01/01/2023
AINT PROJECT is an organization that is an offshoot of the organization i started in 2014 called "Movement of change" and i started it as a Peer Counselor at Hands across Long Island, which is an outpatient mental health facility in Central Islip NY. I worked 2 years there, however, keep in mind i was a participant and Client there for over a year first, after coming home from prison. I am proud that i was able to influence others to also become Peer Counselors from HALI and Pilgrim Psychiatric hospital. i was trained by Kathy Guzman and Louis as well as Sue Pilon. When i set out on the journey of being an influence in my community it was a quiet push that became louder and louder as issues in America was being felt home here on the island. George Floyd was killed by police, and Covid19 hit Brentwood hard and i reacted when i saw most stalling and trying to make since of what was going on. I had people ask me daily " Real what should we do?" and "what is going to happen"? My answers were in the form of actions. Since starting AINT PROJECT i have been through a trial that i still am trying to recover from. I was taken to jail and put on cuffs & leg Shackles w/ belly chains. I had at least 4 escorts anytime i left the cell and was put into a cell 23 hours a day. I was severely Traumatized by the whole ordeal, and i feel like i am not allowed to say that so i will say it often because of that. i have emotions and i feel pain like all of us do. I have lost my home, car, money and my relationship with my partner Latoya. I am happy to see that many people especially my brothers and sisters in Wyandanch have become more active in the community whether it be Food assistance, clothing, female hygiene products, toys for children or events. I can only pray though that we can all put away the competitive nature growing into the love being formed because it is a spirit that has in the past and will in the future ruin what can be huge and great. i myself lack many of the talents and skills that can move the greatest parts forwards and i have begged my brothers and sisters for help, but i have not been able to get that help and instead i have had many come stealing ideas and asking questions for personal gain, and because of that i have not been in communication with the individuals who were supposed to help carry the community. I am not in a competition and have only a desire to build lives and do it as a community. I have been so out of it and this fight has taken so much i have just recently stopped sleeping at the JFK airport crossing and the LIRR, where i had to go to stay warm (especially the last few weeks. I have been judged for that so much but i ask people about things in life that caused them to fall, and all agree that we have different temperaments and can only handle things with the tools each of us have personally. Without going over my life story, I will say that i am proud that i am alive and able to handle this all without committing su***de or doing what can cause my freedom to be taken away again. i have already done over 20 years in jail, including 17 in prison and 8 years of solitary confinement. i am allowed to be proud of myself for coming through the hell i been in. I wish i had a better life and was not affected by childhood abuses that caused my hospitalization in a mental ward at 8 years old, but it did happen, and i am still healing. Allow me to heal and learn how to be the best version of myself. We are headed into 2023 and i am praying that god willing this year will be a year of love for me and the year that i can get my home back, car, money and all lost while i fought for my community. My biggest and most evident accomplishment is the fact that i was able to regain my freedom and to come home to a police force in the 3rd precent that no longer does the job the community had a hard time understanding. i remember a time you would see 8 people face down with shoes off for identification checks and warrant checks daily, but not anymore because as i set out to do, attention was put on the flames and that fire died out. Now for the most part arrest is done correctly. Perfect no, but yes better in a tangible and practical way. I met Latoya Bazmore and though my legal battles that she was a primary source of put strain that caused our relationship to fail, it was the best part of my life to date. i love her and even a year from now i know my days thoughts will be filled with mostly her and all the greatness we shared. I would love to be able to in the future say that my situation helped many lives change for the better and that my journey was not hurtful to anyone. i did my damage to many and myself, and i will be from now an asset and not a liability to my community (If i have not done so as of yet)... SALUTE!
Protests planned for Sept. 22 and Sept. 25
