Meet De’Vonte’ Parson | Executive Director & Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with De’Vonte’ Parson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi De’Vonte’, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I grew up in the Central District of Seattle in a time where gang banging was our way of life. In that lifestyle you technically lived in risk. Everyday was a risk walking out the door and hanging out with your friends because you could be killed. I’ve saw it happen many times. We would also put our freedom at risk participating in activities that we did to survive in our neighborhood. Therefore, for me today, risk is easy because I’ve already risked my life for nothing many times over. When I take risks now they’re calculated and for proper gain.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the founder and executive director of Pro Se Potential. PSP is a nonprofit organization focused on empowering street and system impacted young people of Color with the tools necessary to create opportunities that allow them to uplift themselves and their communities.

What sets us apart is our style of engagement. Our one Value is Love and we lead with that when building relationships with our young people. We focus on gaining that kinship and care with our youth and by doing that we are able to establish goals and practical ways of achieving those goals alongside them.

I came up with this vision when I was 22 years old in jail facing a life sentence for violent gang activity. I would pay the young people who came into the jail honey buns, top ramen, and various snacks to create release plans and read books. They only allowed me to do that with them because they trusted me and knew that I truly cared because we had developed those relationships with each other. I just apply the same approach now with more resources.

I got to where I am today business-wise by networking, learning, and applying. I picked that skill up from jail when I fired my public defender and represented myself in trial against a life sentence. I had to network with other people who had paid attorneys to learn how they would talk to them. I had to learn the laws applied to my case. I had to apply what I learned. I was able to beat the attempted murders and walk away with a gun charge and assault 2.

Things were not easy then and wasn’t easy getting to this point. I just grinder my butt off and kept the vision in mind. I believe you get lucky by putting in the work consistently. One thing I learned is that you have to be passionate about what you’re doing because sometimes that will be the only fuel you have to keep going.

I want everyone know that at one point I was the worse of the worse. I’ve done everything that they portray in the movies, that society deems evil. I’ve overcame my past and transformed into a world inspiration. Don’t judge someone off one leg of the race. Always give them the reasonable wiggle room to transform.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first day I would just take them to my home and let them unpack and rest. We may have a drink from the mini bar and catch up.

The next day I would take them to see the office and meet some of the young people we work with. That night we’d grab some food.

Over the next few days I’d have them look up some options via google to do and we’d go to those places.

On the weekend, if they played poker, I’d bring them to poker night and to a few decent lounges with my circle.

I really enjoy traveling however so I’d most likely be going to see a friend rather than a friend heading out to see me. One of my favorite places to travel to is Miami.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Man, there are so many people who had touch points in this success I am experiencing. However, I would have to shout out my grandmother “Nanny” for instilling in me respect, intelligence, and manners that have opened doors that money could never.

Website: Prosepotential.org

Instagram: Prolifictae

Linkedin: De’Vonte’ Parson

Facebook: De’Vonte’ Parson