San Francisco, what can I say about you? You have been amazing to each and everyone of us. I was worried about the weather today. However, our last day couldn't be better. While it was cloudy and windy, there wasn't rain for once. We started the day by dressing to impress by wearing our lovely purple ASB shirts. Then we went to make our lunches and eat breakfast before our adventures. Thankfully our last day was packed some fun-filled activities.
Our first trip was to take pictures at the Federal Courthouse a few blocks away from our hostel. It was the same courthouse that we went to for the Barry Bonds case. After we took our pictures, we walked around on the way back to the van. Between all seven of us, we have taken a LOT of pictures. We definitely documented this trip well so be on the lookout for pictures.
After our fun walking tour, we went for a ride to the Golden Gate Bridge (a.k.a. GGB). We stopped at a metered parking lot to take some more pictures. If you have never had the opportunity to come to San Fran, you need to get here! The GGB was gorgeous! The San Fran residents are so lucky to have such beautiful city. The group walked all around the area to get a vast amount of pictures of the bridge, the skyline, water, etc. Again, the view was just amazing! We spent about 45 minutes taking pictures and enjoying the views.
Since we couldn't go to San Quentin State Penitentiary, we collectively decided to venture to the prison. Of course, we were those typical tourists that pulled off the road to take pictures. But this time it was by the prison sign. Some guards were looking at us like crazy people because honestly, who really takes pictures of a smiling group under the prison sign?! Well these kids do!!! Anyway, we drove to the prison and took pictures again just in case you haven't noticed a trend.
Our next adventure was to Sausalito. After parking we walked around the small city. For some reason we ventured to a library, but on the way Kang wanted to get a leaning picture. However, it didn't quite work out because his first attempt landed him on the street. Don't worry though, he's quite alright! After he got his picture with the help of Christine, we walked around the library and a playground. We stopped to play on the slides and swings like true kids. We then walked the streets and ventured into a cute little food shop that seemed to be family owned. Some of us got some food and we all sat out in their backyard to enjoy our lunch. Kang's future job should be as a food critic, just sayin!
We had to get to Pier 33 by 3:55 p.m. to catch the boat to Alcatraz. The boat ride to Alcatraz was kind of scary at first, but the view of the entire Bay area was once again, amazing! When we first got onto the island we walked up a steep hill to get to the audio tour area. We walked through cell blocks listening to the audio and learned many interesting things about Alcatraz. It's another place everyone should visit if they haven't done so yet. While I would've hated being a prisoner there, I would hate it more because of the view they had. The Bay area was visible from many areas around the island which would leave any person depressed about not being able to enjoy it outside the walls.
Once the tour was over, we ventured back to San Fran in search of an In-and-Out, a burger joint I wasn't really familiar with. We succeeded in finding the place and ate our last dinner there. The last adventure of the night was around the Pier area checking out some shops. We actually got to our friend who scared us by hiding behind branches in the beginning of the week. Thankfully we were on the other side of the street watching him scare others. Pretty entertaining!
It was getting pretty late so we came back to the hostel for reflection. For our final reflection, we completed the "Touch Someone Who." It was an activity where statements are made by the facilitator and certain people are to touch those in the group who represent that statement. I enjoyed this activity by far. It made me think of why we were here in San Fran and how it was important to appreciate everything about this experience. As I'm writing this blog I can only think of how much fun I have had here in California. As my first trip here I didn't think it would be quite like this, but it's better than I could've imagined. I'm watching the group play Uno and I can only think about how we are like a small family. They came here open to anything and we are leaving here with more knowledge. Not only is this trip about our issue of the Justice System, but also about each other. We have learned so much about each other and I know they will succeed in everything they do in the future. They are all amazing people and I hope we all keep in touch.
-Megan Adkins
Friday, March 25, 2011
Banging For A Change
Disparity. Difference. Diversity. Disproportionate. The themes of the week.
