Update: December 24, 2008

 

My uncle, Eddie Nance, is a veteran of World War II. When he had his stroke he was taken to the Veterans Administration (VA) hospital at 2122 West Taylor, Chicago, Illinois. His brother, Otha Nance, informed me that the VA hospital told him that Eddie Nance had to leave the hospital because they needed his bed and he was not sick enough to keep his bed at the VA hospital. Otha Nance states that is when Eddie Nance was transferred from the VA hospital to Warren Barr. Warren Barr Nursing Home housed Eddie Nance until they transferred Eddie to Lakeview Nursing Home.

 

The VA hospital should have kept my uncle. This is the way the United States of America treats its veterans.

December 23, 2008

 

Lakeview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre, Inc.
Mr. Michael Elks, Administrator

735 West Diversey Parkway

Chicago, Illinois 60614

Update: December 9, 2008

Federal authorities arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich Tuesday on charges that he brazenly conspired to sell or trade the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by President-elect Barack Obama to the highest bidder.

Blagojevich also was charged with illegally threatening to withhold state assistance to Tribune Co., the owner of the Chicago Tribune, in the sale of Wrigley Field, according to a federal criminal complaint. In return for state assistance, Blagojevich allegedly wanted members of the paper's editorial board who had been critical of him fired.

A 76-page FBI affidavit said the 51-year-old Democratic governor was intercepted on court-authorized wiretaps over the last month conspiring to sell or trade the vacant Senate seat for personal benefits for himself and his wife, Patti.

Otherwise, Blagojevich considered appointing himself. The affidavit said that as late as Nov. 3, he told his deputy governor that if "they're not going to offer me anything of value I might as well take it."

I have been writing to Federal and Illinois Government officials in Illinois for the last 2 years about alleged corruption in Governor Blagojevich’s office. I wrote President-elect Obama when he was an Illinois Senator.  When I worked at Sheridan Correctional Center as a clinical supervisory counselor I suggested corruption in the Governor’s office and Sheridan Correctional Center when AFSCME Union Local 31 conducted a strike at Sheridan Correctional Center on June 6, 2006. I suggested corruption in the Governor’s office with the contract given to West Care Foundation, Inc. at Sheridan Correctional Center to provide counseling services to the inmates. West Care Foundation, Inc. is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. My employment at Sheridan Correctional Center was terminated on or about May 15, 2008. I was a supervisor. When Warden Michael Rothwell took my security clearance on or about May 15, 2008 he did not give me a reason. I wrote Illinois Department of Corrections’ Director Roger Walker, who has not answered my letter to give me a reason why they took my security clearance. Read my writings regarding the indifferent and disparate treatment, and racism at Sheridan Correctional Center on my blog at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and on President-elect Obama’s website. I am posting this comment on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/, www.frednance.newsvine.com/ and http://click.townhall.com/, and on President-elect Obama’s website.

I want to suggest a "criminal" conspiracy between Governor Blagojevich, AFSCME Union Local 31 and the Illinois Department of Corrections against Gateway Foundation, Inc. (Gateway) to force them to give up their contractual agreement to provide counseling services at Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) when they allowed the strike of June 6, 2006 at Sheridan and prevented Gateway employees from crossing the picket lines. This conspiracy may involve Governor Blagojevich, Deanne Benos, Roger Walker, Michael Rothwell and officials of AFSCME Union Local 31. This conspiracy paved the way for West Care Foundation, Inc., which may be in bed with this conspiracy. Follow the money. West Care Foundation, Inc. may have bought this contractual agreement from Governor Blagojevich and his government officials. In addition, the contractual vendors for the prison system in Illinois are probably giving "financial" kickbacks to Governor's office for these "sweetheart" contracts.  The nepotism engaged and exploited in this "criminal" scheme to keep contracts out of the hands of those who are not "connected" financially to Governor Blagojevich and his cronies pockets continues the corruption in Illinois. This is a "criminal" employment scheme operating out of the Governor's office. Follow the money. This is what I am asking the FBI to investigate. 

Update: July 22, 2008

Governor Blagojevich seems to be mum on budget cuts in Illinois. Will he cut the budget of his "National Model", the Sheridan project at Sheridan Correctional Center? WestCare Foundation, Inc. has the contract to provide counseling services to inmates at Sheridan Correctional Center. WestCare's contract total in Illinois for fiscal year 2008 is $3,900,000.00.

Update: July 18, 2008

July 18, 2008

Illinois Department of Human Rights
Mr. Thomas F. Roeser, Pre-Investigations

100 West Randolph Street, Suite 10-100

Chicago, Illinois 60601

http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/
http://click.townhall.com/

Update: July 17, 2008

Update: July 5, 2008

I posted my letters to Governor Blagojevich and President Bush on MSNBC's Newsvine. MSNBC has been producing a documentary on prisons in the United States. The latest documentary is called "Lockup: Holman Correctional Facility." The documentary producer, Hillary Heath, discusses her filming inside maximum security prison in Alabama. Go to http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and click on "C.L.I.C.K.'s Newsvine Website" in the upper right hand corner. Update: July 2, 2008

I submitted my writings by fax to the following:

 

Mr. Speaker:

This program should have its budget reviewed. The program itself should be reviewed. I have posted this information on my blogs at http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ and http://click.townhall.com/

I will post an update alerting the public that I have sent this fax to you and Mr. Jack Franks.

cc:

 

Jack Franks, Illinois Representative of the 63rd District and Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan of the 22nd District

Update: July 1, 2008

Criminals are watching criminals at Sheridan Correctional Center. Criminals are governing criminals under the auspices of the Sheridan Project. They are violating contractual protocols, policies and procedures

 

Did you know that WestCare Foundation, Inc. is not held to the same contractual standards as Gateway Foundation, Inc. when they held the contract with the State of Illinois to provide counseling to the inmate/clients at Sheridan Correctional Center.

 

During the last WestCare audit, Deanne Benos and her crew allowed WestCare 60 days for treatment plan reviews. It is my understanding that the contract dictates and suggests all treatment plan reviews for inmates/clients are due every 30 days. This is a double standard being used. This standard was used to assure the contract and monies continued to flourish at Sheridan Correctional Center.

 

During the strike of 2006 at Sheridan Correctional Center, AFSCME Local 31 crucified Gateway in the newspapers, to the media and to Springfield stating how Gateway could not fulfill its duties according to the contract. One of AFSCME's issues was the inmate/client's treatment plan reviews not being completed according to the contract. I guess it is about who you know.

 

I will discuss this further in my essay this month.

Update: June 30, 2008

This program will describe Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center. These are the type of individuals who are in control of this project.

 

Did you know that companies in the US have said they would hire a white man with a felony record and no high school education BEFORE they would hire a black man with NO criminal record and a 4-year degree?

 

On July 23 at 9pm and July 24 at 9pm, CNN will premier a series, 'Black in America with Soledad O'Brien' and I personally challenge you to watch it WITH your children, especially your sons, if you have any, uninterrupted.

