Why Do Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men? Pt. 3

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

Why Do Young Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men Part III.  We are one week away from a discussion that will provide solutions to a major problem in Cleveland and American as a whole. 

In the daily news there are examples of dangerous and violence acts in our community.  One such act was played out in the City of Cleveland Heights when a popular business owner, Jim Brennan, was murdered in his restaurant.  The allegations are that two sets of brothers conspired to rob Mr. Brennan when gun shots were fired.  Mr. Brennan died later at a hospital.  The charges are aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, kidnapping, obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence. 

Some may find it hard to believe that the charges in this case are against two sets of brothers.  I find it very believable.  I find it typical of what I see playing out in this day and age.  Just a few weeks ago in my Court I told a set of brothers that it was obvious to me that their connection was not healthy.  I could tell that they didn’t take the legal system seriously, I could tell that they were not capitalizing off their opportunities.  I could tell that they were influencing each other to go further down the path of criminal activity.  

The writing was clearly on the wall for the brothers that I had in my court room so it is not that far of a stretch to find out that the robbery/murder in Cleveland Heights involves family members. Being on the topic of family members and crime, one reason that young boys are growing up to be dangerous men is that the family members are sleep at the wheel.  I call it “Careless Care.”  By careless care I am referring to the fact that too many people in this generation are not properly raising their children, with the morals and principles, to ensure that they make the right decision when faced with hard choices.  Additionally, there are many parents who have blinders on.  These parents ignore the fact that it doesn’t matter if the parent has morals and positivity in their heart.  It doesn’t matter if the paren has learned many life lessons.  If they are not communicating these lessons and morals to their children the children will find themselves in legal trouble or becoming violent.  It is primarily up to the parents and the family to make sure young people are not growing up to be violent or dangerous.  

Now, I know that some of you have the attitude that if violence is not in your life or your family then the issue doesn’t concern you.  That is so far from the truth. First, don’t take it for granted that your decisions to stay crime free as a parent will automatically trickle down to your children. It will not.  Don’t be careless in your care for your family.  Don’t sit back and assume that everything is ok, that the youth will learn through your silence.  Break the cycle, talk to the youth about violence, talk to the youth about crime.  Don’t let another set of brothers, or any youth for that matter, find themselves in a situation where they become dangerous adults.  

This is the world and communities that we live in.  We can no longer sit back and think that crime won’t happen to us or our families.  It takes a village to create a positive community.  The forum, “Why Do Young Boys Grow Into Dangerous Men,” The East Cleveland Library on July 21, 2014 at 5:00pm, will boldly address the problem, the lack of community collaboration but most importantly, the solutions.  

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson

Why Do Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men? Pt. 2

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

Why Do Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men Part II.  I’ve been writing about this subject in response to my participation as a panelist where this question was the topic.  As a result of my preparation I expanded my analysis of “dangerous men” to include “dangerous people.” This expansion is based on the fact that we know both men and women commit crimes. 

Being elected Judge has different effects on each person.  For me it is nothing more than taking on the responsibility to be a leader, example and educator for the community.  In this role I regularly conduct workshops aimed at helping people discover and develop their leadership ability.  The best part about these workshops is that they are absolutely free.  I’m basically begging people to come get this knowledge.  

My recent workshop called “Hustle Rehab,” took a direct approach to analyzing and then correcting the ghetto mentality that can lead to a life of delinquency and crime.  With this valuable information being shared through this provocative topic, I excepted to have a standing room only audience in the courtroom.  However, its’ hard to get people to come out and learn about change or bettering their lives.   That is one reason why young people grow into dangerous adults, failure to grow!

The scriptures say “My people parish because of their lack of knowledge.” Today, this scripture is playing out in real time.  True to form, and unfortunately, during the same time of my workshop four people were involved in the exact type of crime that my workshops aim to stop.  Fox 8 news reported that four young men were arrested after reportedly beating a 16-year-old and taking his cell phone.  According to Cleveland Heights police, it happened Monday, June 23, 2014 just before 6:30 p.m.  As I said, this was right in the middle of my workshop called “Hustle Rehab: Turn Your Hood Swag Into Good Swag.”  I can only imagine that if half the people who said they were going to come to the workshop came, if half the media outlets who knew about the workshop attended, if every parent who has a child who has been in trouble brought that child, lives would have been changed and ultimately saved.  If our community really cares about crime we have to get actively involved.  We have to be an example and leader of change.  Even if you don’t worry about yourself or your family being a victim of crime, we should encourage development and leadership in our communities for the greater good and safety of all.  The victim of this Cleveland Heights beating told police he’d been with the four male suspects at the Noble Road Library prior to the incident.  They then walked to the Noble Elementary School playground where one of the suspects grabbed him from behind and strangled him until he lost consciousness, while the three other suspects searched his pockets and took his cell phone.  Two of the men were 19 and face adult charges, two others are juveniles.  

