ABOUT

WELCOME

Thank you for visiting my website. This collection of books, workshops, essays, poetry and images represents my 39 years as a youth advocate. My work with hard to reach youths was always from the heart, and I stay proud of every single student and client I helped find their footing in this big classroom called life. Whether it was teaching young detainees on Rikers Island or doing family mediation for a Residential Youth Treatment Center; from running an alternative school to running an inclusive college program, I’m still here to tell you that young people need mentors to help them understand the world around them and their role in it.

We’re seeing an increase in youth homelessness and not paying attention to the culprits--- youths aged out of foster care with no aftercare plan, no supervised independent living program apartments available or livable, competition with families with children seeking affordable housing, learning disabilities, criminal record, unemployable, sexual minority, undocumented, mental unwellness, unqualified for services, social abandonment, parental abandonment. Youth advocates are learning to be more inclusive in our language and curriculum. We know now more than ever that we have to teach and counsel from a reality-based system of intervention if we want to see results.

K books are a series of books I’ve written for and about underrepresented, marginalized youths. They include illustrations from young artists, so be sure to take a peek under the ESSAYS section to The Art of Reaching Troubled Youths.

K-YOUTH ADVOCATE

My philosophy on youth caring is straight forward. I believe in the advocacy of all our youth, not only the ones who don't challenge my personal beliefs. Working with hard to reach youth involves emotional presence. Whether I'm managing an alternative educational site for 16-24ylds in need of educational services and work readiness or counseling more specific populations like the young incarcerated or LGBT youth, my overall mission has always been to help increase emotional health, academic performance, job placement and housing opportunities by helping our young sons and daughters see themselves beyond their circumstances.

K-AUTHOR

K Books are part of an on-going book series on how to positively and effectively motivate troubled youths. These books are more like discussions and offer critical thought to managing young lives and young lives managing their selves.
I’ve also written two books of poems, The Dredlocks Tree (1999) and Throw (2018). A conversation with Kahlil Koromantee introducing current and future book projects: Watch video

K-EDUCATOR

I am a New York State certified English teacher who uses life-coaching techniques specifically geared for teens and young adults whose personal conflicts get in the way of their academic success and overall development.

K-LIFE COACH

I approach the healing of our sons and daughters from a culturally and socially relevant place of reference. We are witnessing a national crisis. Our children are not children. They are dealing with serious life-changing concerns. But so are we. Black people are at a crossroads once again. Either we move forward with others’ progress or we learn how to re-integrate our ethnic and philosophical differences in order to solve our own problems for ourselves.

K-COMMUNITY

My affiliations with youth initiatives include BronxConnect and the Andrew Glover Youth Program where I’ve provided life coaching to teens and young adults facing possible incarceration. Durham Scholars Program, YouthBuild SoBro and Nubian Directions are other intervening affiliations who’ve benefited from my educational support. Harlem Justice Scholars, Yo! Baltimore and Peekskill Youth Bureau use my book, Message to a Youngblood as part of their life skills curriculum. I’ve also served as an academic consultant for Prisonwrites, a writing incentive for prison detainees seeking advocacy, education and literacy development. The LOFT LGBT Community Services Center is another community resource I assisted with their case management program for Black transgender persons and ran their POC adult support group. And I’ve facilitated diversity workshops for both faculty and students at the Center for Inclusion at Manhattanville College.

In addition to working with vulnerable populations and guest speaking at colleges and universities on diversity, equity and inclusion matters (DEI), I offer an online discussion series called Ask K for parents and youth advocates seeking effective and culturally competent approaches to mental wellness.