Changing Cultures: Eugene's Journey

Eugene's life journey has taken him from the small US Virgin Islands in the middle of the Caribbean to the fast moving streets of New York and then across the country to the San Francisco Bay Area.  During this journey he endured his parents divorce, the death of his father and becoming a young, single father--all of which provided him with pivotal moments and turning points, but none of which stopped him from becoming the man he was determined to be.  Now, a proud and accomplished husband, father, coach and Chief Financial Officer for San Francisco's District Attorney's Office, Eugene reflects on his journey and shares with us what he believes makes someone a Smart Guy...

I grew up in St. Croix, born in a middle class family, the youngest of four children.  My mother was a college educated primary school teacher and my father was educated in the military and then rose through the ranks for the US Department of Customs.  When I was in the 5^th grade my parents got divorced and I spent the rest of my childhood going back and forth between them in St. Croix and St. Thomas.  I am the product of Catholic education with the exception of the time spent in Florida as a child.  I was always pretty engaged in school as I was always in competition with my older sisters (they weren’t competing with me though) for who got the best grades.  Most of the teachers I encountered all knew my sisters and the high standards they set before me.  I took that as a challenge to do no less than they did. My two sisters were both successful in high school and went on to college. My brother ended up on a different path, he didn’t graduate from high school and ended up spending time in the criminal justice system.  

Coping with my parents divorce was the first significant obstacle I remember facing.  During this transition, I had to move to Florida for a while which was a totally different culture than I had ever experienced living in the islands.  It ended up being a good early learning experience for dealing with others and different cultures, one I've had to call on countless times in my journey.  The second life changing moment that stands out for me was losing my father at the age of 17.  He was diagnosed with cancer when I was in the 9^th grade and he died right before my senior year of High School.  That loss forced me to become very independent and self reliant in an instant and I felt a major hole in my life as a boy without a father. 

I attended New York University for Undergrad and Graduate school.  For my undergraduate studies I attended Gallatin School of Individualized study where I was able to create my own major which was a combination of psychology and sociology with an emphasis on youth development.  At the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service, I concentrated on public finance and non-profit management.  I attended NYU mainly because of the school’s reputation.   I found the school’s academic rigor to be pretty challenging and opened my views quite significantly.  

Part of my decision to attend college was to seek a totally different experience than what I was used to in the Virgin Islands.  Interestingly enough, my experiences in New York became more fulfilling as I became more involved in exploring my cultural background and experiencing West Indian/Caribbean life in New York.  While in college at NYU, I became a father at the age of 21.  So in addition to being forced to be independent and self reliant because of the loss of my father, I now had someone else depending on me for their survival.  Yet instead of giving up, falling down or dismissing my responsibilities, I became more driven and focused.  I managed to finish my BA and MPA by age 26, all while supporting myself and maintaining a significant role in my daughter’s life.   


Eugene and his daughter at her HS graduation

When my father passed away, there were two people who took a chance on me and it has paid dividends ever since.  My sister Monique knew that I had dabbled in photography as a youngster and advocated for me to become the staff photographer for the newspaper where she was the editor when I was 16.  A few months into working at that job I was offered another job to assist with running a new photo shop that had opened.  My sister Monique and Kim (the owner of the photo shop) both took a chance on me because of something they each saw in me.  My peers at this age were bagging groceries, working for some other government run employment program or selling drugs.  I had the opportunity to do something I loved that had meaning and purpose to me.  Those early opportunities showed me the value of work, what it meant to have a meaningful career, and most importantly what it meant for someone to believe in you and offer a helping hand.  As a result, I have pledged to always give back to the community to ensure that others who want to get ahead and who have the potential can realize their potential.

My role model and mentors are all members of my family.  I never needed to look beyond them for inspiration or examples of success.  My sisters, aunts, mother and father were all giants to me in whatever they chose to do.  They all rose to positions of prominence in their respective fields while raising families and remaining grounded. 

When I left St. Croix for college, I wanted to be a photographer.  I still love photography but I chose a different career path.  Currently, I am the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer for the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office.  In this role I am responsible for the overall management and operations for an office of 250 plus personnel.  This involves developing, planning, monitoring and reconciling a budget of $41 million dollars annually.  It also involves working with the District Attorney in implementing policies that affect the office’s ability to seek justice on behalf of the citizens of the county of San Francisco.  I have also been the Chief Financial Officer for the San Francisco Sheriff Department and the Mayor's Office.  In my job I have to be very analytical on a day to day basis.  In order to be successful, I have to listen, analyze and develop a course of action to resolve the issues. 


for more information about the Rebels program,
 go to www.mrchoops.org

 One of the ways I give back and stay involved in my community is through coaching.  I’ve coached girls AAU basketball for the last 11 years in the Bay Area, working with the Rebels program and helping these young athletes reaching statewide prominence and national recognition. We like to call ourselves a “mom and pop shop” and are proud of the family atmosphere that we've created and maintained while simultaneously creating a culture of excellence and success. 

