Hi, I am Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin.
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And I'm Arthur Nowlin.
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And welcome to "Making It Work."
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Arthur, well, you know,
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our topic today,
"Beating the Odds."
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What comes to
mind when you hear,
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"Beating the Odds?"
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I think about, a fight. A fight?
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You know, I
think about, you know,
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two heavy
weights going together,
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one is rated
higher than the other.
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Okay You know and I think about
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all the trials and tribulations
that come with that.
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And the underdog wins.
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The underdog wins. Yes.
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You like it when
the underdog wins?
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You know, I think
all America likes it--
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When the underdog wins.
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Okay. Yeah.
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I don't know, why we,
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we just look for
the underdog what we do.
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Well, we here
today on "Making It Work"
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to introduce someone,
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who is beating the
odds, Antwan Knight.
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Welcome to "Making It Work."
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Well-- thank
you. Appreciate you.
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And that's all
right, you well go--
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not a problem, you know.
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Well, listen, let's
talk about, who you are?
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Tell our viewers
who is Antwan Knight.
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Yes.
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Okay, well, I mean I was born
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and raised in Detroit, Michigan.
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I was raised by a single mother.
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You know, I had the opportunity,
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you know, when I was little
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I got in
trouble in school a lot.
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I was very trouble.
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I'm not those
like missing the father
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or you know I got in
lot of trouble in school.
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And then, you
know, finally, as life,
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you know, begins,
progress and I saw,
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some of the past my
friends, my friends had taking,
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you know some of
them were killed,
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some of them went to jail,
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when I was at a very
young age it kind of helped me,
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you know, want to
turn my life around.
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Wow, wow.
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Now, did you
ever meet your father?
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Yes. I had met my father.
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He just-- it just a matter
that relationship or you know,
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didn't kind of want to
be in my life, I guess.
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I see. What about the siblings?
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Do you have another siblings?
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Yes. I have several siblings.
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I've about 11 on
my father's side,
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and then I was raised,
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with me my older
sister and a younger brother.
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Wow, big family.
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Yes. Yes.
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In meeting your
father, you know,
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well, let's talk
about, how it made you feel
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that you didn't
grow up with your dad?
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Well, you know, honestly,
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at first it
didn't really bother me
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because it was
kind of like the norm,
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from where I was from.
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Everybody in my
blood, in my friends
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don't have fathers, you know.
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A lot of them were in
jail, so it's kind of a norm.
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I think that
when it finally hit me
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was when I
attended Oakwood University.
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And I was in line
and I was waiting to try
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to get cleared and I saw like
everybody with their families,
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and their mother and father.
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And I was like, wow!
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Like, is this, like
what is supposed to be like?
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But I never had
even thought about it,
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you know until you know,
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I went into line
at Oakwood University
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and I just-- that
picture just really,
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well, it was like
really eye opening.
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All right, resonated within you.
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Exactly.
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Now did you go when
you registered for school,
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by yourself or did
you mom go with you?
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I went alone and that--
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like I said that was
very discouraging you know,
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gone in there, just not knowing
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whether you had enough
money to clear you know.
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Not having anybody
with you, you know.
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Just having to go
through all that and,
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and Oakwood's process was very,
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you know it was very
difficult process to go through.
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So it was very discouraging
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and it was a lot
to do so, by yourself.
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Let me tell you what
Oakwood University is.
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It's one of our
Seventh-day Adventist's schools,
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in the North American division
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where they offer an
associate degree and,
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and bachelor's degree
and the master's program
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in theology, where
Antwan and I attended.
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And so we are just
wanting you to know
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that this
school is a good school
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in Huntsville, Alabama.
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During this
process, being in line,
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seeing the families,
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it made you feel
different you know.
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But what was your
motivation after that?
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I mean, did you feel sad
for a long period of time
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or what happened?
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Well, no I didn't feel
sad for a long period of time.
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It kind of made me, I
think in the decisions
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I've made regards to, you know,
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how I'm going to handle myself,
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you know
spiritually and morally.
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I think it really helped
me think about that, you know.
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I don't want to go out and just,
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you know sit
with a bunch of women,
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just because, you
know, I don't want to,
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I want to make sure that
the, do it the right way.
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You know, wait, you know.
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I wanted to make sure that,
I think that kind of changed
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my whole
mindset regards to that.
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You know, I want a family.
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I don't want, you know, drama
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and just having
children everywhere,
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where I can't take care of them.
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So I think that was
one of the biggest things
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that it helped me understand,
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helped me realize
about myself, you know,
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and what I was
gonna do going forward.
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Let me ask, the
people in the neighborhood,
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you know, after they,
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they observed
this transformation
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that you was going through,
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did any of them get motivated
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to try to change
their lives or anything?
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Well, I can't
say specifically no,
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I know that some
people were upset, you know.
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And I think I had to
deal with that aspect of it.
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I remember one of my
friends who had went to jail,
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we were about 12-years-old,
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and I remember when I was about,
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we were about, I was
about 20 around this time
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and I remember, he
got out and I said,
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I called him like because I may,
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you know, you
make this big change,
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but you know, I was
here by myself all this time,
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you know, I'm all
having for you and all but,
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you know, you kind of
left me alone, you know.
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I don't have anybody.
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I thought we were friends,
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I thought we grew up
together and you left me.
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So I was like, you know,
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you go live your
life and I'll live mine.
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And so that kind of like was a,
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you know, something
I had dealt with that.
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You know, it was kind of sad,
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you know, because I
really, you know this,
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he was a really
good friend of mine so.
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So the communication broke down
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after he was incarcerated?
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Exactly, you
know, because I was,
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I was 13-years-old at that time.
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So, you know, and he went...
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for a very long
time unfortunately so,
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but I remember when I heard,
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he was out I was
so excited, you know.
