Talking With Michael Gibson

The Alameda County Public Health Department’s EMS Corps program, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is helping local health care providers expand and diversify their workforce by training young men and women from the community to be emergency medical professionals.  

“The main thing is to develop strong men...the responsibility for themselves, the responsibility to their families, and their responsibility to their community.” – Michael Gibson, program director of the EMS Corps. 

MICHAEL GIBSON, Director, EMS Corps: We have worked with about 90 young men so far. And out of the 90 young men, about — I want to say almost 60 or so are certified EMTs and working in the field. He says his own experience spending time in and out of juvenile hall helps him understand the challenges these young men face.

They can’t get a job because of their juvenile record or they do not have enough work experience. Then they’re right back into the revolving door of incarceration. So, in our program, we wanted to be able to address those needs, to eliminate the excuses.

http://www.rwjf.org/en/about-rwjf/newsroom/newsroom-content/2014/01/ems-corps-video.html#/play

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/training-young-men-to-change-their-lives-by-saving-others/