 

The aforemention statistic and many others will be revealed during the series. A friend of mine had the privilege of meeting with Soledad O'Brien and actually SEEING this premier, and what she saw brought tears to her eyes and anguish, frustration, and a sense of helplessness to her soul.

 

On July 23, 2008 the series will focus on Women and Families and July 24, 2008 is dedicated entirely to the plight of the Black Man in America. PLEASE watch and internalize what you see and hear; no matter HOW disturbing the information revealed...you can (and will) thank me later.

Go here for more information: http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/black.in.america/

Update: June 29, 2008

In July 2008, I will discuss in a brief essay the Sheridan Project’s dilemma with job security and restorative justice. The central question for AFSCME Local 31’s employees of Sheridan Correctional Center is why would they buy into Governor Blagojevich’s Sheridan Project if it will mean a loss of employment in the future for immediate family, relatives and friends? The central question for the contractor WestCare Foundation, Inc. is where is “adequate and meaningful” restorative justice in their curriculum? When I answer these 2 questions, the readers should see why the Second Chance Act of 2007 is needed and should be a valuable tool toward reducing recidivism. The primary purpose of the Second Chance Act of 2007 is reducing recidivism. To accomplish this purpose, aftercare begins at incarceration and ends with restorative justice.
 
I will assign a definition to and elaborate on “job security” for AFSCME Local 31’s employees. I will define and suggest the “lack of” restorative justice at Sheridan Correctional Center. I will suggest solutions for job security, such as “transferrable skills.” I will suggest alternative “routes of administration” for restorative justice, such as “culturally specific” paradigms for counselors and family therapist. I will suggest how the Second Chance Act of 2007 responds to this dilemma. I am an expert in this matter. I am the Second Chance Act of 2007.

Update: June 24, 2008

On June 24, 2008 I received a response from President George Bush, by way of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The letter, dated June 23, 2008, states as follows:

 

Dear Mr. Nance:

 

This is in response to your May 19, 2008 letter addressed to President Bush with a copy of the letter sent to Congressman Danny K. Davis. The President has asked this office to respond directly to you regarding the charges of discrimination that you filed against WestCare Foundation and the Illinois Department of Corrections with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC Charge Nos. 440-2008-05507 and 440-2008-05788).

 

Both of the above-referenced charges are currently under investigation. The documents which you enclosed with your letter will be associated with your charge files and will be given appropriate consideration in the course of our investigation. At the time final action is taken on your charges, the reasons for the action will be explained to you. Please be assured that all of the information which you have provided will be carefully considered.

 

If you have any further questions about the processing of your charges, you may contact....

 

We hope this information is helpful to you.

 

Sincerely,

 

John P. Rowe

District Director

 

cc: Congressman Danny K. Davis

Update: June 24, 2008

"Happily" Former IDOC Employee/AFSCME Member
6/23/2008 4:09:08 PM

To the poster who said if state employees goofed off all the inmates would walk out, well I spent 3 years working for IDOC, in an institution. There are some good people that work for IDOC, but there are a good majority more who should be ashamed that they cash a check every two weeks. There were people I worked with that should have been in prison and not guarding inmates. I spent 6 months on 11-7 shift and 75% of the people on 11-7 either spent the whole night, hiding, sleeping (usually both), playing cards listing to radios in towers, I could go on and on but you could generalize it as goofing off. As for AFSCME, they are a joke....

Update: June 23, 2008

I received a letter dated June 5, 2008 from the Illinois Department of Human Rights stating "Your letter to Governor Blagojevich was referred to the Department of Human Rights for a response...In your letter you stated that you have filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). I would suggest that you forward the information in your letter to EEOC and continue to let them investigate your charges." This letter was signed by Brent A. Harzman, Acting Manager. It was forwarded and copied to Rocco Claps, Betsy Ebeling and the Governor's Office of Citizen Action. This is what you call passing the buck.

 

Passing the buck while I wait for an investigation and results, continues to destroy my family and I because we are without income due to the nepotism, racism and basic indifferent treatment from the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), that is, Warden Michael Rothwell, Deanne Benos and Roger Walker. Nothwithstanding, WestCare employees mentioned in my letters to President Bush and Rod Blagojevich, specifically, Leslie Balonick, Sandy Smith and a host of others including AFSCME Local 31 employees, such as Correctional Officers Forsyth and Churchill.

 

Passing the buck continues to destroy the aspirations illustrated on my company's website at www.clickservices.org/.

 

Governor Blagojevich is refusing to address the issue. The Governor had no problem getting up in front of people praising the Sheridan Project on May 19, 2008, but refuses to address the racism, indifferent treatment and corruption by criminals monitoring criminals at Sheridan Correctional Center. If criminals are monitoring and teaching criminals, then recidivism is not being reduced. It is being reinforced. It is also called "Job Security" for correctional officers.

 

"Job Security" for the correctional officers at "Sheridan Correctional Center" is in opposition to reducing recidivism. Sheridan could not be considered the "model" for the country. Have we, as a country, gone mad? This is another subject I will address in the near future.

 

When I attended the press conference of May 19, 2008 I gave Deanne Benos, Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director, copies my letters to Governor Blagojevich and President George Bush. She has not responded to the charges in the letters. In my original paper on May 12, 2008 to Governor Blagojevich, I copied Roger Walker, Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections. Mr. Walker has not responded.

 

Benos and Walker had no problem praising the "accomplishments" of the Sheridan Project on May 19, 2008, but they refuse to address the issues I raise of my unsubstantiated, racially motivated and obvious indifferent treatment of being lockout at Sheridan. I would imagine Roger Walker and Deanne Benos have to give their approval of my lockout. If they do not give their approval, I guess this "rogue" administration at Sheridan Correctional Center can do what they want.

 

I guess Mr. Walker and Ms. Benos missed the part that I received my unemployment benefits, which means "my termination/lockout" does not have misconduct attached to it. If there was no misconduct attached to my lockout, why am I locked out from my employment?

Update: June 17, 2008

On May 19, 2008, Governor Blagojevich gave his "State of the Sheridan Project" report to a press conference. Did I miss something or did he address the employment that was taken from me by the Sheridan Project? I am part of the team that produced his outcomes. Yet, I was discarded without notice or reason when Warden Michael Rothwell snatched my security clearance and the contractual company I worked for at Sheridan Correctional Center, WestCare Foundation, Inc., terminated my employment. The letters I wrote to President Bush and Governor Blagojevich were also sent to the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, Roger Walker, and to Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director Deanne Benos. No one has responded to my letters. They should tell the whole story.

This is a partial statement posted on the Illinois Department of Corrections webpage.

