Community Outreach
Following the public statements I made to assist society and law enforcement in the battle against drug trafficking, I wrote my first book, Drugs and Money. Through that book, I described how my participation in drugs led to my disgrace in society, the 45-year sentence I serve, and the destruction of my family. Its intended purpose was to provide a resource that would educate young people to focus on the importance of avoiding criminal behavior. 2,000 copies of the book were distributed, free of charge, to the King County Jail, the Kent City Jail, and scores of Seattle schools with at-risk adolescents. United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (1988 through 1994)
I founded and coordinated the Slow Down program, speaking to more than 1,000 at-risk adolescents to educate them on the consequences of criminal behavior. As prisoners serving lengthy sentences, those of us who participated in the “slow down” program talked with the youth about how our criminal decisions harmed society, ruined our lives, and hurt our families. On Friday, 11 February 1994, The Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article titled “Fighting Crime From Behind Bars” that described the Slow Down program. This is the type of creative program Mr. Holder envisioned when he said “to address what happens after incarceration in order to prevent the next crime before it occurs.” United States Penitentiary, Atlanta (1988 through 1994)
Because prison administrators at FPC Lompoc did not support education programs, I worked independently to assist others prepare for law-abiding lives upon release. Through my independent efforts, I reached more than 3,000 people in substantial, measurable ways.
- I interviewed other prisoners and wrote their stories, describing how joining gangs, dropping out of school, and participating in crime led to personal tragedy. I found corporate sponsorship to fund the publishing and distribution of more than 2,000 copies of Gangsters and Thugs: Consequences That Hustlers Pay, free of charge, to centers for at-risk youth across the United States. Media reports and letters we’ve received from school and institutional administrators, and the kids themselves, confirm the value and success of this project. FPC Lompoc (2005 through 2007)
- I wrote Step Up, a book I use to use teach people how to generate skills, resources, and credentials that will lead to employment. More than 500 copies of the Step Up book have been distributed, and I’ve personally instructed more than 100 prisoners with that book. FPC Lompoc (2005 through 2007)
I contribute to an outreach program in Kern County, California during which I’ve spoken to more than 1,000 at-risk adolescents about the consequences of criminal behavior. Because of the more than two decades I’ve served in prison, my message resonates with those children. More than 100 individual letters have been sent to the Counselor overseeing the program from at-risk adolescents who have listened to my presentation. Taft Prison Camp (2007 to Present)
My Personal Commitment:
- Education
- Publishing
- Reducing Recidivism through Teaching, Tutoring, & Mentoring
- Community Outreach Programs
Social Networks
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