William Little, 21, grew up the hard way due to his own bad choices. “I come from a good family,” he said. The first 11 years, he was pretty much a good kid with a normal life. But that changed when his parents divorced after moving to Savannah, Ga. His mother kept William; his father moved back to the Joliet area with his younger brother.

By age 14, the courts deemed him “ungovernable” and his mother was searching for ways to get him back on track. In and out of schools, alternative schools, even five days at Romeoville High School, his track record at academics stunk. He got shot at age 18 and was homeless for four months. Meanwhile, his brother was earning good grades and keeping out of most of the trouble that seemed to entangle William.

How Willam turned around a life that was spiraling toward a very unhappy ending is a cautionary tale other youth can learn from. He will be a panelist at the second “Bring Your ‘A’ Game” presented by Joliet Job Corps, Jooliet Township High Schools, the Housing Authority of Joliet and Joliet Region Education Interfaith Council.

Joining him on the panel will be fellow Joliet Job Corps student Marcus Jackson, 23, of Chicago, who grew up in the Robert Taylor Homes and also was shot as a teen “doing things I should not have been doing.” Ron and James Hill of Suda Mixed Martial Arts Academy and Stephen Evans of Ekklesia will join them.

The 22-minute documentary by Mario Van Peebles that spawned the ‘A’ Game movement will be shown and four entertainment acts are schedule.

“Thirty percent of African American male youth today will be incarcerated sometime in their lives,” said R. Dale Evans of HAJ. “This is an epidemic and we have got to find the cure.”

“‘A’ Game is about modeling yourself after success and how staying in school or getting a GED is key to that success,” said JTHS YESS Coordinator Kelli Bettenhausen.

“In May, our first ‘A’ Game event attracted nearly 400 peopoe,” said Job Corps Center Director Redford Salmon. “We want to build on that momentum to let the public know that there are many resources already in our area that can help combat the problem.”

“Bring Your ‘A’ Game 2” is from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 in the Joliet Job Corps auditorium, 1101 Mills Road, Joliet.