Talking to bunch of hungry teenagers while eating an Egg McMuffin or some breakfast sandwich and french fries generated some very interesting discussions which led them to understand why those with the least give the most: It’s called humanity.

To read the article click here: Zoo Teens

By Brian McKinney Sr.

Imagine yourself in prison.  It’s a bleak picture.  And you’re probably living on the edge of hopelessness.  How can you shake off the crippling freeze in your mind?  Any psychologist, priest, advisor and everybody’s mother, too, will say you should take action today.  That will insure a vigorous tomorrow, a successful reentry, which supplies the difference between where you are now and where you want to be.

Where am I now?  I’m a 28-year-old black man, doing prison time at the Ojibway Correctional Facility in the middle of a barren wooded landscape in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  The emptiness of the land mirrors the feeling of prison life.  How did I end up in prison?  I broke the law.  I was arrested for drug trafficking and gun possession.  I was 24-year-old and looking for easy money. I made some bad choices.  My prison sentence, four years to 20 years, reflects the current broad range of sentencing guidelines.  My earliest release date is 2012.  If I have to serve the maximum length of prison time, I won’t be released until I’m 45 years old. If it was a movie, this part of my life doesn’t get a sequel.

What about tomorrow and reentry?  Since all I’ve got is time, I’m using it. To build a realistic future, I’m self-studying several college courses now. Better yet, I’m paying for and taking the college-level tests for those courses, earning those college credits.  My goals are practical and amplified: my credits will give me a faster start when I’m released, re-entered, and enrolled in college.  Then I’ll continue on to graduate school at Yale University.  Now that’s a future worth pursuing. The stakes are high, and I won’t settle for less.  Putting it mildly, I am motivated.

Despite all the talk recently about reentry there is nothing happening at Ojibway — or at any prison I know of — doing anything to help a guy like me who needs college-level courses.  The only teaching going on is focused on helping prisoners get a GED.  This isn’t a criticism it’s simply stating a fact. Before I discovered the self-study route my only way to get college credit was to take a college correspondence course.  That’s out of the question for most prisoners.  It’s very expensive.  It’s too costly for me with my prison wage at less than a dollar a day.  Self-study and then paying to take the test to pass the course is my only financial option.  And it works thanks to the College Board.

The College Board offers CLEP tests.  An alphabet soup of letters, CLEP stands for College Level Examination Program.  I discovered CLEP tests when I was researching ways to earn college credits in the most cost-effective way possible.  You get college credit by self-studying for a variety of beginning college courses.  Then you take a test to see if you’ve mastered that specific course material.  Each test costs approximately one hundred dollars. That’s a big bill for most prisoners. But it’s within their reach, by inches.

It always drives me crazy with envy when I talk with the older prisoners who were once able to enroll in college classes while in prison. At a time with less economic stress and more constructive penal programs the college correspondence courses were paid for by the Federal Government.

“I feel good about earning college credit

for myself. But I feel even better about

bringing a program to the prison that

helps others.”  – Brian McKinney Sr.

Those days are over.  To make my self-study idea work for me and for others I needed the favorable nod from the prison warden.  A prison is only as good as the warden who runs it.  Word in the yard at Ojibway was that the new warden supported programs for prisoners.  That always makes sense.  If (for no other reason) plenty of prison programs of all kinds make for a safer prison and reduce prisoner idleness.

So, one day, as I saw her walking in the yard we did a little informal CLEP talk.  A smart and commanding woman with an obvious gift for leadership and practical problem solving, she seemed interested in self- study and CLEP.  Keep in mind that prison is not like the real world.  Things that seem normal … like walking up and talking to someone … can land a prisoner in solitary confinement. Yes, this warden will allow prisoners to speak with her.  And she listens.

So, who else would help me?

Our librarian at Ojibway has a reputation for being service-oriented so we talked about how the library was the logical place for college-level self-study.  As a prisoner I’ve learned to keep my expectations low when voicing new ideas for prisoner programs. I was hoping for — at the most — mild interest. Almost to my surprise the librarian got so excited about CLEP that he was practically ricocheting off the walls. He was extremely supportive and things happened fast. He did research on the College Board’s web site to get more information on the CLEP policy and study materials. He spoke with the school principal who agreed to proctor the CLEP tests.

Suddenly the train was on the tracks and heading for the station.  The warden (true to her initial interest) greased the tracks to get the program going … including making it easier for prisoners to get used college textbooks. Remember that it’s hard to do new things in a prison environment. Without the warden’s support the self-study project would have had little hope.

As the word about CLEP spread other prisoners became involved.  Not only were other prisoners interested in taking tests but we found prisoners, many with college degrees, who would become tutors.

