tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85711941682655604762024-03-13T03:42:01.056-07:00Friends of Guest HouseFriends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-79561705423756104772011-06-07T22:51:00.000-07:002011-06-07T22:53:11.947-07:00Residents Week - Day 3<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSAxO4SO7wk/Te8OK0fXgOI/AAAAAAAAAE8/hrt8tgPAggI/s1600/Alcohol-addiction-jail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 157px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QSAxO4SO7wk/Te8OK0fXgOI/AAAAAAAAAE8/hrt8tgPAggI/s320/Alcohol-addiction-jail.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615722839405986018" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSbz5-ljvc0">CLICK HERE</a></span> to watch the testimonial of Michelle, a former Guest House resident. The video is relatively short, but very impactful. Michelle helps to give a glimpse into the mindset of addicts going in and exiting incarceration.</span></div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Michelle spent years actively addicted to alcohol. Her addiction led her down many turbulent paths, and eventually she ended up in jail. She credits her arrest and subsequent incarceration as potentially saving her life.</span></div></span>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-92129159905246300052011-06-07T07:57:00.001-07:002011-06-07T08:05:42.626-07:00Residents Week - Day 2<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZALvRa4ABs/Te499WnjacI/AAAAAAAAAEs/m8eUXUFaoLo/s1600/huge.8.43271.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 345px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LZALvRa4ABs/Te499WnjacI/AAAAAAAAAEs/m8eUXUFaoLo/s400/huge.8.43271.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5615493909630380482" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >"It gets easier, this life of recovery. Not saying that you will not run into holes and brick walls, but if you can, just remember your reasons for change and live for yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >I’m a resident at Guest House. Have been since April 27, 2011. I came to Guest House because I needed to transform. I needed positive role models. I need support. I know today I can’t walk this walk alone. Even being in a safety zone, when I walk out of the doors of Guest House temptation will always be there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >I had a test of temptation put forth towards me. I had just been at the Guest House for 2 weeks. After doing time in prison for 3 years and 10 months, I got to go out on my own. I went to Social Services to apply for food stamps, which was one of the things on my daily “to do” list. Just so happens there was no other resident of Guest House who could escort me that day. I went alone. Everything was fine, until on my way back when I was trying to catch the bus. I had just sat down at the bus stop and cracked open my soda can, when the nicest car I have ever seen drove by. The rims shining and the car was spotless. Not only was the car fine, but the fellow that was pushing them wheels was fine as well! He looked like money. He circled around and drove right up to me. This was truly a setup for a woman of my type! He pulled up to the bus stop and I started to smile. Boy was this the dream of any woman who just got out of prison! He rolled the window down and coolly said to me “You are fine!” and I couldn’t help but blush. He went on, “I circled the block about 3 times trying to find a way to introduce myself to you.” I was incredibly flattered and almost didn’t know what to say. Then, he asked the question that I have been running from, “Do you smoke?” My attitude instantly changed. “Smoke what?” I replied. “Crack” he responded, just as cool as before. “No, no I don’t. I’m in recovery and I’m a resident of the Guest House. I’m trying to live a clean and sober lifestyle!” I stood up, rolled my eyes, and began to walk off. He watched me walk all the way down the street, not moving his can an inch. When I got around the corner, I started to pray. Wanting to cry because I am a woman who has been an addict for 14 years – someone who had no desire to stand up for themselves and say no to drugs… alcohol… the whole lifestyle. That has been my LIFE. If there were no drugs then there was no me. Not today. Today I have a desire to say no, and mean it. I won’t stick around to be asked why or to try to be pressured, my life is too valuable to waste the time.<span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >When you get tired of the lifestyle, the loss, the hurt, the consequences, and the lock-ups, your “no” will not even be a thought. It will flow. It may be scary because its new, but it gets easier. Practice. You are worth it. I’m not trying to say that any single instance will stop the temptation. But once you start saying “no,” it gets easier each time. You will feel in control of self. I did. I’m free. I’m clean and sober. I’m happy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; "><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >So stand up for yourself. Say no. And remember why you can do this. I know how it is. I did it. Enough is enough."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: black; "><span>-<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman'; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre; "> <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></span>- </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span">L.C. Resident of Guest House</span></span></span></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-11290199540902726262011-06-05T23:29:00.000-07:002011-06-05T23:35:48.505-07:00Residents Week - Day 1<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ujCFzgPV_w/Tex0OCUWTyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/YvOvxEuMmT8/s1600/train.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 299px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ujCFzgPV_w/Tex0OCUWTyI/AAAAAAAAAEk/YvOvxEuMmT8/s400/train.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614990619913375522" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span"><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div>"</span></span>Hello Again!<br />I wanted to thank all the people who responded to my previous blog entry. Today, I wanted to tell a little story about myself and how I see my life differently today.<div><br />Most of my life has been lived on a fast train to never ending pain, sorrow, and destruction. I never knew how to get off that train because I felt comfortable on that familiar seat I called life. Until one day that train came to a dead stop, and my everyday ride had come to an end. That is when I finally learned how to live. While I was locked up I learned that I wasn’t put on this earth to ride this misery train, I realized I deserve better.</div><div><br />My destructive lifestyle not only hurt me, but impacted the lives of my family – especially my children. My daughter was given up to my in-laws because I was too selfish to give up my seat on the fast train. My son, who I raised part-time, was robbed of a Mother. His Father was fully engulfed in a lifestyle that had no room for a child. This resulted in my son having to spend most of his life with his Granny. My parents loved and prayed for me so much and always believed that I would get it together soon. My Father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and was put in a home for the elderly. He spent over two years there before he passed away. After he dedicated his life to spending his time and energy on me, I was too busy on my train ride to come spend time with him. My Mother passed away about 10 years after my Father, and I didn't even attended her funeral.<br /><br />You may be wondering why I wanted to tell you all this. It’s because I want you to understand that each day I have to face the repercussions of my actions and behaviors. It is hard to learn how to accept the things I can’t change, but it does give me the strength to know I never want to get back on that fast train ride again. I will never jeopardize another moment of my life and risk missing all the things that are important. I would give my life to be able to go back in time and tell my parents I’m sorry and love them, to be there for my children and not have missed such important milestones in their lives.</div><div><br />Friends of Guest House has reinforced the tools I need to live a normal, sober life. Guest House gave me the courage to face and overcome the daily pains and regrets of my past behavior. It is comforting to see that there are people who really want to see you be what God put you on this earth to be – an honest, loving person who takes the good with the bad. The staff and volunteers in this program believe in you and the person you are becoming. I have the strength now to be myself and I don’t feel like I have to put on a mask to live my life.</div><div><br />I want the readers of this blog to know that today I have learned how to ride the bus! It’s slow and makes a lot of stops, but I don’t have to get off if it’s now where I want to be. I can enjoy all the people, trees, flowers, beautiful babies, and even just a nice smile from the bus driver. I have come a long way from the fast train. God and the Guest House are my support. Both really care and want to see me succeed, rather than help me fall. I am thankful today for all I have endured throughout my life because it brought me to this place. I am now able to help others who are fighting to get off that fast train and just don’t know how. I never expected to take that ride for 30 years, but I unfortunately did. It hurts every day I wake up, but through the Guest House program, I can smile and be thankful to be alive in such a beautiful world."