By Susan Richardson, April 16 2014
Last week, Reclaiming Futures fellows from across the country gathered in New Orleans to share experiences, learn together, and get inspired all over again. For those who were unable to attend, see below for highlights, including an inspiring interview with Father Greg Boyle of Homeboy Industries.
Father Greg Boyle on why he Supports Reclaiming Futures
Our two efforts and movements are completely aligned. We're the largest gang intervention rehab reentry program in the country, so gang members and folks who have been in the system, felons between the ages of 14 and 50 come through our doors. It's a community that's therapeutic, engages in attachment repair, is interested in healing and moving people toward exactly a reclaiming of their own futures.
Our program is not for those who need help; it's for those who want it. That's the only way rehab works. It never works with somebody who's dragged and forced.
But once they walk through the doors it's ticker tape parade and streamers so that they feel welcomed, accepted, not judged. We help them re-imagine their futures because gang violence is a lethal absence of hope. It's an inability to conjure up an image of what tomorrow looks like, which is exactly in line with what Reclaiming Futures is all about.
#rfutures14 pic.twitter.com/Xuir5W8JcU
— Brittini Long (@longred3316) April 10, 2014
Getting Down to Business
Excited to be apart of the Reclaiming Futures movement which is now 39 sites in 18 states #RFutures14
— KateBReynolds Trust (@KateBReynolds) April 9, 2014
What a great session. Family is so important. A BIG thanks to Tabitha and Debbie from Montgomery Co #rfutures14 pic.twitter.com/ANExuLYaoa
— Eric Shafer (@EJShaf) April 9, 2014
Saving a Little Time for Fun
Christa just taught us how to eat crawfish. And we had a crawfish puppet show, lol. #rfutures14 pic.twitter.com/TMbl5Ue98t
— Brittini Long (@longred3316) April 10, 2014
A Successful Leadership Institute
Thank you for a great conference and the inspiration to continue on with our mission! #RFutures14
— Tara Barnard (@TarabTara) April 11, 2014
Great national meeting of @RFutures in #NOLA. Happy to be a part of such an inspiring group of people! #rfutures14
— Jessica Williams (@JessicaJoEllen) April 11, 2014
Susan Richardson is national executive director for Reclaiming Futures. Formerly, she was a senior program officer in the health care division of the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in North Carolina, where she led a three-year effort involving the state's juvenile justice and treatment leaders to adopt the Reclaiming Futures model by juvenile courts in six North Carolina counties. She received her B.S. in Public Health, Health Policy and Administration, from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Updated: April 16 2014