I'm not an advocate for disability issues. Human issues are what interest me. Aimee Mullins The Abolition, Religious Freedom, Civil Rights, Women’s Suffrage, Anti-Poverty, Labor, Right to Life, LGBT, Peace, Anti-War,Veterans, Differently Challenged and Black Lives Matter Movements, were and are all about the same thing, the right of every human to respect, dignity,fair and equal treatment before the law and freedom. So though the focus of this book is about the “Wheel Life of Dionte Christian,” who was born with cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and survived a vicious attack on his life at just eleven years old, it highlights the resilience of the human spirit. It is about champions of every color, nationality, faith, class and ability which Dionte calls his brothers and sisters. Dionte asked me to write this book for him because he wants to take the pain of his life and struggles, and use it to help others heal. He decided in the Winter of 2020 that his salvation lies in dedicating his life and gifts to the liberation of the disabled, addicted and depressed from the tyranny of feelings of self-defeat, suicidal ideation and loneliness. He knows that in order to maintain his own sobriety and sanity, he must reach out to those who still suffer with the diseases of addiction, mental illness and depression as well as physical challenges. At the same time it is a Public Education Tool meant to inform everyone about how to best respect the dignity of the physically and mentally challenged in a way that includes them and not exclude them. Dionte lives in Westchester, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso West High School 2008. Completed one year study of Computer Technology at Triton Community College 2009. He frequently volunteers at Shirley Ryan’s Ability Lab and has previously been a volunteer at Easter Seals. His goal is to share his faith, hope and experience with others who are struggling with depression, addictions and physical challenges. Hit him up at [email protected], to schedule his appearance at your venue.

I'm not an advocate for disability issues. Human issues are what interest me. Aimee Mullins The Abolition, Religious Freedom, Civil Rights, Women's Suffrage, Anti-Poverty, Labor, Right to Life, LGBT, Peace, Anti-War, Veterans, Differently Challenged and Black Lives Matter Movements, were and are all about the same thing, the right of every human to respect, dignity, fair and equal treatment before the law and freedom. So though the focus of this book is about the "Wheel Life of Dionte Christian," who was born with cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and survived a vicious attack on his life at just eleven years old, it highlights the resilience of the human spirit. It is about champions of every color, nationality, faith, class and ability which Dionte calls his brothers and sisters. Dionte asked me to write this book for him because he wants to take the pain of his life and struggles, and use it to help others heal. He decided in the Winter of 2020 that his salvation lies in dedicating his life and gifts to the liberation of the disabled, addicted and depressed from the tyranny of feelings of self-defeat, suicidal ideation and loneliness. He knows that in order to maintain his own sobriety and sanity, he must reach out to those who still suffer with the diseases of addiction, mental illness and depression as well as physical challenges. At the same time it is a Public Education Tool meant to inform everyone about how to best respect the dignity of the physically and mentally challenged in a way that includes them and not exclude them. Dionte lives in Westchester, Illinois. He graduated from Proviso West High School 2008. Completed one year study of Computer Technology at Triton Community College 2009. He frequently volunteers at Shirley Ryan's Ability Lab and has previously been a volunteer at Easter Seals. His goal is to share his faith, hope and experience with others who are struggling with depression, addictions and physical challenges. Hit him up at [email protected], to schedule his appearance at your venue.

Reversing, Willie Lynch’s (a white slave owner from Jamaica) prescribed methodology for making an ideal slave, outlined in the manual he gave to white slave owners in 1712, on the banks of the James River, (Jamestown Virginia), titled, “Let’s Make A Slave,” is the motive for me writing this treaties. There usually is more than one reason why we succeed at our individual as well as collective goals. Likewise, there are several factors involved in our struggles. Therefore, this small book is not meant to be a cure all for what ails our family and community (African Americans). It is a partial solution to what I believe to be the primary cause of our difficulties, namely, the ramenets of the traumatic experience of four-hundred years of enslavement here in America, that have been passed down through our DNA. This Treaties is meant to address what has been too long ignored concerning why there is an epidemic of violence, addiction, sucide and crime in our homes and community. Our community is not only being devastated by these social-ills, but the gains we have made over the last hundred years through sacrifice and protests, are also being decimated. (dec·i·mate /desmt/ verb 1. Kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of. "the project would decimate the fragile wetland wilderness" 2. HISTORICAL kills one in every ten of (a group of soldiers or others) as a punishment for the whole group. "the man who is to determine whether it be necessary to decimate a large body of mutineers''). I note the definition of ‘decimate’ because I want to emphasize the point that we are literally dying by the tens-of-thousands at both our own hands as well as at those of police officers, who deem Black lives as expendable.

