Week in Review: June 7, 2024

June 7, 2024

In this issue of Week in Review for June 7, 2024: CRC’s incarcerated donate to non-profit organizations, Alameda parole shows support for Mental Health Awareness Month, and CIM celebrates Chaffey College graduates.

Observances

Pride 2024

CDCR/CCHCS champions the importance of diversity in our workforce, as it enriches our communities and strengthens our abilities to serve the public effectively. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and respect where every individual, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, feels safe, valued, and empowered.

CDCR/CCHCS proudly celebrates our LGBTQIA+ community and acknowledge their significant contributions to our workplace. During Pride Month and beyond, we support the safety and wellbeing of our LGBTQIA+ community through engagement with community groups, ongoing education and training, and supportive services.

This month is a time to honor the diversity, strength, and resilience of the LGBTQIA+ community. We encourage everyone to become more informed, compassionate and understanding allies and join us towards brighter futures, and safer communities.

CDCR and CCHCS are committed to creating supportive spaces and allyships for our LGBTQIA+ community and to being supportive of all individuals in our communities, both inside and outside of our prisons. CDCR/CCHCS GARE has established a webpage of LGBTQIA+ resources to share with employees and their family: https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/gare/lgbtqia/

mental health awareness month at DAPO alameda

DAPO, Alameda shows support for Mental Health Awareness Month

In support of Mental Health Awareness Month, Division of Adult Parole Operations staff at Alameda Parole Complex wore customized shirts every Friday throughout the month of May. Staff acquired the shirts through a fundraiser at the complex.

Proceeds from the shirts went to the California Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). NAMI helps to increase awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.

Upward Mobility

ErinYvonne Davis has been assigned as acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at California State Prison, Solano (SOL).

David Starnes has been assigned as Chief of Allegation Investigation Unit, Office of Internal Affairs (OIA).

In the Community

High Desert State Prison Honor Guard attends Fallen Officers Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony

High Desert State Prison (HDSP) Honor Guard attended a Fallen Officers Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony held by Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong. HDSP, along with several other agencies, assisted in the raising of the flag to half staff in honor of the fallen.

A roll call of heroes was announced one by one, identifying fallen officers from Nevada Department of Corrections, Federal Institution Officers, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

HDSP management staff attended the ceremony along with a dedicated memorial board with each CDCR fallen officer’s identifying chit.

California Rehabilitation Center’s incarcerated donate to non-profit organizations

California Rehabilitation Center’s (CRC) incarcerated population raised almost $14,000 through charitable food sales fundraisers. The funds were distributed to two local non-profit organizations, Friends of Leaps and Bounds and Priceless Pets Rescue. Each organization was presented a donation of almost $7,000.

Friends of Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy assist poor people with disabilities through providing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and hippotherapy treatments and services at no cost or low cost.

Priceless Pets is a non-profit animal welfare organization that rescue animals from various circumstances and provide care and life-saving measures through their veterinary clinic until they can situate them with new adopting families.

In Our Institutions

Arts in Corrections visits High Desert State Prison

Arts in Corrections recently held a choir concert at High Desert State Prison (HDSP).

Arts in Corrections is a program encouraging incarcerated individuals to create self-awareness through visual, literary, media, performing, and folk and traditional art opportunities. The program a partnership between CDCR and the California Arts Council designed to prepare incarcerated individuals for success upon release, enhance rehabilitative goals, and improve the safety and environment of CDCR institutions.

Arts in Corrections arrived to HDSP with lights and film crew. HDSP management staff, AIC production staff, and incarcerated audience members all attended. The choir sang together and presented solo pieces, performing several songs from different genres.

Rehabilitation

California Institution for Men celebrates Chaffey College graduates

California Institution for Men (CIM) recently honored 19 incarcerated who earned their associate degrees from Chaffey College. This is the third Chaffey College graduating class at the institution. Chaffey College Superintendent/President Henry D. Shannon and CIM Warden (A) Travis Pennington addressed the graduates, visitors, and staff. Members of the college Governing Board, Executive Team, and Steve Lux, Rising Scholars Program Coordinator, were present to shake each graduate’s hand.

Division of Rehabilitative donates clothes to Re-entry Program participants

For three weeks, Division of Rehabilitative (DRP) Headquarters brought in new and gently used clothes to assist formerly incarcerated individuals transition to Community Re-entry Programs.

DRP staff collected and donated approximately 800 pounds of clothing and shoes to the Female Community Re-entry Program (FCRP) in Stockton and to the Male Community Re-entry Program (MCRP) in Butte.

Correctional Counselor III Justin Kelly with MCRP Butte shared that the clothes will be used to assist participants transitioning from incarcerated life in state prison and those interviewing for employment.

Valley State Prison recent graduation ceremony

Valley State Adult School at Valley State Prison (VSP) hosted a graduation ceremony for 83 students. The graduation celebrated:

34 college graduates
6 high school graduates
23 GED
and 21 Career and Technical Education students.

All students walked across the gym floor in celebration of completing their respective programs. Staff, peers, and family members attended the celebration.

The ceremony began with the Color Guard, consisting of incarcerated veterans. Speakers included Assistant Principal Welch, Principal Connolly, Warden Morales, incarcerated speaker Jason Lint, along with distinguished guests from Merced College and Fresno State. Graduate names were announced by Ms. Hawkins and Ms. Diaz. After the ceremony, friends and family members of the graduates took some time to celebrate together and meet teachers and staff.

In the Media

Love, resilience crucial to success of Project Rebound grad Christopher Carson

Christopher Carson once found himself on a dangerous trajectory. He was born and raised on 107th Street and South Vermont Avenue, an area long acquainted with gang culture and the violence that accompanies it.

“It’s what you’re used to when you live with it,” says Carson. “It’s what you know.”

In 2016, a court convicted Carson of attempted murder and sentenced him to 12 years in prison.

But for the steadfast love of family and friends, and the timely intervention of unexpected mentors, Carson might have succumbed to the hopelessness of the prison industrial complex and come to believe that he would only ever be defined by his mistakes.

Visit the CSUDH website to read the full article.

JR worked with inmates to create an installation at a maximum-security prison

Human connection is at the core of JR‘s multi-disciplinary practice. Through massive photographic displays, he looks to transform the places ingrained in collective memory by superimposing the images of everyday people amongst historical sites, such as the Pyramids of Giza and Milano Centrale, to form new dialogues and spark social change.

Over the years, the French artist has also created moving documentaries, most recently with Robert de Niro spotlighting the story of the actor’s late father, as well as a film on Tehachapi, one of California’s most dangerous maximum-security prisons.

Visit Hypebeat’s website to read the full article.