San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

Kim Kardashian helps formerly incarcerated obtain jobs

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Kim Kardashian is working to help formerly incarcerated people obtain jobs as part of her involvement with criminal justice reform.

Kardashian appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote her makeup line but ended up discussing criminal justice reform, according to instyle.com on Feb. 8.

“I think there’s such a stigma on people hiring formerly incarcerated people,” she said. “There’s so many people that are incarcerated for life. For murder, that maybe they were just next to someone, and there was a group of people, and a fight broke out and somebody unfortunately died.

“But they didn’t even hit the person, didn’t even have a weapon and were serving life,” she said.

Kardashian thinks that people who are pardoned should be given a second chance. “I would love to hire formerly incarcerated people,” she said.

Early this year she visited San Quentin prison, where she talked with men who were sentenced to extremely long sentences, including life imprisonment.

While at San Quentin, she listened to the music of people who committed crimes as juveniles and lifers. This music was produced by the Swedish Grammy nominated music producer David Jassy.

Jassy is a Swedish-born, Gambian-Estonian descendant. He is serving a life sentence for an altercation following an award show in Hollywood.

Kardashian heard about Jassy and the San Quentin Mixtape Vol. 1 through Van Jones and Jessica Sloan of #Cut50. Together Jones, Sloan and Kardashian helped Alice Marie Johnson, a first-time nonviolent drug offender get pardoned by Pres. Donald Trump last summer.

She believes people like Johnson should be given a second chance. Jassy said she shared the same belief about those featured on the mix tape. He said they also spoke about second chances, reentry, and bridging the gap between incarcerated men in the music program and executive producers in the industry.

After listening to the mix tape, “she was impressed, willing to support the mix tape and supported the fact that we don’t use profanity,”Jassy said.

“I could learn something from it,” Kardashian said, according to Jassy.

The mix tapes can be followed on Instagram @ Sanquentinmixtapes.

S.Q. Warriors take trophy back

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The San Quentin Warriors won again!
For the second straight year, the prison’s premiere basketball team beat the Golden State Warriors squad of staffers 93-85 in a community atmosphere that featured NBA-playoff intensity. The victory had particular significance for San Quentin power forward Harry “ATL” Smith, who paroled a few days after the game.

“All praise is due to God,” Smith said. “It’s bigger than basketball. This program has really been my family. When I get out, I plan to continue repping the Warriors and Jesus Christ.”
The annual games between Golden State (GS) staffers and San Quentin (SQ) started in 2012.
They match up incarcerated men against management, coaches and employees of the NBA champions.
The events unite affluent NBA executives—including Warriors’ assistant general manager Kirk Lacob, son of the team’s owner Joe Lacob—with incarcerated people, through their common love of basketball.
Golden State leads the series four games to three; however, SQ has won two straight since Rafael Cuevas went from point guard to coach. His motto: character comes first, talent second.
“We’re not on this team for nothing,” SQ King Jason Robinson, who suited up with the SQ Warriors, said. “We proved we’re worthy to play with people from the outside and show what community is all about.”
For the Sept. 5 game, Lacob showed up with a team that included Nick Kerr (son of Golden State Coach Steve Kerr), Kent Lacob, Assistant Coach Chris DeMarco and others. First-round draft pick Jacob Evans, a former Cincinnati Bearcat, came for moral support, as signed players are not allowed to play.

The Golden State staffer squad was loaded, but it was missing its leading scorer and rebounder, Bob Myers, two-time NBA General Manager of the Year. Myers usually shows up and shows out but injuries caused him to miss the event.
“Bob had hip surgery,” Lacob said. “He had the operation in May and trained hard so he could rehab in time to be here, but he over-did it.”
Evans, the draftee, came along to see how good the SQ team is and to bring happiness to the incarcerated population.
“I feel like everybody deserves a second chance,” Evans said. “You never know what somebody’s situation is, so it’s important to show that you care.”
The day had a festive atmosphere, starting pregame when SQ resident Philippe Kelly rapped “The San Quentin Warriors Song.”
Then, under an overcast sky, hundreds of fans surrounded the basketball court on the yard as Aaron “Showtime” Taylor announced the starting five for GS, then for SQ.
GS scored first. Chris DeMarco received a pass inside and made a lay-up.
SQ’s Anthony “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” Ammons responded with one-and-one.