</div><div><br />- D.H., Resident at Guest House</div>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-69343757100521999532011-06-03T11:21:00.001-07:002011-06-05T16:14:39.940-07:00Volunteer Orientation<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8epYpfDfVbA/TewFXGH8rHI/AAAAAAAAAEc/oHvXpOjTtxA/s1600/volunteer1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8epYpfDfVbA/TewFXGH8rHI/AAAAAAAAAEc/oHvXpOjTtxA/s400/volunteer1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614868729763245170" /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); " >On June 8th there will be an orientation/training for individuals who want to volunteer at Friends of Guest House. Anyone who is interested in attending this orientation, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Audrey Stahl, to set up an interview <b><i>before </i></b>June 8th. Her email address is: aleestahl@mac.com. The orientation on the 8<sup>th</sup> can only accommodate individuals who have met with Ms. Stahl and filled out a volunteer application. Those of you who want to volunteer, but either can't be interviewed before the 8th or can not make the orientation on the 8<sup>th</sup> be sure to still contact Ms. Stahl. We are always in the market for more dedicated volunteers!</span></div><div><div><div> <span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Volunteers at Friends of Guest House work with residents on a wide variety of areas, including: GED tutoring, yard work, computer skills, living healthy (exercise, proper diet, etc.), and legal aid. We like to assess where an individual would fit best by learning of interests and specialties. For example, we have a volunteer who is a high school math teacher so he works with our clients on GED preparation. We are always open to new ideas for how volunteers could contribute to Guest House, so feel free to bring your ideas to the table for discussion!</span></span></div></div></div><div><span style="color: rgb(31, 73, 125); "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Thank you!</span></span></div>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-2249893448365986832011-06-01T16:35:00.000-07:002011-06-01T16:40:38.941-07:00Join Us at a Fun Dog Wash Tomorrow!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epidn1xsjR4/TebNZs1XBOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/tvE3itZVNhw/s1600/YDBF.jpeg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 289px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-epidn1xsjR4/TebNZs1XBOI/AAAAAAAAAEA/tvE3itZVNhw/s320/YDBF.jpeg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613399826979292386" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:181.4pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Garamond","serif"">On Thursday, June 2<sup>nd</sup>, some of the staff and residents of Friends of Guest House will be helping out at a local dog wash, hosted by Your Dogs Best Friend. Join us from 5pm-9pm and have fun while your pup gets a bath! All donations and contributions go to Friends of Guest House.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;tab-stops:181.4pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Garamond","serif"">Your Dogs Best Friend is a really great business that employees many of our clients. They are an award winning doggie daycare located at 2000 Jefferson Davis Hwy in Alexandria.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-56628344204259681552011-05-25T13:46:00.000-07:002011-05-31T09:08:47.659-07:00Announcing: Online Residents Week! June 6-12<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2MFPcW3TNg/Td1ublto5kI/AAAAAAAAAD4/a8aGC5-dfGw/s1600/encourage-and-empower.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U2MFPcW3TNg/Td1ublto5kI/AAAAAAAAAD4/a8aGC5-dfGw/s320/encourage-and-empower.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610762131032565314" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Starting next Monday (June 6th) Guest House is going to do something a little different on the blog. We want to celebrate our clients, the women of Guest House, so we are having an online <b>“Residents Week.” </b>Each day <b>during the week of June 6-12</b>, we are going to post a story written by one of our clients and urge you to <b>respond with some positive feedback</b>.</span></div> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">When trying to transition and make positive changes in your life, even the simplest complement can brighten someone’s day. We are urging our clients to share their stories in a way that is comfortable and safe. <b>We hope that you could help support them during this exciting and stressful period in their lives by posting comments of encouragement. </b>Thank you in advance for your participation! </span><o:p></o:p></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-4162131872629952362011-05-25T07:12:00.001-07:002011-05-25T07:55:32.391-07:00PLTI Jazz Concert<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbtWOkHdaMo/Td0YUGAuN0I/AAAAAAAAADo/HPcHBHTwWM0/s1600/2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kbtWOkHdaMo/Td0YUGAuN0I/AAAAAAAAADo/HPcHBHTwWM0/s320/2.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610667444263597890" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DYrnS-IICQ/Td0YOmKQFmI/AAAAAAAAADg/yfo8e5g8EgY/s1600/1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 299px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2DYrnS-IICQ/Td0YOmKQFmI/AAAAAAAAADg/yfo8e5g8EgY/s400/1.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5610667349814285922" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 21px; ">On Thursday, May 19, 2011, four Guest House residents and I were fortunate enough to be invited to the Parent Leadership Training Institutes (PLTI) benefit dinner and jazz concert!!</span><br /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">The event was to celebrate the fifth anniversary of PLTI Alexandria. PLTI offers free educational services to help parents learn how to navigate the system and advocate for their children, as well as their community. They believe that “democracy includes everyone” and individuals should be informed and active in their decision making.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">The event was held at Convergence, a beautiful church off N. Quaker Lane in Alexandria. When we walked in Convergence, we were all blown away by the chic layout of a room, aptly called “The Sanctuary.” The “walls” of the room were almost entirely windows that looked out over the small green field outside. The Sanctuary was already filled with people socializing and eating together when we arrived, but it easy to find a place to sit and even easier to meet and mingle with a wide variety of people.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">After about an hour of eating delicious finger-food and socializing, it was time to make our way into the adjacent room, the nave, where we would be treated to a performance by The W.E.S. Group. The W.E.S. Group is an awesome three man jazz band out of South Carolina. The nave, or as they called it “The Lab,” was almost entirely stained glass and when we entered the sun was setting, coloring the entire room.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">As the band came on stage, we were all really anxious to hear some relaxing jazz. The saxophonist in the band, Will Smith, PhD, took the time to explained important concepts and techniques of jazz, helping the audience to feel involved in the music. Each song they performed was better than the last!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">When the band was done and it was time to leave, the ladies and I were all smiles. We spent the rest of the evening talking about how much we truly enjoyed the entire experience. Just being able to sit with good company and listen to great music helped to relieve the daily stress of life and work.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;color:#333333">We want to thank PLTI, namely Fay Slotnick, for inviting us and putting on such a fabulous event. It was really a perfect evening! THANK YOU!<o:p></o:p></span></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-55534405790129868352011-05-13T13:39:00.001-07:002011-05-13T13:45:04.458-07:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTsFRI8HiMw/Tc2XaJRg1QI/AAAAAAAAABY/Amg_JZuGcEk/s1600/GHSOHO.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eTsFRI8HiMw/Tc2XaJRg1QI/AAAAAAAAABY/Amg_JZuGcEk/s320/GHSOHO.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606303586567902466" /></a><br /><br /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-94gVawKLwSo/Tc2XLz_5F6I/AAAAAAAAABQ/-KzR0Cm3ac4/s320/DSCN0964.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606303340338681762" /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Yesterday two Guest House residents, a member of our aftercare program, Kari (Executive Director), and myself went to speak with a group of middle school aged girls as part of the Guest House Speakers Bureau program. These girls were all participants in the <a href="http://spaceofherown.org/">SOHO (Space Of Her Own)</a> program and are considered “at-risk youth.” </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >I was immediately amazed by the intelligence and energy these girls brought to the discussion! Before we arrived, the two Guest House residents that came were incredibly nervous to speak to a group about their experiences. They didn't know how they would be received and didn't know if the girls would be interested in what they had to say. Their fears were quelled about a minute after we walked in the building. All the girls were anticipating our arrival, and when we walked in they ran over to greet us. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >The SOHO girls has so many questions and listened carefully to every response. After one speaker finished, at least 5 little hands shot up! It only took a couple of minutes for all of our speakers to loosen up and feel really comfortable in the space. After we finished speaking, the SOHO girls invited us to stay for a light dinner – which we were happy to agree to! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >We went across the street to a park and enjoyed our meal by the water. The girls talked about what they wanted to be when they were older; one wanted to be a lawyer, another a police officer, and another wanted to be a model. We really encouraged them to always keep dreaming and to remember that education is the way to a successful life.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >When it was time for us to leave, every single girl hugged and thanked us for coming to talk with them, They even invited us to their graduation on June 2nd! Which we plan on attending!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >When we left, both of our residents (the ones who were terrified about speaking to a group mere hours before) asked when the next speakers engagement was – because they were going! Those girls at SOHO managed to eliminate fear and uncertainty with their beautiful smiles and heartwarming laughter. Truly amazing! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">Thank you to everyone in the SOHO program for having us come in! We really enjoyed every moment of it. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: small; ">If you want to volunteer and be a mentor for a girl in the SOHO program, check out their <a href="http://spaceofherown.org/soho_volunteer.html">website</a></span></div>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-51411372075628978292011-05-08T10:25:00.000-07:002011-05-08T11:12:18.385-07:00Issues that are Important to a Guest House Resident..<p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span ><span ><span ><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">"My most important issue now is family. Through my addiction I was never there to support my children. I missed out on going to basketball games, family outings, and my daughter doesn't even know who I am. My life is changed now. I want to be successful. I WILL be successful. I want to be respected, to be honest, and true to the people I love. My long term goal is to have a home and rebuild my relationship with my family. I want to have a traditional Christmas, something I've never been able to have. I want to grow spiritually - I trust in God and he will help me go in the right direction."<br />- D.H. (Resident at Guest House)</span></span></span></span></span> </p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-22912794751874670942011-05-07T11:04:00.000-07:002011-05-07T11:09:41.872-07:00Be an Action "She-ro"Today is the LAST day of the Spring2ACTion fundraising event. Guest House needs your donations to help us meet our goal of raising $2,000. If we are able to reach our goal, we have a matching grant to DOUBLE our earnings! That means Guest House would receive $4,000! Image all of the wonderful services we would be able to provide for our residents! <div><br /><div><a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Friends-Of-Guest-House">Please don't delay and donate today!</a></div><div><br /></div></div>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-18111891262123509772011-05-03T14:19:00.000-07:002011-05-03T14:23:50.302-07:00Spring2ACTion Fundraising Event May 5, 6, and 7<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >Exciting news! Friends of Guest House has received TWO $1,000 matching grants for the Spring2ACTion fundraising event on May 5, 6, and 7. What does it mean to have TWO matching $1,000 grants? It means if we raise $2,000 in donations during those three days, we will receive $2,000 EXTRA – totaling $4,000 in donations to Guest House!!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >We need your help to reach the $2,000 goal! Please visit <a href="http://www.razoo.com/story/Friends-Of-Guest-House">http://www.razoo.com/story/Friends-Of-Guest-House</a> and make a donation on May 5-7. The more money we raise, the more likely we are to win additional prizes and grants!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >When you donate to Friends of Guest House your donation goes to women who are sincere in their recovery and dedicated to living a positive life. Make a lasting impact and donate!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >Your donations are incredibly important! Here is a break down <span style="font-weight: normal">of how your contributions are used to help our clients:</span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >$25 – Can pay for one month of public transportation for one resident</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >$50 – Can pay for one resident to get the tools she needs to attain her GED (GED practice book, calculator, pencils/pens, etc)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >$75 – Can pay for one month of hygiene products for 10residents(paper towels, toilet paper, feminine products, etc.)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >$100 – Can pay for one resident to go to the eye doctor and get a proper pair of glasses. </span></span></span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><a name="_GoBack"></a> <span ><span ><span >You can follow the live Leaderboard and track our progress throughout the 3 days. PLEASE forward this to your networks and help us win! The nonprofit with the most number of unique donors will win an additional $5,000!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span >Learn more about Spring2ACTion at</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span ><a href="http://www.localkicks.com/article.jsp?ID=4692">http://www.localkicks.com/article.jsp?ID=4692</a> and</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><span ><span ><span ><a href="http://www.washingtonlife.com/2011/04/18/get-out-and-give-back-alexandria-in-action/">http://www.washingtonlife.com/2011/04/18/get-out-and-give-back-alexandria-in-action/</a></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%"><br /></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-39819217686789036702011-05-01T07:46:00.000-07:002011-05-01T07:47:39.784-07:00The Guest House<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: nowrap; "><p class="poemTitle" style="text-transform: uppercase; font-weight: bold; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 14px; ">THE GUEST HOUSE<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; text-transform: none; "><i>-Jelaluddin Rumi, translation by Coleman Barks</i></span></p><p>This being human is a guest house.<br />Every morning a new arrival.</p><p>A joy, a depression, a meanness,<br />some momentary awareness comes<br />as an unexpected visitor.</p><p>Welcome and entertain them all!<br />Even if they are a crowd of sorrows,<br />who violently sweep your house<br />empty of its furniture,<br />still, treat each guest honorably.<br />He may be clearing you out<br />for some new delight.</p><p>The dark thought, the shame, the malice.<br />meet them at the door laughing and invite them in.</p><p>Be grateful for whatever comes.<br />because each has been sent<br />as a guide from beyond.</p><p></p><p><br /></p></span>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-34084463677559302782011-04-29T15:00:00.000-07:002011-04-29T15:01:38.594-07:00Leadership in Business and Career Development Award<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span ><span >On April 1, 2011 the Executive Director of Friends of Guest House, Kari Galloway, was recognized for her outstanding work and contribution to the community by the Alexandria Commission for Women. She was given the Leadership in Business and Career Development award for her hard work and innovative strategic planning. Congratulations Kari! </span></span> </span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" > <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span ><span >AlexandriaNews.org wrote:</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><strong><span ><span ><span ><span style="font-style: normal">"<span style="font-weight: normal">Leadership in Business and Career Development - </span></span></span></span></span></strong><strong><span ><span ><span ><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Recipient: Kari Galloway </span></span></span></span></span></strong></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span ><span ><span ><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Kari Galloway is the Executive Director of Guest House, a benchmark program that helps transition women from imprisonment into meaningful, productive lives. She has been the Executive Director for 6 years now, and she is credited with saving the program. Galloway leads the staff in teaching several dozen residents every year life skills and common sense, to believe in themselves, to stop smoking and live clean and sober, to write a resume and obtain employment, to rekindle relationships with family and all the while to keep trying. She inspires young social work students, other employees and volunteers at the program. She goes out of her way to create innovative programs for the residents. She has created a Speaker’s Bureau, a Total Woman program and an expansion of the housing options for the residents after leaving Guest House.”