Gov. Blagojevich announces historic reduction in repeat crimes by ex-offenders, slower rate of growth in state's prison population New statistics show major progress from Governor's comprehensive effort to reduce recidivism Releases Community Safety & Reentry Commission report and plan to continue work as new stats show Chicago's murder and violent crime rates on the rise CHICAGO - May 19, 2008 - Joined by law enforcement officials, community leaders, faith-based leaders and state officials, Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced that statewide reforms have led to historic reductions in crimes by former offenders and significant savings for taxpayers. An intensive effort launched by the Governor in fiscal year 2004 to provide incarcerated offenders and parolees with access to education, job training, substance abuse treatment and counseling has led to the lowest conviction rate among parolees in state history, a 23% reduction in arrests among the general parolee population, and a 40% reduction in repeat incarceration among parolees with substance abuse histories who graduated from the Sheridan Drug and Reentry Program. The drop in recidivism has saved the State an estimated $64 million in incarceration costs since 2004.

“I was very proud to have my department helping to lead this process. Until we began to implement the Governor's plan, we were only experiencing increases in prison admissions, the prison population and recidivism rates. As a former Sheriff, I will say that did not help improve public safety. I strongly support the approach we have taken, and am looking forward to continuing our work to implement the Governor's report,” said IDOC Director Roger E. Walker Jr.

“The State of Illinois is leading the nation in its efforts to reduce crime and recidivism. It is not common that a state can reduce both technical violation rates, new conviction rates and arrest rates statewide. This is the type of progress that has required tremendous leadership by Gov. Blagojevich and partnerships among both corrections and social service officials,” said Joan Petersilia, Professor Criminology, University of California, Irvine, and author of the book “When Prisoners Come Home”.

“Ultimately, this is an issue about public safety and communities. We have made tremendous progress in driving down recidivism rates among our parole population in recent years, largely due to the fact that the Governor provided early, greatly needed resources to invest in several of the report recommendations that are helping us to achieve a stronger balance between strengthening supervision and strengthening community capacity,” said Illinois Department of Corrections Assistant Director Deanne Benos. “We are looking forward to implementation of more of the recommendations.” End of statement.

What about what happens behind the scenes to contractual employees at Sheridan? Who addresses the injustices, racism and indifferent treatment. This is not the model for the rest of the nation. The model must be comprehensive and optimal. It must treat its employees, whether state or contractual, with respect and honor. How can people with criminal thinking and behaving correct others with the same dilemma?

Lets not forget about the adverse position taken by Warden Michael Rothwell when he locked me out the first time during the AFSCME strike when he refused to let me cross the picket line. Warden Rothwell and AFSCME are sleeping together in an adverse way to the Sheridan Project. They forced the contractual employer at the time, Gateway Foundation, Inc., to suffer providing services to the populace for which "The Sheridan Project" is supposed to have been created just so AFSCME could unionize the employees of Gateway. This did not serve the Sheridan Project. It only brought shame, as it does now under the leadership of Warden Rothwell.

Update: June 9, 2008

The Illinois Department of Employment Security, Harvey office manager, states they will release my unemployment benefits today. The Harvey office manager says she asked WestCare Foundation, Inc. for documentation to support my termination for misconduct. The Harvey office manager states my unemployment benefits have been held up because she was waiting for documentation to support my termination for misconduct.  The Harvey office manager reports the documentation she was waiting for has not arrived. Therefore, she will release my unemployment benefits today.

 

Well, guess what. There is no documentation to support my termination from WestCare Foundation, Inc. for misconduct or any other abusive or neglectful conduct. My security clearance was bogusly taken and I was "locked out" of Sheridan Correctional Center by Warden Michael Rothwell and the Illinois Department of Corrections. I have been discriminated against. I have been harassed, intimidated and retaliated against by the Illinois Department of Corrections and WestCare Foundation, Inc.

Update: June 4, 2008

 

Illinois’ Sheridan Project
 
How did the Sheridan Project get funding from the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants (VOI/TIS) Program? Illinois had some funds left from their grant, and decided to allocate these funds to the Sheridan Project. Is it appropriate for Illinois to use this funding for the Sheridan Project?
 
The eligibility structure for the Sheridan project is fairly unique in the nation because it takes on a medium security population, and because it takes on offenders with three lengths of sentences – 6-9 months, 9-12 months and 12-24 months.  Most facilities in the nation take on only a smaller, minimum security population, and a more specific sentence period.  Sheridan is taking on the 6-9 month population because they tend to cycle in-and-out of prisons for short periods of time and never truly gain access to a consistent set of drug treatment services either in prison or in the community.  The project is taking on the 9-12 month population because that is projected to be the most effective length of time for an offender to successfully experience a therapeutic model treatment program.  Finally, the program has chosen to continue the program for the 12-24 month population in order to graduate those staying beyond 12 months into a more intensive vocational, job placement and reentry life skills set of programs.
 
The goal of the VOI/TIS grant program is to assist states in holding violent offenders accountable by expanding prison space for such offenders and ensuring that they serve a substantial portion of their sentence. This program, created under Title II, Subtitle A of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (the Crime Act), Pub. L. 103-322, as amended, is administered by the Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Corrections Program Office (CPO).
 
The Truth-in-Sentencing Program (TIS) provides incentives to those states that require Part 1 violent offenders to serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed by the courts. Part I violent crime, as defined by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Uniform Crime Reports, means murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

 

 

The Illinois Department of Corrections, specifically, Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project will expect to get some of the Total Annual Authorization of $165 Million dollars allocated to "The Second Chance Act of 2007" signed into law by President Bush on April 9, 2008. The Governor's Sheridan Project should not get any of this money.

 

"The Second Chance Act of 2007" will take effect 180 days after the President signed the bill, which is October 9, 2008. Provisions related to the Bureau of Prisons will take effect 90 days after the President's signature, which is July 9, 2008. The grants are supposed to be competitive, but we have to remember Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

 

Provisions of the "Act" relating to Governor Blagojevich's Sheridan Project are: Demonstration grants providing grants to states and local governments that may be used to promote the safe and successful reintegration into the community of individuals who have been incarcerated. Allowable uses of funds include employment services, substance abuse treatment, housing, family programming, mentoring, victims services, and methods to improve release and revocation decisions using risk-assessment tools; Mentoring grants providing grants to nonprofit organizations that may be used for mentoring adult offenders or offering transitional services for reintegration into the community; Offender Reentry substance abuse treatment grant to "improve the availability of drug treatment to offenders in prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities; and Family drug treatment programs, which authorizes grants to states, local governments, and Indian tribes to develop and implement family-based treatment programs for incarcerated parents who have minor children.

 

Any entity or company operating as demonstrated below should not be receiving these funds.

 

Update: June 3, 2008

 

On June 2, 2008 I received my copy of the receipt for the certified mail sent to President George Bush on this issue. There has not been a response from Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich or Mr. Roger Walker, Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections on why I was "locked out" of Sheridan Correctional Center and why my "security clearance" was taken away from me.

Update: May 26, 2008

 

President George Bush's Certified Mail was received at the White House on May 22, 2008 at 5:04 AM. 

Update: May 23, 2008
 
WestCare is hiring people for the Sheridan Project who have no clinical skills, who are totally inexperienced with this population in providing counseling services and who know nothing about a prison population. These individuals are coming from the surrounding community areas of the prison or are friends of family who currently work at Sheridan, in some capacity. The lack of clinical skills demonstrated by these new "hires" creates chaos with the inmates. Therefore, it may be up to the supervisor or some other true "clinician" to take up the slack created by this non-clinician.
 
