This morning I wasn’t able to run my usual 10-mile distance because of a scheduled outing. Our TOAD group planned to leave the prison in Taft at 7:15 this morning, so I was only able to run six miles before I had to come in and change. That run boosted my tally to 2,844 miles over the past 319 consecutive days.
TOAD, which stands for Those Outspoken Against Drugs, is a youth outreach group made up of prisoners from Taft Camp. TOAD members meet every Wednesday morning to rehearse and the speeches and skits we perform in an effort to persuade at-risk adolescents to avoid criminal behavior. Our participation in the TOAD group represents a part of our effort to make amends with society for the bad decisions we made that led us to prison. By telling our story and expressing our regret to the young people in the audience, we hope to provide them with insight that will help them make better decisions than we made at their age.
I’ve taken advantage of every opportunity to contribute to youth outreach programs throughout my imprisonment. My first opportunity was the Slow Down Program at USP Atlanta; I wrote an article that the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper published to describe our program. Since we were confined to a high-security United States Penitentiary, enclosed by ominous walls, the children came into the prison and we made our presentations in the visiting room.
When I was confined in prisons where administrators expressed reluctance to allow prisoners access to outside communities, I tried to contribute through writing. I received sponsorships from Golden State Lumber, a business that funded the production of Gangsters and Thugs: Consequences That Hustlers Pay, and with Carole’s help, we distributed thousands of copies to centers for at-risk youth.
As a long-term prisoner, I feel a sense of responsibility to share what I’ve learned as a consequence of my lengthy imprisonment. All of my work and activities represent my quest to earn freedom and I’m grateful that my literary agent, Jim Schiavone, has presented my manuscript to St. Martin’s Press for publishing consideration. I want to share this story of my long journey through prison with readers.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
PDF 
