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Describe your background. What did you do before working for ATK, Inc.?
I have worked in higher education as an Assistant Professor of History for nearly 20 years. I’m a community investor, speaker, and author-researcher with nearly 15 years of speaking and writing experience.
What success stories have you experienced since receiving the grant from the Building Black Communities Fund, either internally and externally?
Nearly 1,000 students have been exposed to the social and emotional life skills of RESPOND-I-BILITY. RESPOND-I-BILITY is a community outreach program that fosters cultural and social competences designed to equip young minorities with skills needed to respond-responsibly when engaged with law enforcement authorities.
In October 2021, we completed a RESPOND-I-BILITY presentation at Cloverdale Middle School in Little Rock. A 24-year-veteran officer of the Little Rock Police Department who works as a Resource Officer at the school noted in appreciation the success that RESPOND-I-BILITY had on students following the interactive presentation. Additionally, campus administrators were pleased at the way their students responded responsibly to authority figures and their peers.
From an internal standpoint, we have been able to enhance our position for improved quality of images, videos, and advertising abilities.
What are some exciting projects you’re working on?
We are currently working on RESPOND-I-BILITY 2.0, which is designed to enhance social and emotional IQ of adolescent and young adult populations.
What do you wish more people knew about ATK, Inc.?
We would like citizens in the areas ATK, Inc. serves to know that we are available year-round. We provide various resources and are able to travel all over the state of Arkansas and beyond. It’s our hope to give our interactive presentations to students in junior high, high school, and college. We want more Arkansans to know that this nonprofit started in Little Rock. We ask that everyone who has been exposed to ATK’s resources – in particular RESPOND-I-BILITY – share their knowledge with others to increase awareness.
How can people support your nonprofit?
It would greatly enhance our vision and mission if more people openly supported ATK, Inc. We hope that the Building Black Communities Fund can position people, organizations, funders, and community stakeholders and leaders to know what RESPOND-I-BILITY means, what we do, who we are, and our mission statement. Their knowledge of us would increase our chances of fiscal support for the nonprofit. Once people know, we hope that they can support ATK, Inc. in all areas of influence. Sharing our nonprofit literature online and in-person is a way that citizens can support our nonprofit.
Where do you see ATK, Inc. in the next three to five years?
The vision of ATK’s RESPOND-I-BILITY is to become a required resource for all higher education students, freshmen learners in particular. Our goal by the end of 2022 is to be in a position to stipend individuals who bring an elevated quality to this nonprofit. We hope that ATK’s RESPOND-I-BILITY is available in the 10 most populated states and their metro areas associated with civilian and law enforcement mistrust, community disengagement, and Black fratricides.
What people, books, and/or life factors have influenced and impacted you?
My biological father along with my mother set me on the course for a university education, and that changed my life. Other influencers are Dr. Milton P. Crenchaw (1919-2015), the last-living Supervising Squadron Commander of the Tuskegee Airmen, and Bishop Stephen W. Christian, Senior Pastor of Bountiful Blessings World Fellowship (BBWF).
Describe your training, your interests, and/or your hobbies. What do you do when you’re not at the office and why?
I strive to succeed at working toward enhancing the craft and gift of speaking. I am also a deacon at our church (BBWF). My wife and I enjoy walking with our dogs, movie dates, and working out when we are not at work or working the nonprofit.
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