Voices from youth inside Juvenile Justice Centers

Anger…regret… shame… fear… hopelessness… these are the emotions as the result of heartache and pain reaching deep into the souls of the youth we meet… youth who have made poor choices but must not be defined or labeled by the past. Feeling lost and abandoned they await a glimmer of hope in what appears to be a shattered picture that is broken beyond repair. Alone...
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First 2012 Juvenile Justice Trip in Florida

This month marks our first return trip to Florida in over a year where we are currently sharing with a minimum of 35 facilities and reaching over 3,000 youth in three weeks.  Chris joined us for the first week and Russell was scheduled to come with us for the following two weeks.  At the last minute, Russell had to cancel and it was then that I realized the importance of taking Jesse and Jaden...
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Imagination has become reality and lives are being changed

Imagine… a message so compelling lives are changed forever… a commitment to tear down walls to walls to build up hope… children and youth so captivated by stories of hope and triumph that the message is remembered long after the program comes to a close.  Is such imagination possible? The above proclamation became the campaign for our message shared in public school...
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Top Ten Reasons to Support Upward Bound Outreach for 2011!

10. Because God promised to provide… through you? 9.   Because you have seen unwavering commitment to At-Risk-youth this year. 8.   Because God has provided something no one else has to reach those very few are reaching. 7.   Because you care about those who are lost. 6.   Because you will help reach a group of youth so many are unaware. 5.   Because you believe in Matthew...
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We Didn’t Miss a Single One.

We didn’t miss a single one. On November 19, we reached our commitment to share with every Florida Department Juvenile Justice facility in the state.  Not only did we reach all 141 facilities, we returned a second time to more than thirty.  This was the seventh trip since January 18, and though the shortest it was the busiest. 3200 miles… Key West to Pensacola...
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One Step At A Time – Making A Difference With FDJJ

On May 31st, we return to Florida for the third time since January.  This is a two week trip where we share with an additional 21-25 Florida Department Juvenile Justice Facilities.  At the end of this trip we will have shared with more than 70 facilities, speaking to more than three thousand teens… and sadly to say, even a few children. It’s amazing what...
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