Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 27.37/38
Twenty-six years of service! What an amazing journey it has been for all of us involved with The Beat Within. It is hard to believe we have been doing this good work, day in and day out for this long. We have had the great privilege of meeting so many amazing people, inside and outside, along the way. We have all learned so much about ourselves, our communities and our neighbors through these meaningful interactions we have had over the years. We strive to be the best program possible, first and foremost to the youth we serve, and to our
Continue ReadingStop the Gun Violence
by Spazz, San Francisco We got to stop using guns to kill each other and use them to protect and hunt. We got to stop it by not tripping off gangs and stuff because you think that you own that block. But, you don’t own it. It is going to be there when you are gone and thousands of years later. We need to come together and make one whole together. We got the most power people can have, but we kill each other over a number or color. You can stop it by not joining a gang and teach
Continue ReadingIf You Only Knew
by Stitch, San Mateo I wish they know that I am a person that questions everything. I am a person with a lot of anxiety. I am a person with a huge heart. I tend to question all the little things that don’t really matter. For example, when someone is suddenly nice to me I ask myself, why? Then I sometimes replay that whole interaction in my head. I do my best to look for their true intentions. I am also a person that has a lot of anxiety. I get anxious easily. Sometimes when I have some type of
Continue ReadingThe Best Group Home
by BS, Sacramento Five years ago, I was twelve and I lived in a group home in San Rafael. The group home was called St. Vincent School for Boys. It was a level fourteen at the time, and there were five different houses next to each other. They had a basketball court outside, down the hill. It had four different hoops. I used to play basketball all day, even if it was raining. They also had a track field with an oval shape grass area in the middle. They also had a horse program, and I had a job, and
Continue ReadingGrowing Up
by Harry Goodall Jr., San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, CA For me growing up was hard because I felt I knew everything that life had to offer at the age of sixteen. Why would anyone want to stay young? At the age of sixteen, I obtained a fake ID (identification) saying I was 21 years old. Being an adult was a very hard act, one that was worthy of an academy award. The idea of growing up can be a hard decision for most of us. Struggling with personal ignorance was a hard thing to let go. Some of
Continue ReadingMetamorphosis of the Mind, Prison Education Programs
by Shon Pernice, Moberly Correctional Center in Moberly, MO “Education has for its object the formation of character”- Herbert Spencer 1820-1903 The American prison system is a place that is filled with many dark voices. When you have failed in society, how does one rebuild their sense of self-worth? A day in prison is so rigidly controlled, structured, and dictated that a prisoner loses the ability to make decisions for themselves. A prisoner does what he or she is told (if they know what is good for them) which is not conducive to the development of strong critical thinking skills.
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Volume 27.35/36
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 27.35/36
Happy 26th anniversary to The Beat Within! It is a blessing to say that we have been going strong for this long! Who would have ever imagined The Beat Within would be touching so many lives? The power of our program speaks volumes as we continue to stay true to our mission to provide incarcerated youth (and adults) with consistent opportunities to share their ideas and life experiences in a safe space that encourages literacy, self-expression, some critical thinking skills, and healthy, supportive relationships with adults and their community. Outside of the juvenile justice system, The Beat Within partners with
Continue ReadingSaying Sorry to Mom
by SP, San Mateo The last time I said sorry to my mom was last Sunday. I felt I had to sorry because she was mad at me because I felt it was right in the situation and I always just say sorry. I always feel bad and sorry for making my mom’s life harder, even though she goes through so much without me stressing her out more and causing her pain. There have been times when I said sorry but didn’t mean it. I only said it to please my mom and try to make her happy, instead of
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