Meet: Lance Cruell

NYTS Graduate: 1993
Released: 2003

EMPLOYER:

Uth Turn, New York City, New York
Outreach Coordinator/Facilitator

Fathers in Training for Fatherhood, Inc.
(F.I.T. for Fatherhood, Inc.)
Founder and Director

PRESS RELEASE - Monday, September 20, 2004
UTH TURN FACILITATOR AND MENTEE HONORED AT YANKEE STADIUM

New York City—– Lance Cruell, a Uth Turn Facilitator, traveled with his 16-year-old mentee, Jerrell Martin to Yankee Stadium for a special award for their Uth Turn Mentoring Program success.  Presented the Avis Rent A Car “We Try Harder” Award, Cruell and Jerrell were honored on the Yankee Ball Field by Joe Ferraro, Avis’ Manager for New York Regional Operations, and New York Yankees Pitcher Orlando  “El Duque” Hernandez at Monday night’s series opener against Toronto.

Cruell, the Uth Turn Facilitator at First Baptist Church of Crown Heights, has been working with Jerrell, a junior at Cobble Hill High School, through the Uth Turn "It takes a village" mentoring program at the Brooklyn Church.   The Mentoring Partnership of New York and Uth Turn recommended Cruell for the award for his mentoring work with the 6-foot-2 student. 

Each month Avis presents a “We Try Harder” Award at Yankee Stadium to an individual who personifies the We Try Harder commitment to community and service. 

Cruell, who has worked for Uth Turn for the past 2 years, says “Jerrell is the kind of young man who is very sure of what he wants to do in life, which is to play professional ball.”  

Uth Turn is a faith-based intervention program, that engages local churches, social service and juvenile justice agencies, graduates and interns of New York Theological Seminary, public schools, and other community-based organizations in strategies to connect high-risk youth to the positive long-standing entities, values and opportunities that will help them turn their lives around.  

Launched in 1999 through an initiative of the New York Theological Seminary, Uth Turn is funded by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services.   There are 12 Uth Turn community-based programs throughout metropolitan New York.

“Jerrell wasn’t getting into any trouble with the law,” Cruell explains, “he just needed that personal connection with someone willing to take the time and sometimes go the extra mile.”  Jerrell’s mother contacted Uth Turn and asked Cruell if he could work with her son.  Cruell added Jerrell to his case load and began personally mentoring him almost a year ago.   “Jerrell and I connected immediately,” says Cruell.

A married father of 2, Cruell works with a total of 23 youth and according to him over half are from single parent homes.  “We meet regularly at the Uth Turn Site,” Cruell added, “and communicate 3 to 4 times a week through phone contacts, individual, group or family counseling sessions, and have been on various outings.”  

“Lance demonstrates the type of commitment and dedication it takes to help young people experience a life they couldn’t even dream possible for themselves,” states Rev. C. Vernon Mason, Uth Turn Chief Operating Officer.  “I am proud of the work he is doing and commend him on this honor as well.”

Cruell and Jerrell were all smiles as they walked on the Yankees Field and photographers documented their accomplishments.  “Just going to a Yankees game would have been a dream come true for Jerrell,” says Cruell, “but being on the field and having “El Duque,” present us an award was even better than a dream.”  The pair also met Yankees Infielders Derek Jeter, Alex “A-Rod” Rodriquez, and other Yankees players.

Zachary T. Boisi, Director, Mentoring Partnership of New York, and Ted Deutsch, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Avis Rent A Car, facilitated the special recognition.

Jerrell, says that being in Uth Turn has changed his life.  “I don’t even think about doing the things I used to do.”  In addition to mentoring services, Jerrell also participates in counseling and tutoring sessions coordinated by Uth Turn. 

 “It’s been hard work,” says Jerrell, but sitting there in the Luxury Suites watching the rest of the Yankees game, and eating as only a 16-year-old athlete can, he smiles that assuring “ but it’s worth it.”

#

IN ADDITION ...

FATHERS iN TRAINING fOR FATHERHOOD, Inc.

“Becoming more than just birthfathers”

MISSION STATEMENT

F.I.T. FOR FATHERHOOD, INC.,
WILL PROVIDE FAMILY,
COMMUNITY, EDUCATIONAL,
PREVENTIVE, SPIRITUAL, AND
OTHER RELATED SERVICES TO REUNITE
FATHERS WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. 

WE WILL ASSIST FATHERS IN BECOMING
MORE THAN JUST BIRTHFATHERS.


515 Stanley Avenue
BROOKLYN, NY 11207

HISTORY

F.I.T. for Fatherhood, Inc., (Fathers in training), was created to represent all fathers who have the desire, but not a clue on how to step in and become a functional parent.   F.I.T.’s  job is to help change the lives of fathers and their children, and help fathers become positive, productive members of society.

Lance Cruell, formed F.I.T. in 2002.  It was because of his personal experience in children and family services.  His mission is to aid in the reunification process of fathers and their children, and assist fathers in becoming viable resources for their families. Mr. Cruell was joined by William Mark Ford, both whom have the experience working within the Field of Social Services, and together they formatted issues that needed to be addressed.

WHAT WE PROPOSE TO DO:

Our organization proposes to help fathers of all age, race, ethnic, gender, geographical, and financial conditions,  (includingincarcerated fathers), to reestablish that father/child bond, and reintroduce them to society as productive members. 

WHAT WE OFFER:

We offer a wide variety of workshops that identifies with the essential needs of fathers.

They are:

*  Parenting skills
*  Domestic Violence
*  Anger Management
*  Transitional/Post Release
*  Adult Basic Education
*  GED/SAT/Computer Training
*  HIV/AIDS Related Services
*  Network Social Services
*  Child/Youth at Risk Prevention

WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO DO:

We would like to solve the problem of the absent father and fatherless child.

*

The main principles of this program are geared
towards giving fathers the tools they need to overcome
personal and bureaucratic obstacles
when it comes to raising their children.

*

WHAT IS OUR GOAL?

To instruct fathers on how to manage a budget,
so as to encourage them to contribute 
minimum portions of their earnings
towards their children.

The act of giving a small sum on a regular basis,
independent of court determinations,
helps develop a regular pattern of child support,
which will help fathers feel more responsible -
on their own - for the well being of their children.

#REASON

Today there are no vehicles allowing fathers to become qualified caregivers for their children.   Fathers have been systematically neglected and/or ignored by the foster care system.  Fathers are too often bypassed when seeking guardianship of their own children.

Generally speaking, when a child is placed with an agency through the foster care system, the agency will service, aid, and offer the mother the opportunity to reunite with her children.  F.I.T. proposes that the same type of services and opportunities given to the mother be available for the father.   

There are many programs geared towards mothers, which as we know, is the lifeline for many single parent families.  Still, thousands of children are being shuffled in and out of the foster care system every year.  In 80% of the cases the fathers were never notified, or there was little effort on the part of the agency to even look for the father.  Fathers have been swept under the bureaucratic rug.   Fathers need to know they can make a difference, and can reach out to their children.   

     YOU CAN SUPPORT US!  

BY ADDING YOUR NAME TO OUR MAILING LIST:

YOUR NAME:__________________

ADDRESS:_____________________

____________________________

Email Address:_________________

TELEPHONE:__________________

OR

YOU CAN SUPPORT US:

BY DONATIONS

PLEASE CONTACT:

Fit4Fathers@ HOTMAIL.COM

LANCE  CRUELL      (646) 250-9374

WILLIAM M. FORD (718)  488-6265