site to allow all ex-offenders (n.y.) to express their thoughts and feelings on any..

[Jus' Mom]

Thursday afternoon computer class

This site is intended to allow all ex-offenders to express their thoughts and feelings on any topics they wish to write about or information they want to share.
Archives

09/01/2003 - 09/30/2003
10/01/2003 - 10/31/2003
11/01/2003 - 11/30/2003


Please send questions and comments to . . .

realityofexoffenders@yahoo.com.

Add your own thoughts, opinions and information on . . .

Our Discussion Board!



Here are some useful web sites:


Reality Through the Eyes of Ex-Offenders
Friday, November 21, 2003

Eyes of an ex-offender



Being an ex-offender feels great because I’ve made some changes in my life that have made me a beautiful person.
I have enrolled in Fortune Society year 2000. I met some beautiful people that showed me how to live right comfortable,and free of drugs. I found out that I did not have
to have a lot of money in my pocket every day. I have a great man in my life that accept me for me. He showed me that love means more than drugs or what I can give him. He know what I been through with past relationships so he is very over protective over me. Being that I lost my parents at a very young age, I took miss Althea Brooks like a mother figure. She understood me. Even though sometimes I be wrong in a decision I have made, she explained it to me then, told me a way I could handle it better. I love her like a mother, I respect her to the fullest. At this moment I have graduated Lifeworks, and presently doing presentations. I am enrolled in computer training class. I still go to substance abuse and HIV groups, because I ‘m still an addict, and I am not too far to be removed.
What I have for an ex-offender, it is time that we keep this as an ex in all our past behavior. You can do anything that you want to do. All it take is the desire to change. We need to teach the younger generation so that they do not have to repeat our past. Whether you have been infected or affected there should be a story to be told, and a gift to give someone. I feel great when I wake up in the morning now. I look in the mirror and like what I see. I thank Fortune Society Health Services for being there for me. I thank Raymond Martinez and Miss Althea Brooks for believing in Maurice and myself when no one else wanted to or should I say cared to. I love you very much.


Assisting Ex-offenders find fields of employment

This information is intended to assist any offender who may be concerned about their fields of potential employment as it relates to your prior felony convictions. This may help you choose a job that doesn’t have any conflict with your past felony convictions.


3. FROM WHAT LICENSES AND EMPLOYMENT ARE OFFENDERS BARRED?

Legal bars to licenses and employment are contained in various laws enacted by the State Legislature. Some examples include employment as a security guard, private investigator, insurance broker and many local civil service positions, as well as licenses to sell liquor wholesale or retail, and licenses for real estat
brokers and notary publics. This is not a complete list.

http://home.nyc.gov/html/cchr/html/ch3.html#1

§ 8-302 Removal of disability or disqualification. Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, no person shall be denied any license, right, benefit or privilege extended by this code, or suffer any other disability or disqualification thereunder, or be denied the right of employment by the city of New York, solely because of any arrest, apprehension, detention, indictment or other accusation, arraignment, trial, conviction or any other aspect of conviction or adjudication of a crime had under the jurisdiction of the courts of any state or of the United States, which is founded on an act or acts arising out of any peaceful demonstration or other peaceful activity, the object of which is to resist discriminatory treatment in any place of public accommodation as defined by section forty of the civil rights law, or to achieve equal rights for all persons regardless of race, creed, color or national origin.

http://parole.state.ny.us/introduction.html


And a Reduction in Recidivism
A 1996 report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, concerning a study of 7000 offenders, 8-12 years after release, produced two statistically significant conclusions. Inmates who worked in prison industries were 24 % less likely to recidivate throughout the observation period, while those who participated in either vocational or apprenticeship training were 33 % less likely to recidivate throughout the observation period (William G Saylor and Gerald G. Gaes, "PREP: Training Inmates through Work Participation, and Vocational and Apprenticeship Instruction," U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons, September 24, 1996).


- posted by alex @ 11:16 AM

Facing Eviction

If you are a low-income New Yorker in danger of losing your housing because of an eviction, there are many organizations that can assist you with legal representation, social services, and information about your rights.
LEGAL REPRESENTATION
The LawHelp website provides family and single adult tenants with a list of non-profit legal services providers that offer representation for those facing eviction. Providers are available to represent clients with the following issues:

Eviction proceedings
Private Housing
Public Housing & Publicly Subsidized Housing
Foreclosure, Predatory Lending & Home Loans
Housing Discrimination
Jiggetts or other forms of rental assistance
Rent Regulation/SCRIE Problems
Apartment Repairs
Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Housing
Tenant Group Representation
The website is equipped with a zip-code locator so you can find an organization that serves your neighborhood.

