Category: Piece of the Week

-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

-Karii, San Francisco I think something I had to learn the hard way is that actions have consequences. This is definitely not my first time here.  I wouldn’t say I am a frequent flyer, but I have been locked up a few times and unfortunately my circumstances led me to make decisions that got me here. I used to pity myself when I was younger and point fingers at everybody but myself.  Now that I am older, I look at things differently. Even though this system is messed up and being a city kid really does set you up for

-LD, Albuquerque “I truly believe that building bridges not building walls and not giving into fear will make our communities better.” Charles Barkley  I like this quote and agree with it because, from experience, having connections and building bridges gives you more opportunities. We need to help each other and not tear each other down. That helps our communities build bridges to be better.  We can all be so selfish and so segregated that we don’t build those bridges but build walls. Personally, I like to build bridges and have those connections, so I can be able to have those

-AP, San Diego I was about fifteen years old going into high school during COVID-19, so everything was basically online. My mom is a travelling nurse, so she was never in town. I had my friends over. They were all older than me.  So, one day a female brought her friend, and he asked me if I wanted to try cocaine. I told him no. He kept asking me and it was getting annoying, so I was just going to try it.  But, once I saw him jump off my second story balcony, that pushed me harder and made me

-JRS, Sonoma I belong with my family and friends.I belong with a wrench in my dirty, oil and grease-covered hands.I belong with my head under the hood of a car.I belong to a two-car garageWith the smells of fuel, oil, and burnt rubber.I am an automotive engineer, and I belong with you.I work hard for the satisfaction of my clients and myself.I do good work when I’m with good people.I don’t belong to any single person.I belong with the world.I don’t belong in these walls, in these cells.I belong to wide open roadsWith the wind through my hair and joy

-DB, Albuquerque This year has started off good, then changed very quickly. The person I came into the new year with me is no longer in my life. Sadly, life goes on. Maybe things just weren’t meant to be. I am walking to new beginnings though!  This boy that I am talking to now is very different. Everyone I have told about him has approved. That’s a big difference! We have been getting to know each other a lot! We talked on the phone, and we came to a lot of agreements to where we understand that if we don’t