Living History on Alcatraz

Join us on July 11 for Living History Day, hosted by the Friends of the Civil War on Alcatraz! There will be Civil War re-enactors, dressed in historical period attire leading tours about the Civil War era on Alcatraz.Participants include the Third Artillery band, The U......More

Join us on July 11 for Living History Day, hosted by the Friends of the Civil War on Alcatraz! There will be Civil War re-enactors, dressed in historical period attire leading tours about the Civil War era on Alcatraz.Participants include the Third Artillery band, The U.S. Balloon Corps, the 20th Maine re-enactors, and more.Events include tours of Fort Alcatraz, concerts by the band, and military drills. Exhibits include soldier’s equipment, 1860 medical displays, household items and medicines of the period.If you are interested in joining on this special day, you can book any a Day Tour ticket at www.AlcatrazCityCruises.com

Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Jaime Harrison

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.  Jaime’s work centers on community advocacy, outreach, and supporting individuals navigating complex systems. She serves as an advocate with the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights and contributes to leadership and reentry initiatives as an Advisory Board Member for Defy Ventures. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Psychology at San Francisco State University, with plans to minor in Criminology. She is a published writer whose essays and journals have appeared in San Quentin News, The Paper Trail, and Prison Journalism Project, where she highlights justice, rehabilitation, and community healing. If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events. If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Brian Gonsoulin

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.Brian is a notable multimedia producer and advocate for criminal justice reform. While incarcerated, he was pivotal in establishing the San Quentin Media Center, served as Executive Director of the San Quentin Prison Report and was the General Manager for the San Quentin Basketball Program. Since his release, he has continued his work at KALW Radio and the Uncuffed podcast, and is also a producer for the groundbreaking San Quentin Film Festival.If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Anthony Pickens

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.Anthony is a justice advocate, public speaker, and formerly incarcerated youth offender who was sentenced to prison at the age of 15. After serving 24 years, he demonstrated an extraordinary rehabilitation and personal transformation, leading to his sentence commutation.Following his release, Anthony continued his commitment to justice and community empowerment. He previously served as a Legislative Advocate with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, where he worked on criminal justice reform and policy advocacy. He now operates his own business as a freelance paralegal and expert gang witness. Anthony played an instrumental role in the successful campaign to remove the slavery exception from the Oregon Constitution, contributing to the effort while incarcerated and after his release.If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Rafaella Benoit

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.Facing 40 years to life in prison due to California's three strikes law, Rafaella’s addiction was too strong and shame too deep. After 6 overdoses, she was arrested and sentenced to 8 years 8 months.After completing her AA in Psychology and transferring to UC Berkely, she is now pursuing a double major in Psychology and Sociology and proposing her own research. Rafaella will share her story with the hopes of inspiring others’ to improve their lives. “I firmly believe that all of my hardship was worthwhile if I am able to make a difference in someone else's life.”If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: George Galvis

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.George is the Co-founder and executive director of Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice. He will talk about his personal experience helping young people, particularly those involved in the criminal justice system, to become community leaders for positive change.At 17, George was incarcerated and charged with multiple felonies related to his participation in a drive-by shooting. Today, he advocates for at-risk youth, prisoners, and formerly incarcerated individuals with children. As the Chair of the Board of Directors for Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, George helped create All of Us or None, which fights for the rights of formerly and currently incarcerated people and families.If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series: Lashinna Burger

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being ......More

The Formerly Incarcerated Speaker Series is a program on Alcatraz Island that lifts up and highlights the voices of people who have spent time inside of jails and prisons. The National Park Service believes in parks as platforms for dialogue, and Alcatraz Island, being one of the only NPS sites that interprets mass incarceration, works directly with people who have been affected in order to give them a platform to showcase their stories. Speaker events are offered on various Saturdays from May-September 2026, from 1 - 2 PM.After surviving domestic violence and the tragic loss of her child, Lashinna was wrongfully incarcerated for 14 months on charges that were ultimately dismissed. Now, she uses her experiences to inspire transformation and healing in others, helping them to navigate trauma, the justice system, and personal growth.Lashinna is a mental health advocate and psychology student at Regent University. She volunteers in correctional settings, facilitating group sessions focused on accountability, healing, and resilience. Professionally, she serves veterans as an Advanced Medical Support Assistant with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She is also the founder of Lashinna Virtual Solutions and is pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology, with a focus on trauma and underserved populations.If you are part of a justice-impacted group and are interested in attending one of the days, please email us about community tickets for these events.If you have any accessibility needs such as ASL translation, please contact [email protected] at least 5 days in advance.

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