The significant accomplishments of the founder should be noted. I am the Reverend Cleaven Johnson, Jr. I am the founder of an organization entitled “Destination Achievers.” Destination Achievers is an afterschool program for "at-risk youth.” The reason I formed this program is that I once was an at-risk youth.

During my early years, I was considered to be a very problematic student. I was taken out of public school and placed in a child institution entitled High Meadows. I spent two years of my life institutionalized. When I was released, I almost took the life of another teen.

I recently moved into a new neighborhood several months prior. These four teenagers came up to me and began to punch and kick me. I did not know them. I fought them off until I reached my family’s apartment in the projects. I knew where my father kept his gun. I went upstairs (in a rage) and retrieved my father’s gun. I went outside and pointed the gun at one of the teen’s heads and pulled the trigger. Nothing came out of the gun. My father had taken the bullets out of the gun the night before to clean it. By the grace of God, there go I.

I was singing lead vocals at the age of 9 in my church choir. I began to play the bass guitar at the age of 13 years old. This led to a professional career. I have worked with Bob Marley, Betty Wright, Black Ivory, Dionne Warwick, The 5 Satins, Gloria Estephan, Dick Clark, etc. Also, I have been asked to play with such greats as Bobby Byrd (James Brown’s sideman) and Little Richard. However, I turned them down. This allowed me to see that there was a great, big world outside of the urban center where I resided.

I left the professional music industry at age 32. I decided to go into academia. I have attended Springfield College, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania. Also, I have four units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).

Also, after my educational experiences, I have worked with "at-risk youth.” I have worked for several years for the New Haven Public Schools in their Social Development Department, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, and the Department of Children and Families. Also, I have been a pastor for 18 years. I am presently the pastor of the Long Hill United Methodist Church, located at 6358 Main Street in Trumbull, Connecticut.

I am the prime example of an at-risk youth that has turned their life around, and I have dedicated my life to empowering youth at risk and serving others. This became possible because there were individuals who invested in me.