ROC HARD Author Miquel Powell

AUTHOR MIQUEL POWELL

Who is Miquel Powell?

Miquel Powell is a very complex person. I am by career a well-known substance abuse therapist- licensed by NYS. I have been employed by a large non-profit organization in Rochester, NY since 2014. I am a self-published author. And most-passionately I am a community activist. I have worked on issues related to anti-violence, substance abuse awareness, racial equity, and community development. I am also a sitting member on the first ever Police Accountability Board here in Rochester, NY.

Where did you grow up and what was your family dynamic?

I was born in Ahoskie, NC in a small town. My uncle, John Vinson was the first to migrate to Rochester in the 1950’s. My aunt Maureen Powell-Smith followed in 1971. My mother visited Rochester often prior to my birth but made Rochester her permanent home shortly after I was born in 1981.

I was raised in the historic Scio Street neighborhood in a single parent household. Our neighborhood was oppressed and heavily policed throughout the 80’s & 90’s.

My mother worked different jobs and did her best to raise us as best as she could.

Who is your biggest influence and why?

My biggest influences are most of the African-American Civil Rights leaders. I love Dr. Martin Luther King, jr, Malcolm X, and James Cone. I draw inspiration from my ancestors. I am always grateful and indebted to them for the sacrifices they made with such courage and dignity. It keeps me going.

When and how did you become involved with writing and then becoming and author.?

I first started writing in 2004 while serving a seven year prison sentence in the NYS department of corrections. Writing for me was a way to escape from the harsh reality of being an incarcerated black man.

What has been your biggest achievement?

biggest achievement thus far is gaining a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from SUNY Brockport in 2017.

Prior to being incarcerated in 2002, my highest level of education was the ninth grade. I am proud to say that I will be starting my graduate degree studies at SUNY Brockport this fall in the master’s degree program.

What community impact have you helped to facilitate?

I think that my work as 1 of 9 board members on the Police Accountability Board is where I am able to make to most community impact aside from all of the others initiatives I supported or facilitated. I think that the PAB is so vital to the times and the Rochester, NY community. It will prove to have the most impact in our city once fully implemented.

What do you see yourself doing in 1 year? 3years? 5years from now?

I see myself completed my graduate studies at SUNY Brockport. I would like to then teach at one of the local universities.

How has Covid-19 impacted you personally?

The biggest effect Covid-19 has had on me is both at work and at him. My kids haven’t been to school since March and we have been working from home as well since the same time. It is a total life change for all of us. It truly presented for us a “new normal”. I have been

“I was raised in the historic Scio Street neighborhood in a single parent household. Our neighborhood was oppressed and heavily policed throughout the 80’s & 90’s.”

trying to really adjust but it has been hard for sure.

How did you start Reentry & Community Development Center?

I started The Reentry & Community Development Center in 2017. I funded it out of my own pocket. We are in the process of filing for 501c3 nonprofit status.

What is it all about?

The Reentry & Community Development Center is aimed and provided s e r v i c e s t o brothers and sisters who were recently released from jail or prison. We also have hosted many community development initiatives in the Rochester, NY community. Our philosophy is that we would be doing people who are in reentry a disservice if we were not working to enhance all other social systems they are expected to interact with.

We are in the process of restructuring, but the core reentry services we provide are care management, reentry & substance abuse groups, and free hygiene products.

What is the Scio Street project?

The Scio Street Homes & Business Development Project is an initiative we started a few months ago in which we are organizing to ask the City of Rochester to invest $5- $7 million dollars in the historic Scio Street neighborhood. Scio Street is an oppressed Black neighborhood that was heavily-policed throughout

the 1980’s and 1990’s. Over the years many of the community resources were taken away and ultimately nothing has ever been put back. There has never been any major developments on Scio Street in nearly 40 years. What’s left is 106 empty lots and 12 churches.

We are asking the City of Rochester to invest in the following: 1. Build 25- 30 brand new homes from the ground 2. Build 2 building in which both have four storefronts for businesses

3. Resurrect the Weld Street Park

4. Invest in more green spaces

5. Provide Home Improvement Grants for existing home owners/ landlords

I b e l i e v e t h a t t h i s project aligns with Black Liberation. Many local leaders are saying today that Black Lives Matter. If so, prove it.

What would you like our audience to know about you that they may not?

I am very committed to uplifting the Rochester, NY community. I have a desire to see the city maximize its potential.