Summer Teen Leadership Camp Journal 2015 composed by Betty Ambrose, UPI Education BoA, U-Team and partner.
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Summer Teen Leadership Camp Journal 2015
1. 2ND ANNUAL SUMMER TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP
Souvenir Journal
South Phoenix Youth Center
5245 S. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85040
June 1, 2015 – July 24, 2015
UPI Education
Life Skills Solutions™
2. 1849 East Lynx Place
Chandler , Arizona 85249
(310) 597-8727
Website: www.upieducation.org
“Unleashing The Power Inside”
4. Mission Statement
The mission of UPI Education Life Skills Solutions, is to
promote the education, well-being, good character and
leadership development of youth and teens.
Vision Statement
The vision of UPI Education, is to ensure that every young
person has the opportunity to unleash the power inside
themselves and become self-assured, educated citizens and
successful role models for their peers and future
generations of our global community.
UPI MISSION ANDVISION
STATEMENTS
5. CAMP OVERVIEW
The UPI Annual Summer Teen Leadership Camp provides a
structured environment by which UPI facilitators engage the
camp Cadets, in creating a sharing, caring, high energy and
competitive atmosphere for learning. The camp sessions
allow Cadets to internalize universally accepted laws of
successful achievement and foundational life skills; within
the framework of four (4) days per week, four (4) hours per
day, during an eight (8) consecutive week period.
Facilitators/Mentors
The Teen Leadership camp facilitators were pivotal to each
Cadet’s overall camp experience by carefully and
consistently incorporating their personal experiences and
life stories that corroborated the learning objectives
outlined in the curriculum.
6. 10–LAWS
OFSUCCESSFULACHIEVEMENT
The Law of Creativity
Every advance in human life begins with an idea in the mind of one person.
The Law of Self Control
You feel positive about yourself when you feel you are in control of your own
life. You need to understand that change is inevitable. Controlled changes
lead inevitably to greater achievement. To take control of your life you must
begin by taking control of your mind.
The Law of Responsibility
You are completely responsible for everything you become and achieve.
The Law of Habit (Good vs. Bad)
Virtually everything you do is automatic. Good habits are hard to form but
easy to live with. Bad habits are easy to form but hard to live with.
The Law of Cause and Effect
We live in an orderly universe in which everything happens for a reason.
There are no accidents everything is cause and effect.
The Law of Applied Effort
All things are amenable to hard work. All great success is preceded by a
long period of hard work in a single direction, toward a clearly defined
purpose. The harder you work, the luckier you get. To achieve more than
average you must work longer and harder than average.
The Law of Decision
Every great leap forward in life is preceded by a clear decision, that leads to
action. Act boldly and unseen forces will come to your aid. Act as if it were
impossible to fail, and it shall be. Just do it.
The Law of Forced Efficiency
The more things you have to do in a limited space of time, the more you will
be forced to work efficiently on your most important tasks. There will never
be enough time to do everything you want to do. You must determine the
most valuable use of your time at any given moment.
The Law of Attraction
As a living magnet, you inevitably attract people, events and circumstances
into your life that harmonize with your dominant thoughts. This is the
“granddaddy” law from which all other laws in every field flow. It has been called
the “Law of Sowing and Reaping,” the “Law of Action and Reaction,” the “Law of
Compensation,” and the “Socratic Law”.
The Law of Service
Your rewards in life will always be in direct proportion to the value of your
service to others. All fortunes begin with the sale of personal services. If
you wish to increase the size of your rewards, you must increase the quality
and quantity of your service. Everyone works on commission.
7. 7–LIFESKILLSCOMPETENCIES
Personal Planning & Organization
Home – education - workforce
Advanced Communicator
Activated listener(s) and speaker
Problem Solver
Understanding, applying an effective decision making
process
Self Respect
Courtesy and Respect for others
Self Motivation
If it is to be, then it is up to me
Financial Literacy
From paying bills to saving and investing
9. FACILITATORS
Mr. Terry Arnel Clark, Jr.
