In prison, “program” is the term used to describe someone’s set schedule. Waking up at 5am, going to chow, off to work, count time (prison’s method for taking attendance) at 4pm, evening chow, etc. In society, “routine” is the term used to describe someone’s set schedule. I know this because my wife, La Vonda, teased me one day when I said, “Now that I’m working at Rally.org I can set a regular program. Her response was something like, “It’s called a routine out here.”

Well, I guess it is fair to say that I now have a regular routine. I awake at 6am, an hour later than I awoke in prison. At 6:45ish, I make my wife and I a green smoothie for breakfast. By 8:15am, I am ready to leave the house and head to work.

I take public transportation into the fast-paced extension of Silicon Valley, the bustling city of San Francisco. My BART ride is forty-five minutes. I don’t mind the ride, it gives me time to check emails, read, or work on other tasks.

From door to door, my commute is around an hour and twenty-five minutes, depending on traffic and parking availability at the Bart station. I arrive to the office between 9:35-9:50am. I enjoy a late morning cup of green tea as I begin my work day.

Everyone at Rally is welcoming, supportive, and flat out awesome. They have made me feel like part of the family. At noon, lunch is served and we all eat together in the kitchen or in other various sitting areas. Between 2-3pm a few of us will walk to grab coffee together in an effort to fight the early afternoon “nap bug” that attacks the office. And at some point during the day we participate in an in-house ping-pong tournament. I lost my first game to Kaitlin, who is also an intern at Rally. Rally has a great company culture and is a great place to work.

I have had the pleasure to sit in on a few informative meetings with the product, engineering, and marketing teams. Some of the technical language used in those meetings have been over my head, but somehow I leave out of the meetings feeling like I just learned something very valuable for my future.

Before I interviewed with Rally, the thought of what I had to offer a tech start-up company never crossed my mind. I was more focused on the learning opportunities that Rally would provide. I viewed it as an opportunity to receive a sort of on-the-job MBA learning program while also earning an income.

However, immediately after leaving the interview, I was so impressed by the work Rally was doing and by how they were providing so many people the opportunity to raise money for causes that mattered to them. I began to think about how I could contribute to such an impactful platform. I wanted to be a part of the Rally movement and to help others raise funds for worthy causes. Rally is a natural fit for me as it has provided me a way to pay forward the opportunities that I have been given.

I am using Rally to raise funds for a cause that matters to me. My rally is designed to assist graduates of The Last Mile with their first sixty days back into society. Although TLM will help graduates acquire employment upon their release, they will have immediate needs that TLM is not currently providing. These needs include money for housing, clothing, transportation, communication devices, and healthy diets. The funds I raise will help these vetted graduates transition more smoothly.

I can’t speak for all prisoners, but I think it is fair to say that many prisoners would love the opportunity to give back to society in a meaningful way. For me personally, being released from prison is just a portion of what freedom really is about. Giving back to society, after taking from society, in a meaningful and impactful way is the ultimate freedom.

My workday ends somewhere between 5-5:30pm. I catch BART back across the Bay and head home. I arrive home around 6:40pm. I eat dinner, allow my food to digest for an hour, then head to the gym for an hour or so. I then return home, check for emails and try to get some reading in. My night usually ends around 11:30pm. I awake the next morning around the same time and repeat the “routine” again.

I am grateful every day, trading my “program” for a “routine”.  It is truly liberating.

###

Heracio Harts is a Graduate of  The Last Mile  and was released from San Quentin State Prison on March 12, 2013 and is now working as an intern for Rally.org.

Watch the new Demo Day video. Very proud of everyone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKTNV5IGWZk

By Chrisfino Kenyatta Leal

When the sponsors of The Last Mile introduced me to Quora I was skeptical because I didn’t think people would be able to look past the fact that I’m in prison to actually listen to what I have to say. The feedback I’ve received has been tremendous and the impact it has had on me has surpassed all of my expectations.

