Victor "Gotti" Cherry

Author, Youth Motivator, Former Drug Dealer and Gang Leader of New York Bloods

Travels From: NY

Fee Range: $2,500 - $3,000

Topics:Youth/Children, Motivation, Community Relations

Links:

Full GBS Roster

Request More Information

Old Testament: Victor "Gotti" Cherry is the voice of urban America. His vision and goals define a true Harlem Diplomat. He’s a multi-talented poet, community activist, and Gang leader. Victor was born and raised in Central Harlem in what he calls the “Black Mecca”. Victor has seen violence on all levels from domestic drug dealing to the 90’s birth of East Coast Gang-Banging. However, he transformed his pain into motivational speaking and passionate visionary poetry that uplifts people of all generations and color. In 1991, Victor became a member of Harlem Children’s Zone. He’s very passionate about creating opportunity for youth and positive changes in his community so only after a few months of his participation he became the poster boy for Harlem Children’s Zone Beacon program. As a result of his outstanding participation the program Director and his mentor Shawn Dove allows him too introduced the AmeriCorps program with Former Attorney General of the United States, Janet Reno. In 1992, Victor was elected President of the Beacon program “Teen Youth Council”; he also sat on the Governor Mario Cuomo State of New York Youth Council chair. In 1993, Victor’s life changed forever when he lost his best friend Michael Duncan to a drunken driven accident on Easter Sunday in Harlem, then two weeks later his cousin Mark Luker was gunned down at a dice game in Central Harlem right before his high school graduation.

New Testament: In 1994, Victor became a community activist, and self published his book of poetry titled, “Armed & Dangerous the poetry of Victor “Gotti” Cherry”. That same year he was featured in a nationally aired documentary called “Victory over Violence”. Victor also was featured in the Robin Hood Foundation Teenage pregnancy prevention video (PSA). In 1995, Victor had public debates with City Council members on youth prevention and services. Victor was also featured on WPIX, Channel 11 morning show with Mary Murphy “Pee Wee Gangsters”, which he discusses the issue with the State of New York Juvenile District Attorney Peter Reinhardt “should juveniles get judged as adults”. Victor has been awarded the CBS, Channel 2, and “Martin Luther King Jr. Award” for Outstanding Achievement. In 1996, Victor was on his personal speaking tour promoting Peace Rehabilitation through creative thinking and writing, and also conducted workshops on Violence and Gang Prevention. Victor conducted presentations at Wesleyan University, Colombia University, and Binghamton University. In 1997, Victor was in the Nation’s Capitol giving presentations to congress on urban and minority’s studies, representing the Common Wealth Foundation survey on Violence and Education amongst minorities in New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles. In 1998, Victor was featured on two of WNET Thirteen programs, “Ethical Choices” and “Rights & Wrong” which also featured Fox 5 new reporter, Rosanna Scotto. Victor gave one of his most powerful lectures at the American Bar Association convention on “Effects of violence in Orlando Florida”. That same year Victor premiered his Golden Award Winning Documentary “Rain Makers” it was so powerful that he traveled to Winnipeg Canada and conducted a three week “Inspirational and Motivational tour” on self love and violence prevention. 1999 Victor was featured on Bronxnet documentary the “chains remain” directed by sunny smith. In 2000, Victor acted in the movie “Drive-bye a love story” on B.E.T Black Star Power. In 2002, Victor was a featured model in Michael Jordan’s “Brand Jordan Magazine”. In 2003, Victor recorded with Hip-Hop controversial gold recording artist Dead Prez “Get Free or Die Tryin Mix CD”. In 2004,

Victor recorded various voice over for Terra Association’s Educational Programs, In 2005, Victor remixed (poetically) a few of Langston Hughes poems for the Scholastic Publishing’s Literacy Program, October 15, 2005 Victor reached his mark when he spoke eloquently at the “Million More Movement” in Washington DC representing “Passing of the torch to the youth” ceremony. Victor is defiantly a leader of this generation of young leaders. On November, 2006 Victor was also featured in an Anti-Snitch Documentary "Death before Dishonor". Revelations: Getting Others Together Too Improve

Did you find this profile helpful? If so, please bookmark it to your Google, MySpace, de.lico.us, or Facebook account.

Would You Like More Information About our Speakers? Fill out the form below and someone will get back to you shortly.