The clinical manager, Laurie Berry (white, female), who does the trainings of new hires brought a guy (white, male) to the unit I was supervising one day asking me to brief the person on how the program operated at Sheridan. As I was talking about the different aspects of the program to the "possible" new hire, he informed me he knew nothing about counseling and wanted to know if he took this job would I teach him what he needed to know to survive. Of course, I told him I would teach him if he was assigned to the building I supervised. This guy was dressed in jeans, a plaid cotton shirt, and work boots, looking like he had just come out of the corn fields.
 
As of January 1, 2008, Illinois imposed a ban on smoking in many public areas, this included Sheridan. WestCare supervisor Leroy Robinson (black, male) had a WestCare employee named Ron (white, male) bringing cigarettes into Sheridan giving them to the inmates along with  cigarette lighters. Before Sheridan officials could exact punishment on him, Ron walked out of the institution leaving a resignation letter with Leroy Robinson. Leroy Robinson did not know what was going on in his building. I reported this same guy on an earlier date to my Director, Stanley Brooks, stating that he threatened to "beat me up" because I made a statement in the dining hall one evening about the Barak Obama campaign. I was talking about the Obama campaign with a supporter of the campaign, which was supervisor Paul Kubiak (white, male). While Paul and I were talking about the political and racial issues, Ron sitting next to us, looked at me, and told me if we were outside I would hurt you. Paul and I looked at each other in amazement. 

I informed my Director, Stanley Brooks, that I smelled cigarette smoke in the Sally Port (bathroom) area in C25. I also informed him I did not want to fill out an "incident report" because Warden Michael Rothwell and his correctional officers would retaliate against me if I did. The only individuals using this bathroom in C25 is WestCare and IDOC staff. Therefore, the only way to report this violation was to inform my Director, which is what I did. On May 19, 2008, I attended a press given by Governor Blagojevich at St. Leonard's House. At this press conference, Governor Blagojevich and other Illinois State dignitaries presented an analysis of the Sheridan Project. A report and manual was presented called "Inside Out: A plan to reduce recidivism and improve public safety." As I read the "Executive Summary", some interesting language appeared suggesting this panel may be aware of the difficulties I faced at Sheridan. Terms and phrases such as "building capacity of the community...to ensure a safe and well-supervised reentry", "IDOC...reconfigure certain processes to refocus its efforts on successful reentry", and "promoting culture change" were written in this manual.
 
Under the title "Serving the Sentence: Prison-Based Reentry Preparation", the phrase "promoting culture change" was interesting to me because of my present situation with this "lockout." This training program for IDOC personnel  "promoting culture change" states, in part, "...the message should be that prison safety and security should remain the primary focus...Balanced and restorative justice community principles should be piloted through these programs." I promoted these concepts at Sheridan. This is "exactly" what I was punished for at Sheridan.
 
I was constantly reprimanded and punished for telling inmates not to get things twisted at Sheridan. I informed every inmate in the buildings I supervised that "it is jail first, then it is a program." WestCare promotes "program first, then jail." This is not restorative justice. This concept of WestCare does not work with individuals who practice "criminal thinking and behaving."  I know because I practiced criminal thinking and behaving for nearly 28 years. This WestCare concept gives inmates a distorted and confused view of reality, along with negating why they are at Sheridan.
 
This WestCare mindset promotes the inmates' ideology of selfishness, the attitude of me first-victim last, and "what about my feelings." This last inmate ideology of "what about my feelings" always struck me as a deterrent to "restorative justice", yet it was promoted by WestCare. This made it hard for me and others to get an inmate to understand the feelings of the victims. Whenever I heard an inmate talking about their feelings when being reprimanded by staff about their negative behaviors, I would always say, "tell me of a time when you thought about the feelings of a victim you had." WestCare and correctional officers would reprimand me for this statement. My reprimands from WestCare and the administration of Sheridan, headed by Warden Michael Rothwell, suggested I had "bad" communication skills with the inmates. The Sheridan Project is about "restorative justice."

Update: May 22, 2008

 

Sheridan Correctional Center's blatant discrimination: Supervisor Denise Perry (black, female) was transferred from building/hall C25/C Hall to C6. C6 was the building I supervised before Warden Michael Rothwell demanded WestCare transfer me to another building, which happened to be C25/C Hall.

 

Ms. Perry was having the same problems I had with the inmates and correctional officers. Warden Rothwell and WestCare were aware of the "behavioral" problems of the inmates and the "communication" skills of the correctional officers in C25/C Hall. Ms. Perry was not "locked out" of Sheridan because she was having problems with inmates and correctional officers. Ms. Perry was not "locked out" of Sheridan because inmates wrote "grievances" and correctional officers wrote "incident" reports on her.

 

IDOC and Warden Rothwell have not informed me why I was "locked out" of Sheridan, but if I was "locked out" of Sheridan because inmates wrote "grievances" on me or correctional officers wrote "incident" reports on me, Sheridan has discriminated and retaliated against me because I am "black, male and over 40-years-old", which, in part, my EEOC complaint rests on. There are other supervisors whom inmates have written "grievances" on who were not "locked out" of Sheridan, such as Jerry Pomush (white, male), Paul Kubiak (white, male), Kyra Peters (white, female), etc. I have a list of others.

 

Jerry Pomush gave an inmate a "5,000" word essay to write because of his behavior. Mr. Pomush supervises C25/D Hall. Mr. Pomush was reprimanded by Assistant Director Sandy Smith for giving an inmate a "5,000" word essay to write. Mr. Pomush did not get "locked out" of Sheridan. The inmate may have written a grievance on him because of it. Jerry Pomush has also reported a correctional officer cursing him out and disrespecting him in C25. I am sure the correctional officer did not get "locked out" from Sheridan for his behavior.

 

On another note: Lets not get it twisted, the correctional officers at Sheridan are always thinking about "job security." Many of the correctional officers at Sheridan are not thinking about reducing recidivism. If recidivism is reduced, they may lose their jobs and their children will not have a job. Keep in mind, there is no other employment place in Illinois where nepotism runs rampant as our prison system. The Illinois correctional centers are based in communities where people gave up their land for this prison. In giving up their land, promises were made toward employment. That is why you have people working with people, who have no people and communication skills. When you address their lack of people and communication skills, you are punished, like me.

 

Update: May 21, 2008

 

Update: May 21, 2008

 

Update: May 20, 2008

 

Update: May 15, 2008

Investigator Janel Smith of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) emailed Fred Nance Jr. in regards to his EEOC Charge #440-2007-04512. It is my belief that this statement from Ms. Smith tells the story of how EEOC is mismanaged, mishandled and is understaffed. It is also tells us why "employers" continue to discriminate against employees. I have been told by Ms. Smith's Supervisor, Eileen Sotak, that each investigator has 300 cases.