Soon the library at Ojibway became — at times — more like a college library. After regular library hours the library was kept open so that prisoners could study in groups. It was great to see. You could see attitudes changing before your eyes.

“Let’s cut to the chase. Does the self-study program

work? Did I pass the CLEP tests? Did the other

prisoners pass the CLEP tests? You bet we did.

In fact, to date the success rate is 100 percent.”

– Brian McKinney Sr.

Prisoners involved in CLEP also made a pledge to be “better than good,” realizing that any bad behavior might end the program. One has to face the facts: strangely enough, many prison staff are actively non-supportive of prisoner improvement and almost seem to want prisoners to fail.

Let’s cut to the chase.  Does the self-study program work? Did I pass the CLEP tests? Did the other prisoners pass the CLEP tests? You bet we did. In fact, to date the success rate is 100 percent.

But there’s more. One thing leads to another. With the CLEP success behind us we focused our attention on yet another way to earn college credits. Of particular interest is Advanced Placement testing (AP), the extremely demanding test program sponsored by (once again) the College Board. Given only once a year, it’s the Olympics of college testing.

AP testing is not done in any prison in Michigan at all. Only a handful of prisons in the entire United States are doing AP testing.  Since we want to put ourselves on the map for scholarly excellence, we just have to do Advanced Placement testing at Ojibway. And we have to do it good.

Currently 15 prisoners at Ojibway are studying hard for the May-2011 Advanced Placement test.  We’re turning hard time into study time. Will we succeed?  Given our motivation and track record to date the odds are that we will do very well with AP testing … just as we have with the CLEP tests.

I feel good about earning college credit for myself. But I feel even better about bringing a program to the prison that helps others. The librarian calls us the McKinney Scholars (like the Rhodes Scholars), and that’s a real compliment. If you were to see me now, you would see a smile on my face.

For more information on the CLEP and AP Programs at the Ojibway Correctional Facility, contact librarian Thomas Lee by e-mail at leetg@michigan.gov.

This article is an extract from Reentry Advocate Volume 5, Issue 1-2, Jan./Feb., 2011

Let me quickly give you a little extra help. Check out College Level Examination Program (CLEP) – it’s about jump starting your training and getting credit for life experiences. So take time to check out this site it is filled with information after information for anyone looking to enhance their education or who is helping to direct someone in this endeavor.

His suggestions include:

S  - no alcohol two hours before bed

L  - turn off all electronics (turn off all the lights) sleep in darkness (create darkness if you must sleep during daylight)

E -  check the room temperature – 65 degrees is most comfortable

E -  get rid of the snooze alarm (you never go back to the same level of rest once this goes off)

P -  if you wake up, lay in the bed and relax

So whether your next day is spent interviewing, on the job, or doing something just for fun remember the quality of sleep is important in all you do.

1.   Being Available. Spend as much time together as you can. Listen when your son or daughter asks a question or wants to tell you about something that’s happened. Find things to do and places to go together. Be involved in their education.
2.   Showing Love. Go to his or her school and after-school events, plays or sporting events. Meet with teachers. Do something he or she likes to do – go to the mall, a ball game, or a movie. Start a conversation, ask a question about what’s going on at school or other activities.
3.   Hope. Give your child hope. Help him or her identify goals. Let him or her know that you believe he or she can achieve these goals and you will do whatever you can to help.
4.   Responsibility. Teach him or her to respect themselves and other people. Your son or Help them to understand what will happen if he or she makes bad choices.
5.   Respect. Respect them and expect respect in return. Listen to your son or daughter. Treat their ideas and opinions seriously. Let your son or daughter know that you expect to be treated with respect because you are the parent. Encourage thoughts and development of ideas and opinions.
6.   Eat and Play. Encourage the family to eat well and exercise. Play organized sports, go for a walk, ride bikes, or skate. Take time to sit down and eat together, prepare a meal together.
7.    Rest. Believe it or not teenagers need even more sleep than most adults. Make sure that each age group gets the amount of body rest needed.

Frequent washing with soap or a sanitizer can help you avoid contagious illnesses including colds and the flu.

2. Workspace

Your telephone, keyboard, and other office equipment needs to be routinely cleaned. Disinfectant routinely to kill germs and to keep from spreading illnesses.

3. Safety

Cluttered and unorganized space can create all types of safety hazards. Tripping over cords, falls due to obstacles, overloaded circuits, and improper use of office supplies and equipment can be hazardous.

4. Balanced Meals

Eat breakfast, graze or eat small meals throughout the day, eat vegetables and fruit and grains. Watch the flour products. Especially limit the foods that have little or no nutrition.

5. Water

Sodas and coffee may help you stay awake, but they will also contribute to dehydration. So you need to be sure to drink water also. Just keep a water bottle with you all the time, drink throughout the day and you will probably get what you need.

