My name is Shawn Childs and I was raised in the Cabrini Green Housing projects on the near north side of Chicago, IL.

At a young age I experienced a lot of trauma due to violence, gangs, drugs, and prison. I was a kid that experienced a lot very fast. I had to make adult decisions at a young age and most of my younger years I was involved in gangs. I spent many years in prison, getting shot multiple times. During my last prison stay I realized that violence was not the key to life, and that hurting people only caused more pain.

So, I changed my life.

I decided to take all my street knowledge that I learned over the years and clean it up to make it positive. I realized that if I used the same strength and wisdom that I had been using in a negative way and turned it around to make it positive, I could teach young people how to avoid negative situations and become productive citizens. 

I then decided to start a foundation called the House of Hope Foundation. Its mission is to teach kids how to overcome negativity, how to avoid harmful and dangerous situations, and how to avoid from being caught up in the jail system. No Kids Die in the Chi, which is a registered 501(c)(3) is under the umbrella of the House of Hope Foundation.

Currently, I have over 20 years’ experience in mentoring and community outreach with at-risk kids. I realized that one of the keys to helping and empowering confused kids is to understand them and show them that there is another way.

I understand that I cannot save every kid in the world, but if my work and mentoring can save even one, I know that that one can go and change the lives of others.