The Definition of Black

Emmett Phillips went from serving the country as a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard to serving his community through youth development and artistic activism. He just finished his 3rd school year of working with the Backyard Boyz – a program for middle school and high school students at the nonprofit Children and Family Urban Movement. Emmett is also a teacher and performer of spoken word and Hip-Hop and an actor. Emmett believes in the power of the arts as a means of creating positive social change.

“My story is about a time where a routine recruitment session turned into a pivotal change in perspective that sparked a lifelong quest for answers.”

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