Podcast appearances and mentions of kevin shird

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Kevin: Being able to build real relationships.The link between unresolved trauma and recidivism is undeniable. In this episode of Superpowers for Good, guest Kevin Shird shared a profound perspective on how mental health challenges contribute to poor decision-making and the cycle of incarceration. Kevin, a professor, author, and advocate, is no stranger to the justice system, having experienced it firsthand. Now, he's using his story to create a roadmap for change.Kevin explained that unresolved trauma often plays a central role in the repetitive cycles of poor choices many individuals make post-incarceration. “Poor choices are actually tied to unresolved trauma,” he stated, adding, “when trauma is unresolved, there's a propensity for continuing this hamster wheel of just poor choices after poor choices.” His insights shed light on a key issue: the need for better mental health care within prisons to address these deeply rooted issues before individuals reenter society.Kevin shared the heartbreaking story of a friend he met while incarcerated—a man who initially served a short sentence but, after his release, committed a double murder and now faces life in prison. The tragedy, Kevin emphasized, could have been prevented with better mental health support during his friend's incarceration. “Hurt people hurt people,” Kevin explained. “When people aren't well... sometimes their struggles land in our laps.”Kevin advocates for placing licensed clinical social workers inside prisons as a proactive solution. He pointed out that 95% of incarcerated individuals will eventually return to society, becoming our neighbors, coworkers, and community members. By providing mental health support behind prison walls, he believes we can reduce recidivism, enhance public safety, and foster healthier communities.This episode reinforced the urgent need for systemic reform to prioritize mental health care in the criminal justice system. Kevin's work, including his book A Life for a Life, serves as both a call to action and a source of hope. Through his advocacy, he's demonstrating how addressing trauma can transform lives and break cycles of harm.By highlighting these issues, Kevin reminded us that change is possible—and it starts with seeing the humanity in everyone.tl;dr:Kevin Shird shares how unresolved trauma drives recidivism and advocates for better mental health care.He highlights the importance of placing licensed social workers in prisons to support incarcerated individuals.Kevin recounts a tragic story to illustrate how unaddressed trauma leads to devastating consequences.He explains his superpower of authentic connection and how storytelling fosters healing and understanding.Kevin encourages vulnerability to build deeper relationships and drive meaningful change in the world.How to Develop Authentic Connection As a SuperpowerKevin Shird's superpower lies in his ability to authentically connect with people through storytelling. “I pride myself on just being able to build real relationships,” Kevin explained. He emphasized the importance of “removing the mask” to connect with others on a deeper, human level. By sharing his vulnerabilities and personal experiences, Kevin creates bonds that inspire healing and understanding. “Everybody has a story,” he said, reminding us that even when our struggles differ, they are all significant and worthy of empathy.Kevin recounted how sharing a vulnerable story about his father's alcoholism in his first book led to powerful connections with readers. Despite initial embarrassment, he wrote about his father's addiction, and the response was overwhelming. Readers reached out to share their own experiences with addicted family members, often in tears. This demonstrated how his authenticity in storytelling inspired others to confront and heal from their own struggles.Tips for Developing Authentic Connection:Remove the emotional “mask” and embrace vulnerability.Recognize that everyone has a story, even if it differs from yours.Focus on building genuine human connections by listening and empathizing.Use storytelling to create shared experiences and inspire others.By following Kevin's example and advice, you can make authentic connection a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileKevin Shird (he/him):Author and writer, Kevin Shird Enterprises About Kevin Shird Enterprises : Content CreationWebsite: a.co/d/9peNrrsX/Twitter Handle: @kevin_shirdCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/KevinA.ShirdOther URL: simonandschuster.com/books/A-Life-for-a-Life/Kevin-Shird/9798888458440Biographical Information: Kevin Shird is a four-time published author, activist, and screenwriter. He has become an expert on using the past to build a better future. Shird began his very unorthodox journey at the tender age of sixteen when he started dealing drugs on the streets of Baltimore. This led to him serving a total of almost twelve years in prison. Since leaving prison, Shird has monetized his life's lessons by authoring books on social issues. He lectures at colleges and universities across America on issues like education, public health policy, and mass incarceration. During the Obama Administration, he collaborated with the White House and President Obama's Clemency Initiative. In 2018, he became an associate at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Medical Humanities and Social Medicine, where he co-teaches a class on public health. Today, he serves as a professor at Coppin State University. Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kevin-shird-6b76455aInstagram Handle: @kevin_shirdSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, DealMaker, DNA, Rancho Affordable Housing (Proactive). Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear |  Matthew Mead, Hempitecture |  Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on July 15, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, July 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Balance Sheets & Beyond: The Impact Investor's Guide to Financials." If terms like “income statement” and “cash flow” make your eyes glaze over, this session is for you. Devin will break down the fundamentals of financial statements in clear, simple language—perfect for beginners who want to better understand the numbers behind the businesses they support. Whether you're a new investor, a founder navigating financials, or simply curious about how money moves through mission-driven companies, you'll leave this session more confident and informed. Don't miss it!SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Apply for the Live Pitch here. 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Four-time published author, mental health advocate, and activist Kevin Shird joins Tavis in studio to discuss his newest book "A Life For A Life: Poor Choices and Unresolved Trauma is Killing America," and why it's time to reimagine mental health and trauma care. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tavis-smiley--6286410/support.

