Tony Zamblé
Urban Outreach Coordinator; (773) 244-5568

Hometown: Because I grew up in Kumasi, Ghana, and both my parents are from Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), I have two hometowns: Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Kumasi (Ghana).

Education: Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the SBNM, North Park; M.Div and M.A. Counseling Psychology from Trinity International (Deerfield).

About Me: I am a family man, husband of 12 years to my wife Sandra, and father of three children, who I affectionately call “my people.” I try to the best of my ability to think and live by the Book. Although it might not be obvious, I am multicultural to the core—my parents are from the Ivory Coast, but I grew up in Ghana (sorry, US soccer fans); I speak, understand, and know the basics of languages, mostly Africans, that you probably have not heard of. Some people think I look serious while others think I am funny. I guess I am all things to all people so that I might amuse and save some.

Interests: I am into sports—although I must say I have tempered my habits quite a bit. I love soccer and high stakes sporting events—NCAA basketball, NBA (only the finals these days), football, baseball (I am still learning), the Olympics, etc. Oh, did I mention the World Cup? I love music and movies. I like to cook and entertain under the right circumstances.

Favorite Music: I have to say I have a tough time picking favorite things; this is particularly true when it comes to music. How do you pick a favorite with music when your tastes are pretty eclectic? Perhaps a helpful question might be favorite music per category. I love Jazz (classic and contemporary); musical geniuses such as Louis Armstrong, Parker, Coltrane come to mind; I also listen to classical music; love Reggae (mostly classic stuff—Marley, Culture, Third World, among many others); I also listen to Dire Straits, Phil Collins, and let me close it off with Christian music: hymns (And Can It Be?) and praise and worship (Brooklyn Tabernacle, Fred Hammond).

Favorite Movies: The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix, Remember the Titans, Coach Carter, Stand and Deliver, The Firm, Meet Joe Black, Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cops, Antwone Fisher, The Man in the Iron Mask, In Love and War (yes), The Truman Show, Bruce Almighty, Tsotsi, Les Miserables with Jean-Paul Belmondo (French with English subtitles), The Lion King, Madagascar (just for the kids), and let me top it off with one opera, although it is technically not a movie - The Marriage of Figaro. I told you I love movies!

Favorite TV: The Cosby Show, The Honeymooners, Hunter, Matlock, Band of Brothers, Lost, Shaka Zulu, Winnie the Pooh, and House of Mouse.

Favorite Books: The Bible, good biblical commentaries that interact with the Greek and Hebrew texts, Julius Caesar, Things Fall Apart (African Writers Series), la Carte d’Identité, Candide(Voltaire), Siddhartha (Herman Hesse). 

Favorite Childhood Memory: Two come to mind: One is going to church with my dad hanging out at a local restaurant after mass. Two is sneaking into the local race tracks to watch our favorite horses.

I'd Like to Meet: I am still trying to understand this celebrity thing (pray for me). I do respect Colin Powell a great deal, but I don’t know what I would say when I meet him. Example: “Yo bro’, what’s up?” That sounds pretty lame. Obviously, I need help in this regard.

Favorite Superhero Power: It would be awesome if I could heal people of diseases and make situations right just by speaking a word or two. Come to think of it, maybe I can.