MY LIFE... THE TRUTH
WHEN TELLING THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE, DON'T ALLOW ANYONE ELSE TO HOLD THE PEN.
Like so many others, I was raised by my grandmother. That’s why youth advocacy isn’t just a campaign talking point for me, it’s personal. I am a product of someone choosing to invest in 14 year old me. Because of that impact on me, I believe that investing in our children is non-negotiable.
My first real world dose of great responsibility came at the moment where I became a father for the first time at the age of 16.
I understand the fear and concern that can come with feeling unsafe both in your own neighborhood and online. At just 22 years old, I experienced that fear firsthand when I became the victim of a robbery.
Humility, it didn’t come from wearing a badge. It came from life.
At 24 years old, I was arrested. One month later, I was completely cleared of any wrongdoing, but that experience will always be part of my story. It taught me lessons that no classroom ever could.
Violent crime is personal to me as well. April 2018, my 19 year old brother was shot and killed. On New Year’s Day 2025, my uncle was shot and killed. Just one month later, another one of my brothers was shot. These aren’t statistics to me, they’re family.
Along the way, I earned degrees, received promotions, and became one of the youngest African Americans to lead a state law enforcement agency. I even went on to become a U.S. Federal Agent.
But there were chapters that weren’t glamorous.
I’ve experienced both divorce and homelessness. There was a season when I lived out of my car because making sure the people who depended on me had stability mattered more than my own comfort.
I am proud of my resume, but my qualifications are about much more than titles and accomplishments. The experiences that shaped me, both the victories and the hardships, are what have truly prepared me to serve.
I share this because I believe leaders shouldn’t ask for your trust without first earning it.