ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would never have been written without the help of the eighty women who shared their lives with me. Over the past fourteen years, as I’ve talked with them, giggled, gossiped and cried with them, all the time learning their stories of courage and resilience, I’ve never stopped being both in awe and grateful for everything they’ve given me. My debt to them is incalculable. Their lives and their stories have changed me forever.

I am honored that Adela Juarez, Rosa Lucero, Denise Marshall, and Clara Vasquez allowed me into the most intimate parts of their lives. Their strength and honesty was—and is—the heart of this work. Denise once explained, “I like the idea of owning my life for a change.” Whatever the motivation for the candor and authenticity you four have blessed me with, words fail as I try to express my gratitude. Thank you.

Susan Burton is connected to all of these women and so many others. As this book strives to make apparent, she is a leader, a role model, and an advocate all rolled into one. Her devotion to the cause of formerly and currently incarcerated women globally is unparalleled. It was my good fortune that Dr. Bob Ross and the California Endowment connected the two of us all those years ago, allowing me to begin working with A New Way of Life. That organization and the people who comprise it—including co-directors Michael Towler and Pamela Marshall, Ingrid Archie, Claire Arce, and Margaret Dooley-Sammuli—continue to inspire me with their devotion to the lives of formerly and currently incarcerated women everywhere. I will forever be committed to ANWOL.

This parallels my commitment to Homeboy Industries and the women of the Homegirl Café. To this day, they are a singular part of my life. While my beloved Pati Zarate, Shannon Smith, and Erika Cuellar have moved on to new projects, the soul of the café remains unchanged with Arlin Crane “now leading its efforts.” I remain in contact with and steadfastly admire all of the women I grew to know and love through its work and Homeboy Industries’ mission to provide “hope, training and support to formerly gang involved and recently incarcerated men and women, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.” I continue to deeply respect the contributions of all the Homeboy leadership staff, including my friends Tom Vozzo, Shirley Torres, and Hector Verdugo. I am also in awe of the loving dedication of Myrna Tellez.

It’s impossible to think or write about Homeboy Industries, the Homegirl Café, and the struggles of women who have come of age in the shadow of gangs and incarceration without thinking of the one person who has taught us all about kinship and compassion. There is no one on this earth like Father Greg Boyle. He has been and will always be a constant source of knowledge, reassurance, and delight. Understanding that women’s struggles are born of trauma and pain, he continues to be part of my journey as I bear witness to women’s stories in the spirit of kinship and humility. His love, wisdom, and friendship are all one of the great joys of my life.

The truism “it takes a village” was never more apparent to me than throughout the stages of writing this book, which spanned a global pandemic and the ongoing demand for racial and social justice ignited by the murder of George Floyd. From the beginning, Helene Atwan at Beacon Press served as both an insightful editor and a great source of support. She is simply extraordinary. I’m also indebted to Pam MacColl, Beth Collins, Susan Lumenello, and Katherine Scott. This is my third book to be published by Beacon Press, words I am honored to write. Their commitment to social justice and the quality of the works they publish have served as an inspiration to so many readers—including me.

I’m deeply indebted to my friends and colleagues at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Department of Social Welfare. While they’re too numerous to name, I’m grateful to Rosina Becerra for taking a chance on me thirty years ago and to Laura Abrams, whose research and guidance is part of this work. I’m also thankful for Dean Gary Segura, Michael Dukakis, Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Ian Holloway, Gerry Lavinia, Susana Bonis, Ann (F-Ann-Tastic) Kim, Jianchao Lai, Monica Macias, and Livier Guttierez. Although Annalisa Enrile teaches at “the other school” (USC), her scholarship and insights have deeply informed efforts to achieve justice and equity for women all over the globe. Along with Marcia Cunha, she’s the best boss lady I know! The amazing Whitney Gouche helped turn this manuscript into a well-organized piece of work.

At UCLA, I also met the man who changed my professional life. Todd Franke is a gifted professor who cares deeply about his students. He is also the most brilliant research methodologist I’ve ever known. I’m so grateful that he took me by the hand almost twenty years ago and taught me more about research and evaluation than I ever could have imagined. I’m grateful every day for the role he continues to play in my life.