The results of this response is staggering. The percentage of cases prosecuted or taken by EEOC are 5%. It is no wonder people are going "postal" at the workplace. Citizens/Employees will continue to suffer undue harm, harassment, retaliation and discrimination in the workplace if we as a society do not act.

My case was filed with EEOC in April of 2007, while I was still employed.

Ms. Smith reports:

"Good morning, Mr. Nance. Please, let me assure you that the cases you have pending with the EEOC are being thoroughly investigated. The EEOC goes through the process of investigating your charge to determine whether or not you were discriminated against. Upon completion of the investigation, the EEOC makes its final determination of either a "no cause" finding, which means the EEOC was not able to prove that discrimination occurred based on the evidence gathered in the investigation; or a "reasonable cause" finding, which means the EEOC was able to prove that you were discriminated against.

If a "no cause" finding is issued, you will get the right to sue WestCare in a Federal court of competent jurisdiction. If a "reasonable cause" finding is issued, the EEOC will attempt to settle the charge for monetary and/or non-monetary terms in an effort to make you whole. If the EEOC is unable to settle your charge at that point, your charge will reviewed to determine whether it will litigate on your behalf or issue you the right to sue.

AT ANYTIME, YOU MAY REQUEST THE RIGHT TO SUE. This request will give you the right to sue without receiving a determination from the EEOC.

Please be advised that the Commission only finds a "reasonable cause" in about 5 to 7% of the thousands of cases filed and litigations even less. If you would like to request the right to sue, please send your request (with your signature) via fax at xxx-xxx-xxxx, via e-mail (scan signature and e-mail) at xxxxxxxxxx.gov or by regular mail to 500 W. Madison, Suite 2800, Chicago, Illinois 60661."

 

Update: May 16, 2008

If the incident reports I wrote were not correct, why has Warden Michael Rothwell of IDOC's Sheridan Correctional Center transferred or moved the following inmates listed in my report: Bruce Cockream # R 07905, Joseph Johnson # R 52999, Terrell Hammonds # R 26282 and Kelvin Love # R 67418.

 

These inmates have been moved from C25/C Hall. I requested this move before they locked me out of Sheridan. I still have not been told why I was locked out. On May 14, 2008, when I asked Leslie Balonick why I was locked out, she told me she could not talk about it. Yet, Ms. Balonick informed me I was terminated because I cannot work, which is due to IDOC locking me out of Sheridan Correctional Center.

Update: May 14, 2008

Regional Vice President Leslie Balonick called me today stating I was officially terminated from WestCare Foundation, Inc. because IDOC locked me out and I cannot work. Therefore, WestCare has to terminate my employment.

Ms. Balonick informed me I would receive WestCare's decision and my final check in the mail. If Ms. Balonick is correct, why did she call me. The letter from WestCare would have sufficed. Ms. Balonick called me to gloat over IDOC and her victory in getting rid of me. This does not change the indifferent treatment I have received from IDOC during the strike of June 6, 2006 locking me out from my employment and the lockout of my employment here, giving justification to WestCare to terminate my employment.

 

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s top lawyer issued a memo to the governor’s senior aides on February 8, 2008. The Feb. 8 directive called on staff members to search their computers, calendars and files for any information relating to Rezko and eight other notable people whose names have found their way into allegations of corruption within state government. The memo stated in part, “If you find any documents or information relating to these individuals, you must notify the Office of the General Counsel in accordance with the directions set out below,” wrote William Quinlan, the governor’s senior legal adviser.

 

I suggest the Governor's aides search their computers, calendars and file for any information relating to corruption involving vendors at Sheridan Correctional Center, such as WestCare Foundation, Inc. How did they get the contract from those agencies currently operating in the State of Illinois? This needs to be investigated. 

May 12, 2008

Honorable Rod R. Blagojevich
Governor of Illinois, Office of the Governor
207 State House
Springfield, Illinois 62706

Re: Sheridan Project – EEOC Charge #440-2007-04512

Governor:

I, Fred L Nance Jr., am African American and I have a pending discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against WestCare Foundation, Inc., which began on or about April 16, 2007, amended on May 7, 2007. On May 12, 2008 I will add the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to this charge of discrimination and indifferent treatment.

I am working at Sheridan Correctional Center to reduce recidivism. One of the things that the “white” establishment at Sheridan resents most is that I am at the end of my doctoral program. When I was incarcerated for the 1st and only time in IDOC, I was 42-years-old without a G.E.D. I know what it takes to reduce recidivism. Racism and indifferent treatment does not reduce recidivism. Criminal activity flourishes with it. Individuals like me are not given the opportunities to make a change in a person’s life, maybe because of job security. IDOC may not want to reduce recidivism. IDOC may not want to honor the “Second Chance Act of 2007”, but I am sure they want to get the monies from the Act.

Where is my “Second Chance?” Does the “Second Chance Act of 2007” relate to me? Am I apart of it? I cannot tell from the behaviors of IDOC and WestCare.

On Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, Mr. Stanley Brooks, Director of WestCare Illinois/Sheridan Correctional Center (Sheridan) called me stating I had a “stop order” on me, which means I am “locked out” of Sheridan. Mr. Brooks reports he does not know why I was “locked out” but that he was sent an email stating he should inform me.

Sir, I am not a security risk. This is the 3rd time I have been “locked out” at Sheridan. Mr. Brooks did not know if my employment with WestCare was terminated also. If I was “white” this would not be happening to me. “White” supervisors and line-staff have had many issues with “black” inmates and have not been treated as I am treated. This is clearly discrimination and indifferent treatment.

As you may remember, I was locked out of IDOC/Sheridan “illegally” by Warden Michael Rothwell (white/male) during the AFSCME union strike on June 6, 2006. On November 29, 2006 the Illinois Department of Employment Security rendered a decision, which states in part “…In the matter of the appeal of: Fred Nance Jr., Claimant-Employee of Gateway Foundation, Inc…The unemployment of the non-participatory claimant-appellants is not due to a work stoppage caused by the labor dispute…It was the unilateral actions of IDOC…The actions of IDOC were separate and the only cause of the claimant’s unemployment.” On December 22, 2006 Ms. Brenda Russell, Director of Employment Security, confirmed this decision. I received my unemployment insurance.

Sir, this present “lock out” is the continuous retaliation from IDOC and WestCare employees that I have suffered under since returning to work at Sheridan on September 6, 2006 after the AFSCME union strike. I have had to fight to retain my employment at Sheridan for nearly 2 years. I have had an onslaught of misinformation against me by WestCare and IDOC personnel, such as in November of 2007 WestCare employees Melinda Gubbels (white/female) filed a false charge of sexual harassment and Kyra Peters (white/female) filed a false charge of a hostile environment with WestCare against me. Ms. Gubbels and Ms. Peters suffered no consequences from filing these false charges with WestCare. WestCare did nothing to them. I was “locked out” from my employment with WestCare for 2 weeks because of these false charges. When it was time for the accusers to face me with their accusations, Ms. Gubbels called off sick and Ms. Peters was never summoned by WestCare management for testimony. To add insult to injury, I was forced to work with Ms. Gubbels. WestCare did not transfer Ms. Gubbels from under my supervision after she filed these false charges against me. More issues arose and finally, WestCare transferred Ms. Gubbels to another building. There were still no consequences for filing the false charges against me.

