Start: Introductions of the people:

  • We discussed our names, where we are from, and our favorite thing to do on a Sunny day.
    • Ex: Name, location, and favorite thing to do on a Sunny day.
    • Kelvin, from Richmond, loves to go to the playground and play basketball, watch basketball.
    • A lot of us like going on walks. As well as bikes.
    • A few of us love reading outside as well. 
  • Professor Dolson explained the project that we’re working on later in the Spring.
  • Terrence is wondering about why we’re here, how we’re going to go about this– and why it matters.
  • We’re learning from their stories and ultimately going to learn to share stories. Asking Terrence, Dave’s and Kevin’s advice about the process.
    • We’re going to eventually start learning about Richmond’s Unhealed History. 
    • Immersing ourselves in the local and real stories of people who are a part of t he community.
    • With this in mind, Terrence says to not minimize what we hear from the story. It’s not fictional, or fairy tales, it is the real experiences that people have gone through. 
  • Original Goal: Take a bunch of stories and staple them together to distribute, akin to a simple Magazine.
    • Became more complex over time. It is a serious matter to learn someones life story, Dave’s initial idea was insufficient for the intensity of what the class wanted to share about their lives. 
  • What were Kelvin and Terrence’s Goals?
    • Terrence: Identify with Self. – Simple. He’s been married, divorced, homeless, been to college and the military– and now is incarcerated. What does he do to move forward? Kelvin came to him and explained the project, and Terrence (being a former law student), was supposed to be on the other side of this. 
      • He was a nerd. No guidance. And experimented, and on his own trying to find his way, he went to the project to find an element “What do you do now?” 
      • Getting the thought process elevates and accelerates the process of how to handle Dave’s questions and project. 
      • Terrence could’ve written a lot more, and extraordinarily. Could’ve shared so much more. However, his experience wasn’t something to glorify but to help him heal and move forward.
      • Answered questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? What are my goals? How did I get to where I am?
      • To be vulnerable enough to share that openly with others, beyond just stapling together– but something to reach someone, even just one person. 
    • Kelvin: Original goal was to tell the truth and give back to others. The truth is relatable. 
      • Originally when they talked about the process, Kelvin wanted to write the truth so people can relate to it. Some people’s truths are different from others and we can all relate to adversity. 
      • Choose the right facts or components of truth in order to share. 
  • Get in touch with a “version” of yourself. Terrence was struggling with himself, and that caused him to make decisions that were not as kind to himself as he would treat others. 
    • Elements of regret. “I don’t wanna do that” “Why did I do that” 
    • He hopes that others like us won’t have to have that experience. Hopes to be a voice or sound box to warn others from following down the track and prevent them from making self-destructive decisions.
  • Prison Literature: Now a larger-scaled 75 student lecture that has become a focal point for many different interests.
    • NOt just about Prison but about the things that lead up to prison.
    • Some literature include materials like Malcom X and other people who wrote FROM prison. 
    • Takes into account Jim Crow, the history of Slavery, Martin Luther King’s letter from jail. Historical lenses. 
    • Evolved to go beyond Prison but the conditions that lead to Prison. People who struggle with addiction, discrimination, exclusion and other similar factors. People with mental health issues. 
      • Why have we neglected so many? In the system; those who struggle and are neglected by the system. Look beyond just “oh crimes were committed” – look at the bigger picture, what brought them to where they were?
    • Has expanded into a program even after Dave’s story. A legacy. Involved into what happens AFTER everything. Stories still continue.
  • Their ideal situations are different from other ideal situations. Terrence was an adult when his “enterprises” began. 
    • Terrence was very content with his childhood.
  • Do they think that social services, whether younger or older– might’ve changed the direction of their lives? Did social services lack in that regard or would it have made a difference?
    • Product of Environment – Can’t say whether it lacked thereof or was a problem for him (Kelvin) – but that he didn’t do what he was told to do. 
      • “I was a damn asshole, I was stupid. My mom didn’t have it the best, but she let me know what was on the other side.” (Kelvin)
      • “You’re looking at a different age and time in history. (We’re talking 60s) – Almost 40-60 years ago. Huge difference. Coming through a history of intolerance and you have nothing – here comes civil rights in America – (not globally) and go to try to get a job– the civil right is then trampled upon.”
        • “How are you gonna feed these kids so they can have a future?” (To Terrence’s Mom) – Government comes up with a program: Social Services. Do as the Puritans did, go in “there” and “assess”
      • Doesn’t take away from the life of the person in that situation. Doesn’t make it any less than living in Cape Cod or other situations. – Feeding children so they can have a future. 
      • World is more inclusive now as it “has to be” – If the world wasn’t forced to change would it be different? 
    • Book Recommendation: The Careless Society (John Mcknight) – John was one of the architects for the social services they talked about. One of the issues with a government-program to alleviate poverty, you end up creating consumers of the service. Doesn’t fill the need of the community. 
      • Power of Community is underutilized: We don’t look at the assets of individuals or achievements of individuals to say the only way yo get out of it is for an agency to get out of it is only at BEST ½ right. 
      • What obligation or capacity does the state have to offer a service that can help a state encourage people to avoid crime, poverty, etc.? 
  • What forms of “writing” manifest – in terms of the present…
    • (Insert laughter from Terrence and Kelvin)
    • Kelvin is behind in his writing, he is occupied with life but Dave’s been telling him to write. It’s been a while. When he finishes writing, he knows what he writes will help him move forward.
      • Right now it’s like “looking at a wall”
      • Really easy writing when he was in prison because he had nothing to do EXCEPT right. He’s trying to get back into it. 
      • Stan did it to regurgitate his past.
      • Kevin did it to reflect on his past.
    • Terrence says that Dave’s project is a continuous flow. To share their stories with us, is more than just being an example. 
      • All have different stories but all ended up at the same place. 
    • More varieties of kids in the detention center… Has a more rehabilitation approach. However, the current correctional has not let volunteers in to work since before COVID. 
  • Habilitation: 
    • What does it mean? 
    • What does the word mean? How can you habilitate or repeat what hasn’t been established in the first place?
  • Stanley: The Preacher
    • He was already interacting and ingrained in an element of “faith” when the story and process began, it just deepened through the process.
    • “I can get through this whole thing with just this…” (Holds up the Bible)