AN INCARCERATED FATHER and his daughter who started a truck driver training course inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center celebrated their first graduating class by inviting San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins to be keynote speaker.
In May, Vincent O’Bannon and his daughter Autumn hosted the event together inside San Quentin’s Protestant chapel.
Concrete Rose Correspondence School is a first-of-its kind nonprofit whose mission is to give convicted felons a second chance, by teaching them truck driving skills. The hope is that they will find well-paying jobs upon release from prison.
Autumn O’Bannon is co-founder and owner of the organization.
“We’re here to serve the underserved, the previously and current incarcerated,” she said. “We want to help lower the recidivism rate and to get men and women home to stay there. We don’t want income to be a reason why our families are continuing to be broken apart.”
Autumn’s father Vincent O’Bannon has been incarcerated for 14 years. Prior to the pandemic, he informed his daughter about all the incarcerated guys at San Quentin who are interested in truck driving.
“I told Autumn that the market is wide open here,” said O’Bannon. “There are so many guys interested that teaching the incarcerated this skill would be an excellent way to give back.”
Graduation day and a special guest
When the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, it curtailed the O’Bannon family plan. It wasn’t until July 2023 that Autumn saw her chance. San Quentin welcomed her with open arms to start the first truck driver training course in the California prison system. She is now undergoing the surreal experience of graduating her first cohort.
“I want to deliver this course to as many guys as possible and I am excited they want to learn,” she said.
Jenkins, who is known for being a tough-on-crime prosecutor, sat among a crowd of incarcerated people, families, friends, and prison officials in an emerald green pantsuit. She applauded the 35 graduates as they marched into the chapel with a red sash draped over each of their shoulders. A color guard unit followed to perform the national anthem.
“When I heard about this invitation, I cleared my schedule,” said Jenkins. “This is what it’s all about. A father-daughter dynamic duo. To see the institution allowing them to work together is a true testament of us trying to repair and not continue to harm our communities.
Heading for a reelection bid in November, Jenkins hinted that she wants to change her image. During her keynote speech she explained, “My focus has shifted. I believe public safety means preventing crimes from happening in the first place. The system has to provide a pathway. We have to empower you with the tools you need to be successful.”
Jenkins’ speech at times echoed the sentiment of former San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, who said in a recent interview that justice concerns not just punishment, but addressing the root causes of crime and helping everyone find healing.
Some incarcerated attendees grumbled at times, questioning DA Jenkins’ sincerity. They wondered if her speech was genuine or simply a reelection strategy. Jenkins is facing a young progressive, Ryan Khojasteh, an Alameda County deputy district attorney who she actually fired when she took office in 2022 after Boudin was recalled from office.
‘This is thinking outside the box’
But Jenkins’ words sounded sincere.
She sat among the prison’s public information officer Lt. Guim’Mara Berry, chief deputy warden Oak Smith and San Quentin’s new warden Chance Andes.
“This is thinking outside the box,” Andes said. “Out of all the groups at San Quentin, this one is really exciting! We need truck drivers out there and jobs are waiting.”
Lieutenant B. Haub is a correctional officer in charge of the California model transition team inside San Quentin. He is tasked with helping roll out Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan for a more humane prison system.
“I actually went through this trucking course and I took all five exams and so I know how difficult this course is,” he said while congratulating the graduates.
The trucking course is 192 hours long over eight months. There are five exams, a midterm and a final. Students are expected to pass each exam with at least 90 percent right. This is to ensure they can score the required 82 percent on the Department of Motor Vehicles exam, according to Vincent O’Bannon.
Michael James is one of the first graduates.
“I’m glad I took this course. It has really motivated me to study,” said James. “I am literally redoing the 32 weeks on my own. I gained knowledge about hazardous materials, air brakes, buses, trailers, and tankers. I qualify for my Class C driver’s license now.”
James said that taking the course now will ensure he is ready to pass the DMV exam upon his release.
“I plan to drive regionally until I get off parole, then I will do some long haul work,” said James. He hopes to be able to lease a truck.
“I don’t plan to drive but I want to have the ability in case I need an alternative path to financial stability. I’m not coming back to prison.” Greg Eskridge, Concrete Rose graduate
Another graduate of the course was Greg Eskridge, who is known as the host of KALW radio’s Uncuffed podcast program. He was recently found suitable for parole after almost 30 years in prison.
“I don’t plan to drive but I want to have the ability in case I need an alternative path to financial stability,” he said. “I’m not coming back to prison.”
According to a 2010 public safety study done in Canada, unemployment and a lack of economic opportunities are some of the leading causes of recidivism. Luckily, there are far more trucking jobs than truckers. The trucking industry is expected to grow by 10 percent by 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Putting the past in the rearview
During her speech, Jenkins mentioned that truck drivers are in big demand, and contrary to belief, trucks won’t be driving themselves anytime soon, she told graduates.
“This program gives you hope to see a pathway to a better future,” she said. “I don’t want to see you come back. We hope that upon your release, we never see you again. I say that with all love.”
Jenkins told the graduates that their goal should be to put the past behind them.
“It’s difficult to carry that shame or that scarlet letter,” she said. “It’s hard to find the hope to move forward, but our mistakes don’t define us or our future.”
After the graduates’ names were called and they paraded across the stage to get their certificates, they were treated to a catered cuisine, unlike the gruel of the prison chow hall. A variety of baked, fried, and teriyaki chicken, rice, macaroni, salad, cake and cookies were served.
Jenkins enjoyed a meal with the graduates and listened to the music of an incarcerated band called “The Greater Good.” She even laughed at an incarcerated comedian Jay Kim. Afterwards, she posed for photos with the graduates. At one point she expressed disappointment that media outlets were not covering these incredible stories like Vincent and his daughters.
O’Bannon and his daughter Autumn are both natives of San Francisco from the Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood. When O’Bannon lost his son to gun violence a few years ago, he said it brought him ever closer to his daughter and grandkids. He considers it to be a blessing to be able to work with and spend time with his daughter separate from visiting, even though the day was about the graduates.
“The one thing I’ll remember most about this first graduation is seeing my daughter’s face light up from all of the praise she received from DA Jenkins and all of the graduates,” he said.
“She doesn’t realize how big this is, since she isn’t here in prison everyday like I am.” As the event came to a close, O’Bannon and his daughter thanked the San Quentin prison administration.
Jenkins said she plans to continue coming inside and supporting more programs like Concrete Rose Trucking.
Steve Brooks is a California Local News Fellow with Bay City News Foundation, reporting from inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. His perspective gives readers insight into issues and news from inside the prison. See more of his work at Inside/Out on Local News Matters.