Welcome to another powerful episode of the "I Am Dad" podcast! Today, we're joined by Kevin Shird, a three-time published author, activist, and public speaker whose life story is a profound testament to resilience, redemption, and the power of transformation. Kevin's latest book, A Life for a Life, delves into a gripping and deeply personal narrative that explores trauma, mental health, and the complexities of human behavior. In A Life for a Life, Kevin recounts his time in federal prison, where he met Damion Neal, a fellow inmate whose life was marked by instability and struggle. While Kevin worked to heal his own trauma and guide Damion toward a better path, their journeys ultimately diverged in unexpected and tragic ways. Years later, Kevin would discover that Damion had been arrested for a heinous crime, leading him on a powerful quest to understand the factors that shaped his former cellmate's fate. Through this deeply moving story, Kevin not only confronts his own past but sheds light on the intersection of violence, mental health, and societal failure. Join us as we explore Kevin's journey, his groundbreaking new book, and his enduring mission to inspire hope and change. Please welcome the remarkable Kevin Shird to the "I Am Dad" podcast.

I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Kevin: I think it's doing the work, man. I had people a long time ago tell me, “Your work speaks for itself.” So you don't have to talk.In my conversation with Kevin Shird, the author of A Life for a Life, one powerful idea stood out—how education can be a path to redemption, even in the most challenging of circumstances. Kevin's journey, including his time in prison, is a testament to the transformative power of learning. He didn't allow the experience of incarceration to define his life negatively. Instead, he used the opportunity to educate himself and turn his life around.Kevin shared with me, “Education will be the answer out of this mess.” For him, the decision to embrace learning during his imprisonment was the catalyst for his personal and professional growth. Without that commitment, he believes he wouldn't be where he is today, contributing positively to society.Not everyone who finds themselves in similar circumstances is able to make the same transition, however. One of Kevin's former cellmates, Damien, tragically experienced a different outcome. Despite Kevin's encouragement, Damien struggled with the lingering trauma from his past, which included the loss of his parents and witnessing horrific violence. His story, as detailed in Kevin's forthcoming book, highlights how unresolved trauma and a lack of mental health support can derail someone's life, even after serving their time.Kevin's experience underscores the crucial need for education and mental health services, both in prison and beyond, as vital tools for rehabilitation and preventing recidivism. His story is a call to action for better support systems for those who need them most.Kevin Shird's book, A Life for a Life, is now available for pre-order on Amazon and other major platforms, with an official release scheduled for April 2025.tl;dr:* Kevin Shird shared the transformative power of education during his time in prison, which he credits for changing his life and helping him become a contributor to society.* In this episode, Kevin contrasts his journey with that of his former cellmate, Damien, whose struggles with trauma, addiction, and lack of support led him back to prison.* Kevin emphasizes that doing the work and making sacrifices have been central to his success, highlighting his relentless dedication to writing, education, and helping others.* He recounted a pivotal moment when he was invited to speak at the United States Conference of Mayors about the opioid crisis, marking a turning point in his journey from drug trafficking to being a voice for change.* Kevin's advice for success is simple: focus, sacrifice, and ignore distractions, as consistent effort will ultimately lead to meaningful results and personal growth.How to Develop Doing the Work As a SuperpowerKevin Shird's superpower is the relentless commitment to doing the work. He believes that consistent, focused effort is the key to achieving meaningful results. For Kevin, the value of hard work lies in its ability to speak for itself without the need for boasting or promotion. He emphasizes that dedication, sacrifice, and perseverance are essential for success in any endeavor.Kevin shared an anecdote that exemplifies his superpower when he was invited to speak at the United States Conference of Mayors in 2016. After publishing his first book, he was asked to participate in a panel with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and the Justice Department to address the heroin epidemic. He described the experience as surreal, reflecting on how his past in drug trafficking was now being leveraged to make a positive impact. This opportunity led to more influential work, eventually earning him an invitation to the White House.Tips for Developing the Superpower:* Sacrifice: Be prepared to make sacrifices, whether it's time with family, leisure activities, or other personal priorities, to achieve your goals.