AS PART OF MY RESPONSIBILITY, I HAVE TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCES WITH ANYONE WHO HAS AN EAR.

I DO ALL THAT I CAN TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY. I SPEAK TO YOUNG MEN, AS WELL AS THE PARENTS OF THOSE AT RISK YOUTH.

WHO BETTER THAN ME? I CAME TO PRISON AS A KID. SO, I CAN SPEAK TO THE KIDS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR ACTIONS.

I SEE THE RESULTS OF PEOPLE WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR PARENTS IN THEIR LIVES AS ACTIVE PARENTS. THE ROLE THEY PLAYED WAS ONLY AS BIO – PARENTS WHO PREFER TO BE FRIENDS RATHER THAN PARENTS.

SO I CAN ALSO SPEAK TO THE PARENTS AS WELL.

I FEEL THAT I HAVE TAKEN SO MUCH FROM OUR COMMUNITY AND NOW IT’S TIME THAT I GIVE BACK. HOW?

BY BEING BOLD AND HONEST WITH THOSE THAT NEED IT THE MOST…OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I HAVE LEARNED ALOT FROM TALKING TO THE YOUNG MEN WHO I HAVE ENCOUNTERED THROUGH OUT THE YEARS OF MY INCARCERATION.

1.) THEY NEED THE PROPER EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW
2.) THEY NEED TO BE HEARD
3.) THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT WE CARE

PLEASE REALIZE THAT THEY WON’T CARE UNTIL THEY KNOW JUST HOW MUCH YOU CARE.

DONT JUST SAY THAT YOU CARE, SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS. TAKE THE TIME TO SPEND WITH THEM DOING THINGS THAT THEY WANT TO DO.

THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN BEING THE CHILDS FRIEND AND BEING A RESPONSIBLE ADULT. I THINK THAT IT’S ONE THAT CAN BE TRAVELED.

WHEN THERE IS AN ISSUE, DONT CHASTISE.

CORRECT. DONT BEAT HIM OR HER UP WITH A BUNCH OF WORDS. ADDRESS THE ISSUE, DONT OVER-DO IT.

KIDS ARE SMART AND THEY ARE CAPABLE OF UNDERSTANDING.

NOW BEFORE ANYONE ASKS…. NO, I DO NOT HAVE ANY KIDS. I HAVE JUST SPENT THE LAST 26 YEARS. LISTENING AND DEALING WITH A BUNCH OF GROWN ASS KIDS.

HERE COMES MY DISCLAIMER: I DONT THINK THAT I KNOW ALL. I DON’T. BUT IF I HAVE OFFENDED ANYONE , I REALLY APOLOGIZE BECAUSE THAT WAS NOT MY INTENTION. BUT I STAND BY WHAT I SAID .

AS ALWAYS, IF YOU DIS-AGREE WITH ANYTHING THAT I HAVE SAID OR IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT AND CONTACT ME.

UNTIL THE NEXT TIME. BE SAFE OUT THERE.

JAI’MAR SCOTT
DOC #970703