June 2020
The Beat goes on, even during California’s Shelter-In-Place order! The Beat Within continues to ensure that incarcerated youth & adults across the country receive this one-of-a-kind publication every other week. The Beat has responded to the COVID-19 Shelter-In-Place order, by holding space in our pages for folks to voice how this pandemic continues to impact them, their loved ones, and their world at large.
We are also providing more magazines than ever as the demand for reading material increases in every location! Our writers – young and old, alumni and supporters alike – were able to share updates, concerns, and messages of hope from their locations, making these past couple issues of The Beat Within an especially critical bridge between incarcerated individuals and their community members.
Hear what one of our young writers from Sacramento County has to say:
Until This is All Over
How can I offer advice to the ones I care about and love? Even close friends? At a time like this, it is just best for them to stay home. There are little things I can offer them to keep them occupied, like playing the game with their friends online If they can’t come over.
Do exercises at home, an hour a day. Watch TV or Netflix. Most people on the outside of facilities right now are scared to go outside. People like me, that are stuck inside no matter what, wish we could be outside to see the world at a time like this.
So, if I am forced to stay inside, where there is a virus out in the world that is killing people, I have no problem with staying where I am until this is all over.
My loved ones should feel the same too. Stay inside, wash your hands, stay six feet away from people, and we can all get through this together. Please stay safe, stay inside. There are people dying from this virus.
-LG, Sacramento
Our many partners in probation and school are truly doing their best to support our work remotely. We have been Zooming workshops in San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, Sonoma, James Ranch, Los Angeles & Yolo Counties. While it’s been an interesting challenge to transition The Beat’s powerful in-person work to a virtual format, we’re making the most of our workshops in ways we couldn’t have before, like screen-sharing artwork, playing music and introducing family pets!
During this time of change TBW would not be able to respond without the support of our amazing probation staff, volunteers, community partners and especially The Beat donors. This is truly a team effort. We encourage you (if you’re able) to make a donation to The Beat Within to help incarcerated youth and adults continue to receive the magazine under these dire circumstances.
Stay tuned for further updates on our upcoming virtual poetry reading. We hope you and your loved ones are in good health, good spirits, and that you continue to take care of yourselves and one another. We will get through this together.
In community,
The Beat Within