American In a Sense: City in a Garden (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780615266473)

Michael Gardner is a consultative partner with the Roseland Chapter of Ceasefire. Author, motivational speaker, and organizer, Michael Gardner was born and raised in the notorious Cabrini Green and Henry Horner Housing projects of Chicago. A former member of Chicago's largest "Street gang" whom was recruited as a leader in 1991- 1993 by community organizations to advise on the Chicago city wide street organization peace treaty. Michael Gardner, then a 14 year old, was impressed by those like Dr. Conrad Worrill, Louis Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, Wallace Gator Bradley, and many community activists and social service agencies that were concerned with the streets. Such a coalition of peace keepers had transformed the 14 year old enforcer's life by placing him in to youth leadership development programs, employment, and eventually to college where he earned an A.A. in Secondary Education, a B.A. in Liberal Studies concentrating on Institutional Leadership, and is currently an M.A. in Educational Leadership candidate with some background in Criminal Justice. With over 15 years of outreach work in high crime and impoverished Chicago neighborhoods, Michael Gardner has taken the energy of the many leaders that have advised him and has become a conduit to Chicago area youth through motivational speeches in many Educational institutions as well as in the streets of Chicago. Michael Gardner is now the author of a crime thriller based on the true story of a murder that he witnessed and survived during his youth entitled American in a Sense: City in a Garden. This work tells the story of teen murders in Chicago during the then high number of deaths that consumed the lives of hundreds of Chicagoans and presents knowledge and grassroots programs on possible strategies different from the ones that are in use today that may help with slowing down the violence in the city. For further information please contact Michael Gardner at: Michael Gardner, CEO & Author NAS (New Age Scribes) Media www.naspublishing.com 773-220-8344 cell 800-595-3023