Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Sunday, July 26, 2015
“Realistic” Opportunities
On June 10, 2015, David Harrison wrote an article in the Wall Street Journal explaining that there were currently 5.4 million job openings in this country according to statistics gathered by the Labor Department’s latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Study. In prison, a lot of guys complain about not being able to find occupation upon there release; however, they do not invest the time into assertively pursuing the vocational certifications that are available within the institutions that they are housed in.
U.S. builders can’t find enough carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other craftsmen for a growing pipeline of work according to an article wrote by Jeffrey Sparshott in the Wall Street Journal(Skills Gap Hammers Builders, Jeffrey Sparshott, Wall Street Journal, 6-10-15). Oftentimes I encounter guys in prison that are naturally gifted with their hands with fixing and building things. Nonetheless, most prisoners are more concerned with learning about stocks, bonds, and real estate, even though the majority of them do not have enough cash or financial education to invest into those areas.
We have to do a better job of informing prisoners about the “realistic” opportunities that are awaiting them in the vocational fields of employment. Becoming an independent stock broker or real estate baron is possible but you have to work, earn, and save up the money to be able to invest anything.
Citizens in society must also become more active in assuring that prisoners are more aware of the reality of the labor market and assisting inmates with accessing effective re-entry resources before and after their release. If our citizenry continues to neglect this issue, it will perpetuate the current mass incarceration cycle which is not only a waste of human capital for our nation but also a public safety factor when you consider the higher probability for an ex-felon to victimize someone through committing a violent or financial crime to survive in society.
Together, we can make our criminal justice system more humane, more effective with rehabilitating those in its custody, and more fair to where equity is administered without any racial biased implementation of laws and policies. Our President has taken the first step to become the first sitting Commander-In-Chief to visit a federal prison. Now we must all do our part to correct a pandemic in our culture where we only represent 5% of the world population but we account for over 25% of the global prison populace.
Halim Flowers
U.S. builders can’t find enough carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other craftsmen for a growing pipeline of work according to an article wrote by Jeffrey Sparshott in the Wall Street Journal(Skills Gap Hammers Builders, Jeffrey Sparshott, Wall Street Journal, 6-10-15). Oftentimes I encounter guys in prison that are naturally gifted with their hands with fixing and building things. Nonetheless, most prisoners are more concerned with learning about stocks, bonds, and real estate, even though the majority of them do not have enough cash or financial education to invest into those areas.
We have to do a better job of informing prisoners about the “realistic” opportunities that are awaiting them in the vocational fields of employment. Becoming an independent stock broker or real estate baron is possible but you have to work, earn, and save up the money to be able to invest anything.
Citizens in society must also become more active in assuring that prisoners are more aware of the reality of the labor market and assisting inmates with accessing effective re-entry resources before and after their release. If our citizenry continues to neglect this issue, it will perpetuate the current mass incarceration cycle which is not only a waste of human capital for our nation but also a public safety factor when you consider the higher probability for an ex-felon to victimize someone through committing a violent or financial crime to survive in society.
Together, we can make our criminal justice system more humane, more effective with rehabilitating those in its custody, and more fair to where equity is administered without any racial biased implementation of laws and policies. Our President has taken the first step to become the first sitting Commander-In-Chief to visit a federal prison. Now we must all do our part to correct a pandemic in our culture where we only represent 5% of the world population but we account for over 25% of the global prison populace.
Halim Flowers
Saturday, June 27, 2015
“The Elders Coroner.”
“The Elders Coroner.”
