Season Greetings friends and lovers of The Beat Within. We truly appreciate all your support in helping us be the best possible program we can be. 26 years and counting, what a journey! We are totally grateful for what you courageously bring to the table, if you are a writer, an artist, a facilitator, typist, supporter or community partner. We could not do this work without you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do. This is truly a team effort. What you have in your hands is our year end issue. 50 weeks of writing
Continue ReadingThank You Mom and Dad
by Isabella, San Francisco The first person I would like to thank is my mom. Honestly my mom is one of the best things in my life. I remember before my mom it was just me and my dad. It was hard for my dad to raise a kid like me on his own so when my mom came into our life I finally had a woman/mother figure to look up to. Honestly I don’t know what I would do without her. Second, I would like to thank my dad. My dad met me when I was a baby at
Continue ReadingQuite a Few Things
by GR, Santa Clara What motivates me to try to do better is quite a few things. I’ve been just doing me for a while dealing with my circumstances, but all it’s done is end me in here and cause me to lose a lot of people due to my actions. I’m tryin’ to do better for my younger brothers so they could learn right from wrong and so I could be there in they life. I’m tryin’ to change my ways and ignore the BS that’s just gone hold me back from succeeding. For me, it’s about respect and
Continue ReadingGoodbye
by SM, Sacramento Dear Drugs, Where can I start? What can I start with? Oh Drugs, you and I have been through some crazy shhh. I’ll never forget all the memories I’ve had with you. All the great times and bad. All the fun and life-threatening experiences. We’ve been together for so long, almost five years now. It’s going to be hard having to say goodbye. You’ve been my backbone. You’re all I know. All I cared about. For years, I lived my life on drugs, and for drugs. I rely on you when things go wrong. When all else
Continue ReadingI Need To Be Heard
by Dorrance Lockhart, San Quentin State Prison, CA When I was 25 years old the most worse thing that could happened to me. I lost all confidence and patience with life because I lost my best friend. Now on Mother’s Day of 2005 my mother was killed. Then on top of this situation my lady who was carrying my first child lost it a week later. That year before I knew it I became so bitter and self-destructive because within three days I found my mother’s ex-boyfriend who killed her and killed him. I was sent to prison after I
Continue ReadingThat Decision
by Truth N Poetry, San Quentin State Prison, CA The decision to not be silent about the Physical Mental and emotional abuse and my brothers and mother suffered at the hands of it. My step-father has been mentally and emotionally healing, when I speak of the pretty lies and ugly truths that come with child abuse Domestic Violence. I am allowing myself to acknowledge the underserving scars of my story yesterday and give myself permission to embrace or welcome if you will a tomorrow of my own creation. When I write poetry I speak “My Truth” without fear or apology.
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Volume 27.45/46
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 27.45/46
It’s hard to believe the Winter Holidays are upon us. We want to wish you and your family and friends the best holiday season and new year, as we all aim to make 2023 the best year yet! We are super grateful to our holiday artists this year, from our latest cover artist, Michael Sperling, to Olegario Ambriz to our young star, Elder in San Mateo. All this amazing work if not showcased in this latest issue, will be shared in our year end issue, and our holiday letter/eblast to our friends, colleagues and supporters. It’s that time once again
Continue ReadingThe Decision
by JS, Sonoma I am not going to lie. Before I answer this question, I want everyone reading to pause and visualize how strong your mind is. Think about if your mind was different who would you be. I know that if my mind was different, I would have never been in this situation. Young men are being influenced the wrong way. For example, we look for respect if we don’t have role models. But nowadays the way respect comes is from hanging with a respected group, shooting and fighting. But to be honest when you let your mind convince
Continue ReadingMy Support System
by Andrea, Alameda My advocate is my dad. He always have my back and I love him to death. He is someone I can always talk to, and I know he always have my back. I know my dad see greatness when he looks at me. I’m very smart and independent. My dad always came through when I need him. When I’m going through things, he always makes sure he have my back. My worst critic is my sister. Or it could be myself at times. I’m very hard on myself because I know what I’m capable of. I’m very
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