The Black Sanctuary

I’ve worked with municipal police departments across the country and collaborated with the FBI, but this was my first time working with the executive leadership of a statewide law enforcement agency…Washington State Patrol.

I can confidently say this was different.

What stood out wasn’t just the professionalism or the reputation that WSP carries; it was the people in the room. It was the energy, the openness, and the willingness to lean in, not just listen.

I’ve been in rooms where a few officers are truly passionate about community engagement.

This time, I witnessed an entire room of executive law enforcement leadership actively asking: “How do we reach more families and kids? How do we get this right?”

That matters.

Because when you align kids, community, education, leadership, and proactive training you don’t just "improve conversations."

👉🏾You reduce risk
👉🏾 You prevent escalation
👉🏾 You save lives on both sides of the interaction

This is what my work is about. This is what my children’s book “The Police and Me” was created for.

And now, for the first time, we’re looking at what it means to scale this work across an entire state.

That means:
👍🏾 Thousands of children are better prepared for police encounters
👍🏾 Families equipped with real, practical tools, not just awareness
👍🏾 Officers are more confident, more effective, and safer in their interactions

That’s impact. That’s prevention at scale.

And that’s how we change outcomes before a moment ever becomes a headline.

To Captain Ron, Lt. Pete, and the entire Washington State Patrol leadership team… thank you for seeing the vision and creating space for this conversation.

Let’s go!!!

The nationwide outrage over the last two high-profile law enforcement deadly force encounters within the last month is exactly why I work as hard as I do.

I am honored to share that my work has been recognized with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award.

This DOJ award recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting our communities and neighborhoods, educating families about crime prevention, and fostering understanding between communities and law enforcement.

This recognition isnt just about me, but the collective power of a nationwide movement and support I’ve received that prioritizes education to give parents and kids the tools to navigate police interactions safely and confidently.

I had the honor of presenting to more than 200 FBI agents and personnel about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experience to make the world better, just as I did after my career.

The thing that mattered most is that Duke was there watching me and handing out his JR. CEO business cards to sell books! 🤯😆👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Duke has seen my physical struggles recovering from surgeries his entire little life, but he’s never seen me stay down. He’s watched me rebuild every single time.

I wanted Duke, my family, and friends to see that you don’t stop living in your purpose because life gets hard or pain shows up. You dust yourself off and start making moves.

So my question for everyone is: Who benefits if you FULLY step into who you were created to be?

When you find that answer get busy. It may be the problem that God put you on Earth to solve.

To the FBI, the Seattle Field Division, thank you for recognizing the power of community engagement and collaboration.

To my family and friends thanks for having my back. To my community and LE partners, classmates from CNS 💚💙 to Norfolk State University 💚💛 and my brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.👌🏾thanks for your support along the way.

This is just the beginning of a long journey, folks. Let’s continue to grow, learn, and create a safer future together.

If you can’t tell by now, it’s up to us. No one else is coming.

Stay Focused! Let’s go!

Shortly before Christmas, I wrapped up my final school reading of the year at Beacon Hill Elementary in Seattle. My amazing friend, Karen Rogers, donated copies of “The Police and Me” to an entire classroom and invited me to read to the students.

I showed up in my Santa hat and Rudolph hoodie, and one little girl looked at me and said, “You’re basically Santa Claus!”

Best compliment ever. 🎅🏾

As always, the kids were curious, thoughtful, and brave enough to ask tough yet fundamental questions:

• Will my parents be safe?
• What should I do if I’m scared?

These aren’t just “kid questions.” These are life questions.

Far too often, when we see a tragic police encounter in the media, the cycle is the same: A lot of outrage, some protests, a bunch of social media posts… and then…silence.

For everyone except those directly affected, it fades into the background.

This hits different.

What Karen did—donating these books to a classroom—creates a LASTING impact.

This isn’t about book sales, folks. This is about education, prevention, and saving lives.

When you educate children, you change the future as you create prepared teenagers and adults.

When you educate children, you build knowledge and understanding before fear ever takes root.

Their police engagement changes and also changes a police officer’s perspective.

This work saves lives.

