Willie Coleman's Interview about pursuing his passion
What is your passion?
My passion rests in two places but they correlate with each other. My passion is to change the stigma that has been placed on my community. I feel because this stigma is place on my community, many people who live in my community is just starting to accept it, creating systematic oppression. This begins to birth the three triplets: hopelessness, doubt, and defeat. The second place that my passion lays is investing in the youth. My heart is so big for the youth. I want to help them channel their inner potential and become game changers and success stories for their communities. I want to work especially with the communities that are deemed “dangerous” neighborhoods that does not produce “good fruits”.
How did you discover your passion and who do you hope to serve?
To be honest, I did not even discover my passion or purpose until I was in high school. I know that’s probably weird. I always had a goal but it was not purposeful. It was centered on an individual selfish need. However, when I was in high school I got a job to help and guide high seniors through the college application process. Many of the students that I was helping was not the top percent of the graduation class, but the ones that did not get attention because their GPA’s were lower. These were the students who did not have any family members that held a college degree, so they were about to set a new trend in their families. Then it sparked me, if we can get as many African Americans as possible to further their education, then we can finally change our environments and how people see us. From that day forward, I’ve been motivating, encouraging, and speaking to minority youth from grades K-12, letting them know that education is important and that they have the ability to attain a college degree and be successful regardless of their past struggles; every day starts a new.
Name one point in your life, either in childhood or adolescence that helped shape your drive?
What helped shaped my drive to do the work I do is my older brother. He was a smart, gifted young male with a gift for accounting when he was in the 12th grade. However, he was not able to further his education and become a successful accountant. He had allowed his environment to make him a product of negativity. The work I do is to ensure that there is not another example of my brother getting sucked in by the negative factors that a community can produce.
Who has been a motivator for you (negative or positive?)
This is a really hard question to answer without giving respect to everyone. What I do and the work I have done, I did not do on my own. I would have to thank my mother and grandfather who always supports me and my dreams. I would also have to thank my older brother because he is one of the main reasons I do the work I do now. Also, I would have to thank my boss who gave me my first chance of working with youth and empowering them. Lastly, all the students whose lives I have touched and blessed. To see I have changed the lives of youth that did not think they were good enough succeed speaks high volumes.
Name a lyric, quote, saying that best describes your passion.
If I may share, a good of good cheer but the Bible says: Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Nazareth was a terrible place but something great come from it, Jesus. So I like to paraphrase and say “can anything good come out of these communities?” and my answer is “yes, just look at my youth.”
Also, Beyonce’s “I was here” song speaks so much volume to why I pursue my passion.
What is some advice you have for people who are too afraid to pursue their passion?
I would say just do it. Do not be selfish. The passion that you are afraid of pursuing is a blessing that someone is waiting for.
Is there anything about you (gender, ethnicity, creed, etc.) that has been a driving motivator in pursuing your passion?
Yes. Both my gender and ethnicity has been a driving force in me pursuing my passion. I want to see more educated African American Kings. I am tired of seeing my black brothers seen as criminals and a threat to society. I want to show society something and that is that they should embrace educated, black, young men.
What do you see yourself doing in the future?
In the future, I see myself still working with the youth, but in a different capacity. I plan to go get my J.D (Juris Doctorate) and combine it with my Social Work degree so I can work in the juvenile detention centers. I plan to get these youth out of these centers while they are still youth and help them foster healthy lifestyles so they could go back to school to further their education and become successful individuals. #Letsreducerecidivism
Many people feel as though social workers are overworked and underpaid. What makes you still want to pursue social work?
Yes this is true. The Social work Profession is something that is new and constantly growing. The pay for the amount of work that is produced does not equal up, but how can you put a price on helping someone who is not as resourceful or stable as you? It is all about giving back which was given to you.
Is representation in social work important?
It is important because there is very few people who look like me who hold positions of power. It shows the younger generation that it is possible that a young African American male, who wasn’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth, can hold a high position of authority. It also is important because who is best fit to advocate for a person that looks like me or been through similar struggles to me than me.
As a Social Worker, how do you practice self-care?
My self-care routine consists of
Knowing when to unplug from work and plug into life
Not taking work home: Leave itat the office
I also go to church
Debrief with family and friends, Social workers need someone to talk to as well
I indulge in NETFLIX and YOUTUBE
Get much needed sleep
Enjoy dinner and the night in the city with friends
Lada: Willie and I met 3 summers ago at our job through Harlem RBI. Its a program that teaches important life skills to youth through the game of baseball. We were part of the team that helped to bring Harlem RBI to the South Bronx through REALKIDS South Bronx. Willie, has been an amazing friend and an amazing role model to our youth and people our age. He is always looking for ways to further himself and is very genuine in his approach to social issues. I am so excited that he is a social worker and even more excited to have him as my friend. Thank you Willie for sharing!