From the Elders Corner: Greetings Love one. My name is Eugene Wilson, I am presently incarcerated in the United States Penitentiary and have been for the last 23 years, on a 47 year sentence. My case involved 3.4 grams of crack and a gun. One might think that’s a great deal of time for such a small amount of drugs, but that’s not the reason for my writing………. Today I would like to acquaint myself with you so that you may get a better feel for who I am, why I am, for the reasons that I am. I don’t want you to dwell so much on my situation, for this is not what defines who I am. However it has proven to reveal the greatness that I am capable of. It was here where I became the Adviser of the M.E.N.S.T.O.P. Program. A position from it’s inception I haven’t taken lightly. Because I know when the young looks towards a elder to ask of his guidance especially in this day and Time) to be a Leader, guider and adviser, it’s not the asker that is asking it’s the Universe, God, Nature, Or whatever you may or may not believe in that is using that individual to show the need of you to solidify you with the “Universal” need for you. So I was not only profoundly honored when I was ask by D.J. (Demond Jackson) to take the position as the advisor of the M.E.N S.T.O.P. I knew that it was the Universe way of Calling me to do the work of that “It” had Fashioned me to do….. So, I am deeply honored to present to you “The Elders Coroner.” Where I will bring to you each month “Knowledge” from the elder, “Not Wisdom,” but “KNOWLEDGE”. Wisdom only comes out of the performance of Knowledge. There Forth I can not give you “wisdom” you must give wisdom to yourself by the big use of the knowledge that is given to you “OR” experience by you. Wisdom is the acting out of that Knowledge. This not only shows the wisdom you have obtained through the knowledge your receive, but it will also show that you have the understanding of it. Because you can only “Know,” that you “Know” what you “Know”, when you you’re “WISE” enough to “ACT OUT” what you KNOW. Maybe this is why they say. “Seek Wisdom, knowledge and understanding. But ABOVE “ALL” THINGS, SEEK UNDERSTANDING!! ………… Welcome to “The Elders Corner”
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
HealthWealth, Inc. Blog Entry 05-31-15
HealthWealth, Inc. Blog Entry 05-31-15
Most people in prison have operated criminal enterprises while they were in society. Some offenders even ran legitimate establishments when they were in the free world. Many people, such as Catherine Rohr who founded Defy Ventures as an incubator for ex-offender entrepreneurs, believe that criminals possess the same mentality as corporate executives but they are applying their entrepreneurial and management skills in illegal endeavors.
We are aware that the current labor market and its employers are biased towards hiring people with felon backgrounds and criminal history. Many state and local legislatures throughout America are currently introducing bills to remove the felon box from job applications and other regulatory obstacles that prevent returning citizens from obtaining licenses to earn a living through various vocational trades that they earned certifications for while they were in prison. However, I advocate for inmates in prison to embrace the mindset of returning to society to “create jobs” instead of only looking for employment.
In a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal on May 26, 2015, professors Dr. Rebel Cole and Dr. Tatyana Sokolyk wrote about how there is a current crises amongst many entrepreneurs neglecting to apply for bank loans because they think that they will not be approved. Utilizing statistics from the Federal Reserve Surveys of Small Business Finances from the years of 1993-2003, and from the World Bank data covering 80 countries during the time span of 2006-2014, the professors averred that small companies are letting fear of rejection keep them from applying– and getting — bank loans. They found that two out of three firms need credit, yet 40% of the companies that needed credit were discouraged from even applying for it. Furthermore, it was discovered that many of those same small businesses could have gotten loans only if they had tried.
The article highlighted how with such a high percentage of small businesses need credit, but failing to apply for it, small businesses and entrepreneurs are leaving billions of dollars on the financing table. Getting discouraged entrepreneurs to apply for loans will reduce the number of credit-constrained small firms, which would lead to faster economic growth and more jobs.
The article also stated that startups that receive bank loans in the company’s name have a 25% probability of surviving the first three years than those small firms that get bank loans in the owner’s name. The professors further explained that bankers keep in touch with startups that obtain loans in the firm’s name instead of the owner’s name to ensure that the loans stay current and to provide counseling to borrowers that run into difficulties.
I write this blog entry to illustrate how even entrepreneurs in society are not educated thoroughly about the matters of financing their enterprises. Therefore, as prisoners, we must invest our time capital into learning how to obtain financing for our business ideas. Almost 80% of the people serving time in prison say that they want to start their own business when they return to society. Nonetheless, almost none of them are certain as to how they will obtain the money and capital to operate their ventures profitably. Under capitalization and a lack of debt financing is what causes most self enterprises to fail. We now know that there are “billions of dollars” out there on the table for our ventures, now lets learn how to get it the “right” way to help build the global economy.
