Briana Swain's Contact Details

Briana Swain's Company Details

No More Tears at San Quentin State Prison

Oakland, California, United States • 8 Employees
Civic & Social Organization

No More Tears is a violence- and crime-prevention program founded by men incarcerated at San Quentin and concerned citizens both seeking to remedy the rise of violent crime in their communities and reduce the recidivism rate of parolees.We recognize the unique perspective of former perpetrators and value their ability to bring solutions to the communities where they once contributed to the problem.Our curriculum consists of a four-part workshop series focusing on some of the factors that contribute to a life of crime and imprisonment: a sense of powerlessness, poor anger management skills, and a lack of positive mentorship, education, and personal responsibility. Participants learn strategies of nonviolent conflict resolution and receive mentorship. Graduates of the workshop series are also eligible to attend healing circles: transformative events where we unite survivors of violent crime and former perpetrators. In these two-hour deep listening–and-exploring sessions participants sidestep the politics of difference in favor of self-exploration in an empathic and supportive atmosphere.Our graduates serve their communities as expert violence prevention advocates, peer counselors, and youth mentors both inside and out of prison.