Reico Hopewell

06 Oct Reico Hopewell

What is your vision for Knoxville 10 years from now?

My vision of Knoxville 10 years from now is to create a legacy for the upcoming generation to become servant leaders. Knoxville has such a rich history and I believe our school systems should integrate more Black History in the curriculum. Also, our community is plagued with an opioid epidemic, which receives little attention – with the wide range of community resources, that should work in concert, we can combat this terrible issue.

What are you reading that is on your nightstand?

“A Greater Story” by Sam Collier

What is your favorite Knoxville memory?

My favorite memory is playing with my childhood friends in the heart of Knoxville. We would ride our bicycles from Harriet Tubman St. to Burlington, to the Lonsdale Community and back to Downtown Knoxville during the day. At night we would walk over to Bill Myers Stadium where my grandfather, who was the Security Guard, would let us in to watch a baseball games. As we got older, we would visit Knoxville College and walk around the campus where there were a majority of Blacks going to college, which we all aspired to do. Also, families were so close-knit and everyone knew everyone within our community and there was so much love. Even though at the time I didn’t know we were poor, I just knew I was loved!

What is the best advice you have received from a mentor, and who was that mentor?

The greatest advice from a mentor that I have received thus far has been, “always be honest, just, respectful, true to yourself and cultivate an intimate relationship with the God you serve.” -Kenny Sanford

What advice would you give to your 16 year old self?

I would tell my 16 year old self, “Reico, gain a relationship with God and trust that He will direct your paths. Believe in yourself and don’t accept anything contrary to what God says about you. Always do your best because you will fail sometimes, but get up, dust yourself off and continue on the journey.”