The Ethics Project

High School Students Meet at Urban League

Thirteen students from four St. Louis Public High Schools were hand chosen by fellow classmates to attend a half day "board" meeting to plan details of upcoming Youth/Gang Summits. The summits will be held in each of their schools this Spring with an all-school summit following before Summer break. The participating high schools, Roosevelt, Vashon, Beaumont and Sumner were identified by St. Louis Public School Superintendent, Dr. Kelvin Adams, as being most in need of averting gang related problems. Principals of each high school were immediately on board with the effort.

Despite the early morning snow that shut down the school district the following day, the thirteen students exhibited their leadership and commitment to the Summits by braving the cold temperatures and slick streets. They were there and they were ready to produce results. Each student was fully engaged in the interactive process led by former U.S. Prosecutor, Kymberly Smith Jackson.

Organized by The Ethics Project Founder, Attorney Christi M. Griffin, Chair of the St. Louis Public School Gang/Summits for the Urban League's Public Safety Advisory Council, the meeting was designed to give students an opportunity to plan and take ownership of the summits. Urban League President, James Buford, consented to use of the League's board room, giving the students exposure to the larger community and a more corporate atmosphere. More such "board meetings" are planned for future planning.

Along with assigning two detectives to participate in the planning session, St. Louis Police Chief Dan Isom also made time himself to share lunch with the students. It was a significant opportunity for them to interact with the Chief and for him to listen in on their ideas and concerns. Both he and Urban League President, James Buford were impressed with the decorum and involvment of the students in the planning.

St. Louis Public School Superintendent, Dr. Kelvin Adams had been scheduled to attend the day's planning session but was called away due to a student's death in a weekend house fire. Dr. Adams has been exceptionally supportive in establishing the Youth/Gang Summit asking that the effort not stop there. He expressed his regret for being unable to attend.

St. Louis Metropolitan Police Chie,f Dan Isom, with some of the Student Leadership Corp.

St. Louis Urban League President, James Buford, addressing the Student Leadership Corp.

Former U.S. Prosecuting Attorney, Kymberly Smith Jackson, facilitating the days' planning session.

Youth Leadership Corp.,and school adult representatives in group picture with Youth Gang/Summit Chair, meeting facilitator and Police Chief Isom.

Urban League Vice President of Communications, Angelia Bills, taking notes of students' suggestions.

Roosevelt High School Disciplinarian, Jay Williams and Vashon High School Counselor, Brennan Spain, engage in thoughtful discussion.

Youth/Gang Summit Chair, Attorney Christi M. Griffin, taking notes of students' suggestions.

Beaumont High School Counselor, Sonja Little, engaged with students in planning details of the summits.

Photographs by Warice Blackmon-Davis

Parent Support Specialist Liaison

St. Louis Public Schools

Do It For The Kids!

Our children are our most valuable resources; and they are all our children. As youth, "offenders" and those referred to as "ex-offenders", were often the most abused and neglected - both by their parents and by society. Assigning labels tends to mask that reality. For the more than two million children in the US who have one or more incarcerated parents, the chances of entering the criminal justice system is five to six times greater than those who do not. Hurt people tend to hurt people. Economic disparity tends to breed crime. read more

As the above referenced numbers continue to increase exponentially, so do the threats to society. Increased incarcerations don't necessarily translate to a decrease in crime. They do, however, translate to increased profits for those who benefit from filling prison beds. We as tax-payers pay the economic price, children pay with their lives.

Thousands of programs across the country make great strides in addressing the intergenerational problems created by incarcerations. The revolving doors of prisons for profit* however, make those efforts ongoing and sometime futile. While we begin to address the human cost of allowing corporations to profit from the destruction of families and communities, the old African proverb takes on a more urgent mandate - "It takes a village to raise a child".

Here you will find "villages" that serve the needs of millions of children in need of adult direction.

Project Joy

Project Joy is a 501 c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to fostering the healthy development of young children who are at risk. Through innovative training retreats, Project Joy provides teachers and childcare providers with the resources they need to strengthen and heal their children through play.

Established in Boston in 1989, Project Joy has expanded to national scope, currently supporting children and their caretakers from Boston to Biloxi and beyond.

Championing the single most important activity in the life of a child – play.

