Twenty-five years ago, Victor Woods, who spent his youth in the Chicago area, was released from federal prison after serving 14 years for crimes related to a $40 million credit card scam he orchestrated and ran. Today, he is a successful published author and motivational speaker who is passionate about helping people avoid bad choices and combating gun violence.

Homewood-Flossmoor High School senior Aria Harrell is a filmmaker, actress and entrepreneur. She starred in an international film at the Sundance Film Festival Director’s Lab and received coaching from Robert Redford, Ed Harris and Sanaa Lathan. Among her goals is to change the world through film and bring positive images of Black women to the big screen.

Woods and Harrell will be among speakers Saturday at the first ever Youth Future Fest being presented by Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller and Starlite Studios at the Country Club Hills Amphitheater. The event, which targets middle and high school students, is designed to inspire and inform youth and spotlight their talents, said Miller. The goal is to help put young people on pathways to success.

“They are our future, but a lot are getting left by the wayside,” said Miller. “We want to help uplift, educate, give good examples and showcase the talent within our youth.”

Randall Pippen, founder of Starlite Studios and a Chicago native, held virtual auditions from which vocalists, musicians and other talented youth will be chosen to perform at the event. The Youth Future Fest also will have information on careers, voter registration, and fitness and health, he said.

A representative from Elementary School District 159 will be on hand to share information regarding the district’s new center for science, technology, engineering and math that is under construction in Matteson, said board President Sharee Morton.

“We have to reach our youth,” Pippen said. “They have to see opportunity in these trying times. Now more than ever we must find ways to uplift and give a path to success to our next generation. It’s important for them to see positive people doing positive things.”

Country Club Hills Mayor James Ford, who also will speak, echoed that sentiment.

“Our kids need to be encouraged, motivated and mentored,” he said.

Miller and Woods initially had planned to hold Youth Future Fest last year, but

the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to put it off. They hope to make it an annual event.

Woods, whose book “A Breed Apart” tells the story of how he turned his life around and found redemption after going from a rebellious teen to white collar criminal and felon, said he will share some of his life experiences with attendees. His message in part will be not to give up and the importance of making the right choices, “that you can do anything and not to listen to negative people,” he said.

“When I got out of prison, people told me I wouldn’t be an author. They told me I wouldn’t be a successful speaker. They told me I wouldn’t be able to do the things I’m doing,” Woods said.

Defying the naysayers, he initially self-published his book and sold 150,000 copies, said Woods. Those impressive numbers led to his inking a deal with Simon & Schuster, which published the book that has now sold an estimated 500,000 copies, he said.

Woods said he also will focus on gun violence that has claimed the lives of so many youth. On that front, he recently visited Cook County Jail’s Maximum Security Division. He was joined by several ex-offenders, who’ve also turned their lives around, and by Miller. Woods discussed with nearly 100 inmates, including some awaiting trial for murder, how innocent children and youth have been unintended victims of gun and gang violence and the devastating impact such violence is having on their communities, families and friends.

His goal was to secure commitments from the inmates that once they got out of jail, they would not engage in any behavior that endangers innocent babies, children, women and men. All of the inmates signed pledges to do just that, he said.

A key takeaway he wants Youth Future Fest attendees to internalize is that everyone has a civic responsibility to help confront problems in their communities.

“That’s what Martin Luther King did,” he said. “That’s what Harriet Tubman did. That’s what Andrew Young, who wrote the forward for my book, did. That’s what responsible great Black people do. They give back.”

Harrell says she plans to tell Youth Future Fest attendees it’s important to pursue their dreams full throttle.

“A lot of us get scared of a challenge,” she said. “When you decide you want to do something, do that 100%” will be her message, she said.

She is walking the talk. Harrell has a 4.0 grade-point average and, after attending Sundance, she co-starred in the 12-minute short film “Six Pack” directed by Rita Usher. The film premiered at the 2020 International Noir Film Festival where it won Best in Category, she said.

This past June, Harrell premiered her own short film, “Amber,” to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking, and “Amber,” is a finalist in the 2021 ConnectHER Film Festival, she said.

Harrell’s long-term career goals are to graduate from college with a degree in management information systems and to continue pursuing her interests in filmmaking.

“I definitely want to continue to create films and hopefully bring ‘Amber’ to a higher level than it is right now, meaning expand it to a show or feature film and of course win Oscars,” she said, adding she also wants “to act in inspiring films and not just be an actress who acts in anything, but has a message behind all of her craft.”

She welcomes the opportunity to speak at Youth Future Fest.

“This is a chance to speak in person to young people about filmmaking and chasing your passions at whatever age,” said Harrell. “It’s a great opportunity for me to voice my experiences and then hopefully get inspiration from other people and inspire.”

U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly and entrepreneur and community activist Christian Perry also are slated to speak.

The event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Amphitheater, 4150 183rd St., Country Club Hills. The cost is $10. Free tickets will be provided to the first 250 high school students who are on the honor roll and the first 250 who are registered to vote, said Pippen. For more information and to purchase tickets, email Pippen at starlitestudiosdc@gmail.com.

Francine Knowles is a freelance columnist for the Daily Southtown.

fknowles.writer@gmail.com