Mr. Raheem De’Angelo
Brother Ghazi Hamze Muhammad
Mr. Hank Wilson
Mr. Billy Ramsey
Mr. Sebastian Payton, MAED-ECN
10. Mr. Terry Arnel Clark Jr.
Terry Arnel Clark Jr. is currently the Founder and Executive Director of Tomorrow’s
Leaders Education and Enrichment Consultation Firm. Mr. Clark received his Bachelor’s
Degree from Arizona State University in Communication Studies and soon followed
with a Master’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership.
Mr. Clark has professionally worked closely with youth and young adults for over
eighteen years. His other business endeavors include part owner and operator of
Desert Heights Academy. Desert Heights Academy is a private alternative school in
Phoenix that serves special education K-12 students in the metropolitan Phoenix area.
In his role as an Administrator, Program Director and Transitions Director, Mr. Clark was
responsible for overseeing the day to day operations of the organization. He
developed various academic, transition, vocation and outreach programs for those
students that participate in the program. This program is designed to create a pathway
to success for students by teaching them communication skills, independence, social
and job related skills that will promote a successful transition back to their home
school or to a post-secondary endeavor.
Mr. Clark’s other business endeavors include Desert Breeze transportation. Desert
Breeze provides transportation for schools, youth and their families throughout the
Phoenix metropolitan area. He also co-owned a barbershop and hair salon.
Mr. Clark has served on the Desert Bridge social service non-profit board of directors.
He is also an established author, writing the Power of Choice three series curriculum
and workbook focusing on Character Education, Leadership Development and
Career/Transition programing. Mr. Clark has also taught various courses for Maricopa
Community Colleges as an Adjunct Faculty for eight years.
11. Mr. Raheem De’Angelo
Raheem De ’Angelo is a resident of Arizona. He is well known for his
accomplishment in the Community Theater and has performed as a vocalist at
numerous venues. He served in the United States Navy as an Enlisted Religious
Program Specialist.
Teaching and healing hearts and minds is a strong passion for Mr. De’Angelo. He
aspires to become certified as a Life Coach and Motivational Speaker in the near
future using his charisma and personality to engage the world and help to catapult
every individual he encounters into their destinies and maintain a healthy spiritual
balance.
12. Mr. Ghazi Hamza Muhammad
Ghazi Hamza Muhammad is a professional Life Coach and Motivational Speaker. He is
the founder and CEO of Your Path Your Destiny a team of coaches and mentors
working to assist clients in embracing their own uniqueness and ultimately realizing
the purpose of their existence.
Mr. Muhammad has over 20 years of both extensive and intensive training and
practical experiences in working with the most hard to reach youth population;
young Black males.
He has been featured in newspaper articles, radio interviews and blog talk radio
programs. He is very passionate and often electrifies his audiences with what he calls
his “out of the box” approach.
Currently, Mr. Muhammad is pursuing a degree in Social Work and will release his
first book “13 Keys To Unleashing The Power To Succeed In Our Boys” in the fall of
2015.
Mr. Muhammad is a proud husband and father of 9 children.
13. Sebastian Payton, MAED-ECN
Sebastian Payton is a native of South Phoenix, Arizona. After attending high school at
North and Maryvale, where he was a basketball and track standout, Mr. Payton played
basketball at Yavapai and Gordon Colleges. He continued his education at Ottawa
University and the University of Phoenix.
His teaching and coaching career began at his childhood alma mater, John R. Davis
Elementary school. After two years, Mr. Payton moved to Tomahawk Elementary
school as a first and second grade teacher, where he became a fixture in the
community. Mr. Payton was known as a mentor, coach, behaviorist and an activist.
After 10 years, he moved to teach sixth grade at Estrella Middle school. Mr. Payton
published Fourth Grade, an autobiographical account of his career, in 2010.
Mr. Payton has trained and scouted collegiate and professional athletes. He has
coached junior and senior high school students in football, basketball and track.
Additionally, he was a member of many different organizations, including Parks and
Recreation, Maricopa Juvenile Courts, Phoenix Sun’s Night Hoops and 100 Black Men.
