Self Awareness vs Societal Programing

What we learn in life shapes the person than we are, what we share transforms the lives of others. How do we continue to bodyguard and protect ourselves and others. At times it comes at the risk of our sanity and selflessness 

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Antonio Fernandez was the Leader of the New York chapter of the Latin Kings. He has worked directly with street organization members in Washington, DC, Newark, New York City, Spain, and Ecuador to redirect their energies toward community building. Antonio uses his life story as both a cautionary tale and a message about self-transformation. Currently, Mr. Fernandez has partnered with Clinton Lacey and Washington D.C.’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation on a brand-new initiative called Credible Messengers. Tone’s organization currently focuses on serving the youth charged as adults in DC’s juvenile detention center. Where he and his team of formally incarcerated mentors work inside the institution 20 hours a day, 7 days a week, with the goal of helping these young people to “Grow Up, and Grow Out” of the mentality and conditions in which they find themselves. Tone has provided a plethora of workshops and trainings to government organizations, justice departments, probation departments, schools, and communities so that they can better work with and serve young people. Antonio hopes this organization will lead young people towards finding new paths toward social and personal growth and change. In Grow Up Grow Out, we are Credible Messengers that will lead by example in proving to our groups that an honest living is possible after all the time we spent incarcerated, and now we are fighting hard to save our communities.

Ama Gordon is CEO and Co-founder of Global Fertility Connections (GFC) www.globalfertilityconnections.com which provides education, support and concierge services for women and families who seek egg freezing, IVF, surrogacy and egg donation support while driving awareness to the disparities that exist for black patients and fertility services. GFC was born out of the fertility journey of the Co-Founders and the experiences of so many others. After working in both the US and international markets, Ama later earned an MBA degree from Fordham University in New York City before pursuing a career in women's health and fertility. Ama also co-hosts the Career Gems for the Journey podcast and speaks on behalf of women empowerment in the workplace.

What do we do as the community to trust the law enforcement? how does that conversation sound like, and how does the law enforcement regain their place of trust within the community. These and more questions are shared today as we discuss with officers and miner of the union and citizens alike,

William Derrick Young is the Designer and Founder of Cambini fashion. Cambini fashions was created to bring positive energy through clothing. Cambini originally was created for women because William love to see women in certain outfits that would add on to their beauty. Cambini is more then fashion it is intended to empower the culture.

Nia Clare was born and raised in the District of Columbia. She was raised primarily by her grandparents as her middle class parents worked and dealt with their own addictions and trauma. At age 15 she became pregnant with her first of 4 children. This event was a turning point because it gave Nia's life purpose. She had an incentive to make a better life for her child. Nia finished high school on time despite all obstacles and went on to earn a 2 year degree in business from Strayer university. In the next few years, she would endure abusive domestic relationships, hard economic times, and even a brush with the law, all while continuing to actively raise her children. At age 29, Nia decided that she wanted to give back to her community and be able to share her story of faith and overcoming with others. She went back to school at Georgetown University and became an EMT in the city of Washington DC. Working as an EMT has allowed Nia to help numerous people of her community, while spreading her story of faith and perseverance Aside from being a full time mom and EMT, Nia is also a model and entrepreneur. Her business "Detox by sweets" provides mobile sauna and massage services, while her other business "Spiked DC" provides bartending services for events. The kids are doing exceptionally well as her oldest is a sophomore at Union college in NY and has a full scholarship.

Larry Jones served as the SDA Chaplain at Howard University for 22 years. He is a licensed therapist, certified trauma therapist, and family/couples practitioner. He is co-founder of the program Steps to Restoration which is designed to support women and children who are survivors/victims of domestic violence. He was also selected as a pastoral responder to assist family members in crisis at the Pentagon during the 911 crisis and served as a member of the Obama inauguration mental health defense/security team. He has conducted weekend retreats for couples, singles, teens, and families and continues to serve as a clinical therapist and preceptor for Walden and Howard Universities in the Washington DC area.

Kenneth Bridgers is your Urban Herbalist. ​He is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park, with a BA in Sociology and a professional in the social service field, specializing in supporting youth and families  overcome barriers to achieving optimal, individual and collective health and well being. He's been practicing herbal medicine for approximately five years and is certified  by the School of Modern Herbal Medicine in the Fundamentals of Natural Healing. Along this journey, it is his goal and desire to share with you his passion, knowledge and experience  in alternative methods for healing and maintaining the body, mind, and spirit.

 Kareem watts is a contractor with GUGO he is  self driven passionate to uplift humanity. His purpose inside this work is to elevate  young people to a level of consciousness to have the opportunity to remove themselves from a trauma based lifestyle that leads to unrest misery and death as GUGO we seek to identify the oppression cultivate the aggression and redirect the violence. He is also a Violence Interrupter in Ward 7 in DC.