Finding My Place to Stand...

As a child, I had a bright future, spending my early school years in a gifted program. Later, I was moved into special education and labeled a “problem child.” Frustrated with this drastic educational shift, I fell into trouble on the streets, joined a gang, went from group home to group home, and later, to prison.

I can tell you that I did more things before the age of 18 than most folks have in their entire lives. Unfortunately, those very activities landed me in a place far away from my loved ones and children. Over the years I have realized that it is important to be there. “One needs to support their family.”

Now, I have a great relationship with my children and my resiliency has led me to change my life. I decided I had to give back to society something I had taken away. Why not change society so that it’s not so easy to fall back into the place where I was?

Today I work as the Director of Information Technologies at Healthy Oakland where I assist formerly incarcerated men receive health care and other needed services. Through my work, I'm able to help break down common male stereotypes that often hinder the attainment of good health, such as not going to the doctor even if “something is falling off.”

I hope what I do and the way I live allows others to see what it is to be a positive role model, a good father, and a healthy man.