February - 2020

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Clint Smith: A Collection of Talks and Spoken Word on Black History, Resilience, and the Danger of S

Clint Smith: A Collection of Talks and Spoken Word on Black History, Resilience, and the Danger of S

How to Raise a Black Son in America From TED:"As kids, we all get advice from parents and teachers that seems strange, even confusing. This was crystallized one night for a young Clint Smith, who was playing with water guns in a dark parking lot with his white friends. In a heartfelt piece, the poet paints the scene of his father's furious and fearful response." History Reconsidered The Danger of Silence From TED: "We spend so much time listening to the things people are sayi

Safe Dates Matter

Safe Dates Matter

For teens, going to a movie, concert, or restaurant, or just hanging out together as a couple is supposed to be fun. But for many young people, dating relationships that begin innocently enough turn into encounters with fear and violence. One in three young people will be in an abusive relationship, and only about one-third of those teens ever tell anybody about it. 1 in 5 teens know a victim of dating violence. 1 in 3 young people will be in an abusive or unhealthy relations

Valentine’s Day and School Violence: Grief and Reflection

Valentine’s Day and School Violence: Grief and Reflection

I have struggled with Valentine’s Day for the last 12 years. While I love celebrating the holiday with my spouse, it holds a more somber tone for me. This Friday marks the 12th anniversary of the fatal shooting at Northern Illinois University, my Alma Mater. On February 14, 2008, a gun man opened fire with a shotgun and three pistols in a large lecture hall, killing five people and injuring 17 others. The gunman, who eventually killed himself, was a former student of the univ

A Trauma-Informed Perspective on Reentry

A Trauma-Informed Perspective on Reentry

In the United States, approximately 1.6 million people are incarcerated in federal, state and county prisons. Ninety-five percent (95%) o these people will be released back into our communities. Nationwide, 68% of released offenders were rearrested for a new crime within three years; 77% were arrested within five years. Of those arrested within three years, 57% were arrested by the end of their first year out. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (1999), people who e