Testimonials

The STREETS is Talking Testimonials

We know everything that comes in the form of a game can be interpreted in so many different ways. Growing up in the inner city of Brooklyn,  New York, we was taught that the game was the street life. Which is far from a game, more like a lifestyle.  What was viewed as a game took 15 years and 8 months out of my life to the Judicial systems. After working on myself for half of those years I seen and learned what caused me to move around as a wounded soul with so much hatred and mis-direction. As a youth especially a young black man growing up in Brooklyn we frowned from subjects like “TRAUMA”, “Psychological evaluations”, and plain and simple the word “HELP”. Culturally in our homes black people are taught to just deal with it. What is it? It is the pain we endure watching our friends and other loved ones get cut down in the streets by gun violence and other social ills that plague our neighborhoods. As a youth one of my favorite  rappers was Tupac Shakur.  A quote from one of his infamous rhymes  spoke volumes into my life “Back in elementary  I thrive on misery.” Why did I thrive on misery? Because it was all I knew. All I wanted or needed was someone to show me something different. Someone that I could  relate to. As a young adult I learned from my past and sought out therapeutic help in my own ways over the years.

After going over The Streets game I was moved to share my experiences. In our hour long discussion, something magical happened. Everyone in the room was sharing some form of traumatic life experiences. And I seen what we called a game bring about a change in the minds of people who are still dealing with trauma. So with that said, understand, this game can bring positive eye opening changes in hurt people’s lives. We all hold on to some form of pain.

Thomas Haynes, G.M.A.C.C.

Growing up in the Bronx, I was taught you don’t cry under no circumstances, nor do you tell your business or what goes on in your household. I was introduced to the streets at a very young age. You had to be tough, there was no other way or you would be considered soft. We are detached as people the lack of communication, love and support is at an all time high. I had to learn how to open up and speak about the trauma that I endured in my life. I now know that it’s ok to hurt, to feel pain and speak about these traumas that not only I, but we all deal with on some level. This game allowed me to release some of the most personal and traumatic experiences I ever endured. I felt free, free to release the hurt and comfortable enough to know that what I spoke of stayed strictly confidential. I think this is an amazing way to get the youth to understood what trauma is and how to deal with it. 

Taneka Seldon, G.M.A.C.C.