Update:
Sorry that this is a bit overdue. There were some issues I was waiting on to finalize so I could include them in this newsletter. This one is full of good news!
I just had my final birthday behind bars last Tuesday. It was significant for a couple of reasons. Obviously, being the last one is a pretty big deal. But also, the Governor signed the piece of legislation referenced in the last newsletter on Tuesday. Senate Bill 5219 is officially law and that means I am eligible for work release this November! Still a few hurdles to navigate but pretty amazing to be talking about months.
Also on Tuesday an article Tomas and I wrote was published in the Appeal. It is called, The Making of a Misanthrope: How Jerry became a world-class prick.
And finally, in the last two newsletters I discussed our proposal to create a statewide solution to onsite organic waste management and that we had presented the idea and asked for funding. Well this week we were notified that the funding for much of the infrastructure was approved! This means we are getting the equipment to process all of the excess wood and cardboard that is currently being sent to landfills (about $200k worth of machines). We didn't get everything we had asked for but getting to virtually 100% organic waste processed onsite is a very big deal and I am certain we are the only prison in Washington that will be able to say that. The equipment is already on the way so we may get the chance to install it and set up systems this summer. All-in-all a pretty good birthday. Oh, and Juan made me his famous crunchy tacos, so there's that too.
KEY POINTS
Point of Perserverance:
Last newsletter we talked about Tomas leaving and now Juan is heading east as well. He has a couple of requirements for release that he cannot get here. Suffice it to say, our journeys for these last few laps will be a bit lonelier.
Point of Practice:
Our giant pumpkins are in the ground and I am busy making vermicompost tea and treating them like newborn babies.
Point of Peace:
To be honest, I'm struggling with anxiety as I have a new set of obstacles to maneuver around DOC. But I find peace in knowing I have a community waiting that loves and supports me.
THE PLANET
We had our graduation for the third class of Foundations in Composting this month. Juan and I had to teach the class without our third musketeer Tomas, but it was still a great time. On the final week the students presented their culminating project which is an environmental idea based on the materials in the course. It is my favorite part. I am always amazed at the incredible ideas that are developed and it is a great reminder of the vast unharnessed resources inside of prisons to accomplish environmental work. (Sounds like the EARN mission statement.)
I am super excited to take everything I've learned over the past ten years about this amazing little bug and create something on a grand scale!
BIG IDEA
During the Foundations in Composting class, Sally Brown brought in the head of King County Solid Waste Division who shared with us the amazing work they do and how the science the students have been studying plays a key role in making sure the residents of King County have clean water. She also discussed the career programs they have. It was a great day and she and Sally were able to come down to the outside recycle where Juan and I work.
One thing she said that really struck me is that they are always looking for outside the box thinkers. I have heard that same statement from so many people involved in environmental work. As I've said so many times, the vision of EARN is to create a safe landing spot for people coming out of long-term incarceration as they prepare for careers in the environmental world. I think it would be amazing if EARN could be a conduit between people in prison and different agencies. My outside the box idea is to create jobs and training programs inside prisons that could give incarcerated people a head start vocationally and financially so they could land at an EARN site and hit the ground running.
As I am learning, the current model is to wait until you get to a work release facility and start looking for a low level job. There isn't anything that prepares people for a career. But imagine if someone were working at an environmentally positive job while incarcerated, earning minimum wage or better and getting the training and certifications to quickly advance upon release. If they then transferred to an EARN site where they were in a therapeutic supportive community and able to secure long-term affordable housing and be part of a network, how much better would their life be?
FINAL THOUGHTS...
So much of incarceration is focused on just stopping the pain of oppression, but just getting out isn't enough. We need a pathway to thriving and living a life of happiness. I am more than excited to get out and start the work of blazing that pathway. Thanks for being on the team!