First year SQ Warrior Delvon Adams, who started at point guard, followed with a lay-up inside.
A determined Lacob tried to snatch a rebound out of the hands of SQ vet Allan McIntosh. The refs called a jump ball.
Taylor, SQ’s play-by-play announcer, had some fun with Lacob’s aggressive play. “Kirk ran up on him like he wasn’t scared he’s in a prison,” Taylor said.
At the end of the first quarter, SQ’s Tyrrell “City Life” Price Sr. made a three-pointer at the buzzer for a 29-18 lead.
“We’re only down 11; we’re good,” Evans said.
In the second quarter, Kerr, who played for the University of San Diego, came off the bench and helped get GS back into the game, nailing a trey from the corner to bring GS within five at 31-26.
Prison Sports Ministry sponsor Patrick Lacey, who suited up with GS, made an and-one with three SQ players surrounding him to bring GS within two points with 1:48 left in the half.
The half ended with SQ up by a thread, 46-45.
Aaron Miles, coach of the Warriors’ Santa Cruz G-League team, spoke at halftime. Miles, now 35 years old, was the all-time leader in assists in the Big 12 while playing for the University of Kansas. He went on to play for Golden State in 2005, and then played professionally overseas. At the annual game, he coached GS.
“I had a brother who was locked up and I questioned what he would do when he got out,” Miles said. “Now he’s ministering, going to school and doing the right thing. There is something special meant for you when you get out.”
Harry “ATL” Smith spoke at halftime as well, saying that at college, basketball was a business that used him up. The school didn’t care about his grades, only that he could ball. At San Quentin, he found a team focused on character.
That philosophy served him well. For Smith, a tryout for the Santa Cruz Warriors awaited his release.
“ATL is strong physically,” Miles said. “More than anything, I like his character. I’m excited for him to go out there and make a life for himself, to have success at whatever he does.”
As the halftime show, SQ residents David Jassy, a Grammy nominated rapper and producer from Sweden, and Joshua Burton performed an original rap song called “I’m a Champion.”
“No matter what happens today, I’m not quitting, I’m a champion,”Jassy rapped.
The home team kept the intensity up in the third quarter, which ended with SQ up 65-58.
Antwan “Banks” Williams, the sound designer for hit podcast Ear Hustle, performed another rap song between quarters.
In the fourth, Kerr made a series of shots that brought GS to within one point at 71-70 with 7:45 left. First he got fouled from behind the arc and made two of three free throws. Then he made five more points scored.

Smith answered with a hook shot in traffic and SQ’s Dejon Joy added another basket to pull away again.
“Delvon and Dejon played big in this game,” Cuevas said. “They were great mid-season additions who came and dedicated themselves.”
GS’s David “Just Dave” Fatoki stepped up. The 25-year-old from St. Louis played for the University of Washington and pro overseas in Spain. Now he works for GS basketball operations.
With six minutes left and his team down six, Fatoki made a three that made the score 76-73.
But Ammons answered with a runner in the paint, and shortly after that, Joy made an up and under scoop shot over Fatoki.
Smith fouled out with 1:45 left in the game. The crowd applauded.
Fatoki fouled out on the next play and Lacey shortly after as SQ continued to increase its lead.
With SQ up 93-85 and timing running out, DeMarco made a three-pointer too late to count. He led GS with 33 points, 14 rebounds and five fouls. Kerr added 23 and Fatoki 13.
“They attack the basket so much,” DeMarco said.”It’s hard not to foul.” Ammons led SQ with 17 points. Smith added 16 and McIntosh 14.
For the second year in a row, the San Quentin Warriors posed with the NBA trophy in front of a banner that saluted the NBA champions, designed by SQ artist Bruce Fowler.
“It’s surreal,” SQ guard Jesse Blue said. “It’s like finally arriving to some degree. It’s like showing the world we can actually play.”
Kirk Lacob and Miles reported to center court to pay off the pushup bets they lost.
Lacob jokingly blamed the Larry O’Brien Trophy for the defeat.
“We lose every time we bring it in,” Lacob said. “Maybe we should leave it here.”

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Common visits SQ music program

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David Jassy playing music for Common and guests Hip-hop artist Rashid “Common” Lynn heard about the positive music being produced from prison by David Jassy, a Grammy-nominated Swedish rapper and producer, and came into San Quentin to meet about a collaborative project.
“He has a genuine interest in prison reform,” Jassy said. “They heard about the YOP mixtape and they have ideas they want to discuss.”
The YOP mixtape, produced by Jassy, showcases the raw voices of young incarcerated rappers rhyming about their truths, without glorifying violence or cursing.
“Their raps feel real to me,” Common said. “Their struggle resonates.”
Jassy and Common plan to produce a new project working with Now #Cut50, an organization dedicated to reducing the prison population, and the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC).
“We want the voices from in here to be heard outside — through artwork, music and storytelling,” Common said. “When we get the word out, people will see humanity and our truth.”
Common, a Chicago native, is a hip-hop icon, actor and activist. He’s won two Grammys (2003 Best R&B Song, 2007 Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group) plus a 2015 Golden Globe award for Best Original song (“Glory”). He’s also done several movies: “Aces,” with Alicia Keys, and “American Gangster,” with Denzel Washington, among many others.

