Tio Hardiman, Executive Director for Violence Interrupters, NFP, Two Time Gubernatorial Candidate, and Former Presidential Candidate, has dedicated his life and career to community organizing for peace and social change. In 1999, Mr. Hardiman joined CeaseFire, an award-winning public health model that has been scientifically proven to reduce shootings and killings. In 2004, Tio created the Violence Interrupters Initiative. In 2004, under Tio’s direction, CeaseFire received additional funding from the State of Illinois to immediately expand from 5 to 15 communities and from 20 to 130 Outreach Workers and Violence Interrupters. The Violence Interrupters are a specialty unit of violence intervention experts that work to mediate conflict on the “front-end.” Their reputation and connections in the community provide them with access to leaders and influential decision makers in street organizations. As testament to the success of this program overall, homicides declined in Chicago by 25 percent in 2013, to a total of 426. This was the fewest number of homicides in the city since 1965. In 2015, Tio implemented the Violence Interrupter Program in Freeport, IL and no homicides were recorded in the City of Freeport during the period of February 2015-February 2016. In April 2016-2019 Violence Interrupters, NFP started working in Springfield, Ohio. In 2024, Violence Interrupters are currently working in South Austin, West Garfield, East Garfield, Auburn Gresham, South Shore, Chatham, and several communities in Chicago. Tio Hardiman currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at North Park University in the Field of Criminal Justice and Restorative Justice.

www.violenceinterrupters.org

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. Cocaine and alcohol. Clean Date: 11/20/90.

Q. What do you like most about 12-step meetings?

A. The people and the opportunity to share what’s going on in my life.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. Addiction is an illness.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Bobby Brown.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Retire by a lake.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. The 1st and 10th Steps.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. I measure success by being serene on the inside. Many people can dress up the outside.

Q. What is your biggest pet peeve?

A. When people are not honest.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. I would donate the extra million to my foundation. Violence Interrupters, NFP.

Q. Who has been the biggest influence throughout your life?

A. My grandmother, grandfather and mother.

Q. From what school of thought or teacher did you learn the most from?

A. Professor John Starks, Northeastern University. I studied world history at Northeastern University.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. I’m from Chicago. Still in Chicago.

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Michelle Obama.

Q. What’s your concept of a Higher Power?

A. My concept of a higher power is based on my religion. I’m a Christian.

Q. What book(s) have you read more than once?

A. “Future Shock.”

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. Life.

Q. Who is your favorite film director?

A. Stephen Spielberg.

Q. What surprised you most about living sober?

A. Having clean and sober fun.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. Stay away from drugs, period.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. “Restorative Justice Practices” and “Reducing Gun Violence the Public Health Approach.”

Q. What is your favorite play or musical?

A. The Wizard of Oz.

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Teddy Pendergrass.

Q. What is your favorite musician and or band?

A. Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Talented.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Orlando.

Q. What sport(s) do you like to play or watch?

A. Basketball.

Q. What is your favorite restaurant?

A. Cheese Cake Factory.

Q. What is your favorite cuisine?

A. Jerk Chicken.

Q. What is the best piece of advice someone has given you?

A. Stay away from drama and negative people.

Q. What is the best piece of advice you’ve given someone else?

A. Life is too short to waste time on negativity.

Q. What is one thing that always makes you smile?

A. Watching people help others.

Q. What was the proudest moment in your life?

A. The first day I got clean.

Q. What is a style trend you wish would come back?

A. Disco Music.

Q. What do you love most about yourself?

A. I’m always busy.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. 12-Steps Guide, key phone numbers, vitamins, calendar, water.

Q. What is your biggest fear?

A. No real fears.

Q. Where do you go when you want to be alone?

A. I take a long ride.

Q. What is your biggest regret?

A. Moving too fast sometimes. Making decisions without proper planning.

Q. What is the greatest risk you’ve ever taken?

A. Running for Governor.

Q. What is something you are currently curious about?

A. Traveling to Italy and Greece.