THE NEXT LEVEL

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness or something to that effect. I had an opportunity to attend the New York Liberty's last game of the season two weeks ago and they were in the midst of a ten game winning streak headed to the playoffs. The Garden was rocking with a playoff like intensity that it hasn't seen in quite sometime. The Liberty had definitely taken it to the next level.

I was invited to the game by a man I had the privilege to meet a couple of months ago. His name is Jason Sealey. I decided to stray away form my original blog format and showcase him because he embodies what APM represents. He is someone who is about empowering our youth and cleaning up our community by taking it to the Next Level.

I met Mr. Sealey at the Grace Playground in East New York, Brooklyn. At first glance what intrigued me the most about him was that he taught and ran drills on the basketball court with the intensity of a college coach. I observed him all last summer running basketball drills with kids form the neighborhood with cones on the court and a whistle in his mouth. He was teaching kids basketball fundamentals, but most importantly, life fundamentals which will stick with them long after hoops are gone.

Mr. Sealey coached these kids without asking for a penny. I asked Jason if I could pick his brain one day to find out what makes such a rare man as himself in these days and times. A man doing what he does from the kindness of his heart, with pure care and concern for our future (the youth), with no ulterior motives for financial gain?
Coach" as the kids call him is a native of Trinidad the southern most island in the Caribbean that lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. As a kid his mother was a giving person, she would bake bread for neighbors that were not as well off as his family and the spirit of nurturing and giving was embedded in him through his mom.

Jason came to the States in 1996 and started playing soccer professionally at the age of 16. He was a stellar athlete, winning numerous awards before he was sidelined in a career ending injury by a car accident in which someone ran a stop sign. Not being down on himself and leaving no time for a pity party; Jason saw the opportunity as a blessing rather than a curse and began coaching kids in his community, giving back as he saw his mother do in his youthful days. Coach Jason started Next Level Basketball Club last year. "Next Level is a family" Jason says, "My goal is to get as many kids, male and female, in college and for them to pursue their goals academically and athletically. They must have and education to go along with sports." In fact, two kids that he is presently coaching have already earned scholarships!"


Jason Sealey is amongst a dying breed in our community of people who care. If everyone in the world gave back or paid it forward no-one would be without; it would just be a continuous circle of giving. Think about that the next time you are asked to lend a helping hand. We can all take it to the Next Level.

THE TRANSFORMATION

During a drive on the pavements I use to pound, I ran into a young man I frequently see. I made an abrupt stop because something had changed about his appearance; the young man I knew in earlier times wore his hair in braids for over ten years. Now seeing him with a haircut was clearly a clue that some sort of transformation had taken place. I decided to sit down with him and not only hear his story but also gather information that would be useful to others wanting to make changes in their lives.

Now! on first observation one would think that Walter Adkins was a clean cut kid who blossomed into a clean cut man but that's just scratching the surface. Although he graduated from high school and boast a GPA of 3.14 he fell just short of 10 credits to obtain his Associates Degree. Walter's account of his criminal history is horrifying yet inspirational because of the man he has become today. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, Mr. Adkins admit to being a car thief, drug dealer and pimp at one time in his 32 years of living. Being shot in 1993 in his spine and learning to walk again is a remarkable story in itself, but again thats just scratching the surface.

Mr. Adkins did two terms in prison a 1-3 year bid in 1995 and a 4-9 1/2 year bid in 2000. Mr. Adkins states "The 3 1/2 years I did almost broke me down mentally and spiritually. In part, because I missed the birth of my son." His way of thinking changed while serving time in prison. He worked hard to develop a strong work ethic so that it would be embedded in him upon his release.

Junior, as his family and friends like to call him, was released from prison on work-release in 2003 and worked odd jobs to get to the position he is currently holding today (NYC Bus Operator). He started out working for (C.E.O)center for employment opportunities making $40.00 per day for 4 days per week of which he said "was no money, but it helped me to value money because I had to be wise with spending it because I was determined not to go back to jail".

"It's funny that my bus route covers the same blocks I hustled on" That's the first thing Walter Adkins said when I asked him what channels he went through to obtain his position as a MTA Bus Operator. There were several steps he took to obtain that position however the one that stuck out to me was the process of obtaining certificates of dispositions. I can definitely relate to that because I am also presently at that place in my life, at this very moment. We as ex-felons must obtain these certificates as verification that our cases are completed/closed. This shows potential employers that there are no open cases. This is good to have at all times, especially for City and State employers. All dispositions are free of charge as long as you were represented by a legal aid

Mr. Adkins went on to say that he has obtained letters of recommendation from a variety of past employers, speaking on behalf of his character and excellent work ethic. Because of the stigma society has placed on us (ex-felons) obtaining these letters are very important and they play a significant role in helping us become employable again. It shows that someone believes in us and is willing to state in writing that we are hard workers and attempting to be a part of the working class citizens in spite of what we have experienced in the past.

