We recently created a video called “The NEP Story” on Youtube and I wanted to share it with you. Let me know what you think!

Inspiring from The Community Center,

Scott Speed

Why do I have to be the chosen 1?

Why can’t I come home sit on the couch and watch a game, just 1.

Why do I have to be the chosen 1?

Why can’t I enjoy my weekends, each day having mindless fun?

Why do I have to be the chosen one?

With a passion to fight for so many children, when I’ve helped birth just 1.

Why do I have to be the chosen 1?

I spoke to a student’s parent the other day and she explained her frustration with her oldest son.

She doesn’t know what to do, he’s been getting written up, several times not just 1.

She thinks she knows a few things that can be done.

Like, instead of working two jobs it’d help if she only had 1.

She said it’d help if the father, of her two sons.

Stopped going in and out of prison, cause she’s tired if being the only 1.

It’s hard for a young mother, to raise a teenage daughter and two adolescent sons.

Why do I have to be the chosen 1?

Staying awake at night thinking about what can be done.

To ensure that her sons,

Don’t end up a statistic by making a bad choice instead of a positive 1.

Why…..

This Blog is dedicated to those of you who pursue a calling that involves participating in the betterment of others. You are indeed 1 of a kind! 

Kickin it on The Stoop,

Scott Speed

Share This Post With A Friend.

“Allow me to re-introduce myself

My name is HOV, Oh, H-to-the-O-Z…”

(Jay-Z “Public Service Announcement” 2004)

If you have read my blog post’s in the past you know that I like to start with a lyric from a Rap song. Music is the soundtrack to our lives and the sound track to my life since I can remember has been Rap/Hip-Hop music. As I mature, I’ve become more selective in what Hip-Hop I listen to. For example, I only buy clean music that blocks out the curse words. And I only buy music from MC’s that have something intelligent to say more often than not.

One such MC is Jay-Z. Still going strong past the age of 40, he is doing something that no other rapper before him has done. He is in unchartered waters. He is remaining relevant in the Rap game, a game that has traditionally chewed up and spit out its veterans while craving the next new thing to come along. Jay-Z is actually still in high demand and still commands radio airwaves…at the age of 41. Respect.

I’ve been reading his book “Decoded” and it is a must read for anyone, not just hip-hop lovers, but anyone who is open minded enough to learn about the complexities of growing up poor in a public housing project as a fatherless child. And the irony of how those complexities can produce a multi-million dollar empire…for a lucky few.

Allow me to re-introduce myself…To the Neighborhood

I haven’t posted a blog since December of 2010. I think about the blog often but I just haven’t made the time to sit down and write as often as I would like because these days I spend most of my time writing essays and research papers. And when I’m not doing those things I’m working (teacher),having meetings and conference calls for my Non-Profit, or spending time with the family. It’s a blessing to be so busy but it leaves little time for me to spend on The Corner, on The Stoop, in The Park, or at The Corner Store.

I refuse to let this blog cease to exist at this time so I’ve decided to re-introduce some of my past post while infusing a new post from time to time as well. I’ll do this until I finish my degree. I can’t wait to finish my degree!  I’ve got 2 years down and about 1 to go. At that time I’ll be re-introducing myself again…as Dr. Scott Speed.

Chillin on The Stoop,

Scott Speed

www.TheNepBlog.com

It was all a dream

I used to read Word Up Magazine

Salt & Pepper and Heavy D up in the limousine

Hanging pictures on my wall…

(Biggie Smalls “Juicy” 1994)

Saturday, December 11, 2010 6:45am

On this day I woke up earlier than I normally would on a Saturday. I was up to take my mother to the airport for her flight to Philly. This was very common because my mother travels back to Philly at least once a month. My wife Jennifer had left about 20 minutes earlier because she had to go in to work, which is rare on a Saturday but it does happen about once or twice a year.

So I got up and just threw on some sweat pants and a long sleeve t-shirt. I brushed my teeth but I didn’t do any grooming past that because I was just going to take her to the airport and come right back home. I got my daughter up, put her coat on, and put her into the car. Normally, I would just get in the car without a coat or shoes on and just roll out of the garage and be on my way. My mother told me that it was really cold out and that I should dress warm so I grabbed my coat and hat as well.