For the first time in a long time, I’m seeing communities and law enforcement show up together, ready to listen and learn for the sake of our kids. That matters.

So here’s my challenge to you:

📚 Donate copies of “The Police and Me” to a school 🚔 police department 🏫 or sponsor a classroom.

If you’re local to Seattle, I’ll make time to read to the kids in person. If you’re elsewhere in the country, we’ll work out the logistics and make it happen.

But we have to do more than talk, folks.

We must teach. Education is prevention and prevention saves lives.

Stay Focused.

You can find “The Police and Me” on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any place books are sold online: https://a.co/d/eR60y3q

The nationwide outrage over the last two high-profile law enforcement deadly force encounters within the last month is exactly why I work as hard as I do.

I am honored to share that my work has been recognized with the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award.

This United States Department of Justice award recognizes individuals and organizations dedicated to protecting our communities and neighborhoods, educating families about crime prevention, terrorism, cyber threats, drugs, violence, and fostering understanding between communities and law enforcement.

This recognition reflects not just my efforts, but the collective power of a nationwide movement and the support I’ve received that prioritizes education to give parents and children the tools to navigate police interactions safely and confidently.

I had the unforgettable honor of standing in front of more than 200 of our country’s finest FBI agents and personnel and speaking directly to them, not about me, but about them. About using their knowledge, skills, and lived experience to make the world better, just as I did after my career.

The thing that mattered most is that Duke was there watching me…and handing out his JR. CEO business cards to sell books! 🤯😆

I’m not kidding! He put in work! 🤣👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Duke has seen my physical struggles recovering from surgeries his entire little life, but he’s never seen me stay down. He’s watched me rebuild every single time.

I wanted Duke, my family, and friends to see that you don’t stop living in your purpose because life gets hard or pain shows up.

You dust yourself off and start making moves.

I wanted him to see that serving your community, staying focused, and building something that outlives you is worth enduring whatever comes with it.

So my question for them, and now for you, is simple: Who benefits if you FULLY step into who you were created to be?

When you find that answer…you gotta get busy. It may be the problem that God put you on Earth to solve.

To the FBI, the Seattle Field Division (my very first partnership), and the Special Agents in Charge of field offices across the nation: Thank you for recognizing the power of community engagement and collaboration.

To my family and friends thanks for having my back. To my community and LE partners, my classmates from CNS 💚💙 to Norfolk State University 💚💛 and my brothers at Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.👌🏾 thanks for your support along the way.

This is just the beginning of a long journey, folks. Let’s continue to grow, learn, and create a safer future together.

If you can’t tell by now, it’s up to us. No one else is coming.

Stay Focused! Let’s go!

Shortly before Christmas, I wrapped up my final school reading of the year at Beacon Hill Elementary in Seattle. My amazing friend, Karen Rogers, donated copies of "The Police and Me" to an entire classroom and invited me to read to the students.

I showed up in my Santa hat and Rudolph hoodie, and one little girl looked at me and said, “You’re basically Santa Claus!”

Best compliment ever. 🎅🏾

As always, the kids were curious, thoughtful, and brave enough to ask tough yet fundamental questions:

• What happens if I have to talk to the police?
• Will my parents be safe?
• What should I do if I’m scared?

These aren’t just “kid questions.”

These are life questions.

Far too often, when we see a tragic police encounter in the media, the cycle is the same: A lot of outrage, some protests, a bunch of social media posts… and then…silence.

For everyone except those directly affected, it fades into the background.

This hits different.

What Karen did—donating these books to a classroom—creates a LASTING impact.

This isn’t about book sales, folks. This is about education, prevention, and saving lives.

When you educate children, you change the future.

When you educate children, you create prepared teenagers.

When you educate children, you build knowledge and understanding before fear ever takes root.

Their police engagement changes and also changes a police officer’s perspective.

This work saves lives.

For the first time in a long time, I’m seeing communities and law enforcement show up together, ready to listen and learn for the sake of our kids. That matters.

So here’s my challenge to you:

📚 Donate copies of "The Police and Me" to a school.

🚔 Donate copies to a police department.

🏫 Sponsor a school or a classroom.