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I was like, may I talk
to, you know but he just,
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he just then
won't have any part,
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which I
understand because you know,
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you are in there by yourself,
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thought you have
friends, its kind of hard.
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Let me ask you
how close were you
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on the brink of making that
came down to a choice to be,
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you know, proactive or not
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how close were you getting
in trouble in middle school,
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elementary school, high school?
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You were getting and,
you know, mom was coming,
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who, who was attending to you?
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Was grandmother
involved, grandfather involved?
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Who said stop
this nonsense and why?
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Well, I think it was
a combination of things.
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Someone say first, you know,
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my mother had got called
up to school like everyday.
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I would get
suspended, I would get fights,
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I would get kicked out, I
would call in bomb threats,
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all types of
stuff, I got arrested.
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And I remember one thing hit me.
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I was on my way to--
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I was on my way back
from Oakwood college days.
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I experienced
Oakwood college days
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and that was like awesome.
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And then I got a
phone call on my way back
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from my sister telling
me that one of my friends
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that I grew up
with had been killed.
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And like that really
changed my mindset about life
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and you know in itself.
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And I was like wow, you
know, one of my closest friends,
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the person I grew up
with, you know was killed.
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You know, so how
do you, how do you,
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you know, adjust that?
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So it was kind of like,
I was, I was pretty sad,
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but then it
helped me change my life
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because I don't want
to go down the same path.
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I see You know and
I want to help people,
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you know, so they'll
be able to understand.
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You know, you don't
have to take this path.
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Well, this is not your,
this is not your life you know.
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But, you know it's different.
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So that the
first, if you are saying,
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I am going to
beat the odds here.
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You said right in
there that phone call,
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I must turn my life around.
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Now you don't have any children.
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You're looking forward
to someday being married?
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Yes. Yes.
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You know, tell us
about being single
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and dating in the
Seventh-day Adventist circle,
00:08:26.40\00:08:29.62
you know, what is
that like for you?
00:08:29.65\00:08:31.80
Well, I think-- And
did you date at Oakwood?
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Yes. And you left single.
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Well not necessarily.
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Because you don't
leave single from Oakwood.
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Exactly, exactly.
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But not necessarily, you know.
00:08:41.39\00:08:43.15
I think, you know, I
dated before Oakwood.
00:08:43.18\00:08:46.85
I got really caught up because
I'm association president
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so I didn't have a lot of time,
you know to you know, dive in
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and really you know into
a relationship like this.
00:08:53.14\00:08:56.50
So its kind of hard
but and I'm very particular
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about who I date too.
00:08:59.12\00:09:00.87
So it's like I'm very,
I'm very what they call
00:09:00.90\00:09:03.35
conservative Adventist you know.
00:09:03.38\00:09:05.16
So I'm not being going to
jewelry and things like that.
00:09:05.19\00:09:08.24
So, I am very particular
and also I'm a vegetarian.
00:09:08.27\00:09:12.12
So you know I'm
particular about that.
00:09:12.15\00:09:14.29
So its been a
little hard to find,
00:09:14.32\00:09:16.06
you know, the correct person.
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But I've been, you
know, talking to people.
00:09:17.42\00:09:19.99
Well, let me, I just have
to say some about that, okay.
00:09:20.02\00:09:22.31
Let me just go there a minute.
00:09:22.34\00:09:23.81
When you say
you're very particular
00:09:23.84\00:09:25.09
and I was born and
raised Seventh-day Adventist
00:09:25.12\00:09:26.95
and Arthur was Catholic,
didn't none of you knew that.
00:09:26.98\00:09:29.60
So when I met him, he
had the jewelry and he ate,
00:09:29.63\00:09:32.58
you know the
unclean foods and things.
00:09:32.61\00:09:36.39
You did eat the shrimp, my baby?
00:09:36.42\00:09:37.45
Yeah.
00:09:37.48\00:09:38.54
You ate the
shrimp and the lobster?
00:09:38.57\00:09:40.44
Yeah. You liked
your lobster, okay.
00:09:40.47\00:09:42.53
It was finger licking good.
00:09:42.56\00:09:46.15
And so but, you know he
had this beautiful onyx ring,
00:09:46.18\00:09:49.15
and he wore the cross
necklace you know or do they,
00:09:49.18\00:09:52.05
men call necklace or chain.
00:09:52.08\00:09:53.90
But, you know, I
was very particular--
00:09:53.93\00:09:55.57
Wait a minute. I'm sorry.
00:09:55.60\00:09:56.99
What's your point? I'm
going back to the point.
00:09:57.02\00:09:58.94
I was standing your ground.
00:09:58.97\00:10:00.53
Don't settle.
And I didn't settle.
00:10:00.56\00:10:03.79
And you, the Holy
Spirit converted you.
00:10:03.82\00:10:06.39
That's true.
00:10:06.42\00:10:07.67
And but do you
having problems you know
00:10:07.70\00:10:09.81
because I wasn't
going to do that.
00:10:09.84\00:10:11.17
But I'm a
conservative Adventist also.
00:10:11.20\00:10:12.85
Yeah.
00:10:12.88\00:10:14.09
You know, but, you
know what really stopped me
00:10:14.12\00:10:17.45
and helped me with my diet
00:10:17.48\00:10:18.69
was reading the
book of Leviticus.
00:10:18.72\00:10:20.94
You know, when I read the things
00:10:20.97\00:10:23.70
that we were
encouraged not to eat you know--
00:10:23.73\00:10:26.72
Halleluiah.
00:10:26.75\00:10:27.78
That's, what really
saved, motivated me to say,
00:10:27.81\00:10:32.85
"hey, maybe I
shouldn't eat this, you know."
00:10:32.88\00:10:35.16
So and during that time
00:10:35.19\00:10:37.31
when I was
meeting Kim and dating--
00:10:37.34\00:10:40.37
This wonderful person.
