One Ex-Offender's Plight

This is a letter that my baby sister sent to MORE in February of this year...


My name is Adriene Berry. I am an ex-offender living in Philadelphia. I just wanted to take a moment to express to you the difficulty I have encountered in trying to obtain employment. I am sure my situation is not uncommon but that does not make it any less frustrating. I was convicted in 2005, placed on house arrest and served out my probation. Tell me, why I am I still paying that same debt. If I sound bitter, please forgive me. I was a first time offender and I consider myself to be collateral damage in this so called war on drugs. I also realize that I made a decision that I now know will haunt me for the rest of my life. I have been trying to get back to a productive life but that seems nearly impossible. I have registered with every agency in the city. I even have some that send me out on menial jobs that no one else will take only to receive notice by mail, no less, stating that they cannot retain me because of my criminal record. I'd just like for someone to tell me what am I supposed to do to take care of my family. Do I embrace a life of crime since society has turned its back or do I become another able bodied adult trying to live off of the scraps you receive from public assistance? I don't want to do either. I just want a chance to work and support my family. It seems like the government along with corporate America wants to keep me from my rights promised me by the Constitution of the United States of America. It seems that the government is only interested in driving ex- offenders further underground. A lot of people don't want to sell drugs and steal and rob. But you know what, a lot of them do. I'm just wondering what are the options for those of us who want to live a decent life? I look through the re-entry web sites, call the numbers but I don't qualify for most of the programs. They offer training but what happens after that? If there is no one to hire you what good is the training? I can't get any federal assistance to go back to school and if I could what would I study? No federal assistance for student loans or housing. I have to try and pay rent with welfare and child support. I am not receiving welfare at this time but I guess I soon will be. Maybe we don't matter to you. Maybe we get what we deserve. Maybe we don't deserve second chances. I don't know. But I do know that I am not a bank exec who squandered away millions of dollars that did not belong to me or sell high risk loans that I knew would never see serious returns. I know I am not a big oil company who held the whole country hostage while I raked in record breaking profits. Nor am I an auto industry exec who is writing this letter from my summer home in Milan asking for assistance. I am just a simple person trying to live. Where do I fit in? If there is any assistance you may be able to offer me or even if you have a direction to point me in, please do not hesitate. I'm open to feedback, suggestions and anything else helpful. I have been in contact with Ms. Carolyn Harper who is the Director of The Mayor’s Reentry program for ex offenders. Here is a copy of her response to me sent on March 2nd. I still have not heard from anyone in that department yet.

Their response...


Ms. Berry,

Thank you for your letter. You are correct that it is very difficult once you have been labeled as an offender to take advantage of what society offers to non-offenders. I am pleased to see that you understand the consequences of your choices and appear to be ready to make a change. The Mayor's Office for the Reentry of Ex-offenders is dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated persons successfully reenter into society, however it is a process.

I am copying Ms. Mines, Deputy Director for Reintegration Services on this email. She can provide you with additional information on our program.

I wish you continued success in your endeavors. Have a great day.

Carolyn C. Harper
Chief of Staff
Mayor's Office for Reentry of Ex-Offenders
carolyn.harper@phila.gov



So now I am challenging all my Civil servants to step up to the plate. I know where you are when it’s time for re-election. Making a whole bunch of empty promises. How about this new administration? If we want to successfully integrate ex offenders into society, we must provide them with fair opportunities. There is a lot of talk but we need action.

Michael Jackson

I was devastated. That's all I can say...

We all know he was troubled and had issues. Who doesn"t?

With all of the hoopla about the drugs, the allegations and whether or not the kids are really his (did you ever believe they were?) let's not forget that MJ was not ONLY an entertainer...he was a brilliant businessman.

Watch the video of his speech on Sony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIb9PFrmCT4

He says he writes about 100 songs for an album - the album produces about 15. If that's true we can be sure that we will be hearing new songs from MJ for years to come.

My friend reminded me that I was just talking about MJ to her on last Tuesday or Wednesday. I don't remember. I always talked about MJ. He is BAD!!!

I must admit that I started drifting from his newer music - after the major face transformation. I think the last album - um CD I purchased was "Remember the Time."

YOU GOTTA LOVE TEACHERS!

Today is the last day for teachers in the Philadelphia School District and ends my first year with the school district. It's been interesting.

I always thought that teaching was a fun and easy job, but it's not. Most of my teachers always made it look that way because they loved what they do. You gotta love teaching to be effective. On that note, I would like to acknowledge most of the teachers at Randolph. You are effective and do a wonderful job. I have to make some special acknowledgements to the teachers that I have actually observed in action:

Mrs. Silverman - the English teacher was the first teacher to impress me. During my first week here I had to detain a male student because of his behaviour. He was so upset, and begged if he could just come back for detention after school because HE HAD TO GET TO MRS. SILVERMAN'S CLASS and he couldn't be late!!! As time went on, I could see why he was so anxious to get to her class. SHE MAKES LEARNING ENGLISH FUN. I often have the urge to go sit in on her class when I pass by.

Mr. Moore (Autobody) and Mr. Young (Automechanics) both act as role models for the boys and have a great repoire with their students. And, "they don't take no tea for the fever" as my mother used to say. They teach them how to be respectful and responsible citizens.

Lt. Stallings and Mr. Davis (Fire Academy) OMG. When you see their kids in the hallway or another class, they might be off the chain, but when they are in class with either or both of these two teachers, sometimes I don't even recognize them. So, I learned that when they are out of control, I can just say, "OK, Im gonna tell Lt. Stallings or Mr. Davis" and they're like "Ok Ms. Hayes I'm sorry, I'm going to class right now." Not only that, they incorporate valuable life skills in their curriculum.

