07/12/2024
To the man that is thinking about giving up before you do, allow me to share my story:
Monica Jones saved my life as a teenager I was spiraling down a bad path. Selling drugs, gang affiliation, running away from home, you name it but still managed to graduate at the top of my high school class despite my classmates not knowing that I was living in a Detention center just about my entire senior year. I thank this woman for believing in me like I was her own child. I’m forever grateful 💯🙏🏽
Despite a rocky start, I landed a full ride scholarship to THE OHIO STATE University where I joined a fraternity and became President and learned the importance of Brotherhood, Scholarship, Community Service and Cultural Awareness. Because college was paid for on a full ride scholarship I graduated thanks to the Osu Ysp Youngstown Young Scholars program, and again I’m forever grateful 💯🙏🏽
After graduating from OSU, with (2) College Degrees under my belt, instead of working for someone else, My wife and I decided to launch our very own Vegan Soul-Food Business; teaching minorities how to heal themselves by simply eating more plants Where It All Vegan 💚🙏🏽
After serving literally every community across The Greater Columbus Area, I made a name for myself as “Mr.Vegan Columbus” and was known to give out free meals to the youth and the homeless. This service work caught the attention of the City of Columbus’ Recreation & Parks Intervention program and I was offered a full time position, company vehicles, company phone as well as a network to connect with the most at risk youth and Re-Route them onto a better path through Nature, Wellness and Creativity.
As a Certified Plant Based Chef, I used my talents to teach the kids how to grow their own food, cook and incorporated meditation and nature walks into their daily lives to show them that there was more to life than just banging the set 💯
My Job with Rec & Parks: I was a youth development professional working with the city’s most At Risk Youth. (The shooters, The KIA Boys stealing cars) you know those kids the city tries to get rid of. Well, When I landed a job with the city of Columbus, I knew momma would be proud because I get to get paid to help reshape young minds and ultimately change lives. I worked for the city in some of the worst most impoverished neighborhoods, and ultimately suffered a serious workplace injury last year that took me out of work.
After filing a claim with the BWC, and getting it approved, The city denied my claim, and I was forced to APPEAL but what they don’t tell you is that while there’s an appeal you can’t get treatment or funds and you’ll be forced to go without pay until it is resolved. Little did I know, this would take more than a few weeks like they suggested it took several months. To this day, I am still not being paid due to my injury on a technicality but that’s okay; God got me, and I’ve known that since the day I died on the football field in higshcool after getting stung by a Bee during a timeout.
The Injury: I suffered a workplace injury that my Doctors said cannot heal itself and surgery was RECOMMENDED. I was seen by a Specialist as my only real treatment option to end my pain and suffering was to get the operation. After months of court battles with the city and feeling like I’ve won because the judge sided with me and agreed that surgery was necessary, The City of Columbus fired me while on approved medical leave so they didn’t have to pay for my treatment and recovery. They forced me to surrender my work credentials and told my union that I was no longer an employee so they couldn’t even fight for me despite being a member and trying to pay dues. I wasn’t even allowed to file a grievance smh.
The city reversed my paychecks, they wouldn’t allow me to cash in my 401k at that time and i was on crutches going on 7 months now. My quality of life suffered so bad that I was clinically diagnosed with depression by my Regular doctor and sent to seek counseling to improve my outlook on life. The doctors thought I was going to take my life because of all that had transpired in such a short period of time they said I lacked the life I once displayed, I was isolating myself, I didn’t even seem to have emotions. I wasn’t on social media nor did I have healthy support groups that I could get through this with and that was essential but what they didn’t know is that my momma raised a fighter Shaquilla Banks Jackson and I got the Dopest Wife in the world 🌎 Agneliz ForeverYours Rodriguez and I’m forever Grateful 💯🙏🏽
Think about this…I’m allergic to pain meds so I couldn’t take any of the opioids they prescribed me not even aspirin, so I was forced to literally suck it up and keep it pushing despite not getting treatment. I masked the pain by working out other muscle groups to the point of exhaustion so that my body wouldn’t know where the source of pain was coming from in my leg.
I was forced to swallow my pride after generating $120k from my food truck alone last year not including my city job salary, and had to get my groceries from the food pantry for months on end. I made friends at the food pantry and resorted to hustling as a means to put food on the table for my wife and kids and that’s the God honest truth. But before you judge me, just know I was raised on a philosophy “By Any Means Necessary “
If you know me you know it’s (2) things I don’t play about my wife and those kids. When you hurt me just know you’re hurting the only thing that matters most Well that’s what they did they hurt my family. I felt like I lost literally everything and asked God each and every night to give me clarity and i
Eventually I found it. God will sit you down for a reason but remember it’s only a season.
As the Breadwinner for years, I had to take a backseat and watch my wife struggle not only to take care of the kids but myself failing to even care for her own mental health at times and as a man that’s the part that kept me up at night shedding tears alone in the darkness. I had to send my kids to stay with their grandparents just so I could get myself back in the mindset of a servant. I felt useless, through the entire process but my life partner constantly reassured me of the Great Dad, Man and Loving Husband, Mentor, Chef, Public Speaker, Philanthropist, Comedian, Part Time Plant Dad and Nature lover, Ex gang affiliated, Rapping, Family man, Big Brother, uncle, big cousin and so much more that I was and for that my Queen I’m forever Grateful 💯🙏🏽
Well after 7 months, no pay, no resources, no city job, couldn’t operate my food truck because of the injury itself, God whispered to me one night, I GOT YOU!”
“Standing Man”
Whatever they do to knock you down
I’ve found peace in knowing that No matter how hard the battle, the pain we endure along the way is a reminder that you are still here and here for a reason.
I’ve found my passion and purpose and that’s in serving my community and uplifting those that can’t do so themselves. If you know me just know that as I type this message I’m in the ABSOLUTE WORST PAIN I’ve ever felt in my entire Life. But let me tell you something about pain, My Fraternity Brothers taught me that it is only temporary.
Again, To the man that is thinking about giving up before you do, Just know that There’s a 1,000 men just like you thinking the same thing but remember,
Whatever they do to TRY and knock you down, a wise man told you to
-Ty. 💯🙏🏽💪🏽
