Known to many as "The Ambassador of Hope", Andre Norman's experience and expertise is what empowers him to speak about and create training programs for families in crisis, substance abuse and teen drinking, re-entry, ex-offender, gangs, prison reform, and mentoring. Andre travels to schools, churches, and community centers around the world to serve as a mentor and friend to youth and community members alike. He has been a main contributor in working with groups at social risk in the countries of Honduras, Bahamas, Sweden, Guatemala, Liberia & Trinidad sharing his gifts and light with the lives he touches.

FROM PRISONER TO PROFESSOR

From illiteracy to gang activity, Andre’s childhood prepared him for nothing less than a life of crime and violence. This behavior eventually led Andre to be sentenced to over 100 years in prison, with no sign of parole. A natural-born leader, he quickly rose to the top of the prison gang where he managed criminal and gang activities from within the confines of the correctional facility. His notoriety grew and Andre found himself in solitary confinement. There, a light turned on inside of Andre and he made the decision to turn his life around. He did just that and was paroled after serving a 15-year sentence. From that moment on, Andre has never looked back.

Having been exposed to both sides of the fence, Andre pulled from his life experiences and launched Project Footprints, an organization designed to connect individuals and corporations who want to make a difference with those who need a helping hand. Andre has lectured at Harvard University, including the School of Law, the John F. Kennedy School of Government and the Harvard Divinity School. He has been a featured speaker at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning as well as the London Business School’s Sloan Fellowship. Andre collaborated with the London Business School Executive Education department to design unique experiential learning labs for some of its top clients including: Prudential Insurance (UK), Board of Directors & CEO, Bovis Lend Lease, (AUS), Board of Directors, Deutsche Bank (Germany), British Petroleum, UK), Ericsson (Sweden), DANONE (France) and more.

In 2009, at the Engage Today event which featured the Dalai Lama, Richard Branson, F.W. de Klerk, Tony Hsieh, and Dr. Steven Covey, Andre was chosen to be the closing speaker. He has committed his life to helping others become exceptional just as he did.