This is the world and communities that we live in.  We can no longer sit back and think that crime won’t happen to us or our families.  It takes a village to create a positive community.  The next forum, “Why Do Young Boys Grow Into Dangerous Men,” The East Cleveland Library on July 21, 2014 at 5:00pm, will boldly address the problem, the lack of community collaboration but most importantly, the solutions.  

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson

Why Do Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men?

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

I had the pleasure to participate in a panel called “Why Do Some Boys Grow Up To Be Dangerous Men?” It was held in partnership with City of Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell and featured various panel members.  In preparation of part II of the conversation, which will be held in the City of East Cleveland on July 21, 2014 at the East Cleveland Public Library, I want to recap some of the findings of this first event.  The first noticeable takeaway i that the audience was mainly populated by mature adults.  By mature adults I am referring to the residents who support strong families and strong communities.  I hoped that there would be a larger majority of young people at the forum but, as with many of the events today, there were only a few.  I personally drove a few teens to the event, but instead of being present at a forum that can effect the future of this community, many young people, who were in the same building, were either not asked to attend or ignored the significance of the discussion.  

The second take-a-way is how the main topic of conversation leaned in the direction of father’s rights.  This was a very productive discussion considering that the panel included the very knowledgeable Al Grimes from the Cuyahoga County Fatherhood initiative. Accordingly, the participants were able to get very valuable information on this topic.  Specifically, many of the participants left enriched on how to establish paternity and work within the legal system to ensure that they are given the right to visitation and enjoyment of their children.  When I rose to speak I mentioned fatherhood from a different angle.  I discussed the feeling of parents when their young children go astray.  I discussed how its the responsibility of the parents to make sure their young children don’t grow up to be dangerous.  I discussed how my heart cries out every time I see a person in my courtroom who is living below their potential by choosing to live a life of crime and destruction.  

As a Judge I see dangerous men and women everyday who did not start out that way.  I come face to face with people who have lost hope and who are not concerned about themselves, their community or other people.  This discussion is very important.  The evidence of dangerous men and women is constantly on display.  Just this past weekend in the city of Cleveland there were four shooting deaths.  We see that everyone expresses outrage over killings but very few are willing to do anything about it.  This reactionary yet lackadaisical approach to stopping crime is evident by the lack of media attention or leadership support at this particular event.  There were no news cameras, there was no joining of forces with the other Cleveland Council members.  In my experience, any serious change and advancement to stop the trend of dangerous men and women must be approached by massive collaboration.  It takes a village to create a positive community.  The next forum, “Why Do Young Boys Grow Into Dangerous Men,” that I host in East Cleveland, will boldly address the problem, the lack of community collaboration but most importantly, the possible solutions.  

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson

Cycle Breaker Leadership Principle #7

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

Cycle Breaker Leadership Principle number seven is "You Must Keep Learning.  Education is vital to your success.  It doesn't matter if you are eight or eighty years old, if you are not growing or learning you are dying. At a minimum, no matter how old we are, we have to know the basic current tools for survival. For example,you have to the traffic rules if you are traveling.  Similarly, you have to know basic financial rules if you are a consumer. My point is that in order to be a leader, to be a Cycle a breaker, to live your best life you have to keep learning.  

Court rooms across this country are full of people who don't have jobs or are working jobs beneath their potential because they didn't continue to learn and prepare themselves.  Daily I see young men who are not prepared to get a job.  These young people are not prepared in their walk, not prepared in their talk and not prepared in their presentation. Any one of these forms of "the lack of preparation" will keep you from reaching your potential.  As an example I'll address the occurrence of showing that you are not prepared for a job or success  by the form of your communication or, in other words, your talk.   Though looks and appearances allow people to make assumptions about you, your words allow people to make determinations about you.  Standing in court using broken english, not speaking clearly or failing to communicate at all is a dead give-a-way that, somewhere along the line, this person stopped learning.  People who fit into this category are surely not going to get a "good" job and are likely headed to jail.  When we look at all the possible causes of the inability to communicate, its possible to blame the home and even the schools.  As a Cycle Breaker, instead of looking to place blame on other people, I'm all about personal responsibility so I will place the blame squarely on the individual person.  At some point you become aware of the difference in your speech and the speech of a person in authority or management.  At some point you realize that you should speak their language in order to get to their level.  In other words when you know better, you do better.