There were alot of challenges that beset Walter but he overcame them. There were officials that should have been supporting his endeavors but instead they looked down on him because of his past. However, he was able to turn stones into gems. He built his foundation on solid ground not quicksand in hopes that his building wouldn't crumble but stand firm on his beliefs and values. Therefore, Mr. Walter "June" Adkins is a success story to say the least. His story should inspire us all.


Men and woman with criminal backgrounds think that we are not able to get jobs of stature because of our records. We hear rumors about having a felony automatically excludes us from getting good jobs and we believe it, we don't push for them, we don't fight for them, we are already defeated in our own minds which depletes our spirit and doesn't feed our bodies that "get up and go" boost that is such a necessity for obtaining any level of success. I've heard that ex-felons are not entitled to certain city and state jobs but don't let that be a deterrent, Mr. Adkins has clearly proven that to be a myth. Anyway we all know who's in charge! Like Walter Adkins we have to start the building process of success and it doesn't start at the top down but the bottom up. It won't be easy but the rewards are limitless! Live Free!

Thinking outside the box

When I was on the streets hustling in Queens, the people around me acted like it was the normal thing to do; as if I was destined to be a drug dealer; sort of like it was ordained by God. I sit down at times and my soul cries out when I think of the things I used to do and how I wasted so much valuable time in my life. I look at my rap sheet and a single tear drops on the recording of my criminal life. I think about the years wasted and what I could have become/should have become. Who I am now is sort of a contradiction because my past has shaped and molded me to be the person I am today. A good father, son, brother and friend. A great thinker, leader and most of all a caring and conscious human being. So I ask myself, was that time really a waste? I will let my actions answer that question.








What you have here will not be your typical blog, Now! I'm going against what those people around me thought was the norm with a positive twist. I call this the Blog-View. My account of daily encounters and interviews of sorts with men and women who have been incarcerated and released from prison, who have become what I call success stories. Who have defied the odds and societal labels. Those who have went up against the norm, both men and women. Welcome to - The Antiprisonmovement.

The Movement Begins

Dwan Watson, who’s under 30 years of age has lived long and hard enough to recognize the need for change. In the past fifteen years, Watson fell victim to the
mentality of ghetto living; because of this he became habitually
incarcerated, by the so-called rehabilitative system, which is better
known as prison. He spent one third of his life (10 years) convicted of being a
“drug dealer". However since then he has discovered that the real prison,was the self-imposing prison of his closed mind. He always knew God, he didn’t go to jail and convert,he always knew better. But then one would ask, what made him do the things he did to get in trouble in the first place?

Dwan Watson believes that it was his perception of life that lead him down
the wrong path. His want for greater things without the want of providing
a solid work ethic to get it landed him in places that truly didn't define his character. Wanting to get rich quick, consequently caught up with his fast paced
lifestyle and confined him to prison. Yet he liberated himself through consciousness, strong will and determination. Dwan has deliberately turned his life around, with reformed thought and four years of freedom. Since his last conviction and release he has become a new man. His story is not the story of a man
reformed by religion,like Malcom X. There was no magical epiphany. He
just took time to tap into the rehabilitation that was already within him. By
reforming his thoughts and perception of life Watson has gained respectful employment and has been building responsibly with others to help heal his community.


Though he is still considered a felon, which he is currently working to
lawfully expunge,he chooses to continue to establish himself with better
conduct by serving his community. Dwan has recently began his pursuit to
reach out to the youth, by visiting Norman Thomas High School in New York
City to speak to, what he regards as, “our future”,the kids about the
perils of negative thinking and how one CAN change their life after making
mistakes, by changing their perception on life. Dwan’s greatest
accomplishments are yet to come.His ambitions are greater than his
challenges, as he says “I’m going to overcome, the label this society
gives me, that says [as an ex-convict] I’m a bad person.” And, he will
do more than that with his new non-profit organizational website
(Anti-Prison Movement),a place online where other ex-cons can find
resources to stay straight and narrow; to enjoy living free!