Page 18 - Kingdom News Edition 4

There is so much more to Mr. Jackson’s sto-
ry and I do want to touch two more great
parts before closing. The first is what Mr.
Jackson refers to as his best life changing mo-
ment in life. After his release, he began to
attend speaking engagements where he would
be the keynote speaker and tell of his jour-
ney. Well he attended a 2-Day Training for Reaching Our Children and Neighborhoods
Job Corp in Kentucky where he met Retired (ROCAN) is a non-profit organization in North
General Billy Cooper, who was a four-star Little Rock whose mission is to make a positive
general in the United States Army. After impact for our children and community. We in-
Gen. Cooper heard fluence positive growth in the children and
Jackson’s story, he neighborhoods in which we have. Our goal is to
said to him, “you do create a safe and productive community through
economic growth and strong social development.
not owe the United
States anything else, ROCAN was formed by Mr. Leifel Jackson and
your debt to your
country has been
paid in full.” Even
with the pardon, from
the Governor, these words to this day reso-
nates in the mind of Mr. Jackson. He has
turned his life around and moving in a com-
plete different direction. An interesting point
is that although he has turned his life around
and doing positive things for the community,
there is still a respect for him in the streets.
He tirelessly encourages them to come up out
of that lifestyle.

Finally, Lefiel’s number
one joy is his daughter, Na-
dia. He is a single father ten volunteers, working with 30 children. Cur-
and has successfully raised rently, ROCAN is able to provide a safe place to
her since age 3. He loves come afterschool for approximately 20 to 25 chil-
his little lady who is now dren and 30 to 35 during the summer months.
15 years old. He shared
some cute stories about Statistics shows that the hours of 3:00 pm to 6:00
her, and when he spoke of pm are the peak times for children to experiment
with alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, crime, sex and
his little girl; his light got a violence. This fact is one of many reasons why
little brighter and his smile ROCAN Afterschool Care Programs were devel-
grew a little bigger. oped.

The moral and purpose of this story is to two- All services provided to the children and commu-
fold. First, don’t count anyone out. There is nity are free of charge. The children are provided
always the possibility to make a change one’s nutritional snacks and meal, participate in fun
life. Secondly, our children need to be loved activities, and are shown love by the staff that
and nurtured, while being directed in the right works hard to provide them a safe place to play
steps. and grow. The center is a home away from home
for youth ages 5 to 16 years of age.

18 ~ Kingdom Magazine
News