You talked about, your background with your family as like public servants.
 2
00:00:05.238 --> 00:00:09.876 Did that contribute to the man you are today or your transformation?
 3
00:00:10.610 --> 00:00:11.711 It did. Absolutely.
 4
00:00:11.711 --> 00:00:15.982 My grandmother was a person who cleaned houses 3 to 4 days a week.
 5
00:00:15.982 --> 00:00:19.953 And then on the other days, she was helping unhoused people, women,
 6
00:00:19.953 --> 00:00:24.090 particularly, fill out paperwork and stuff before they were able to get their,
 7
00:00:24.824 --> 00:00:28.328 Social Security, GR, and things like that.
 8
00:00:28.895 --> 00:00:31.765 And my mother, she was a United Auto Workers
 9
00:00:31.765 --> 00:00:34.834 union representative, so I learned a lot from her.
 10
00:00:35.502 --> 00:00:37.103 Growing up in in that household,
 11
00:00:38.538 --> 00:00:41.107 you know, when you're when I was younger, I didn't really appreciate, like,
 12
00:00:41.107 --> 00:00:41.708 all the lessons
 13
00:00:41.708 --> 00:00:45.712 that were being taught to me, like, just being in proximity to my family.
 14
00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:49.315 But they showed up later on while I was incarcerated.
 15
00:00:49.916 --> 00:00:54.421 And there was this whole ideal of, solidarity as part of the UAW slogan.
 16
00:00:54.421 --> 00:00:59.225 And I saw, like, there was a need for solidarity amongst our population.
 17
00:00:59.225 --> 00:01:03.229 While I was in, I was incarcerated at California State Prison, Los Angeles
 18
00:01:03.229 --> 00:01:06.766 County, for about ten years, the last ten years of my incarceration.
 19
00:01:07.434 --> 00:01:10.937 And there was a lot of men there that were also serving life without parole.
 20
00:01:11.204 --> 00:01:14.207 And we were running our own classes.
 21
00:01:14.474 --> 00:01:17.744 And it was in those classes that we created,
 22
00:01:17.744 --> 00:01:20.080 like support groups for each other.
 23
00:01:20.080 --> 00:01:23.550 And I ended up becoming involved with a support group
 24
00:01:23.550 --> 00:01:26.719 in there of men called the Men For Honor.
 25
00:01:26.886 --> 00:01:29.889 They gave me, my first job was to pass up a list
 26
00:01:29.956 --> 00:01:32.992 to get people out of the buildings, and that was the best job ever.
 27
00:01:32.992 --> 00:01:36.629 That was the first job that I had in prison, where I was super excited to have
 28
00:01:37.330 --> 00:01:39.799 because I was like, I was responsible for something that actually dealt
 29
00:01:39.799 --> 00:01:42.802 with the people, and I would pass that list out.
 30
00:01:42.802 --> 00:01:46.206 And in about two months later, I was actually like the chairman
 31
00:01:46.206 --> 00:01:50.510 of the program, and all of us were we were like in this place of desperation.
 32
00:01:50.910 --> 00:01:53.780 And but at the same time we saw hope.
 33
00:01:53.780 --> 00:01:58.284 And so it went from wanting to come home to wanting to be a better human being,
 34
00:01:58.651 --> 00:02:02.322 wanting to give back for the harm that we caused, those type of things.
 35
00:02:02.622 --> 00:02:06.860 So when the education component came in, we just married the two ideas,
 36
00:02:06.860 --> 00:02:11.030 because now we went from learning about like who we were
 37
00:02:11.064 --> 00:02:14.067 to how they apply to real world situations.
 38
00:02:14.501 --> 00:02:16.402 And I had this vision,
 39
00:02:16.402 --> 00:02:19.739 there were other things going on at the institution, like higher education
 40
00:02:20.206 --> 00:02:24.811 was something that the men there took it upon themselves to pursue.
 41
00:02:25.011 --> 00:02:29.015 We had men there who said, well, we can do correspondence courses.
 42
00:02:29.549 --> 00:02:32.552 And if, if K buys a book
 43
00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:36.089 and then Allen buys a book and then the next person who comes to the
 44
00:02:36.823 --> 00:02:40.293 institution wants to get involved in education, all he has to do is buy a book
 45
00:02:40.727 --> 00:02:41.794 and we'll share these books.
 46
00:02:41.794 --> 00:02:46.666 And we ended up over 300 to 400 people who graduated with
 47
00:02:46.666 --> 00:02:50.203 a associates degree, based on the forward thinking of those men,
 48
00:02:50.770 --> 00:02:55.770 so that, those leadership qualities were manifesting like in real time.
 49
00:02:55.942 --> 00:02:57.844 Right? It wasn't like you're not born with that stuff.
 50
00:02:57.844 --> 00:02:59.646 Like it's something that you learn, you adopted.
 51
00:02:59.646 --> 00:03:03.917 Maybe some people are, but in that time process, then that's when Cal State L.A.
 52
00:03:03.917 --> 00:03:07.854 one of the professors came and he was involved with a dog program,
 53
00:03:08.288 --> 00:03:12.559 and then we had a dog program there, and he came to adopt a dog.
 54
00:03:12.559 --> 00:03:15.962 And he says, like all these men here have five, six, seven
 55
00:03:16.162 --> 00:03:19.132 associates degrees, like they need higher education.
 56
00:03:19.566 --> 00:03:23.836 And so that was the birth of like, why we had a BA, in-person BA
 57
00:03:24.837 --> 00:03:25.772 program there
 58
00:03:25.772 --> 00:03:29.008 at Cal State L.A., but to your point, like,
 59
00:03:29.576 --> 00:03:34.347 my upbringing was something that I grew to appreciate
 60
00:03:34.881 --> 00:03:38.818 during the process of my transformation, my growth and development.
 61
00:03:38.818 --> 00:03:43.089 I would often I would call my mom, like ask her questions about
 62
00:03:43.489 --> 00:03:45.625 how should I do this? How should I do that?
 63
00:03:45.625 --> 00:03:48.828 And her number one thing is like, you have to have a personal relationship
 64
00:03:49.128 --> 00:03:51.965 with each and every person that works with you.
 65
00:03:51.965 --> 00:03:54.334 You can't treat everybody as if they're just one entity.
 66
00:03:54.334 --> 00:03:58.304 You need to know who you're working with and find out what's going on with them.
 67
00:03:59.172 --> 00:04:02.308 And that's some of the things that I, like in my role now,
 68
00:04:02.342 --> 00:04:06.813 I've taken that same mindset and apply it to like what we do at the Prism Way.
 

