Hello all, Today the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) picked up the following piece from The Beat Within. This commentary was written during one of our recent weekly writing workshops inside the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center. We encourage you to give Adajah’s piece, “A Dog Locked in a Cage” a read. http://jjie.org/a-dog-locked-in-a-cage/142419/ If you haven’t already done so, please consider reading other entries from The Beat that the JJIE has posted, here’s the link… http://jjie.org/category/ideas-and-opinions/the-beat-within/ We truly thank you for your continued support. As always, please consider sharing these important writings with your community.
Continue ReadingAuthor: mpau@thebeatwithin.org
Opportunities for Hatred
by Rashaan Thomas I could have been Bill Gates. Well, I could have been a half Black and half Puerto Rican CEO of a software company the size of Microsoft or bigger. Bill Gates could have worked for me. Instead, I let hatred turn me into a killer. You see, my mother saw the future was computers. In the early eighties, she enrolled me in basic programming courses while I was still in high school. She also purchased the Commodore 64 computer. I put it to use programming and selling bootleg video games. Then my little brother got shot. It
Continue ReadingMy Story
by Reaper I was born in Mexico but moved to California when I was seven months old We settled in the Canal (near San Rafael, CA) for about three years, then moved to San Pablo. In San Pablo we had two houses, a block away from each other. We lived in the smaller one at first but then decided to move to a bigger one as our family germinated. Meanwhile, we rented out the smaller house. I went to school every day K-5. I used to receive perfect attendance awards ever year as well as my siblings. I have a two
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VOLUME 20.37/38
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this latest issue.
Continue ReadingDear Me
by Ryan Dear Me, I really hope you found what you’re looking for: love, happiness, and success. I hope you stay clean and sober. I hope you find a good twelve-step program. I really hope you stay sober, you need to. Your mind works better while sober. You’re a lot smarter when you’re sober. You need to finish school or go get your GED. You need to study hard and pass. I know you want to get into the coast guard. They wont accept you if you’re not fit and haven’t finished high school. If you want the home and car
Continue ReadingReady To Be Released
by JJ Ramirez If I was to be asked the question, “Are you ready to be released?” My answer would be that of, “Hell yeah!” Reasons being that I have learned so much of myself through my confinement I have fought my inner demons, which lived beneath my skin, and won. “Victorious.” First you must understand I grew up without a father “like so many behind these walls.” But I guess I can say without a mother as well. Mom always at work, so many hours I never really saw her. Used to come around on payday with a bag
Continue ReadingTHE BEAT WITHIN/JJIE
Greetings Friends! The JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) website, has posted another stellar piece of writing from The Beat Within. We are thrilled to be in partnership with the JJIE which is based at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, GA. They are the only publication/website covering juvenile justice and related issues nationally on a consistent, daily basis. Today they are running Lydia’s piece, “Windows to the Soul.” Lydia has been a valued contributor in our weekly writing workshops for the last few months. She wrote and submitted this piece from the Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall in San Jose, CA. http://jjie.org/from-the-inside-windows-to-the-soul/139745/ If you want to read
Continue ReadingTHE BEAT WITHIN/JJIE
Greetings friends, We can’t keep up with the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) website, who is posting our pieces faster than we can send them. We are truly honored to be in partnership with the JJIE which is based at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, GA. They are the only publication/website covering juvenile justice and related issues nationally on a consistent, daily basis. Today they are running Darnell McGregger’s piece, “Consumed by the Gang Life.” Darnell is a first time contributor to The Beat Within. He wrote this piece from the California Men’s State Prison in San Luis Obispo, CA. He has been incarcerated since age 19
Continue ReadingThe Beat Within/JJIE
Greetings!! Over the last month we have strengthened our partnership with the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) based at Kennesaw State University near Atlanta, Ga.. They are the only publication/website covering juvenile justice and related issues nationally on a consistent, daily basis. Today they are running our colleague and friend, Emile DeWeaver’s piece, A Secret. This piece came out of The Beat Within’s monthly San Quentin State Prison writing workshop. http://jjie.org/a-secret/136250/ Last week they ran, Markayla’s powerful poem, My Generation. Markayla is an outstanding contributor in our weekly writing workshops inside Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles. http://jjie.org/the-beat-within-my-generation/133988/ If you want to read other entries from The Beat
Continue ReadingTHE BEAT WITHIN/JJIE
Our friends over at the JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) have picked up and posted another thoughtful piece of writing that has come out of our weekly workshops inside juvenile hall and beyond. This latest piece, by Chapo From The Inside: Someone Always Will Have It Worse Than Me, is one of their feature stories today on their website. You can go directly to Chapo’s story http://jjie.org/from-the-inside-someone-always-will-have-it-worse-than-me/130688/ You can also see the several other pieces JJIE has featured from The Beat Within http://jjie.org/category/ideas-and-opinions/the-beat-within/ Thank you for your continued support. We wish you a great week!
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