Background
PATRICK, DEVAL was born on July 31, 1956 in Chicago, Ilinois.
(“I’ve simply seen too much goodness in this country—and h...)
“I’ve simply seen too much goodness in this country—and have come so far in my own journey—not to believe in those ideals, and my faith in the future is sometimes restored under the darkest clouds.” —Governor Deval Patrick In January 2007, Deval Patrick became the first black governor of the state of Massachusetts, one of only two black governors elected in American history. But that was just one triumphant step in a long, improbable journey that began in a poor tenement on the South Side of Chicago. From a chaotic childhood to an elite boarding school in New England, from a sojourn doing relief work in Africa to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, and then to a career in politics, Patrick has led an extraordinary life. In this heartfelt and inspirational book, he pays tribute to the family, friends, and strangers who, through words and deeds, have instilled in him transcendent lessons of faith, perseverance, and friendship. In doing so, he reminds us of the power of community and the imperative of idealism. With humility, humor, and grace, he offers a road map for attaining happiness, empowerment, and success while also making an appeal for readers to cultivate those achievements in others, to feel a greater stake in this world, and to shape a life worth living. Warm, nostalgic, and inspirational, A Reason to Believe is destined to become a timeless tribute to a uniquely American odyssey and a testament to what is possible in our lives and our communities if we are hopeful, generous, and resilient. GOVERNOR DEVAL PATRICK is donating a portion of the proceeds from A REASON TO BELIEVE to A Better Chance, a national organization dedicated to opening the doors to greater educational opportunities for young people of color. To learn more, visit www.abetterchance.org.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0767931122/?tag=2022091-20
PATRICK, DEVAL was born on July 31, 1956 in Chicago, Ilinois.
Harvard College (Bachelor of Arts, 1978). Harvard Law School (Juris Doctor, 1982). Law Clerk to Judge Stephen Reinhardt, United States.
Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, 1982-1983.
Patrick was an outstanding student. One of his teachers recalled that even in the sixth grade his studiousness and leadership were obvious. Apparently, so was his ability to persuade an audience; when a school essay contest invited entries on "Why My Father Should Be Father of the Year," Patrick won the competition with a paper entitled "Why My Grandmother Should be Father of the Year."
By eighth grade he was first in his class. A teacher encouraged him to apply to A Better Chance, a scholarship program that sent children of limited means to college preparatory schools.
Patrick's success at Milton paved the way for an equally impressive college career. He applied to five Ivy League universities: Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, Trinity, and Harvard, the one he wanted most because it was his mentor A. O. Smith's alma mater.
His scholastic ability—he graduated cum laude—helped him win a $5,000 Rockefeller Fellowship, which he used to study and travel in Africa.
Legal studies further honed Patrick's skills as a speaker and a leader. His team won a spot in the school's Ames Moot Court finals, a competition in which law students prove their skills by arguing actual cases before a Supreme Court justice. Patrick's team asked him to present the oral argument; he was named best speaker in the competition.
He was also chosen to head Harvard's Legal Aid Bureau, an organization that gives legal services to the needy. In what would become a familiar type of case for him, Patrick defended a fellow Harvard student, also black, after he was arrested while driving with his white girlfriend.
As the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division, Patric enforced the Americans with Disabilities Act. He led what was (before the September 11, 2001 attacks) the largest federal criminal investigation in history as co-chair of the Task Force investigating the arsons of synagogues and Black churches in the South in the mid-1990s. He had a key role as an adviser to post-apartheid South Africa during this time and helped draft that country's civil rights laws.
In his first term as a Governor of Massachusetts, Patrick oversaw the implementation of the state's 2006 health care reform program which had been enacted under Mitt Romney, increased funding to education and life sciences, won a federal Race to the Top education grant, passed an overhaul of state transportation industries to create the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and increased the state sales tax from 5% to 6.25%. Under Patrick, Massachusetts joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and greatly expanded services to veterans. His two legislative battles to implement casino gambling failed: he could not win the approval of the House of Representatives in March 2008, and he vetoed a bill passed by the legislature in August 2010 for going too far.
(“I’ve simply seen too much goodness in this country—and h...)
California bar , the USA
1983 - 2012
District of Columbia bar , the USA
1985 - 2012
Massachusetts bar , the USA
1987 - 2012
the New England steering committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Legal Defense and Education Fund , the USA
1991 - 1993
Trustee and executive committee , the USA
1985 - 2012
American Bar Association , the USA
Massachusetts Bar Association , the USA
Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association , the USA
Boston Bar Association , the USA
1993 - 2012
Harvard Club of Boston , the USA
Harvard Alumni Association , the USA