A Vision in Motion, Motivational Speakers Bureau: Cornelius Barker, Overcoming Adversity & Staff Training Workshops

Dr. Doom -- Developing Respectful Disciplines Over Oppressed Young Minds

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Presentations Include the following:

"Listening With Your Eyes"
Regaining the pulse of your child with solutions to a better relationship.

"For Ladies Only"
An inside look at the pressures that confront our young ladies today.

"The Wall"
Conquering Obstacles.

"The Choice: Stupidity vs. Dignity"
Children making choices that will affect their lives.

"Let There Be Peace"
There is a choice...the inner realities of gang involvement.

"Daddy or Father"
Parents/guardians living up to their responsibilities.

"And Yet He Lived"
A Fact-based lecture about a child's journey through poverty and pain.

"The Life of a Jock"
The academic and athletic pressures on and off the court.

Dr. DOOM in action This presentation provides an opportunity for students, staff and parents to address today's challenging issues through impromptu and scripted role-playing and skits. It provides a very interactive dramatic theatrical presentation that will leave the audience with the possibility of making better choices in life.

These illustrations and demonstrations will afford the audience the possibility of reflecting on their social, physical and emotional needs. The follow-up activities will allow a visual comprehensive assessment of the concepts presented in order to ascertain if what was viewed was taught.

Cornelius suffered from the lack of parental love. He joined a gang to gain acceptance and experienced more than his share of physical and mental abuse. The horrific treatment by the adults in his life played a large part in the bad life choices made. His gang membership alienated many adults in his life. They misunderstood and often punished him unfairly. He tried repeatedly to prove his intelligence and natural gifted talents, but met with disapproval and discouragement. For the most part, his life was one of searching for acceptance, recognition and respect.

Cornelius L. Barker is presently a much sought-after lecturer for school and community groups on the subject of current cognitive and behavioral trends exhibited by today's youth. He served as a classroom teacher and as administrator in both elementary and secondary schools. He has visited over 25 states thus far and has visibly touched the hearts and minds of over 475,000 students, parents, teachers, PTAs and more.

In his retirement, he works with juveniles and young adults in an urban prison system using his extensive experience in research and lecture with that population to reach, teach and motivate his students to embrace education as a catalyst for restored hope and adoption of an altered perspective, and hopefully, a changed life.

Topics Include:

Self Existence

Importance of an Education

Rap Music

Stupidity vs. Dignity

Preventing Physical Altercations

Origin of Street Behaviors

Drug Prevention Techniques

Communications/Ebonics/Graffiti

Teen Pregnancy

Personal Hygiene

RENOWNED CO-AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING BOOKS:

Writing Meaningful Teacher Evaluations - Right Now!

Writing Meaningful Evaluations for Non-Instructional Staff - Right Now!

Writing Year-End Teacher Improvement Plans - Right Now!

Mathletics (CORWIN PRESS,INC.)

And Yet He Lived?

And Yet He Lived - Composition Workbook

Government By The Children For The Children

Professor Eli and The Bible Bunch

A Little Eden (CORDET BOOKS, INC.)

Democracy In The Classroom (CARLTON PRESS, INC.)

All of these books were co-authored with Claudette J. Searchwell, MA.

