Our Team

Michael Moore, 61, has been incarcerated for 22 years serving a 35 to life for bank robbery. The Elderly Parole Law allows him to go before the parole board by December 2022. He has earned an Associates of Arts degree at Mount Tamalpais College in San Quentin, with future plans to attend the University of California at Berkeley upon his release.

Michael is writing a book about his journey from poverty to prison and his remarkable path to finding freedom in a cage. He is committed to social justice and is grateful to be a part of the Humans of San Quentin Team. Read more about Michael in our Longer Stories from the Cell.

Brew was born in Southern California, incarcerated in 1998. A carpenter by trade thinks of himself as a craftsman more than an artist but does enjoy painting. He has a deep love of the ocean and all things nautical. Since his incarceration, he has taught himself to paint and now has a large body of work. After being transferred to San Quentin in 2011 and joining the Arts in Corrections program as a teacher’s assistant he helped to rebuild the art studio and became one of the lead artists on the Mural Crew. He now dedicates most of his free time to giving back to the community through donations, mentoring and facilitating self-help groups. Brew feels blessed to have met so many kinds and generous staff members that give him the opportunity to be of service.

Likes:
Handball, Dominoes, cooking, meeting people, getting feedback on his art projects. California at Berkeley upon his release.

Greg ‘White Eagle’ was born April 18th in 1957 at Edwards Airforce Base in the high desert of the Mojave Southern Sierras. He always knew his family had Indian bloodlines, but he had never sat in ceremony or danced at a powwow until coming to San Quentin State Prison. When he first arrived on October 20, 1975, he was an angry, hurting 18-year-old high school student. White Eagle has not wasted his 45 years inside. He founded the Red Road Way of Life in 1982, the first Sweat Lodge inside a United States prison, a ceremony that opened his heart and mind. In order to stay grounded in a 170-year-old institution, built on land stolen from O’holone and Coastal Miwok tribes, he plays his handmade cedar flute, does beadwork, reads, paints, and is a certified drug and alcohol counselor. He has chosen to become someone who experiences the thoughts and feelings of other human beings, some of which are on their last chance to turn their lives around or make peace with their higher power. He asks himself if what he is doing is self-serving. Will it hurt others? Will it help others heal? White Eagle lives in prayer and in service to help others and for the opportunity of freedom and parole.

White Eagle is a student at Mount Tamalpais College. He is a member of the Creating Awareness Together program (Kid C.A.T.) He is an Alcohol and Drug Counselor for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition program (RAC), a Brother’s Keeper member, an Alcoholics Anonymous chairman, and a community outreach coordinator for Humans of San Quentin.

Alex Ross, 55, has been down 27 years. He is currently a student at Mount Tamalpais College and a teacher’s aide for the GED classes. He came to education later in life and sees it as a benefit since school was very difficult in his teens. He was the slower one among his peers.

He is proud to be a part of the Humans of San Quentin team. It makes him feel as though his life actually has purpose. He enjoys writing poems as it allows him to go to unknown places. He would like to say hi and thank you for giving us an opportunity to be heard.

Miquel Sifuentes, 42, has been incarcerated for 23 years and is serving a 26 years to life sentence for robbery and felony-murder. He is sitting before the board in December 2021. He’s a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, which recognized him with its Excellence in Journalism award in 2018 for a feature radio story about an incarcerated man reflecting on his family’s cycle of imprisonment. Miquel has reported for the San Quentin News and KALW/San Quentin Radio. He is a social justice advocate for the incarcerated and anyone who has suffered harm. He was an original contributor for Humans of San Quentin pre-launch, conducting interviews, writing and editing their first stories before the Covid-19 pandemic. You can watch an interview 

George “Mesro”, the Human Sun, is an emcee and a graffiti artist who writes all manner of strange tales, some of them in iambic pentameter. When he is not tutoring students or working on extended projects, you can find him gaming with his friends. His first book, Triumph, has been published by Capital Gaines LLC. Mesro has also had the honor of co-imaging three classes with the indefatigable Dr. Selby Winn Schwartz at Stanford University.

Mesro also has the incredible privilege to write for The Beat Within and the Humans of San Quentin. Mesro is rumored to have said, “The best damn thing about me is my impeccable taste in friends!”

Ernest C. Woods II, Videographer Earnest is 57 and he has been incarcerated for over 36 years. He works as a videographer in the San Quentin media center and is a proud student of Mt. Tamalpais College. He thanks God for his opportunity to be a part of Humans of San Quentin. He has been able to work with award winning incarcerated journalists Steve Brooks and Juan Haines. Men who are trying to change the narrative and reshape America. Mrs. Kahn has used angelic qualities to unlock the qualities of redemption in the investment of humanity.

