Employers come to San Quentin to meet prisoners

Every day, thousands of cars make their way back and forth across the Richmond Bridge past the exit for San Quentin State Prison. The Richmond Bridge connects Marin to the East Bay and is one of the feeders for San Francisco commuters.

If you happen to be a curious driver and want to take a break from rush hour traffic, you could exit onto Main Street in the tiny village of San Quentin. On the left you would see San Francisco Bay and a pretty, little strip of beach. If you continue on, quaint Victorian cottages dot either side of the road and ramble up the hillside to the right. After just three blocks, the public road dead-ends and directly ahead, you would see the main gate to San Quentin State Prison. Once you cross the yellow line you are officially on state prison property. You would, most likely, be “asked” by the corrections officer at the gate, to turn around. If you are lucky, you could snap a picture of the antiquated sign for the infamous prison before moving on. That is as far as most people get — unless you are one of the 3,836 men who live in the prison, or you are one of the more than 3,000 volunteers.

I am lucky to be one of those volunteers. Both inmates, and friends on the outside, are curious about why I volunteer in a prison. The best way I can explain it is this:

By working with the men, my hope and faith are often restored, and I leave the prison humbled, grateful and inspired. Simply said, I have found my place.

In 2014, I began volunteering at San Quentin through the California Re-Entry Program. Volunteers work with men who are close to their parole dates and assist them by locating resources that support them in re-entry with: transitional housing, jobs, support services, education, and so on.

While I was working with that program, an inmate approached me who was interested in creating a new series of classes. He wanted to assist men in finding jobs after re-entry. He asked if I would help him create a program. I said yes. We worked together for six months, developing the curriculum for the Employment Readiness Seminars and getting it approved by the prison administration.

Since then we have completed two eight-week programs, graduated 30 men, and are ready to begin a third session in March.

The eight-week curriculum explores the questions: What are my skills and interests? How do I present myself on paper? How and where do I look for work? How do I present myself in person? How do I keep a job? How do I leave a job?

Using small group work, guest speakers and an opportunity to meet potential employers in person, the seminars offer a comprehensive job readiness curriculum that encourages the men to hold the highest vision of success for themselves and their futures.

The eight-week session culminates in potential employers and service providers joining us in the prison. They to get to know the men, offer mock interviews, provide information and discuss job opportunities. Chief operating officers (COOs), founders, leaders and employers from several industries have joined the Employment Readiness Seminars and are committed to hiring and assisting people with criminal records.

My goal is to insure that each man who graduates from the program has a solid resume, knows how to write a cover letter, search for a job, and sit for an interview. An employer on the street may ask questions about an ex-felons criminal history, so it’s important for each man to feel comfortable talking about his crime, in a way that is fully accountable and brief.

Imagine you need a job. Now imagine you can choose between two scenarios: 1) You get in line at the Employment Development Department with hundreds of other people looking for work, or 2) You meet with a potential employer who knows you and has a vested interest in helping you out. The decision is obvious, right? Now imagine that you have been in prison for 30 years, have never used a computer or a cell phone, have little education and have never held a job on the outside. What are your chances of survival without the help of the employer?

Well, the recidivism rate in California hovers around 60%. It’s widely known that key factors to a successful re-entry include: stable housing, a supportive community, mental health services, where necessary, and work that pays a livable wage and provides sense of self worth.

The Employment Readiness Seminars address the pressing need for employment upon re-entry. Our employers offer a lifeline to returning citizens both by helping them find jobs, and equally, if not more importantly, by caring about them and their futures.

So, back to the personal question about why I volunteer? This quote, by Lilla Watson, sums it up for me:

“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time.

But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”