David Green – Persevering to the top

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“On this journey, I was told on many occasions that I wouldn’t amount to anything, but I have risen above that.”

We think we know someone really well because we may work with them for a few years, or we are witness to their success. What I have always found fascinating are the stories that these people have to tell. Stories that for many of them are hidden, or only spoken within their small circles.

To start our year off powerfully, I want to introduce a man who I believe does not need an introduction. He has served as a trustee for Brampton Wards One and Five for over twelve years. He has served as: Chair of the Peel Board’s Physical Planning & Building Committee, Board member of Brampton Safe City, Vice-chair for the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (Central West Region), and a board member of the Peel Youth Violence Association.

He worked in law enforcement and security administration for over thirteen years, and held positions in Metro SIS, Toronto Police Services and the Airport Authority. He was a tribunal adjudicator with the Ministry of Health for six years and a union representative for the CAW for nine years.

Over the last few years, he received several community awards including: the Franklyn Parker Community Award, numerous Black History Awards, a Community Leadership Award from the Windsor University, and a Mayor Hazel McMillion award for his work in the community.

This evolving intellect has achieved degrees in: Aboriginal education, Good Governance, Anti-Racism, Human Rights in Education, Master’s in Divinity, a Ph.D. in Theology, and a Ph.D. in Christian Education.

It cannot be denied; Our Classic Man has put in the work, and his achievements are a result of that, but what is his story? Time to tell the tale of David Green.

He was born in Portland Jamaica, and is one of four: two brothers and one sister.
His mother left them in Jamaica at a young age; her goal was to make a better life for them, so first she went to England, and then moved to Canada. Unfortunately, she didn’t know that this decision was having dire effects on her children.

David and his siblings moved from family to family, and on one occasion a family member took advantage of them. When his mother would send food or clothes back home, the family member would take the things and give them to her own children and grandchildren. There were nights that the four of them did not have food to eat.

Fortunately, his grand aunt learned about what was happening, and immediately went for the children. She took them in, and contacted his mom to let her know what was happening. Life was better for them at this point, and finally they were able to join their mom in Canada.

“My challenge was to do something that was empowering others around me. I recall when the teacher told me that the prison door would be closing behind me.”

You would think at this point it would be happily ever after. Nope! Life took a turn that was not expected.

His mother worked as a domestic worker, and making ends meet was not always easy for a black woman in the 70s. To add to the societal difficulties, she also happened to have a gambling addiction. David shared with me memories from that time.

“Sometimes there was no money to pay the rent. Neighbours would have to feed us, and we were always hiding from landlords. Of course, back then you couldn’t say anything about it to mom. We couldn’t talk back; that was a sure slap. It got so bad that CAS took my sister.

Things were not easy for us. I remember I had one pair of running shoes. I would have to sew the bottom to the top of the shoe.” David chuckled. “I got them from Woolco. I would have to put plastic bags around my socks so they would stay dry.

School was also difficult for David. Teachers would tell David that he wouldn’t go anywhere in life. One teacher actually told him that the prison door would be closing behind him in the future. The school administration would choose his classes for him, and for some reason, they were always shop classes. Once again, there were times that David would go to school without lunch money. This seemed to be an unwelcome repeating trend in David’s life; little did he know that his life was going to change thanks to two incredible teachers.

There is always a point in the hero’s journey where he is sent aides to help with his quest. In David’s case, his aides could not have come at a better time.

“Things got so bad; we lost the apartment, and didn’t know what to do. Mr Shyman, one of our school’s Guidance Counsellors, saw something in me. He helped me fill out the application for Ontario Housing. Interesting part of this story is he helped me forge my mom’s signature. She was furious, but grateful at the same time. She realized that I had done it for us, for the family.

In Grade 11, an officer came to the school, and that was when I decided I wanted to be a police officer. There was this one teacher, Mr Taylor. He called me Mr Green, and he set in on me. I hated him, but now I realize he was setting me up for the future. I was not doing very well in math, so he enrolled me into summer school without telling me. I came out with a 79. In grade 12, I had a teacher named Mr Robertson. Mr Taylor would come and check on my work all the time.

It was because of them that I even considered college and university. I started looking for summer jobs to pay for school. My brother had to quit school to work at sixteen because of the conditions at home, so he introduced me to his boss. I got a job working with my brother, so I would leave from school straight to work. My job was cleaning up cat shit. I did it, and I did it willingly. I knew I wanted better in life so I did it.

I stayed at that same job until I finished high school. After my first year, they took the broom and shovel away and gave me a real job. I got to college, and I took it seriously. I ended up graduating with excellent marks. I had family who helped me out during my college life. I had better years in college. I wanted to make sure that I broke the cycle in my family.”

“I want our young black men to know they need a great education. I want to show our young black men that there are other careers. I want to empower them to see things differently. You can be a doctor too?”

After four years of trying, David finally got into the Toronto Police Force. He saw the struggles in Chalk Farm, Jane and Finch, and this is when he began to focus his attention on young black men. When he was appointed as a pastor, he learned more about what was happening in the community.

He eventually moved to Brampton, but continued to run programs in Toronto. His first program in Brampton was started in his basement. That was the genesis of the Free for all Program. More and more programs came.

When you have accomplished so much and you are in the public eye, people will have things to say about you. He has been accused of not being teacher friendly, and the teacher’s federation actually endorsed a candidate to run against him. He shared that he has even come under attack from the community that he has spent his life serving.

“My own people have come out against me. I was attacked on Twitter. I was called a monkey, a nigger, an Uncle Tom. I was down and out for a while. I have been through it. I thank the people who attacked me because they challenged me. They taught me perseverance. Some battles are not mine. I let God deal with it”

Always the advocate, David did not let the pandemic slow him down. He began running a food bank in the community, and has recently become an investor and developer in several properties in Brampton and Toronto. He just started development in Jamaica on properties that will become Airbnb’s.

It looks like there is no slowing down for David. Regardless of difficulties, persecution or hardships, this Classic Man continues to prove in his actions that perseverance will always take you to the top.