Humans of San Quentin has brought light in the darkest time of a pandemic. It’s story of love is what the world needs right now. Thank you for sharing my voice, sincerely EC Woods II.

Henok Rufael has been incarcerated for 15 years. He works as an alcohol and drug counselor in the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program. Henok is someone who understands the fundamental need to be fully seen and heard. He is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of an organization whose sole focus is to give voices to those who have been forgotten and marginalized. Mr. Rufael is committed to the healing of both communities, inside and outside of prison.

Edwin chairs the Spanish Journalism Guild for San Quentin News, is on their video production team, and is a member of the editorial board. Edwin’s accomplishments inside are many: he is a facilitator for No More Tears, an alternative to violence program. On the team that provides correspondence classes for AIDA (Awareness into Domestic Abuse). He is on the leadership team of Adverse Childhood Experiences, which creates personal narratives in order for policymakers to have a reality-based source to help guide allocations.

Edwin thinks as a bi-lingual facilitator, “My purpose is to bring healing and compassion to all those who have not yet explored their childhood traumas.” Chavez has been incarcerated for 28 years.

Jacob graduated from Chapman University, receiving a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Finance and a minor in English. Jacob has previously worked as a financial consultant at a wealth management firm. At an early age, he recognized the power of storytelling as a means of healing and creating social change. Jacob wanted to find a way to help advocate for the unheard voices of those behind bars. Through the implementation of financial systems, Jacob is dedicated to providing a platform for these individuals to share their experiences, challenges, and hopes with the world.

His ultimate goal is to bridge the gap between the incarcerated and society, fostering empathy, and understanding, and ultimately working towards a more just and compassionate world for all.

Growing up in the Air Force, Laurel moved around the country, from Newfoundland, Canada, to Indiana and Alabama, settling into Southern California for high school and college.  Moving up to Marin in the mid-70’s, Laurel’s career was dedicated to children and families, as a licensed child and family counselor serving at-risk youth, a teacher and school director, and school board trustee, as well as raising her own two boys. She joined HoSQ with retirement just ahead, to further expand her commitment to being present and available for those who too often go unseen.  “I know deep in my heart that what you do for others you do for yourself, and I have certainly received more than I have given over and over again, including inside the walls of San Quentin.”

In her free time, Laurel loves being active in the wondrous outdoors, as well as art, world travel and reading, and spending time with her family.

Joanne received her BFA in Dramatic Arts from UC Santa Barbara. After many years as an actor on stage, in commercials, and in film, she discovered her passion for documentary filmmaking. Joanne has worked with renowned production companies such as Finish Line Features, Trilogy Films, and Sweet World Films. She joins the Humans of San Quentin team with a deep commitment to amplifying the voices and humanity of incarcerated men and women through spoken word, music, art, essays, and poetry. Joanne’s ultimate dream is to create a documentary that showcases these powerful stories.

Barry comes to Humans of San Quentin as a long-time ally of people seeking ways to give voice to their stories. A graduate of Harvard University, Barry has been a pastor, a college professor, and a writer. Most recently, Barry has served in senior adult communities caring for residents dealing with dementia. His goal at HoSQ is to build bridges between the incarcerated and the outside world. He is delighted to be part of this important work.

Colin is a recent graduate from the University of California Santa Barbara who has a passion for Digital Marketing and Advertising and has found his calling at Humans of San Quentin. Driven by a deep sense of social responsibility he’s eager to shed light on the often-overlooked stories of individuals behind bars. His commitment to social justice and rehabilitation has fueled his passion to recognize the transformative power of narrative in breaking down stereotypes and fostering empathy.

Alyaa Mostafa works with Humans of San Quentin to transcribe the stories of incarcerated individuals. Through her work, she feels a deep sense of gratitude, cherishing the opportunity to read and learn from these firsthand accounts. Her love for social sciences and history fuels her understanding and empathy.

An avid reader, she constantly seeks knowledge and inspiration from a variety of literary genres. In her free time, Alyaa enjoys immersing herself in nature, finding peace and rejuvenation in the great outdoors. Her work and personal interests combine to create a meaningful and fulfilling journey of continuous learning and growth.

Sohair El-Sharqawy is a co-director of the Cairo Institute of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CILAS). She is interested in many interdisciplinary approaches; she studied pure Mathematics and transitioned into the world of liberal arts, social sciences, language, and Journalism. Her artistic interests include theater, singing, and writing. While the worlds through which she took her path are different, she still finds her heart and the harmony in the cross worlds of the social and natural. 

