Redemption and Resilience: Amplifying Shared Humanity Through Narrative Storytelling within San Quentin

• In Event: Reclaiming Humanity: Resilience, Redemption, and the Power of Storytelling from Human of San Quentin

Abstract

Through the transformative influence of storytelling, the "Humans of San Quentin" (HoSQ), is a humanitarian nonprofit. It portrays San Quentin as more than a place of confinement, but also a space of resilience and human expression. Diane Kahn, HoSQ's director and a seasoned educator and social justice advocate, amplifies the stories of HoSQ participants beyond prison walls. Through educational programs and rehabilitative initiatives, she highlights storytelling's role in personal growth, communal healing, and societal change within carceral contexts, advancing efforts toward rehabilitation and reintegration. Dr Marietta Martinovic, criminologist from Australia, will internationally compare and examine HoSQ's operational dynamics and its broader societal implications. Furthermore, Dr Martinovic will discuss how HoSQ’s initiatives intersect with key criminological concepts, including resilience, vulnerability, transformation, and the intricate challenge of reintegration into society post-incarceration.

Authors

• Diane Kahn, Humans of San Quentin

• Marietta Martinovic, RMIT University