WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN?
Each week, this series will introduce you to an exceptional American who unites, rather than divides, our communities. To read more about the American profiled here and more average Americans doing exceptional things, visit onenation.usatoday.com. What does it mean to you to be an American? It means being a part of something that is big, something that has an unending potential for growth. It means having the hope that you are a part of a global initiative — that no matter where you start, there is a potential for greatness. What moment motivated you to launch this effort? It has given me the opportunity to address and express things I may not have had the opportunity to otherwise do. It creates the opportunity for a dialogue where one didn’t exist before, increasing discourse and dialogue among races and changing the media perception of African-Americans in the public space. That’s what motivates me. My motivation is to change the narrative of the media perception and how we are archived and remembered for future generations. Whether I’m meeting with the governor or with the kids at the (York County) Juvenile Detention Center, it’s the same. What gives you hope or what concerns you? What gives me hope is when I come across a young person who has a vision, and I can help develop young artists to achieve that vision. What gives me hope is that there are people in a position, whether it be public officials or stakeholders, and they’re receptive and willing to make the effort to change things. What do you hope to accomplish?