San Quentin News THE PULSESE OFOF SAN QUENTIN—DESIGNEDQUENTIN—DESIGNED AND WRITTEN BY PRISPRISONERSONERS FFOROR PRISPRISONERSONERS AANDN STAFF VOL.2011 NO. 6 September 2011 SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA 94964 www.sanquentinnews.com POPULATION 4,652 NASA to Start Program With S.Q.’s Machine Shop By MICHAEL R. HARRIS Editor-in-Chief NASA Ames has picked San Quentin for an important train- ing program to manufacture a platform that will enable hun- dreds of science projects on a single launch vehicle during space fl ights. Photo: Lt. Sam Robinson Health fair Photo Acting Warden Michael Mar- tel joined NASA Ames admin- istrators on a tour of San Quen- T.R.U.S.T. Fellows tin’s vocational machine shop. Included were Charles “Chuck” Duff, Ames Center deputy direc- Photo: Lt. Sam Robinson Hold Health Fair tor; Adriana Cardenas, associate Acting Warden Michael Martel signing Nasa contract In spite of a chilly morning, offer eye examinations, and give director of engineering who is hand to teach them the fi ner as- There was a signing ceremo- hundreds of prisoners lined up, chiropractic aid to prisoners. the liaison to San Quentin, Gary pects of machining. ny authorizing the partnership/ listening to lectures from doc- These were among some of the Martin, director of partnerships, Michael Villanueva, who is in training program, punctuated by tors, nurses, and counselors on services of the 8th Annual Health and John Yembrick, public af- charge of shop safety, explained prisoners’ applause. how to practice wellness while Fair on the Lower Yard. fairs director. the monthly training and meet- Prisoners will be taught “work incarcerated, and upon release. Sponsoring the event was The shop’s lead man, Duane ings held for students in order to that is directly germane to what More than 80 health care vol- Teaching Responsibility Uti- Butler, guided the guests around receive information about haz- this county needs done” in or- unteers donated their time and lizing Sociological Training the shop, explaining how stu- ardous materials and shop safety der to continue a cost-effective services to check blood pressure, See Health Fair on Page 4 dents become familiarized, procedures. space program, said Duff. and learn a range of complex “Every student has to pass the In a recent San Quentin visit, machines used in the fabrica- safety test specifi c for a particu- the State Undersecretary for Jeanne Woodford tion of various products. The lar machine before operating it,” California Prisons, Scott Ker- NASA Ames directors said they he said, “An 80-hour orientation nan, discussed such projects. He were amazed by the assortment safety program is given to each said California is working to im- On the Death Penalty of equipment prisoners had on student.” See Nasa Selects S.Q. on Page 4 Editor’s Note: This is the sec- That’s such a hard question ond of a series of articles on to answer because I was at San the Aug. 2 interview Editor-in- Quentin for a long time and I Chief Michael R. Harris con- think that there were many peo- S.Q. 9/11 ducted with Jeanne Woodford, ple who contributed to changing a former San Quentin warden the culture at San Quentin. So, Memorial and former chief of the Califor- when I fi rst started there walk- nia Department of Corrections ing through that prison was a and Rehabilitation. very diffi cult thing to do in 1978 Honors – being one of the fi rst women Since this interview, the bill to there. It was very diffi cult. The Fallen abolish the death penalty in Cali- Inmates weren’t used to wom- fornia was withdrawn because of en staff inside those walls, so I By ARNULFO GARICA lack of support in the legislature. could say that I was a part of a Staff Writer The bills backers change in culture at San Quentin marked the 10th are refocusing on that prison, not just anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Photo: Lt. Sam Robinson a campaign to get myself, but Susan on America with a ceremony San Quentin Color Guard the measure on the Hubbard and other honoring those killed in the ter- all staff together, not only to the creation, those that cause in- 2012 ballot to allow people who worked rorist attacks and correctional remember the victims and jury upon his creation, cannot be voters to decide. at that prison. So, offi cers killed in the line of families of 9/11 – but to honor beloved to God.” The proposed I’m proud that we duty. the 13 staff members who lost “I refl ect on this incident, and measure would take were a part of all Inmates were locked down so their lives in the line of duty, at look at