SPECIAL EDITION
VOL. 22, ISSUE 4
V0X VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS
VoxTeenCommunications.org
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
Welcome to a very special edition of the VOX Teen Newspaper, all about OUR rights as minors. With the 2013 passage of HB 242, which was eventually signed into law by Gov. Nathan Deal, we saw the importance of sharing these laws and comprehensive changes with you, our teen audience. But first, a few things to note about this edition. It was super challenging to translate legal jargon into something anyone could understand! Even our adult supporters found some difficult areas of the law to translate. That being said, some of the law that governs us is subjective and up to a judge or prosecutor to ultimately determine. Finding sources was definitely one of the most difficult parts of the process for us. Lots of organizations around Atlanta help in this endeavor, but there’s not one place where we could find all the info we needed to help us tell these stories. We learned that there are seemingly innocent ways to break the law, but that some of these offenses have huge consequences. The new revisions to the juvenile code have helped curb some of those consequences, though. This project is important because we need to understand the laws we live by. If we don’t understand and comprehend how these laws affect us, then how could we ever hope to recognize any possible injustices? We hope teens and adults alike will read this edition, get informed and share what you learned with those close to you -- and share the need for even more reform of our juvenile code with the lawmakers who represent you in Georgia. Oh, and those photos above are us working hard on this edition with our wonderful adult volunteer mentors on this project! Thanks for reading!
What’s Inside
HEY READERS!
VANESSA ALVA, CROSS KEYS THALIA BUTTS, DEKALB SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AMARIYAH CALLENDER, COLUMBIA MIDDLE SHARMAINE FISHER, LOVEJOY ALEXES HARRIS, SOUTH ATLANTA LAW AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE CHRISTINA LUCAS, MILTON ARLENA MCCLENTON, DEKALB SCHOOL OF THE ARTS ZANI NOBLES, RIVERWOOD MANUEL PORTILLO, NORTH ATLANTA MAC ROWE, ACADEME OF THE OAKS CHRISTIAN STALLWORTH, NORTH SPRINGS SARIKA TEMME-BAPAT, NORTHVIEW DAWIT TRENCH, WHEELER MIKAEL TRENCH, WHEELER ALEXANDRIA WILSON, NORTH ATLANTA
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— Special edition VOX teen contributors
TEENAGERS. VOX IS DISTRIBUTED BY VOX TEEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC., A NONPROFIT YOUTHDEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PAPER ARE THOSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL AUTHORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT VOX TEEN COMMUNICATIONS, ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF OR SUPPORTERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. © VOX TEEN COMMUNICATIONS, INC., 2015. THIS PAPER IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER USING SOY INK.
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Note from Supporters: page 3 For I Simply Cannot Breathe poem: page 3 Cut the Code: page 4 Behind These Bars poem: page 5 Where We Are Now: page 7 Can Atlanta Have Green Streets?: page 8 Tech Crunch: page 10
SPECIAL ISSUE VOX CONTRIBUTORS
10 Miles to Independence: page 12 Going Psycho?: page 13 Tragic Choices comic: page 14 Brave Voices: page 16 Seven Deadly Sins: page 19 FACEBOOK.com/voxrox @VOXROXATL on Twitter + Instagram YOUTUBE.com/229voxrox
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Automatic Systematic: page 20 These Stories are True: page 21 Extra resources from partner organizations serving youth, published throughout the paper with this icon:
Connect with VOX VOX TEEN COMMUNICATIONS 229 PEACHTREE ST. NE, SUITE 725 ATLANTA, GA 30303 404-614-0040 | EDITOR@VOXTEENCOMMUNICATIONS.ORG
VOX ADULT STAFF JEFF ROMIG EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RACHEL ALTERMAN WALLACK, MSW DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS/FOUNDER KATIE V. STRANGIS, LMSW DIRECTOR OF MEDIA AND PROGRAMS RICHARD L. ELDREDGE SENIOR EDITOR
SUSAN LANDRUM, MSW MANAGER OF DEVELOPMENT AND OUTREACH RAISA HABERSHAM PART-TIME ASSOCIATE EDITOR JOSIE FOOTMON PROGRAM ASSISTANT
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
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VOX Teen Communications plays a unique role in helping young people take responsibility and leadership for their own success and for the future of their generation. The JUSTGeorgia Coalition is committed to fairness, safety, and wellbeing for youth, especially those served by Georgia’s justice and social service systems. The four lead partners of JUSTGeorgia were pleased to provide funds to VOX for the development and distribution of this Know Your Rights guide. We believe it provides a significant opportunity to promote good judgment and self-determination among youth as they face the challenges of becoming independent. JUSTGeorgia Coalition Lead Partner Organizations: Voices for Georgia’s Children Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice Barton Child Law & Policy Center
Barton Child Law and Policy Center
law students and other graduate students, conduct research, write articles and informational materials, represent clients and work to change laws and policies that affect court-involved youth.
Program Description: The Barton Child Law and Policy Center of Emory University School of Law promotes and protects the legal rights and interests of children who are involved with the juvenile court, child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Emory Law faculty, along with
Fees: No fees. Research and advocacy efforts are supported by Emory Law, grants and donations. Eligibility: Client representation cases are by referral only from DeKalb County Juvenile Court. Does not accept walk-in clients.
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact: Melissa Carter, Executive Director, 404-727-6664; info@bartoncenter.net; bartoncenter.net
FOR I SIMPLY CANNOT BREATHE
A note from our supporters:
By Amariyah Callender VOX Staff
The American Dream has become a nightmare Now my people are becoming scared Of those who were meant to protect and Now they instill fear So someone, please, lend me your ear. My people seem to become an endangered species We’re losing everyday heroes, can’t you see? Everything is not as it seems This is now our reality. Young black men dying When they were nowhere near wrong The pieces of this puzzle, they don’t belong It’s time for us to sing a new freedom song For those whose voices have been long gone. Eric, Mike, Tamir, their lives have been freed. The strange fruit has been plucked from the tree So society, hear my plea For I simply cannot breathe. The youth is the media’s scapegoat They see us drowning but they won’t send out a lifeboat The system right now, it’s so cutthroat So listen up, take note Got newly emancipated teens going to jail Fresh meat, there’s no time for bail Trying to see the light but to no avail Their lives are becoming a living hell Waiting for change, when will it arrive? There are people out there who are willing to strive For greatness and to inspire others of their kind To be a new light and inspire young minds. Even in that cell block, Juveniles’ minds are not on lockdown Trying to stray away from that life and Get to the top now Dreams are getting shot down But who’s the bad guy now? Is it society as a whole or those who are a part of it? Is it their house and we're just paying rent? Just leave us be, less injustice, don't you see? We need to break the cycle and find some peace. For you, they, we, I simply cannot breathe.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
WHAT THE NEW JUVENILE CODE CHANGES
In 2013, the Georgia legislature passed revisions to laws that govern young people in our state. Here, VOX gives you the breakdown of the changes to the law’s revisions that took effect in 2014.
T
he majority of offenses youth in Georgia commit are non-violent, but the number of youth recommitting crimes once they’ve already spent time in youth detention centers has increased, according to the JUSTGeorgia Coalition, a group of youth advocate agencies who have lobbied for, and successfully achieved, some comprehensive revisions to a previously outdated Georgia Juvenile Code. In 2013, Governor Nathan Deal signed into law the changes you’ll see on the next few pages, which are based on extensive research and evidence-based practices that demonstrate how alternative programs to incarceration can decrease the rate of youth recidivism, which is good for both children and the communities in which they live. See page 7 for more information about one grant that is proving that to be true. The big motivations for these reforms were to create effective use of tax dollars in order to ensure public safety, and to help create a positive change for youth so future generations of Georgia children and families would be better situated for success. JUSTGeorgia’s 2013 press release states, “For a long time, Georgia has locked up not only the children that scare us, but also those kids that we are simply mad at. Now, finally, we can stop locking up the kids we’re just mad at, and keep them from going down the path of ciminal behavior and ruined lives.” The juvenile justice system operates in two big buckets: dependency and delinquency. Dependency changes to the law have been made to protect children in care of the state, and to also give them more voice in their dependency proceedings. Delinquency changes to the law have been improved to be less extreme for non-violent offenses, and to give minors the chance to reform through programs that are alternatives to getting locked up. Please read on for the highlights shared by the Coalition!
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Dependency Law Changes These laws are specific changes that apply to young people who are wards of the state. See page 6 for how the state defines a child.
Foster Children Foster children will find permanency faster. This means that, by shortening the timeframes in which the court reviews minors’ cases, the new laws ensure the “players” in the case (considered to be the parent, the judge, the lawyers, the child advocates and the child) all stay focused on getting that child in the care of the state back to their home. If that’s not possible, everyone involved in that child’s case should stay focused on finding a safe, stable alternative as soon as possible.
Delinquency Law Changes These laws are specific changes that apply to young people who are involved with the ciminal justice system, who have been accused of breaking the law. See page 6 for how the state defines a child in these cases, and see page 19 for what happens when a child becomes an adult in the eyes of the law.
Status Offenses Children under 18 who commit acts of truancy (missing school without permission), run away or are deemed “unruly” are now considered “children in need of services” insteaf of being detained, as they have been in the past. The focus of the court is now to address the problems that led to those behaviors.
Alternatives to Detention Children who need to be detained will be, but alternatives to detention will be used whenever possible for those who would benefit more from a focused service.
Recidivism In 2013, about 65 percent of children released from the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) detention facilities go on to commit another crime. Evidence-based programs are being used as proven services to reduce recidivism (or, repeated criminal activity within three years) in young offenders. See more on page 7 about the $6 million the state and federal government have invested in these programs and their success so far.
Mediation Tools for mediation will be strengthened. This means, young people involved with DJJ will have more resources at their disposal to get the rehabilitation they need to learn, heal and move forward in their lives. This restorative approach can help to more effectively solve problems and gives both victims and offenders a therapeutic outlet, according to a 2013 brief by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Assessment Judges will have more information about each case they review, and thus more flexibility to balance public safety with the child’s well-being.
Representation Because most parents and children don’t understand their rights in these cases, the new changes have increased emphasis on children having representation at every step of the legal process.
