Your scrap/parts box could save a life!

A commendable cause, to be sure, However, you cannot post this same thread in every forum! Pick one and post it.

I deleted the cross-posts in the other forums.

Nice idea.  My "spare parts box" is spread across two eight foot shelves and four boxes on the floor, and the source of most of my own entertainment, so it will stay where it is.  I did donate a couple of RTr sets and some spare track, rolling stock, and a K-Line loco to someone I knew at an inner city church here.  They used it for a club/project.

Lemme see what I can find--my scrap box is simply taking up room.

You're taking on a heckuva job here!  I hope it works out.

Mark,

You are doing something wonderful. I wish you the best of luck. I'm to far away to do much of anything. (3,350 miles). There are many forum members in the mid-west and east coast. BEST WISHES 

Good luck.  I wish you the best.  I was a project kid and later worked as a Police Officer for 37.5 years.  I know what you are trying to do and although very noble, go into this with your eyes open and your right high.  BTW, great job on the South Station layouts.  I often take the T into South Station to check it out.  Your work on these layouts gives you good credibility as the work is first class.  Looking at your address, we are almost neighbors.  I would be very curious on how things go as not many people are willing to get involved like you are going to do. Again, we will have good thoughts for your project.

I am curious what youth base you are going to work with.

Wish you the best for this commendable cause.

Fantastic idea, Agent001.  I just took a look at your GoFundMe page and it brought tears to my eyes (and I'm no sap, believe me).  Sorry I'm just starting out with trains myself and have no spares of anything.  However, given your objectives (and points made in a recent post about opening a store), you may want to consider speaking with a church about space.  You wrote on your page that you are looking to partner with area clergy, and with the right fit, you might be able to negotiate usable space -- at least for the teaching part.  That should reduce the need to spend a lot on a rental space initially.  At the very least, it might be space that you can get at a greatly reduced "donation".  

If space is tight initially, think building modular layouts.  (Who am I preaching to the design expert? :-) The kids will develop all those skills that you listed and then can experience putting them all together somewhere else and exciting to run.  That way, it could be portable to inspire youth in other parts of Dorchester.  Who knows?  Some day, the kids may even help with the South Station layout.  Now that would be an accomplishment and great PR.

Many years ago my father taught me how to build and paint models, use a variety of basic hand tools, light and electric meters, solder, wear safety goggles, and oh yeah, clean S gauge track!  Skills not necessarily in relation to trains. Looking back as I get into trains and draw on those skills, it is amazing what that trust, generosity, and freedom to be creative has allowed me to accomplish on my own. No doubt your vision will similarily empower kids in all those ways that you mention. Manual, physical, creative, and life skills, and you can't beat the social and community building aspect of model trains.  Ditto intergenerational mentoring opportunities, too. I salute your vision and will look forward to hearing more as it unfolds and becomes reality.

Tomlinson Run Railroad

I am very familiar with the hood you are talking about.  Be safe and good luck on your job.  I would rethink no boasting you walk around unarmed.

Some AM brainstorming ideas to share.  MIT has a model train club; unfortunately, their open house was on the 2nd: http://tmrc.mit.edu/.  You might want to contact them to see if there are any enthusiastic college age volunteers -- they might include mechanical or electrical engineering, and architecture/design, or just interested students from any discipline. They may also have unwanted parts/stock/electronics to help get you going.  Not to mention perhaps existing space. Or, they may know of other college groups on the other side of the river.

If MIT's too far afield, you could try U. Mass Boston to see whether there's a student group/department that might be interested in helping kids in their own community. And I know that Northeastern takes its community relations and outreach very seriously. Great engineering and social science departments there, too.

