Tekena Abere

       We are pleased to introduce to you all our eight brother of the week, Tekena!                                          Tekena's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Tekena Abere

Age: 21

Hometown: Stockbridge, Georgia

University/occupation: University of Georgia

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: Spanish major, Biology minor, Pre-med

Single or in a relationship? Single

Research Interest (if any):

Organizations/Campus Involvement: Public Relations Chair African Student Union, Bethel Campus Fellowship Evangelism Coordinator/Worship Leader, Shop With a Bulldawg Committee, Oasis Catolico mentor, LISTO, LSAMP, Community Connection Volunteer

Employment/Volunteerism: Desk Assistant at O-house

Future aspirations: International Physician—who does a ton of mission work in underserved countries (particularly in South America, countries in Africa, and in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico etc)

Favorite past time? NETFLIX, and reading—I actually love to read just as much as I love to watch tv and movies (especially Spanish movies and series). I also love to sing.

What motivates you? I just wanna be great—but honestly I just have a desire to be excellent and be influential. That would put me in a position to effectively spread the Gospel and show how great God really is. The sacrifices that my parents have made to get me where I am are also very strong motivators. My worst nightmare would to be squander all of their hard work.

What pushes you when things get tough? Sometimes I have to call my mom, and let the tears flow—jk (kinda) but definitely my confidence that God will perfect everything that concerns me.

What’s your favorite song currently? No gray, by Jonathan Mcreynolds

Who inspires you? So many to list hmm… definitely my parents, a lot of my family members and church family are doing incredible things so I have innumerable sources of inspiration.

Favorite quote? Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now shall it spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? Eccentric. I’m African with slight Latino tendencies. I speak a couple of languages and I have tons of accents.

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background

What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for?

Both of my parents were born and raised in Nigeria. My mom often tells me she had to walk to school barefoot when she was little because of poverty. With hard work and motivation she became a pharmacist and this definitely sparked my pursuit of becoming a doctor. My father has also worked very hard to provide for my family and I and I want to be able to give it all back one day. When I am old and retire, I want to travel the world. I would possibly like to teach English in Spanish or French countries, or be an AP Spanish teacher. I want to instill the values of hard work and sacrifice in young men and motivate them.

Social Media: 

You can find him on instagram @ lwantfufu

We hope that you enjoyed reading Tekena's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!


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Peace and Love,


The UOB Team

Lance Griffin

                                         

          We are pleased to introduce to you all our seventh brother of the week, Lance!                                          Lance's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Lance La'Broch Griffin

Age: 21

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

University/occupation: University of Georgia

Major: Psychology

Relationship status: In a relationship

Research Interest: Stress and psychological strain on LGBTQAI students at PWIs

Organizations/Campus Involvement: LGBTRC Ambassador & PRISM

Employment/Volunteerism: BREC Independence Park Theatre Summer Camp Counselor

Future aspirations: Becoming a counseling psychologist

Favorite past time: Writing

What motivates you: The desire to impact change on the world around.

What Pushes You When Things Get Tough: Knowing that I am not in any of this alone and that I have people who will help me along the way.

What’s your favorite song currently: Fly Before You Fall by Cynthia Erivo.

What inspires you: The people in my inner circle of family and friends.

Favorite quote: "You hold onto friends by keeping your heart a little softer than your head:" - Clone Wars?

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why: Tenacious. I would use the word “tenacious” because it is the word that best describes what my survival and progression through life has called for- bending, but never breaking, being pushed but never falling behind.

