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THE BLUES REPORTS, Produced by Reco Bembry, Sponsored by B.U.I.L.D.

THE BLUES REPORTS, Produced by Reco Bembry, Sponsored by B.U.I.L.D.

By BUILD "The Peoples Plan"

The BLUES REPORTS are a collection of podcasts, vlogs, and informative Digital Storytelling reports produced by Reco Bembry, www.bembryconsulting.com, and sponsored by www.BUILD206.com. These real-life messages of the impacts of institutional racism. Incarceration, probation, the court systems, gentrification, education, and health are direct negative impacts. We will hear short narratives, informational and educational videos to depict the real-life stories of those marginalized by the carceral state and oppression that negatively impact our lives in the greater Seattle area.
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What is the Carceral State

THE BLUES REPORTS, Produced by Reco Bembry, Sponsored by B.U.I.L.D.Jun 16, 2021

00:00
02:18
Teen Healing Spaces RNTS

Teen Healing Spaces RNTS

TEens visit the Japanese Tea garden as an urban healing space for decades in Seattle, hear the reactions to a healing space for reflection and solitude. 

Oct 01, 202101:30
Marvena Kemp "Mother of Basketball, "Community Organizer"

Marvena Kemp "Mother of Basketball, "Community Organizer"

A Brief Background Story of a notable community hero, serving others before self, giving her time talents, and treasure to improve the lives of others. With a passion for children and youth Marvena focuses on reducing risk,  meeting basic needs, and building the competencies of herself and others simultaneously. Volunteer, donate, offer support when you hear Marvena Kemp working and serving the community "she's a real one!    

Oct 01, 202115:22
Raylin James Raw Interview (Ellensburg WA.)

Raylin James Raw Interview (Ellensburg WA.)

Raylin James - Fights for Justice and Freedom in Washington State Courts, is he being treated with fairness? Does his melanated skin provide a glaring disadvantage? How can we support his journey?  After 16 months behind bars, Jaylin continues to proclaim his innocence while the blindfolded Just Us continues to treat him like a marginalized citizen.  His fight for justice is a little different than that of, Oscar Grant, Bryonna Taylor, and the many more lives lost, caught up in the carceral state. The significant difference is "he's alive, he's strong, he's fighting for his freedom and he can tell his story in his own words, listen to the microaggressions he experiences within the carceral system, Judges, Prosecutors, and Law Enforcement investigators exercising a legal privilege, stronger than most systems in this country and the world "The Legal Carceral System. In this case, it's not only the police, it's the prosecutor, the judges, and the entire system that will fail him just as it did Kalif Browder.  

I'm not an attorney,  a judge, or a law enforcement officer but I know how to listen for injustice, criminal behavior, and bias when I hear it, Do you?

Articles: 

Murdered veteran ‘fingered’ two JBLM soldiers now charged in his death for a ‘drug incident’ last year, the affidavit says (armytimes.com)

On his Final Night, Army Veteran Celebrated his Birthday with Two Soldiers Now Charged in his Death | Military.com

Fundraiser for Jennifer Draper by Jennifer Draper: Justice for Raylin James (gofundme.com) 


Comment Below

 

Sep 28, 202112:35
Michael Re-Entry Return to Forever

Michael Re-Entry Return to Forever

A chilling interview of a bother serving 14 consecutive years in prison preparing for his return to society.  Many changes to face, many obstacles to overcome, however, his faith is the strong and steady support system of good friends, family, and faith helped him survive the physiological, physical, and mental parts of doing time. 

Mike has shared with me in the past that you must learn how to do your time or the time does you. We need prison reform, we need to kame sure when brothers have paid their debts to society, they have at least a fair chance/opportunity to survive and potentially thrive in this newly emerging economy.  Remember, American has incarcerated our best and our brightest "The Carceral State".

America has proven that Justice is BLind, Blind to the fact that 50% of young African and African American males are incarcerated, on probation, or have active warrants for their arrest.  This is no coincidence, this is supreme design. We must fight to change a system that oppresses its children,  destroys families, and continues to operate in denial.  

