Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingMonth: August 2021
Ed Note 26.31/32
Another week, another Beat! We are thrilled to get this latest issue of our amazing publication into your hands. There is plenty of great writings to be shared and to be able to produce this one-of-a-kind publication every two weeks means the world to us. We can’t thank you, writers and artists, enough for all your time and work. The dedication of your writing truly shines in these pages! We can’t thank our many partners, allies, and friends who help make this program a success for all of us. This is the kind of work where you can’t do it
Continue ReadingBeautiful Struggle
by AL, Santa Clara Life is not always easy, there’s a constant struggle occurring every single day. But it’s a beautiful struggle, and I refuse to succumb to my adversities. Instead, I learn and I grow from my mistakes ‘cause life’s a test. Being in here showed me it’s lonely at the top when you focused on doing better and bigger things. People envy you, they rather see me dead or in prison ‘til you rot before they ever give you props. I’ve been going through a lot but I ain’t got nothin’ to prove. I learned tryin’ to please
Continue ReadingMy Favorite Things To Do
by Junior, San Mateo I enjoy doing many things during my lifetime. Especially during the winter, spring and the summer. Something I like to do is playing video games. For example, my PlayStation 4 that I have at my house. I enjoy playing many games on it and I also love playing online with local friends and many other people I meet online. The main video games that I play are Fortnite, Call Of Duty, Black Ops Three, Warzone etc., Grand Theft Auto and sometimes Minecraft. There are many other video games that I would play, but I would play
Continue ReadingBones and Anger
by Jr., San Mateo My life is very crazy and many things have happened in my life that might not have happened to other people. For example, one time I was at my basketball game and we had to play a rival team. I knew people that played for the team so I was talking smack to them just to get in their head. Once it was game time, I got my team pumped up because I was the team captain. I tucked my jersey in because we have to, then waited for the tip off. I made the first
Continue ReadingWe Can’t Heal From Pain Until We Learn To talk About Pain
by Harry C.Goodall Jr., San Quentin State Prison, CA There are times that our fear can be just as a big a barrier as a brick wall. This real life issue presents itself when it comes for us recovering from trauma. When I think of all the things that would make me grown I was lost. When I was younger, parts of me that thought if I could hold my liquor, I could be grown. There was even a part of me that thought if only I had money I would have power and respect. That money could buy any
Continue ReadingCYA Days
by Jesse Ayers, San Quentin State Prison, CA I am 42 years old, my birthday is May 24th, I was first arrested at the age of six years old. I didn’t go inside Juvenile Hall until I was fourteen. Between 6-14 I was in police stations, probation courts, community service, “scared straight” program where we took a tour of Corcoran State Prison (back in 1990). My dad had been to prison, my Uncle was on B-yard in Corcoran, during my “tour” to scare me straight. There was no “tactic” to trick me into being a “good kid.” No one could
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Volume 26.29/30
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 26.29/30
We are knee deep in Summer, yet the start of school is right around the corner! Where does the time go? We certainly hope you readers are doing well, staying healthy, while preparing for the upcoming fall season!? If you have been following the news it certainly appears to be yet another challenging season, as we are still dealing with COVID and new variants. We encourage all of you to continue to wear your masks, wash your hands and be mindful of people’s space. We are hearing of too many good people who are fully vaccinated and are still testing
Continue ReadingLife Is My Greatest Teacher
by CS, Sacramento My greatest teacher is life itself, or myself alone. Because I didn’t really have anybody to tell me right from wrong, so I taught myself to survive and fit in. I started learning what to do and what not to do by trial and error. For a long time, I didn’t know how to tie my shoes, so I would tie the ends in knots and cut them short. Another teacher for me was my grandma. She didn’t physically or verbally teach me, but by watching her, I learned what not to do. She was going through
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