Men of Resilience at RJ Donovan: Changing the Culture From Within
At Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, men from different walks of life are coming together with one shared purpose: to grow, to heal, and to create positive change. Some lead programs, others participate, but all contribute to a culture built on accountability, respect, and hope. Through mutual support, honest reflection, and a willingness to face their past, they are turning hardship into strength and proving that the California Model can work when you work it, whether or not every staff member is on board. Even with the recent budget cuts to the California Model, they have not allowed this to slow them down. Their resilience continues to inspire both inside and beyond the prison walls.
AGENTS OF CHANGE
Photo from left to right: Freddie Hernandez, Roque Martinez, Tomas Amaya Alvaro Quezada
Mr. Freddie Hernandez brings unwavering leadership and thoughtful reflection to the LWOP Alliance Group. Through tireless dedication to his own transformation, he has inspired meaningful change and growth on B Yard at RJ Donovan Prison. Freddy embodies the true spirit of leadership and resilience, leaving a lasting impact on every avenue he touches within the walls.
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Mr. Roque Martinez is one of the outstanding RISE facilitators and serves as the Lead PEP (Prisoners Educating Prisoners) facilitator. His journey of recovery has been long and transformative, and he works tirelessly with other men, preparing them for board. Roque is committed to continually deepening his understanding of his own trauma and expanding his toolbelt for growth. A true servant leader, he applies what he learns and shares it generously with anyone ready for change.
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Mr. Tomas Amaya is a dedicated RISE facilitator who has been a responsible programmer for the past five years. In his journey, he has let go of past affiliations and denounced prison politics, transforming himself threefold. As a certified dog trainer at SATF (Substance Abuse Treatment Facility), Tomas plays an active role in fostering a positive community inside B Facility. He also contributes to the beautification efforts at RJD and B Facility, using his artistic talents as a positive outlet. Committed to carrying this torch of culture shift forward, Tomas continues to inspire change within the walls.
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Mr. Alvaro Quezada is the Co-Founder of From Bars to Brilliance: The Healing Collective and the Lead RISE facilitator. A dedicated man with a gift for holding safe spaces for diverse groups, he embodies self-awareness and emotional intelligence. A graduate of Prison Fellowship, Alvaro has become deeply rooted in his true purpose. While at Kern Valley, he co-founded Education Goals to Endeavors (EDGE), a transformative mentorship and scared-straight program aimed at breaking cycles of incarceration. Alvaro continues to rise even when faced with challenges, always finding a way to lift others along the way.
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change Agents
Together, these men embody the heart of cultural transformation inside the walls. They show up for one another, not only in words but in action, supporting each other’s programs and lending strength where it is needed most. With conviction and courage, they lean into each other’s wisdom, challenge one another to grow, and remain steadfast in their shared commitment to change the culture. Each day, they strive to be the highest versions of themselves, knowing that their collective rise lights the way for others to follow. Once destructive forces within their communities, these men have faced and healed their trauma, transforming their pain into purpose and impacting lives both inside and beyond the prison walls.​​​​​​
TRUTH FOR THE YOUTH: MESSENGERS OF CHANGE
Standing (left to right): Alexander Hamilton, Riggioberto Salido, Roque Martinez, Salvador Villanueva, Salvador Sanchez, Christopher Stone. Kneeling (left to right): Jerry Coneal, Ika Amulu, Mike Spurling, Alvaro Quezada
These men proudly hold their certificates after completing Truth for the Youth, a powerful program built on honesty, lived experience, and the courage to speak hard truths. Each of them once walked a path that could have led others into harm’s way, but today they choose to use their stories to steer youth toward better choices. By sharing their journeys with transparency and heart, they aim to break cycles of incarceration and inspire the next generation to rise above the pitfalls they once faced.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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UNITED FOR CHANGE: BUILDING A NEW CULTURE INSIDE RJ DONOVAN
Standing (left to right): Freddie Hernandez, Joshuah Burcham, Riggoberto Salido, Roque Martinez, John Marvin, Christopher Stone, Tomas Amaya Kneeling (left to right): Alvaro Quezada, Ika Amulu, Brian Drand Dotson, Issah Mincy
Inside RJ Donovan, men like Freddie Hernandez, Joshuah Burcham, Riggoberto Salido, Roque Martinez, John Marvin, Christopher Stone, Tomas Amaya, Alvaro Quezada, Ika Amulu, Brian Drand Dotson, and Issah Mincy are proving that transformation is possible.