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
BEHINDTHESEBARS
By Mikael A. Trench VOX Staff
I never thought I don’t think anyone thought That when I was born I would be here Behind these bars. Who knew that one little mistake One little slip Would’ve cost me everything My humanity, my dignity, my life as I knew it Behind these bars. The first night That first spine-shivering night I hear the bars slam shut And that’s when you realize Your world has come to an end Behind these bars. Ten years, they say Ten years of a day-in and day-out life Of nothing but your thoughts Your lonely thoughts Behind these bars. Why? I wonder Why did I do it? Did it have to be me? I’m better than this But these thoughts do nothing Nothing, but bring me back to the cruel reality Behind these bars. Then what happens in ten years? I’m nothing but a label to the world A label that says, “Creep” “Vile” “Low-life” “Dangerous” I’m nothing but a label Trapped because of my mistakes Humiliated by my experiences And at the end, I am nowhere For the rest of my life Until the day I die I will always be Behind these bars.
SILHOUETTED PHOTO TO PROTECT IDENTITY OF YOUNG PERSON IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PAGE 6
KNOW THE CODE By Alexandria Wilson VOX Staff
I
n 2014, Georgia started enforcing use of its revamped Juvenile Justice code, which had not been comprehensively updated in more than 40 years. This means teens living in Georgia between January 1, 2014 and somewhere around 1970, hadn’t had comprehensive revision and reform to the laws that govern us. Forty years in a fast-paced society such as ours is a huge gap for only minor, piecemeal changes. So many cultural, economic and social changes have happened in that amount of time. There are a whole slew of changes, and they are all written in a lengthy legal document, which can be found at bit.ly/ gajuvenilecode. Although reading a 200-page document may feel like crossing a vast desert with no water, simply skimming through it or just reading a few pages a week may prove to benefit Georgia teens in the long run. And while reading this hefty packet of information, the reader might encounter some words or phrases that have little-tono meaning to them, so VOX presents this handy dictionary to help anyone decipher the law jargon contained in the new juvenile justice legislation (special thanks to our partner Melissa Carter at the Barton Child Law and Policy Center and Alla Raykin, Esq. for the extra assistance in deciphering this material).
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
VoxTeenCommunications.org
Word: Child
What This Means: Child
In accordance to the law means any individual who is: (A) Under the age of 18 years; (B) Under the age of 17 years when alleged to have committed a delinquent act; (C) Under the age of 22 years and in the care of DFCS as a result of being adjudicated dependent before reaching 18 years of age; (D) Under the age of 23 years and eligible for and receiving independent living services through DFCS as a result of being adjudicated dependent before reaching 18 years of age; (E) Under the age of 21 years who committed an act of delinquency before reaching the age of 17 years and who has been placed under the supervision of the court or on probation to the court for the purpose of enforcing orders of the court.
Any person: (A) 17 or younger when he or she is accused of committing a delinquent act, (B) under 22 years old and in the care of the Division of Family and Child Services (DFCS), (C) under 23 years old and able to receive independent living services from DFCS, or (D) under 21 years old who is under court supervision or probation for committing a delinquent act before he or she was 17.
Word/Phrase: Delinquent act In accordance to the law means: (A) An act committed by a child designated a crime by the laws of this state, or by the laws of another state if the act occurred in that state, under federal laws, or by local ordinance, and the act is not an offense applicable only to a child or a juvenile traffic offense; (B) The act of disobeying the terms of supervision contained in a court order which has been directed to a child who has been adjudicated to have committed a delinquent act; or (C) Failing to appear as required by a citation issued for an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult.
Word/Phrase: Dependent child In accordance to the law means a child who: (A) Has been abused or neglected and is in need of the protection of the court: (B) Has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law; or (C) Is without his or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
Word/Phrase: Emancipation The termination of the rights of a parent to the custody, control, services, and earnings of a child.
Word/Phrase: Guardian ad litem In accordance to the Law means: an individual appointed to assist the court in determining the best interests of a child.
Word: Recidivism: In accordance to the law means: a conviction or adjudication of delinquency for an offense or crime committed within three years of being placed on probation or being discharged or released from a juvenile detention facility.
What This Means: Delinquent act Breaking the law if the crime isn’t minor, like traffic violations, petty offenses that are punished with small fines, or status offenses like truancy or running away from home, according to the Juvenile Law Center.
What This Means: Dependent child A child who cannot be taken care of safely by their parent or legal guardian because of abuse or neglect, a child who has been given up by a legal guardian, or a child who has no legal guardian present.
What This Means: Emancipation Emancipated teens are persons at least 16 years old who are no longer under the control of a parent or guardian, usually as the result of a court order, a marriage or active duty in the military. Learn more about these rights and the process to become an emancipated teen from Georgia Legal Aid here: http://bit.ly/emancipatedteen
What This Means: Guardian ad litem If you’re a child in court, you get a special representative to help represent you. According to the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, a guardian ad litem (GAL) can be either an attorney or a non-attorney. If a non-attorney, “Georgia law requires the court to appoint a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer to serve as GAL whenever possible, and a CASA may be appointed in addition to an attorney serving as the child’s Guardian ad Litem.” A GAL must also receive special training, which is administered or approved by the Office of the Child Advocate.
What This Means: Recidivism When an offender is adjudicated for another offense within three years of being released from the previous offense.
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KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
WHERE ARE WE NOW? One year impact of Georgia’s Juvenile Justice Reinvestment and Incentive Grants
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$90,000 $9,394 vs.
or more is the cost per bed per year in Georgia’s out-of-home facilities for youth, which is nearly
two-thirds
of the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice’s budget, according to an analysis provided by the GA JJRI grant report.
approximately how much Georgia spends on public education per child per year, according to 2012 data provided by Kids Count Data Center. This is a difference, from what is spent on out-of-home facilitaties for youth, of
$80,606
+
An alternative: The Georgia Juvenile Justice Reinvestment and Incentive Grants
$5 million in state grant money
$1 million
in federal grant money pays for alternatives to incarcerating adjudicated youth for state juvenile courts spanning
49
adju juvenile dicated: a co determ urt judge’s whethe ination as to r commit or not a youth te offense d a delinque , accord nt ing Juvenil e Law C to the enter
counties
By Manuel Portillo VOX Staff
I
n 2014, Georgia’s juvenile justice code got the facelift it had desperately needed for decades. But have those laws been successful? Luckily, we have a one-year report that gives us some important details about how the changes being made as a result of revisions to the code are affecting young people impacted by the juvenile justice system. With a goal of reducing juvenile incarceration, the Georgia Juvenile Justice Reinvestment and Incentive (JJRI) grant program placed an emphasis on evidence-based programs (EBDs), such as functional family therapy (FFT), and multisystemic therapy (MST) as alternatives to incarceration. The big goals, according to the JJRI, were to measure these EBPs and their effectiveness among about 70 percent of Georgia’s “total at risk youth population, defined as juveniles between ages 0 and 16.” The infographic at right goes into more detail about this work, as well as shows the success reported in the grants’ first year of implementation. And it’s good news for young people impacted by the juvenile justice system and those working to deter incarceration.
These first-year grant awards are serving counties representing
nearly 70% of Georgia’s at-risk youth
and providing supporting services and strategies proven to reduce juvenile recidivism. These strategies are called evidence-based programs, which include therapies that are proving to be effective alternatives to incarcerating youth. The initial grant period was for 9 months, October 2013 - June 2014.
First-Year Results
62%
The overall reduction in out-of-home placements of youth receiving the EBPs in the 29 counties above.
65% The overall reduction in short-term program admission of youth
The original goal for first-year reduction rates was
under 30%
receiving the EBPs in the 29 counties above.
The results exceeded the goal by double, giving these EBP alternatives to incarceration a significant reason to be tried in even more regions of the state with adjudicated youth, who are at risk of committing another criminal offense.
receiving the EBPs in the 29 counties above.
Source: The GA JJRI Grant first-year report
57% The overall reduction in felony charge reductions of youth
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PAGE 8
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015 By Sarika Temme-Bapat VOX Staff
CAN A T N A L T A E V A H ? ? San Francisco model employs those who need jobs most to clean up roughest neighborhoods through employment and community building
G
rowing up in the impoverished public housing development of San Francisco, Tyrone Mullins was not on track to go far. From an early age, he was involved in the violence and conflict that were a part of his community. He served jail time, got out, and was all set to continue the life of struggle he had led before. But then, something happened. Something clicked, and Mullins saw a way out: garbage. Instead of returning to gang violence, Mullins decided to start a business. From criminal to entrepreneur, it was a huge leap, but Mullins found a way to clean up his act by cleaning up his community. The company is called Green Streets, and it is made up of Mullins and what is still a growing list of employees living in the public housing developments in the Bay area of California. They sorted through the overflowing dumpsters that existed in underdeveloped housing areas, separating recycling, compost and trash. The job wasn’t glamorous, but for the employees, many of whom had been incarcerated themselves, the job was a welcome business opportunity and a handhold to pull themselves off the streets. Their work also transformed the stinking heaps that once existed into clean, organized, Pine-Sol scented disposal sites, and saved the environment from harmful methane emissions that are produced when recyclables and compostables are carelessly tossed in the trash. Mullins told VOX one of the most valuable parts of founding the business of Green Streets for him was “being part of the solution, not the problem.” But Mullins’ journey did not end there. Sophie Constantinou — co-founder of Citizen Film, a socially-minded film production company — heard about his amazing story, and decided a story so incredible was worth documenting. She followed the Green Streets company as they slowly grew and gained prominence in the Bay area, capturing each step, each struggle, each failure, and hard-won
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victories. Ultimately, she made “Green Streets,” a documentary about the Mullins’ project that’s being screened at events around the country. In January, it found its way to Atlanta, where it was screened by The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation as a part of its film series. The experience of not only launching his own business, but seeing his work inspire people across the country, Mullins tells me is one he “still hasn’t wrapped his brain around yet.” Constantinou talks about her motivation for creating the film: “People only know so much about re-entry,” she told VOX, talking about what happens when previous inmates go back to their communities after serving time in prison. “We gotta talk about this … problem all over the nation.”
