getting OUT and staying OUT

http://www.gosonyc.org/

Founded by Mark Goldsmith, retired executive at cosmetic giants Revlon and Shisheido, Getting Out and Staying Out (GO&SO) is a non-profit that helps men between the ages of 18-24 incarcerated at Rikers Island in New York get out of prison and stay out of prison through coaching by successful community leaders. The recidivism rate for inmates in the GO&SO program is reduced by nearly 85% in comparison to all those incarcerated at Rikers. How does a program like GO&SO accomplish knocking down a proverbial statistic that many Americans would consider a hopeless cause? Through instilling hope in these young men by believing they will achieve their goals, giving them the tools to do so, and mentoring them along the way.

I think the people at GO&SO are onto something. Getting out of prison and staying out of prison are two different matters. It's only by using the right method that I will prevent repeating past transgressions and ending up back in the personal prison of limitations from which I recently freed myself. The right method is believing I can achieve my goals, working to find the means to accomplish what I'm setting out to do, and looking for the right mentors. I had a long talk with my good friend Emily today, and she's right - I can't help but be successful if I follow my heart and stay true to my passions.

What are my passions?

Creativity - I'm writing my own story and forgetting what others already wrote about me.
Compassion - I don't feel good unless I'm encouraging or helping people.
Adventure - I can't live if I'm just existing.
Audacity - I'm finding the courage to dismiss my insecurities and just go.

From this point on, my blog will focus on all of the above. Every time I blog, I will be writing about a new place on the map and the people I meet along the way. Restaurants, tourist traps, monuments, theaters, bars, stores, volunteer organizations, events, parks, shores, etc. What's familiar to those who have lived on the East Coast their entire lives is completely foreign to me. So if you're from here, I'll be getting to know your city blocks and reporting on how I see it. If you're from back home, you can experience each new venture with me.

Time to put some stamps in my East Coast passport. I'm getting OUT and staying OUT.