Who We Are

RARE-9 (NINE) is a retired Marine who has spent the last twenty years being an mentor and community advocate against racism, discrimination, sexism, and bullying of minority students, less disadvantage children and individuals with disabilities leading to positive results.  RARE-9 built a positive energy working relationship as a volunteer mentor/community advocate with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. and the Maryland Disability Law Center located in Baltimore, Maryland..

 

RARE-9 (NINE) changed his name in September 2022 from his birth name of Lamont McKinney.  RARE-9 was born on September 9, 1955 in Salisbury, Maryland to the late Luther McKinney Sr. and Dorothy Virginia McKinney. He is the fifth out of six children to born. RARE-9 grew up embracing the spiritual gifts of hospitality, compassion, giving, and helper from his parents. 

 

RARE-9’s  (NINE) father passed away during February 2010 and after his divorced from Yvonne Vernice Tilghman , he took care of his  mother until March 29th, 2020 when she passed away in her favorite chair while visitors were chatting at the kitchen table.  Thereafter, RARE-9 relocated from Salisbury, Maryland to Columbia, South Carolina during September 2020 where his two brothers resided.

 

The relocation was smooth and a cultural shock in various ways. What stood out was how politics was destroying the black male, such as with the Pipeline-To-Prison. Although RARE-9 has been retired seventeen years, RARE-9 is still a mentor and an advocate for black makes as well as black females. His desire to start a mentor/advocate business is rooted in the United States Marine logic that we do not leave anyone behind. RARE-9 completed approximately eleven years in the Marine Corps and experienced racism and discrimination at its best.

 

However, RARE-9 did not allow it to stop him in the real word after being honorably discharged in September 1992.  Simply put, RARE-9 completed a BS Degree from the University of Maryland University College with a Paralegal Studies major and a minor in Criminal Justice. During May 1996, RARE-9 completed a M.Ed. Degree in Guidance & Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. While having a calling from Christ RARE-9 received a M.A. Degree in Pastoral Counseling in 2016 from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. Although RARE-9 started the seminary with a calling towards Masters of  Divinity, he did complete half the credits necessary but understood his true calling as a Minister with spiritual and humanistic gifts of compassion, giving, helper, hospitality, and ability to be a leader. That leadership ability lead him into the Organizational Leadership Doctoral Leadership program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.  Due to some issues, at the present time no decision has been made to honor the degree to RARE-9.

 

Finally, as he closes his profile RARE-9 encourages youth to read and listen! My favorite color is blue.  He enjoys reading the Bible, The Road Less Traveled, and Their name is Today (Reclaiming Childhood in a Hostile World). The poem that embraced his heart is “I Will Not Die An Unlived Life” by Dawna Markova. Stevie Wonder lifts him up with the song “For Once In My Life). The End.