Activism

Dismantling Pipelines to Prison: Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY) Reimagines Opportunity for Young People

“Some of the greatest success stories we’ve had is with youth who have been resistant to the process and wanting support,” said Trevor Arceneaux, Associate Director of FLY’s Alameda County operations. “FLY does a really great job at building authentic and trusting relationships with youth. Seeing the change and the walls being torn down and they’re able to engage with us in a different way and let us into their lives where we can understand and learn their needs. Then, we’re able to tap into their genius and get them to operate in the community with a different way.”

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2022

Oakland Post

In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education.

Edward Henderson | Impact Alameda

The ACLU defines the school to prison pipeline as a “national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems.”

Many of the children that fall into this pipeline have learning disabilities, are victims of neglect, abuse, and would benefit from additional services.

However, too many of them have also been subjected to systematic zero-tolerance policies that criminalize minor infractions and serve as catapults, feeding more children into the pipeline to prison.

Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY), is an Oakland-based organization dedicated to dismantling the school to prison pipeline by equipping youth with knowledge of the law and empowering youth with a community of supporters that amplify their voices.

FLY’s mission is poetic in the sense that the voices of youth who fell victim to the prison pipeline served as the foundation for the organization’s creation.

Back in 1995, Christa Gannon, FLY’s founder and Stanford University Law School graduate, would often converse with teens facing significant prison time about services that could steer other children away from incarceration.

In many of their responses, the children mentioned education of the law — to know the consequences of poor choices – as well as having role models and opportunities to be of service to their communities. Those ideas are the pillars that FLY was built on.

“Education is power,” said Trevor Arceneaux, Associate Director of FLY’s Alameda County operations. “There are a lot of opportunities to practice that power. It helps to develop a young person’s critical consciousness of the world and how they see it. A lot of times our young people are actively in this pipeline, and they can name it and see it. We can give them options on how to solve these real-world issues.”

In 2000, FLY transitioned to a non-profit, building on the concepts of law education and empowerment. Today, FLY is now one of the Bay Area’s most respected agencies working with youth who are currently or formerly involved in the juvenile justice system.

With 70 staff and more than 200 volunteers, FLY serves more than 2,000 youth throughout the Bay Area each year, ranging from ages 11 to 24.

“Some of the greatest success stories we’ve had is with youth who have been resistant to the process and wanting support,” said Arceneaux. “FLY does a really great job at building authentic and trusting relationships with youth. Seeing the change and the walls being torn down and they’re able to engage with us in a different way and let us into their lives where we can understand and learn their needs. Then, we’re able to tap into their genius and get them to operate in the community with a different way.”

These authentic connections are fostered in the many programs FLY offers to equip youth with the knowledge and confidence they need to navigate life and avoid pitfalls.

In Alameda County FLY offers 4 core programs that provide pivotal services and education.

The Court Appointed Friend and Advocate (CAFA) Mentor Program pairs youth with mentors to meet weekly and support them in developing new behaviors, ambitions and attitudes. Each mentor/mentee pairing has a FLY case manager for support who also attends monthly group activities organized by FLY. All mentors are also granted legal standing to act as advocates for their mentees in the courtroom and at schools.

The FLY Law Program is an interactive 8-to-12-week course covering topics such as police encounters, accomplice liability, three strikes, theft, vandalism, drugs, gangs, and police arrests. The curriculum also touches on critical life skills like anger management, problem solving, conflict resolution, and resisting negative peer pressure. Mid-way through the semester, youth take a field trip to a local university law school where they tour the campus and act out a mock trial in the moot courtroom.

The Leadership Training Program helps youth build the skills and attitudes they need to live a crime-free, self-sufficient life. The program traditionally kicks off with a three-day wilderness retreat that enables youth to break away from negative influences and stresses and begin bonding with FLY staff and peers, developing trust and teamwork skills. (Because of the pandemic, virtual or socially distanced activities have replaced the retreats.) Following the retreat, youth meet monthly to support each other in group settings and to design projects in which they advocate for positive change and give back to their communities. Each young person receives intensive coaching from a FLY case manager to identify and address their greatest barriers.

The STAY FLY Program is a reentry program that develops social emotional learning skills and knowledge of the law in youth ages 18-25. A three-tier system is implemented to support youth as they transition back into the community. Law-related education, pro-social events and civic engagement activities, along with case management and coaching are offered to participants.

“Youth really love being around FLY staff,” said Arceneaux. “That’s more important to me than anything. They are going to remember the connections they have. When I see youth cracking jokes or hitting up staff to tell them about an accomplishment, that lets me know we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing. We’re really pushing youth to use their voice. In the next three to five years, you’re going to hear about former or current FLY youth advocating or pushing for systematic change. Tapping into their sense of agency and impacting the entire world.”

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Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

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Activism

Oakland Ambassadors Strengthen Ties and Aid Efforts in Ghana

Oakland natives and esteemed members of the African American Sports and Entertainment Group (AASEG), Jonathan P. Jones and Dr. Maritony Efua Jones, recently embarked on a significant journey to Ghana as guests of the World Martial Authority Ghana. This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Elder Jorg Klebingat, Flint Mensah, Richard Burton, H.E. Dr. Maritony Jones, Amb. Jonathan Jones, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Elder Alfred Kyungu. Courtesy photo.