Halim Flowers
Criminal.U/OneNationDC/ConvictSoapboxhttp://convictsoapbox.com/2015/06/01/healthwealth-inc-blog-entry-05-31-15/
We are aware that the current labor market and its employers are biased towards hiring people with felon backgrounds and criminal history. Many state and local legislatures throughout America are currently introducing bills to remove the felon box from job applications and other regulatory obstacles that prevent returning citizens from obtaining licenses to earn a living through various vocational trades that they earned certifications for while they were in prison. However, I advocate for inmates in prison to embrace the mindset of returning to society to “create jobs” instead of only looking for employment.
In a recent article published in the Wall Street Journal on May 26, 2015, professors Dr. Rebel Cole and Dr. Tatyana Sokolyk wrote about how there is a current crises amongst many entrepreneurs neglecting to apply for bank loans because they think that they will not be approved. Utilizing statistics from the Federal Reserve Surveys of Small Business Finances from the years of 1993-2003, and from the World Bank data covering 80 countries during the time span of 2006-2014, the professors averred that small companies are letting fear of rejection keep them from applying– and getting — bank loans. They found that two out of three firms need credit, yet 40% of the companies that needed credit were discouraged from even applying for it. Furthermore, it was discovered that many of those same small businesses could have gotten loans only if they had tried.
The article highlighted how with such a high percentage of small businesses need credit, but failing to apply for it, small businesses and entrepreneurs are leaving billions of dollars on the financing table. Getting discouraged entrepreneurs to apply for loans will reduce the number of credit-constrained small firms, which would lead to faster economic growth and more jobs.
The article also stated that startups that receive bank loans in the company’s name have a 25% probability of surviving the first three years than those small firms that get bank loans in the owner’s name. The professors further explained that bankers keep in touch with startups that obtain loans in the firm’s name instead of the owner’s name to ensure that the loans stay current and to provide counseling to borrowers that run into difficulties.
I write this blog entry to illustrate how even entrepreneurs in society are not educated thoroughly about the matters of financing their enterprises. Therefore, as prisoners, we must invest our time capital into learning how to obtain financing for our business ideas. Almost 80% of the people serving time in prison say that they want to start their own business when they return to society. Nonetheless, almost none of them are certain as to how they will obtain the money and capital to operate their ventures profitably. Under capitalization and a lack of debt financing is what causes most self enterprises to fail. We now know that there are “billions of dollars” out there on the table for our ventures, now lets learn how to get it the “right” way to help build the global economy.
Halim Flowers
Criminal.U/OneNationDC/ConvictSoapboxhttp://convictsoapbox.com/2015/06/01/healthwealth-inc-blog-entry-05-31-15/
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Don’t believe the hype!
Don’t believe the hype!
by Demond A. Jackson
http://convictsoapbox.com/2015/03/18/dont-believe-the-hype/
Hey… Young World, I know your tired of your parents and school teachers always running up on you with the “Do the right thing” speech, drilling in your head that education is the key and the only place crime will lead you is either in prison or a early grave. Yet the media is showing you example of people who look like you, think like you, who wants and likes the same things as you. Living the life of luxury and the majority of these people aren’t college graduates. Kim Kardashian, Little Wayne and Jay Z made something out of nothing. If they can do it why can’t you?
If your growing up in the concrete jungle were drugs and gang affiliation is the norm… all one has to do is watch the block for a while and you’ll see your local hood star, rolling down the street on 22′, beat pounding, having all the things a ghetto child could desire…”Money, Power and Respect.” If he or she can do it why can’t you?
Let’s not forget about the “Urban Robinhood”, who steals from the weak and prey’s on the poor. He’s a gangster and as long as there’s a buster on the block he will never go hungry. Surely your not scared… so if he can do it why can’t you?
There’s nothing new under the sun and the reality is… you can do anything any one else can do, but do you really want to deal with the truth that comes along with these individuals live’s? Kim, Wayne and Jay-Z lives’ are the equivalent of playing a Lotto ticket, and chances are a million to one that you will acquire success in the same manner they did.