* Focus: Ignore distractions and outside noise, staying committed to the work that needs to be done.* Persevere: Keep pushing through, even when the work is difficult or doesn't immediately show results.By following Kevin Shird's example and advice, you can make "Doing the Work" a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileKevin Shird (he/him):Author and writer Kevin Shird Enterprises About Kevin Shird Enterprises: Content Creation Website: a.co/d/9peNrrsX/Twitter Handle: @kevin_shirdCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/KevinA.ShirdOther URL: simonandschuster.com/books/A-Life-for-a-Life/Kevin-Shird/9798888458440Biographical Information: Kevin Shird is a four-time published author, activist, and screenwriter. He has become an expert on using the past to build a better future. Shird began his very unorthodox journey at the tender age of sixteen when he started dealing drugs on the streets of Baltimore. This led to him serving a total of almost twelve years in prison. Since leaving prison, Shird monetized his life's lesson by authoring books on social issues. He lectures at colleges and universities across America on issues like education, public health policy, and mass incarceration. During the Obama Administration, he collaborated with the White House and President Obama's Clemency Initiative. In 2018, he became an associate at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Medical Humanities and Social Medicine, where he co-teaches a class on public health. Today, he serves as a professor at Coppin State University. Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/kevin-shird-6b76455aInstagram Handle: @kevin_shirdMax-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* SuperCrowd Mastermind Group, twice monthly on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays at noon Eastern. This group is for entrepreneurs and small business owners interested in raising money from the crowd. Attend your first meeting for free!* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on October 15, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, October 16, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At October's webinar, Devin Thorpe will provide an in-depth answer to the question, “How to Assess Your Crowd's Potential for Investing?” Free to attend.* Superpowers for Good Televised Live Pitch, November 13, 9:00 PM Eastern during primetime. We are now accepting applications from businesses raising capital via Regulation Crowdfunding for the Q4 Superpowers for Good Live pitch. Visit s4g.biz/q4app to apply. At the event, judges will select their pick, and the audience will select the SuperCrowd Award recipient. Put the date on your calendar to watch it live!Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Community Revitalization, Thursdays, 10:00 AM Eastern.* Main Street Skowhegan and NC3 Entrepreneur Finance Workshop Series, September 17 - November 19, 2023.* Investment Week 24, October 19-20, 2024, Los Angeles. * Crowdfunding Professional Association, Summit in DC, October 22-23* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, date TBD following impact of Helene.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

For this episode, I sat down with Kevin Shird, Speaker, National Youth Advocate, and Author.   I asked him to recount his journey to redemption where his quest to escape the perils of poverty and his father's addiction led to drug dealing and violence on the mean streets of Baltimore.  There was no question he was unwilling to answer and he owned his mistakes as he offered sobering lessons for young boys today and the parents who are raising them. Callers also chimed in with astute observations.

Kevin Shird is a writer. He also works with young people, especially those who other people have given up on. He's a good guy. He's also a man who has served more than a decade in prison for dealing drugs on the streets of Baltimore, a lifestyle made famous by the TV show The Wire. What happens inside someone's head to switch them on to the potential of a different future? And how do they shake off the reputation of violence that's defined their life?

