Our Motivational Speaker

NATHANIEL SMITH

I was born in Chicago, IL, and raised in the "Wild Wild 100's," which is the South Side of Chicago. Growing up in the projects felt like living on an island, cut off from the rest of the world. If you weren’t a relative of someone in my area, you weren’t getting in. And honestly, those of us who lived there weren’t exactly eager to leave. Life in the projects was a constant battle, just as intense as being out in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm—though I wasn’t military, it felt just as terrifying. I had a relative serving on a ship during that time, and his stories weren’t pretty. But while I didn’t experience war in the literal sense, I did grow up in the daily war of gang violence in my neighborhood.

I never intended to get caught up in that lifestyle. I wasn’t looking for trouble, but trouble found me anyway. Some might say it was "wrong place, wrong time," but the reality is I had choices, and the choice I made cost me 8 years of my life. I spent that time behind bars, and the hardest part was that I was still just a teenager.

That experience changed my life. Now, through Time To Evolve Coalition (T-TEC), I have the opportunity to share my story and help disrupt the cycle of bad choices that many youth in our community are at risk of making. It’s not easy work, and it takes real courage and commitment to make a difference.

If you’re down with T-TEC, don’t hesitate to lock hands with us. Together, we can make a lasting impact and create positive change that lasts for generations.