Meet Dion Green

We were lucky to catch up with Dion Green recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dion, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
My resilience is waking up every day and placing two feet on the ground to continue fighting a fight where at times you think it is pointless. But to have to watch my father died in my arms and be able to move forward each day sometime thinking why not me is a fight within itself. But I made a promise to myself and others that I will continue to be a voice for the 9 victims that died that night, but also be a voice for those who do not have a voice anymore. So, I went from saying why me to why not me, because as much as it bothers me, I had a choice to sit back and do nothing or either step out in front and be a voice for others who are experiencing this or at least trying to prevent others from experiencing this pain.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Dion Green is a survivor of the 2019 Oregon District shooting in Dayton. After the death of his father, Green founded the FUDGE foundation. The organization specializes in helping those directly impacted by mass shootings and other forms of violence. Green says he knew his experience and perspective would allow him to provide unique help. Green emphasizes that the healing journey can be different for everyone, so it’s important to allow people to grieve in their own way, on their own time. He says he knows how it feels to be pressured and overwhelmed by those trying to help. Green has also published a memoir, titled Untitled Act of God/Act of Man. It shares his story of tragedy, resilience, and community engagement. So, for me not to die that night and to watch my father Derrick Fudge die in my arms, made this mission meaningful by helping those who are experiencing mass violence,

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
It’s not a reputation I would consider, but I will say sharing my heart with others who are in a place where they have no idea what is coming after. So, I just show up around the country where violence has occurred and offer them a brave space to share where they can be vulnerable and just give them a place to speak if needed without any judgement. Because there are so many people who are trauma informed or have experience in that area. But one thing I have noticed is the bond that survivors share is a connection you would never understand unless you are a part of that network. So, we have to lean on each other in moments where we feel hopeless to be able to make through that day or week.

Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
Yes, being a black organization and getting funding to remain doing the work around the community and the country. I have seen with my own two eyes, the survivor led organization that are doing the work in the community are not getting the funding to keep us sustainable especially black led. They remain funding big organization that has no community ties and no relationship with the communities and then they wonder why they are not reaching certain demographics in certain areas. But they will use are organization to bridge that gap, but then don’t want to fund you to remain doing the work in the community after you connect them with other leaders in the community. So funding is probably one of the biggest issues for black led organizations that are really boots on the ground and that are really doing the work.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Dion Green, Greg Jackson, and John Legend

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