Michael Harris
I began my commitment in San Quentin in 1988 and I felt that my return to San Quentin in 2005 was a gift. Initially I was assigned a job working as a shower cleaner. This was a position that taught me many things, humility being one of the most important traits that I learned. I also enrolled in Patten College, which reignited my thirst for education.
Simultaneously I began participating in several various self-help groups during the evening hours. My college schedule was from 6:00 to 8:00 PM spanning six days a week with the exception of Saturdays. My self-help group programs took place on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and twice on Saturday. This responsibility collectively gave me a strong sense of community.
In 2008, I was selected by the Principal of the San Quentin Education Department and members of San Quentin’s administrative staff to resurrect the San Quentin newspaper, The San Quentin News, after its 17-year hiatus. I am currently the Editor-in-Chief of the S.Q. News. We provide copies to 33 California prisons and we are on the world wide web. We can be found at http//www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/San_Quentin_News/SQ-San-Quentin_News.html One year later I co-founded “San Quentin Journalism Guild,” an organization that trains men in professional journalistic writing. The Guild has recruited a team of retired journalists to assist in this process of instruction.
Other groups that I have started and/or have participated in while continuing my education through the Patten University Project are: Inside Prison Project; Victims Offender Educational Group, V.O.E.G./Next Step, No More Tears/The Healing Circle, Impact.
While I was at Soledad in 2005, I co-founded with the assistance of Bishop Mady Thomas III. “Partnership Building Community Groups” (PBCG).The PBCG Project is a California State chartered public benefit charitable corporation which provides a community gang intervention program from the inside (Criminal Justice System) out (Street level).
As an active participant in a creative writing class taught, I am now a published author in a book series entitled Brothers in Pen. Via this project I was allowed to create and debut a short story version of my memoirs entitled ‘Nightmares and Daydreams.’ This piece has afforded me the opportunity to share my past experiences with like-minded people in the hopes that they will not take the same ill-fated journey that I chose.
During this time I was also the co-facilitator and/or creator of “Keeping it Real”, which enable participants to find the emotional resources needed to make better life decisions, thus reducing incarceration and recidivism of at risk youth and those with little economic and social opportunity. I was instrumental in bringing it from H-Unit to the North Block main line population. Keepin’ it Real morphed into “The Green Life”, which I helped to create after being inspired by The Green Economy expert and author Van Jones. The Green Life’s Mission/Goal is to identify and explore the choices of incarcerated individuals in an environment that promotes a green economy coupled with eco-literacy. Our goal is to teach job skills and direct inmates to financial self-sufficiency with the skills needed to green their environment in and out of prison.
I joined T.R.U.S.T Fellows as a student/participant The mission of the San Quentin TRUST is to assist men in becoming leaders within themselves, their families and communities and to build a bridge of accountability between the communities inside and outside of prison. After graduating I was elected to the Trust Fellows Board, served as Chairman of the Marketing committee and was later promoted to Outside Coordinator, a position I continue to hold.
I co-founded Members of Modern American Society (MOMAS) and am currently chairman of the executive committee. The course aims to prepare inmates for modern society and reduce recidivism by teaching skills they will need to integrate into the formal economy. It is a course formed and implemented by inmates-for inmates.
Partnering with several groups on the outside, I have networked across the globe. I was selected to help facilitate and organize the musical entertainment for Prelude to Peace in March of 2004. Directed by Paul Marshall, the purpose of this event was to promote peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians and to forward education about peaceful coexistence around the globe. Paul Marshall’s firm was in charge of organizing high profile peacemakers throughout the world and has written support letters for my release from prison on more than one occasion. He has invited me to be a part of his organization upon my release.
Recently I was the key note speaker on the panel for prison reforms hosted by Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) annual conference via state telephone.
I was found suitable for release on September 2009 and confirmed January 2010 and I am currently waiting to be released back into society…
Upon my release the Board of Prison Terms has allowed me to parole to NHNR, Neighborhood House of North Richmond’s re-entry program. The Executive Director of NHNR has given me an employment opportunity as a senior case manager and a liaison between the Richmond Project and other developed curriculums for outreach programs involving at-risk youth.
