Meet the OneLove Family

In March of 1994, Dana Stevens encountered a violent beating from five young black men on Chicago’s west side. Their words “Welcome to racism” cut so deep, not only did it change his course of life but became his motivation to empower youth and young adults who live in under-served communities.   

From his work at the Jane Addams’ Hull House to his 18 years at the Maximum Security Cook County Jail; Stevens has been boldly crossing racial lines and neighborhood barriers as an advocate, life empowerment  coach, Restorative Practices Coach and racial reconciliation facilitator  

Under Stevens’ leadership he created Youth with a Purpose after-school program, used basketball and a recording studio to reach over 250 youth a week which today is known as his nonprofit OneLove.  His dedication to youth earned him the “Spirit of Rogers Park Award for Youth Leadership” from the City of Chicago and the “Guardian of the Future” award from Inspired Partnerships and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. 

Stevens volunteered 13 years at the Juvenile Detention Center and was a speaker for the Victim Impact Panel reaching over 7,000 youth yearly.  Since 2015 Stevens has worked for Chicago Public Schools as a Restorative Practices Coach where he oversaw 17 of the hardest hit schools suffering from the effects of violence.    

As a Restorative Practices Coach, Stevens has been deployed to various CPS schools to implement short-term consultation, training, and coaching projects to develop the mindsets, practices, systems, and structures that schools need to effectively implement Restorative Practices within the school.

Stevens continues to travel around as a sought after speaker for schools, churches, organizations and internationally to include Africa, Indonesia, Singapore, Israel, and Germany.  Stevens combines his 28 plus years of experience with youth, his restorative practices knowledge and his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to effectively reach and change individuals, schools and communities!   

 Who I am

 I am a Daughter Of Zion defying the odds!

As an infant I was transported back to the hospital where I was born. I had

remained there for a month after an emergency brain operation not knowing

the outcome a head of me.

I struggled through grade school and was held back twice even thought I made honorable mention!

In my Senior year of high school I graduated with my regular age class mates,

in spite of the weakness in my right fingers. This occurred because of my brain issue from birth. I had to learn the Left Hand Touch-Type Technique style of typing. 

I also was able to stop taking Dilantin medication as I grew out of my childhood seizures, again, stemming from my brain operation. As an infant I defied all odds!

Despite learning bad drum sticking techniques at age of 38 and not know how to play the whole drum set, I started playing drums at 40 with the Salvation Army Church Band. The All Mighty helped me play those drums! Around 2016 I was asked to be a part of an all women’s bans of the Salvation Army called Shekinah. From 2018-19 we traveled to Ohio, New Jersey and locally in the Boston area. The women singer were of high ranking from all over the Salvation Army. Around 2015 I was a Spiritual Rhythm Dancer born out of a spiritual need to spiritually survive.  

Now I am Camiliia, a Daughter of Zion still defying all odds!