InsideOUT Writers: Alumni

“What distinguishes InsideOUT Writers from any other organization, whose objectives are to help juvenile offenders establish a respectable lifestyle, is that InsideOUT is actually helping the students help themselves as opposed to preaching to them what they already know.”

Walter McMillan, President, Alumni Association

In late 2004, students who completed our writing program created the InsideOUT Writers Alumni Association. The purpose of the Association is to support other graduates of the program after release from incarceration. Many students have completed our writing program since its inception. Some leave juvenile hall and continue their educational pursuits going to college and graduate school. Some leave juvenile hall and enter the workforce. Others move from juvenile hall to state prison. And many are still in search of their way from inside to outside in the world. Yet they all share a common experience: the InsideOUT Writers program. And they have the opportunity to join the Alumni Association.

Following are the stories of a few InsideOUT Writers who are spearheading the development and growth of the Alumni Association.

Walter McMillan

President and Founding Member

Alumni Association

Walter McMillan was incarcerated first in juvenile hall when our program began. When he was sentenced to California Youth Authority he started taking college courses. Upon release, he completed college and is currently finishing medical school at Drew University with an emphasis on nuclear medicine. Walter is the Alumni Association President and a founding member. He recently joined the Board of InsideOUT Writers.

Other Founding Members

Marlon Rivera was at Central Juvenile Hall facing a life sentence before InsideOUT Writers’ co-founder Sister Janet Harris successfully advocated on his behalf to be sentenced to California Youth Authority instead of an adult prison. Upon his release, Marlon started a writing class for kids at Dolores Mission and was awarded a four-year scholarship to Santa Clara University. During college, he did two summer internships with the prestigious law firm O’Melveny & Myers. In June 2004, Marlon graduated from Santa Clara University and worked at O’Melveny & Myers. This fall Marlon begins his first year at the University of San Francisco Law School. Marlon currently serves on the InsideOUT Writers Advisory Board.

Benny Wong was incarcerated in juvenile hall. His story is included in founding teacher Mark Salzman’s best seller “True Notebooks.” Currently, Benny is pursuing a career in real estate while in college studying for his business degree. He was the first president of the Alumni Association.

Prince “Chozen” Williams began with InsideOUT Writers in juvenile hall, charged with a serious crime and facing a life sentence. He spent the next six years in Folsom and other adult prisons. During that time, InsideOUT Writers kept in touch with him. Upon his release, he was the first student to serve on InsideOUT Writers Board of Directors. Prince has pursued a career as a talented hip hop artist, performing throughout Los Angeles.

June 2006