I’m so excited to introduce our next speaker who is truly a Department of
speaker who is truly a Department of
speaker who is truly a Department of Corrections success story one of the
Corrections success story one of the
Corrections success story one of the things that’s really unique about our
things that’s really unique about our
things that’s really unique about our department that you won’t see
department that you won’t see
department that you won’t see necessarily across the country is that
necessarily across the country is that
necessarily across the country is that our department is not threatened by
our department is not threatened by
our department is not threatened by programs that are created by inmates and
programs that are created by inmates and
programs that are created by inmates and there’s one such program at SDI
there’s one such program at SDI
there’s one such program at SDI Graterford called the fat program which
Graterford called the fat program which
Graterford called the fat program which an acronym for fathers and children
an acronym for fathers and children
an acronym for fathers and children together and it’s a program that uses
together and it’s a program that uses
together and it’s a program that uses the vehicle of art to bring together a
the vehicle of art to bring together a
the vehicle of art to bring together a father and their child and learn how to
father and their child and learn how to
father and their child and learn how to how to be together and it’s a really
how to be together and it’s a really
how to be together and it’s a really cool program former representative ron
cool program former representative ron
cool program former representative ron waters brought this idea go ahead you
waters brought this idea go ahead you
waters brought this idea go ahead you give my pops out of applause brought
give my pops out of applause brought
give my pops out of applause brought this program to me I think it was
this program to me I think it was
this program to me I think it was superintendent when their weights at the
superintendent when their weights at the
superintendent when their weights at the time signed off and we went off into
time signed off and we went off into
time signed off and we went off into this journey and probably the best sell
this journey and probably the best sell
this journey and probably the best sell the best advertisement for this program
the best advertisement for this program
the best advertisement for this program and programs like these as our following
and programs like these as our following
and programs like these as our following speakers so I’d like to introduce the
speakers so I’d like to introduce the
speakers so I’d like to introduce the Juan Williams
Juan Williams
Juan Williams [Applause]
children of incarcerated parents are
children of incarcerated parents are seven times more likely to become
seven times more likely to become
seven times more likely to become incarcerated themselves so I must ask
incarcerated themselves so I must ask
incarcerated themselves so I must ask each and every individual in here today
each and every individual in here today
each and every individual in here today are you in or are you out because there
are you in or are you out because there
are you in or are you out because there is no in between me myself I was in ten
is no in between me myself I was in ten
is no in between me myself I was in ten years six days 12 hours 37 minutes and
years six days 12 hours 37 minutes and
years six days 12 hours 37 minutes and 13 seconds 13 seconds that’s how long it
13 seconds 13 seconds that’s how long it
13 seconds 13 seconds that’s how long it took for the slider to open for me to
took for the slider to open for me to
took for the slider to open for me to step through for my freedom at SC I
step through for my freedom at SC I
step through for my freedom at SC I greeted for prison I was then I chose to
greeted for prison I was then I chose to
greeted for prison I was then I chose to break the law I chose to put my children
break the law I chose to put my children
break the law I chose to put my children in a position to have to grow up without
in a position to have to grow up without
in a position to have to grow up without their father they didn’t choose for
their father they didn’t choose for
their father they didn’t choose for themselves I chose for them I chose for
themselves I chose for them I chose for
themselves I chose for them I chose for my mother to have to travel six seven
my mother to have to travel six seven
my mother to have to travel six seven eight hours away gas money
eight hours away gas money
eight hours away gas money commissary phone calls tolls hotels
commissary phone calls tolls hotels
commissary phone calls tolls hotels because of a bad choice that I made I
because of a bad choice that I made I
because of a bad choice that I made I was sentenced to die in prison but on
was sentenced to die in prison but on
was sentenced to die in prison but on April the 2nd 2011 my conviction my
April the 2nd 2011 my conviction my
April the 2nd 2011 my conviction my sentence was vacated and my sentence was
sentence was vacated and my sentence was
sentence was vacated and my sentence was overturned
17 months later August the 16th Thursday
17 months later August the 16th Thursday August 16th 2012 I was transferred to SC
August 16th 2012 I was transferred to SC
August 16th 2012 I was transferred to SC I Graterford when I got to SC I
I Graterford when I got to SC I
I Graterford when I got to SC I Graterford I was approached by a a
Graterford I was approached by a a
Graterford I was approached by a a prisoner who was currently serving a
prisoner who was currently serving a
prisoner who was currently serving a life sentence who was well respected you
