Finding my center in prison | Chung Kao | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
Even though Chao Kung believed that violence was the way to go, he always felt like something was missing..that he wasn't himself. Watch this beautiful performance on how he searched for his center in prison. Chung Kao has been incarcerated for 23 years for second-degree murder. He has a BA in Economics and was a business school grad student when he committed his crime. Suddenly caught in the brutal reality of prison life, with no hope for the future, Kao quickly learned to reciprocate violence and aggression. This would lead to his getting swept up in the malevolence of prison life. Grieving for the loss of his father in 2001 would give Kao time to reflect. He realized that his preoccupation with being perceived as masculine had stunted his inner growth and caused him to regress. He then began to meditate and taught himself tai chi, which he practices along with zazen and yoga. Through meditation he is able to ground himself and find inner peace, realizing that the solutions to personal and inter personal issues are always within, not outside, himself. Today Chung is a student and proponent of mindfulness in prison.
Freedom | David Jassy | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
With a Grammy nomination and a promising career ahead of him, Swedish hiphop artist David Jassy flew to Hollywood But six weeks into his stay, Jassy found himself facing a life sentence in prison. Listen to his song about his experience in the U.S. criminal justice system. David Jassy is a Grammy-nominated artist, songwriter, and producer from Stockholm, Sweden. He began his career in music as a human beat box performer and later formed the rap band Navigators. He’s written songs for a number of artists including Ashley Tisdale, Sean Kingston, Mohombi, Iyaz, and Charice.
The power of the pronoun | Jarvis Clark | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
Listen to a transgender prisoner's complex journey through the many stages of her life expressed through her Shakespeare-inspired performance. Jarvis Juvan Clark (also knows an “Lady Jae”) is a Transgender performance artist and poet who has been incarcerated for 27 years. Jarvis was born in Detroit, Michigan and moved to San Diego, CA at an early age. While in college, her first role was in a production of the Wiz (1982) where she was cast as a singing and dancing crow. Soon after, she started a dance troupe called Street Jazz Productions (1983-1984). Since being incarcerated, Jarvis has participated in many programs and has received a number of high achievement certificates. In 2013, she arrived at San Quentin and hit the ground running. She’s an original member of A.C.T. (Acting with Compassion and Truth), an LGBTQ-based educational class. The curriculum teaches gender identity awareness. In May of 2015 Jarvis was cast as Lady MacBeth in the Marin Shakespeare Company at San Quentin’s production of MacBeth.
Soundtrack of your life | Ira "S.C. Prince" Perry | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
Listen to Prince's spoken word performance celebrating his life - and our lives - through popular songs. Ira Perry (also known as "S.C. Prince") was born in 1966 to Arlee and Ola Mae Perry in South Central, Los Angeles. He grew up in a two-parent household, went to college, and has always shown an interest in acting and performing. Ira is also a prime example of how growing up in a gang, crime, and drug infested neighborhood can eventually lead to bad decisions. He is now serving a 50 year-to-life sentence and has been incarcerated since 1994.
The bridge between an inmate and society | Earnest Sanford | TEDxSanQuentin
Starting on death row with the "worst of the worst," correctional officer Earnest Sanford has worked at San Quentin for 15 years. Listen to his story. Correctional Officer Earnest Sanford has worked at San Quentin for 14 years. During his career he has worked in a number of locations around the prison - from death row, to San Quentin’s reception center, and now for the past 4 years, in San Quentin’s education department. His view of offenders has shifted over the years, especially since being an education officer, and now he believes every human being is entitled to respect. With this shift, his ability to be an effective officer has greatly increased, as has his capacity to lead a full and productive life.
Hope from adversity | Shakespeare at San Quentin | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
Meet the incarcerated thespians and find out why they're involved with Shakespeare while in prison. Since 2003, Marin Shakespeare Company has offered weekly Shakespeare classes at San Quentin Prison, culminating in an annual performance of a Shakespeare play. The men also write and perform autobiographical theatre pieces inspired by their work with Shakespeare.
War dancing for peace | Native Hawaiians | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
San Quentin's Native Hawaiian performers demonstrate how their Haka dance is used to tear down cultural barriers and build community. The Native Hawaiian Religious Group uses traditional song, dance, storytelling and oral history to restore community and develop unity. Their practice stems from ancient Polynesian history and culture, but also draws from the culture of various people of the Pacific. The group emphasizes peace, hope, choice, self-awareness, inner strength, dignity, understanding, clarity, and purpose. Their mission is to build and maintain the Pacific Islander and Asian community.