These are our family members, our loved ones our friends our camping, fishing, biking, and hiking buddies, and most of all our future and current leaders. Respect the struggle, support the re-entry - Trust the process, these black and brown brothers want the same thing you want and are willing to work hard for it if given a chance.  Blessing snd Peace to the brothers and sisters struggling to find their way home.  

Remember to survive you must play Chess not checkers, think three moves ahead, reach out for support, no more penitentiary choices that's checkers, build businesses, love family even if they are resistant to your doing time is always lonely so I hear Celly in Celly out, mystery meat mustard only, J-pay, you miss birthdays, holidays, funerals and baby showers.  We miss you, Mike, my brother, looking forward to your return. 

Sep 17, 202122:27
What is Trust "YOUTH TODAY Young Man

What is Trust "YOUTH TODAY Young Man

Speaking to a young man involved in a summer leadership development program  "LEADERSHIFT"  His answer is straightforward and to the point, what is trust - a secret connector to bridge the gap between youth and adults. We must listen more to their perspectives respecting their thought process, ability to reason and redefine existing words so dominant in our society, Trust the first movement of the symphony, 

Sep 06, 202100:58
Waterfall Sounds - Healing the Mind Body and Soul

Waterfall Sounds - Healing the Mind Body and Soul

A beautiful space can heal the mind, body, and soul, a good meal with friends, an enjoyable time in nature will make you know that you're not alone. Find the special places in life that heal the mind-body and soul, it will create a fresh perspective for the new start of the warrior spirit in you. 

Aug 21, 202100:39
THS Youth Circle RNTS - Memorial Session R.I.P. "RB"

THS Youth Circle RNTS - Memorial Session R.I.P. "RB"

After two weeks of working tirelessly with young leaders in the Rec-n-the Streets program, training, teaching,  guiding, and growing young minds and spirits, we experienced a homicide within walking distance from our program site.  Later that evening a young man 15 years old, eager to learn, motivated to change his life was brutally murdered at the train station as he needed his day of learning, earning, and changing.  This young man along with 49 additional leaders eager to learn and grow developed skills, transferred their passions into service to others and started forming a team and community.  When you lose a young KING with tremendous promise, a willingness to change his life, and suddenly caught in the crossfire that ends his or her life, you mourn, you grieve and you ask yourself is there something else I could have done to make a deeper impact, if the answer is no, you realize you've used all you had, sharing mistakes in my young life, speaking truth to power, being authentic and teaching the rules of adulthood- Trust, Respect, Integrity, Consistency, Knowledge and Self Esteem. Reflections and Observations to Overcome Traumas and Systems of oppression and injustice,  KASH - Knowledge,  Attitudes, Skills, and Habits, ARC- Accountability, Responsibility, and Credibility. These are life lessons for us all to embrace. I often fall short of accomplishing these values and principles daily however when we've given our best when we've poured our all into young lives, we can never feel shame, guilt, or remorse. Listen to the bravery of young people honoring a team member whose life was cut way too short. Remember it's not the children who are being slain, it's now our grandchildren, who have not met their life mate, who have not discovered their unique and special gifts in life, they are merely on the path to adulthood, freedom of thought and discovery. Let's never forget the lives lost in the battle for survival and young black and brown children, let's do our very best to guide, love, and support them through this difficult life journey, let's know that the impact of the carceral state on young black and brown bodies is real.  R.I.P. "RB" Blessings and Healing to staff, participants, and more directly the family and friends are left alone to grieve and heal. Let's surround them with love and compassion during these challenging times and protect them with our actions, not words and deeds.  ONe Love. Reco  

Aug 21, 202106:35
GEM Glover Mentoring Empowerment Youth Speak

GEM Glover Mentoring Empowerment Youth Speak

The true testament of a program and a Man is the true reflection of those impacted by the program and the man.  Kira Thomas participant and volunteer at GEM provides insights into how and what GEM does for youth in the Pudget Sound Region. She also provides insight into reimagining resources to support youth and programs like GEM. Thank you Kira for your insights and wisdom. GEM (strongchildren.org) 

 In 2014, Kendrick co-founded Glover Empowerment Mentoring (G.E.M.), a mentoring program aimed at the service of youth in the Kent and Puget Sound Region. Kendrick was nearly aligned with his purpose, yet as Maya Angelou said, “Courage is the most important of all the virtues.”

