A New Attitude
In a few short years, Adrian ("A.J") Brooks, 17, has gained a whole new outlook on his life, his community, and the police officers whose job it is to protect both.
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, with African-American and Puerto Rican parents, he remembers dealing drugs and running with gangs from age 11 until his family moved to Boston three years ago. Although never in trouble with the law, he still had the same dislike and disrespect for the police as many of his peers did.
That was before he discovered Youth and Police Partnership (YPP).
"This program has changed my whole perspective," said A.J., a reserved but amiable and articulate young man who's not afraid to lead YPP sessions or offer a heartfelt opening prayer. "I understand a lot of what the police have to deal with now, and my relationship with the officers who work with our program is outstanding. They've helped me a lot."
The eleventh-grader is president of his church youth group and thinks he might go to seminary someday. "I've always felt close to the Lord," he says, "even when I was running the streets."
For now, he wants to do what he can to improve his neighborhood around the Cooper Community Center.
"I'm very concerned," he says. "It has quieted down some since all the shootings and fatalities a few years ago, but this neighborhood still could be so much better."
A.J. sees a woeful lack of attention by adults to the needs of youth. "People think the best policy is just to ignore us," he says. "A lot of youth just don't feel people care about them. I want to change that if I can. This program has made me want to make a difference."
This is just one of the stories in Breaking Walls, Building Bridges,
a new publication that confronts violence in the United States through
Mission Outreach. It is written by John W. Coleman, Jr. The book
is available through the Service Center for $3.00 plus shipping and
handling.
Breaking Walls, Building Bridges is a resource chock-full of insight and inspiration--all for only $3.00, plus shipping and handling.
Just complete the form and send or call your order in today.