“You got to figure out did you fall, or did you just slip? You have to know the difference between the two, because if you fall, you got to get back up," said R. Justice Braimah, PHD.
They may be locked up.
“Something happened that brought you all in here,” said Braimah.
But, these young men aren’t being left out.
“Anytime that we get the community involved to help us, it really creates hope,” said Warden Ryan Mahr.
Community groups such as Black Men United are going inside in hopes of keeping young men out of the prison system.
“Young guys that come to us have no work experience, they don't have their diploma and we know that employment has such an impact on recidivism,” said Mahr.
Nebraska Youth Correctional Facility Warden Ryan Mahr and Case Manager Ken Schmitt say getting these young men educated and employable, while serving their time is the facility’s top priority.
“I think they want to change, but they don't necessarily know how change, sometimes we have to help them,” said Ken Schmitt.
Recently Willie Hamilton and Dell Gines of Black Men United, along with other community volunteers offered an Intro to Trades course at the facility.
All six young men in the class, ages 17 to 20 are serving time for felonies they committed as teens.
The four week, Intro to Trades course teaches a wide range of skills, from learning how to sell yourself and defend your felony to a future employer, to gaining CPR and basic OSHA certification.
“One thing I realized is I didn't like being locked up,” said Charles Johnson, owner of Charles Johnson Construction.
Throughout the course the students got to hear success stories from men who were once behind bars.
“As an ex felon like myself, making the right decisions and the right choices, I now own my own business,” said Johnson.
The students learned both valuable skills and important life lessons.
“Say I want to play basketball, I know I want to play basketball, but I know I also can’t be missing practice,” said Deng Mayik.
19-year-old Deng Mayik says getting arrested for armed robbery in 2014 was a blessing in disguise.
“I knew coming to prison would be tough, but I didn't know so much good would happen to me here,” said Mayik.
While serving his sentence, Mayik graduated High School and is now enrolled in college courses.
Mayik says taking the Intro to Trades class got him interested in becoming a plumber. He can't thank the volunteers enough.
“They really make a big difference in our lives. They may not notice it and we may not give them a lot of gratitude, but they really do make a big difference and we really do think about what they tell us and we remember what they say,” said Mayik.
Mayik may have fallen, but through the kindness of the community he was given the resources to get back up.
“That's the beauty of life sometimes, because every now and then you get a chance to take a look and retrace your step,” said Braimah.