6. Sick

Do your co-workers a favor, if you are sick stay home, don’t go to work. If go, try to avoid direct contact with as many people as you can. Like child care centers where illness is passed from child to child, office sickness is often passed from worker to worker.

7. Breaks

Practice deep breathing exercises to help improve the flow of oxygen through your body and to help alleviate the tension that often develops in your neck and shoulders. Lift with your legs. Take a walk.

8. Office Drama

Stressed? Whenever you can, get away from tense situations and try to steer Do yourself a favor and stay away from office drama.

9. Vacation Days

It is said people who do not take vacations are more likely to be sick. Can’t bare to be absent, take long weekends, and do something you enjoy.

10. Smoking and Drinking

Can’t quit, then moderation is the key. These andother substance have all sorts of health implications not only for you, but also for others in your life.

1. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.
2. Floss everyday.
3. Limit the number of times you snack.
4. Keep few junk foods, instead keep fresh fruits and vegetables around for snacking.
5. Limit sugary, fatty, and salty foods
6. Remember oral piercings increase risk for oral infections and can cause injury to the entire mouth.
7. Serve as a role model for children by practicing good oral health care habits.
8. Visit the dentist regularly.

Don’t forget poor oral health has been linked to heart and lung disease, diabetes, stroke, extremely high-birth weight, and premature births.

2012 Presidential Election Could be Impacted

By Mansfield Frazier

Prisoner reentry was turned into a political football in Florida on Wednesday when newly elected Governor Rick Scott, at the urging of State Attorney General Pam Bondi, swiftly changed the rules governing when felons’ rights are restored in the state. Moving with speed usually reserved for petty, tin-horn dictators in third-world banana republics, Scott and the Florida Cabinet, imposed a five-year wait period on individuals convicted of non-violent crimes, and a seven-year wait for those convicted of violent crimes. Additionally, those in the latter category must have a hearing before a clemency board which will determine if their civil and voting rights are to be restored. “Felons seeking restoration of civil rights demonstrate they desire and deserve clemency only after they show they’re willing to abide by the law,” Scott said.

However, Howard Simon of the Florida ACLU, recalling the hotly contested 2000 presidential election, in which George Bush carried the state by the slimmest of margins and was declared the victor only after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, suggested that the move was designed to deny voting rights to as many people as possible before the 2012 presidential election. “The unseemly haste and lack of transparency suggests clearly that this was politics disguised as public policy,” Simon said.

Cleveland State University Urban Studies adjunct professor Ronnie Dunn has written extensively in regards to how, since the advent of the era of Jim Crow, unfair laws have been enacted — particularly in southern states — to deny blacks the right to vote. Writing in a soon-to-be-released handbook on prisoner reentry he describes how poll taxes, literacy tests, and property ownership … were devices were routinely used to suppress the black vote and unfairly affect election outcomes.

Florida now joins two other states, Kentucky and Virginia, in having the most severe restrictions on former felons voting and reinstitution of other rights such as serving on juries and holding certain professional licenses. Five black Florida lawmakers joined a chorus of civil rights advocates in objecting to the rule changes, saying no evidence existed that the abandoned process, which was approved by former Gov. Charlie Crist and the former Cabinet in 2007, was not working.

“It’s really not about what’s right or fair,” said Ken Lumpkin, an attorney and political activist in Cleveland, “this is about stealing elections and hurting individual’s chances of starting over after prison. If felons had had the franchise in Florida back in 2000, the election would not have been close enough for the Supreme Court to give it to Bush. What this new governor is doing is rolling back the clock on minority rights. And with Republican governors and legislative majorities in states like Ohio and Wisconsin no one should be surprised if they try to change the rules in those states also. If that happens a Democratic candidate for president won’t stand a chance. ”

State NAACP vice-chairman Dale Landry said that individuals who have completed their sentences have paid their debt to society in full. “Why do we come back and impose a further penalty?” he asked. “What we’re saying is that… the state wants to impose further sentencing, an additional penalty. That’s exactly what was done here.”

The clemency board did not release the proposed rule changes to the public until moments before the meeting began, and then limited public testimony to two-minutes per person for a total of 30 minutes before unanimously approving the changes. State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam asked for a slower, more detailed explanation of the changes, saying he “didn’t have much time” to read them since he got the proposal so late.

“Why the rush to go back to where we started from?” asked Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

During the testimony period Leon County Supervisor of Elections Ion Sancho accused the clemency board of turning back the clock to Florida’s post-civil war era by imposing restrictions “whose sole purpose was to ensure that the former slaves of this state could never reintegrate into the society and be able to vote.” Sancho said the process, which restricts civil rights was “a stain on the State of Florida, and will ensure a permanent underclass of underemployed individuals.”

The Daily Beast 3/12/2011

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