Welcome friends to yet another fabulous one of a kind issue of The Beat Within! This latest issue is sure to not, we say NOT, disappoint! Double issue 23.33/34 is loaded with plenty of writing and art by our young and old contributors who share their truths with the goal to inspire, teach, challenge, encourage and even make you laugh, or for some, cry. In the end, there is nothing like The Beat Within and the great work we have been putting out as a magazine since September of 1996.
We can’t thank you all enough for taking the time to read this latest editorial note. It has been such an honor to share this note with our young high school interns, some of our colleagues, as well as the mighty OT, who delivers the goods, thanks to computers and modern technology, from Managua, Nicaragua.
If you made it this far in the editorial, we have a request for you readers/writers who may be looking for a challenge. We are looking for life stories to feature in our publication. We want to feature your story – a part of your story – for our many readers to learn and hear from you. We want to hear about your journey that brings you here. We want to know about your community, your city, your friends and family. We want to hear about your role and the reputation you have/had in the community. We want to know about the choices, good or bad, you have made and helped form the person you are today. We’d love to hear about the jobs you worked, the sports you played, you know, the things you have done, for better or for worse. We’d love to hear about your history with school, the classes you liked/dislike and your take on education. We also want to hear about the important relationships you have/had and how these relationships, with family and friends, formed you. What do you think reader? Can you take us on a trip to your past, present and future and what makes you, you? We’re listening. Of course if you choose to take this task on, we ask that your story be at least 5 pages, but we’ll take whatever you submit. Our goal is that we want to give you a full page in The Beat Within and feature you and your story. We also hope it is such a story that we can share beyond The Beat Within, as we want to bring more awareness to others in the community.
For those of you incarcerated, we know every institution has different rules, but we would like to support you with some type of incentive for your work and time in putting your essay/story together, maybe a paperback book, burrito, composition book, chips, candy, a Beat t-shirt…? You tell us and then we will see what we can do after we review your thoughtful story (that must be presentable for all readers of our magazine). Once reviewed, we will then talk to staff to see what is acceptable as an incentive. All right, this challenge will most likely be in the next several publications, so let’s see what comes out this editorial note challenge.
Shifting gears, we want to thank all you writers for your stories. Each issue we are more and more blown away by the talent and heart coming from so many of you. We find great inspiration in many of your submissions and we certainly hope that you readers find the same joy and excitement that we see in many of your work. We also want to thank you writers and artists who take this platform serious and use it to not just your advantage but for all of us to take heed. We love that many of you are writing on our topics. We love that you are embracing the pencil and paper to put truth on paper for The Beat world to read.
We can’t say it enough, but trust us when we do say, that The Beat Within is a one of a kind publication. There is nothing like it in the world! Sure, there’s plenty of organizations and publishers that put out anthologies, best of publications, specific theme magazines and books, but no one creates such a platform as we do, every other week, for all writers (free and incarcerated) to respectfully share their submissions to be read by folks from all over the US, from as far south as New Orleans, Louisiana, as far east as New York City, New York, as far north as the great city of Portland, Oregon, to as far west as the beautiful islands of our 50th state, Hawaii, and many places in between!
Think about what it means to have your story published! Think about the number of people in the world reading your poem, your commentary, your story? Seriously, each issue we publishes goes out far and wide. We can’t tell you how many people have reached out to us after reviewing and reading various entries, if not the whole issue of The Beat Within saying how they find our magazine – your stories – to be incredible and heartfelt. We are saluted by many good people, from judges, lawyers, teachers, librarians, authors, journalists, students, criminal justice advocates, politicians, good people – young and old – to those in the know who are blown away by what they find in the pages of The Beat Within. It is quite humbling, but we also know the work for the last 22 plus years has been non-stop. Many of us involved in the day to day operations of The Beat Within know that our mighty program is an act of love, but also immense dedication to the cause, giving voice, allowing everyone who Is aware of The Beat Within to tell their story and share their truths! Storytelling and writing is healing and that has been our mission from day one.
To reflect back to all those who have participated in The Beat Within and who have contributed, from one time to hundreds if not thousands of time to the publication, we wish you could ask those writers what writing means to them and how does it feel to have your work published in our mighty publication. Hey, we welcome your words on what The Beat Within means to you and how it had/is playing a part in your life. Your words help our non-profit tremendously. Anecdotes play such a key role in sharing our story, so step right up and share with us what The Beat Within means to you!
All right friends, it’s that time to wrap this editorial note up and encourage you to keep reading the excellent writing featured in this latest magazine! Big props to our friend and librarian Rebecca for hosting us last month inside the library of OH Close at the DJJ facility in Stockton, CA. The writing from that special session is featured in this issue, making this publication that much more special. It’s been years since The Beat Within had lead a group inside the youth prison aka CYA aka DJJ. We certainly hope this is not the last time we have this opportunity. Time will tell… We are also thrilled to have our dear friend and former colleague, Karen Hunt and her son Harry featured in this issue too! We are thrilled to share their inspiring story around recovery and a mother and son’s love for each other. Enough said, enjoy the writings from the many county juvenile institutions, community based organizations, schools, libraries, county jail and state prisons. We are sure something will move you, if not, then pick up a pencil and write us and share your story, we are waiting and willing to listen.