As a society we claim to celebrate diversity because differences amongst our population are allegedly welcomed. Difference in the form of a disparity, however, is questioned more than applauded, especially when the disparity leads to a disproportionate impact on different groups. All week we have considered that Blacks and Hispanics are incarcerated at a higher rate than Whites, that a higher percentage of men than women can be found in jails and prisons, and a higher percentage of poorer individuals than wealthier individuals end up in handcuffs. We know that any person is capable of committing crime; however, what we see in prison most often are poor, Black and Hispanic men.
This week as we visited the Barry Bonds trial twice, we enjoyed the beauty and glory of the federal courthouse. We were awed by the technology in the courtroom and the formality of the entire process. However, just fifteen minutes away from the obvious financial investment by our government, today we traveled to United Playaz Clubhouse. Nestled in a neighborhood where crime is common and poverty is palatable, this non-profit organization was established in 1994 by Rudy, the executive director. He learned first-hand the challenges of reentering society after any length of confinement to find employment, rejoin family and continue one's education. We met with some of the staff members today and in a panel led by Vernell, we talked about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Our conversation ultimately focused on the impact and importance of education on preventing involvement in criminal activity. We talked about how former prisoners seek redemption as society seemingly discourages the ultimate possibility of rehabilitation. After our talk, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of local Chinese fare and then received a tour of the Clubhouse where everyday elementary, middle and high school students go to complete homework and hang out.
After saying our goodbyes to the United Playaz and Vernell, we headed to Lombard Street, one of the most crookedest streets in America. Scary! Not only is the zig-zag street on a steep hill, but we traveled down this road in our trusty Dodge minivan in the rain. OMG! Luckily, we survived this venture, headed to Safeway for a few groceries and then back to the hostel.
Our chefs of the night, Megan, Kramer and Kang prepared a delicious spaghetti dinner. After chowing down, we went back to the room to work on our "True Colors" reflection. This exercise forced us to identify characteristics unique to our personalities. We talked honestly about how these traits can benefit others but also inhibit relationships. We all agreed that such self-reflection is critical in our continued examination of the criminal justice system.
Tomorrow...Alcatraz!
~Christine
As a society we claim to celebrate diversity because differences amongst our population are allegedly welcomed. Difference in the form of a disparity, however, is questioned more than applauded, especially when the disparity leads to a disproportionate impact on different groups. All week we have considered that Blacks and Hispanics are incarcerated at a higher rate than Whites, that a higher percentage of men than women can be found in jails and prisons, and a higher percentage of poorer individuals than wealthier individuals end up in handcuffs. We know that any person is capable of committing crime; however, what we see in prison most often are poor, Black and Hispanic men.
This week as we visited the Barry Bonds trial twice, we enjoyed the beauty and glory of the federal courthouse. We were awed by the technology in the courtroom and the formality of the entire process. However, just fifteen minutes away from the obvious financial investment by our government, today we traveled to United Playaz Clubhouse. Nestled in a neighborhood where crime is common and poverty is palatable, this non-profit organization was established in 1994 by Rudy, the executive director. He learned first-hand the challenges of reentering society after any length of confinement to find employment, rejoin family and continue one's education. We met with some of the staff members today and in a panel led by Vernell, we talked about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Our conversation ultimately focused on the impact and importance of education on preventing involvement in criminal activity. We talked about how former prisoners seek redemption as society seemingly discourages the ultimate possibility of rehabilitation. After our talk, we enjoyed a delicious lunch of local Chinese fare and then received a tour of the Clubhouse where everyday elementary, middle and high school students go to complete homework and hang out.
After saying our goodbyes to the United Playaz and Vernell, we headed to Lombard Street, one of the most crookedest streets in America. Scary! Not only is the zig-zag street on a steep hill, but we traveled down this road in our trusty Dodge minivan in the rain. OMG! Luckily, we survived this venture, headed to Safeway for a few groceries and then back to the hostel.
Our chefs of the night, Megan, Kramer and Kang prepared a delicious spaghetti dinner. After chowing down, we went back to the room to work on our "True Colors" reflection. This exercise forced us to identify characteristics unique to our personalities. We talked honestly about how these traits can benefit others but also inhibit relationships. We all agreed that such self-reflection is critical in our continued examination of the criminal justice system.