Prison is a place where one’s thoughts/feelings are often exploited by others and 18+ years of living in this kind of environment had stifled my willingness to express myself openly. As time went by I found it more and more difficult to convey how I felt and what I was thinking to others. I developed a habit of holding things close to my chest and not letting others know how I

truly felt. Transitioning from being on “emotional lockdown” to openly expressing myself on the internet has been challenging. However, the process has helped me grow and become a better communicator. Simultaneously, my relationships have improved because my feelings are more accessible and as a result I feel more connected to the outside world.

It feels really good to know that people are interested in my perspective. Being part of the Quora community fills me with a sense of relevancy that has been missing in my life. Sharing my experience, connecting with others, and being heard outside of these walls is empowering!

Engaging the Quora community has broadened my understanding of social media and at the same time enhanced my confidence to use it effectively. This might not seem like a big deal but understanding how things work on the web is very important for people leaving incarcerated settings, especially those like myself who’ve never been on-line

People may not realize this but what The Last Mile and Quora are doing has never been done before. Allowing the voices of incarcerated people to be heard in this way is ground breaking and winning a Shorty Award has only made my experience on Quora that much sweeter. I am just thankful to have the opportunity to contribute. Being recognized for an award wasn’t something I had given any thought to so hearing the news that I was a finalist shocked me. Now that I’ve won, it reminds me of times when I have stepped into the batter’s box only intending to make good contact and put the ball in play but ended up hitting a home run. The fact that I’ve won hasn’t completely sunk in yet. I’m still trying to grasp what it all means. That said, I am

extremely honored and humbled to be recognized in this manner. I hope winning this Shorty will shed a positive light on people who are incarcerated. This award offers the possibility for The Last Mile to reach a broader audience and the larger community to see people who are incarcerated as human beings with redeemable qualities.

Thank you to The Last Mile, Quora, The Daily Love, Twitter, and everyone else who has supported me.

I will never forget it.

Quora answer by Tommy Winfrey:

Some people cannot understand how it feels to spend one night in prison,let alone years or even decades. I wish I was one such soul, but my life took a different direction at a young age that landed me directly into prison for an extended period. Prison is a lonely place. I wake up every day knowing that there is no one there for me to lean on, no one to share my secrets with, no one I can completely trust. Part of me knows this is because of my own making, but part of me knows this is the prison experience. I must pay for my sins, and apparently part of that is ex-communication from the world.

Prison becomes about monotony if you let it. You wake up for years in the same position on a tiny mattress, at the same time, knowing what is for breakfast because it is the same menu from week to week. If you’re lucky you may be in a place that offers some freedomof movement so you can at least go outsideand walk in a circle.I have known guys who can tell you how
many cracks there are on the track, or how many lines are painted from one end of the yard to the other. Often, your mind will wander when you have been incarcerated for extended periods.

The wandering of the mind can be a blessing because you achieve some measure of freedom. You are no longer trapped in the little cage you live in. You can go anywhere, be anyone, for a time at least.I sometimes see the guys who live in a fantasy world and I take pity on them. I hope I am released before I get there.

As I said,prison is lonely.You are surrounded by hundreds of people daily, but you are the only one serving your sentence. Some people are able to establish and maintain relationships with partners on the outside. But it takes a special kind of person who is able to make the sacrifice it requires to be with a person who is in prison. If you are lucky enough to find someone like this you will probably love that person more than life. You will find so much value in that person, at least that was how it was for me the one time it happened to me. When it ended,I was hurt more than I had ever been hurt before, because I lost my best friend on top of everything.

Despite all the loneliness and deprivation you might get something from prison. The time in exile is time to think. Think on who you are and what brought you to this place. The years worked their magic on me. I became remorseful. I gained valuableinsights into my life and character. I took these insights and applied them to the people and the world around me. These are things that I doubt the confusedkid I was that steppedinto this mess would have been able to do in the fast paced world of society. These insights allowedme to see what I did not like about the young man that I was, which led me in search of a better me.

