San Quentin News

Written By Incarcerated - Advancing Social Justice

SQN Johnson earns first Master’s Degree in 10 years

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Michael Johnson
Michael Johnson

Striving for a good education has its challenges for anyone, but for incarcerated students those trials and tribulations are greater. However, one incarcerated man has persevered and has become the first student to earn a Master’s of Business and Administration (MBA) degree at San Quentin State Prison in almost a decade.

Michael Johnson, 37, earned his MBA with an emphasis in “Leadership” from Adams State University of Colorado, where the motto is “Great stories start here!”

“He is the first guy to receive that level of a degree since I started overseeing the education department in 2013,” said Michael Wheeless, the principal of San Quentin’s education department. Wheeless is in charge of handling educational tasks and the overall education responsibilities, plus keeping track of who receives AA degrees and BA degrees.

There are other outside correspondence colleges active at San Quentin, as well as the Prison University Project that offers face-to-face classes and awards Associate Degrees upon graduation.

“For an incarcerated person to achieve any accomplishment in education is remarkable,” Wheeless said.

“Since Proposition 57 was implemented in November of 2016, there have been plenty of instances when inmates have earned time off their sentences for achieving AA and BA degrees, but this is the first time under the San Quentin rules of Prop.57 that I’ve seen a Master’s earned.”

Smiling while leaning back in his chair and beaming proudly, Wheeless continued,

“I’m impressed with Mr. Johnson’s educational achievement, at having earned an MBA degree while incarcerated. It means even more to have earned it while in prison rather than being on the streets.”

However, Johnson is modest about earning the MBA during his prison stay. Although he received his bachelor’s degree while at another prison, the challenges there were much greater to overcome.

“I treated my prison time as if I was away at college,” Johnson said, “I did my time and did not allow the time to do me.”

Johnson took such courses as Managerial Accounting and Business Management along with a laundry list of other business classes– and emerged triumphant.

He maintained a 3.86 grade point average, earning “A’s” and “B’s,” grades that he could not imagine earning back in Woodland, California where he was born.

“When I was in the fourth grade I could not even read; I was like in what they call, “slow learning classes,” said Johnson. He was a late starter and said that he actually started learning after he got to high school.

“I was determined to learn, though,” said Johnson.

Other SQ residents stopped by to congratulate Johnson even during this interview, but he modestly accepts compliments on his achievements from his peers. His wish is that he can encourage other guys in prison to pursue their dreams like he did.

Johnson understands the challenges an incarcerated person can face while in prison. During his humbling six year prison experience, Johnson was not always on the right path to education. It was a life-altering experience with a family member that sparked his desire of higher learning.

“My first year in prison my grandmother passed away,” Johnson recalls, “Her name was Mary Rita Moncrif. She was my inspiration to do better. She raised me and when she passed, it pained me that I could not be there for the funeral.”

He somberly sank back in his seat at the memory. So, in honor of her memory, Johnson wanted to do something that would make his grandmother proud of him. For Johnson, education was the best way to show his appreciation to his grandmother for raising him.

Throughout his life, Johnson has been familiar with loss in many other situations. Due to alcoholism he lost his wife and other assets. “Now I know how to appreciate the things that really matter in life, like family and loved ones, not the material things, the superficial things.”

He credits his Aunt Elizabeth for supporting him financially and helping him achieve his education goals.

“Feels good to be the first one to achieve this milestone at San Quentin,” Johnson said.. “I encourage other guys to go ahead and do it, too.

“If the government would focus more on education instead of just locking people up, I believe that would help communities out there a lot better.”

The value of Prison to Employment Connection on returning citizens through job opportunities and connections

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Prison to Employment Connection’s Employer Day in November

Prison to Employment Connection (PEC) reached a milestone at San Quentin, completing its 10th session and graduating 44 men, who learned how to present themselves to future employers.

One of the highlights of the program was Employer Day in November, where 196 interviews took place with inmates inside the prison’s Protestant chapel. They were conducted with potential companies that hire the formerly incarcerated. A subsequent graduation ceremony was held two weeks later for the Session 10-44 graduates.

Keeping with tradition, Diana Williams, PEC executive director, spoke to the audience comprised of inmates, guests and PEC volunteers. She said the rate of recidivism in California is more than 60%. “That means 26 of the men in this room would come back to prison within three years of their release.” She offered employment as one of the key solutions to reduce recidivism.

According to Williams, recidivism is cut in half when those who are formerly incarcerated find employment. For those who have jobs upon release from prison, recidivism is 3.3% to 8 %, she said.

“To date, 253 men have graduated from PEC,” said Williams. “Of those, 153 have paroled and only one has returned to prison,” leaving her program with a 1% recidivism rate.

Diana Williams giving a speech to the audience

“This is a blessing to me, something I’ve been needing my whole life,” said Edmund Johnson, 47. He’s been incarcerated 24 years. “I think the program is excellent. It’s teaching me to use my transferable skills. It’s teaching me how to talk to employers.”

Williams explained how during months of preparation the men learned personal and work related interests. They studied work values, resume writing, interview skills, their incarceration history, and used it all to create “packages of success.” She said they also worked on learning how to reframe rejection.

