I had the honor of interviewing this gentle giant over the summer. He took time out of his busy schedule to chat with me. It took me by surprise but not really because all things happen for a reason. Although my life is busy due to school, dance and shooting episodes of the show Empire. I get to see this humble hippie a lot more because I now work for the Chicago Bulls organization. Being around him is the best his presence is just the warmest. I appreciate all that he does for my city on and off the court he is such a caring and kind person. His heart is as big as his hair. In case you missed the article in July I present to you Humble Heart Revisited.
Chicago is the city where I was born and raised. I grew up in the
Englewood community where I witnessed a lot of crime. At the age of 12 I
lost a cousin to gun violence. At the age of 15 I lost a friend to gun
violence.Also at the age of 16 I lost a classmate by the name of
Starkesia Reed to senseless gun violence. Seeing what was happening in
our community my mother decided to relocate to another community on the
southside. I left Harper High school heart broken and entered into
Harlan High school where I completed my high school degree and graduated
with honors. At the age of 19 I was offered a position at my alma mater
Harlan High school where I dedicated 5 of my best years giving back to
the boys and girls in the AVID program. The last 2 years my students and
I experienced the lost of some of my mentees and their peers. I looked
for who could make a difference in our city and what could make a
difference in our city to protect our youth. In my search I found that
there is one particular person urging Chicago to stand up and that
person is Joakim Noah.
Joakim Noah whose father Yannick Noah was a well-known Cameroonian
tennis player from France, spent most of his adolescent years in France.
Noah's parents divorced when he was 12 years old. He relocated to New
York city with his mother Cecilia Rodhe. He grew up in the hell's
kitchen area "New york city is great it shaped who I am. I believe that
people are a product of their environment. I am in the position I am in
because of my neighborhood.
There are many athletes in the city of Chicago that may contribute to
other charities of their choice. I noticed that Joakim does a lot in
the communities in Chicago "My father is from West Africa he always gave
back. He taught me the importance of giving back. I grew up in New York
there were community centers they helped me become the player that I am
today. It has everything to do with the community centers, compared to
New York Chicago doesn’t have many community centers. Chicago has done
so much for me I feel so blessed to play for such a prestigious team and
its important that I give back to this city that is hurting." For the
last three years his Noah's Arc foundation has created a peace
tournament that brings together people from almost each side of Chicago
to play a game of basketball that takes place on the south side of
Chicago each year in September"The first tournament was at St Sabina I
teamed up with Father Phfleger. Its about bringing different people from
different areas to play in the name of peace. The tournament goes all
year there are games all year round. Its great to see people who get
looked at negatively come together to play a game of basketball. I also
have people come in talk to the youth."
Joakim has been doing a great job so far with encouraging our youth to
come together. I noticed that a lot of the young men need resources and
activities to help keep them out of the streets. I was curious so I
asked Joakim was he considering creating any other foundations or mentor
ship and internship programs for our youth in Chicago and New York? "My
foundation is growing this is the 3rd year. It's growing at a good
pace. We have as many games as possible for the kids. My organization
keeps kids active. It makes me sad when I see young kids with nothing to
do. I wanted to make sure there were things for the kids to do due to
gangs being out of control. Basketball will reel everyone in at once.
Once that's done mentor ship happens. My foundation is not there but it
is growing my dream is to bring inner city kids to Africa and create a
pen pal partnership and show them what Africa is like."
I think that it is very important for our youth to have resources that
they can rely on and also caring individuals like Joakim to look to for
words of encouragement and words of wisdom "I just want the youth to
stay proactive and grind hard nothing comes easily. There are a lot of
distractions stay focused only you know you whats best for you. Make
your own decisions. Stay focused keep your eyes on the prize."
It is very rare that you will find someone who is so passionate about
helping to eliminate the violence that is claiming the lives of our
youth,who at least want to experience what it is like to be able to
enjoy life without having to fall victim to the violence.We need more
advocates like Joakim that are willing to stand up and protect the youth
and the streets of Chicago. Everyone deserves a chance to enjoy life
and fulfill their purpose. I was so honored to have had the opportunity
to interview this caring, humbled and determined soul that many see as
the star center for the Chicago Bulls. I see him as a humbled person
with a heart of Gold.
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