Munny: Envisioning Positive Outcomes

The dialogue below came from a conversation with Munny, age 15, who came to Volunteers of America–Minnesota’s Bar None Residential Treatment Services in April 2008 after a court-ordered intervention. The Bar None program offers a variety of evaluation, stabilization, treatment, and aftercare services for at-risk males, ages 12–18, who exhibit emotional and behavioral problems. Munny (not his real name) had been arrested for assault and was also suspected of gang affiliation, drug dealing and other criminal activity in north Minneapolis.  

“Life was tough and I was angry. My mom had a gambling problem and was never home. I wanted to be with her and get her to love me but she wasn’t there. When I was about nine, I started roaming the streets and dealing drugs to help mom and my brother and sister because there was no food in the house. We were hungry a lot. I started watching and meeting gang members who were like mentors, dads or brothers to me. They helped me with stuff like food and how to avoid the law. They told me to keep going to school. They showed me love and even called to check up on me. They protected me.  No one would mess with me because these people respected me.  

One day, when my mom was drunk and yelling at me, she kicked me out of the house. Then I started to get more angry. Soon, I ran out of money so I started robbing people. A week later, I went back home and my mom was not home, probably gambling. So, I called my ‘mentors’ who hooked me up. I quit school and did more crimes. I felt good at that time because I trusted the people who were there for me. Then I got caught for assaulting someone and the judge sent me to Bar None.

I felt like I got ‘played’ in court and came to Bar None with a real hard attitude. I put up walls and wouldn’t let anyone in. I thought I was just doing time and was planning ways to [continue my criminal activity] again and not get caught. I convinced myself that Bar None staff were just doing their job to get paid and didn’t know if I could trust them. I was stuck and not progressing in the Bar None program. I was getting into fights and acting out.

Then, I began seeing that the staff really cared about me. I began to observe more and hear what was said –  and think about it. [I realized that] if I didn’t change, I’ll end up dead or locked up. After that, I started talking about my feelings and listening more. I started to play out scenarios in my head to see if they would work. I realized that by taking situations into my own hands, I used the program to my advantage. I started to see a way out. Now
as I look to the future, I feel confident that I can do it. I have been working on little things like my attitude and my perspectives on life. Currently, I am working on my decision making skills. When I leave Bar None, I have got to have the little things mastered.

Bar None has helped my mind and my life. [I realized that] I have got to deal with problems head-on. The staff showed me real love and spent time with me. They showed me the way and helped me actually deal with things. Now, I am thinking about things more positively and making better decisions. When I feel negative, I think about it first and play it out in my head until I can find a positive outcome.

[In the future, I hope to] play football, [complete] college and be with family and have an opposite life than before. I want to help others and give back to the kids living in the slums because I have been in their shoes. I really like working with kids.”  

Munny will complete the Bar None program in March 2009, move on to a supportive group home and eventually transition home. He has already been set up with a mentor who will help be a support system. His mother has stopped drinking and gambling and hopes to move her family to a safer neighborhood in the near future.

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