SOCIAL SERVICES
The LawHelp website provides family and single adult tenants with a list of social services agencies and other resources that can help families maintain stability and avoid eviction. Services provided by these agencies include:

Tenant/landlord conflict resolution
Education on a tenant’s rights and responsibilities
Community-based financial counseling, debt consolidation, credit reports
Help with forming a community block association
INFORMATION ABOUT HOUSING COURT
The LawHelp website provides family and single adult tenants with a wide variety of brochures and informational pamphlets to help demystify the Housing Court process. Examples of materials on the website include:

Information on Housing Court procedures, including what to expect on your first day, and the different ways your case may be resolved
A guide on how to serve court papers, including papers to start a case for repairs or to stop an eviction
A summary of the rules and procedures involving military service and evictions
Information on how public assistance can help you with rent arrears
Top


contact Fortune society at www.fortunesociety.org for emergency shelter. For Brooklyn housing contact www.bklynhousing.org . Another website is Housingworks at www.housingworks.org. Please contact the nearest ssi office to find out if you are eligible for ssi benefits. Any one Hiv positive history will get priority housing works. To my knowledge they provide housing in all parts of NYC. They also provide comprehensive medical care to its residents. You can also call them at 212-645-8111. The three web sites are ,
1. www.housingworks.org 212-645-8111
2. www.fortunesociety.org 212-691-7554
3. www.bklynhousing.org

- posted by Izhar @ 11:06 AM

Behind On Rent - Financial Assistance

A variety of government agencies and non-profit organizations provide support to those who have fallen behind on rent.
JIGGETTS FOR FAMILIES

If you are on public assistance, you may be eligible to receive a monthly rental supplement (in addition to your shelter allowance) and have some, or all, of your rental arrears paid through a relief system called Jiggetts. In order to be eligible for this supplement, you must:

be a recipient of family assistance; and
have a child under the age of 18 at home, OR under 19, in high school, and at home; and
be in court because you are being sued for back rent.
To learn more, contact one of the legal services or community-based organizations approved by the State of New York to handle Jiggetts applications.

For a list of these services or community-based organizations, please visit LawHelp.org
For more information on Jiggetts, you can also visit LawHelp.org and look under the “Know Your Rights” heading.
RENTAL ARREARS GRANTS FOR SINGLE ADULTS AND FAMILIES

The NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA) can assist tenants who have legal possession of an apartment, or applicants who have been evicted but whose landlords are willing to re-let the apartment, by paying their arrears through a rental arrears grant. Grants are available for both public assistance recipients and for those ineligible for public assistance. Families and single adults are eligible.

Dial 311 to contact the HRA Job Center in your area and apply for a rental arrears grant.

BROOKLYN

Bay Ridge
6740 Fourth Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11220

Bushwick
30 Thornton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11206

Coney Island
3050 West 21st Street
Brooklyn, NY 11224

DeKalb
500 DeKalb Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11205

Euclid
404 Pine Street
Brooklyn, NY 11208

Fulton
215 Duffield Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Greenwood
275 Bergen Street, 1st Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Linden
210 Livingston Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Refugee Annex
98 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217

BRONX

Bergen
414 East 147th Street
Bronx, NY 10455

Concourse
1365 Jerome Avenue
Bronx NY 10452

Crotona
1910 Monterey Avenue
Bronx, NY 10457

Fordham
2551 Bainbridge Avenue
Bronx, NY 10458

Melrose
260 East 161st Street
Bronx, NY 10451

Rider
305 Rider Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451

TOP (Transitional Opportunities Center)
For clients with existing cases
1209 Colgate Avenue
Bronx, NY 10472

MANHATTAN

Dyckman
4660 Broadway
NY, NY 10040

East End
2322 3rd Avenue
NY, NY 10035

Hamilton
530 West 135th Street
NY, NY 10031

Refugee
2 Washington Street, 8th Floor
NY, NY 10004

Seaport
For clients with existing cases
172 Water Street
NY, NY 10038

Senior Center
For clients with existing cases
12 West 14th Street, 2nd Floor
NY, NY 10011