00:10:40.40\00:10:42.02
Extraordinary
person-- Ah, thank you.
00:10:42.05\00:10:43.85
You choose me.
00:10:43.88\00:10:47.66
But when I was
going through that period
00:10:47.69\00:10:50.69
it was enlightening,
00:10:50.72\00:10:52.21
I was obtaining new information,
00:10:52.24\00:10:55.77
the Church was really
what I was really looking for.
00:10:55.80\00:11:00.53
Sabbath school was something
00:11:00.56\00:11:02.44
that was really, really
motivating to me as well.
00:11:02.47\00:11:05.39
So you know I was prepared,
00:11:05.42\00:11:06.97
I was right for
the picking, you know.
00:11:07.00\00:11:10.31
Yes, you were.
00:11:10.34\00:11:11.43
So that's what you
are looking for that,
00:11:11.46\00:11:13.42
when you, you, and
I know you praying,
00:11:13.45\00:11:15.44
you're fasting, you know.
00:11:15.47\00:11:17.18
The leadership,
go back tell us about
00:11:17.21\00:11:19.03
what is student
association president.
00:11:19.06\00:11:21.27
You served as the
student association president
00:11:21.30\00:11:24.47
at Oakwood University.
00:11:24.50\00:11:25.90
Tell us what is that all about.
00:11:25.93\00:11:27.23
Well, that was an
awesome opportunity I had.
00:11:27.26\00:11:30.32
It is elected
by the student body
00:11:30.35\00:11:32.24
and you're able to, you know,
00:11:32.27\00:11:34.15
you're given a
budget of $300,000,
00:11:34.18\00:11:37.36
so you manage that budget
and you plan student programs,
00:11:37.39\00:11:40.79
you are involved
in every student issue
00:11:40.82\00:11:42.38
that goes on, on campus.
00:11:42.41\00:11:44.04
So the students about to
get kicked out of school,
00:11:44.07\00:11:45.89
you know, you'll
work with them on things.
00:11:45.92\00:11:48.68
I was involved on the
selection of the new president.
00:11:48.71\00:11:52.48
So that was very
important, you know,
00:11:52.51\00:11:54.51
and that was a huge issue,
you know, surrounding that.
00:11:54.54\00:11:57.87
But that was very fun
and you got the chance
00:11:57.90\00:12:00.19
to see the inner workings
of the Adventist Church.
00:12:00.22\00:12:02.27
Oh that's amazing.
00:12:02.30\00:12:03.39
You were right there with the
before president or presidents?
00:12:03.42\00:12:04.79
Exactly, I was right
there with all the presidents.
00:12:04.82\00:12:06.87
And you were president.
00:12:06.90\00:12:07.96
And I have to say you know,
00:12:07.99\00:12:09.72
he demonstrated
leadership skills
00:12:09.75\00:12:11.53
even prior to that.
00:12:11.56\00:12:13.18
Because he happened to be
00:12:13.21\00:12:15.32
on the "Motor
City Youth Federation."
00:12:15.35\00:12:17.42
And he's gonna play there.
00:12:17.45\00:12:18.51
You know with
myself as president,
00:12:18.54\00:12:22.06
he was my vice president,
00:12:22.09\00:12:23.71
so we worked
really, really well.
00:12:23.74\00:12:25.64
I saw potential.
00:12:25.67\00:12:26.92
Oh, you saw that as a young man.
00:12:26.95\00:12:28.40
As a young man.
00:12:28.43\00:12:29.51
Well, you're beating the odds,
all right, beating the odds.
00:12:29.54\00:12:32.48
Well, okay, what do you do now?
00:12:32.51\00:12:35.18
Tell us where you are now,
00:12:35.21\00:12:36.70
and you're saying
because you graduate
00:12:36.73\00:12:37.77
from Oakwood, when?
00:12:37.80\00:12:38.84
Yes, I have graduated
from Oakwood in May 2012,
00:12:38.87\00:12:41.08
so in this past May exactly.
00:12:41.11\00:12:42.46
Oh, yes.
00:12:42.49\00:12:43.68
So now what are you doing now?
00:12:43.71\00:12:44.79
Now I'm working in the
Highland Park School District
00:12:44.82\00:12:47.30
Oh, you're going back home?
00:12:47.33\00:12:48.64
Yes exactly yeah. I
think that's very important.
00:12:48.67\00:12:50.89
Giving back. Yes.
00:12:50.92\00:12:52.12
Now you doing some
special programs in there?
00:12:52.15\00:12:54.23
Yes, we are doing, we are
doing some special programs.
00:12:54.26\00:12:56.22
We've started a mentor program.
00:12:56.25\00:12:58.05
I think that's very
important because you,
00:12:58.08\00:12:59.93
you show these
young men and young women,
00:12:59.96\00:13:02.26
the people that's successful,
00:13:02.29\00:13:03.43
and young, you
know, so they come in
00:13:03.46\00:13:05.67
and they speak with them
and we're raising funds for it
00:13:05.70\00:13:08.12
to show them our side,
00:13:08.15\00:13:09.51
take them
outside of Highland Park.
00:13:09.54\00:13:11.08
A lot of them haven't
been outside of Michigan.
00:13:11.11\00:13:13.19
You know, we are 20
minutes outside Detroit.
00:13:13.22\00:13:15.65
So its like taking them outside,
00:13:15.68\00:13:16.98
there showing them, you know,
00:13:17.01\00:13:18.20
this is what your
life can be, you know,
00:13:18.23\00:13:19.90
you don't have
to settle for less.
00:13:19.93\00:13:21.63
Now were you hired by
the school system into this?
00:13:21.66\00:13:23.14
Yes.
00:13:23.17\00:13:24.25
Okay, so you applied
to the school system?