Mr. Payton has dedicated his life to the development of young people.
14. Billy “Issim” Ramsey
Billy Ramsey is a professional entertainer and writer. He has studied and performed as a poet,
actor/director, step master, musician, MC and motivational speaker. Issim began stage training at
the age of 8 when he was introduced to the church choir. Still shy and timid at the age of 10 he
began playing the drums for a professional gospel-recording group. Two years later Issim was
introduced to the stage as an actor where he played roles in “Mandela”, Zooman and the Sign.
Future opportunities landed him roles in commercials, educational films, After-school special with
Paul Rodríguez, performances with Stevie Wonder, The Winans, Father M.C., Sister Souljah, Music
Soulchild, Erika Badu, and many more.
Recent accomplishments include 2004 Pan African Film Festival (poetry), Hip-Hop meets Mozart
“Daniel Roumain” (step and spoken word) at ASU Gammage Auditorium, West Side Def Poetry Jam
hosted by ASU West in February 2004, Sizwe Bansi is Dead (acting) with Arizona Lost Boys of Sudan
Center, Peace Network Theater, MLK Celebration (spoken word) and 25th Annual Black Youth
Recognition Conference (spoken word & MC).
Mr. Ramsey is a graduate of University of Michigan with a BA in Communications, minoring in
Psychology. He is a founding member of Black Poet Ventures, LLC a Phoenix based theatrical entity
which is a grant recipient of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and Arizona Commission of the
Arts.
Pressing works include a performance and residency at University of Georgia - Athens Spring of
2015. His past 25 years of serving youth and families is now mirrored in his role of Artistic Director
for BPV, which has given a canvas of expression to over 300 artist in the valley over the last 10
years.
This 2013 recipient of the President Barack Obama Volunteer Service Award takes pride in his
service through collaborations with institutions, human-service organizations, community steak-
holders and community members which have been key in sustaining such an entity as well as,
continuing the creation of relevant artistic staged production while fulfilling communities' needs
for arts programming. Mr. Ramsey is also an arts education provider and operates through the
support of the 21st Century Arts Grant as well as individual and corporate sponsors.
In January, 2015, Mr. Ramsey received the Living the Dream Award presented by the City of
Phoenix Human Relations Commission.
15. Mr. Hank Wilson
Hank Wilson possesses 14 years of experience working with youth ages 5-20 in both the
academic arena, and social programs.
Mr. Wilson is the owner of Hanlea Education Services. Hanlea Education Services is a
multifaceted education company. It partners with schools to provide quality education to
students in the Phoenix Metro area.
The company offers services ranging from tutoring to guest teaching and is currently in the
planning process of a private school for students, grades K-8. The school will be focused on
providing premium education. Hanlea Education Services is a member of the AZ Urban
League. Mr. Wilson received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Kent State University
and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Human Relations.
Mr. Wilson’s background extends outside the classroom, where he has been most active, to
the behavioral health field where he has worked as a Case Manager assisting children with
mental and behavior challenges. He has also served children in the role of Youth Group
Leader at Highland Presbyterian Church (Pennsylvania) and Mill Creek Baptist Church (Ohio).
He also provides volunteer assistance to the youth at organizations such as Lighthouse
Christian Fellowship (AZ), Job’s Daughters (AZ) and DeMolay (AZ).
Mr. Wilson’s previous entrepreneurial endeavors have been the former Owner and Principal
of United Christian Academy, a private school in Youngstown, Ohio where students were not
only challenged academically, but were enrolled in career placement and life skills programs
to enhance their academic experience.
16. INTRODUCTIONOFTHECADETS 1. Smith, Joshua J.
2. Castro Mendoza, Agustin ‘Angel’
3. High, Regginald
4. Lopez, Anthony N.
5. Maldonado, Fabian
6. Muhammad, Rahman F.
7. Muhammad, Rashid A.
8. Riley, Daveon E.
9. Slater, Desmond J.
10. Brown, Chris
Note: At the start of the camp, there were 12
Cadets who came from a group home
operated under the guidance of the
State. Due to unforeseen circumstances,
during the second week of training, the
Cadets were removed from the home by
the State and were sadly and
unbelievably lost to the camp.
