RStrickland
My blogs
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Industry | Non-Profit |
| Occupation | Project Manager |
| Location | Chicago, IL |
| Introduction | I grew up in a large family on the west side of Chicago. Despite the poverty, violence and trauma experienced daily in my community, my family taught me a deep, abiding faith in God and to value learning, hardwork, service to my community and to speak up and speak out about racism, injustice, inequality and exploitation...of anybody, anywhere. I earned a bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts [Political Science & Modern Languages (French, Spanish)] from Knox College and did graduate work in Comparative Politics at the University of Michigan. I taught college courses at both institutions for 5 years. Headed the Division of Public Programs at The Field Museum in Chicago; and worked for the Cook County Juvenile Court for 8 years. I am currently the State of IL DMC [Disproportionate Minority Contact] coordinator for the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change Juvenile Justice Reform Initiative. I have been a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago since 1999. |
| Interests | JUSTICE, travel, sports/fitness, biking, tennis, reading, food |
| Favorite movies | Daughters of the Dust, The Color Purple, A Soldier's Story, The Matrix, Star Trek & X-Men series, The Breakfast Club |
| Favorite music | Old School Hip-Hop, R&B, Old School Motown, Neo-soul, Jazz Reggae, 80's pop, Zouk, Salsa, Merengue, Bachata |
| Favorite books | Jazz, Beloved, The Temple of My Familiar, Native Son, Faces at the Bottom of the Well, A Confederacy of Dunces |