Kennedy Odede's Shining Hope For Communities

Many offenders who are released from prison encounter many obstacles which hinder their progress towards community re-entry. On their own, many fail to secure employment, housing, or complete education or training programs. Without guidance or assistance many offenders return to crime to support themselves. Fortunately there are number of organizations that see the need for services to assist offenders on their path back into the community. One such organization that has proven to be successful is the Safer Foundation.

As the first democratic elections in South Africa approached, Kagiso Trust Investments (KTI) was established in 1993 “as a vehicle to generate sustainable, long-term financial support” for Kagiso Trust programs[2]. In 2011, Kagiso Tiso Holdings (KTH) was formed through a merger of KTI and Tiso Group. At the time, Tiso Group was “one of South Africa’s leading black-controlled and managed investment firms” with successful shareholder relationships with major financial institutions in South Africa [2]. Through it, the Tiso Foundation was committed to the development of historically disadvantaged youth through various education programs[3].

The federal and local community resources dedicated to the treatment and prevention of substance use, has become a valuable tool in the process of recovery. Chemically dependent individuals often have a variety of psychosocial problems in addiction to addiction, such as financial, housing, criminal, and poor social support that often leads to poor treatment retention and higher risk of relapse according to Krupski, et. al. (2009). Therefor the need for community resources is critical to the success of the original treatment. When investigating into the federal resources available, there becomes a view into a larger problem with chemical dependency as government agencies compile statistical data of therapeutic approaches, cultural diversity,

Just imagine for a moment, strolling barefoot through silky sand, the warm sun beating down, and the sound of waves rhythmically rolling in. Picture dolphins dancing in the distance, seagulls whistling their blissful hymn above, and children laughing as they dance through the ocean spray. Sounds like the perfect escape, right? Tragically, the future of such a beautiful scene is in serious jeopardy! The quality of our waters is degrading at an alarming rate; the human race contributes to the problem daily, often without realizing it. Water pollution in Florida is reducing pure water sources at a drastic rate, destroying natural beauty, and severely impacting the survival of local wildlife. Human actions are a major contribution to this issue, therefore citizen awareness is the highest workable solution to diminish the threat and improve the degradation of our waterways. Florida cities near major waterways should establish annual community events to raise awareness and positively impact this problem.

Vital Connections of the Midlands (VCM) is a non-profit early child care and education program located in Columbia, South Carolina. The organization is currently certified through the United Way of the Midlands and is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. It provides family-centered services for at-risk families who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, substance abuse, and/or child abuse and neglect. VCM’s priority is given to families who are experiencing homelessness. This means that children who live with parents experiencing homelessness are automatically admitted into the program, free of charge, before families with a different crisis. Over the past decade, since 2007, the

As a rescue worker, I am assigned to help clear the rubble and debris that was caused after the two 9/11 attacks. Before/after work or during my breaks I will often go to St Paul’s chapel which miraculously survived these attacks. St Paul’s chapel provides me and my fellow workers along with all other types of people with; food, comfort, a place to talk and a place to rest after a long day’s work. This has a substantial impact on me and my colleague’s daily life’s, as we can come to church every day and prepare for our days work at ground zero which a very tiresome job.

In the situation of a single mom, it would be difficult if not impossible for this parent to financially provide for herself and her child without any financial help. The major components of their survival would be to meet the essential needs of providing shelter, food, clothing, and health insurance. If the parent is working a day job, there would be the necessity for a daycare, an afterschool program, or the child would have to stay with a family member. This parent would require a strong network of stability to overcome the obstacles she might face. In Northeast Florida, Community Connections has made it possible for homeless low-income women, children, and families to meet the ever-changing and multifaceted needs that Community Connections

We all have something close to our heart that could make a positive change in our community and possibly even our earth. I could make a positive change in my community by raising money through fundraisers to buy new, unused, cotton clothing (shoes, shirts, shorts), and by donating these needed clothing items to underprivileged children. Due to my many hours of work in the community soup kitchen it was brought to my attention that there is a need for more than food, there is a necessitate for clothing. I would hope to make sure no child goes unclothed.

