Run Girl Run: The Bruises from My Mother Love - Paperback

McKinley, Danette M.: - BIOGRAPHY Danette King has been a fighter all of her life. Born July 30th 1974 in Chicago, IL, she has faced and overcome many adversities, including coming from a broken family and entering the judicial system at a very young age. Danette currently has seven children, including one that's deceased. She had her first child at the age of fourteen after suffering multiple forms of abuse. Danette has dedicated her life to changing the lives and views of the youth of today. She has performed multiple services and given countless donations to the Austin Township Community and has worked for other communities and organizations to help establish a healthier living environment for today's urban youth. Through her love and passion for children and impoverished teens, in 2007, she founded Young Creative Minds (YCM) youth organization. Which has etched quite a reputation for itself? She created and facilitated the famous Westside spelling bee within the Austin community. This event catered to the Chicago public school district to promote literacy, awareness and good sportsmanship among peers, as well as scholastic acceleration. YCM landscaping service takes teenagers that were either on probation or paroled and gives them option to complete their community service through this program. They also have an opportunity to become employed for their services. The community salute concert series is yet another innovative way to give back to her community. She orchestrated a free concert for under privileged children whom couldn't afford tickets to see their favorite artists. Just to name a few of her many attributes Danette uses her past pains as her strength in order to pave a road for children and young adults that has or are currently traveling a path that she once traveled. From speaking of past pains from abusive and non-cohesive relationships to dealing one on one with Chicago underground drug cartels, she continues to inspire young women and young men to be more than what the system has labeled them, which is another statistic. Danette has received multiple accolades from city aldermen and even former Mayor Richard H. Daley. As long as she continues to be a pillar of the urban community and a champion for youth, she is sure to receive much more in the future.