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background: I come from a working class family from Denver, Colorado. I am the youngest of four children and the only boy. From the time I was four years old onward, I had to cope with my parents periodically coming in and out of my life, and growing up on my own. I had to quickly learn to be self-sufficient. My family never had a lot of money, so being resourceful was a skill that proved adaptive in my life. I had to learn and teach myself how to make something out of nothing, be it food or school supplies. I had to embrace manhood on my own terms, and assess what that meant to me- what adulthood looked like to me. I never really had much of a childhood. I didn’t have that assisted-learning that some kids have through familial support. Instead, I had to learn as I went and serve as both student and teacher. Maintaining was a matter of trial and error for me, but I managed well enough. Every year brought a new challenge in life, and although sometimes the world seemed to be more than I could bear, I persevered. After about seven years, I finally moved back with my father who lived in Toccoa, GA by that time. I enrolled in Stephens County High School, where I struggled to acclimate to the cultural shift. I was convinced to apply to the University of Georgia by my phenomenal AP English teacher, Dr. Warren. After being accepted to UGA, I found my voice and my niche—getting more involved with the LGBT Resource Center on campus. As a senior now, I can truly see how my experiences in life have cultivated the values that I hold dear to me, and the unbreakable spirit I gained through it all has been the recurring theme in my story. If there is any one thing that I could say is the source of my motivation, it would the desire to give myself a better tomorrow than my yesterday- both literally and metaphorically.

What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for? My end goal is to have a career as a Counseling Psychologist and serve the people around me. I hold mental health near and dear to my heart and I am passionate about healing those who suffer from the devastating effects of mental health issues. I hope to be married with a family and live a life of comfort—no need for excess. I want people to remember me for always fighting for social justice and helping people. Most of all though, I want to be remembered for loving my friends and family.

Social Media: 
You can find him on instagram @ l_egant_l

We hope that you enjoyed reading Lance's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!


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Peace and Love,


The UOB Team

Joseph Morris

          We are pleased to introduce to you all our sixth brother of the week, Jay! Jay's                                            interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Jay Morris

Age: 21

Hometown: Athens, GA

University/occupation: UGA/Student Worker

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: Health Promotion and Behavior/Communication Studies

Single or in a relationship? In a relationship

Research Interest (if any): HIV/AIDS, sexual and racial minority health disparities, cultural competency in healthcare settings

Organizations/Campus Involvement: RSVP (Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention UGA)/LGBT Resource Center Ambassador/Spoken Word UGA

Employment/Volunteerism: UGArden/Georgia Center/Host of Goetry Open Mic

Future aspirations: To work in public health communications of health journalism

Favorite past time? Jogging and listening to music

What motivates you? The satisfaction of proving people wrong

What pushes you when things get tough? The support of my family and friends

What’s your favorite song currently? Want Some More by Nicki Minaj

Who inspires you? James Baldwin

Favorite quote? "It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I had been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the earth as though I had a right to be here."

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? Reliable - I really value stability in myself and other people. I'm the guy who can see things through to the end.

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background

I was born and raised in Athens, GA. I come from a low-middle class to working class family who has been in Athens for generations. I was always interested in working in the field of health because my mom is a nurse, and because my family has dealt with multiple health problems over the years. I'm motivated by the pursuit of social justice, and the hope that one day everyone will be provided the environment and resources needed to develop themselves and reach their full potential. If not for the support and encouragement of friends, family, and mentors I've had in Athens, I would probably be a very different person on a very different life path.

What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for?

I want people to remember me as someone who was always in it for the long haul; as someone who is supportive, caring, kind, and intelligent.

Social Media: 
You can find him on facebook @ Jay Morris

We hope that you enjoyed reading Jay's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!


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Peace and Love,


The UOB Team

Andrew Boyer

             We are pleased to introduce to you all our fifth brother of the week, Andrew!                                    Andrew's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Andrew Philip Boyer

Age: 20

Hometown: Douglasville, Georgia

University/occupation: University of Georgia

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: Criminal Justice (major); Spanish (minor) Theatre (minor)

Single or in a relationship? Single

Research Interest (if any):

Organizations/Campus Involvement: Black Affairs Council, Dawg Camp, Public Service & Outreach Scholars, Golden Key Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Employment/Volunteerism: Boys & Girls Club (volunteer), Oasis Catolico (volunteer)

Future aspirations: I would like to be an attorney and eventually a judge. I also would like to work as a producer/director of different theatrical productions.

Favorite past time? Laughing/spending time with loved ones, reading, etc.

What pushes you when things get tough? The idea and lived experiences that have taught me that the only thing you won’t survive in your life is your death and you already have a 100% survival rate. My family and I have been through a lot of hard times and a lot of difficult situations, but thank the Lord we have made it through. I’ve learned to appreciate the hard times and the trials, because that is when you can find out what you’re made of & perhaps more importantly, that’s the perfect opportunity for your family and friends to really love you for you.