I began to seek every opportunity I could to educate myself. Through education my whole world began to transform. If you are lucky you will find this opportunity, and if you are smart you will take it. This is another lesson prison taught me, if you want something you must seize upon it when the opportunity presents itself. I will never be a passives pectator in life again. If I need something I will become proactive in acquiring it, and if it still isn’t possible to get my hands on it I will create it. The deprivation teaches you to create.

Serving a life sentence is nothing but serving time itself when you get right down to it. You can either make time work for you or against you. It is your choice in the end. I have been guilty of both in my life. I have fallen prey to the loneliness of time in prison and I have worked to understand myself in this time. I believe the loneliness of my life is the pivotal story of my existence, but it is how I choose to deal with that loneliness which will define me. I have learned this from serving a life sentence in prison.

All communications between inmates and external channels are facilitated by approved volunteers since inmates do not have access to the internet. This program with Quora is part of The Last Mile San Quentin. Twitter: @TLM

View Answer on Quora

By Heracio Harts

After serving eight and a half years in prison, emerging from behind the walls a free man to an awaiting family was a wonderful feeling. I paroled wearing a grey three piece suit, an off-white shirt, brown leather wingtip shoes, a brown leather belt, and a matching tie and pocket square.

The days leading up to my release were spent doing the same routine I had maintained over the years. Up at 5am, go to chow, off to work. Return from work, shower, count time at 4pm, off to chow after count. Study, call home, study more, and count time at 9:30pm. Study more, shut it down then repeat the same program the next day.

As my release date neared, I anticipated some feeling of relief. I had always pictured myself becoming anxious or nervous as my day of freedom approached. But things didn’t work that way. It wasn’t until two nights before I was to parole, that the feelings of freedom began to sink in.

I remember looking at my bunk area, after I had given away most of my possessions, and thinking “it is finally coming to an end.”  My locker that had once been filled with hygiene products, package foods, clothing, and electronics had become a barren cave of hollowness. The area beneath my bunk that was once occupied by two totes filled with books, magazines and shoes had become an empty space. It reminded me of the beginning of my sentence; entering the system without any personal possessions.

The night before I was to be released I had reservations about whether I would actually be released the next morning. I had witnessed a number of inmates awake in the morning expecting to be released, only to find out that there had been some kind of error in their paperwork and that they would not be released on that day. I felt that if it could happen to them, it could very well happen to me.

To help calm my nerves I asked the on duty correctional officer if he would check the computer to see if I would be released in the morning. Not to my surprise, he was not cooperative. He stated that he’d awake me in the morning if I was being released. I went to sleep unknowingly.

I could hardly sleep. I must have awakened at least every half hour in from the anticipation. Then at 3:30am I heard the sound of keys approaching my bunk area. I lied there hoping the correctional officer. would stop at my bunk, and he did. “Mr. Harts, you are paroling this morning. You can shower at 4:15, but you need to be ready to go at a quarter to five.” I thanked him and felt a big sigh of relief.

I’m going home, my wife and children will be outside the gates waiting for me, I thought. I quickly showered said goodbye to my brother, who happened to be in the same prison and same dorm as me. Said goodbye to a close friend that I had done time with for the past six and a half years, who became more like a brother to me and did a final glance over the dorm where I was housed for nearly four years.

As I walked through the prison yard I made sure to take it all in. I wanted to remember what I made it through and what I had overcome. Not a single day of imprisonment was easy. Sure, some days were better than others but make no mistake, none of them were easy.

I entered receiving and release at around 5:30am. I was placed into a holding cell. At 6:30 a guard presented me with a box that contained my parole clothes. As I dressed, I signed my release papers. At 6:45am I was dressed and loaded into a prison van. At 6:50am I was outside the prison walls free of leg shackles and handcuffs for the first time in over eight years. I had only one final checkpoint to go through. I stepped out of the van, stated my name and cdc number v82845, it took less than three minutes. A guard yelled out, “that’s how you parole,” commenting on my attire.  I climbed back into the van.

