We had the good fortune of connecting with Selwyn Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Selwyn, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
The fight and the struggle of coming from poverty gave me the mindset to never give up or quit. I was born in 1966 to sharecroppers in the Jim Crow South. Growing up as the youngest of seventeen children in Goldsboro, North Carolina, my upbringing was shaped by unimaginable poverty and disenfranchisement. My family and I worked in tobacco fields just to make ends meet. However, even in the face of these challenges, my mother instilled in me the importance of dreaming big. The love I had for her was my guiding light.

Despite our difficult circumstances, I found solace and purpose in my athletic abilities. Sports became my ticket out of poverty and oppression. Through hard work and determination, I was able to overcome adversity and pursue a better life for myself.

My background and upbringing have had a profound impact on who I am today. They have instilled in me a deep sense of resilience, perseverance, and empathy for others facing similar struggles. My experiences have fueled my passion for social change and advocacy, inspiring me to dedicate my life to fighting for justice and equality in my community and beyond.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My determination is endless. my will is powerful. my wanting to be great will ever be a reality because nothing will ever be perfect. I am steadfast in my pursuit of excellence as a human being, advocate, parent, and husband. I became a successful salesman, hotel owner, and father with my wife, Joie. However, on May 25, 2020, my life was forever changed when I witnessed the murder of my nephew, George Floyd, at the hands of Minneapolis police. Floyd’s death started a civil rights movement worldwide, and I was inspired to create positive societal change in his honor. I became an activist committed to ending police brutality, systemic racism, and violence. One of my impactful changes was the removal of the Confederate flag from the police uniforms in Gettysburg, SD, which had been a controversial symbol associated with racism, slavery, and oppression for many people in the United States. Additionally, I am assisting in pushing the Medical Civil Rights Act, a bill that would require police officers to immediately request emergency medical services when someone in police custody or contact experiences a medical emergency. With all of that said, there is still much work to do. I’ve only just begun…

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
All things CATFISH! Who’s cooking?

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I extend gratitude to my co-founder, Elizabeth Darden at Hope929 for her invaluable contributions to the ongoing fight for social justice. Together, we have worked tirelessly to establish a platform that amplifies the voices of those who are often marginalized and unheard in our society.

I also want to express my appreciation to our dedicated team members who have stood by us every step of the way. It is through their collective effort and passion that we continue to make strides towards our shared vision of a more just and inclusive society.

Website: www.hope929.org | https://revolverpodcasts.com/shows/setting-it-straight-with-selwyn-jones

Instagram: SettingItStraightSelwyn

Linkedin: Selwyn Jones

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