life sentence who was well respected you
life sentence who was well respected you know in the neighborhoods and in prison
know in the neighborhoods and in prison
know in the neighborhoods and in prison and may his his peace and blessings be
and may his his peace and blessings be
and may his his peace and blessings be upon this because he’s no longer with us
upon this because he’s no longer with us
upon this because he’s no longer with us today and it’s individual he approached
today and it’s individual he approached
today and it’s individual he approached me about the fact program fathers and
me about the fact program fathers and
me about the fact program fathers and children together and he said that um
children together and he said that um
children together and he said that um this is a program that’s geared towards
this is a program that’s geared towards
this is a program that’s geared towards reconnecting incarcerated fathers back
reconnecting incarcerated fathers back
reconnecting incarcerated fathers back with their children and me I was kind of
with their children and me I was kind of
with their children and me I was kind of young at the time I thought I had it all
young at the time I thought I had it all
young at the time I thought I had it all figured out you know I don’t I don’t
figured out you know I don’t I don’t
figured out you know I don’t I don’t need a program designed by inmates to
need a program designed by inmates to
need a program designed by inmates to tell me how to be a father but these men
tell me how to be a father but these men
tell me how to be a father but these men were tired of going into visiting room
were tired of going into visiting room
were tired of going into visiting room and seeing women whether it be mothers
and seeing women whether it be mothers
and seeing women whether it be mothers grandmothers or the mothers of your
grandmothers or the mothers of your
grandmothers or the mothers of your child bring children up to a visiting
child bring children up to a visiting
child bring children up to a visiting room and you’re more in tune with the
room and you’re more in tune with the
room and you’re more in tune with the adult and the child is left running
adult and the child is left running
adult and the child is left running around the visiting room doing his own
around the visiting room doing his own
around the visiting room doing his own thing so they came up with the formula
thing so they came up with the formula
thing so they came up with the formula that’s geared towards reconnecting
that’s geared towards reconnecting
that’s geared towards reconnecting incarcerated fathers back with their
incarcerated fathers back with their
incarcerated fathers back with their children I have three children
children I have three children
children I have three children I own a Lynn Williams DeWine Williams
I own a Lynn Williams DeWine Williams
I own a Lynn Williams DeWine Williams and Diana Shaw they tried to tell me
and Diana Shaw they tried to tell me
and Diana Shaw they tried to tell me that my son was a problem they told me
that my son was a problem they told me
that my son was a problem they told me that my son he needed medication he was
that my son he needed medication he was
that my son he needed medication he was he needs to be diagnosed with ADHD and
he needs to be diagnosed with ADHD and
he needs to be diagnosed with ADHD and ABC and all that other stuff they said
ABC and all that other stuff they said
ABC and all that other stuff they said your son needs to be sent away okay I
your son needs to be sent away okay I
your son needs to be sent away okay I never told anyone that I was coming home
never told anyone that I was coming home
never told anyone that I was coming home okay I never told anyone I was coming
okay I never told anyone I was coming
okay I never told anyone I was coming home so while I was in this program we
home so while I was in this program we
home so while I was in this program we came up with another component instead
came up with another component instead
came up with another component instead of sitting around crying about what’s
of sitting around crying about what’s
of sitting around crying about what’s not happening a group of individuals
not happening a group of individuals
not happening a group of individuals decide to make something happen so I’ve
decide to make something happen so I’ve
decide to make something happen so I’ve reached out to his school principal I
reached out to his school principal I
reached out to his school principal I explained my situation helped me help my
explained my situation helped me help my
explained my situation helped me help my son from where I am the principal wrote
son from where I am the principal wrote
son from where I am the principal wrote me back
me back
me back the principal wrote me back he sent me a
the principal wrote me back he sent me a
the principal wrote me back he sent me a copy of my son’s report card he sent me
copy of my son’s report card he sent me
copy of my son’s report card he sent me a copy of his progress report he sent me
a copy of his progress report he sent me
a copy of his progress report he sent me a copy of each and every suspension
a copy of each and every suspension
a copy of each and every suspension letter that was in his file from first
letter that was in his file from first
letter that was in his file from first second third grade so then I called them
second third grade so then I called them
second third grade so then I called them because I had made parole and I still
because I had made parole and I still
because I had made parole and I still hadn’t told anyone and I left everyone
hadn’t told anyone and I left everyone
hadn’t told anyone and I left everyone in the dark for a reason
in the dark for a reason
