The Hon. Frank Szymanski, 3rd Circuit Court, Juvenile Division, was the guest speaker at the Sept. 7 meeting of Grosse Pointe Rotary. Judge Szymanski believes that the single biggest problem facing our community is kids not being in school. He believes this to be the driving force behind many other problems, including crime, homelessness, and poverty.  

He is very proactive and some of his outreach programs include: 1) KKIS – Keep Kids in School.  He believes that zero tolerance was well-intentioned but with bad results.  For the kids to not feel degraded or unwanted, every attempt should be made to keep them in school.  2) KAREN – Kids Are Reading Every Night.  Reading at least 20 minutes every night helps a child learn to read and to develop a lifelong love of it. 3) Teach Transcendental Meditation and yoga to juvenile offenders as a way to self-regulate.  4) Guitars Not Guns.  A program to teach music to at risk youth.  5) A Youth Deterrent Program in which life offenders counsel at risk youth on the consequences of crime.

Judge Szymanski is also the author of the book, Identity Design: Design the Identity You Need to Get the Life You Want.
 
Below, Rotary President Ted Everingham with Judge Szymanski at the club's meeting.
Photos by George R. McMullen Jr.