Street Soldier

by Joseph Marshall Jr., Lonnie Wheeler

As a public school teacher, Joe Marshall was devastated by the number of kids he was losing to prison or early, crime-related death. Finding that neither the justice nor school system seemed willing even to try to help, he co-founded the Omega Boys Club, based upon the belief that young people of the inner city want a way out of the life they're in, but don't know how to find one. Since the club's inception in 1987, he and his small army of street soldiers have helped 600 kids out of trouble, and sent 140 to college. His weekly radio call-in program, "Street Soldiers, " is now broadcast throughout California to an audience of over 200,000. Through it, Joe reaches out to inner-city kids and offers them a practical resource for hope.The story of Joe Marshall's incredible undertaking and tremendous success, "Street Soldier" is filled with tense confrontations and joyous celebrations. It is an uplifting story by and about one man who is making a difference--not only in hundreds of young lives, but for future generations as well.

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was in high school and was inspired by Joe Marshall's work to bring hope and opportunity to young men in southeastern neighborhoods of San Francisco. A former math teacher, Mr. Marshall realized that he wasn't making the difference he wanted to when a former student told him that he was the best student the young man had ever had, yet the student was high on crack. Mr. Marshall and Jack Jacqua founded the Omega Boys Club (www.street-soldiers.org) to keep young men alive and free, eventually helping 140 youth get to college and hundreds more rise above a culture of violence. Mr. Marshall also started a radio show on Sunday nights on KMEL and trainings for other youth workers. I realize now that this book introduced me to youth work and many themes of the nonprofit sector.

[Bert Hui · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this very quick page-turner around 1999 or so after listening to the author on the late-night call-in radio show Street Soldiers based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I credit this book as having a significant impact on who I am today.

Mr. Marshall writes about his experiences in trying to save African-American youth caught up in gang culture and his attempts to show them there is a better way of life.

Granted, the prevalence of gang culture isn't as strong (some might say non existent) where I live now outside of the Bay Area, but the memoir highlights that those in need sometimes just need a helping hand that doesn't give up before they can help themselves. Despite its age, readers of this memoir will learn that empathy combined with "tough love" can work miracles.

[Lil Akili · Rating 5 out of 5]

Street Soldier
Street Soldier by Joseph Marshall Jr. is about Joe marshall, a teacher at a public school who is tired of seeing his top students as well as other students get pulled into the gang and drug life. He was disturbed by the fact that the justice system or the school system would even address that this is happening in the area. He grew so tired of seeing this that he made an organization called the omega boys club. The omega boys club believed that the young children who were being pulled into the violence and gang life were wanting a way to get out of their circumstances, that’s why they were acting out. This book is filled with conflict and joyous celebration. What type of conflict? How much joy? Read and find out.

[Adrenia Cotton]

2:04- 2:52' 9:11-9:45' 7:57-8:32
i Loved how Joseph Marshall JR. and Lonnie Wheeler started the book talking about how they eas at the award place and they got an award for starting the Omega Boys Club. He was surpised that many famous people was clapping there hand because they were proud that he have did many things for the communitity. i like that Marshall is trying to help his communitiy because he is starting to see that the future for young people is going to be had for people to live in. Marshall aLready see how the other people in the younger age is going to suffer. i would like to compelete this book so i could see his look over life.