Organizing for America | Candice Cox's Blog

Candice Cox's Blog

Compassionate Social Woker from Urban enviroment introduced to the rural segregation of the south with a large need for community intervention.

Donations needed to create a Safe Haven for Children in Deprived Rural Town

By Candice from Newport, AR - Jun 25th, 2009 at 2:55 am EDT

My name is Candice Cox; I am a 27 year old African American Therapist with a huge heart and small pocket book. J I moved to Newport, AR from St. Louis, MO in September of 2008 with my husband, and 3 year old daughter to provide my services to a community in need as I have 9 years experience working with children and families. Since being here I have realized that this community is depressed as a whole. The children are being jailed, expelled, and placed on house arrest for non violent crimes caused within the schools on a daily basis. Many children do not leave the area or graduate from high school due to being buried under generational barriers of their families. The only options for entertainment are the bowling alley that is only open a few hours a day and the skating rink open only on the weekend. There aren’t many services geared toward introducing and implementing life or parenting skills but they are needed as children are products of their environment. Since being here I have partnered with the Branch Community center, a 501 (c)3 non-profit, and we have been working toward obtaining money to rehab their 137,000 sq ft building to create a community center filled with services and resources. The building, located in "the hood" was quick deeded to the organization 5 years ago and has been operating on personal money and small donations. This building is not acceptable to put children or adults in as it has not been updated since it closed in 1970 due to integration, it served as the school for minority children in Newport. We have received shut off notices for several of our bills and are scrapping to provide basic supplies for the community members who do attend the facility. Please help. I have lost two jobs for unknown reasons due to people within the community feeling that I am trying to cause a problem. I am not violent, aggressive, or a threat, I just see a need and state the facts. Because of my passion and dedication to root for the underdog, I have been told that my upfront and honest personality is considered disrespectful in the south. I cannot turn a blind eye and remain silent when I know that there is blatant classicism and some racism that continues to drive decision in this town. My heart breaks to see the children here as they do not dream to be doctors, lawyers, artist, or even employees. They strive to be baby mommas, drug dealers, inmates, sexual partners, and thugs. I don't feel that it is fair for anyone to live under these conditions as everyone’s life is important and valuable. The parents feel helpless as they lack the basic parenting skills to raise their children, the basic life skills to reach beyond their walls, and the appropriate mental health care to handle the emotional instability within their lives. The people suffering here are of all races but sadly the minorities are suffering the worse as they feel they are only deserving of what they have. Please help me help them. I am at the point where I feel that I will have to leave to make sure my child receives the education, resources, and life that she deserves if things don't change here. A silver lining in the clouds occurred on May 13, 2009 when I was introduced to Rasheed Salaam, Be A Champion Foundation, and learned there are other individuals who share the belief that life is about people and not things. Recognizing the similarities in our ideals and values the Newport, AR Chapter of the Be A Champion Foundation was discussed and set into motion. It is our goal to wrap the community in services that are geared toward enhancing the community one family at a time through building people and not businesses. With the assistance of Be A Champion I feel a renewed spirit as I am sure that we are going to create opportunities and open the doors of our younger and older generations thru enhancement on the community, family, and individual levels. Sharing this vision and passion with my fellow members of the Branch Board they unanimously voted to form a partnership with both companies on May 14, 2009. It is my hope that our partnership and visions manifest quickly but having an understanding of systems allows me to think realistically about the generational barriers within our path that may slow us down. As I stated earlier I was terminated from my jobs as a therapist, for an unknown reason that was not related to my skills as a clinician, but I am continuing to write and implement programs, grants, and volunteer at the community center on a daily basis as well as work with the mentally ill for free on a daily basis at Clinical Neuropsych. I am not from this town, county, or state but I feel there is a reason to be here because I want the children and families within this community to experience the world beyond their walls. I cannot sit and wait for the world to change. After attending a Community Economic Development meeting in April my research was confirmed when statistics from the Governor were presented highlighting the fact that this community has maintained the same economic and educational deficits for over 50 years. In 2007, less than 50% of Newport 4th, 8th, and 11th graders were able to read or complete math on their appropriate grade level. In my mind, it is not ok for children to be educated solely by a school district that has created and maintained vast educational differences between the races for years and continue. It may not be the fault of the district as a whole but the numbers scream that a different approach is needed to approaching children and families as the current approaches and past have only maintained the illusion that one race is superior to another. This we all know has never been true.For this reason it is my hope that you will assist us in this process as we, Amaris Inspirations, Be A Champion, and the Branch Community Center work together to create and maintain a better opportunity for our youth and a brighter future for their families. We have agreed to work together to launch a national fundraiser and implement programs such as College for Kids, Various Solutions, and the Be A Champion Program. This community needs an outside hand as they are not aware of their needs because they have recreated the same environment over and over for years and have no idea of the world they deserve. This community is dying and there is a lot of talent here, not only in the children but in the community as a whole. No one deserves to wake up every day of their lives waiting to die. That is neither fair nor ok. Please look at the link http://sites.google.com/site/amarisinspirationsllc/ under Branch Community Center to get a look at the place where the poor kids are expected to go. If you look at the building and feel that it is up to par for your child, someone in your family, or someone in your community, please disregard this letter. If you wonder how anyone, especially people in a position to implement change, can think that these things are acceptable for any human being please contact me with resources, encouragement, support, etc. I don't know what else to do. I am excited about the things to come but I know we need more support to change the mindset and movement of a community.I wrote to you because you are a person who looks at the value of every individual and I know that you are aware of the issues that are plaguing our children, especially in the small rural areas. Please help. Thank you for your time, I hope to hear from you in the future. My email address is amarisinspirationsllc@gmail.com , the Branch Community Center address is 419 Jones Newport, AR 72112, email is branchcommunitycenter@hotmail.com and my number is 870-664-9488.

Candice E. Cox, LMSW

Volunteer Program Director

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