PA One Congressional District Program
"Empowering People to Help People"
The other re-entry issue
Let us pause to reflect on Dr. Kings legacy, the movement in general had made a positive affect on me and my generation. Like others, born as a late baby boomer 1953, our adolescent years were stressful as well. The cold war, air raid shelters, the early warning alarm going off at 12 noon every Wednesday. The in school rehearsals and air raid drills, to get under your desk until the bell rings telling us it was ok to sit in your seat(1964-67).
The JFK assignations, MLK, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcom X) and Vietnam caused fear in us and uncertainty. The gang wars were ravishing the streets, good guys were always on the run. (At least I was) We would stay busy, working , partying and courting. The era allowed many of us to go to college free.
Let's fast forward June, 2007. Recidivism is rampant , Holmesburg, DC, House of corrections the Hill, Gratersford was up and running even then. The courts would give youths two choices jail or military service at T. A. Edison most chose service. Thus the highest number of solders from one H.S. killed nation wide.
Now the money is in the re-entry field justifiably so. But the hypo racy is shameful. I have mentored hundreds of youth in the past 30 years. The last of which being, four (4) young men that attended Wm Penn and Dobbins Tech in north philly. These guys played high school sports, 2 became teen dads and one is a minister , 2 of these guys have Masters degrees, all have graduated from Cheyney University.
Everyone talks about keeping the college grads in the tri-state area. Since May 06, these young men have been working odd jobs to eat. They have worked minimum wage positions at walmart, the art museum and security at night clubs. As a team we have been sending resumes to the organizations and city offices. I have been contacting folks in my network.
They have no criminal record, they attained a education. They have become role models for the community and the families still must support them. It is sad how all of the good acts are posted in countless email. The discussion of getting a package has crossed their lips. The dealers laugh at them. Most call em school boys, saying, "you find a job yet, ha ha".
To work in the human services field, assisting folks that have blemishes on their record is dis hearting. However to assist the African American male that have been on the straight and narrow with out success is a killer.
Help us with both reentry problems, if you can. Nothing personal but look around your offices, where are the Black Males with degrees? They are not shooting and robbing folks which means they don't make the news.
Take inventory of your mentoring opportunities, there is quiet a few undergrad's struggling, it is hard for them to share the positive aspects of life when encouraging the children to go to school, when the kids look at them with their pockets empty, say huh why do that.
To stay independent from their parents something must give, the black market is mighty appealing when you are hungry, disgusted and awaiting the large debt for education about to come calling. They have friends in the same boat, maybe leaving philly is the answer.
Bob Shipman
Outreach Specialist ISCV
http://phillyneighborhoods.org
The JFK assignations, MLK, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcom X) and Vietnam caused fear in us and uncertainty. The gang wars were ravishing the streets, good guys were always on the run. (At least I was) We would stay busy, working , partying and courting. The era allowed many of us to go to college free.
Let's fast forward June, 2007. Recidivism is rampant , Holmesburg, DC, House of corrections the Hill, Gratersford was up and running even then. The courts would give youths two choices jail or military service at T. A. Edison most chose service. Thus the highest number of solders from one H.S. killed nation wide.
Now the money is in the re-entry field justifiably so. But the hypo racy is shameful. I have mentored hundreds of youth in the past 30 years. The last of which being, four (4) young men that attended Wm Penn and Dobbins Tech in north philly. These guys played high school sports, 2 became teen dads and one is a minister , 2 of these guys have Masters degrees, all have graduated from Cheyney University.
Everyone talks about keeping the college grads in the tri-state area. Since May 06, these young men have been working odd jobs to eat. They have worked minimum wage positions at walmart, the art museum and security at night clubs. As a team we have been sending resumes to the organizations and city offices. I have been contacting folks in my network.
They have no criminal record, they attained a education. They have become role models for the community and the families still must support them. It is sad how all of the good acts are posted in countless email. The discussion of getting a package has crossed their lips. The dealers laugh at them. Most call em school boys, saying, "you find a job yet, ha ha".
To work in the human services field, assisting folks that have blemishes on their record is dis hearting. However to assist the African American male that have been on the straight and narrow with out success is a killer.
Help us with both reentry problems, if you can. Nothing personal but look around your offices, where are the Black Males with degrees? They are not shooting and robbing folks which means they don't make the news.
Take inventory of your mentoring opportunities, there is quiet a few undergrad's struggling, it is hard for them to share the positive aspects of life when encouraging the children to go to school, when the kids look at them with their pockets empty, say huh why do that.
To stay independent from their parents something must give, the black market is mighty appealing when you are hungry, disgusted and awaiting the large debt for education about to come calling. They have friends in the same boat, maybe leaving philly is the answer.
Bob Shipman
Outreach Specialist ISCV
http://phillyneighborhoods.org
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