For her, storytelling and writing are the strings that connect these worlds. That is how she views her work with Humans of San Quentin. As she reads and transcribes the stories, she feels not only gratitude but also affection and respect. With each story she transcribes, she is touched, affected, and changed.

Tiina is a web designer and developer who has been working in the field since 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Wellesley College and a Bachelor of Science in Web Design from the Art Institute of California, Los Angeles. Tiina has worked as a senior UX/UI Designer and Developer at CivicConnect from 2007-2021 and as a senior visual designer for Insight Terra from 2021-2022. She is familiar with HTML, CSS, and ARIA languages and Windows and Mac OS programs.

Tiina is passionate about improving user experiences both online and offline, and she believes that design is a mix of math, science, and art. She uses her knowledge of psychology to create pleasant user experiences and keeps up with the latest web trends to incorporate UI design patterns into her work. Tiina’s skills and experience make her an asset to any team looking to improve their web design and user experience.

RayRay is 26 years old and was incarcerated for seven years serving an 11 year sentence for attempted murder. Due to good behavior and achieving his high school diploma, he received time off his sentence. While in San Quentin, he worked as a teacher’s aide, participated in the Marin Shakespeare group, was an administrative assistant for HoSQ, a tour guide for Lt. Sam Robinson–our public information officer–and a Mount Tamalpais student. He contributes to HoSQ with his impeccable memory, his writing skills and creativity.

These tools have allowed him to be an invaluable part of the team. What interested him in HoSQ was its name: “Humans.” He believes that word alone represents everything that HoSQ stands for. Their actions speak louder than their words. He states, “When I was going through my darkest times, HoSQ was there for me. They made me feel like a human again. Their work and what they embody shows me that people on the other side of these walls see me as a Human.”

Marcus began his writing career while taking English courses at Patten College at San Quentin State Prison in January of 2018. His first published writing was featured in The Beat Within, a workshop for the intersection of the arts. His first article was published in the San Francisco Bay View Newspaper, entitled, Dancing Tears And The Ancestral Plane.

He recently received a scholarship from the Prison Journalism Project, resulting in the production of an op-ed piece that was published in the San Francisco Chronicle. Marcus believes these accomplishments are a testament to the value of rehabilitation. “Through self-help and the help of others, the worst moment in your life can be a stepping stone to success if you just hold your head up long enough to keep your mind focused on the future.”

Adelaide joins Humans of San Quentin following a career in education technology where she held a variety of management and Operations positions. She met Diane while teaching pickleball in San Quentin and was immediately inspired by what Diane and the HoSQ team are doing to give voice to incarcerated populations. She’s excited for the opportunity to share her operations experience with HoSQ.

Joe is a 38-year-old Autistic writer, who paroled in December of 2019 and is happy to have rejoined society. Joe comes to Humans of San Quentin as an editor and outreach coordinator, helping us network as we mature in our mission of showing the humanity of the lives behind the walls of prisons around the country. This is Joe’s first job as an editor and is grateful that his boss Diane, thinks his work is worthy to represent our brothers and sisters incarcerated across the nation. During his incarceration, he was fortunate to have many of his pieces published. Joe advocates for Autistics in prison who receive no accommodations or treatments, pulling from his own experience of being diagnosed at the age of 32 while incarcerated. Joe enjoys helping his fellow autistics prepare for their Board of Parole Hearings and reentry into society. In his spare time,

Joe attends San Francisco State University and is pursuing a degree in Creative Writing with a minor in Linguistics. One of his goals is to publish a novel, several years in the making, in order to give back to his family who he feels indebted for their care and loyalty. Joe loves to write fiction. He is a horror writer by trade and loves scary stories. When he isn’t writing, you can find him drawing and water coloring things that fascinate him in the world. 

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Anne had a thirty year career as a Registered Nurse specializing in the neurosciences. After her retirement, she revisited two areas she had always been interested in pursuing – social justice and writing.  While attending U.C. Santa Cruz back in the early 80’s, she took classes in Prison Reform taught by a renowned professor in the field. Anne believed she could make a difference and began volunteering in San Quentin State Prison both as a tutor for Free To Succeed and as an advisor within The California Reentry Program. Both programs have given her first hand insight into the lives of the incarcerated. She has had the privilege to work with incarcerated men who have put great effort into changing their lives. Anne believes that through the many programs offered at San Quentin plus the men’s determination they can change and grow and ready themselves to reenter the outside world as proactive members of the community. Anne feels honored to have met, helped and gotten to know these men and has learned as much from her 