As we conclude this MLK Day Edition of Midday, Tom introduces us to a young student from Commodore John Rogers Middle School in Baltimore. Charlie Grace Martin is 11 years old. She is in the fifth grade, and she is the winner of the 2nd annual Dream Big Essay Contest. The contest is sponsored by the Modell Lyric. Baltimore City School Students from grades 5-12 are challenged to write a 300 word essay, inspired by Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech that he delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. Students were asked to write about what their dreams were for themselves, their families and their communities. The awards ceremony is tonight at 6:00pm at the Modell Lyric in Baltimore.Also today: The Reginald F. Lewis Museum of MD African American History and Culture had a number of events scheduled to mark Monday's Martin Luther King Day observance. Those events included a Living History Talk with Kevin Shird and Nelson Malden, the co-authors of The Colored Waiting Room. Nelson Malden was Dr. King’s barber for years in Montgomery, Alabama.At the close of this segment, we hear an excerpt from Dr. King's historic 1963 ----Dream---- speech. You can listen to the entire address at this NPR Website.

Baltimore author and activist Kevin Shird chronicles his 2017 meeting with Nelson Malden, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s barber and confidante, in The Colored Waiting Room. The book, published in March, gives a historical context to more recent activist movements. Shird reads some excerpts from his book

Baltimore author and activist Kevin Shird chronicles his 2017 meeting with Nelson Malden, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s barber and confidante, in The Colored Waiting Room. The book, published in March, gives a historical context to more recent activist movements. Shird reads some excerpts from his book.

Kevin Shird traveled from Baltimore to Montgomery, Alabama, to meet 84-year-old Nelson Malden. In Malden's barbershop, leaders of the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King, Jr., gathered to organize protests and boycotts and to write the speeches that would help criminalize racial segregation and discrimination.Shird and Malden talked about the significance of recent racially motivated events and how the demonstrations in Charlottesville, Ferguson, Baltimore and around the country help us understand today's second-wave civil rights movement and the urgent actions necessary for racial equality and change.Kevin Shird is an activist, national youth advocate, public speaker and author of two previous books: Lessons of Redemption and Uprising in the City. Marc Steiner, radio and podcast host, will moderate the conversation with Kevin Shird.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund.

Kevin Shird traveled from Baltimore to Montgomery, Alabama, to meet 84-year-old Nelson Malden. In Malden's barbershop, leaders of the civil rights movement, including Martin Luther King, Jr., gathered to organize protests and boycotts and to write the speeches that would help criminalize racial segregation and discrimination.Shird and Malden talked about the significance of recent racially motivated events and how the demonstrations in Charlottesville, Ferguson, Baltimore and around the country help us understand today's second-wave civil rights movement and the urgent actions necessary for racial equality and change.Kevin Shird is an activist, national youth advocate, public speaker and author of two previous books: Lessons of Redemption and Uprising in the City. Marc Steiner, radio and podcast host, will moderate the conversation with Kevin Shird.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund.Recorded On: Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Today, a conversation about the power of history.The struggle for civil rights that we’ve remembered in the life and death of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other leaders of the movement a half-century ago is a struggle that continues today. But how much do we really know about what happened in Montgomery and Selma and Memphis back in the 1950s and 60s, and about how to connect Dr. King’s work with today’s Black Lives Matter movement? We don’t know enough, says Baltimore author and youth advocate Kevin Shird, who joins Midday senior producer and guest host Rob Sivak this hour to talk about his new book, The Colored Waiting Room: Empowering the Original and the New Civil Rights Movements…the author's effort to make America’s civil rights history come alive in the context of today’s fraught racial landscape.Mr. Shird gained a new appreciation for the power of history after he struck up a friendship two years ago with 84 year-old Nelson Malden of Montgomery, Alabama. Malden is an African American who’d been an eyewitness to the historic civil rights struggles of the 1950s and 60s that played out in Montgomery and elsewhere, and who was, for more than six years, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s barber.Mr. Shird found in Nelson Malden a willing mentor and history guide, someone who could satisfy his yearning to know more about the American civil rights struggle than what he’d learned in school.In his new book, Kevin Shird describes his friendship with Nelson Malden, and the pilgrimage he made to the American South and to Malden’s Montgomery home. It's a personal narrative that tells the story of the civil rights struggle through Nelson Malden’s shared experience, and draws lessons from it for today’s new movement for racial justice.

