Community

Malachi Dads – A Faith-based Christian Inmate Self-help Program

Published

9 years ago

May 9, 2015

by Juan Haines, San Quentin News Managing Editor

Malachi Dads is a faith-based Christian inmate self-help program that teaches inmates ways to interact and mend relations – particularly how to be better fathers.

<p><p><p>On a Saturday morning, about a dozen San Quentin inmates stream into a church, filling a cluster of chairs. Sitting in a circle and opening with a prayer, they gather there for one reason: to learn to reconnect with their children.

Inmate Brent, with the help of facilitators from the local community – Otis Cole, Donald Mack, Melvin Piper, Alan Roberts, Rene Tovar, Chris Baily and Karl Davis – puts Biblical lessons together for the participants.

“As a facilitator and alumni of Malachi Dads, it’s an honor to be a part of how God is transforming the lives of men and turning the hearts of these fathers,” Roberts said.

The weekly program originated at Louisiana State Penitentiary, more commonly known as Angola Prison.

“The men who take this class are experiencing God,” said Cole. “These men are helping each other’s families turn toward each other.”

Currently, about 2.2 million children nationwide have a parent behind bars, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Children with an incarcerated parent are seven times more likely to end up in prison themselves, the DOJ reported. For many, the program fulfills a crucial role in strengthening families with an incarcerated parent.

Malachi Dads participants take a pledge to transform themselves in order to make an impact on future generations of children. Informally structured, the sessions foster conversations on topics ranging from masculinity and the media to mental health.

The group functions as a space for inmates to express their emotions and frustrations, as well as support each other and exchange techniques on fostering family relations.

“The work that the men were doing to reconnect with their family impacts the cycle of sons and daughters who might be following their footsteps to prison,” Cole said.

Cole began volunteering at San Quentin in 1999. He became inspired to create Malachi Dads after visiting the program during a trip to Angola, he said.

“It’s here to stay,” he said. “When we talk about this program at my church, others want to help.”

According to Cole, family relationships for inmates tend to be “more strained” than other families. For some inmates, it might have been years since they last interacted with their loved ones, he said.

“Malachi Dads gives you tools to help communicate to loved ones. Holidays create an opportunity for family members to get together and mend fences,” he said. “It takes a lot of give and take. Let your faith drive you.”

“That’s why they were in this class,” he said. “You get out of this program what you put into it. Malachi Dads gives the men the chance to really connect with their children in the only way that’s meaningful: a Godly way.”

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Activism

Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

5 days ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

To enlarge your view of this issue, use the slider, magnifying glass icon or full page icon in the lower right corner of the browser window.

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

1 week ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.