Hometown: New Jersey
Family: 7 children, 15 grandchildren, 2 sisters, and 3 brothers.
Overcoming Adversity: I suffered from a lack of parental love and was considered a social outcast. I joined a gang to gain acceptance. I experienced more than my share of physical and mental abuse at the hands of the same people who should nurture and protect me. The horrific treatment by the adults in my life played a large part in the bad choices I had made. I had felt unwanted and unloved by my father and unwelcome by my siblings. My gang membership alienated many adults in my life, including teachers, counselors ... and my father. They misunderstood and often punished me unfairly. I tried repeatedly to prove my intelligence and natural gifted talents, but met with disapproval and discouragement. For the most part, my life was one of searching for recognition, acceptance, and respect.
Education: Public School Number 37; Ferris High School; B.A. in K-8 Elementary Education, and B.S. in K-12 Social Studies/Science, Saint Peter's College; M.A. in Public Administration / Supervision; Assistant Pastor of the Adonai Temple Christian Center; Completion of three years in the Adonai Temple Theological Seminary; presently seeking a doctorate in ministry.
Role Models God, Claudette J. Searchwell, M.A., Walter Dean Meyers, Dr. Rev. Lewis McRae, Dr. Rev. Hector Rodriguez, Rev. John Browning, Prof. James Jacobson, Dr. Harry Harty, and the late Dr. Patrick Cauldfield, Dr. Charles Epps, Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr. Joanne Kenny, Mark Johnson, The Educational Leadership Team and so many others ... too numerous to name.
Goals: To reach all who need to find the true reason for their worldly and spiritual existence.
Greatest accomplishments: Finding God and having him keeping me alive long enough to tell the story of my life. Being the co-author of ten published books with 4 best sellers out of 29 manuscripts written.
Describe the work you do to help others:
I help others through advising, mentoring, counseling, teaching, and supervising. I am also available for any other concerns regarding problematic situations, assist in seeking additional help when necessary and just to be a friend when appropriate.
Awards: Outstanding Young Men of American Award; Citation from the Mayor for Community Service; Plaque of Honor Lecture Award, Lakewood High School; Andrew Young Achievement Award; Student Council Lecture Award, Lincoln High School; Project Alpha Lecture Award, Zeta Epsilon Lambda Chapter; Outstanding Community Service Lecture Award; Camp Viking Lecture Award, Ocean County College; Delta Sigma Theta's Summit III Lecture Award; Girl Scouts of Greater Essex-Hudson Counties Lecture Award; Youth Consultation Service Lecture Award; Essence of Excellence Lecture Award, Jersey City Public Schools; Cornerstone School Parent Association Lecture Award ... and many more.
Hobbies: Studying the Bible, Teaching Creative Dramatics, and writing books/lectures.
Favorite Quote: "Success comes from hard work and faith in one's inner-spirit that controls our reason for our existence."

Cornelius Lee Barker, M.A.
aka "Dr. Doom"

A former gang member who became a school administrator. Dr. Doom is not a nightmare. The letters that make up the name are an acronym, that represent:

Developing Respectful Disciplines Over Oppressed Young Minds

Cornelius wants the world to know that anyone who works for the betterment of the welfare of children and society as a whole are also a DR. DOOM.

Cornelius hugging one of his recent graduates

TESTIMONIALS

"Cornelius aka Dr. Doom is not a nightmare, he develops respectful disciplines for our youth. "Cool" comes from a person's heart - students should look in the mirror and make sure that what they see is themselves, and not a hodgepodge of television characters." -- Cathy Anderson, Staff Writer, Lawrence, New Jersey

"Cornelius Barker is truly determination personified. To overcome so many obstacles, with so many negative outside influences and still persevere to give back to the community, should be considered nothing less than a gift from above." -- U.S. Customs Service

"Dr. Doom's 'Street Wise' message to our program participants was not only meaningful but timely as well. Your message is a motivating force for those young people who have the privilege of hearing it ... as well as being an eye-opening experience for those who have little knowledge of what inner-city 'street life' is really about." -- David P. Gomez, Assistant Director, Pre-Captain, Saint Peter's College

"Cornelius aka Dr. Doom's [message] on teenage pregnancy: he told the young men that responsible fathers pay for the diapers and change the diapers. His presentation captivated an audience of high school and college students, parents, teachers, and other professionals for approximately an hour and a half."-- John Dorsey, Principal, Red Bank Catholic Schools, Protect Alpha-Teenage Pregnancy

"Cornelius was a wonderful keynote for our Youth Leadership Conference and the students truly enjoyed him. It was great to see him incorporate our six core elements of character and leadership: integrity, respect, responsibility, citizenship, caring and fairness, into his speech." -- officials aboard the U.S.S. Intrepid

"Dr. Doom specializes in street wise problems in redirecting the lost youth of today." -- Stephanie Carson, Coordinator, "Just Say No"

"Dr. Doom's Best Kept Secret [was that] his message was realistic, candid, and most importantly, relevant to the needs of young people. It is rare to find an individual with such unique lifetime experiences and who, against all odds, has turned his life around." -- Rubin E. Joyner, Director of Educational Opportunity Program, Rider College

"Cornelius aka Dr. Doom delivered to us the true perspectives of street knowledge." -- Anthony Tillman, Director of Educational Opportunity Scholars Program, Drew University

Cornelius playing the drums

Dr. DOOM loves motivating students to become excited about themselves and learn to embrace their own positive perspectives.

Perspectives | Testimonials | Vision on Tour

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