17. My name is Joshua Smith.
My Dream in life is to become a designer, video
game maker, painter or sculptor and have an artistic
career. I want to learn computer graphics. These
things are important because I can show my
creativity and joy. It makes me feel accomplished. I
can make it about anything and anyone. Maybe I
can make political cartoons; get my work known
worldwide and become a millionaire. My purpose is
to get people to enjoy creativity.
If I could change one thing I would change how not
to use a war to decide things because I don’t want to
be drafted or be killed in the middle of one. Also, if
there’s a World War III I’d like to be hiding in a nuke
safe bunker or have no wars. One will stand. One
will fall. It’s stupid. Wars mean nothing – you gain
something to loose it all over again. Isis is trying to
take a country. If its so, so other group will want to
take it over and Isis taking the country for
themselves would have been pointless, going
through all their work to be crumbled. War = War
=War = No Survivors.
The story of my trouble began I went into my
cousin’s room to take a toy sword she stole from me
using the guest restroom. She says its hers and I’m
not allowed to use it.
What I learned from it is never mess with her or do
something without asking her and do as she says.
18. My name is Agustin ‘Angel’ Castro Mendoza.
My dream in life is to become a mechanic for
the army. The reason being is that I love
working on cars and love airplanes, so
becoming an Air Force mechanic would be
awesome.
Some of the things I would like changed in the
world are violence and poverty. If gangs and
violence were changed, the world would be
better and everyone would get along. If
poverty was over the world would be a better
place.
The story of my trouble began when I started
hanging out with the wrong people and got
into trouble. Going to jail was trouble to me
because it affected me mentally and physically.
It was hard being in there but I know I learned
something.
What I learned from it is to not hang out with
the wrong people. If you hang out with them
to do wrong, it will get you into trouble. Stay
away from trouble.
19. My name is Regginald High.
My goal is wrestling. I want to do wrestling because
it’s a sport in my family that no one couldn’t achieve.
If I make college I can make a training center.
My fear is failing a class, not making it out of high
school. My home, I want it to be a studio.
My skills: Perseverance, motivation, feeling for the
game.
One thing that I would change is the racism in
sports. People judge sports by its color.
The story of my trouble began when I was a
freshman in high school. I had trouble with
females/girls. I was always distracted by this one
female because she was very beautiful. Her name
was Dymond. She was smart and a good dancer. I
would always talk to her and hang out. The reason
why this was trouble because I would always be
distracted by any girl and that's wrestling I will
always be late or miss days of practice.
What I learned from it is girls are a distraction by the
way you look at them. There will always be a time
when you can date until you pet that goal you can
A&R.
20. My name is Anthony and I want to make a
contribution to my life, family, friends by working,
being trustworthy and not being selfish. My mission
is to become a Police Officer or a Veterinarian and to
be successful.
I can change my voice and sometimes make people
laugh.
I want to have a nice looking car and a big beautiful
house.
I’m afraid of going to jail because I do have a record
and because I don’t want to risk losing my career.
My purpose to be on Earth as life is to live.
21. My name is Fabian Maldonado.
My dream in life is to become a famous actor or a
movie director. This is important to me because I
always wanted to since I was little and I always loved
movies and how they were made.
A special skill that I want to learn is to control fire. I
will live in a big house with my Husky and I’ll have
my Mustang and I’ll be balling with money.
If I could change one thing about the world, it would
be all the violence in the world and all of the
cussing. There is a lot of fighting going on like child
abuse and parents fighting in front of their kids. All
of the kids listening to music that has nothing but
cussing in it. They are using the bad language and it
is not healthy and not safe. The fighting is not safe
and you and a lot of other people get in trouble, if
you are involved.
