We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Da’Nall Wilmer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Da’Nall, thanks for joining us today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?

My father, Kamonti Wilmer, is my hero. Sadly, I lost him at the beginning of the year, but my love for him is very strong. I know that he watches over me each and every day. He didn’t raise me to be the man I am today, but he made the man I am today a much better man. He came into my life and became my best friend. He introduced me to my church home, gave me my first nice watch and quality cologne, taught me how to negotiate when buying a new car, and taught me that no matter how tough life gets, you can always bounce back and get a second chance. He showed me what unconditional love was; he loved and accepted me no matter what. He was so proud of me and all I had accomplished, and he never dwelled on things he couldn’t control. He taught me all of these things in such a short amount of time. These are part of the reasons why I decided to write my next book about him.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Da’Nall Wilmer, and I am an award-winning educator, mentor, and author from Baltimore, Maryland. I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Media Arts from Clark Atlanta University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Towson University. I was led to make a positive difference in children’s lives by founding the “Boys in the Good” Youth Leadership Program. This successful non-profit organization led me to write my first children’s book, THE GOOD BOOK: A Kid’s Guide to Becoming a Successful Student Leader. I was then inspired to share my personal experiences navigating the world as an introvert by teaching about the unique gifts that children have inside by authoring THE GREAT BOOK: A Kid’s Guide to Understanding the Greatness in Extroverts and Introverts. My new book, THE BEST BOOK: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Everyday Challenges and Living Your Best Life, was inspired by life lessons I learned from my late father. I’m a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and I currently teach at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I mentioned, I lost my father at the beginning of this year. What was even more devastating was that I lost my stepmom simultaneously. This tragic news was heartbreaking, not only because it was sudden and unexpected, but because they were my biggest supporters. They loved me unconditionally and sometimes saw more in me than I saw in myself. Every day, I grieve, but the journey gets better as I get stronger. One thing that my father and stepmom admired about me is how motivated I am. I believe in using hard times as motivation to inspire others. This is something I’ve done ever since I became an educator. It has been my purpose in life, and I know they wouldn’t want me to change that aspect. Therefore, I decided to channel my pain through a creative process that inspired my next book, THE BEST BOOK: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Everyday Challenges and Living Your Best Life. This is a story inspired by the lessons I learned from my father. One thing that my father and stepmom loved about me is my ability to live my “best life.” So, in being resilient, I decided to use what was taught to me to teach others how to do the same thing.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is knowing that my work is my legacy and that my legacy will live on forever. I find great satisfaction when I see schools, daycares, and camps share my books with their kids. It lets me know that everything I’ve been through, whether good or bad, was never in vain. I love that I’m able to share positive stories with our youth. Moreover, I’m so proud that I have been able to write books where children of color can see themselves portrayed in a positive light. I am always told that God has blessed me with the gift of being a role model. Being able to impact others on this platform has improved my life. More significantly, it is changing the lives of our youth, which is a reward that I am so blessed to achieve.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danallwilmer.com
• Instagram: @danalltyrell
• Facebook: /danalltyrell
• Twitter: @danalltyrell

Image Credits
Memory Maker Photography