The following program
discusses sensitive issues.
00:00:01.36\00:00:03.30
Parents are
cautioned that some material
00:00:03.33\00:00:05.13
may be too candid
for younger children.
00:00:05.17\00:00:09.37
Welcome to The New Journey.
00:00:09.40\00:00:10.74
In today's program
we'll meet a young woman
00:00:10.77\00:00:12.61
who grew up on the
mean streets of Baltimore.
00:00:12.64\00:00:15.14
Join us for The New Journey.
00:00:15.18\00:00:16.81
Welcome back to The New Journey.
00:00:48.48\00:00:49.91
On today's program we
have a young woman with us
00:00:49.94\00:00:52.15
named Latoya Holloman.
00:00:52.18\00:00:53.82
Latoya, like to thank
you for being on the program.
00:00:53.85\00:00:56.22
Thank you for having
me. All right, all right.
00:00:56.25\00:00:58.15
Now for the
record, how old are you
00:00:58.19\00:01:00.29
and we know you're
already from Baltimore
00:01:00.32\00:01:01.96
but give us a little
background of Baltimore
00:01:01.99\00:01:04.46
and how old you are?
00:01:04.49\00:01:05.83
You know, I'm 28
00:01:05.86\00:01:07.20
and I grew up in
Baltimore, Maryland
00:01:07.23\00:01:09.16
on Greenmount
Avenue, North Avenue.
00:01:09.20\00:01:11.83
Okay.
00:01:11.87\00:01:13.20
Very heavy drug
trafficking in that area,
00:01:13.23\00:01:17.17
grew up with a lot of
different friends there.
00:01:17.21\00:01:20.08
We all had
different backgrounds and...
00:01:20.11\00:01:22.08
Okay.
00:01:22.11\00:01:23.45
Now, tell us a little bit
about your family background,
00:01:23.48\00:01:25.65
your mother, your
father, your siblings,
00:01:25.68\00:01:27.15
give us a little bit
of details about them?
00:01:27.18\00:01:29.45
Well, we all grew up together
00:01:29.48\00:01:31.89
and me and my brother
was kind of the bestie.
00:01:31.92\00:01:36.42
Okay.
00:01:36.46\00:01:37.79
We stayed in trouble
00:01:37.83\00:01:39.16
and was in and out of
juvenile for many so...
00:01:39.19\00:01:44.57
My sisters then was kind
of just focused on school
00:01:44.60\00:01:47.74
and different stuff like that.
00:01:47.77\00:01:50.04
So it was mainly
me and my brother
00:01:50.07\00:01:51.47
that was getting
in a lot of trouble.
00:01:51.51\00:01:53.14
Okay, what were
some of the trouble
00:01:53.17\00:01:54.84
that you and your brother
were getting involved in?
00:01:54.88\00:01:58.51
It's almost like we took turns
getting kicked out of school.
00:01:58.55\00:02:03.62
We were fighting all the time,
getting kicked out of school.
00:02:03.65\00:02:09.22
We went as far as
setting house on fire.
00:02:09.26\00:02:11.86
Okay.
00:02:11.89\00:02:13.23
So, yeah.
00:02:13.26\00:02:14.60
Okay, now, I'm sure you've heard
00:02:14.63\00:02:16.00
of the program called "Wire".
00:02:16.03\00:02:18.33
And it's based out
of Baltimore, Maryland.
00:02:18.37\00:02:20.64
It is.
00:02:20.67\00:02:22.00
And is the reality
that they portray in it,
00:02:22.04\00:02:24.41
is it pretty much factual
00:02:24.44\00:02:25.94
for a person like you
growing up in Baltimore?
00:02:25.97\00:02:28.11
Yes. Okay.
00:02:28.14\00:02:29.81
They didn't sugar-coated at all.
00:02:29.84\00:02:31.88
Okay, okay, so it is
really a violent place to live,
00:02:31.91\00:02:35.48
probably one of the
worst cities in America, right?
00:02:35.52\00:02:37.19
It is. Okay, okay.
00:02:37.22\00:02:38.85
Now you eventually got
involved in the gang life,
00:02:38.89\00:02:41.86
how did that come about?
00:02:41.89\00:02:43.22
Well, I met my
brother on my father's side
00:02:43.26\00:02:47.93
and he introduced me to do it
00:02:47.96\00:02:50.20
and that's how I
became a gang member.
00:02:50.23\00:02:53.07
Okay, now what particular
gang were you involved in?
00:02:53.10\00:02:57.01
Bloods. The Bloods.
00:02:57.04\00:02:58.37
Okay, and what are some
of the known or unknown gangs
00:02:58.41\00:03:01.38
there are in Baltimore area?
00:03:01.41\00:03:03.08
The Bloods, Crips,
00:03:03.11\00:03:05.28
Gangster
Disciple, Tree Top Piru.
00:03:05.31\00:03:07.92
Okay, Okay.
00:03:07.95\00:03:09.72
Now as a female in a
gang, how was it for you?
00:03:09.75\00:03:15.76
It was pretty scary
at times, dangerous.
00:03:15.79\00:03:21.16
I didn't have to
worry about too much
00:03:21.20\00:03:23.43
'cause I was the female
so I was always protected
00:03:23.47\00:03:25.77
and that's what
I liked about it.
00:03:25.80\00:03:27.17
Okay, now what
made you gravitate
00:03:27.20\00:03:29.54
to being involved
in, involve in gangs.
00:03:29.57\00:03:31.81
Many people often say
that it's that brotherhood
00:03:31.84\00:03:34.84
or that sisterhood
that they're looking for,
00:03:34.88\00:03:36.61
that love that they, you
know, weren't getting at home,
00:03:36.64\00:03:39.98
was it similar for you or
was it something different?
00:03:40.02\00:03:44.05
I would say
similar and different.
00:03:44.09\00:03:45.99
Okay.
00:03:46.02\00:03:47.72
Wanting
something to be a part of.
00:03:47.76\00:03:50.39
And just fitting in,
00:03:50.43\00:03:54.06
so and to be protected
00:03:54.10\00:03:56.06
so that's what
made me join a gang.
00:03:56.10\00:03:58.97
Okay.
00:03:59.00\00:04:00.34
And you were
eventually incarcerated.
00:04:00.37\00:04:03.07
At what age were
you first incarcerated?
