Factors to Freedom: The Work of Fred (Uncle Freddy) Mcgee

By Elisa Morelli

While some books focus on the outside world as a source of maintaining success, this book looks to achieve success from the inside out. The work we do is not readily seen on the outside, yet its value gets clearer as we move forward. Since we own the territory on the inside - our habits, attitudes, beliefs, feelings, conclusions, and expectations - there is where our work begins. This is an important piece neatly engineered into this book.”
This book becomes a kind of tool box, or ‘coach’ to help people who are returning to their communities. The book addresses the needs of people in the areas and issues surrounding freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jul 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781664267596

Elisa Morelli

Uncle Freddy McGee found himself in a maximum security prison for 10 years. He had seen how many individuals used the prison system as a revolving door; repeating offenses that would later cause them to return to being incarcerated. He saw that to have freedom and remain productive he would need to invest time in making deep changes in his life. Today Uncle Freddy is married, father of a step son and two daughters, and three grandchildren. For over 30 years he has been on teams that provide mitigation, scholarships for education, mentoring, and community awareness. He has many hours in various training formats and has worked with some of the finest in the criminal justice system.

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Fred McGee.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written

permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make

no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in

some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

844-714-3454

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed

since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do

not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6760-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-6759-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022909890

WestBow Press rev. date: 7/12/2022

It is our mission to help learners achieve low-risk behaviors

and habits and gain skills that will serve them throughout their lifetime

guiding them to a future that is packed with rewards.

Every little nugget counts

BOOK

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to individuals, who have committed themselves to the

process of change.

To people who desire to: give their best, learning to grow in transition, and

reintegration skills. To individuals

who despite adversity and challenges desire to learn a better, more productive

way to approach life.

Becoming prepared to go through, over, or in some situations, remain under

challenges

to get clarity around personal opportunities.

CONTENTS

Preface

Chapter 1

How This Book Works

Chapter 2

Know Where You Are And How You Got There

Chapter 3

Vocalize Who You Are

Chapter 4

Where We Have Come From

Chapter 5

The Script And Media/Video

Chapter 6

Know The Barriers To Freedom

Chapter 7

Getting That Job Interview

Chapter 8

Finances And Saving Money

Chapter 9

Maintaining A Job

Chapter 10

Case Studies

Chapter 11

Lesson Studies Freedom

Chapter 12

What’s The Buzz, Tell Me What’s Happening

Chapter 13

Life With Family - Changing It Up

Chapter 14

Children, The Little Engine That Could

Chapter 15

From War To Where

Final Chapter

On The Outs

Acknowledgements

Appendix

Author Background

PREFACE

Today I have a better understanding of the saying, You truly appreciate a gift when you have shared it and see the value it brings to others. A person gets a gift of a new car. They recognize its value and the many ways they will benefit from it. IMAGINE what real joy comes when they can use that gift for what it is truly meant for. Perhaps they can help someone who really needs transportation to an emergency appointment, or to get to their first job; or to look at their first home, or to some other very important event. Doing this provides meaningful discussions about how that gift was so beneficial. Moving forward the two have shared experiences through conversation about the meaningful events that had purpose.

What do you think?

This book is a way of sharing lessons I have learned in my transition and re-entry journey. More importantly, it is to build meaningful and purposeful connections with others that will contribute to your success and help you to see how rewarding it is to help yourself and to help others. This book helps me to share valuable lessons I’ve learned on my cognitive transition and reintegration journey.

An important voice that boosted me to write this book is that of my brother, Antwan. His life was cut short due to toxic responses, mental illness, and addiction. His gentle, kind approach to life, his peacefulness in demeanor was impressive. His value of people over possessions was demonstrated in how important it was that he offer kind words to others. His thoughtfulness, about the impact of what he said had on others led us to have many refreshing discussions we had. He would question the temperamental and hostile exchanges he observed; challenging whether they could be resolved with more thoughtful caring responses. When people would exert such violent and temperamental energy towards others, he would talk about how he envisioned they could have peace instead.

He would say very practical things. He read a lot about being peaceful, and since we are from a very large family he would question family members on whether there were more effective ways to resolve differences. He would often want to know what the fight was about and offered to pay the price to resume peace. I have a lot of nice memories and good stories and principles that he modeled.

I got motivation when Antwan would say to me, I am so glad that you are doing the work you’re doing. A lot of folks appreciate what you have to share. And weeks before he passed, he would look me right in the eyes and say, You have gifts. In this book I offer those gifts. In those last weeks of his life he said other things that continue to compel and move me! To this day they provide motivation. I don’t think it’s ironic that this last month while writing this book marks yet another anniversary of this big loss.

