There’s a good article in a 2016 issue of The Atlantic titled, “How Kids Learn Resilience,” by Paul Tough (the irony!). Mr. Tough discusses the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on adolescent development. Not surprisingly, children who experience numerous ACEs tend to perform poorly in school, suffer from a myriad of health issues, and are more likely to be incarcerated later in life.
The entire article takes about 25 minutes to read, but here’s the main point. Researchers have identified four key beliefs that, when embraced by students, seem to contribute most significantly to their tendency to persevere in the classroom:
1. I belong in this academic community.
2. My ability and competence grow with my effort.
3. I can succeed at this.
4. This work has value for me.
Burruss Correctional Training Center recently held a graduation ceremony for horticulture, welding, and GED students; Grace and I were able to attend. The GED salutatorian, Teyric (who is also a horticulture student), is 17 years old. He is a skinny, shy, intelligent, African American kid who minds his own business and does his assignments dutifully. For the 100 Things I Know assignment, he wrote “100. I know I have a good horticulture teacher who cares about me.” Safe to say he got an A on that assignment.
Teyric’s mother was able to attend the graduation ceremony. This is what Teyric said during his speech, in front of his peers, his teachers, and his mother.
“Growing up, the only reason teachers knew my name was because they had to mark me absent. Change doesn’t happen in a day, a month, or even a year, but you have to start somewhere. We have the ability to be lawyers, entrepreneurs, activists, business owners. Failure is acceptable, but quitting is never an option. To all my teachers, thank you for seeing the good in us that we sometimes don’t see in ourselves.”
We don’t know Teyric’s full story, but I can guarantee you he’s experienced his share of Adverse Childhood Experiences; 40-60% of incarcerated people in America have experienced a traumatic brain injury in their lives. For the general population, that figure is only 9%. The scars I see on the people we minister to are not always from criminal behavior; they’re oftentimes from childhood. We can’t change what happened in the past, but we can give someone who is incarcerated, who is living out their lowest moment, a chance to have a better future which will, in turn, lead to better futures for all of us.
It starts with purposeful programs led by dynamic instructors, people like Fred Eason, Omar Howard, Grace Hall, John Richardson. People who bring a Christ-focused curriculum to the classroom each week and show students that they belong, that they can work hard, that they will succeed, that their work has value.
These instructors need your support – your prayers and your financial gifts. Chaplain John mentors about 180 youth inside and outside prison each week, and Chaplain Omar serves the entire population at the Atlanta Transitional Center. Grace has sent out literacy packages to over 1,000 Little Readers children this year. Fred meets with juvenile and adult art students every Thursday, patiently teaching them how to paint and overcome the mental, physical, and emotional pains of incarceration. I teach young men the wonders of nature, the beauty given to us by the Great Creator.
With your help, we’re making a difference; you can hear it in Teyric’s words and others. One horticulture student recently wrote this poem:
“Raised by my mother my father was a jail bird
My gut told me I wasn’t going to fall behind these walls I feel for it
Put my fear in the Lord He will correct your ways
Another day I wake up make my bed all I’m doing is flipping another page
We’re 17 they got us like gorillas and lions locked inside one big cage
Fighting for position or who’s better we eating all the same trays
Wake up put the same clothes on even on the same time frame
We’re just like plants some grow some don’t
It's up to you if you let the devil take you I know I won’t.”
It has been said that people don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care. And friends, our teachers, staff, and volunteers at HeartBound Ministries, we care. And we thank YOU for caring too.
Please consider supporting our programs by making a donation at www.givebutter.com/HeartBound. Nearly 70% of our donations come from individuals just like you. Ministry thrives on your generosity.
Thank you and God bless,
Spencer Shelton
Here are more poems from our horticulture class at Burruss CTC:
Humble Rose
By Christian P
The rose
Is humble as it dwells in bright light
In plain sight
But it is hidden
The rose calls their name as they approach
But is silent, covered in pricks and thorns
But is not violent
The rose stands out among trees
Weeds and full leaves but goes unnoticed
Under its own humble shade
The pedals are never extended with pride
But minimized with simple colors.
As they walk past they notice the rose
For its beauty but the rose will always
Stay humble.
Untitled
By Cole S.
Plants grow just like us
Just like plants we have a body
They grow from a seed just like you and me.
The seed’s might be different but we
Grow the same way day by day night by night
As we grow both are alike in many ways
As plants grow we learn something new
They have a purpose to fulfil just like
Me and you, we have names we all
Change but we all grow the same
At the end of our days we have all changed
Some grow tall some grow small but at the
end of the day we are still the same
Untitled
By D. A.
The plant cycle goes round and round
Dig a hole 5 inches in the ground
Make a lot of holes so you can feed the hole town
Put the seed in the hole sometimes it will fail
Separate so you can walk make a little trail
Water often this isn’t rocket science you don’t need a scale
Don’t over do because they will drown
A plant gonna feed you so it needs to be the other way around
Don't do direct contact with fertiliser they will die
Harvest the plants every week so you can save time
Cut up the vegetables and put them in a pot
Let them simmer make a main dish
I pray my plants grow time to make another wish
The Growing Hay
By Dawson M.
The sun shines
As the water sprinkles
The root grows
As you know
Minerals in the dirt
Makes medicine as you hurt
As the worms move
The people groove
What's the good of a plant
And the seed is as small as an ant
What a happy day
For the growing hay
Glory of Plants and Life
By Frederick F.
When growing up living like a plant
At a young age helping out with rent
Any day can be your time just be ready
My hearts just like a root the growth is just steady
One wrong step and your process goes to waste
Put the plant in the hole and all you do is raise
Without the sun your process starts over
Without water you wont get older
Turn the temperature up I cant get no colder
Raised by my mother my father was a jail bird
My gut told me I wasn’t going to fall behind these walls I feel for it
Put my fear in the lord he gone correct your ways
Another day I wake up make my bed all I’m doing is flipping another page
We’re 17 they got us like gorillas and lions locked inside one big cage
Fighting for position or whose better we eating all the same trays
Wake up put the same clothes on even on the same time frame
We’re just like plants some grow some don’t
It's up to you if you let the devil take you I know I wont
Untitled
By Hagan F.
Sunshine comes with rainy days
When you get locked up
Just like a leaf they all start to float away
Teardrops running down the rose petal
I wish she would forget-me-not
Learned from my mistakes
Gave it all I got
I hope that I can grow better
Pray I see the sun again, no sunflower
Trying to hold on but its a battle
Trying to get as much wisdom as I can
But like a tree trying to grow
It takes years not hours
Love and affection, that's all I need
Crazy how something so beautiful
Comes from a tiny seed
Tell me, where can I find the one for me
Because I’m tired of going flower to flower
Spreading pollen and nectar
Like a majestic bumble bee
The Watermelon Patch
By Hagan W.
Once upon a time
Long ago
I planted a seed
And watched it grow
It grew large and healthy and strong
Til one day I came along
I reached down and sliced the stem
And carried my prize to the den
I sliced it open to the watery red meat
And savored sweet treat
I enjoyed the treat to the ultimate extent
And I stayed there till it was spent
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