Lost and found Mullins, now 30, calls his community “a forgotten group of people,” and he is right. In housing developments that are often considered abandoned, the people living there are the ones who are truly abandoned. They live in a world of need, of wanting, but not a world of having. Crime sends them to prison, and upon completing their sentence, they are released back onto the streets. But what about what happens when an inmate is released? Finding a stable job with jail time on your record? Good luck. So what are his or her options? A person returns to the life they led before they were arrested, a life that could include more crime, turf battles, violence and drugs. These are endless vicious cycles: people ricocheting back and forth between prison and life on the streets, bullets ricocheting back and forth between gangs. After working with the people employed by Green Streets, Constantinou recounts when she realized how “powerful” her work had become and had the potential to be. Before working there, many Green Streets employees “had never seen positive images of themselves,” Constantinou recalled. And now here they were saying to her as they watched themselves, “That’s me in a movie!” The kind of self-esteem this inspired,
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down one street and see high-rises,” and look the other way and are faced with slums. He described one face of Atlanta as a bustling, vibrant, entrepreneurial scene — full of innovation and ideas, everything new, all on the cutting edge. This side of Atlanta seems to have a solution, a product, a service or gizmo for every problem imaginable: an app to eliminate boredom, a cream to erase wrinkles, and even a business that could chip away at poverty. The other side of Atlanta Malhotra described is the communities that are so deeply entrenched in their age-old struggle against poverty and each other, that they cannot see a way out. These are the communities that have never known wealth. Atlanta is a city full of people that face situations similar to Mullins’. One out
the areas with the least affordable housing, meaning there is a barrier between the jobs and the people who most need them. In five Atlanta-area counties, according to the 2013 U.S. Census, 25 percent of residents lived below the federal poverty level. Malhotra claimed the startling contrast between classes was what made Atlanta such a perfect city for a project like Green Streets. The median household income in Atlanta, according to the 2013 Census, was $46,631, as opposed to $53,046, which was the median household income for the rest of the nation during that same Census. The social entrepreneurship and energy of Atlanta just might be the perfect thing to pull the impoverished communities out of their rut. Projects like Green Streets are the kind of projects that keep people off the streets,
of 13 people in Georgia is on probation or on parole, said Meaghan Shannon-Vlkovic, the Vice President and leader of Enterprise Community’s Partner Southeast. She was another panelist at the screening of “Green Streets” in January, and she’s an expert on affordable housing in our region. She said what needs to change is that the areas with the most jobs in Atlanta are also
and communities on the map, whether it is a map of San Francisco, or a map of our own city here in Atlanta.
Constantinou realized, had the capacity to completely shift the way a community identifies itself: from a neighborhood entrapped by the unbreakable walls of tragedy that closed in on them, to people capable of enormous strength — capable of rising above. After witnessing this change, she decided Green Streets is not some fluke. Constantinou plans to continue to inspire change by following the story of Green Streets, building off of “the trust [the Green Streets team] has built.”
Sky’s the limit “Never settle.” That one piece of advice, Mullins says, is the most important advice he has to offer. “People gonna put you in a box,” he says, but you have to break free. When I spoke with Mullins, it was clear to me that Green Streets is in capable hands. He is a natural leader, and he has the support of his community and his friends in his endeavors. Words come naturally to him — not only is he eloquent, but he also exudes inspiration and character.
Bringing it home Where this really hits home is the kind of opportunity it would be for Atlanta. At a panel discussion after the movie’s screening, Rohit Malhotra, the founder and Executive
VOX TEEN REPORTERS AT THE JANUARY SCREENING OF “GREEN STREETS”, PICTURED ABOVE LEFT WITH TYRONE MULLINS, AND AT RIGHT WATCHING THE PANEL DISCUSSION. ABOVE, DIRECTOR SOPHIE CONSTANTINOU SHARES HOW THE FILM PROJECT TOOK OFF.
Director of The Center for Civic Innovation in Atlanta, answered the question that was on everyone’s mind: What about Atlanta? He claimed that Atlanta was the perfect setting for this kind of social entrepreneurship, starting businesses that end poverty, violence and a multitude of other societal problems. As he described it, “You look
Sarika, 14, is a freshman at Northview High, where she runs on the track team.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
Use your tech for good!
There are ALL kinds of ways to put your smartphone or tablet to good use. Check out VOX’s favorite FREE apps for learning about and creating your own social good and social change and then get to work saving the world!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Feedie
Social Impact
TED
Good Guide Addicaid Fair Trade Finder Human Rights Watch Locavore
9 10
8
Volunteer Match UN News Reader
TECH CRUNCH By Arlena McClenton VOX Staff
F
rom computers to smartphones, technology has become ubiquitous and expected. We assume that everyone has a computer, smartphone and automated personal assistant anticipating our every need. And while we often debate how this technological addiction affects us, we seldom remember how much power we hold in the palm of our hands. This is especially true with teenagers. It’s a well-known fact that the frontal lobes of our brains aren’t fully formed yet, which means that sometimes we forget to think about or predict the consequences of our actions. When texting or otherwise interacting with technology, teens can break several laws without ever being aware of it.
more than 30 percent) between 2006 and 2012, according to the 2012 Pew Research Center study. Many teens think that Snapchat, an app where you can snap and send a picture or video that disappears after a few seconds, was created for naughtier purposes than sending silly selfies to friends. According to TechCrunch’s interview with Snapchat’s
Know your rights when it comes to your beloved other half: your tech In fact, you could be committing one or more of three offenses: sexual exploitation of children, electronically sending explicit materials to minors, or possessing computer or electronic child pornography. Basically, you can be punished if you send or keep racy pictures. The severity of your punishment depends on the ages of the people depicted, the sender and the receiver.
The dangers of sexting
Social media or social disaster? Most teens have a wealth of social media accounts, according to a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center. With sites like Facebook and Tumblr, teens can create blogs, statuses and posts with the click of a mouse. But sometimes teens forget that once something is posted to the Internet, it becomes nearly impossible to delete. Perhaps you’re careful about what you post online, but with the existence of hashtags like #throwbackthursday and #embarrassyourbestfriendday, you also must consider what your friends post about you, including pictures. The amount of personal information teens share — from photos and videos of themselves, to their real names and relationship statuses — increased significantly (in some cases by
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Here are three fictional examples to help better explain. We’ll base them on Lily, 16, and her boyfriend Andre, 17. Andre sends Lily a nude or sexually-explicit picture. In doing so, Andre has electronically furnished obscene, a.k.a. sexually explicit, materials to a minor. According to Georgia law, he could be guilty of a misdemeanor, even if Lily consented to receiving the explicit pictures. This is because Andrew, the sender, is younger than 18 and Lily (the receiver) is at least 14 and consented to receive the photos. If it’s the first scenario (the misdemeanor only), Andre can be punished with a fine of up to $1,000, up to a year in jail, both of those, or up to a year in a state diversion center (or, basically, programs and facilities that aren’t actual prisons). While the 2013 revision of the Georgia juvenile justice code didn’t impact the sexting laws, another bill did (House Bill 156) the same year. The penalties for sexting have actually softened. According to the revisions implemented January 1, 2014, many of the
Less commonly known is that novice drivers — or youth under the age of 18 — are forbidden from all cellphone use while driving under Georgia law. co-founder, Evan Spiegel, Snapchat wasn’t created for sexting, but some teens might still use it for this purpose. You might think that sending racy pictures to your significant other is perfectly legal if it’s consensual, but that’s not the case.
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offenses now considered misdemeanors were once felonies, which previously had stiffer punishments. If you are found guilty of one of these crimes now that the revision to the code has been implemented, the court can still punish you as it sees fit if you are a juvenile. Older teens (who are 18 and 19) and adults can face punishments up to 20 years in prison. They can also face thousands of dollars of fines. Your punishment depends on the severity of your case.
Talking and texting on the road It’s commonly known that texting while driving is against the law. Less commonly known is that novice drivers — or youth under the age of 18 — are forbidden from all cellphone use while driving under Georgia law. If you want to text in the car without breaking the law, the car must be fully parked. If you decide to risk cellphone use and drive, you could be slapped with a fine of up to $150 and a point against your license. If you drive, you know these aren’t the kinds of points you want in your life. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, your license will be suspended if you gain 15 or more points in a 24 month period. A suspended license could result in higher insurance rates, a cancelled insurance policy, unhappy parents, or a unique mix of the three. For more on teen driving laws, check out Thalia’s article on page 12. To paraphrase Spider-man, with great power comes a million more ways to get in trouble than you thought. Just as today’s hottest cellphone quickly becomes tomorrow’s antique, the laws surrounding technology and teens are always changing. It’s OK to have fun, but you must use technology safely and responsibly to avoid unwanted consequences. Remember, technology is a privilege, not a right. Arlena, 17, is a writer at VOX Teen Communications and senior at DeKalb School of the Arts, who does indeed use Snapchat only for silly selfies. She snapped the photos that accompany this story.
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Tech You Can Use Ima Christian was not only a recipient at the 2015 Georgia Youth leadership Awards, but also the Turner Voices Innovative Leadership Award. She is also the co-founder/CEO of Pinetart, Inc. Through this business, Ima and her two younger siblings created a mobile app called Five-O. Ima told VOX that Five-O is an app that “allows citizens to rate, review, and track their interactions with law enforcement, both good and bad.” Within the first two weeks of its release on Google Play, Five-O had more than 10,000 downloads, and Christian has spoken with both CNN and Business Insider about the app. Ima also told VOX that “because of the media content that we’ve been getting and the stories that are picking up ... we’re in the process of making Five-O 2.O.” There’s more to this Parkview High School senior than Five-O. Christian also extends her outreach by partnering with elementary schools to create Community Tech days, which introduce computer science to children. — By Alexes Harris, VOX Staff
FIVE-O IMAGE ABOVE COURTESY OF PINETART, INC.
