Ramble On Productions

AMAZING STORY FROM INSIGHT-OUT You might recall that Fateen Jackson was the inmate who performed spoken word during the TEDX talk that Insight-Out participated... in, which is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGlvDfiwEdA if you didn't have a chance to view it. Fateen was recently released from San Quentin and this is what happened, in the words of Jaques Verduin, the Executive Director of Insight-Out: Every now and then a story needs sharing, reminding us why we are doing what we do. Please indulge me here: Fateen Jackson, a seasoned GRIP Facilitator, was released last Monday and Bob and I were there to meet him at the Gate at 6 AM. The GRIP organization had advocated strongly for his release and Monday we spent the day assisting him on his journey back. He was given a commutation of his sentence by Governor Brown, a decision that was affirmed by the Board of Parole Hearings. It was much fun to see Fateen trying to orient himself on what to order for breakfast, his first real meal after 21 years of prison chow. The waitress was a woman in her fifties who clearly appreciated Fateen’s enthusiastic appetite and the almost childlike joy he exuded. She expertly helped navigate Fateen’s overwhelm in negotiating the menu’s many options. When it was time to go I saw her leaning against the wall smiling at us and I felt called to go over to thank her for the meal and her service. I shared that this was Fateen’s first real meal after many years in prison. Oh, how wonderful, can I hug him? she asked. Let’s go find out, I said. Of course Fateen gave her a big bear hug and there were smiles everywhere. We were standing in the parking lot, ready to go when she came out to say, I just need to learn more about what this is all about; can you please explain?" So we told her what we do and how today was a celebration of sorts. She took a deep breath, looked at us and whispered: My father was murdered, my father was murdered. And after a substantial pause: And I have struggled with my anger and my heart for such a long time and I’m sort of stuck..." After which Fateen said: Would you please allow me to apologize to you for what you are going through; I apologize to you for the suffering you experience. Oh, but you didn’t do it, she said. No, I know," he said, "but I’ve been a violent person myself and so I wish to offer my apologies to you sincerely. She burst into tears and we all held her grief together, in silence. I asked her if it would serve her to come to a GRIP session inside San Quentin and as a victim share the impact of the crime in her life, in a dialogue with the men we work with. She said she would like that very much, that yes, she would like to do that. All of our eyes were brimming with tears from having witnessed this amazing exchange between two human beings in their fateful encounter. And over witnessing the entry into the world of yet another newly employed GRIP Change Agent, ready to spread compassion in a hungry world, ready to teach his brothers and sisters still in prison what he has learned. Barely an hour out and already doing the work in a parking lot. Lots more grief parked in long-term lots, no doubt. An auspicious beginning indeed. Onwards, Jacques Verduin, ED GRIP Program

INSIGHT-OUT UPDATE - It was great to hear in InSight-Out's last newsletter (available at https://mailchi.mp/insight-out/headquarters?e=185adf390a) that they are... expanding their operations in order to increase the number of students they can serve from 520 to 750 per year. However, to support that expansion they are looking for 900 +/- feet of office space, which is very challenging in this market. Please take a look at their newsletter for the details of what they are looking for and consider if you might have any ideas for them. Also feel free to share this with your network of friends and business associates. Finally, if you are not subscribed to Insight-Out's newsletter, you can do it at https://us6.list-manage.com/subscribe. See more

DONATION TO INSIGHT-OUT We are excited to announce that, thanks to all of you, Ramble On Productions was able to donate $40,000 to support Insight-Out's Guiding... Rage into Power (GRIP) Program. Here is a note from Jacques Verduin, the program’s founder and lead teacher, to all of you expressing his gratitude. To all Ramblers: Thank you so, so much for standing up and choosing to care about the admittedly complex issue of crime and redemption, squat in the middle in the middle of your music festival. Upu and Bernard had the time of their lives in Camp Navarro. Coming back from the trip, they spoke at length about being in nature, being with those trees, but more than anything, being with the Ramblers. They felt honored, heard and seen. Imagine: Spending a quarter century behind walls and then ending up at the Redwood Ramble with all of you The respect, the special treatment from everyone there, your genuine interest in prison work and redemption, the beauty of the place, your interest in true transformation and prison reform - all of that had them on cloud nine. I want to thank especially Steven and Vicki and the Ramble On Productions Board for creating a place for this gesture in all of our hearts, for choosing us to be the beneficiary of your good will, for your interest and your generosity; all of that is so special and makes us feel so loved and supported. The amazing fact of your gesture puts $40,000 towards the effort to spread compassion and hold up a lamp to the otherwise dark place in our culture named prison, where we put everything we're in denial of; everything that represents the shadow, that we lock up and throw away the key. The amazing fact is that $40,000 was raised to further a unique cause, to help reach more of those who are punished, demonized and forsaken. We are so grateful Not only for that stunning number of dollars but really, for your choice to care, for your choice to host these men in the way you did, making them feel like rock stars for a couple of days and coming home ready to share with the prisoners they now teach about the support that is out there, how the community cares. What an incredible chain of events has been set loose here. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Jacques Verduin www.insight-out.org

POWERFUL HUFFINGTON POST COVERAGE OF INSIGHT-OUT'S GRIP PROGRAM - We encourage you to check out this recently released video about the GRIP program. The entire video is worth your time, but if you don't have the full 12 minutes to spare, be sure to catch the last couple minutes.

INSIGHT-OUT FOLLOW-UP No one’s noticed but the band’s all packed and gone...was it ever here at all? But they kept on dancin’ (Weir/Barlow)... As we finalized our clean-up at Camp Navarro last Monday, this song - the Music Never Stopped by the Grateful Dead - kept running through my mind. If you listen to the whole song, I’m sure you’ll understand. Thank you all once again for making this Redwood Ramble so spectacular, in particular for our new friends Bernanrd Moss, Upu Ama and Bob and Avis Licht. Thank you for coming out to listen to their stories, for making them feel welcome, and for sharing the love and spirit of the Ramble with communities beyond ours, which might need it most. Thanks also to all of the vendors and merchants, who share a portion of their proceeds with Ramble On Productions. This includes the chefs in the Ramblin’ Cafe; the Anderson Valley Winegrowers Association; the massage team; Lousia, the batik lady; Lisa, who sold the heart jewelry; Camp Navarro via the Ramble bar; and many of the bands, which take a lesser fee to play for us because of our non-profit partnerships. The Redwood Ramble truly is a community effort. Many of you asked how to donate beyond your initial contribution, which you can do at https://insight-out.org/. Some of you asked if there was more you could do. Bernard and Upu are on their own missions to share their knowledge and experiences and are always looking for places to make presentations, large and small. If you want to connect with Insight-Out directly, you can do it at https://insight-out.org/index.php/incontact-us. We will be back to you soon with the total amount of the grant that will be sent to Insight-Out. In the meantime, as we are daily reminded that we’re not at the Ramble anymore, I know I am going to do my best to share the Ramble spirit with the larger world, remember our friends at GRIP and the important work they are doing, and keep on dancin’! Best, Vicki & Steve