STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FIND FEW ACCOMODATIONS
The article was co-publishedwith the Prison JournalismProject “You find the measure of slope by dividing the change in the two Y points, by the change in the two X points.” I said as I helped a student study for his math exam. He shook his head. “I’m not going to get this,” he said, … [Read More...]
PRISON CODING PROGRAM CONTINUES NATIONAL EXPANSION AND CHANGING LIVES
A program called The Last Mile is training incarcerated people to write computer code and helping them to find excellent jobs when released. The California-based program started at San Quentin State Prison in 2010 and has expanded to six other states. The program teaches computer coding to … [Read More...]
INCARCERATED WRITERS SHARE THEIR TALENT IN ANNUAL PUBLIC READING
WILLIAM JAMES ASSOCIATION EVENT IN SQ CHAPEL PROMOTES CREATIVITY AND WRITING SKILLS Seventeen San Quentin Prison residents shared their vulnerabilities, experiences and personal life trials at the 14th annual Public Reading event. “Creative writing allows me the freedom to travel beyond … [Read More...]
TUTORING PROGRAM RETURNS AFTER COVID HIATUS
After a long pause, Berkeley students have returned to San Quentin to teach incarcerated students to read, write and solve math problems, working side-by-side with the assistance of San Quentin instructors. Spring of 2023 marks the return of the Teach in Prison program, which the pandemic had … [Read More...]
FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO RIG UP TRUCK DRIVING CORRESPONDENCE COURSE
A telephone conversation between a father a nd h is d aughter took a n u nexpected turn that resulted in the creation of an opportunity for San Quentin’s incarcerated residents. In August, 50 residents will begin a four-part, correspondence course leading to certification as truck … [Read More...]
ADVOCATES: STEM FOR INCARCERATED IS WIN-WIN-WIN
By Cainen ChambersContributing Writer The U.S. experiences a serious shortage of workers in jobs that involve skills in STEM —Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — and two policy advocates have a three-point plan for incarcerated persons to bridge that gap, says an op-ed by Eden … [Read More...]
SQ LIBRARY’S BOOK FAIR SERIES CONTINUES TO PROMOTE LITERACY, LEARNING, FAMILY TIES
Friends of the San Quentin Library continued its successful book-fair series on June 16 at The Q. The popular event allowed incarcerated residents a rare opportunity to bestow free books upon their children, just in time for Father’s Day. The book-fair program aims to facilitate the growth … [Read More...]
SCHOOL SUSPENSIONS INTERSECT LINES OF RACE AND SOCIAL CLASS
Research reveals that school suspensions disproportionately impact black female students at a higher rate than their white counter parts. Professor Andrea Joseph-McCatty of the University of Tennessee’s study focused on how the greater share of suspensions and expulsions were racial and gender … [Read More...]
21ST CENTURY ORACLE: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
By Sherman K. Newman, Contributing Writer Artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to turn the internet into a veritable 21st century oracle. Is the future of work threatened? What is the potential of this technology to enhance human life? AI is raising a lot of questions, and answers have been … [Read More...]
PELL GRANTS COMING BACK
After a thirty-year absence, July 2023 marks the full return of federal Pell Grants for incarcerated students and a new chapter of hope for a better future. One such incarcerated student is San Quentin resident Michael Keith Moore, 61, who graduated from Mount Tamalpais College with an … [Read More...]
HOW MUCH EDUCATION DO POLICE OFFICERS NEED?
In the wake of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, Oregon State legislators have introduced a bill that mandates police officers to complete higher education requirements. The bill would require Oregon law enforcement departments to stipulate hiring requirements. Police divisions with less … [Read More...]
TABLETS FINALLY ARRIVE AT SQ
GlobalTel Link technology finally reached San Quentin after nearly a two-year wait. Residents in SQ’s Donner section were the first to receive their tablets. The much-anticipated phone, game, movie and education features appeared to be the focus of attention for many of the first time … [Read More...]
History: Incarcerated women, then and now
By Charlotte WestCollege Inside NewsletterReprinted by permission Two hundred years ago, women were usually housed in the same prisons as men. But that changed in 1873, when two Quaker reformers, Sarah Smith and Rhoda Coffin, opened the first public prison for women in the United States — what … [Read More...]
Sac State’s Project Rebound purchases houses to help formerly incarcerated students
Sacramento State University purchased two homes to house eight formerly incarcerated students who are attending the school. The homes, managed by Project Rebound, will allow formerly incarcerated students to gain stability while pursuing their goal of higher learning, according to the Sacramento … [Read More...]
Mt. Tam College offers ethics class
Course to help incarcerated understand own criminality An ethics class is helping some San Quentin residents understand what led them to crime — and prison — offering hope for rehabilitation. Bill Smoot, an author and teacher at the prison’s Mt. Tamalpais College, is leading the class … [Read More...]
Bill would fund education for at-risk youth
A bill in the California legislature would increase funding for education in juvenile halls and alternative high schools to prepare at-risk youth for college and future employment, reported The Sacramento Bee. Assembly Bill 906 would change the funding structure for these programs, which is … [Read More...]
Tech education column debuts in SQNews
Monthly articles will help educate the incarcerated on information technology By Sherman K. NewmanContributing Writer Welcome to Tech Block 42 It’s time for the incarcerated in CDCR and beyond to become technologically aware — more specifically, computer literate. TB42 is … [Read More...]
Former youth offender earns his freedom
San Quentin resident Philippe “Kellz” Kelly, 39, walked through the prison’s front gates with his newly granted freedom on February 8. Kelly, a youth offender from Los Angeles, served 23 years behind the wall. In December 2018 he received a commutation from then Gov. Jerry Brown, and after … [Read More...]
ASL: A SIGN OF THE TIMES
Prisoner-led sign language course gets go-ahead After submitting six proposals over seven years, Tommy Wickerd is teaching a sign language class in the most unlikely place — his prison of residence. Motivated by his relationship with his Deaf brother, Wickerd has sought to bridge … [Read More...]
Prestigious French literary prize contenders judged by incarcerated
500 prisoners select winner ofGoncourt Academy Prize for literature A panel of incarcerated people has been chosen to pick the winning book for a prestigious new prize in France. The prize is gathering international media attention for the composition of its award jury — men and women … [Read More...]