If you’re local to Seattle, I’ll make time to read to the kids in person.

If you’re elsewhere in the country, we’ll work out the logistics and make it happen.

But we have to do more than talk, folks.

We must teach. Education is prevention.

And prevention saves lives.

Stay Focused.

You can find “The Police and Me” on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or any place books are sold online: https://a.co/d/eR60y3q

“The Police and Me” began as a simple but powerful idea: give kids and families tools, language, and confidence to navigate interactions with law enforcement safely and thoughtfully.

Now, we’re celebrating 3 years of impact…and it has been a journey!

What started as a children’s book has grown into a movement. In just three years, “The Police and Me” has reached kids and families internationally! It has been read in classrooms, libraries, and used by law enforcement agencies as a bridge between officers and the communities they serve. We’ve partnered with schools, libraries, nonprofits, police departments, civic leaders, and parents who all believe in the same thing: education saves lives, and relationships change outcomes.

One of the best parts of this journey has been watching Duke grow alongside the book. From seeing himself in the illustrations, to showing up at reading events, to proudly telling people, “That’s my book!” His excitement reminds me every day why this work matters. This is about protecting our kids, empowering them, and giving them clarity in moments that matter.

To the educators, librarians, parents, and community leaders, thank you for trusting us with your children and your spaces.

To the law enforcement partners, thank you for leaning in, listening, showing up, and being willing to work alongside me to engage communities.

To every supporter who bought a book, donated copies, shared a post, hosted an event, or believed in my work, you are part of this story.

Three years in and we’re just getting started.

Thank you for walking this road with us.

Here’s to the next chapter. 💙📘

Duke: “One time I rode on a police motorcycle!!!”

At first, I was about to ask him why he’d make up such a story… then I remembered. 🤦🏾‍♂️

One day, as we were leaving our barbershop, which is located next to a police department, Duke spotted a motor officer getting on his bike.

“We should give him a book, Papa.”

(Meanwhile, I’m thinking: Duke must believe I print these books just because I wrote the story. We definitely need to have another talk about giving away free books. 😂)

So, we flagged down the officer and handed him a copy of “The Police and Me.”

After checking out the book, Officer Spak invited Duke to check out his motorcycle. Not only did Duke get to sit on it, but Officer Spak, being both an officer and a father, took time to explain how everything worked. Duke even got to turn on the emergency lights!

Big shoutout to City of Kirkland Police Department’s Officer Spak, who embraced the importance of “The Police and Me.” Thanks for this random engagement and sharing your time with us.

No matter if you’re a cop or private citizen, moments like this show the power of connection. Whether we’re reading to a crowd of kids or a simple exchange with one officer, sharing this book can open doors, spark conversations, build new relationships, and make a real difference.

If you don’t have a copy of “The Police and Me” for the kids in your lives you can purchase here or anywhere books are sold online: https://a.co/d/eS8HmhS

Duke: "One time I rode on a police motorcycle!!!"

At first, I was about to ask him why he'd make up such a story… then I remembered. 🤦🏾‍♂️

One day, as we were leaving our barbershop, which is located next to a police department, Duke spotted a motor officer getting on his bike.

"We should give him a book, Papa."

(Meanwhile, I'm thinking: Duke must believe I print these books just because I wrote the story. We definitely need to have another talk about giving away free books. 😂)

So, we flagged down the officer and handed him a copy of “The Police and Me.”

After checking out the book, Officer Spak invited Duke to check out his motorcycle. Not only did Duke get to sit on it, but Officer Spak, being both an officer and a father, took time to explain how everything worked. Duke even got to turn on the emergency lights!

Big shoutout to City of Kirkland Police Department’s Officer Spak, who embraced the importance of “The Police and Me.” Thanks for this random engagement and sharing your time with us.

No matter if you’re a cop or private citizen, moments like this show the power of connection. Whether we’re reading to a crowd of kids or a simple exchange with one officer, sharing this book can open doors, spark conversations, build new relationships, and make a real difference.

If you don’t have a copy of “The Police and Me” for the kids in your lives you can purchase here or anywhere books are sold online: https://a.co/d/eS8HmhS