in the dark for a reason so then Superintendent Mike Werner woods
so then Superintendent Mike Werner woods
so then Superintendent Mike Werner woods I was a staff dinah hard worker
I was a staff dinah hard worker
I was a staff dinah hard worker I took the folder the superintendent
I took the folder the superintendent
I took the folder the superintendent with narrow as I said look the principal
with narrow as I said look the principal
with narrow as I said look the principal wrote me back I want to take this
wrote me back I want to take this
wrote me back I want to take this information with me out on a visit
information with me out on a visit
information with me out on a visit because I want to confront my son about
because I want to confront my son about
because I want to confront my son about his behavior
his behavior
his behavior sure no problem so that’s how we built
sure no problem so that’s how we built
sure no problem so that’s how we built relate that’s how I built the
relate that’s how I built the
relate that’s how I built the relationship with the dear principal so
relationship with the dear principal so
relationship with the dear principal so now I’m out ten years six days 12 hours
now I’m out ten years six days 12 hours
now I’m out ten years six days 12 hours 23 minutes 13 seconds later I step off
23 minutes 13 seconds later I step off
23 minutes 13 seconds later I step off the walls of Greater further my family
the walls of Greater further my family
the walls of Greater further my family is my brother is there to pick me up
is my brother is there to pick me up
is my brother is there to pick me up he said come on we’re gonna go eat no I
he said come on we’re gonna go eat no I
he said come on we’re gonna go eat no I don’t want to go eat come on we got to
don’t want to go eat come on we got to
don’t want to go eat come on we got to get you out and clothes no no no no I
get you out and clothes no no no no I
get you out and clothes no no no no I don’t want to get out those clothes take
don’t want to get out those clothes take
don’t want to get out those clothes take me straight from SC igrader for prison
me straight from SC igrader for prison
me straight from SC igrader for prison straight to Joseph Fennell elementary
straight to Joseph Fennell elementary
straight to Joseph Fennell elementary school straight to my son’s school no
school straight to my son’s school no
school straight to my son’s school no stop no change clothes no go down the
stop no change clothes no go down the
stop no change clothes no go down the way no go see home boy no go see home
way no go see home boy no go see home
way no go see home boy no go see home girl go back to your children who’s
girl go back to your children who’s
girl go back to your children who’s waiting for you
I got out the car they assured your
I got out the car they assured your studia through the hallway now mainly
studia through the hallway now mainly
studia through the hallway now mainly these type of stories go on for
these type of stories go on for
these type of stories go on for individuals returning home from the
individuals returning home from the
individuals returning home from the military they come home they surprise
military they come home they surprise
military they come home they surprise they family that they back so we wanted
they family that they back so we wanted
they family that they back so we wanted to step outside the box and do something
to step outside the box and do something
to step outside the box and do something different
different
different keep in mind my children thought that
keep in mind my children thought that
keep in mind my children thought that they would never see their father in
they would never see their father in
they would never see their father in society again a lot of people thought
society again a lot of people thought
society again a lot of people thought that nobody knew I was coming home with
that nobody knew I was coming home with
that nobody knew I was coming home with the exception of the fathers and
the exception of the fathers and
the exception of the fathers and children together program so when I walk
children together program so when I walk
children together program so when I walk into the school library at Joseph
into the school library at Joseph
into the school library at Joseph Fennell elementary school the cameras
Fennell elementary school the cameras
Fennell elementary school the cameras are rolling the newspaper are there the
are rolling the newspaper are there the
are rolling the newspaper are there the power 99 radio station was there I began
power 99 radio station was there I began
power 99 radio station was there I began giving my spill and going to the
giving my spill and going to the
giving my spill and going to the interview the principal leaves out he
interview the principal leaves out he
interview the principal leaves out he goes up to my son classroom DeWine
goes up to my son classroom DeWine
goes up to my son classroom DeWine Williams come with me the whole class
Williams come with me the whole class
Williams come with me the whole class said ooh you in trouble
DeWine says what I do what I do come
DeWine says what I do what I do come with me
with me
with me just come with me he walks them down the
just come with me he walks them down the
just come with me he walks them down the steps I’m in the school library I’m
steps I’m in the school library I’m
steps I’m in the school library I’m giving my spill you know giving my
giving my spill you know giving my
giving my spill you know giving my gratitude to the fathers of children
gratitude to the fathers of children
gratitude to the fathers of children together program giving my gratitude to
together program giving my gratitude to
together program giving my gratitude to the men who helped change my life inside