I first became interested in criminal justice while teaching at Oasis, an alternative high school in Oakland’s Fruitvale District. With the support and encouragement of George Galvis, Executive Director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice, a group of my students and I formed Youth Against Youth Incarceration, aka Yayi. We heard speakers from United Playaz, All of Us or None, and a number of other agencies, learning about restorative justice, foster care, the courts, and juvenile halls. We lobbied in Sacramento, meeting with State Assembly members and speaking to crowds about juvenile justice and injustice. We attended and spoke at conferences and met with sheriffs, district attorneys and judges regarding youth reformative programs. This exposure eventually took me to San Quentin and a visit to one of the college classes where men in blue were discussing an essay they had read. Observing polite, intelligent, and engaged human beings, I was hooked! I immediately began volunteering at the Q. Since that day some 12 years ago, I have sponsored and facilitated groups for VOEG, CGA, TRUST, CRI, Christian Creative Writing, and Houses of Healing; I have prepared both an offender and a survivor for their Victim Offender Dialogues and participated in each dialogue. I believe in transformation and highly respect the incarcerated men and women who voluntarily participate in and facilitate self-help programs. It is an honor to work beside them.

Susan is a career educator who believes education is transformational. She taught English to middle school students before joining the faculty of Curriculum Studies and Secondary Education at Sonoma State University. She has written and published curriculum to support reading and writing instruction, developed and facilitated professional development workshops for teachers of English and English learners. She has been teaching inside English for Mt. Tamalpais College located inside San Quentin since 2016.

Susan believes words can change your life. A precision of words, a silvering tone, a tidal flow, is the door, as the poet Mary Oliver says in an essay on literature, “past myself… the means to notice, to contemplate, to praise, and, thus, to come into power.” Susan lives on a wooded hill near the Russian River in northern California. most mornings an ocean fog trails the canyon below. She plays banjo and enjoys spending time with her Pyrenees pup, Polly; she watches birds and quarrels with the privilege of beauty.

Andrea became Chief Executive at the Howard League for Penal Reform in November 2021. She was Director of Justice from 2013 to October 2021, where she shepherded significant growth in the size and clout of the organization. Between 2002 and 2013 she was Equality Lawyer and then Legal Director at Interights, litigating strategic cases before regional human rights courts. She previously worked at the International Service for Humans Rights in Geneva and at the South Asia Documentation Centre in New Delhi. She has a BA/LLB (Hons) from the University of Western Australia and an LLM (Dist.) from the London School of Economics. She sits on the advisory panels of several human rights organizations and is a trustee of BAILII. Andrea is an Honorary Master of the Bench of Middle Temple and an Affiliate Member of the Centre for Law and Social Justice at the University of Leeds. Since 2019, she has served as a Lay Member of the House of Lords Conduct Committee. In 2022, Andrea was appointed Queen’s Counsel (Honoris Causa) for making a major contribution to the development of the law in England and Wales.

Andrew is co-founder and CEO of Partners for Growth (PfG), a global private credit firm, with 35 years of expertise in structuring custom financing for tech companies. Over his career, Andrew played pivotal roles in venture capital, investment banking, private equity and debt financing. Prior to starting PFG, Andrew was a General Partner at JP Morgan’s private equity group, JP Morgan Partners.

 

His finance career, marked by spreadsheets and deals, extends beyond numbers. He champions a cause close to our hearts—prison reform. For the last six years he has been advocating for transformative programs that provide education, job training, and mental health services to incarcerated individuals.

Since the inception of Humans of San Quentin, Andrew has stood as our most enthusiastic supporter. His understanding infuses our team with a distinct combination of expertise and passion. Believing in second chances and the human capacity for change, he advocates for a justice system that fosters rehabilitation. He envisions a future where support and resources empower individuals to overcome mistakes and contribute positively to society. Andrew, a finance innovator with a heart for transformative change!

Among these esteemed individuals who constitute our Board of Directors, Desiree Shaw holds a profound responsibility. She is instrumental in establishing overarching objectives, bolstering our management team in the relentless pursuit of these objectives, and ensuring that the organization possesses ample, well-administered resources.

Desiree serves as the Director of UCSF’s Pleasanton Campus and holds the distinguished position of Chair of the Honorary Degree Committee. Additionally, she serves as the Program Director for the Transfer Pathway, actively participates in the Black Community Council, and contributes her insights as a member of the President’s Advisory Committee On The Status Of Women.

Through her unwavering dedication and diligent efforts, Desiree has played an integral role in propelling us towards the realization of our mission and purpose. Her contributions have left an indelible mark on the underserved, the marginalized, and those incarcerated. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for her invaluable contributions and the transformative change they have facilitated.

