To my friends who reach farther than the rule book suggests I commend you
You have chosen to laugh off no’s and let your desires grow
Knowledge over everything is the drum beating to your life’s direction
Placing you in a state of perpetual development
Others opinions on your dreams fall short because they’re irrelevant
You my friend have found purpose
Each step you take is intentional
Books you read intentional
Words you speak intentional
Bricks being placed in the castle of your potential
The oppression you face is extra weight meant to build strength and put you in the place to strive when all others crumble
When they say “no” accept it as a challenge
Creativity is your comparative advantage
If you want it bad enough you will find a way
To my friends who’ve been displaced by ridiculous sentences absorb this message it’s different than the rest of them
There is hope
But only if you have faith
Accompanied by courage to take what you already have and become something great
Adversity is our biggest asset
And once you understand that
You have taken back your power.
If you are interested in reading more of Noah's poems, he has written his first book of poetry, Morse Code Kisses, available online.
“We know young parents can be great parents,” says Insights Teen Parent Services Director, Tiffany Tucker. Tiffany has been the Program Director since Insights joined Janus in 2008. We talked with Tiffany to find out more about Insights’ Programs.
Please join us on Wednesday, October 17, 2018 to view the documentary, "Perception: From Prison to Purpose" featuring former Hope Partnership youth, Noah Schultz. Noah, a graduate of the Hope Partnership program, served 7.5 years in the custody of the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA). According to Noah, the film shows that any kid is capable of committing a crime. "Usually a decision to commit a crime is a manifestation of a lot of hurt from one’s past. By sharing my own story, I tried to help viewers understand how these kids end up in correctional facilities. Given the right resources, they can change their trajectory."
Over a year ago, the idea of creating a new and unique residential and re-entry program for LGBTQ youth began to take root. With the help of our partners from the Oregon Youth Authority (OYA) and the countless hours staff dedicated to purchasing and updating a residence, the Rivera House was born. Today, the Rivera House is fully staffed and houses up to nine residents who are transitioning from the custody of OYA to independence. The goal of the program is to prepare youth leaving incarceration to become law-abiding, successful members of the community while addressing the special needs of LGBTQ youth. We spoke to the Rivera House Program Director, Deven Edgerton to share his thoughts about the program on this one-year anniversary.