I caused harm and was sentenced to life without parole. I served 28 years before my sentence was commuted, and I used that time to better myself and my opportunities through education.

My days start early with time for myself before diving into a steady stream of emails, grant writing, and team check-ins. I work closely with staff, support reentry programs, and build partnerships that help our mission grow. Every decision I make is guided by empathy, lived experience, and a deep commitment to healing communities.

Co-Founder & Executive Director

Integrity & Authenticity

Support & Encouragement

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

So what are some of the challenges, you know, that some of your students face
 2
00:00:03.403 --> 00:00:06.506 when they're, when they want to get into the employment market?
 3
00:00:06.506 --> 00:00:08.041 And how do you prepare them for that?
 4
00:00:08.041 --> 00:00:11.644 That is difficult because it's one of those things
 5
00:00:11.644 --> 00:00:14.481 where you feel as though you've prepared as much as you can,
 6
00:00:14.481 --> 00:00:17.217 but then you go into a job market that's ever changing.
 7
00:00:17.217 --> 00:00:21.021 You go into a job market where it feels like the goalpost keeps moving, right.
 8
00:00:21.021 --> 00:00:23.757 You get the certification and you're applying for entry level.
 9
00:00:23.757 --> 00:00:26.426 But now they want 5 or 6 years of experience.
 10
00:00:26.426 --> 00:00:28.695 So it's a lot of uncertainty.
 11
00:00:28.695 --> 00:00:32.665 But what I tell my learners all the time is that showing up
 12
00:00:32.665 --> 00:00:34.401 as your authentic self, right?
 13
00:00:34.401 --> 00:00:37.570 Allowing yourself to take time to figure out what your values are
 14
00:00:37.570 --> 00:00:40.874 so you know where you see yourself going and then keep going
 15
00:00:40.874 --> 00:00:42.208 until you get that yes.
 16
00:00:42.208 --> 00:00:44.644 There will be a lot of no's before you get to that yes,
 17
00:00:44.644 --> 00:00:49.315 but the goal is to stay motivated while you are on the job hunt.
 18
00:00:49.315 --> 00:00:51.584 The job market is tough, but you can be tougher,
 19
00:00:51.584 --> 00:00:54.320 and it's about being consistent and being persistent
 20
00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.856 and having an end goal in mind, knowing that, you know,
 21
00:00:56.856 --> 00:01:00.060 I see myself in this position eventually and I'm gonna keep going
 22
00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.762 until I get there. So it's definitely difficult.
 23
00:01:02.762 --> 00:01:06.833 But offering encouragement as much as I can as a coach
 24
00:01:06.833 --> 00:01:11.833 is how I've been able to assist learners through those very uncertain times.
 