the men who helped change my life inside
the men who helped change my life inside the walls of SC I greater for prison and
the walls of SC I greater for prison and
the walls of SC I greater for prison and up in my peripheral vision I see the
up in my peripheral vision I see the
up in my peripheral vision I see the principal walk in what my son walking in
principal walk in what my son walking in
principal walk in what my son walking in now for a little DeWine when I first got
now for a little DeWine when I first got
now for a little DeWine when I first got him car serrated his mother was just
him car serrated his mother was just
him car serrated his mother was just impregnated with him so her whole nine
impregnated with him so her whole nine
impregnated with him so her whole nine months of pregnancy and each and every
months of pregnancy and each and every
months of pregnancy and each and every birthday after that all of he knew all
birthday after that all of he knew all
birthday after that all of he knew all that he knew of his father was through
that he knew of his father was through
that he knew of his father was through the visiting room phone calls 15-minute
the visiting room phone calls 15-minute
the visiting room phone calls 15-minute phone calls when they could happen back
phone calls when they could happen back
phone calls when they could happen back when phone calls was five dollars and
when phone calls was five dollars and
when phone calls was five dollars and some change letters and the stories that
some change letters and the stories that
some change letters and the stories that he would hear of his father so he walks
he would hear of his father so he walks
he would hear of his father so he walks into the school library and he’s still
into the school library and he’s still
into the school library and he’s still trying to figure out from the principal
trying to figure out from the principal
trying to figure out from the principal what I do what I do and the principal
what I do what I do and the principal
what I do what I do and the principal accident you know this gentleman
accident you know this gentleman
accident you know this gentleman standing right here
standing right here
standing right here then why I looked up
and I opened my arms and the wine came
and I opened my arms and the wine came and gave me the biggest hug a father
and gave me the biggest hug a father
and gave me the biggest hug a father could ever receive then he patted me on
could ever receive then he patted me on
could ever receive then he patted me on the back and that was a rebirth of a
the back and that was a rebirth of a
the back and that was a rebirth of a nation so again I must ask you are you
nation so again I must ask you are you
nation so again I must ask you are you in or are you out because there is no
in or are you out because there is no
in or are you out because there is no in-between
in-between
in-between the day didn’t stop there the principal
the day didn’t stop there the principal
the day didn’t stop there the principal went back well now I’m finishing the
went back well now I’m finishing the
went back well now I’m finishing the interview I have a little divine with me
interview I have a little divine with me
interview I have a little divine with me he goes back to my daughter’s
he goes back to my daughter’s
he goes back to my daughter’s kindergarten class they ant you come
kindergarten class they ant you come
kindergarten class they ant you come with me okay she comes in you know this
with me okay she comes in you know this
with me okay she comes in you know this guy here that’s my dad and you can hear
guy here that’s my dad and you can hear
guy here that’s my dad and you can hear it I can still hear the clicking of her
it I can still hear the clicking of her
it I can still hear the clicking of her barrettes running over to me jumping in
barrettes running over to me jumping in
barrettes running over to me jumping in my arms we leave joseph Pennell
my arms we leave joseph Pennell
my arms we leave joseph Pennell elementary school our next stop is
elementary school our next stop is
elementary school our next stop is Southwest Leadership Academy Charter
Southwest Leadership Academy Charter
Southwest Leadership Academy Charter School my daughter we do head at the
School my daughter we do head at the
School my daughter we do head at the time just turned 12 years old September
time just turned 12 years old September
time just turned 12 years old September 10 2014
10 2014
10 2014 unfortunately due to the vast publicity
unfortunately due to the vast publicity
unfortunately due to the vast publicity we couldn’t do what we did at peddle
we couldn’t do what we did at peddle
we couldn’t do what we did at peddle inside the school so we had to go to her
inside the school so we had to go to her
inside the school so we had to go to her home and wait for her to get home my
home and wait for her to get home my
home and wait for her to get home my brother her uncle calls her IG day why
brother her uncle calls her IG day why
brother her uncle calls her IG day why are you I’m trying to give you your
are you I’m trying to give you your
are you I’m trying to give you your birthday gift okay I’m coming straight
birthday gift okay I’m coming straight
birthday gift okay I’m coming straight home from school now Junaid comes
home from school now Junaid comes
home from school now Junaid comes walking up my brother gets out hugs her
walking up my brother gets out hugs her
walking up my brother gets out hugs her cruise all around filming she’s trying
cruise all around filming she’s trying
cruise all around filming she’s trying to figure out what’s going on he said
to figure out what’s going on he said
to figure out what’s going on he said I’m not going to carry I need just get
I’m not going to carry I need just get
I’m not going to carry I need just get it out the back seat we going in the
it out the back seat we going in the
it out the back seat we going in the house so she prances over to the back
house so she prances over to the back
house so she prances over to the back seat
seat
seat she opened the back door and she
she opened the back door and she
she opened the back door and she screamed she jumped in my arms as if she
screamed she jumped in my arms as if she
screamed she jumped in my arms as if she was still my two year old baby that had
was still my two year old baby that had
was still my two year old baby that had left over ten years ago now I want to
left over ten years ago now I want to
left over ten years ago now I want to fast-forward 26 months later
fast-forward 26 months later
fast-forward 26 months later I’ve been home now for two years and two
I’ve been home now for two years and two
I’ve been home now for two years and two months later all three children are on
months later all three children are on
months later all three children are on the honor roll
that same young man that the system was
that same young man that the system was ready to write off and throw away and
ready to write off and throw away and
ready to write off and throw away and said that he needed medication and he
said that he needed medication and he
said that he needed medication and he had behavioral problems and he needed to
had behavioral problems and he needed to
had behavioral problems and he needed to be sent away he needed his father
our children didn’t acts to be here our
our children didn’t acts to be here our children need their fathers I’m no
children need their fathers I’m no
children need their fathers I’m no different from nobody sitting in this
different from nobody sitting in this
different from nobody sitting in this section over here
section over here
section over here somebody told myself and our brother
somebody told myself and our brother
somebody told myself and our brother Ricky Duncan that we were guests we can
Ricky Duncan that we were guests we can
Ricky Duncan that we were guests we can get with the people in front of the line
get with the people in front of the line
get with the people in front of the line never I am you
never I am you
never I am you I represent the men inside I represent
I represent the men inside I represent
I represent the men inside I represent to them that we can do it it can be done
even if it’s just one person it can
even if it’s just one person it can happen it can be done so then you would
happen it can be done so then you would
happen it can be done so then you would say well what are you doing now I’m a
say well what are you doing now I’m a
say well what are you doing now I’m a full-time program coordinator for the
full-time program coordinator for the
full-time program coordinator for the city of Philadelphia mural arts
city of Philadelphia mural arts
city of Philadelphia mural arts restorative justice program I work with
restorative justice program I work with
restorative justice program I work with young men and women in between the ages
young men and women in between the ages
young men and women in between the ages of 18 and 24 that’s on high-risk
of 18 and 24 that’s on high-risk
of 18 and 24 that’s on high-risk probation that’s going through the same
probation that’s going through the same
probation that’s going through the same repetitive system the effects of a
repetitive system the effects of a
repetitive system the effects of a fatherless household who better to teach
fatherless household who better to teach
fatherless household who better to teach them than you our children deserve
them than you our children deserve
them than you our children deserve having their fathers in their lives they
having their fathers in their lives they
having their fathers in their lives they deserve men returning home from
deserve men returning home from
deserve men returning home from incarceration men with a renewed mind
incarceration men with a renewed mind
incarceration men with a renewed mind they deserve to have their fathers my
they deserve to have their fathers my
they deserve to have their fathers my son asked me Dad can you come out and
son asked me Dad can you come out and
son asked me Dad can you come out and when we need a steady quarterback son um
when we need a steady quarterback son um
when we need a steady quarterback son um I’m tired man I got to go to work it’s
I’m tired man I got to go to work it’s
I’m tired man I got to go to work it’s cold out there then I thought this man
cold out there then I thought this man
cold out there then I thought this man waited all his life to play catch with
waited all his life to play catch with
waited all his life to play catch with his father and you tired you slept at
his father and you tired you slept at
his father and you tired you slept at Graterford
my daughter dad we don’t have nobody to
my daughter dad we don’t have nobody to turn rope with us I’m six foot four two
turn rope with us I’m six foot four two
turn rope with us I’m six foot four two hundred and something pounds but I owe
hundred and something pounds but I owe
hundred and something pounds but I owe it to him I can’t leave them our
it to him I can’t leave them our
it to him I can’t leave them our children are dependent on us so I’m
children are dependent on us so I’m
children are dependent on us so I’m going to ask you one final time one
going to ask you one final time one
going to ask you one final time one final time are you in or are you out
final time are you in or are you out
final time are you in or are you out because me I’m out
because me I’m out
because me I’m out [Applause]
”
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