All posts by Mark L Baynard, Author

Mark L Baynard is an author, Book Publisher, youth advocate, and a true success story. He overcame a past of crime, drugs, and prison by now making a difference in his community. Marks was raised in a Housing Project in Wilmington, Delaware, along with his siblings, by his single Mother. He also visited his dad and other siblings in Alabama each year. His mother was a very hard worker who worked two low-paying jobs to raise her five children. His mother raised him to be respectful to others. During his teenage years, Mark began searching for meaning in his life. Having low self-esteem, he started experimenting with marijuana, alcohol and other drugs. This was just the beginning of more problems to come. Mark eventually started selling drugs and living the lifestyle that goes along with it. Due to the choices that he made, Mark ended up going to prison for drugs. Mark was released from prison after serving a two-year sentence. He returned to selling drugs and making unwise choices. Within a year, Mark was back in prison for drugs. He ended up serving thirteen years before being released. While serving time, Mark started accepting responsibility for his actions and began addressing his personal issues. Once he was released in 2004, he moved to Montgomery, Alabama with family. He eventually met a young lady whom he married. They now share a ten-year-old daughter together. Mark also has a twenty-four-year-old daughter prior to his marriage. Mark decided to further his education by enrolling in Ashford University where he earned his Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education in 2012. He then went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from Faulkner University in Montgomery, Alabama in 2014. In 2015, Mark released his first book titled “100 Years: A Journey to End a Vicious Cycle.” In his book, Mark shares the true story of how his family “collectively” wasted more than one hundred years in prison. He also shares some of the many challenges that he has overcome after being released from prison. Mark encourages others to join in the journey to end the cycle of crime and prison in the community. Later that year, Mark released his second book “These Are Your Flowers.” This book highlights the importance of letting our loved ones know how much they mean to us while they are alive. Mark went on to pursue a Master's Degree in Public Administration at Troy University. He has since transferred to Auburn University at Montgomery in 2015. In August of 2016, Mark released the book “100 Years II: Truth Be Told.” In his book, Mark addresses issues such as black-on-black crime, police brutality, as well as the identity crisis of African Americans. All of Mark’s books are available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00TLXK5L6 In 2017, Mark earned a Master’s Degree in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University at Montgomery. Mark plans to use his education accompanied with his personal experiences to help others. Mark is a living example that anything is possible. Mark founded “U Can” (Universal Community Advocacy Network) Community Organization, where he works with at-risk youth and has plans to work with adults in the future. Mark’s purpose is to make a difference in the lives of the individuals he serves. His goal is to decrease the high recidivism rate among both juvenile and adult offenders. Mark may be contacted by email at ucan.community@yahoo.com

Suggestions Blog!

Suggestions Blogs

Journey100years is a new blog looking to assist teenagers as well as adults. There is a high recidivism rate for both juveniles as well as adult offenders. There are a high percentage of juvenile offenders that ends up within an adult facility. Mark Baynard established journey100years in order to address a number of issues. Mark has a wealth of personal experiences of making poor decisions. He is now looking to offer alternatives during those challenges. Mark is open to advice or suggestions on how to successfully reach out to these individuals in need.

Why Wouldn’t Mark Listen?

Mark was a teenager living the fast lifestyle of a city slicker. Mark started as a good and respectful child. His single parent mother taught him to do the right thing and respect his elders. She also  taught him a number of helpful things. During his early teens, he found himself hanging with some of the older guys from the neighborhood. He then started smoking marijuana and drinking a little beer. He eventually graduated to using harder drugs such as cocaine. During these times he became very disrespectful to his mother and others. His mother then decided to put mark out of her house. Mark then living on the streets and staying from place to place didn’t know what to do. He mostly found comfort with relatives. His mother attempted to find him and bring him back home on a few occasions, but Mark hid from her each time. Mark continued to get high and eventually started committing petty crimes. Shortly after his eighteenth birthday, Mark was arrested and sent off to prison. His mother was brought to tears and her heart was heavy when she heard the news. She knew that she had warned Mark times over of the dangers of the streets. After she came up from a long prayer she looked to the sky and asked “why wouldn’t Mark listen?”

The character of Mark in this story has the love and support of his mother, yet he continued down the wrong path. My questions to my readers is:

Why wouldn’t Mark or even others listen before it’s too late? Post your comments on this topic.