isaac4honesty City News Poll Shows Hayes Tops Jackson with Voters http://ping.fm/4QkuM - June 16, 2010 add/view comments (0)

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I am Isaac Hayes a community faith leader and candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois' 2nd Congressional District.

I grew up in the Woodlawn community on the South Side of Chicago. Ideals of faith, hard work and liberty influenced my childhood and would become the foundation of my passion for service. My mother was a choir director, my grandmother a Sunday school teacher and my dad was both a Reverend and a soldier in the United States Marine Corps.

These influences taught me the importance of service to the community and personal responsibility. I obtained my first job at the local corner store at age 13 by walking in an asking for work. The pursuit paid off. I worked there for a year stocking shelves and sweeping floors.

Although, I had positive influences in my life, I entered adolescence and early adulthood at a time when violence and disinvestment plagued urban communities. Similar to many in the community facing their obstacles, I insisted on improving myself for the prosperity of my community. I enrolled and graduated from Illinois State University with a degree in Information Systems. While earning my undergraduate degree, I maintained two jobs and produced music to support myself, while being an active and vocal participant in the Black Student Union to speak out against such issues as unequal treatment of students.

Through education and personal development, I worked my way through the service, sales, and mortgage industries. At APAC Customer Service, I earned Sales Person of the Year honors. During my employment with ABN AMRO Mortgage, I quickly rose in the company to become Assistant to the Vice-President.

Although, I enjoyed my time in the service and sales industry, faith and service to others remained my goal. I followed my father's example, dedicated my life to faith, entering the ministry process in 1999 and was ordained in 2006. At 26, I began Heat of the Street Ministries or HOTS bringing the transformational power of faith to young people through music and meaningful discussion.

Serving my community has been my only goal since the creation of HOTS. I remained a vocal spiritual and political figure. In 2008, I managed Antoine Members congressional campaign. Most recently in 2009, I challenged Mayor Daley's intention to close mental health centers on the south side in collaboration with members of the Woodlawn community and STOP (Southside Together Organizing for Power), supported a moratorium on Chicago Public School closings, and worked to help ex-offenders become entrepreneurs. I intend to continue my record of service to God and community as Representative of the 2nd Congressional District.

I currently reside in Park Forest with my wife of three years Latouna who shares my commitment to faith and service. Educated at Illinois State University in Psychology and pursing a Master's Degree in Community Counseling from Argosy University.