Tomlinson Run RR

Thank you to all the O gaugers who gave me so much moral support AND wise advice. Mr. Fitzhenry had suggested I go into this with "eyes open". What an understatement!   I live 5 miles from this bad area, go through it driving enough, and used to walk through, 17 years ago.
I THOUGHT I knew what was going on down there, since I was so close and exposed to it, somewhat. NO Freakin' WAY!   What I saw shocked even me.
I WALKED through the dangerous hood from Shawmut Station on the Red Line. No Kidding, it looked like footage I've seen of Belfast or Beirut. Cameras on every corner, pointing every direction. Sound triangulation detectors to pinpoint gunshots, the Gang members were on the main street, in full colors, eyeing this little white boy!  Luckily, I am enough of a city kid, that I showed know fear, and somehow let them know I wasn't a cop, and didn't care what they were doing.
24 hours after I visited the community organizer at Codman Square Neighborhood Development Council, someone was shot on the street I had walked up, and drove into a house. 48 hours later, as I write this, a 7 year old, A SEVEN YEAR OLD, was shot by a stray bullet, while riding his bike, He didn't even come from the hood, was just there visiting Grandma, in broad daylight, they walked up and shot at someone else, but hitting the 7 year old.  SO, I'D say there is definitely a need for such a program. (Although it saddens me a kid can't ride his bike and would have to hide out in a church basement on a nice day, just to reach age 8!)

So Thanks again, I have met another 'regular guy' Bostonian, Cullen Deas, a community leader, who seems to have as much passion on this idea as I do. When I left him, he was going to talk to the pastors of the 11 churches on Norfolk St. Think about it, 11 churches, on a 1/2 mile street!
To those of you who can send material, thank you, to those who offered advice, it was ALL really good, and taken under consideration. To all who offered good wishes, your belief in me, got me to show up where it was necessary.
So the ball is rolling, I will keep you all posted as to any progress.

Thank you,

Mark

Mark,

I just saw this topic today for the first time.  What a great idea!  I wish you the best.  I just got into O gauge 3 years ago and love it.  I had been in HO and N scales for over 40 years, and just boxed up the last of my HO and N stuff to send to an organization that gives trains sets and layouts to underprivileged kids in another city.  I don't have much in the way of scrap yet for O gauge, but I will keep you in mind if I recall something!  I wish you the best in changing kids lives!!

BTW is your name 'agent001' pronounced Agent Double Aught One?  If so, I like it.

 I have lived, and worked in "not so nice" areas in my lifetime.

 Some friends and family are still there. Some are missed. And it wasn't even a "war zone" then, just bad.

 I thank you for the caring effort, and wish the best for you.

  One kid makes it worth it, and there's always hope for a little change, if not a movement, with each new attempt.

 I have a million thoughts and concerns about asking on the street vs a meeting.

But both have there own risks and politics, and you're not a total stranger there, so I'll keep it light.

 A building in a bad neighborhood, is not a home. It is a learning experience even if that is where you live. More freaks are attracted to business buildings!

  My buddy has a private art studio, and a private sound studio. Choice of neighborhood allows for this, not big money. He likes it when others work with him, it isn't a classroom, business, or social change driven thing. Its hobby thing for him, and he shares with anyone interested.

 We tore out the innards, and rebuild some Detroit buildings that stood in the 1800's. Three people alone have died right there, literally on his steps (two miles apart), possibly seeking help as our hours were anytime, 24-7, and unpredictable.

  Some folk tried to rob, and intimidate at times. Others, like the real neighbors, the ones that lived right there around us, pitched in without being asked. Other "real" businesses opened around these places within three years concentrating renewal on a strip that really needed it. 

 Keeping it "junky" will help with theft sure too. But I can also remember trashed classes at the actual schools fueled by rage in the success of others projects. Be ready for some of that mentality "teacher".

 Don't accumulate lots of supplies there. I'm thinking of motors, wire, and other copper items. Pack things like transformers up each time, and remove them for a while at least. The first year for sure.

Welcome ....

 We would put a table outside with things on it, and/or open doors and a nice home-style welcome mat out often during the day. Bored and curious, people (and freaks) will come to see what is going on, talk, ask questions, and while looking in, and they will, they will see there isn't really anything worth taking inside, other than the things they see you pack all the time. Word will travel, soon they will forget you did that, you can close the door more, and less packing will be needed, but one of the same boxes should always go with you, even if it holds the days empty burger bags.

