San Quentin residents geared up to sit down with San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins and her staff, creating a safe space for a dialogue on gang prevention and ways to build better communities for youth.
Approximated 70 people gathered in the Protestant chapel amongst District Attorneys’ as resident Edwin E. Chávez, emceed the event.
“Thank you all for being here today. [This] is a special day because it gives us the opportunity to not only be accountable for our past criminal behaviors through this workshop,” said Edwin E. Chávez. “Our goal is to be part of the solution and maybe we can share something that will have a positive impact on our future generations.”
The importance of the forum was to bring awareness to how guns, violence, gangs, and other criminal enterprises affect people in society. The event also became an opportunity for some visiting attorneys, community members, and incarcerated people who never attended one of these historic symposiums to take part in the conversation, for the first time.
“I wanted [the attorneys] to get a better understanding of how and why a person became who they were and ways to help prevent that,” said resident Richard Namex. “The DAs were very open and receptive to everything we said. It gave me real hope towards change within the criminal justice system and I am so thankful for that.”
The DA’s and the incarcerated people formed a large circle where residents introduced themselves by sharing their accountable for their actions.
Prior to breaking into small groups, Brook Jenkins expressed her appreciation for all the incarcerated residents who chose to be present. She said the topic of discussion was gang violence prevention and she encouraged resident to share their personal experiences of transforming from gang life to rehabilitation.
The symposium covered the following topics: How old were you when you joined a gang? Do you remember your decision, being a conscious one? Was there a significant or pivotal moment that prompted the decision?
Several other discussions took root during small groups.
According to one district attorney, the goal is to establish violent prevention programs in middle and high schools in an attempt to prevent kids from joining gangs.
Participants were given a questionnaire asking if they have denounced their gang and if so, why? According to one of the participant, he was tired of living that life style. He noted that he understood that he wasted his entire life being involved in gangs.
The symposium resonated with a first time attendee, resident Jose Navas, who expressed his appreciation and the opportunity to be a part of the event.
“I was impressed that District Attorneys want to come and hear exactly what it was we were going through before we committed our crime,” said Navas. “What better place to come and find real solutions other than the streets? Not all District Attorneys are bad; [there’re some who are] down to earth,”