Introducing
Spanish Town’s
New Area Director
Dear Friends Of Providence Road,
In our last publication, we introduced our new Providence Road team members Amy and Erik.
This week we want to formally introduce another core member of the Providence Road, George Gillam!
George is already a familiar face to our guys in many ways, having spent countless hours and investing considerable energy on behalf of Providence Road in the neighborhoods.
He has become an integral part of our team, allowing us to reach into the community on a whole new level.
Georges's history is unique and vital to improving our understanding of how we onboard, invest, and invite these young men to a bigger story.
In a special effort to capture some of George's story, I sat down with him to talk about his reasons for joining Providence Road and what drives his efforts to connect with our youth.
“The young men we deal with are living in crime-infested and impoverished areas. They are constantly surrounded by crime and opportunities to get involved with it. My main passion is getting in front of that process and disrupting the sequence that sucks these guys into bad choices.”
Transcript Below:
Bold: Erik, Italic: George
Hey, George thanks for taking some time with me today.
No Problem, my pleasure!
So one of the things I want to touch on today is a bit of back story.
Okay!
Have you lived in Louisiana your whole life?
Yes.
What was the environment like when you were growing up?
Violent. Violent, and very dysfunctional, and hopeless. Hopeless is the best word.
Do you feel like the primary cause of that was due to your environment or circumstances?
It was due to the environment and the circumstances in the home. Most homes are a direct reflection of their community, especially in the inner city.
A lot of our guys in Providence Road struggle with feeling like they have limited options. Did you feel limited in your choices primarily because of the environment, or did you feel there was just a general path you followed without asking any questions?
Well, choices were very limited. There were not a lot of choices. For example, in the inner city, you either fight or you don't go outside. That’s the type of choice you had.
you got to fight if you want to go swim, so if you don't want to fight, you can't go swim
That seems pretty straightforward.
That’s it!
It's either you do or you don't, so it's not like you had a lot of options. Very few.
If you were to look back, what would you say the driving motivation was during that time for you?
I guess my motivation was just a drive to survive. I don't think anyone wants to die, so that self-preservation kicks in, and you just want to survive. That's primarily what I found myself doing was not living, but just surviving.
What was the primary cause for a change?
My change is solely and only because of Christ. I mean, that's it, is because of Christ.
When you are working with our guys in Spanish Town, how big of a factor is Christ? Is that something you point to?
When asked, I definitely point to him, but I'm mindful that some of our guys have a religious background. But He's the head of my life, and if they ask, I am what I am because of him, so when the opportunity is there, I definitely point to Christ every time.
As we have touched on in the past, you really have the unique opportunity to speak to these guys on a personal level, having really been in their shoes. When you are trying to address these guys and their perspectives, what are some of the things you are trying to contrast when you're working with them?
The ideology of the street code in general. The myth of it. I think they live in a different world that is somewhat bubblefied from the general population. I’m always trying to downplay the street code of ethics, which is immoral, which is very fake, and very false. I hold it up to the light and let them see it for what it is.
In contrast, what are some of the major differences in culture that Providence Road represents that come into direct opposition to these guys' culture at an early age?
Number one is the willingness to serve. To serve is something you’re not taught in the streets. In the street, it's seen as s sign of weakness and so when we tell the guys to be strong instead of tough because being tough is for yourself and being strong is for others, so being strong and serving is probably that are totally contradictory to what they are accustomed to in the streets versus what they get in providence road.
If you had one thing to say to someone looking to support Providence Road or understand the significance of what we are doing, what would you tell them?
I would tell them that, at some point, an investment is going to be made in these guys lives. The question is when is the investment going to be made and how much it’s going to cost.
For instance, if you make the investment early, the investment will be less, and the dividend will be very high, but to invest later means basically, you will be paying taxes for feeding and clothing and housing them inside of prison.
And then there's no telling what choices these guys will make that will potentially land them inside of a jail cell, and hopefully, there's not a victim associated with their crime.
From zero to 16 I had not been invested in until someone had been fatally wounded. Then, after I was in jail, the system invested hundreds of thousands of dollars, probably millions, keeping me locked up and offering me training.
I could have been a law-abiding, taxpaying citizen. So at some point, you're going to have to invest in these young guys. The question is how much are you going to pay and when are you going to pay it.
Providence Road is an investment in their lives today that gives these guys options and the chance at a different future.
These guys are going to get your attention one way or another, It’s inevitable.
IMPACT TO DATE: 2021
Youth Service Hours:
481 COMBINED Hours
Trash Collected:
5.97 Tons
City Costs Saved:
$13,094.53
YOUTH MEALS PROVIDED
170
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