Madison Herrero is a rising senior at Redwood High School. As a junior, through her Student Led Anti Racism Movement (SLARM) class, she was offered the opportunity to tour San Quentin. She heard the stories of four currently incarcerated men. This experience changed her perspective on the current punitive justice system. Madison feels everyone should hear the stories of those silenced behind walls. She has been able to do this with Humans of San Quentin and enjoys every minute of it.

Madison loves to read and hang out with friends. She also volunteers with the Marin Youth Court as an advocate and peer facilitator. She leads the writing and editing team for the Youth Wellness Campaign.

Parker is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been a part of Humans of San Quentin since the fall of 2021 when she wanted to do more in the field of criminal justice after participating in the restorative justice organization, Youth Transforming Justice (YTJ). She found working with kids in the justice system gratifying but aspired to support a larger community in the criminal justice system and correspond with those already incarcerated. She heard about Humans of San Quentin, emailed Diane, and was immediately welcomed into the supportive and loving community of HoSQ. She aspired to learn more about the injustices in the system and support those who are wrongfully convicted, so she and HoSQ were a natural fit. After working for years at HoSQ, she was promoted to Head Intern and was in charge of training any new interns. Eventually, she was also able to go into prison and be a part of Inside Team meetings.

At Vanderbilt, Parker is the co-chair of the Community Engagement and Advocacy Committee for VandyVotes. She is on the Campaigns Committee for the Vanderbilt Prison Project. She is the Props Master for Vanderbilt Off-Broadway and is on the Club Golf team. Finally, in her free time, she plays piano, reads a lot, and can binge TV shows with astonishing speed.

Aanika Sawhney is a senior at Redwood High School. She was reminded of the complexities of local institutions through Humans of San Quentin’s work and is passionate about the intersection of journalism and local impact. She was struck to learn about the zero percent recidivism rate at San Quentin for those who participated in the media center and is inspired by the unique journeys shared by many previously and currently incarcerated people. Aanika believes everyone has a meaningful voice and should be given the opportunity to share their experiences with others. Her work as a journalist has consisted of print, online, and visual media as a news and opinion editor for her high school newspaper, The Redwood Bark. She is also the executive producer for her TV and Media course. She is interested in social justice initiatives and leads the Environmental Action Club and the Black Indigenous Women of Color group at her school. Additionally, Aanika is a member of the Tamalpais Union High School District Racial Justice Youth Advisory task force.

Aanika has been a part of her leadership class for three years. As secretary for Redwood’s Film Club, she is a connoisseur of creative media. She loves to spend her free time at the beach or enjoying live music.

Anika is currently a freshman at the University of Michigan planning on majoring in Public Policy and Economics. She is involved with a public policy newspaper and tutors local refugee students. In high school, Anika was an Editor-in-Chief for her school paper and also led a club based on humanizing the immigration process at the US-Mexico border. Anika was interested in interning with Humans of San Quentin after doing a program in Chicago regarding the Juvenile Justice system. In her free time, Anika loves to dance, go on hikes with her dog, and go to concerts!

Lauren is a current junior at Redwood High School. She is currently in the school journalism program and loves to write. She is an avid sailor, sailing on the Redwood Sailing Team. She loves to explore Marin County, through hiking.

Lauren is also passionate about art, she does the art for the Redwood Bark. She is so happy to be interning at Humans of San Quentin and is very passionate about criminal justice.

Amanda is a second year at the University of Chicago. The summer between her sophomore and junior years she worked on a mentored research project on the death penalty. Amanda learned about the political history that backs the justice system. Her work culminated in an op-ed on how and why the death penalty should be abolished. Amanda’s dedication and passion for working with the American political system led her to empathize with people incarcerated. Working for HoSQ has been an amazing experience for her, as she loves getting to share the perspectives of people who have been denied a voice. HoSQ has also provided Amanda with firsthand perspective of the daily discrimination that inmates experience.

In her free time, Amanda sings with the women’s ensemble at UChicago. During the recent presidential election, Amanda served as an elections ambassador and member of her school’s elections committee, which aimed to motivate students to register and pre-register to vote. She also worked as a poll worker in San Francisco. At UChicago, Amanda is a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She plans on majoring in Biology with a concentration in genetics.

Gigi is a senior at Marin Academy in San Rafael, California. She is a member of her school community action leadership board where she organizes school-wide volunteer events.

Additionally, she is working on implementing alternative to suspension programs in Marin County schools through her internship for the Beyond Suspension Youth Advisory Board. Gigi decided to join Humans of San Quentin because she wants to uplift the voices of incarcerated people and share their stories with the public. She is grateful for the valuable lessons she has learned from corresponding with incarcerated people and plans to pursue a career in law and politics.

