David Cowan
Nickname: Daudi
Age: 39
Paroling to: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Family: Mother, father, 3 brothers and two sisters, many nephews and nieces, a daughter, and a grandson.

Why did you join the T.R.U.S.T.?
I joined the T.R.U.S.T. because I saw it as a unique opportunity to generate change at fundamental levels. Not only does the T.R.U.S.T. provide the opportunity for the incarcerated to develop themselves, but it also encourages family and community restoration and development. Its method of accomplishing these goals by developing relationships between the “inside” and “outside’ communities was for me a particularly interesting social experiment.

What does being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow mean to you?
To me, being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow reinforces not only my responsibility for myself, my family, and my community, but it also reminds me that I am empowered to actuate the change that I envision; and this means everything to me.

Since coming to prison, what have you accomplished?
Since coming to prison, I have earned my Associate of Arts degree, completed an X-ray Technician course, and attended a variety of self-help programs. I have gained computer skills, clerical skills, studied business management, and I am currently taking a biblical counseling course. Although I am constantly busy doing something, one of my favorite accomplishments is establishing relationships with outside community members.

What are some of your hobbies and interests?
My hobbies have changed as I have gone through different phases of my life. For instance, when I was young I used to like building models. Now however, I enjoy reading, writing, planning, and organizing. I also enjoy learning different languages.

What programs are you involved with other than the T.R.U.S.T.?
Although I do a little for just about every group in San Quentin, by far, most of my time is dedicated to the T.R.U.S.T. I still attend Patten University. I also attend church services, where I serve in the drama ministry. I also attend an Arabic class.

What kind of work do you do with the “inside” and/or “outside” communities?
I teach a Swahili class, which pretty much provides my only recreational activity around here. I call it recreational because it gives me a chance to exercise my skills. It also allows me the opportunity to connect with guys that either cannot or do not attend T.R.U.S.T. activities. My work with the outside community comes mostly through the T.R.U.S.T., but I am in the fortunate position to interact with many non-T.R.U.S.T. related people from the outside community as well. I view this opportunity as particularly important because it affords me the chance to maintain my communication skills beyond the range of the prison society. It also provides me with the opportunity to break stereotypes and generalizations about people in prison. Part of my work is to challenge the traditionally perceived dichotomy between the “inside” community and the “outside” community. People on the inside are from and in most cases will return to the outside, and therefore all parties still have responsibilities toward each other. For me, the most special way that I interact with the outside is by sponsoring a child in D.R. Congo, whom I refer to as my second daughter.

How do you live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system? How do you promote the ideals of the T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops?
I live up to T.R.U.S.T. values by respecting others, no matter their social position or their past. I cannot always respect the actions of people, but I can respect the humanity of anyone. I also live up to T.R.U.S.T. values by being as responsible as I can to my family, the community, both inside and outside, and myself. I promote T.R.U.S.T. ideals outside of the workshops by being an example of integrity in my daily life. I am always approachable and ready to assist people who need assistance, or just a kind word.

What do you want to do after you parole?
After I parole the first thing I want to do is bathe in privacy! But seriously, I want to have a family reunion. I would like to get into counseling. as much work as I have done to confront myself and find ways to reconcile and forgive, I believe that I can help others find their way to some contentment. I also want to open a couple of businesses and cultural centers.

What are your long-term goals?
My long-term goals are to go into business, community empowerment, and missions. Eventually, I plan to end up in Kenya to work with w friend to open a wonderful hotel.

Personal message to the outside community:
All that we really have of any value are our relationships. If we are the sum of our experience, it is our relationships that define our experience—whether the relationships are with God, family, friends, acquaintances, our communities, or the world in general. Much of our unhappiness comes from either mishandled relationships or the fear of nursing to health damaged ones. If we find creative ways to nurture relationships, we can find a kind of happiness for which there is no substitute. Life is too short to miss out on chances to build or re-build relationships—to miss out on possible happiness.

Sometimes painful relationships are like wounds. If we don’t tend to them, they get infected and become worse. But if we show them the proper attention, even though it hurts at first, eventually they heal and we are whole again. Let’s tend to our relationships.