“Hear Our Cries” I nmates Find Redemption Through Song JENI DOMINELLI 8 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 AMERICANJails His name is Quincy, and he is a pre-trial detainee in the jail, awaiting a new trial after his prison sentence was overturned. People call him Q. When I meet him, I tell him that he’s got the best name for the entertainment industry. He flashes me a megawatt smile—the bright- est kind where his eyes and entire being smile. He is 26 years old and has a vibrant personality and upbeat spirit. Already incarcerated for seven years, Quincy has somehow managed to simultaneously become infused both with the dreams of the younger generations and the deep wisdom and self-awareness of a more mature person. He dreams of becoming an inspirational speaker someday, for kids in particular. Never mind that he was formerly sentenced to life in prison. On his first day of class, he shares his heart-wrenching story of hav- ing grown up with a single mother who was wracked with addiction for all of his young life. It’s a story that’s tragically not uncommon, and Quincy knows this. After he tells his story with an astonishing composure, and without blame or bitterness, he says, “But I know I’m not alone and there are so many kids out there who have the same stories. And I want to talk to them. I want to help them so they don’t end up here. Because there are a whole lot of other little ‘me’s’ out there.” So last month, we let Quincy prac- tice speaking for his inspirational cir- cuit gig dream on his inmate peers. But not before he penned his inspira- tional anthem to go with it. AMERICANJails JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 | 9 Quincy came to us as a participant there is a deeply humanizing impact in our Redemption Songs program, as our songwriters realize that but a songwriting program designed to for grace of God, given the same set serve inmate populations in cor- of circumstances, their roles with the rectional facilities. Created by The inmates could be reversed. (A pow- Beat of Life, a Nashville nonprofit, erful song called “One Right Turn the program was launched at the from Wrong” came out of this very Davidson County Sheriff’s Office realization; one of its profound lines (DCSO) several years ago and— declares “we’re ALL just one right thanks to Nashville Sheriff Daron turn away from wrong.”) As they wit- Hall—now calls the DCSO its per- ness the inmates’ stories and songs, manent home. the outside world gets a powerful “With a glimpse into this forgotten popula- The Redemption Songs Program tion and sees “what kind of people” The Redemption Songs program are sitting in our correctional facili- partners Nashville songwriters with simple song ties—often demolishing stereotypes inmates to utilize songwriting as in an instant. a means of therapy, rehabilitation, hope, overcoming, and redemption. Where It All Started a person For two hours, each inmate works As both a social worker and a with two songwriters, sharing their songwriter, I first envisioned this life stories and brokenness. And (like me) merging of the human/social service their redemption is woven into lyrics and songwriting worlds here in and melodies. Nashville seven years ago. Although The inmates are often tentative it was a merging of my own two can make entering their assigned rooms passions, it also brought together with these guitar-carrying strangers. a powerful combination—one that However, they emerge with songs a turn was capable of creating magic. that rival those on the Billboard And it began with the simple mis- charts. In addition to high-fives, sion to create songwriting programs cheers, and laughter, they have in life.” for Nashville’s most vulnerable, formed a bond with their songwrit- challenged, and hurting populations ers that seems impossible after just a by pairing the most critical social couple of hours of acquaintance. issues of our time with the power of We may also witness equally music. The atmosphere in the room is redemptive moments when a guest electric when everyone returns from takes the stage before the music even Our tagline for The Beat of Life their sessions to share what they’ve begins. A favorite of these moments program is “Music Can Save a Life.” created. After each inmate performs, occurred when Tommie Harris We believe that music is more than a we are crying, they are crying, the proclaimed to the audience that as form of entertainment; music has the songwriters are crying, and often he read the letters on their orange ability to profoundly transform and the case managers or officers in the jump suits—DCSO for Davidson potentially save lives. Our concept is room are crying. County Sheriff’s Office—he wanted not only to use Nashville’s greatest These concert performances allow them to re-imagine that acronym. asset and resource to deliver more the inmates to showcase their songs “Because you see, what I see when I entertainment and hit songs, but also for their inmate peers, the staff, and look at those letters is that Daylight to serve our community in a more sometimes even a small community Can Suddenly Occur. At any given powerful way. audience. Usually, a guest speaker moment it can all change for you As an organization, we have begins the event with a keynote mes- men.” It left them in awe as they created programs for and served a sage to kick off the day and inspire cheered in disbelief that even their staggering array of social causes, the room. Some of our recent speak- jail clothes could be redefined. including soldiers and veterans with ers were former felon Joe Bradford This program also provides a PTSD; individuals battling mental of Unconditional movie fame and greater social awareness that edu- illness, depression, and suicide risk; Tommie Harris, NFL Chicago Bears cates the community about the and children and teens in schools football star turned compelling incarcerated population and the and youth centers where they are inspirational speaker and a singer need for more programs focusing on daily fighting bullying/cruelty, himself. inmate rehabilitation. In addition, addiction, eating disorders, paren- 10 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 AMERICANJails tal neglect or absence, anger, hate/ The one thing I did know was It turned out that I didn’t need to prejudice, and their own younger that he loved music. I’d grown up be worried. forms of depression, anxiety, mental listening to Fleetwood Mac, ABBA, Looking back over the past four illness, self-harm, and suicide. Bob Dylan, and scores of all of his years of our Redemption Songs And, of course, the population in favorite classic rock bands. Music program, I am not quite sure exactly correctional facilities. was his language. So I started send- how it happened. But somehow ing him song lyrics from some of But this population didn’t just an infectious passion was enough his favorites, choosing the ones that get pulled out of the air as the next to influence a songwriting com- carried messages that might move cause of the hour to tackle. Its origin munity to follow me into both jails his heart as well as give him hope began years ago in my own soul. As and prisons, igniting them to serve that he could have a second chance the child of an incarcerated parent, those who are ignored. And these at what he’d lost. Even in my youth, my family’s story had proved to songwriters—many of whom have I instinctively understood the power me that not only was redemption hits on the radio—have now tagged of music. possible, but that music could be a Redemption Songs as their favorite powerful contributing force to get program. there. The Nashville Sheriff’s Office Our greatest champion is When I founded The Beat of Life, I grew up visiting my dad in a Nashville Sheriff Daron Hall. It correctional facilities were among correctional facility from the time I is his belief in the program that the first places where I wanted to was nine years old until I graduated allowed us to expand and catapulted introduce my “big idea.” But I won- from college. I learned quickly that Redemption Songs into what it is dered if anyone would join me. Who the culture in a correctional facility today. else would share my compassion makes connecting to incarcerated I still remember the first day I and go into these hard places with family members incredibly challeng- walked into one of the DCSO facili- me? Especially songwriters. More ing. Adding to that barrier, my dad ties to introduce my idea to Regina importantly, who would let me come was fairly introverted in nature and DeRiggi, the Treatment Supervisor. into their facilities with these big- battling a fierce media storm around At the time, I had no idea how hearted, but often rowdy, musicians his incarceration. I didn’t know programming worked inside cor- and songwriters carrying enough him very well, and I was just a kid rectional facilities. She immediately gear for a Rolling Stones concert? myself. embraced my idea and brought AMERICANJails JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2019 | 11 He inspired us to consider dream- ing even bigger than before, and we “ This program is a game changer! It were astonished at his vision. Our new curriculum, launched embraces one’s spirit and mind, raising in 2018, is a six-week program. Not only are the inmates writing the ability to strive through tough times.