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Uncuffed
Crosscurrents is our award-winning radio news magazine, broadcasting Mondays through Thursdays at 11 a.m. on 91.7 FM. We make joyful, informative stories that engage people across the economic, social, and cultural divides in our community. Listen to full episodes at kalw.org/crosscurrents

He flunked first grade. Now, he’s graduating college.

André Davis is about to get a college degree at San Quentin. But he didn't always love school.
Ninna Gaensler-Debs
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KALW / Uncuffe
André Davis is about to get a college degree at San Quentin. But he didn't always love school.

One André Davis' earliest memories of school when his teacher told him he didn’t pass the first grade. It triggered a complicated relationship with education that he's now working hard to change. Uncuffed producer William Harris interviewed André about how he grew from that first grade failure into a future college graduate. 

From elementary school all the way to junior high school I was having problems in school with my education. I just hated it.
André Davis

This story was produced by William Harris with help from Angela Johnston, Ninna Gaensler-Debs and sound designer Eric Maserati-E Abercrombie.

This piece was brought to you by the team at Uncuffed. Our work in prisons is supported by the California Arts Council, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and donations from listeners like you. The producers fact-check content to the best of their ability. Content is approved by an information officer.

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Learn more, sign up for Uncuffed news, and support the program at www.weareuncuffed.org

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Uncuffed Personal StoriesFrom The Producers Of UncuffedCrosscurrents
William Harris is an aspiring policy maker and champion for social and criminal justice reform. He graduated from the Journalism Guild at San Quentin last year and is currently attending Mount Tamalpais College. He is studying to become an investigative journalist as well as an advocate for criminal justice reform. William's goal is to make the justice system work for everybody and to repair the community he once helped tear down.
André Davis is an audio journalism student in the Uncuffed Program at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center. He's also a GRIP training facilitator, MTC student, a husband, a father, a loyal friend, and a pro-social advocate for change. He's a reformed incarcerated person who loves his family, friends, and continues to lead by example by being of service to his community.
Uncuffed
Stories from inside California prisons