By: Ashmar Mandou

Filmmaker and musician Darryl Mitchell transformed his childhood pain into a career in the arts creating and directing films and connecting with people through music. As a native of Los Angeles, Mitchell moved to Chicago at the age of two where he grew up in an abusive household, which led to low self-esteem, depression, and a suicide attempt, Mitchell said. Mitchell made it his mission to navigate through that pain and set an example for youth to follow. “Growing up in several underserved communities there are so many more negative stories than there is positive. I want to try and debunk the stereotypes and be an example,” said Mitchell. In a recent interview, Mitchell opened up about his love for the arts and his future goal at brining youth together. You can view that conversation at www.lawndalenews.com. If you would like to reach out to Darryl, he can be reached at (773) 484-8235 in Chicago or (213) 669-8860 in Los Angeles or email darrylmitchell2016@yahoo.com.