Chowchilla State Valley Prison for Women Celebrates 3rd Annual Peace Day Celebration
Article by Francisco Da Costa
Photography by Abraham Menor

Kudos, to the organizers and sponsors that worked very hard to keep the flame alive and celebrate Peace Day on October 17, 2009 at the Chowchilla State Valley Prison for Women. Over 2000 women prisoners were in the yard appreciating their CULTURE and healing themselves. United Playaz and Rudy Corpuz led a team to speak, sing, and uplift the hopes of our women prisoners from the Bay Area. We have been there before and we will be there again - to do the right thing.

Ms. P Musgrove and Ms. S Miles should feel very proud that they have kept hope alive and continued to work hard with the organizers, the sponsors and most of all the women prisoners who are incarcerated at Chowchilla, State Valley Prison to celebrate Peace Day Celebration and allow the women to be proud of the various cultures that contribute to California - and contribute to the make up of all our prisons including Chowchilla, State Valley Prison.

It was a pleasure to be at the 3rd Annual Peace Day Celebration on October 17, 2009 at Chowchilla, California.

Our hosts were very kind to us and gave us under their protocol - access to those areas where we could inter-mingle with the women prisoners under the careful watch of the authorities and the organizers. All of us had to wear a guest badge and of course carry the necessary documents with us at all times.

United Playaz have led various groups before to Chowchilla, State Valley Prison and in fact some of us were there a couple of months ago to celebrate the great tradition of the Polynesian and Native American culture. I have fond memories of that event.

On October 17, 2009 the Peace Day Celebration was scheduled to begin at 9 am and go until 3 pm. On that historical day the Fog hung close to the Earth and visibility was very poor. The organizers had to be patient to allow Mother Earth to do its thing - come 12 noon the FOG cleared and it was time for the fat lady to sing. As most of you know - the show has to go on.

We left San Francisco in the early morning to make the 160 miles plus trip to Chowchilla. Some of us had been there before and for others it was the first time. Lucky for us every time we step into that prison some friendly folks make our day. After going through the check-in process we were all set to meet the Women Prisoners.

Some of them have adhered to us and all of them are in our prayers. Even as we treasure our freedom living without any fear - we are concerned that our women prisoners live in fear - more because so many are incarcerated at Chowchilla - close to 4,000. Many of them serve life terms. Many are women with children and want to be with their children. While many may have been sentenced justly - many others have been serving behind the wall because they did not get proper representation and justice. We will save the justification for all this and more for another time.

At the Third Peace Day Celebration over 2000 Women Inmates were present in the open yard. The organizers worked very, very hard to accommodate all those that wanted to perform. The show was to start at 9 am but now it was past 12 noon - and everyone was waiting for the show to begin. All those who were scheduled to perform were given an opportunity. Of course the time was limited and at the appointed time when the show ended at 3 pm - everyone was happy.

Looking at the faces of the women you could see they treasured this day - the past two Peace Day Celebrations had brought HOPE and these incarcerated women had worked very hard to put this event together. There was spoken word and it was excellent. The singing and dancing was good and most everyone was having a good time. The women look forward to this one event - it is about sharing cultures.

United Playaz, as I said has been supporting the women incarcerated at Chowchilla, State Valley Prison and this time around Rudy Corpuz our leader was all fired up to bring a smiling face on all those present and take them to a better place. Rudy had all the women fired up and after he brought some cheer to their hearts - most every one of them wanted to have his autograph. Rudy was all over the place giving the women their well-deserved dose of hope, cheer and healing.

Our photographer Abraham Menor was busy and has been kind enough to share some of his photographs with me. I have them posted at the end of this article. Abraham was busy doing his thing and at the end of the day he might have clicked hundreds of photographs - making sure that all those that posed had their "release forms" filled out and signed. After all in prison one has to follow - protocol. Enjoy the photographs but also be very, very respectful.

Most folks are not permitted to take photographs. But, in this day of technology and sound information we had to go through great lengths to first request, then wait patiently - before our request was granted. That is the main reason any photograph that leaves any prison has to be treasured and respected.

We would like to thank the authorities for going out of their way to accommodate us. Special thanks to Ms. Musgrove and Ms. Miles. They were kind enough around 3 pm when the show ended to take us to the Administrative Conference room and treat us to a nice lunch. Thank you very much for your kindness.

The event was excellent and some of the dances were awe-inspiring. There is a lot of talent at Chowchilla, State Valley Prison and we wish all the women well. There is nothing great about being incarcerated and this article will not dwell on those that are innocent but because of circumstances beyond their control are now incarcerated. It pains our heart to know of such cases - we continue to prayer for the victims and will continue as we have done before to support those that need help most.

United Playaz has been on the forefront to support those of our fellow women, men, and youth incarcerated. Not too many people show genuine compassion but that is what United Playaz does and that is why when I am called upon - I consider it my duty to serve those that need help most.
It is one thing to talk the talk - talk is cheap - but another to walk the walk and that is what I am talking about. We do down with Rudy to do the right thing and do it right and keep it tight.

I thank our photojournalist Abraham Menor for capturing the historic moments. What I saw was good and pleasing. I had the opportunity to meet those women especially form the Polynesian and Native American community that I had met before. They clearly remembered me - even as I tried to recall the last meeting and figure out the details. Meeting those that have no freedom as we in the outside world enjoy - is painful but a reality.

I want to thank the organizers and sponsors of the Peace Day Celebration at Chowchilla, State Valley Prison for Women for a job well done.