“It’s designed to connect the men to themselves,” Williams told the audience of employers and career specialists. “Men in this program experience a renewed hope.”

Returning citizen Nelson Butler speaking with a student

She said 68 men started the class in August. Two weeks later, the Session 10-44 graduates attended a ceremony in the Catholic chapel, where they received certificates and other paperwork that will allow them to find employment upon their release from prison.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Michael Belton, 58. “I signed up, and I wasn’t sure, but I said ‘what do I have to lose?’ I actually gained something from it.”

He said PEC taught him to be open about his criminal history.

Gary Falxman came in from Realty One and the Oakland Rotary Club. He had toured the prison previously and said he learned about the programs in prison, and it made an impression on him. “I’m back here to help others find what they’re passionate about,” he said.

Checker is a San Francisco-based company working to modernize the background check process.

A participant interviewing with City College of San Francisco

“Our mission is to promote fair chance hiring,” Rebecca Rabison said. “We do that by trying to provide more employment opportunities for people with conviction histories.”

“Socializing” the idea of second chances, Orrian Willis works for the City of San Francisco’s Office of Economic and Work Force Development. It funds 45 job training programs, 13 of which focus on technical training. It was his third time attending Employer Day. “In our labor market, the demand is starting to recognize the talent” (of the formerly incarcerated)”.

Willis asked, “If people do their time why are we still punishing them when they get out?” Adding, to give them employment, “I think it’s our fiscal responsibility.”

“I was nervous and excited, not to mention I almost fell off the chair for giving me such an opportunity of a lifetime,” said Edwin Chavez, 44. He said he’s never had a job interview in his life. He’s been incarcerated for 25 years.

“I love it,” said Steve Garrett, 34, who’s been incarcerated for 18 months. “I think it’s a great program. The opportunity and skills that they’re giving us is what we need to stay out of prison.”

Elizabeth Toups, of the Jewish Vocational Service, had visited the prison previously during a graduation ceremony. “I was so impressed with what everyone was doing here,” she said.

The San Francisco-based organization works with people from all backgrounds to help them get jobs.

“Sometimes that involves connecting them to training, “she said.

Participants greeting employers as they come into San Quentin

When the interviews were completed, the guests reconvened to seats on the stage in the chapel. Williams commented that this 10th PEC session had the largest group of supporters attend Employer Day. Twelve of them stood up and received a warm applause from the men.

Jay Minteer was one of those supporters. He said another supporter, Tom Lacey, introduced him to PEC. He said it’s a worthy cause to make sure people don’t come back. It was his first time inside of a prison.

“I was impressed when I walked in and shook everyone’s hands,” said Minteer. “It works when you shake someone’s hand and look someone in the eye.”

“Thank you for believing in these men and this program,” said Williams. She introduced and thanked the inmate PEC volunteers who’ve also gone through the program and come back to help others. “As outside volunteers, we can only do so much for the program.”

Williams explained how the program was started before introducing Nobel Butler, who came up with the idea to provide inmates a head start on employment before parole. When he was incarcerated, he wanted to know how to get a job and to present employment prospects to the parole board.

“I just really wanted to come back and say things that other people (said to) me, so I really wanted to give back. This is my opportunity,” said Butler. He paroled and said he’s been gainfully employed ever since. The audience applauded his success. “My purpose here today is to give you guys hope. I think maybe I did something half right.”

“I realize life is an interview,” Williams, a PEC graduate now on parole, told her. She acknowledged and thanked PEC volunteers Lisa Trustin and Gabrielle Nicolet.

This was Trustin’s second session. “It’s not different because we experienced the same transformation the men make connecting with their own hope,” she said.

“It’s always different,” said Nicolet. “There are different challenges, like lockdowns, that present challenges. The prison population is different than it was a year ago.”

She said the core of why she volunteers is because prisoners need help. It was her sixth session.

As the guests sat on the stage, they received feedback from many of the inmates.

“I want to thank you for your friendly demeanor,” said Richard Richardson. “This program is everything I thought it would be. You guys treated me like a human.”

The employers and guests also shared their comments with the men.

One said, “This is the second time I’ve come, and each time there’s a new excitement.”

Another said, “You all should be teaching people how to interview.”

Their remarks kept coming.

“I’ve looked at a lot of resumes, and I can’t tell you how much I’d like to see more of these,” said another guest.

Employees of Checkr meeting with participants

At the graduation ceremony, Williams asked, “How many of you would have taken this class if you weren’t getting RAC (Rehabilitation Achievement Credits) credits?” About 90% of the men raised their hands. Then she read the interview results of the PEC graduates and said they did as well or better than people on the outside. The percentages from low to high:

5 Excellent 42%

4 Above average 39%

3 Average 19%

2 Below 0%

1 Poor 0%

Derry Brown said someone suggested he take the program. He went through the class and has now become a facilitator for the program’s 11th session. He said he’d never completed a resume or had many jobs and that his youth was swallowed up with incarceration.

“I didn’t have any of these skills,” he said. “So for me to go through this process was inspiring.”

