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 In 2015, Sitawa was released from solitary confinement as a result of the Ashker settlement, and was soon transferred to Salinas Valley State Prison, a notoriously dangerous and racially segregated facility. Confined within a prison so violent that officials had virtually cut off all rehabilitative programming, Sitawa was a recognized peacemaker. His reputation as an advocate for interracial peace preceded him, earning him trust and respect across many racial groups, as well as from prison officials. Associate Warden Rick Mojica recalls how Sitawa’s widespread influence allowed him to “resolve several issues amongst the inmate population that could have resulted in melees or riots. [Sitawa] had a way of resolving issues amongst the population without them having to resort to violence.”  As a peacebuilder within Salinas Valley, Sitawa helped reduce violence so significantly that the prison reintroduced rehabilitative programming to the yard, creating avenues for education, healing, and growth that had once seemed inconceivable. 

Sitawa engaged deeply with these self-help programs and encouraged others to do the same, regularly holding study sessions to help others achieve higher education and rehabilitation. In the words of Associate Warden Mojica: “I believe [Sitawa] is a model inmate because he is the type of inmate the Department expects all inmates to be, and he sets a great example for other inmates to model.”  While Sitawa’s influence on Salinas Valley State Prison was enormous, his impact was not confined to prison walls. In 2015, Sitawa was instrumental in establishing Life-CYCLE, the prison’s first program dedicated to keeping young men out of prison. Associate Warden Borla describes a seminar that Sitawa facilitated for the group:  "[Sitawa] sat in an intimate setting with the youth in attendance and talked to each child about their goals in life and gave them tips to prevent a future of imprisonment. [Sitawa] fielded many difficult questions from the youth and he provided a positive, carefully crafted response to each question asked.

 [Sitawa] was the first inmate to interact with the youth on the day of the event and he did an excellent job calming the kids[’] anxiousness of being in a prison as well as making them feel comfortable in talking with inmates."  Through his continuous dedication to the group, Sitawa became certified as a Life-CYCLE Coach, allowing him to establish and run the juvenile diversion program anywhere in California, both inside and outside of prison.  A Debilitating Stroke In 2019, Sitawa suffered a pontine hemorrhagic stroke when a blood vessel in his brainstem ruptured and bled into his brain. After the stroke, Sitawa could not move any part of his body except for his eyes, a condition called “locked-in syndrome.” While Sitawa’s survival was a miracle, the stroke caused devastating and long-term damage. More than three years after the stroke, and despite Sitawa’s best efforts to regain functioning, he remains unable to walk, stand, bathe, toilet, dress himself, or perform any other activities of daily living independently except for eating.  

Unfortunately, there is no meaningful chance of Sitawa ever returning to independent functioning. Nonetheless, we are grateful that he will spend the rest of his days surrounded by those who love and cherish him as a brother, uncle, friend, mentor, and elder. Thank you for your support in making that possible.