Simultaneously I began participating in several various self-help groups during the evening hours. My college schedule was from 6:00 to 8:00 PM spanning six days a week with the exception of Saturdays. My self-help group programs took place on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and twice on Saturday. This responsibility collectively gave me a strong sense of community.
In 2008, I was selected by the Principal of the San Quentin Education Department and members of San Quentin’s administrative staff to resurrect the San Quentin newspaper, The San Quentin News, after its 17-year hiatus. I am currently the Editor-in-Chief of the S.Q. News. We provide copies to 33 California prisons and we are on the world wide web. We can be found at http//www.cdcr.ca.gov/Visitors/San_Quentin_News/SQ-San-Quentin_News.html One year later I co-founded “San Quentin Journalism Guild,” an organization that trains men in professional journalistic writing. The Guild has recruited a team of retired journalists to assist in this process of instruction.
Other groups that I have started and/or have participated in while continuing my education through the Patten University Project are: Inside Prison Project; Victims Offender Educational Group, V.O.E.G./Next Step, No More Tears/The Healing Circle, Impact.
While I was at Soledad in 2005, I co-founded with the assistance of Bishop Mady Thomas III. “Partnership Building Community Groups” (PBCG).The PBCG Project is a California State chartered public benefit charitable corporation which provides a community gang intervention program from the inside (Criminal Justice System) out (Street level).
As an active participant in a creative writing class taught, I am now a published author in a book series entitled Brothers in Pen. Via this project I was allowed to create and debut a short story version of my memoirs entitled ‘Nightmares and Daydreams.’ This piece has afforded me the opportunity to share my past experiences with like-minded people in the hopes that they will not take the same ill-fated journey that I chose.
During this time I was also the co-facilitator and/or creator of “Keeping it Real”, which enable participants to find the emotional resources needed to make better life decisions, thus reducing incarceration and recidivism of at risk youth and those with little economic and social opportunity. I was instrumental in bringing it from H-Unit to the North Block main line population. Keepin’ it Real morphed into “The Green Life”, which I helped to create after being inspired by The Green Economy expert and author Van Jones. The Green Life’s Mission/Goal is to identify and explore the choices of incarcerated individuals in an environment that promotes a green economy coupled with eco-literacy. Our goal is to teach job skills and direct inmates to financial self-sufficiency with the skills needed to green their environment in and out of prison.
I joined T.R.U.S.T Fellows as a student/participant The mission of the San Quentin TRUST is to assist men in becoming leaders within themselves, their families and communities and to build a bridge of accountability between the communities inside and outside of prison. After graduating I was elected to the Trust Fellows Board, served as Chairman of the Marketing committee and was later promoted to Outside Coordinator, a position I continue to hold.
I co-founded Members of Modern American Society (MOMAS) and am currently chairman of the executive committee. The course aims to prepare inmates for modern society and reduce recidivism by teaching skills they will need to integrate into the formal economy. It is a course formed and implemented by inmates-for inmates.
Partnering with several groups on the outside, I have networked across the globe. I was selected to help facilitate and organize the musical entertainment for Prelude to Peace in March of 2004. Directed by Paul Marshall, the purpose of this event was to promote peaceful coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians and to forward education about peaceful coexistence around the globe. Paul Marshall’s firm was in charge of organizing high profile peacemakers throughout the world and has written support letters for my release from prison on more than one occasion. He has invited me to be a part of his organization upon my release.
Recently I was the key note speaker on the panel for prison reforms hosted by Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) annual conference via state telephone.
I was found suitable for release on September 2009 and confirmed January 2010 and I am currently waiting to be released back into society…
Upon my release the Board of Prison Terms has allowed me to parole to NHNR, Neighborhood House of North Richmond’s re-entry program. The Executive Director of NHNR has given me an employment opportunity as a senior case manager and a liaison between the Richmond Project and other developed curriculums for outreach programs involving at-risk youth.