“Wounded humans and feelings of victimization are more common than the common cold.” The abuse and betrayal of our trust takes many forms, it happens in the form of sexual and emotional abuse, molestation, infidelity, neglect, abandonment, four-hundred years of systemic racism, and other crimes, just to name a few examples of the ravishing of our most sacred possession -- our trust. There probably is not a person on this earth who has not been wounded in some form. If you have not been wounded, I am sure you know someone who has. Therefore, this book can be helpful to everyone who wants to get past being wounded, and begin the process of healing. If this sounds like something you want to undertake, I encourage you to take out some time for yourself to do for you, what only you can, namely, “Heal thy self.” There are as many families, communities, nations, and races as there are individuals who need healing from the abuse and betrayal of their trust. Thus, this book can be used as a tool for treating individual and collective wounds, as well as erasing generational curses. Danny has been certified by Toastmasters International as a competent Public Speaker (1991 East Moline). He received his GED from the Chicago City Colleges (1981) and obtained a certificate in Graphic Arts from Southeastern Illinois College (1987). He is a former member of the Pan-African Revolutionary Socialist Party. He spent twenty years in prison and ten in Elgin Mental Health Center. While in the hospital he wrote over eight-hundred poems, three books of daily meditations, and numerous speeches and Afro-centric anecdotes. He also acted as a mentor for younger consumers while there, leading his own peer-support groups and chairing GROW for four years (2003-07). You can contact him at [email protected], for an appearance at your venue.

“God is Bigger than all your problems and the world’s problems combined” Whether we want to admit it or not, many of us are just too dramatic when it comes to talking about our challenges and troubles. We always discover after we have gone through the storms of life, that they weren’t that bad after all. We find that we worry ourselves to death for no reason. The Psalmist tells us in Psalms 121:1, “A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help,” (KJV). Where our focus goes, so goes our trust and confidence, thus if we are focusing on our problems instead of on God and the Promises of His Word, we will inevitably be discouraged when faced with adversity. This book is about doing better as we learn better concerning what it means to trust God and walk by faith. I know that we can conquer all the obstacles in our lives if we follow the example of King David, and look up at the Savior Jesus Christ and Heaven, and not at the mud and mire at our feet (our problems). “No matter how big your problems or the world’s problems, GOD IS INFINITELY BIGGER!” Along with talking about the awesomeness of God in this book, I also share my thoughts about His Grace and the meaning of Faith. Overall the crux of all the spiritual issues addressed herein, is the fact that life is much better when you have a personal relationship and awareness of God the Father and Christ the Savior.

“Freedom is not free,” it took me nearly forty-years to realize this fact about freedom. It was not until I fully embraced the grace and love of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, that I experienced true freedom. This book gives a concise description of the byways and highways I took in order to arrive at the point in my life where I could honestly say, “FREE AT LAST, THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I AM FREE AT LAST!” In the course of me going from a man who spent 3/5th of his life behind prison bars and insane asylum fences. I can tell you that freedom was wasted on me as long as I took it for granted. I was delivered from all the mental, emotional and spiritual shackles that held me bound, the day I gave my life over to God. Now I can declare that I not only talk about the joy of being free, but can also testify that there is no more liberating freedom than that which comes with Christs’ blood bought Salvation, and the peace of mind that the Father gives all those “whose mind is stayed on Him.” It is my belief that none of us can get the full benefit out of freedom in its true form until we understand that, “The One we serve determines the rewards we get for our servitude.” The reality is, that as long as we live on this earth, we are going to serve either God and Jesus, or Satan and our flesh. Trust me when I tell you, “Your life will be a hundred times better off if you commit yourself to being in the will of God.” I hope that you will read my testimony as it is summed up in this small book, and know that what Jesus did for me, once I accepted the freedom he purchased for me on the Cross of Calvary, he will do the same thing for you.

I wrote this workbook because it disturbs me that a lot of individuals and communities are constantly living their lives in “Crisis Mode'' with little or no time and opportunity to realize their dreams. I believe a certain stigma is attached to those who are deemed by society (others) as always needing someone to rescue them from one crisis after another. Without naming names, I will say that for some this trend grows more prevalent with each passing generation. I want my family and peers to realize that we do not have to live on the edge as though we lack a foundation (culture) to stand on. There inevitably is more to all of us than our struggles but until we get past having our finger on the “Panic Button” we will not get a chance to display our audaciousness. I am confident that this “Crisis Counseling Workbook” can aid anyone whose life has gotten off track or who simply wants to succeed at creating a better life for themselves and their family, as well as improve the community they live in. “In the darkest hour, a pinprick of light is all that's needed to guide the lost home.” That said, please feel free to tweak this crisis counseling program to meet the particular needs and circumstances of those you are counseling.