Unlike the suburbs yet a suburban mentality was instilled; the idea that how we appear to others and education is the key to social mobility, well, the legal key. Although I was born a child of the ghetto I learned that the ghetto is where I’m teenage mother in Kingston, Jamaica. I currently reside in Seaview Gardens a community that is said to be a ghetto, and don’t get me wrong, it is but it’s my suburb and it’s where I learnt everything I know. “What people think of a ghetto is dependent on how people in the ghetto think” – Shadiomar McPharlene; where I live although there’s distractions all around,

Throughout my life, I have been privileged to know a strong sense of community. My understanding of community has been carved out and shaped by each community that I have been a part of and the subsequent life experiences that I have had by being a part of these communities. To me, community means a sense of belonging with people who have some capacity of like-mindedness. When you belong to a community, you feel like a piece of a larger puzzle that comes together to create a whole. Each community you belong to both influences you, and is influenced by you. Moreover, your belonging to a community generates a sense of unity and shares a common goal, value, or outlook.

Community is very important and has many factors like kinship, unity, and identity. Community helps society because it creates solutions, provides security and reveals dedication. It discovers truthfulness. Communities are part of everyday life and have positive affects on its members.

My interest in community organizing and building began with the passion and knowledge for the well-being of others my father instilled in my life. My father was the late Chief Elmer Manatowa Jr of the Sac and Fox Nation, Native Tribe of Oklahoma. I have been an active Governing Council member (all adult members) of my Tribe for many years. I landed my first real job, Planning Department secretary, after taking a business course at the local technical .school. In that position, I had the opportunity to attend a Tribal Sovereignty Symposium organized by the Federal, State, and Tribal organizations. This was my first taste of community organizing and community building. It was the fourth symposium of its kind. The topics included Indian law, environmental issues, law enforcement, juvenile justice, arts, taxation, spirituality, preservation, state compacts, and Tribal immunity. There were two Senate Bills, 299 and 667. Bill 299 allowed certain protections for protecting land royalties and mineral rights. The protections included oil and mineral operator’s exclusion from drilling on individually owned Indian Country lands. Bill 667 referred to the health and human service regarding Indians.

The ‘Community Architecture’ is kind of architectural practice between architects and users. Also, it can be described as architect follow the wish of users or community to design the building fit the requirement by using local materials and helps the residents to build the structure. Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) described ‘Community Architecture’ should follow the idea about "The aim of community architecture is to improve the quality of the environment by involving people in the design and management of the buildings and spaces they inhabit." () In general, architect call ‘Conventional Architecture’ product, nevertheless ‘Community Architecture’ represents the process rather than the product and most proponents claim that the built product of ‘Community Architecture’ is often better than the product of conventional architecture. “Community architecture means that the personal who inhabit it are involved in and may even be instigators of, its creation and its management as well. The inhabitants are the clients; and the architect works for, or at least with them--in contrast to the typical situation where architects and user never meet.” () The ‘ community architecture’ was the newly invented notion that user participation in the environment is more important than any of another architectural concept, especially in contrast to ‘conventional architecture’. The reasons of that could be limited resources, materials and

I wouldn’t really say my community as a whole has an impact on me as a person but people in around me have had a huge impact on me for who I am today. The people who have the biggest impact on me is defiantly my family and friends, I have done so many things with them that made me the person who I am today.

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members” (Coretta Scott King). A community consists of many individuals and how those individuals act, either alone or together, will determine whether the community will foster or die. Consequently, in order to be an effective individual in my own communities, I believe that being true to myself and really immersing myself is a powerful way to impact any community. For the most part, two of my communities are Providence College and Pasa Esek Hopkins. Reading about great leaders like MLK and Mother Teresa, who advocate for such strong love of neighbor and standing up for beliefs in the face of adversity, is at the focal point of my inspiration. I believe that believing in one’s self is how an individual can shine in their own community.