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Email address: lds@urbanleadershipinstitute.com
Outspoken, Insightful, Visionary, Compassionate, Innovative, Youthful, Funny, Precocious, and Charismatic are some of the ways LaMarr Darnell Shields, the co-founder and president of the Urban Leadership Institute has been described. As a rising star amongst his peers, LaMarr has been featured in numerous media outlets for his achievements in the education and motivation of young people. Before Urban Leadership Institute, Shields taught at the third oldest high school in the country, lived in Latin America, spoke at the White House, wrote several books and articles, founded the Paul Robeson Academic International School of Excellence (PRAISE), hosted a teen television show, and taught at the prestigious Johns Hopkins University.
When asked about his passion, Shields says that he owes it to all the teachers he drove to an early retirement. Because of them, Shields says adults have to be creative when helping young people become successful.
With the creation of PRAISE, an educational and social model for working with African American boys, and the development of innovative educational tools such as Rhyme and Reason, a curriculum developed to help educators and youth service providers use hip-hop as a means to connect with youth, Shields and the Urban Leadership Institute give a whole new meaning to positive youth development.
While his accomplishments are commendable, it is important to note that due to his poor academic performance and mischievous behavior in school, LaMarr Darnell Shields was not expected to succeed. While in the 11th grade, he was expelled. However, after searching dozens of high schools and receiving numerous rejections, due to his defiant background and failing grades, he was fortunate to get accepted into another high school, and later became an honor roll student, then a distinguished graduate of Grambling State University and La Universidad de Coahuila in Mexico, where he majored in Political Science and Spanish. After acquiring his undergraduate degree, he went on to earn a Masters Degree in Education from Loyola College of Maryland.
But most of his education has come from hardships and personal tragedies. At a young age, Shields lost three of his closest friends to violence. “I’ve found that sometimes the very thing that has hurt you the most, is the very thing you can use to help others,” says Shields.
LaMarr doesn’t live in the past but uses those experiences to guide others to a more positive future filled with possibilities. "I am who I am today because I chose to take advantage of opportunities given to me," says LaMarr. “If you don't identify who you are, others will.”
As a regular feature on Radio One’s 92Q, Shields highlights the accomplishments of area youth and answers questions regarding youth and adult relationships, education, teenage pregnancy, sexuality, youth violence and addictions, just to name a few. Shields provides clear cut, uncomplicated advice on everyday personal concerns in a lively and entertaining format. With the popularity of his segment, Shields produced award winning PSAs, which challenge the harsh realities of being a teen.
His passion, excellence and messages of successful living have stimulated the minds, hearts and actions of men, women and youth to cope with adversity and create success in their personal, professional and spiritual lives. |
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