It’s really pretty simple - a playful child has unlimited potential. Playful children explore the world around them with confidence and wonder. Through play, young children express themselves, build healthy relationships and prepare to successfully meet life’s challenges. Play is also one of the most effective ways for children to process their experiences.

www.ProjectJoy.com

The Messages Project

The Messages Project is focused on the children left behind when a parent is incarcerated. Since 1999 the Messages Project has visited six state prisons in Virginia three times a year to create videotapes from incarcerated parents to children. The tapes are mailed to children and families, often with a book or poems and messages that might have been read on the tape. Some of the messages have even gone international, though most are throughout the U.S.

The mission is to maintain, or in many cases re-build, the connection between imprisoned parents and the children that are left behind. _____________

Book Donations

The Messages Project is looking for new and gently loved books to share with children with incarcerated parents. For more information contact:

mpfeedback@themessageproject.org

www.TheMessagesProject.org

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

Under a perfect blue sky and gentle breezes, my husband and I watched as our grandchildren scampered through mazes of slides and tunnels at Eckerts Family Farm. Behind us came a mother's voice giving notice to her young son that it was time to go. Her calls were met with the usual resistance given by children in the midst of fun. "No", he protested. " I'm having fun"! By the third call my muscles began to tighten. Like many scenes of such nature, I was certain that the five year old would burst into a spoiled rage or his mother would drag him away in tears. To my surprise, however, her final call came with an unusual threat - "if you don't come right now... (I held my breath in fear) I'm going to kiss you!"

My husband joined me in laughter as I released the tense gulp of air taking refuge in my chest. "That's the cruelest punishment of all", I turned and told the young but wise mother. She and the boy's grandmother both laughed as he finally made his way up the hill to join them. As they made their way out of the playground, his cries had stopped. He even seemed content bouncing atop the shoulders of his mom.

It may be surprising that this scene ended the way it did. There was no screaming, the young boy was never called out of his name; he wasn't coerced with desperate promises, he didn't fall to the ground in an uncontrollable tantrum. His mother never raised her voice. More importantly, she never raised her hand. Instead, she persuaded this impressionable young man with the most unusual punishment of all - a

big kiss from his mom, right there in front of all the other kids. To a five year old boy just finding his way in the world, what could be worse?

In reality, this wise mother had found the perfect way to solve an age old struggle - ending the play of a wistful child when it was finally time to go.Though the boy had reached an age where his mother's kisses were met with disdain, he secretly knew he was loved enough to warrant such pain. What an amazing gift to give a child! What if every child was as lucky to be guided by such cruel and unusual punishment?

Sonia Sotomayor was recently appointed the first Hispanic woman to sit on the highest court of the United States; only the third woman in its more than 200 year history. Over the course of her life appointment, the lives of millions will be influenced

by the decisions she makes. Yet, the decision of this one young mother is of equal importance to those around her. Like Justice Sotomayor, the words she chooses to use and the decisions she makes to guide her son with loving firmness will impact the lives of many. The lesson she taught him today was not merely one that touches him, but all those he will touch in the future.

Christi M.Griffin

Sept. 6, 2009

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JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM IN US SENATE!

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The arrest and imprisonment of a parent is a significant trauma for children and they often react by demonstrating a pattern of aggression, anxiety, hyper arousal, depression, attention disorders developmental regression, and 'survival guilt'. In this book, the authors offer guidance to aid social workers, psychologist, and others who work with these children to help them.

Ten essays by social scientists and legal experts on the ripple effects of the escalating incarceration rate on family relationships, Travis (Urban Institute) and Waul (National Center for Victims of Crime),this book reflects a commitment to expanding research in this area by the US government. Contributors discuss reentry challenges and recommendations for better serving this population.

Written by Jackie A. Stranglin and Illustrated by Cierra Jade McGuckie, this book is for children four to eight.

See more books at Project Ethics' Book Store click here

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25 Children Given Summer Camp Opportunity

During a recent consortium in Kansas City, MO the Director of

Correctional Services for the Salvation Army, extended 25 summer camp openings to Big Brother' Big Sisters. read more

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*Prisons-for-profit refer to those in which the ownership and managerial tasks are assumed by private corporations and paid for with government dollars. In reality, all prisons create private fortunes for those who build, supply and maintain US prisons. It behooves profiteers and their paid lobbyists to campaign for lengthier sentences and criminalization of more behaviors. The result is an ever increasing trend toward incarcerations that places the Unites States ahead of any other country in the world in the percentage of its citizens behind bars. View PBS video on prisons for profits

View 60 Minute coverage of prisons for profits:

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Pahrump prison

60 Minute video on dangers of prisons for profits