Street Beat
The 3rd Street Beat Mission Statement
The Third Street Beat is a newsletter written by and created for people with substance use disorder. Our mission is to validate that experience so people know that they are not alone, and to emphasize the many unique roads that we take to recovery. This is an opportunity to share our experiences to creatively support each other. We are non-political, non-denominational, multi-racial, and gender neutral. Our mission is one of recovery and harm reduction, and all experiences are welcome. All the viewpoints herein are personal in nature and related specifically to our contributors’ recovery.
The 3rd Street Beat Editorial Team
The 3rd Street Beat is produced byThe Recovery Center community with assistance from the occupational therapy team.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Photos! pg. 3
Hot Summer by R.B. and a poetry submission by J.K. pg. 4
How to Stop Using by J.B. pg. 5
My name is David by D.T. pg. 6
When a Baby is Born by J.B. pg. 7
Found Guilty by J.B. pg. 8
Ebonics by D.A. pg. 9
Fatherhood by J.B. pg. 10
What Success Means by J.S. pg. 11
The Streets R Watching by A.M. pg. 12
Gratitude by H.G. pg. 13
In the Cold by D. A. pg. 14
Newark, NJ by D.A. pg. 15
Eye on the prize! by A.T. pg. 16
Humans, Animals, Trees, and Plants by D.A. pg. 17
The Legacy of Luna by R.B. pg. 18
Just for Today! by A.T. pg. 19
SummerisHERE!!
"Dreams"
by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Hot summer day, flowers, trees, gardening, shorts and tees, beaches, sand, volleyball and scantily clad people, summer vacation Rock B.
MynameisJackandIwanttowriteabout howtostopusingdrugs,thisismyownopinion.
Ifeelasthoughifyoustartusingdrugslatein lifeyougothroughalotofupanddown.Youmay dowrongalotoftimeandthinkyou’reright.You maygetaroundthewrongpeopleplacesand things.Youmightnotevenbeintherightstateof mind.It’shardforyoutoseethingsclearly.You maynotbeintherightstateofmind.
Don’tlookthesame,youdon'tthinkthesame, youdon'tfunctionthesame.Youmaythink somethingiswrongwithnormalpeople.Noteven knowingsomethingiswrongwithyou.
Thenifitfinallycomeatimeinyourlifethat youwanttostopgettinghigh,you’llhave somethingtolookatifyoustartedlate.Youcan lookatthelifeyouwasliving,beforeyoustart gettinghigh.Thenlookatthelifeyouwasliving afteryoustartgettinghigh.Thenyoucanchoose whichwayyouwanttolive.Butthosethatstart gettinghighearlyinlifehavenothingelsetolook at.AgainIsaythat’smyownopinion. 5
My name is David I write poetry as well as sing. My having recently turned sixty was quite the milestone I’ve seen so much very much furthermore and gone Through even more. I’ve come to find out that I’m made of several things:
I am compassionate I am fiery
My name is Jack and I want to write about when a baby is born. Mother take care of the baby. She cleans the baby, feed the baby, and pay attention to the baby all the time. After a year or so the baby learn how to walk, talk, and jump up and down. By the time the baby get 5 he’s ready for kindergarten school. During that time mother may get pregnant again. When the second baby is born, the same thing mama did for the first baby she got to do for the second one. But the first baby see mama doing so much for the second baby he think she care more for the second baby than she care for him. He begin to get jealous. But he don’t realize the same thing mama did for him. She got to do for the second baby. So it becomes a problem. The problem that may stay with the second baby the rest of his life.
My name is Jack and I want to write about a drug addict. I’m not talking about the one that commit crimes. I’m writing about the one that’s going to be found guilty even if he did it or not. A drug user don’t have a place to stay. He haven’t worked in so many years, he eat at the soup kitchen, don’t know when the last time he been sleeping if you go to court and tell that kind of story you’re going to be found guilty if you committed a crime or not. You could’ve just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s a lot of people in jail for a crime They didn’t commit. If you ask them a question they don’t answer it right. They don’t be in the right frame of mind.
I’m writing about people that can’t defend themselves.
Personally, I think somebody should write about it. 8
Ebonics - Street Slang
By Darryl A.
Tight - Mad, upset, angry
It a wrap - It over Whip - Car
Crib - House, Room, Apartment, Condo, Loft, Etc.
Let Get it Poppin’ - Fighting
Chill Out - Relax, Laid Back, Calm
Money - Cash, Doe, Duckets, Greenback, Bread,
All About the Benjamin Bling Bling - Jewelry, Ice-Out
Fly - Dress Nice
Dip - hair Done
You Think You All That - Conceited
You Think You Are Better Than People - Stuck Up
Boosting - Stealing
Hustling - Making Money
Panhandling - Begging people for money or asking people for money
Recycling - Collecting Cans and Bottles
I will snuff you - Punch you in the face
Get your grub on - Eat
Let me holla at you - Talk, Give you advice
My name is Jack
I want to write about a man who was an expert on helping kids get a loan. That was his job. But one day his daughter birthday he wanted to invite the kids in his class to his daughter birthday party. He said it was okay for the parents to come with them so when they all came ot the party, he step in the room with toys for his daughter birthday. The kids went over to play with the girls toys. But she wouldn’t let none of her friends play with her toys. The Daddy felt sorry he said to hisself how could I be the man that I am showing kids how to get along with each other when I have a daughter here on her birthday play and she won’t let none of her friends play with her toys. So he went over to talk to his daughter to convince her that it was better to let her friends play with her toys. But one of the ladies step to him and pull him to the side. She told him don’t scold her, give her a chance to play with the toys her daddy gave her so she can appreciate what her daddy gave her. One she appreciate the toys for a while then she will invite her friends to play. So she played with the toys for awhile, then she invited her friends to play. 10
What Success Means to Me
By Julius S.
