Below are a few journal entries from JDCY's organizing and education training program [FIRE] that I facilitated over the last few weeks of the summer with a group of youth that were impacted by the juvenile justice system. We believe that those most impacted by the issues have the most important role in creating solutions, because their experience generates a perspective and level of expertise specific to their needs. While participating in this program, participants learned to identify strategies to achieve power and effect change on a personal and political level; identified effective alternatives to incarceration that simultaneously reduce juvenile delinquency via conducting surveys; as well used art as a tool of expression for social change.
Tuesday, August 5th
Yesterday evening was the first day of FIRE and for my first day facilitating, I think it went pretty well. We have an interesting project ahead of us. The content of the program is very well put together. The most interesting piece of yesterday was when the youth participated in the "Inside Me" drawings because they really give you an opportunity to see what some of the youth are about. As we went through the three goals of the program I asked the young men what are some research questions they would like to try to explore - and the primarily wanted to focus on ways to increase youth employment opportunities - I think this will be a re-occuring theme throughout our organizing process.
Wednesday, August 6th
Yesterday FIRE was fire! It started off slow with the "what is organizing" worksheet, but we got through it and kept it moving. In retrospect I see that the more visuals I can provide the young brothers the easier it will be to define and explain the meaning of certain concepts or terms like oppression or disproportionate minority contact. After the hand out we played JDCY Jeopardy - which was a fun and interactive way for the young folks to learn about the history of the organization and our contributions to juvenile justice reform. I told the leading team I would have a prize for them today [August 6th]. However in this work we all are winners for the fact of even trying! Besides they all deserve a good read, including myself, which is why I'm purchasing Dwayne Betts Memoir - A Question of Freedom. We could even use it later on in the program! I think that I'm doing a pretty good job facilitating this program for the first time. My mind is constantly jumping ahead trying to figure out how we can funnel youth from New Beginnings into the organizing training. I will continue to brainstorm ideas until I come up with something. Our potential is potent, and endurance is essential!
Today we're going to Dwayne Betts Book signing/release to support his work and gain some perspective. I know it will be inspiring.
Thursday, August 7th
Dwayne's book signing/release was very inspiring, I know, not only for me but for everyone else in the room as well. He read a few passages from his memoir and this one sentence stood out to me instantly:
"This book is about silence, and how in an eight year period I met over a dozen people named Juvenile, all nick-names to tell the world that they were in prison as young boys; as children."
The main part is that he said this book is about silence. Silence of many things; the violence and oppression, the silence and invisibility of being locked behind bars and pretty much alienated from the outside world, the silence of being in a lonely cell, the silence amidst being around so many people yet still feeling/being alone. The irony is that this book gives voice to those stories on mute. I was glad T. was able to make it and I hope he takes some time out to read this book. The young brothers from B-town unfortunately weren’t able to make it in time b/c of a flat tire, but they were right down the street from it. So, when T. and I were leaving we ran into S. He was coming to tell us that they had the flat. Earlier I had walked to my car to put the books away that i got signed for the “fellas” and saw the van that they were riding in but I wasn't sure if it was them b/c I didn’t have my glasses; it was them. All of them seemed pretty excited to see us and were very appreciative when I gave them their signed copy of Dwayne's book. I hope they've started reading them! I've read up to chapter 7 thus far and its a very good read. Dwayne raises a lot of points that we've already discussed in during our FIRE trainings and it would be a good complimentary addition. It could open up deeper reflection amongst the young men and facilitate a more thorough understanding of the issues. He discusses judicial waiver, disproportionate Minority Contact [DMC], media influence on public perception of youth, the fact that most youth are incarcerated for non-violent offenses, the absence of a positive male presence in the home/family, super-predator myths of youth, coercion of power, negative impacts of incarceration on persons, and that’s just all within the first 7 chapters.
I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks; hopefully we will be able to cover a good source of information in depth.
Monday, September 28, 2009
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