About the Eracism Foundation, Inc.
Eracism Foundation Background:
Eracism Foundation Inc. is a 501c3 Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation that was founded on January 5, 2006 by Oscar Winning Actor Louis Gossett Jr., who upon envisioning the organization, has committed the last quadrant of his life to an all out conscious offensive against racism, violence, and ignorance relative to the role and significance of history in positioning individuals and collective communities for the future.
Mission:
Our mission is to eradicate the systematic impacts of all forms of racism by providing programs that foster cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education, and antiviolence initiatives.
Vision:
The organization is grounded in its vision to contribute to the betterment of our society by addressing the negative impacts of racism therein. By addressing these issues, connecting individuals to their history/culture, and empowering them with the appropriate educational and training resources available in our programs, we will position the recipients of these services to improve the quality of life in their respective communities. It is our belief that through this vital connection to such services and a connection to their past, individuals will be better equipped to embark on a positive future for the benefit of their collective communities in the process
Position:
Our position is to serve as a vital resource between communities impacted by violence and their access to the tools necessary to improve their current circumstances:
Engaging youth involved in gang activity with a series of intensive antiviolence camp initiatives and forums designed to promote peace, antiviolence, personal responsibility, and re-entry into positive, productive citizenship.
Educating the community through after school programs focusing on mentoring and tutorial services to nurture the academic and professional development of children from diverse communities.
Historically enriching the community and promoting diversity through a series of documentaries, psychodramas, plays, and interactive videos addressing the historical contributions and current relevance of these efforts in improving the quality of life among today’s youth and adults alike.
Words To Think On
Payoffs— Carleen Brice, Walk Tall
Whether positive or negative, there is always a payoff to everything we do. We always receive something back for our efforts; it’s the motivation for why we do what we do. Children will try to gain a parent’s attention by misbehaving if they feel they can’t get their parent’s attention through positive means. So, if a parent doesn’t notice good grades or touchdowns, a child will cut classes or get into fights.
Adults also seek whatever attention is available. We are just as likely to act out if our mates or friends don’t notice positive behavior. Negative attention is better than no attention. That is our payoff.
We also get payoffs when we act the martyr. “Poor pitiful me” may get us sympathy and release us from responsibility but at the expense of our self respect. We get payoffs for staying in bad relationships. We might think that “at least we’re not alone.” These types of rewards aren’t in our best interest.
Today, let’s ask ourselves what benefit we receive from our choices. Let’s strive for genuine gains, rather than those that encourage negative behavior. Let’s reward ourselves for accountable, respectable behavior.
I seek positive payoffs.