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Former Gang Member Thriving At U.C. Berkeley

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

BERKELEY, Calif., Aug. 29, 2007 (KGO) (KGO) -- The journey from San Francisco to U.C. Berkeley has been a long and amazing one for 28-year old Derick Brown. The trip includes stops as a gang member, a valedictorian and an internship with the most powerful woman in America.

Derick Brown blends in with other students in U.C. Berkeley's Sproul Plaza, but when you find out his struggle to get here, he really stands out.

"Growing up in the Western Addition, you worry about surviving, poverty and just trying to get out," said Brown.

Derick joined a gang, even served time in juvenile hall, but says he always knew there was more to life. He took a job at the Boys and Girls Club in the Haight Ashbury.

Jennifer Dominguez was his supervisor.

"I kind of saw that sparkle - 'I do want to go back to school, I am motivated.' It kind of clicked," said Dominguez.

. Brown who barely graduated from the City's Washington High School enrolled at City College of San Francisco. The more affordable education and more personal attention were perfect for Brown.

"I don't think he's going to have any trouble in terms of looking backwards over his shoulder and being sucked back into a negative environment. That's what we see in students who transferred to Stanford, Berkeley or Harvard and done well, and we've had a lot of students who've transferred to those universities and done well." said Don Griffin of Academic Affairs at City College.

Brown was class valedictorian. Like more than 2,000 other community college students, he was accepted to Cal Berkeley for this school year. His advocacy for disadvantaged youth led to a meeting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and an internship in her office. It did not go to his head.

"I'm a counselor at the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department. I get a chance to lead the youth. I'm not just talking about it, I'm being about it," said Brown.

His next mission, after law school, that is:

"I have my eye on mayor of San Francisco," said Brown.

Sounds far fetched, but considering what Brown's already accomplished, don't put it past him.

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