TRENDS ﺍPEOPLE ﺍCULTURE ﺍSTYLE Jesse'
MEMOIR
s new memoir reads easily
JESSE DE LA CRUZ
was raised in the barrios of California and at the age of twelve, began a journey that led him to become a convict, heroin drug addict, and gang member who served approximately thirty years of his life at California prisons like Folsom and San Quentin. After his final release from prison, Mr. De La Cruz enrolled in college, graduating with a Baccalaureate Degree in Sociology in 2001 and a Masters of Social Work Degree from California State University, Stanislaus in 2003. He is currently working on his Ed.D.
Out of the gaps, empties, and darkn of our lives can emerge the most ess compelling storie
s, the kind that redeem, bring us home, and teach us that all people have transformative qualities if given half a chance. Jesse De La Cruz spent decades behind bars, on drugs, in the grip of gangs and self-destruction. His powerful memoir helps us understand the tattered threads of loss and brokenness that can make up the tapestry of any life, although in this case these include clarity, hope, and a dream that never died. Bravo to Jesse for the courage to live this out—and the courage to write this so well. —LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ, AUTHOR OF ALWAYS RUNNING, LA VIDA LOCA, GANG DAYS IN L.A. Jesse De La Cruz' memoir chron icles a long journey too
few folks survive. And in his telling we learn more about the growth of prisons and their terrible effects on the American family. Jesse's voice is urgent and his story is a true California tale. A must read. —JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ, AUTHOR OF EAST SIDE STORIES: GANG LIFE IN EAST
L.A.
that must be told.Mr. De La Cruz shows us all that turning your life around is possible even when the obstacles seem insurmountable.
—ANTHONY V. DISOMMA J.D., RETIRED ISBN 978-0-9838088-0-0
JUDGE
BARKI NG ROOST ER
Jesse’s life is truly an inspirationa and riveting story of triumph over ltragedy
Jesse De La Cruz
He is the founder of The Jonah Foundation, a sober living house which provides housing to ex-offenders transitioning from prison to the outside. He lives with his daughter in California.
— it flows, it makes sense, one scene leaps to the other, developing a story that is both informative and redemptive. It's a story told by a mature storyteller, and the reason the story is so important is that it’s a template for understanding so many of the ills plaguing society today. He gives us a lens to look through, that is, his lived experien ce is laden with recipes and solutions to our societal dilemma. His memoir addresses Chicano/Mexican culture, the disastrous prison mess we find ourselves in, racism, crime, family, and education. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in, especially of those people most ignored, Mexicans and Chicanos. Read on—you won't be disappointed. —JIMMY SANTIAGO BACA, AUTHOR OF A GLASS OF WATER
DETOURED | My Journey from Darkness to Light
upfront 209 ﺍ
DETOURED to Light om Darkness My Journey fr
A memoir by
a Cruz Jesse De L
Jesse De La Cruz Inspirational author tells all
Local ladies pose for women’s health
The Port City Pin-Ups are all about supporting bold, beautiful women, and to prove it, they’re releasing their third annual pin-up calendar for 2012, with all proceeds benefitting the Women’s Center of San Joaquin. Each year the twelve girls featured in the calendar are chosen through an elimination contest in which the girls prove their pin-up prowess. One girl is also chosen as Pin-Up of the Year at the end of the elimination. When the ladies aren’t posing for their calendar months, they’re hard at work promoting local non-profit organizations and community events. The calendar is available for purchase at local businesses on the Miracle Mile, or through the Pin-Ups’ Facebook page.—Katy Berry For more information: facebook.com/PortCityPinups
Check mazon.com or local bookstores for copies of Detoured.
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SAN JOAQUIN MAGAZINE
JANUARY 2012
Photos: Port City Pin-ups; Jesse De La Cruz
Port City Pin-Ups 2012 Calendar
Stockton resident Jesse De La Cruz has released his first book, Detoured: My Journey from Darkness to Light. Twelve years in the making, it tells the Texas native’s tumultuous life story. De La Cruz battled polio at the age of 3 and was hospitalized until he was age 6. After moving to Tulare County, he and his family lived at a farming camp, in two one-room cabins with cement floors. He didn’t begin school until he was 7, and his education was disrupted by his family’s need to travel for farm work. Wanting a different life, De La Cruz joined a gang when he was only 9 years old. He was arrested at ages 12 and 14, and sent to a boys' camp at 16. From that point on, he was in and out of prison for thirty years, and was released for the last time on April 2, 1996. He also ended a heroin addiction that had begun when he was 14. After leaving the prison system for good, De La Cruz received his bachelor’s degree in sociology and his master’s in social work. He is now working on his doctorate in education at CSU Stanislaus and teaches criminal justice at Heald College. De La Cruz began writing his story as a catharsis, and to give hope to families caught up in the cycle of addiction. He hopes his audience will take away a sense of hope after reading the book. “I’m not here to glorify what I did,” says De La Cruz. “My intent is to share my past with other people so they can learn from my mistakes.”—Kate Donahue