The story of my trouble began three days before my
birthday when my Dad passed away. I wasn’t sad
because he wasn’t suffering anymore. It also hit me
kinda hard because it was my father. When that
happened my life changed. My grades dropped. My
attitude changed and I wasn’t feeling right.
What I learned from it is to let go and I can still live
my life the way my Dad wanted me to.
22. My name is Rahman Muhammad.
I am interested in becoming a famous a famous
artist. Also opening my own business to help our
people by providing jobs and using profits to buy
land and construct homeless shelters. I want to
learn to become more social and responsible. It is
important to me because I love art and have a
passion for it. Plus I see the potential a business
could have for the community.
If I could change one thing about the world is justice.
I would say justice because I think many have
forgotten about it, with those such as, Mike Brown
and many other who dies at the hands of injustice.
If justice was spread throughout the world life would
be better for us all.
The story of my trouble began when I began
doubting myself when I was younger. I would say
this is one of my troubles because it made me feel as
if I was unable to do things. Due to this I would say I
lost out on many opportunities. Now though I
would say I’ve learned to overcome doubt.
I learned that no matter what the circumstances are
to live and express yourself fully. I am worth it
because I am unique and no one else is like me.
23. My name is Rashid Muhammad.
My Dream in life is to become a geologist and become a
successful property owner. I want to achieve this by going
to college for geology and for real estate. More
specifically, in geology, I want to study volcanology. I want
to get into the real estate business because I have learned
that traveling expands your horizon. You would be able to
experience and learn more about different cultures. I
want to be an international property owner. I would like
to get into the field of volcanology because it’s an
excellent way to travel and scientist still haven’t
discovered everything about volcanos. You could learn
something new everyday.
What I would change about Arizona is the diversity
between Black and Mexican people. Today, we see more
of it but we could see more of it. If Black and Mexicans
unite more we could see better improvement throughout
the community, schools, and neighborhoods. In the areas
that they do work together there is a more comfortable
environment between the two minorities.
The story of my trouble began when I first moved back to
St. Louis. One of the biggest changes I was faced with was
distractions in school. First, it was the females. In the
beginning of the school year, I was getting solely A’s and
B’s. When I started to talk to females, I was highly
distracted. I didn’t know how to balance myself and the
work that I did. Within a couple of months I was getting
C’s and D’s, getting into fights, staying out past curfew and
trying drugs. All because I didn’t know how to balance
myself.
What I learned from it is that some of the things your
friends are wanting you to do isn’t worth it. I have to
learn to balance my time and what I do with myself.
24. My name is Daveon Riley.
My Dream in life is to become someone that young
kids can look up to. I want to have my own Rec.
Center where kids can come and hang out and enjoy
themselves. Growing up we had a lot of cm. Now,
not so many. Having a free place where kids can
come to would make the community happy and also
help kids stay out of trouble or being on the streets.
This is all important to me because all the young kids
are now getting in more trouble or even getting
killed and I want to get this stopped.
If I could change one thing about myself it would be
me being more helpful; less lazy; more motivated to
do things; less picky and being open to more things.
The story of my trouble began when my big sister
was killed and seeing all the men in my life either
selling drugs, gang banging or in and out of jail. So
not having any male role models in my life turned
me on to trouble.
What I learned from it is trying to get fast money or
being in the streets can either lead me to jail or dead
and I don’t want to keep this family curse going on.
So I’m trying to find a way out to lead me to some
good.
25. My name is Desmond Slater.
I'm interested in working in movies because I’m a
fan of them. I’ve always wanted to be in movies
and be an actor.
Some of the things I would like to see changed in
the world is terrorism, like the fighting in the
middle east and the killings of innocent people.
Another thing I would like changed is the starving
in other countries. Somethings that I will do to
help this is looking up how and what to do to help
stop it.
The story of my trouble began when I was little and
stole a pack of gum out of a store. And I got into a
lot of trouble with the store owner and got banned
from there.
What I learned from it is don’t steal even if it is a
pack of gum.
26. My name is Chris Brown.
My dream in life is to become a successful
person who can take care of his family and
don’t have any problems with bills or anything
that causes them stress. I want to play
professional ball but if that doesn’t work I
want someone that can take care of my family.