Each day, I coach learners one-on-one to prep for interviews, write and refine resumes, and build confidence. I also lead live trainings and work on engaging content. The classroom is a space where learners feel empowered to pivot careers and show up authentically.

Professional Development Manager

Perseverance

Advice For Students Entering The Workforce

What's one thing that you would like want to leave us with or like give us?
 2
00:00:04.637 --> 00:00:07.507 Make a lot of mistakes now and learn from them.
 3
00:00:07.507 --> 00:00:10.510 The key is to learn. And don't be afraid.
 4
00:00:10.610 --> 00:00:14.681 The key really is don't be afraid to venture out and do anything.
 5
00:00:14.981 --> 00:00:18.251 And always listen to that inner voice first.
 6
00:00:19.285 --> 00:00:21.821 That'll let you know if you're going down the right path.
 7
00:00:21.821 --> 00:00:23.957 or even, be genuine.
 8
00:00:23.957 --> 00:00:25.258 Be very genuine.
 9
00:00:25.258 --> 00:00:27.460 Be genuine in everything that you do.
 10
00:00:27.460 --> 00:00:29.429 And never do anything for the money.
 11
00:00:29.429 --> 00:00:32.399 The money will come also engage with people.
 12
00:00:32.499 --> 00:00:33.933 We are human beings.
 13
00:00:33.933 --> 00:00:38.071 Never miss an opportunity to engage with people.
 14
00:00:38.271 --> 00:00:40.774 I don't care what technology does.
 15
00:00:40.774 --> 00:00:43.610 Being nurses, they always going to need us.
 16
00:00:43.610 --> 00:00:44.344 You're going to need us.
 17
00:00:44.344 --> 00:00:46.212 You need somebody human to run the machines.
 18
00:00:46.212 --> 00:00:47.981 Run the machines.
 19
00:00:47.981 --> 00:00:51.151 So human contact is so important.
 20
00:00:51.418 --> 00:00:55.455 And that was a huge part in one chapter of my life
 21
00:00:55.722 --> 00:00:58.725 where I was disconnected.
 22
00:00:58.792 --> 00:00:59.659 Stay connected.
 

I'd recommend first getting an associate degree in nursing. After gaining some work experience as an RN, consider going back to school to obtain certifications or a business degree because these programs will teach you how to run a business, lead a team, and turn your ideas into a real company.

I had a stroke in 2021. I couldn't walk and ended up losing a lot of my hair. I thank my husband, God, and my health that I survived. After recovering, I rebuilt my health and my business to find success again.

As a healthcare entrepreneur and president, I manage business operations, product distribution, and strategic partnerships. My focus is on marketing, customer relations, and product innovation to expand my brand’s impact.

Founder & President

We won't invest in your company unless you change the company's name.

