NAThell COLLINS
Nickname: Nate
Birthdate: January 30, 1976
Paroling to: Richmond, CA
Why did you join the T.R.U.S.T.?
I joined the T.R.U.S.T. because my big brother and mentor saw that I was searching for answers to my questions in my life. He told me T.R.U.S.T. could help me start the process of finding those answers, so he signed me up.
What does being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow mean to you?
Being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow means that I am on the road of change re shaping my image from a negative one to a positive one. T.R.U.S.T. is helping me do that by challenging my core beliefs, which allows me to see that what I thought was right or true is not.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
My hobbies are writing music (rap songs) and performing here. I like to read all kinds of books, and at this moment am in college so all of my time goes into studying.
What programs are you involved in other than T.R.U.S.T.?
Other groups I'm involved in are V.O.E.G., No More Tears, and a very special group that I'm proud to be a member of is the Richmond Project.
What kind of work to you do with the inside and/or outside communities?
The work I do inside and outside is all a part of the Richmond Project. I help talk to the men from Richmond about the life style they live and how that life style can lead to death or jail. So we help to empower these men to look inside themselves to see that they are worth more and deserve more. I've also helped to put an essay contest together for high school students in Richmond to give them a platform to speak and express their feelings about Richmond and what changes they feel should be made to make Richmond a safer place.
How do you live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system? How do you promote the ideals of the T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops?
I live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system by being respectful, having moral character, doing my best to strip away my old character traits that got me here. I promote the ideas of T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops by showing my integrity, having a sense of ressponsibility, being an example ot those ideals every chance I get, and when I miss the mark knowing how to identify where I went wrong, and correct my weakness.
What do you want to do after parole?After I parole I would like to continue my education, help expand the Richmond Project by starting a free athletic program for the youth in Richmond to give them a safe place to express and enjoy themselves. Also, I would like to get at least on rap CD out.What are your long-term goals?My long-term goals are to get a Master's Degree to help make the Richmond Project a universal program that will lead to combatting violence and empowering men to become the positive leaders and mentors the youth in our communities need.What is your personal message to the outside world?I would like to say to the outside world that it doesn't matter if you know me or not. What matters is that I've come to a place in my life where I can accept being responsible for all of the bad decisions I've made in the past, and now I accept the responsibility of tearing down the old negative image of myself, the source of my bad decisions, rebuilding it on a foundation of truth, honesty and integrity. This will ensure that I will return to society as a man with dignity and moral character, able to take on the challenges life will present me from a positive but strong sense of self, utilizing all the tools I have gathered from the programs I've been involved in.
Birthdate: January 30, 1976
Paroling to: Richmond, CA
Why did you join the T.R.U.S.T.?
I joined the T.R.U.S.T. because my big brother and mentor saw that I was searching for answers to my questions in my life. He told me T.R.U.S.T. could help me start the process of finding those answers, so he signed me up.
What does being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow mean to you?
Being a T.R.U.S.T. Fellow means that I am on the road of change re shaping my image from a negative one to a positive one. T.R.U.S.T. is helping me do that by challenging my core beliefs, which allows me to see that what I thought was right or true is not.
What are some of your hobbies and interests?
My hobbies are writing music (rap songs) and performing here. I like to read all kinds of books, and at this moment am in college so all of my time goes into studying.
What programs are you involved in other than T.R.U.S.T.?
Other groups I'm involved in are V.O.E.G., No More Tears, and a very special group that I'm proud to be a member of is the Richmond Project.
What kind of work to you do with the inside and/or outside communities?
The work I do inside and outside is all a part of the Richmond Project. I help talk to the men from Richmond about the life style they live and how that life style can lead to death or jail. So we help to empower these men to look inside themselves to see that they are worth more and deserve more. I've also helped to put an essay contest together for high school students in Richmond to give them a platform to speak and express their feelings about Richmond and what changes they feel should be made to make Richmond a safer place.
How do you live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system? How do you promote the ideals of the T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops?
I live up to the T.R.U.S.T. value system by being respectful, having moral character, doing my best to strip away my old character traits that got me here. I promote the ideas of T.R.U.S.T. outside the workshops by showing my integrity, having a sense of ressponsibility, being an example ot those ideals every chance I get, and when I miss the mark knowing how to identify where I went wrong, and correct my weakness.
What do you want to do after parole?After I parole I would like to continue my education, help expand the Richmond Project by starting a free athletic program for the youth in Richmond to give them a safe place to express and enjoy themselves. Also, I would like to get at least on rap CD out.What are your long-term goals?My long-term goals are to get a Master's Degree to help make the Richmond Project a universal program that will lead to combatting violence and empowering men to become the positive leaders and mentors the youth in our communities need.What is your personal message to the outside world?I would like to say to the outside world that it doesn't matter if you know me or not. What matters is that I've come to a place in my life where I can accept being responsible for all of the bad decisions I've made in the past, and now I accept the responsibility of tearing down the old negative image of myself, the source of my bad decisions, rebuilding it on a foundation of truth, honesty and integrity. This will ensure that I will return to society as a man with dignity and moral character, able to take on the challenges life will present me from a positive but strong sense of self, utilizing all the tools I have gathered from the programs I've been involved in.