While you pay top dollar to hear and view their live’s from the comfort of your home… best believe the price they have paid and all they have sacrificed to stay where they are… is more than a headache. If they told you the real about their circumstances, chances are they would say “I’m not sure all the success in the world is worth the problem that come with it.” Is money and fame worth finding out your friends aren’t your friends, your mistakes come with the world judging you and privacy is no longer a luxury?
Trust me I’ve lived the ghetto fabulous life of a hoodstar. I’ve had money to burn, owned my own record label, had the power and respect. Yet the wins never out weighed the losses. I’ve spent more years in prison then I have in the free world, all the friends I had when I was home are no longer around, the same people who respected me dishonored me and all the money in the world can’t buy me freedom.
Is money, power and respect worth spending the rest of your life in prison? Is it worth forgetting what it feels like to hug your Momma, kiss the one you love and spend time with your family? Is doing the things rappers rap about worth wondering if you have to kill or be killed everyday, looking over your shoulder and wondering if karma is coming back to bite you in the ass!
Young World “Don’t believe the hype!!!” The bottle poppers, and hood money getters are just a number when the cops come knocking… The man you once knew most likely is a shell of the man he was on the streets behind these walls. His hair most likely has fallen out he’s constantly stressing about his girl, his kids and all the people who use to be his friends.
Don’t believe the hype the hood Don you want to be like, is paying a prison Parana rent to keep some of his commissary, Your gangster ass boyfriend now has a boyfriend…. The good life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Therefore I want you to know Young world… Don’t believe the hype. Because freedom and peace of mind is a commodity to the hood dude in prison that’s worth way more than gold. So listen to your family and the people in the world who telling you to do right… and Don’t believe the hype!!!!
by Demond A. Jackson
http://convictsoapbox.com/2015/03/18/dont-believe-the-hype/
Hey… Young World, I know your tired of your parents and school teachers always running up on you with the “Do the right thing” speech, drilling in your head that education is the key and the only place crime will lead you is either in prison or a early grave. Yet the media is showing you example of people who look like you, think like you, who wants and likes the same things as you. Living the life of luxury and the majority of these people aren’t college graduates. Kim Kardashian, Little Wayne and Jay Z made something out of nothing. If they can do it why can’t you?
If your growing up in the concrete jungle were drugs and gang affiliation is the norm… all one has to do is watch the block for a while and you’ll see your local hood star, rolling down the street on 22′, beat pounding, having all the things a ghetto child could desire…”Money, Power and Respect.” If he or she can do it why can’t you?
Let’s not forget about the “Urban Robinhood”, who steals from the weak and prey’s on the poor. He’s a gangster and as long as there’s a buster on the block he will never go hungry. Surely your not scared… so if he can do it why can’t you?
There’s nothing new under the sun and the reality is… you can do anything any one else can do, but do you really want to deal with the truth that comes along with these individuals live’s? Kim, Wayne and Jay-Z lives’ are the equivalent of playing a Lotto ticket, and chances are a million to one that you will acquire success in the same manner they did.
While you pay top dollar to hear and view their live’s from the comfort of your home… best believe the price they have paid and all they have sacrificed to stay where they are… is more than a headache. If they told you the real about their circumstances, chances are they would say “I’m not sure all the success in the world is worth the problem that come with it.” Is money and fame worth finding out your friends aren’t your friends, your mistakes come with the world judging you and privacy is no longer a luxury?
Trust me I’ve lived the ghetto fabulous life of a hoodstar. I’ve had money to burn, owned my own record label, had the power and respect. Yet the wins never out weighed the losses. I’ve spent more years in prison then I have in the free world, all the friends I had when I was home are no longer around, the same people who respected me dishonored me and all the money in the world can’t buy me freedom.
Is money, power and respect worth spending the rest of your life in prison? Is it worth forgetting what it feels like to hug your Momma, kiss the one you love and spend time with your family? Is doing the things rappers rap about worth wondering if you have to kill or be killed everyday, looking over your shoulder and wondering if karma is coming back to bite you in the ass!