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise


Now he works with Scott Budnick, the “Hangover” movie producer, on a project called Imagine Justice.
Budnick, founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC), brought Common into several California prisons including Calipatria, Ironwood and Lancaster. He also performed at Folsom.
“When people see the humanity in our brothers and sisters locked up, they get to see human beings who made mistakes,” he said. “I think that’s important for our society.”
On Aug. 2, for the first time, Common visited San Quentin with Budnick and Jessica Sloan (Cut50), among others, to meet with Jassy.
“It was a productive meeting. I’m excited to see what it leads to,” Jassy said.
Sloan added, “We have a shared goal of elevating the voices of people inside and showing the incredible talent behind bars.”
“Dear prison, you’ve been stealing my time for too long …”
After the meeting, he had a prison tour by Public Information Officer Lt. Sam Robinson, who came to work in the middle of his vacation. He saw a cellblock, the inside of a cell, a chow hall, the exercise yard and the media center.
As he walked through the Lower Yard on his way to the media center, incarcerated fans greeted him. He took time to acknowledge each person.
He signed autographs and posed for pictures taken by an incarcerated journalist, with the permission of the prison officials.
As Common walked past the basketball court, he was challenged to a game of one-on-one and he accepted. Displaying the dribbling skills of an NBA point guard, he took San Quentin’s former Warrior Blade Kittrell-Leaks to the hole, but missed the shot.
Kittrell-Leaks, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound North Richmond native, kept his body on Common, playing tough defense. Common responded in kind. It took several shot attempts before he nailed a short-range shot for the win. The home crowd cheered for him.
Inside the media center, he was treated to a performance of “Break the Mold,” written and performed by Eric “Maserati E” Abercrombie. On the spot, Common added a freestyle verse.
“We can break the mold, don’t let the prison take control, God has the goal …,” Common rapped.
“That was dope,” Jassy said. “That was real freestyle, off the dome. Common is a true MC.”
Next San Quentin’s Gregg Sayers performed a soulful R&B song: “Dear prison, you’ve been stealing my time for too long …”
Sayers talked about his motivation for song-writing. “If you have a way of getting someone to listen, what do you have to say?”
Common talked about how he started visiting prisons. Budnick came to his concerts for seven years trying to get Common to come inside a prison, but Common resisted. The socially conscious rapper said he focused on trying to stop gun violence on the streets of Chicago. But Budnick remained persistent. When it clicked that everything is tied to the prison system, he decided to join him.
In order fix the system, Common said, you have to involve the people in the struggle because they know best how to solve issues that affect them the most.
“It has to be defined by the people from there,” Common said.
“I grew up listening to Common. ‘I Used to Love Her’ was one of my favorite songs,” Jassy said.
Common has an album out with Robert Glasper called “August Greene” and he’s working on a film called “The Hate You Give,” based on a poem by Tupac.
The YOP mixtape is awaiting clearance from the prison administration for its release.

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https://sanquentinnews.com/21st-century-programs-graduate-apprentices/

San Quentin News & Wall City Merchandise

Musicians rocked San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel

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San Quentin State Prison, known by its warden, Ron Davis, to be “The Titan of Rehabilitation,” one-upped itself with a spirited collaboration. Featured were incarcerated musicians sharing the stage with a gospel duo made up of a retired associate warden and a prison staffer, local Bay Area musicians, and a guitar/violin duo from Sacramento.

Audience enjoying the combination of musical talent

Audience enjoying the combination of musical talent

There was standing-room only for the nearly 350 people stuffed in the prison’s Catholic Chapel on Nov. 10.

“I believe in the healing power of music,” said Lisa Starbird, a representative of Bread and Roses Presents.

Starbird co-hosted the event with San Quentin Radio producer, Louis A. Scott, winner of a 2017 Society of Professional Journalists award for his radio productions coming from the prison’s media department.

David “Jaz” Jassy, Antwan “Banks” Williams
and Le’Mar Maverick Harrison

Grammy nominee David Jassy and violinist Giorgi Khokhobashvili stole the show.

There were whoops and hollers coming from the audience as Jassy’s hip-hop lyrics to Khokhobashvili’s piercing violin strokes had heads bobbing with hands in the air.

Most of the performances had the audience of San Francisco Bay Area community members, inmates and prison staff on their feet.

