL CITY
Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: The Women’s Issue
These pages are written by women, about women. Here’s why. How powerful is a voice when no one will hear the cries? “Everyone has a voice, but not everybody has a platform,” said Tracy Brumfield. Brumfield is the founder of RISE Up News. She is one of the formerly incarcerated women featured in our “Over the Wall” section. Her statement made me imagine someone alone in the woods surrounded by mountain-high trees. The person starts to scream at the top of their lungs, look- ing for a way out, but no one hears them. Not a soul … [Read more...] about Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: The Women’s Issue
Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: Fighting Fire While Doing Time
Women battle to continue fighting fires after their releases Female firefighters on the front lines of California wildfires photo by David McNew/ AFP/Getty Images Many people are surprised to learn that nearly 10 percent of the incarcerated firefighters serving at California's 44 "fire camps" are women. Just like men, the women firefighters get the same training as Cal Fire's other seasonal firefighters- one week in the classroom, another week in the field, and additional training on an ongoing basis. And, just like the incarcerated men … [Read more...] about Wall City Volume 2 Issue 2: Fighting Fire While Doing Time
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: The Women of San Quentin
By Molly Kittle San Quentin currently holds over 4,000 men, but the prison held both women and men from 1856 until 1933. The prison was ahead of its time in having a dedicated Women’s Department, also known as the Women’s Ward. The female prisoners, including a 13-year- old girl, were housed in the old San Quentin hospital building. A state hearing document recorded that guards shared women’s quarters and operated a bar on the prison grounds. There was at least one case of a woman becoming pregnant. It wasn’t until the 1870s that New … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: The Women of San Quentin
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Women of Wall City
Alastair Boone is the editor of Berkeley-based homeless advocacy newspaper, Street Spirit. “This issue feels personal to me. It grapples with issues such as girlhood and giving birth. Hearing about these experiences within prison helped deepen my under- standing of what it means to be incarcerated in America.” Alissa Greenberg is freelance journalist for The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and Pacific Standard among others. “It’s been a privilege to help Wall City amplify all prison voices. Even more so for this issue and the voices of … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Women of Wall City
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Fire Inside
The publication advocating for women in California prisons for more than 25 years. “Now please don’t give up. When times get rough, hold your head up... It is not a ‘me’ thing. It’s a ‘we’ thing, and together with the dream team and the help of CCWP (California Coalition for Women Prisoners) there is a light at the end of the tunnel.” —Charisse Shumate, Founding member, CCWP California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP) was founded in 1995 to offer grassroots sup- port to a class action lawsuit that women prisoners had initiated … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Fire Inside
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2:An antidote to grief and pain
What can compassion do? Squelch rumors, train volunteers, and provide support at the California Institution for Women In 2015, women at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona were traumatized by a sudden and unexpected death of a women in the Housing Unit who was very dear to all of us. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) housing, medical and responding staff all handled this death efficiently and sensitively. The Program Office called me, a program leader in our newly begun Compassionate … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2:An antidote to grief and pain
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Change Agents
By Erika Mutchler, MSW One counselor and four young prisoners from the Ventura Youth Correctional Facility in Camarillo, California, write about their traumatic pasts and hope for the future. Entering the juvenile justice system as a counselor, so many perceptions and ideals came crashing down almost immediately. The outside perception of females in prison rarely holds a positive value. The public often sees incarcerated females as the most gruesome population of criminals. They must have mental health issues. They must have … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: Change Agents
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: I WILL BE A LAWYER ONE DAY
By Sophia Cristo Many people believe it’s a cruel world; i happen to agree. not only is it different, it’s more cruel behind four slabs of brick and an endless outline of barbed wire. It’s like walking into your worst nightmare, but you can’t wake up. I was trapped in my nightmare for eight years, when something stirred me awake. I’ve always believed in God and went to church as a child, but when others mentioned a personal relationship with God, I always wondered what that meant. Well, let me backtrack a little bit for you. But … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: I WILL BE A LAWYER ONE DAY
WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: EMBRACING RE-ENTRY
By Andrea Melgoza Many of us have different ways to cope with our struggles. Some draw, talk or work out. For some, music helps them cope. I know that helps me. In our group, “Embracing Hearts Transition Group,” we thought it would be cool to have a session involving music, to show others that it can be a way for them to cope, too. Rosa- linda, our amazing group leader, was able to get Wes Geer from the band Korn to come, since he has an organization of his own called Rock to Recovery, where they use music as therapy. He brought … [Read more...] about WALL CITY, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 2: EMBRACING RE-ENTRY