www.mountmadonna.org

Diane: AS to your Buddhist friend who is leaving Folsom Prison soon----I participated in the Santa Cruz zendo for several years and found it to be a very loving and receptive place. I had some amazing experiences there that I could tell you about when we meet or talk on the phone, but I know that the community there would be VERY supportive. There is also a yoga community Mount Madonna in Watsonville, CA
which has a lot of workshops and some people live there and do service in exchange for food/shelter. The people there also might be able to help your friend from Folsom State Prison get his feet on the ground. I have moved to North Carolina or I would volunteer to help him myself. These are some ideas---there is also a Zen community in Berkely,CA, but I don't know anything about it. Peace/JOY

I look forward to crossing paths with you! Newt

I am not sure what to expect from that. Time will tell. As a Probation and Parole Agent here, it is my job to help the person reintegrate back to city life. By that I mean through employment training, job searching. We have numerous programs in which someone released from Prison can go through to aid in obtaining employment. We maintain face contact every week for 30 days and then twice a month to make sure they are getting back on their feet. The job function is quite extensive at times and requires numerous hats. It is because of my job that I found meditation and meditation has brought me a much needed focus as well as guidance!

I am a Probation and Parole Agent in Wisconsin.

Hi Diane

I'm not sure if I contacted you already but here goes (again if that's the case!). Kate recommended I talk to you. I'm doing research on Buddhist prison volunteers for my MA. As a PDN volunteer for a while now the subject has personal interest for me. Would you be interested in participating in a phone interview for this project? Please let me know, thanks.

Paul
mcivor@rosettapr.com

Diane: I was supposed to give you a date for me to come to Folsom. Remind me what day of the week the group meets and I'll send you a couple of possible dates. Can't be till March, but after that things open up.

Hi Diane, did you ask the folks at BPF? they bought many copies from us and could probably provide some. I could donate some..but not 70..the costs are around 6.50 per book plus shipping...not sure of any grant sources but I'll bet there are some...

Diane:
Thanks for your comment. Sorry for the delay in response, I've been traveling and, in fact, I'm in SF today and on my way to see family in Fresno. I'll be back in SF later in the week to attend the funeral of a Catholic monk who was one of my theology teachers many years ago.
Anyway, as to your question. Contact Kate at Prison Dharma Network. They have solicited donations that underwrite the provision of "Sitting Inside" to inmates and prison chapel libraries. Tell her your situation and she'll work it out for you. I'm talking with them about doing a revision to update some of the stats and improve the chapter on transition--and maybe add another on chaplaincy.
Hope that help. I'd love to come do a one-day retreat for the Folsom sangha, let's coordinate that with my next CA trip. I seem to get down here about once every two months or so.