Emily and I have been busy lately as we've been involved in starting a youth mentoring program here in Jackson. Jackson is in a crisis right now. Crime is out of control and most of it is being perpetrated by minors under the age of 18. Those of us who are working with youth see these problems daily and realize that we are almost powerless to fight these negative trends on our own. We see that it is going to take a community-wide effort—even a citywide effort if we are going to see Jackson become what we dream it could be. As a result we are developing a mentoring program that seeks to get community members involved in mentoring youth within the public school system for one hour a week.
As I look around the streets in our neighborhood one of the main things I see that is lacking, is the transfer of wisdom from the old to the young. This is largely due to the lack of stable male figures in the community. The "men" of the streets are 14 or 15 years old and most of them don't have any clue how to be a man, because their father left them or is in prison. Somehow we've got to find a way to transfer life wisdom to these young and developing kids. We believe this mentoring program is a good first step. Mentors will go into the schools and meet with 3 children for one hour a week. Together they will read through a book called "Talks My Father (Mother for the girls) Never Had With Me." The goal is to get the kids talking and thinking about things like self-discipline, future goals, and social skills. The book starts at square one. In the first chapter of the boy’s book the children learn how to shake someone's hand and introduce themselves. This may seem weird to some of you but I've noticed in our neighborhood the boys don’t know how to shake someone’s hand or introduce themselves. They usually just hang their heads.
We are starting with one school in January and if all goes well we will adopt 2 new schools in the fall of 2007. We have to do something. I think deep down my hope is that the wealthy white people from North Jackson will see this program and its ease of one hour a week and choose to get involved in change. That they wouldn’t just drive through the crime ridden areas of West Jackson and think that there is no hope; but that they might chose to build relationships with three children and through those relationships get involved in reconciling and unifying our city.
Johnny
2 comments:
Emily and Johnny:
Mucho love to both of you during this Holiday break. I am so excited with everything you are doing. I received your Newsletter and I am very impressed and proud of all of your hard work and efforts. As always, I miss the both of you every day. Your blogs are wonderful to read. Just wanted to say that I love and miss you and am thinking of you always.
Peace,
Bobi
i tend to think that if i had all the information and ideas aviailable i could understand whats happening and see how things are between people, that i could come up with a utopian philisophy to trancend all the hate and problems out there to make things better for the poor and the oppressed.so while i do nothing but play with ideas you are out there now with the people that need help now.your making a differance and are showing gods love. thats too rare a thing in this world. you inspire people you dont even know with you daily walk. take care and god bless you guys.hope you get a new pair of velcro shoes for christmas.
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