The Importance of Family Formation in Reducing Poverty 
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control reveals that a record 40.6% of children born in 2008 were born outside marriage—a total of 1.72 million children. What does this mean for our society? What is the relationship between family formation and poverty? Bob’s guest is former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Jeff Kemp, now Executive Director of Stronger Families. They look at the problem and talk about solutions. |
|
Transformation II: Returning from Incarceration to a Positive Life 
How does someone who has been incarceration for many years, who has been an addict, a criminal, re-enter society and make a useful life? An amazing woman named Rachel Morrison saw the problem and decided to do something about it by founding a program called EFFORTS. Bob talks with her and EFFORTS program graduates Michelle Staton, and Clarence Miser. They talk about their pasts and how their lives have been transformed. |
|
Transformation I: A Real Cure that Works for Drug and Alcohol Addiction 
The House of Help, City of Hope ministry has helped more than 6,000 addicts become free from their addictions, and has a special focus on post-addiction family formation and marriage. Bob’s guests are Bishop Shirley Holloway, founder of the program and James and Angie Woods, two outstanding graduates of the House of Help program and examples of the success of this faith-based ministry. |
|
The Role of Faith in the Restoration of Young People, Families, and Communities 
Bob’s guests are: Jennifer Marshall, Director of Domestic Policy Studies at the Heritage Foundation, and William Schambra, director of the Hudson Institute's Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal. They talk about the role faith plays in transforming individuals and how it inspires and motivates many community leaders who work in low-income neighborhoods. |
|
The Deeper Impact of Reducing Youth Violence 
The show focuses on how reducing youth violence has benefits far beyond the impact on the young people themselves. Guests are Bernice Sanders Smoot, founder of Saint Wall Street, Kwame Johnson, National Director of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise’s Violence-Free Zone program, and William Wubbenhorst, a Non-Resident Fellow of Baylor University’s Program on Prosocial Behavior. Wubbenhorst has recently completed case studies of the Violence-Free Zone program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Richmond, Virginia. |
|
Two Veterans Talk About How to Reduce Youth Crime and Violence 
Twenty years ago Bob’s two guests were far different than they are today. Both had extraordinary influence over other young people in their neighborhoods. At that time they were part of what society would call “the problem.” But for years now they have been part of the solution. They continue to have influence, but they use it in positive ways to turn young people away from crime and violence. |
|
Rediscovering Our Principles and Reclaiming Our Future 
How are the principles of self-governance being exercised every day in low-income communities? What is the role of individuals?
Bob discusses these issues with Matthew Spalding, author of the book We Still Hold These Truths and William Schambra, director of the Hudson Institute's Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal. |
|
The Tyranny of the Helping Hand 
Have traditional programs have actually hurt low-income people? What are the lessons that can be learned from the strengths of low-income people? Is grassroots empowerment a framework for success? Bob’s guests are Professor John McKnight of Northwestern University and Co-Director, Asset-Based Community Development Institute: Tom Dewar, also a long-time member of the Asset-Based Community Development Institute; and William Schambra, director of Hudson Institute’s Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal. |
|
Who Has the Power to Transform High-Risk Youth? 
Bob’s guests are Todd and Lance Feurtado, brothers who have transformed their lives and spend all their time motivating youth away from the life they used to lead, Pastor Buster Soaries, Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens, Somerset, New Jersey. |
|
Small Business Development: Key to Overcoming Poverty 
Host Bob Woodson interviews experts who have developed innovative initiatives to bring economic development into low-income communities and to empower individuals to become entrepreneurs and control their own futures. His guests are retired business development expert Cliff Henry, public policy and finance consultant Paul Pryde. |
|
Youth Violence: How Well Intended Policies Put Children in Peril 
School closings and other changes are often made without community input, but the children have to suffer the consequences of traveling into rival neighborhoods. Woodson’s guests are Omar Jahwar of Vision Regeneration in Dallas, Texas, and Pastor Torrey Barrett, founder and executive director of K.L.E.O. Community Family Life Center in Chicago. They talk about solutions. |
|
Black History: The Lesser Known Achievements 
The black community has a rich history of entrepreneurship. And part of that history are the many parents who lacked education and who sacrificed so that their children would be educated. Bob Woodson talks with Dr. Vernard Gant, Director of Urban School Services at the Association of Christian Schools International, about the policies and societal pressures that produced change and what should be done for the future. |
|
Another Youth Killing—What Does It Take to Prevent Violence and Transform Violent Youth? 
Bob and his guests discuss what it takes to prevent violence and to transform violent youth. Joining him are Ronnie Ortiz, AKA “Pastor Arson” of the Richmond Outreach Center in Richmond, VA, and Omar Jahwar, founder of Vision Regeneration in Dallas, TX. |
|
The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King: The Issues That Don’t Get Discussed. 
