From That to This: A Strategy Guide

By Carmen Garner

AS A BOY, Carmen Garner was confronted by every conceivable human ill poverty, drugs, sickness, violence, racism He moved seventeen times, between relatives in the projects and foster care. He lost all of those he held most dear to AIDS, crack cocaine and incarceration. From this, Garner drew not despair, but strength. Confronted by ignorance, he turned to knowledge, the first in his family to go to college.

AS A MAN, Carmen Garner grew to discover that his character battle hardenedcould be used as a tool to reach out, to connect with young people. As a Public School teacher in inner-city Washington DC, Garner learned the power of his hard earned perspective, recognizing the raw potential in his students, and teaching them, above all things, that they have worth and talent and abilitythe future made sacred in his classroom. Garners remarkable journey is told herein, in words, pictures and paintings.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493147090

Carmen Garner

Now, standing tall as the first in his family to graduate from college, Garner is a veteran Washington DC Public School teacher who has served as brother, father, uncle and mentor to thousands of inner-city school children. Now, in Choosing to be Better, Not Bitter, Garner again brings to the page his unique blend of street smarts, wrenching experience and an appreciation for how deep the scars within can run. Featuring original artwork by the author, Garner now seeks to help others overcome anger and ignorance to heal young people through words and compassion. Choosing to be Better, Not Bitter is Carmen Garners second bibliotherapy book. His first book, From That to This: A Strategy Guide, first appeared in 2013, is now widely available in paperback.

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Copyright © 2013 by Carmen Garner. 136035-GARN

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-4931-4708-3

Hardcover 978-1-4931-4712-0

EBook 978-1-4931-4709-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 02/28/2014

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication

Helping the youth as a teacher

I’m down

Justice served

Carmen edward garner sr./Jr.

Free spirit

My ultimate goal

Men in my life

The house

Angry words…(said to me)

17 Places to live

Underdog

Dare to fail

I wanted to be normal

Independent rebel

A letter

The complete opposite

Everything is hard

Fallen souls

Souls are lonely too

With the help of god i control my world!

I’m angry that i am always sad

Hip hop!

Assignment #2

The wolf

Standing here

Safe haven

A grandmother had 13 kids

The walk home

Run

Why don’t i wear earrings anymore?

Creativity is the expression of life

Sacrifice

Getting ahead

DEDICATION

I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my uncle Carmen Mann, for his wisdom has guided me through the darkest times in my life. I would like to recognize Reggie Woodard for the best advice found on Page 36. To my brother Frankie Garner, thank you for protecting me from the evils. To the Perry family, thank you for real, genuine friendship. Owen, Dave, Akim . . . You already know! To all my cousins, aunts, uncles, father Bruce, and sister, Marsia,  . . . keep trying, keep praying . . . keep working . . . keep