St. Nicholas
132 West 125th Street
NY, NY 10027

Union Square
For clients with existing cases
109 East 16th Street, 11th Floor
NY, NY 10003

Waverly
12 West 14th Street
NY, NY 10011

Yorkville
225 East 34th Street
NY, NY 10016

QUEENS

Family Call Center
For clients with existing cases
33-28 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101

Jamaica
90-75 Sutphin Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435

Long Island City
32-20 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101

Rockaway
219 Beach 59th Street
Rockaway, NY 11692

STATEN ISLAND

Richmond
201 Bay Street
Staten Island, NY 10301



- posted by Máximo @ 10:58 AM

PROBLEMS WITH PAROLE OFFICERS


Our group decided to add the following questions to the above topic:
1. Why is it that when a person becomes a parole officer, they begin acting like “wannabe cops”?
2. How do you file a grievance against your parole officer?
3. How do I go about “changing” parole officers if I can’t get along with the one assigned to me?

Here are the three web sites which could be helpful to someone in the above situation

http://parole.state.ny.us

http://parole.state.ny.us/parolehandbook.html

http://www.state.ny.us/


Here is the best advice that our group could come up with.
1. Try to follow/abide by the rules –of parole- at all times.
2. If you do have problems, go through the chain of command (the proper channels) to try solving that problem
3. Use your parole officer in a positive way.
4. Don’t be confrontational with your parole officer.
5. Be honest with your parole officer at all times when confronted by him/her.
6. Remember, the rules of the parole game will always be to your parole officers advantage-they will always have the upper hand.


- posted by edwin @ 10:28 AM
Friday, October 10, 2003

There is always an answer

There are situations and holes that we seem to to fall in and stay in because we feel that there is no way out. I learned through my experience that there is always a answer to a problem. We have to want it bad enough to seek the answer to all of our problems. When I lost my parents at the age of 16, I felt lost because I was a house girl. My mother was very over protected of me because I was the only girl with 4 brothers. I had a son. At that time my brothers were younger than I. I had one year left in high school, but I did not have a baby sitter to watch my son. I decided to get a job. The job that I got made it very easy to earn a income and I was able to take my son with me. I was a day care teacher.
What was wrong , I needed an adult in my life. I was going through a lot of emotional problems and feelings. The aid that came my way was those who been through some of what I was going through, been through. The way they dealt with their pain I did not need to know, but at that time I only knew that they felt good every day and they was there for me when I needed someone to talk to. I had to give my chidren up because I did not want them to go down that road that I was traveling down and I did not want them to see me in that way. My children have big respect for me. I felt that being that I was sending them money presents and some times I would go see them, when I just got out of jail looking good healthy, clean. Later I found out that all they wanted was to be with me. My daughter told me that she did not care if she had to sleep on a park bench or on the ground long as she had me with her. I cried because I did not know how much pain I caused my children. I thought being that they were with my family and their father,and not a shelter they were alright. We can not hurt our children and feel that we can come back in their lives and feel that they will not have some words for us. I am not talking about all that nice stuff. I made a mistake telling my children to tell me how they feel and what they was going through during my absent. I really thought I was ready, I wasn't. A lot of stuff I did not know that happened tore me up. I felt after I was told about some of the things that my daughters went through they would of been better off with me, because I would of killed someone if I was told that a man tried to touch them in a place where a grown man do not suppose to touch a little girl. The advise I would like to tell you young girls or women if you fall down, GET UP!!! It do get greater later. you have to seek help when you need it. There are all kind of places out there that will help you. Do not say they will not under stand theres no help for someone like me, YES IT IS!!!!!! There is no help for those who do not want it , or will not seek help.There is always some one who been through what you been through or going through. If you been infected with the virus,or affected with it dont give up, people is living with it going on with their lives. There are people dieing that do not have no disease. Remember! you are not alone. Ack like a lion king of his jungle. It's important that you understand that you're bound to experience ups and downs as you learn to live. If depression seems to be disrupting your life, or seems to linger, it's important to talk to some one. It is dangerouse holding something in that is painful and depressing.


BY; YVETTE FORTUNE SOCIETY
- posted by yvette @ 9:39 AM
Thursday, October 09, 2003

I Need Housing!
By: Arty, Flowers, and Yvette.