Advice For People Starting Their Career Journey

What part of your job makes you, like, keep coming back every day?
 2
00:00:04.504 --> 00:00:06.339 I know we speak to, like, bedside nurses.
 3
00:00:06.339 --> 00:00:09.309 It's kind of like I'm hands on. I'm helping people.
 4
00:00:09.309 --> 00:00:10.276 I see a change.
 5
00:00:10.276 --> 00:00:11.044 So I want to know
 6
00:00:11.044 --> 00:00:15.548 what about your job, Is what inspires you and keeps you going every day?
 7
00:00:15.548 --> 00:00:16.282 Yeah, yeah.
 8
00:00:16.282 --> 00:00:19.619 No, no, I did not in-vision truly would have never-
 9
00:00:19.619 --> 00:00:22.622 honestly I was when I became the vice president.
 10
00:00:22.655 --> 00:00:24.758 Like in these positions, you always get people
 11
00:00:24.758 --> 00:00:26.659 who are trying to pull you away and hire
 12
00:00:26.659 --> 00:00:29.362 you get headhunters that are really chase and chase and chase them.
 13
00:00:29.362 --> 00:00:32.766 And so, as a young baby nurse, I was like,
 14
00:00:32.766 --> 00:00:36.036 there's no way I could be that So I was self-defeating myself.
 15
00:00:36.036 --> 00:00:36.469 Right?
 16
00:00:36.469 --> 00:00:39.739 But it was like, there's no way I could be in that position.
 17
00:00:39.739 --> 00:00:41.508 I don't know how they do what they do.
 18
00:00:41.508 --> 00:00:43.109 I think part of that was,
 19
00:00:43.109 --> 00:00:46.146 you know, there's politics that, you know, people say politics.
 20
00:00:46.146 --> 00:00:48.248 And I was like, I don't know politics.
 21
00:00:48.248 --> 00:00:51.051 I only know to be honest and be transparent.
 22
00:00:51.051 --> 00:00:51.951 That's all I know.
 23
00:00:51.951 --> 00:00:56.056 But they're our politics so I was like, no, I don't think I will ever meet that.
 24
00:00:56.056 --> 00:01:00.760 So definitely, you know, looking back, you know, I'm definitely proud of myself.
 25
00:01:00.894 --> 00:01:04.998 And also my mom was a nurse of 40 years, and she's she's no longer living.
 26
00:01:04.998 --> 00:01:09.998 But like, that makes me proud, I think, because I know she would be proud.
 27
00:01:10.236 --> 00:01:12.972 Well, my brothers and sisters tell me to like mom, be so proud of you.
 28
00:01:12.972 --> 00:01:15.375 My cousins, everybody's like, mom would be so proud of you.
 29
00:01:15.375 --> 00:01:19.746 But I yeah, I am proud of myself, knowing that I didn't sacrifice
 30
00:01:20.080 --> 00:01:24.150 anything of my my standards or anything like that to get to my position.
 31
00:01:24.150 --> 00:01:25.618 Maybe that's why it took me so long.
 32
00:01:25.618 --> 00:01:28.288 I don't know. But, you know, there's a plan. God has a plan.
 33
00:01:28.288 --> 00:01:31.257 And I trust and believe in that. And so timing is everything.
 34
00:01:31.257 --> 00:01:34.094 And so it was when it was right for me. It was right for me.
 35
00:01:34.094 --> 00:01:38.698 And I think that how I feel comfortable at my current role is that I know
 36
00:01:38.698 --> 00:01:41.901 I'm surrounded by a group of leaders who have the same type morals
 37
00:01:41.901 --> 00:01:44.571 and are looking to do the right thing for the team.
 38
00:01:44.571 --> 00:01:47.974 And ultimately it all goes to our patients.
 

I recommend following my same educational path through nursing school. Additionally, most nursing organizations have mentorships and I highly encourage getting a mentor. Ask questions and use your resources.

As chief nurse executive, I lead system-wide nursing efforts, shaping care standards across six hospitals and 150+ locations. My days are filled with meetings, walking the halls to connect with nurses, and making sure we’re delivering the safest, most compassionate care. I work closely with teams to implement evidence-based practices, speak at national events, and mentor future leaders—all to ensure every patient is treated with dignity and excellence.

Executive Vice President & Chief Nursing Executive

There’s no way you could be in that position—you don’t know how to do what they do.