the devastation and de- 100 million dol- that. I’m also proud correctional offi cers could at- San Quentin.” struction that was the result of File Photo lars from state cof- of the fact that we tend the ceremony in the Plaza Correctional Peace Offi cer’s this. The people thought that it fers—the estimated Jeanne Woodford managed to expand area between the chapels and Association President, Frank was right, but they didn’t take savings in abolish- the amount of peo- Adjustment Center. McNeal presented a memorial the time to ask themselves, ‘Is ing the death penalty—and cre- ple and volunteers coming in the The San Quentin Honor Guard wreath, assisted by two other this right with Allah?’” Hossain ate a fund for use by the attorney prison, and I do think we raised launched the ceremony by rais- offi cers.. concluded. After 30 seconds of general to help solve more of the those numbers signifi cantly. ing the American fl ag, then low- Muslim Chaplain Imam silence, there was 30 seconds of states rapes and homicides. And, I say we, because it wasn’t ering the Stars and Stripes to Quazi Kawsar Hossain gave a sirens from the San Quentin fi re The measures backers are bet- me, it was staff and you guys half-staff at the Memorial Flag- brief message and prayer citing engines. ting that by linking the savings stepping up to the plate. pole, accompanied by a trum- Islamic customs. Hossain said, The Wall Post 1 guard station from an overly expensive death- The example I give is when peter playing Amazing Grace. “There is a tradition in Islam rang the count bell 13 times in penalty mechanism to better the veteran’s group designed that Acting Warden Michael Mar- where the prophet Mohammad memory of the 13 fallen em- funding in public safety, they whole veteran’s program. I met tel gave a brief message honor- (peace be upon him) said, ‘All ployees, then fi red a 21-gun sa- can entice voter support. with them and I said, “I want you ing San Quentin’s 13 fallen staff. of creation is the family of God.’ lute. So those who are most beloved The services concluded with What achievements are you guys to do more. I want you to He said, “These members served to God are those who are best a rendition of Taps by two trum- most proud of as a public ser- get the Veterans Administration proudly with honor and will nev- to his family. Those who harm peters. vant of the State of Califor- coming in here.” I didn’t do any er be forgotten.” nia? of the work. You guys did the Prison staff member Heidi See Anti-Death Penalty on Page 4 Brown said, “This event brings SEE PHOTO JOURNAL ON PAGE 10 Page 2 SAN QUENTIN NEWS www.sanquentinnews.com September 2011 Group Looks to Youth for Peace By MICHEAL COOKE unity and the presence of God socio-economic, cultural and Journalism Guild Writer here. People who’ve come to- religious background have an Imagine if your child’s night- gether who normally wouldn’t,” equal opportunity to become ly lullaby were the staccato of she said. “I was 24 [when] it peace leaders. machine gun fi re or that their really started with a group of “I experienced a lot of suf- playground was littered with people who tried to deepen fering in my youth. I felt like limb-rendering landmines. spirituality. I thought it would a victim, like, ‘Why me?’ My This is the reality for many be great to have an assignment inner voice suddenly changed children caught up in war-torn [with] a group of spiritual peo- and I experienced a shift when areas around the globe. ple.” I realized that I had to lead a life Amala Foundation’s One Vil- One Village’s unique model of of service. The personal experi- lage Project is an effort to cre- leadership is based upon “love, ences in my life of service have Photo: Lt. Sam Robinson ate a “global” village, uniting respect, honesty and communi- taken me all over the world, from Steve McNamara, Joan Lisetor and John Eagan youth (13 to 18) in the U.S. with ty.” The youth learn to discover rural African villages to here at local youth in locations around themselves through the eyes of San Quentin. I’ve worked where the world. They promote cul- “equality and acceptance,” culti- most others wouldn’t want to tural awareness by developing vating unity in diversity. go,” said Vanessa Stone S.Q. Journalist a youth community established The Amala Foundation hosts The San Quentin activity on equality, peace, and honesty, an eight-day Global Youth group, Champion for the Chil- and encouraging service to oth- Peace Summit conference in- dren, has partnered with the viting youth from around the Amala Foundation to give youth After 41 Years ers.