CNOtes 2/1/22: Judge Gerald Parker, Building Bridges

Announcements

Kristen Marks, chair of the Essay Contest, announced all the essays have been collected. Please contact her if you are willing to be a judge.
Beth Duncan, chair of Centerville Washington Township Got Talent, announced they will be accepting applications soon for kids aged 4 to 18. Only the first 30 submissions will be accepted. The top 10 will perform live and be ranked through a vote.
Ellie Parker, co-chair of the photography contest, announced the contest is now open. Tell high schoolers they can use this page to see the flyer, rules and to submit their photo. Ellie thanked Patrick Arehart for all his work getting this contest up and running. There will be a public show of the top 10 photos to be voted on at Woodbourne Library.
Ron Thompson, chair of the Oratorical Contest, announced he needs 3 judges and a timer. Please contact him if you are willing to help. Judges and the timer only need to help during the Tuesday CNO lunch meeting on 2/15/2022.

Committee Meetings

2/16/2022, 6 PM, Tom Frazier Tee Off for Youth Golf Classic 2022. Meetings in 2022 will be on Wednesdays on 1/26, 2/16, 3/16, 4/13, 5/18, 6/15, 7/13. Additional board members and volunteers are always welcome. The event will be held on 7/18/2022.

Happy Birthday David Ladd

Happy Birthday David Ladd! David pleaded his case to maybe, once in a while, sing Happy Birthday the way it was meant to be sung. He was unanimously outvoted. Bob Duffy led us badly as usual. Have a great trip around the sun David Ladd!

Judge Gerald Parker

Chris McAlpine introduced Judge Gerald Parker, a Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge. Judge Parker is a graduate of Lakota West High School, Georgetown College, where he played football, and NKU where he earned his law degree. He lives in Centerville with two Girls and wife Janna, who is a Magistrate in Miami County.

Judge Gerald Parker was elected to the Common Pleas Court Bench, General Division, in November of 2018, taking office in early January 4, 2019. Judge E. Gerald Parker Jr. is the first African American male judge in the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division.

He serves on the Offender Supervision and Security Committee. Judge Parker received his B.A. from Georgetown College (KY.) in 2004 and his J.D. from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University in 2007.

Judge Parker presented, “Passion to Serve.” His slide deck is here.

About Building Bridges

Judge Parker is Co-Vice President of Building Bridges, which helps youth find success. They come alongside kids who have found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances and need a second chance. Check their website for opportunities to volunteer and donate.

Building Bridges was started 40 years ago.

Building Bridges Vision

Our Vision is to redirect the lives of kids who need a second chance to make better choices, turn their lives around and find lasting success.

Building Bridges Mission

We strive to act as a “safety net” for at-risk youth that are involved in the Montgomery County Juvenile Court by intervening and redirecting their lives through innovative programming that offers discipline, structure and opportunity in a compassionate and supportive environment.

Building Bridges Information

Building Bridges connects kids to foster parents and mentors and provides help for juveniles and their children if they have them. For juveniles on probation with a financial need, there is a program where they pay them when they perform community service. Many of these kids do not have a father. The kids benefit from father figures they get to be around through Building Bridges.

Judge Parker showed a video of several juveniles who have had experiences at Building Bridges that have led to successful lives. In Building Bridges programs they learn about setting long term goals.

While the situation at home for most of these kids sucks and will probably continue to suck, they embrace this, and keep trying. Building Bridges exposes these kids to a positive world that they would not know about without the Building Bridges program.

The programs do not always work. Some of the juveniles end up going to prison. They do not let this stop them from trying. There are more success stories than failures.

Building Bridges Partners

Centerville Crossfit offers free access to their gym every Thursday to Building Bridges. The kids and gym members both get an opportunity to work out next to people that do not look like them. Judge Parker shared the story about a young man who fell to his knees and nearly passed out while at the gym. He was on spring break and school was his main source of food. He had not eaten for two days.

Chipotle and Whole Foods offer programs to feed these kids and they learn what healthy food is.

SouthBrook Christian church paid for several kids to see the Black Panther movie so they could see superheroes that look like them.

Path to the Bench

After too many concussions playing football, Judge Parker realized he wanted to be a lawyer. Part of the reason he wanted to become a lawyer was because he very rarely saw any African American judges.

Judge Parker began his career as a prosecuting attorney because he wanted to be on the front lines of justice. After 5 years as a prosecutor, however, he went to work for a defense law firm. Combining his experiences, he was sworn into Juvenile Court 5 years ago and 3 years ago as a Common Pleas judge.

He showed a picture of himself with the attorney for Rosa Parks, who is still alive.

He has been asked about running for political office. He does not consider this since he likes being a judge and judges do not worry about politics. Judges follow the law and are impartial.

Behind the Bench

Judge Parker hears civil and criminal cases. He said there are a lot more serious crimes being committed by younger people than in the past. Many of the criminals are just 14-18 years old. In his court he is starting to see defendants who are the children of adults he previously prosecuted.

Judge Parker said, “Instead of asking how these kids are so bad, we should be asking how the kids are doing as good as they are with the adversity they have had. Kids can be reclaimed and become successful parts of our communities.”

The temperament and demeanor of a judge are very important. Judges cannot let themselves get irritated in court. Judge Parker at 36 is one of the youngest judges in Montgomery County, but he has seen a lot. Nothing really surprises him anymore. Judge Parker leaves work at work. He does his best not to bring the negative experiences home to his family.

One of Parker’s Favorite Quotes

“Treat a man as he is and he will remain as he is. But treat a man as he ought to be and should be, he will become what he could be.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Passion, Talent, Purpose

Judge Parker knows community service is important and something everyone can do.

Passion – What we like to do.
Talent – What we can do.
Purpose – What we are supposed to do.

Thank You

Thank you, Judge Gerald Parker, for talking about Building Bridges and your passion to serve your community.

New Member Readings and Inductions

Name	Sponsor	1st 2nd 3rd Reading or Induction
Anna Bargmeyer	Bob Bargmeyer	2nd Reading
Bob Myers	Gary Hansen	Induction
Karen Gray Myers	Gary Hansen	Induction