Dryden helps young men find the right path
Posted on October 9, 2008
In the Liberty & Justice Unity Basketball, the bad guys play the good guys — young offenders against police officers, some of whom were their arresting officers.
The score isn’t important. Hamilton Police versus Liberty Prodigal Sonz is a game that promotes respect and reconciliation and breaks down barriers.
The event is part of Liberty for Youth, an organization providing outreach programs for young men who have experienced turmoil and setbacks in their lives.
Launched by Frederick Dryden in 2003, the organization has already garnered national attention. Last November, Brother Frederick, as he is known, received the Canadian Living Me To We Award, given to those whose compassion and commitment have made a real difference in the lives of Canadians. He won in the social action category, which celebrates people who are attacking the causes of social, economic or political issues.
Frederick was nominated by Hamilton school principal Mary Kelly and gave his award money of $5,000 to Victory International Church on Barton Street East, for expansion of its children’s ministry.
Liberty for Youth provides free leadership training, character development, life skills and community involvement to young men struggling with drugs, gangs, family problems or incarceration. Frederick attends court hearings with youth and sometimes even turns them in.
The former education investment counsellor knows what his young charges go through. He came from Jamaica in the mid-1980s when he was 13 and the youngest of seven. His father worked two jobs and slowly, one by one, sent for his children.
When abuse by a babysitter became too tough, he took off and lived on Toronto streets for 10 years. He wanted a better life and eventually worked at a number of jobs and started going to church. He saved his money and studied economics at York University and business management at Ryerson University.
Frederick found a good job and was inspired by a sermon on human behaviour, lawlessness and the need to assume responsibility in life. That, and meeting the woman who would become his wife, changed his life.
He became a counsellor and Bible-study teacher at youth detention centres. Five years ago, he met a 15-year-old who had come to a session at the Barton Street jail because he was bored. He talked, and Frederick listened.
“I heard and saw myself and realized how fortunate I was. He was the one who fuelled my passion to found Liberty for Youth,” he says.
They became friends and when the teen was released from prison at 17, Frederick encouraged him to finish high school and return to his family. The teen received a scholarship from Liberty for Youth last year and is studying aviation at a community college.
“When I came from Jamaica, I was so fortunate to receive so much as an immigrant,” Frederick says. “My role as a Christian is to give back and put my faith in action.”
He becomes emotional when he describes seeing the high fives on the court between cops and young offenders and especially one young offender who has cleaned himself up.
“Seeing this guy and the cop do a tough grab-and-squeeze handshake and hearing the officer telling the youth, ‘I knew you had it in you,’ was the best moment for me,” says Frederick.
His goal is to build a residential home in the country for at-risk youth 16 to 21 years old. He and his team have raised $57,000 through three benefits and a $12,500 donations from RBC Foundation.
The fourth Power of a Changed Life fundraising dinner is Friday, Nov. 7, at the Festival Banquet Centre, 747 King St. E. Guest speaker is Ellen Campbell, founder and executive director of the Canadian Centre for Abuse Awareness. Tickets are $30. Call 905-297-7929.
905-526-3305
