Month: April 2026

Ed Note 31.13/14

Editor's Note

Welcome back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. This is the only magazine where everyone speaks their truths and stories without having to be judged in a negative way. We have a special treat for our readers as we have one of our volunteers step up to the plate in a major way. HL is here to share what they have learned from helping type and edit The Beat Within submissions. The floor is hers! To The Beat Within Community, I am beyond grateful to be part of such an impactful organization like

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Everyone Makes Mistakes

Piece of the Week

-Raycheese, San Francisco I’m mad at myself for letting myself, my friends, and my family down. I made a promise to all of them that I would never become incarcerated again and do better with myself. Everyone makes mistakes, but as a young man, I know right from wrong. I had an interest in the wrong things, and it led me and others down the wrong path, which cost us our freedom and our friendship. I’m mad at myself because I left a lot of people I love and owe loyalty to. I am serving a long-term sentence, and to

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Working Hard Towards My Goals

The Beat Without

-Noava How do you go from where you are at, to where you want to be? I had to work very hard to get to where I am today. It takes a lot of enthusiasm and hard work. I have goals and plans.  Number one key is taking care of self, first. I dream big and I manifest my freedom every day. I sweat hard and I am dedicated to be making amends by training dogs to help people in need who have disabilities.  I work hard every day, and I set my dreams ahead of me one day at

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Ed Note 31.11/12

Editor's Note

Welcome back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. This is the only magazine where everyone speaks their truths, and stories without having to be judged in a negative way. Our editorial note will be written by OT as he shares with our community the final, part three conclusion, about a very daunting medical experience that happened to him and family recently… Thank you for sharing your challenges with us OT! Continued…part three folks, this is OT back again with the conclusion of my son JD’s surgery. It was a success! But the challenges

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Never Give Up

Piece of the Week

-Heavy Fro, San Francisco I try my hardest to get to where I want to be. I ask for advice when I need it and learn from my mistakes. For black history month, I remember and honor Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. I chose MLK because he spoke up for black and brown people when everyone was scared to. His words made a change. Even to this day, people talk about him and repeat his speeches. I chose Rosa Parks because she stood up for herself, which got her arrested, and it made people think more clearly. They started

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Have Hope

The Beat Without

-Jose, San Quentin State, CA My message to all addicts is have hope. Have faith in your higher power God or whoever is your motivation to change. You have to know that you could not change by your own understanding. I know because I did try many times to let my addictions go, but I couldn’t do it on my own.  I needed God to help me come out of the hole that I was in. I tried it all, using different drugs, mixing, leaving one for the other and I still couldn’t. I remember going to groups of NA,

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Ed Note 31.09/10

Editor's Note

Welcome back to another double dose edition of the one and only The Beat Within. This is the only magazine where everyone speaks their truths, and stories without having to be judged in a negative way. Our editorial note will be written by OT as he shares with our community the part two installment, about a very daunting experience that happened to him and his family recently…Thank you for sharing your challenges with us OT! This is a continuance from my last editorial note, part two of my son’s medical ordeal. So, it’s Sunday evening now, the sun has gone

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