In addition to her work with Humans of San Quentin, Gigi is an active member of her community. She works at a clothing boutique in Towncenter called Pollen and Wool and is a competitive dancer and swimmer. In her free time she loves surfing and hanging out with friends and family.

Renee Kraemling is a senior at Tamalpais High School. She has interned with us for the last two years, since her sophomore year and she is now a senior. She is passionate about the work we do to share the voices of those incarcerated. She has helped us develop our Beyond The Bars program, where we interview people who we have featured inside and are now released back into our communities. She helps share voices on our social media channels and understands how impactful Humans of San Quentin is to those incarcerated.

Fun Facts: Renee is a passionate artist who primarily works with apparel designs. During her free time, you will either find her in an art studio or at her job, working for Peet’s coffee.

Quinn is a senior at Redwood High School. He discovered Humans of San Quentin through a friend and became captivated by advocating for the humanity of people incarcerated. He is thriving as part of the social media team and enjoys sharing their stories. Through the power of social media he is eager to generate empathy and compassion for people in our communities often overlooked.

Quinn is an aspiring actor and filmmaker with a drive to knock on Hollywood’s doors. He also enjoys crafting fiction and immersing himself in literary classics like Catcher in the Rye. In his free time, he dedicates time to refining his musical abilities, delving into guitar chords and showcasing his proficiency on the piano.

Francesca is a rising senior at Redwood High School in Marin. In her free time, Francesca enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends and family, and playing field hockey. She learned about Humans of San Quentin through friends and immediately became interested in the positive messages that they were spreading. She is also part of the Youth Transforming Justice peer team, where she helps juveniles learn from their mistakes in a more beneficial way than the juvenile justice system. 

During her time at HoSQ Francesca has learned so much and has become inspired to pursue a career in criminal justice. She values being able to give a voice to the incarcerated and hopes that her work has a positive and lasting impact on as many people as possible.

Judi is a junior at the Urban School of San Francisco and lives in Mill Valley. Taking the Voices of Incarceration class at her school taught her about how silenced and isolated so many people feel throughout their incarceration. This class inspired her to get involved in social justice concerning the prison system with HoSQ. Judi is committed to making people feel heard and appreciated despite their incarceration. She’s excited to be a part of this team because of HoSQ’s outreach and hard work toward sharing everyone’s unique story. 

Another passion that Judi has is environmental justice, and she has done conservation work through volunteering. Outside of HoSQ, she is the captain of her school’s swim team and swims for a club team. She also plays volleyball for her school, mountain bikes, and does triathlons. In her free time, Judi loves to read, hike, teach swim lessons, spend time with her friends, and listen to music.

Helena Pflaum is a rising senior at Marin Academy and has worked at Humans of San Quentin since January 2023. Outside of volunteering, she is a columnist for her school newspaper, The 1600, practicing singing with her voice coach, prepping for her independent study next involving the literary genre of magical realism, crafting culinary treats in her kitchen, working on her current creative writing project, and she loves to daydream.

Fun Facts: She frequently dreams in the third person and likes to get into other characters’ heads. Her middle school obsession was the Sony mixtape she got for her birthday.

Leila Acevedo is a rising junior at Redwood High School. Through her Student Led Anti Racism Movement (SLAM) class, she was offered the opportunity to tour San Quentin State Prison. This experience changed her perspective on the justice system and the consequences of it. Leila believes more awareness should be spread about the current system, and she enjoys doing this through Humans of San Quentin.

Leila enjoys hanging out with her friends, being outdoors and going to the beach. She works at Mighty Pilates at their front desk and volunteers with Peace Ambassador Leadership Program to help spreading awareness on bullying and suicide prevention.

Emerson Swift is a sophomore at Tamalpais High School. She is interested in journalism, history, politics, and poetry. She is involved in her school newspaper, The Tam News and is the editor of the youth magazine FastForward. Emerson enjoys participating in Model UN and registering and pre-registering students to vote as a Student Elections Ambassador. She loves interning at Humans of San Quentin because she understands the importance of giving everyone the platform to share their voice. She is excited to learn about and get more involved in criminal justice.

In her free time, she reads articles, writes articles, plays soccer and field hockey, and hangs out with her cute golden retriever, Scout.

Natalie, a sophomore at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, discovered Humans of San Quentin through her teacher and peers. Intrigued by the opportunity to shed light on the experiences of incarcerated individuals, she is passionate about spreading awareness and sharing their stories. Excited for next year’s Street Law and Psychology course, Natalie is eager to deepen her understanding of related topics.

Outside of academics, she enjoys playing guitar, basketball, and expressing herself through painting and drawing. An avid traveler, Natalie loves time spent with family, friends, and her beloved dog. Her interests include photography, graphic design, criminology, and forensics.

