We had the good fortune of connecting with Leo LeMarcus Newman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leo LeMarcus, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
One of my mottos is to not burn bridges and try your best to treat people how you would like to be treated. Time and time again I see how people treat the homeless person, or custodians, or the trash pickup man or woman. We all can learn from anyone so I strongly believe in stripping away the titles and looking at one’s personality and how they treat others.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My life experience has helped shape me into who I am today. From having a child at a young age to making so many sacrifices either on the football field or traveling to places like Iraq, Afghanistan working alongside soldiers during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. This has helped me understand the population which I’m serving. Understanding how to deal with people from different ethnic backgrounds, different cultures, parents, community, government policy and procedures, and our aspiring youth scholars who just need an opportunity to succeed. I use my experience to work with Houston FOX 26 anchor Jonathan Martin on his “Beyond the Game” Tour which we visit local Houston area High School that features panelists of athletes and business leaders to empower young students. The goal of the tour is to inspire young men to dream big beyond sports. The panel of men gave empowering, candid testimonies, sharing their stories of success and failure in sports and other endeavors. Before working for My Brother’s Keeper I was recently the Designated Signature Officer and International Advisor for Texas Southern University. Implemented nine of the top student population nation’s flags on the Texas Southern University campus. I worked with a team that diligently help to increase the international student population on the Texas Southern campus from 377 to more than 900 students in a four-year time span, helping bring in over $41,000,000. I was named 2020 Mentor Finalist of the Year, 2019 King Award by the Emerging 100, 2019 Houston Lawyers Association Community Award, 2019 The Links Community Award, 2018 Top Texas Top 50 Black Professionals, Top 100 Modern Man of the year by Black Enterprise, Houston Business Journal Role Model of the Year Award for Diversity, Houston Black Association of Realtor Community Award and Phoenix Women Community Award, 2017 Top 100 Modern Men of the year by Black Enterprise. Recently with the help of Steven Benson we partner with a Non-Profit organization based out of Atlanta with the Rapper Gunna, Wale, Maxio Kream, Congressman Al Green, Judge Wanda Adams, Sunny Side Mayor Hines, David W. Brown who serves as a board member for Harris County Department of Education Position 7, At-Larg, Trae the Truth & his organization Relief gang, Worthing Alumni Rapper Lil Flip, former NFL Player Lemuel Stinnson and Amber Newman who serves as the CEO of the Boys and Girls Club. Following the devastating ice storm which crippled much of the city of Houston electric grid and prompted residents to go without power or clean water for days, the “Drip Too Hard” rapper announced the Houston Relief GOODR Popup that took place at Worthing High School on Sunday, February 28th which was a fantastic event. . The event is to aid those in need with free groceries, water, baby supplies, household items and much more. We were able to successfully support over 1200 families in the Houston Area. My primary goal in life is to bridge the gap, support the community, helping the youth and help save lives. I’m working on different projects now one of the projects I’m working on is running the Marketing team of one of my friends Brian Wilturner who invented this product called The Pocket USA which helps protect Individuals and Peace Officers. You can learn more about this product thepocketusa.com I also volunteer in supporting our teacher in Fort Bend I.S.D., have a few dropshipping websites, a Non-Profit that only give scholarship and support organization, a few vending machines, provide Government Medical Supplies and have an online clothing store Blessingsonblessingsgear.com. The Clothing line Blessings on Blessings Gear motto is making it cool to believe in and have a relationship with God.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The place would be Dubai, Dubai is like my second home. I know a lot of people who live in the United Arab Emirates. Back in 2013, I had the opportunity to be involved in the planning for the new base and walk the base once it was completed. So Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Oman are very beautiful and I would strongly recommend those places to visit. Day 1. First, though, you’ll need to get a driver. Go to one of the best breakfast places in Downtown Dubai are Clinton St Baking Co. in Burj Views for chicken and waffles, avo toast and soft shell crab benedict, and Baker & Spice in Souk al Bahar, where the menu is all about eggs and the views are all about Dubai Fountain. The Dubai Mall is an attraction in itself. Another place to go is the Gold souk-style villages, and 120 eateries, there’s also the excellent Dubai Aquarium, an ice skating rink, an indoor theme park, and a 120-screen cinema. Day 2. Dubai Creek flows between Deira and Bur Dubai and is one of the best places to visit in Dubai if you have more than two days. It’s the place to go to immerse yourself in Dubai of not so long ago. Day 3. Sightseeing in Dubai can take it out of you so it’s a good idea to spend a day unwinding on the beach. If you have time you can drive up to Abu Dhabi and take a city tour. Day 4. Desert Safari for full details on this day trip. Visiting the desert is a real Dubai must-do and very memorable. If you’d prefer to end your day back in civilization, head back to the bright lights of the city. On the journey back, stop to take pictures at Dubai Frame. After freshening up back at your hotel, enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail or two at one of the best rooftop bars in Dubai. Day 5. Visit Karraba Market and unwind in your hotel or take a bite to eat by the fountains.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I had a host of successful people in my corner at every phase of my life. I was blessed to growing up in a two-parent household. Watching my parents being a driving force in the community of Hiram Clarke, which lies on the Southside of Houston, Texas, a subdivision called Glen Iris, which we call G.I. for short. I sometimes think the neighborhood was a blessing and a curse in some ways. We have a host of kids who we grew up with who became victims of being incarcerated, suffering from drug addiction, or violence. Out of the 14 streets in our neighborhood, I can name one or two kids who I grew up with who were murdered or who are now incarcerated. Growing up, I struggled in school with my grades and my behavior. I was the true definition of no child left behind. I actually failed the fifth and sixth grades and my teacher recommended me to enroll in the resource program for students who had learning and behavioral problems in class. My parents felt that the program wasn’t a good fit, so they sent me to a gentleman by the name of Alvin Boom Boom Jackson. He was famous in the Houston area for helping inner-city kids. Although I struggled, I made great strides and made the dean’s list all throughout college and graduated from Texas A&M in Kingsville with a 3.75 G.P.A. in my Major. In addition, I completed grad school at Texas Southern University and graduated with a 3.4 GPA. I had a host of successful people in my corner at every phase of my life people. Most of all I had a positive and very successful mentor in Former NFL Hall of Former Darrell Green who is my Mentor, Coach Elliott, Leonard Wheeler, Former NFL Executive the late Gene Upshaw, the late Rick Forzano who was also Bill Belichick Mentor, Lackawanna Head Coach Mark Duda, Bill Snyder, Phil Bennett, Phil Hughes who is now Director of the Academic Success Program at the University of Michigan, Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds, Noel Pinnock, Richard Stencil, Retired 1st Sargent the Late Ms. Pearl Brown, Darryl Matthews, Baltimore News Anchor Vic Carter, Retired Command General Spider Marks, Retired Army General Rick Gibbs, and Change Happens CEO Ms. Helen Stagg who I call one of the Top Grant writers in the United States. I think one of my struggles in life has been dealing with people who are not like-minded and not engage in helping people or the youth and that takes a special person.

Website: blessingsonblessingsgear.com

Instagram: lemarcusnewman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leo-lemarcus-newman-ab2b43a

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lemarcusnewman?lang=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blessingsonblessingsgear

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbFoRg6ug1g68Ti1T291BnA

Other: LeMarcus is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha and is the Line brother of Actor Hill Harper. Participated in help creating The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial is located in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and speak Multiple languages. Email: LeMarcus.Newman@gmail.com – Speaking Engagement

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