In addition to Williams, Angel Falcone has been a volunteer for all 10 sessions. He told the men, “Every job is your business school” and advised them to do the best they can on every job.

“Everything we learn, we’re going to need,” said Dwight Kennedy, who volunteers for the program. “Take what you’ve learned and apply it to your life.”

What happens when the power goes out in prison?

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The power went off at San Quentin State Prison, leaving thousands of prisoners and custody staff together in a dark and perilous situation in October.

In the prison’s North Block and West Block, about 1,500 men were moving around outside of their cells inside the two five-story buildings when the power outage caught them and about a dozen correctional officers off guard.

Some inmates were taking showers when they became enveloped in darkness. Initially, everyone waited for the power and lights to be restored in a few seconds as a matter of routine, but it did not happen.

In the prison’s H-unit dorms, prisoners reported a ratio of two correctional officers to one hundred prisoners in the dark.

According to the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Article 4 Disorders and Emergencies, Section 3301, Emergency Operations Plan, “Each warden must have in effect at all times an Emergency Operations Plan, approved by the Emergency Planning and Management Unit, to assist in the preparation for response to and recovery from ‘All Hazards’ incidents. All hazards incidents are defined as any disrupt institutional operations or programs.”

PIO Statement: Gardea waiting for plant operation’s. He emailed them and has also said that Lt. Robinson has the answer.

There are no battery powered emergency flood lights activated in the West and North Block housing units because they don’t exist, and the backup generator system failed to provide standby power as it was inoperable for more than six hours.

The correctional officers in West Block had to use small handheld flashlights and one portable floodlight to help guide hundreds inmates to their cells with limited visibility in pitch black darkness.

As the building grew silent, correctional officers’ radio transmissions could be heard: “All officers are instructed to walk in pairs or groups of three or four.”

The power went out around 8:40 p.m. and didn’t come back on until shortly after 3:00 a.m.

When the power went out, inmates who required CPAP machines for breathing couldn’t use them. Toilets in the cells at San Quentin could not be flushed because they’re connected to timers that control the number of flushes per hour. The water in the showers and sinks went cold within minutes.

What appeared to be a dangerous and volatile situation for correctional officers and inmates ended without a major incident or injuries. In the first minutes, some inmates shouted and made jokes, but as it became apparent the lights were not turning back on, they found their way to their cells on their own as the public address was de-energized and of no use.

Some inmates assisted others by taking their portable battery-operated reading lights out on the tiers and to the shower area to help each other see their way safely back to their cells.

“I waited an hour for the generator to kick in,” said Lonnie Morris. “I just knew the power was going to kick back in. After an hour, I knew the generator wasn’t coming on, so I went to sleep.”

The stalled generator response to the power outage came several months after the Associated Press reported on a state-commissioned study that said California’s 12 oldest prisons are in “need of major repairs or replacements if they are to continue housing a third of the state’s inmate population…”

“What the state has done is ignore the need to routinely replace some critical infrastructure for decades,” said Don Specter, director of the Prison Law Office, a nonprofit organization that works on lawsuits involving the welfare of inmates. “Decades of deferred maintenance have led to this.”

An unidentified inmate who was returning from another area of the prison outside could be heard in the cell block saying “the hospital stayed lit.” Others speculated that the hospital must have a backup generator that works separately from the rest of the prison’s backup power.

“I don’t know who lives in those houses out there, but they’re all lit up,” said a volunteer at San Quentin who did not want to be identified. He said the houses on the right-hand side of the prison entrance all had their lights on. “Even the post office was all lit up.” He said he went to pick up his mail there the following day and that the generators at the prison could be heard.

Forty-eight hours after Pacific Gas & Electric cut the power to San Quentin, the prison was still running on generators. Even then the power cut off at least three times but came back on seconds later. At about 8:00 p.m., after the third time, however, the prison did an institution lockup, recalling prisoners back to their cells.

Poet and thespian Donté Clark visits San Quentin

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Donté Clark

Poet and thespian Donté Clark, 29, visited a classroom at San Quentin on Aug. 11 to talk about his experiences of being a young Black writer from North Richmond, Ca.

“On the surface, my writing is about my feelings, but it’s also about freedom,” Clark told a group of six incarcerated men sitting with community volunteers, who are educators for Academic Peer Education Program (APEP).

Clark added, “I always wanted to come inside a prison to teach–but what can I offer? I came to understand, if I can’t give information, I’ll get information.”

James Metters, one of the APEP incarcerated educators, said, “Donté came in and taught me the power of resilience. He models success as an African American growing up in an urban community. He reminds me that the sky is not the limit.”

Clark talked about his early days of writing. He said the anger he felt from the lack of social or community issues showing up in literature was quelled through his own writing.

“When I was growing up, I was going through a lot,” Clark said. “My parents and teachers didn’t know how to handle me. But, writing down my feelings not only made me feel better, it helped other people.”

Clark said appreciation for his writing passion showed up through community support for a workshop geared toward youngsters. The workshop participants began performing for each other, which gained attention—which grew the workshop until the performances became community shows.