00:04:03.10\00:04:06.31
Well, I was first
incarcerated when I was 15.
00:04:06.34\00:04:08.71
Okay.
00:04:08.74\00:04:10.65
As I spoke about earlier,
the arson charge that we got.
00:04:10.68\00:04:15.92
Okay, so you were incarcerated
for the arson charge.
00:04:15.95\00:04:19.62
How long were you in,
I assume that's juvenile,
00:04:19.65\00:04:21.69
you were in
juvenile at that time,
00:04:21.72\00:04:23.22
how long were you incarcerated?
00:04:23.26\00:04:24.59
Just overnight. Okay, okay.
00:04:24.63\00:04:26.46
How was that experience?
00:04:26.49\00:04:28.06
It was rough
00:04:28.10\00:04:29.43
and scary that was my
first time being locked up
00:04:29.46\00:04:32.37
and so I really
didn't know what to think.
00:04:32.40\00:04:35.14
So, yeah...
00:04:35.17\00:04:36.50
I remember the
first time I got locked up
00:04:36.54\00:04:38.91
I was 15 years old also
and I was in a juvenile center,
00:04:38.94\00:04:42.98
I was actually there for
a week and it was different
00:04:43.01\00:04:46.55
because I'm not built
for a cage, number one,
00:04:46.58\00:04:50.22
I like to be outside
out and about doing things
00:04:50.25\00:04:52.95
and to adjust to
having to just sit in a room
00:04:52.99\00:04:55.82
for 23 hours out of the
day was very, very difficult.
00:04:55.86\00:05:00.36
You know and some
people try to glorify
00:05:00.40\00:05:02.33
being incarcerated.
00:05:02.36\00:05:03.70
Do you think that
it's something to glorify?
00:05:03.73\00:05:06.80
Absolutely not.
00:05:06.84\00:05:08.17
Okay.
00:05:08.20\00:05:09.54
When I first got,
I mean, incarcerated
00:05:09.57\00:05:12.24
it was the worst phase
of my life being closed in.
00:05:12.27\00:05:16.31
Anybody that knows me know
00:05:16.34\00:05:17.68
that I like to
just get up and go.
00:05:17.71\00:05:19.05
Yeah. Okay.
00:05:19.08\00:05:20.42
I love the
fresh air and all that
00:05:20.45\00:05:21.85
and I couldn't do this,
00:05:21.88\00:05:23.22
so I nearly lost
my mind in that place.
00:05:23.25\00:05:25.45
It is definitely
not the place to be.
00:05:25.49\00:05:27.16
Now aside from that
there were other times
00:05:27.19\00:05:29.06
when you were incarcerated,
00:05:29.09\00:05:30.66
talk a little bit
about those situations?
00:05:30.69\00:05:32.66
Disorderly conduct. Okay.
00:05:32.69\00:05:36.87
Getting in
trouble, and fighting,
00:05:36.90\00:05:43.77
just foolishness
00:05:43.81\00:05:45.14
that I shouldn't
have been a part of.
00:05:45.17\00:05:47.18
Okay, okay.
00:05:47.21\00:05:48.54
Now, do you think that you were
attracted to the streets like,
00:05:48.58\00:05:52.48
in my instance,
the way that I grew up,
00:05:52.51\00:05:56.15
I was more attracted
to the streets versus
00:05:56.18\00:05:58.39
growing up in the area,
00:05:58.42\00:05:59.85
I was always the one
00:05:59.89\00:06:01.22
that kind of
lived around the corner
00:06:01.26\00:06:02.59
from where all the drama was,
00:06:02.62\00:06:04.06
but I was attracted to
it and hopped into that.
00:06:04.09\00:06:06.83
Would you say that
you were more of a product
00:06:06.86\00:06:08.46
of your environment
00:06:08.50\00:06:09.83
or you were just
attracted to the streets
00:06:09.86\00:06:11.40
and kind of
gravitated towards it?
00:06:11.43\00:06:13.44
A little bit of both.
00:06:13.47\00:06:14.80
I grew up in that environment
00:06:14.84\00:06:17.61
and was raised
in that environment.
00:06:17.64\00:06:20.68
And on the flip side of it
00:06:20.71\00:06:22.28
I also liked what
I was seeing so...
00:06:22.31\00:06:25.18
Okay, now what is it,
what is it that you like,
00:06:25.21\00:06:27.45
like what you were
seeing, what interested you?
00:06:27.48\00:06:30.35
The money.
00:06:30.39\00:06:31.72
Okay, I guess
that's for a lot of us.
00:06:31.75\00:06:34.36
The money and definitely being
able to provide for myself.
00:06:34.39\00:06:39.59
That was a great help so...
00:06:39.63\00:06:40.96
So you kind of
got that addiction
00:06:41.00\00:06:42.46
to the fast money
00:06:42.50\00:06:43.83
and different
things like that, right?
00:06:43.87\00:06:45.20
Right.
00:06:45.23\00:06:46.57
And that's what
it is for most of us.
00:06:46.60\00:06:47.94
Most of us that get
involved in a street life,
00:06:47.97\00:06:50.11
you know, we see
that selling drugs
00:06:50.14\00:06:51.71
or doing something
illegal brings that fast money,
00:06:51.74\00:06:54.74
but also it brings consequences.
00:06:54.78\00:06:56.78
I'm sure you have many
friends, family members
00:06:56.81\00:06:59.21
that
incarcerated right now, right?
00:06:59.25\00:07:01.38
I do. And I have. Okay.
00:07:01.42\00:07:04.25
My father is
incarcerated right now
00:07:04.29\00:07:07.96
in and out of
jail all the time...
00:07:07.99\00:07:09.39
Okay.
00:07:09.42\00:07:10.76
Drugs, robberies,
00:07:10.79\00:07:14.03
attempted murders, so, yeah.
00:07:14.06\00:07:15.40
Wow!
00:07:15.43\00:07:17.23
Okay, talk
about, you had told me
00:07:17.27\00:07:19.03
that at 16 years
old I believe it was,
00:07:19.07\00:07:21.40
was when you saw
your first murder.
00:07:21.44\00:07:23.84
Talk about that and
how it made you feel?
00:07:23.87\00:07:26.47
Man, I was stunned.
