MAKING A DIFFERENCE BY HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE AND GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY
As a kid growing up, I barely had enough to live by. Life was hard for my family and we struggled a lot. I wanted to do so much but I had no access to a community to go to or programs to be part of. I saw other kids struggling too so I craved an opportunity to do something for the less fortunate and give back to my community.
I’m passionate about life, I’m passionate about sports and I want to give the youth a chance, I want to make a difference in someone else’s life. Before the youth start getting into trouble, stealing, fighting or dealing drugs, I want them to be able to come to my organization for help. I voluntarily coached soccer for youth at Keelesdale Soccer League and Basketball for youth at Jane and Shoreham.
I lost a couple of my close friends to gun violence yet it didn’t stop me from doing what I needed to do so I continued to do what I thought was right. In 2004 I was outside and someone tried to shoot me. I turned and ran. I got bullet holes in my pants but the bullets didn’t hit me, they just burned my skin. Four undercover police detained me and started asking me questions. I survived the ordeal but that experience gave me a new lease on life and birthed GCIF.
I currently sit on the Riverdale Safety and Wellness Board and Riverdale Programs and Services board. I started Safety First, resigned then I decided to hand it back to the community.
