Our featured guest today is Marquice Bell: Mr. Bell Persevered through homelessness, anger, addiction, foster care, prison, and gangbanging. This young king fought to reclaim his rightful place as a productive father and contributing member of society. Presently he is a local government employee and a detailing entrepreneur.

 Mr. Bells journey in life has shifted his perception of the world. He stopped viewing himself as a victim. He is appreciative of his life experience and how it shaped his ambition, which drives one's view of the world and how they will engage it.

The human spirit is incredibly resilient. Marquece receives support from a Village of people (F3-Fitness-Fellowship-Faith, Men Speak, Goodwill, Unified Workforce Development Program, and Community) who empower him with resources, mentoring, coaching, information, encouragement, and opportunities to overcome his adversity.  When people receive emotional, mental, and financial support, they create the life they want. It's about making mental shifts, implementing proven psychological techniques and, of course, taking action (even if you can only see the first step of the staircase). Marquece shared how his grandmother's unconditional love and wisdom guide his steps to this day.

 

My request for today is that you help share this episode. So, If you're posting to social media, please tag @embrace_your_truth and @urban_institute_4_sf and use the hashtag #InfiniteVoiceofOurYouth #ChangeYourMindChangeYourLife #MissionFuel #EmbraceYourTruth

 

Key Points from Marquice:

* I AM grateful for my spirituality and children, that's my motivation.

* He witnessed abuse and ate from a garbage can to survive at 13 years old.

* As a young person, he viewed life from the lens of either you are with me or against me. The gang showed him, deceptive love. The love the gang provided was at a price.

* His grandmother offered him values and morals that did not align with how he was living after she died in his arms at 13.

* He has used his grandmother's wisdom to change his life.

* There are consequences for our actions.

* His grandmother raised him to treat all people with respect.

* Helping others allowed him to overcome his addiction.

* My support system has held me accountable.

* Marquice talked about hiding the true version of himself to impress others until he realized the power of who he was and that God had a plan for him.

* When you hit rock bottom. Start over fresh and appreciate the victories.

* Cut off everything that's a reflection of who you use to be to create the new version of yourself.

* Surround yourself with people who want what's best for you. Your network is your net-worth....Mentally, Physically, and Spiritually!

 

 

 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

The soul of black folks.

gUp from slavery.

Mass incarceration of black people.

Never go home again by Omar Tyree.

 

 

 

TWEETABLES:

When you take something out of a ball. You have to put something back in for it into still be a ball. (when you itake love away people replace it with anger).

 

Hurt people, hurt other people. @little1971kelly

My past does not determine my future. @little1971kelly

When I hit rock bottom and looked up, it was so many hands extended to lift me out the well. @little1971kelly

If you cut off everything that has the potential to cause gang green, your probability of thriving dis exponentially increased. @little1971kelly