00:07:26.51\00:07:28.94
I was staying in
Baltimore on Lorraine Avenue
00:07:28.98\00:07:32.78
with my grandmother
00:07:32.81\00:07:34.58
and we heard some
gunshots came outside
00:07:34.62\00:07:40.12
and there was two bodies
in the front of our home.
00:07:40.16\00:07:42.36
Okay.
00:07:42.39\00:07:43.73
Now seeing something like that
00:07:43.76\00:07:45.43
what, what impact
did it have on your life?
00:07:45.46\00:07:50.17
It made me a little
scared 'cause I was like,
00:07:50.20\00:07:54.14
you know, "Wow, this is
way close to home like."
00:07:54.17\00:07:57.11
Yeah, right on your doorstep.
00:07:57.14\00:07:58.47
It was very close to home
00:07:58.51\00:07:59.84
so, it kind of
throw me for little bit,
00:07:59.87\00:08:02.21
made me wanna protect
myself just that much more so...
00:08:02.24\00:08:04.88
Okay, okay.
00:08:04.91\00:08:06.25
What about your brother
that I believe that you said
00:08:06.28\00:08:08.48
that he had murdered somebody
and was incarcerated for it?
00:08:08.52\00:08:13.76
Can you give a little
information on that situation,
00:08:13.79\00:08:15.62
how it happened
00:08:15.66\00:08:16.99
or how you were, you
know, how you took it?
00:08:17.03\00:08:19.29
Well, he was accused of
murder and did some time for it.
00:08:19.33\00:08:25.13
Okay.
00:08:25.17\00:08:27.04
It broke my heart for him
00:08:27.07\00:08:28.47
to have to go
through something like that.
00:08:28.50\00:08:31.17
It's always one thing
to do time for something
00:08:31.21\00:08:35.28
that you've done
00:08:35.31\00:08:37.08
but it's
another do stuff that...
00:08:37.11\00:08:39.45
Incarcerated for
something that you didn't do.
00:08:39.48\00:08:41.15
You didn't do. Oh, yeah.
00:08:41.18\00:08:42.88
That is definitely just
up and arable, praise God.
00:08:42.92\00:08:46.25
He's going down a
different path now.
00:08:46.29\00:08:48.59
Amen.
00:08:48.62\00:08:49.96
So you were
incarcerated at one time at 15
00:08:49.99\00:08:52.86
and then you had a
couple of more incarcerations.
00:08:52.89\00:08:55.53
Go into a little more
detail of those incarcerations,
00:08:55.56\00:08:58.63
how much time you did
and the results of them?
00:08:58.67\00:09:01.97
Well, I had a
fight at the courthouse
00:09:02.00\00:09:05.77
and I had to go to jail
for not a long a period of time
00:09:05.81\00:09:09.78
about 15 days for
disorderly conduct
00:09:09.81\00:09:13.62
and that was an
experience for me
00:09:13.65\00:09:17.75
being closed in
like that for 15 days
00:09:17.79\00:09:20.49
was not good at all.
00:09:20.52\00:09:21.86
Oh, yeah, like a
caged animal. Right.
00:09:21.89\00:09:23.22
You got these
different girls yelling
00:09:23.26\00:09:25.83
and you got these
girls over here crying
00:09:25.86\00:09:29.36
and just you're surrounded
by so many different things,
00:09:29.40\00:09:32.10
so many
different ways of thinking
00:09:32.13\00:09:34.60
and just it changes you,
it definitely changes you.
00:09:34.64\00:09:37.24
Oh, yeah. Oh,
yeah, I understand.
00:09:37.27\00:09:39.41
Now you said that you used
to get into a lot of fights,
00:09:39.44\00:09:42.51
what was going on internally
00:09:42.54\00:09:44.51
that would cause you to
get into a lot of fights?
00:09:44.55\00:09:46.95
Just very angry,
00:09:46.98\00:09:48.38
I felt like that I
had something to prove
00:09:48.42\00:09:50.89
because a lot of
people would mess with me,
00:09:50.92\00:09:53.25
I thought, because I was short.
00:09:53.29\00:09:54.69
Okay.
00:09:54.72\00:09:56.06
And everybody got
little short jokes
00:09:56.09\00:09:57.43
and all that
kind of stuff, right.
00:09:57.46\00:09:58.79
Yeah, so I thought
that, that was the main reason
00:09:58.83\00:10:00.80
that they will pick on
me is because I was short
00:10:00.83\00:10:02.96
and they just want to
see if I can protect myself.
00:10:03.00\00:10:05.10
Okay, so people
trying to test you
00:10:05.13\00:10:06.84
and things like that.
00:10:06.87\00:10:08.20
Now what was that
built up anger about,
00:10:08.24\00:10:10.01
was it just things that
were going on in your life
00:10:10.04\00:10:12.57
or what was it?
00:10:12.61\00:10:14.88
I believe it was
just a lot of stuff
00:10:14.91\00:10:16.64
that had built up over the years
00:10:16.68\00:10:19.05
and just to the point
00:10:19.08\00:10:21.45
where I just
eventually exploded.
00:10:21.48\00:10:23.45
Okay, okay.
00:10:23.49\00:10:24.82
Now eventually you got
involved in selling drugs
00:10:24.85\00:10:27.12
and using drugs,
00:10:27.16\00:10:28.76
the first portion of it
is what drugs were you using?
00:10:28.79\00:10:34.10
I was using
weed, marijuana. Okay.
00:10:34.13\00:10:37.57
And what drugs were
you involved with selling?
00:10:37.60\00:10:40.07
Crack, cocaine.
00:10:40.10\00:10:41.44
Okay, so I'm sure from
that you saw a lot of cash flow
00:10:41.47\00:10:44.21
and different things like that
00:10:44.24\00:10:45.57
which kind of kept
you addicted to that life.
00:10:45.61\00:10:47.48
Right.
00:10:47.51\00:10:48.84
How did you
eventually break away
00:10:48.88\00:10:50.41
from selling drugs and things?
00:10:50.45\00:10:54.02
Well, I just
didn't wanted no more.
00:10:54.05\00:10:56.79
I had lot of positive
people strolled into my life
00:10:56.82\00:11:00.22
and it just started
making a great impact on my life
00:11:00.26\00:11:03.69
and it slowly started
changing the way I think.
