Where were you born and raised?
Chicago, IL I grew up in Bronzeville in private and public housing.

How did your childho od and up-bring impact your life?
My parents took us mostly wherever they went: church, parties, Riverview, the park. We learned the value of extended family. We knew all the policemen and neighbors. There really was a sense of unity. People took care of people--not just the government. No one was allowed to be without food, rent money. Both my parents were community activists. They gave me the foundation for my community work and a spirit of volunteering and Spiritual education.

What motivates you to work with youth?
I am motivated by the fact that so much adultism exists that isolates or alienates the youth. Our youth are asking for direction, a map whenever they get into trouble, become bored, or act out behaviorally. They can be more than what the experts and builders of the industrial prison complex say they will be.

I see potential in the youth to help rebuild our communities, become productive partners with adults and business, and have a voice in what happens in our community. Because I was so well cared for by my parents and had so many extended parents and mentors in my community and at school, I want to give back of my skills, talents and wisdom. I sat at the foot of many elders, and now that I am an elder, I am obligated to return the favor to our upcoming leaders. I love working with youth.

What are the joys and challenges of working with youth today?
They challenge you to be your best, to practice what you preach and meet those goals we set every year or every 5 years as part of our strategic planning or list of what I want to do to improve the community.

I understand you took a lead role in developing and implementing a SmokeOut Campaign program. Can you tell me about it?
It is an anti smoking project that promotes awareness of the hazards of smoking as well as promoting literacy in a fun way through a Game Show. The goal is to provide tobacco awareness to at least 3,000 people in Chicago through the contests and 1,000,000 subscribers through CAN-TV promotions on Channels 42, 19, and 21.

Which local schools were involved?
Field, Gowdy and Sullivan were involved. 40 students participated. We were able to pay older students to supervise the younger students. Some students practiced answering and researching questions about tobacco and smoking over a two week period.

This is a personal mission for you?
Yes. It is a ministry. I teach children how to heal themselves. Despite my challenges I was able to obtain a PhD in Philosophy. Kids can do whatever they put their minds to.

What do you like about Rogers Park?
I like the diversity, lakefront, the park, organizations of progressive and social conscious, we have a lot of spiritually oriented people, a mix of languages and cultures such that there is no racial majority. We have problems but we try to solve them though it might take forever to get everyone to the table.

What is your vision for youth in Rogers Park?
I envision youth becoming more receptive to working within their communities. They would work to improve relations between themselves, other adults and law enforcement even if it means doing community service, learning their rights as human beings and as citizens, registering to vote and actually voting in record numbers as they become wiser and more cognizant of the power of cultural democracy and speaking in their own voices. I would like to see youth with less risky behaviors enjoying their lives as youth and never having to be afraid to walk down any street in Rogers Park, because of their name, race, culture, financial status, school or youth affiliations, or block they live on. I would like to see wiser youth turning down the temptations to smoke tobacco or marijuana, use both legal and illegal drugs to hide their pain or depression, because they are not financially okay or don't live in great housing or don't have attentive parents.

Education does not begin or end in the classroom. For youth it begins in the womb, the home and the community as the youths' environment impacts them.