26 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY January 19-25, 2023 www.montereycountyweekly.com McDrew’s first exposure to the prison system was in San Quentin State Prison circa 2013. “There was a big focus on rehabilitation in San Quentin,” she says. Because it really does matter who is in charge of the facility, she says, praising Luis Martinez, the CTF warden since 2021. Wardens’ efforts in providing their inmates with higher education was what got McDrew—a sociology professor at Hartnell College and UC Santa Cruz, who lives in Monterey—into the prison system in the first place. Before the first session of Exercises in Empathy starts, the civilians are welcomed by a team who runs CTF, and Martinez talks with pride about “replacing the culture of violence” by treating inmates like human beings. Because of the access to higher education, prisoners are being “sent home with a skill set,” he says. McDrew first started in CTF in 2016, offering one sociology class per semester via Hartnell, as a volunteer. Inside, she developed relationships and rapport not only with the guards, but also with other volunteers from the outside world, among them Jim Micheletti and Mia Mirassou from Palma School, a Catholic boys school in Salinas. Their program was the precursor of EinE. Micheletti came up with the name. “Most of the groups in the prison system are limited to prisoners themselves and whoever facilitates the program,” McDrew says. But EinE, originally offered as a literature class where Micheletti would read everything from Steinbeck to Shakespeare with the inmates, would additionally bring in some high school students from Palma to join. McDrew suggested bringing college students too. They led one cohort together, but soon both Micheletti and Mirassou parted ways with the school. (“Palma is still active in the institution,” writes CTF spokesperson Wilbert Landrum. Representatives of the school visited the prison on Jan. 11 to discuss resuming their program in Facility C.) “I didn’t want the program to get disintegrated,” McDrew says. “I saw real-life benefits in it.” She revamped it, extended the original title to incorporate the “Transformative Justice Initiative” component, and applied for (and received) a California Reentry and Enrichment (CARE) grant from California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. That enabled her to offer the program, supported by a research intern and two facilitators, Smith and Aceves. The performance night surprises all. First, it comes too soon. Second, it is exactly like McDrew says. It’s showtime and everybody is nervous again, but also pretty excited, like before a class performance. There are poems and really good songs, both a capella and with a guitar. There are also dream catchers and other handmade art prepared by the inmates. Kevin talks about how he spoke on the phone with his wife after the first EinE session and told her: “They came. Those people really showed up.” Many thanks for “making me feel human” and for “walking in my shoes” are being given. Kevin prepared a rap song on empathy in action and praises God; another inmate reads a poem that he wrote to his dead daughter. Sergio Zarazua is performing as well. He shares a story he heard on the radio about a fancy lady who picks up a homeless old man and takes him for lunch. She turns out to be the CEO of a bank, whom he once helped when she herself was in a desperate situation, years earlier. As with each story, he is brimming with hope, but he has every right to be hopeful—Zarazua will be out in three years. By now even the prosecutor who led the case against him is curious and well-wishing for his upcoming future. They are in touch by mail. McDrew is not surprised by the quality of the performances, she understands the potential—artistic, intellectual and societal that is locked up behind those bars. “I believe in neuroplasticity,” she says. She believes that developing empathy is the best use of human imagination; she sees it as a skill to interrupt the pipeline of mass misery with mass incarceration. When reflecting on Exercises in Empathy, McDrew looks around and counts the inmate participants: “There are 80 lessons in empathy here, 80 teachers,’’ she says. “Being in prison teaches you to love yourself. And if you don’t love yourself, you are not living.” No grades. No exams. Just the pure joy of learning. Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State Monterey Bay brings the joy and stimulation of lifelong learning to adults age 50 and o are interested in university-level education without exams or grades. At OLLI, members explore subjects that embrace ence, the arts, current events, and more, through interaction with outstanding faculty and vibrant minds. Join us today! 82.5500 or visit CSUMB.EDU/olli No grades. No exams. Just the pure joy of learning. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Cal State Monterey Bay brings the joy and stimulation of lifelong learning to adults age 50 and better who are interested in university-level education without exams or grades. At OLLI, members explore subjects that embrace history, science, the arts, current events, and more, through interaction with outstanding faculty and vibrant minds. Join us today! Call 831.582.5500 or visit CSUMB.EDU/olli No grades. No exams. Just the pure joy of learning. For more info or to view an online catalog: visit csumb.edu/OLLI The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at California State University, Monterey Bay is a dynamic learning community for adults age 50 and better. OLLI opens up a world of discovery with fresh, curated courses taught by CSUMB faculty and distinguished experts in their fields. Spring Registration Opens January 19 Prevention, Education, Treatment & Recovery serving youth, adults and families in Monterey County Studies have found that in and near neighborhoods where there is a high density of outlets that sell alcohol and tobacco, there is a higher rate of underage use and violence. Support youth prevention services www.SunStreetCenters.org
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