On July 16, 2007 I was promoted to clinical supervisor. I was assigned to building C6. On or about April 21, 2008 Warden Rothwell made WestCare transfer me to building C25/C Hall because of false complaints from IDOC and WestCare staff, and inmates. By transferring me to C25/C Hall, WestCare decided to transfer supervisor Denise Perry (black/female) to C6. I was told that Denise had created a bad reputation for herself with the inmates and IDOC personnel in C25/C Hall. What I was not told is that the inmates on C25/C Hall were incorrigible because they had no structure nor could structure manifest itself because of the WestCare staff and IDOC personnel. Here is another most recent account of activity at Sheridan with WestCare and IDOC staff.

In February of 2008 I conducted supervision on WestCare employee Justin Brewster (white/male under 40-years-old). Justin was upset because I reprimanded him on his poor work performance and attendance, which I documented and placed in his file. Justin adamantly requested a transfer to another building. Justin was transferred to C25/C Hall.

Building C6 Correctional Officers’ Mr. Forsyth (white/male) and Mr. Mann (white/male) told WestCare staff assigned to building C6 they could use their badges or any other objects to open the door to the bubble where security resides because the correctional officers were not going to get up from their seats every time someone wanted to come in the bubble to use the bathroom. I heard Correctional Officer Mr. Mann tell Jamie to use her ID badge to open the door to the bubble whenever she wanted to come inside. When I first saw WestCare employee Jamie Barringer using her badge to open the C6 bubble door, I warned her about it in front of Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann. I was standing inside the bubble at the time. I informed Jamie, right in front of Mr. Mann and Mr. Forsyth, that if she used her ID to open that door I would write her up.

I also informed Lt. Truitt of Sheridan’s Internal Affairs Department that the Correctional Officers in C6 were allowing WestCare staff to use their ID badges to open the bubble door. Lt. Truitt told me at that time that I am always to write incident reports on anything I see that should not be going on. I am not sure of what Lt. Truitt did about this incident, but I have quickly learned not to ask that question.

One of the reasons I was transferred to C25/C Hall is because Correctional Officers Forsyth and Mann wrote an incident reports stating I said I run C6. Along with the Correctional Officer’s incident report they encouraged WestCare employees Justin Brewster and Charolette Hooper (black/female) to write statements supporting their incident report saying I said I run C6. Before Justin and Charolette wrote these statements, I warned them both about using their ID badges to open the bubble where the Correctional Officers are positioned. I saw both of them using their badges to open the bubble door. After I was transferred to C25/C Hall, I heard that Charolette is still using her ID badge to open the bubble door in C6.

In addition, after I was informed I would be transferred to C25/C Hall, I found out Justin was going to be transferred back to C6 when I was transferred to C25/C Hall. I informed Director, Stanley Brooks, that if Justin was moved back to C6 I would file a grievance on these issues concerning Justin. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would not be transferred to C6. Mr. Brooks told me Justin would be transferred somewhere because he would not let me get “set up” like that in C25/C Hall. Mr. Brooks may have made this statement because I informed him I could not work with Justin after he falsified that statement to get me transferred out of C6. Nevertheless, Sandy Smith (white/female) assured Justin remained on C25/C Hall when I was transferred there.

Now I had to deal with Justin and Sandy Smith in C25/C Hall. Sandy Smith has been mentioned in many of my writings to EEOC because of her involvement with the harassment, intimidation, punishment and intimidation upon me at Sheridan.

After being transferred to C25/C Hall, I wrote some incident reports and tickets. On April 28, 2008 I wrote a ticket on an inmate for assault, creating a dangerous disturbance, threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate pushed me out of the way and entered my office, and then started talking out loud in front of other inmates about what he did creating a dangerous disturbance. Lt. Truitt and I discussed this ticket. Lt. Truitt and I modified the ticket so that the client could remain in Sheridan to receive more therapeutic treatment.

On May 1, 2008 at approximately 9:10 am I typed an incident report on 6 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance on C25/C Hall. When I typed the incident report on May 1, 2008 and sent it over the computer it went to WestCare’s Regional Vice President Leslie Balonick and to Springfield, Illinois, probably one of IDOC’s main offices. Ms. Balonick contacted Sandy Smith. Sandy Smith came to C25/C Hall to inquire about the incident.

The May 1, 2008 incident report happened at approximately 8:15 am. Only 2 WestCare staff showed up for work on May 1, 2008. The handwritten copy of the incident report did not get to the shift commander until approximately 11:30 am. I had to write it by hand after typing it on the computer because the computer generated incident report blended the inmate names into the text of the document. I explained this to the “powers” that be at Sheridan.

In addition, when the incident report of May 1, 2008 happened at 8:15 am, I alerted Correctional Officer Churchill. Correctional Officer Churchill responded to the incident, talked to the inmates, and locked the inmates up in their cells at approximately 8:40 am but did not report it to his building Sergeant. Evidently, when the shift commander alerted Warden Rothwell at approximately 11:30 am, because of the numerous inmates involved and found out the Sergeant did not know, the Correctional Officers were feeling nervous and embarrassed, while they looked for a scapegoat, which turned out to be me. Since IDOC officers did not want to take the blame for dropping the ball, suffering embarrassment and consequences, they blamed me and told me I could not go back in the building because I was a threat to the inmates. Sandy Smith gave me up to them because she knew the circumstances because I told her and she did not act in my behalf when IDOC staff and Warden Rothwell looked for a scapegoat and someone to blame. Warden Rothwell issued an order denying me access to my work assignment in C25/C Hall.

On May 9, 2008 I wrote an incident report on 7 inmates who were creating a dangerous disturbance. Part of the incident was that an inmate was sharing an emotional story about his family when another inmate teased him about it. The inmate sharing stopped telling his story and warned the other inmate about his actions. The inmates began approaching each other and I intervened to prevent them from fighting. After this was over, I had to write a ticket on an inmate (who was part of the original 7) for threats and intimidation and insolence because this inmate rose up from his seat and began to approach me in a dangerous way to do bodily harm to me, as the other 4 inmates left were continuing to negatively influence these issues.

There are 80 inmates out of their cells, on C Hall in C25 during the AM group, which I was facilitating by myself because the 2 staff present did not get involved in assisting me when the issues arose. With 80 inmates out of their cells at one time without any Correctional Officer present; anything can happen, at anytime with an inmate. This could create a dangerous disturbance.

There was no IDOC/WestCare staff support for me on the Hall. I had to handle the situations the best I knew how by myself. Building C25 was closed for a period of time this year because of safety issues like this. At times, you have IDOC staff sitting in the bubble with sun glasses on, and probably sleep. There were times when it took forever to get an office door open.

