Dennis Danziger and John Rodriguez

Recorded February 1, 2020 40:04 minutes
0:00 / 0:00
Id: mby019621

Description

Friends John Rodriguez (28) and Dennis Danziger (68) reflect on what John was like as a young adult in Dennis' high school English class, how the two maintained their connection while John was incarcerated and what his experience was transitioning in and out of the prison system.

Subject Log / Time Code

DD recalls his first impressions of JR's writing and why he didn't want to lose contact with JR when he was in county jail.
JR reflects on what it was like for him to receive DD's letters and DD talks about the loss of another student that might have inspired him to reach out.
JR and DD discuss the letters and correspondence and trying to figure out what to say to each other. They recall the time they saw each other in that period as surreal and DD recalls not recognizing JR.
JR reflects on jumping back into the world outside after 8 years and what made the difference in those years that brought him to now being a soon-to-be-graduate of UCLA.
JR reads a bit of a letter he had written on March 13, 2012 to DD. DD talks about the impact this letter had on one of his students at the time and how it led to the formation of POPS.
JR talks about what he hopes his next steps will be after UCLA. He reflects on what it's like to go back to school to talk with current high school students.
JR and DD talks about where JR's writing ability might have come from and what it's like to maintain relationships with friends inside the prison system via letters.
JR talks about what he wants his next writing project to be. He reflects on the small kindnesses that have affected him positively.

Participants

  • Dennis Danziger
  • John Rodriguez

Recording Locations

Downtown Santa Monica

Partnership Type

Outreach