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 alone, everyone plays a role, so whatever your role is in this success it is greatly appreciated.
If you have been with us for a while now, you know that Monday and Tuesday are our busiest days in getting this fine publication out the door. Trust us, it is not an easy task, and it never has been, but especially now, given when all cylinders are working we now conduct numerous workshops a week in various detention facilities and receive many submissions for consideration. This mighty little magazine comes to us already to touch a life, thanks to all – writers and colleagues doing their jobs to touch the ever-growing readership.
Now, not to sound corny, but we at The Beat Within are all really proud of you writers and your efforts to teach, to write, and share through The Beat Within. It’s a true testament to you all. For nearly 25 years – we will be 25 years old next month – those of you who have embraced this opportunity, we can’t thank you enough. You have made a major difference in all our lives, as we hope it has inspired and touched you as well, as you have put pencil to paper to share your stories.
It takes a lot of courage to write. It takes a lot of courage to reflect on your life and to share with the greater community. We know it is not each to be a storyteller, especially, when you are locked up, and not feeling so great about your current situation, yet, as you flip through the pages of this current issue, many of you have stepped up to write and share a part of you with us. We are incredibly grateful that you have the gift and embrace the chance to write. Take a look at all of our “features” in this week’s issue, wow! Big props to you writers who rise up to write. We are inspired by your voices and your desire to teach!
When we started The Beat Within nearly 25 years ago, we never in our wildest dreams thought we would be doing this work today. We never thought our program would grow beyond San Francisco, yet there we were two weeks ago in San Diego talking about expanding the workshops to the community day schools and another detention facility. There we were yesterday meeting our wonderful partners in Sacramento, as the young women in detention passionately showcased their latest writings for us. They were so impressive! And soon if all goes well, we will be visiting new opportunities around the bay area and state to give other thoughtful writers and artists this amazing chance to be a part of our wonderful community.
Speaking of writing, most of you already know the importance of education. Congrats to those of you who have your high school diploma, or are on the road to obtaining your diploma! If not yet, please push yourself to get your learn on. Education should be a lifelong crusade. There is never too much knowledge. There is never too much reading, too much writing and listening to those who offer beneficial information. It is a must to excel in obtaining one’s education. We need to push our teachers to teach. We need to request books on our history. We need to make sure our brains are filled with more than just one-sided information, even if it’s information we respect.
We need to be open-minded to all. Once we are open-minded to all available information, pro and con, we can truly determine how to go ‘bout the next step, given we have covered all our bases to come to this conclusion. We also come from the school of always being open-minded. As all of you know, education is not only something that happens in a classroom. We know many of you have used your cells as the classroom. Many of you are self-taught,
having pushed yourself without the assistance of anyone but you and your discipline.
By educating yourself, everything about you will improve, particularly your communication skills will be stronger. Your behavior will change. You will find a new you in you. Meaning you’ll say good bye to the old you that has weighed you down for so many years, and start a new positive chapter. It is showing in so many of these written pieces, as you reflect and look ahead.
Especially you incarcerated readers of The Beat, what better teachers are there than you? What better social workers? What better lawyers? What better counselors and COs? What better judges and commissioners? We think you get where we are going with this. We think you readers and writers of The Beat, if you put your minds to it, you all could be some of the best workers in the field of criminal justice, education, and community work, especially if you have that opportunity someday. We know by reading your work and meeting many of you, that there is an incredible talent base inside these walls that needs to be tapped.
Remember, nothing is going to change, unless you readers, writers and artists continue to take steps in helping pave the way to improve yourself by taking your education seriously. We know many of you do! There are a host of teachers who we know are heading in directions that will make their lives brighter as well as their communities. We sense it. We know it’s truly going to get better for many of you.
This issue goes out to you readers and writers making a difference in your lives, for the better! We salute you! Stay in touch, we are listening.