Contributor's Notes

Rick Branson: I have always enjoyed reading nonfiction and learning
new words to expand my vocabulary. I truly believe education is not only the key to freedom, but it makes the world a more civil place. I hope to be published some day.

Kenneth R. Brydon: The poem says it all.

Randall Countryman is an amateur artist with no formal art training. He drew his first portrait in the autumn of 2001, at the age of 31. Mr. Countryman prefers to draw in pencil because it gives a sense of
nostalgia and an antique quality to his artwork. He has drawn portraits
and landscape scenes for clients all over the world, including Europe,
China, and the United States.

Michael Endres: I am sharing my story in hopes of helping to
encourage other dads, moms, daughters, and sons to never give up.
Thank you, Sammi, I love you and I am very proud of you. Thank you,
JESUS CHRIST, my LORD and SAVIOR.

Felix Fausto Perez was transferred to an out of state prison during
CDCR’S recent efforts to relieve overcrowding in California prisons.

Michael Fell left San Quentin in 2008.

Henry Edward Frank: I began artistic expression at a young age and
my latest genre is block printing. I, along with other block printers, such as Felix Lucero, have had our prints accepted in the Library of Congress Collection. I love animals and I believe it shows through my art.

Richard Gilliam: I am an aspiring writer, a social commentator,
and an advocate for prison reform. I believe that to change the cycle of incarceration, release, and recidivism takes education at all levels. We need to educate the offender while s/he is in prison, so s/he can obtain meaningful, self-sustaining employment upon release, and we need to educate the warders of incarcerated men and women to motivate, encourage, and assist those in their charge. “Poison in, Poison out” is a lament to the culture of contempt and subjugation that exists in our prisons today. To read more of Richard’s work, look for Brothers in Pen, an anthology of stories produced by the creative writing group at San Quentin prison.

James Hall : I am a 42-year-old incarcerated person who enjoys sports; likes reading periodicals (i.e. surfer magazine, Dirt Rider); has received vocational trades while imprisoned (plumbing and machine shop); and is currently striving to attain an AA degree at Patten University. I wrote my story to enlighten about how CDCR'S policy will adversely affect prisoners.

Bhai Harris: The picture and the poem express my time here. I believe there is a reason for everything, for every step we take, for all the lessons learned. I’ve learned a lot at my stay here, about myself, about the world, and of course about birds.

Edmund Johnson (Taleb): Even though I would like to explain why
I wrote “Stubborn Eyes of Mine,” I will not because it would take a
great deal of time and many pages to do so.

My name is Marvin Mitchell (Marv Mitch). I was born in Sacramento,
California. My hobbies include football, working out, poetry and hip hop. I wrote this essay because I wanted to show people how powerful words are and the effect they have when they are being used against us.

John O. Neblett: “Who I aspired of all things to know/ Sister of the
mirage and echo…” These lines from the Robert Graves poem “White
Goddess” describe how I have pursued this art after being inspired
by reading John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost. Some would say these
are mutually exclusive sources of inspiration, but I never was much
of a Catholic in spite of being raised as such. What “Iron John” and
“Narcissus” have in common is my attempt to communicate personal
truths as universal truths in forms that maximize their impact, pleasing to the mind as well as to the ear. Gracias.

Erin O’Connor: I am a dad, an artist, a writer, and a fan of all genres
of music. I am currently enrolled in Patten University’s AA program.

Kevin O’Donnell: I began my career as an artist some 12 years ago,
shortly after receiving my life sentence. My celly at Calipatria, who was also an artist, told me that I’d better find something to do with my time or my time would do me! The drawing included in this edition of OpenLine is the result of years of dedication and hard work.

Bill Roberts: I was an English teacher in Japan for 18 years, but I’m
glad I have the opportunity here to study math. It’s opened the door to
a whole new world for me. Other hobbies include skiing, windsurfing
and sailing. I also play the bass in the Catholic choir.

Gary L. Scott: I dedicate this letter to all the youths who are faced
with difficult challenges in finding direction and vision. Mistakes will
happen. How you rebound from them determines your inner strength.
Love God and others!

Kamal Sefeldeen: A native Alexandrian of U.A.R. politically cultured
as a Nasserist, attended the Institut d’étude politique at Université d’Algerie. With a BA in Business from UA, School of Commerce, commissioned as an editor for UA’s newspaper, The Dialogue “Al-Hewar,” then freelanced for the oldest Egyptian magazine, Rosa-El-Yuosseff, and other periodicals. After Camp David treaty, he attended the transitional economy seminar endowed by Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the CDU at Bonn, Germany. In the US, he acquired an Associate of Science in computer and worked as a programmer analyst for an environmental engineering firm. He is a contributing writer to sq News. “A Glimpse into a Wondering Warrior” is an excerpt from the original profile story about Abraham Glasper.

Harrison Misioka Seuga: Fu’tiga, Samoa. To love. To life itself. To
Sara’s distance and nearness. Nature’s living canvas…

Anthony Smith: I come from the cold streets of the South Side of
Chicago; I’ve run the streets there and various parts of California. Coming to prison helped me wake up and make necessary changes in my life. Attending Patten College taught me new things and refined my acquired knowledge. I dedicate this publication to my daughter, Kamorie, to show her the importance of receiving an education and it’s also dedicated to those who told me I would never be anything of significance in my life. I earned my high school and paralegal diplomas, and am working on a college degree now.

Charlie Spence: I am currently 28 years old and serving a 26 year
to life sentence. Recently I have had the opportunity, through Patten
University at San Quentin, to start earning an education. This essay is
a byproduct of the beginning stages of that tutoring. I plan on one day
obtaining a BS degree in Sociology and Criminology. My education is not just about a higher learning for me; it is also about the deeper and more profound quest to unlock an educated, experienced, and articulate voice for thousands and possibly millions of undeveloped youth who have and will receive life sentences throughout the United States.

Frank Valdivia: I lost everything I had and everyone I love when I
came to prison. But the person I was didn’t deserve any of it. There are people outside these walls that love you or that you love. They deserve the best so be your best. I’m finally doing my best and my daughters Kayla and Alicia deserve it.

Allen O. Webb: I wrote the sonnet because I believe we all are faced with barriers we feel we can’t overcome. Either we don’t like the situation, or we feel we just don’t measure up. But if we trust and believe in ourselves, what was a brick barrier becomes a path to enrichment.