Young World “Don’t believe the hype!!!” The bottle poppers, and hood money getters are just a number when the cops come knocking… The man you once knew most likely is a shell of the man he was on the streets behind these walls. His hair most likely has fallen out he’s constantly stressing about his girl, his kids and all the people who use to be his friends.
Don’t believe the hype the hood Don you want to be like, is paying a prison Parana rent to keep some of his commissary, Your gangster ass boyfriend now has a boyfriend…. The good life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. Therefore I want you to know Young world… Don’t believe the hype. Because freedom and peace of mind is a commodity to the hood dude in prison that’s worth way more than gold. So listen to your family and the people in the world who telling you to do right… and Don’t believe the hype!!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
Love’s In Need Of Love Today
When we’ve reach a point
Where those that we love the most
Hurt us the most
And cause us the most pain
Then we must know
That love’s in need of love today
Just to honor and celebrate our love
We are expected to extend an expensive gift
For a love that’s priceless
Love is in need of a face lift
When love becomes so obscene
That we find security in love
Based on Ivy League degrees
And trust in financial stability
Love is in a Great Recession obviously
For the love of God and religion
A person commits suicide
To seek martyrdom by killing
Innocent women and children
Obviously love in need of healing
I want to proclaim
“I love you!”
But I’m afraid to say
“I love you!”
Because love’s in need of love today…….
(c)Copyrights 2015 by Halim A. Flowers – Inspired by Stevie Wonder – Excerpt from “The Lost Poems”
When we’ve reach a point
Where those that we love the most
Hurt us the most
And cause us the most pain
Then we must know
That love’s in need of love today
Just to honor and celebrate our love
We are expected to extend an expensive gift
For a love that’s priceless
Love is in need of a face lift
When love becomes so obscene
That we find security in love
Based on Ivy League degrees
And trust in financial stability
Love is in a Great Recession obviously
For the love of God and religion
A person commits suicide
To seek martyrdom by killing
Innocent women and children
Obviously love in need of healing
I want to proclaim
“I love you!”
But I’m afraid to say
“I love you!”
Because love’s in need of love today…….
(c)Copyrights 2015 by Halim A. Flowers – Inspired by Stevie Wonder – Excerpt from “The Lost Poems”
Check out more great articles on -
http://convictsoapbox.com/2015/05/10/loves-in-need-of-love-today/
Friday, May 15, 2015
Just speaking my mind…
Just speaking my mind…
http://convictsoapbox.com/2015/04/26/just-speaking-my-mind/
By Demond A. Jackson
“God so love the world that he sacrifice his only begotten son..”
If that’s not love… then I don’t know what else to call it. God creates a world, and his love for that creation is so great. That he’s willing to sacrificing his son life so that world can flourish and grow. For some strange reason my analytical mind can’t help but try to figure out God’s reasoning for this decision. One thing for sure this world and all that walks, crawl, flies, swim and lives on it was worthy of the child that was deem the messiah.
That being said, was God teaching mankind through his own unselfish act that no man life is unworthy of sacrifice when it come to the betterment of the world? I personal believer in a higher power. I see the universe and everything in it as a creation of pure perfection of a divine mind. Even with all the unexplainable wonders in the universe at the end of the day man come to discover that there is a logical purpose for all things.
As I continue to grow mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically my current circumstance becomes less and less a major hurdle for me. (I’m not saying getting out of prison isn’t my #1 priority.) What I am saying is each day that I wake up, blessed to be alive, in the darkness of a four cornered room, while I sit patiently waiting for my door to be unlocked, preparing myself for the familiar unexpected event that take place in prison I have one thought on my mind; ” I must maintain and instill peace amongst men today.” I’ve come to the understanding that this is my purpose.. no matter how hard I try to avoid it, ignore it and relinquish it. It just keeps fallen in my lap.
The heaven know there’s days I wish I could be the inconsiderate, immoral child of God whom path seems far more easier than mine. Then suddenly I hear a voice in my head saying: “God sacrificed his only begotten son, surely your time and consideration is worth sacrificing!”
