I was introduced to Durham and the Triangle via Pinnacle Studios in Yanceyville, N.C. several years ago by a good older friend Mr. Bill Cherry. I didn’t understand at the time, why he was so passionate about visiting the city, especially knowing where I was from and what I liked that didn’t fit with the Durham way. But I realized later that Bill was used as a light for my future and purpose.

I have changed a lot since that visit and so have Durham, Raleigh and Chapel Hill. I have come to realize that we both could be of a great deal of help to one another. I have traveled this country and one common thread has been with every city-there are always those parts that feel hopeless and operate in hopelessness. I come from a place that felt that way physically and emotionally, but by the mercy and grace of God I was shown that dreams can come true.

I like Durham and its people. The people are good and very talented in God’s eyes no matter what others think or say. A very well know entertainer I know got caught up in a negative quote he made years back about an area of entertainment he swore he would never do. When he decided to do it, a reporter brought that quote back to his memory and jam him up. When asked why he said that and was now contradicting himself, the entertainer gave a great honest answer in my opinion. He said “because I thought I would never be able to do it!”

That answer speaks volumes for thousands. We don’t think our hopes and dreams will ever come true, so we speak and operate in hopelessness. Durham is a perfect model to show the rest of the country that there is hope. That’s why I did the 2nd edition of the documentary “Welcome to Durham;” to show what a city can experience before and after it addresses the issues with the youth and solves them. Durham has blessed me with the opportunity to be productive in their education and entertainment community. Durham is beautiful and its people are the reason for that beauty, especially when they know their purpose.