Starbird got the audience into the right mood when she sang Let it Shine.

Let it Shine was rhythmic and had the audience clapping with a sing-along chorus “Big, Bright, Brilliant, Beam of Radiant Light Shine.”

The incarcerated men had plenty of support by the administration, resulting in the numerous standing ovations.

“I always had a feel for music. That’s why I got into the music program here,” said the warden’s assistant, Raphaele Casale.

Casale said when she first took over the program,  she noticed one of the bands was not diversified. However, thnigs changed when inmate Darrly Farris took on a leadership role.

“He encouraged everyone to bring the music they liked,” Casale said. “He has become a well-rounded musician, and it’s been a great pleasure working with him.”

David Jassy, Dwight Krizman and Giorgi Khokhobashvili on the violin making beautiful music

David Jassy, Dwight Krizman and Giorgi Khokhobashvili on the violin making beautiful music

Farris played bass guitar for Continuum. Alan Brown and Chris Coppe, guitars; Joe Thurson, drums; Wilbur “Rico” Rodger, keyboard, performed Why I Am.

And The Show Went On

Young and old, Black, White, Mexican and others as well as volunteers and prison staffers enjoyed all genre of music — from hip-hop to folk and country to gospel and Brazilian jazz.

Felipe Ferraz, guitar and vocals, performed Brazilian jazz with Khokhobashvili.

The jazzy sound brought a distinct whoop from the Hispanic inmates who recognized the style of music as the violinist whined and cried to the steady beat of the guitar’s chopping and smooth lyrics.

“This right here is music,” Ferraz said. “It’s not the fame. It’s just music,” adding, “It has been a pleasure. This is a place that is peaceful and full of love.”

The two have been performing together for about 10 years.

The hip-hop performance by Jason “Alias” Jones, Antwan “Banks” Williams, and Leonte “AV” Amos was a history lesson on oppression and a motivational piece about moving forward in spite of being oppressed — They keep steppin on me, but you gotta just keep steppin’.

Not to be outdone, hip-hop artist Jessie “JJ” James performed Dear Mr. President. The lyrics come from a letter he wished to send to President Donald J. Trump, asking if he cares about the poor.

JJ was joined on the stage by Alias, Banks, and AV, followed by several other inmates dancing in the center aisle. One inmate walked the aisle passing out blank envelopes to send to the president.

Other Acts

Mark Jeffery has been volunteering at San Quentin for about five years. He performed The Devil’s Door and Orphan Girl with vocalist Margot Biehle.

Former A.W. K.J. Williams and Debra Wynn singing gospelFormer A.W. K.J. Williams and Debra Wynn singing gospel

Former A.W. K.J. Williams and Debra Wynn singing gospel

“The Devil’s Door goes to a dark place, but it comes back to the light,” Jeffery said. “You can feed the devil or push it away.”

The song has a folksy sound with Jeffery’s twanging guitar and Biehle’s harmonic backup.

Orphan Girl is about “a deep and tortured” song writer, Biehle said. The cracking country song is about a dispirited girl and her life struggles. During the performance, the chapel’s silence set the mood her singing evoked.

Joey Mason and Mike Adams collaborated to perform Renew Me — about hardships and renewing one’s life.

“When Mike brought this song to me, I was in a dark place,” Mason said. “When we need help, you have to ask for it. When he showed me this song, the lyrics just came to me.”

Debra Wynn vocals, Timothy Wynn keyboard, and KJ Williams vocals performed My Soul Says Yes and I Love You Jesus.

“This is just a snapshot of what heaven is going to look like,” Williams told the audience before singing.

As Williams sang I Love You Jesus, the audience clapped in rhythm and sang along with “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.”

San Quentin’s Jazz Band, Just Us, lead Charlie Spencer, and band members Denali Gillespie, Charlie Ross, Terry Slaughter, and Joe Demerson performed Tashae.

Louis A. Scott and Lisa Starbird hosting the event

Louis A. Scott and Lisa Starbird hosting the event

Demerson’s saxophone echoed in the chapel, sending the audience to their feet.

“Music is the relaxation in my incarceration,” Spencer said. “Stevie Wonder said it best, ‘It’s a language in itself that everyone can understand.’”

One of the closing acts was I Will Always be Your Friend, an original composed by Richie Morris and accompanied by Spencer and Dwight Krizman.

Closing out with a sing-along was the Mexican Band with Feliz Navidad.

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Youth offender mix tape captures generational trauma of incarceration

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Daniel Gutierrez with his daughter Kaitlynn

Daniel Gutierrez with his daughter Kaitlynn

Daniel Gutierrez, 21, says with regret that prison has been the norm in his family. “Everyone has been to jail except my mom.