Q. I would like to get an apartment after I leave the halfway house. At this time I do not have a job or money to pay for the apartment. Could I get temporary housing through Fortune Society till I find a job that will provide me the income to afford the rent?

A. Yes! Fortune Society will help you with housing. They will also help you to get emergency income until you can find a job. Fortune Society will assist you with obtaining Medicaid and food stamps.

Q. How long will it take before I can receive any funds, and what will I have to do to get in this program to receive this service?

A. You will receive emergency funds that day after you fill out an intake application and within three (3) to five (5) business days you will receive emergency food stamps.

Q. Do the fortune Society assists families with children?

A. Yes! Fortune Society will refer you to the proper agency who are in charge for that kind of emergency..

Three web sites that are helpful in this search are:

www.affordablehousingonline.com

www.sublet.com

www.hivhousingnyc.org


What advice do you have for this person in this situation?

1. Be sure to have all your paper work, I.D, SS card, and all information about your own person with you when you come to make an application for assistance.
2. Be on time, be patience, and it gets greater later

- posted by al @ 11:53 AM
Thursday, October 02, 2003

Open letter to Rush LImbaugh And ESPN

Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh resigned at midnight 9-01-03 from ESPN'S pre game show amid controversial remarks made about Football quarterback Donovan Mcnabb of the Philadelphia Eagles. Rush made the statement that the Media had taken it easy on Mcnabb because it wanted to have a black quarterback be successful. If Rush truly did his homework on the league he�s doing commentary on than he would know that the league and the media discarded that card long ago when quarterback Doug Williams led his team to the Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins and the Super Bowl M.V.P.. Finishing with the highest passing completion percentage at the time in Super Bowl history. But the bigger question is who could not see this one coming a mile away. The only question I have is how come it took this long for a narrow minded thinking individual like Rush to embarrass himself, his collegues his employer, and the fans. Who at the ESPN management hiring level will be responsible for this madd experiment gone terribly awry and suffer the consequences of this decision. Personally I don't think anyone will because all ESPN can say is that our ratings were up 10% so far this season. I guess narrow minded and bigoted thinking people are a new geographical marketing fan base that ESPN is targeting. Well I guess it worked for a few weeks.

PS' I don't think the media has been particularly hard on the two former Super Bowl MVP Quarterbacks who are having bad years on The Saint Louis Rams and The New England Patriots. Despite one of them being benched for bad performance all he and his wife can do is threaten their team with his desire to be traded or not resigned as a free agent at the end of the year if he doesn't get his starting job back. Why didn't you save your comments for this deserving individual. What ever happened to doing what's best for the team?
- posted by larry @ 5:00 PM

What is Independent Living?
Independent Living means controlling and directing your own life. It means taking risks and being allowed to succeed and fail on your own terms. It means participating in community life and pursuing activities of your own choosing. Independent Living is knowing what choices are available, selecting what is right for you, and taking responsibility for your own actions.
For people with disabilities affecting their ability to make complicated decisions or pursue complex activities, independent living means being as self-sufficient as possible. It means being able to exercise the greatest degree of choice in where you live, with whom you live, how to live, where you work, with whom you work and how to use your time.

What Are Independent Living Centers?
 Consumer Controlled: Centers are run by a board of directors, more than half of whom are people with disabilities.
 Community Based: Centers are located throughout New York State in local communities.
 Available to All People with Disabilities: Staff, board members, volunteers, and people served represent a broad cross-section of disabilities.
 Non-Residential: Centers are not places to live, nor do they own or operate places for people with disabilities to live.
 Non-Profit: Centers are approved for non-profit status with the New York State Attorney General's office.

