Healing boot camp trains community leaders

March 30, 2014 at 12:08a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Training leaders to train even more leaders was the goal of this weekend’s Lifelines to Healing Boot Camp.

The training session, sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Organizing Collaborative, the collaborative in Akron and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, took place Friday and Saturday at Metro Assembly Of God church on South Avenue.

Wayne Huggins of Youngstown, a fellow with the OOC and executive director of United Returning Citizens, a group that advocates increased job opportunities for people who have served prison terms, said this weekend’s training was the first of its kind in the area.

“It’s about training leaders to go back to their communities and develop other leaders,” Huggins said.

Faith leaders, people who have been in prison and others were on hand during the sessions to teach people how to deal with issues such as racism, drug addiction, reentry of prisoners and gun violence. By speaking of their experiences, they hope they will not only motivate others to take action but also encourage others by making them realize someone knows what they face, and cares, Huggins said.

Participants in the sessions were instructed on how to address these issues with people in their communities and at work.

Marcelous Smith of Akron, an OOC volunteer, said the issues discussed at the sessions are important for people in his town because they do not know how to deal with them in a positive way. He wants to take his training and lead by example where he lives by showing others how to battle for a better life.

“I’ve come here to be that beacon of light in my community,” Smith said.

Jamie Johnson of Cleveland and Stand Up Ohio said he was hoping the sessions would give him ideas on how to not only engage people in his neighborhood, but also elected officials, because their help is needed to improve conditions for people.

Johnson also said he learned how each person’s experiences can help others to make their lives better.

“Each person has a story, and it can affect the bigger picture,” Johnson said.

Huggins said about 100 people attended the two-day sessions, and he was pleased with the turnout.

A boot camp also is planned for Cincinnati early next month.