Our Impact

 "... What’s kind of funny is that I wasn't even part of the initial group. But once I walked through those doors, something in me knew I needed to stay and it wasn't just the food. 

Every session challenged us to go inward. We discussed real topics that demanded real introspection. Looking back, I was a smart kid, but I was also lost in a way I couldn't fully articulate at the time. I struggled with identity. Because I wasn't sure of who I was or the power I  possessed, I would let others define me or worse, do things I knew I shouldn't just to prove  myself. I was on the kind of path that doesn't end well. KDMVP helped me find my footing before I  found myself in real trouble. 

What set KDMVP apart wasn't just the conversations, it was the exposure. We were taken to places we never imagined we could go. We sat with men who came from backgrounds just like ours who had made poor choices, and they were honest about how those decisions reshaped their lives. But we also sat with politicians, professionals, and accomplished men who came from those same neighborhoods and chose differently. KDMVP didn't just tell us the world was bigger than Chicago, it showed us. And it showed us that believing in yourself, combined with a  willingness to do the work, could change everything. 

I became the inaugural KDMVP scholarship recipient. Not bad for someone who showed up for free food. 

That scholarship meant more than most people know. When I arrived at Valparaiso University as a first-generation college student, I had no one to warn me about all of the hidden costs that  come with college life. That scholarship helped me cover my books, a small thing to some, a  lifeline to me. 

The leadership skills and self-awareness I built through KDMVP followed me to campus. I  founded the Men's Empowerment Network (M.E.N.), a space where men of various backgrounds could come together to build community, learn from one another, and create positive impact. I  was also recruited to serve as a student liaison for Valparaiso's Office of Multicultural Programs.  KDMVP gave me the courage to step outside of my comfort zone and build something meaningful  and I believe that's exactly why I do the work I do today. 

 

KDMVP was my very first introduction to restorative practices. That seed grew into a vocation. I am now a trained Restorative Practitioner, facilitating circles for teens, college students, and adults.  I also develop programs for  middle school, high school, and college students centered on personal, mental, physical, and  emotional growth all rooted in restorative practices.

Everything I do carries an undertone of mentorship. Because without KDMVP, I genuinely don't know where I would be, or who I would  be..."