00:11:03.73\00:11:06.13
Okay, now most of
the people that you,
00:11:06.16\00:11:08.53
that were in your circle
00:11:08.56\00:11:10.10
were they trying to
keep you in that circle,
00:11:10.13\00:11:11.90
you know, it's kind of
like a crab in a bucket theory.
00:11:11.93\00:11:14.44
You want to make a change
but your friends always try to,
00:11:14.47\00:11:16.81
you know, pull you back
into this little circle of life.
00:11:16.84\00:11:19.61
Did you experience that at all?
00:11:19.64\00:11:20.98
I did, I did.
00:11:21.01\00:11:22.34
Okay, talk about
that a little bit?
00:11:22.38\00:11:23.71
Well, a lot of my friends
00:11:23.75\00:11:25.51
I don't
associate with them anymore
00:11:25.55\00:11:27.65
because of the new
turn that I have took in.
00:11:27.68\00:11:30.85
And, you know, you
always get them from instance,
00:11:30.89\00:11:33.05
ah, you're punking, you
know, just fooling yourself.
00:11:33.09\00:11:36.42
Yeah.
00:11:36.46\00:11:37.79
So you kind of
gotta step away from them?
00:11:37.83\00:11:39.29
Yeah. Just love
them from a distance.
00:11:39.33\00:11:41.96
Oh, yeah, I
understand, I understand.
00:11:42.00\00:11:44.80
You know, it's interesting
growing up in Baltimore
00:11:44.83\00:11:47.94
in that rough area
00:11:47.97\00:11:50.01
that you were able to
make a change eventually.
00:11:50.04\00:11:53.64
But you still have friends
that are out there that are,
00:11:53.68\00:11:56.44
you know, that are
still on the streets
00:11:56.48\00:11:58.51
and different
things like that, right?
00:11:58.55\00:11:59.88
Mm-hmm. Okay.
00:11:59.91\00:12:01.25
And you try to do, ever
try to reach out to them,
00:12:01.28\00:12:02.98
you know, look, it's
a better life over here,
00:12:03.02\00:12:05.39
change your life,
anything like that?
00:12:05.42\00:12:06.79
I do, I do. Okay.
00:12:06.82\00:12:08.16
What results have you
seen from that thus far?
00:12:08.19\00:12:11.59
Well, lot of my
friends come to me and say,
00:12:11.63\00:12:14.30
"Well pray for me, Latoya,
00:12:14.33\00:12:15.73
you know, they'll
give me a hug, call me.
00:12:15.76\00:12:17.90
Well, that's good, at
least they say, pray for me.
00:12:17.93\00:12:19.63
And get it with certain issue
00:12:19.67\00:12:21.00
so it's
definitely making an impact.
00:12:21.04\00:12:23.17
Okay, okay.
00:12:23.20\00:12:26.24
In those times that
you were incarcerated,
00:12:26.27\00:12:29.81
you know, sometimes
we try to glorify it.
00:12:29.84\00:12:31.81
I remember a song back in
maybe seven, eight years ago,
00:12:31.85\00:12:35.88
there was a song by a
rapper called Styles P.
00:12:35.92\00:12:37.79
and it was "I'm locked up"
that was the title of the song.
00:12:37.82\00:12:40.96
And sometimes in hip-hop
videos and on TV it's glorified,
00:12:40.99\00:12:46.36
but I know from
my own experiences
00:12:46.39\00:12:47.90
of being incarcerated,
00:12:47.93\00:12:49.26
isn't anything
glorified about it.
00:12:49.30\00:12:50.63
In your experiences,
00:12:50.67\00:12:52.13
did your see
anything to glory about in it?
00:12:52.17\00:12:54.44
Not at all. Why not?
00:12:54.47\00:12:58.37
It was just us in a different
form of slavery I think.
00:12:58.41\00:13:03.58
Yeah, okay. Just mentally.
00:13:03.61\00:13:05.91
And we just got to change
our way of thinking as people.
00:13:05.95\00:13:09.38
Okay. You know.
00:13:09.42\00:13:11.35
So do you think, do you
think all the experiences
00:13:11.39\00:13:14.26
that you went
through in your life,
00:13:14.29\00:13:16.52
do you think that they've
made you a better person now?
00:13:16.56\00:13:19.73
I do. Okay, why is that?
00:13:19.76\00:13:21.90
I do. I have a
testimony now. Amen.
00:13:21.93\00:13:26.13
And being able to adjust, adapt
00:13:26.17\00:13:29.27
and overcome is
a beautiful thing.
00:13:29.30\00:13:31.27
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah.
00:13:31.31\00:13:32.91
You know it's
always great to hear
00:13:32.94\00:13:35.61
powerful stories of people
00:13:35.64\00:13:36.98
who have been out
there on the streets,
00:13:37.01\00:13:39.15
changed their life
and now serving God.
00:13:39.18\00:13:42.12
Talk a little bit about
what you're involved in now?
00:13:42.15\00:13:46.05
Well, I'm involved in
stopping the violence.
00:13:46.09\00:13:48.82
Okay. I've got it together.
00:13:48.86\00:13:52.26
Well, how it came about is
00:13:52.29\00:13:54.60
I was taking a walk
to the store one night
00:13:54.63\00:13:57.70
and while I was in the store,
00:13:57.73\00:13:59.40
I'm hearing all these
sirens and gunshots and stuff.
00:13:59.43\00:14:03.10
And on the way
walking back to the house,
00:14:03.14\00:14:06.78
I see this young
lady by the name of Keito
00:14:06.81\00:14:09.11
being carried out of her
home, she was shot in head.
00:14:09.14\00:14:12.28
Wow.
00:14:12.31\00:14:13.65
And I'm watching them
pump her trying to revive her,
00:14:13.68\00:14:16.75
bring her back to life.
00:14:16.79\00:14:18.12
And it didn't happen.
00:14:18.15\00:14:19.89
So instead of
being one of the ones
00:14:19.92\00:14:21.66
who are just talking,
00:14:21.69\00:14:25.83
I said, okay, what can I
do to help change this, so.
00:14:25.86\00:14:27.40
Yeah, to make a change. Okay.
00:14:27.43\00:14:30.20
And what have
you been able to do
00:14:30.23\00:14:32.60
or what has God
placed upon your heart to do?
00:14:32.63\00:14:35.97
Well, I've started doing events.
