Today we’d like to introduce you to Torrence Brannon-reese
Hi Torrence, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started my community advocacy/educational/mentoring back in the late 1980s as student government president at LA Southwest Community College. I then went on to obtain my BA at CSDH in Carson, Ca, and in 1992, launched my nonprofit agency, FA-MLI, Inc., where I created several projects and programs designed to uplift humanity. However, being raised by my single mother in New Orleans, who taught me the value of reading books and soul music, inspires me to this day.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has been a mixture of smoothness and challenge, including dealing with the passing of several family members and close friends who were very instrumental in my life. I have also had to navigate systemic racism and have often been the only Black male in critically important spaces, even at USC as I worked to obtain my MSW, there was never a Black male sharing that space with me. As a nonprofit leader, I am not the face that many grantmakers are used to seeing, let alone ward grants to. Yet, my struggles are phenomena that I have used as fuel to inspire me to achieve, and so I don’t allow my challenges to worry me or stop me from trying.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets me apart from most others in education/social activism/politics is the fact that I am, first and foremost, an artist, musician, poet, writer, singer, producer, choreographer, dancer, etc., who utilizes artistic sensibility in all other areas of my life, IE’ in the classroom, in social settings, in lectures and presentation, etc. I am a recording artist and sing with three primary entities, one being Street Corner Renaissance, a nationally known acapella doo-wop group, the other is a 70s era R&B group called The Delfonics, best known for their hit songs Dint I Blow Your Mind This Time and LA LA Means I Love You, and finally, my creation, Torrence BRANNON & his Everything with Soul – New Orleans Style Band.
Additionally, I am known as the man most responsible for keeping the amazing legacy of Malcolm X alive in Los Angeles, as I founded the Malcolm X Legacy project, which includes a 32-year Festival, an annual Human Rights Breakfast, and an effort to co-name Crenshaw Blvd., into Malcolm X Blvd.
Finally, I am one of the best-known mentors or, youth educators in the city of Los Angeles, as my programs, See a Man, Be a Man, and Princess 2 QUeen, have provided dynamic, successful programming for more than 50,000 youth over the past 32 years. I am most proud of how I have been blessed to synthesize the various elements in my life and function positively in all areas of endeavor.
What matters most to you? Why?
Children matter the most to me because, without them, none of us have anything to look forward to.
Pricing:
- $1,500 for my Life Mastery Curriculum presentations.
- $3,500 and above for my band, pricing adjust when we are asked to travel out of state, and or out of the country.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.famlisoul.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brannonreesetorrence/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/torrence.reese/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=torrence+brannon+reese
