The Woman Giving Incarcerated People Their Voices Back

What if a single spark of compassion could ripple through prison walls and change lives forever? That’s exactly what Diane Kahn has accomplished through Humans of San Quentin—a nonprofit dedicated to sharing the raw, unfiltered stories of incarcerated men and women with the outside world. At its core, her work challenges us to pause, look past judgment, and recognize the humanity in people we’re often taught to ignore.

In a podcast conversation in Living Ageless and Bold with Christina Daves, Diane revealed just how personal and unlikely this journey was. What began as a kitchen-table project during the pandemic, with her four teenage kids showing her the ropes of Google Docs, has blossomed into a nationwide platform amplifying voices behind bars. Along the way, her children, a growing team of high school and college interns, and countless volunteers have fueled the mission—proving that storytelling isn’t just powerful, it’s life-changing.

But Diane’s story isn’t just about building an organization. It’s about the transformative power of compassion, forgiveness, and empathy—values that have carried her through struggles, victories, and everything in between. This episode takes you inside her inspiring path: the achievements she’s proud of, the challenges she faced head-on, and the invaluable lessons she’s learned about humanity, resilience, and hope.

The Spark That Started It All

When the pandemic hit, Diane was home with her four teenage kids. Like most families, they were navigating lockdowns and uncertainty. But instead of letting that time pass quietly, Diane planted the seed of something extraordinary.

Her children, familiar with San Quentin’s media center through their school newspaper, knew about the possibilities of connecting with incarcerated people. Sitting at the kitchen table, they taught Diane how to use Google Docs. Together, they laid the foundation for what would become Humans of San Quentin.

That simple beginning—one mom with four teens and an idea—has grown into a movement that now includes 35 high school interns, summer college interns, and a platform reaching thousands.

Why Diane Chose This Work

For Diane, the motivation is clear: people inside prison walls are human, with stories worth hearing. Too often, society reduces incarcerated men and women to nothing more than their crimes—statistics, labels, or headlines. Diane saw how damaging that dismissal could be. By creating a space for storytelling, she wanted to restore dignity, offer connection, and remind the world that there is more that binds us together than pulls us apart.

But this wasn’t easy work. Diane openly admits she wrestled with judgment in the early days. Sitting across from men covered in tattoos or learning that her inside team at San Quentin included murderers and rapists, she felt the natural pull of questions like: Should people who have committed such crimes really get to tell their stories? The curiosity was there at first—she even checked criminal records when she started. But as time went on, she realized that knowing the crime wasn’t why she was there. Her purpose was to see the person standing in front of her, not the label stamped on their past.

Guided by her background as an elementary school teacher, Diane leaned into compassion. She began to see patterns—stories of neglect, abuse, trauma, and molestation that shaped so many of the men and women she interviewed. She recognized how childhood pain often spiraled into destructive choices later in life. For Diane, this didn’t excuse their crimes, but it did explain how they got there. It helped her believe in something bigger: that therapy, rehabilitation, and true self-reflection can bring about real recovery.

Sharing stories wasn’t just about compassion—it was about healing, for those inside and for the people listening on the outside.

Building a Community of Storytellers

At its core, Humans of San Quentin is about writing. Around 90% of the nonprofit’s work happens through letters that come into their PO box in Sausalito Village. Incarcerated people send their stories, which are carefully edited, anonymized, and shared online.

But Diane didn’t stop there. She insists that every person who shares a story gets to see it published. Interns take screenshots of online posts, prepare thank-you notes, and send certificates of vulnerability back into the prisons.

That loop of communication makes the impact real. Diane shared that some incarcerated writers have said these stories literally saved their lives, giving them a reason not to give up. For her, those letters of gratitude are the most rewarding part of the job.

The Role of Interns and Young People

One of Diane’s greatest accomplishments has been involving the next generation in this work. What began with her own kids has blossomed into a thriving internship program.