00:13:24.28\00:13:25.98
Exactly, so, I'm
working, you know,
00:13:26.01\00:13:27.78
I work with small groups
00:13:27.81\00:13:28.84
and I work with a
lot of discipline issues.
00:13:28.87\00:13:30.10
So anybody who
usually gets in trouble,
00:13:30.13\00:13:31.97
I'll see them and talk
to them about some issues
00:13:32.00\00:13:34.80
that's going on,
meet with their parents
00:13:34.83\00:13:36.37
and try to come out
with a solution to help them.
00:13:36.40\00:13:37.88
So what was your
major at Oakwood?
00:13:37.91\00:13:39.14
My major is History, Education.
00:13:39.17\00:13:40.66
Isn't that something? Yes, yes.
00:13:40.69\00:13:42.23
Let's go back to
meeting the parents.
00:13:42.26\00:13:44.17
Yes. Yes.
00:13:44.20\00:13:45.34
You know, I mean,
here you are dealing
00:13:45.37\00:13:46.58
with some youth
that maybe dealing
00:13:46.61\00:13:49.28
with some real
difficult social issues
00:13:49.31\00:13:52.40
and you're meeting the parents.
00:13:52.43\00:13:54.86
What kind of support do you get
00:13:54.89\00:13:56.32
and what kind of
barriers do you face?
00:13:56.35\00:14:00.20
Well, I think that is the
most sobering aspect of it,
00:14:00.23\00:14:03.55
because I think when
you meet the parents,
00:14:03.58\00:14:05.10
you understand, you
know the difficulties
00:14:05.13\00:14:07.81
that these children are facing.
00:14:07.84\00:14:09.41
And I think that's
the most important,
00:14:09.44\00:14:12.05
you know, aspect
because its like,
00:14:12.08\00:14:13.68
I'm sitting here and
I'm working this child
00:14:13.71\00:14:15.35
for eight hours a day.
00:14:15.38\00:14:16.84
But when they go
home, all that's undone,
00:14:16.87\00:14:19.10
because of unstable,
you know, home environment.
00:14:19.13\00:14:21.98
Because the parent is too young
00:14:22.01\00:14:23.76
or they do not have
enough time you know,
00:14:23.79\00:14:25.20
because they
have to work two jobs,
00:14:25.23\00:14:26.63
because they are single mothers.
00:14:26.66\00:14:28.12
And I think that's like,
00:14:28.15\00:14:29.34
that's the most
sobering aspect of it all,
00:14:29.37\00:14:31.28
it's meeting the parent.
00:14:31.31\00:14:32.39
It's sad and you actually
00:14:32.42\00:14:34.10
you feel more
compassion towards this child
00:14:34.13\00:14:37.45
and you really want
to help them even more,
00:14:37.48\00:14:39.05
because you understand
that you know at home,
00:14:39.08\00:14:42.12
there's no help there.
00:14:42.15\00:14:43.34
So how do the youth respond,
when you do meet the parents
00:14:43.37\00:14:49.01
and you do see where they live
00:14:49.04\00:14:51.24
or and you are
extending yourself?
00:14:51.27\00:14:54.29
How do they respond to you?
00:14:54.32\00:14:55.85
Well, I think a lot of them
00:14:55.88\00:14:57.06
you know are
very thankful for it,
00:14:57.09\00:14:59.18
but at the same time
they realize its like,
00:14:59.21\00:15:01.18
you know, well, I'm
asking you right now,
00:15:01.21\00:15:03.15
for the rest of this.
00:15:03.18\00:15:04.90
You know the day I'm
gonna be at home you know.
00:15:04.93\00:15:07.00
So at the same time
some of them are thankful,
00:15:07.03\00:15:08.72
some of them think that
I'm too hard on them you know,
00:15:08.75\00:15:10.39
and I tell them you know,
00:15:10.42\00:15:11.52
I wish somebody
was this hard on me,
00:15:11.55\00:15:12.86
because I want
you to understand,
00:15:12.89\00:15:13.93
I wish someone was
this hard on my friends,
00:15:13.96\00:15:15.42
because I saw my friends,
you know, take the same path,
00:15:15.45\00:15:17.96
when he is crazy
because I went to the school,
00:15:17.99\00:15:20.17
I'm actually working it.
00:15:20.20\00:15:21.54
And I see some-- I
can look in their eyes
00:15:21.57\00:15:23.68
and see some of my
friends in their eyes, you know.
00:15:23.71\00:15:26.08
And it's so sad just
looking like you know.
00:15:26.11\00:15:28.71
And you try to express
to them that you can change.
00:15:28.74\00:15:31.32
You have to
change because, you know,
00:15:31.35\00:15:33.69
society is just
not gonna confirm
00:15:33.72\00:15:35.26
just because
you know you grew up
00:15:35.29\00:15:37.36
in a certain situation.
00:15:37.39\00:15:38.51
Its not gonna confirm to you.
00:15:38.54\00:15:39.85
You have to
change and do better.
00:15:39.88\00:15:41.37
So how does the community,
you know, get involved?
00:15:41.40\00:15:44.49
I mean, here you are,
00:15:44.52\00:15:45.76
you are in a school
district and school system.
00:15:45.79\00:15:48.02
Now, how is the
community assisting you
00:15:48.05\00:15:50.37
as far as participating
00:15:50.40\00:15:53.22
or supporting you
with your program?
00:15:53.25\00:15:54.93
Exactly, so one
of the things I did,
00:15:54.96\00:15:56.31
I just started a mentor program.
00:15:56.34\00:15:57.94
So I just set up a site where,
you know, people can go find
00:15:57.97\00:16:00.76
and I've been
talking to community members.
00:16:00.79\00:16:02.57
I'm gonna meet with the mayor
very soon of Highland Park.