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
10 MILES TO INDEPENDENCE Teen driving laws in Georgia are stiff but protective By Thalia Butts VOX Staff
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Georgia teen’s 16th birthday is a very monumental time in our lives. When we’re 16, we can do things that we weren’t allowed to do before — but now we also have responsibilities we didn’t have before. One part of turning 16 is finally being able to get our driver’s licenses and starting our long journey to independence. However, the state of Georgia considers teen drivers “novice drivers,” according to Joshua’s Law, a state law that requires novice drivers to take an approved online driving course before hitting the road. This basically means we inexperienced drivers have very specific laws, requirements and restrictions to make sure teen drivers are responsible for their lives as well as the lives of everyone around them, on and off the road. Most driving laws related to teens were made in response to real-life events. Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens ages 15-20, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In 2012, 2,328 teens were killed in car accidents. In 2011, the motor vehicle death rate for male drivers and passengers ages 16-19 was almost two times that of teen female drivers. Statistics show that 16- and 17-year-old drivers’ death rates increase with each additional
passenger. Joshua’s Law is legislation governing teen drivers that stemmed the death of Joshua Brown from Cartersville, Georgia. Brown, a high school senior in 2003, died after crashing into a tree. His parents blamed the accident on the lack of driver’s education and experience. They pushed for legislation to be passed so all teen drivers would drive only after being thoroughly educated and prepared. This way, teens might be less likely to get into fatal accidents. The Joshua’s Law legislation was passed in 2007. Joshua’s Law changed the
requirements for getting a Class D license (the type of license teens have). Now, all teens who wish to drive have to take an approved driver’s education course and get 40 hours of driving experience. Creating new laws and requiring education and experience for novice drivers is a trend not just in Georgia, but in states all over the country, according to statistics provided by the Governors Highway Safety Association. So, the driving mandates and restrictions for teen drivers are very specific and very important as a novice driver. Legislation has been passed not just to keep you safe, but to make you responsible for all your actions. There are consequences for breaking Georgia’s driving laws. According to the Georgia Department of Driver Services, your license will be suspended if you drop out of school, have 10 or more consecutive absences or commit a school conduct offense. There is also a curfew for all Class D drivers. Class D drivers cannot drive between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., most likely because driving is more difficult at night, and a teen may be more likely to get in an accident. Also for Class D drivers, there is a passenger limit. During the first six months after you receive your license, you can only
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have a member of your immediate family in the vehicle with you if you’re driving. During the second six months, you can have up to one member outside of your immediate family in the vehicle with you if you are driving. After that second six months, you may have up to three passengers outside of your immediate family in the car with you if you are the person driving. This passenger limit and curfew is in effect until you receive your Class C license when you turn 18. So, happy birthday, new 16- and 17-yearold Georgia teens! You’re finally ready to make your next step into the adult world as drivers. You know what you have to do, and now you know what is expected of you. Driving is a major transition in your life, because for the first time, you are responsible for not just your life, but the lives of hundreds or even thousands of different people every day you are behind the wheel. Driving may be exciting, but as a teen driver, it’s expected you will make mistakes and mess up. Embrace the restrictions and precautions put on you because they are meant to keep you, as well as the people around you, safe and alive. Go forth, and drive safely! Thalia, 16, is a sophomore at DeKalb School of the Arts. She plays the violin and is currently pursuing her drivers’ license.
Did You Know?
A few facts and figures about cellphone usage in the car around the country.
Handheld Cellphone Use: 14 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using hand-held cell phones while driving. All are primary enforcement laws—an officer may cite a driver for using a hand-held cell phone without any other traffic offense taking place.
All Cellphone Use: No state bans all cell phone use for all drivers, but 38 states and D.C. ban all cellphone use by novice drivers, and 20 states and D.C. prohibit it for school bus drivers.
Text Messaging: Washington was the first state to pass a texting ban in 2007. Currently, 45 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands ban text messaging for all drivers (Georgia is included). All but 5 have primary enforcement. Of the 5 states without an all-driver texting ban: 3 prohibit text messaging by novice drivers. 2 restrict school bus drivers from texting. —Courtesy of the Governors Highway Safety Association, 2015.
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GOING PSYCHO?
Hardly, though some youth in foster care are given medications for emotional/behavioral issues more often than you may think. During the summer of 2013, youth involved in the juvenile justice system came to VOX’s newsroom to be interviewed by teen reporters about how psychotropic medications had been introduced to them while in the foster care system. Psychotropic drugs are drugs that affect a person’s mind, emotions, moods and behaviors, according to the 2014 publication titled “Making the Healthy Choice,” developed by the Barton Child Law and Policy Center. Teens have probably heard of the brands that are prescribed to teens for things like anxiety, depression and ADHD, including Adderall, Prozac and Abilify. The Barton Center developed this project because teens need a better handle on what these drugs do, when they should (and shouldn’t) be prescribed, and how to get help when a situation is taking a turn for the worse. Teens, and adults working with teens, can download the full guide by going to http://bit.ly/healthychoicesteens. See the first couple of pages below, and learn more about how to advocate for yourself and teens in care who may need some extra help! — VOX Staff
ABOVE: YOUNG ADULTS ANTOINETTE AND CHANCE SHARED THEIR STORIES ABOUT PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATIONS WITH VOX TEEN REPORTERS DURING SUMMER 2013. YOU CAN WATCH THEIR ABOVE: EXCERPTS FROM “MAKING THE HEALTHY CHOICE,” A GUIDE ON PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE.
VIDEO INTERVIEWS AT HTTP://BIT.LY/healthychoicesteens (ALL LOWERCASE).
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KEEP READING “TRAGIC CHOICES” BY DAWIT TRENCH, VOX STAFF, ON THE NEXT PAGE!
CHRIS Kids Program Description: CHRIS Kids offers a Clubhouse, “The Spot,” for youth and young adults, which includes a recording studio, journaling and self-advocacy, in addition to exposure to a wide range
of social and recreational interests. The Counseling Center offers counseling for children, youth, adults and families. Other programs include Voices Against Violence, a free dating-violence and anti-bullying training, Transitionz housing assistance that is safe, accepting and supportive, and adoptions services. Eligibility: Varies per service. For the Clubhouse: Youth and young adults between the ages of 15and 21, living in Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale Counties. An assessment is required, and transportation is provided.
Fees: none Hours of operation: Counseling services available by appointment Monday-Saturday. Clubhouse hours differ for youth ages 15-17 and 18-21. See detail online at chriskids.org/strong-communities/chrisclubhouse-the-spot. Contact Information: Clubhouse 404-564-5201; Counseling Center Contact: 404-324-4190 East Atlanta or 678-376-3800 for Lawrenceville; Transitionz Housing program: 404-564-3450; chriskids.org.
Covenant House Georgia Program Description: Covenant House Georgia is the state’s largest crisis shelter for homeless, runaway and trafficked youth, ages 18 to 21. Other youth services include: • Food, clothing and shelter for youth in need • Outreach services to youth on the street • Life skills development • Adult basic education, GED, and other educational programs • Vocational development and job readiness
• Individual and group counseling • Independent living program Eligibility: Age 18-21 and homelessness are the only eligibility requirements. Fees: Free for eligible participants. Hours of operation: Our shelter is open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Contact: Crisis line is 404-589-0163; covenanthousega.org
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BRAVE VOICES
Overheard brave voices from our writing workshops with teens impacted by the juvenile justice system
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“Violence, I have witnessed. I’ve been raped, molested and some stuff I don’t want to talk about.”
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KEEP READING “TRAGIC CHOICES” BY DAWIT TRENCH, VOX STAFF, ON THE NEXT PAGE!
“I DIDN’T WANT TO GET BULLIED.”
“I felt like I didn’t belong there.”
“BANG! THERE WAS A BUCKLE TO “I felt like a fish in an “HIGH SCHOOL IS REALLY THE MY FACE.” DEFINITION OF ADVENTURE.” ocean, all alone.”
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youthSpark Program Summary: Our mission is "to provide education and training, resources, and counseling to protect youth who are at risk of sexual exploitation, transitioning them to healthy, productive lives." We are available to lead teen-friendly presentations and trainings on child sex trafficking, how you can make a difference and what you can do to keep yourself and your peers safe. We also have resources available on our website.
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
Fees: All services are free. Hours of operation: Our office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but we are available during the evenings and on weekends. Any events or appointments during those hours need to be scheduled ahead of time. Contact: 404-612-4628; youth-spark.org Facebook: youthsparkinc Twitter: @youth_spark Instagram: @youthsparkinc
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SEVEN DEADLY SINS When a minor gets tried as an adult
By Sharmaine Fisher VOX Staff
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s of March 26, Atlanta-area teenagers Randy Deforrest Frederick and Trent Lee Jacobs who are ages 16 and 15, respectively, will be tried as adults for their alleged crimes, according to Paulding County public information officer Ashley Henson. According to a statement released by the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, it was New Year’s Eve when the two met with 18-year-old Gage McGee to allegedly buy some marijuana. Instead, the sheriff’s office says in its report, Jacobs held McGee up at gunpoint, allegedly intending to rob him. After an altercation over an unknown matter, McGee was fatally shot in the chest. He died while driving away from the scene for help and crashed his car. Corporal Ashley Henson, the public information officer for the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, told VOX, in several phone interviews before press, that the two teens will be tried as adults but have not yet been indicted by a grand jury. The grand jury date is set for March 30. Jacobs and Frederick are currently residing in separate regional youth detention facilities awaiting indictment by the grand jury, which will determine if their case goes to trial. According to Henson, Jacobs and Frederick were each charged with the felony crimes of aggravated assault, armed robbery and murder. They are being held without bond in separate youth detention facilities at the time of press. Most people would agree that their deeds are indeed heinous, and they should be punished accordingly. However, if a teen meditates on
this situation, they might wonder: How old is old enough to be treated no differently from a grown-up in the legal system? How serious does the crime have to be in order to be tried as an adult? How much adult time do youths get for adult crimes?
Seven Deadly Sins
be taken from juvenile court to superior court on a case-by-case basis. The decision of the time to be served in jail lies with either the judge (judicial discretion) or the prosecutor (prosecutorial discretion). Read more about the process of a teen being tried as an adult on our website, VoxTeen Communications.org.
COMMIT THE ADULT CRIME ...