In order to secure your ability to provide for your self and your family you must be educationally prepared.  Here is a game changing tip.  Look out in the American horizon and identify the industries where employment demand is high. Now go and get the skills required so that you can enter that industry.  Getting the skills now will make you ready when the opportunity presents itself!  To keep learning means to sharpen your tools. Sharpening your tools means you are getting ready for the endeavors ahead.  It may take going to school at night, I did. It may take leaving some of your negative associations, I did.  It will take sacrifice but it's worth it.   Leadership and Cycle Breaker Principle number seven, keep learning.

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson

Jay Z & Solange: A Hot Ghetto Mess!

“Cycle Breaking” w/ Judge Dawson

Jay Z & Solange: A Hot Ghetto Mess!

     Now that I have your attention let’s be Cycle Breakers and break down the Jay Z and Solange episode.  By now we have all seen the video of the attack on the elevator.  Many of us commended Jay Z on his restraint while others, like myself, looked at the chaos as a hot ghetto mess.  I also noted that in most cases a prosecutor could have charged Solange with assault, even if Jay Z didn’t cooperate, but that’s another article.  Many of the comments on social media expressed that “even celebrities have family issues.”  Indicating that what happened on that elevator is normal.  

     Why is this considered normal behavior?  When is it normal for a married man’s sister-in-law to viciously attack him?  Or, let me bring it closer to some of our situations, when is it normal for a family member or friend of a “baby mama” to attack the man? When is it normal for any woman to attack a man or a man to attack a woman?

     By considering this as normal we are being desensitized to the ridiculousness of these occurrences.  These are cycles that we must break. The challenge is that, in our communities, neighborhoods and families these activities happen often. It’s normal to be at a cook out where the drunk uncle starts arguing and then challenges everyone to a fight.  It’s normal for us to use threatening language like, “I’m about to go get my gun” with each other.  However, here is the wake up call:  THAT MESS IS NOT NORMAL. Living and existing in chaos is not normal  We all have greatness in us and living in this manner is below our greatness.  

1. Be a Cycle Breaker & “Change Your Normal”

My Bailiff, Maurise Sanders, calls it the “new normal.”  We have to redefine what we will except in our lives as normal because many things we consider normal are negative and could have a detrimental effect on our future.  For example, it is not normal (in a positive way) to:

      * Go to jail

      * Buy clothes from the barbershop and salons

      * Stay in a physically or mentally abusive       relationship.

     * Drop out of school 

     * Sit around without a job.

     I could go on forever with this list.  The point is that the cases I see in my court room are based on people embracing negative normals like the ones I listed.  

Let me prove how negative normals = negative lives:  

     * If going to jail is normal, committing more crimes with the possibility of jail becomes normal.

     * If buying clothes from boosters is normal, doing other shady things to get material items becomes normal.

     * If being in an abusive relationship is normal, a regular cycle of abuse for your family becomes normal.

     * If dropping out of school is normal, underachieving and negative hustling becomes normal.

     * If sitting around not getting a job is normal, robbing and stealing from others becomes normal.

     * If JAY Z being attacked by Solange is a normal family relationship, your tolerance for unhealthy and unproductive environments become normal.

     I am not judging or criticizing Jay Z and Beyonce’s relationship, nor am I saying that issues don’t occur in our relationships.  I am saying that we should not except chaos as normal. It’s fine to look up to celebrity relationships and situations but hopefully they won’t become the benchmarks for what we will or will not except in our lives. Don’t except chaos and negative controversies as normal.

1. To Be a Cycle Breaker, Avoid Chaos.  

     Mental and physical peace for you and your family should be a first priority.  You can't be the best you can be when your life is full of chaos.   I have a friend who told me, in order to focus on achieving her goals and dreams, because she couldn’t move out of her chaotic environment at the time, she would physically go into a closet to do homework and to concentrate.  She knew that chaos was unproductive and would keep her from her potential. Today she is a highly successful business women who provides inspiration for thousands of people. As a community we have to get to the point where we change and raise the level of our expectations. No more hot ghetto mess, establish your new normal. Judge William L. Dawson, 

East Cleveland Municipal Court

For more on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights, 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  By the way, thanks for all the encouraging emails.  It’s fuel to keep me moving!

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media: @judgedawson

Hustle Rehab: Turn Your Hood Swag Into Good Swag!

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

WHEN ARE WE GOING TO STOP HUSTLING?

At the East Cleveland Municipal Court we are Cycle Breakers.  To define what a “Cycle Breaker” is I have been breaking down the elements and strategies of how to live your best life, avoid negative interaction with the legal system and become cycle breakers. Part of the process is recognizing cycles in your life, your family or community that must be broken.  A cycle that we must break is the “Hustle Mentality.”