00:16:02.60\00:16:05.01
And I am gonna be
talking to churches.
00:16:05.04\00:16:06.40
Let them know, you know,
these are children in your area
00:16:06.43\00:16:08.97
and this is what
the church is for.
00:16:09.00\00:16:10.56
Whether you're Adventist,
00:16:10.59\00:16:11.70
whether you're
not a denominational,
00:16:11.73\00:16:13.26
the churches are for
to support the community.
00:16:13.29\00:16:15.76
And I think that's
why a lot of people
00:16:15.79\00:16:16.94
have lost a lot of
respect for churches,
00:16:16.97\00:16:18.59
is because they
are not as involved
00:16:18.62\00:16:20.32
as they should
be in the community.
00:16:20.35\00:16:21.85
So they now have
to put these big gates
00:16:21.88\00:16:23.45
around their
churches to keep people out.
00:16:23.48\00:16:25.59
But if the community
felt like they were involved,
00:16:25.62\00:16:27.95
you wouldn't have
to keep people out
00:16:27.98\00:16:29.26
because they will be
loving, they'll be coming in.
00:16:29.29\00:16:31.04
They'll protect your church.
00:16:31.07\00:16:32.11
They'll protect
the church. Exactly.
00:16:32.14\00:16:33.53
So I think that's important.
00:16:33.56\00:16:34.77
I've been talking with
some of the pastors in our area
00:16:34.80\00:16:37.25
they're very open to helping me.
00:16:37.28\00:16:38.79
So I'm thankful for
that. Well, that's a blessing.
00:16:38.82\00:16:41.73
Now, your mom,
is she still living?
00:16:41.76\00:16:43.38
Yes, yes. Yeah, yeah.
00:16:43.41\00:16:44.71
Now are you the first
college graduate of your family?
00:16:44.74\00:16:47.24
Yes, I'm the first
college graduate of my family.
00:16:47.27\00:16:49.94
And I'm also the very first
00:16:49.97\00:16:51.91
in my entire
family on my dad's side.
00:16:51.94\00:16:54.77
So yeah, out of
his entire family.
00:16:54.80\00:16:56.52
Of the entire family? Yes.
00:16:56.55\00:16:57.92
Who attended your graduation?
00:16:57.95\00:16:59.31
Who attended my graduation?
00:16:59.34\00:17:01.04
My mother was
there, my grandfather
00:17:01.07\00:17:03.55
who really you know
had a big part in my life
00:17:03.58\00:17:05.99
when I went to college,
because he stays in Alabama.
00:17:06.02\00:17:08.34
So he really helped me a lot.
00:17:08.37\00:17:09.97
And I had some
aunties and aunts there.
00:17:10.00\00:17:13.14
So, yes and my
brothers and sisters.
00:17:13.17\00:17:14.65
Your father wasn't there.
00:17:14.68\00:17:15.78
My father wasn't there. Okay.
00:17:15.81\00:17:17.35
He is in the Michigan
and Detroit area or what?
00:17:17.38\00:17:19.93
Yes, he is. Yes, he is.
00:17:19.96\00:17:21.46
So do you communicate
with him on regular basis?
00:17:21.49\00:17:23.63
Yes. Yes.
00:17:23.66\00:17:24.69
How's that going for you?
00:17:24.72\00:17:25.95
It's going well you know,
00:17:25.98\00:17:28.16
our relationship
has improved you know,
00:17:28.19\00:17:30.73
of the past few
years and you know,
00:17:30.76\00:17:32.77
I'm trying to you know,
finding my heart to forgive.
00:17:32.80\00:17:34.91
So I think
that's very important.
00:17:34.94\00:17:37.45
When you say
you're finding your heart
00:17:37.48\00:17:38.77
to forgive, forgive what?
00:17:38.80\00:17:40.21
Well, I think that
you know, like I say,
00:17:40.24\00:17:42.55
at first it didn't
matter to me growing up
00:17:42.58\00:17:44.42
my father wasn't around.
00:17:44.45\00:17:45.88
That's wasn't an issue for me.
00:17:45.91\00:17:47.64
I think that you know,
00:17:47.67\00:17:49.08
when I got to school
it really hit me like,
00:17:49.11\00:17:50.94
you know, my father was supposed
00:17:50.97\00:17:52.37
to be there you know.
00:17:52.40\00:17:53.91
All those times
that I called him
00:17:53.94\00:17:55.28
was like you
know are you coming?
00:17:55.31\00:17:56.38
And he would
tell me, he was coming
00:17:56.41\00:17:57.45
but he wouldn't you know.
00:17:57.48\00:17:58.76
And me and my sisters
would wait outside on the porch,
00:17:58.79\00:18:00.66
just waiting for him
to come around the corner
00:18:00.69\00:18:02.19
and never would he come.
00:18:02.22\00:18:03.45
So I was like, that's
how so I had a lot of,
00:18:03.48\00:18:05.80
you know, anger built in me.
00:18:05.83\00:18:07.21
And I think it all came
out when I was at college.
00:18:07.24\00:18:09.21
I think I kind of
really kind of understood,
00:18:09.24\00:18:12.88
you know, that he was
really supposed to be there
00:18:12.91\00:18:14.99
and you know,
so all those times,
00:18:15.02\00:18:16.81
I felt pretty bad
you know, that he wasn't.
00:18:16.84\00:18:19.41
Did you talk to him about
those feelings that you had?
00:18:19.44\00:18:23.65
I wouldn't say and I you know,
00:18:23.68\00:18:27.62
I think that we
had conversations,
00:18:27.65\00:18:29.61
you know, over the years,
00:18:29.64\00:18:32.20
but I don't think
I really had some--
00:18:32.23\00:18:35.04
a serious sit down
with him and explain to him.
00:18:35.07\00:18:37.05
But I think I'm past that. Okay.