As a Citizen this book becomes a guide; a Toolbox that helps you, the Citizen, to see where you can be and where you want to be in your freedom. Maintaining your freedom requires that you identify barriers to gaining and keeping your freedom. Be willing to exchange barriers for free BFF’s. Read more on page 32 about barriers to freedom.

This book outlines clear and purposeful steps to what it will take for you to meet the requirements. With the tools found in Factors to Freedom you will be on your way to a more purposeful and meaningful life.

Uncle Freddy

Program Mission Statement:

It is our mission to help learners achieve low-risk behaviors and habits and gain skills that will serve them throughout their lifetime, guiding and them to a future that is packed with rewards.

Read more about Uncle Freddy, his background and involvement in the prison system on page 109.

CHAPTER 1

HOW THIS BOOK WORKS

HOW THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO WORK

While some books focus on the outside world as a source of maintaining success, this book looks to achieve success from the inside out. The work we do is not readily seen on the outside, yet its value gets clearer as we move forward. Since we own the territory on the inside - our habits, attitudes, beliefs, feelings, conclusions, and expectations - there is where our work begins. This is an important piece neatly engineered into this book.

-Uncle Freddy

This is an important section of the book. To say it again: while some books focus on the outside world as a source of maintaining success, this book works from the inside out. The work we do is not readily seen on the outside, yet its value gets clearer as we move forward. As incarcerated Citizens and those that are incarcerated, you will want to know how this Program is going to work. This will allow everyone to see what is happening, what is to be accomplished, and who will be doing the work. Transparency is key.

This Book/Program is a stepwise guide that helps to identify principles that lead to increased success in transition and re-entry using life skills. I want to make it where there is a level of excitement and entertainment. I found that especially because of internal challenges, there is a greater need for cognitive stimulation.

And media is used everywhere. It seems everywhere we look things are about videos. So we will be making a video of your life: where you’ve come from, and where you hope to be when you are closer to your transition time. This book works to support positive and successful transitions to Freedom.

THE PROGRAM WE USE IS SIMPLE

1. First we extends a warm invitation to engage in meaningful dialogue about freedom. We explore the challenges and the opportunities of gaining our Freedom. This dialogue is very purposeful as it lays the foundations for the work which follows.

2. Then we highlight the realistic challenges that exist, including high risk thinking and behaviors which threaten gaining and maintaining freedom.

3. We identify early in the game what risks are in front of us and how we will honestly examine what we require to overcome them; acknowledging the potential cost or price to ourselves.

4. In these challenges we find what risk there is to physically returning.

5. Then we develop appropriate strategies to address these challenges in pro-social ways; provide and bring in needed resources, individuals and tools to effectively address the needs that many challenges present to our Freedom.

6. We establish clear goals and objectives for the work we will be doing in Factors to Freedom.

7. Then we outline a transition action plan which includes tasks to accomplish in the first few days on the Outs. We touch on what to do weeks, three months and 6 months on the Outs.

HOW THIS BOOK IS TO BE USED

An advantage to this book is that the unique perspective of the author resonates throughout. Fred McGee, Uncle Freddy, of Compton, California, is sharing his story with you. And you are able to go out and use these insights as tools. Factors to Freedom is like having a tool box with a mentor in it.

And you have every kind of tool you need in this ‘tool box’ to build Freedom! Uncle Freddy brings a dual perspective of both life experiences and professional and clinical insights when it comes to the tools available; it gives you a greater insight into effective ways of using those tools in the tool box. You are invited to get involved, question the process, and to do the work required for your freedom.

As we journey on in the Factors to Freedom it is good to have some clear direction. Clear direction comes from understanding three things: 1) Know where you are going, 2) Know where you’re at, and 3) Know what it takes to get from where you are and get to where you need to be.

This book is to be used as a guide. Much like a tour guide, it outlines features of your journey. It shows you up front the challenges you will face down the road. As a Citizen, you will receive insight and experiences through the guidance of this book. As it guides in helping you to see where you are it allows you to create strategies involving where you would like to be. And Factors to Freedom makes clear what it will take for you to meet the goals you will set along the way.

1.jpg

Clear direction becomes your companion on how to use conversation time effectively. You are guided to remain present in those moments when you are working. Clear direction allows you to get the most out of your investment of time, energy, thinking, and doing the right type of work. You will hear the same principles time and again. They