What’s your favorite song currently? “Treat Me Like Fire” (Snakeship Remix) – Lionbabe. LionBabe is one of my favorite bands and this particular song has a really cool message and nice 90’s R&B beat.

Who inspires you? My grandparents Raymond and Frances Leonard. During the 60’s, he and my grandmother moved from Alabama to Atlanta, Georgia with nothing but some furniture and their five kids. They later went on to become the first two people in my family to attend and graduate from college. Additionally, they started Covington Bible Baptist Church, which just celebrated its 33 year anniversary this past March.

Favorite quote? Favorite Quote: Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Social Media: 
Instagram & Twitter: @brotherbear_drew

We hope that you enjoyed reading Andrew's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!

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Peace and Love,

The UOB Team

Elijah Vilfort

                We are pleased to introduce to you all our fourth brother of the week, Elijah!                                    Elijah's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Gladnel Elijah Vilfort

Age: 22

Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti

University/occupation: University of Georgia

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: Computer Systems Engineering

Single or in a relationship? Dating (so neither?)

Research Interest (if any): Nah

Organizations/Campus Involvement: NSBE, IEEE, Collegiate Candidates, APO, CaribSA, lowkey HOH,

Employment/Volunteerism: Currently Miller Learning Center Classroom Support and as of September, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

Future aspirations: Running my own I.T. business focused on Technology Optimization

Favorite past time? Cooking, watching/playing basketball, video games

What pushes you when things get tough? "My faith, simply knowing that there is beauty in the struggle (Romans 5:3-5)"

What’s your favorite song currently? Fetty Wap-My Way

Who inspires you? "My mom, she is the most selfless individual I know almost to a fault

Favorite quote? “Two roads diverged in the wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” Robert Frost

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? Different

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background

I was born in raised in Port-au-Prince Haiti. My first languages were French and Haitian Creole. I learned English as a foreign language and practiced whenever I would visit family in New York and New Jersey. Typical American Dream story: my parents knew I would have a better future if I went to school in the States so I moved to GA for High School and later attended UGA. My motivation stems from my roots: my family and where I come from. Making them proud and knowing that my level of success will one day allow me to be able to take care of my mom, my family members and help with Haiti’s slow but successful rebuilding progress. I am a role model to a lot of young boys in my family.

What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for?  I want to be remembered as a man of God, someone honest, straightforward and fun to be around and hopefully I reach a level where my involvement in philanthropist movements throughout the world actually have an impact.

Social Media: 
Instagram & Twitter: @lijah_g

We hope that you enjoyed reading Elijah's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!

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Peace and Love,

The UOB Team

Marquise Lane

We are pleased to introduce to you all our third brother of the week, Marquise! Marquise's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

   

Full name: Marquise Lane

Age: 21

Hometown: Valdosta GA

University/occupation: UGA

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: Management Information Systems

Single or in a relationship? Single

Organizations/Campus Involvement:

I helped make "The Arch" accessible

Employment/Volunteerism: 

Offensive Volunteer, Georgia Football

Future aspirations: 

To get a job that allows me to impact lives in a positive manner and make enough money to sufficiently support my future family.

Favorite past time? 

2K and hanging at the football office

What motivates you? 

My disability

What pushes you when things get tough? 

faith in God and His plan for my life

What’s your favorite song currently? 

Intro About Nothing-Wale

Who inspires you? 

My mom

Favorite quote? 

"The only limitations you'll ever have are those you place upon yourself"

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why? 

Driven because once I set my mind to something, I'm  gonna get it done. No matter what.

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background

What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for?

I'm a senior MIS major at UGA from Valdosta GA. I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at age 3 and have been using a walker ever since. I never really thought about my motivation, but I guess my disability is a big motivating factor for me. I know that I'm already at a physical disadvantage, so I can't afford to be at a mental one, too! My mom always told me that I had to show people that despite my physical disability, I was just as good as everybody else academically. My end goal is to be in a position where I can positively impact lives and show people that they can do whatever they set their minds to. Hopefully i will leave impressions on the lives of many and these will live long after I am gone. When its all said and done, I want people to remember me as a hard worker who never quit and who gave whatever he was doing everything he had. I hope that I will be remembered as someone who left the world in better shape than he found it.