Tomorrow...Alcatraz!
~Christine
Thursday, March 24, 2011
LCR
Today began rainy as we trekked to Starbucks on our way to the second day of Barry Bonds' trial. The prosecutor called its second witness and introduced new evidence in the case. However, most of our concentration was focused on reading the Twitter posts of someone from the media in front of us. This guy was constantly tweeting updates from the case, which amused us as Kramer proceeded to follow his tweets of the case throughout the rest of the day.
At noon we headed back to our hostel to fix lunch and prepare for the afternoon with Kayte. Kayte lives in East Oakland in a very diverse community which experiences frequent violent crime, including weekly gunshots. This area is located along International Boulevard and has a high proportion of immigrants, especially from Mexico and Guatemala. Kayte is serving a two year internship-building relationships with her neighbors, leading bible studies and workshops, among other projects. At her house she showed us a short video that depicts the struggle and fight of the tenants of the Oak Park Apartments located right across the street as they sued the slumlord they lived under for legal living conditions, repairs, etc. The tenants won the case and were granted one million dollars to split among the tenants. Many used this money for the medical bills and health problems begun and worsened by the unimaginable living conditions they suffered. Many of the community activists who assisted the tenants with the furtherance of this case remain in the community just a couple houses away and are very involved and committed to seeing it prosper. We took a short walking tour of the neighborhood, admiring the fruit trees and street taco vendors. Kang vowed to eat a taco before leaving the neighborhood so we stopped at the best taco truck in the neighborhood for a few tacos.
After snacking on a few tacos which set Brookes and Kang's mouth on fire, as they consumed not only the tacos but jalapeño peppers, radishes, and lemons; we drove to downtown Oakland where Lake Merritt was located. As we walked around the lake we admired the beauty and serenity amid a bustling downtown city center. To my dismay, the Children's Fairyland was closed due to inclement weather, however we found sanctuary in a Banzai Garden as rain again tried to dampen our day. We next came across a Bird Sanctuary where many species of birds were gathered, resting, and feeding. We realized that we were only about a third done of the 3.3 mile trail loop around the lake back to our car. This encouraged us to book it back to the car to arrive in time for our dinner arrangements.
Per usual, we arrived early to dinner. We played a couple games of LCR (Left-Center-Right) in the car which is likely the most fun, simple, and travel-friendly game available. Our dinner reservation was located at the Warehouse, a sports bar and restaurant in downtown Oakland, popular among police officers and lawyers. Eric Swalwell, an Alameda County Deputy District Attorney and University of Maryland alumnus arranged the dinner for us and many of his coworkers. We enjoyed a delightful dinner and were able to talk with experienced prosecutors about their jobs and its importance in the criminal justice system.
Finally, we enjoyed a special treat. Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry ice cream was in abundance and consumed rapidly. As I conclude after writing for the past two hours, I look forward to sleep.
-Brookes
At noon we headed back to our hostel to fix lunch and prepare for the afternoon with Kayte. Kayte lives in East Oakland in a very diverse community which experiences frequent violent crime, including weekly gunshots. This area is located along International Boulevard and has a high proportion of immigrants, especially from Mexico and Guatemala. Kayte is serving a two year internship-building relationships with her neighbors, leading bible studies and workshops, among other projects. At her house she showed us a short video that depicts the struggle and fight of the tenants of the Oak Park Apartments located right across the street as they sued the slumlord they lived under for legal living conditions, repairs, etc. The tenants won the case and were granted one million dollars to split among the tenants. Many used this money for the medical bills and health problems begun and worsened by the unimaginable living conditions they suffered. Many of the community activists who assisted the tenants with the furtherance of this case remain in the community just a couple houses away and are very involved and committed to seeing it prosper. We took a short walking tour of the neighborhood, admiring the fruit trees and street taco vendors. Kang vowed to eat a taco before leaving the neighborhood so we stopped at the best taco truck in the neighborhood for a few tacos.