The guard drove two hundred feet and I noticed the car that my family was in. The van pulled over and allowed me to exit the van. My son was the first to reach me, we shared a strong embraced. Next my wife and then my daughter. I climbed into the passenger seat and my son took the wheel. One of my favorite songs was playing through the speakers, Goapele “Closer to My Dream.” It was fitting. My son pulled off the prison grounds as I moved closer to my dreams.

By Chris Schuhmacher

There I was…San Quentin State Prison…serving a 16 year to life sentence for the crime of second-degree murder. This is my 13th year behind bars, with a majority of that spent locked away from the sunlight inside cells not much bigger than a walk-in closet. It has been an extremely difficult adjustment for a free-spirited and fun-loving guy from southern California. I’ve spent most of this time reading classic literature, taking college courses, exercising, and teaching myself to play Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Freebird’ on the guitar.  However, February 22nd  was The Last Mile Demo Day and I found myself standing in front of an audience filled with venture capitalists, business executives, reporters, and fellow inmates as I began to deliver my business PowerPoint presentation. “Good morning, my name is Chris Schuhmacher and I am the founder and CEO of Fitness Monkey…an online life coaching service that empowers addiction recovery through physical fitness.”

I began my journey towards The Last Mile after attending their first demo day at San Quentin last year.  After  seeing my  good friend Kenyatta  Leal knock  it out of the park with his pitch for Coach Potato and hearing  his praise for TLM, I knew right away that this was something I wanted to be a part of. I remember when it came to the interview process for the next session, I held nothing back.  I wore my ‘lucky’ blue shirt, which was recently left to me by  ’lifer’  friend of mine who had recently  gone home.   I also made sure to slip Chris Redlitz a copy of the San Quentin News that pictured me earning a college degree and giving an epic valedictorian speech that I believe even made the warden cry. I was thrilled when I found out that I had been selected to participate in The Last Mile’s sophomore class.  With so many negative influences that surround prison life, trying to take the high road has often left me standing by myself.  Now, I began to feel as if all of those lonely decisions were about to pay off.

Once  our  Tuesday   and   Thursday   night   classes  started,   I  was  totally   ’enchanted’  by Chris  and  Beverly’s  commitment  and  dedication  to  the  men  of  The  Last Mile.   The guilt and shame of being in prison  can make it very easy to get down on yourself, but here were two caring and compassionate  dynamos that believed  in us and were willing to share  their  energy  and  expertise  with  a  motivated   group  of  men   hungry  to  learn. The opportunity of what lay before me really hit home when on the first night; Chris told us that if we were willing to put in the work and become graduates from The Last Mile, he would  have an internship waiting for us upon our release.  As a lifer, I’ve had to learn to cope with a great deal  of  uncertainty,   but  when   I  looked  into  his  eyes,  I  was  compelled  to  believe  him.  Becoming a part of The Last Mile taught me the importance of surrounding yourself with people you believe in and learn to trust the process.

I can honestly say I had no clue as to what my business idea would be when I started the class. As we read  through  books  like Guy Kawasaki’s  ”Enchanted”,  ”The Dragonfly Effec”t by Andy Smith and Jennifer Aaker, and Brian Solis’ “The End  of Business as Usual”, we were encouraged to start thinking about the things in life we were passionate about. At the time, I think my top three were running,  tennis,  yoga,  not  too  mention,  getting  out  of prison.  We were then asked to come up with a positioning statement of eight words  or  less that  would define  our  commitment  to  ourselves  and  the  creative   process.   Mine read, “Live with vigor…let inspiration roar!” It was so strange and amazing how doing these two things as a group gave us the courage  and  confidence  to  begin  thinking  in terms  of possibilities,  rather than being encumbered by our circumstances. A  friend  of mine  used  to tell  me, “You don’t need  eyes to see …you  need  vision.”   This rang so true, as The  Last  Mile  helped  further  an expansion of consciousness that would allow me to see beyond the gun towers and razor-wire of prison walls.

