New show aims to tackle Seattle's youth violence and mass incarceration
Updated: May 25
Willard C. Jimerson Jr., who is affectionately known as Willie Jay, takes to the airwaves to bring a message of peace, hope, and understanding.
Video clip from Episode 1 of Good Game Alert which airs on Thursday, May 28th at 6 pm.
Converge Media today announced a production partnership with Willard Jimerson Jr., Executive Director of United Better Thinking, for the production of a streaming show and podcast entitled Good Game Alert slated to premiere this Thursday, May 28th at 6 pm across Converge Media and partner digital video platforms as well as across all Podcasting platforms including Apple, Google, Spotify, and Soundcloud.
The purpose of the show is to speak directly to those most marginalized in the African American community in the Seattle-Metro area and to not only engage in real authentic discussion with recognized and respected guests but also to offer resources, conflict resolution skills, success stories as well as life hacks.
Willard Jimerson Jr. is a highly respected Community Facilitator working for King County Public Health Zero Youth Detention and Executive Director at United Better Thinking which focuses on youth intervention and prevention, youth and young adult development, leadership development, and specialized reentry support serving King County. Willard’s life journey has led him to have a very unique perspective in regard to the path that many of our youth are taking from their teens directly to prison.
After entering the Washington State Prison system at the age of 13 and spending two decades behind bars from the ages of 13 to 33, Willard emerged with a unique point of view and a new mission focused on developing a platform to engage families and youth in order to help provide supports around the familial and societal structural gaps existing in our current systems of supports; and in doing so totally disrupt the school-to-prison-pipeline which far too many have disproportionately fallen victim to.
It is ironic that Willard is now working essentially for the same system that sent him to prison as a child, but now in the spirit and effort to undo the harm that has been committed toward so many other youth and families alike.
Willard's mission as the Project/Program Manager and as the Community Facilitator for King County Public Health is to help take the current practice and system from zero youth development to Zero Youth Detention (ZYD).
Willard believes in the value and worth of the youth in our community and looks to extend this through his works and culturally responsive curriculum that he offers estranged youths and families that he engages with.
It is the authenticity and sincerity of Willard’s voice, especially in critical matters that have propelled him to a position of a well-respected change agent recognized by the streets and local government alike.
“In order for us to effectuate change by making progress in the lives of our young folks and current systems we must lead from a position of love and from here we stand a better chance arriving at peace, justice, and equitable outcomes for all. The Good Game Alert podcast is a way for us to have very honest, impactful, and informative discussions that would help to provide sustainable solutions all in the name of raising the humanity of those deemed most impacted and marginalized in the effort to help eradicate inequitable outcomes personally and most of all structurally”, said Jimerson Jr.
Willard Jimerson on the Morning Update Show.
Good Game Alert is produced by Converge Media which has emerged as a leader in the production of culturally relevant streaming video and podcast content in the Seattle-Metro Market. Converge Media currently produces the Morning Update Show which is a news and information show that "Popped-Up" in response to COVID-19 to ensure that Seattle's African American community was served with real and culturally relevant news via video. The Morning Update Show is streamed daily from 11 am – 12 pm across several Seattle area digital platforms including Africatown's. The show is broadcasted from Black Dot Underground in the Central District of Seattle. Converge Media has also developed several other series during COVID-19 including the 15 Minute Financial Literacy series and Black Educators Supporting Youth Reading. Converge Media is currently working with Seattle Public Schools TV on the production of culturally relevant educational lessons to be aired across the SPSTV platforms for students to view.
Episode 1 features an interview with Leontai Berry a Youth Advocate on the frontline of engaging youth and young adults on the daily. This episode was recorded at Black Dot Underground.
Viewing Information (Video)
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Listening Information (Audio)
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