Psychology of trying
Let’s start teens as adults answering these Rape Here’s the millionquestions by Armed robbery if committed with a firearm dollar question: covering the “Seven Aggravated child molestation How does all of this Deadly Sins,” which Aggravated sodomy psychologically affect Georgia’s Department Aggravated sexual battery the teen? You can of Juvenile Justice Voluntary manslaughter read first-person identifies as laws that stories from young persons 13-17 years people who’ve of age can break and encountered the be charged as adults juvenile justice instead of minors. system on page 22 of Because of this law, this newspaper, but juvenile offenders formal psychological could be incarcerated for years on end if studies have also been conducted and they’ve committed any of the following: published about the dangers in treating • Murder young people as adults in the criminal justice • Rape system. • Armed robbery if committed with a According to 1997 and 1999 studies firearm published by the University of Kentucky and • Aggravated child molestation the journal “Psychology, Public Policy and • Aggravated sodomy the Law,” there is not much help provided to • Aggravated sexual battery the young mind still developing when it gets • Voluntary manslaughter to an adult prison. In other words, kids aren’t However, committing any other felony — mentally prepared or ready for what they may such as a grand theft, fraud or kidnapping experience in prison, regardless of how adult — could earn the young perpetrator some their crime may have been. adult jail time as well. Since these aren’t on A much older 1989 study re-published in the list of “deadly sin” laws, the case would “The Sentencing Project” states: “They are at
... DO THE ADULT TIME
risk. Children incarcerated in adult facilities are 7.7 times more likely to commit suicide, 5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted, twice as likely to be beaten by staff, and 50 percent more likely to be attacked with a weapon than children incarcerated in juvenile institutions.” The process a young person goes through after committing an adult crime seems to be a solemn one that the teen shouldn’t be held entirely accountable for. There can be dire problems at home and in a community that, without help, can cause significant mental and behavioral problems for that young person, which could result in a him or her committing one of the seven deadly sins. That teen may not even be fully aware of the consequences of his or her actions because, according to well-known theories of developmental psychology, the frontal lobe is still developing at a young age (which makes understanding consequences physically impossible for some young people), making ignorance a worst enemy of adolescence. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world where laws and court proceedings can cater to every single person’s specific needs and circumstances. All laws, state and federal, are made to accommodate as many people’s well-being as possible. This, ironically, can oversimplify the people’s needs as well, leaving some teenagers condemned to a future that could’ve been prevented. Sharmaine, 17, is a senior at Lovejoy High School. Additional reporting by VOX staff.
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AUTOMATIC SYSTEMATIC By Zani Nobles VOX Staff
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magine being dropped off at a house one day and being told that you have to live with complete strangers. Young people in the foster care system have to experience that throughout their lives. Kids in foster care are dependents of the state, so their living arrangements are arranged by the state and they seem to have little choice in where they end up. Former Georgia Juvenile Court Judge and child welfare expert Tom Rawlings works with these youth. Most of his work in child welfare has consisted of the Cold Case Project, which helps assist youth that have been in the foster care system for awhile and have not been connected with a good family. According to Rawlings, approximately 9,700 kids are in foster care today. About 20 percent of the children are youth ages 14 and up. Somewhere in between those numbers, you’ll find a young lady named Jasmine, age 19, who is currently involved with the foster care system.
Moving around Jasmine was in second grade when she first entered the foster care system. It’s not easy growing up in the foster care system, she says. Moving around between different homes and group homes is difficult for young people to go through. Rawlings explains that a foster home is a home with one or two parents, and up to six children. Group homes are more of an institution. Kids in foster care may be in what Rawlings called a “cottage” with up to seven other kids, and they have house parents. Jasmine has transferred between foster homes and group
Life in the foster care system can be a wild ride for young people
homes living in several cities like Dahlonega, Forsyth, Gainesville and other places in the state of GA. “The moving around was mentally too much,” Jasmine explained to me over the phone. The DFCS Foster Care in Georgia fact sheet states, “Foster care is temporary, most children who enter foster care will return to their birth families.” Unfortunately, this is not true for some young people like Jasmine. The purpose of foster care is to fix whatever problem may be going on in the home, so children can return to their respective families. “The problem comes in when we remove children, and we can’t return them home. That’s only probably about 20 percent of the cases,” Rawlings explained. Jasmine did return home when she was in fifth grade. Due to neglect in her home, and irreconcilable differences with family members, Jasmine eventually found herself back in the foster care system. Moving from place to place also took a toll on Jasmine’s school life. “I would make, like, two friends and get super cool or comfortable with them, or get used to things a little bit. Then, I would have to leave. Every time I would get comfortable, I would have to leave,” she says.
has also learned from this experience. “If you can make it through this, you can make through anything. I’ve been through the hardest days of my life, and I’ve learned so much.” People in Jasmine’s life always used her being a foster child has an excuse for her behavior. She explains it felt as though they felt sorry for her, which made her feel like an outcast instead of a human being. Jasmine has matured enough now to know that her situation isn’t her fault, and she needed to turn a negative into a positive. The system has given her the tools she needs to become successful in college. Today, Jasmine is a Fashion Merchandising and Management major at Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah. Although she is 19 years old, the system is still right by her side. In Georgia, someone under 22 years old and in the care of the Division of Family and Child Services (DFCS) can still be a dependent of the state, according to Georgia state law. Since she attends college, she is now a part of the independent living program. This program is for youth in the foster care system that are age 14 and older. The Independent living program is designed to help teens become responsible adults. It teaches teens basic life skills like driving, managing money and job skills. Rawlings says, “What we’ve done in the last 15 years is put in place programs to
Every time I would get comfortable, I would have to leave.
Growing pains It may have been hard for Jasmine to be involved with the foster care system, but she
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make sure we’re giving to those adolescents and teenagers in foster care the same training that we would give to any teenager in any family.”
Bright future Now that Jasmine has become a success story for youth involved in the dependency system, she does outreach for other youth in the same situation she grew up in. Jasmine tells young girls her story, and helps them to create vision boards for their future. She wants youth in foster care to know they can still do something positive with their lives, even if they are in the care of the state. “Don’t just sit here, and not do anything or mope around because of your situation,” she says. “Take the situation, and take advantage of the opportunities that you have in foster care.” Jasmine, thanks to her own experience in care, wants to see better communication between the judges, caseworkers, parents, and children in care. She told me, “Everyone needs to know what’s going on, literally. Regardless of age, they need to figure out a way to make it clear what is going on. It’s not fair we don’t know what’s going on.” Fortunately for Jasmine and the thousands of kids in care, teens have rights that will allow them to know what’s going on if they’re involved with the foster care system. In the past, youth were not able to be involved with their court cases, but today things are different, thanks to changes to Georgia’s juvenile code, implemented in 2014. “These young people have the right to be in court. If they’re not being invited to the court hearing, then their rights are being violated,” Rawlings told me. Teens in foster care need to demand to be a part of any meeting concerning their future because it’s their legal right. Teenagers in foster care need to know that Georgia law now provides them with services to positively impact their future, just as Jasmine has done in her life. Zani, 17, is a senior at Riverwood International Charter High School.
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THESE STORIES ARE TRUE.
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OX provides a lot of community workshops to teens, with the purpose of strengthening our voices. After two hours of being in a workshop, students are more comfortable expressing themselves. We did two of these workshops with Families First and Georgia EmpowerMEnt this spring — both organizations that serve teens in foster care. This juvenile code workshop showed us the importance of sharing stories. The workshop attendees shared their stories dealing with the juvenile justice system. The beginning of the workshop had the purpose of making the attendees feel comfortable using the VOX strategy of teaching them more about our teen-driven organization and that their voices and stories are valuable. We emphasized that the organization is uncensored to make them more comfortable. The facilitators shared a story from our juvenile code edition; a lot of the teens were able to relate to the article. This was a turning point for them, because they were able to relate to our stories. This shows the purpose of VOX, which is to connect to our audience by showing them that teens have similar stories to each other. We aren’t alone. By sharing stories from our organization the workshop participants felt more comfortable sharing their personal stories with us, which you’ll read on these next few pages. This experience showed me the importance of storytelling, We hope the attendees were also able to realize this. We also learned that everyone had a different story, and we learned to listen to these different stories. Many felt like their voices were unheard, but their stories matter and should be heard. We learned that if someone is quiet and
not responsive, their stories could have the most impact. We met a girl at the place who had gone through sexual abuse and violence all her life, which made her distant. These teens had families that went through the juvenile justice system and relayed to us that they were in the systems as far as childcare and foster care. They told us that they didn’t think believe the juvenile system cared, and we think by sharing their stories, we can make an impact through our networks. We hope that teens learn the effect their stories have. VOX is a messenger for these stories. Social media has made it easier for these stories to be shared so there's no limit to who these stories could reach. Lawmakers can hear these stories and change the flaws still found in the juvenile code. Teens sharing their concerns about the system could result in change that could prevent other teens from experiencing the same troubles they faced. It was inspiring to hear from the participants — it was a new concept for us to facilitate this meaningful writing workshop, but we know, in retrospect, this was probably new to them, too. By Vanessa Alva, Mac Rowe and Christian Stallworth, VOX Teen Staff and Writing Workshop Facilitators Editor’s Note: The stories shared on the next few pages are shared through a special partnership with Families First and Georgia EmpowerMEnt to uplift the voices of young people impacted personally by the code of laws in our state that governs young people — also known as Georgia’s Juvenile Code. The privacy of participants in VOX’s community workshops is protected by using only first names or withholding names.
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Multi-Agency Alliance for Children, Inc. (MAAC) Program Description: MAAC offers a variety of services for youth who are in or aging out of foster care: • MAAC Network offers care and service coordination, including placement, for youth in foster care across a continuum including intensive and community-based options (psychiatric residential treatment facilities, independent living programs, group homes, therapeutic foster homes, etc.) • Community-Based Wraparound Services for youth navigating mental-health needs and their families • Teen Parent Connection offers support for young people in foster care who are pregnant or parenting • Peer to Peer support for young people transitioning from care by young adults who have transitioned recently from care
• Lead agency for the Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative Fees: Free for those who meet eligibility criteria. Eligibility: MAAC Network serves youth through a contract with the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. (Participants must be in or have been in DFCS custody.) Community-Based Wraparound Services are accessible via referral through a teen’s local mental-health department or partner provider. Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative serves youths ages 14 to 26. Contact: 404-880-9323 or online at maac4kids.org.