00:18:37.08\00:18:38.97
Now I don't know, you know,
00:18:39.00\00:18:40.13
people say what
you think you're past
00:18:40.16\00:18:41.34
but you are really not.
00:18:41.37\00:18:42.40
But I really think I'm past that
00:18:42.43\00:18:44.16
and it doesn't
matter for me now, you know.
00:18:44.19\00:18:46.65
Even though it doesn't matter,
00:18:46.68\00:18:47.96
do you think it
may be something that
00:18:47.99\00:18:50.18
you know would clear the air
00:18:50.21\00:18:52.41
as well as allow
him an opportunity
00:18:52.44\00:18:54.92
to share with you
some of his feelings
00:18:54.95\00:18:57.88
in regards to why
he didn't show up?
00:18:57.91\00:19:00.90
Well, I think, I
think that's, you know,
00:19:00.93\00:19:03.09
that would give
him an opportunity
00:19:03.12\00:19:04.39
to do that and I
mean I'm open to it.
00:19:04.42\00:19:07.78
Beating the odds,
what do you see yourself,
00:19:07.81\00:19:10.39
you know, short term
goals, long term goals?
00:19:10.42\00:19:13.10
Well, my short term
goals is definitely,
00:19:13.13\00:19:17.91
you know, change a lot
of lives I encountering
00:19:17.94\00:19:21.12
in Highland
Park School District.
00:19:21.15\00:19:22.43
You know, I really
want to work with them.
00:19:22.46\00:19:24.32
I really see
myself being involved,
00:19:24.35\00:19:26.16
you know, in the community,
00:19:26.19\00:19:27.89
you know working
with community members,
00:19:27.92\00:19:30.16
trying to improve our community,
00:19:30.19\00:19:31.64
because you know Detroit
00:19:31.67\00:19:32.70
is a hard hit
community by violence
00:19:32.73\00:19:35.74
you know, drugs and youth that's
00:19:35.77\00:19:39.00
you know committing all
these types of acts of violence.
00:19:39.03\00:19:41.88
So I think that
I wish myself being
00:19:41.91\00:19:43.73
involved in the community a lot.
00:19:43.76\00:19:45.40
Okay and long term goals?
00:19:45.43\00:19:47.28
Long term goals,
of course, long term--
00:19:47.31\00:19:50.31
kind of short time is to
getting married, you know.
00:19:50.34\00:19:52.88
So--
00:19:52.91\00:19:54.07
So, you know,
that's important to know,
00:19:54.10\00:19:55.82
women tend to say,
00:19:55.85\00:19:56.88
well, I've got to get
marry, the clock is ticking.
00:19:56.91\00:19:58.34
Is that what's you're saying,
00:19:58.37\00:19:59.45
you're saying
the clock is ticking?
00:19:59.48\00:20:00.72
I wouldn't say
the clock is ticking,
00:20:00.75\00:20:03.05
but I think that I
do want to settle down.
00:20:03.08\00:20:05.25
And get married really soon.
00:20:05.28\00:20:06.31
All right. That's nice.
00:20:06.34\00:20:08.22
One thing that I
was thinking about
00:20:08.25\00:20:09.89
when you were
talking about being
00:20:09.92\00:20:11.66
at Oakwood University
is this statistic guide
00:20:11.69\00:20:16.10
that I read in
regards to education
00:20:16.13\00:20:18.65
and how it affects black males.
00:20:18.68\00:20:21.55
One of things that,
it discussed was that
00:20:21.58\00:20:25.59
out of a freshman's class
00:20:25.62\00:20:27.98
100 percent of the black males
00:20:28.01\00:20:30.02
only maybe 40 percent would
graduate on time, you know.
00:20:30.05\00:20:36.17
Did you see a lot of
males maybe dropping out or--
00:20:36.20\00:20:41.56
Well, when I
first attended school,
00:20:41.59\00:20:44.05
I actually
graduated from high school
00:20:44.08\00:20:46.11
and my first year
of collage was 2006.
00:20:46.14\00:20:49.35
And I remember that I ran
some financial difficulties
00:20:49.38\00:20:51.53
so I dropped out for two years,
come back to Detroit and work.
00:20:51.56\00:20:54.72
So I'm part of
it and I understand
00:20:54.75\00:20:57.49
you know that is an issue.
00:20:57.52\00:20:58.98
And I think that, you know,
00:20:59.01\00:21:01.43
we see black males dropping
out is pretty tuff you know,
00:21:01.46\00:21:05.71
and its hard,
and I think you know,
00:21:05.74\00:21:08.78
you see that a lot.
00:21:08.81\00:21:10.09
You do see that a lot
and I think that you see it
00:21:10.12\00:21:12.22
because some of them
just never had the structure,
00:21:12.25\00:21:14.86
some of them don't
know how important,
00:21:14.89\00:21:16.34
you know, school
is, there're just there.
00:21:16.37\00:21:18.15
They don't have the foundation.
00:21:18.18\00:21:19.32
Exactly, the
foundation that they need
00:21:19.35\00:21:21.27
and you know, so I
do see that with a lot.
00:21:21.30\00:21:23.35
But I think you know
it was more important
00:21:23.38\00:21:26.06
to just seeing the
ones who do finish.
00:21:26.09\00:21:27.66
Absolutely.
00:21:27.69\00:21:28.72
I had a lot of
friends that finished
00:21:28.75\00:21:30.06
and kind of kept me on board.
00:21:30.09\00:21:31.71
I mean, you got to stay focused,
00:21:31.74\00:21:32.83
you know, that this is very
important for you in your life.