 An incredible challenge, and opportunity, I hope you have a chance to experience all the fun possible there ahead of you.     

really?

sort of sad that the days are gone when a kid could ask his mom to pick up a box of ammo at Woolworth's.

good luck...gary

Kudos to you sir for starting down this road.  I've lived and worked in Chicago's Inner city (K-Town, North Lawndale) for the better part of a decade now and it's great to see folks who are looking to give back.

Very glad to see that you have connected with a local organizer and other community officials. The #1 mistake that outsiders make when they come into the community is thinking they know the needs of the community and how best to do things.  I've lived here for almost 10 and I still routinely find major blind spots in my understanding.  Your community contacts will be invaluable.  Not only in finding you a constituency, but also in helping you to set realistic expectations and goals for the program.

For 4 years I ran a program here in the neighborhood using LEGO to teach 3rd graders math skills and it took a while for me to re-callibrate my expectations for participation, enthusiasm, attendance, ability, etc. with the reality of the situation in which my students exist.

I don't have anything to send over and it sounds like you have a good team, but if you need someone to bounce ideas off of or some moral support let me know.

Sincerely,

Karl

First, THANKS for taking on this much-needed task! 

I have owned guns, both rifles and handguns in my younger years, and have even been a member of the NRA as a Boy Scout. Never have been a hunter, but always enjoyed target shooting with both pistols and rifles, and occasionally with a Thompson machine gun, and occasionally still do!

Unfortunately, poverty, lack of parental guidance, and failure of our schools to provide meaningful VOCATIONAL/TECHNICAL programs, plus a plentiful supply of mostly illegal handguns, continues to proliferate violence in these desperate inner-city areas. 

I sincerely wish you the best in your endeavor!

As a former public school teacher (23-years) and college professor (3-years), I can accurately state that the removal of vocational and technical programs from our high schools was an enormous blunder!

 The vocational funding began being funneled into computers at my old school while I was still there. Three years later hands on vocational was gone. There were what I call "demonstration classes". Vocational from books, no supplies.

 I don't think apprenticeships are honored as credits any longer either.

  I know almost a dozen 20yr olds(ish) that don't even drive because that is no longer taught in Michigan schools. With no reliable wide spread interurban, nor a decent job nearby. What are the real chances of them ever making a better life for themselves.

 Only the best kids gets their scholarship.

Many very good ones are just plain left out now. 

Hi Mark,

The advice that keeps coming here plus your own experience is just amazing.  I get it about the MIT students being better for a field trip than volunteers. It's too bad, I work with a lot of MIT grads and they are really down to earth (and I doubt they make $200K, but let's just say they aren't suffering either :-).  So, yeah the other colleges closer to your community might be better bets.  Speaking of which, are there any community colleges around? As you probably know, community colleges area seen as picking up the educational slack these days and a great alternative for some one who may not be up to a 4-year program for various reasons.  I don't know if they would be able to provide volunteers/sponsorships to fill in any needs/gaps left by the lack of shop and related high school classes but they may also have students closer to your target group and/or faculty sensitive to the educational needs and challenges you face. Bunker Hill CC might make for a nice field trip if they are near that Chelsea switching area. Don't know where Nazarene CC is but it's another name that came to mind that I think is in Boston, too.

Out of curiosity, if you have some time, can you share why you choose O-gauge (if in fact that is your only focus).  I like it because it's easy to work with, tactile in a satisfying way (think, thud factor :-), detailed, more like what I imagine running the real thing would be, etc.  HO is more fussy to work with and so may frustrate some but it occurred to me that there might be more examples out there for donations and if you got any money for supplies and could risk having some shiny new stuff around, it would be much cheaper to buy.  Additionally, it would require much less storage and layout space.  Again, just curious - you've cleary been working many details out and are "on track".

Lastly, after your first posting of it, I happened to catch the news story about the boy who was shot out riding his bike. Unfortunately, senseless shootings are what comes up when Dorchester is in the news, and likewise Brockton, which it turns out is where he was visiting from. It leaves me without words, except that I too am hopeful that the Boston Blue will find who ever did it.  It may take a couple of years, but they are persistent and have recently been successful in another apparently similar case.

In the meantime, wishing continued support to you and your project,

Tomlinson Run RR