Like I said, these are teachers that I am constantly in contact with and observe because we are in the same area of the building. Just because I may not have mentioned you here, doesn't mean that I think you are not a great teacher. Although personally I may think one out of the bunch is absolutely a horrible teacher, all in all this is a good bunch.

Peace and Love!

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER

THE PRINCE

I finally finished reading it - I mean really reading it - and I actually enjoyed the book and found it to be quite enlightening. I remember my ex keeping this book away from me. I still would read through it periodically but it simply didn't hold my interest as I hated the politics of life anyway - still do. Good thing too because if I wanted to practice this philosophy I would probably be very good at it. Had I continued on my course to become a lawyer or if I aspired to achieve success as defined by much of society, I would definitely follow the snake-like principals outlined by Machiavelli. Fortunately, there is still a softness to me that won't permit me to do that. If I had to make a choice, I'd rather swim with sharks than slither with snakes.

It still amazes how people really take these instructions to heart. From politicians to gangsters some proudly proclaim that they made the "ultimate Machiavellian move" - like that's something to be proud of. Since when is lying, scheming, and being amoral something to be proud of?

I remember that famous line from the book "Is it better to be loved or feared or feared than loved?" stated by Sonny in "A Bronx Tale" - one of my favorite movies. My only question is WWJD?

THANK YOU MR. CHARLIE

"Thank you Mr. Charlie for giving us po black folk the opportunity to allow us to spend our dollars with you. Thank you for finally coming into our neighborhood, now that our neighborhoods are undergoing major gentrification. Now the LaSalle College students and the suburbanites who have come back to the city can not only enjoy being close to the parks, theatres and airport, they also have the convenience of being able to shop for healthy food. Thank you for giving us a job so that we can put our money right back into your pockets. Thank you for allowing us not to grow and sell our own vegetables in our own neighborhood."

Now, with all the said, let it be known that I am actually a big fan of Brown's Shop Rite and have shopped at their store on Ridge Avenue when they only had the one store. I might be dating myself, but I can recall my oldest daughter, who was 4 or 5 at the time, always excited to go the "Brown's Shop Rite". Maybe it was because she liked to eat and would always get a sample lunch meat and cheese rollup from the lunch meat deli. They were ahead of the game and offered a variety of turkey lunch meat products. It was always clean and had quality produce and other nutritious foods. At that time, they even had some type of partnership with my church in which members purchased vouchers and part of the money went to our building fund.

But as I listened to WURD this past Saturday, as they "celebrated" the great transformation of that community I was not happy at all. They were praising Mr. Charlie (aka Jeff Brown) for transforming their neighborhood and providing jobs and quality foods. They praised his dedication to the community and acted like he was the great white hope for our black neighborhoods. Shoot, that ain't community dedication - that's just good business!

They were ecstatic as the white manager told all of the things that they can do with a sweet potato. Since when can a white person tell us about all the recipes where a sweet potato is the main ingredient. Oh, but the person who cooks all of this delicious food is what? You guessed it! BLACK! They will never be able to tell us anything about cooking. Remember, it was a black woman took the guts of a hog; scraps given to her by her master as a mean and cruel joke and told her to feed her family. She transformed those scraps into a delicacy that still kills blacks today.

While I think it's a wonderful thing that the West Philadelphia residents now have the opportunity to purchase quality produce and foods at the new one year-old Brown's Shoprite, I couldn't help but notice and be disappointed that there are NO BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES IN THAT SHOPPING CENTER. When they brought on a guest who has some type of energy drink that is now being offered at the store, I got a little excited, but that excitement quickly diminished when I realized that he too was not of African descent.

JUNE IS BLACK MUSIC MONTH

I love black musice and am glad that we have a month to celebrate it. I've always enjoyed the culmination of this monthly celebration at the WOL Jazz Festival.

Can somebody please tell my why this month has also been deemed Pride month. Pride meaning LGBT or whatever the acronym is. Is there a Heterosexual Pride month? There needs to be because it seems like we are the minority now.

It kinda feels like that episode from the old "Twilight Zone". You know the one where they are trying to "fix" the deformed lady's face but the operation was not successful. When they finally show the people's faces, we see that all the "normal" people are deformed and the deformed lady is normal. She is then sent away to a place where she'll be happy - with people who are "deformed" like her.

That's what was on my mind this morning.

Peace and Love

STREET JUSTICE IS SWEET JUSTICE

I am not one to condone violence and I know that vengeance is the Lord's, however, sometimes the Lord uses people to do his will.

When I heard about that little girl being raped, tears formed in my eyes. But when I saw the news last night and watched a community come together and capture the perpetrator, I actually clapped. I think we might need a little more street justice in our communities! I'm sure he will also experience some jail justice too!

Speaking of taking it to the streets, why is it 2009 and black people are still protesting and marching and looking for a handout? We still marching down to Washington DC for education rights, and picketing to get a few crumbs from major construction projects. The recent court decision to "allow" protesters to protest at the convention center, provided they adhere to rules that will allow the contractors to continue business as usual sounds like a scene described by Malcolm X in his message to the grassroots. Yeah ok, you all can picket and protest and waste your time begging for crumbs. I ithought the whole idea of a protest was to interrupt business. Forty years later we still don't understand the concept of unifying ourselves and making things happen for our own race. I don't see no Latinos or Asians protesting anywhere for anything. No, they, along with the Asians, promote unity amongst themselves and they come into our neighborhoods and open businesses that strive on our dollars.

I don't have anything against protesting; it is protesting that gained blacks the right to vote again, and brought about desegregation - supposedly. I think it's time to take the black movement to the next level. I don't know exactly what that level is, but maybe we can get some pointers from the latinos and asians