Do I Look Suspicious?

Today, I joined with friends of all colors, creeds, faiths and nationalities for the “Million Man Hoodie March” right here in Rochester. From my eye guesstimate, there were probably around 750 people expressing their discontent with the grossest manifestation of racial profiling that took the innocent life of a 17-year-old kid. The situation has forced me to think and reflect on a new level. Sometimes I debate, sometimes I write editorials; but this time, I chose to express my emotions through my lyrics. Below is a spoken word poem-turned-song that I wrote in response to Trayvon Martin’s murder: Read More

Foodlink’s Backpack Program Feeds Minds and Futures

As posted in the Democrat and Chronicle’s Young Professionals’ Blog

It was a gloomy Monday morning with only a few minutes left before my fifth grade Benchmark exam; it seems like eons ago. Although I was a dozen years younger at the time, the memory of the physiological strain I experienced that morning is still alive today. A combination of stress, nerves and stigma acquainted me with a hunger like no other — I like to call it ‘standardize test day hunger.’ Not only that, but as the overweight kid, I was always self-conscious about letting others know when I was hungry.

Luckily for me, my fifth grade teacher, Ms. Dobsen, knew me well enough to realize that something was wrong. Ms. Dobsen decided to pull me aside and send me to the lunchroom to grab a bowl of cereal before the exam.  Moments later, I was able to dominate my test with a full stomach and an able mind that enabled me to score amongst the five highest grades in our class.

Read More