By Sarah Roebuck
Corrections1
SOLEDAD, Calif. — In a first-of-its-kind event at the Correctional Training Facility, inmates and prison staff worked together to organize a car show, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation stated.
The first car show, which took place on May 19, was a collaborative effort brought on by staff and the prison population of Facilities A and B. CDCR said while the event was a celebration, it also aligned with the department’s goals of the California Model to build “safer communities through rehabilitation, education, restorative justice and reentry.”
The event showcased 19 vehicles, along with two motorcycles, from New Arrivals and Aztec Legacy, as well as additional vehicles displayed by CTF staff.
The winning vehicles were:
- First: New Arrivals Car Club 1965 Buick Wildcat
- Second: Aztec Legacy Car Club 1937 Pontiac Silver Streak
- Third: Aztec Legacy Car Club 1964 Ford
“This event is crucial for us to show appreciation for the staff’s consistent efforts to aid our rehabilitation. It’s about respect and community, and that’s what motivates us to keep improving,” said one of the incarcerated participants.
Guest speakers at the event included a retired corrections officer and members of various car clubs, all highlighting the innovative concept of hosting a car show inside a prison.
The event also included a food sale fundraiser, with all proceeds going to Soledad Swim, a nonprofit organization. The food sale successfully raised $2,908 for the group, CDCR said.
“The razor wire and towers all disappeared and it felt like a car show at a park. It was those feelings that are the essence of the California Model. The conversations about the beautiful cars on display between the community members, staff and population won’t end just because the car show has ended. They continue for days, weeks and months to come,” Acting Warden Edward J. Borla said.