Per usual, we arrived early to dinner. We played a couple games of LCR (Left-Center-Right) in the car which is likely the most fun, simple, and travel-friendly game available. Our dinner reservation was located at the Warehouse, a sports bar and restaurant in downtown Oakland, popular among police officers and lawyers. Eric Swalwell, an Alameda County Deputy District Attorney and University of Maryland alumnus arranged the dinner for us and many of his coworkers. We enjoyed a delightful dinner and were able to talk with experienced prosecutors about their jobs and its importance in the criminal justice system.
Finally, we enjoyed a special treat. Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry ice cream was in abundance and consumed rapidly. As I conclude after writing for the past two hours, I look forward to sleep.
-Brookes
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Who is Barry Bonds?
I woke up today to my special roommate. His random and inconsistent snoring was the bane of my sleep since last Sunday ( T_T ). Sleep deprived, I was grumpy all day. However, like previous days, we still had an amazing time.
After a sweet breakfast of cinnamon toast crunch, we decided to go to the Barry Bond's court case. Since I did not know him, my trip mates constantly made fun of me today. Apparently, he is a famous baseball player. (lol) The trial came from the Balco case in 2003-2004. IRS investigator Jeff N. found that Balco was distributing PEDs (performance enhancement drugs) and laundering dirty drug money. They asked Barry Bond to testify against them. To the best of my knowledge, the government is charging Barry Bond with perjury for the Balco case because he testified that he did not use anabolic steroids. While TERRIBLY interesting, I fell asleep during the opening statements by the counsels. I was so out of it that my mouth was "all open." Apparently, I did not respond to quite a few pokes (the butt of today's jokes).
After all that fun...., we visit an innovating program called McCullun Youth Court. In Oakland, California, Juvie Hall support a program where previous young lawbreakers can serve as jurors, attorneys, and other court positions. Instead of gaining a debilitating record for life, the youths are offered a second chance at making the right choice. After sitting through some of their court cases, I truly believe this program has tremendous potential.
So some random events today:
Kramer did not learn a new skill today.
Kang was extra condescending.
Brookes kept on singing relevant songs.
Megan really want to touch somebody's hair.
Connie made some awesome eggs.
Christine is pooped (tired!!).
Kristen pulled a Kang today.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Awkward
This morning started off great! We all took a group trip to Starbucks like we did yesterday. It gave us some much needed caffeine for the day, especially since Ray from down the hall ate our shredded cheese during a late night binge and our breakfasts weren't as substantial as we would have liked.
Today was our first day in San Francisco as ASB students, and not just as tourists. We drove to Oakland and met with Vernell Critendon, our trip contact and Tony Crear who is the program services coordinator for the County of Alameda. Tony and Vernell were able to bring some insight into some of the causes of juvenile delinquents and how the county of Alameda is trying to prevent juveniles from returning to juvenile hall. Unfortunately, due to limited funds, the juvenile the probation department doesn't take preventative actions, but try to help juveniles after they have committed an offense. The time flew by and ended with a heated debate between Kang and Kristen about the legalization of marijuana.
We realized that the University of California, Berkley, was close by, and as college students, we were excited to visit another college campus. Here, we took tons of pictures and even decided to climb "The Hill" which had mixed reviews by the group. It was a strenuous hike up to the summit, but the view of the bottom of Berkley and the Bay was amazing. We weren't looking forward to the hike down so we paid a dollar to take the bus back down the hill and saved us about 40 minutes of walking.
Our reflection tonight was based on our meeting with Tony and Vernell and went over some of our thoughts about what we learned today. Overall, it was an exciting start to our week in San Francisco and a good sign of what else we can look forward to learning this week.
Today was our first day in San Francisco as ASB students, and not just as tourists. We drove to Oakland and met with Vernell Critendon, our trip contact and Tony Crear who is the program services coordinator for the County of Alameda. Tony and Vernell were able to bring some insight into some of the causes of juvenile delinquents and how the county of Alameda is trying to prevent juveniles from returning to juvenile hall. Unfortunately, due to limited funds, the juvenile the probation department doesn't take preventative actions, but try to help juveniles after they have committed an offense. The time flew by and ended with a heated debate between Kang and Kristen about the legalization of marijuana.
