There's a Hole in my Sidewalk
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
I.
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost...I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
II.
I walk down the same street.
There is the same deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in this same place.
But it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
III.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in...it's a habit, but
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
IV.
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
V.
I walk down a different street.
PORTIA NELSON
Portia Nelson's metaphor of holes in her sidewalk captures the human struggle to learn from history rather than to repeat it. For many of the youth who come into our office, ending up in legal trouble is one such hole. They don't always see the connection between their behavior and where they have ended up, and sadly, the court system does not solve the underlying problem that leads them into trouble. Perhaps they will be helped out of this hole, but what is to stop them from falling in again?
To keep youth from falling back in the hole requires legal assistance and more personal attention through intervention and social work. Our agency provides a holistic response to the legal and social work needs of low-income youth and their families.
"Often what ends up happening, particularly among children whose families lack the knowledge and resources to get help early on, is that the problems fester untreated until the child ends up in the juvenile justice system." Chicago Tribune Editorial, July 23, 2001.
Our goal is not only to pull youth away from the black hole of the juvenile justice system, but to make sure they stay out.