Greetings to our Beat Within community near and far! We’re proud to present this latest publication to you, and to feature the groundbreaking writing and artwork of our incarcerated community across the nation. We cherish each and every piece that we publish, and celebrate the resilience and dedication of our writers and readers.
This issue’s editorial note is brought to you by two of our interns from Urban High School of San Francisco, Lelia and Sophie. We appreciate the detail that Lelia goes into about the lessons she’s learned from interning with us, and the deep resonance that Sophie feels with our writers.
Please join us in welcoming Lelia and Sophie to our editorial section!
Our Interconnectedness
Working with The Beat Within has opened up my understanding of communal impact and mutual aid.
Transcribing and responding to the narratives of strangers has illuminated the interconnectedness of our human experiences. In immersing myself in their stories, I’ve come to grasp the profound impact our actions and systems wield on individuals and communities alike. It has shown me the power of empathy and listening, demonstrating how our shared stories can bridge divides and foster meaningful connections, even across seemingly insurmountable barriers between complete strangers.
Prompts like “A Day on the Outs,” Favorite Teachers,” “Biggest Accomplishment,” “Words of Advice,” and “My Own Worst Enemy,” have brought forth a culmination of diverse experiences, emotions, and reflections. This has showcased how the act of publication has amplified voices, shedding light on narratives that might otherwise remain unheard.
Through these prompts, I’ve witnessed moments of resilience, vulnerability, and profound wisdom, reminding me of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of storytelling. This experience has underscored for me the potency of simple words in a newspaper and, even more so, the capacity for such simplicity to instigate meaningful change.
My experience with The Beat Within has taught me a complementary assortment of lessons:
One: Togetherness. The collaborative nature of this work, both within the team and with my peer contributors, has been enriching. It has taught me the importance of community and collective action in advocating for social change.
Witnessing the dedication and passion of everyone involved has inspired me to continue using my voice and skills to amplify all perspectives and advocate for a more just society. Now I continue to wonder: what is change without collective dedication?
Two: Institutional scrutiny. This experience has heightened my awareness of the need for rigorous scrutiny of existing policies and practices, particularly within the criminal justice system. It has motivated me to actively participate in conversations and advocacy efforts aimed at reforming these institutions to ensure fairness, equity, and accountability.
Through this lens of institutional scrutiny, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the complexities inherent in addressing social inequities and the imperative of challenging entrenched power structures.
Three: Learning from individuals. Each story, each perspective, has offered a unique insight into the human experience. From tales of resilience to accounts of vulnerability, I’ve gleaned invaluable lessons about empathy, understanding, and the importance of listening without assumptions.
These interactions have reinforced the idea that meaningful change begins with understanding and valuing the experiences of others. They’ve shown me that by truly listening and learning from individuals, we can foster greater empathy, dismantle stereotypes, and work towards a more inclusive and compassionate society.
Four: What I most enjoyed about this work was the opportunity to amplify voices that are often marginalized and silenced by society. Through the power of storytelling, I witnessed the transformative potential of empathy and understanding in fostering healing and reconciliation. Each word transcribed was a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit, challenging prevailing narratives and advocating for change.
My very favorite part was purely talking to strangers and developing connections. Connecting to many people affected by the justice system, I recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of their past mistakes or circumstances.
I have come to understand that true justice extends beyond punishment to encompass rehabilitation, restoration, and redemption and it all starts with connection; listening to The Beat Within.
-Lelia, Urban High School of San Francisco
Sharing Love and Resilience
Coming into my spring term of The Beat Within internship, I was excited and motivated to transcribe more entries and add comments below them every week. I originally started my internship in the winter, which typically means that I would have ended my experience at The Beat weeks ago had I not reached out to Simone Zapata and asked for a longer internship. Simone has been a great resource for me this term, and I feel very grateful for her kindness and the fact that she even extended my time here in the first place.
After confirming my decision, I needed to wait a couple of weeks to do my first assignment. Writing the first assignment felt awkward but inspiring — I was a little rusty on remembering every little detail included in the transcripts, but finally got the hang of it around week three.
The assignments themselves felt just as rewarding to make as the ones from the previous term. This term’s set of prompts felt more conducive for discussion and stories of positive experiences. This is not to say that writing about negative experiences and memories is invalid or unwelcome. People involved with The Beat, including myself, understand that the writers are currently going through a difficult period in their lives.
I applaud all of the writers who have contributed to The Beat because their stories tell a unique perspective that is missing from public media sources. Their collective grief shared through the stories exhibits resilience and stands as an act of hope for others to follow suit.
I always encourage people to express their feelings to others, even if it does not “sound good” or feel good to hear. But I recall a lot of the entries from last term being emotionally charged, which made it difficult as a transcriber to be motivated in the work I was doing. I feel as though this term was significantly lighter in that aspect, highlighting multiple instances of friendship, frustration, love, and heartbreak.
One story that stuck with me was “Advice to My Parents” by Hayden, which was a letter of advice to their abusive parents. It illustrated everything I love about The Beat — writers who candidly express their individual experiences of pain and belonging, and do so constructively.
In a society bombarded with social media and its harsh realities, many people have difficulties acting thoughtfully in what they are doing or saying. They are used to having a barrier between them and the respondent, which makes communication generally more difficult. I can admit that it is hard to take back or rethink thoughts that are irritative towards someone else. However, writers at The Beat consistently include a layer of carefulness behind their work, which creates a lot of empathy that is refreshing to see.
I feel very grateful for interning with The Beat Within and appreciative of everyone who helped me this term. I hope to continue my engagement soon, as my experiences have deeply contributed to my understanding of our justice system and how it impacts our youth.
-Sophie, Urban High School of San Francisco
Thank you, Lelia and Sophie, for your work with us this term! As the school year comes to a close, we hope that you keep in touch with us and let us know about the amazing things you’ll go on to accomplish. The sky is your limit!
In fact, the sky is all of our limits, as you’ll read in many of the testimonies that follow. One of our topics for this issue is “My Greatest Accomplishment,” and we can feel the progress, positivity, and optimism in the way our writers describe their future goals. We celebrate all of your past, present, and future accomplishments, and have no doubt in the greatness you embody.
Thank you, as always, to our community for your support and belief in our mission. We hope you enjoy this latest issue, 29.19/20. Onward and upward!