I believe the social cause was inherently built in to Fitness Monkey because of its ability to provide a healthy alternative to the dangers of drugs and alcohol. However, I knew there would be times when exercise alone wouldn’t be enough. My business model includes several ways to give back to the addicts that still suffer including, sponsoring treatment facility tuitions, granting entry fees to fitness events, and donating athletic gear to those ready to get started on the road to recovery. My own experience had made me a believer in the principle that says that the only way to keep my sobriety is by looking for ways to continually give it away.

With each successive TLM session, the collaborative efforts of everyone inside and outside the group really helped the Fitness Monkey take shape and become a potential reality. Once the model was in place, I knew that I would need a logo. After receiving and turning down several submissions from artists here in prison, my friend Luke drew me a weight­ lifting, tennis playing, yoga monkey on I immediately fell in love with because we had so much in common. However, he may have been a little too much (think steroids) for the general public and I definitely didn’t want to scare anyone into getting clean. I opted for the next best thing, a cute and cleverly designed computer generated monkey lifting a dumb-bell who I could definitely see as the next hot iphone icon whom I fittingly named ‘Buff’. The encouragement and support I received from everyone involved was nothing short of transformative   I remember from the beginning, Beverly told us that The Last Mile would be a loyal fraternity of men and women who would always seek the highest good for its members. She was absolutely right. I will be eternally grateful and devoted to all my brothers and sisters of The Last Mile.

So, there I was…San Quentin State Prison …asking the audience to “join me and become part of the  Fitness Monkey recovery  revolution”  and  receiving  a  standing ovation …crazy. I thought the hard part was over, but my heart was still beating a mile a minute. Things got even crazier after all the presentations were over and the outside guests came forward with kudos on a job well done and lots & lots of questions. It was definitely more than I ever expected, and my only regret was not having the time to  talk  with everyone. I think it’s fair to say that when it came to demo day, the sophomore class had crushed it. However, the most inspirational and poignant moment for me was when a lady named Janet came and introduced herself. She had a warm smile yes that seemed to be tearing up, as she told me how much my personal story and presentation resonated with her own life experience. I couldn’t help but get emotional, because she helped me to realize that even in the darkness of my prison surroundings; I was able to shine a light of hope into the life of someone else. The Last Mile’s demo day was one of those defining moments I hope to carry with me for the rest of my life. I believe that despite my circumstances, the universe still continues to conspire in my favor and my best is definitely yet to come.

To send me a message, contact thelastmile.org or write me at:

Chris Schuhmacher

CDCR# T31014

S.Q.S.P.  4 N 93

San Quentin, CA   94964

Today Heracio Harts became a free man. We are excited to help him “pave the road to success”.

Here is one of his previous posts:

—————————–

By Heracio Harts

I will optimize my life, to give myself a second chance.
I will optimize my life, in hope of forgiveness.
I will optimize my life, to be an inspiration to others.
I will optimize my life, to make my family proud.
I will optimize my life, to give hope to those “behind the wall.”
I will optimize my life, to show society that some prisoners do change.
I will optimize my life, in hope to be accepted in society.
I will optimize my life, because I believe in me.

I will optimize my life, to be the best father that I can be.
I will optimize my life, to epitomize the sayings “lead by example,” and “practice what you preach.”
I will optimize my life, to become a better man.
I will optimize my life, to be enabled to help others.

And finally, I will optimize my life in hope that the legacy I leave behind is one of transformation, perseverance, integrity, honor, compassion, humility, love and forgiveness, but most of all, one that will make my children proud.

After eight years and six months of incarceration, and less than one month after The Last Mile “Demo Day” I will be released from prison. I have always felt that finding employment would be my biggest obstacle once I am released from prison. However, I feel that this opportunity, exposure and experience will increase my chances, and is a great transition to my freedom.