</span></span></span></span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.23in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><br /></p> <p align="LEFT" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 0.23in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"> <span ><span ><span style="font-size: 9pt"><span ><span >Read the full article <a href="http://www.alexandrianews.org/2011/04/womens-commission-honors-ten/" name="HERE">HERE</a></span></span></span></span></span></p></span><p></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-78033813683465084262011-04-28T08:53:00.000-07:002011-04-28T09:19:36.329-07:00Speakers Bureau Event - Haze<p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span ><span ><span ><span style="font-style: normal"><span style="font-weight: normal">Several members of the Guest House Speakers Bureau will attend a viewing of Haze, the story of a freshman who tragically died after drinking four bottles of whiskey and six bottles of wine during an initiation process for a fraternity. This film is very powerful and moving – definitely a MUST SEE!</span></span></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span >Mark your calendar for Thursday, April 28, from 6:30-9:00 at the Minnie Howard Auditorium, 3801 W. Braddock Rd.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span >The movie will be followed by a panel discussion, including youth, parents and persons in recovery. Guest House Speakers Bureau will take part in the panel discussion! </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span >Click <a href="http://healthieralexandria.org//uploadedFiles/healthieralexandria-wwwroot/Sapca/Haze flyer.pdf" name="here">HERE</a> for the flyer!</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; widows: 2; orphans: 2"><span >Or click <a href="http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/haze/">HERE</a> to watch the video online! </span> </p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-56012674908835515952011-04-27T11:19:00.000-07:002011-04-27T11:22:36.253-07:00Friends of Gust House is relaunching our blog!<p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">We are working to have monthly briefings about activities and events that Guest House is involved with and weekly updates from the ladies in a program. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" >We are expanding our presence in social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter. We are looking forward to connecting with other organizations and people who have an interest in helping women recognize their potential and break from the cycle of incarceration.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Please follow us and keep up to date on what is going on at Guest House:</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Twitter: @ReentryAdvocacy<br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Guest-House/122885674453360">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Guest-House/122885674453360</a></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" >More updates to follow shortly! Stay tuned! </span></p>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-16873081426402448922009-06-03T17:57:00.000-07:002009-06-03T18:03:30.372-07:00Ex-Offenders Voting Rights ActThis is a bill that has recently been put up to the House. Let's hope it makes it all the way to Obama so he can pass it!!<br /><br />This Act may be cited as the `Ex-Offenders Voting Rights Act of 2009'.<br />SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.<br />(a) Findings- Congress makes the following findings:<br />(1) The right to vote is the most basic constitutive act of citizenship and regaining the right to vote reintegrates offenders into free society. The right to vote may not be abridged or denied by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, gender, or previous condition of servitude. Basic constitutional principles of fairness and equal protection require an equal opportunity for United States citizens to vote in Federal elections.<br /><br />(2) Since the founding of the Nation, most States have enacted laws disenfranchising convicted felons and ex-felons. In the last 30 years, due to the dramatic expansion of the criminal justice system, these laws have significantly affected the political voice of many American communities. The momentum toward reform of these policies has been based on a reconsideration of their wisdom in meeting legitimate correctional objectives and the interests of full democratic participation. Forty-eight States and the District of Columbia prohibit inmates from voting while incarcerated for a felony offense.<br /><br />(3) Congress has ultimate supervisory power over Federal elections, an authority that has repeatedly been upheld by the Supreme Court.<br /><br />(4) Although State laws determine the qualifications for voting in Federal elections, Congress must ensure that those laws are in accordance with the Constitution. Currently, those laws vary throughout the Nation, resulting in discrepancies regarding which citizens may vote in Federal elections.<br /><br />(5) Only two States (Maine and Vermont) permit inmates to vote. Thirty-five States prohibit felons from voting while they are on parole and 30 of these States exclude felony probationers as well. Two States deny the right to vote to all ex-offenders who have completed their sentences. Nine others disenfranchise certain categories of ex-offenders or permit application for restoration of rights for specified offenses after a waiting period (e.g., 5 years in Delaware and Wyoming, and 2 years in Nebraska). Each State has developed its own process of restoring voting rights to ex-offenders but most of these restoration processes are so cumbersome that few ex-offenders are able to take advantage of them.<br /><br />(6) An estimated 5,300,000 million Americans, or one in 41 adults, have currently or permanently lost their voting rights as a result of a felony conviction.<br /><br />(7) State disenfranchisement laws disproportionately impact ethnic minorities.<br /><br />(8) Thirteen States disenfranchise some or all ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences, regardless of the nature or seriousness of the offense.<br /><br />(9) In those States that disenfranchise ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences, the right to vote can be regained in theory, but in practice this possibility is often illusory.<br /><br />(10) In eight States, a pardon or order from the Governor is required for an ex-offender to regain the right to vote. In two States, ex-offenders must obtain action by the parole or pardon board to regain that right.<br /><br />(11) Offenders convicted of a Federal offense often have additional barriers to regaining voting rights. In at least 16 States, Federal ex-offenders cannot use the State procedure for restoring their voting rights. The only method provided by Federal law for restoring voting rights to ex-offenders is a Presidential pardon.<br /><br />(12) Few persons who seek to have their right to vote restored have the financial and political resources needed to succeed.<br /><br />(13) Thirteen percent of the African-American adult male population, or 1,400,000 African-American men, are disenfranchised. Given current rates of incarceration, 3 in 10 African-American men in the next generation will be disenfranchised at some point during their lifetimes. Hispanic citizens are also disproportionately disenfranchised, since those citizens are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system.<br /><br />(14) An estimated 676,730 women are currently ineligible to vote as a result of a felony conviction. More than 2,000,000 White Americans (Hispanic and non-Hispanic) are disenfranchised as a result of a felony conviction. In five States that deny the vote to ex-offenders, one in four Black men are permanently disenfranchised.<br /><br />(15) Given current rates of incarceration, 3 in 10 of the next generation of Black men can expect to be disenfranchised at some point in their lifetime. In States that disenfranchise ex-offenders, as many as 40 percent of Black men may permanently lose their right to vote. Two million one hundred thousand disenfranchised persons are ex-offenders who have completed their sentences.<br /><br />(16) The discrepancies described in this subsection should be addressed by Congress, in the name of fundamental fairness and equal protection.<br /><br />(b) Purpose- The purpose of this Act is to restore fairness in the Federal election process by ensuring that ex-offenders who have fully served their sentences are not denied the right to vote.<br /><br />SEC. 3. RIGHTS OF CITIZENS.<br />(a) Protecting Right To Vote in Federal Elections- The right of an individual who is a citizen of the United States to vote in any election for Federal office shall not be denied or abridged because that individual has been convicted of a criminal offense unless, at the time of the election, such individual is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility.<br /><br />SEC. 4. NOTIFYING INDIVIDUALS WHO REGAIN RIGHT TO VOTE.<br />(a) Requiring Notification-<br />(1) IN GENERAL- The Chief State correctional officer of each State shall ensure that, not later than 30 days after an individual who is serving a felony sentence in a correctional institution or facility in the State is released from the institution or facility, including an individual who is released on parole or probation, the individual is notified of the individual's right to vote in elections for Federal office and of the date of the next such election in which the individual may<br />vote.<br /><br />(2) EXCEPTION FOR INDIVIDUALS CONTINUING TO SERVE SENTENCES- Paragraph (1) does not apply in the case of an individual who is released from a correctional institution or facility to serve a felony sentence in a different correctional institution or facility.