“When I got to San Quentin, I ended up three cells down from where my grandfather was once housed. In the county jail I was in the same dorm my father was once in. I was even on the same (prison) yard with my uncle,” said Gutierrez.

A musician, Gutierrez said he shares a parallel life with his grandfather, Jose Moreno, who has been out of prison two decades. He even reflected on that relationship in a rap song, “The Same Prison as My Grandfather,” on a San Quentin Youth Offender mix-tape project. Gutierrez uses the song for therapeutic relief and guidance for his future.

One in 10 children who have an incarcerated parent will be incarcerated themselves before the age of 18, according to San Francisco Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (SFCIPP). Latino youth are 65 percent more likely to be jailed than their White peers, according to data from the Department of Justice collected in October 2015.

Jose Moreno, Gutierrez’s grandfather, was incarcerated in San Quentin in the late ’80s and early ’90s on drug trafficking charges. Moreno left his daughter Beatriz, 13, to deal with life without a father. Although only 13, Beatriz would become a teen mother when she bore Daniel.

“To tell the truth,” said Moreno, “when I was in San Quentin, I thought I was strong, but sometimes I would cry because my daughter had to see me in jail. Family is the most important thing you have in your life. So I know how he (Gutierrez) is feeling about his daughter.”

Now Gutierrez finds himself with his own daughter Kaitlynn growing up with her father in prison. Gutierrez became a father at the age of 14, continuing the cycle of children becoming parents.

“Having a daughter young, I felt I had to grow up quick,” said Gutierrez. “Growing up with the negative influences around me, doing crime was all that I knew.”

Gutierrez said he was convicted for armed robbery. He had been in and out of juvenile hall, boot camp and the county jail before the age of 18.

“Growing up with the negative influences around me, doing crime was all that I knew”

“I remember the time my grandfather visited me in juvenile hall. I could tell he was hurt,” said Gutierrez. “He tried to tell me no matter how much money you make, having a record makes things more difficult.” 

Gutierrez admitted to still being hard-headed and thought he knew it all. He says now he is dealing with the circumstances.

“I feel bad for Daniel,” said Moreno. “I know sometimes you make mistakes, I understand everything. It’s hard to change someone else’s mind.”

Moreno credited attending AA meetings and working as a cook in San Quentin to his transformation. He has been off parole for more than 20 years. He is working with a brother at their family restaurant in Santa Cruz and attending AA meetings.

“You got to be out of the bottle. That’s what helps me,” said Moreno. “When I get off of work I want to rest, but I still go to the AA programs. When you are in jail, it’s hard. I hope Daniel is getting into programs while he’s there. It’s a good place to change.”

Gutierrez reflected on the decisions he made that led him to San Quentin.

“When my parents separated my world kind of fell apart,” said Gutierrez. “My grandmother passed away, and a friend of mine got murdered. It was so much pain that I didn’t want to care anymore.”

This led to Gutierrez getting expelled from school, running from the police and carrying guns.

“There wasn’t really any teacher I could connect with. There were more distractions outside of school. I was just going there to make my mom happy,” said Gutierrez.

“I was really interested in music then. I think schools should be a little more hands-on and create more alternative programs that will keep kids’ attention,” continued Gutierrez.

“I know (Daniel’s mom) is suffering because her son is in prison. Beatriz is my oldest daughter. She’s really smart, and she tried to do the best she could with Daniel,” Moreno said.

The grandfather said he understands the pain that his grandson is feeling due to his own time spent in prison and wanting to see his own daughter.

“I always try to see my daughters whenever I get a chance, and sometimes she needs help, things get a little hard sometimes, and I try to be there the best I can,” Moreno continued.

Gutierrez is working on getting into parenting classes. He credits working with inmate producer David Jassy on the Youth Offender mix-tape for changing his outlook on life.

“Jassy transformed my way of thinking and my vocabulary,” said Gutierrez. “You couldn’t cuss on the tape, so he challenged you to come up with a better way to express yourself.

“(Jassy) gave me hope with the music. At first I didn’t care if I got more time or not. Now I’m determined to do better for my daughter and the music,” added Gutierrez.

Monica Moreno, Gutierrez’s aunt, said her dad has a lot of influence on her nephew.

“He (Jose Moreno) did his time. When he got out he switched his whole life around. My dad is a totally different person. I hope my nephew will do the same,” said Monica. “I encourage my nephew to continue rapping. That is his passion. He was doing that before he was in prison.”

Ahna Straube, Berkeley student, contributed to this story

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