2025 Impact Team

Leadership Council

Kai Bannon

Visionary, Co-Founder, Impact Team Leadership Council President

People say time changes things, but in reality, you have to change yourself. I co-founded San Quentin SkunkWorks to create positive change, agency, and opportunity for incarcerated people, to spend my time in furtherance of goodness and compassion, and to change the world or at least a little corner of it.

As the Visionary, my job is to restore lost potential, redefine what it means to be confined and build and scale programs that fundamentally reform and improve the justice system. Tasks that would be impossible were it not for the incredible capacity of our incarcerated Impact Team members and the world-class talent of our Operations Team.

Together, we’re not just changing the face of criminal justice reform; we’re remaking lives. Our success is a testament to the power of empowerment, proving that innovation and leadership can emerge from the most unlikely places.

At SkunkWorks, we’re rewriting stories, fostering hope, and building a future where potential knows no bounds. Join us.

My name is George Edward Coles-El, but I am better known as Mesro Dhu Rafa’a, or “Mesro” the Human Sun. I am an integral part of the San Quentin SkunkWorks Art Team, Leadership Council, and I am deeply involved in our Transformative Gaming Program. My life is a tapestry of roles — as an emcee, poet, educator, graffiti artist, co-imaginer, and passionate gamer. My journey has taken me from the hardships of homelessness and criminal activities to a path of profound transformation within the confines of incarceration.

In San Quentin SkunkWorks, my artistic skills come to life, especially in promoting cooperative experiences through gaming and art. My commitment to using gaming as a tool for activism and social change is a cornerstone of my contributions here. I bring my talents in writing, visual arts, and oration to challenge the segregated culture of prisons and foster inclusivity through gaming.

My goal is to emerge as a transformative educator driven by a desire to impact the world positively. My grandfather’s wise words, to observe and listen more than I speak, guide me in this journey. In SkunkWorks, I am not just part of reform; I am part of a movement redefining possibilities, inspiring personal growth, and contributing to a stronger, more connected community.