It was my honor and privilege to speak at New Shiloh Baptist Church as a guest speaker for Black History Month. We discussed the problems, yes, but more importantly, we discussed the solutions! Most encouraging was hearing the theme, “All In”, and how the church will work to be more “outside the walls” of their building and in the community. Thank you to the wonderful congregation and staff for having me and thank you, Pastor Harold Carter, Jr. We can do this, TOGETHER!

I spoke about-

•Outside the box problem solving and thinking •trauma in our communities

•Hurt people, Hurt people

•Opportunities •Peeling back the layers of the onion to ensure our at-risk population has a road map of options

•mentoring •Crime as a symptom to the long-standing problems

•Food deserts

•Schools and Education

•The human side of violent crime

•Schools connecting with business

I love being different. Can’t do things the way they’ve always been done. We have to think differently because we need, deserve, and want different results.

What a profound honor and I pray that young people, young men especially, can look at me as someone they can relate to and understand that they aren’t alone. We all have overcome something and I will forever use the platform God has given me to help stop the bleeding, stop the mothers (and father’s) from crying, and help build my city back up, not to where it used to be, but to where it needs to be! Together, we can BeMore!

One Love,

T.J. Smith

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