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Johhny Goodtimes, aka the Quizzo Master, wants to tell the world, via Philly Confidential, why the city's young professionals should care about violence. There are over 1,000 boys looking for mentors in Philadelphia, and Johhny really hopes that his male Quizzo players will step up to the plate.
1. Where are you from?
I grew up in a town of 600 people called Nassawadox in Virginia. I lived in
Hawaii for three years before moving here.
2. When did you move to Philly and why?
I moved to Philly in October of 2001 because I wanted to live in a big city
and I got a good vibe when I visited here. It just felt like this was a
place I wanted to live.
3. As a transplant, why are you drawn to helping the city and its crime problems?
I love this city. Great people, great food, great nightlife, great culture. And lots of opportunity for anyone who has a good idea and at least a modicum of talent. In a way, I almost feel like I owe the city something. At least that's why I got into it. But then, once I started doing it(joining Big Brothers Big Sisters and coaching Little League basketball), I kept at it because I loved working with the kids. Knowing that you are making a positive difference in the life of a child who perhaps doesn't have a lot of positive male role models is one of the best feelings I have ever myself.
But I think that's the dirty little secret that people who volunteer can
tell you: it feels really incredible when you realize that you are doing your small part to make the world a little bit better.
4.Why do you mention mentoring, and crime, during your shows?
I've got a pretty captive audience, so I saw a good opportunity to get my point across.
5. How long have you been doing that?
I started in January.
6. Have you successfully reached out to any Yuppie-types?
Well, I wouldn't say that most quizzo players are yuppies. I kind of think
of yuppies as having two kids, a picket fence and an Audi. This isn't that crowd. I will say that the Big Brother turnout from the quizzo crowd has been, at this point, somewhat disappointing. This is a group of people that
is exactly what Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for. They are young professionals, and most of them are well mannered, educated, and all around great guys. Yes, several guys have signed up for the program, but I am kind of at a loss as to why there has not been a bigger turnout. I really
thought that everybody would see an opportunity for them to make an already
great city even better and jump on it.
8. Do you think they heed to what you say?
I hope so. I'm kind of hoping that there will be a tipping point, where one
guy tells somebody else how great the program is, they'll join the program,
tell someone else, and so on.
9. Can you give a quote as to why young center city types should leave the comfortable bubble of downtown, and start helping this city dent the crime problem?
This is the best time to live in Philadelphia since the 1780s. Incredible restaurants, museums, music, and entertainment. But a city cannot just be judged solely on whether or not a person can get a great hamburger or hear a great band. I think a great city is one whose citizens reach out to help those who need it. We can't keep pretending that this crime problem doesn't exist, just because most of it doesn't take place in Center City. Is 400 murders a year acceptable because most of the young people dying come from broken homes or poor families? A lot of these kids are making bad decisions because no one has ever taught them better, or because their moms work two jobs and can't be around as much as she'd like. The unfortunate thing is that a lot of these kids want a positive male role model and don't have one.
There is currently a shortage of 1,000 Big Brothers in the BBBS program.
Can you imagine the profound difference it would make on the future of this
city if all 1,000 of those kids received a positive male role model? If
anyone reading this is interested in making Philadelphia a better place, a great way to do that is by joining the Big Brothers Big Sisters program:
http://www.johnnygoodtimes.com/archives/002806.shtml
Comments (2)
The above is easily one of the most important pieces of writing done on the topic of social problems and violence here. Someone who gets it and is not afraid to tell his Audi driving, fun loving fans. Reporters, cops and policy types know the issues, they are immersed in it but its the Rittenhouse Martini crowd, the No Libs loft buyers and the Manhattan transplants that need to grasp the horror of the genocide occurring minutes from the newest fusion restaurant.
It makes me realize all I have...and I all I could give.
Thanks Johnny and PC for taking the issue beyond the crime scene.
Posted by Noah | June 29, 2007 2:13 AM
Posted on June 29, 2007 02:13
Cruise review
Posted by Britney | April 7, 2008 11:39 PM
Posted on April 7, 2008 23:39