October 1, 2009
Mr. Ron Huberman, CEO
Chicago Public Schools
Chief Executive Office
125 South Clark Street, 5th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Mr. Huberman:
The most recent traumatic experience for the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) system has prompted me to write you this letter. The brutal and untimely death of honor student Darien Albert has sparked an outcry nationwide, which also may affect Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. The phenomenon of crime and recidivism among our juveniles is increasing in America. The lack of protective factors contributes to this phenomenon. Many of our juveniles have given up on education and employment due to the lack of protective factors. Without protective factors, education, and the attainment of employable skills for our juveniles, we will continue to see a rise in crime and recidivism.
Protective factors are characteristics or conditions that interact with risk factors to reduce their influence on violent behavior. Most researchers agree that these protective factors are the only way to explain why two juveniles grow up with identical risk factors and one offends while the other does not. These protective factors build a barrier between a developing juvenile and his or her risk factors by offsetting or counteracting those risks.
Sir, I want to extend my employment services and life’s skills to CPS. My accomplishments in the last 18 years are well noted and documented. Prior to the last 18 years, I was a product of a socially dysfunctional environment and lifestyle. I was in the streets of Chicago for 26 years. I was not a violent person nor did I commit any violent acts, but I was juvenile delinquent, substance abuser, alcoholic, and homeless; a person practicing criminal thinking and behaving. I know how the juvenile and adult offender thinks and behaves.
Presently, one of my contractual employment positions is working with sex offenders on court management, supervision, probation, and parole. I have worked this position for the last 8 years. I proactively work with probation and parole officers. I have had consultation with the Illinois State’s Attorney office on dispositions of cases. I consult with the Honorable Supervising Judge Michael Stuttley of the Juvenile Court in Markham, Illinois on matters of the criminal justice system, criminal thinking and behaving, and social justice.
Therefore, I respectfully request an audience with you, or a representative of your office to address the urgent need for program development and innovative processes to deter further juvenile delinquency and crime in the CPS arena, and in the Chicago area.
Dr. Fred Nance Jr.
cc: Alderman Carrie Austin
My objective is to enhance an organization’s program development and quality assurance systems with innovative processes; advancing social structures and skills, and community; improving the lives of the disadvantaged and disenfranchised in health, human services, politics, and in the behavioral and social sciences. I have a Bachelor degree in General Studies focusing on Social Science, and a Master degree in Mental Health with a focus on Community Counseling from Roosevelt University. My Ph.D. is in Human Services with a focus on Social Policy Analysis and Planning from Walden University. I am certified by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Professional Certification Association, Inc. (CADC) and as a National Certified Recovery Specialist (NCRS). Upon completion of an upcoming training, I will be a Certified Problem and Compulsive Gambling Counselor.
I have excellent communication and written language skills. I am skilled in multiple computer applications. I am team oriented, and a company man. I value and expect integrity in the workplace. I have a great ethical standing. I am a highly structured individual, and follower of policies and procedures. I am seeking employment where I can utilize my academic achievement and knowledge, and my life-learning social skills in developing and designing human/social service programs that facilitate social change, and embody and develop capacity for those who are socially disadvantaged and disenfranchised within the meaning of poverty, homelessness, and status.
I have attended an array of trainings and seminars with topics in: mental health, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, sex offender treatment, individual and family counseling, and other human/social applications of service. I am a volunteer advisory board member on 11 committees developed by the Honorable Congressman Danny K. Davis. The advisory boards are: Business Consortium Advisory Committee, Business Employment Reentry Collaborative Task Force, Child Welfare Advisory Committee, Housing Cluster Advisory Committee, Welfare and Poverty Advisory Committee, Media Planning Advisory Committee, Youth and Child Development Advisory Committee, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Advisory Committee, Second Chance Technical Support Committee, Ex-offenders and Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, and the Second Chance Act of 2007 Advisory Committee. I will be attending the Corporation for Supportive Housing, Supportive Housing Institute’s “Opening New Doors” training to create, develop, and facilitate permanent supportive housing for the severely mentally challenged individual.
My employment history reports: Peer Reviewer for the Department of Justice, reviewing proposals for grant applications. I am the Founder, President, and CEO of C.L.I.C.K. Services, NFP (www.clickservices.org). I have worked in management positions as a director and supervisor for program design, analyst, and quality assurance; substance abuse, mental health, and homeless programs. I have held entry level positions as a mental health, substance abuse, alcohol, and sex offense counselor. I have trained social service community-based staff, and facilitated trainings in HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment. My curriculum vitae is available upon demand.
