Year: 2015

My Window

Piece of the Week

by Lacey In my special window I see my family all together for once. Happy, filled with love and laughter. One day I’ll be on the other side of that thick piece of glass looking out into the street looking at all the gorgeous people smiling. No one knows how they are. No one knows if they are fading away inside. As for me and my happy little family look out the window I see crushed dreams under glowing smiles. Out my window I see dogs wagging their tails even though their feet are burning. Through my window I see the

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My Story

Piece of the Week

By Chapo I grew up really fast for my age because I didn’t have any other choice.  Let me just tell you a little bit about my situation,  in my midteens, coming up in the war zone I call home (Vallejo, CA.).  It was hard for me at a young age. I was pretty much bouncing around city to city due to my family’s situation.  Really, I’m not making this a sad story or make it sound like some dumb movie.  All I’m trying to do is share my life experiences with anybody younger or older who wants to change and

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My Life Story

The Beat Without

by Darnell McGregge First, I want to say that I take full responsibility for murdering Ms. Washington and wounding Donald Sheppard.  In no way am I attempting to minimize what happened. I feel it’s important I share my story with you so it can help someone not to make the mistake that I made.  Again I take full responsibility for what Id did and I am really sorry! My mother was a single parent, and we lived in the Nickerson Garden Housing Projects in Watts.  I was the last of four children. Even though my mother did the best she could

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Alcohol and Drugs Destroyed My Life

The Beat Without

by Ung Bang  At the age of sixteen I made the decision that would result in the deaths of two innocent human beings. I have agonized in prison for the past twenty-one years and would often wonder about the decision that I made that lead me to this destructive life style that I lived. It is still painful today when I do recall my childhood memories of being physically and emotionally abused at home and at school. How does a child deal with feelings of being unwanted, unloved, and abandoned by his own family and peers? Knowing nothing else I chose

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Meaningful Conversations With My Teacher 

Piece of the Week

by Frank The last time I had a real meaningful conversation was with my teacher, Mr. Cannister. Cannister made me realize that I had to get my life on the right track. Being here in juvie makes me angry with myself for being a mess up in my past. Talking with my teacher gives me motivation to want to do better. Not only for me but also for my family and those around me. I know I messed up but I can choose to correct my wrongs and myself. I can keep messing up, but so far that hasn’t gotten

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The Values of Education

The Beat Without

by Todd Williams The benefits of education are undeniable in my eyes. As a child I was taught the importance of education. I saw the results of what education could do for an individual. I saw the benefits of education in my own home, in society and most of all in my life. Granted, this realization was not an instant one. Education has been my sanctuary, the place where I could go and feel safe, and find a degree of acceptance. My educational experience as a child, was what motivated me to explore higher education as an adult. Education has

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My Guilt, My Mom

Piece of the Week

by Wester Mi pobre madre.  I’m sorry for all I’ve done to you.  You don’t deserve a thing that my brothers and I have put you through.  You deserve nothing but the best.  You’re the strongest person that I know, by far. I know it wasn’t easy raising three troubled boys all alone.  I remember those long days waiting for you to come home from work as a little kid.  Now I wait for you to come visit me from this institution.  I’ve put you through a lot since I was a little kid.  Always going to school meetings and picking me

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