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Donald Sherman

Biography

When Donald Sherman was a fifth grader, a teacher he regarded as "unconventional" had a profound effect on his life and future plans. In a "mock Supreme Court," Donald was selected as a "Supreme Court Justice" to preside over a First Amendment case regarding the government's ability to "abridge the newspaper's right" to report news about military activity in an American city. As "Justice," then 10-year-old Donald discovered "I wanted to become a lawyer and one day sit on the high court of the United States."

He's been working toward that goal ever since, although Donald expects to "gain practical trial experience as a public defender or a prosecutor" along the way.

"Inherent in the African proverb, 'It takes whole village to raise a child' is the acknowledgement that I had to become a village member myself," believes Donald. Mentoring has made him aware of why he must be a "supportive villager" for those children who come after him.

Donald's parents divorced when he was three years old, and even though his mother became a single, working parent, Donald says he has "always been blessed with positive male role models in my life that have given me guidance when I needed it." From his Uncle Dexter, whom he "affectionately called 'Grandpa,'" to his Uncle Ronnie, who "showed me how to fix an 18-wheel truck," to his cousin Derrick, who shared his "passion for the arts and exposed me to the film industry," and including the male elders in his church, Donald says that their positive qualities influenced him. And these men were "all part of the village that raised me from infancy to manhood."

Through GUYS - Georgetown University Young Scholars Program - Donald has been mentoring minority middle and high school students who live in a housing development in the nation's capital. He has been facilitating discussions on "higher education, relationships, crime and stereotypes about and within the black community."

An activist in Campaign Georgetown, Donald also persuades students to register to vote in the District of Columbia. He is also involved in LEAD - Leaders in Educating About Diversity.

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