HOW IT WORKS

The Glover EmpowerMentoring (GEM) team provides an opportunity for a reduction in suspension time to students with long-term suspensions lasting a minimum of five days. GEM uses the understanding of the ABC (Attendance, Behavior, Course performance) early warning indicators as a guide for student success. Youth enrolled in this program will be given a chance to look at the behaviors that resulted in his or her suspension. By focusing on the root cause of the behavior and identifying goals, will improve relationships. Coursework approved by Kent School District (KSD) will be accessible for students to complete math, science, and language arts while they are not present on campus.

Jul 22, 202101:19
Representative Jesse Johnson speaks Carceral State and Reform Bill

Representative Jesse Johnson speaks Carceral State and Reform Bill

Jesse E. Johnson is an American politician serving as a member of the Washington State House of Representatives. Johnson represents Washington's 30th legislative district, which encompasses parts of King County and Pierce County. He was appointed to the legislature in January 2020 following the resignation of Representative Kristine Reeves. Jesse Johnson – Democratic Member of the WA State House of Representatives. As your state representative, it’s my goal to make sure I keep you informed about the work I’m doing for you in Olympia. I’ll update this site frequently with the latest news from my office and the House floor. You can always contact my office if you need information or have a legislative issue, request, or concern, and either I or my legislative aide will respond promptly.

Legislature approves Johnson police reform bills – Jesse ...

https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/johnson/2021/04/23/...

Apr 23, 2021, · Legislature approves Johnson police reform bills. April 23, 2021. OLYMPIA – The Legislature has approved two priority bills from Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-Federal Way) that are the result of significant discussion and negotiation between impacted families of victims of police violence, police reform advocates, and law enforcement. Both bills are part of the House Democratic Caucus Policing Policy Leadership Team priorities and were priorities for the Legislature’s

House Bill 1054 bans or limits dangerous police tactics that lead to a loss of life in an effort to push all law enforcement to make preserving and protecting human life a fundamental value. The tactics banned include no-knock warrants, chokeholds, neck restraints, and certain military equipment. It establishes restrictions on vehicular pursuits and shooting at moving vehicles, and modifies when tear gas can be used and how it is authorized.

House Bill 1310 changes the existing use of force statute, which currently allows police to complete an arrest by any means necessary. That has been too broad an authorization that allows an unlimited amount of force. HB 1310 sets the clear expectation that de-escalation should be an officer’s first instinct and that deadly force should be a last resort. Officers will be required to consider circumstances like a disability, someone experiencing a mental health crisis, pregnancy, or the presence of children when determining when to use force. Deadly force would be the last resort if de-escalation efforts failed.

Jul 15, 202101:20
Eleanor Cado "The Soul of Seattle"

Eleanor Cado "The Soul of Seattle"

Eleanor Cado, a long-time Seattle Resident remembers the spirit of the diaspora in Seattle. As she so eloquently stated, the SOul of Seattle as we know it is gone.  DIe to efforts of the new movements of Community Builders, she's discovering new efforts to restore and revive the elements of diversity, Blackness, and Culture to revive the Seattle she once knew.  A simple message from a wise and steady resident for us all to cherish. Listen to Eleanor Cado speak her truth to power. 

Jul 15, 202101:43
K. Wyking Garrett - Interview - Sponsored by BUILD "The Peoples Plan"

K. Wyking Garrett - Interview - Sponsored by BUILD "The Peoples Plan"

Community leader K. Wyking Garrett is designing programs and initiatives that inspire, mobilize, and activate communities for sustainable social impact. Recognized in 2019 by Seattle Times as one of 13 influential people of the decade, Garrett is a third-generation community builder, social entrepreneur, and current president and CEO of Africatown Community.

