More than 50 residents and people from two organizations discussed genuine rehabilitation at an event held on August 6 in San Quentin’s Chapel B.
The three-hour conversation attended by members of For The People and the Draper Richard Kaplin Foundation centered around emotional intelligence, accountability, building community, criminality, and trauma.
“So many people don’t see behind these walls. Our goal for today was to help people see what’s inside, especially for those who have never had any proximity to people inside prison. Many people see law and order but don’t get the see the story after,” said Hillary Blout, founder of For The People.
For The People is an organization designed to help the incarcerated with prosecutor-initiated resentencing and to educate prosecutors nationwide on benefits of a reformed approach.
According to Robin Richards Donohoe, founder of DRKF, the organization is trying to create a world that is more just. For more than 20 years, they have identified and helped fund persons who are attempting to solve social justice issues.
“We set out to bring prosecutors into this area to be more of a solution to incarcerated persons rather than the ones who only send them away,” Hillary Blout said at the start of the forum. “Thank you for being here and opening up your heart.”
Former incarcerated resident Thanh Tran, invited to be the liaison between visitors and residents, said, “I felt a wave of happiness stepping back in here today to be able to bring people outside to see the humanity among us all.”
To help start a calm transition as participants convened into their groups, Tran began with a number of breathing exercises. He said the focus was to be comfortable with one another, listen to your body, be honest and reserved, if you liked.
“Come with what you want to get, give what you want to give. See these people beyond the blue they are wearing today,” Tran said.
Attendees broke into small groups to provide answers on which rehabilitative programs and work were impactful, what real and successful rehabilitation looks like, and who mentored or provided support, if any.
“I received an AA, but to me that didn’t help my rehabilitation. Criminal Gang Members Anonymous (self-help program) helped my emotional awareness and maturity, to see others as human,” resident Tam Nguyen said.
Resident Vernon Evans said his rehabilitative needs and the experiences he had during his 24 years of solitary confinement paled in comparison to the rehabilitative programs San Quentin offers. “This right here is revolutionary. It does not happen elsewhere.”
“Doing Youth Offender Program work helped me with understanding my crimes and connected me with that population,” Evans said of the program that had the greatest impact on him.
Visitor Kristen Richmond from DRKF commented on what she saw and heard. “Alongside rehabilitation is maturity and growth. Everyone has that capability, but everyone changes differently,” she said.
Ngyuen’s concept of accountability was taking responsibility for his actions in his community and to have a purpose. “I started finding purpose in my life. I started doing things that made me feel good about myself,” he said.
Resident Louis Sale said, “My foundation of sobriety from substance use, criminality, and gambling is my accountability. Taking advantage of opportunities like this group, and discussing freely about myself, and internalizing my actions. You have to have courage to do that.”
The visitors and SQ residents reconvened together as a whole and discussed the impactful experiences they had shared that day They passed around the mic to share thoughts on what each person gleaned from this experience.
Outside guest Meg Rudy said, “I feel like you don’t get this type of openness, even with your own family.”
“I would just encourage all of you to tell about the programs that could change lives,” Richards-Donohoe said. “If Guiding Rage Into Power [self-help group] was in middle schools where people could learn about perpetrators and victims, it would bring people together on both sides and that could make a difference.”
She said she believed that bringing victims and incarcerated persons together for healing could bring change.
The event began to close out with one-word summaries from each individual, beginning with the word “grateful…” to the last word “faithful.”
“Internalize and digest this experience as we continue to do this work. It is worth it, the work that you’re doing. For The People, what you’re fighting for is worth it,” Tran said. “All the work and long hours, it is worth it. Even when it might be unpopular to support it, it’s worth it.”
Resident Tony Tafoya spoke about the importance of mentors, building community, and communication. “This helped my journey of rehabilitation and addressing trauma. Without guidance, I couldn’t have learned to love myself,” he said.