Category: Piece of the Week

-Isaac, Santa Cruz I have witnessed and experienced many incredible and drastic things in my lifestyle that I have continued to choose to live. One thing I would change is the way I talk to people and not praise the decisions I make to others.  I always encourage betterment and success to others especially in The Beat Within journal prompts. I would have encouraged a more strong positive mind upon individuals. I encourage a more positive attitude in aiding and assisting the minority groups. Especially someone in need and someone who’s making bad choices.  I would want to change them

-GS, San Francisco Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve always been so impatient to grow up. Now that I am about to be a legal adult in a couple of months, I regret ever thinking about that at all.  I’m fighting charges now and it’s not going to be just a couple of months if they charge me as an adult, which is what I am looking at. Now, I have a baby on the way which means I have to really think about what I want to do with my life as soon as I get out

-Leonard, San Diego A common misconception people have had about me is that I am a bad person. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The reason I express myself in violence is because I have been hurt my whole life.  Anger is all I know, and I had to be violent in order to survive my environment growing up. Times like now I wish I could get my positive attributes back.

-Malik, Marin My attraction to the streets is knowing that you always have a place to fall back on no matter what. A big part of it is the connection you build outside, and the brotherhoods that are formed. But still, people or no people, the block is always there.  Day or night, hot or cold, money in your pocket or broke, it will always be there. Even when your family doesn’t want you home, no friends are picking up your calls, and it’s two-thirty in the morning. I was still always able to go back home, to the streets. 

-Uz, San Francisco My time here is almost up, finally. I met a lot of good people here. Three years fly so fast and not gonna lie, it definitely wasn’t too hard. I’m proud to say that I’m almost at the end of this journey, only God knows what I went through all this time.  My time with The Beat has been one hell of a ride and I appreciate y’all for being there for me and rocking with me through good and bad. I’ve received a lot of love from y’all and my words can’t explain how I appreciate

-Billy, Santa Cruz I’ve been feeling lost lately. I’m back in my hometown juvie without the older homie. He would help me get through my mental problems. We would talk about stuff that we both go through.  People say trauma bonding is not a good way to make healthy friendships, but I say otherwise. I been thinking a lot in my cell about what’s gonna happen with me. It’s overwhelming because I don’t really know what’s gonna happen. To be honest, it makes me scared. I just got to think positive, and I will get through this. To everyone that’s

-Mando, San Mateo Dear Beat, I have been chilling, just waiting until my release date. I have school starting again next Monday. I’m looking forward to that because it makes my time goes by faster. I also been anticipating more and more for my release, hoping the judge grants my step down.  But only time will tell. This is why I better keep moving and always have hope. I will always hope for the best and prepare for the worst because you never know what the future has already prepared for us. That’s something I will forever live by.  That’s

-Andre, Santa Cruz My life’s question or rather questions are what I am supposed to do? What is my purpose, my destiny? I am constantly faced with this question each and every time, and more and more I want an answer.  I want to know, and I want it to be clear as if in bright lights with a sign. I’m so eager to have my answer. This question came to me as I watched my mother but my dad as well. Was her purpose to be a mom? Was it her destiny? Was she meant to do it. Same

-Michelos, Sonoma To me, The Beat was a mere program, something that I had to do. I’d say the only thing that really stood out to me was the man who would come teach the program: Michael. But as time pushed, I think I changed. In general, I liked to write, but somewhere in my crazy life I lost it. And when I came to juvenile hall, I had the urge to write.  Yet the consistency got to me, the man telling every week to write something, the first week it was okay, but a year later… a thought came

-J, San Francisco My grandparents are cool people because they’ve always been there for me. They took care of me when I was younger. We’d go on walks throughout the Mission.  If we ran into some of their friends, we’d go eat together, sometimes the McDonalds. I’d get a McGriddle with a hash brown. We’d go to church or out to eat at other places. I’d just be happy when I was with them. They just understood me.  My grandparents are still showing up for me. They still come and visit me here. I feel like they were better grandparents