"It didn't just come back to color, it came back to vibrancy" - James Okina
At a young age James joined a street gang in his hometown of Calabar, Nigeria. But with tremendous determination and the help of a few key mentors, James turned his life around. He became top of his class and started helping other kids, especially those without homes, get off the streets and back into schools. His organization, Street Priests, has now served more than 3000 kids. James has received numerous awards including Global Teen Leader in 2017 and Future African Leader in 2016.
James shares at length about the impact of his parents divorce. We also discuss the negative stereotypes that surround these children and James' plans to expand his efforts. I loved talking with him. This is definitely the closest I have come to crying during an interview. Enjoy the ride.