Apr 29, 2025 - BCN21:MARIN CO.: SAN QUENTIN INCARCERATED FATHERS DANCE WITH THEIR DAUGHTERS AT FIRST-EVER ‘PARENTING PROM’

	   BCN21               -SAN QUENTIN PARENTING PROM
	   
	   By Steve Brooks
	   Bay City News
	   
	   On a Saturday afternoon earlier this month, 17 incarcerated fathers in black tuxedos at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center watched their beautiful daughters in dresses walk down a long strip of red carpet. The fathers tied corsages around their daughters' wrists and escorted them inside a first-of-its-kind Parenting Prom at the prison.
	   The prison chapel was converted into a ballroom with huge black drapes, colorful lighting and an illuminated dance floor. There were 25 daughters, ranging from ages 7 to 27. Correctional officers, guardians, mothers, and volunteers cheered as each reunion took place. Some people were in tears.
	   The event was planned and hosted by The People In Blue, a group of incarcerated individuals working to change the culture in the California prison system. (The author of this story is a member of the group.)
	   Louis Sale, another member, got to dance with his daughter and emceed the event.
	   "The idea for this dance originally began around 2023 at the Hawaiian Makahiki celebration when someone saw me dancing with my daughter Matalena, who is here today," Sale said. "But then we watched the film 'Daughters' (a documentary about incarcerated men and their daughters) at last year's San Quentin Film Festival and we knew we had to do it."
	   Along with the illuminated dance floor provided by Mike Novitski of Got Light, a company that transforms spaces for events, there was a live DJ, lounge tables with floral arrangements donated by Kirk Wilder of ACME Floral Co., and a dessert bar, featuring two giant cakes made by the wife of the late Sgt. Gilbert Polanco, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	   Cupcakes were donated by Oliver Haug of Angel Cake, a bakery owned by the late Jen Angel, who was sadly killed during a robbery in Oakland in 2023.
	   Members of TPIB exchanged their prison clothing for civilian white polo shirts with a light blue Parenting Prom logo. They worked as ushers and servers to the mothers, guardians, incarcerated fathers and daughters.
	   "We want to promote healing," said Arthur Jackson, TPIB's president. "We want to promote healing for everybody, victims of crime, families, communities, and incarcerated individuals. We believe families are critical to rehabilitation and healing, and we want to normalize these reunions as much as possible."
	   
	   Preparing for the prom
	   In order to participate in the Parenting Prom, each incarcerated father had to graduate from an eight-week family communication workshop, created by Tam Nguyen, a member of TPIB who has been incarcerated for 22 years.
	   "I started this workshop to help bring families closer together," he said. "If we don't have strong family ties when we go back to our communities, it increases the recidivism rate."
	   Nguyen used his training from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Offender Mentor Certification Program and the Youthful Offender Program to help create his curriculum.
	   "I grew up in a house where communication was poor," he said. "I had no voice. I was talked at rather than talked to, and it made me start running with the wrong crowd."
	   Carrington Russelle graduated from the class. He got to see his 12- and 14-year-old daughters Jazlyn and Jayla, who traveled from Georgia.
	   "It's the first time I saw them in person in more than a decade, " said Russelle." I can't stop crying."
	   Steven Warren got to see his 8-year old daughter Wynter.
	   "I am so blessed," he said as he played with his energetic little girl. Warren also spoke at the event on behalf of his class.
	   "We did this to build long lasting healthy relationships with our daughters," he said. "This is a memory that will last a lifetime."
	   One of the highlights of the event was when dads and daughters did a TikTok-inspired dance down the red carpet. Steven Embrey danced with three daughters, Ase, Anna, and Tiara, who are 7, 9 and 28 years old. He tried to outdance them.
	   "This workshop helped me be more understanding, " he said. "I listen more and we talk about reasonable and unreasonable expectations."
	   Another powerful moment was shared as fathers did a meaningful slow dance with their daughters to Luther Vandross' song "Dance with My Father." Wayne Briggs hadn't seen his 11- year-old daughter Destiny in 10 years.
	   "I barely know her," said Briggs. "I want to make intentional time for her. My sister brought her and I haven't seen my sister in 10 years either."
	   Benny Espinoza danced with his 7-year-old Loveina. "It breaks my heart to see my daughter crying after a visit," said Espinoza. "This class taught me how to get to know her. She has a great sense of humor and it's bittersweet because she is growing up so fast."
	   
	   'We have a common bond today'
	   Each father read personal letters they wrote to their daughters. Some got down on one knee. Afterward, everyone played a game together called "finish the lyric," with such artists as Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Cyndi Lauper.
	   A team of correctional officers brought out big TVs and video games, board games, virtual reality glasses, popcorn and cotton candy.
	   The acting chief deputy warden Eric Patao helped the fathers tie their ties and spoke at the event.
	   "I have been at San Quentin over 20 years, I have probably witnessed hundreds of events, but nothing like this," he said. "I have three daughters. I understand a father's love. We have a common bond today."
	   Some of the daughters received free flights from Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida, to see their fathers, and free hotel accommodations, courtesy of God Behind Bars, a Christian organization represented by Jenna Consiglio.
	   The Last Mile coding program's Kevin McCracken helped provide a DJ, decorations and food for the event.
	   "I had to raise a 13 year old daughter on my own," said McCracken. "The love I have for her made me want to help with this event."
	   A hair and makeup team also met the daughters at their hotel the morning of the event courtesy of San Quentin public information officer Lt. Guim'Mara Berry, who also went to meet the daughters and provided shuttle services to the prison.
	   Berry spoke at the event. "I am a mom with three daughters. I will walk to the end of the earth for them, so I understand the love," she said.
	   "People are always asking me what is the California model. This event right here, this is the California model," Berry said.
	   At the close of the event, daughters received bouquets of flowers and bags with engraved water bottles, games, art supplies, and T-shirts that said "I Danced With my Father."
	   
	   Steve Brooks is a California Local News Fellow with Bay City News Foundation, reporting from inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. His perspective gives readers insight into issues and news from inside the prison. See more of his work at Inside/Out on Local News Matters.
	   
	   
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	   SteveBrooks1454p04/29/25
	   
	   
	   
	   

    
    EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: This story was first published on LocalNewsMatters.org, an affiliated nonprofit site supported by Bay City News Foundation. Find the original link with more content, photos and links here:
https://localnewsmatters.org/2025/04/28/san-quentin-incarcerated-fathers-dance-with-their-daughters-at-first-ever-parenting-prom/

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