“I’m trying to help raise awareness of what’s happening in Richmond,” Clark said. “I’m getting rid of that anger. If you still have anger and bitterness, you’re still lost. I want to get to that place of harmony. I have to get rid of that emotional blockage.”

Rick Ayers, an APEP volunteer, chimed in saying, “Donté would show up any- where, paid or not paid.”

Clark responded, “The workshops are for kids in the community — they help keep them out of trouble, inspire them to stay in school— with the goal of keeping the kids going.”

Clark performed a couple of poems from his new book, KnowFreedom. Peer educators Raiveon “Ray Ray” Wooden and Philippe “Kells” Kelly followed with original spoken-word pieces of their own.

Referring to the performances, Diane Kahn, a PREP volunteer, said, “I felt as though Donté is on the level that he could speak to the experiences that incarcerated people go through.”

Clark is working on a new piece called Money and a book based on a 14-day trip he took to Indonesia that speaks to peace and love.

Robert E. Burton receives first ever Distinguished School award

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Robert E. Burton Principal Michael Wheeless, receiving the Distinguished School award from OCE Superintendent Shannon Swain with Warden Ron Davis (Center)
Robert E. Burton Principal Michael Wheeless, receiving the Distinguished School award from OCE Superintendent Shannon Swain with Warden Ron Davis (Center)

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Office of Correctional Education (OCE) presented its first ever Distinguished School award to the Robert E. Burton Adult School at San Quentin State Prison in July.

An award ceremony was held at the prison to acknowledge “exemplary achievements” the school has made above all 34 other accredited schools within CDCR’s prisons.

“It wasn’t surprising it was San Quentin that won this award,” said Ralph Diaz, CDCR Secretary.

“There’s nothing easy about running an agency, school, or prison.” Then he congratulated Michael Wheeless, the school’s principle.

Graduate David Taylor speaking about his educational experiences
Graduate David Taylor speaking about his educational experiences

“Schools, by nature, are a blend of many different partnerships,” said Wheeless. He said the partnership today is the CDCR administration, made up of the Office of Correctional Education, San Quentin staff, volunteers and inmate tutors, teaching assistants, gardeners and, of course, the teachers.

Wheeless said when he started teaching at the elementary school level, he had an old concept of teaching: teacher, student, parent.

That changed with experience. “It’s not a one person show,” he said. “It takes everyone working together to make things happen.”

Several students were given the opportunity to speak about their past struggles, staff support, accomplishments and the benefit of education.

CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz on stage sharing his experiences as a Correctional Officer
CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz on stage sharing his experiences as a Correctional Officer

“After the first grade, I hated school,” said inmate Tommy Wickerd. He said by age 18, he was in county jail and later went to prison. “Rehabilitation was the last thing on my mind.” He said that was his “ignorant self” in the CDCR.

When educators and students create an exceptional learning atmosphere…

For 17 years, Wickerd said, he’s been sober and not involved in gang activity. “I changed my life.” He thanked all the educators. “The teachers here at San Quentin have a special skill that others don’t have.”

Inmate David Taylor said he dropped out of school at age 16 and learned the business of selling drugs. “Not having a GED or high school diploma made me feel like nothing.” He restarted his education in the county jail but dropped out. He started again at California State Prison, Sacramento but that ended when he was transferred.

The crowd laughed at Taylor’s story about a long “addiction” to watching television soap operas in prison, wasting time.

“I think about going to college for the first time,” said Taylor. He thanked the Robert E. Burton School teachers. Taylor was found suitable for parole earlier this year.

“All teams have to have a captain, and ours is Mr. Wheeless,” said inmate Kevin Schrubb. “If CDCR had an all-star team of teachers, San Quentin would make up half the team.” He said the teachers work with the men, even those who don’t want to come to class or do the work.

CDCR Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs Brant Choate speaking
CDCR Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs Brant Choate speaking

Shannon Swain, OCE Superintendent, discussed what makes a good school and how the CDCR education program launched the Distinguished School program. “When you start to look at your own practice, you can reflect and improve to see where you need to grow,” she said before presenting Wheeless with the inaugural Distinguished School honor.

“Thirty five prisons, 12 applied, one made it,” said Ron Davis, San Quentin’s warden. He noted that the education program at his prison would not be possible without staff working in food service, custody, medical, mental health and many other departments. “Everyone’s moving in the same direction,” he said. “It’s really the perfect storm. It comes from staff who care.”

“This is a celebration of professional educators at San Quentin”

“I get invited to a lot of events to speak,” said Diaz. Then he told the story of when he was a young correctional officer working in the education department at Corcoran State Prison. It was then he observed inmates playing domino games in education and making soups with oysters. He said his thought on the matter then was if they weren’t beating each other up, everything was fine. That’s not his outlook today. “We’re in a day where people are actually learning and growing,” he said.

“It happens because of the people,” said Diaz. At San Quentin, he said, there are about 875 men pursuing an education through Burton. Of those, about 160 are studying a technical trade and about 380 are attending college. And he didn’t forget to recognize and thank all the volunteers who provide “over 40,000 hours of their time” each year to help the men. He also thanked the students, and the custody staff for “creating a safe environment.”