The new American hustle | Shadeed Wallace-Stepter | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
No matter how far down the wrong road you travel, it’s never too late to turn around. Former street hustler Shadeed Wallace-Stepter discovered this while pursuing his AA Degree in San Quentin State Prison. Sha grew up in a household where the majority of adults either used or sold drugs. By the time he was in high school, Sha was a full-fledged drug-dealer who placed the value of money over everything including his family, friends, and even the well being of others. Being incarcerated would help Sha finally shatter the destructive mentality that he had subscribed to the majority of his life, While pursuing his A.A. Degree in San Quentin , he discovered entrepreneurship. He would draw parallels between his past life of street hustling and this business model. Sha would come to believe that many of the characteristics used to be a successful street hustler are the same characteristics needed to be a successful entrepreneur.Sha now spends his time showing individuals who come from similar backgrounds as his that entrepreneurship provides a positive, more productive alternative to hustling and that the streets have already equipped them with the tools to be successful in this field.
The power of "when" | Darnell Washington | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
An uncle's faith propelled Darnell Washington to college despite growing up in a gang environment. Hear how in prison Darnell uses positive belief and the power of "when" to transform lives Once Darnell entered prison he decided to turn his life around. He chose to walk away from a destructive lifestyle that was full of hurt, pain, and loss. In order to address his internal issues, Darnell would get involved with every self-help group that he could. While at San Quentin he would be drawn to the Restorative Justice Roundtable, largely because it dealt with the healing of victims, offenders, and their respective communities. He would also become interested in the social justice program The San Quentin Alliance for C.H.A.N.G.E., which teaches participants how different forms of justice can be applied to building a healthy and self-sustaining community. Darnell has become a leader and facilitator in both groups. His goal is to use his newly acquired knowledge to become a community activist and Motivational Speaker who educates and brings healing to the community.
My daughter, my hero | Sam W. Johnson, Sr. | TEDxSanQuentin 2016
After turning 6, a little girl visits her dad in prison and changes his life. After being incarcerated for 22 years, Sam W. Johnson, Sr., was released from San Quentin on Friday, February 24, 2017. For the past six years, Sam has been the Executive Chairman of the Men’s Advisory Council at San Quentin, meeting with the Warden and administration to represent the interests of the inmate population. He's also a facilitator for Insight Prison Project's Victim Offender Education Group, a restorative justice program. He is the Co-Leader of the Alliance for Change Mentor Department and also co-facilitates their anger management course. Through the Prison University Project, he received an A.A. degree from Patten University.
No one to love me | Ryu Paul Snyder | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Poetry and music in this presentation combining spoken word and singing. Originally from Florida, Ryu Paul Snyder, 29, is involved in Christian Ministry, loves the outdoors, almost all sports, plus poetry and music. The son of incarcerated parents, Snyder describes himself as a new man with a heart to help others.
Hopeful | Bobby Zankel and the SCI Chester Jazz Band | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Brooklyn-born composer/alto saxophonist Bobby Zankel first began to blossom around 1971, while a student at the University of Wisconsin as a member of MacArthur Fellow Cecil Taylor's "Unit Core Ensemble". He performed in New York in the early 70's with William Parker and Ray Anderson before moving to Philadelphia in 1975 to raise his family. The introspection of his life has been balanced by over 25 years of sharing musical ideas with the inmates of Pennsylvania.Accompanying Bobby Zankel are Rickie Marra, drums; Joseph Bowie, trumpet; Jonathan Means, guitar; Jesse Tancemore, guitar; Brandon Adams, guitar and Tory Summerford, drums.
I stumbled up | Maurice Cartier | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Musical performance. Originally from South Philadelphia, Maurice Cartier enjoys home remodeling, fashion, art, museums, antiques, travel, foreign cars, reading, exercise, music, singing and song writing. The third of five children, Cartier said his parents instilled in him a love of performing music, singing and dancing. He said he has written more than 30 songs during his incarceration.
