Organic conversation with a friend of mind who wants to know more about my prison experience. Questions include: 
What was my turning point to change my lie?
What was your it like in prison? 
Why

What was the hardest thing about your prison time Wayne?

Wayne Rucker, from Southwest Philadelphia, is a living example of turning negative experiences into an asset for his community positive. Against the odds of being an ex-offender, unemployed and living in a homeless shelter, Wayne has made the type of personal and career strides that some may say to be impossible if he haven’t already reached this point.

While serving time in prison Wayne knew that this wasn’t the life that I wanted to continue to live. Upon release, faced with the realities of adjusting to his new life as a changed man. Despite reality of unemployment and homelessness he started his Non-profit AKBAR INC. focusing on returning citizens and at-risk youth pioneering change through health and wellness, civic engagement and youth mentoring. 

Since, Wayne has made a pretty big name for himself in Philadelphia for his civic efforts. He has received 2015 BMe award for his role as a Philadelphia Community leader. In a significantly short period of time, his civic efforts drew enough attention to meet President Obama on two occasions, and the second meeting was a personal invite to the White House Iftar (dinner) from President Barack Obama celebrating Ramadan in the East Room of the White House, June 22, 2015. Wayne stated, “The President and I discussed AKBAR INC, the challenges of returning citizens My Brother’s Keeper, the narrative of men of color and more. It was about 40minutes of dialogue”. 

Wayne has rebuilt himself into a commodity for his community and it’s his personal experiences that qualify him to work in such communities. Today he’s an honor’s student at Strayer University, interning with Drexel University, working in Philadelphia’s designated promise zone (Leaders for Change Fellowship). He has a pending application in the White House with reference from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. Now he’s highly preferred to work in Camden’s designated promise zone to help with building a workforce development program that designed to create 180 jobs for the at-risk youth over the next three years. 


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