Who Does an Independent Living Center Serve?
 People with all physical and mental disabilities.
 People with disabilities of all ages.
 Parents, spouses, siblings, and significant others of people with disabilities.
 People with disabilities living in their own homes, supported living arrangements, institutional settings, and elsewhere.
 School personnel
 Business and industry
 Local government agencies
 Human Service organizations
 Volunteer sector organizations
 Hospitals, health organizations, and the medical community
 Civic organizations
What Services do Independent Living Centers Provide?
All Independent Living Centers provide a set of core services geared toward promoting self-help, equal access, peer role modeling, personal growth, and empowerment. The scope of services is directed by individual and community needs. The core services are as follows:
 Peer Counseling is provided between two or more individuals with disabilities, to share ideas and experiences about living with a disability, in order to gain greater awareness and control over ones own life.
 Independent Living Skills Training teaches everyday life skills and is often provided by people with disabilities. Training may include budgeting, meal preparation, arranging transportation, or personal assistance services, job seeking, and self-advocacy.
 Information and Referral Services aim to provide individuals with resources and options that may be necessary in making informed choices about living, learning, and working independently.
 Individual and Systems Advocacy addresses access to equal opportunities in exercising social, economic, educational, and legal rights. Independent Living Centers work with individuals, community organizations, state/national networks; to promote full inclusion of people with disabilities, and to improve the implementation of existing laws: federal, State, and local.
Other services that are often provided include:
 Housing assistance
 Acquiring and maintaining appropriate benefits and entitlements
 Architectural and communication barrier consultation
 Personal counseling that is non-clinical and short term in nature to address individual goals
 Securing, learning how to use, repair, and maintain equipment
 Assistance in registering to vote
 In-service training, workshops/seminars on disability issues, disability laws and Independent Living philosophy
 Disability awareness training
 Developing Plans to Achieve Self Support (PASS) for recipients of public assistance - SSI/SSDI
 Specialized training and services specific to certain communities
How Do I Resolve Disagreements with
Independent Living Centers?
VESID recommends taking the following steps when problems occur:
1. Seek out supervisory staff at the Independent Living Center to discuss your concern.
2. Bring your concern to the attention of the President of the Board of Directors of the Independent Living Center. The Center can tell you how to contact the Board President.
3. Contact the VESID Centers Administration Unit, 1-800-222-5627 (voice/TTY).
4. Contact the Client Assistance Program (CAP) Central Office at 1-800-624-4143 (voice/TTY, toll free).

How To Find Out More About Independent Living
The Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID), Centers Administration Unit is responsible for administering the New York State Independent Living Program. For information about Independent Living Centers and programs in New York State, contact:
Robert Gumson, Unit Manager
VESID
Centers Administration Unit
One Commerce Plaza, Room 1601
Albany, New York 12234
Phone: (518) 474-2925
Voice, TTY, Toll Free (800) 222-5627
You may also contact your local Independent Living Center (ILC). See the ILC locations list for a center near you.

What is NYSILC?
The New York State Independent Living Council, Inc. is made up of representatives, a majority of whom have disabilities, from around the State, who are appointed by the Board of Regents. It is a not-for-profit, non-Governmental, consumer controlled organization which monitors the federally funded Independent Living Centers in New York State, promotes the independent living philosophy statewide, and provides support and technical assistance to the entire network of Independent Living Centers (ILC) in New York State which consists of 35 community-based, not-for-profit organizations run by and for people with disabilities.
Independent Living Center Locations

Center for Independence of the Disabled in New York
841 Broadway - Suite 205
New York, NY 10003
Phone212) 674-2300
TTY212) 674-2300
Fax516) 254-5953
Queens
Queens Independent Living Center
140-40 Queens Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11435
Phone718) 658-2526
TTY718) 658-4720
Fax718) 658-5295




Adults - District Offices
VESID starts with the presumption that all persons with disabilities can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services and should have opportunities to work in jobs integrated within their communities.
VESID Counselors guide individuals through service programs they need to reach their employment goals.
At Our District Office:
 Each year VESID assists hundreds of businesses in hiring qualified, dependable employees.
 Our handbook outlines eligibility requirements, next steps and services provided.
 Our offices are located in your community. Each district office describes services specific to their office.
 VESID works with students, families and school districts to coordinate appropriate services for students with disabilities who are leaving secondary education and entering adult vocational rehabilitation and related services.
 If you design, manufacture, or sell equipment that may be useful by people with disabilities, or if you teach disabled people how to use such equipment, please contact VESID.
 Independent living services (one unit without our lifelong services network) can help people with disabilities learn to have more control over their own lives and to live more independently in their communities.
 Expectations are described in our rights and responsibilities brochure.
The New York State Talking Book and Braille Library provides recorded and Braille books to adults and children who, owing to a disability, can't read print, or hold a book, or turn its pages. People qualify for this free, public library service if they have a permanent or temporary visual, physical or learning disability. The Library offers 65,000 book titles and over 60 magazines.
New York State
Workforce Development System
This web site provides information about New York State's effort to implement an Integrated Workforce Development System. Such a system will provide access to Workforce Development information and services across agency lines; Use common definitions and goals and a common data base to share information; Ensure common skill outcomes and customer satisfaction outcomes; Evaluate needs and marshal all available Workforce Development resources in a community to meet needs; Use continuous customer feedback for continuous improvement; Hold all stakeholders accountable to common quality standards through a report card on performance; and Be universal, designed to serve all job seeking and employer customers.