00:14:36.00\00:14:38.61
I started doing
stop the violence events.
00:14:38.64\00:14:40.41
Okay.
00:14:40.44\00:14:41.78
And they have
turned out awesome, great,
00:14:41.81\00:14:44.38
it's made a big
impact on my neighborhood.
00:14:44.41\00:14:46.45
Okay.
00:14:46.48\00:14:47.82
People still ask me to this day,
00:14:47.85\00:14:49.18
when is the next
one, when is the next one.
00:14:49.22\00:14:51.62
I still get phone calls,
00:14:51.65\00:14:53.46
they put it in the paper for me.
00:14:53.49\00:14:55.26
Okay.
00:14:55.29\00:14:56.62
So it's
definitely making a mark.
00:14:56.66\00:14:58.26
Okay.
00:14:58.29\00:14:59.63
Now in looking
back on your life,
00:14:59.66\00:15:02.26
what are some
things that or would you,
00:15:02.30\00:15:04.80
would you change
some of the things
00:15:04.83\00:15:06.30
that you went through in life
00:15:06.33\00:15:07.67
or would you keep
everything the same?
00:15:07.70\00:15:09.04
I will keep everything the same.
00:15:09.07\00:15:10.57
Okay, now why is that?
00:15:10.61\00:15:12.24
Because what you go through
helps make you a better person.
00:15:12.27\00:15:15.51
That is true. That is true.
00:15:15.54\00:15:17.08
I guess in my instance,
00:15:17.11\00:15:18.45
you know, I'm one of those type
of people that I say to myself,
00:15:18.48\00:15:22.12
you know, I wish I would
have listened when I was younger
00:15:22.15\00:15:24.29
because so many things
could have been avoided,
00:15:24.32\00:15:26.69
if I would have just listened
00:15:26.72\00:15:28.06
and stayed on the
straight and narrow path.
00:15:28.09\00:15:30.29
And looking back
there are many things
00:15:30.33\00:15:32.49
that I would probably change,
00:15:32.53\00:15:34.43
just so I wouldn't had to
go through all of that drama
00:15:34.46\00:15:36.70
and, you know, Lord willing,
00:15:36.73\00:15:38.07
he would have taught
me in a different way.
00:15:38.10\00:15:39.77
But I do, I do praise
the Lord for that testimony.
00:15:39.80\00:15:43.30
What can you
encourage people though,
00:15:43.34\00:15:45.37
young people
that are gravitating
00:15:45.41\00:15:48.18
to that lifestyle,
00:15:48.21\00:15:49.54
gravitating to the
streets, gravitating to gangs,
00:15:49.58\00:15:51.88
what can you
encourage them with?
00:15:51.91\00:15:54.38
Just to stay strong,
00:15:54.42\00:15:56.38
stay buckled down in God's word.
00:15:56.42\00:15:58.49
Okay.
00:15:58.52\00:16:00.22
Be encouraged, fight to the end.
00:16:00.26\00:16:02.99
Oh, yeah.
00:16:03.02\00:16:04.89
Never feel like you
have something to prove.
00:16:04.93\00:16:06.96
Uh-oh.
00:16:07.00\00:16:08.63
'Cause it always end up
00:16:08.66\00:16:10.60
in the way that you
don't want it to end up in.
00:16:10.63\00:16:12.77
So always be who you are
00:16:12.80\00:16:14.77
and not who would
somebody else want you to be.
00:16:14.80\00:16:16.74
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah,
that's a very good advice.
00:16:16.77\00:16:19.21
Now let's go back to the...
00:16:19.24\00:16:20.58
Let's go back to the drugs
00:16:20.61\00:16:21.94
that you were
involved with selling
00:16:21.98\00:16:23.31
and different things like that.
00:16:23.35\00:16:24.68
What are some of the main drugs
00:16:24.71\00:16:26.15
that you see flowing
through out Baltimore?
00:16:26.18\00:16:28.82
Crack cocaine and heroin. Okay.
00:16:28.85\00:16:30.92
And I know it's pretty
much devastated the city, right?
00:16:30.95\00:16:33.25
Yes.
00:16:33.29\00:16:34.62
Okay, so there is a
lot of ministry work
00:16:34.66\00:16:36.62
that can be done in that area.
00:16:36.66\00:16:37.99
Oh, absolutely. Okay, okay.
00:16:38.03\00:16:41.80
Now in those drugs,
00:16:41.83\00:16:43.16
have you seen it
affect your own home
00:16:43.20\00:16:44.70
in terms of your mother,
00:16:44.73\00:16:46.33
you said your
father was on drugs,
00:16:46.37\00:16:48.37
your brothers, sisters,
cousins anything like that,
00:16:48.40\00:16:50.64
any family members?
00:16:50.67\00:16:52.67
My father and my mother,
00:16:52.71\00:16:57.55
they are victims
of crack cocaine.
00:16:57.58\00:17:00.12
Okay.
00:17:00.15\00:17:01.48
And it definitely,
00:17:01.52\00:17:03.85
crack cocaine have
hit my family very strong.
00:17:03.89\00:17:06.42
Okay, okay.
00:17:06.45\00:17:07.79
Now that you've
changed your life,
00:17:07.82\00:17:10.03
is anybody else in your family,
00:17:10.06\00:17:11.66
have they become
Seventh-day Adventist
00:17:11.69\00:17:13.60
or is anybody else in
your family going to church
00:17:13.63\00:17:16.63
or is everybody pretty much
00:17:16.67\00:17:18.00
just still out
there on the streets?
00:17:18.03\00:17:19.37
Well, my grandmother,
00:17:19.40\00:17:20.74
she was a Seventh-day Adventist.
00:17:20.77\00:17:22.40
Okay, she was a
Seventh-day Adventist.
00:17:22.44\00:17:23.81
Did she introduce you
to Seventh-day Adventism?
00:17:23.84\00:17:25.94
No.
00:17:25.97\00:17:27.31
Actually I became a
Seventh-day Adventist
00:17:27.34\00:17:29.58
because of this young
lady named Janice Wolman.
00:17:29.61\00:17:32.21
Okay.
00:17:32.25\00:17:33.58
She changed my life a whole lot.
