We’re thrilled to share the incredible moments and heartwarming stories from our recent event, “Coming Home and Celebrating Freedom,” where we commemorated the 10th anniversary of the GRIP Training Institute. It was an unforgettable evening filled with love, laughter, hope, and gratitude.
This was first and foremost a community gathering, a chance to reconnect with so many wonderful people, to honor award recipients who are true leaders in the work, and to celebrate freedom with the GRIP graduates who have come home to their families and communities.
Messages of Hope
The evening also provided an opportunity for us to acknowledge those who are currently going through the GRIP healing and accountability journey as students. A series of large panels stood along the side of the outdoor space. Each panel had the name of a California prison where there’s a GRIP Tribe. We invited our guests to share messages of hope and support on this interactive art installation, reminding us all of those who were not physically present but are definitely in our hearts.
Honoring Peacemakers
The night was illuminated by the presence of our award recipients, true champions in the work of guiding rage into power. The 2023 Peacemaker Award recipient is Tribe 662, a remarkable group of men who graduated the GRIP program at San Quentin state prison in 2015, as well as their facilitators, and Jenny, a survivor of violence who was embraced as part of the Tribe in healing and restorative justice. Tribe 662 is featured in GRIP’s trailer video, which is screened at every graduation. They allowed us to use the footage of their vulnerability and journey of transformation to teach and inspire others.
Accepting the award for Tribe 662 were Tommy Shakur Ross, Vaughn Miles, and Jenny. Vaughn addressed his fellow Tribe members and alumni in the audience, “We shared vulnerability and transparency. As challenging as it was…we traveled through our guilt, shame, and fears together. So let’s continue to use our tools out here just like we did in there.”
Jenny, who shared her message by video, said, “It fills my heart and soul with hope and gratitude to know that violence can be healed and that formerly violent people can become peacemakers thanks to GRIP.”
Recognizing a Trailblazer
We were honored to present the 2023 Trailblazer Award to Assemblymember Mia Bonta, a fearless advocate for restorative justice and community-based programs in California prisons. Her unwavering dedication to creating a more equitable and safe world aligns perfectly with GRIP’s mission. Assemblymember Bonta, you inspire us. Your words as you accepted your award fill our hearts with pride and gratitude: “The work that you do is my guidance. The heart and the love that you bring to this work is going to be in my heart, and the healing that you do is going to be my north star.”
Celebrating the Legacy of GRIP's Founder
And of course, the evening would not have been complete without recognizing the visionary behind GRIP: our founder, Jacques Verduin, with the Legacy Award. To a standing ovation, Jacques humbly accepted the award–a snazzy black GRIP jacket made especially for him– with these words,
“Looking out at all of you, what could be a greater gift than knowing that all of us have heard the call? That there is another way to live, and punishment and retribution aren’t part of it, and shame and denial neither. The calling to live a life with compassion.”
Jacques acknowledged the capable and heartfelt leadership of GRIP’s Executive Director Kim Grose Moore. He held up a shiny, black river rock, at which several GRIP graduates held up theirs as well. “This is Kim’s rock,” he said and invited the audience to infuse the rock with all their support for Kim, a closing ritual familiar to all who go through the GRIP program.
With Jacques’ acceptance speech done, Kim invited all the graduates and friends to form a human arch for Jacques to walk through as the song “Oh, Happy Day!” played. The GRIP community recognized this rite of passage that’s performed at the end of all graduation ceremonies.
The Power of Spoken Word
The event embraced unity and connection as Fateen Jackson, GRIP senior facilitator and training coordinator, captivated the audience with a powerful spoken word performance. His words echoed throughout the venue:
We have turned tragedies into triumph
Defeats into victories
Pain into power
And power into positivity
Fateen uplifted our hearts and spirits with this ending:
I’d like to shout out to the ones
Who are not here
That’s why I took my last tear
And turned it into a celebration cheer for self-care
How people, whether we are far and near from each other,
Know that you are never alone
And to my liberated peacemakers
Welcome home!
Welcome home!
Welcome home!
Let's Continue the Journey
Thanks to all GRIP supporters!
To the amazing donors, volunteers, and friends, it is because of your unwavering support that we have reached this incredible milestone. Your contributions, whether through time, resources, or advocacy, have made a lasting impact on the lives of those affected by violence and incarceration. We are immensely grateful for your dedication to the power of transformation.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of the GRIP community celebration!
If you’re inspired and haven’t yet had a chance to support GRIP’s 10th Anniversary, we hope you’ll consider making a donation to ensure we can continue to deliver opportunities for healing and transformation.