It has been a progression. We are an asset-based community focused on preserving and developing the historic Black community that’s called the central district neighborhood in Seattle. For almost 140 years the central district has faced displacement and gentrification. We are focused on creating models that drive Black communities through post-gentrification and in other locations to be ahead of gentrification.

BY: ERICA C. BARNETT(Abridged)  
As president and CEO of the Africatown Community Land Trust, Garrett (who was also a founding director of Seattle’s African American Heritage Museum and Cultural Center) worked with other community groups and nonprofit developer Capitol Hill Housing on the Liberty Bank Building project, which includes affordable housing and spaces for black-owned businesses at the site of the first black-owned bank west of the Mississippi. A block away at 23rd and Union—the epicenter of Central District gentrification—Garrett’s group has partnered with Forterra, a land preservation group, and Capitol Hill Housing on the Africatown Plaza mixed-use affordable housing development, which is currently going through a community-led design process and could break ground as early as next year.
Click here to support Africatown's good works. #BuildAfricatown


Jul 13, 202102:41
Ishmael Geter, Liaison Black Action Coalition- Interview "Carceral State"

Ishmael Geter, Liaison Black Action Coalition- Interview "Carceral State"

A committed Community Builder & Organizer 

“Black Action Coalition is pretty much a group of like-minded people who wanted to come together and continue to advocate for Black lives [who are] facing systemic oppression,” Ishmael Geter, a liaison for BAC, said. “This is a community-based, volunteer-led, group that’s out here advocating for police reform [and] resource allocation. Trying to put it back into communities that are being underserved, which today are Black and Brown communities and Indigenous communities. Source:  South Seattle Emarad

In America, since colonization, Black and Indigenous people have bared an affront to their lives and their cultures. We march to bring awareness to this systemic & societal oppression so that we may heal through transformation. Source - Facebook 

Jul 13, 202103:35
IACT - Certificate Celebration & interviews

IACT - Certificate Celebration & interviews

Healing Circle Facilitator The AH Healing Circle Facilitator training is based on African Centered Thought. IACT  believes that Healing Circles are key in helping families and individuals cope and meet a variety of the mental and emotional challenges that impact mental wellness, especially as a key to a balanced lifestyle among Black families post-Covid-19. The purpose of the  AH Circles is to provide safe spaces for participants to vent and share internal and external experiences that impede the progression of mental wellness in their environments. There is no degree requirement for this Training. Certificate granted IACTNOW - Education, Membership, Continuing Education (iactnow0119.com)

Founder/President
  • Orisade Awodola,  is a Root Psychologist, Author, Lecturer, Researcher.  Her former background as a journalist and Investigative News Reporter led to a career in Mental Health. She has an extensive clinical and academic background in psychology and mental health approaches as a former clinical mental health therapist and substance abuse counselor specifically trained in co-occurring disorders/dysfunction. She the founder of the Institute of African Centered Thought (IACT), where she created and teaches Root Psychology, Ancestral Healing, and African Spirituality based on the Ancestral Healing Identity Theory and African-Centered Thought.
Jul 12, 202108:13
Three Friends, Three Views, Three Perspectives

Three Friends, Three Views, Three Perspectives

I visited a  random Park in West Seattle  @ the Basketball Courts and discovered three brilliant youngmen with amazing perspectives.  We must listen to the real solutions from those who are most impacted by over prosecution, incarceration, and punitive punishments for what was considered crimes in 1990, however, considered legal in 2021 (Marijuana distribution). We discussed private prisons, solutions, recommendations, have a listen as the three friends and co-workers discuss social injustice and how it impacts their lives. 

Jun 23, 202104:38
Child Care Resources Interview
Jun 21, 202101:55
Sean Goode, Executive Director Choose 180

Sean Goode, Executive Director Choose 180

Interview with Sean Goode at the Black Fathers March and Rally in Tukwilla Wa. 2021, THE BLUES REPORT 


Previous Interview with Omari Salisbury, Converge Media 

 "The World We Need Must Be Built By Community, Not Courtrooms.

