From London Oaks to Leading Change

My name is Darrell Redmond, and I am a testament to the belief that people can change and in turn change their community. I was born and raised in the London Oaks area of Portsmouth, VA, a neighborhood where violence was part of the daily fabric. Sadly, that is also the life of too many of our youth today. My early years were marked by involvement in crime, a path that eventually led me to serve 20 years in prison.

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For many this might have been the end of the story but, for me, it was a turning point. My time away provided me with a reflection and a deep understanding of the positive impact I could have on my community—the very streets I called home. I realized that the negative influence I once wielded could be harnessed for good, for change, and for the future of the youth in Portsmouth.

With a renewed sense of purpose, I became a graduate of the B-Force program, an initiative designed to empower and rehabilitate individuals like me. The thrill of making a positive impact in the same community where I once contributed to its problems became my new mission. This led me to establish "Give Back 2 Da Block," a nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting the youth of Portsmouth, starting with the heart of it all—London Oaks – one block at a time.