Save Our Sons Inc

Save Our Sons, founded by Melvin Carter Jr. in 1991 continues spear heading a community “Youth Reclamation Continuum” grassroots movement. Our mission is to reclaim youth on behalf of community, ancestors, God, and family.  This team-sport movement includes local elders, neighbors, faith communities, schools, elected officials, similar like-hearted organizations, law enforcement, corrections, and others who share our passion. “While the Covid-19 situation has prevented our regular visits to the Juvenile Detention Center and other direct mentoring in the community, we continue to work remotely with multiple contacts, and in late June 2020 we will begin Zoom- type direct contact with JDC youth.” Sustained mentoring continues at Element Fitness Boxing gym, The Gathering at Dunning Recreation Center, Circle of Peace, and most significantly, randomly in the malls, and on the streets.

When a youth is arrested and placed in captivity, he is at a most critical decision point in life, and time is the enemy! Will it be a “brush with the law” or become a way of life? SOS seizes the moment for relationship building during this most critical time. Operation Reclamation continuum may contact an individual as many as 20 times a year, or as needed. We seek the best-case scenario; youth restored to family and community with good, community elder, aunt/uncle relationships, rather than another layer of institution or just another program!

We also are ‘system reform watchdog advocates’ at critical county, and state decision points, such as Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative(JDAI), and Minnesota Violent Crime Coordinating Council (VCCC).