It was during one of my life skills workshops at the East Cleveland Public Library where I informed the men and women that I developed a workshop to help people get out of the negative hustle mentality.  The negative hustle mentally includes selling drugs, stealing, boosting as well as all other activities that have the possibility of a jail sentence.  The challenge is that many people wear the hustle mentality as a badge of honor.  People walk around and proclaim with pride, “I’m a hustler.”  I understand that not all hustling is bad.  For instance, if you are working two jobs to take care of your family, that is not a bad hustle.  If you are going to school while taking care of your family, that is not a bad hustle.  However, when your focus on hustling causes you to cross the line of illegal activity, that is  bad or negative hustling.  So what is the answer to getting people to think above the hustle mentality?  Next week I will give the tools when I present: Hustle Rehab, “How to Turn Your Hood Swag into Good Swag!”  The workshop will take place at the East Cleveland Public Library on June 23, 2014 at 5:00pm.  

Part of getting out of the hustle mentality is to change the definition of what’s cool.  That’s why my title includes the term “Swag.” If you don’t know, “Swag” is the current day “cool.”  Everyone wants to have it, but they don’t see how “Swag” can limit their possibilities.  I will address how to be cool and employable at the same time.

I see men and women in my court who are stuck in the hustle mentality cycle. I spoke to a childhood friend who, despite his wife having a good job, is always starting a new hustle, many of which are on the boarder of illegal.  This is a prime example of being caught in the hustle mentality.  Even though he doesn’t have a financial hardship to make him “have to” hustle,” he continues the activity. 

Another example is a person who sells drugs.  When people in our community enter the drug game at a young age they cut off other possibilities of employment and legal careers.  They go full steam ahead selling drugs and then find themselves in a head on collision with the legal system. The old saying is worth repeating, when you sell drugs the road leads to death or jail.  

Why should you attend the “Hustle Rehab” workshop?  The answer is simple, illegal hustling is bad for the future, all of our futures.  In order to enrich our community, come hear the pitfall of, and learn the tools to break, the hustle mentality.  It’s all about advancement and moving to the next level.

Instead of excepting jail as the destiny, instead of living below your best potential lets transform our lives into being Cycle Breakers!

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on June 23, 2014 at the East Cleveland Municipal Court at 5:00pm. East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson

Cycle Breaker Leadership Principle #6 Stay Curious

Real Talk with Judge Dawson

Cycle Breaker Leadership Principle number six is “Stay Curious.”  I see a collision course with destruction every day in the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  From domestic violence to dropping out of school and wandering the community, people are making decisions that will lead to derailment or jail.  When I have a person in front of me who seems willing to learn or at least interested in going to my programs instead of jail, I put them through the “Cycle Breaker Probation Program.”  This program is a minimum six months of reading, writing, studying, presenting and education.  It’s  intended to provide skills for decision making and success.  However, the only way to make it through the program is to be dedicated to improvement and to have a curiosity for positive potential. 

In order to move from point a to point b.  In order to leave an abusive relationship or achieve any positive goal, you have to be curious.  I use the term curious because it implies that you are ready to learn but also, beyond just being ready, you are excited about learning.  I picked this up from watching and listening to my four year old daughter.  She always asks me “daddy, what are we doing tomorrow?”  When I tell her that she is going to school tomorrow, her face lights up and she says “I’m excited about going to school!”  That’s the enthusiasm that goes along with curiosity.  

Having curiosity is very important to high level success.  Look at these examples.  Do you think google would have been created without curiosity for the possibilities of internet search?  Do you think FaceBook would have been created without curiosity for the possibilities of social connection on the internet.  Do you think McDonalds would have created the fish filet if there was no curiosity of how to better supply every type of appetite?  I can continue with these examples supporting the point that high level success requires curiosity.  The problem is that many of the inner city communities are void of high level success except in the entertainment, sports or illegal industries.  I know, not every one thinks like this but too many do, so I must address the issue.  Don’t just settle for graduating from high school, be curious about higher education.  Don’t just settle for having children out of wedlock, be curious about the possibilities of creating a nurturing home for you and your children.  Don’t just settle for a 9 to 5 that leaves you frustrated, be curious about being involved with a project or team that has legacy building purpose.  

Remember, curiosity is beyond just wanting to learn something new.  It’s about the energy and enthusiasm that you bring to your life that is able to keep you going when things get hard.  

Cycle breaker Leadership Principle number six is “Stay Curious."

For more discussion on this subject or others, join Judge Dawson’s Cycle Breaker/Finish First program on Monday nights at 5:30pm at the East Cleveland Municipal Court.  East Cleveland Municipal Court’s Judge William L. Dawson is on a mission to help people to Finish First, live their best lives and be Cycle Breakers!  

judgewilliamdawson@gmail.com

www.teamfinishfirst.com

www.Judgedawson.com

Social Media @JudgeDawson