<br /><br />(3) DEFINITIONS- In this subsection--<br />(A) the term `parole' means parole (including mandatory parole) or conditional or supervised release (including mandatory supervised release) which is imposed by a Federal, State, or local court; and<br />(B) the term `probation' means probation imposed by a Federal, State, or local court with or without a condition on the individual involved concerning--<br />(i) the individual's freedom of movement,<br />(ii) the payment of damages by the individual,<br />(iii) periodic reporting by the individual to an officer of the court, or<br />(iv) supervision of the individual by an officer of the court.<br />(b) Application to Individuals Released From Federal Institutions or Facilities- Subsection (a) shall apply to the Director of the Bureau of Prisons with respect to individuals released from an institution or facility under the Director's jurisdiction in the same manner as such subsection applies to the Chief State correctional officer of a State with respect to individuals released from institutions or facilities in that State.<br /><br />SEC. 5. ENFORCEMENT.<br />(a) Attorney General- The Attorney General may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to obtain such declaratory or injunctive relief as is necessary to remedy a violation of this Act.<br />(b) Private Right of Action-<br />(1) NOTICE- A person who is aggrieved by a violation of this Act may provide written notice of the violation to the chief election official of the State involved.<br />(2) ACTION- Except as provided in paragraph (3), if the violation is not corrected within 90 days after receipt of a notice provided under paragraph (1), or within 20 days after receipt of the notice if the violation occurred within 120 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person may bring a civil action in such a court to obtain the declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation.<br />(3) ACTION FOR VIOLATION SHORTLY BEFORE A FEDERAL ELECTION- If the violation occurred within 30 days before the date of an election for Federal office, the aggrieved person shall not be required to provide notice to the chief election official of the State under paragraph (1) before bringing a civil action in such a court to obtain the declaratory or injunctive relief with respect to the violation.<br /><br />SEC. 6. RELATION TO OTHER LAWS.<br /><br />(a) No Prohibition on Less Restrictive Laws- Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit a State from enacting any State law that affords the right to vote in any election for Federal office on terms less restrictive than those terms established by this Act.<br />(b) No Limitation on Other Laws- The rights and remedies established by this Act shall be in addition to all other rights and remedies provided by law, and shall not supersede, restrict, or limit the application of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.) or the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (42 U.S.C. 1973gg et seq.).Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-44737078843069271482009-05-11T14:00:00.000-07:002009-05-11T14:23:51.333-07:00May is Mental Health Month<strong>With May being Mental Health month I thought it would be fitting to post an article about mental illness. Although the article is almost 10 years old, it is still very relevant today; strong stigmas are still associated with mental illness. With education and awareness, we can work to change people's misconceptions.</strong><br /><br />Understand the Weak Link Between Mental Illness and Violent Behavior<br />By Rohan Ganguli, M.D.<br />April 2000<br /><br />A poll by a Columbia University researcher found that 80 percent of Americans believe that severely mentally ill individuals are more likely to commit violent crimes, that it is natural and appropriate to be afraid of someone who is mentally ill, or that former mental patients are dangerous.<br /> <br /> <br />Rohan Ganguli, M.D. is professor of psychiatry, pathology and health & community systems, and vice chairman & chief of clinical services, at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic, UPMC. He is also president of the Allegheny County Mental Health and Mental Retardation Board.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br />In fact, a large amount of carefully collected research data indicates a weak link between mental illness (even serious psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia) and violent behavior. These studies actually show that gender (male) and age (younger) are more strongly predictive of an individual's likelihood of becoming violent, than the presence of mental illness.<br />It was heartening to read Sally Kalson's March 7 Post-Gazette story in the aftermath of the tragic Wilkinsburg shootings ("Health Experts: Mental Illness Not a Valid Predictor of Violence"). The story pointed out that the constant mention of the alleged mental illness of the assailant, in the extensive news coverage of this tragedy, would only serve to fuel the public's exaggerated fears of the mentally ill.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the public perception of the mentally ill as dangerous leads to stigmatization of those with these illnesses and contributes to increasing their disability and deprives them of participation in the life of the community. Ostracism, stigmatization and persecution of the mentally ill, including severe physical abuse and even extermination, unfortunately have a long history. Today, while there are few examples of physical abuse and neglect, the severely mentally ill still continue to live marginal socially isolated lives.<br /><br />A number of research studies found that the majority of the public still have difficulty accepting mentally ill people as employees, tenants, spouses or neighbors. The misconception that most mentally ill people are dangerous is clearly one of the sources of these attitudes. Other factors which influence these common stereotypes include the belief that serious disorders like schizophrenia are untreatable and that mentally illness make an individual less intelligent and less capable of reasoning like an adult.<br /><br />At least one research study found that knowledge of the treatability of schizophrenia positively changed participants' attitudes toward the mentally ill and even reduced the perception of the dangerousness. Unfortunately, insurance companies are still allowed to discriminate against the mentally ill by placing strict limits and exclusions on what treatments they pay for, reinforcing the notion that mental illnesses are not the same as other medical disorders, and are less treatable.<br /><br />Research also shows that media depictions of mentally ill people as violent homicidal characters has a marked influence on public attitudes and contributes to stereotyping. This can be in the context of news reports of violent acts committed by mentally ill persons, as well as fictional accounts of psychotic criminals. Since the media do not emphasize the absence of mental illness in the perpetrators of 95 percent or more of violent acts, it is hardly surprising that the public has such an exaggerated impression of the risk of violence from the mentally ill.<br />Stigma places obstructions to social success for patients. In addition, the attitudes of the public toward them is often internalized and results in lowered self-esteem, hopelessness and despair for sufferers. Families also suffer from stigma, and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill has made eradication of stigma a major part of its national campaign.<br /><br />A recent survey of the Pennsylvania's County Behavioral Health Directors also identified stigma as one of the biggest obstacles preventing the severely mentally ill from achieving the best quality of life possible for them. In 1989 the American Psychiatric Association dedicated their annual meeting to "Overcoming Stigma." Unfortunately all of these efforts suffer a setback when there is a media story which, rather than highlighting the rarity of violence by mentally ill people, suggests that the connection is common.<br /><br />Discrimination against those with mental illness in health insurance also contributes to gaps between public perceptions and reality. A national coalition of mental health professionals, patients and families has recently come together to address alternatives to the present health insurance system to make it fairer, more compassionate and inclusive for all Americans.<br />The Pittsburgh Psychiatric Society has forged a coalition of professionals and consumers and will hold a public education and consciousness-raising event two weeks from today (April 1) at Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health.<br /><br />A civilized society must reject old stereotypes and biases and dismantle the discrimination and stigmatization that accompany them. The media also have a responsibility to report accurately and fairly, correcting misconceptions when necessary.<br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">IF YOU LIVE IN THE DC METRO AREA</span>:</strong><br /><br /><strong>Stand Up for Mental Health with comedian David Granirer at his show called "Im OK but You Need Professional Help: Using Humor to Fight Stigma!" David Granirer is an internationally recognized counselor, stand up comic, and author. This hilarious presentation is part comedy and part education. For this presentation David taught five local people to become stand up comics. Their acts look at the lighter side of taking meds, seeing counselors, and surviving the mental health system. </strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>WHEN: Thursday May 21st @ 6:30 PM</strong><br /><strong>WHERE: TC Williams High School Auditorium</strong><br /><strong> 3330 King St</strong><br /><strong> Alexandria, VA 22302</strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong><a href="http://www.standupformentalhealth.com/">www.standupformentalhealth.com</a></strong>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-83877505004158257092009-04-24T11:12:00.000-07:002009-04-24T12:01:11.414-07:00Domestic Violence FactsAs we have seen with recent reports about Chris Brown and Rihanna, domestic violence does not discriminate between income, occupation, fame, age, or anything. Here are some startling statistics on domestic violence: <br /><br />-Each day in the U.S., between 5 and 11 women are killed by a male intimate partner, between 1800 and 4000 a year.