I saw Louie last week while running errands. He proudly wore his new security guard outfit—shiny shoes and all. He is a good kid who’s had incredible trouble finding a job, but finally landed a great security guard gig working 32 hours a week. (Louie’s record is still marred by a felony from high school, when he accidentally brought a pocket knife to school.) He showed me his schedule, which was crumpled in his pocket like a high school freshman’s schedule on the first day of school. I couldn’t be more proud of this young man. He is 100 percent drug and alcohol free. He attended the civic volunteer day I organized for the kids in November (we cleaned up Piedmont Park), and his spirit, sense of humor and amazing workmanship really shined through that day. Cheers!
This week I am not going to the center because I am attending orientation for a violence prevention workshop in my neighborhood, Reynoldstown. I am very excited to learn new strategies to fight violence (great choice of words, Carleigh). Anyway, violence is pervasive in our city, partly because of gangs and drugs, but also because there is honor and valor in being able to defend yourself well, and I understand that aspect of violence. But I’ve also seen lives ruined and ended, mostly young lives who never had a chance to define honor themselves. So I have to do something.