Saturday, December 11, 2010 7:25am

We arrived at the airport and my mother was on the phone. I was getting aggravated because the police were moving us along and I was trying to figure out where she wanted to be dropped off. Then out of nowhere I see my wife Jennifer and brother in-law Jarrett come over to the car as I pulled into an empty space. At that point I was just stoically wondering “what’s going on.” I was still a little foggy because I hadn’t fully woken up yet. Then Jennifer gives me a small bag and says “Merry Christmas!”  I look in the bag to see a printout of tickets to the Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys football game being played in Dallas on Sunday Night Football.

So…I just sat there and attempted to process what was going on. I’m still a little foggy and confused at this point and I can’t believe this is real. I look over to see my brother in-law with the video camera taping the whole thing and I feel like I’m being “Punk’d.” All I could say and think at this point was “Wow!”

I eventually gathered myself only to realize that I wasn’t dressed for travel, didn’t take a shower, and was totally not mentally prepared to be going on an airplane which I hadn’t done in about 4 years. Well I got over all that, got out of the car and proceeded to get on with it. My wife was super excited screaming “I got you, I did It!”

I grew up in Philly a die-hard Eagles fan. Till this day I eagerly anticipate Sunday afternoons during football season so that I can root for my team.  I don’t care who the coach is or who the players are I have always supported and followed the Eagles.

So when the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones built this new billion-dollar stadium I set the goal to one day attend an Eagles game there. I was excited about seeing this new technologically advanced stadium and I went online several times to see its progress while being built. I figured that one day many years from now I’d be able to make the trip. It would be a sports fans dream.

You see…we have been so focused on getting out of debt that every extra dollar for the last 2 years has gone towards that effort. I had mentally deferred any type of personal indulgence such as this and only held it as a dream. But my wife had other plans.

She had been planning this trip since September when she realized that she’d have some extra money coming to her this month. My wife believes in the here and now and she doesn’t believe in deferring dreams. We usually find a way to compromise and we balance each other really well in that way. This time she decided that aggressively paying off the car can wait and instead of putting the extra money towards that goal she would make one of her husbands dreams come true…Right Now!

And I’m glad she did!  It was such a refreshing interruption of the daily grind and I really needed it.  And it went even deeper than that for me. My wife and my experience in Texas showed me that if you have your priorities in order and you are doing the right things financially that it’s ok to do some things for yourself.

She also showed me that dreams can come true… Right NOW!

Follow this link to see our pictures on Facebook. You don’t need a Facebook account.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2067131&id=1288795076&l=e6c354a27d

Chillin in The Park,

Scott Speed

This is the first post from a new location within The Neighborhood. You all have Kicked it on “The Stoop”, received Food for Thought from “The Corner Store”, talked sports while Chillin at “The Park”, and discussed music while Posted Up on “The Corner.” In our new location we will Inspire from The “Community Center.”

The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement

As many of you know I have been working diligently on the development of The Neighborhood Enrichment Project, Inc. A non-profit organization designed to intelligently provide access to resources and knowledge that will help people and communities reach their full potential.

My leadership team and I have been diligently working on the development of our first initiative, The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement, since April of this year. This is not your average youth program. I believe that we are creating a youth leadership movement that is unique and will captivate the imaginations of the young people who we engage.

Facebook Campaign

Right now we are ramping up for the New Year by enhancing our online presence. We started our Vision 2011 Facebook campaign. The goal is to attract 2011 Fans of our page by Jan. 1 2011. If you have a Facebook account please find The Neighborhood Enrichment Project, Inc. and “Like” our page and Share the page with your friends and ask them to do the same.

New Website

We are also very excited about our new website! Please visit www.nepinc.org to check out our new site! It includes a secure donate now button through PayPal. If you or anyone you know is looking for a great place to send your tax deductible contributions to close this tax year please tell them to consider The Neighborhood Enrichment Project, Inc.

Thank you!

Inspiring from The Community Center,

Scott Speed

I just haven’t been out to the Stoop, The Park, The Corner, or The Corner Store in a while. I’ve been inside the house working and growing and scheming ways to maximize my time here on this earth. I’ve been out and about networking and meeting with people looking to develop relationships that will add value to my life and as a result add value to the lives of others.