“This is a celebration of professional educators at San Quentin,” said Brant Choate, CDCR Director of the Division of Rehabilitative Programs. “This event is so important that Ralph Diaz came to speak to you.”

Brant asked the “professional educators” in the room to stand. More than a dozen stood up as the audience applauded them.

“I have taught at private schools, charter schools and public schools—and at the college level,” said Ms D. Searle, the Marin Independent Journal reported. She’s a Burton School teacher in the G.E.D. and high school equivalency program. “I really feel that this has been the most rewarding experience.” She said inmates are an “overlooked population.”

Music for the ceremony was performed by the San Quentin Music Program’s band, Just Us. They were Jeff Atkins, piano and lead vocals; Anthony O’Neal, background vocals; Paul Comeaux, background vocals; Lee Jaspar, guitar; Charles Ross, drums; and Len Walker, bass.

Acknowledging the musical talent of the men in Just Us, Diaz turned to Davis and asked him, jokingly with a smile, “Is there any way to get this band to play at an event outside?” The audience laughed.

Toward the end of the event, there was a question- and-answer session.

Q: How will technology affect teaching in the CDCR?

A: Swain – “I think you’ll see a lot more.” She added that, unless there is “caring staff” technology may not add to the education experience.

Q: When can students earn a living wage (in prison) for attending an education program?

A: Diaz – He questioned if people would participate in education programs for the right reason if pay were the incentive.

Q: How can vocational trade students give back?

A:Swain–“I saw a student teaching another the Pythagorean Theorem.” She said the CDCR has an innovative partnership at Salinas where students participate and build small homes. Brant – “There’s lots of opportunities to give back.” He said inmates can teach others.

Q: What’s being done to shorten the waiting list to get in education programs?

A: Wheeless – He said to get men in programs faster, “we’d have to increase the number of programs.”

Q: What about paying inmate tutors?

A: Swain – The idea that education jobs can be comparable to PIA jobs has been considered.

Q: What about more programs on Level-4 prisons?

A: Diaz – “The challenge with those programs is space.” He said those facilities, when designed in the 1980s, didn’t have education in mind. Also, safety has to be considered, which means the violence would have to be reduced.

Q: Any plans to increase GED credits under Proposition 57, from six months to nine months?

A: Choate – “No.” (The audience laughed) “I think it’s important that this (award) highlights schools’ continuous improvement and work as a professional team,” said Martin D. Griffin, OCE Associate Superintendent. “San Quentin really stood out for having support that results in student success.”

Griffin said CDCR had been working on the award for the last two years. It was finalized in the fall of 2018. He said in February they evaluated applications and later a team visited San Quentin. They came from CDCR headquarters; there was one warden, a community college representative from the chancellor’s office, and an assistant from Career Technical Education (CTE).

According to Griffin, among the ten criteria used to consider which school to award were climate, culture, professional learning and student support. He said five team members visited San Quentin in May, and the award was announced in June.

The final highlight from the day’s event came when Choate sat in with the band and played drums and Swain took to a microphone and sang a spur-of-the-moment rendition of “Hotel California” by the Eagles as the band backed them up. Some of the guests stopped in the aisles and smiled as they observed Swain’s vocals, cheerfulness and the seamless transition from Ross to Choate on the drums.

Butterscotch comes back to perform for TLM

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Butterscotch performs in front of a packed house

Butterscotch performs in front of a packed house

A crowd of incarcerated men cheered like it was their parole day when Antoinette “Butterscotch” Clinton took the stage at San Quentin State Prison June 14. This time, she returned with Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie.

The musical genius turned a prison chapel into a concert, a reunion and a pre-graduation celebration for computer coding and construction apprentice trainees.

The music festival featured spoken word artist and returning citizen Jason “JC” Cavitt, Swedish Grammy-nominated rapper and producer David Jassy, and Eric “Maserati E” Abercrombie.

Curtis “Wall Street” Carroll hosted the event that served as a pre-graduation reward for the coders and construction apprentices.

Brian Rogers on the bass

Brian Rogers on the bass

Chris Redlitz founded the Code.7370 program with his wife and partner, Beverly Parenti. Code.7370 teaches computer coding and offers the highest wage for an incarcerated person who completes the program and is hired to work while still in prison. The concert was open to the first 378 people to arrival at the chapel.

While the crowd filled the chapel to standing room only, Butterscotch, Leslie, Redlitz and the band held a meeting at the back of the platform.

As Abercrombie played “Break the Mold,” all ears tuned into his lyrics about breaking the cycle of poverty and self-destruction. He received a standing ovation ― the first of many for the night. Abercrombie ended his impromptu three-song set with “Feel Me” and “Dying to Live.”

“He was dope,” Butterscotch said. “Listening to him, I wanted to lay some beats down to his lyrics.”

Carroll introduced the guests by first asking them questions. Carroll asked Leslie what motivated him to play for the guys incarcerated at San Quentin.

“There’s no place in the world I’d rather be than right here with ya’ll,” Leslie said. “Chris brought me here last year to speak, and I left a changed man. I saw determined and passionate people here.”

