All Done

So the trip has just ended and everyones going back to their own personal lives. Hopefully, everyone can value their life a little bit more now after experiencing what we got to experience this week. Visiting San Quentin State Prison opened a lot of participants eyes, mine included. Over 5000 men inhabit the cells of San Quentin. Amazingly, we were being led on a tour by 'lifers' who have devoted their time and effort to save young, at risk youth, by explaining where they went wrong, including the decisions they made. These men were the most sincere, kind human beings. MANY people define these men as 'criminals,' a demeaning noun, and visiting San Quentin changed that mentality for a few on the trip who thought that way. These men are not criminals; they are individuals who had to grow up on the mean streets of Oakland, Richmond, Long Beach, etc. and were at the wrong place at the wrong time. We got to sit one on one, face to face, with men who were convicted of murder, robbery, manslaughter, etc., but that fact escaped everyones minds when these men had impactful, and meaningful stories to share with us.

In leading us on the tour, these prisoners were passionate about keeping the tour group safe. They were the first line of defense between us and thousands of inmates, and they made that point very clear. These men are serving life, double life, triple life sentences and they still had the decency to share their lives with us, while risking their lives to protect us. What hit me hard was the fact that these inmates would do anything to trade lives with us, but they are faced with the fact that they may die in prison. We got to tour with some middle school and high school at risk youth, and some of them refused to believe what the men had to share. One student particularly liked to laugh everything off, saying he wasn't scared of being in prison. This hurt the prisoners very much, and throughout the tour, a few of them focused their attention and efforts on this one young man. Giovanni, a man convicted of murder, stuck by this kids side, as he described himself being the same kid. He did not want to see this young man follow in his footsteps, and by the end of the tour, everyone could see the impact Giovanni had on this kid.

This program is an AMAZING program for youth to learn and understand how they can change their lives, but unfortunately some aren't dealt the right cards and suffer a huge disadvantage. Fatherless homes, poverty stricken families, violence, and racism put all these at risk youth in very serious danger of filling the San Quentin cells in the years to come. All the participants finally made the connection of the whole trip. Everything got tied together, from community organizing, to the factors plaguing the youth of California, and everyone feels a lot more humble, and fortunate for what they have in their lives.

It is our turn and our responsibility to reform this punishing system. Dingy, tiny cells, disgusting showers, profanity, gang wars, and other violence have made San Quentin hell, and locking thousands of men in cages for days at a time is not going to change anyone. I have learned through the stories and experiences of these men, that people CAN change, and these men are not criminals, they are men who committed a crime. They are people first, and the word 'criminal' has new meaning. Everyone deserves a second chance, but this second chance means nothing without providing men with money, family, rehab, and a home.

This trip had a HUGE impact on everyone, and the reflection sessions have changed peoples viewpoints and sparked passion to do something to change this system. We do not have much time to begin this reform, because tomorrow 18, 19, 20 year old men will commit a crime and will never be allowed to see their families or loved ones again. 75 years to life is not the answer! The prison system is very flawed and needs huge reform.

This trip was amazing.

Nikhil