I hope that you have been able to successfully navigate your way through The Neighborhood while I’ve been away. Try stopping by The Corner Store, you’ll find some good food for thought. If you prefer to discuss music stop by The Corner and let your voice be heard. Oh…ok, so you are a sports buff huh. Well in that case you should stop by The Park and try making some bold predictions about the NFL, NBA, NHL, or NCAA. If you just want to share some thoughts about life go take a seat on The Stoop and just reflect.

The street lights are on so stop by The Neighborhood often.

Scott Speed

Walk alone, I walk alone, you know I walk it alone
I always been on my own, ever since the day I born
So I don’t mind walking alone

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have to walk alone. You may have to make a tough decision. The conclusion that you reach may even be unpopular to some. It is hard to step out and walk alone in the face of skepticism, doubt and indecision. Yeah, in life often times we must rely on others.

In fact, I think that there is power in numbers when trying to complete a worthy task. You know the sayings…there is no I in team; teamwork makes the dream work.

I Agree.

However there may come a time when the team needs you to step up and step out and make something happen on your own.

The Chicago Bulls were a great team but in the clutch, 4^th quarter 1 second to go, it was MJ isolated with the ball in his hands…Alone.

So I don’t mind walking alone.

Dear God, I’m trying hard to reach you
Dear God, I see your face in all I do
Sometimes, it’s so hard to believe it…
But God, I know you have your reasons

We live in a cold cold world. I watch the news sometimes and wonder how anyone can watch this daily and keep their sanity.

Everybody all in everybody’s dirty laundry
Acid rain, earthquakes, hurricane, tsunamis
Terrorist, crime sprees, assaults, and robberies

Wars and atrocities
Look at all the poverty
Ignoring the prophecies
More beef than broccoli
Corporate monopoly
Weak world economy
Stock market topplin’
Mad marijuana oxycotton and klonopin
Everybody out of it?

I can honestly understand why someone would ask, “God why?”

When the cruel realities of life hit home everyone’s faith is tested.

We are taught from an early age that God has a plan. If you are honest though, you will admit that at times you question why his plan must include so much pain and suffering.

Why is the world ugly when you made it in your image?
And why is livin’ life such a fight to the finish?

I don’t have the answer. I just know that I see God’s face in all that I do.

I feel like there is a path that I’m on and that the destination is already predetermined. Just not by me.

When I look back on all my experiences especially the ones that I perceived as negative at the time, I see how those experiences serve me and have added value and wisdom to my life.

Dear God, sometimes its so hard to believe it…but I do.

Everything’s changing around me
and I want to change too
It’s one thing I know
It ain’t cool being no fool
I feel different today
I don’t know what else to say
But imma get my sh** together
It’s now or never

I often hear people say, “I’ll never change.”

I personally see change as a part of the growth process. If you are not growing you are dying. Think about it.

We live in a world of constant change. If you are not evolving you will get left behind. I always find it interesting that people fear change. Me, I see change as progress. I like shaking things up. I always take a historical perspective on change.

If the great inventors of the past were afraid of change we would still be riding around on a horse and carriage. If the great social activist of the past were afraid of change, would we have laws against various types of discrimination?

I’m sick, sick of waiting in vain, tired of playing the game
Thinking of making a change, finally breaking the chains

I cannot be afraid of changing because of what other people will think. I can’t wait until everything is perfect in my life before I take action. I must start living life to its fullest…right now. I can’t be afraid to make mistakes.  I will go after the things I am passionate about. Even if it means I’ll have to change.

We only live once.

It’s now or never.

Out on the streets
Where I grew up
First thing they teach us:
Not to give a f***
That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.

I grew up attending school (K-8) in the middle of the Mill Creek projects in West Philly. I learned the code of the streets at an early age. I’ll never forget it, I was in the second grade and a kid named Samuel stole my hat one day while we were outside. Another time I was standing outside watching a fight, which was a daily occurrence at my school, and Samuel came by and punched me in the face and took the change I had in my pocket. I made a decision soon thereafter that I wasn’t going to let that happen again. The next year Samuel approached me in the schoolyard and told me to give him my money. I defiantly looked him in the face and told him he’d have to fight me for it. He left me alone from that day forward…but I ended up fighting many times over the next few years to prove myself in the streets. I had to prove that I didn’t give a f***.

