Format

Individual Presentation

First Presenter's Institution

CNN

Second Presenter's Institution

N/A

Third Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fourth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Fifth Presenter's Institution

N/A

Location

Session 2 (Scarbrough 3)

Strand #1

Academic Achievement & School Leadership

Relevance

Presenter will provide.

Brief Program Description

Victor Woods will share many heartfelt life lessons learned from his journey during his middle-class upbringing with two college-educated parents—his mother, a school teacher—to a troubled childhood, which led to him to two prison terms. This session will concentrate on how Victor turned his life around and became a published author at Simon & Schuster. Victor’s life story is currently in production with Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood. He will share his philosophy of “never giving up on yourself, students, and family members.” Victor’s message is clear: there is something special in everyone, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to find it. School systems, cities, and communities are failing because, in many instances, people have simply given up hope.

Summary

Victor Woods will share many heartfelt life lessons learned from his journey during his middle-class upbringing with two college-educated parents—his mother, a school teacher—to a troubled childhood, which led to him to two prison terms. This session will concentrate on how Victor turned his life around and became a published author at Simon & Schuster. Victor’s life story is currently in production with Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood. He will share his philosophy of “never giving up on yourself, students, and family members.” Victor’s message is clear: there is something special in everyone, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to find it. School systems, cities, and communities are failing because, in many instances, people have simply given up hope.

Evidence

Presenter will provide.

Biographical Sketch

Born to two college-educated parents, Victor threw the script with which he was born to play completely away and rewrote it. He started his own underground newspaper in high school, for which the police were called, and then, as a teenager, he moved onto orchestrate one of the biggest armed robbery rings in the history of Chicago, for which he was sent to state prison. He then masterminded a $40 million Visa Gold credit card conspiracy and was arrested by the United States Secret Service. He left prison determined to succeed and use talents the right way. Inspired by wisdom from his grandmother, he wrote his life story in A Breed Apart. His story has been shared on national TV shows, including FOX, CNN and C-Span. He has spoken at corporations, colleges, school districts, conferences, and to countless students, administrators, teachers, corporate executives and law enforcement officials nationwide

Presentation Year

2019

Start Date

3-4-2019 1:15 PM

End Date

3-4-2019 2:30 PM

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Mar 4th, 1:15 PM Mar 4th, 2:30 PM

Never Give Up: Take Charge of Your Life, School, and Community Before It’s Too Late

Session 2 (Scarbrough 3)

Victor Woods will share many heartfelt life lessons learned from his journey during his middle-class upbringing with two college-educated parents—his mother, a school teacher—to a troubled childhood, which led to him to two prison terms. This session will concentrate on how Victor turned his life around and became a published author at Simon & Schuster. Victor’s life story is currently in production with Warner Bros. Studios in Hollywood. He will share his philosophy of “never giving up on yourself, students, and family members.” Victor’s message is clear: there is something special in everyone, sometimes we just have to look a little harder to find it. School systems, cities, and communities are failing because, in many instances, people have simply given up hope.