High schoolers and college students contribute in countless ways:

Writing letters back and forth with incarcerated people
Editing stories for publication
Assisting with grant writing and impact reports
Helping with nonprofit operations

This hands-on involvement allows young people to learn empathy and social responsibility while supporting the mission. And for Diane, a former educator, it’s a full-circle moment to see her teaching background come alive in this way.

Facing the Struggles

While Diane’s journey is inspiring, it hasn’t been without challenges.

Breaking through stigma: Convincing people outside the prison system to care about incarcerated stories isn’t easy. It requires openness, compassion, and a willingness to suspend judgment.
Logistical hurdles: Working with prisons requires navigating bureaucracy, extra staff, and security processes. It takes time and persistence to gain trust and access.
Emotional weight: Reading and sharing stories of trauma, pain, and redemption is powerful but also emotionally heavy. Diane has had to balance her own heart with the responsibility of telling others’ truths.

Yet, she continues, fueled by the change she sees both inside and outside prison walls.

Victim-Offender Dialogue: A Path Toward Healing

One of the most fascinating aspects of Diane’s work is her involvement with victim-offender dialogues. This program brings survivors of crime face-to-face with the people who harmed them, after extensive counseling on both sides.

At first, Diane admits she was hesitant—worried about the emotional toll on victims. But the experience turned out to be transformative.

She shared powerful stories, like Elle, a mother whose daughter Emily was killed by a drunk driver. Instead of holding onto bitterness, Elle chose forgiveness. She even works tirelessly to advocate for the driver, Matthew, to be released from prison.

Diane has witnessed similar stories where survivors embrace forgiveness, breaking cycles of anger and pain. For her, it’s proof that compassion and healing are possible even in the darkest circumstances.

Balancing Motherhood and a Movement

As a mom of four, Diane’s journey has always been deeply intertwined with her family life. When Humans of San Quentin first began, her children were still in high school, sitting around the kitchen table with her during the pandemic. It was there, in the middle of lockdown, that the idea took root.

Today, her children are grown—ranging from 19 to 27, some in college and some already graduated—but their support has never wavered. In fact, Diane makes a point of bringing them into her work in a tangible way. Once they turn 18, she takes them with her into prisons, letting them see firsthand the power of storytelling and compassion behind bars. For Diane, this isn’t just about building a nonprofit; it’s about raising a family that understands empathy, connection, and service.

For Diane, the line between motherhood and movement has never been rigid. The two have fueled each other. What started as a way to give voice to the incarcerated has also become a way to teach her children about resilience, compassion, and the importance of listening—values that echo through both her family and her work.

Why Diane’s Work Matters Right Now

In today’s world, where media and politics often focus on fear, division, and outrage, Diane’s work is a reminder of what really matters: human connection.

As Christina Daves pointed out in their conversation, society could use more compassion and empathy. By listening to the voices of incarcerated people, we learn to see them not just by their worst mistakes, but as whole human beings.

Forgiveness, empathy, and compassion may feel rare these days. But as Diane proves, they are powerful tools for healing communities—inside and outside prison walls.

From her kitchen table with four teenagers teaching her Google Docs, to building a nonprofit with national reach, Diane Kahn has shown what’s possible when you lead with heart.

Her journey with Humans of San Quentin isn’t just about giving incarcerated people a voice. It’s about teaching us all to be less judgmental, more compassionate, and more open to forgiveness.

And perhaps the greatest lesson? You don’t have to do something huge to make a difference. Even one kind comment can ripple back into a prison cell and give someone hope for tomorrow.

You can support Humans of San Quentin by:

Visiting humansofsanquentin.org
Following the nonprofit on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or X
Listening to their Prison Podcast
Leaving a comment on their posts (yes, those comments are sent back into prisons and can change someone’s life!)

Even small acts—liking, sharing, commenting—make a tangible impact on people who feel forgotten.

Watch her full episode here: