just two miles down the road from my house there’s a youth detention center
house there’s a youth detention center
house there’s a youth detention center it’s called Delaware Youth
it’s called Delaware Youth
it’s called Delaware Youth rehabilitative services
rehabilitative services
rehabilitative services however our community knows it better as
however our community knows it better as
however our community knows it better as Ferriss I confess that as I passed this
Ferriss I confess that as I passed this
Ferriss I confess that as I passed this building by I’ve always had an eerie
building by I’ve always had an eerie
building by I’ve always had an eerie sort of out worldly feeling however
sort of out worldly feeling however
sort of out worldly feeling however other than that I had never given it
other than that I had never given it
other than that I had never given it much thought
much thought
much thought I’m sure each of you are sitting here
I’m sure each of you are sitting here
I’m sure each of you are sitting here wondering why a young teenage girl like
wondering why a young teenage girl like
wondering why a young teenage girl like me chose to get involved with those
me chose to get involved with those
me chose to get involved with those who’ve gotten in trouble with the law
who’ve gotten in trouble with the law
who’ve gotten in trouble with the law sort of makes you wonder very remote and
sort of makes you wonder very remote and
sort of makes you wonder very remote and strange to each of you just as it was to
strange to each of you just as it was to
strange to each of you just as it was to me several years ago I could have never
me several years ago I could have never
me several years ago I could have never imagined that something as severe as
imagined that something as severe as
imagined that something as severe as incarceration would happen to someone
incarceration would happen to someone
incarceration would happen to someone like me until it did my neighbor was
like me until it did my neighbor was
like me until it did my neighbor was seven years old he lived in a beautiful
seven years old he lived in a beautiful
seven years old he lived in a beautiful home in a safe neighborhood
home in a safe neighborhood
home in a safe neighborhood he played baseball at Piedmont and he
he played baseball at Piedmont and he
he played baseball at Piedmont and he attended a private school he would have
attended a private school he would have
attended a private school he would have never imagined that his life would soon
never imagined that his life would soon
never imagined that his life would soon spiral out of control his parents got
spiral out of control his parents got
spiral out of control his parents got divorced and he moved into the city of
divorced and he moved into the city of
divorced and he moved into the city of Wilmington with his mother after some
Wilmington with his mother after some
Wilmington with his mother after some time his mom became involved with drugs
time his mom became involved with drugs
time his mom became involved with drugs and as a young teen he too developed a
and as a young teen he too developed a
and as a young teen he too developed a drug addiction as you can imagine this
drug addiction as you can imagine this
drug addiction as you can imagine this drug addiction led him to being
drug addiction led him to being
drug addiction led him to being desperate for money and willing to do
desperate for money and willing to do
desperate for money and willing to do anything to get it so not surprisingly
anything to get it so not surprisingly
anything to get it so not surprisingly this led to his arrest and incarceration
this led to his arrest and incarceration
this led to his arrest and incarceration at Ferris I ask each of you to think
at Ferris I ask each of you to think
at Ferris I ask each of you to think about the mistakes you have made in your
about the mistakes you have made in your
about the mistakes you have made in your lives I’m sure most if not all of you
lives I’m sure most if not all of you
lives I’m sure most if not all of you have been lucky enough to have been
have been lucky enough to have been
have been lucky enough to have been provided with a second chance you have
provided with a second chance you have
provided with a second chance you have had that support system at home that has
had that support system at home that has
had that support system at home that has helped pull you out of those dark places
helped pull you out of those dark places
helped pull you out of those dark places in which we find ourselves when we make
in which we find ourselves when we make
in which we find ourselves when we make these mistakes where would you be
these mistakes where would you be
these mistakes where would you be without that second chance where would
without that second chance where would
without that second chance where would you be without that support system at
you be without that support system at
you be without that support system at home I tend to think of the teenage
home I tend to think of the teenage
home I tend to think of the teenage years as a time where we don’t know the
years as a time where we don’t know the
years as a time where we don’t know the consequences of our actions we rarely
consequences of our actions we rarely
consequences of our actions we rarely consider them but when we are given that
consider them but when we are given that
consider them but when we are given that second chance to redeem ourselves regain
second chance to redeem ourselves regain
second chance to redeem ourselves regain our dignity then we do learn and we do
our dignity then we do learn and we do
our dignity then we do learn and we do better the next time hopefully
better the next time hopefully
better the next time hopefully I think that many of you would be
I think that many of you would be
I think that many of you would be surprised to learn that 70% of our
surprised to learn that 70% of our
surprised to learn that 70% of our incarcerated youth in Delaware are black
incarcerated youth in Delaware are black
incarcerated youth in Delaware are black teens that are imprisoned for crimes
teens that are imprisoned for crimes
teens that are imprisoned for crimes that go unreported in affluent suburbs
that go unreported in affluent suburbs
that go unreported in affluent suburbs now don’t get me wrong I fully believe
now don’t get me wrong I fully believe
now don’t get me wrong I fully believe that people should be held accountable
that people should be held accountable
that people should be held accountable for their actions but I think that our
for their actions but I think that our
for their actions but I think that our society tends to become numb to the fact
society tends to become numb to the fact
society tends to become numb to the fact that many of these teens come from
that many of these teens come from
that many of these teens come from dysfunctional families so this statistic
dysfunctional families so this statistic
dysfunctional families so this statistic of 70% of our incarcerated youth may
of 70% of our incarcerated youth may
of 70% of our incarcerated youth may surprise each of you but it doesn’t
surprise each of you but it doesn’t
surprise each of you but it doesn’t surprise those teens at Ferris in fact
surprise those teens at Ferris in fact
surprise those teens at Ferris in fact they have reported to the News Journal
they have reported to the News Journal
they have reported to the News Journal that they feel as if society is stacked
that they feel as if society is stacked
that they feel as if society is stacked against them they have said that they
against them they have said that they
against them they have said that they view jail as just an inevitability in
view jail as just an inevitability in
view jail as just an inevitability in life a step in life like many of you
life a step in life like many of you
life a step in life like many of you view college for you that they are bound
view college for you that they are bound
view college for you that they are bound to visit at least once in their lifetime
to visit at least once in their lifetime
to visit at least once in their lifetime just let that sink in our teens kids in
just let that sink in our teens kids in
just let that sink in our teens kids in our community think that our world is
our community think that our world is
our community think that our world is stacked against them they simply think
stacked against them they simply think
stacked against them they simply think that our world is waiting for them to
that our world is waiting for them to
that our world is waiting for them to make a mistake and being quick to punish
make a mistake and being quick to punish
make a mistake and being quick to punish them when they do as you’re thinking
them when they do as you’re thinking
them when they do as you’re thinking about that I’m going to provide you with
about that I’m going to provide you with
about that I’m going to provide you with two examples of teens in our community
two examples of teens in our community
two examples of teens in our community their stories really resonate with me
their stories really resonate with me
their stories really resonate with me the first is Antonio him and his family
the first is Antonio him and his family
the first is Antonio him and his family were immigrants living in the city of
were immigrants living in the city of
were immigrants living in the city of Wilmington as a young teen Antonio was
Wilmington as a young teen Antonio was
Wilmington as a young teen Antonio was searching for any friend he could find
searching for any friend he could find
searching for any friend he could find he would hang out in front of his
he would hang out in front of his
he would hang out in front of his homeless shelter in Wilmington and
homeless shelter in Wilmington and
homeless shelter in Wilmington and befriend anyone who walked by in short
befriend anyone who walked by in short
befriend anyone who walked by in short time he became involved in a game pretty
time he became involved in a game pretty
time he became involved in a game pretty at the beginning he thought this was
at the beginning he thought this was
at the beginning he thought this was pretty cool he had some friends who
pretty cool he had some friends who
pretty cool he had some friends who would do things together but just as
would do things together but just as
would do things together but just as gang activity starts it came in to
gang activity starts it came in to
gang activity starts it came in to truancy is orderly conduct and
truancy is orderly conduct and
truancy is orderly conduct and involvement with alcohol and drugs so
involvement with alcohol and drugs so
involvement with alcohol and drugs so I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I
I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I
I’m sure you won’t be surprised when I tell you that these activities led to
tell you that these activities led to
tell you that these activities led to his arrest and incarceration at Ferris I
his arrest and incarceration at Ferris I
his arrest and incarceration at Ferris I began to after some time when he had
began to after some time when he had
began to after some time when he had completed his rehabilitation and he was
completed his rehabilitation and he was
completed his rehabilitation and he was ready to be released to our community I
ready to be released to our community I
ready to be released to our community I asked myself what would happen to him
asked myself what would happen to him
asked myself what would happen to him when he returned to the same section of
when he returned to the same section of
when he returned to the same section of the city with the same
the city with the same
the city with the same and surrounded by the same crimes would
and surrounded by the same crimes would
and surrounded by the same crimes would he wind up right where he just was back
he wind up right where he just was back
he wind up right where he just was back in incarceration it seemed like a
in incarceration it seemed like a
in incarceration it seemed like a hopeless cycle to me and I was simply
hopeless cycle to me and I was simply
hopeless cycle to me and I was simply puzzled
puzzled
puzzled I became saddened to learn that this is
I became saddened to learn that this is
I became saddened to learn that this is exactly what happens in many
exactly what happens in many
exactly what happens in many circumstances so then I became aware of
circumstances so then I became aware of
circumstances so then I became aware of a similar situation to Antonio’s a boy
a similar situation to Antonio’s a boy
a similar situation to Antonio’s a boy named Tyler and he was involved in gang
named Tyler and he was involved in gang
named Tyler and he was involved in gang activities similar to Antonio however
activities similar to Antonio however
activities similar to Antonio however after his incarceration it became aware
after his incarceration it became aware
after his incarceration it became aware to me that he did not have a home to go
to me that he did not have a home to go
to me that he did not have a home to go to after every other possibility had
to after every other possibility had
to after every other possibility had been exploited his grandmother stepped
been exploited his grandmother stepped
been exploited his grandmother stepped up to take him into her care but she was
up to take him into her care but she was
up to take him into her care but she was honest with the fact that she did not
honest with the fact that she did not
honest with the fact that she did not have a bed nor a couch for him to sleep
have a bed nor a couch for him to sleep
have a bed nor a couch for him to sleep on and he would have to be comfortable
on and he would have to be comfortable
on and he would have to be comfortable with living on the floor so then I asked
with living on the floor so then I asked
with living on the floor so then I asked myself how would I be asked to complete
myself how would I be asked to complete
myself how would I be asked to complete homework assignments participate in
homework assignments participate in
homework assignments participate in sporting events or partake in any social
sporting events or partake in any social
sporting events or partake in any social interactions without a bed to sleep in
interactions without a bed to sleep in
interactions without a bed to sleep in at night I knew that I would be pretty
at night I knew that I would be pretty
at night I knew that I would be pretty cranky and probably get into some
cranky and probably get into some
cranky and probably get into some trouble myself so I learned that his
trouble myself so I learned that his
trouble myself so I learned that his teens have fallen through the cracks in
teens have fallen through the cracks in
teens have fallen through the cracks in our society they are headed for a life
our society they are headed for a life
our society they are headed for a life of crime
of crime
of crime this ad reality is that our rate of
this ad reality is that our rate of
this ad reality is that our rate of reincarnation also known as recidivism
reincarnation also known as recidivism
reincarnation also known as recidivism has recently reached a high of 75
has recently reached a high of 75
has recently reached a high of 75 percent in the city of Wilmington this
percent in the city of Wilmington this
percent in the city of Wilmington this means that 3 out of every 4 youth who
means that 3 out of every 4 youth who
means that 3 out of every 4 youth who find themselves incarcerated in the
find themselves incarcerated in the
find themselves incarcerated in the beginning of their life wind up back in
beginning of their life wind up back in
beginning of their life wind up back in incarceration at some point during their
incarceration at some point during their
incarceration at some point during their whole life that’s 3 out of every 4 teens
whole life that’s 3 out of every 4 teens
whole life that’s 3 out of every 4 teens this statistic should not be ignored yet
this statistic should not be ignored yet
this statistic should not be ignored yet our society continues to overlook it I
our society continues to overlook it I
our society continues to overlook it I ask you to evaluate the consequences of
ask you to evaluate the consequences of
ask you to evaluate the consequences of actions as a society what are we doing
actions as a society what are we doing
actions as a society what are we doing to help these teens reenter society what
to help these teens reenter society what
to help these teens reenter society what does this incarceration now an indelible
does this incarceration now an indelible
does this incarceration now an indelible mark on their record mean to each of us
mark on their record mean to each of us
mark on their record mean to each of us for as I involve myself in multiple
for as I involve myself in multiple
for as I involve myself in multiple service projects with the residents at
service projects with the residents at
service projects with the residents at Ferris I was saddened to learn that very
Ferris I was saddened to learn that very
Ferris I was saddened to learn that very little was being done
little was being done
little was being done this high rate of recidivism outraged
this high rate of recidivism outraged
this high rate of recidivism outraged over a system that seemed to recycle
over a system that seemed to recycle
over a system that seemed to recycle teens back into these hopeless
teens back into these hopeless
teens back into these hopeless situations for this exact reason I
situations for this exact reason I
situations for this exact reason I created youth overcoming obstacles with
created youth overcoming obstacles with
created youth overcoming obstacles with the help of mr. Jack McDonough deputy
the help of mr. Jack McDonough deputy
the help of mr. Jack McDonough deputy director of Delaware youth
director of Delaware youth
director of Delaware youth rehabilitative services I set out to
rehabilitative services I set out to
rehabilitative services I set out to create an organization in Delaware that
create an organization in Delaware that
create an organization in Delaware that would help these incarcerated teens who
would help these incarcerated teens who
would help these incarcerated teens who could not help themselves
could not help themselves
could not help themselves my ultimate goal through this
my ultimate goal through this
my ultimate goal through this organization is to bridge the gap for
organization is to bridge the gap for
organization is to bridge the gap for these incarcerated teens who want to
these incarcerated teens who want to
these incarcerated teens who want to succeed when they return back to their
succeed when they return back to their
succeed when they return back to their home communities now through my
home communities now through my
home communities now through my organization I was able to provide
organization I was able to provide
organization I was able to provide Tyler’s family with the necessary
Tyler’s family with the necessary
Tyler’s family with the necessary monetary needs they needed to move out
monetary needs they needed to move out
monetary needs they needed to move out of the city and into a new school
of the city and into a new school
of the city and into a new school district I was also able to provide a
district I was also able to provide a
district I was also able to provide a bed for Tyler so that he could
bed for Tyler so that he could
bed for Tyler so that he could participate in those sporting events
participate in those sporting events
participate in those sporting events completing his homework assignments and
completing his homework assignments and
completing his homework assignments and partake in any social interactions with
partake in any social interactions with
partake in any social interactions with a good attitude I am here to tell each
a good attitude I am here to tell each
a good attitude I am here to tell each of you that if you think teens can’t
of you that if you think teens can’t
of you that if you think teens can’t make a difference in the adult world we
make a difference in the adult world we
make a difference in the adult world we can I have learned that I have a voice
can I have learned that I have a voice
can I have learned that I have a voice and when my observations turn into
and when my observations turn into
and when my observations turn into actions it matters I firmly believe that
actions it matters I firmly believe that
actions it matters I firmly believe that the state will back us in creating and
the state will back us in creating and
the state will back us in creating and advancing opportunities for all teens
advancing opportunities for all teens
advancing opportunities for all teens who need and want to make a difference
who need and want to make a difference
who need and want to make a difference in our community so I ask each of you to
in our community so I ask each of you to
in our community so I ask each of you to join me in creating second chances for
join me in creating second chances for
join me in creating second chances for the incarcerated teens in our community
the incarcerated teens in our community
the incarcerated teens in our community this is simply by changing your mindset
this is simply by changing your mindset
this is simply by changing your mindset instead of seeing these mistakes and
instead of seeing these mistakes and
instead of seeing these mistakes and writing these teams off and punishing
writing these teams off and punishing
writing these teams off and punishing them for their mistakes I ask you to
them for their mistakes I ask you to
them for their mistakes I ask you to embrace their mistakes I ask you to help
embrace their mistakes I ask you to help
embrace their mistakes I ask you to help them develop their lives and make our
them develop their lives and make our
them develop their lives and make our community better so I want each of you
community better so I want each of you
community better so I want each of you to join me on my path to being an agent
to join me on my path to being an agent
to join me on my path to being an agent of change in our community because after
of change in our community because after
of change in our community because after all changing society’s view on
all changing society’s view on
all changing society’s view on incarcerated youth starts with all of
incarcerated youth starts with all of
incarcerated youth starts with all of you thank
you thank
you thank [Applause]
”
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