Fourbears: The Myths of Forgiveness - Paperback

by Sammy Joe Rangel (Author)

FourBears: The Myth of Forgiveness: isn't a simple memoir; it is a graphically illustrated guide from tortured child, to remorseless beast, to healing and change. This book is about helping others find their way out of their history and into the here and now. Proof that what once held you down can now hold you up. After the book reflects on a horrific upbringing it looks to offer key and ground breaking insights of the inner workings of the mind of a victim and later a perpetrator of hate and violence. Service providers working in treatment centers and institutional settings would greatly benefit from this work. Anyone facing issues with forgiveness and change might find a process toward healing and recovery.

Author Biography

Sammy is the Program Coordinator for the SAFE Streets Outreach Program. Sammy has reached thousands of youth and professionals. Many of the youth experience abuse, abandonment, homelessness, and engage in survival behavior such as sex in exchange for food and shelter. Google Ideas, in association with the Council on Foreign Relations and Tribeca Film Festival invited Sammy to participate in the Summit Against Violent Extremism in Dublin, Ireland June 26 through June 29, 2011. The summit convened over 80 former members of violent, exploitative organizations, from inner-city gangs to right-wing militants to religious extremist groups, all of whom are now actively and publicly working to helping youth find positive alternatives to violent extremism. Sammy presents for Federal and State law enforcements, Adult and Juvenile Department of Corrections, treatment centers, universities, colleges, Sammy graduated with Presidential honors from Gateway Technical College-Racine as the District and College Ambassador. Sammy graduated from Carthage College with a Bachelors of Social Work Degree with a minor in Psychology, Cum Laude. Sammy graduated with a Master of Social Work Degree, Summa Cum Laude from Loyola University-Chicago. He was also awarded An Excellence In Service Award at graduation. In 2010 he was given the Ren Svanoe Youth Leadership Award by the Wisconsin Association for Homeless and Runaway Services in recognition of outstanding dedication working with youth and families over the last ten years. In 2008 Racine Interfaith Coalition recognized Sammy and his wife Denise, for promoting peace in the community. In 2006 Sammy received the Martin Luther King Award from UW-Parkside for Community Service in Racine. In 2005 he was awarded the Hispanic Unsung Hero Award from the Martin Luther King Center in Racine for his work in the community. Rangel worked in corrections during 2004-2008 as a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor. He also provides mental health treatment at Racine Psychological Services with patients who live with chronic mental illness and/or AODA issues. Sammy is an adjunct teacher for MATC, Gateway Technical College, and for the Department of Transportation. For more information about Sammy and the work he is doing visit these sites: www.lifeafterhate.org/fourbears www.kindnessnotweakness.org www.safehavenofracine.org http: //www.againstviolentextremism.org http: //www.youtube.com/user/formers