I was a social worker for Baltimore families. Now I'm a social worker building opportunities for families throughout America.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
For a long time I was interested in being a social worker. In a lot of ways I feel that that's all my music is, trying to help people.
I took on pension reform, health care reform, and leave reform - all of those tough issues that so many elected officials prefer to kick down the road to the next generation. But that's not who I am. I am not persuaded by what is politically popular but what is best for the citizens of Baltimore.
I do a number of things working on human rights issues, prison recidivism rates, and then I also push and have worked a lot on the social issues of rebuilding the family.
I was raised in a family dedicated to public service.
My mom's a social worker, and my dad works in non-profit organisations.
I got a degree in sociology, didn't read much fiction in college, and I was a pretty political, left-wing type of guy. I wanted to do some kind of work in social change and make things better for the poor man, and I was very romantic and passionate about it.
I was born and raised in Maryland and attended the public school system.
Years ago, as I was beginning my professional career on Wall Street, I volunteered as a Big Brother in New York City.
So the first job that I got - my father got it for me - he had his clerical collar on, was a gay bar in D.C., it was Mr. Henry's of Georgetown.
If you look at my career path, I was a human rights and refugees officer for the United Nations. I helped research a book for Lloyd Axworthy. I've worked in coffee shops. I've sold clothes. I've hosted TV shows, and now I'm acting.