In this episode, two performers share their experiences of being in solitary confinement. More than 122,000 people are locked up in solitary confinement each day in the United States, according to a 2023 analysis by the groups Solitary Watch and Unlock the Box.
We start with Algiin Ford, who was in and out of jail for mostly drug-related charges, including lockdown in San Bruno County Jail, until 1989, when he decided to turn a new leaf… He found sobriety, became a yoga instructor and has been doing stage and film acting for more than 20 years. In 2024, he wrote and performed the acclaimed full-length solo play, Tobacco, Zig-zags, and Gum. Algiin took first place in the San Francisco Bay Area Moth Story Slam this year, the theme: underdog.
Christina Aanestad…a journalist and media maker. Her first experience with incarceration was visiting her father in jail and prison. She was first sent to juvenile hall when she was 12, and jail when she was 18. At 19 she was sent to solitary. She was in and out of jail until she was offered rehabilitation programs that helped her turn a new leaf. She’s performed on stage at The Berkeley Marsh, and in the San Francisco Fringe Festival. She’s also the recipient of the Upsurge! Caffie M. Greene Community Building Award, “for fighting and overcoming difficulties to inform community.”
A bold, nine-part series amplifying the voices and artistry of people directly impacted by the criminal punishment system. Through performance, FIPPP centers the brilliance, struggle, and imagination of formerly incarcerated community members. Each episode highlights the realities of incarceration and the power of telling one’s own story.