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Adovcating for youth is crucial By Lourdes Aguilar, 19 VOX Contributor
S
ome of our youth — current foster youth, some from group homes and some youth who are about to age out of the system — came together and brainstormed ideas for stories they wanted to share with the world. The simple fact is other youth are going through the same thing and may not know they’re not alone. Maybe mom just gave up on them, or all this stuff happened to them when they were younger, and they don’t know other youth in care went through the same things. Hearing our stories, maybe they’ll know someone out there will relate to them. If I wasn’t in care, I would want to know the stories of my peers who were. I would want to know why. They may also have struggles at home — maybe they didn’t get help. But they are not alone. People need to pay attention to the signs of every child. Every child has a different sign. A lot of us are crying out for help. We need help. We need someone to ask what’s going on at home, are you ok? A lot of youth will hide what’s going on with them. They’re scared of what people will think or say. People may reject us for whatever reason. I didn’t want anyone to find out what happened to me when I was younger, so I kept it to myself. It’s bad to not be able to talk about what’s really going on. Sharing these stories took a little friendly push and a lot of courage. You have to speak up to get what you need. You have to use your own strong voice so others can hear you. I want foster youths’ opinions about where they are in life to be known. The youth who are affected by the juvenile code have a voice and should be able to express themselves without feeling like people are judging them. A quote I always leave with: No matter what people say or think about you, you still gotta do you. You can be whatever you want to be. Lourdes, a former foster youth, is a peer coordinator for EmpowerMEnt in Cobb County (pictured above advocating for children’s rights with the JUSTGeorgia Coalition).
Lost in a cloud of smoke By Kitty, 15
VOX Contributor
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eing the youngest of a family of junkies, I was already expected to do drugs. After I was placed in foster care the first time at age nine, that’s when my family really started splitting apart. I had moved in with my aunt and uncle so my immediate family just lost all hope. My mom and dad split up, and my brother, mom and sister got on drugs. I always said I would never be like that. I wanted to be there for them even though they weren’t there for me. Unfortunately, once I was 14, more people in my family started getting on drugs. That’s when I started doing drugs
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of it and doing it every single day. I wasn’t going to school because of it. I lost a lot of people. I lost my reputation, and that’s not something you can get back. But I never had to prostitute myself for it. I’ve slept in weird places due to my aunt kicking me out from her “wigging” – behind churches, park bathrooms, abandoned attics. Wigging is when you are coming off the drug, as well as one of the effects it can have: experiencing paranoia. I lost 40 pounds in four weeks and had times when I wouldn’t eat and sleep for nine days straight. It was all about what I could get and do for my family since they didn’t know what they were doing. I’d rather them do it with me than other people, because I didn’t want them to get screwed over or hurt. I saw the people that were out there and I didn’t want my family to affiliate with the bad people out there. The dealers didn’t care about you, only the money they
Once somebody had placed meth in front of me, I knew exactly what to do with it. I knew how to cook it, inject it, and do whatever I wanted with meth. It really destroyed my body. that weren’t common teenage drugs, like meth, heroin, crack cocaine, molly, and every other drug you could possibly think of. Whenever I wanted it, I could get it. I became a ‘’middleman’’ for a dope dealer so that made it even easier to get to. I would take the drugs to different people or sell them on my own while splitting the profit with the main dealer. Once somebody had placed meth in front of me, I knew exactly what to do with it. I knew how to cook it, inject it, and do whatever I wanted with meth. It really destroyed my body. Today, I can’t breathe out of the left side of my nose. My lungs are awful. I used to be able to swim really well; now I can’t. My teeth were on the verge of falling out. I was doing so much
could make off you. It wasn’t until I looked into the mirror with brown veins and purple tired eyes two months later that I saw everything I’d ever hoped, wanted and envisioned for myself and realized it was farther and farther behind me. I was losing the little bit of family I had left. I lost my friends and didn’t have anything but myself, and I didn’t want that anymore. I had thrown everything away for this one drug. I wanted to get back on track so I could succeed in life. Meaning that I wanted to be sober again. But the biggest reason why I quit is that to help my family. I couldn’t be a hypocrite. I knew I had to find my inner strength in order to quit. It was really strange how I quit. Usually
VoxTeenCommunications.org people don’t believe me. It wasn’t until one random day, I had the meth pipe in my hand and said, “I’m done” that I had finally quit. People were extremely shocked, because I could hold my own with meth like the best of them. According to people who interviewed me for rehab after I was placed in care for the second time by my aunt, it was impossible to quit like that. Especially noting the fact of how much of the drug I had actually consumed. I was never placed in a rehab facility, by the way. Furthermore, a month after I quit, the state ordered for me to have a hair follicle test and my meth level was still 2,554, so you can imagine how high it was when I was actually doing the drugs. What really helped my conquering of drugs the most was me, myself, and I. In order to free yourself from the grasp of drugs, you have to do it yourself. I had quit only a few weeks before I was put into state care so I feel as if the state did not help with my drug problems. Of course you need a support system, but you need yourself and faith, overall. I see bigger things now. My nephew is in foster care because of the same drug. I believe he will make it home though. My aunt placed me in foster care due to the drug – it wasn’t like I was taken away. But I’m not going to let that push me down. Of course it’s a battle every day. I still go through waves. But it’s been 11 months since I did drugs. I still feel the effects. I feel as if I hadn’t gone through the extremity of this, I wouldn’t have gained the strength I did. I’m an A-B student now. I’m going to do dual enrollment and start taking nursing classes so I could prepare myself to be a nurse practitioner. You don’t have to be a repeat offender. Just because someone in your family was like this doesn’t mean you have to be. There’s always a way to quit, you just need to find yours. You need to know that your willpower is stronger than any drug in this world.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
Orphaned at a young age By Chi-Chi, 20
VOX Contributor
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he wonder of my life, both of my loving parents were gone, and not gone for a while but gone forever. It wasn’t easy, but I made it through. When I was 19 years old, I was in my sister’s dorm room at Georgia State University when my aunty from Nigeria called her. After they talked, she gave me the phone to talk to my aunty. That day I was ready to know the real answer of what killed my two parents. When I asked my aunt, she went silent for a minute, then started crying. She told us that it was AIDS that killed my parents. To my understanding, the reason we hadn’t been told all this time was because they thought we were too young to handle the truth and they had been waiting ‘til we got older to be told the truth and nothing but the truth. The only memory I have was lying next to my mom and when I needed to use the restroom and needed her to take me that night, she wasn’t waking up. I went and got my dad and the next thing I knew, my sister and I were sent to our neighbor’s house. We stayed there for days, and then when we finally saw our dad, he was alone and our mom wasn’t with him. He looked very destroyed and lost, like something very important was taken or stolen form him. Yes, it did happen. My mom was gone. My dad, on the other hand, became a single parent — and was a great father, by the way. I never knew that he was sick. He had always been a strong and unique one in his family. He was the only man in his family that wasn’t a Christian and working his own
God (his shrine). His brothers didn’t like him for that, but he was a strong believer and very stubborn. He passed that on to me. My dad left me when he took me to my uncle’s house, a relative I didn’t even know. He told me I was just visiting, but just visiting went to becoming permanent. Not a single day went by that I didn’t look outside to watch for my dad to come to get me. I used to cry, but I noticed nothing was changing, and my dad wasn’t coming back. The only thing that was happening was me getting very severe headaches. I tried to convince myself that my dad would never abandon me, that he just wanted what was best for me and needed to start back his job as a truck driver to be able to still be provide for his family. But now it was just me because my sister was given to another loving family, a family who was having difficulties having a baby girl. My uncle who was to care for me left me to his wife and children which wasn’t as my dad planned. His kids treated me very badly. They took my food from me, and I would go hungry for days. They spit on my food, made me eat their baby girl’s poop, beat me around, sent me to go steal, and told me if I didn’t come home with any money or candy or any materialistic things, I should not come back. I thought they were joking, and I thought that they were wicked and cold hearted. I thought they were the devil and they weren’t my relatives, but to God’s honest truth, they’re my cousins. I knew that they were lost and didn’t know what they were doing. I started to sleep outside and under the stairs each day. I wasn’t successful in stealing things. My uncle thought I was running away but never knew the real story behind it. I wanted to tell him so bad, but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to be dead by the next day when he left for work. My uncle
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never punished me for not coming home, he just talked to me. One of my cousins was mad at me because I didn’t finish their assigned chores before their mom came home. And then from one person being mad at me, now the whole siblings were mad at me. They all started telling me that I was dumb and I would never be something, that I was an orphan and that’s what I got for being stupid. When their dad came back, I asked him if my dad was dead. His response provided me the answer that I needed. He asked me who said that to me and I told him his kids. He punished them very badly, but after that my punishment from his kids became so increasingly severe that I stopped coming home. My uncle then got fed up with me always being on the street and send me back to the village to my aunt’s house. My aunt took great care of my sister and me until we got adopted by an uncle who lives in College Park, Ga. My uncle was great at first, but things later changed. It went from verbal to physical and random punishments and keeping secrets, and he made my sister and me feel like we didn’t belong. I was kicked out at 17 years old and was taken into the custody of DFCS. My first encounter was awesome. My foster mom Jaqueline took great care of me. She allowed me to be me and I was able to express myself with my clothes, hair, nails and other things that I needed to be me. For the first time, I was allowed to eat whatever I wanted and to do just what I wanted. This lady gave me hope, voice and made me feel safe and appreciated. I felt grown for a minute, but I knew that there is always a limit to everything. I now stay in an independent living program called CHRIS Kids. I attend Georgia Perimeter College full time and work at Publix part-time. I am a very strong young lady who strongly believes that life is what I make of it and if it doesn’t kill me it makes me stronger. I keep pushing because I am very optimistic that at the end of my race will be a very happy and everlasting future ahead, waiting for me to enjoy forever. Chi-Chi is pictured above.
