Allow me introduce you to C.J. Campbell. A seemingly typical 26-year-old from Rockford, Illinois who enjoys such things as spoken word poetry, watching Fight Club, reading The Prophet, and eating falafels. But that is where any and all typical things end. Because extraordinary people just cannot be referred to as typical.
Cerebral Palsy has confined C.J. to a wheelchair since childhood. But before you let an iota of pity enter your mind, know that’s not how C.J. rolls. He has never allowed his past to hinder his future, and does not define himself by his disability. He defines himself by the impact he can make in the lives of others. He has obstacles in his life that give him every excuse not to serve others, yet he has made service his entire identity.
He hosts a weekly YouTube show about disability liberation and integration called Cerebral Conversations. He volunteers twice a week in the drug and alcohol recovery program at his local rescue mission. In August 2012, C.J. Campbell relied on his crutches and wheelchair to walk 75 miles, raising over $1100 for an organization that provides housing for the disabled.
So when Invisible Children decided to present an Action Award at the 2013 Fourth Estate Summit, the recipient was a no-brainer. C.J. embodies the ethos of the Fourth Estate and represents everything Invisible Children stands for by persevering through circumstances that seem insurmountable. He gives back to his community, and uses his life experience to inspire and motivate others to action. C.J. proves that it doesn’t matter whether you’re on the frontlines of the war or meeting with your member of Congress to make sure they’re following through on their promises, in order to achieve peace there must first be action.
C.J. receiving the Action Award (to his left is Jedidiah Jenkins, and to his right is Jason Russell)
You can watch the tribute to C.J. Campbell and see him receive the first-ever Fourth Estate Summit Action Award in the below video starting at 1:53:15. And then weep along with the rest of us as you listen to his acceptance speech.
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