UrbaneKnight's profile

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Basics

  • Grindin' Since: 11/19/2008
  • Visitors: 3
  • Location: Not Shown
  • Age: Not Shown
  • Gender: Male

Stats

  • Articles: 16
  • Comments: 6
  • Grinds: 21
  • Trashes: 0
  • Fans: 0

UrbaneKnight's bio

Memoirs of an UrbaneKnight



Bernard Williams, a child of the community and a product of the harsh realities of urban street life in Toledo, was involved in drugs and crime. As a result of his criminal behavior, he was incarcerated. While serving a total of 11 years in prison, Bernard found opportunities to improve his life. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, participated in drug and alcohol recovery programs, and learned to change his behavior through counseling and group work. Bernard Williams exited the prison system clean, sober and with marketable skills. After being released, and highly motivated to start his new life, Bernard was able to secure employment on his very first day home. One month later, he was working in the profession of his newly acquired degree. He was a Junior Computer Programmer for Scot-Lad Foods, now known as Roundy’s Inc. His work performance earned him a promotion to their Corporate Offices in Wisconsin. Bernard worked at Roundy’s Inc. for one year. He later resigned to return back to Chrysler where he had been laid off prior to serving prison time. He started back to work on the assembly line and applied for computer programming through Chrysler’s Internal Job Placement Process. Bernard was promoted to Chrysler’s Corporate Offices as a Systems Analyst. Applying the skills learned within the United States Junior Chamber (Jaycees), a program that helps to build productive citizens, Bernard out performed his colleagues and was promoted to Senior Systems Analyst. Managing many projects on a Corporate Service Team, Bernard became the only American representative among the 25 International Systems Analysts. After receiving consistently high evaluations from superiors, Bernard was appointed by the Vice President of Government Affairs at Chrysler to be the Communications Chairman for the Chrysler African American Network (CAAN). The CAAN Organization strived globally to represent Chrysler’s African American population in Upper Management. After the company ran some additional background checks as a requirement for the promotion, Bernard found that the upward mobility he was promised ceased. Word traveled throughout the company and Bernard began to experience hostility. In a subtle and unspoken manner, colleagues became distant. Work, which was one a place to thrive and grow, became a place to survive each day. Favorable evaluations became questionable. Workers grew distrustful. Bernard was no longer thought of as “creative” and “competent”, but was now viewed with disappointment and suspicion. He realized he had reached a glass ceiling that he could not permeate. He decided to resign. After Bernard left Chrysler he found it difficult, if not impossible, to get employment in his profession that matched his experience and abilities. And upon many interviews and “almost” getting the job, once background checks were performed he was rejected. Bernard, after being clean and sober for thirteen years, relapsed back into active addiction. After many attempts to abstain from “using” drugs/alcohol, Bernard was only able to stop as a result of being arrested with a new felony, and re-incarcerated back into prison, where he served an additional year. During this time in prison Bernard conceived of the UrbaneKnight concept. Born out of his personal struggles and the struggle of other young men in our community to succeed, the UrbaneKnight program was developed. Having faced and been inspired by the prejudices and rejection often faced by ex-offenders, Mr. Bernard Williams has founded The UrbaneKnights. The UrbaneKnights is a direct response to the lack of services for those reentering Lucas County from prison. Ohio has the 7th largest prison population in the United States and Lucas County is among the few counties that receive the vast majority of Ohio’s offenders as they leave prison. Forty percent of prisoners released in Ohio do so without any supervision or support. The hope of The UrbaneKnights is to meet the needs and equip with skills those attempting to reenter our community. Successful transitions from prison to home only result from creating an environment in which individuals can set goals and get the support and resources they need to reach those goals. The potential benefits of even the most modest successes by this new program will resonate throughout our community.

Interests:

Servant. Helping Ex-Offenders, Welfare to work recipients, and People who struggle with alcohol/drug additions.

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