Callie is a rising senior at Redwood High School. In her free time, Callie enjoys spending time with her friends and family, going to the beach, and traveling to new places. She also volunteers with the organization “Bridge the Gap”, where she tutors elementary school students and provides them with social, emotional, and educational support.  

Interning at HoSQ has greatly increased her interest in criminal justice and sociology. She has become very passionate about giving a voice to incarcerated individuals and sharing their stories. She enjoys assembling packets for incarcerated individuals across the globe and loves having the ability to correspond directly with so many different people.

Maren, a rising senior at Tamalpais High School, has embarked on a journey fueled by her passion for criminology and social justice. Her interest was sparked during her enrollment in a Street Law and Psychology class, where she delved into the dynamics of the criminal justice system. Through documentaries portraying the lives of incarcerated individuals, particularly those at San Quentin, Maren felt drawn to amplify their voices and shed light on their experiences.

Upon discovering Humans of San Quentin, Maren recognized it as an ideal platform to fulfill her mission of advocacy and empathy. She resonated deeply with their commitment to raising awareness and humanizing the narratives of those behind bars. Eager to contribute her skills and compassion, Maren embraced the opportunity to intern with the organization.

Maren enjoys soccer, beach outings, and watching the sunset. Maren looks forward to her internship with Humans of San Quentin, anticipating the opportunity to continue sharing stories and fostering understanding between incarcerated individuals and the wider community.

Oliver Broek, a senior at Branson High School. He was hooked the moment he set foot in the Humans of San Quentin office. Oliver’s classroom studies with courses like “Soul On Ice: Incarcerated Worlds” and “Ethics and Justice” strengthened his interest in understanding marginalized communities. 

 

Oliver has enjoyed growing the media team at HoSQ and sharing stories with a broader audience through their website and social media channels. He has enjoyed creating marketing campaigns inside prisons to reach additional incarcerated individuals. He has also been a liaison with his community for fundraising events.

Oliver, a passionate Lacrosse player, is a dedicated leader on and off the field. He is actively involved in Branson’s Men’s Leadership Group, Civil Discourse Club, and Poetry Club. Oliver’s outside interests include music of all genres, photography/videography, impromptu sports with friends, and visiting places with aquatic life. He thrives on bringing people together and seeks ways to creatively share the stories of those around him.

Anya Ghazi, a rising Senior at Redwood High School, balances her time between her roles as Copy Editor and Reporter for the school’s newspaper and as a dedicated volleyball player. With experience in publishing on social media and article reviewing, she showcases an eye for detail and effective communication skills. She loves the outdoors and spending time in nature. Volunteering at Humans of San Quentin,  she collaborates with fellow interns to create packets while gaining insight into the diverse experiences of incarcerated individuals worldwide.

Jennifer, a senior at Tamalpais High School, has found inspiration in her last two years at Humans of San Quentin to become more educated about the lives of incarcerated individuals and to support her community. She loves reading the stories of those of the incarcerated and appreciates the opportunity to give the writers a voice. Her commitment to understanding and advocating for the incarcerated demonstrates her compassion and empathy towards marginalized communities.

Gigi is a student at Redwood High School, Class of 2026. She is a volunteer with Marin County’s Youth Transforming Justice  Peer Solutions Group and is passionate about juvenile justice reform. She is a starting defender on Redwood High School’s Varsity Lacrosse team and plays travel lacrosse with Bay Area Elite. 

In her free time, Gigi loves spending time at the beach and hiking with friends in the beautiful hills of Marin County. She is thrilled to be working with Humans of San Quentin and the wonderful people. 

Lucy is a rising sophomore at Branson High School. Lucy loves to play volleyball, both indoor and outdoor, and plays for a club at Absolute Volleyball. She also loves to spend time with her friends and family, especially at the beach. Lucy heard about Humans of San Quentin from family friends. 

During her internship, Lucy has learned more about the stories of the incarcerated people and has gained a passion for sharing their stories. She has especially enjoyed working on the social media side, where she creates reels from Beyond the Bars interviews and more. She also likes corresponding with new people incarcerated all over the country through outreach packets.

Tessa is a sophomore at Tamalpais High School. Her curiosity and passion for social justice led her to become a part of Humans of San Quentin. Intrigued by the project after hearing about it from a friend, Tessa embraced the opportunity to combine her interests in leadership, athletics, and advocacy. At Tamalpais High, Tessa is engaged in various leadership roles and thrives on the challenges and responsibilities they bring. Whether she’s leading a student organization or representing her peers, Tessa demonstrates a natural aptitude for collaboration and innovation.

