FOCUSED Is a powerful short story of a young boys transition from his innocent childhood to becoming influenced into adopting a negative lifestyle as a result to this lifestyle he became a victim of a dramatic life threatening tragedy on his 16th birthday he find himself fighting for his life one breath at a time.
About the Author: Kelvin D. Fleming was born in 1980 in Oceanside California. He grew up in a heavy drug and gang influenced neighborhood with many forms of negativity surrounding him. Kelvin and his 4 older siblings were raised in a single parent home, living off public assistance while his mother attended night school and other ROP courses to try to better their life. He found himself engaging in many negative opportunities in his youth. While introduced to gangs and hustling in his early pre-teen years he had many run-ins with the law. All were minor offenses until the winter of 1992 when, at the age of 12, Kelvin was seen in an Oceanside CA community apartment complex pointing a hand gun at two males. As a result, he was sent away to North Carolina to be raised by his uncle, a man of integrity, morals and strong structured values. He returned to California in 1996 at the age of 15. He had only been back for 3 months when, at his 16th birthday party, he was shot twice in the head at point blank range by a rival gang member. This was a life changing experience for him. Throughout his childhood he had often dreamed of a better life outside of the gang, visualizing himself being successful and influencing others in a positive and productive life. Kelvin began looking for other outlets to attach himself to such as writing books and music, and recording and performing rap music, leaving behind the lifestyle of hustling and gang affiliation. With this new positive thinking he was able to see more clearly the positive opportunities life has to offer, and gained a desire to pass on the lessons he had learned through his hardship and pain. He learned to use his music and books to teach positive messages to his audience. Having worked closely with adolescents as a youth counselor, mentor, and motivational speaker, Kelvin D. Fleming has built a career founded on motivating and inspiring great change. Kelvin D. Fleming Sr. Has spoken in representation for Oceanside City Council on several opportunities presenting a highly effective training on multiple occasions for students, parents, school faculty members, OUSD and OPD his knowledge and experiences taught to our community has been a great resource that is consistently applied in our schools and community programs. He has written many positive motivational guide books encouraging both youth and adults to better themselves and their circumstances.