I am aware that entrepreneurs and ex-felons like me are told no many times before they are told yes, but I will not be discouraged. I am a firm believer that success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Therefore, I will continue to build upon my knowledge base, further develop my abilities, and prepare for my opportunity.

I will overcome this obstacle.

I will optimize my life.

By Chris Shuhmacher

I hope it means that  I’ve been able to tear down some of the stereotypes  that surround men in prison. This was my opportunity to allow potential employers and associates to see me as more than just the crime that brought me to prison. I can’t change my past, but I can learn from it, and continue to strive to be a better man. Yesterday ‘s demo day revitalized my spirit and reminded me that even though I may be separated from society by prison walls,exhibiting qualities like resiliency , determination, and authenticity have a way of reconnecting me with a vibrant and caring community beyond these walls.

Being a part of The Last Mile has taught me to be unafraid of asking for help and learning to unlock and develop the talents that lie within me. I hope to use this gift to explore my passions in life and to use them to empower the lives of those around me. My new tag line …”Live with vigor. . . let inspiration roar!”

This June will be my 13th year in prison,which leaves me with two years until my first Board of Prison Terms hearing. A big part of being found suitable for parole is showing the board that I’ll have a network of support upon my release. This is done by having family, friends, and potential employers write letters to the board stating why they feel I should be found suitable for parole and what kind of support (i.e. employment , education , housing , transportation , financial , spiritual etc.) they might be willing to offer if l were released. I realize that many of you don’t know the type of person I was when I came to prison, but I hope that after hearing me and meeting me yesterday , you were able to feel the dramatic transformation that is taking place in my life. I remain steadfast in believing that despite my circumstances, the Universe continues to conspire in my favor. My best is definitely yet to come .

I’d like to express my genuine appreciation to everyone who turned out and took part in The Last Mile demo day. If you would like to continue to assist me in my quest for freedom with a letter of support, please contact Chris or Beverly at the website or write to me directly here at San Quentin.

Thank you for allowing me to share my vision of a Fitness Monkey Recovery Revolution with you all. Thank you to The Last Mile for helping me make the best out of a bad situation and paving the road to my success.

All communications between inmates and external channels are facilitated by approved volunteers since inmates do not have access to the internet. This program with Quora is part of The Last Mile San Quentin. Twitter:  @TLM

By Heracio Harts

San Quentin State Prison

I will optimize my life, to give myself a second chance.
I will optimize my life, in hope of forgiveness.
I will optimize my life, to be an inspiration to others.
I will optimize my life, to make my family proud.
I will optimize my life, to give hope to those “behind the wall.”
I will optimize my life, to show society that some prisoners do change.
I will optimize my life, in hope to be accepted in society.
I will optimize my life, because I believe in me.

I will optimize my life, to be the best father that I can be.
I will optimize my life, to epitomize the sayings “lead by example,” and “practice what you preach.”
I will optimize my life, to become a better man.
I will optimize my life, to be enabled to help others.

And finally, I will optimize my life in hope that the legacy I leave behind is one of transformation, perseverance, integrity, honor, compassion, humility, love and forgiveness, but most of all, one that will make my children proud.

After eight years and six months of incarceration, and less than one month after The Last Mile “Demo Day” I will be released from prison. I have always felt that finding employment would be my biggest obstacle once I am released from prison. However, I feel that this opportunity, exposure and experience will increase my chances, and is a great transition to my freedom.

I am aware that entrepreneurs and ex-felons like me are told no many times before they are told yes, but I will not be discouraged. I am a firm believer that success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Therefore, I will continue to build upon my knowledge base, further develop my abilities, and prepare for my opportunity.

I will overcome this obstacle.

I will optimize my life.

###

All communications between inmates and external channels are facilitated by approved volunteers since inmates do not have access to the internet. This program with Quora is part of The Last Mile San Quentin. Twitter:  @TLM