‘Man Up’ Challenge Made to City Youth
By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
There are many challenges facing young men in Asbury Park today, but James Q. Roberts feels he has the solution to those challenges. Roberts, who was born and raised in the city, has first hand knowledge of many of the problems plaguing city youth.
“I’m sick and tired of people 20 to 27 (years old) getting killed,” he says, referencing two murders on DeWitt Avenue in the last year.
Roberts, 49, who has worked as an investigator and security officer for the city’s housing authority for the past 10 years, spent much of the 20 years before that in and out of jail.
Yesterday Roberts held a seminar on gang violence at the West Side Community Center for students, their parents and all interested residents. When he speaks, Roberts does not hold back and has no problem telling young and old alike his views on why so many of the city’s young people are in trouble.
“Take better care of your children. Take them to church, go back to the old-fashioned way,” he says. “I want to tell the gangs, ‘put down your guns- man up! Take care of your responsibility. Help these women raise their children.’”
Roberts, an imposing man at about 6 feet 3 inches, practices what he preaches as the father of six children and grandfather of two.
“I can find my kids in five minutes,” he says. “I make a conscious effort 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take care of my children.”
Roberts recently reminisced about days gone by when he roamed with fellow gang members and was involved in some kind of fight every day.
“Not just one day here and one there, I fought every day,” he says. Many times those fights, including assaults on police officers, landed him in the county jail where he was known as one of the 20 worst inmates.
“I’ve had the opportunity to see the wrong side of the law and the right side,” he says. “I’ve seen gang violence. If I can change my life and take care of my children, anybody can.”
In his talk this week Roberts said he plans to offer a challenge to all the men in the community.
“I’m going to ask 100 men to contact the West Side Community Center and sponsor a child whose father is in jail or gone,” he said..Women are left holding the bag. Women need help raising their children.”
Roberts also believes that too many young parents today are more interested in being their child’s friend and are afraid to provide discipline.
Growing up, Roberts’ mother Shirley Jean Roberts, who worked for many years as a truant officer in Asbury Park, was not afraid to set standards for her family.
“My mother said, ‘you live in my house, you live by my rules. If you want to call DYFS, I’ll call them for you, they can come and get you,’” says Roberts.
Aside from his duties with the housing authority where he currently serves as security investigator, Roberts remains an active community volunteer. He will soon be helping implement a new boxing program in the city.
“There is a lot of talent being wasted. I’m going to work with the mayor and the police to help the community,” says Roberts, who learned to box while in prison.
Over the years Roberts says he has sent many people to drug rehabilitation programs to help them turn their lives around and he knows of three people who decided to become police officers after working with him at the housing authority.
His investigative training includes courses at the Long Branch Vocational School and seminars and internships at Monmouth University.
For the past five years Roberts has been assigned to Boston Way Village, where he says he worked with the city police department to clean the place up. “I do all I can for the residents.”
Eventually Roberts, who lives in Neptune with his wife Wanda and their two children, hopes to open and run his own non-profit organization.
“I want to get my own non-profit help the sick people, the homeless people, the old people. I thank God every day for blessing me to help people.”
As for turning his life around and becoming a productive member of society, Roberts says he likes sporting this reputation much more.
“I used to worry about what people would say about me,” he says. Now I don’t have to worry, I’m taking care of my responsibilities.”
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