V E N T U R E S

L E A D E R S H I P F O U N D A T I O N

w w w . u r b a n v e n t u r e s . o r g

Annual ReportSpring 2OO3

Volume Nine, Number One

Inside:

^BBik' M

The community"sounds off

re: 10 years of change

Thanksto our contributors!

A solid board launches10 more years

Celebrat ing 10 Years!

A Periodic Briefing on What's Happened and What's Coming

10 years wear wellon tailor's family

When Uncle Frankie curls up on the couch to rerun life's toptales, no kid in his right mind would miss it. In fact, the story ofhis misadventures beats most Hollywood movies by one simplefact: it's true.

Telling the unvarnished story of his gang-related family's tragedies,triumphs and comeback is the best way we know to both celebrate andillustrate the role Urban Ventures Leadership Foundation has tried to playin the Central and Phillips neighborhood for 10 years.

A rural Arkansas native, Frankie grew up milking cows, shovelingmanure, and embalming cadavers. Well ... his dad did the embalming, buthe watched, and dug his share of graves. "It scared me half to death," he says.

Certain stories come out after the kids are in bed, such as ones about lifeas a drug addict; or the escape from prison with 21 female convicts in astolen school bus; or when he had a business sewing G-strings for strippers."One foot of fabric went a long way!" says Frankie, sheepishly.

In 1979, a woman named Velma, who grew up the youngest of 13children only 30 miles from Frankie's home town, moved to 37th Street andPortland, only one block from where his parents' settled in southMinneapolis and seven blocks from Urban Ventures.

"It was love at first sight," says Frankie. But Velmakept her distance. She could see Frankie neededcoaxing off of life's fast track. And sheput down her foot, setting acondition for their friendship:choose her or the stripteasebusiness. One would have togo. He chose Velma.

Continued on page 10

Frankie and Velma Tyson have weathered many rocky roads

to become pillars of strength in the Central Neighborhood.

Couple shuns the dark side, builds a familyMost non-profits have a "poster child" to

launch new efforts and show the community theirpotential to bring life transformation.

Urban Ventures told the story of Frankie's "turnaround" 10 years ago in one of its first videos. But notuntil we interviewed Frankie with his wife andchildren recently did we fully appreciate the extentof the whole family's comeback.

By 1989, Frankie and Velma were raising four _^^^___^^_children, sharing the most stable life either ofthem had experienced — except for one thing. Crack cocaine had becomeirresistible within their circle of friends.

Soon Frankie and Velma were heavy addicts, selling their kids' food andclothes for another "hit." Failed promises to pay dealers led to a visit from loansharks and Frankie looking down the barrel of a gun. He narrowly escaped.

JLTJLJLOlsMission 1: Creating meaningful work

Ioon after Urban Ventures opened in 1993, staff members heard a knockon the door. It was Frankie and his children. Velma had kicked themout of the house after a fight over crack.

He was greeted candidly. "You want to get off drugs?" Frankie recalls astaff member saying. "We're going to start a drug treatment program and youare the first clients. Go get your wife and all of your drug paraphernalia."

"Velma was hesitant, but we went and took everything with us," saidFrankie. "They said, 'Don't lie. Tell God you like it, but you're through. Tellhim you can't quit by yourself, and to take the desire away.' On that day, thedesire for drugs was gone, and wehaven't had it since."

That was only the beginning ofa long rebuilding process.

"I had hurt my back and no onewould hire me," explains Frankie.

Urban Ventures hired him astheir first custodian, a job he stillholds today, kicking off one of ourthree missions, to "createmeaningful work" in theneighborhood.

Later, Urban Ventures' VicePresident Ralph Bruins helpedFrankie add an upholstery business.(For an estimate, free pick up and

"I'm learning that friendsthat gang bang, take cars and

snatch purses are not the kind of friendsI want," says Demetrius

(far right in photo below).

delivery, call 612-227-6955) "Hewent from sewing G-strings tostitching love seats," says Ralph,"restoring the antique leather couchthat sits in Art's (Urban Ventures'President's) office to this day."

Mission 2: Strengtheningfamilies

I oon the changes in Frankieand Velma's lives began totrickle down to the 12

children, including nephews andnieces, to whom they haveprovided a place of stability.

lains.

It doesn't take much to

bring out Frankie's

playful side.

10

Tyson's oldest daughter

Constance, 21, graduates this year

as a medical assistant.

The Tyson's oldest girl,Constance, 21, spoke of thechanges: "We used to lie to cover upour parents' behavior. But we cantalk to our parents now and trustthem. Now we have family timesand do things together."

The Tysons like to skate, go toamusement parks, and are regularson camping trips with UrbanVentures staff.

Urban Ventures filled a hugegap in Frankie's parenting skills, hesays. "My fathering was no good."

When Urban Ventures' Centerfor Fathering opened in 1997,Frankie was its first participant.

"Frankie is just not the sameperson he used to be," says Velma."He's more patient with the kidsthan I am. He used to get angry andjust react. Now he talks with themand shows them how to do things."

For example, for over 10 yearsFrankie has used his work at UrbanVentures to mentor and train eightneighborhood kids including hisown, in building maintenance.They all now work responsiblywithout supervision.

Mission 3: Developing youth leaderswash windows, clean bathrooms and vacuum," says Frankie's nephewDemetrius, 13, proudly. Demetrius admits he's been tempted at times torun with teenagers who are now in jail."The pressure on these kids is tremendous," says Frankie. "If you're not

in a gang, you risk becoming a victim of one."Frankie's involvement has been critical."I'm learning that friends that gang bang, take cars and snatch purses are

not the kind of friends I want," says Demetrius. "I've been trying to get Godin my life and take care of my responsibilities, to pray before school and getto class on time."

One of Urban Ventures' mottos is, "It's not about programs. It's aboutrelationships." The Tyson kids say these mentoring relationships have madea difference.

"Judy (Jones) is always thereto help me out," says Constance."The challenges of life used tooverwhelm me. Judy taught meto pray in my own room andleave my problems with God."

Constance will soon graduatefrom a technical institute as amedical assistant. Demetriuswants to be an auto mechanic.He practices repair by working onvideos, radios and VCR's donatedto People's Exchange.

Frankie's niece Rachel, 18,and her brother Sam, 16, go toUrban Ventures' computer-basedLearning Lab twice weekly toreceive academic help.

"At first I used to go toOn a break at Urban Ventures' Learning Lab,

Rachel hones her hairdressing skills,

practicing on her brother Sam.

school, play around a lot andhang out in the hallways," saysSam. "But ever since I came tothe Lab, they've been keepin' intouch with my teachers, so now I've been in class trying to do my work."

"Urban Ventures is a place that sees potential in kids everyone else hasgiven up on," says Frankie. "Like Velma saw potential in me."

(See an expanded version of this story at www.urbanventures.org)

"We used to lie to cover up our parents'behavior. But we can talk to our parents now

and trust them. Now we have family timesand do things together," says Constance.