By Alicia B.
On Tuesday, January 2, at 7:00 P.M., Marty N. and I made a Lifering presentation on the fourth floor of the Cornell Corrections facility at 111 Taylor Street in San Francisco.
Cornell is a secured, transitional center for men who are just out of state prison and on their way back into society. A section for federal prisoners is on the ground floor of the same building.
There were approximately 20 men present. Marty began the presentation sharing parts of his story and I followed with parts of mine. The residents were attentive, alert and receptive. They asked questions at the end about availability of meetings, locations, staying clean, etc...
I believe we reached them because we were honest. There is just no other way. We shared what we know and what we feel. Most of the residents in these type of centers are hardcore criminals and/or drug addicts, not all are addicts but most are. The fact that I can look them in the eye, from one dope fiend to another and tell them that, like me, they can stay clean and sober without using a religious/spiritual/step program, that, sobriety is our goal, that it's OK to just not use and help and support each other, is very powerful. They get it. It's not phoney.
We emphasized that if the only thing that we do today is stay clean, that is a victory, even if everything else goes wrong.
The presentation went very well.
For articles on previous presentations at this facility see: