In July, The Beat Within announced with great sadness the passing of its founder and executive director, David Inocencio. Over the past six weeks, our Beat Within team has worked tirelessly to publish a special tribute issue of The Beat Within Magazine. In this issue, youth, David’s colleagues, former and current TBW participants, and community leaders shared their reflections on the impact of The Beat Within, David Inocencio, and the topic of grief. The issue was empowering and almost therapeutic, rallying our team to stand up and ensure that the beat goes on, as David always said. With passing the
Continue ReadingThe Beat Within Tribute Issue
Our latest magazine is here! Inside you can find all the incredible and powerful tributes to David. Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingDavid’s SF Chronicle Obituary
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
Continue ReadingIt’s Been One Month
On August 8th marked 1 month since David’s passing. Let’s continue to celebrate him and his legacy!
Continue ReadingMission Local Article on David
A decades-long presence in the San Francisco juvenile justice sphere, Inocencio dedicated his life to the twice-monthly magazine he helped launch in 1996, and was widely recognized for his passion for uplifting the voices of those behind bars. Link
Continue ReadingFrom The Beat: Community Announcement
To our community, It is with great sadness, and a heavy heart to share with you that our founder and director, David Inocencio, lost his battle with cancer this past weekend. Over the past few weeks, David was surrounded by his family, colleagues, and close friends, as we celebrated his life and his many incredible accomplishments. For the past twenty-seven years, David has anchored our collective strive toward liberation through the power of testimony. He was—and still remains—loved and cherished across the nation for his leadership. The profound influence that David had on all of us reaches far beyond life itself. For
Continue ReadingVolume 28.21/22
Please contact Lisa Lavaysse if you would like to purchase the full PDF or a printed copy of this issue.
Continue ReadingEd Note 28.21/22
Welcome back to our Beat Within readers, writers, colleagues, and teachers. For this issue, we’re bringing you reflections from Camillia and Daisy, two of our interns at Urban High School in San Francisco, CA. It’s been such a pleasure to continue fostering this partnership, where the students of Urban have made a huge impact on The Beat over the course of their spring semester, transcribing the wide range of writing that becomes published in our pages. Thank you, Camillia and Daisy, for your time, your dedication, and for sharing our mission to uplift the voices of incarcerated youth and their
Continue ReadingGrateful I Am Breathing and Functioning
by Stitch, San Mateo This week, so far my week has been alright. I am grateful I am breathing and functioning. This week I got items from the canteen because me and my team won this trivia thing we did, so that It was nice. This week I also started taking adderall again. I went a whole twenty months without taking it, I was really not taking it in my first three months. Since I’m taking it again I’ve noticed a change in my behavior. I’ve noticed some side effects are mood swings and appetite loss. I guess I am
Continue ReadingThat Special Woman: My Big Sister G
by BG, Sacramento I want to show some recognition to my big sister, G, aka MH. She is so special to me because she’s always been my backbone, pretty much my mother figure. Every time that I need something, she makes it happen. When my mom puts me out, I don’t even have to tell her twice, she’s already on the freeway sliding from San Jose to Sac to make sure I got somewhere to lay my head. She twenty-five, from San Jo, real lady with game. I think she deserves the recognition because she is so strong. She dealt
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