Before I started writing this composition today, hurt and frustration was trying to consume me, because there’s nothing I want do for the people I love and the thought of their constant inability to do the same for me was bothering. But like clock work that voice said: “I gave my only begotten son and look how so many refuse to sacrifice their selfish desires to do as ‘I WILL’ including you!”
In an instant my hurt and frustrations were removed. How could I be mad! The majority of the world is failing to sacrifice their time and consideration for God. Yet God so loves this world, that he continues to sacrifice the lives of men and women who’s purpose on this earth is to uplift mankind, spread peace and be the voice of God even when the majority of mankind fails to do the same. A few days ago a stranger stop me on the yard and said:
” D-jay, you are one of the realest dudes I’ve met in the B.O.P.” I was caught off guard.
“Why”
“I ain’t going to tell why but I saw you do something and couldn’t help but say to myself. that’s a real dude right there.”
A week ago I needed some stamps to mail off a hobby project and without me asking my celli step in the room and handed me a book of stamps. I’m reminded of these tokens of consideration as I write, making me see that I am blessed to be alive and I should never question God’s plan, therefore I’m just speaking my mind.
Much love and respect to you all…
http://convictsoapbox.com/2015/04/26/just-speaking-my-mind/
By Demond A. Jackson
“God so love the world that he sacrifice his only begotten son..”
If that’s not love… then I don’t know what else to call it. God creates a world, and his love for that creation is so great. That he’s willing to sacrificing his son life so that world can flourish and grow. For some strange reason my analytical mind can’t help but try to figure out God’s reasoning for this decision. One thing for sure this world and all that walks, crawl, flies, swim and lives on it was worthy of the child that was deem the messiah.
That being said, was God teaching mankind through his own unselfish act that no man life is unworthy of sacrifice when it come to the betterment of the world? I personal believer in a higher power. I see the universe and everything in it as a creation of pure perfection of a divine mind. Even with all the unexplainable wonders in the universe at the end of the day man come to discover that there is a logical purpose for all things.
As I continue to grow mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically my current circumstance becomes less and less a major hurdle for me. (I’m not saying getting out of prison isn’t my #1 priority.) What I am saying is each day that I wake up, blessed to be alive, in the darkness of a four cornered room, while I sit patiently waiting for my door to be unlocked, preparing myself for the familiar unexpected event that take place in prison I have one thought on my mind; ” I must maintain and instill peace amongst men today.” I’ve come to the understanding that this is my purpose.. no matter how hard I try to avoid it, ignore it and relinquish it. It just keeps fallen in my lap.
The heaven know there’s days I wish I could be the inconsiderate, immoral child of God whom path seems far more easier than mine. Then suddenly I hear a voice in my head saying: “God sacrificed his only begotten son, surely your time and consideration is worth sacrificing!”
Before I started writing this composition today, hurt and frustration was trying to consume me, because there’s nothing I want do for the people I love and the thought of their constant inability to do the same for me was bothering. But like clock work that voice said: “I gave my only begotten son and look how so many refuse to sacrifice their selfish desires to do as ‘I WILL’ including you!”
In an instant my hurt and frustrations were removed. How could I be mad! The majority of the world is failing to sacrifice their time and consideration for God. Yet God so loves this world, that he continues to sacrifice the lives of men and women who’s purpose on this earth is to uplift mankind, spread peace and be the voice of God even when the majority of mankind fails to do the same. A few days ago a stranger stop me on the yard and said:
” D-jay, you are one of the realest dudes I’ve met in the B.O.P.” I was caught off guard.
“Why”
“I ain’t going to tell why but I saw you do something and couldn’t help but say to myself. that’s a real dude right there.”
A week ago I needed some stamps to mail off a hobby project and without me asking my celli step in the room and handed me a book of stamps. I’m reminded of these tokens of consideration as I write, making me see that I am blessed to be alive and I should never question God’s plan, therefore I’m just speaking my mind.
Much love and respect to you all…
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)