When I was 9 years old in in 1972, I joined the Brims(later to become the Bloods). Terry Gedaugh, the recognized founder of the Brims is someone I respected, and I looked up to Terry, and worked hard to emulate my mentor in crime. The Brims gave me the family I was looking for. Mom was there, but I was looking for something more. There was a fire and anger that burned inside, and the only way out, I thought, was to become the best gangster I could be. The early 70's changed me as I moved from 57th and Dinker to Baldwin Hills, better known as the "Jungle". The "Jungle" was also the home of an offshoot of the Brims. They were called the Black P Stone Bloods, and they were killers. In 1975, at 12 years of age I was shot in the face after a dispute in a dice game. What I would do next would define who I was on the streets, but I always knew it did not define me as a person. Why did I make the choices that I knew would lead to my fall. I feel it is like a beast. There is the good beast and the bad beast, both trying to control me. Each one has to be fed, but even at that early age, I knew I would feed the bad beast now and again. Like the bible says, " We were born into sin", and I realized later in life, that I was being saved for something greater then I was, and the good beast, the beast of god wanted the most attention. I realized even then, that I wanted more then the gangs offered me. Later that year, I was arrested on charges of kidnapping and armed robbery. I ended up in the Sylmar detention centers, "Blood Module". It wasn't really the blood module back then, but I knew where it was going to end up. I think it is funny that all I wanted to be was a gangster, but at that same time I had compassion and felt remorse for what I was doing, and who I was going after. There is nothing glorious about the gang life, especially when you knew you should get out, but you stay anyway. This is how it began for myself, and my crew. Of course all my crew is doing time, but I thank god their not dead. This is also where Apollo had his first thoughts of ending gang life. He spoke to the young Bloods at Sylmar and expressed his concern for their survival, and the realities of surviving the gang lifestyle. This kind of thinking is what would eventually lead to community activism. During the 80's and 90's crack cocaine would take over the drug trade and communities. Families would fall, and young African American men would lose their lives at a startling rate. Apollo having now reached OG status, would do two terms in prison totaling 4 years. While in his mid twenties, Apollo was released the second time, spending two years for purchasing cocaine from a DEA agent, he realized things had to change. From this moment on Apollo would work on bringing communities together. With help from Maxine Waters, Apollo with leaders of the Crip Gang (The Bloods Rivals), created a truce. The defining moment came when President Bill Clinton, recognized Apollo and his Crip rivals for their work in ending the violence. The timing was crucial not only for Apollo, but also for state and local governments, as well as law enforcement, which had become overwhelmed by the violence.

Today Apollo is a community activist who has worked with community leaders such as Congresswoman Diane Watson. He continues to work with leaders, Herb J. Wesson Jr., and Jim Brown to name just a few. Apollo strives to bring people together, to solve the problems of the inner city, and work to make better communities and living conditions for all people, no matter race or social class.