Known to many as “The Ambassador of Hope”, Andre’s experience and expertise is what empowers him to help people turn their situation around. From illiteracy to gang activity, Andre’s childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime. This behavior led Andre to be sentenced to over 100 years in prison. He rose to the top of the prison gang system where he managed gang activities from within a maximum-security prison. During his two year stay in solitary confinement, Andre had an “epiphany” and he made the decision to turn his life around.
Over the next eight years, Andre worked twenty hours per/day towards making this dream a reality. First, he taught himself how to read, then to understand the law, as well as participating in anger management meetings. After serving fourteen years, Andre won his appeal, and armed with a GED and dream, he walked out of prison in 1999.
Having been exposed to both sides of the fence, Andre pulled from his experiences and created 180x, a program designed to teach individuals and corporations how to turn any situation around. Andre has traveled all over the world to serve as a mentor and listening ear for so many in need, and has lectured from Universities to corporations that include: Harvard University, MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, KPMG and Prudential.