00:21:32.86\00:21:35.49
So, with that in mind you know,
00:21:35.52\00:21:39.49
you say, yeah a lot of friends
00:21:39.52\00:21:41.69
that supported
you is it possible,
00:21:41.72\00:21:44.23
I mean with especially about
you being community oriented,
00:21:44.26\00:21:49.43
I'm thinking that
youth in high school,
00:21:49.46\00:21:53.17
you know, may need
some brutal strong mentoring
00:21:53.20\00:21:56.03
and introduction as
to what college life
00:21:56.06\00:21:59.15
has to offer in the barriers
that they may have you know?
00:21:59.18\00:22:03.13
So, I mean like a program
00:22:03.16\00:22:04.64
that you are talking
about will be essential
00:22:04.67\00:22:07.79
in trying to get
out to the community,
00:22:07.82\00:22:10.41
to encourage them
to stay in school.
00:22:10.44\00:22:13.32
Exactly and I
believe that's the first part
00:22:13.35\00:22:16.45
because when I talk
to high school students
00:22:16.48\00:22:18.57
you know in the area,
00:22:18.60\00:22:20.27
its like they don't
even have a plan for college.
00:22:20.30\00:22:22.52
It's like you know, well,
you want to go to college,
00:22:22.55\00:22:24.80
that's very important
because you know in Detroit
00:22:24.83\00:22:27.62
is where the auto industry,
you know used to take everybody
00:22:27.65\00:22:30.42
that didn't finish the school.
00:22:30.45\00:22:31.84
But now you know
that industry is not,
00:22:31.87\00:22:34.31
you know, as
strong as it once was.
00:22:34.34\00:22:36.34
So I try to explain them
college is first important
00:22:36.37\00:22:39.07
and then you can let them
know, when you get to college,
00:22:39.10\00:22:41.69
is even more
important to stay there
00:22:41.72\00:22:43.29
and keep your grades up
00:22:43.32\00:22:44.36
so that you can get scholarship
and things like that.
00:22:44.39\00:22:46.19
Excellent.
00:22:46.22\00:22:47.25
Well, you know
again beating the odds,
00:22:47.28\00:22:51.45
we're praying for you,
00:22:51.48\00:22:53.53
your
relationship with your father,
00:22:53.56\00:22:54.70
I think it's going
to be very instrumental,
00:22:54.73\00:22:57.19
as you someday
marry and become a father.
00:22:57.22\00:22:59.80
Do you want
children? Yes, of course.
00:22:59.83\00:23:02.73
Yeah, all right.
00:23:02.76\00:23:04.28
You know, I think, you
know some people get married
00:23:04.31\00:23:07.10
and they don't want children.
00:23:07.13\00:23:08.24
They are not many. Can I?
00:23:08.27\00:23:09.58
I want many, I
want more children.
00:23:09.61\00:23:12.33
Kim, I can't
imagine, shame on you
00:23:12.36\00:23:14.45
for thinking about right now.
00:23:14.48\00:23:16.48
That's something that I have
to keep to myself, all right.
00:23:16.51\00:23:19.61
But let me say,
you do that, you know.
00:23:19.64\00:23:21.83
Let me say this,
00:23:21.86\00:23:23.85
your leadership
role in the church,
00:23:23.88\00:23:25.72
tell us how are you
serving God's church?
00:23:25.75\00:23:28.05
You know we hear
about the community,
00:23:28.08\00:23:29.83
what you've done
at Oakwood University.
00:23:29.86\00:23:32.00
What are you doing in
your home local church?
00:23:32.03\00:23:34.03
Yes.
00:23:34.06\00:23:35.12
Well, at my Church,
coming back from Oakwood
00:23:35.15\00:23:37.59
and come and see your church
is very interesting because--
00:23:37.62\00:23:40.73
I can imagine.
00:23:40.76\00:23:41.80
Everything is not on time,
00:23:41.83\00:23:43.13
everything is
not running smoothly,
00:23:43.16\00:23:44.59
so one things, you know,
00:23:44.62\00:23:45.70
I did was I was
elected as an elder so I was--
00:23:45.73\00:23:50.20
Oh, that's great, young
elder. Great youth elder.
00:23:50.23\00:23:52.26
Yes, exactly. I like that.
00:23:52.29\00:23:54.20
Yes, so I'm really
enjoying that role.
00:23:54.23\00:23:56.41
Do you preach? I
do preach sometimes.
00:23:56.44\00:23:58.70
They do call me want to preach.
00:23:58.73\00:24:00.28
So, and I enjoyed that also.
00:24:00.31\00:24:03.50
So you know I enjoy talking
to members and counseling them.
00:24:03.53\00:24:06.68
We started up a
young adult ministry
00:24:06.71\00:24:08.69
where we have like a
rap session on Friday nights
00:24:08.72\00:24:11.20
where we discuss our
issues and share Scriptures.
00:24:11.23\00:24:13.99
And I think
that's very important,
00:24:14.02\00:24:15.25
you know just
as, as we ourselves
00:24:15.28\00:24:17.77
we see voted as vice-president
00:24:17.80\00:24:19.45
of the Motor
City Youth Federation,
00:24:19.48\00:24:21.49
you know, they'll do a view
00:24:21.52\00:24:23.02
and you know, got to the church.
00:24:23.05\00:24:24.22
And that's the Motor
City Youth Federation?
00:24:24.25\00:24:25.75
Yes, Motor City
Youth Federation.
00:24:25.78\00:24:27.05
What do you expect out
of being vice-president,
00:24:27.08\00:24:30.44
of the Motor
City Youth Federation?
00:24:30.47\00:24:31.98
Well, I think we
have a great leader
00:24:32.01\00:24:33.78
in Sandrew King
and I'm going to,
00:24:33.81\00:24:36.53
he has a great vision
for the youth and I expect,
00:24:36.56\00:24:38.85
you know, that we'll
be working to save souls,
00:24:38.88\00:24:41.12
you know,
because this is an area,
00:24:41.15\00:24:43.09
like I said, that really
00:24:43.12\00:24:44.87
you have a great
opportunity to reach people.
