After serving 25 years in prison, more than half at San Quentin, Bruce Fowler said he looked forward to reuniting with family, especially his daughter and grandchildren.
Fowler dedicated himself to service in the community and left lasting favorable impressions on residents and staff who met him. Despite the tattoos and his 6’3” size, several residents and staff have said he has a welcoming and kind demeanor. He has encouraged many residents to pursue positive programming and never shied away from talking about insight, causative factors, or board preparation.
“It comes down to recognizing the harm you have done and making amends for that harm,” Fowler said.
When Fowler spoke about the changes he made to his way of thinking and how he implemented those changes, he stressed the importance of family. He said reuniting with his daughter after 34 years had motivated him to realize those changes. “Living those changes takes work,” Fowler said.
Fowler completed or facilitated many self-help programs during his 13 years at San Quentin: California Reentry Institute, Kid CAT, T.R.U.S.T., Humans of San Quentin, and Hope for Lifers, among many others. Besides these many programs, he worked in plant operations.
He said his work with William James Association in Arts in Corrections turned him into an extrovert and had given him a platform to release much inner hurt in a healthy way.
The CRI program and its founder, Collette Carroll, have had the greatest impact on his rehabilitation, Fowler said. “Collette provided me space and opportunities necessary to trust someone.” He said the program provided all the necessary skills that incarcerated persons would need for release.
Fowler had an eye-opening moment on The Q’s handball court. “In the past I used anger and intimidation. I wanted people to fear me.” He said that whenever other players had seen him coming, their facial expressions had changed and they had left the handball court. This experience prompted Fowler to change; he did not want to be “that guy.”
“I thought my anger issues were terminal,” Fowler said. To help turn his anger to self-worth, he constructed a portable travel workbook that contained information on his triggers, root and causative factors, and cycle of violence. The notebooks also contained relapse prevention plans, and positive values. Soon, other residents wanted personal workbooks and Carroll started to use the concept in the CRI curriculum.
“I knew I could change my thinking to a kind and happy person once I was open-minded and had understanding of my belief system,” Fowler said.
After a couple of board denials, Fowler started to look for a better understanding and definition of root and direct causative factors. The rejections inspired him to create a board preparation program with the goal to provide fellow residents with opportunities for comfort in stressful environments and the ability to speak their truths.
“I witnessed his talents as an artist and his work ethic. We became good friends and co-workers,” resident Scott McKinstry said.
McKinstry said his and Fowler’s interests coincided and the two of them teamed up on several SQRC art projects such as murals. They also worked on a remodeling of the Arts in Corrections studio. He said their creativity and collaboration showed on the walls around the facility, from the mural in Chapel A to the painting displayed in Arts in Corrections studio to the walls in Donner section.
Fowler said a higher power channeled most of his artwork. “My art is not of God or spirit, but of family and the victim of my crime; those are my higher power.” Many of his paintings deal with nautical themes and oceanic images, reminding him of his time before incarceration.
“He is an intelligent, trustworthy, generous human who is brilliantly creative and one hell of a craftsman. I am grateful to have met him,” longtime friend and fellow resident Gregory Stephens said about Fowler.
“I knew I could change my thinking to a kind and happy person once I was open-minded and had understanding of my belief system.”
—Bruce Fowler
