I’m many things—a father, a keynote speaker, an entrepreneur, and an Ivy League graduate.
But it wasn’t always that way.
Growing up, even the “easy stuff”—like getting a hot meal or having a place to sleep—wasn’t so easy.
My childhood was marked by instability and violence. I was abandoned by my father and dismissed by my teachers. I didn’t have a role model to look up to or a support system to catch me when I fell. I was set to repeat the same cycle I had grown up in—a poor, Black kid destined to become another statistic.
I shouldn’t have made it.
I was invisible to the world.
No one saw my potential. No one saw my pain.
But in a mirror facing myself, I saw past the circumstances I was given, and knew there was more for me.
I didn’t know it at the time, but these wounds would lead to something much bigger than myself.
Fast forward to my senior year of high school when I became homeless. I lost the will to live and tried to take my own life.
As I stood on the ledge of a bridge, ready to let go, a homeless man approached me and began to preach about hope and a future—words I hadn’t heard in a long time. I don’t know how, but somehow, he saw the real me.
That man saved my life.
And from that moment, I chose a new path. A path where I would RISE.
From there, I went to my guidance counselor to ask for help applying to college. He looked at me and said:
“You are not college material.”
But I had already decided—I wasn’t going back to that bridge.
I attended Northeastern University, where I delivered the commencement speech for my graduating class and had the honor of speaking in front of President Bill Clinton.
That moment led to an invitation to speak at the White House. An experience that opened something inside me.
I was no longer the invisible kid. I was centerstage—seen, heard, and valued.
Not long after, I was accepted into Harvard, where I earned my master’s in Education then went on to get my PhD. from the University of San Diego.
But that moment wasn’t the finish line…
It was the beginning of my RISE. The start of my calling.
Today, I get to fulfill my purpose and help others reclaim their power, and RISE to limitless heights.
From students to educators, from CEOs to community leaders—I’m here to guide you toward the life you’re destined for.
If you’ve ever felt stuck, unseen, or silenced by your past, I’ll tell you this…
You have the power to rewrite your story.
Because when you choose to overcome, that’s when you BECOME.
Let’s RISE—together.
Speak your truth. Live aligned. Lead by example.
Own your story, your growth, and the ripple effect of
your impact.
Show up fully, strive for more, and never settle for
surface-level change.
Keep going, especially when it’s hard.
Build bridges, not walls. Create space for others by being
present with yourself.
Believe in something bigger. Faith is the fuel that keeps you
going when things get in your way.