Are you in or are you out? | Dawan Williams | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
While a state prison inmate, Dawan Williams built a relationship with his children through their schoolwork. Now, he works to stop the cycle of incarceration sharing that what his children need, what all such children really need, is their father. Williams is the Program Coordinator for the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Restorative Justice Guild program. He works closely with the program participants, at-risk youth between the ages of 18 and 24, serving as both a supervisor and a mentor. He utilizes his own personal experiences with the criminal justice system to help him connect with the Guild's youth participants. A certified life-skills professional, Williams works closely with returning citizens on a day to day basis. He is also an active member of several non-profit organizations in Philadelphia which are dedicated to uniting families and strengthening the community.
My father, my hero | Cynthia Roseberry | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Cynthia Roseberry, a criminal defense attorney and the daughter of an alcoholic, talks about the labels we give to people that tend to build walls of resentment and brokenness. She argues that love is stronger than those labels and breaks down the barriers that separate us. Ms. Roseberry currently serves as Project Manager for Clemency Project 2014. The Clemency Project - a partnership among the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union, the American Bar Association, Families Against Mandatory Minimums and the Federal Community and Public Defenders - was created in response to a challenge to the legal profession to provide pro bono assistance for clemency to federal prisoners who would likely receive a shorter sentence if they were sentenced today.
Please don't judge me | The Lady Lifers & Friends | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Felicia L. Taylor, 49, of Philadelphia, is the mother of three adult sons and three grandchildren - two boys and a girl. She works as a carpenter. Cynthia Alvarado, of Philadelphia, is the mother of two daughters who were 10 years and 15 months old when she was first incarcerated eight years ago. She never gives up hope that she will be with her children and says her dream is to see her youngest daughter graduate from high school. Brenda Watkins, of Hoffman, N.C., enjoys reading, crocheting and watching old movies. Her favorite quote is. "You have two hands - one for helping yourself and one for helping others." Lashawna Bennett, 41, of Harlem, N.Y., has one daughter. She loves to play tennis and travel. Naomi Blount, 66, of Philadelphia, is the mother of one son who was 10 years old when she came to prison 34 years ago. Her son and daughter-in- law are the parents of two children and recently, became grandparents to Noah.music by Naomi Blountlyrics by Brenda Watkins
Transformational yoga in prison | Brianne Murphy | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Brianne Murphy teaches trauma sensitive yoga and mindfulness to staff and inmates in state prisons. Through a simple demonstration, she talks about the practice of yoga’s ability to offer courage, compassion and confidence; helping inmates heal and rediscover the life and freedom within. Transformation Yoga Project facilitates yoga programs at prisons and community youth detention centers across the Delaware Valley. The objective is to provide access to safe, supportive yoga programs that teach mindfulness and practical solutions for dealing with impulse control, substance abuse, anger and aggression. Benefits include reduced stress and better self-control.
Me becoming my mother | Matthew Dowsett | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Matthew Dowsett, the son of an incarcerated parent, talks about the nightmare of his mother’s arrest and trying to break free from the cycle. Originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania, the 25- year-old Dowsett has aspirations of becoming a published author and motivational speaker. He credits the support of his fiance, Katrine Karchner, and hopes to become a father someday.
Three poets | Men of Change | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Each man shares his message, through poetry, about the impact of incarceration. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, the 36-year-old John Tyrone Tate, Sr. is a proud father of six children. He enjoys drawing, painting, singing and watching the Pittsburgh Steelers football team. Originally from Philadelphia, Alexander Solomon said he comes from a loving, supportive family. He enjoys watching and participating in sports, is interested in social, political and economic issues, and would like to work toward preventing violence, inequality and injustice. Quran Herrington, 31, says he is the father of three "beautiful" children who are his pride and joy. He loves to write and wants to work helping inner city youth.
Our children, our champions | Anna E. Hollis | TEDxChesterStatePrison 2016
Children of incarcerated parents in Pittsburgh are taking on policy-makers to improve their future. Hollis challenges incarcerated parents to in turn, rise to the challenge and change the legacy they leave their children. Ms. Hollis is the Executive Director of Amachi Pittsburgh, a unique partnership of secular and faith- based organizations working together to support children and families of the incarcerated. Under her leadership, the organization has become an ever-growing and diverse network of community organizations, dedicated volunteers, families, and partners in education, government and business.