Category: Feature of the Week

Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Aug. 17, 2023 This unique juvenile justice pioneer, trail blazer, empathetic listener, amazing partner, patient husband, loving and kind individual will be celebrated. LINK

by XS, Sacramento What is life? What is the meaning of life? That is the question I ask myself every day. At age ten is when I lost my brother. It made me numb to life. I didn’t understand why. What is life? Being shot in the face at eleven, I realized not everyone lives through this. What is life? Having my mom put me into the system was the beginning of my downfall. Going through it, I saw it as a game. I saw it as a game sixteen times because I thought it was daycare. I was not

by SoniaGrandson, Rivarde Juvenile Detention Center, Harvey Louisiana What is freedom?No shackles on my hands and feetWhat is freedom?When I can choose what I want to beWhat is freedom?Judge can’t tell me what to doWhat is freedom?When you walk in yo’ own shoesWhat is freedom?You chase yo’ goals and become greatWhat is freedom?You see a person with passion not an inmate’s faceWhat is freedom?Going to bed after a hard day’s work.What is freedom?You live and you learn, butAlways be ready for things to get worst.

by JJEM Youth Services Center, San Mateo, CA People take life for granted and when they do, there is always somehow consequences. People who are barely joining the journey of my story welcome and enjoy the ride.  Yeah, I witnessed a lot of violence throughout my life. My dumbass father always left bottles of beer lying anywhere around my home and my one-year-old self would stumble upon it and start drinking it. Then eventually I’ll be a damn one-year-old drunk, but yeah forget that. When my father left, I had to be a parent and a brother to my siblings,

by Rony, San Jose, CA “It’s easier to fool people then to convince them that they’ve been fooled.” -Samuel Clemens I get the sense that this quote is more like people not accepting the truth and or are too stubborn to the facts. This is a characteristic I do not tolerate. When I tell someone who I think they really are they tend to get defensive. When you can see through and see them for what they really are they get insecure.  People don’t like to succumb to the fact they are hiding behind a mask fooling themselves thinking they

by YPC I would rather have Spider-Man because he’s not as ruthless as Batman. I would rather have Batman on the outside and Spider-Man on the inside. I know Batman has the most money, but that doesn’t really define people. If I had the personality of Spider-Man, I would be more welcoming to others unlike Batman.  If I had to choose which Spider-Man I could be it would probably be Miles Morales because we have a lot in common. If I had to choose the Batman suit it would be the all black one, and not the gray, black, and

by Gucci  “I stood 10 toes, I couldn’t fold or panic, these streets a turn a good kid into a cold lil savage.” -Polo G  This quote hit me hard for real because I got a good heart. I didn’t always envision myself as this person I have become. I ain’t gone cap, trauma hit me at a young age, so it changed my thought process early in life. But I believe the younger me before all the pain and trauma would be ashamed of the man I had become.  I remember being super young and telling my mom I

by CC, Sacramento Dear young reader –  Life comes with no guarantees. Mistakes can become accomplishments. And accomplishments can become mistakes. Your life is what you make of it and so much more. Learn from others’ mistakes…learn from your own. There is no secret.  Millions of people living in poverty. It is no secret that we all lose people close to us. There are no secrets about life. Understand that life is a gift, how you interpret the gift is all up to you. No matter your circumstance, always make sure you have a fighting chance at life.  People may

by Angel, San Mateo The best breakfast I have ever had was many years ago. It was my morning birthday breakfast, if I remember correctly. I think it was on my 11th birthday. I don’t really remember all the details, but I do remember some things. I remember waking up and smelling my favorite meal which was chile rellenos, red Mexican rice, posole and this good hot sauce my mom would make. Since it was my birthday my little cousins and my siblings woke me up and started singing happy birthday to me. I was a little mad at first

by Mia, Santa Cruz To improve my future, I’m going to stop repeating the same cycle that I have been in since I was thirteen. I’m tired of coming in the hall. I’m tired of court dates and most of all, I’m tired of POs and judges telling me what I can and can’t do.  I want to live my own life without restrictions. I want to be free from all the drama that goes on around me. I want to be my own person. I want to move and put these last couple of years in the past. I