C EIJSBBÄ TIX » Ä
14
*J (U H H Kl
street ro o ts jlB
Education * Dialogue ♦ Independence
|HÍW^^
Life proceeds one day at a time for those inside and out
òr Karen, it felt like a sunny day, even
though it was pouring rain in
Portland. Joyful thoughts filled her
heart In less than an hour, she’d be with
her 26-year-old son,’ It had been more than
two months since their last visit. He hadn’t
been rtioved yet That trip took almost four
hours each way.
Then, the waiting — all for a few precious
hours just to quietly hold hands. She hoped
he wouldn’t have to be «
in chains today. There
wasn’t much for them to
say, but the touching
showed more life and
love than any words.
\ She’d been told that
here, in the new place,
therecould be a better
evaluation and better treatment facilities.
The shorter trip and more frequent visits
, were unexpected bonuses for Karen.
As she turned past the gate and found
her way to a vacant spot in the huge parking
lot, she tried to maintain her positive
attitude, but the gloom of high walls with
barred windows and fences topped by
barbed wire brought gloom to the scene and
her heart.
She stepped out of the car, the shadow of
the tower, armed guards peering out of high
windows, blocked her suhny spirit even , ;
more. She put her purse, jewelry and lunch
basket into the trunk and took out the paper
shopping bag of books with the envelope of
flyers. Her glasses, ID card and a clear
plastic bag of quarters went into her pocket
with the supply of tissues. Karen’s blue
outer jacket was also left behind even *
though there was a chill in the air. Luckily,
the rain hàd stopped. Thè brisk walk from
the parking lot, past the well-tended gardens
and families of free wandering ducks, then. _
up the high prison steps ta the entrance to
the visitor waiting room, warmed her a bit,
but made her wonder how some of the older
parents met the challenge.
First she signed in, showing her ID, then
changed the quarters for tokens in the
vending machine. For four of her quarters,
she could have gone to another machine to
get cellophane wrapped cookies, candy,
crackers and cheese ór a can of soda that
she could have brought from home for half
the cost Next she took the fliers out of the
envelope, passed them out to other waiting
visitors placed a few on the magazine table,
posted one of each on the bulletin board and
B
FBOMTBi
BBSBOF
Ruth Kovacs
Ruth Kovacs is a Portland
activist, form er teacher and
host o f Prison Pipeline on'
KBOO, 90.7fm . She writes
regularly about the issues
¡surrounding the millions
o f individuals and families
affected by the U.S. prison
system ..
put the few remaining in the “take one”
tray.
The guard accepted the books and
promised that they’d get directed to the
prison library. Just six months ago only new
books, mailed directly from publishing
companies could be donated to the library.
Used books for specific prisoners or gifts
from family also had to be sent to the prison
directly from the publisher. Karen had
supported the many months of efforts to
accomplish this change. She regularly
volunteered with Books for Prisoners and
donated many books.
Now the waiting started. It usually took
an hour until her name was called so she .
could take her turn to walk through the
metal detector. Karen always passed
through without the beep that could deny
her visit because she had learned to be
careful — no underwire bra, jewelry,
barrettes, and of course no food, drugs,
books from home, papers or photos. No
clothing that is blue, has metal buttons or is
too short, too tight or too revealing is
allowed.
It was useless to argue with the guards. If
they objected to anything she brought or
wore, she surrendered it to be put into her
locker for just one token.
When her name was called, a guard
escorted her through the iron gates to get
her hand stamped and down several long
hallways and electronic doors of iron bars
until finally she was in a large empty room,
except for the cage in the middle.
There, in a 10-foot-square cage, seated
with his hands cuffed te a table was her son.
His head was drooping and he did not look
up as the guard opened the door to let her
into the cage. She sat down on the chair
across the table from him and gently
touched.his hand. She was shocked tn_see_
that he was apparently drugged and showed
no response to her arrival.