Social Media: 
Instagram & Twitter: @averagemarquise

We hope that you enjoyed reading Marquise's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!

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Peace and Love,

The UOB Team

Gregory Lafortune

We are pleased to introduce to you our second UOB brother of the week, Greg! Greg's interview responses are below. Enjoy!

Full name: Gregory Lafortune

Age: 22

Hometown: Queens, NY

University/occupation: Georgia State University, student

Major/minor/certificate/concentration: working towards a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition

Single or in a relationship? Single

Research Interest (if any): The relationship between good food and good nutrition in the Haitian culture.

Organizations/Campus Involvement:
Theophile Youth on Fire for Christ: Youth Director
GSU 1913 Society of Ambassadors: Advisory Board

Employment/Volunteerism: 

Georgia State University Tour Guide

Future aspirations:

-Get married

-Have kids
-Raise a God-fearing family

-Be a spokesperson for some type of prominent Nutrition establishment

-Travel to Haiti and influence the people to live healthier lifestyles

-Serve as a role model for young black men

-Preach the Gospel

Favorite past time?
-Playing music (drums, bass, tuba, harmonica)
-Reading the Bible

-Cooking Breakfast and taking pictures of it

-SnapChat
-Christian Counseling

-Making smoothies

Sorry I have so much! lol

What motivates you? 

Family and close friends depend on me. My future family depends on me.

What pushes you when things get tough? 

Perseverance through Christ.  My faith drives me in all things, especially when things get tough.

What’s your favorite song currently? 

Don’t laugh at me, but “Hakuna Matata” from the Lion King is the greatest song of all time. That, and the “Bare Necessities” from the Jungle Book.

Who inspires you? 

My mother. She knows best.

Favorite quote?

I don’t have one.

If you could describe yourself in one word what would it be and why?

Incredible: I hate saying this because pride is something I struggle with. However, I don’t know another word to use. I am multi-faceted and well rounded. I work hard on perfecting God’s Will in my life and go against the grain when I’m pressured to follow any distorted trend. I am a Leader, and I initiate. I am content with what I have, but never complacent with where I could be. I am incredible because an incredible God created me.

What’s your story? Where does your motivation come from? Explain to us your background. What’s your end goal? When you’re old and ready to retire, what do you want people to remember you for?
When I was 11 I got diagnosed with diabetes. It was a confusing and frustrating time for a kid like me. Being that diabetes did not run in my immediate family, it made me even more mad that I had to be the first one in my family to have it. I spent years hurt and mad at God because I literally felt like He set me up. Diabetes didn’t make sense. It is until I grew older, I started seeing how I had a passion for good nutrition and living a health conscious lifestyle. This would have never happened had I not got diagnosed with diabetes initially. When I was 11, I didn’t get it, but now it makes sense: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

I want you to look at me and say “Greg never changed.” Consistency is one of the most important factors to consider during the progression of life. Of course we have impactful experiences that may change us. Why “go with the flow” when I serve a God who controls the flow?  Whether I have everything or lose everything, I want my relationship with Jesus Christ to be the most stable thing going for me. I want people to see that I endured hardship like a good soldier and persevered in my Faith no matter what. Christ is my Solid Rock.

Random Comments, Concerns, and/or Questions:

I struggle with coming off as “intimidating” or “judgmental” because people see how seriously I take my life (never partied, drunk, smoked, had sex, etc). People always question if I even go through personal battles. I wish it were otherwise. Every single day, something new comes up that I don’t understand. My identity gets challenged frequently. I’ve had moments of extreme sadness, loneliness, and pessimism.  I always humble myself to be transparent in my struggles. People see my personality, accomplishments, and where I’m headed as so “lofty” they are unable to see the fact that I am human too and struggle just as well. Though my failures are many, I don’t linger in them. My attitude and to get back up is what sets me apart.

Social media:

Instagram: @sofortunate

We hope that you enjoyed reading Greg's interview as much as we did! Be sure to subscribe to this blog to see who our future brothers will be!

Follow us on instagram @upliftingourbrothers and twitter @upliftingbros

Peace and Love,

The UOB Team