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Even when you think you have no options, you do By Alex, 17
VOX Contributor
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here were a lot of people that thought the world was going to end in 2012. For me, the end happened in 2013. That’s when my life changed
forever. Being 15 years old already has its problems, but I had just a few more. At that time, I was being verbally and physically abused by my father and, for the first time, sexually abused by my step-father. On top of that, my mom was basically non-existent in my life and I had a history of self-harming that nobody was aware of. I thought that maybe if I continued to use self-harm as my escape or took it farther, all my problems would disappear. But I was completely wrong. As I continued this behavior, everything got worse. My father ended up finding out about my self-harming and suicide attempts. It got so extreme that he locked me in a room for three days. On the third day, I was so angry and depressed, I cut a vein in each of my wrists and bled out for about 30 minutes. Once he did call the police, he beat me until they came. Once they arrived, I was on the ground with him on top of me (he was about 400 pounds at the time). They picked me up and walked me to the stretcher with my head basically dangling because I couldn’t lift it. From there, I went to the hospital and told every adult I could about what had been happening and how I refused to return home. A week later, when I got out of a psychiatric hospital, I was placed in a RYDC (a Regional Youth Detention Center) for 10 days as an emergency placement until they put me in my first group home. From there, I was in three group homes in two months, until they found me a permanent one where
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015 I met the most incredible woman ever, who eventually became my mentor and a mother figure. Not too long after, I cut for the last time. My mentor found me in the bathroom with 200 cuts altogether, all over my body. She didn’t judge me; she only helped me and treated me like I was normal. It was the most incredible thing anyone had ever done for me — and she had only known me for one month. If it weren’t for this tremendous woman, I possibly wouldn’t have made it to the point where I am at today. Because of my past, I can proudly say that I have come a very long way and in one year changed my life for the better in many more ways than one. I am currently a junior in high school, six and a half months clean from self-harming, have a great relationship with my mom, have built relationships with other people, made my own family, and just got my first job yesterday.
Running away from your problems doesn’t help By Kaliah, 18
VOX Contributor
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y fighting a lot in school, I became a criminal that was crying out for help. I started fighting at the age of six. I had a lot of anger in me because of my past and at the time that was all I knew how to handle my problems. All the stuff around me that was going on in the household really made me mad. My mom was abusive, and I was raped at a young age. RYDC is Regional Youth Detention Center. It’s a place for young people with bad behavior. RYDC was a part of my life because my bad behavior prevented me from being home with my brothers.
Georgia Youth Opportunities Initiative / Georgia EmpowerMEnt Program Description: • Advocacy, leadership and training opportunities with Georgia EmpowerMEnt. Training opportunities include public speaking, self-advocacy, and events such learning
I was going to therapy about my problems, and I was going to groups about them, too. I was encouraged by others to keep a smile on my face and stop running away. I was showing them I was ready for help. I became able to talk about my problems by moving forward. I was quiet and people came to me to ask me to share my story. They saw the pain I was going through. I was able to talk about it more now because I realized there will always be somebody out there listening to my story or perhaps your story. I always put a smile on my face and try to move on. People tell me after all I’ve been through I am a strong person because I stay smiling and helping people. I would like for all young people to understand I have been where you are. It’s OK to talk to somebody. If one person isn’t listening, keep going until you reach that person who will. I want this to help you realize that you’re not the only one. If you don’t fight to fix your problems, no one will.
I had a lot of anger in me because of my past.
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to navigate MARTA or other community based needs. • Impact on the child welfare system to improve outcomes for youth transitioning from care. • Fun, group activities with Georgia EmpowerMEnt • Financial Literacy training • Matched Savings Account opportunities for youth who are Independent Living Program eligible, offering a 1:1 match up to $1,000 for youth 14 to 21. Fees: Resources and activities through the GYOI are free for youth ages 14 to 26. Hours of operation: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; however, staff are available during offhours around traditional work, school, etc. Contact: 404-880-9323; EmpowerMEnt@maac4kids. org and www.gyoi.org
Faith in your future By Anonymous, 18 VOX Contributor
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urvival depends on how you identify the struggle you have to overcome. The struggle of allowing a time or an event to constantly linger upon your heart can be overwhelming. I admit openly that I am a victim of multiple situations that had overcome me. I have been raped multiple times by my father. I have been rejected and tossed aside for most of my life. There are multiple struggles I could list that could have prohibited me from becoming the successful person that I am today. But there is one factor that no one has control over. That factor is your will and determination to go on. No matter how battered and tossed about you are, you always have the ability to succeed and carry on regardless of any circumstances. At the age of 14, my years of drug use had begun. Starting with marijuana, I moved onto crack cocaine, which led to heroin. Thanks to the guidance of Three Rivers residential facility, I was able to drop all substances and
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VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
The phone call By Daquan, 21 (pictured right) VOX Contributor
I had just graduated from military school. It was also my 18th birthday. They were having a party for me. Then I got a phone call from my biological mother. And I was expecting a “congratulations” and for her to say she was proud of me. Boy, was I wrong! She told me that now that I was old enough, I should know the reason why she hated me. It was because my mom was also my sister. At first, I didn’t quite understand. She didn’t want to directly tell me. My grandfather, the man whom I thought was the best person in the world, was also my father. He had raped her and every other one of his nine daughters. One of them was unfortunate enough to become pregnant by him. Then, out came me. Visit the VOX website to watch a video of Daquan tell his story to VOX. regain control of my life. This unfortunately, was short-lived. I fell back into a relapsed state, due to my constant moving throughout the system. At age 18, I signed myself out of the system and moved in with my aunt. This ended up being another wrong turn, leading me to the streets of Columbia, South Carolina. Due to my homelessness, I made a lot of irrational decisions, leaving me brokenhearted and alone. But I was not alone. As a lot of people will tell you, there is hope. Most of us in the younger generation believe that hope is only where the next dollar is or scenario that delivers us from our current life catastrophe. Yet, hope lies in faith. Through every heartbreak and every wrong turn, you feel that you are in a hole much deeper than where you started. Yet there is hope in every crack and crevice. Most will not believe that God is real or have the wrong impression of what he is. While most of us forget what he constantly does, with every new breath, every new beginning, we are given a fresh start from the moment our eyes touch the light of a new day. Through the grace of God and support from teachers, counselors, and sometimes,
just the everyday random person we come across, there is hope. Through hope and determination, I was able to graduate high school and am currently now attending ITT Tech, a technical college that majors in computer designs and other technical fields. I did not move — I stayed at a homeless shelter and am still in the shelter’s care at the moment. All is possible no matter your past, for you have control of your present which will determine your destiny. Even if you are victimized or wrongfully persecuted, you control the outcome of your life due to one implicit fact. You control you. What I mean is, you are in control of all your actions no matter your scenario and having a good control on your actions can allow you to obtain good reactions. In other words, keep your actions in check and allow everything to work its way out. Acting out will allow nothing to change; it only complicates things more. If you have faith in yourself and confidence, you can move any obstacle that blocks your path. All pain can be overcome. Just have faith.
Maturity at a young age because of neglect By James, 16
VOX Contributor
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y mother is in bed asleep because of intoxication. My stepdad is sitting in the living room, watching TV in our twobedroom apartment. I am in the kitchen at the stove flipping grilled cheese sandwiches. I’m 4 years old. I had to, or felt I had to, take all of the responsibility of being a parent at a very young age. Starting at the age of 4, I had to cook, clean and change my stepdad’s bandages from the hospital, because he had cancer. I also had to take care of my mom, because she would sometimes refuse to eat and would lose numerous pounds of weight. She would always be angry and would sometimes cuss and scream and ignore me. When I turned 5, my sister was born, and I had to take care of her, too. Sometimes I would be beaten by my mother for no apparent reason. When I was 10 years old, I was taken into DFCS custody, and I went to [a children’s center]. After a while, I started to have visits with my mother and stepdad. On my 11th birthday, my stepdad died from a heart attack and internal bleeding. When I received that phone call, at first, I did not believe it. I thought my stepgrandfather was joking. But when I heard the desperation in his voice, I started crying, and I felt all was lost.
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I then started to wonder why my mother did not call to give me the news. I got angry and called my mother the next day, but she did not pick up the phone. I went to his funeral that Saturday, and my mother was still not there. Then I learned from my stepgrandparents that two days before my stepdad died, my mother kicked him out. He went to the Holiday Inn in my home town and died two days later. I was infuriated that my mother did that. I was even more furious that she did not take responsibility to tell me that herself. A couple of months later, she lost her parental rights to me. But she had one more visit to say goodbye, and she did not show. Today, at the age of 16, I still do not have any contact with my mother and am still very angry at her for everything she’s put me through. But now I understand the good things that came out of all the neglect and abusive actions that occurred in my past. I have mastered the art of organizing and cleaning. I can cook some things such as homemade ramen noodles and spaghetti and Hamburger Helper. I pushed through all of the negativity by always saying “Always endure to the end” and “I can.” But one thing I think I could have done differently would have been to speak up earlier. To all of you teens and young people, what I have to say to you is this: endure to the end, speak up, and remember “I can.”
A couple of months later, my mother lost her parental rights to me. But she had one more visit to say goodbye, and she did not show.
Keep reading on pages 26-27 for more first-person stories from teens impacted by the juvenile justice system.
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Different grievances By Kia, age 19
VOX Contributor
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hen I was 17 years old, my nephew was wrongfully arrested. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. There were three girls who accused him of being a part of a jumping. It was wrong how he had to spend a whole year and a half in a Youth Detention Center, because a group of females lied on him. His case wasn’t as serious as Trayvon Martin’s or Michael Brown’s. Their families are grieving differently than I am, but I can still feel their pain. They have to deal with their sons’ lives being wrongfully taken. Every day my nephew was away from me, I felt like a part of me was taken away. When he first got incarcerated, I couldn’t go see him because I wasn’t immediate family. I could only talk to him on the phone when he got a chance to call home. After two months, I was finally able to see him. I can’t explain the joy I experienced seeing him again. I would wait for his letters and
Family problems affect schoolwork By QuaShad, 14 VOX Contributor
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f you are a teen and you have family problems or if you are an adult that had family problems as a teen, you should read this. Maybe my life will make your confidence increase. My name is QuaShad and I am 14 years old. My life started to go bad when I was 13. It was in the morning before school, and my mom had to go to the hospital because her stomach was bigger than usual. When my sister woke me up, I knew something was wrong. She told me that mom was rushed to the hospital because her stomach was swollen. I was worried
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
when they came in the mail, I swear I felt so joyous. I love my nephew so much. Our bond is like a brother, sister bond. There is nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for him. I was counting down the days until he would be free again. When he came home April 26, 2014, I was so excited, I ran up to the car before it even came to a complete stop. I didn’t want to let him go. I was in his face all day when he came home. I felt like his bodyguard. If anyone had a problem with him I would tell them that they would have to take it up with me. My reason for that is because I am so scared for him to get arrested again for something that isn’t his fault. It would tear me up completely for him to be taken away from me again. I love my nephew with all my heart. He is my heart and soul. He means everything to me. The courts were wrong for punishing him. I would just like to let everyone know that we shouldn’t always take it out on the judicial system, even though they may not have done the right thing or chose the right way to punish someone. Even though the verdict wasn’t what you wanted to be, that doesn’t mean you can go lashing out on everyone. The way to go about dealing with
the situation would be to not get all upset and angry with the law enforcement but to patiently cooperate with them. In the end, my nephew came home a changed person. When he first came back, he was very distant at first, but he just needed time to himself. He is doing very well, he is on probation for five years and he is back on track in school. In a way, I guess being incarcerated was good for him. He went in a crazed young teen who thought he wanted to live his life on the streets. But actually serving a sentence in the juvenile justice system showed him that that is not the type of lifestyle he wants to live. It hurt us all, but it gave him a positive outlook on his life. I’m not saying that they should go around locking everyone up, I’m just saying this helped my nephew to become a better person. We all were grieving, yes, but we turned out to be able to deal with the situation. We are happy that now we are able to be together. I just want to let you all know that when something starts off bad, it doesn’t always have to end badly and my situation is living proof.
