Author Archives: jackperspectives

At the end of last week, I, and a number of my colleagues,  attended the NYS Citizen’s Coalition for Children annual two day conference.  It consists of speakers, of course, and a series of workshops that are relevant to adoptive … Continue reading →

Family Focus is a private not-for-profit agency which is funded by fees for service; donations and grants; and a staff willing to tolerate low pay, regular cuts in that pay, and then sometimes skipped paydays. Our official salaries are low … Continue reading →

I know that I haven’t gotten to part 2 of my last posting yet. I also know how long it has been since I last posted, and I am sorry for that delay.  And during this “blackout” the first anniversary … Continue reading →

Yesterday, I had two experiences with people I never met before. The first was disheartening; the second, energizing. As always, I couldn’t help but think of how our disempowered family-less kids would experience each. There are three ways (that I … Continue reading →

I got to the prison last week. I got to meet Micheal, one of the guys convicted of manslaughter in Abe’s death. He looked me straight in the eye; he told me what happened as far as he saw; he … Continue reading →

I just checked google and it was, as I remembered, Shakespeare who said: “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Fear of liability is another life-killing version of bureaucracy.  And so I was not allowed into the … Continue reading →

I got letters in yesterday’s mail from two of the guys who beat Abraham. They were responding to my letters of last week. One guy is practically illiterate and I had a terrible time trying to get through his letter, … Continue reading →

It has been much too long since my last posting.  I have told myself a number of true things as reasons why; but though true, they have been excuses: Danny has finally – after three months – started school.  Were … Continue reading →

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,200 times in 2011. If it were a NYC subway … Continue reading →

I came home from a wake tonight for a sixteen year old boy – Justin – gunned down last Monday- as Monday of last week drew to a close.  He died a little while later – Tuesday – in his … Continue reading →