To me, a 'smart guy' is someone who can overcome his/her circumstances to take the necessary steps to become the person that they want to become.  A smart guy isn’t necessarily someone with all the money or prestige; a 'smart guy' is someone who is able to achieve success as they define it while maintaining their character and integrity.  I think what makes me a 'smart guy' is the fact that I’m from a little island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea and have successfully navigated the City of New York, then moved across the country to San Francisco and now have worked for the first African American Mayor in the City of San Francisco, the first woman, African/Indian American District Attorney, and the first Cuban American District Attorney in California-- all while being a good father and husband and continuing to be connected to the community and serve on a daily basis. 

My advice to young people is to always challenge themselves.  Put themselves in situations where they aren’t always comfortable.  Being comfortable often leads to complacency and being stagnant.  In addition, people put limitations on themselves and say they can’t do this or that, or proclaim something to not be their thing, without even attempting to do it.  If they keep the mindset of always challenging themselves they will find themselves among others who are looking for the same things out of life.  

A 'Smart Guy' from the Islands,
Eugene

*Author's Note: last year, at the age of 43, Eugene's brother graduated from college.  Getting up after you fall down, a 'smart guy' trait to be proud of...

Clearing the Way--Moran Norris' Story

Some people were born to make an impact on the lives of others. It is not necessarily known to those people how or what their impact will be, they just know that there is something inside of them driving them to help others. Moran Norris is blessed to be one of those people. Norris is the starting fullback for the San Francisco 49ers. In his role as fullback he helped clear the way for running back Frank Gore to amass over 1,000 rushing yards on a yearly basis. But Moran has not settled for just being a pro athlete. In order to fulfill his destiny, Norris has created The Moran Norris Foundation whose goal is to positively impact the lives of the at-risk urban youth.

As a Houston, Texas native, Moran attended Madison High School and then went on to the University of Kansas.  While at Kansas he earned two degrees, one in Mass Communications and the other in Special Major Crime and Delinquency, graduating in 2001. In addition to working hard in college, Norris also started at fullback for the University of Kansas Jayhawks and was drafted in the 4^th round of the NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints in 2001. Norris then went on to play for his hometown Houston Texans from 2002-2005 before signing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2006 where he teamed up with Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore and helped make the way for Gore to rush for nearly 1,700 yards.

Norris continues to put himself in a place where he is able to make the way for others to flourish. Norris is a strong advocate of giving back to his community and being an NFL player has allowed for him to be able to do such. Norris and wife Tamara created The Moran Norris Foundation to provide opportunities for at-risk students to embrace their potential and achieve their goals.  “My wife and I started this foundation back in 2005,” Moran Norris said. “We coordinate football camps for young student athletes every June. We put together dinners in partnership with Board members, buying out the restaurant for a day to host fundraising events. We also have a program called Shopping For Good Character. With this program model, teachers from selected schools nominate approximately 25 students in each school whom have showcased good character faithfully. A total of 150 students receive a $100 shopping spree at Targets in the Houston and San Francisco areas, as a reward for consistent, good character. We are active within our church and communities as well.”

  

“I always wanted to do something like this,” Norris explained. “This is my way of giving back. I always said that if I were to be blessed one day that I would like to head my own foundation helping out the community. We invite the 100+ kids that were winners of the Shopping for Good Character to our yearly football camp on scholarship. I have other guys from my team as well as other NFL teams come down to participate. Player volunteers include Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, DaShon Goldson, and the list goes on.”  

  

After the football camp, one of the students from each of the four schools is giving their own Dell laptop computer. The student and their family are invited to the foundation celebration dinner at the end of the week. During this dinner the student is highlighted and celebrated in front of everyone for their strength of character, and they have the opportunity to take pictures and obtain autographs from all of the professional football players and community leaders in attendance.  “It (the dinner) is a very positive and rewarding event to attend.” Norris comments.

Positive is something that Norris has remained throughout life and through his career. Growing up some of his biggest challenges in life were learning how to adjust to the pressure that came from his peers to make some bad choices. Norris has had challenges as an athlete as well. Playing fullback is a giving position, all work and little glory. Yet to be a fullback, one has to be on top of their game, both mentally and physically.  “I remained positive,” Norris explained. “Believing in the lord and having strong support at home from my wife help me to succeed every day. Additionally, my family provided me with a strong foundation as well.”  Norris explained that some of the biggest and best decisions that he had to make actually came really simply for him. He has always thought back to what he learned from his parents--a basic understanding of what is right and what is wrong.  Norris believes that a key element of a 'Smart Guy' is knowing right from wrong. “I try to do the right things in life and throughout my community.” Norris continued. “I try to be the best that I can be as a person, as a man and as a fullback in the NFL. That is what makes me a Smart Guy.”

 Moran wants young people to always understand that you cannot be told NO. People will doubt you, they may not believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, then whatever you are trying to do will not happen. “You lose the battle at that point if you don’t believe in yourself.” Norris explained. “You have to know what you can do, always believe and have faith in yourself. There will be teachers or coaches that will tell you that you can’t do something, but if you just to have the belief in yourself, you can do it and that is how you can win half the battle, by just believing in yourself.”

Believing in himself is what has landed Moran Norris in the position to where he is today. An all around 'Smart Guy' that continues to open up passage ways for others; and whether that passageway is for All Pro NFL running back like Frank Gore or any of the 150 students that The Moran Norris Foundation provides assistance to on a yearly basis. 

A Trailblazing 'Smart Guy',

Moran

For more information on Moran Norris and The Moran Norris Foundation please go to www.morannorrisfoundation.org.