Doubt

Values

Finding Success By Staying True To Myself

Initially you have to have five years of
 2
00:00:03.003 --> 00:00:07.040 either, like level one trauma center, critical care experience for our program.
 3
00:00:07.140 --> 00:00:10.677 There are some differences depending on what flight service you go to work for.
 4
00:00:10.677 --> 00:00:14.547 But for Tampa General, it's five years of flight experience.
 5
00:00:14.981 --> 00:00:18.284 They want it to be either, like in a major trauma center
 6
00:00:18.518 --> 00:00:20.086 like at Tampa general's ER.
 7
00:00:20.086 --> 00:00:23.089 Something applicable to the critical care field.
 8
00:00:23.189 --> 00:00:24.824 Because Tampa General,
 9
00:00:24.824 --> 00:00:27.961 we do a lot of critical care stuff even though you work in the ER
 10
00:00:27.961 --> 00:00:30.330 and in the trauma bays, you do a lot of critical care stuff.
 11
00:00:30.330 --> 00:00:32.465 We used to do Ventric drains where we didn't do it,
 12
00:00:32.465 --> 00:00:34.634 but we would assist with Ventric drains and bolts.
 13
00:00:34.634 --> 00:00:37.003 But, it's one of those things where you get to see a lot of stuff here.
 14
00:00:37.003 --> 00:00:41.041 So, like in the small little hospital, I learned how to be very productive
 15
00:00:41.041 --> 00:00:41.641 with nothing.
 16
00:00:41.641 --> 00:00:46.279 And then the biggest hospitals, I learned how to do all these extra cool things
 17
00:00:46.279 --> 00:00:50.650 with all the residents and the, you know, the trauma team and the neuro ICU guys.
 18
00:00:50.750 --> 00:00:55.750 It was a great mix of both working at a small hospital and a very large hospital.
 19
00:00:56.089 --> 00:00:59.159 That sort of made my skillset much more well-rounded.
 20
00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:01.828 But not quitting. Being calm under pressure.
 21
00:01:01.828 --> 00:01:05.298 because you get on a scene of something that you're trying to,
 22
00:01:05.365 --> 00:01:07.200 I always say, trying to get to zero.
 23
00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:09.536 Because sometimes things are less than zero.
 24
00:01:09.536 --> 00:01:11.337 Some of the ground EMS guys may be a little,
 25
00:01:11.337 --> 00:01:12.939 you know, amped up already.
 26
00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:16.242 And if you add to that, things just tend to go wrong.
 27
00:01:16.342 --> 00:01:16.776 Yeah.
 28
00:01:16.776 --> 00:01:20.747 So to me, your job is just as much as your knowledge
 29
00:01:20.747 --> 00:01:23.750 and critical thinking everything else, is to be the person that they look to.
 30
00:01:23.950 --> 00:01:26.486 That's going to fix it. That's a big responsibility.
 31
00:01:26.486 --> 00:01:27.120 Yeah. Yeah.
 32
00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:30.757 But at the same time, it's one of the things that I love about
 33
00:01:30.757 --> 00:01:33.760 the job is when you walk in, they're expecting you to fix it.
 34
00:01:34.127 --> 00:01:36.196 And I've spent my whole life fixing problems.
 

To be a flight nurse, you'll need your nursing degree and then you'll need to have five years of level one trauma critical care experience.

After coming into work, briefing with on-duty crews, and checking out the aircraft, we are ready for the unknown, as we never know where we're going and who we're going to take care of during our duty day. I do both inter-facility flights, which are typically flights from a rural ER back to a major hospital, and scene flights, which could be things like car accidents, shootings, stabbings, and falls.

