Member of Illinois African American Coalition For Prevention

Special Project Coordinator for Cobbala Productions, The Human Motivational Council and Know Thyself Institute

As a consultant and presenter, Brother Harris has provided lectures, keynote addresses, workshops, seminars and trainings from coast-to-coast. His work has earned him national acclaim in the areas of youth leadership development, alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse prevention as well as media advocacy. Mr. Harris’ Empowerment Series, entitled “Know Thyself and Y.A.N.I.F.I. (Youth Against Negative Imagery and the Falsification of Identity), has worked via Cobbala Productions to devise interactive, culturally-based tools and training session which have successfully coached thousands of youth and adults around the nation to become better leaders and committed servant leaders in their communities. These opportunities have created teachable moments for youth and adults in the areas of character development, relationship building, violence prevention, conflict resolution, and cultural reclamation.

Brother Harris’ most recent lecture series – “Hip to the Game (Getting Addicted, Manipulated, & Eliminated)” and “The Elements of KOOL (Killing Off Our Leaders)”  prepares young people and community leaders to tackle predatory marketing and promotional tactics that manufacturers use to lure consumers. “I rely upon my experiences as a community educator, and dedicated servant in Chicago to show young people how to be activists, take control and why it is important to take control of their well-being; we wanted to enlighten youth that life is more than just popping a finger,” says Harris. His  tireless work in the area of social justice and environmental racism  changed the face of communities in Chicago, by bringing down the alcohol and tobacco billboards that too often served as the backdrop in many urban communities. “We believed that even if we had to draw their attention and the community’s attention to a legalized poison killing our community, then we were determined to do that. We could not continue to embrace the tobacco and alcohol industrial complex and maintain our freedom from death and disease.” 

Keynote public appearances:

• Sinclair Community College (African American Male Think Tank)

• Georgia Ethnic Health Network, 2004

• National Conference on Tobacco or Health, 2005

• Indiana Black Expo, 2005

• Tri-Congressional Caucus Minority Health Summit, 2005

• Annual Bacchus & Gamma National Tobacco Symposium, 2006

• American Medical Association’s SmokeLess States Conference, 2002

• Southern Indiana University

• Indiana University@ Gary, Indiana

• Vincennes University

, Indiana

• Bennett College, Greensboro, NC

• Bethune-Cookman College, Daytona Beach, FL

• University of Illinois@Chicago (2002, 2003, 2004)

• Bradley University, Illinois

• University of Chicago

• University of Minnesota

• DePaul University

• Malcolm X College, Chicago

• Kennedy King College, Chicago

• Olive-Harvey College, Chicago

• Simmons College of Kentucky

• Black Men Optimal Health Conference, Howard University

• Stronger Roots, Stronger Branches Conference, Illinois

• American Cancer Society, HBCU Conference, North Carolina

• APPEAL Conference, Minnesota

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