Beyond her leadership pursuits, Tessa enjoys sports. Through her involvement with Humans of San Quentin, she is committed to delving deeper into issues surrounding incarceration, rehabilitation, and societal reform. Tessa believes in the power of storytelling to shed light on the human experiences often overshadowed by systemic injustices.

Hilary is a Senior at Tamalpais High School. She is passionate about criminal justice, which is why she joined HoSQ, and is on the Mock Trial team at Tam. Besides her interest in the law, Hilary is also an artist, and loves to paint in her free time. She works at a local coffee house in Sausalito called Firehouse, and loves to be active in her community. 

Hilary is excited to be a part of the HoSQ team, and to amplify the voices of incarcerated individuals while learning their stories.

Melissa is a Santa Rosa Junior College student transferring to UC Davis. She majors in Sociology and hopes to add an emphasis in Law and Society during her time at UCD. She has an enduring interest in the U.S. criminal legal system and the social construction of crime. Specifically, she is interested in how our criminal legal system upholds existing economic and social power structures. She wants to work for non-profits in the future and believes HoSQ to be an excellent opportunity to learn the inner workings of this type of organization.

Claire is a rising senior at the University of Oregon studying French and Journalism. She writes for Align Magazine, a student-led publication at her university which gives her a similar opportunity as Humans of San Quentin to share people’s stories and build more empathy and togetherness toward other’s lives and experiences.

In her free time she enjoys cooking, running, burritos, drawing, and finding new cafes.

Avery McDonnell is a Senior at The Bay School of San Francisco. She has always been very invested in criminal justice and wanted to gain a deeper understanding of how incarceration affects individuals beyond the surface-level perceptions. Her internship has provided her with firsthand perspective into the human side of those impacted by incarceration, allowing her to challenge societal biases and engage in advocacy.

Outside of her interest in the justice system, Avery enjoys thrifting, skiing, reading, painting, and watching horror movies. She is actively involved at The Bay School, playing on the lacrosse team, co-leading the film/literature club, and contributing to the theater tech team.

Ellie Smith is a junior at Redwood High School in Larkspur, California, with a passion for journalism and media. She is a copy editor and reporter for her school newspaper, The Redwood Bark. Ellie first discovered HoSQ while writing an article for the paper and interviewing executive director Diane Kahn. With a long-standing interest in criminal justice, she immediately wanted to get involved. Now, she has the opportunity to explore and share the often unheard voices of the incarcerated, and she is deeply grateful to be part of such an impactful organization.

In addition to academics and interning, Ellie is a goalkeeper for the Redwood varsity soccer team. She also enjoys spending time in her favorite part of the county, West Marin, where she hikes with her dog, surfs, and watches the sunsets.

Mahanna Jacob is a senior at Redwood High School who enjoys spending her free time with friends and family, relaxing at the beach, and watching sunsets. In addition to her work with Humans of San Quentin, Mahanna volunteers with the Marin County Youth Transforming Justice program and plays travel lacrosse for Bay Area Elite.

Passionate about pursuing a career in rehabilitating incarcerated individuals, she is grateful for the opportunity to work with an organization that highlights the importance of this mission.

Mason is a sophomore at The Branson School in Ross, California. He loves sports and being creative. Mason is a competitive tennis player and plays for his high school in the spring and in tournaments all year. Another passion of his is art, specifically drawing. He is a strong believer that personal expression through art and writing can be very powerful tools for connection.

Mason learned about Humans of San Quentin through friends. He is particularly drawn to HoSQ because of its focus on using stories and art as a means of connection and personal growth. He is looking forward to working with this team to spread awareness and share stories of those incarcerated.

Samantha Winslow is a senior at Archie Williams High School who loves playing guitar, singing, hiking, thrifting, and spending time with loved ones. She works three days a week as a crew member at Trader Joe’s, volunteers weekly at Marin Health, and is active with AIM Youth Mental Health, advocating for youth mental health awareness in Marin County.

Samantha’s passion for helping her community will continue as she pursues a career in nursing after high school. When she learned about Humans of San Quentin, she was immediately intrigued with its mission. Sharing the stories of incarcerated individuals is a meaningful way to give them a voice, and Samantha is eager to engage in outreach and make connections.

Daphne is a senior at Tamalpais High School where she is a co-president of Model United Nations and in the Conservatory Theater Ensemble where she acts, directs, and is on the tech crew. She enjoys hiking, baking, and registering people to vote as a Student Elections Ambassador.

She joined HoSQ this summer eager to bring power to the voices of those behind bars. Hearing their stories has made her passionate about the criminal justice system and how society views incarceration. She hopes her work helps challenge how people view the United States prison system and encourages people to become more understanding humans.