Who is ReZsaun Lewis?
ReZsaun Lewis is just a guy who grew up in North Charleston and was the recipient and beneficiary of a village that would not allow him to second guess himself. Everything in my life falls back to my belief and the circumstances surrounding who've I've become today. I'm a husband, father, educator, veteran, and community leader. I'm somebody who cares, fights for things I believe in, and is willing to work hard to achieve the goals I believe have to be accomplished for the people I care about in the communities I serve. I'm very passionate, and in my passion, I take leaps of faith. Those leaps of faith have led me to where I am today.
You are currently the Executive Director at Lowcountry Youth Services. Can you share with our readers more about the organization and how you're using this platform to help every child win?
Lowcountry Youth Services is a youth empowerment organization. We create youth engagement opportunities through mentorship programs and community workshops. Since 2016, I've been able to work with 400 kids. We have four programs: the Distinguished Gentleman's Club, Young Men Rise, Queens Being, and the CommUNITY Pod. Each of those helps prepare kids for life after high school, talk to parents about how to talk to their kids about sex and reproductive health, talk to kids about preventing teen dating violence, etc. Each of those different pieces comes together in another way that allows us to make sure that there are opportunities for young people to be positively engaged and were an organization that fills gaps in the community.
I talk a lot about the city I come from because it is in me everywhere I go. I can remember being a kid, and we would have all these things we could do, such as join the boy's scouts, go to the basketball court, etc. If you were a kid like me, who was a latch key kid, I wasn't involved in many community programs. I had chorus and basketball. I remember when they took down the basketball court and put up a tennis court. They put up the tennis court without giving us tennis rackets or balls. What are we supposed to do? So our organization Lowcountry Youth Services, looks at those types of things and how we fill a gap left by these people who decided to develop communities without developing the people of the community. We make sure every child wins by funding those gaps and filling those gaps with youth power initiatives.
You recently announced your running for SC State House. What inspired you to take the leap now?
I've been watching this district for eight years now. In 2021, I told myself I would run in 2024 for District 97. It was something I was going to do in the next cycle anyway. I wasn't going to run in 2022 because I was trying to finish grad school and give myself two years to develop the resources for Lowcountry Youth Services. At my recent 40th birthday party Representative Krystle Matthews grabbed the mic and told everybody I needed to run right now. We had also previously talked about my desire to run several times. A few days later, she sent me a message saying Mandy Kimmons resigned, and I said, ok, it's my turn. That's the why now. That was a sign, and I am a big believer in my faith in God. When God speaks, we should move. You have been waiting, and it's to get off the porch and go.
We've also all watched what has happened in the last few years, as far as the polarization of our country. I won't put it on any particular party because we all feel firm about one side or the other. I feel like there needs to be some kind of voice that is just interested in the issues. I want to be an example of the possible. I know what it's like to serve our country, and as an educator, I also carry knowledge on what needs to be done. There are many things I can bring to the table in a way that allows people who aren't necessarily politically involved and engaged to get excited about.
You've advocated around these three words Community, Character, and Commitment. What do these specific words mean to you?
My community built me, and it's building our young people and should be taking care of our older people. Our communities should make sure there are certain things in place that will allow us to achieve what everybody wants, which is the American dream. We are a nation that has used opportunities to get to where we need to be. We put these things in place and then withhold them from people. When it comes to commitment, google me. Google me, and find out who I am. Find out about the issues I've gotten myself involved in and what issues I have walked away from without them being completed. You won't find one. Everything I've attached myself to I rode until it was time for me to move on to the next thing. When I commit myself to something, I give everything I can to make it successful. Lastly, when it comes to character, we should be able to disagree on an issue, but we all want clean water and access to healthcare. We all want the opportunity to pursue happiness. The opportunity shouldn't be harder for some people than for others. I think we can all agree on that. It's giving people a chance to see who I am and stand for and let them see they have a choice.
Currently, there is a disconnect between the community and Law Enforcement. What has to move around to build the bridge between the community and law enforcement?
We have to realize we need each other. I don't want to live in a community without police. I don't think anyone should be aspiring towards that. When done correctly, police are an amazing asset to our communities. They make sure our homes aren't being broken into, they keep our people from being killed, when things go wrong, there who we call on. So this idea where people want to get rid of the police is not an idea that I agree with. Who would fill in that missing gap? Citizens on patrol? That's not a good idea. I also do believe that police should understand that nobody is above criticism. What happens is they wrap themselves up in its culture, and when bad things happen, they don't critique that culture. Society doesn't get to see that they realize that the same things we see as wrong are wrong. I've had conversations with police officers who have said, no, that is messed up. We cant back the blue if the blue has just killed my unarmed brother. Law enforcement needs to acknowledge that some things need to be corrected and start fixing them. As a representative of District 97, I can have that conversation on a state-wide level.
As a candidate that is going to work with movements. How will you keep people motivated when various channels push people away and tell them that these changes you advocate for are impossible?
But they are; that would be my answer. They are possible when you activate the vote. When we get out and make our voices heard, all of these things are possible—the people who believe in what they believe go to the polls and vote. What I would challenge others is to give it a try. Over the next six years, push everyone you know to vote. Drive them to the polls, and push it on social media. Watch what happens in your communities, schools, infrastructure, healthcare. These aren't impossible issues. They are impossible when we sit in our homes and don't move. It's going to start with you as the voter. Let's try it out and watch what happens.
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