By Post Staff

This trip signifies a crucial opportunity to bolster partnerships, explore new avenues of collaboration, and contribute to impactful initiatives in Ghana.

Upon their arrival at Katota Airport in Accra, Ghana, the Joneses were warmly received by His Royal Majesty Okatakyie Asafo Boakye III, the distinguished king of Sanzule Kingdom in the Eastern Nzema, and Etse Nyamedi of World Martial Authority, Ghana.

Nyamedi accompanied the Joneses to the city of Mepe, which had recently experienced flooding, to assess damages and engage with local leaders, elders, and youth regarding the city’s urgent needs after major floods last fall.

Key concerns and priorities identified by the community include comprehensive flood mitigation measures, agricultural support, housing initiatives, educational enhancements, improved healthcare access, and the development of communal recreational spaces.

The Joneses were also graciously invited to meet with leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at their headquarters in Accra. This meeting provided insights into ongoing humanitarian efforts in Ghana and explored avenues for collaboration to further assist Ghanaian communities.

The LDS leaders shared their prompt response to the recent flood, demonstrating their commitment to humanitarian aid by dispatching substantial supplies including medical provisions, sanitation items, blankets, and food to assist flood victims just four days after the disaster.

Additionally, Boakye extended a special invitation to the Joneses to his palace, where they were pleasantly surprised with a heartfelt recognition ceremony. Maritony Jones was honored as the Queen Mother of the Sanzule Kingdom in acknowledgment of her dedicated work, while Jonathan Jones was lauded and welcomed as the ambassador of the Sanzule Kingdom, symbolizing a meaningful homecoming to their ancestral land.

The visit not only strengthens ties between Oakland and Ghana but also underscores the collaborative spirit and commitment to meaningful progress and humanitarian endeavors shared by all involved parties.

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Activism

Calif. Anti-Sex Trafficking Advocates Discuss Competing Bills, Strategies

Advocates from across California are challenging state officials and community leaders to support legislation that provides resources and services for survivors and victims of human trafficking, as well as assistance as they transition back into civil society.  Some of those advocates are also calling for more effective state policy to curtail trafficking, a crime that has an outsized impact on Black children, particularly girls.

Published

3 days ago

May 3, 2024

Oakland Post

Shutterstock

By Bo Tefu, California Black Media

Some of those advocates are also calling for more effective state policy to curtail trafficking, a crime that has an outsized impact on Black children, particularly girls.

According to the FBI, a report covering a two-year period found Black children accounted for 57% of all juvenile arrests for prostitution. In addition, 40% of sex trafficking victims were Black and 60% of those victims had been enrolled in the foster care system.

“It is time to hold the perpetrators who take advantage of our children accountable,” said the Rev. Shane Harris, a San Diego-based activist, former foster youth and founder of the Peoples Association of Justice Advocates, (PAJA), a national civil rights organization and policy think tank.

“It is time to send a thorough message that if you seek to buy a child for sex, you will pay the highest criminal penalties in this state,” added Harris who was speaking at a rally at the State Capitol earlier this month. Harris was speaking in support of Senate Bill 1414, authored by Sen. Shannon Grove (D-Bakersfield), which calls for people who buy sex from minors to be punished with a felony. The punishment includes a two-year prison sentence and a $25,000 fine.

Harris said the PAJA is the only civil rights organization in the state that supports SB 1414.

Harris urged other Black-led groups who favor anti-trafficking legislation more focused on criminal justice reforms (as opposed to stiffer penalties), to “join the movement.”

Many of those civil rights groups fear that SB 1414 could lead to the incarceration of more Black youth.

Those sentiments were echoed in a panel discussion organized by Black women advocates on April 26 to examine the cause and effects of human trafficking in California’s Black communities. The virtual event was hosted by the Forgotten Children, Inc, a faith-based nonprofit that advocates for survivors and victims of human trafficking through anti-trafficking campaigns and initiatives.

Panelists shared the psychological impact of sexual exploitation on youth and children in the long term.

Author and educator Dr. Stephany Powell shared statistics and information revealing that African American women and girls are the most trafficked nationwide.

Powell, who serves as the senior advisor on law enforcement and policy at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation said that national data indicates that sex trade survivors are disproportionately women of color. She stated that male survivors often go unnoticed because boys rarely report trafficked crimes.

Powell said that decriminalizing prostitution in California could increase human trafficking. She argued that Senate Bill 357, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), which was signed into law in 2022 and legalized loitering for prostitution, caused a surge in street-level prostitution.

Panelist and psychologist Dr. Gloria Morrow shared opposing views on decriminalizing prostitution. She said that decriminalizing prostitution could help survivors gain access to state resources and support.

Despite opposing views, Powell and Morrow agree that the Black community needs resources and educational programs to address human trafficking.