<br /><br />-In the U.S. women are more likely to be killed by their male intimate partners than all other homicide categories combined.<br /><br />-Studies show that the vast majority of women who kill their abusers do so as a last resort in defense of their own lives or and/or the lives of their children.<br /><br />-Battered women who defend themselves are being convicted or are accepting pleas at a rate of 75-83% nationwide.<br /><br />-Between 2.1 and 8 million women are abused by their partners annually in the U.S. At least every 15 seconds, a woman is beaten by her husband or boyfriend.<br /><br />-The Surgeon General has reported for at least 10 years that battering is the single largest cause of injury to U.S. women. <br /><br />-In many U.S. cities, more than 50% of women and children seeking shelter are turned away due to lack of space.<br /><br />-Only (an estimated) 10% of incidents of domestice violence are reported, often due to shame, and fear that the abuser will retaliate when reported.<br /><br />-The injuries battered women recieve are at least as serious as injuries suffered in 90% of violent felony crimes, yet under state laws, they are almost always classified as misdomeanors.<br /><br />-In some surveys, 90% of battered women who reported assault to the police actually did sign complaints, but fewer that 1% of the cases were ever prosecuted...<br /><br />[Facts compiled by the National Clearinghouse in Defense of Battered Women, Washington, D.C. ]<br /><br />-If you or someone you know is being abused, speak up!!! Call your local domestic abuse hotline, and the police.Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-31239517342029636772009-03-24T10:22:00.000-07:002009-03-24T10:24:05.972-07:00Friends of Guest House has been selected as a 2009 Leadership Awardee by The Washington Area Women's Foundation (WAWF). This has made us eligible to compete in an online vote to win a $5,000 prize! Voting is FREE and open to the public. Please show us your support by visiting: <a href="http://www.thewomensfoundation.org/" target="_blank">www.TheWomensFoundation.org</a> and click on the big Leadership Awards OnlineVote sign, scroll down to the bottom of the page and vote for Friends ofGuest House today!Voting is open March 17-30th and we need your vote. Please tell your friends, family, colleagues and help us win BIG!!Thanks for your support! Thanks!!Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-18602935990277589712009-03-10T13:33:00.001-07:002009-03-10T13:41:31.825-07:00'The Guesthouse Women Poem'This is a beautiful poem that the Guesthouse women wrote together, revealing what is on their hearts and minds.<br /><br />I AM...<br />proud<br />somebody<br />motivated<br />woman<br />determined<br />a child of God<br /><br />I FEEL...<br />sincere<br />focused<br />ready for the next step<br />important<br />loved<br />rejuvenated<br /><br />I HOPE...<br />to be happy<br />to stay clean and sober<br />to proceed forward<br />to hold still<br />to succeed<br />to be successful<br /><br />I AM...<br />loved<br />motivated<br />blessed<br />grateful<br />beautifulFriends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-1117112531723429812008-05-02T11:30:00.000-07:002008-05-02T11:31:07.175-07:00What is the difference between Jail & Prison?Although the terms “jail” and “prison” are sometimes used interchangeably, most members of law enforcement distinguish between the two. Primarily, the difference is that a jail is used by local jurisdictions such as counties and cities to confine people for short periods of time. A prison, or penitentiary, is administered by the state, and is used to house convicted criminals for periods of much longer duration. Both are part of a larger penal system which includes other aspects of criminal justice such as courts, law enforcement, and crime labs.<br /><br />Because a jail is designed for short time periods only, it tends to have less amenities than a prison. Individuals who are being housed in a jail have access to bathrooms and are provided with food and water, and in a low security jail, they may be able to socialize in common areas during certain periods of the day. Most jails are designed to hold a very small number of criminals, and have relatively lax security when compared to prisons, although in areas prone to violence, a jail may be run along very strict lines. A jail houses people who have been convicted to serve a short sentence, individuals awaiting trial, people who have not yet paid bail, and criminals who have just been picked up on suspicion of committing a crime. The criminals are processed through a booking procedure, and the criminal justice system decides what to do with them after that.<br /><br />In a prison, the amenities are much more extensive, as some prisoners may be serving their lives behind bars. Prisons have exercise areas, common areas for eating and socializing in lower security areas, church facilities, and an educational facility which includes classrooms, libraries, and labs to work and study in. In lower security prisons such as those used to imprison people convicted of whit collar crimes, the prison could sometimes be mistaken for a hotel. In most cases, prison inmates are expected to share cells with other inmates, and because of the long duration of most prison sentences, a complex social and political structure arises among the prisoners.<br /><br />A prison is capable of handling far more prisoners than a jail is, and the prisoners are typically segregated on the basis of the types of crimes that they have been convicted of, as a safety precaution. In addition, in countries which still have capital punishment, a prison maintains facilities to carry out capital sentences, along with housing for criminals sentenced to this type of punishment. In general, the prison facility as a whole is very tightly secured, even if not all the criminals inside are violent, to prevent escapes or potential violence between wings of the prison. Prison staff are specially trained to work in a prison environment, and a board of governors appointed by the state oversees prison management.Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-28632563729983228042008-05-02T10:59:00.000-07:002008-05-02T11:12:25.192-07:00Some Facts<span style="color:#ffcc00;">1. The most serious offense for 65% of women in federal prisons and 29.1% of women in state prisons is violation of drug laws.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Compendium of Federal Justice Statistics, 2003 (Washington, DC: US Dept. of Justice, Oct. 2005), p. 108, Table 7.10; Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, Nov. 2006), p. 9, Table 13.</span><br /><br />2. The number of women incarcerated in prisons and jails in the USA is approximately 10 times more than the number of women incarcerated in Western European countries, even though Western Europe's combined female population is about the same size as that of the USA.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International, March 1999), p. 15.</span><br /><br />3. "During 2005 the number of females under the jurisdiction of State or Federal prison authorities increased by 2.6% (table 5). The number of males in prison rose 1.9%. At yearend 2005, 107,518 females and 1,418,406 males were in prison. Since 1995 the annual rate of growth in female prisoners averaged 4.6%, which was higher than the 3.0% increase in male prisoners. By yearend 2005 females accounted for 7.0% of all prisoners, up from 6.1% in 1995 and 5.7% in 1990."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, Nov. 2006), p. 4.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">4. "Since 1995 the total number of male prisoners has grown 34%; the number of female prisoners, 57%. At yearend 2005, 1 in every 1,538 women and 1 in every 108 men were incarcerated in a State or Federal prison."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, Nov. 2006), p. 4.</span><br /><br />5. "Relative to their number in the U.S. resident population, males were over 14 times more likely than females to be incarcerated in a State or Federal prison. At yearend 2005 there were 65 sentenced female inmates per 100,000 females in the resident population, compared to 929 sentenced male inmates per 100,000 males."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, Nov. 2006), p. 4.</span><br /><br />6. "Female incarceration rates, though substantially lower than male incarceration rates at every age, reveal similar racial and ethnic differences. Black females (with an incarceration rate of 156 per 100,000) were more than twice as likely as Hispanic females (76 per 100,000) and over 3 times more likely than white females (45 per 100,000) to have been in prison on December 31, 2005. These differences among white, black, and Hispanic females were consistent across all age groups."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Harrison, Paige M. & Allen J. Beck, PhD, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Prisoners in 2005 (Washington DC: US Department of Justice, Nov. 2006), p. 8.