00:24:44.90\00:24:47.33
People that have
no home, you know,
00:24:47.36\00:24:48.84
because when people go outside
and you shoot your neighbor
00:24:48.87\00:24:51.52
for having a disagreement
over the music being too loud.
00:24:51.55\00:24:54.45
You know, that's
a-- Or a cell phone.
00:24:54.48\00:24:56.41
Or a cell phone you know.
00:24:56.44\00:24:57.73
That's a
generation that has lost hope.
00:24:57.76\00:25:00.70
So its like they don't
have any jobs to go to you know,
00:25:00.73\00:25:03.38
so it's so easy for
them to pick up a gun
00:25:03.41\00:25:05.58
and you know show violence.
00:25:05.61\00:25:07.72
So I think one of
the important things is,
00:25:07.75\00:25:09.50
is just going out
and reaching our youth.
00:25:09.53\00:25:11.18
Let them know that,
00:25:11.21\00:25:12.24
your life can
be better you know.
00:25:12.27\00:25:13.58
Do some
alternatives. Exactly, exactly.
00:25:13.61\00:25:15.43
Some other options you know.
00:25:15.46\00:25:17.34
What's your
favorite Bible scripture?
00:25:17.37\00:25:19.99
You know, my
favorite Bible scripture
00:25:20.02\00:25:21.58
is Proverbs 2, 3:5-6.
00:25:21.61\00:25:24.52
And its, "Trust in the
Lord with all your heart,
00:25:24.55\00:25:26.85
lean not on your
own understanding,
00:25:26.88\00:25:28.52
in all your
ways acknowledge Him,
00:25:28.55\00:25:30.39
and He shall direct your paths."
00:25:30.42\00:25:31.96
All right, all right.
00:25:31.99\00:25:33.03
And I think that's
so important thing.
00:25:33.06\00:25:34.09
All right but
it's Proverbs 3:5, 6.
00:25:34.12\00:25:36.33
Yes, Proverbs 3:5,6.
00:25:36.36\00:25:38.07
Because that's one of
Arthur's favorite scriptures.
00:25:38.10\00:25:40.03
Yes. It's his favorite.
00:25:40.06\00:25:42.18
When I think about the Word
00:25:42.21\00:25:43.41
and young people
knowing the Word of God,
00:25:43.44\00:25:45.68
because it
helps you to be solid,
00:25:45.71\00:25:47.69
it helps you to be rooted
00:25:47.72\00:25:48.99
and it will be the key
to help you beat the odds.
00:25:49.02\00:25:52.18
Would you agree
with that? Totally agree.
00:25:52.21\00:25:53.86
When you were at Oakwood,
we have about a minute left.
00:25:53.89\00:25:56.77
When you were at Oakwood,
00:25:56.80\00:25:58.23
real quickly, did
your spirituality increased
00:25:58.26\00:26:01.67
or did it detour you know?
00:26:01.70\00:26:03.78
I think my spirituality
most definitely increased
00:26:03.81\00:26:06.69
and I think it's
because I've people around me
00:26:06.72\00:26:08.70
to held me
accountable, do you know,
00:26:08.73\00:26:10.47
and just the
worship services is so,
00:26:10.50\00:26:12.58
you know, it is really
focused on changing you life
00:26:12.61\00:26:15.09
and doing what you can for God.
00:26:15.12\00:26:16.70
Tell us quickly how
many churches are involved
00:26:16.73\00:26:19.67
with the Motor
City Youth Federation
00:26:19.70\00:26:21.75
and what is the Motor
City Youth Federation?
00:26:21.78\00:26:23.61
Yeah, well the Motor
City Youth Federation
00:26:23.64\00:26:25.07
is the organization for
the youth of the Detroit area.
00:26:25.10\00:26:30.17
It's an Adventist organization
00:26:30.20\00:26:31.82
and the churches
that are involved,
00:26:31.85\00:26:33.93
you know, is the surrounding
areas in the Detroit area.
00:26:33.96\00:26:37.16
So you have like
friends hanging all,
00:26:37.19\00:26:39.38
all those churches
are kind of involved.
00:26:39.41\00:26:41.18
And the Motor
City Youth Federation
00:26:41.21\00:26:42.29
is to foster youth programs
and work saving youths' souls.
00:26:42.32\00:26:46.66
Well, all right. Excellent.
00:26:46.69\00:26:47.81
Well, we'll give
about 20 seconds,
00:26:47.84\00:26:50.32
what would you say
to somebody right now,
00:26:50.35\00:26:53.37
how to beat the odds?
00:26:53.40\00:26:54.93
I'll tell them, you
know, to stay focused.
00:26:54.96\00:26:57.19
I think it's very
important that you stay focused
00:26:57.22\00:26:58.96
and that you trust in God.
00:26:58.99\00:27:00.20
You know whatever happens,
00:27:00.23\00:27:02.16
you know, in
your life you always
00:27:02.19\00:27:03.57
have to trust God because,
00:27:03.60\00:27:04.91
God will never
leave you nor forsake you.
00:27:04.94\00:27:07.41
And I think that
you have to realize,
00:27:07.44\00:27:09.00
you know, that one day
God is going to be returning.
00:27:09.03\00:27:14.29
You have to stay
focused and God will bless you.
00:27:14.32\00:27:16.75
Well Antwan, we
want to thank you.
00:27:16.78\00:27:18.53
God bless you.
00:27:18.56\00:27:19.85
I am Dr. Kim Logan-Nowlin.
00:27:19.88\00:27:21.60
I'm Arthur Nowlin.
00:27:21.63\00:27:22.83
Thank you for joining
us on "Making It Work."
00:27:22.86\00:27:25.00
God bless.
00:27:25.03\00:27:26.10