Bob’s guests are Reverend DeForest “Buster” Soaries, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey and former New Jersey Secretary of State; and Dr. John Sibley Butler. Professor of Management and Sociology at the University of Texas at Austin. |
|
The Overlooked Resource in Domestic and National Security 
Last week , we talked about the reductions in homicides nationwide and the role of an engaged citizenry in reducing crime and violence. Extending this principle to national security, how can an engaged citizenry further work to protect this country and produce civil order in other countries? Our Guests are Dr. William Schambra, director of the Hudson Institute's Bradley Center for Philanthropy and Civic Renewal; Dr. Stuart Butler, The Heritage Foundation's Vice President of Domestic and Economic Policy Studies; and Dr. Bernard Gant, founder of the Association of Christian Schools International. |
|
The Role of the Community in Reducing Crime and Violence 
The FBI reported last week that homicides dropped during the first half of last year. What’s behind this promising news? Bob’s guests are Chief Rodney Monroe, Police Chief in Charlotte, North Carolina; and Arthur “Rico” Rush and Tyrone Parker, founders of the Alliance of Concerned Men. |
|
Financial Literacy: Repairing Credit and Getting Back on Track Financially 
HSBC Vice President Loretta Abrams, CNE Financial Literacy Program Director Charles Perry, and Buffalo Weed and Seed Program Director Antwan Diggs discuss a program that brings financial literacy training to low and middle income adults and its impact on individuals, families, and the community. |
|
What Young People Say about Their Lives 
Drugs, gangs, violence—high school students from Atlanta, Milwaukee, and Richmond, talk about the challenges they have faced and what changed their lives. Woodson and CNE National Violence-Free Zone Director Kwame Johnson comment. |
|
Part II: The Path to Redemption: How to Reduce Violence and Redeem Lives 
The theme of this week’s show is “Penetrating the Youth Culture with Positive Messages” with C. Brian Williams founder of Step Afrika and Omar Jahwar, founder of Vision Regeneration in Dallas. These unique individuals have used their own talents to create programs that are penetrating the youth culture and transforming some of the most hard core youth. |
|
Part I: The Path To Redemption—How to Reduce Violence and Redeem Lives 
What makes a young person join a gang? Is it possible to rescue an older teenager or an adult who has joined a gang, committed crimes, or become a drug addict or homeless? What does it take and who can do it? Bishop Shirley Holloway Johnson, founder and executive director of the House of Help, City of Hope in Washington, DC, is a former telecommunications executive who has applied her heart and her skills to the business of saving lives. Virginia “Geanie” Kase, Technical Assistance Manager at the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, uses her personal biography to inspire others. |
|
Building on Strengths in the Black Community 
Crime, violence, incarceration rates, teen pregnancies, and low marriage formation are challenges faced by black communities. But while media and scholars alike focus on pathologies, too few look at the strengths and how they can be built upon. Bob Woodson hosts two scholars, experts in the field, who provide some interesting insights about the statistics, and who see promising signs for the future. |
|
Can Today’s Violent Youth Be Changed? 
Woodson and Pastor DeForest “Buster” Soaries, renowned for his ability to motivate and counsel young people, discuss the reasons so many youth have become disaffected and are turning to gangs and violence to substitute for a family structure and sense of belonging. They identify some effective ways that even older youth are being reached and transformed. |
|
The Law Enforcement Perspective on Youth Violence 
The Bob Woodson Show—What Works and Why continues to focus on the problem of youth violence, always looking for solutions. Bob’s guests are the Milwaukee District Attorney, the Chairman of the Richmond, VA Police Foundation, and the Assistant Chief of Police of Richmond, VA. All three have been leaders in their communities in finding a solution. They talk about the program that is radically reducing youth violence in schools in their cities, and what the impact of it is on the larger community. |
|
YOUTH VIOLENCE: Measuring Results 
At the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, we are focused on results. And today, we talk to the people who look at results, and find out what is really working. Our guests are Dr. Byron Johnson and William Wubbenhorst, of Baylor University who studied the effectiveness of the Violence-Free Zone in Milwaukee. We’ll also hear from Kwame Johnson, National Director of the Violence-Free Zone program. |
|
Youth Violence: South Division 
We look at how one formerly violent high school was turned into one of the safest and best performing schools in Milwaukee. What is it that the principal did to help turn this school around? Can this happen in any school? Our guests today are Mark Kuxhause the former principal of South Division High School, and representatives from the Latino Community Center, a community-based organization that runs the violence-reduction program in South Division High School. |
|
Youth Violence: What is the Solution? 
Today we launch the first in a five-part series on Youth Violence. Were going to look at this problem from all sides. How big a problem is youth violence? How effective are the approaches being created by schools, communities, and the government? And if more police and more metal detectors are the not the answer, what are the real solutions, and who can provide them? Well search for the answers with William G. Andrekopoulos, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, and Pastor Torrey Barrett, and founder of the K L E O Community Family Life Center in Chicago. |
Sign up for the TalkZone |
