Welcome to another fabulous double issue of The Beat Within! This latest issue is full of thoughtful writings and art, including our winning pieces from our recent Visions Of Reform Issue. A big thank you goes out to our partner the NICJR (National Institute of Criminal Justice Reform) for helping us make this special issue on reform possible. In this latest issue of The Beat we are showcasing the winning essays and artwork from our youth and adults who submitted work for this special issue. We love the pieces and we hope you do too. A big congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our judges who read well over 50 entries.
This issue is also packed with a number of special features, POWs, thoughtful writings from our various workshops and our mighty BWO contributors. Big props to you contributors and all our partners and friends who make this publication the success that it is. Where does the time go? It is hard to believe The Beat Within is 24 years strong! Thank you all for your support and friendship.
For this issue, we have asked our dear friend and colleague, Alyssa Maanao to write this week’s editorial note, so without further ado, lets pass the keyboard over to our awesome colleague….
Greetings to all of my Beat Within family! It’s an honor to be back on your inside cover, having you all read a couple of my thoughts. It seems as if every time we mention that “times are crazy right now,” we all say it with the hopes of it being that last time we say it.
However, we all have accepted (well, most of us) that this is unfortunately not the case. New information about the world around us gets released every single day, if not every single hour. Between COVID, police brutality, insane politics, and social issues being at the forefront of our lives, it seems as if we are all battling something every day.
Some of us may have found or amplified our voices during these times. Some of us may have uncovered some mental or emotional issues that we never knew existed. Some of us are thriving during these times, while some of us may have kept completely quiet.
However, one thing I do know, is that our Beat Within community has been diligently putting pen to paper and letting the world know who we are! From running several of our workshops a week, to typing, editing, and responding to hundreds of pieces of writings, I have seen the voices of our men and women (young and old) shine through more than ever.
The one thing I have always loved about being a part of The Beat Within team is that it forces those who are heard too often (such as myself), to take a back seat and allow the voices of the unheard be amplified.
Times like these are where it gets good. Our writers have contributed their life stories, several pieces of writings have their own column, tons of artwork, and even their own book! One thing that I know that I can say for all of us here at The Beat Within headquarters, is that we are beyond grateful to be able to publish you.
We are grateful to get your original handwritten pieces of writings, your original pieces of artwork, and most importantly, your heartfelt expressions. Within this issue, you will find our contest winning pieces from the Visions Of Reform art and writing contest we had earlier this year.
For the past months, we have received the thoughtful, and thought-provoking pieces of writings and art from both our youth institutions and our adult institutions. All we can say is wow! The amount of thought and passion that went into the contest submissions was incredible!
We must say, we truly appreciated the thoughts and ideas that came from both our youth and our adults. One thing that was very significant and stood out the most, was that despite the many years between our youth and adult writers/artists, they all had a common theme in their pieces – and that is that the system has failed our communities starting from our adolescent years.
Several of our contributors mentioned that every system put in place during their younger years basically paved the way to incarceration instead of rehabilitation. It is significant to note that actions and behaviors that could’ve been met with patience, understanding, and love during younger years, could have changed an individual’s future forever, and possibly even prevented incarceration.
I feel as if one positive thing that may have come to the light during these times is the awareness that just about anything can be corrected, adjusted, or healed, with love. If that young child who grew up in an unsafe and traumatic environment, would’ve have been met with love and understanding from their first experience with the system, their path could’ve been different.
If that adult who made one terrible mistake would have been properly rehabilitated, they could have possibly gone on to be a positive contributor to society. This is why this work is so important. This is why The Beat Within is still here and growing.
Because the words and the art that fill these pages are the voices that bring light to the injustice in this world. Imagine the possibility that this magazine falls into the hands of some real game-changers out there in the streets, doing the work towards real justice.
Imagine the work that is done in a thirty to forty-five-minute workshop of, reaching someone who has the power and influence to make changes for years to come. To our youth who feel as if they have nothing to say, or that their voice will not make a difference, you are wrong.
The next time you are sitting in a workshop with us (virtually), and you look around and see other incarcerated peers, know that the small classroom you are sitting in holds way more power than you know. Know you are given the chance to make your voice be heard by some very important people that wouldn’t normally hear you if you were on the outs.
To our adult writers, know that your words fall into the hands of young readers who are in the place you were at one time. Imagine how much they value your experience.
And to those who normally turn the other cheek, and don’t give the time of day to someone you may not relate to, imagine the power you hold if you were to just listen. If you were to just understand the experiences others may have had.
Visions Of Reform was never just a contest to win a prize. It was an offering of ideas. It was game plan toward real change, from those who know more than any of us, what needs to be changed in order for us to get to where we need to be as a community. Keep writing and keep listening. We are in this together!