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">7. Women are the fastest growing and least violent segment of prison and jail populations. 85.1% of female jail inmates are behind bars for nonviolent offenses.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: John Irwin, Ph. D., Vincent Schiraldi, and Jason Ziedenberg, America's One Million Nonviolent Prisoners (Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, March 1999), pgs. 6-7.</span><br /><br />8. From 1986 (the year mandatory sentencing was enacted) to 1996, the number of women sentenced to state prison for drug crimes increased ten fold (from around 2,370 to 23,700) and has been the main element in the overall increase in the imprisonment of women.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International, March 1999), p. 26.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">9. From 1985 to 1996, female drug arrests increased by 95%, while male drug arrests increased by 55.1%.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports 1985 (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1986), p. 181, Table 37; Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1997 Uniform Crime Report (Washington DC: US Government Printing Office, 1998), p. 231, Table 42.</span><br /><br />10. In 2005, there were a reported 2,472,303 arrests of women, of which 259,362 (9.46%) were for drug offenses. (Note: This represents a portion of the total estimated arrests in 2005, covering 10,974 agencies comprising a total population of 217,722,329 Americans.)<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Crime in the United States 2005, Uniform Crime Reports Washington, DC: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Oct. 2006), Table 40, from the web at </span><a href="http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_40.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:78%;">http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/05cius/data/table_40.html</span></a><span style="font-size:78%;">.</span><br /><br />11. Between 1990 and 1996, the number of women convicted of drug felonies increased by 37% (from 43,000 in 1990 to 59,536 in 1996). The number of convictions for simple possession increased 41% over that period, from 18,438 in 1990 to 26,022 in 1996.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#000000;">Source: Greenfield, Lawrence A., and Snell, Tracy L., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Women Offenders (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, December 1999), p. 5, Table 11.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">12. In 1997 a US Justice Department investigation of women's prisons in Arizona concluded that the authorities failed to protect women from sexual misconduct by correctional officers and other staff. The misconduct included rape, sexual relationships, sexual touching and fondling, and "without good reason, frequent, prolonged, close-up and prurient viewing during dressing, showing and use of toilet facilities." (CIV97-476, US District of Arizona).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International (March 1999), p. 39.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">13. Retaliation for reports of abuse impedes women's access to protection of their human rights. One woman who won a lawsuit against the Federal Bureau of Prisons for sexual abuse reported that she was beaten, raped and sodomized by three men who in the course of the attack told her that they were attacking her in retaliation for providing a statement to investigators.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;color:#000000;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International, March 1999), p. 59.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">14. Sick and pregnant women are routinely shackled during hospitalization and childbirth if they are inmates of prisons or jails in the USA.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International, March 1999), p. 63.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">15. Approximately 516,200 women on probation (72% of the total), 44,700 women in local jails (70% of the total), 49,200 women in State prisons (65% of the total), and 5,400 women in Federal prisons (59% of the total) have minor children.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Greenfield, Lawrence A., and Snell, Tracy L., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Women Offenders (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, December 1999), p. 7, Table 17.</span><br /><br />16. "Of the Nation's 72.3 million minor children in 1999, 2.1% had a parent in State or Federal prison. Black children (7.0%) were nearly 9 times more likely to have a parent in prison than white children (0.8%). Hispanic children (2.6%) were 3 times as likely as white children to have an inmate parent."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Mumola, Christopher J., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Incarcerated Parents and Their Children (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, August 2000), p. 2.</span><br /><br />17. In 1997 an estimated 2.8% of all children under age 18 had at least one parent in a local jail or a State or Federal prison. About 1 in 359 children have an incarcerated mother - for a total of 194,504 children with their mothers behind bars.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Greenfield, Lawrence A., and Snell, Tracy L., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Women Offenders (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, December 1999), pp. 7-8, Tables 17 and 18.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">18. Forty-four percent of women under correctional authority, including 57% of the women in State prisons, reported that they were physically or sexually abused at some point in their lives. Sixty-nine percent of women reporting an assault said that it had occurred before age 18.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Greenfield, Lawrence A., and Snell, Tracy L., Bureau of Justice Statistics, Women Offenders (Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, December 1999), p. 8, Table 20.</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">19. Many women in prisons and jails in the USA are victims of sexual abuse by staff, including male staff touching inmates' breasts and genitals when conducting searches; male staff watching inmates while they are naked; and rape.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: Amnesty International, "Not Part of My Sentence: Violations of the Human Rights of Women in Custody" (Washington, DC: Amnesty International, March 1999), p. 38.</span><br /><br />20. "Of the 13,573 treatment facilities that responded to the 2000 N-SSATS (National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services), 60 percent reported that they provided at least one of the special programs or services for women. Almost one third of the facilities (33 percent) provided one program or service, 17 percent of the facilities provided two programs or services, 8 percent of the facilities provided three, and 3 percent provided four programs or services (data not shown). Of the facilities providing programs or services for women, 63 percent reported providing programs for women only, 56 percent reported services addressing domestic violence, 34 percent provided programs for pregnant or postpartum women, and 16 percent offered on-site child care services."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: "Facilities Offering Special Programs or Services for Women," The Dasis Report (Washington, DC: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, Oct. 11, 2002), pp. 1-2.</span><br /><br />21. "Facilities offering special programs or services for women were more likely to provide a variety of treatment services than facilities that did not offer such programs or services (Figure 1). These included transitional employment (with the largest difference, 42 percent vs. 25 percent), relapse prevention (83 percent vs. 67 percent), transportation assistance (42 percent vs. 26 percent), family counseling (83 percent vs. 69 percent), and pharmacotherapies (46 percent vs. 36 percent). Some 97 percent of facilities with women's programs or services offered individual therapy compared with 91 percent of facilities without special women's programs or services. In addition, 91 percent of facilities with women's programs or services offered group therapy compared with 84 percent of the other facilities."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: "Facilities Offering Special Programs or Services for Women," The Dasis Report (Washington, DC: Dept. of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Office of Applied Studies, Oct. 11, 2002), p. 2.</span>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-59876790441716270732008-04-09T14:34:00.000-07:002008-04-09T14:38:36.275-07:00U.S. Shifting Prison Focus to Re-entry Into SocietyApril 8, 2008<br />U.S. Shifting Prison Focus to Re-entry Into Society<br />By ERIK ECKHOLM<br /><br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">Back in the 1970s and '80s, high crime and "get tough" laws meant longer sentences and more emphasis on punishment than on rehabilitation, and the federal and state governments spent billions building prisons.<br />Today, as a legacy of those policies, not only are record numbers incarcerated, but also about 700,000 state and federal prisoners are released annually, many of them with little education or employment prospects and destined to be imprisoned again within a few years.<br /></span>In a sharp change in attitudes about incarceration, many states and private groups have recently experimented with "re-entry" programs to help released prisoners fit back into their communities and avoid new crime.