00:17:33.62\00:17:35.85
I was having Bible
studies and stuff like that
00:17:35.88\00:17:38.89
and she came to the neighborhood
00:17:38.92\00:17:42.39
and we were
talking and she said,
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.39
"Why don't you
come to church with me?"
00:17:45.43\00:17:47.50
And I came to church with her
and I've been going ever since.
00:17:47.53\00:17:51.33
Okay. Okay.
00:17:51.37\00:17:52.70
Now what have you seen
from studying the Bible,
00:17:52.73\00:17:55.40
going to church,
00:17:55.44\00:17:57.34
have you seen it
change your life,
00:17:57.37\00:17:59.17
your mentality, your actions
00:17:59.21\00:18:01.44
what have you seen from that?
00:18:01.48\00:18:02.91
Well, I think
before I act now. Okay.
00:18:02.94\00:18:06.28
So that means before
you were just acting.
00:18:06.31\00:18:07.68
Just acting.
00:18:07.72\00:18:09.05
Okay, that's most of us.
I think before I act now.
00:18:09.08\00:18:11.02
I have a lot much
love in my heart now
00:18:11.05\00:18:14.62
'cause at first
I just didn't care.
00:18:14.66\00:18:17.03
I felt like the
world was against me.
00:18:17.06\00:18:19.69
I always felt
like I had to fight
00:18:19.73\00:18:21.83
so praise God for that peace.
00:18:21.86\00:18:23.60
Okay, Now, where do you think
00:18:23.63\00:18:25.13
that don't care
attitude comes from?
00:18:25.17\00:18:27.80
Just how I grew up. Okay.
00:18:27.84\00:18:30.01
Just how I grew up,
just really just not caring,
00:18:30.04\00:18:34.11
just thinking about only myself.
00:18:34.14\00:18:35.64
Okay, so, you
know, yeah we do kind of,
00:18:35.68\00:18:37.81
you know, on the streets
00:18:37.85\00:18:39.18
we kind of get into
our own little bubble,
00:18:39.21\00:18:40.65
it's all about me,
you know, my money,
00:18:40.68\00:18:42.95
my this, my that,
00:18:42.98\00:18:44.85
you know, and
it's a blessing that,
00:18:44.89\00:18:46.22
that you could walk away from it
00:18:46.25\00:18:47.59
and make that change.
00:18:47.62\00:18:49.12
Now you
eventually left Baltimore
00:18:49.16\00:18:51.56
and moved to
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
00:18:51.59\00:18:53.86
Talk a little bit about that?
00:18:53.90\00:18:55.23
Well, I have always
been back and forth,
00:18:55.26\00:18:58.93
but this last time I
actually came to Chattanooga
00:18:58.97\00:19:01.70
and I end up staying for good.
00:19:01.74\00:19:03.47
Okay.
00:19:03.51\00:19:05.64
So...
00:19:05.67\00:19:07.01
Okay, was your
grandmother, was family...
00:19:07.04\00:19:10.41
Yes, my grandmother, my mother,
00:19:10.45\00:19:13.25
sisters and brothers,
00:19:13.28\00:19:14.62
half of my family
on my mother's side.
00:19:14.65\00:19:16.38
So you have family between
Baltimore and Chattanooga.
00:19:16.42\00:19:18.35
Right, right.
00:19:18.39\00:19:19.72
Okay, so in Chattanooga
is when you started to learn
00:19:19.75\00:19:24.39
about the
Seventh-day Adventist Church
00:19:24.43\00:19:25.96
about that's when
you started Bible studies
00:19:25.99\00:19:28.26
and things like that, right?
00:19:28.30\00:19:29.63
Right, right.
00:19:29.66\00:19:31.00
Okay, and what church
you attend in Chattanooga?
00:19:31.03\00:19:33.00
Orchard Park
Seventh-day Adventist Church.
00:19:33.03\00:19:34.84
Okay, okay.
00:19:34.87\00:19:36.20
So you, you have seen
this change come in your life,
00:19:36.24\00:19:40.44
you find joy in this change
that has come in your life?
00:19:40.48\00:19:42.88
I do.
00:19:42.91\00:19:44.45
Speak about the difference
between that empty feeling
00:19:44.48\00:19:47.88
that you had when
you were "in the world"
00:19:47.92\00:19:51.49
versus that inner
peace that you have now?
00:19:51.52\00:19:55.22
I was always sad before. Okay.
00:19:55.26\00:19:57.49
Always sad, never
happy, always struggling
00:19:57.53\00:20:01.56
like I'm just carrying
the weight of the world
00:20:01.60\00:20:03.16
on my shoulders.
00:20:03.20\00:20:04.73
And now it's just I'm at peace
00:20:04.77\00:20:08.87
like it takes a
lot for me to get
00:20:08.90\00:20:11.87
to that point of sadness now.
00:20:11.91\00:20:14.28
Okay, so God pretty much
gave you that inner peace,
00:20:14.31\00:20:17.25
that inner joy that you
didn't have before, right?
00:20:17.28\00:20:19.78
Right.
00:20:19.81\00:20:21.15
You know, that is very beautiful
00:20:21.18\00:20:22.52
and I can attest to
that from my own lifestyle
00:20:22.55\00:20:26.55
when I was out
there in the streets
00:20:26.59\00:20:28.19
I wasn't happy, you
know, sure the highs are good,
00:20:28.22\00:20:31.19
you know at the time,
00:20:31.23\00:20:32.79
but when it wears off
you're back to reality.
00:20:32.83\00:20:35.26
You know, the
marijuana wears off,
00:20:35.30\00:20:36.87
the coke wears
off, the x wears off,
00:20:36.90\00:20:38.77
all those things wears
off and you're back to reality
00:20:38.80\00:20:42.10
and it's like you're
chasing it all over again.
00:20:42.14\00:20:45.07
Did you kind of have
that experience where,
00:20:45.11\00:20:46.68
you know, you smoke the weed,
00:20:46.71\00:20:48.04
we have about
three hours and then
00:20:48.08\00:20:49.94
you're back to
chasing it all over again?
00:20:49.98\00:20:52.35
Yes, not only with
marijuana, with alcohol as well.
00:20:52.38\00:20:55.88
Okay. I battled
with both of them.
00:20:55.92\00:20:59.52
When I get upset
there I go to the store.
00:20:59.55\00:21:02.99
Getting something to
drink or getting a blunt
00:21:03.02\00:21:05.19
or that was my
stress reliever so.
