Testimonials
Looking at my life before and after I came to the A.N.D. Movement, I can see a huge difference. Before I came to the A.N.D Movement, I had a tunnel vision. I did not have any sense of direction. I have no self-control. I was selfish, irresponsible, unaccountable, etc. I’ve never like to think outside the box or place myself in others’ shoes.
My thought process was very negative. However, when I came to the A.N.D. Movement, I begin to look at life in a very different perspective. I start to replace my negative thoughts to positive. I became more receptive to corrections, and live more responsibly. It was a challenge for me to change; however, now, looking at my life, I am very pleased so far with myself.
The A.N.D. Movement is a life changing movement. It helps develop good character and maintain good behaviors. It challenges participants with proper tools to deal with life on life’s terms. It stirs gifts which might have lie dormant for years inside participants, and it prepares participants to get back to society with a very positive mindset.
The A.N.D Core Values are the most important thing in the whole movement because they lay out a basic code of conduct how participants must govern themselves.
This is my analysis of A.N.D. and how it has helped me cope living among difficult men in the last twenty-five years. The environment in which I live is less stressful, clean, and positive – mentally as well as physically.
I shall explain the classes I have taken and are taking has help me think through conflict, also spiritually. I am connected with my Heavenly Father in spending more time in class spiritually.
Otherwise normally I place other situation before God therefore, when attending classes that are spiritual allows me time to absorb more information pertinent to God. One is never too old to be enlighten.
I’d like to compare my classes of A.N.D. to A.A.; when you have information that assists you not just in prison, but also in society as well.
I shall be able to transition from prison into society successfully because of the classes I am taking and have taken while living in the environment of A.N.D
November 19, 2021, approximately at 8:30am, I was placed in confinement for disorderly conduct. The C.O. had to rewrite my DR for charging me with the wrong violation. Tuesday, November 30th, at DR Court, my DR was dismissed for not being properly written.
While in the box I was praying הדהדי put me in a dorm where I’ll have a new start instead of going back to H-Dorm where I was smoking K-2 constantly destroying myself. I wrote Sgt. Dillard and asked her can she put me in the kitchen dorm, or A-Dorm explaining to her I’m going home soon and I need to be housed somewhere I can stay out of trouble.
Wednesday, December 8th I was released from confinement and I was housed in G1-109L. Later in the day I found out that I’ll be moving into G3-119U due to Mexico being kicked out of A.N.D. At first I struggled with the thoughts of staying in the program or not because of not being use to such a clean, calm, positive environment in prison.
Then it hit me that my prayers to Yahweh came true and I need this New Direction to make some major changes before I go home. To sum it all up I’m here in the A.N.D. Program to take control of my life, be responsible, learn respect, take accountability for my actions, positively express my anger, learn integrity, learn what’s my drive, create a vision for myself of who I am, and how I want to be seen, develop self-determination, and finally find my New Direction!
The A.N.D. Program has provided me with positive, indelible, insight, and tools to use for prevention of criminal behavior in prison and back in society. Through teachings of the A.N.D. facilitators I have learned many valuable lessons from the curriculums C.B.T. (Cognitive Behavior Thinking), self-control, Anger Management etc. Equipping myself with better behavior patterns and utilizing what I’ve learned in my everyday life when interacting with people also helped with my social skills.
Not only did I receive a better character while being a part of A.N.D., I also picked up some entrepreneurial skills from A.N.D.’s Business 101 course, with a Goal Setting class to help me structure and put together my plans for building a positive lifestyle while in prison and upon being re-inserted back into society.
Now if that’s not A New Direction, then you may want to check yours.
I got into the A.N.D. Program/Dorm to help me deal with my anger issues, my addiction issues, to make better choices by using my time to take some of the classes they offer. Also to be around other as does happen in other dorms.
I’m a firm believer that being around positive choices to make me a better person around the board. I also like the fact that it’s clean and we all help clean and it’s clean and we all help clean and it teaches you to be responsible.
There is always some squad leader or captain I can talk to if I’m having issues and they really want to help. I like the core values and the good spirit that this dorm has and being here for only about 17 days has already changed me so much for the good.
Like many of the men over or around my age, me desire for wanting a better way of life is all consuming. Years of living in an environment plagued with drug, violence, and lack of concern for the well-being of community, had me in a frantic search for an alternative. There had to be a way for me to free myself (my mind), elevate my neighbor, and in the process grow self-awareness of my community.
Many of the programs that were already in circulation were mainly geared for re-entry inmates, meaning those who had 5 years or less remaining on their sentence. The overwhelming majority of men dealing with drug addiction, gang violence, and/or illegal activities are men facing a considerable amount of time. I fall up under this category and frankly there was no one there to invite us into their program or to live in their housing community. If you had a lot of time, you might come across a class or two that you could sign up for. The numbers don’t add up. The number of men who are earnestly seeking to change their perspective of live, in comparison to the number of classes/programs available to them was, and still is, extremely disproportionate.
Along came A New Direction. A.N.D. opened doors form me beyond what I could imagine. I started off taking every class I could. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment, engaging my mind in higher learning, conflict resolution, social skills, cognitive behavior therapy. I participated with like-minded men, both young and old who were faced with a lot of time but refused to allow their sentence to define them. A New Direction became a life line to the men like myself, who have been sitting back here waiting…waiting…waiting…
Oh, and the impact A New Direction has resonated immediately. Men looked forward to going to classes and learning more about themselves as well as the role they played inside of this community. the light that was kindling inside me became ablaze with new information and fresh ideas, and a new outlook for my future. It was obvious that mindset/attitude was contagious throughout the participants. Guys started talking different, walking different, even our appearance has stepped up to a new level. Imagine 2-3 hundred men at an institution, faithfully going to classes VOLUNTARILY 5 days a week. A.N.D. helped men and many more like me turn in A New Direction.
So here it is…5-6 years later and my connection to this program has grown into an unbreakable bond. The tools and information that I’ve learned through this program, I am now facilitating back to A.N.D.’s new recruits. A.N.D. has helped me define my purpose as a leader, a teacher, a role model, a mentor, and a responsible member of this community. Having the opportunity to stand before these men and share with them the information and experience that transformed me as a man and set me in a whole new trajectory, has been humbling and rewarding. Seeing that kindly ignite and catch flame in each of their lives is awesome to witness. Not all of them have a lot of years to do here. Some will be returning to live next door to my family members and friends. Knowing that I played a role in their success and decreasing their chances of coming back to prison being able to help them be successful and at the same time decreasing their chances of coming back to prison has been a gift given through A New Direction. Than you A.N.D. for helping me live a purpose driven life. Because of you, I am dedicated to change, determine to make a difference, and driven to do the impossible.