Episode 04: System Impacted Youth Bilal Al-Raed
Episode Summary
🎙️ Welcome to the fourth episode of 'What I Know Now', a podcast brought to you by The Delta Project, where we dive deep into conversations about growth, change, and the wisdom gained through personal experience.
🔗 Episode 4 features an incredibly powerful story. Join hosts Cole and Joel as they sit down with Bilal, a former student, now an artist and poet who pivoted his life from the brink of juvenile life sentencing to the boundless realms of college and creativity.
📖 In this episode:
Witness the transformative journey of Bilal as he shares his experiences from spending time in Pennsylvania's juvenile system to his return to Grand Rapids and the subsequent enrollment in college.
Explore the crucial role of family support and mentorship in Bilal's life, with touching insights into his interactions with Cole as a young adolescent and again at 16.
Delve into the challenges of transitioning from juvenile detention to county jail and the harsh realities of incarceration.
Discover the inspirational power of poetry and education through Bilal's narrative, including his mentorship under Ms. B, Ms. Shonda, and of course, our own host, Cole.
Listen to Bilal's vivid discussions on the resonance of poets like Langston Hughes and an impactful reading from his own work about self-discovery and resilience.
Recognize the imperative need for community involvement in guiding at-risk youth, as profoundly articulated by Bilal through his lived experiences.
🌟 Don't miss Bilal's stirring exhortation to support our youth and his heartfelt gratitude for those who've helped pave his path to artistic expression. 🎧 Listen now to be moved, inspired, and called to action.