“I want to be there for you guys – it’s about love and acceptance”

Redlitz invested in Leslie’s SuperPhone business, a company that created an app that uses text messaging to connect directly with fans and consumers. Leslie graduated from Harvard at the age of 19 and created the app to communicate better with fans.

Carroll asked Butterscotch, “What defines your style of music?”

“Corruption within the California state prison system cannot be tolerated,” U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman to NBC San Diego regarding the indictment of a 23-year CDCR veteran caught smuggling heroin and meth into prison. https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/San-Diego-Prison-Guard-Accused-of-Smuggling-Drugs-into-Prison-475486693.html

“I always want my music to have a message to anybody who has ever been through what I’ve been through and to send hope, love and peace out into the world,” Butterscotch said. “I want to be there for you guys ― it’s about love and acceptance.”

It was Butterscotch’s second time performing on that stage. Two years prior, she collaborated with Jassy and wordsmith Cavitt.

Cavitt, who paroled from San Quentin in 2017, surprised Butterscotch and the crowd by strolling back into the chapel.

“It feels like I’m home,” Cavitt said. “This space ― everything here has a story to me. I was here eight years.”

Jason “JC” Cavitt performing spoken word

Jason “JC” Cavitt performing spoken word

Cavitt was a former member of Redlitz and Parenti’s Last Mile entrepreneur program. While still incarcerated, his spoken word piece played behind John Legend, via video, during a TED Talk. This time, he performed Why the Cage Bird Screams dressed in a burgundy button-down shirt and sharply creased slacks instead of prison blues.

“I live in society that kills people who killed people, in order to teach them not to kill people,” Cavitt spit. “… imagine a world where healed people would heal people.”

Next, Butterscotch took the stage and started with the beat boxing that earned her a finalist spot on America’s Got Talent. In all, she played a jazzy six-song set mixed with R&B and Hip Hop.

Bass guitarist Brian Rogers from Sacramento joined in for “September.” At times, Butterscotch looped her voice, then beat-boxed, sang and played the guitar simultaneously. At one point, the audience heard a saxophone, but it turned out to be Butterscotch’s mouth.

“Nearly 7 in 10 support clearing the records of people who complete their entire sentence if they remain crime free for seven years.” “SAFE AND SOUND” by Californians For Safety and Justice Nov. 2017

In honor of her grandmother, she ended her set with a rendition of “Summertime,” Butterscotch style. The crowd gave her several standing ovulations and shouts of support.

“Ray Charles ain’t got nothing on you,” someone yelled.

David Jassy performing remix of “Freedom”

David Jassy performing remix of “Freedom”

Jassy came to the stage in dramatic fashion with the sound of helicopters playing as he skipped down the aisle to start his set with a remix of his song “Freedom”. It has been viewed nearly 110,000 times on Youtube. He followed with “All of a Sudden.” The song that brought down the crowd was “Swenglish,” which he rapped first in Swedish, then in English with a rapid-fire delivery.

“This is one of the best performances of the night,” Brian Asey said.

Jassy’s set merged into Leslie’s opening song, “Addiction.” He rapped while native Gabe Lambirth rocked out on the guitar, and Leslie, inspired by Butterscotch, tried his hand at beat boxing.

“She’s inspirational,” Leslie said.

As an intro to each song, Leslie gave the audience context. Before performing “Ups and Downs,” he spoke about making the decision at 15 years old to change his major from medical to music. The decision left him struggling. At one point, he was homeless and had to sleep behind a barbershop.

“When you’re at your lowest point, there’s the beautiful realization that there’s nowhere to go but up,” Leslie said.

Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie performing

Grammy-nominated artist Ryan Leslie performing

He also sang, “Something That I Like,” “Paris,” “History,” “Realize” and “Breathe.” He also premiered “Run it Back” at San Quentin.

“It’s never been released,” Leslie said.

He said he performed “History” and “Realize” because the songs fit the occasion.

Gabe Lambirth playing the guitar

Gabe Lambirth playing the guitar

“You have a song like ‘History,’ and we have this historic moment at San Quentin. ‘Realize’ is about the power of the human spirit,” Leslie said.

Leslie decided to share his music with the incarcerated population because, “I believe that everyone matters, no matter what their background is; they’re human beings with souls. We all deserve a second chance.”

Many people who tried to see the concert were turned back after the chapel reached capacity, and several others had to leave early for close-custody count. Leslie plans to make sure that doesn’t happen next time.

“I’m coming back with a whole band, and we’re going to do it on a Saturday on the yard where everybody can come and nobody has to leave,” Leslie said.

Butterscotch has an album out called “Scotch Tape.”

Leslie has several, starting with “Ryan Leslie” and including  “Transitions,”  which was nominated for a best R&B album Grammy. Afterward Leslie dropped three rap albums back-to-back: “Les is More,” “Black Mozart” and “MZRT.”

Jassy is finishing a mixed-tape he produced with young men on the yard who were challenged to rap without profanity, called the “YOP Mixed-Tape.”

For More Photos see below.

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Lack of felons’ ability to vote strips away fundamental rights


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San Quentin’s big transition as non-designated facility

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San Quentin State Prison’s transition from a General Population (GP) facility to a non-designated programming facility has uncovered old prejudices and uncommon collaborations.