00:21:05.23\00:21:07.63
Okay, so when you began to make
that transition in your life,
00:21:07.66\00:21:11.13
how difficult was it to,
to let go off the marijuana
00:21:11.17\00:21:15.07
or let go of the alcohol?
00:21:15.10\00:21:17.04
Well, it was very easy
to let go off the marijuana.
00:21:17.07\00:21:20.21
Okay.
00:21:20.24\00:21:21.58
It became difficult
letting go off the alcohol.
00:21:21.61\00:21:24.68
Okay. Now, why is that?
00:21:24.71\00:21:27.45
I found that's
where I found my comfort.
00:21:27.48\00:21:29.18
Okay, okay.
00:21:29.22\00:21:30.79
So you found
comfort in the alcohol,
00:21:30.82\00:21:33.66
but the marijuana
was easy to let go.
00:21:33.69\00:21:35.59
Yeah, it was very easy to let go
00:21:35.62\00:21:37.13
because it was just a...
00:21:37.16\00:21:38.83
just I want to
keep my mind at easing.
00:21:38.86\00:21:41.66
Just kind of something to do.
00:21:41.70\00:21:43.57
Okay, okay.
That's understandable.
00:21:43.60\00:21:45.63
Now, throughout
all this time period
00:21:45.67\00:21:47.40
while you were in the
streets and things like that,
00:21:47.44\00:21:49.40
did you ever or did
you ever have a legal job
00:21:49.44\00:21:51.74
or was it just
pretty much all streets?
00:21:51.77\00:21:53.68
No, I had a
couple of legal jobs.
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.64
Okay, what were some
of the various places
00:21:56.68\00:21:58.81
that you used to work at?
00:21:58.85\00:22:01.32
Cradle to Crayon
which is a day care.
00:22:01.35\00:22:03.59
Okay. McDonalds, Wendy's.
00:22:03.62\00:22:06.65
Okay. Popeyes.
00:22:06.69\00:22:09.49
Okay, but now it's interesting,
00:22:09.52\00:22:12.59
okay, you're
involved in ministry now
00:22:12.63\00:22:14.20
Stop the Violence,
00:22:14.23\00:22:15.56
and we'll talk more
about that in part two.
00:22:15.60\00:22:21.24
Being in Stop the Violence
00:22:21.27\00:22:22.60
that's what you
really want to do,
00:22:22.64\00:22:24.27
that's where your heart
is, being involved in ministry.
00:22:24.31\00:22:26.84
At what point in your life
did God instilled that in you,
00:22:26.88\00:22:30.01
do you feel that he was calling
you to some form of ministry.
00:22:30.05\00:22:34.18
I knew it was
always in me. Okay.
00:22:34.22\00:22:36.52
I just was ignorant,
didn't, wasn't ready for it.
00:22:36.55\00:22:40.39
And when I sit there
awhile did I spoke about earlier
00:22:40.42\00:22:44.49
is when everything
just started to manifesting.
00:22:44.53\00:22:46.90
Okay.
00:22:46.93\00:22:48.26
And I took heed to it
and I stopped and I said,
00:22:48.30\00:22:51.20
okay, Latoya,
it's not about you,
00:22:51.23\00:22:53.30
it's time to help make a
difference in your community
00:22:53.34\00:22:55.47
and that's what I did.
00:22:55.50\00:22:56.87
Okay, at what age did you
start to make that transition
00:22:56.91\00:22:59.84
from the street life to the life
00:22:59.87\00:23:02.38
that you're living now?
00:23:02.41\00:23:03.75
About three years ago.
00:23:03.78\00:23:05.21
About three years so
you're about 25 years old.
00:23:05.25\00:23:07.72
I got baptized at Orchard Park.
00:23:07.75\00:23:10.02
Okay, okay, that's interesting.
00:23:10.05\00:23:11.39
You know, for me it
was 25 years old too
00:23:11.42\00:23:14.22
when I decided
to make the change
00:23:14.26\00:23:15.62
and it wasn't easy, you know,
00:23:15.66\00:23:17.63
wasn't easy when I
decided I was still involved
00:23:17.66\00:23:20.76
with the snorting coke,
00:23:20.80\00:23:23.37
the heroin,
ecstasy, the various things
00:23:23.40\00:23:25.90
I've been doing
things for years and that,
00:23:25.93\00:23:29.14
a particular night
00:23:29.17\00:23:30.51
when I decided
to make that change
00:23:30.54\00:23:32.01
I was
determined, I was determined
00:23:32.04\00:23:35.01
that I had enough
of this lifestyle,
00:23:35.04\00:23:37.68
you know, and I'm
gonna start reading the Bible
00:23:37.71\00:23:39.78
though later on
that day, you know,
00:23:39.81\00:23:41.58
get high whatever it may be.
00:23:41.62\00:23:44.29
I was determined
to do what was right,
00:23:44.32\00:23:47.16
and it's very hard, right.
00:23:47.19\00:23:48.52
It's very, very hard
trying to make that transition
00:23:48.56\00:23:51.93
from sin to a life of Christ
00:23:51.96\00:23:54.66
because naturally
we're prone towards evil.
00:23:54.70\00:23:57.93
So did you find it
like, did you find like a tug,
00:23:57.97\00:24:00.74
like a tug of war
between that lifestyle
00:24:00.77\00:24:03.14
and the lifestyle
that you're living now?
00:24:03.17\00:24:04.51
I did, I did, I
fought with it a lot,
00:24:04.54\00:24:07.41
and I fought
with it in both ways,
00:24:07.44\00:24:09.81
something did I
knew I had to do for me
00:24:09.84\00:24:13.01
and just breaking that change
from my family background.
00:24:13.05\00:24:17.52
Okay, okay.
00:24:17.55\00:24:18.89
Now when you say
breaking the chain
00:24:18.92\00:24:20.26
of your family background,
00:24:20.29\00:24:21.62
what do you mean
do you mean just...
00:24:21.66\00:24:23.39
The fight and the
drugs use, the selling drugs,
00:24:23.43\00:24:26.66
the weapons and
just the deceit...
00:24:26.70\00:24:31.83
Okay.