How I got over
Where the people come apart
Don’t nobody care about cha
Only thing you got is God.
Out here in these streets
If you get down on your luck
You can stand up
With a hand down
But nobody give a f***.
Out here in these streets
Every man is for himself
They Ain’t helpin’ noone else
It’s a hazard to your health.
Livin’ life in these cold streets.

By the time I got to high school I was conditioned to fight at the drop of a dime. I was an angry kid. My parents even had me evaluated by a psychologist because of my anger problems.  It’s hard not to be angry when you see violence, crime, and hopelessness all around you. When you see family and friends struggling financially and you see loving relationships failing all the time. It’s easy not to care about anything.

That type of thinking can’t get you nowhere
Someone has to care.

How I got over? I had people around me who continued to love me and care for me. No one more so than my mother. My mother continued to pray for me and continued to be there for me and continued to trust me and encourage me. Her love was unconditional and it was there when I was finally mature enough to understand what it all meant.

I care.

I care about every child who is growing up under similar circumstances to the ones that I did. Many times people in our society do not understand why some low -income teens are floundering in life. Many people look upon them in disgust. I look upon them and I understand that they need guidance.

Someone has to care. I choose too.

When I wake up, I look into the mirror
I can see a clearer, vision
I should start living today
Cause today is gonna be the day, is gonna be the day

Today is going to be the day! Everyday I wake up with a feeling of anticipation.  A feeling of expectation. An expectation that I am one day closer to accomplishing something great. You see, I just can’t cope if I am not up to something.

I got to try different things in these trying times
Twenty-ten is different than it was in nine-five
It’s come alive time, I picked a fine time
for getting open off life like a fine wine

No matter what setbacks or failures I may encounter in my pursuit of accomplishing something great I continue to wake up with a renewed vision each day.

Cause today is gonna be the day…one day soon!

I keep it doin’ it again
Oh, I’m doin’ it again
Yes, I’m doin’ it again

Persistence. You got to have it. It’s the key ingredient that leads to a fulfilling life.

Uh, remix, rising up out of the flames like a Phoenix
Straining to carry the weight of my brain like a genius
Knowing I’m sowing seeds, let’s see whose thumb is the greenest
If I said I mean it, I did it because I need it

I realized a long time ago that this game called life was going to be challenging. I also noticed that the people who were winning at the game weren’t necessarily better than everyone else. More often than not they just didn’t give up or give in when most other people would. So why should I.

I’ve got to keep goin…I’ve got to keep doin it.

Again and again and again.

There’s something in your heart
and it’s in your eyes
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn

It’s the passion to compete. It’s a strong resolve to get things done. It’s the desire to reach my full potential. It’s the fire!

I love it!

You don’t say good luck
You say don’t give up
It’s the fire, inside you
Let it burn

Sometimes I think to myself that life would be so much easier if I could just go to work and then come home and live for the weekends. Watch lots of TV and chill out.

But I can’t.

There’s something in my heart and it’s in my eyes.

It’s the fire… So I let it burn!

That’s HOW I GOT OVER.

This Blog post is an ode to, and includes lyrics in italics from, the best Hip Hop Album that I have heard in a long long time.

“How I Got Over” by The Roots

Posted Up on The Corner,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

Share This With A Friend

The Neighborhood Enrichment Project Incorporated

Presents

The Bridge: Youth Leadership Movement

Mission Statement

The Bridge Youth Leadership Movement (BYLM) is a program designed to eliminate the gaps in achievement that plague high needs youth in inner city and rural communities across America.  The program is designed to enrich the whole child by providing “Intelligent Inspirations” in the areas of academic, cultural, financial, health, social, and emotional intelligence. An increase in intelligence, the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, in these areas for our children will assist them in crossing the bridge that leads to success.