Chief Flight Nurse

Advice For Becoming A Flight Nurse

When I got into health care, so radiography and radiation
 2
00:00:03.603 --> 00:00:06.606 therapy are very STEM based health care.
 3
00:00:06.606 --> 00:00:09.442 So, you know, there's a lot of science, there's a lot of math.
 4
00:00:09.442 --> 00:00:13.713 And that's kind of my, I gravitate to those types of areas.
 5
00:00:13.713 --> 00:00:15.482 But some of the things that I have learned
 6
00:00:15.482 --> 00:00:18.151 and some of the areas I've been in and studied and I'm like this
 7
00:00:18.151 --> 00:00:21.154 and I go down deep and I get into it and I learn it.
 8
00:00:21.254 --> 00:00:25.592 Some of it I don't use today, but it's transferable, right?
 9
00:00:25.892 --> 00:00:28.561 That's the skill of all.
 10
00:00:28.561 --> 00:00:31.231 You can be a specialist in whatever you want to do.
 11
00:00:31.231 --> 00:00:34.868 A technologist a doctor or lawyer or whatever it is.
 12
00:00:35.001 --> 00:00:38.538 But there are certain skills that you're building in college.
 13
00:00:38.538 --> 00:00:42.075 And as you get to the professional world, that will always
 14
00:00:42.075 --> 00:00:46.012 be transferable regardless of what area you go into.
 15
00:00:46.112 --> 00:00:50.417 And that's the beauty about your journey, is being able to connect the dots.
 16
00:00:50.417 --> 00:00:53.520 Like so many things I've learned in the past, have helped me solve problems
 17
00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:55.622 that had nothing to do with the problem.
 18
00:00:55.622 --> 00:00:58.591 But I'm like, I remember that, you know.
 19
00:00:58.591 --> 00:01:00.060 But there's no magic to it.
 20
00:01:00.060 --> 00:01:02.262 Yeah, there's no magic to it at all.
 21
00:01:02.262 --> 00:01:03.797 And sometimes you feel like it is.
 22
00:01:03.797 --> 00:01:06.066 You're like, Man, how did that happen?
 23
00:01:06.066 --> 00:01:09.669 How did this, how did they get that opportunity or how did, you know?
 24
00:01:09.936 --> 00:01:13.606 But it's really just putting yourself out there and being my authentic self.
 25
00:01:13.673 --> 00:01:16.943 I used to be embarrassed about being Liberian.
 26
00:01:17.577 --> 00:01:19.579 I used to have an accent.
 27
00:01:19.579 --> 00:01:21.047 I used to be embarrassed about it.
 28
00:01:21.047 --> 00:01:25.385 But to be honest with you, when I started embracing that thing about me
 29
00:01:25.385 --> 00:01:29.656 that was so unique, I mean, the doors just started opening.
 30
00:01:30.156 --> 00:01:33.059 That, to me, that's when things started changing.
 31
00:01:33.059 --> 00:01:36.696 But you'll see. Soon as you start working in your authentic self
 32
00:01:36.696 --> 00:01:41.167 and start showing up, the right people will see it and they will see you.
 

For education, I'd recommend a graduate degree in health informatics and a PMP certification. However, you can really have a background in any related field and still be successful as long as you know how to hone and emphasize your transferrable skills.

My day is a blend of strategic planning, team coordination, and focused work, ensuring that the Information Services department is operating smoothly and efficiently.