but knew that mom would still send me to school. When I went to school, I was sad to the point were I couldn’t focus and I daydreamed a lot about my mom. Ever since, my grades went from As and Bs to low Bs, Cs, and Fs. When my mom noticed that my grades were going down, she talked to me about the reason why. She told me not to worry on her too much because school was more important. I felt a little better until my mom announced that she had lupus. At first, I wasn’t that sad until I looked up what lupus is. I started losing my mind. I turned into a trouble maker and got into a big fight. My mom was getting worse and told me to calm down. She told me that what I was doing was only making it worse. I was still
too sad to focus on my school work. But when my teacher noticed my behavior and asked me why I was changing so much, I realized that I needed to make a change. I changed to listening to rock music that will relieve my stress. I became a peace maker and my grades have gotten better. My mom’s disease is now being treated and I’m at the top of all my classes...sort of. So my message to you guys is that problems can be hard but you have to push through those problems. Sometimes, you may have to change a few things about yourself to feel more calm but this can have an upside to it. Sometimes the upside is far away and you can’t see it yet and sometimes it’s around the corner. So have hope and take care of all your responsibilities like school, work and taking care of someone that you love.
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Two sides of a coin By Anonymous, 15 VOX Contributor
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am a contradiction. I consider my personality so intricate that it seemingly is an opposite of itself at times. You see, through my life I have been exposed to a multitude of ideals, upbringings, role models and lifestyles. Over time and many hardships later, my personality began to diverge into two sides. One part of me could be calm, patient, humble and quiet. The other half, however, was wild, arrogant, fiery, aggressive and loud. At times, I began to feel conflicted over the two. My choices seemed selfish to me or too timid. Sometimes, I was arrogant and rude; at other times, I was quiet and well-mannered. I began to think I was mad, comparing myself to some form of Jekyll and Hyde. I felt displaced and awkward, as if I was some sort of raving lunatic and everyone was looking to me to argue with myself from behind a two-way mirror. One day I was speaking with my grandmother on a visit to see my newborn cousin. The week had been rather stressful for me and quite off-putting. Most of my time spent alone with her I was ranting over how my actions and my true nature and wants were so polar opposite. At times back then, I’d do very selfish things without a single thought, though internally I was regretting my actions. The worst thing that came to my mind was how many in the world give into their darker impulses and become something…vile. Another thought also lingered after the thoughts of myself giving into my darker self: Would I become like “him”? The “him” I refer to would be my father. Since he and my mother got divorced, I began to see his selfishness in me and began to worry and become frightened. The last thing I wanted was for me to repeat the same path my father walked, making my own children or family feel as horrid as I did. I wasn’t sure where this part of me had come from, but I was convinced it was something evil. But then, after years of growing up, I discovered something. Nothing
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Partnership Against Domestic Violence
was wrong with me. The truth is, I’m a very complex person, I’ve had various exposures to different cultures and ideas over the years. I was two sides of a coin, neither black nor white. I was gray and there’s nothing is wrong with that. The negative parts of my personality were something I had to learn to control. I focused on the idea “I can do better, I will be better.” Such thoughts echoed through my head encouraging me to change. When I found myself doing something selfish or wrong, I toned my arrogance down and eventually evened myself out. While I don’t think I will walk the dark path that many people walk, I do believe that I have issues of my own. But these issues aren’t curses, just parts of who I am. I am both a sporty person and a writer; I am a Mick Jagger and a Mozart. I am me. I’m two sides of a coin, good and bad, calm or wild, and I’m proud of it. I now believe that I am not some sort of lunatic with a split personality disorder, but a beautiful complex person who walks his own path.
The writer also created the art above to reflect his vision.
Program Description: PADV’s Teen Dating Violence Prevention Program works with schools, youthserving organizations and churches across metro Atlanta to reduce relationship and sexual violence among teens and to promote healthy relationships. Dating violence is a growing epidemic within the teen community: one in three teens report verbal, physical, emotional or sexual abuse in their dating relationships. PADV’s approach to ending teen dating violence (TDV) is through outreach and prevention education. PADV provides free prevention education programming to middle, high school and college-age students. Our prevention program includes: • Teen Dating Violence 101 for Teens (one-time presentation): a workshop to address the definition of TDV, how it looks, warning signs, barriers to leaving, and safe bystander intervention. • Teen Dating Violence 101 for Adults (one-time
presentation): a TDV information workshop intended for parents, teachers, counselors, social workers, advocates and youth-service providers discussing warning signs, safety planning and other resources. • Healthy Relationships Curriculum: Six sessions from our program series. Program topics include: the five tools to a healthy relationship, gender roles, power and control, red flags, bystander intervention and safety planning. • “Expect More. Be More” Teen Summit: annual event for adults and teens to increase their knowledge on TDV. In the last five years, the Teen Summit has covered topics including bystander intervention, technology safety, health, bullying, exploitation, and the role the media plays in influencing teen relationships. Fees: None Hours of operation: Flexible Contact Information: For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact PADV’s Vice President of Prevention & Outreach, Samantha Macedo at 404-273-0651 or Samantha@padv.org; padv.org/ get-informed/what-is-teen-dating-violence/
Families First Program Description: Families First’s mission is “to ensure the success of children in jeopardy by empowering families” and offers: • Independent Living • Foster care services • Group homes • Medicaid mental health services • Doula services for pregnant teens and adults • COACHES Program assists youth in foster care with meeting their medical-care goals Fees: Most teen and young adult services are paid
for by grants and contractual agreements; however, eligibility needs to be determined prior to receiving services. Eligibility: Varies Hours of operation: Office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. We are available 24 hours a day by phone. Contact: 404-853-2800; FamiliesFirst.org
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Peer pressure By Zyan, 13
VOX Contributor
I
n the never-ending battle of peer pressure, I have prevailed! Everyone goes through it at one point or another, but it’s much worse for us teens. Let’s go back three years (when I was 10), all my friends were into rap. When I first heard rap, I hated it. It just sounded like men singing profanities and rhyming about drugs, sex, violence, and money. Most of these songs are just about sex and half naked women. It follows the motto “sex sells.” Despite this, my friends worshipped it. “N*gga, you need to listen to some Little Wayne,” they would say, always talking about music. All I wanted was to be accepted by them, so I would pretend that I adored it just as much as they did. I kept up my façade for a while, but eventually they would want me to listen to the songs with them. That was the last straw. I gathered my courage and I told them the truth: “I know you think that I’m into rap too, but I’ve been lying to you. I just said that so you would like me.” Surprisingly, they were OK with me not liking it and our friendship went on. Even though we stayed friends, it still doesn’t make a difference. Never change yourself for someone else. Acceptance means nothing if you don’t accept yourself first. If he or she truly is a good friend, they will not judge you for it. Stay unique, teens, and accept yourself. Read more of these stories and watch videos of the young people sharing on the VOX website, VOXTeenCommunications.org.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PAGE 28
VOX: WHERE TEENS SPEAK AND ATLANTA LISTENS | KNOW YOUR RIGHTS SPECIAL 2015
VOX connects diverse metro Atlanta teens to resources for building their confidence, increasing their capacity to meet life’s demands and ensuring their future success. VOX serves teens across Atlanta in three key ways: 1. In our afterschool program: Up to 100 teens participate throughout each school year on VOX’s teen staff where publishing is a vehicle for leadership development. At our downtown Atlanta newsroom, teens tell stories through traditional journalism, first-person nonfiction essays, poetry, art, video, audio, photography and more. While teens create printed content for the VOX Teen Newspaper and digital content for the VOX website, they also hone their voices as leaders by co-facilitating workshops, serving as paid interns, serving on the VOX Board of Directors and many other ways. 2. In our community workshops: VOX partners with schools and nonprofits in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Clayton counties to bring workshops to teens in these places. We will serve more than 1,000 teens during the 2014-15 school year with workshops around the topics of essay writing, journalism 101, creative self-expression, youth voice and more. 3. As an audience of readers: VOX provides resources and stories to more than 30,000 teens in metro Atlanta through our printed and digital content. We print the VOX Teen Newspaper five times each school year and distribute the paper to more than 300 locations around metro Atlanta, including schools, youth-serving nonprofits, libraries and more. Wherever teens are, we try to be there as well. Additionally, all of the printed content, along with weekly web-only content, is published on the VOX website and shared via VOX’s social media channels. Through VOX’s work, teens across metro Atlanta will be better prepared, connected and valued. We will always strive for VOX to be the place where teens speak and Atlanta listens. Check out more about VOX Teen Communications on our website: VoxTeenCommunications.org!
VoxTeenCommunications.org
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VOX for Teens
Sign up to be on the teen staff: goo.gl/xZYZxT (Application deadlines are November 2 and January 15), or scan the QR code above!
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VOX for Educators and/or Adults
Sign up to be a VOX Newspaper distributor: goo.gl/ORhhfV (for locations in the five-county metro area only), or scan the QR code above!
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Read about our impact and support VOX: VoxTeenCommunications.org/ support or scan the QR code above!