Adrienne N. Newsom is president and chief operating officer of the Gang Reduction & Youth Development Foundation, the GRYD Foundation, whose programs include the Summer Night Lights series. Before participating in the Zócalo/The California Wellness Foundation event, “How Do You Fix a ‘Bad’ Neighborhood?”, she talked in the green room about her guilty pleasure, what surprises her most about her life right now, and what she can be found doing at the parks where Summer Night Lights happen.
Q: What’s the last thing that made you laugh?
A: My husband I’m sure.
Q: Which item would you bid for on eBay?
A: Oh gosh. Something probably Michael Jordan-related. Oh wait, no, I want to change that. There’s this little dancing black Santa Claus that my daughters love, and we had one and it broke, and I have not been able to find it except on eBay.
Q: What’s your guilty pleasure?
A: Chocolate.
Q: What surprises you most about your life right now?
A: The fact that I’m leading the GRYD Foundation. It’s a good surprise, though.
Q: What was your worst subject in school?
A: Chemistry.
Q: What are you most likely to be doing at the park, under the lights or not?
A: Playing tennis. Eating.
Q: What do you typically eat for breakfast?
A: Oatmeal and fruit.
Q: What do you consider beautiful?
A: People.
Q: If you had one more hour in the day, what would you do with it?
A: Go running.
Q: What’s your pump-up song?
A: “War/No More Trouble,” Bob Marley.
*Photo by Aaron Salcido.
