Ben Owen

The initial approach is going after the addicts. Get them help. Because every dope boy has an addict or two or five that are pains in his ass. And when you're selling dope and you have somebody that's shot off real bad, they're a risk to your operation. If they get rolled up, the cops are going to offer them a deal to flip. And so that person is a threat to your existence.

The initial approach is going after the addicts. Get them help. Because every dope boy has an addict or two or five that are pains in his ass. And when you're selling dope and you have somebody that's shot off real bad, they're a risk to your operation. If they get rolled up, the cops are going to offer them a deal to flip. And so that person is a threat to your existence.

The initial approach is going after the addicts. Get them help. Because every dope boy has an addict or two or five that are pains in his ass. And when you're selling dope and you have somebody that's shot off real bad, they're a risk to your operation. If they get rolled up, the cops are going to offer them a deal to flip. And so that person is a threat to your existence.

You want them to get off of dope. You don't want to lose them as a customer necessarily, but you want them to go to rehab and if they relapse and get back on dope, oh well. And so we started by going after the addicts that frequent those houses. And that's not a threat to anybody.

You want them to get off of dope. You don't want to lose them as a customer necessarily, but you want them to go to rehab and if they relapse and get back on dope, oh well. And so we started by going after the addicts that frequent those houses. And that's not a threat to anybody.

You want them to get off of dope. You don't want to lose them as a customer necessarily, but you want them to go to rehab and if they relapse and get back on dope, oh well. And so we started by going after the addicts that frequent those houses. And that's not a threat to anybody.

No dope boy in their right mind is ever going to get upset if you are getting the worrisome prostitute crackhead off the street. They're going to love it, actually. And you're going to build some trust with them by doing it.

No dope boy in their right mind is ever going to get upset if you are getting the worrisome prostitute crackhead off the street. They're going to love it, actually. And you're going to build some trust with them by doing it.

No dope boy in their right mind is ever going to get upset if you are getting the worrisome prostitute crackhead off the street. They're going to love it, actually. And you're going to build some trust with them by doing it.

Oh, because they see us. I mean, there's only two white people going out in the hood doing this. Well, it's more than that now. But they know, and we'll hold events out there. Like, we'll feed the hood. We will buy Christmas presents for all the kids in the hood. Thousands of toys. We've done that two years in a row now.

Oh, because they see us. I mean, there's only two white people going out in the hood doing this. Well, it's more than that now. But they know, and we'll hold events out there. Like, we'll feed the hood. We will buy Christmas presents for all the kids in the hood. Thousands of toys. We've done that two years in a row now.

Oh, because they see us. I mean, there's only two white people going out in the hood doing this. Well, it's more than that now. But they know, and we'll hold events out there. Like, we'll feed the hood. We will buy Christmas presents for all the kids in the hood. Thousands of toys. We've done that two years in a row now.

And while that may sound like handouts and enabling people to make poor decisions with their money, buying drugs instead of presents, yeah, that I'm sure happens. But it wasn't James' fault when Jess and I bought drugs instead of Christmas. You know, it's not those kids' fault. And so even though there is a little bit of handout involved in the events that we do, it's building trust, man.

And while that may sound like handouts and enabling people to make poor decisions with their money, buying drugs instead of presents, yeah, that I'm sure happens. But it wasn't James' fault when Jess and I bought drugs instead of Christmas. You know, it's not those kids' fault. And so even though there is a little bit of handout involved in the events that we do, it's building trust, man.

And while that may sound like handouts and enabling people to make poor decisions with their money, buying drugs instead of presents, yeah, that I'm sure happens. But it wasn't James' fault when Jess and I bought drugs instead of Christmas. You know, it's not those kids' fault. And so even though there is a little bit of handout involved in the events that we do, it's building trust, man.

These people are seeing and realizing you're there to actually help them. You're not there just to go put somebody in jail, you know, or shoot somebody. You're actually there trying to meet a need, meet these people where they're at, and then show them that they still have worth as human beings. Because I can tell you, when I was out there towards the end, I didn't feel human.

These people are seeing and realizing you're there to actually help them. You're not there just to go put somebody in jail, you know, or shoot somebody. You're actually there trying to meet a need, meet these people where they're at, and then show them that they still have worth as human beings. Because I can tell you, when I was out there towards the end, I didn't feel human.

These people are seeing and realizing you're there to actually help them. You're not there just to go put somebody in jail, you know, or shoot somebody. You're actually there trying to meet a need, meet these people where they're at, and then show them that they still have worth as human beings. Because I can tell you, when I was out there towards the end, I didn't feel human.

I wouldn't make eye contact with anybody. I felt substandard to literally anyone. I felt so insignificant and worthless. And I came real close to ending it more than once on purpose. I tried more than once. Do you have conversations with these guys? Absolutely. Absolutely. I want to talk to them about their hopes and dreams.

I wouldn't make eye contact with anybody. I felt substandard to literally anyone. I felt so insignificant and worthless. And I came real close to ending it more than once on purpose. I tried more than once. Do you have conversations with these guys? Absolutely. Absolutely. I want to talk to them about their hopes and dreams.