Representing programs such as the LWOP Alliance Group, RISE, PEP, and IPEP, they are united in their commitment to growth and cultural change. Whether leading or participating, they show up for one another, share hard-earned wisdom, and inspire those around them to take ownership of their healing. Their work stands as living proof that resilience, unity, and purpose can thrive even in the most challenging environments.
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Looking ahead, these men are eager to expand their impact through new programs currently awaiting approval. RISE (Restoring Identity through Self-Empowerment) is a trauma-informed emotional literacy program that helps participants unpack core beliefs, break destructive patterns, and reclaim their authentic selves. Inner Submission is a peer-led somatic rehabilitation program combining Grappling Arts, breathwork, and mindfulness to teach emotional regulation, nonviolence, and self-mastery. Echoes from the Yard is a youth diversion and mentorship initiative that uses storytelling, lived experience, and restorative dialogue to steer young people away from the justice system and toward positive life paths. Each program is designed to deepen personal growth, strengthen emotional awareness, and shift the culture from the inside out. The future they are working toward is one where transformation is not the exception, but the norm.
Men in the Recovery Group: Supporting each other.
Left to Right: Tomas Amaya, Michael Spurling, Michael Kelley, Freddie Hernandez, Roque Martinez, Joe R, Chad Tucker, Alvaro Quezada, Jeffery Lee, Juan Nunez. (sitting) Rigo & Josh Herbert
rise
Community
By Alvaro Quezada
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What does community really mean?
For many incarcerated men and women, community was never modeled for us. We grew up surrounded by violence, addiction, gangs, and survival. The communities we came from often taught us how to protect ourselves, but not how to belong.
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I grew up in Boyle Heights and East Los Angeles during the height of gang culture and the drug epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s. The examples around me were violence, shootings, addiction, and criminality. Looking back, it saddens me that these were the lessons so many of us learned as children.
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There were good people trying to show us a different path. Men and women worked tirelessly to help young people see another way of living. Unfortunately, the influence of gangs and street culture was often stronger than the voices trying to guide us toward something better.
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Today, after 28 years of incarceration on a Life Without the Possibility of Parole sentence, I have finally come to understand what true community looks like.
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That understanding began in 2023 when I reluctantly joined Prison Fellowship. Although I was hesitant to participate in a Christian-based program, it became one of the most important decisions of my life. Through Prison Fellowship, I met extraordinary people such as Pastor Martin Dawson, Ms. Pam Gonzales, and many others who demonstrated what it means to invest in a community through service, compassion, and consistency.
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These individuals volunteered their time to enter prisons and teach us about healing, trauma, personal growth, and faith. More importantly, they showed us through their actions that we mattered. Their kindness helped many of us believe in ourselves again.
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For me, that experience planted a seed. It challenged me to confront the pain, anger, betrayal, disappointment, and trauma I carried from my past. It helped me understand my Adverse Childhood Experiences and begin the difficult work of healing. Through that process, I discovered purpose.
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Today, I strive to live those same values by giving back to my community. Alongside my business partner, Elizabeth Sinofsky, I help develop and share programs through From Bars to Brilliance: The Healing Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to emotional literacy, trauma-informed education, and personal transformation.
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Across B-Facility, many community leaders are doing the same. Through peer-led programs such as LWOP Alliance, IPHEP, Bridging the Gap, RISE, and others, men are learning how to heal, lead, and support one another. What makes these efforts powerful is our commitment to collaboration. We promote one another's programs, support one another's work, and recognize that meaningful change happens when we work together.
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New initiatives continue to emerge. One example is the No Matter What Club, where members commit to accountability, integrity, compassion, and service to the community. Another is Barbers4Change, founded by Thomas Bursiaga, which encourages incarcerated barbers to use their skills and influence to promote healing, responsibility, and positive change.
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Together, we are creating a culture rooted in honesty, respect, empathy, and compassion. We are learning that rehabilitation is not simply about changing ourselves. It is about investing in others and making meaningful contributions to the communities we have impacted.
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We are preparing ourselves to be servant leaders both inside and beyond prison walls. We are learning to live amends, heal from our past, and help others do the same.
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We are becoming the wounded healers our communities need.
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