There is a beautiful story of an old guy observed planting a fig tree. When his neighbor asked if he really expected to live long enough to consume the fruits of his labor, he replied: "I was born into a world flourishing with ready pleasures. My ancestors planted for me, and I now I plant for my children.”
 
Most of us do not plant trees for the benefit of our children, but we are still rightfully concerned with what will be our legacy – for that is the work of an elder.  Many of us also feel great sadness or despair as we look at our collective legacy -- the state of our world -- as there is much that needs fixing, and we are each just one amongst many. 
 
I want to share a vision of ELDERS STANDING – people who serve as elders for our communities, speaking for future generations, for the unborn ones, in the ways that as elders have always spoken for the “seventh generation.” 
 
To take a stand means to publically take a position, to speak for an idea or issue.   It is a position of power -- not power over -- but “power with” those that are calling to us from the future to speak for them now, in this moment in time.   We do this by speaking in the public square and leaving a legacy of a just and thriving world.
 
This network of individuals and organizations holds as our highest priority the concerns of our descendents and all life on our precious planet.

African-American males are six times more likely to be incarcerated than white males and 2.5 times more likely than Hispanic males.
 
If current trends continue, one of every three black American males born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six Latino males compared to one of every seventeen white males.    (www.gatewaysecondchance.org)
 
This is not the definition of a just society! 

Many Americans are beginning to understand how unjust our society is – and two of them, Donna and Clarence Carter, are doing something about it.

The Carters have formed GATEWAY SECOND CHANCE Foundation and GateWay Boarding Academy, which invest in the lives of at-risk youth, breaking their cycle of failure and empowering them to become productive community members.
 
Gateway Second Chance is a powerful declaration and commitment to young people, particularly young men, to provide a second chance through education, skills training, mentoring and supportive services that insure that these young men can turn their lives around and become not only “productive” but fulfilled members of their community.

The Carters are enlisting their friends and community to help them in this endeavor – so this past March, more than 200 folks gathered to share breakfast, community, and inspiring stories of courage and perseverance. 
 
Those attending were inspired by the youth and adults who shared their life experiences, and what is possible with the caring commitment of others -- literally breathed new life into those who were present. These individuals modeled what is created in a human being's life when they receive our attention and support.
 
Gateway Second Chance is determined to provide the needed services so that the vicious cycle of the “school to prison pipeline” STOPS!