Hiding her pain, Karen softly spoke to
herson. When he heard his name, he lifted
his eyes to meet hers. He blinked a few .
times and almost smiled, and as a tear came
to his eye, he spoke the words she had
driven 70 miles to hear.
“Hi, mom.”
There are two Karens. The mother who
visits her son: and pretends to be brave even
though she is weeping and angry inside, and
tiie citizen Karen who understands the big
picture and works for prison reform with
other loved ones, the community and the
embrace [muoiu diversity
legislature.
Her son was incarcerated afid sentenced
under Measure 11 to five years and 10
months.
He is dual-diagnosed as mentally ill and
addicted.-His doctor describes his addiction
as “self-medicating,” and his drug problems
began when he was 16. As a devoted parent,
concern for his well-being and justice
strengthened Karen’s life of activism. She
visite him regularly, despite the cost of gas
and time off work.
Often she wonders if she should just send
the money to his account instead, but
overwhelming evidence indicates the
importance of maintaining contact with
loved ones.
Karen began her political activity long
before 2006, when her son was
incarcerated. Her mission has been to
educate folks. She is active in the National
Alliance for Mentally 111 and initiated a
ministry at her church concerning addiction.
Also while volunteering in thé schools since
her oldest sofi entered kindergarten, she
also campaigned to close the Trojan facility,
to ban land mines and in the 1980s
participated in protests and action with the
Portland chapter of thé Women’s
International League for Peace and
Freedom;
Her interest in prison reform began by
investigating the details of Measures 11, 57,
61 and other legislature concerned with
mandatory sentencing, three strikes you’re
out, and budget expenditures for more
prisons instead of rehab programs. As she
gathers information, she prepares flyers
which she distributes at church, in visitor,
^waiting rooms, on street Corners and at the
many meetings she attends.
“I didn’t understand these issues until I
started tebQtenandrftaA I hnpe rov fivers-
.educate the people l givg them to, and that
they will help spread the word.”
, Recently I called Karen to suggest supper
and a movie to get a break from the
intensity of our work. Her reply sums up
her day-to-day life in addition to her full-time
job that provides support for herself,
. “I don’t know. I’ll visit the prison
Wednesday and I’ll see how well I handle it
“If I have the strength, I’ll try. Or maybe,
I might be too busy preparing for my next
meeting. I’ll let you know Wednesday
evening. I’m human, too, and sometimes
just have to take it a day at a time.”
If you've ever found yourself in need.of social services, you know howconfusing it can all be.
Long lines, limited hours, seemingly arbitrary eligibility criteria, going from place to place to
connect the dots in hopes of
■
1
getting the help you need.
ife
Œ ê S T .
efficient
affordable,
high-quality
screen-printed
t-shiris with a
quick turn time.
Try screen-printed
shopping totes
for your next event!
Blue ink, Inc.
321 NE Davis Sf.
Portland, OR
503-232-8578 Phone
503-232-1834 Fax
Mention this ad for a
free screen
i
a witham & dickey affiliated com pany.
f o r •-?#»,.
*■
The Rose City Resource makes i t .
all just a little bit easier. The 100-
page booklet records the hours;
and locations of basicservices
including shelters, meals, and ,
health clinics, as well as advocacy
jjjl ,
and long-term solutions such as
recovery programs, legal aid, and
transitional housing. The guide
includes more than 350 listings in
Multnomah, Clackamas, and
Washington counties and is now available in both English and on the Web. JEvery year, the
pocket-size guide helps thousands o f individuals and families independently access the
services they need.
XA ,
The Rose City Resource is partially funded through partnerships with the City of Portland and
•211 Info. But to keep updating and publishing this all-in-one resource, Street Roots needs
community support. The guides are more important than ever. While programs are shifting
and shrinking, many people are finding themselves in need of services for the first time. Your
support will keep the Rose City Resource in the hands of the people who need them.
www.rosecityresource.org