On May 9, 2008 Sandy Smith informed me that Director Stanley Brooks told her to tell me I could not go back to C25/C Hall but that I had to stay in C8 for the remainder of the day. I informed Sandy Smith that I was leaving work because I did feel well and that I was going to meet my wife at the doctor for her appointment to get results regarding the possibility of her having Thyroid cancer.

It was not until I talked to Stanley Brooks on Mother’s Day, May 11, 2008, that I learned from talking to Mr. Brooks that he told Sandy Smith to tell me to come to C8 to receive a call from him so I could tell him what was going on in C25/C Hall on May 9, 2008. Sandy Smith lied to me to meet her own means, which was to embarrassment, harass, intimidate and threaten me. Sandy Smith, along with the IDOC staff she engaged on the issues of May 9, 2008, denied me access to my work assignment. Sandy Smith always operates this way when it comes to dealing an issue involving me. This is why I informed Mr. Brooks that I did not trust her.

The message to me is I cannot write an incident report or a ticket, and if I do I will get punished and embarrassed. IDOC and Sandy Smith are also sending a message telling me I cannot do a good job if I am trying to structure C25/C Hall. They do not want me to succeed. No other supervisor or line-staff person is punished and embarrassed for structuring their building, writing incident reports or tickets but me. This is indifferent treatment. This is blatant discrimination. This is a story of discrimination and indifferent treatment. I am treated at Sheridan differently than similarly situated employees of WestCare.

Presently, I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened by IDOC personnel because I wrote incident reports and tickets on inmates. IDOC personnel and WestCare continue to promote that they cannot tell you not to write an incident report and ticket, but since I did I am being punished, harassed, intimidated and threatened. I guess it has worked because now I am “locked out” from my employment. The only threat I pose to IDOC and WestCare is that I will speak the truth and I will not compromise my ethics, integrity or morals, and I will write my story.

Most importantly, what is the message being sent to the inmates seeking treatment in a therapeutic community? The inmates can see that IDOC and WestCare are sicker than they are. There are many more inmates seeking my assistance and appreciate me more than there are against me. The inmates tell me everyday. IDOC staff and WestCare supervisory staff on C25/C Hall are not sending the right message to the clients. The clients know now they can split staff and accomplish their goals of continued criminal thinking and behaving.

How does this promote a reduction in recidivism Mr. Governor? I informed Mr. Brooks that Sandy Smith referred a client home who is in Phase 1 of his treatment, instead of referring him to a halfway house or recovery home. This is one of the client’s who was listed on the May 1, 2008 incident report I wrote. I believe this client has been in the program for more than a year. I believe this client is in Phase 1 of treatment because he went to Segregation. I discovered this mishap while discussing the client’s 120 discharge plans. Also, when I assumed the duties of supervisor on C25/C Hall I discovered that the inmates filling out applications for Phase 4 were not qualified according to Mr. Brooks criteria/eligibility requirements. I had to deny these clients Phase 4. They were highly angry at me. I asked the staff “Why did they refer clients who did not meet the criteria/eligibility requirements?” The staff told me they just gave out applications. How does this happen? Is this going to reduce recidivism?
Sir, I am seeking your intervention in this matter. The Sheridan Project is constructed to reduce recidivism. The IDOC and WestCare staff that I have mentioned in this writing is not promoting the mission of the Sheridan Project.

I should not have suffered indifferent treatment and discrimination in employment with WestCare. No other WestCare staff has been treated like I have over the duration of my employment with Gateway/WestCare at Sheridan. Racism flourishes at Sheridan. If a female staff of WestCare had complained in writing about an inmate threatening and intimidating them, the inmate would have been taken to Segregation. If a female staff had written an incident report like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. If a “white” staff person had written reports like mine, the inmates would have been locked up. I had a client once where a “white” female sent the client to Segregation because his fingernails were too long. Because writings had my name on it, it made me a target for IDOC and WestCare employees who differ with my politics.

Sir, I started a book for publication on the Sheridan Project months ago. I have enough data to make a good read. I have shared a lot of it on the Internet in the past. What has happened in the past 16 months to me will not make for a good ending to my book on the Sheridan Project.

How can we make this work? One should never mess with a person’s livelihood. To lock me out from Sheridan and take my employment is to take food out of my family’s mouth. How do you think I will react? How would you react? Please respond.


Respectfully submitted,


Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS

cc: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Roger E. Walker Jr., Director IDOC
Danny Davis, Congressman 7th District (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Arlen Specter, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Joseph Biden, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Sam Brownback, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Patrick Leahy, Senator (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
John Conyers, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Lamar Smith, House of Representatives (Co-Sponsor, Second Chance Act 2007)
Stanley Brooks, Director WestCare Illinois
http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/

I filed an official complaint with the State of Michigan, Department of Attorney General this morning against Anthony Roma and One Source Talent. Check out this website: http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/one-source-talent-agency-c101283.html to support my claim against One Source Talent.

November 11, 2007

One Source Talent

Mr. Anthony Toma, Founder
3250 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 526
Troy, Michigan 48084

Re: Kristina Gaston

Mr. Toma:

You report to the public One Source Talent is a consulting service for the fashion and acting communities. Your company summary suggests the goal of One Source Talent is to create cost-effective, working relationships between talent and clients via its interactive network. Your company also suggests it has talent and client benefits with real-time access and submissions to nation-wide castings and auditions, an interactive composite card for all digital and traditional submissions, a personal email account, industry workshops, “meet n’ greets”, a commission free environment and a benefit program from select businesses in each market. A searchable database of talent with detailed characteristics, a commission free service, a detailed talent evaluation process to ensure they are getting dedicated people and a corporate staff with years of industry knowledge and contacts.

You suggest One Source Talent mission is to help make the modeling and acting communities easily accessible from all ends of the entertainment industry, from talent, to clients, to agents, to casting companies; allowing for established and new talent to be discovered and hired quickly, and cost effectively.

In addition, your company reports underlying the mission is the determination to seek new and creative ways of addressing all several parts, while holding a deep respect for individuals inside and outside the company, and for the communities of which we are a part. The values of your company, from your viewpoint, state personal honesty, integrity, commitment to working together - with openness and trust; empowering others and respecting differences; encouraging risk-taking and responsibility; enjoying our work and our families.

Finally, your company suggests you are dedicated to providing the best service possible; that you are talent and client centered; that you are committed to working in partnerships, holding yourselves accountable for quality results, and are dedicated to financial integrity and cost-effectiveness.

Sir, I beg to differ with your company’s summary statement, talent and client benefits, integrity and honesty clause and values and principles statement.

My daughter, Kristina Gaston, has suffered a tremendous loss of integrity and possible modeling career opportunities with your Chicago office. I challenge the honesty, dignity and integrity of your Chicago based office. Kristina has not received one call from any perspective opportunities for modeling. In order for a perspective opportunity to arise, the agency or company would have to know Kristina’s One Source Talent ID number. There is no exposure by your company that would bring a perspective opportunity. In addition, Kristina would have to have suitable photos to demonstrate her beauty. The “professional” pictures, contracted by your company do not meet the requirements or standards your company claims to promote.