My village is also populated by the friends and chosen family that surround and support me, whom I simply could not live without. I am so grateful for the love and wisdom of my Watts family, including my mommy, Betty Day, my forever partner, Elder Michael Cummings, Donny Joubert, Deborah Riddle, Perry Crouch, John King, Kathy Wooten, Amada Valle, and the men and women who participate in the Watts Leadership Institute. My appreciation for and support of the men of Project Fatherhood and the women of Motivated Moms is enduring; their devotion to their families and to Watts is a source of both hope and awe. I’ve also been inspired by a talented collection of individuals who care deeply about the communities of both men and women who live in the shadow of violence and incarceration. With deep respect, I am grateful for Connie Rice, Sandy Jo MacArthur, Emada and Phil Tingirides, Aqeela Sherrills, my wonderful E—Elizabeth Ruebman, David Kennedy, Melvyn Hayward, Aquil Basheer, Ben Owens, Blinky Rodriguez, Robert “Bobby” Arias, Gerald Cavitt, Skipp Townsend, Fernando Rejon, Andre Christian, Reginald Zachery, Jose Rodriguez, Alex Sanchez, my brother Kenny Green, and my daughter forever, Bertha Cordova.

My partner at the UCLA Watts Leadership Institute who also serves as the director of the Social Justice Research Partnership, Karrah Lompa, deserves all the praise I can heap upon her and so much more. Over the years we have worked with a remarkable group of community researchers and scholars, including Susana Bonis, Callie Davidson, Sergio Rizzo-Fontanesi, Crystal Thomas, Adriana Ariza, Samantha McCarthy, Sophia Bilodeau, and Katie Saenz. Stephanie Benson was integral to the work at ANWOL, and her efforts in that endeavor were second to none.

I cannot begin to describe what my friend Carol Biondi means to me. I constantly draw upon her strength and steadfastness; her friendship is a gift I could never have imagined. Bill Resnick and Michael Stubbs have served as thought partners in this endeavor, and their support for formerly and currently incarcerated women is a living example of compassion and philanthropy. In all of this, Alexis Rizutto has answered the phone, helping me as a true friend and sounding board as I thought about what this work should encompass.

My beloved second father, therapist, friend, and mentor, Dr. Joseph Rosner, is ninety-nine years old and warned me that I had to finish this book before he turned one hundred. I needed that “encouragement” just as I drew upon the support of my two brothers and their families: Tony and Margie, and Chris and Kim. My heart belongs to them and to the members of my chosen family whose love and support I treasure every day of my life: Shelly Brooks and Ben Goff, Tina Christie and Michelle Parra, Gerry Chaleff, Joe and Malinda Kibre, Nina Bende, Penny Fuller, Larry Pressman, my GT Marcia Berris, Anne Taylor Fleming, Ann Herold, Julio Marcial, my beloved Greek sister, Sofia Liosis, John and Nicolette Skrumbis Phillipopoulos, Jack Rosner, Heather and Joe Fier, Robert Green, Katie Sparks and David Jackson, Gail Egstrom Clarke, Marcy Jones Erickson, and the incredible Sean Kennedy.

Along with the incomparable and brilliant lawyer Elie Miller, the journalist and scholar Celeste Fremon is my “justice sister.” Her intellect and humor are a constant in my life. Both of these women have sustained me through many struggles.

Like so many other individuals, the global pandemic affected my personal life. I am grateful beyond words for the care and compassion of Dr. Cheryl Charles and Dr. James Caplan. Their efforts reinforce the significance of affordable healthcare for all women, honoring the memory of two women I loved deeply: my Thea Ernie—Virginia Manos Pappas—and the irreplaceable Beatriz Solis.

Finally, there are the two people who are, quite simply, the center of my world. My husband, Mark, and my daughter, Shannon, have given me a dream of life. Together they have taught me the meaning of unconditional love.