The story of my trouble began when all my
family members started dying and leaving and
I had so much anger I would just act out in
school, get into trouble outside of school and
wouldn’t care. I was always fighting doing all
kinds of bad things and taking it out on others
around me.
What I learned from it is that I can’t take my
anger out on others or use my family as a
reason why I behave badly because that’s how
people will see you – not anyone else; just you
cause nobody’s making you do anything, you
choose to do these things.
28. To be strong that nothing can disturb
your peace of mind. To talk health,
happiness and prosperity to every
person you meet. To make all your
friends feel that there is something in
them. To look at the sunny side of
everything and make your optimism
come true.
To think only of the best, to work
only for the best, and expect only
the best, to be just as
enthusiastic about the success of
others as you are about your own.
To forget the mistakes of the past and press
on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a
smile. To give so much time to the
improvement of yourself that you have no
time to criticize others. To be too large for
worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of
trouble.
Author Unknown
37. BOUNCE
“Bounce, bounce, bounce.”
Be a triple threat.
Be a thinker.
Consider all the facts before you make a decision
Should I shoot, dribble or pass?
Shoot . . . Make the decision
Pass . . . Research it,
Dribble . . . Talk it over with someone?
You are who you think you are!
“Bounce, bounce, bounce.”
Be a man of action.
Make a plan and finish it,
Should I dribble or pass?
Dribble . . . Take action and be willing to fail?
Pass . . . Continue to plan,
You can only be successful if you are willing to fail!
“Bounce, bounce, bounce.”
Be a lover.
Should I pass?
Pass . . . Serve others.
Do you really want to show them some love, serve them!
You are mind, body and soul.
Single dimensional people are easily controlled’
More importantly, easily discarded!
Sebastian Payton
48. Friday, July 24, 2015
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Rio Salado Convention Center
2323 W. 14th Street
Tempe, AZ
49. Program
Welcome Alonzo Jones
Associate Dean of Students, ASU
Invocation Reverend Jarret Maupin
Progressive Political Activist
Background - Summer Teen
Leadership Camp
Rod Ambrose
B.R.A.V.E./UPI Coordinator
Acknowledge Parents and U-Team
Facilitators
Alonzo Jones
Introduction of Cadets Brother Ghazi Muhammad
U-Team Member
The Me Nobody Knows Billy Ramsey & The Cadets
Special Guest Speaker Harry Garewal
Co-Founder, Tri-Caucus
Souvenir Journal Betty Ambrose
UPI Program Coordinator
Acknowledge “The Talking Drum”
Speakers
Rod Ambrose
Keynote Speaker Reverend Jarrett Maupin
Closing Remarks Frank Crump
UPI Founder/President
“The Law of Service”
51. Trin & Associates, LLC
Owner
And
Co-Founder, Tri-Caucus
Special Guest Speaker
52. Progressive Baptist Preacher
Civil Rights Campaigner
Radical Political Activist
“I Fight The Good Fight... Keep The Faith, Baby!”
Key Note Speaker
61. To the Cadets
Alonzo Jones, “I really want to stress upon you that the measurement of
continued education is how you are doing right now within your
academic setting. There are many journeys you can take. Many roads
you can travel after you complete high school. Should you choose that
journey to include a track down higher education, then your academic
performance right now will be critically important.
Beautiful young men, if you appreciate what you went through and if you
want to have an impact beyond yourself and your immediate family; and
want to position yourself to help others, not just at a local level but
possibly at a 300 million United States of America level and quite possibly
a 7 billion people level, I hope that you will consider higher education as a
part of that pathway.”
62. To the Cadets
Harry Garewal, “We began the journey here, locally in 2013. We got
involved with Disconnected Youth. Disconnected Youth are 16 – 24 year
olds that are neither working or in school. The population right now in
Arizona, and in Phoenix specifically, is the highest in the entire country.”
