I grew up on Chicago's South Side during the late 50's, the 60's and the early 70's. I escaped the neighborhood by winning a scholarship with the United States Marine Corps (NROTC). Later I returned to Chicago and I worked out of a halfway house and a police department as a "street" social worker. I also served a stint as a high school social worker. Looking for change, I embarked on a three month cross-country odyssey that ended when I ran out of gas and money in Northern California in late 1978. Today, I am a lawyer and corporate executive in Silicon Valley.