by Mike Ball
Member since:
March 25, 2006

Young Poet Incarcerated Profiled in Ann Arbor News

June 04, 2006 12:59 PM EDT
views: 38 | rating: 10/10 (1 vote) | comments: 22
Sunday, June 4

This is a special note to let you know that my documentary, Young Poet Incarcerated, and the young man it's about were profiled on Page One of the Ann Arbor News today.

In case you didn't know, I have been blessed with the opportunity to conduct creative workshops with the incarcerated young men at the W. J. Maxey Boys Training School here in Whitmore Lake. Last summer I received a grant to produce a mini-documentary profiling one of my bright young students. We are now in the process of releasing and distributing this documantary, and it has been getting a lot of media attention.

This fine article, written by News Staff Reporter Susan Oppat, does a wonderful job of shining a light on this young poet  and on the larger issue of finding ways to connect with the talented and troubled children in our society - exactly the focus of my film.

If you don't happen to get the Ann Arbor News, you can read the article online at Mlive.com.

- mike

Mike Ball

Author of What I've Learned So Far...
Winner of the 2003 Erma Bombeck Award

Web: whativelearnedsofar.com
E-mail: mike@whativelearnedsofar.com
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Comments: 22

Linda Douglas Jun 4, 2006, 1:13pm EDT
Amazing story. I have often wanted to work in the prison system helping inmates find their creative self. This has inspired me to do more investigation into how I may go about that. Thank you.
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 1:25pm EDT
The justice system can be kind of a tough nut to crack Linda, so don't be discouraged if you have trouble getting them to pay attention to you. This issue is so mind-bogglingly huge that I firmly believe that the effort is worth it.

- mike
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 1:47pm EDT
Would that be Jackson? I somehow missed that you were a fellow SE Michigaroonie.

- mike
Cena W. Jun 4, 2006, 2:10pm EDT
Mike,
You are filling a much needed role. All of us benefit from rehabilitation efforts.
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 2:23pm EDT
You're right Cena. I figure that if we can turn one life toward a better path, the world will wind up a better place for it.
Martha Jette, Author/Editor Jun 4, 2006, 2:56pm EDT
Once again, congratulations Mike. You are an excellent writer, with amazing talent and wit. You deserve it.
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 3:16pm EDT
Thanks Martha.

All I try to do is to go after what I feel is important. These kids are potentially an enormous untapped resource, and they deserve everthing positive we can throw their way.

- mike
Faith H. Jun 4, 2006, 4:43pm EDT
Wonderful story, Mike, what a good way to reclaim young men. Thanks.
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 4:59pm EDT
Thanks Faith. I figure you have to take 'em one at a time and hope for the best.

- mike
Madame Donna C. Jun 4, 2006, 8:37pm EDT
I admire your work and your efforts. I've always been at the other end of the spectrum, working with very young children to make sure they stay on track; your endeavors are truly appreciated by people like me.
Mike Ball Jun 4, 2006, 8:59pm EDT
Donna, I think you've expressed a great truth. These guys I work with never had the advantage of dedicated parents or people like you. If we're ever going to make a dent in the real problems of this world, it will be in helping kids find their way - and the younger, the better!

- mike
Mike, I applaud you!

Magi
Skipster Too Jun 4, 2006, 11:22pm EDT
I loved the powerful image of his fellow inmates moving and snapping fingers as they watched the documentary.
Mike, you're a renaissance-man with all these skills you're revealing to us on Gather. A librarian? Would never have guessed this. You break all the molds.
Kathryn E. Jun 5, 2006, 1:34am EDT
Mike, I've sampled your work from time to time. Your documentary sounds fantastic; I read the story you linked to. Do you know Cynthia C.? She is in Cambridge, Mass. and is executive director of a documentary film group in Watertown, Mass. I bet SHE'LL be very interested in your film. She has a group on Gather, documentaryfilm.gather.com. Was very impressed with your work; you can publish this also to my group, The Renewed Activist. Activism is all about putting your words into action..
Mike Ball Jun 5, 2006, 5:02pm EDT
Thanks Magi. This might sound lame, but as much as I appreciate it, I really don't do this for applause. Working with these guys is unbelievably fulfilling, to the extent that I almost feel guilty when they thank me.

EB, my wife says that when they made me they broke the mold, and she has always been thankful for that. And I'm pretty old, but I was born considerably after the Renaissance...

Kathryn, I am not acquainted with Cynthia, but I'll find her. And I'll check out the Renewed Activist.

- mike
Gisela S. Jun 6, 2006, 10:53am EDT
Mike - What a marvelous way to give back to the world! I work with the daughters of incarcerated women through the Girl Scouts. Although my exposure to rehabilitation efforts has been limited, I've found that the impact is huge and far reaching.

You have my most sincere admiration ;)
Mike Ball Jun 6, 2006, 11:02am EDT
Thank you Gisela, and I'll send that admiration right back at you. Working with the daughters when they are young attacks the problem at it's root - giving those little girls a positive self-image is a vital step toward building a better generation ahead. I can't think of a more important goal.

- mike
johnson ogbonnaya Jun 6, 2006, 2:29pm EDT
It is not the days in your life that matters but the life in your days. Your impact is more important than everything else especially when your effectuation is positively oriented. I appreciate you Ludo.
Mike Ball Jun 6, 2006, 4:17pm EDT
Thanks Ludo. As I've said above, the fulfillment I get from working with these guys is beyond anything I can describe. Maybe this is a lesson of sorts - that anyone should know that he or she can make a difference.

- mike
Jeff L. Jun 19, 2006, 10:22am EDT
Can you imagine turning our prison system into libraries and university studies? hey it could happen... :)
Mike Ball Jun 19, 2006, 11:29am EDT
Well, at this point in the development of these kids, education is the one shot we have of breaking them out of the cycle of crime they were born into. We could send them to Harvard at less cost to society than letting them pursue a lifelong criminal career.

I'm no criminal justice expert (I write jokes for a living), but that seems like a really good investment to me.

I don't know how effective this approach would be on older inmates, but it sure works for the kids.

- mike

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