Eligibility
VESID, an office of the New York State Education Department, each year offers thousands of New Yorkers who have a disability an opportunity to become independent through education, training and employment. We provide vocational rehabilitation services to eligible individuals to prepare them for suitable jobs. These jobs might be in the competitive work force, in self-owned businesses, or in supported employment on employer sites. We can also help people with disabilities who are having difficulty keeping their jobs. VESID can also help you live as independently as possible by referring you to a local Independent Living Center.

If I am in Special Education or in Resource Room, can I automatically receive services?
No, VESID is not an entitlement program. In order to receive services, you must be determined eligible. This requires that you provide VESID with documentation about all of the following:
 that you have a medically diagnosed physical, developmental, or emotional disability;
 that your condition(s) creates significant impediments to your ability to work;
 that there is a reasonable expectation that VESID services will enable you to work; and
 VESID services are required to enable you to become employed.
Whether or not you receive benefits (SSI or SSDI), you may still be eligible to receive services.
NOTE:

http://unix32.nysed.gov:9280/transition/proof.htm
Bilingual educaction

New York
NYC SETRC/PDSP Office
NYC SETRC/PDSP Office
New York, NY 10010
Phone212) 260-7679
Fax212) 475-6804
E-mail: luis_laviena@fc1.nycenet.edu


- posted by Máximo @ 11:34 AM
Thursday, September 25, 2003

jai minombre es jaime zapata

soy dominicano nasido en santo domingo R . D .
mi padre es haitiano mi madre es dominicana
nasi Y me crie en la suida de sampedro de macoris
me mude A la capital A una temprena edad de -
Ay en adelante fue cuando desidi E migral A -
Estados unido en [1985] Yegue A la suida de miami
En el [ 1986 ] regrece a la suidad de NeW York . travaje
Mas luego me mude A New York state en 2000 me
Regrese de nuevo A New York.. en 2001 me regrese A-
La es cuela de nuevo para empesar una nueva vida en la que Estoy por el momento… grasias alas personas que an dipueto De su pasiensia para Alludarme hoy por hoy com lo son
El senor Erix el senor estiven en el piso [7]
Muchas grasias por su pasiensia…

{ Attam.. JAIME ZAPATA }
- posted by jaime @ 12:12 PM


Hello, my name is Frank, and I grew-up in New York City. I have lived in all the boroughs at one time or another, with the exception of Staten Island. Years ago I had some involvement with the Criminal Justice System and had to spend some time, courtesy of New York State Correctional Department, in one of their many facilities, located throughout the sprolling hills of New York State.
Realizing, after too many months of incarceration, I had better try living in the real world, I became aware that life had a plan for me. It sure as hell did not involve me being locked-up! I came to the Fortune Society in order to get help changing my life around, to become a more productive person, with goals and a future worth looking forward to. After numerous attempts at rediscovering my life/skills, I understood the meaning of living life on life's terms. I began to take a look at myself and didn't like the person I saw looking back at me in the mirror. So, I changed the appearance and the stinking-thinking, in order to learn a skill that could take me into the new millennium.
Being good to one's self is something that we all should try to understand by actually doing something good (positive) for ourself. I am going to continue to grow and mature toward a productive future member of society. I have a tremendious amount of knowledge, skills and wisdom confined within the body and mind of my soul.

- posted by Frank @ 12:11 PM

EX-OFFENDERS AND EMPLOYMENT FAQ’S

A. Problem
Most ex-convicted felons who have been incarcerated for many years have no work history to fill in the missing years.
Solution
Hire a professional resume writer or attend the career development at Fortune Society. @ 53 W. 23rd. Street, NY –Ph.212-691-7554

B. Problem
Often ex-convicted felons don’t have a high school diploma or a GED.
Solution
Attend a local GED program.

C. Problem
Often ex-felons do not have the necessary skills to gain employment.
Solution
Do volunteer work in the area of your interest, get an apprenticeship position or attend a trade school.