“Intelligent Inspirations” Model

There are six “Intelligent Inspirations” that will serve as a framework for the program:

Multiple Intelligence

Cultural Intelligence

Social Intelligence

Financial Intelligence

Emotional Intelligence

Health Intelligence

The “Intelligent Inspirations” model is an intelligent approach to bridging the gap in achievement that plagues low socio-economic communities and schools. We created this model with the intent of transcending youth mentorship, as we now know it. Rather than focusing on the problems and behaviors that we want to eliminate in our youth we must focus on the type of people that we want them to become. We believe that a failing child is an adult problem and we are radical in our belief that all children posses the seeds of intelligence necessary to succeed in life. With the proper nurturing and guidance all children can prosper.

It’s been said that knowledge is power. However it is our belief that knowledge in itself has limits. Our stance is that Intelligence, defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills, produces an individual who is capable of acquiring and adapting knowledge to the several challenges that accompany the pursuit of success into the next decade and beyond.

“Intelligent Inspirations” Objectives

• Multiple Intelligence
  • Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligence argues that intelligence, particularly as it is traditionally defined, does not sufficiently encompass the wide variety of abilities humans display.
  • We believe that providing children with an awareness of their Multiple Intelligence’s (strengths and passions) will build their self-esteem and feelings of self worth. We will nurture each child and provide growth opportunities through their strengths and passions. We will provide college tours, career awareness, and exposure to professionals who share the same strengths and passions.
• Cultural Intelligence
  • An important ingredient to enriching the whole child is providing them opportunities to gain awareness of their cultural roots, while also exposing them to cultural diversity.
  • Positive cultural awareness activities, trips, and discussions that challenge youths beliefs will eliminate the negative stereotypes and self-fulfilling prophecies that feed poverty and hopelessness in inner city and rural communities.
• Social Intelligence
  • Will provide youth with a consciousness and awareness of, their impact on and the needs of, the people and community around them.
  • Group activities, rigorous discussions, community service projects, and case studies will develop the consciousness our youth need to be agents for positive change in their communities.
• Economic Intelligence
  • Will provide youth with the financial literacy skills needed to build wealth that empowers families and sustains communities.
  • Youth will be trained in the basics of financial budgeting and savings and progress to learn about interest, investments, real estate, credit etc.
• Emotional Intelligence
  • Will provide youth with the awareness that they have the power to control their emotions.  Our youth will be exposed to the mental toughness techniques that successful people use to persevere in the face of life’s inevitable challenges.
  • Discussions, readings, speakers, workshops, and group activities will provide our youth with opportunities for growth in this area.
• Health Intelligence
  • Will provide youth with an awareness of the proper nutritional and lifestyle choices that lead to a long healthy prosperous life.
  • Discussions, readings, speakers, workshops, and group activities will provide our youth with opportunities for growth in this area.

Program Culture

• The program is designed for youth between the ages of 8-18. The youth will be called VIP’s (Very Intelligent People).
• The program will be held two days weekly on Wednesdays from 3-5pm and Saturdays from 9am – 12pm.
• We will utilize a group-mentoring model. Each team of 5-10 youth will have 2 Intelligence Mentors (Teachers, community members, professionals, and/or college student volunteers). The culture of the program will be one of respect, camaraderie, and teamwork.
• We will create a document (VIP Card) that the youth will take to school with them to obtain a weekly accountability reports from their teachers. The report will measure academic effort (not grades), social & emotional behavior, and respect for teachers and classmates.

Recognition Plan and Incentives

We have created an exciting rewards and a recognition model that will create a buzz around the program and will encourage our youth to make positive choices that will lead to their success.

Our model requires youth to recruit other youth into the program and provide leadership to them throughout the program. A youth participants’ long-term success is contingent on their own personal growth as well as how many other youth they recruit and help achieve success.

The students will earn points for doing things like attending mentoring sessions and activities, doing good deeds, displaying good academic effort, having good behavior in school and at home, community service, reading books, etc.

The incentive plan will include prizes and rewards like movie tickets, video games, gift cards, clothing, amusement park tickets, I-pods, lap tops, video game consoles, parties, cash, Disney World trip, etc.

Get Involved!

Please join us for our fund raising event on Thursday July 1^st at 6:30 pm. Serpas True Food, voted one of America’s top ten best new restaurants by GQ Magazine, has offered to host our event. You will love the food, the signature cocktails, the networking, and learning about our wonderful new non-profit organization with innovative ideas to save our youth!

