The Ivory Starr Collection

Raised on a farm in southern Mississippi, Ivory learned to appreciate the beauty of nature from a firsthand view. Whether an early morning sunrise or the ever-changing seasons, he loved the deep, vivid colors and the fresh, clean smell after a spring shower. Having a grandfather who was a Baptist minister, he understands the role God plays in our everyday life. Although he has a mathematics background-once wanting to teach the art of problem solving to the next generation-his passion has long been writing. Having visited several countries, and lived in numerous states from New York to California, you could call him a wanderer. It is this wanderlust that has fueled his imagination-allowing him to write from the perspective of someone who has explored the world. A community activist, with an eye for youth activities, Ivory believes that in order to keep kids on the right path, you must give them positive, meaningful activities to occupy their time-and mind-thus countering all the negative influence society hurls at them. Whatever their venue of self-expression, that's what MUST be given. Ivory's aim is to help provide that venue by establishing a community youth center to encourage and support their individuality. In so doing, he hopes to improve the social objectives of each child. A few of the community action groups he has been involved in: the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP); the African American Association, while a member of the United States Air Force; Network of Intel African Americans (NIAA)-an Intel Corporation employee group; Men of Action of Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi. Ivory holds an associate's degree in mathematics, an associate's in information systems management, and a bachelor's degree in electronics engineering technology.