D. Problem
I have a degree but can’t prove it.
Solution
Contact: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss/d..._main_page.htm

E. Problem
How can I get a copy of my certificate or diploma if it has been misplaced or lost?
Solution
For a copy of your lost or misplaced diploma/certificate, contact: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/bpss/d..._main_page.htm

F. Problem
What if the school no longer exists?
Solution
Contact: NYS Dept. of Education, at 89 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12234, Phone: 518-472-1201

By: Edwin & Roy



- posted by edwin @ 11:53 AM

Hello. My name is A. Dan. I am from Nigeria in West Africa born and rise in Nigeria and I decided to come to united state of America to have America dream and help some of Nigerian and African that did not have opportunity to come here.
I am student in Mr. Appleton’s class of computer. I have very little knowledge about computer, I strongly believed that by coming to Mr. Appleton computer class can help me fixed into modern society in computer world.
- posted by danladi @ 11:45 AM

Here is what I am about. I used hard drugs for a long time. I started at 23 and now I am 39. With eight days clean and sober I was given a chance to come into The Fortune Society today and make a new start. I plan to read my Marketing, Computer 2004, Oral communication, and English Literature books during my breaks from class, on free computer lab time. By doing that here I’ll succeed. I know I have a good chance at passing this semester with neatly typed homework assignments for my college classes at La Guardia. And going directly to my commitments at putting up chairs for addicts to sit down at the CA meetings on Mondays and Thursdays when I am at the computer lab on 23rd St. I don’t want to talk a lot about recovery but I did do something I never did before last night that is different than what I did before I relapsed. I am carrying around my phone list so I have some people to call in case I feel like smoking crack. I am real lucky this time. I am in a good outpatient program called ACI at 145 W. 45th St. Today was my second day there. I love it. It’s helping me with my problems. I am a slow learner. I am on my fourth step. It’s my fourth program. And I missed something between my first clean date on March 26, 1999 while in recovery.
I danced in prisons, taught GED classes, and was let out early on good behavior. I joined the army once to straighten out and find myself. I did not stop smoking cigarettes either. I think the only person that can stop me is truly a higher power or someone who I truly respect. My world has been ruled by thugs and drugs, you can imagine what I missed out on. I missed out on good therapy and a lot of doctor’s advice. If I would have been smart enough to go when I got out of jail in March 2002 I would not have relapsed. I make scenes when I don’t get what I want and I screw up all the time. It seems that I will see a little color instead of a black and white world if I just open my eyes, ears, and heart just a little bit more. Please remember jealousy, rage, greediness, hate, selfishness, pride, vanity, and self- pity are working against me today. I love my associates but I don’t know if they love me. It’s not really important. As I walk around today, I try to be the best person I can when I am thinking. I still am out of my mind with jealousy, rage, greediness, hate, selfishness, pride, vanity, and self-pity (when I am not being a good girl). I need a behavior modification plan, I am working on it. I am working with my sponsor too. She is in my life. My goal is to finish college every semester that I can apply for financial aid, get my real estate salesperson license, go to Vesid and maybe take Vegan School cooking because I think the world could use a pretty decent person like myself. I hope to marry a cool, single, smart, guy to add to my happiness. Until then, I am a roll to continue striving for whatever goals that will make my life complete. Of course I want that nice car, house, dog, swimming pool, spouse, kids, business, spirituality, relatives, travel around the world, master’s degree, good doctors, good environment, sanity, and recovery in my life. But first I need to settle down. I will not get married, I will not get married. Maybe now the opposite will happen and I will!!! Just kidding, not get until I graduate college. THAT OUGHT TO SPEED THINGS UP. Starting today I will be serious. This sense of humor I have obviously is not funny and I made a good fool out of myself once too often. I hope I can laugh that off. Good talking to you. Elizabeth Cassarino

- posted by E @ 11:41 AM

FORTUNE SOCIETY
MY NAME IS ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ . 8/11/03