Serpas True Food
659 Auburn Ave Northeast
Atlanta Ga.

If you are unable to attend but would like to give a donation please send to

The Neighborhood Enrichment Project Inc.

835 Autumn Bluffs

Fairburn Ga. 30213

Thank you,

Co-founder/Executive Director

Scott Speed

All I do is win win win no matter what…

Every time I step up in the building everybody hands go up

And they stay there, and they stay there.

-DJ Khaled-“All I Do Is Win” (2010)

As I sat there watching a former Summer League B-Ball teammate (Sonny Hill League-West Philly to be exact) of mine claim his 5^th NBA title all I could do was smile… and take it all in. I sat there and watched him and his teammates celebrate like they were on top of the world. I sat there smiling because I know how hard he worked for it and how focused he was on getting it. And he got it…Again. And as I sat there taking it all in I couldn’t help but get excited thinking about the next time I was going to do it…Again.

Yeah Mike got 6, Magic got 5, Kobe got 5 too. Shaq has 4, Bird has 3, and Olajuwan two. Me…I’ve been blessed with so many that I’ve lost count.  You see, in my world, NBA Ballers are not the only ones who win.

You win, I win, we all win. We all experience wins in this game called life. Sure, there may not be millions of people watching and cheering for us but our victories count no less.

Having a strong mother…Win! Graduating High school…Win! Having a father who was there…Win! Graduating College…Win! Surviving the streets of Philly…Win! Surviving the ignorance of my youth….Win! Getting married…Win! Fathering a child…Win! Loving family…Win! Cool friends…Win!

So now I’m ready for my next win. Yeah, there have been some defeats but that is what makes winning so sweet.

Are you ready to go after your next win? If so, work hard for it. Focus on getting it! And celebrate every one of them like you were on top of the world!

Serving up Food For Thought at The Corner Store,

Scott Speed,

www.TheNeigborhoodSpeaks.com

Share This With  A Friend.

The month of May has been a special month every since I was in primary school. I remember my kindergarten teacher Ms. Sadler teaching us about the months and the seasons. You know the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” I learned that May was the month of pleasantly warm weather, singing birds, and blooming flowers. MAY, I adore you!

Growing up in Philly we had long winters so May was the month when we finally started to get consistently nice days. That meant hanging outside with my friends, playing football in the streets, or playing basketball on a milk crate with the bottom cut out, a tree branch, or whatever else we could use as a basket.  MAY, I adore you!

During my high school years May was the month for proms and most importantly when the weather got hotter the girls dressed less…and got hotter. MAY, I adore you!

And when college rolled around I was excited to learn that summer break started in early May which was way better than waiting till late June like I had to do from K-12^th grade. I also graduated from college in May. MAY, I adore you!

Adore: To love and respect (someone) deeply.

As an adult my adoration for the month of MAY has wildly increased. In fact, my understanding of Adoration has never been clearer. Here’s why:

May 5^th

Happy Anniversary! On this day four years ago I was blessed with the gift of a wife. I’ll never forget the day. It was something out of a storybook type of wedding and I just felt fortunate to be there. It was so special to share that moment with my family and friends that evening in Boca Raton. I’ve made some good choices in my life and I’ve made some bad. Marrying Jennifer Foster was, hands down, the best choice I’ve ever made.

Second Sunday in May

Happy Mothers Day! My wife and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into this world two years ago. It is an honor to celebrate my wife on this day each year. I get a kick out of watching her care for, love on, and entertain our daughter. She takes so much pride in being a great mother and I can’t help but love her even more for that.

May 14^th

Happy Birthday (Times 2)!! On this day many, many…many years ago my wife was born. So on this day I get to celebrate her being brought into this world, just for me. At least that’s how I see it.

This day is also special to me because our daughter was born on this day in 2008. She was our first and, at this point, is our only child. She is a unique child to say the least.

MAY I certainly adore you! I appreciate all the blessings that you’ve brought to me and I ask for just one thing.

May I adore you… for many years to come?

Happy Anniversary!

Happy Mothers Day!

Happy Birthday!

I love you Jennifer!

Kicking it on The Stoop,

Scott Speed

www.TheNeighborhoodSpeaks.com

Share This With A Friend