Highlighting the power of higher education, the residents of San Quentin Rehabilitation Center celebrated teaching and learning in a Volunteer Appreciation Day event emceed by Nandita Dinesh, Mount Tamalpais College’s Dean of Academic Administration.
At the event MTC came together for the first time to showcase students who have contributed through writing.
“It is a very powerful idea in being able recognize that both sides have things to teach and both sides have things to learn from each other,” said Randy Pendleton, an MTC teacher.
In recognition of the hard work of teachers and students, the crowd stood and cheered their accomplishments.
SQRC resident Michal K. Moore took the podium and read his piece “The Madness of Prison.”
He read about the way knowledge bestowed power but only if one knew how to apply it. Moore elaborated on the difficulty of prison and the benefits of learning how to think outside the box. He reminded the audience that Helen Keller, the first blind and deaf person to receive a bachelor’s degree, never gave up.
“How ignorance brings fear, and being able to educate oneself brings respect; when you are uneducated, the world will leave you behind,” Moore said. “Freedom, to me, means to have freedom of thoughts. The number one way to free your mind is through knowledge and when properly applied it becomes wisdom.”
Professor Ian Sethre took the podium next and spoke about citizenship. “I was eager to work with adults who were willing to learn. Education creates a new life-long learner with meaningful learner to own education.”
Sethre’s speech concerned the five million returned citizens who may not vote in the U.S. The professor said, “We live in a bubble compared to the rest of the country. Persons in prison count but their votes do not.”
Dennis Jefferson, another SQRC resident, spoke about domestic violence, a topic that resonated with many residents. He focused his speech on “The Tragedy of Othello,” a Shakespeare play written in 1602, which he felt has relevance in today’s society.
Jefferson said the play highlighted dysfunctional relationships of love, jealousy, manipulation, and marital abuse that remained relatable, universal, and senseless.
He emphasized Othello and Desdemona’s toxic love story. “If Othello was here on the yard, taking groups and attending MTC, what insights would he share? What has he learned?” Jefferson asked the crowd.
“It is very important [to have] this kind of conversation in regards to domestic violence because it helps us address it,” said Alex Naeve, munications. “I think that it is very important to listen to the people whose voices are not represented on the outside.”
“I think this event is important because it helps the staff and the students to get to know each other better,” said Victor Olguin, a resident and MTC Academic Librarian.
Resident Daryl Farris discussed his childhood experiences in a speech about the Green Book, a travel guide for African-Americans. The Green Book guided African- American travelers to areas that had welcomed them, while alerting them about racist areas that did not tolerate them.
Part of Farris’ speech also concerned the S&H Green Stamp Books — as distinct from the Green Book — a popular consumer promotional device for retail purchases, a scheme comparable to today’s frequent-flyer points.
Farris talked about his father’s military service and how the military frequently transferred families from one base to another. During one such transfer, he said, his family engaged on a He said he recalled his mother telling the children that they would travel to places that accepted S&H Green Stamps for redemption, but in reality, they traveled to places in accordance with Green Book recommendations.
Farris’ parents shielded their children from the existence of the Green Book because its existence embarrassed them. He said he grew up in complete ignorance of the Green Book and did not know about it until he saw it featured in a movie a few years ago.
“My parents were proud of this country but they did not want their children to grow up knowing how shamefully America treated some of its citizens,” Farris concluded.
Farris’ speech had several attendees in tears.
MTC Chief Academic Officer Amy Jamgochian closed the event with positive remarks toward all the participants who had presented their narratives. She talked about how difficult it is for some people to speak in public, and that MTC can empower and give them the confidence to do so.
