Under the leadership of the National Chair –
International Men’s Day “Healing And Repatriation” Initiative Mr.
Carry Greaves, the observance of International Men’s Day, was
facilitated at the Adirondack Correctional Facility in Ray Brook, New
York. The observance occurred on
Sunday, 19 November 2017.
Coincidentally, Greaves
conducts mentoring sessions on Sundays for youths residing at the facility from
12:30 P.M. through 2:00 P.M. Twenty (20)
young men participated in a forum designed and orchestrated by Mr.
Greaves which explored a myriad of topics including, but not limited
to, drugs, gang violence, absentee Fathers, incarceration, and community
development.
Mr.
Greaves provided the following account:
“All of the young men admitted that
they contributed to the destruction of their communities and that, now looking
back, they feel the need to make a positive change in their lives. Sadly, all of them blamed their Fathers for
not being in their lives and cited this as playing a major role in their
behaving uncivilized and ultimately being incarcerated. I explained to them that they have to change
for the better in order for them to reach their objectives in life and that
they can’t continue to blame anyone for their downfall. And being in this position should allow them
to grow into the person that they truly want to become by working on themselves
emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.
I also gave them a work assignment where they will have to write an
Atonement Letter to their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives, and, if
feasible, their community leaders. The essay will have to highlight the reasons
as to why they want to atone and how they are going to go about atoning. When they have completed the Atonement
Letter, they will have to stand before the rest of the class and share their
Atonement Letter and, if need be, I will correct all mistakes. Then they will mail the Atonement Letter.
International Men’s Day was a success and its spirit will live on.”
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