00:24:31.87\00:24:33.20
Pretty much doing something
00:24:33.23\00:24:34.57
breaking the chains of
doing something different than,
00:24:34.60\00:24:36.91
than what your family
where you were used to,
00:24:36.94\00:24:39.67
used to being
involved with, right?
00:24:39.71\00:24:41.14
Okay.
00:24:41.18\00:24:42.51
Now, what encouragement
00:24:42.54\00:24:44.41
or what words could
you give young people that,
00:24:44.45\00:24:47.78
you know, they want to
gravitate to this life,
00:24:47.82\00:24:49.92
you know, they're young
they're 15, 14, 13 years old
00:24:49.95\00:24:54.09
and they want the fast money,
00:24:54.12\00:24:55.76
you know, they
want the fast cars,
00:24:55.79\00:24:57.26
they want these things,
00:24:57.29\00:24:58.63
what words of encouragement
would you give them
00:24:58.66\00:25:01.20
to keep them
from their lifestyle
00:25:01.23\00:25:02.70
or to try to keep
them from their lifestyle?
00:25:02.73\00:25:05.53
I would say just
a bowl for Jesus.
00:25:05.57\00:25:08.70
Walking in right direction
and know that you can do it.
00:25:08.74\00:25:11.74
Okay, okay, and because of,
00:25:11.77\00:25:15.44
because of that
change that you made,
00:25:15.48\00:25:19.75
you are,
mentally you're different,
00:25:19.78\00:25:22.08
physically you're different,
spiritually you're different,
00:25:22.12\00:25:24.22
everything about you
is different now, correct?
00:25:24.25\00:25:26.15
Correct. Okay.
00:25:26.19\00:25:27.72
So the things that you do now
00:25:27.76\00:25:30.89
the way that you
handle situations now like,
00:25:30.93\00:25:33.26
okay, somebody makes you mad,
00:25:33.29\00:25:34.76
somebody makes you
mad, what do you do now?
00:25:34.80\00:25:37.30
I walk away now. Okay.
00:25:37.33\00:25:38.97
And before what would you do?
00:25:39.00\00:25:40.80
We're fighting. You're fighting.
00:25:40.84\00:25:43.37
We're fighting. Okay.
00:25:43.41\00:25:45.57
Do you find it
hard to walk away?
00:25:45.61\00:25:47.88
Not, no more, I used to. Okay.
00:25:47.91\00:25:50.61
In the beginning stages it was
very hard for me to walk away.
00:25:50.65\00:25:53.68
Now, why do you think in
the beginning stages it was,
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.82
it was difficult
to walk versus now?
00:25:55.85\00:25:58.35
I was say 'cause
I was just starting.
00:25:58.39\00:26:00.76
I was just, you know, getting
my feet warm in Christianity
00:26:00.79\00:26:04.89
and still had a quick temper,
00:26:04.93\00:26:08.90
just battling with the streets
and trying to transform to...
00:26:08.93\00:26:12.90
Okay.
00:26:12.93\00:26:16.07
The lifestyle
that you lives now,
00:26:16.10\00:26:17.67
this is very,
very important stuff,
00:26:17.71\00:26:19.57
the lifestyle that you live now,
00:26:19.61\00:26:24.85
the old lifestyle
pales in comparison
00:26:24.88\00:26:26.65
to the lifestyle
you live now, correct?
00:26:26.68\00:26:29.98
The attractions, the
addictions, those things,
00:26:30.02\00:26:33.92
do they still haunt
you a little bit to say,
00:26:33.96\00:26:36.69
well, look, you know,
00:26:36.73\00:26:38.29
maybe I should try to
go back and do it this way
00:26:38.33\00:26:40.23
or maybe I should try to go back
00:26:40.26\00:26:41.66
and do it that way,
00:26:41.70\00:26:43.03
or do you have that
00:26:43.06\00:26:44.40
just complete inner
peace from that stuff?
00:26:44.43\00:26:46.47
I have inner peace. Okay.
00:26:46.50\00:26:48.44
I have inner
peace, and the reason
00:26:48.47\00:26:50.77
that I have inner peace
is that I stayed prayed up.
00:26:50.81\00:26:53.11
Amen, amen.
00:26:53.14\00:26:54.48
Do you think that
God kind of brought you
00:26:54.51\00:26:56.01
to the bottom of the
barrel where, you know,
00:26:56.04\00:27:00.02
you really had no
option but to look up?
00:27:00.05\00:27:01.85
Right.
00:27:01.88\00:27:03.22
Okay, and it was
similar for me in my situation,
00:27:03.25\00:27:05.65
I felt the same
exact way and, you know,
00:27:05.69\00:27:08.29
I couldn't do anything
but look to Jesus, you know,
00:27:08.32\00:27:10.99
the friends weren't doing
it, the drugs weren't doing it,
00:27:11.03\00:27:13.50
nothing was satisfying anymore,
00:27:13.53\00:27:15.56
and I'm sure you can
attest to that, right?
00:27:15.60\00:27:17.00
Right. Okay, okay.
00:27:17.03\00:27:19.87
So now, I want you
to look at the camera,
00:27:19.90\00:27:21.44
look at your camera,
00:27:21.47\00:27:22.80
and I want you to really
talk to that young female
00:27:22.84\00:27:25.64
that is in your situation
or has been in your situation
00:27:25.67\00:27:29.28
and doesn't know
where to go in life.
00:27:29.31\00:27:31.05
Talk to them for
the next ten seconds?
00:27:31.08\00:27:33.28
I would say just take your time,
00:27:33.31\00:27:35.95
pray, give, just let
it go, let go unto God.
00:27:35.98\00:27:38.59
Okay, okay. Let go and let God.
00:27:38.62\00:27:40.89
Okay, truly,
truly your testimony
00:27:40.92\00:27:43.63
coming from the mean
streets of Baltimore,
00:27:43.66\00:27:45.93
the gang life, the drug life,
00:27:45.96\00:27:47.76
and now serving
God in ministry form.
00:27:47.80\00:27:51.20
Praise the Lord for that.
00:27:51.23\00:27:52.60
We'd like to thank you
00:27:52.63\00:27:53.97
for tuning into The New Journey.
00:27:54.00\00:27:55.54
Please be sure to
tune into part two
00:27:55.57\00:27:57.91
of this amazing testimony.
00:27:57.94\00:27:59.84
God bless.
00:27:59.87\00:28:01.21