Book critic Paula Gallagher strongly recommends, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” by David Grann, a staff writer for the New Yorker and author of “The Lost City of Z.” His new book is about the mysterious murders of Native Americans in Oklahoma in the 1920s, and the birth of the FBI.Kevin Shird, a Baltimore native and drug dealer-turned-youth advocate, talks about the unrest that hit Baltimore two years ago today, on the day of Freddie Gray’s funeral. Shird is the author of two books, “Lessons of Redemption,” about his tough early life and his 12 years in prison, and “Uprising in the City,” about the civil unrest that hit West Baltimore on April 27, 2015.Links:http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/208562/killers-of-the-flower-moon-by-david-grann/9780385534246/http://aalbc.com/authors/kevin-shird.htmlhttp://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/investigations/bs-md-ci-gray-investigations-20170419-story.html

2:26: David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun's media critic, shares his thoughts about Monday night's televised presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, an event that could draw as many viewers as a Super Bowl telecast.16:08: Kevin Shird, a one-time drug dealer turned youth advocate, talks about the latest shootings of African-American men by police — in Oklahoma and North Carolina — and how police body cameras could make a difference in reducing the use of deadly force in the future. Shird is the author of two books, "Lessons of Redemption," about his tough early life and his 12 years in prison, and "Uprising in the City," about the death of Freddie Gray and the civil unrest that hit Baltimore in April 2015.45:46: Zurawik talks about two television programs — a Frontline look at presidential candidates Clinton and Trump, and the fourth season of "Drunk History" on Comedy Central.Links: https://www.amazon.com/Uprising-city-KEVIN-SHIRD/dp/1684195047/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8----qid=1474642314----sr=8-2----keywords=Kevin Shirdhttps://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Redemption-Kevin-Shird/dp/1908518235/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8----qid=1474642314----sr=8-1----keywords=Kevin Shirdhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/the-choice-2016/http://www.cc.com/shows/drunk-history

Kevin Shird discusses the true story behind his book, Lessons of Redemption on RTÉ Radio 1. Lessons of Redemption is available for purchase as a paperback, ebook and audio book here: http://www.maverickhouse.com/books/lessons-of-redemption-2/

Uprising in the City explores the unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray. While describing the protests and violence, the book draws on author Kevin Shird's observations, experiences, and feelings as a Baltimore native and national youth advocate dedicated to helping inner city youth understand and escape the perils of street culture. Shird includes extensive interviews with key people in Baltimore and discusses how to break the cycle of problems which have plagued Baltimore for decades. The book looks at other American cities which are facing many of the same issues as Baltimore. It offers solutions on how to reduce the poverty rate, educate the media, improve education, reduce arrests, and find alternatives to present crime fighting strategies.Kevin Shirdis the author of the memoir, Lessons of Redemption. After serving time in federal prison, he now advocates for young people and policy changes. He collaborates with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy to promote substance abuse awareness. He also serves on Baltimore's Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by a bequest from The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund. Recorded On: Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Uprising in the City explores the unrest in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray. While describing the protests and violence, the book draws on author Kevin Shird's observations, experiences, and feelings as a Baltimore native and national youth advocate dedicated to helping inner city youth understand and escape the perils of street culture. Shird includes extensive interviews with key people in Baltimore and discusses how to break the cycle of problems which have plagued Baltimore for decades. The book looks at other American cities which are facing many of the same issues as Baltimore. It offers solutions on how to reduce the poverty rate, educate the media, improve education, reduce arrests, and find alternatives to present crime fighting strategies.Kevin Shirdis the author of the memoir, Lessons of Redemption. After serving time in federal prison, he now advocates for young people and policy changes. He collaborates with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the White House Office on National Drug Control Policy to promote substance abuse awareness. He also serves on Baltimore's Heroin Treatment and Prevention Task Force.Writers LIVE programs are supported in part by a bequest from The Miss Howard Hubbard Adult Programming Fund. 

In Lessons of Redemption, Kevin Shird, co-founder and president of the Mario Do Right Foundation, tells his life story, from the tough streets of Baltimore City, through several years in federal prison, to rebirth as a community leader championing substance abuse prevention and helping children of addicted parents."I want people to know that you don't have to be defined by your mistakes," says Shird. "You can turn your life around and become a positive member in society. I did."Recorded On: Wednesday, July 23, 2014