Entry for May 23, 2006 Panama City Youth At Risk Program At Risk
| Post subject: Mentoring program for Youth-at-Risk in Panama City |
|
|
Patrick wrote:
|
Crossroads Mentoring Program
(850) 785-5941
1802 Flower Ave # J102
Panama City, FL 32405
What is really needed is a 'leader' in Panama City to take this by the horns. I had expected that Ms. Barnes and Mr. Little were such 'leaders'. I have had very little contact with these people since my initial communication over a week ago. No answers to E-mail or voice mails. Is there anyone else who'd like to step up and make a program happen? Maybe someone could actually get something from Barnes/Little? | |
|
|
 |
thatstan
Joined: 16 Oct 2004
Posts: 14
|
 Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 9:53 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Patrick,
Crossroads is a start. My email to your friends bounced -- sistah@bellsouth.net. Can you contact your young friend, the boot camp victim's brother requesting mentoring aid? You mentioned you had her phone number.
There is one local I trust completely that can help: Judge David Taunton and his famous Children's Home in Wewa. Oprah just gave him a big award for helping at-risk kids (over 200 of them and without government help!)
I have asked Oprah and Judge Taunton to come to Panama City and kick some serious butt and get the healing process started. I hope somebody of stature like Emmy and Panama Tiger will ask them also.
When Oprah talks, people listen.
And she might give us a new car. Nobody likes my attempts at humor.
Stan, Oprah fan (actually, it's my daughter that worships her)
------------------------------------------------------
to O (intern):
We need either Martin Luther King or Oprah to get down here and help the blacks and whites learn to get along.
A recent tragedy happened here in a Panama City Florida Boot Camp for at-risk juveniles that left a young 14 year old black kid dead reawakening the Emmitt Till nightmare of half a century ago. Then a video appeared that showed, some feel, the kid beat to death by guards (drill instructors) reawakening the Rodney King beating by police. Then the medical examiner ruled the death due to natural causes. Then charges of coverup and racial discrimination with protests and demonstrations erupted. The NAACP is marching June 3 and expects thousands.
Our community needs an Oprah or a Judge Taunton to restore order and justice and help calm our disturbed minds.
If ever a community needed restorative justice, it is us. Our kids need responsible mentors and our parents need mentoring even more.
Stan Clark, Bay County grandfather
to Oprah staffer:
Do Show on Panama City Boot Camp Death
Posted by: thatstan
Posted on: 05/23/2006 at 8:45pm (326 of 326)
Dear Junior Staffer,
I am writing about Ms. O taking on a tragedy that is tearing our little town apart, the Panama City Bay County Boot Camp Death Case.
We need someone of her stature that the whole community trusts that can help us determine why this tragedy happened and what we can do to keep it from happening again.
The only local that fits that category is Judge David Taunton and his children's home that O awarded.
The 14 year old Anderson is dead and his brother is seeking mentoring help through his young friend, who is truly a Joan of Arc. O and Judge Taunton could save this at-risk juvenile. My 14 year old brother died when I was young, so I can identify with what the young Anderson brother is going through. Our town is not set up for helping at-risk youths. We don't even have a Big Brothers group working locally.
I hope your staff will look into this dramatic, complex racial case and help us help these at-risk youth, particularly the Anderson brother and his courageous friend. Warmest Regards, Stan
Reference materials: boot camp blog link www.stanclark.us
local newspaper link www.newsherald.com forum | |
