How did you get started in this space?

I graduated from college with a Bachelor's in African-American Studies. I actually changed my major a couple of times. I tried to be an accountant while being a student athlete, which wasn't the best idea. They say that you're supposed to be a student first and an athlete second, but I was definitely an athlete first. Then, I took African American art, and Intro to African-American Studies 101 and I kind of fell in love with it because growing up in grammar school and high school, I really didn’t learn anything about my own history, my ancestors’ history. I fell in love with actually learning about the history of kids who look like me.

I started to excel beyond my own belief. I was always an okay student, but when you find joy and passion in what you're learning, you try to do more learning outside of your school curriculum and you excel in different capacities than you're used to.

In college, I found a passion for understanding how people from different backgrounds and characteristics and identities all intersect and thrive. That's what really got me started on this track.

In my work with young people, I focus on building understanding about how we can give a strong sense of hope and, for lack of a better term, humanity to the Black community, and help us all be seen as human.

What is your vision for our future?

I think young people need to know that they have power and agency to speak out for themselves and for what they believe is correct. And I feel that they need the support to feel empowered by adults and their peers.

My passion now growing more towards climate justice and how it intersects with social and justice. The term that I'm fixating on is how we make a "just transition" – understanding that climate justice can't be achieved without fixing racial injustice. It means, in part, that when we think about climate justice, we have to think about how it affects marginalized communities so strongly. We have to understand historical impact and make sure communities are part of all future solutions.

What advice do you have for young people in these challenging times?

There’s a huge stigma among Black men and Latino men that we are told not to show emotion, but I find that writing down, journaling, or even a hobby—I lift weights—can be utilized by any gender as a way to express yourself and feel the burden lifted off your shoulders. I have learned that you need to have a certain time of the day, or period in your week where you're able to release the pressure and the tension, to get ready to go back into the work.