Executive Director & Chief of Staff in Informatics and Information Services

Individuality

Skills

Pay Attention To Your Transferrable Skills

So my mentality with criminal justice is
 2
00:00:04.104 --> 00:00:07.574 everyone says it takes a bad apple to spoil the bunch, but it goes the same way
 3
00:00:07.574 --> 00:00:09.309 vice versa. Yes.
 4
00:00:09.309 --> 00:00:12.779 And that's the one thing that I try to explain to people whenever I talk to them
 5
00:00:12.779 --> 00:00:16.583 about why I'm pursuing criminal justice, more specifically, law enforcement, is
 6
00:00:16.583 --> 00:00:20.754 it just takes one person, one decent person to change everything.
 7
00:00:21.021 --> 00:00:21.755 Absolutely.
 8
00:00:21.755 --> 00:00:25.291 I can't count the times to where I have arrested.
 9
00:00:25.291 --> 00:00:27.627 And my wife always gets really surprised on this.
 10
00:00:27.627 --> 00:00:31.364 We'll be in a store and some person will come running up to me,
 11
00:00:31.364 --> 00:00:33.333 that looks really kind of rough.
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00:00:33.333 --> 00:00:36.302 And she'll be like, uh oh. And they'll be like, you remember me?
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00:00:36.302 --> 00:00:39.539 It's like, No. Well you arrested me.
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00:00:39.639 --> 00:00:40.240 He goes, Man,
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00:00:40.240 --> 00:00:42.876 you talk to me on the way in. And
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00:00:42.876 --> 00:00:44.210 you treated me like a person.
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00:00:44.210 --> 00:00:45.912 And I had never had that from police.
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00:00:45.912 --> 00:00:47.213 I just want to say thank you.
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00:00:47.213 --> 00:00:48.581 I got out.
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00:00:48.581 --> 00:00:50.450 I'm this. I'm working here. I even got a family.
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00:00:50.450 --> 00:00:53.553 They start showing me pictures, and that has happened to me so many times.
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00:00:53.620 --> 00:00:57.323 And no matter what has happened to me, no matter how many times, even as a police
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00:00:57.323 --> 00:01:01.394 officer, that makes me realize that, you know, even if I help one person,
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00:01:01.528 --> 00:01:03.930 I did a good thing. You know, I can live with that.
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00:01:03.930 --> 00:01:08.268 He will go back and tell other people that, hey, it's not the whole bunch.
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00:01:08.268 --> 00:01:11.404 It's not all of them are bad. So I, I applaud you
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00:01:11.404 --> 00:01:16.404 for especially at the young age now wanting to get into law enforcement
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00:01:16.509 --> 00:01:19.412 because, again, we're not seen in the best light.
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00:01:19.412 --> 00:01:23.183 And if one of us mess up, it could be 1700 miles away
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00:01:23.183 --> 00:01:26.252 from here in Anchorage, Alaska, and does something stupid.
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00:01:26.252 --> 00:01:31.252 Then they look at, they paint us all with the same brush.
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00:01:32.292 --> 00:01:33.493 So you got to go
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00:01:33.493 --> 00:01:36.496 into it thinking that and still want to do good.
 

I struggled academically in both high school and college. I even failed out of college the first time. But I got back on track, went back to school, and made it through—all the way to earning my doctoral degree!

As the Chief of Police and Vice President of Campus Culture at Lincoln University, I juggle roles that shape campus safety and collaboration. My day spans overseeing police operations, managing residence halls, and directing the nation's only HBCU-based police academy. From ensuring a welcoming culture for visitors to pioneering hands-on law enforcement training, my work centers on rehumanizing policing and empowering students to step into impactful careers.

VP of Campus Culture & Chief of Police

Fulfillment

Be The Change You Want To See

Do you think that journalism is a field that could use more empathy,
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00:00:03.136 --> 00:00:06.840 or do you think that that's something that could be compromising to your position?
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00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.944 It's been taught to us for so long that it's compromising.
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00:00:10.977 --> 00:00:14.214 They even teach that in J-school, like you're not the story.
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00:00:14.647 --> 00:00:15.749 Stay on the side.
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00:00:15.749 --> 00:00:20.186 But I feel like me being empathetic has actually helped me with my stories
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00:00:20.186 --> 00:00:23.690 and helped me with my career and helped me with my character.
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00:00:24.024 --> 00:00:26.726 I get to hear from people who are saying like, Oh,
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00:00:26.726 --> 00:00:28.628 I thought you were all just about this.
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00:00:28.628 --> 00:00:30.463 And it's like, No, we're actually like this.
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00:00:30.463 --> 00:00:32.565 There's people who are like me who care.
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00:00:32.632 --> 00:00:37.632 And I think that me being more empathetic or sympathetic to a lot of the stories
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00:00:37.670 --> 00:00:41.775 that I tell connects me even further to the people that I'm serving.
 

A typical day for me looks like coming into work, checking and answering any emails, doing a check in on current stories due with the team, finishing out my stories, and setting even more. When breaking news happens, go to the scene to gather news, live tweet, and go live on Facebook to share updates before returning to write up information for web. One day out of the week, I pitch my stories in advance.

Senior Staff Writer

Empathy doesn't belong in journalism. You're not the story. Stay on the side.

Integrity & Authenticity

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

Finding Support And Developing Leadership Qualities In Prison

Allen Burnett

118 videos on Integrity & Authenticity: