Rudy Corpuz Jr. adds on more CHAPTER to his United Playaz organization at Chowchilla.

" We are a group of young women based on integrity, change, and growth. We take accountability for our past and responsibility for our current actions. We courageously move forward to create a positive, healthy, brighter future, bridging the gap for change one step at a time. Our intention is to give back to society as much, and as often, as we can; to live in honor of the people we have hurt, and to act on faith, believing anything is possible".

The above Mission Statement was crafted by the young women. This unique chapter calls themselves Young United Playaz (YUP) and about fifty women mostly under the age of 25 years are part of this unique YUP chapter.

In introducing themselves most of the women feel they can support one another, heal themselves, bring about change and contribute to Society but also in the interim bring solace to those behind the wall. Everyone is embraced and no one is forced to join or leave YUP.

At this meeting steps were taken by the main organizers - Anna Humiston, Mianta McKnight, and Danielle Barcheers to reward those in this Young United Playaz (YUP) chapter with certificates for various educational courses completed and other extraordinary efforts contributed to those within the Chowchilla Valley Women Prison.

The women who accomplished their tasks were not aware of these rewards by the main organizers - and it was a delight to see their faces lighten up and the sparkle in their eyes. Most rewarding these women are nurturing one another with positive values - making great efforts within the Prison System to create their own reward system. Creating a unique group such as YUP to create a link with the outside world.

One by one the women introduced themselves and stated at what age they were incarcerated and for how long. Many had come to this prison when they were fourteen years old and have been here for many more years - ten, fifteen, seventeen years.

The first thought that strikes anyone with common sense and one with compassion - is why hurl these babies into such a system where they are forced to live with hardened criminals and traumatized for the rest of their lives?

Considering the hardship these women have gone through - especially those that were young and made one "wrong choice" - mostly stemming from immaturity - being naive, uneducated on issues, coming mostly from dysfunctional families - the punishment is harsher then harsh.

California is one of the few States that prides itself and incarcerates - young women as young as fourteen. I call them babies but our California Court System - prides itself in such incarceration that makes no sense to the civilized world.

Many of the women after I said a prayer and talked to them on the above issue - came and confided in me. They felt I had touched them and challenged them to support one another and that we from the outside world - brought some solace that help to them. Very few visitors come to speak to them - and address their real concerns. They do get visitors but most of them are family and friends.

Rudy Corpuz Jr. the Director of United Playaz spoke to the women and encouraged them to do what they do best but also revealed to the incarcerated young women when they wrote letters it impacted the youth outside and this makes a great difference. The letter from those incarcerated have changed the lives of many a young women and men - in the outside world - members mostly belonging to United Playaz - its chapters in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and even in New York.

Abraham Menor from San Jose read a few letter from the youth. I saw the women cry - some tears of joy and some tears of pain. This letters from the youth outside were heartfelt and just reading it - brought about a real change in the atmosphere - we could have stayed there for hours and heard the testimony. God really works in mysterious ways.

Niko a young Samoan woman who works with Rudy Corpuz Jr. in the San Francisco Unified Schools - have a long testimony of her work and how the youth could be influenced for the better - by those behind the wall. She suggested a method of bring about a change by building a bridge - but, we all as a group have to figure out the details.

In the outside world it is possible to use computers with a attached video camera to have a one on one video conferencing - some done in private and others in public. The Prison System does not encourage such technology to be used in general.

One method that may work is to video tape the youth outside opening the letters, reading the letters, saying what they have to say after reading the letters - video taping the entire sessions and them bringing the video tape to the Prisons - after they have been cleared.

Rudy Corpuz Jr. showed a couple of videos cleared by the Prison System - about the United Playaz youth programs. I was watching the expression on the faces of the women and they seemed to admire the good work done - outside by Rudy Corpuz Jr. and his organization.

Entering the Prison System is tedious cumbersome - some can undergo the checks easily and others may find it difficult. Everything has to be checked - including printed material that has to cleared by the authorities. We have visited Chowchilla Valley Womens Prison many times now, and every time we go there - we are checked with a fine tooth comb.

This visit was unique and we must thank our driver who drove us all thy way from San Francisco to Chowchilla some 160 miles - he has done this many times - he is from San Francisco and his name is Timothy Norris. Kudos to you Tim - for sticking by a few of us and making our trips - possible.

Often times people visit the Prisons and little if nothing is reported. This are very difficult times for those incarcerated in all the California jails. The Governor of California is talking about transferring inmates to Mexico! Yes, Mexico. This report gives a slight glimpse of one visit - the tip of the iceberg about the many issues that adversely impact those incarcerated for long periods.

Inside the jails teachers have been given just one more month lease on life to teach. After that no one knows - what will happen. Imagine the inmates having no teachers and no educational benefits that have been in place for years. A curricula that has be crafted and tailor made to suit the needs of those incarcerated - but now ready to be put on the back burner.

The Governor says he has no money for Drug Rehabilitation - well, imagine the state of affairs within the Prison System - if the Drug Rehabilitation Programs are - completely cut. Many on Methadone and other sobering drugs - when removed an deprived - will force many inmates to go " cold turkey" - and this could result in many early, deaths.

The inmates get some news and are fully aware of the many legislative changes that are in the pipe line. Of course in the outside, free world many could not give a damn. But, the time has come to look at Society as a whole - that is, if we call ourselves civilized. But, now it looks as if most folks in the outside world are greedy, selfish, and look after their own petty interests.

The present dire state of our economy is creating more crimes - there is an increase of theft and other petty crimes linked to material needs to survive. People trying to survive when they have no money. The number increases with those that are hard criminals - preying on others and people today, live in fear of their lives - especially the ever increasing elderly those above the age of 60 years - who really cannot fend for themselves when attacked.

California has wasted billions of dollars in building jails and now finds itself that the Three Strikes law and incarcerating young people as adults has back-fired.

We have aged prisoners that should be released most of them cannot harm a fly. Why would we want to keep folks in the late sixties, seventies, and even eighties lingering in prison.

Why do we keep babies fourteen, fifteen years, sixteen who made just one mistake lingering in jails for years with hardened criminals. I can understand a hardened young criminal - there are few under special circumstances - these cases can be adjudicated.

The young women I spoke to - most of them made just one bad choice - and here they are lingering in jail and NOT rehabilitated. In fact they are exposed to learning more about crime and less about becoming a good human being - contributing to Society - if and when released.

Most of the baby prisoners - and I call them babies - have been traumatized exposed to those that rape them and feed off fresh meat - to put it bluntly. Now, this is a HIGH CRIME that our judges in the failed Court System - have not taken into consideration.

This is a CRIME that our legislators and California Senators - must adjudicate and bring about change. It is so sad when we treat most of our first offenders as hardened criminals - they is simply uncalled for.

Kudos to Untied Playaz and to the many children, women, and men - of good Faith that look towards healing those that are suffering, and embracing them to bring them back into the fold. God Loves Them All.


Francisco Da Costa
Director
Environmental Justice Advocacy