Will was raised by the streets of Philadelphia and ran with a rough crowd as a and coming from a child of a single-parent household. Without a father to rely on for guidance, Will began his life's journey by selling drugs and participating in gangs and violence in and around the community of South Philly. One day tragedy struck as Will and a group of friends were shot at by a rival gang. Acting with only pure instinct, Will shot back in self-defense and killed the person shooting at him. Will was sentenced to 20 years in prison for 3rd-degree murder.
Over the next 10 years, Will made incredible changes and vowed to serve the community he once terrorized as a youngster. He yearned for this day; a day that he would be able to make a huge and lasting impact on youth violence in his neighborhood. Will caused no waves during his time spent in prison, stayed out of trouble, and chose to educate himself by reading hundreds of books on a variety of topics to pass the time. He was released on good behavior after serving 10 years.
This is when Will Little grew into the man, the father, and the community leader he is today. He was given the opportunity to prove he actually had transformed his life for the better, and he made sure to make the best of it.
Since being released, Will has:
Sought and received forgiveness from the victim's family while also forgiving himself.
Received multiple cities and community awards.
Presented at 100's of schools all over the country.
Presented at life-enhancing and motivational conferences on the East and West Coast annually.
Will does motivational speaking and performs street poetry to a diverse number of audiences each year. He speaks anywhere - schools (both public and charter), the Juvenile Justice System, prisons, adult conferences centered around self-improvement, and kids conferences centered around empowerment, mindset, and decision making.
In this episode, Jay unpacks Will's story and also his experiences to guide anyone in any facet of their life.
See www.willvlittle.com