An audience including inmates, prison staff and community members listened to more than a dozen incarcerated young men share their stories about what it takes to bring healing to crime victims, while protecting children’s rights.
The youngsters, Kid CAT members, told the crowd of more than 300 that accountability is paramount to moving forward in juvenile justice.
Their stories included ones about living with traumatized parents who fled Vietnam and Cambodia in the early ‘80s and how seeing dead bodies in a gang-infested neighborhood desensitized them to violence.
Each story concluded with the prisoners telling the audience about the murders they committed as a young man.
Kid CAT members are taught a curriculum through The First Step that includes lessons on masculinity, self-identity, feelings and emotions, communications, environmental influences, consequences, empathy and compassion, and forgiveness.
Twice a month Kid CAT holds the Juvenile Lifer Support Group. It is a space where men can have a safe place to share their experiences of maturing in prison.
The group holds an annual hygiene drive for Bay Area homeless children.
“The group started because of a need to have a community that can relate to each other on a truly personal level,” the Kid CAT brochure reads.
Kid CAT supports the annual Global Youth Peace Summit created for youth around the world (aged 14-18) for a week-long experience devoted to person growth, healing, cultural exchange, leadership development and community building.
A local publication, The Beat Within, holds monthly writing workshops with members of Kid CAT so that incarcerated children have the opportunity to exchange thoughts with older offenders who more than likely had similar life experiences.
“What drove me in the beginning was that as a society we were throwing kids away,” said keynote speaker, Alison Parker. “I understand how the law works,” Parker said, “But, kids are being tried as adults.
“Human beings who are able to see each other are not able to distance each other,” Parker said. “I wish we could make these connections before our communities get separated.”
One of the original founders of Kid CAT in 2010, Garry “Malachi” Scott, was invited to address the crowd.
Scott has since paroled and is now a member of a council that addresses public safety in Oakland.
Opening with a joke, Scott said, “Yes, I’ve gained weight. Food is really good!
“Kid CAT helped me,” he continued. “Before, I lacked leadership and charisma. Now I know how we impact policy and changes. Things are happening in California, and I’m excited. You have reasons to be hopeful.”
Scott talked about how Restorative Justice impacted his life.
“There will be a time that you’ll have to use those tools that you’ve learned,” Scott said. “I woke up at 3 a.m. to multiple gunshots. I thought someone from my past was after me. Someone was murdered right in front of my house.”
Scott said that the incident affected him more than he thought. He no longer saw the streets as a safe place. However, he said that after doing a libation in honor of the murdered person’s life, he was able to process the incident and move on with this life.
“It all came from the tools that I’ve learned in here,” Scott said. “It was done because of all the people I’ve met. There’s so much value in your life. To Kid CAT members, the youth out there need us. Kid CAT needs to start receiving youth in here to help them. They need people who care about them.”