San Quentin back in the day

The inmate response to the new housing designation is as diverse as the prison population.

Most inmates have been indifferent to the inflow of newcomers, while others have been cautious and alert.

Some prisoners transferred out of San Quentin because they did not want to deal with the unknown.

Few inmates, and administrators, could predict what was going to happen when GP inmates and Sensitive Needs Yard (SNY) inmates were united into one community.

“Some people that are here at San Quentin are old-timers, and they have a hard time changing their perspective about people,” said Anthony A., a former gang member, “I think it’s because the past is all they have.”

Most of the new arrivals are former gang members who decided to make a change in their lives’ direction; their decision is also making a difference in the prison.

Although the majority of the population remains race and gang segregated, the newcomers have formed a multicultural group of prisoners.

“What to outsiders looks like sheer depravity is understood to preserve order, and protect the group,” Prison University Project says Jody Lewen of the in the Spring 2018 Newsletter Volume 13, No.1

“Whenever someone shows up off the bus, we try to embrace them because whether people are active or drop-outs from a gang—everyone is uncomfortable when they arrive,” Michael R. said. “I want to give these guys the opportunity I didn’t have when I first came to prison.”

San Quentin offers the same opportunities and programs as before but as a non-designated programming facility, there is zero tolerance for prison politics and gang activity.

“We are creating a system where the inmate is treated as an individual”

“I decided to drop out of the gang because I didn’t want to catch a life sentence,” said Sergio C., a former Bay Area gang member. “My supposed homeboys told me I had to stab somebody and get caught with the knife. I think my life is worth more than those kinds of friends.”

Many of the new arrivals say that in order to prove their loyalty, gang members are expected to do things that could earn them extra prison time, in some cases even a life sentence.

“I thought a lot about what I wanted for myself before I decided to step away from the gang lifestyle,” Michael R. said. “When I talked to my wife and my children, I knew I couldn’t do this prison stuff anymore.”

Michael, Anthony and others are helping steer new arrivals into programs, education, and introspection.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has received some criticism for its shift in housing policies that to outsiders seems arbitrary.

“According to a RAND analysis, every $1 invested in such [inmate] education generates at least $4 in economic return,” reports Fast Company.

Earlier this year, the CDCR outlined its methods to curb prison-gang influence and promote rehabilitation through the implementation of non-designated programming facilities and Restrictive Custody General Population (RCGP) yards.

“These non-designated yards are the long-needed solution to our problems,” Sergio C. said. “Before, I was too busy trying to keep up with yard politics and fighting for our fair share of state property, so I didn’t focus on preparing for release and staying out, I ended up coming back.”

In April, Scott Kernan, Secretary of the CDCR, wrote in the Secretary’s Corner that significant criminal justice reforms that provide incentives for rehabilitation have also given the department an opportunity to expect more from offenders.

“We are creating a system where the inmate is treated as an individual, and with that change we have to expect conformance to behavioral standards just like in the community,” Kernan wrote.

Most of the new arrivals at San Quentin are taking advantage of the available opportunities.

“I’ve never seen a prison like this,” said Mario, a Hispanic from southern California, who decided to stay. “I was planning to leave because of what my homies might think, but then I thought I better get my life in order instead of worrying about what others think.”

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SQ Health Care program sets the bar

Judy Appel talks justice

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Judy Appel speaks with San Quentin News staffer Wayne Boatwright

Judy Appel speaks with San Quentin News staffer Wayne Boatwright

Berkeley Unified School District board member Judy Appel sat down with San Quentin News to brainstorm on solutions to criminal justice issues that she can take to Sacramento, if she wins an assembly seat this fall.

“I’m very concerned about our criminal justice system and the way we lock people up for really long times,” Appel said. “We put people away for so long without trusting people with a second chance.”

Following the footsteps of her mentor, retired State Senator Loni Hancock (D-Oakland), Appel said she believes in working with the people affected by a problem to come up with the solutions.

Appel came into the newsroom with Alden Feldon. Both are part of the Jonathan Logan Family Foundation, which supports San Quentin News because they believe this newspaper provides public safety solutions. At the table was Editor-in-Chief Richard “Bonaru” Richardson, Senior Editor Juan Haines and Staff Writer Wayne Boatwright.

After hearing about how successful San Quentin State Prison has been with rehabilitative programming that transform lives, she asked, “Can programs work at other prisons?”

Haines replied, “Definitely. It’s a matter of getting buy-in from the yard and the administration.”

One of the news guys also suggested a way to stem gun violence — making it mandatory to teach the practice of restorative justice to kids in school. Appel already supports the idea and has worked with SEEDS, an organization that trains teachers in the use of restorative justice in the Berkeley School District.

“I believe there is healing in the process of forgiveness and making amends,” Appel said.

She said she discovered restorative justice while looking for ways to stop the school-to-prison pipeline.

“Restorative justice really resonates with how I feel we should be dealing with this,” Appel said. “Kids need to know somebody loves them.”

Then she asked about whether teaching restorative justice practices in neighborhoods where there is violence would work.

The response was that using mentors who have relatable experiences would get the kids to buy in.