<br />The strategy will get a major boost this week. President Bush is to sign the Second Chance Act in a public ceremony on Wednesday, making rehabilitation a central goal of the federal justice system. In a sign of how far the pendulum has swung, the measure passed Congress with nearly unanimous bipartisan support.<br />With the new law, the federal government is to provide more money and leadership in a field where progress is likely to be difficult at best, experts agree.<br />"From our perspective, this is a huge development," said Michael Thompson, director of the Justice Center of the Council of State Governments. "Governors, legislatures, corrections and law enforcement agencies around the country were all very supportive of the act."<br />The new push to help prisoners reintegrate into society has been driven in part by financial concerns: states cannot afford to keep building more prisons. It also reflects concern for the victims of repeat offenders and for the wasted lives of the offenders themselves, who are disproportionately black and from neighborhoods of concentrated poverty.<br />The act authorizes $165 million in spending per year, including matching grants to state and local governments and nongovernmental groups to experiment with efforts like more schooling and drug treatment inside prison and aid with housing, employment and the building of family and community ties after release.<br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">It also directs the Justice Department to step up research on re-entry issues and establishes a national Reentry Resource Center to promote successful approaches and provide training.<br /></span>"This act represents a major change in crime policy," said Jeremy Travis, president of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York, who as a Justice Department official in the Clinton administration and the author of "But They All Come Back: Facing the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry" (Urban Institute Press, 2005) helped promote the shift.<br />Over the last decade, the re-entry cause has been embraced by an unusually wide range of groups and individuals, including evangelical Christians and liberal activists. Mr. Bush called for such a law in 2004 and in Congress, key sponsors included Senator Sam Brownback, a conservative Republican from Kansas, and Representative Danny K. Davis, a liberal Democrat from Illinois.<br />"It's been a bipartisan coalition," Mr. Travis said, "the sort of thing that doesn't happen in Washington these days."Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-35903786262866750872008-03-28T14:42:00.000-07:002008-03-28T14:56:50.551-07:00If you had the opportunity to speak to a group of young girls, what would you want to talk to them about?If I had the opportunity to talk to a group of younger girls, I would tell them several things. First, I would talk to them about putting themselves first and that they should not worry about other people. I would like to talk to them about boyfriends and explain that they do not need a boyfriend or partner in their lives to fulfill their needs. Also, going through a through a rebellious/"party" time to have fun is not necessary and does not make you COOL. None of it is worth it. Everything I just listed makes life harder than it has to be. I would tell them that they need to work at having good relationships with their families and if there is something that is going on in their family or amongst their friends that need attention or they need help with then they need to communicate that and work towards resolving it. When things are not resolved, more problems arise. I would tell them that the kids they go to high school with probably will not even be their immediate friends or in their lives for a long period of time, some may be but others may not and the problems they are having in high school are so minor compared to the problems they'll be having in college and their young adult lives. I’d like to explain how important it is to look out for themself, that if anyone asks or tells you to do something they need to think of the consequences before you do it. Life is not worth using the "stinkin thinkin" mode (stupid thinking). To listen to their parent’s advice, they KNOW what they are talking about! Even though it sucks to admit, its really true. I am only 21 right now and have been through a lot more than most of my friends and acquaintances have been through and none of it...I mean NONE of it was worth it! I wish I would have stayed in college and worried more about myself, because I would not be in the situation that I am now. I would give young girls good insight, just by being close to their age and being able to relate a lot to what they have going on and have advice to give them from someone who's closer in age. Younger people tend to listen to people more their age. Therefore, I think that I would be a good person for someone to come and talk with. Since I love to help people I think that I would really love helping them and listening to them. –age 21<br /><br /><br />If I had the opportunity to speak to a bunch of young girls, I would express to them the importance of staying drug free and conviction free. I would express to them how drugs take away all your hopes and dreams of becoming successful. I would start by telling them know how my life as a young girl started in the military, which led me to use drugs and making bad decisions, which resulted in incarceration. I would express to them that it's never to late to turn your life around - no matter how many bad decisions you’ve made. Overall, try your best not to make any bad decision that result in hurting yourself or your love ones. –age 32<br /><br />I would want to tell them how important it is to get a good education, that sex and relationships can wait. I would share some of my personal experiences with about drugs, addiction and being in jail. I would also be open for questions and would try to be as honest as possible. –age 34<br /><br />Given the opportunity to speak with young girls, I would like to talk about other addictions that are not drug related, such as money addiction. People do not realize that spending money on clothes and other material items can be just as addictive as drugs. They need to understand that needing and wanting a material item is not always the best choice. Personally, I understand the feeling of wanting something at that moment, but until you work for that item, you never really appreciate it for its full value. I would say that Money Addictions are very real and that there are many people with the same problems and they are not alone. To get Therapy and to find out how to re-train you mind into not getting the money for a expensive item, until you have worked for it. –age 36<br /><br />I had to talk to young kids, (4th-5th graders), at the jail several times. I tried to tell them not to try drugs or alcohol because they can ruin or sidetrack your life, but I am not sure if I got through to them. During the question/answer period, they asked us questions such as:<br />How big are your cells?<br />How much TV can you watch?<br />What is the food like?<br />Can you have cell phones?<br />I tried to make it sound as bad as it was while my male counterpart said it was the best jail he had ever been in, lots of TV and other sorts of examples. –age 45Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8571194168265560476.post-46820533036807950702008-03-27T14:28:00.000-07:002008-03-27T14:35:16.758-07:00Outside-The-Box Sentencing - Pa. judge sentences 3 to learn EnglishThu Mar 27, 2:16 PM ET<br /><br />WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - A judge known for creative sentencing has ordered three Spanish-speaking men to learn English or go to jail.<br /><br />The men, who faced prison for criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, can remain on parole if they learn to read and write English, earn their GEDs and get full-time jobs, Luzerne County Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Jr. said.<br />The men, Luis Reyes, Ricardo Dominguez and Rafael Guzman-Mateo, plus a fourth defendant, Kelvin Reyes-Rosario, all needed translators when they pleaded guilty Tuesday.<br />"Do you think we are going to supply you with a translator all of your life?" the judge asked them.<br />The four, ranging in age from 17 to 22, were in a group that police said accosted two men on a street in May. The two said they were asked if they had marijuana, told to empty their pockets, struck on the head, threatened with a gun and told to stay off the block.<br />Attorneys for the men said they were studying the legality of the ruling and had not decided whether to appeal. One of the attorneys, Ferris Webby, suggested that the ruling was good for his client, Guzman-Mateo.<br />"My client is happy," Webby said. "I think it's going to help him."<br />The judge sentenced the four men to jail terms of four to 24 months. But he gave the three men, who already had served at least four months, immediate parole. Reyes-Rosario remains imprisoned on an unrelated drug charge.<br />Olszewski ordered the three to return with their parole officers in a year and take an English test. "If they don't pass, they're going in for the 24 (months)," he said.<br />Olszewski is known for outside-the-box sentencing.<br /><span style="color:#ffcc00;">He has ordered young defendants who are school dropouts to finish school. He often orders defendants to get full-time employment. But he also has his staff coordinate with an employment agency to help them find the jobs.</span>Friends of Guest Househttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18333264222536070179noreply@blogger.com0