We realized that the University of California, Berkley, was close by, and as college students, we were excited to visit another college campus. Here, we took tons of pictures and even decided to climb "The Hill" which had mixed reviews by the group. It was a strenuous hike up to the summit, but the view of the bottom of Berkley and the Bay was amazing. We weren't looking forward to the hike down so we paid a dollar to take the bus back down the hill and saved us about 40 minutes of walking.
Our reflection tonight was based on our meeting with Tony and Vernell and went over some of our thoughts about what we learned today. Overall, it was an exciting start to our week in San Francisco and a good sign of what else we can look forward to learning this week.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
San Francisco: Day 2
We were very much tourists for the day today. After our breakfast and preparations for the day, we headed over to Fisherman's Wharf. While the forecast called for rain, it was surprisingly nice out, which was perfect for the amount of walking we did. We walked around Pier 39 for a while, admiring the steep hills and the great view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. There were plenty of opportunities for photos around the area, especially when we stopped to admire the sea lions, who were basking in the sun. The main source of excitement was right after we crossed the street, and were terrified by a man hiding behind a branch of leaves. After Fisherman's Wharf, we drove closer to the Golden Gate Bridge and sat by the Bay for a while, watching many dogs play in the sand. Later we headed to Chinatown and walked up and down the hills, stopping in some shops to see some very interesting and peculiar items--including many cooked animals in the windows. Kang stopped in a couple of stores and got supposedly the best strawberries ever. After a day full of walking, we drove back to the hostel.
As everyone relaxed in the rooms, Kristen and I made a delicious pasta dinner, and I narrowly avoided disaster in the process. Regardless, the end result was successful. Afterwards in our reflection, we delved into the topic of our trip: criminal justice. We discussed who we thought was affected by the criminal justice system, and the impact of the racial disparity of the criminal justice system on families and communities. Other than some iffy works of art, we shared many opinions on the subject and learned some interesting statistics. This was good preparation for the rest of the week, when we'll go even deeper into subject, continuing to share and learn.
-David Kramer
As everyone relaxed in the rooms, Kristen and I made a delicious pasta dinner, and I narrowly avoided disaster in the process. Regardless, the end result was successful. Afterwards in our reflection, we delved into the topic of our trip: criminal justice. We discussed who we thought was affected by the criminal justice system, and the impact of the racial disparity of the criminal justice system on families and communities. Other than some iffy works of art, we shared many opinions on the subject and learned some interesting statistics. This was good preparation for the rest of the week, when we'll go even deeper into subject, continuing to share and learn.
-David Kramer
Saturday, March 19, 2011
First Day in San Francisco
Today it was raining and cold in San Francisco which was not very exciting at all, however, we managed to entertain ourselves. We are staying in a hostel which isn't too bad except the sheets were kinda icky so we went on an adventure to Costco... we ended up buying extremely soft sheets in green and blue which now cover four out of the seven of our beds. Awesomely soft sheets. In addition, we had to go to Safeway to stock up (for a supposed storm that we didn't know about) where we accidentally ran into the Golden Gate Bridge by Safeway! It was beautiful and surrounded by crazy hills. I mean like ... log flume like hills (you know when you reach the top of the log flume and you are rounding the top and you can't see what's at the bottom. Yes, hills like that.) Upon our return to the hostel, we met a sketch man from Texas who "is taking a mental vacation" and is "in hiding". He woke up this morning at 4am and "went jumping over homeless people". He isn't checking the weather while he is here because all he is worried about is "staying clean."
Megan can't deal with the wild wind/rain that is attacking the window of our room at the hostel.
Written by Kristen, March 19
Megan can't deal with the wild wind/rain that is attacking the window of our room at the hostel.
Written by Kristen, March 19
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