Acknowledgement
Kind words from others
We are grateful for the love & support for our program.
Brandon T. Moore Excellence in Leadership Award
We were honored to receive the Brandon T. Moore Excellence in Leadership Award from the Durham-based Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy.
This award recognizes outstanding leaders in the Durham Community who have and are giving back to the youth. Thank you Rev. Larry E. Thomas, founder & CEO of the Thomas Mentoring Leadership Academy, for this honor and recognition of the work You & Five-O is doing in the community with our youth.
The Youth Advisory Council was overwhelmingly supportive of the presentation with several of the youth specifically stating what an important and timely training this is in light of recent national issues. The atmosphere was one where the youth felt safe to ask questions. The consensus from the BECOMING Youth Advisory Council was that Ms. Council should take the You & Five-O message out into the community with the belief that others would benefit from it.
Jennifer Meade
Former BECOMING Project Supervisor — from our inaugural presentation, 6.1.2015
Our core supporters
The ones who helped develop You & Five-O — the OG's of YFO.
April Browne
Owner of Zelken Financial Services & Ret. Durham City Police Captain
Steven Chalmers
Co-Executive Director of Hayti Reborn-Justice Movement, Ret. Durham City Chief of Police
Harmony Chavis
Director of Development for TABLE NC
Kisha Etheridge
Grant Manager for Durham City Police Department
Jacqueline Fountain
Owner of RJ's Fish & Wings, Ret. Durham City Master Police Officer
Robert Fountain
Sheriff of Granville County, Owner of RJ's Fish & Wings
Ronald Mangum
Retired Clinical Assistant Professor, UNC-Chapel Hill School of Social Work
M. Michaux Parker
Ph.D., Statistical Analyst. Associate Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences Associate Professor & Chair, Department of Criminal Justice & Political Science of Indiana University East, Richmond, Indiana
Crystal K. Roberts
Director of Strategic Communications, Durham Public Schools
Special thanks to Greg Scott who urged the founder to seek her passion, thank you Greg.
Thanks to the small village of individuals who support the founder's vision.
Those I've worked with
Those I've worked with and comments by them.
“Communication and education are essential between community and police, especially during these times. You & Five-O allows us to have these tough conversations and demonstrates what our responsibilities are to one another.”
Chief W. Horton, Town of Carrboro Police
“Today's presentation by You and Five-O offered a very candid, relevant and balanced perspective that every officer would benefit from. BJ's reminder that, at the end of the day, in any interaction with citizens and law enforcement, both parties just want to get home safely, was a poignant reminder of the very real fears and perceptions felt by both sides.”
Tarrah Callahan, Founder and Exec Director of Conservatives for Criminal Justice Initiative
“The You & Five-O program is a necessary educational component that candidly creates a logical roadmap for people to safely interact with law enforcement. The Durham Police Department is a community-oriented policing agency that strives to build mutual trust, respect and cooperation with our residents. Our department found great value in our partnership with You & Five-O, and we support the principles and objectives of the program.”
Cerelyn "C.J." Davis, Former Durham City Police Chief
“The You & Five-O organization, under the direction of BJ Council, has been an asset for Kinston/Lenoir County as it pertains to having impactful conversations with our youth and law enforcement officers. The hands-on training scenarios on vehicle stops and interactions with police have been some of the best teachings I've seen throughout the state of North Carolina. I would recommend these teachings to continue across the state.”
Don Hardy, Kinston Mayor
“You & Five-O is a powerful tool communities across America can use to engage citizens and law enforcement in the necessary conversation needed to create true community policing. BJ Council is masterful at facilitating an intentional discussion designed to provide knowledge and understanding that will increase the chances of all parties making it home safely.”
Felecia Solomon, Student Services Facilitator/ Equity Officer for Lenoir County Schools
“Remembering this Awesome Session with You & Five-O at the Neuse Regional Library in Kinston on 8-15-2019. Tools for safety living is what we received. Learning that knowing one's right is key. Favorite truth quote out of the entire session was comply with law enforcement and complain later. We, the Kinston Lenoir County NAACP, were so pleased with the session and according to the feedback those who were in attendance were empowered!!!”
