GSULYP Member Spotlight: Kevin Griffin

 

 

 

 

Born on a navy base in Agana, Guam and raised in Oakland, California, today Kevin appraises commercial real estate for a living. Growing up in various parts of the expansive and diverse city of Oakland gave Kevin exposure to a variety of culturally and ethnically diverse people from a young age. As a result of seeing and experiencing the many adverse effects of poverty on urban youth of color in Oakland, Kevin decided that he would commit to helping boys and girls whose experience growing up mirrored his own and many other minority youth growing up in many of Oakland's indigent communities. After attending college at the University of California, Davis, Kevin decided that volunteering for groups like the Urban League would be a great way to do just that. 

 

 

What impact do you want to have on your community?

I want to truly help people (especially boys and girls of color) realize their full potential as individuals and collectively as a community. 

What brought you to YP?

I found out about YP through a friend, attended a YP social event and really connected with the great people and mission of YP and decided that it was something that fit my personal personal goals and passions.

What do you enjoy about being a YP member?

Among other things, what I enjoy most about being a member of YP is the satisfaction that comes from knowing that I am giving back to the same community that has and continues to give me so much inspiration and purpose in my life.

What is your dream job (a fun one)?

My dream job (in another life) is to be a CIA agent who goes on critical missions around the world to save masses of people from natural and man-made  disasters.

What else can you tell us about yourself?

One embarrassing fact about me is that at age 27 I still don't know how

 

 



Member Spotlight: Jordan Duckens

Jordan Duckens is a 22-year-old native of Sacramento, California. In May 2013, she graduated with honors from Howard University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. She currently works for the California State Legislature in the Speaker’s Office. Jordan became a member of GSULYP in November 2013 and now serves as the Chair of Marketing for the Young Professionals. Jordan is active member of her church and has held several leadership positions within the youth organization.

What impact do you want to have on your community?

I want to help empower people professionally, economically, and politically. I have been exposed to a lot and I want to help others access resources and knowledge to make themselves and others in their community better. Feeling powerless is the worst feeling. I want others to realize the power they have to change themselves and their communities.

What brought you to YP?

I was born and raised in Sacramento. When I returned home after I graduated from college and realized I no longer had a social or professional network in Sacramento. In college, I was surrounded by intelligent, talented, ambitious, young, black men and women who were interested in social justice and making a real impact in the community. I joined YP to find that same community at home.

What do you enjoy about being a YP member?

I’ve only been a member for a few months but I really enjoy how dedicated and dynamic this group is. I like the fact that we do meaningful programs as well as social events where we can all have a good time.

What is your dream job (a fun one)?

I would love to be a wedding planner and run a wedding planning company someday. I have always been obsessed with weddings. They are such sacred, beautiful events. “Whose Wedding is it Anyway?” used to be my favorite show. I adore David Tutera. I feel like it would be a challenging job that would allow me to combine logic/reasoning with my creativity while working with a variety of people.

What else can you tell us about yourself?

I love sports. I played volleyball and basketball up until college. I would really like to join an adult sports league because I miss playing a lot.  I’ve also recently become a big college basketball fan (Go Kansas!). I can’t wait to spend every weekend in March watching basketball all day.

I am also a PROUD alumna of Howard University. I love my HBCU!