LOOKING FOR A BETTER WAY TO LIVE

Since I was 14 years old I always had thoughts of having a good job and raising a family, but I did not know where to start nor what to do. I tried getting a job but was turned down because of my age and everywhere I went it was the same thing. I felt bad because I wanted to help my parent, and be someone productive in the family and in society as well. Anyway at that time and point I started hanging out in the streets. That’s where I spent most of my young life missing out on going to School. I had no interest in school because I didn’t think it was important at the time. So I kept hanging out in the streets. As a result of hanging out, I started getting into trouble with the law and went to jail for the next 25 years. That became a way of life for me. Now I’m 48 years old and decided that the only way to live a better life is to get a job, but I don’t know how to read and write well and have no skills. I found out about Fortune Society and looked in to what services they had to offer and I noticed that they gave computer training. So here I am, learning a skill and at the same time learning how to read and write and getting better every day. next month, I ,am looking forward to start reading and writing classes to better my skill hopefully I will have a job soon.



- posted by roberto @ 11:38 AM

GOING TO THE BEST SCHOOL OF THE WORLD

MY NAME IS MADE IN CORP. AND I AM THAT I AM COMING TO THE EARTH, MY OPINION ABOUT THE COMPUTER PROGRAM OF FORTUNE SOCIETY IS THE BEST OF THE WORLD, BECAUSE ERIC APPLETON, OUR PROFESSOR IS A GREAT TEACHER THAT SHOWS A TREMENDOUS BACKGROUND OF TOLERANCE AND CAPABILITY WITH US, THE WILD STUDENTS.
THE COMPUTER PROGRAM CLASSES ARE COMPOSED BY MANY AND MULTI ASPECTS WHERE THE STUDENT SEE THEIR DEEP ABILITIES, INCLUDING THEIR OWN IMAGINATIONS GOING TO A FREE FIELD OF DEVELOPMENT AND INCREASING SELF-ESTEEM AS A GOOD PERSONAL PERFOMANCE.
INTO THIS ROOM, THE HARMONY IS TOTALLY FULL, EXCEPT ME, WHEN I COME WITH MY CRAZY IDEAS ABOUT THE UNIVERSAL COMPOSITION OF VIBRATION INTO MY EXCLUSIVE BODY GENERATING IDEAS, VERSES, COLORS AND GEOMETRIC FIGURES AROUND US LIKE A GREAT POEM OF GOD OUR CREATOR, AND MY CO-PARTNERS REFUSE ME RESPONDING:
-FUCK YOU MADE IN CORP OF SHIT , YOU ARE WRONG, EVERYTHING IS BULLSHIT, EXCEPT ONE POINT, YOU’RE A NICE GUY.
SOMETIMES I BELIEVE THAT, SOMETIMES NOT, BECAUSE MY SELF-ESTEEM SAYS:
MADE IN CORP IS NOT THE SAME AS MADE IN CORP OF SHIT, THAT IS DIFFERENT, LISTEN, YOU’RE A GREAT MAN, A GREAT PERSON, A GREAT CREATOR, BUT DON’T FUCK HERE, BECAUSE YOU’RE STUDYING COMPUTER NOT COSMICAL POETRY OR TRASCENDENTAL LIFE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND??
-YES, YOU’RE A POET. I ANSWERED AND HE LOOKED ME IN THE EYE AND CRIED. I THINK THAT I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE PEOPLE, WHILE MY CO-PARTNER CONTINUED WORKING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUR BELOVED PROFESSOR……

- posted by Máximo @ 10:58 AM
Thursday, September 18, 2003



LARRY LOVE
SOUTHSIDE

I first came to the Fortune Society in July of 2003 looking for employment. I was looking for a place that could assist me in finding an employer who could accept my ex-offender status and give me a chance to prove myself. I have since taken advantage of the computer training that is offered to further improve my employment chances while still actively seeking employment. Since my release from the the criminal justice system getting back into the work force has proven to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. I often become frustrated that I do not get responses back when I e-mail my resume, nor do I get calls back when I do manage to go on an interview. Thanks to all the people who work with me at fortune society I do believe that I will find meaningful and long term employment. Without the support and encouragement I think I might have returned to the streeets and fast money that exist there.

My interest is in sports such as BASKETBALL, BASEBALL,FOOTBALL, AND BOXING.

My first topic will center on the present state of the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association. Titled: Does Anybody in Knickerbocker Management Know What Their Doing.
The management of this once proud team does not seem to understand how to put a winning competive team together. They have no center and about nine forwards. They traded their best player in Lattrel Sprewell for Keith Van Horn a notorious choker at crunch time.