EPISODE 084: Finding Enlightenment in Prison with David Hopper
In this episode, David shares his experience of getting into the street life of selling drugs at 14 and the anger and arrogance that ultimately landed him in prison. We discuss how he found understanding with his father, the enlightenment he found during incarceration, and the brilliant work he’s doing now with children and young adults in New York City as he helps them deal with their trauma and trust issues through creativity and guides them back to their own greatness.
We dive into:
David’s pivotal childhood moment with his mom and the shifts that came from it
The realization that he hated his father and his healing around this
Selling drugs on the street at 14 years old
Dealing with the anger & arrogance that sent him to prison
His experience as a black man dealing with the stigma of men expressing emotion
The biggest lessons from prison that led to his expansion
David’s organization, “Nana’s Living Room” and how he’s using creativity to guide at-risk youth and others to healing
And more
David Hopper, Co-Founder of Nana’s Living Room Inc. David is a FilmMaker, Spoken Word artist, Credible Messenger, Mentor, and Author. His organization helps at-risk youth, young adults and formerly incarcerated individuals heal and navigate traumas, pain & trust issues. David uses his book "Moments, Writings, Thoughts and Letters of a 2x Felon" (*on Amazon) to create dialogue on solutions of mass incarceration, conflict resolution, and the school-to-prison pipeline. His mission is to use art, film, and experiential learning to combat violence. David is currently working on his second book “Moments 2 Motivation” slated to be out November 4th.
Connect with David:
BronxNet TV Interview: https://youtu.be/GxV4g0DyMwA
Personal Website: www.iamdavidhopper.com
Organization Website: www.nanaslivingroom.org
Organization Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nanaslivingroominc/
Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdavid_unstoppable/
Did this episode impact you?
I’d love to know what moment touched or inspired you. Let me know in the comments section below, or share the episode on social media and tag me in your stories @pohong.yu!
