What turns a 16-year-old facing life or the death penalty into a community leader fighting to keep kids alive? Edwin Desamour’s story shows how prison, fatherhood, purpose, and The Lighthouse became the foundation for a life of service.
Viewer discretion is advised. This episode includes conversations about murder, incarceration, suicide, depression, gun violence, childhood trauma, death, and exploitation.
In this episode of Hidden Foundations, Kendall talks with Edwin Desamour, Executive Director of The Lighthouse in Philadelphia, to trace the path from a teenage conviction to a life dedicated to serving others. Edwin opens up about being charged with first-degree murder at 16, serving eight and a half years in prison, being incarcerated alongside his father, becoming a father while behind bars, and later receiving a pardon.
The conversation explores The Lighthouse, youth programs, boxing, violence prevention, fatherhood, prison reentry, nonprofit politics, Latino and Puerto Rican history, human trafficking prevention, and why Edwin believes purpose is the difference between survival and destruction.
Chapters:
02:01 Meet Edwin Desamour
02:35 The Lighthouse and Its Mission
05:52 Facing Life and Death at 16
08:19 Conviction, Pardon, and Accountability
16:31 Prison With His Father
27:38 Release, Family, and Coming Back From the Dead
33:07 Why Purpose Defeats the System
49:01 Talking a Kid Out of a School Shooting
52:28 Nonprofit Politics and “Poverty Pimping”
59:01 The Lighthouse, Affordability, and Belonging
01:01:02 MIMIC, Street Legends, and Life Skills
01:06:33 The Exodus Road and Human Trafficking Prevention
01:09:06 Fatherhood, Street Smarts, and Book Smarts
01:13:35 Losing His Son and Breaking Generational Patterns
01:23:36 Wind Therapy, Grief, and What Comes Next