Eldress Barbara Sutton, NAACP President Kinston Lenoir County
“The students being served at Phoenix Academy High School are undoubtedly in a much better place in their understanding of how to engage with law enforcement due to You and Five-O training. They are definitely better able to protect themselves and their families in these types of encounters and they receive a much deeper understanding of their rights and how to not put themselves in a compromising position from the presentation.”
John Williams, Principal, Phoenix Academy High School
“You & Five-O brings a unifying voice to national dialogue on police reform that challenges both police agencies and communities to reflect on how to improve trust and save lives on interaction at a time. BJ Council's passion, candor, and pragmatic strategies offer real hope at a time of strained community police relations. Polis is honored to have You & Five-O as a crucial partner in our national efforts to integrate science and technology with grass-roots reform.”
Jonathan M. Wender, Ph.D., President and CEO of Polis Solutions, Inc.
“If we truly believe that the police are the community and the community are the police, then we must start teaching and learning from each other. You & Five-0 is an essential program to bring to this type of combined accountability and transparency to your community.”
Ronnie E. Lewis, Jr., Chief of Police, Town of Bedford, VA
Hear from attendees
From participants in the reentry program offered in May 2023 at the Orange Corrections Center, in Hillsborough, NC.
“BJ has presented several times as part of a pre-release course we organize at a local prison. I've appreciated her thoughtful approach, willingness to respond to difficult questions, and consistent message of "get home safely." Participants in our most recent course were quite vocal in their doubts about her as a speaker and the topic in general, but shared afterwards that she was one of the best speakers they heard from.”
Melissa Radcliff, Program Director of Our Children's Place
“Thank you for imparting your skill, knowledge, and wisdom concerning how to interact with law enforcement. Your approach is very nurturing, compassionate and empathetic. I appreciate the work you do. It is imperative that black and brown people understand complying with orders or directives from LE can be the difference between life and death. I pray that more individuals join you in carrying the message. 'Do what you gotta' do, but just get home.'”
J.J., Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“Thank you for explaining this course, I learned more about how to interact with officers. To follow the rules that an officer ask you to do.”
Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“Enjoyed you, would love to hear more and more about your story. Please come back to teach us how not to go backward.”
D.S., Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“Thank you BJ, for your being here today, I glad to be able to talk frankly with not only a police officer but an executive officer. The things you talked about I will remember and pass on to my sons and grandsons and others.”
D.W., Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“Thank you for the talk. It was good to hear an objective view on the police and how to interact with them.”
Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“Thanks for being open and honest. You are doing a wonderful and sadly needed work. I believe that you are doing a good job to help the situation.”
R.J., Participant in reentry program at Orange Corrections Center
“It was truly powerful. There were multiple "themes" that our students took away- advocate for themselves, know their rights, be in control of themselves, to manage their emotions and in doing so, maintain their power. You were able to deliver these messages in an especially effective way because both your life experiences & because you obviously cared.”
Sandra Lynch-Neagle, Civics Teacher at Phoenix Academy High
“I appreciate BJ's authentic passion for sharing this information. It helps to create a welcoming and safe space for adults and youth to share their unfiltered and honest feelings. Incorporating the local police department in the workshop provided an initial platform to begin to enhance police and resident engagement in the community.”
En’Janet Joseph, Northeast Community Coalition
“This workshop is a must in today’s environment of heightened awareness and sensitivity to police interactions. It is definitely an eye opener!”
Rev. Larry Wilder, Community Member
“Presentation was powerful and well received by the youth. The role-play & examples of real life situations made it easy for the young audience to relate.”
James Johnson, Former Executive Director, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Durham
“YFO has been working with the Kinston Police Department and its community members for three years. Of my 75 sworn personnel, 50 sworn persons attended training over the course of five days in June. We offered a survey to the participants and the results are 90% approval of the impact and delivery of the information. My leadership team and I reviewed the training objectives and believe it can enhance our officers’ understanding of how the community perceives law enforcement. I believe that hearing those concerns can only enhance our work in building better relationships with our entire community of Kinston.”
Kinston Police Department Interim Chief of Police Jenee Spencer