Sean Goode

Yeah, well, you know, what really pushed me to put pen to paper was our organizations been working in partnership with several others, Creative Justice, Collective Justice, Community Passageways, and we've created a blueprint to circumvent the court system for 600 to 700 young people a year by having them get referred directly from the prosecutor's office.

Everybody's bought in Dow has allocated the resources to make it happen in the biennial budget and, and we're excited to move forward. But as the King County Council is leaning into approving the budget, they're getting a ton of pushback from people whose jobs are dependent on kids being in cages. And I just thought it was important that I reached out to the community through the Emerald and, and ground us in the power of our collective voice and really center around some areas where we could push forward in our voice to make sure the change that we need happens for our community.

Jun 21, 202101:16
Dominique Davis Solutions to the Carceral State

Dominique Davis Solutions to the Carceral State

Interview with local community organizer Dom Davis @ the Black Fathers March Tukwilla Wa, quick solutions and ideas stem from love, redistribution resources, and more. Community Passageways.   

Jun 20, 202100:57
Willies BBQ - Strategies and Solutions - Economics

Willies BBQ - Strategies and Solutions - Economics

Stopped by to get jewels from Willies Addictive BBQ, "26" circulate our dollars 26 times within our own community to re-build the economic core. We must be self-reliant, inclusive, and supportive of one another within our own community. If you ee willies Addictive BBQ food truck stopb, teela friend it's truly addictive. 

Jun 20, 202101:03
Louis Giden, Jr. Good Shepard, Youth Outreach "speaks" Carceral State, PIC, SPP

Louis Giden, Jr. Good Shepard, Youth Outreach "speaks" Carceral State, PIC, SPP

"Greatness can be achieved when someone is given the resources & an opporunity to excel." Listen to a Louis Giden Jr, Executive Director, Good Shepard, Youth Outreach, Executive Director  WWW.GSYOWA.ORG speak truth to power. After years of community work and experience in the area he provides insights into how to reallocate resources to truly make a difference in Suoth King County to reduce and prevent the harms of the carceral state with a focus on the school to prisonpipe line. South King County has seen an explosion of Black-POC commnities in the past 10 years as a result of gentrificaton, housing and attempts at safe harbor fortheir families. The increase in Black-POC families is significant, however the economic growth, mediant incomes and support resources neccesary to support these families have fallen short. In the wake of limited resources there has been a larger increase per capita of young black and brown children in the criminal justice systems than OSPI and the school districts. Listen to this compelling dialogue about the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC), School to Prison Pipeline (SPP) as a part of the harm done in the Carceral State.   

Jun 20, 202103:53
Carceral State Interviews
Jun 20, 202104:51
Voter Supression

Voter Supression

Voter suppression is a strategy used to influence the outcome of an election by discouraging or preventing specific groups of people from voting. It is distinguished from political campaigning in that campaigning attempts to change likely voting behavior by changing the opinions of potential voters through persuasion and organization, activating otherwise inactive voters, or registering new supporters. Voter suppression, instead, attempts to reduce the number of voters who might vote against a candidate or proposition.

The tactics of voter suppression range from minor changes that make voting less convenient, to physically intimidating and even physically attacking prospective voters, which is illegal. Voter suppression can be effective if a significant number of voters are intimidated or disenfranchised.[1] In 2013, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Shelby v. Holder that voting laws had resulted in voter suppression and discrimination.

Jun 17, 202101:43
Carceral State The Challenges

Carceral State The Challenges

Carceral State – “The challenges” start with the multiple victims. We often focus on the victims directly impacted by arrest, prosecution and years of probation, limited freedoms, and inability to support their families and themselves.  Not only do you have those directly impacted, what happens to the mothers, fathers, children, friends, and community members?  We are all severely impacted by generations of over prosecution, wrongful convictions, plea bargains, and the aftermath of these decisions.  Deborah Prothrow-Stith speaks about the impacts of violence as primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts.  The same applies to the carceral state, the primary impacts are the persons directly harmed by incarceration, prosecution, and probation. The secondary impact will be the loved ones negatively impacted by the harms done to the primary victims, the children, family members, and friends.  The tertiary impact becomes the negative results that impact our communities, the loss of productivity, inability to participate as productive members of our BIPOC communities and families, the loss of hope, opportunity trust, and respect within the community.