On or about August 16, 2007 my wife and I entered into a contractual agreement with One Source Talent to acquire photos and promotion of Kristina’s talents. Our cost was $595.00 for “professional” photos. Kristina’s photo shoot was scheduled for September 5, 2007. Kristina’s One Source Talent ID# is 20526. Kristina is 13-years-old. The results were not that of a 13-year-old.

I asked Carmen Martinez, your Chicago office representative, what would we get for $595.00? We were told by Carmen that we would get a 4-hour photo shoot, make-up artist and a portfolio. My wife escorted Kristina to the photo shoot. It lasted about an hour and a half. Carmen also told us we had to produce our own copies for the portfolio, from the photos taken by your “professional” photographer.

When my wife and I got the results of Kristina’s photos, I was appalled and disgusted. Most of the shots were over exposed. Kristina’s hair style did not change as her clothing was changed. The make-up was over the top, such as too much eyeliner and a heavy coating of facial foundation with a heavy coating of lipstick making her look 23-years-old instead of 13-years-old. In some pictures, Kristina had pearls on making the shots look like glamour photography. It appears as if Kristina was not professionally guided through the pictures either.

The lighting used for her photo shots created shadows, which made the shots bad or too hot; where if the lighting were appropriate we would have had a normal exposure. Kristina’s skin color and tone is not as light as some of the photos portrayed. If you want to see “true color” in “your” professional photos look at the shots taken by your photographer of Kristina’s mother, which were 3 shots and only because she was standing there with Kristina. We paid your company for professional photos. We did not pay for photos to be cropped and photo shopped.

The framing and/or composition were bad. There were many things in the photos that were distracting to Kristina’s look and photo shoot, such as window sills, wooded walls, telephone wires, etc. This photographer, if professional, should know what is in the frame of the picture before it is taken. When engaging in your process, we presented a photo disc to Carmen done by FBP DeSign Group, Inc. (http://www.fbpdesigngroup.com/) with make-up done by Marcus Geeter (http://www.marcusgeetermakeupartist.com/). This photo disc far exceeded your company’s demonstration of Kristina with excellence, distinction and quality.

When we left the disc from FBP DeSign Group, Inc. with Carmen she reported to us the pictures were unacceptable and not professional enough for your company, suggesting the background was the same in all the pictures. The first series of shots taken by your company’s “professional” photographer has the same background in most of its photos. In addition, your company’s photos displayed some sort of fabric or sheet in the background that had creases in it displaying where the sheets had been folded. This did not look professional at all. A professional photographer should know what is in the frame of a picture before the picture is taken.

To add insult to injury, on November 7, 2007 my wife called the person who reports she is the manager in your Chicago based office, Jessica, attempting to explain the above. Jessica made my wife feel insulted, minimizing our concerns. My wife reports Jessica stating “Oh, those pictures can get your daughter a job. If the pictures can get my daughter a job, demonstrate this to us.

My wife called me at work asking me to explain the above to Jessica.

On November 7, 2007 I called Jessica explaining the above. Jessica told me my thoughts about “professional” photography were my daughter sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. I was so insulted and aghast by Jessica’s response to my concerns, as I spoke in a professional voice, it prompted me to write this letter to you; also posting this letter on my websites at http://click.townhall.com/ and http://clickforjusticeandequality.blogspot.com/ for public viewing. People need to know what One Source Talent really offers, with your unprofessional staff.

Therefore, considering my statements and your company’s mission, value and integrity statements, could you please respond giving me some insight into how we can satisfy each others need for a good product and sale of my daughters attributes with an opportunity of work.

If the pictures your company sponsored and produced through your “professional” photographer are as good as Carmen and Jessica claim, put my daughter’s pictures on One Source Talent’s opening website page for public viewing like you have similarly situated individuals who you feel need promoting first and/or get her some work. This would prove out Carmen and Jessica’s theory that your pictures are better than the pictures I presented to your company for your website from FBP DeSign Group, Inc. and Marcus Geeter. It may also prove Jessica’s beliefs and thoughts that my vision of good professional pictures is those taken with my daughter sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. This was a very sarcastic statement made by your professional manager. It tells us a lot about your company. The staff of a company, is the company.

Respectfully submitted,

Fred L Nance Jr., ABD, MA, CADC, NCRS
Social Policy Analyst

cc:

http://clickforjusticeandequality.wordpress.com/
http://www.frednance.newsvine.com/
http://click.townhall.com/
http://clickforjusticeandequality2.blogspot.com/
Carmen Martinez
Jessica

 

Update: November 12, 2007

Jessica from One Source Talent called suggesting Kristina, my wife and I sit down to talk about possibly getting another photo shoot. We will sit with her to discuss this letter and Kristina's future in modeling.

Update: December 1, 2008

Kristina has not received a call from One Source Talent in months. One Source Talent has been debiting a monthly fee from my wife's bank account every month. My wife has been requesting information on why there has been no work for our daughter. There has been no response. Finally, my wife has been verbally calling and requesting One Source Talent cancel our contract and stop the monthly fee for Kristina's account. The contract has not been nullified and the fee has not stopped. One Source Talent continues to debit the fee from my wife's account with no accountability for acquiring work for our daughter.

My wife has been told that she must submit a writing to One Source Talent requesting to stop this fee. My wife and I called her bank requesting the One Source Talent debit stopped. To our amazement, our bank cannot stop the One Source Talent debit to her account because it is a debit to her bank account. My wife's bank reports the only way my wife can stop the One Source Talent debit is to cancel her debit card and order a new one. Therefore, my wife will cancel her current debit card and order a new debit card from her bank just to stop this debit by One Source Talent.

I would suggest to anyone who gets involved with One Source Talent or any other business or entity who insist on a monthly or weekly fee being taken from a bank account to have that fee taken from their bank's routing and bank account number, not by way of a debit to their account.

If a person takes this action, you will avoid having to cancel a debit card or your account to stop payment to a company who is not providing the service you require.

I believe One Source Talent has not provided our daughter with work because of our complaint to management and my posting the writing below on my blogs. When I wrote this complaint to Anthony Toma, Founder, President and CEO of One Source Talent in November of 2007, I had 2 blogs. I now have 4, and will re-post this complaint on all of them.

When I wrote and posted this complaint on my blogs I received a call from Mr. Toma thinking our daughter would get "real" work. I took this writing off my blogs because of good faith toward One Source Talent. When we wrote this complaint, our daughter was given another photo shooting and an opportunity to be an "extra" in a 15 minute college documentary. There has been no other work. Therefore, I am posting this complaint again on my blogs.

I would highly suggest to parents that if you do not know someone in management, please do not waste your time, money and child's self-esteem on believing one day she or he will succeed in this business. The only way there is success in this business is if you have a personal relationship with the ownership.

One Source Talent is not the way to succeed. I sent this comment to the President and CEO of One Source Talent, Mr. Anthony Toma by way of email. Hopefully, he will be able to facilitate the demise of our contract. My wife will cancel her debit card so that One Source Talent will not be able to take any other monies from her account.