Success is a meaning of great longevity of a goal of accomplishment and the steps of a life of accomplishment from childhood to the last stop grave stop. I’ve made a few but still working on many one of my accomplishments was getting off crack. It was easier than getting apartment by myself I worked hard and complain plenty to advocate for myself. I had to deal with dirty cat and a roommate and today I can say I’m looking forward to having a place by myself.
The Streets R Watching
By Andre M.
Every time you do something, even you don’t think so, someone is watching you.
Only you know the answers…
Questions:
How do you look?
Appearance is everything in today society.
How do you feel today about yourself?
Your attitude can take you a long way, it can get those keys/job you seek. Are you helping yourself? Don’t
Gratitude
By Harry Garcia
My breath, my life, my wife
Two out of three, hmmm
thank God I do not have
All three, I just want to be by a tree
Enjoying, inhaling, enjoying
Exhaling, Do not disturb!
All I want is to enjoy this breathing – this life
Then, I could really enjoy
My wife, whoever she is:
I hope I find her by a tree
Breathing beauty just like me
Being Homeless in the Cold
By Darryl A.
I remember when I was homeless sleeping on the hard concrete ground steps in front of the Fred Price Church on 96 Street on the west side across the street from Central Park I was cold, hungry, tired but I hung in there. Thank God I could had die. But God was with me.
Thank You
Darryl A.
Month
of June
The
Rich and Famous People Who Came Out Of Newark, East Orange, and Irvington, and Other
By Darryl A.
Part I
June 24
Parts of New Jersey
There is a lot of rich and famous people who came out of Newark, East Orange and Irvington and other parts of New Jersey. You have Whitney Houston, Dionne Warwick, Queen Lathia, Lauryn Hill, Gloria Gaynor, Linda Jones, Regina Bell, Melba Moore, Sarah Vaughn, Tisha Campbell, female singer group Total, Gwen Guthrie, Starlena Young from group Young and Company. SSA, Tawanda Agee, The Excorts, Riff, Mavin Marlons Hager James “Super Man” Scott Ray Mercer Rocky Lock Ridge James “Hard Rock” Green Shakur Stevenson, Tony Alaya Dennis “Mo” Layton Dana
Part I I
Lewis, Al Attles, Anthony Avant, Al “Bubba” Baker, Andre Tipett Norm Granger, Keith Willis, Big Mike Charles, Edgar Jones, Greg Latta, Reggie Brown, John Amos, Jason Alexander, Frankie Valli Pete Shaw, Bill Beamelly Willie Asbury, Sommore, Nina Long, Redman, K-Solo, by Naughty by Nature, Chill Rob G, Pm Dawn Twin Hyde, Lords of Underground Joe Budden, Lakim Shabass, Hasson Arkbubka, Faith Evans, Savion Glover, Taye Diggs, Michel B Jordan, Jahiam, Jaden Brunson, Poor Righteous Teachers, Wyclef John, Terry Deharf, Rafael Addison, Bill Willowbury, Kayire Irving, JR. Smith, Craig Ironhead Hayward Jack Tatum, John Battle, I can’t not think or can remember any more rich and famous coming from New Jersey Thank you God bless 15
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Keep your EYE on the Prize!
Just for today I will keep the focus of my life travels straight forward on where I want to be in life. To just stay in the here in now in the very moment which is now. To look at my past choices and learn from them not glamorize what I did, but to use them as a learning experience and just that. I’m not disappointed in my past because without my past mistakes and choices I would not know what I know today, I've learned how to deal with various situations that has come in my life. Now I’m capable of dealing with problems are situations that present itself toward me now. I end by saying that I will continue to keep my EYE ON The Prize and not drift backwards But to continue to move forward in my present LIFE!
The Story About Humans, Animals Trees
and Plants
By Darryl A.
The story about humans, animals, trees and plants come rom the military The three basic elements in li e. You ot land, sea, and air. The Marines and Army is land, Navy is the seas and Air Force is air. Same with animals, you animals ot livin on land animals that livin in the water that seas and ot animal in air
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I’m fascinated by her conviction to save the tree, most 23 year old’s are thinking about college finals or moving away from their parent’s house, but to be selfless by putting her own well being and comfort aside to save a tree isn’t what’s on the minds of most young people.
-Rock B.
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Just for Today!
Just for today I’m blessed to be here. Just for today, I will not forget about my past mistakes and how they caused me a lot of grief. Instead just for today I will keep my focus on the moment at hand, live for now and continue to strive forward and continue to find ways to better myself spirituality as well as mentally. Just for today I will tell myself that you are somebody and I LOVE YOU will all my being. Just for today tell yourself that your LORD AND SAVIOR Loves you so you should be able to love yourself. I End by saying JUST FOR TODAY I will stay into TODAY!
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