Jun 16, 202102:18
What is the Carceral State

What is the Carceral State

What is the Carceral State - The negative impact or interface within the criminal justice system - A discussion of the challenges faced by the hidden victims.

Who are the Victims?  Who are the hidden victims? Mothers,  Fathers, Husbands Wives, Children, Friends, and Extended Family Members What are the Challenges? Incarceration, Over-prosecution, Loss of Income, Mental Health Issues, Broken family structures, Re-entry into society

What are the Solutions? Your Voice - Ideas, and actions that will serve to make conditions better for the BIPOC families negatively impacted by the carceral state. We are all victims, however, our voices are rarely heard when the distribution of resources distributed to support our families fall far too short of the mark. Let's discuss the challenges, the solutions, what work to create a brighter future for our families and friends.

Carceral State - "The challenges" start with the multiple victims. We often focus on the victims directly impacted by arrest, prosecution and years of probation, limited freedoms, and inability to support their families and themselves.  Not only do you have those directly impacted, what happens to the mothers, fathers, children, friends, and community members?  We are all severely impacted by generations of over prosecution, wrongful convictions, plea bargains, and the aftermath of these decisions.  Deborah Prothrow-Stith speaks about the impacts of violence as primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts.  The same applies to the carceral state, the primary impacts are the persons directly harmed by incarceration, prosecution, and probation. The secondary impact will be the loved ones negatively impacted by the harms done to the primary victims, the children, family members, and friends.  The tertiary impact becomes the negative results that impact our communities, the loss of productivity, inability to participate as productive members of our BIPOC communities and families, the loss of hope, opportunity trust, and respect within the community.

Jun 16, 202102:18
What is the Carceral State-Victims, Challenges

What is the Carceral State-Victims, Challenges


Carceral State - "The challenges" start with the multiple victims. We often focus on the victims directly impacted by arrest, prosecution and years of probation, limited freedoms, and inability to support their families and themselves.  Not only do you have those directly impacted, what happens to the mothers, fathers, children, friends, and community members?  We are all severely impacted by generations of over prosecution, wrongful convictions, plea bargains, and the aftermath of these decisions.  Deborah Prothrow-Stith speaks about the impacts of violence as primary, secondary, and tertiary impacts.  The same applies to the carceral state, the primary impacts are the persons directly harmed by incarceration, prosecution, and probation. The secondary impact will be the loved ones negatively impacted by the harms done to the primary victims, the children, family members, and friends.  The tertiary impact becomes the negative results that impact our communities, the loss of productivity, inability to participate as productive members of our BIPOC communities and families, the loss of hope, opportunity trust, and respect within the community.

Facts: Black and Brown Males make up less than 15-20% of the population,

Fact: Incarceration rates of black and brown young men are at 50% of the prison population

Jun 13, 202103:49
The Carceral State (Hidden Victims)

The Carceral State (Hidden Victims)

What is the Carceral State - The negative impact or interface within the criminal justice system - A discussion of the challenges faced by the hidden victims.

Who are the Victims?  Who are the hidden victims? Mothers,  Fathers, Husbands Wives, Children, Friends, and Extended Family Members

What are the Challenges? Incarceration, Over-prosecution, Loss of Income, Mental Health Issues, Broken family structures, Re-entry into society

What are the Solutions? Your Voice -  Ideas, and actions that will serve to make conditions better for the BIPOC families negatively impacted by the carceral state. We are all victims, however, our voices are rarely heard when the distribution of resources distributed to support our families fall far too short of the mark. Let's discuss the challenges, the solutions, what work to create a brighter future for our families and friends.

Jun 13, 202101:35