Thirty-two men discovered volumes about themselves and the people around them during a six-month group therapy program.
“It was an eye-opening experience that has changed the way I view the world,” Jonathan Hamilton said.
He was one of the inmates who graduated from the San Quentin Kid CAT’s Childhood Development Curriculum.
“I have witnessed so much growth in our participants in developing self-awareness, self-confidence,” said Hera Chan, curriculum facilitator. “This is something that we teach, in being aware that there are choices, people can take back their power; they are not victims of their circumstances.”
Built to foster community, participants explores the three phases of life – the past, present and future – through small group discussions where they can develop confidence to seek the help they need. Through lectures and large circle processes, participants are given the opportunity to see the commonality of their own struggles with other participants.
The program includes eight modules from Masculinity to Forgiveness.
“This class helped me face the trauma of my childhood, from the things that were haunting me. The facilitators gave me the tools to deal with them in a safe manner that will help me and my family,” said graduate William Barnhard. “They taught me how to communicate with my mother.”
“My friend Jonathan, who is graduating today, was fully involved in gang-banging before taking this class; today he has learned where it all stemmed from, from his views of how to be a man,” said Donte Smith, curriculum facilitator.
Hamilton commented, “Before the curriculum, I was a negative person …basically a gang banger. I used to be shy and introverted…but the curriculum showed me a different perspective.”
Graduate Emile DeWeaver said, “I discovered more about myself than I have ever thought. I think understanding that even when I was a horrible person, I was still a human being, even despite the damage I have done, I still deserved love. This is the biggest thing I have gotten out of this class.”
More than 150 inmates are on the waiting list for the program – a wait of over two years.
