7I have had the pleasure of knowing David for the past few years in both a personal and professional capacity. David's compassion, wisdom and intelligence- social, emotional, spiritual and intellectual are gifts he shares freely. From the first time I engaged with David, his energy and presence exuded an unshakable peace with approachable confidence and intrinsic power firmly rooted in his faith. David is a man of his word, a servant in his community and the leader of his family. His book, "I Can Live," is an outpouring of soul-stirring affirmations and empowerment that will resonate with you. David experienced a family crisis that would have side-lined most of us, and sent us directly to a corner of isolation and self-doubt; not David. He turned inward and drew strength from his faith, his family and his community. He took an unfortunate set of circumstances, turned them into something beautiful and powerful, and created this book. David tapped into his resilience and reflected on past life experiences that shaped him into the man he is today. By doing this authentic and introspective work, David was divinely inspired to write this book and share his triumphs over pain, moments of disenfranchisement, unwanted discouragement and outright disregard for the wealth of gifts and talents he possesses. To be alive today, you have undoubtedly experienced these types of covert and overt tools of marginalization. We know that we must continue to stay the course, and rise up against those who would rather keep us oppressed. As the eloquent and unbothered poet and author Maya Angelou said, "Still I rise." David rises again and again, so that he can live a life of purpose and meaning. This book will be a source of strength and hope for generations to come.Cheryl Riley LISW-S David T. Brand Jr. is an ordained Elder at House of God church in Lockland, Ohio and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio. David has been fortunate to acquire the skillset to merge faith and clinician practice in mental and emotional health. He believes the two go hand in hand complementing each other as two proven methods for providing healing and growth in the lives of men, women, and children. He lives in Cheviot, Ohio with his wife of 19 years, Shirley, and his four children, Solomon, Rachel, Leah, and Asa.