WHO ARE YOU? WHERE ARE YOU GOING? WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO DECLAIR? Whenever you cross the border into this country, the Boarder patrol always ask you three questions. I have never forgotten these questions. So, when I started speaking at graduations, I always ask these three questions. […]
SEEING SUCCESS BEFORE YOU BEGIN: “S*HIP PROECT” This type of program is important as we teach people about anxiety and how to expand their comfort zones. We would like to share with Prisoners how to visualize success in there minds before they go through the actual experience. So, […]
Well, not only is it a positive outlet that allows a guy some meaning and purpose to all of this, but it is the holy grail for reducing recidivism. Why should the public care if inmates get a college degree? Aren’t they in prison to be punnished? The […]
# 14 BREAKING DOWN THE WORD “DISABLED” : Years ago, at the Monroe Correctional Complex, there was a Captain and his name was jimmy Evens. One of the things he used to say to me that really made a difference in changing my life, is, “Dick, it’s okay […]
COMFORT ZONES vs DANGER ZONES “Work for peace” is a concept that promotes non-violence. In Seattle, there is a middle school that got tired of all the signs it had up that young people saw when they walked in the front door. They had signs like “Don’t carry […]
#11 EMPOWERING YOURSELF I remember a quote from a book entitled “Adolescence at risk” By Gary Philips. ” I am empowered less by luck, by heredity or by circumstance, then by my capacity to envision the very best I can be.” We live in a day where the […]
In the last segment of this blogg I spoke about Beliefs, Attitudes, Habits & Expectations. Did you try the exercise? # 9 HAVE TO’S & WANT TO’S I see a big difference between “have to’s & want to’s.” Although I am a prisoner with many skills in speaking […]
Never would I have thought I would be living with dog in prison. Here I am after 18 years being tought how to care for something other then myself. Its like a new sense of responsibility. I have to say I have never been this responsible. I have […]
# 6 DIALOGUE AND SUPPORT Being able to talk with like minded people who have simular issues makes it easier to address. As you go through this proposal you will get a sense of what kind of materials that will be in the work book that I am […]
2 & 3 (S*HIP) Lets just face the fact that most people who have a disability do not take care of their nutritional needs or even exercise. So, it is only fitting we include this type of knowledge to help improve our health and do our part to […]
So I thought I sould share with you this progam I am building. WHAT IS S*HIP: The word S*HIP is an acronym for “Self-Esteem for the Handicaped Inside Prison” This would be a volunteer based program for the physically and/or emotioally disabled-cronically and even termanally ill prisoners. S*HIP […]
This day was a bittersweet day. A day that we as Roots of Success instructors have now grown all too accustomed to. The day was bitter because we were reminded of the sobering fact of this communion. The fact that this day meant the end of our journey […]
Today is a sad day form me. I have to go give the puppy I have been training to its new family. I will never see him again. He has been such a joy to train and work with. I have been in the dog program here at […]
Hello what’s crackin everbody? I hope this letter reaches you in the best of heart, mind, soul and health. I just recieved the link to the youtube video that I made, but unfortunately I don’t have a pen on me right now, but when I do I will […]
I’ve mentioned before that I’m currently doing a correspondance course to become a certified Victim Advocate , and I just turned in my first assignment on Monday . Now I’m on chapters 3 & 4 , and chapter 3’s assignments are I have to explain the pros and […]
There’s a term in economics called opportunity cost. It’s what you miss out on when you choose to do one particular thing over another. E.g., if you pass on overtime at work to do something person, the opportunity cost would be the extra money you would have earned. […]
There aren’t education opportunities in prison for most people, despite programs. I’m fortunate enough to be in a good one myself, for technical design and computer drafting. But even aside from “official” programs, there is essentially no limit to what we can achieve in educating ourselves alone. All […]
It never fails in this place; there is always a chorus of anti-intellectual nonsense, people saying, “What’s the point of that, I’m never going to need it in my life.” Yes, because education is very underrated. All of those successful people in life got that way by spurning […]
Inmate Blogger 