One of the West Coast’s most beloved annual literary festivals, this smart, eclectic, 76% free ten-day gathering draws booklovers of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy words and ideas, straight from the artists’ mouths. Now with 160 venues in its 19th year, the festival’s uniquely portable format provides even greater access to literature. More info here.
Continue ReadingMonth: October 2018
Volume 23.43/44
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 23.43/44
As much as we welcome editorial notes from all of you faithful readers, we are incredibly grateful to have our dear friend and colleague, OT, always ready and willing to share his thoughts and wisdom with us readers of The Beat Within. For those of you new to the ed note, OT, has been a part of The Beat Within dating back many years, when he was a young contributor in our weekly workshops inside San Mateo County Juvenile Hall. From those days we certainly have come a long way. OT is truly more than a colleague, he is a
Continue ReadingThis Is For The Beat Readers!
by Thomas Harns If you’re reading this, then I sincerely hope you’ve acknowledged that there may be a few flaws in your plan. And I’m sorry, like me you had to find out the hard way that you are not in control. For some this is just a time out, a break from the craziness that we thought we could handle so well. For others, it’s going to be a long trip that you probably want to get off right now. I speak from experience. I’m on my 23rd year in State Prison on a 15 to life sentence. At eighteen,
Continue ReadingDreams to Believe
by Angel I think about what type of possibilities I could turn out to be in the future. I always think forward in what I want myself to be. I picture myself being an NBA basketball player and building a company to help kids who think this life is the only way. I believe in that dream that I fantasize. I know it’s a small chance that it will come true, but I’ve put my own dreams and my heart on a shelf. It has been up on that shelf for a very long period. I started to realize, you
Continue ReadingEd Note 23.41/42
Greetings friends! If you came to this editorial note this week hoping to read the latest update from our dear friend, OT, in Nicaragua, you’ll most likely have to wait until the next issue, given our longtime friend and colleague, Kathy Ellison, has so kindly offered to write this week’s wonderful ed note! Kathy not only gives us an excerpt from her 2010 book, “Buzz: A Year of Paying Attention,” she also gives us a snapshot of her life. We are incredibly grateful to Kathy for her years of commitment to The Beat Within workshops in the Marin County Juvenile
Continue ReadingVolume 23.41/42
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingA New Perspective
by Richard Angulo As a kid, I used to look back on my life and realize I wasn’t dealt the best hand. Danny had a mom and dad that absolutely loved and adored him. His parents were involved in his life, heck, Danny’s mom was a regular on our middle school campus volunteering her time. Sylvia, on the other hand, came from a family that embraced high education. Sylvia’s father went to work every day in a suit and tie. He was the president of his own company while Sylvia’s mom was a high school teacher. While visiting their home, conversations
Continue ReadingThe Tenderloin
by Aimee I live in the Tenderloin District of San Francisco. There are a lot of homeless people in my neighborhood which makes my neighborhood different from other neighborhoods. My neighborhood is very diverse with Mexicans, Blacks and Filipinos. I miss all my “uncles” (family friends) that hang around my block barbequing. If I grew up in a different neighborhood I wouldn’t be who I am today, which is a strong girl with a strong personality. In my neighborhood I connect mostly with Turk and Jones which is the intersection of where I live. My neighbors are cool, and I know
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