Frank Crump, “To our young men of honor. I, like everyone in this room,
am very proud of what you guys have done. I don’t want you to forget
this evening. When times get tough and you’re feeling down remember
this. Remember this night. It’s kind of like winning a basketball
championship which Rod has done; which I have done and throughout my
life I always remember the guys that were on the team with me. I always
remember the games we had and the practices we had to go through.
No different from the things you guys have done the last 8 weeks. Like
Rod said, you came a long way. Not everybody would do what you did.”
Jarrett Maupin, “Everyone in life takes a stumble or pitfall. But as a
famous mentor of mine said, ‘The ground is no place for a champion. So
you get up, dust yourself off and get on the way of life and leadership’
...The real test of leadership is not so much what you can do for yourself
but what you can do for somebody.”
63. To the Cadets
Frank Crump, “This is how I’m going to end this evening for our young
cadets. This story is for you and it’s from Tom and myself. The story goes
something like this. It’s a story about an old man. This old man used to
live high up in the mountaintop and down below, all the people lived in a
small little town.
He was a wise old man and when the small town people had questions
and didn’t know what to do; didn’t know how to handle things, they’d
always go to the mountaintop and ask this old man for some help in
solving their problems.”
Well there were two little boys and a little girl. They said to themselves,
‘We’re going to fool this old man. We’re going to go up there and ask him
a question which we know he’s not going to be able to answer.’ So they
made their way to the top of the mountain and they got to the old man’s
house. They banged on his door. ‘Old man! Old man! Come out here.
We got a question for you.’ there was no sound. No answer. So they
banged a little harder, ‘Old man! Old man! Come out here! We want to
ask you a question. We want to know, do you have an answer for us?
Then slowly the door begin to open. And as it opened wide, there stood a
man before them with a long beard. He said, ‘What is it my children?’
They said, ‘Old man we have a question here – the question we have is,
‘in our hands is a baby sparrow. Is the sparrow dead or is it alive?’ The
old man looked at the young kids and he said, ‘Well young children, if I
tell you that that bird is dead, you’ll open up your hands and let it fly
away. If I tell you that that bird is alive, you’ll crush him until he is dead.’
He said, ‘So you see young men, young lady, the life of that bird is in your
hands.
And I say to you gentlemen. Today, your life is in your hands. What you
become; what you do; what you decide is up to you.”
66. Mr. Alonzo Jones, Associate Dean of Students, ASU
Reverend Jarrett Maupin, Progressive Political Activists
Mr. Harry Garewal, Trin & Associates, LLC
Mr. Gerald Richard, Asst. to Phoenix Police Chief, Retired
Ms. Stacia Holmes, Deer Valley Community Center
Ms. Carol Hobbs, Pima Prevention Partnership
Mr. John Mason, City of Phoenix – Parks & Recreation
Mr. Steven Colter, City of Phoenix – Harmon Park
Ms. April Liggins, City of Phoenix – Harmon Park
Brother Ghazi Muhammad, Your Path Your Destiny
Mr. Hank Wilson, Hanlea Education Services
Mr. Terry Clark, Tomorrow’s Leaders
Mr. Oye Waddell, Hustle Phoenix
Mr. Raheem De 'Angelo, Actor
Mr. Sebastian Payton, MAED-ECN, Asst. Principle
Mr. Billy Ramsey, Black Poet Ventures
Ms. Tiffany Litherland, EvolYOUtions™
Ms. Michelle Jaime, Project B.R.A.V.E.
Mr. Oscar Adame, Project B.R.A.V.E.
Ms. Loretta Cantley, Family Affair Project
Mr. Abdu Dandridge, Pressure Films, Inc.
Maricopa Community Colleges
Rio Salado College Convention Center
Mr. Chris Torres, Rio Salado Convention Center
Ms. Cydney Doupe, Rio Salado Convention Center
Ms. Danielle Steely, Rio Salado Convention Center
And the Parents, Family and Friends of the Cadets
The UPI Annual Summer Teen Leadership Camp (2015) acknowledges the
following for their valuable support:SPECIALTHANKS