HISTORY
In the summer of 1995 John Wareham, chief of an international human resources firm— also a widely published writer, novelist and poet—was asked to ‘share a few words’ with Rikers Island inmates.
Mightily impressed by the untapped potential of the prisoners, John immediately refocused his life to helping them become fulfilled, productive citizens. He has been teaching prison inmates and those re-entering society ever since. He is author of 'How to Break Out of Prison', and creator of the 'Taking Wings' rehabilitation program and the podcast series, 'The Breakout Plan'.
Kenny Johnson, an incarcerated ‘stickup man and cat burglar’, attended John’s first Rikers class, and they became fast friends. Upon his release, John recruited Kenny to return to Rikers and share Taking Wings® principles. Kenny subsequently became a full time Rikers instructor, and changed countless lives.
Joe Roberts, Black Power leader, drug addict and ex-convict, was Kenny’s long-term best friend. Despite his addiction, Joe was a graduate of New York’s Sarah Lawrence College. Joe embraced the Taking Wings® principles, transcended his addictions, and became a full-time Rikers Island instructor.
Five years after graduating John Wareham’s first Rikers class, Kenny died at age 49 of a heart attack. Joe followed four years later, felled by emphysema at 53 years of age. What to say? The good die young. Our solace, surely, is to create a legacy to carry on the good work they did.
Mightily impressed by the untapped potential of the prisoners, John immediately refocused his life to helping them become fulfilled, productive citizens. He has been teaching prison inmates and those re-entering society ever since. He is author of 'How to Break Out of Prison', and creator of the 'Taking Wings' rehabilitation program and the podcast series, 'The Breakout Plan'.
Kenny Johnson, an incarcerated ‘stickup man and cat burglar’, attended John’s first Rikers class, and they became fast friends. Upon his release, John recruited Kenny to return to Rikers and share Taking Wings® principles. Kenny subsequently became a full time Rikers instructor, and changed countless lives.
Joe Roberts, Black Power leader, drug addict and ex-convict, was Kenny’s long-term best friend. Despite his addiction, Joe was a graduate of New York’s Sarah Lawrence College. Joe embraced the Taking Wings® principles, transcended his addictions, and became a full-time Rikers Island instructor.
Five years after graduating John Wareham’s first Rikers class, Kenny died at age 49 of a heart attack. Joe followed four years later, felled by emphysema at 53 years of age. What to say? The good die young. Our solace, surely, is to create a legacy to carry on the good work they did.