Judy Appel and Alden Feldon talking with SQN staff members Juan Haines and Wayne Boatwright

Judy Appel and Alden Feldon talking with SQN staff members Juan Haines and Wayne Boatwright

Feldon, who had remained quiet until toward the end of the meeting added, “Most people think it’s a zero sum game. If people realized that everyone is a resource, everyone is a gold mine that we lose every time we lock someone up or suspend them from school – if we looked at each other as resources rather than competitors, then rehabilitation would be a no brainer.”

Appel responded, “I love the idea that everybody is a gold mine.”

Appel is running for the Assembly seat currently held by Tony Thurman of District 15, which covers the East Bay from North Oakland to Hercules, Richmond, Albany and El Cerrito.

“I’ve really been a social justice advocate for 25 years,” Appel said. “I feel it’s the right time to bring my skills, empathy and bold leadership to the Assembly.”

Appel said while taking care of an older sister with mental health issues, she saw her struggle and get kicked out of school. That instilled in her the desire to become an advocate.

The licensed attorney said she has fought for homeless people, been part of the Drug Policy Alliance, and worked on the founding board of the Ella Baker Center with Van Jones before joining the school board.

Now the Pittsburg native wants to help increase the chances of success for returning citizens by making it easier to get the necessary licenses to work certain jobs.

“I believe most of the inequalities in our culture are imbedded in structural racism,” Appel said. “That has led to people in power not letting certain groups of people succeed.”

Appel wants to make licensing permits discretionary instead of having a strict bar that keeps someone from getting a license because of an unrelated crime.

She’s also interested in ways to bring rehabilitated people home from prison faster.

“If you could get out sooner and bring the wealth of you out into the world, that’s a win, win,” Appel said.

The Office of Neighborhood Safety [https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/271/Office-of-Neighborhood-Safety] techniques involve street outreach and transformative travel. ONS seeks out young men who are active firearm offenders to present credible alternatives to violence.
http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/

Tennis helps SQ lifer cope with missing his daughter

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Tennis is a complex rehabilitative sport. You have to return the ball that is served. But, there are hundreds of ways to hit the ball, and there are a thousand places it could land. For an incarcerated father, it’s a metaphor for life.

Paris Williams could only live the life he was dealt. As a Creole man and father of a bi-racial daughter, he dealt with racism from her family. As a CDCR prisoner sentenced to 75 years to life, he deals with years of anguish.

Williams was struck out under California’s Three Strike Law for his third burglary case.

Playing for the Inside Tennis Team at San Quentin helps him to stay positive.

“Tennis changed my outlook on life. I learned to humble myself, because on the court there is no racism,” Williams said. “I learned to socialize because as an outlaw, you don’t socialize, you live like a chameleon.”

On Fridays, he cleans the court, because every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. they match racquets against members of the surrounding communities, who enter the prison to partake in the sport and share what they’ve learned as tennis players.

“I come in to help guys,” said team co-coordinator and volunteer Sharon S., who does not come inside from a social justice perspective. She believes there are programs for that, but says she does help people change the way they think.

“When I play with inmates, I give them pointers because some of them don’t play teams as well and working as a team is what tennis is,” she said. “It’s about camaraderie and boosting up your partner.”

First-time volunteer Beth C. said, “Anytime I want to get better at something, it’s easier said than done. I have to reach in for patience, humility and acceptance of myself.”

“Tennis is mental; anytime I’m focused on what other people think of my game, I’m distracted.”

Like Beth C., Williams has had a humbling experience playing tennis. It’s hard for him to focus on rehabilitation when he’s thinking of how his decision to commit crimes caused him to miss the greater half of his daughter’s life.

His daughter holds resentment toward him for going back and forth to prison. They were estranged before he was struck out on his current term.

Three years ago, she explained in a letter that she did not mean to push him away from her, but wished he wouldn’t have given up on her either. It was the last time he heard from her.

“She told me, ‘don’t think I don’t love you.’ She said she loves me and thinks of me all the time, but she’s dealing with life,” Williams said.

He has been at San Quentin for more than three years and started coming out to play tennis two years ago for the rehabilitative aspect. In Williams’ transition from crime rackets to tennis racquets, he learned cross match tennis and became more comfortable with socializing by talking to volunteers who come inside to play.

Fanny Gamble, a member of Harbor Point Tennis Club, said, “All the tools and blessings I got from tennis I apply to life, like taking one point at a time, think ahead, stay positive, strategize, have a plan, and don’t forget to smile, because it’s supposed to be fun.”

Gamble has been player of the year for her age group, and she represented the U.S. at the world cup last April in South Africa.

Williams said that being in prison with a life sentence often puts a frown on things.

He stresses over the pain he caused his daughter and the disappointment as a father who repeatedly came back and forth to prison. The disappointment with himself had been his trigger to give up on the idea of being a socially polite person. On the verge of quitting on April 14, he talked to volunteer Marty Silverman about it, because his desire to quit was triggered by depression.

“Today I’ve concluded walking away is not an option,” Williams said.

http://sanquentinnews.com/optionb-org-support-group-overcoming-effects-incarceration/

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