The Return of Manhood

Campbell has been with the Michigan City Police Department for 18 years and has worked as school resource officer at Michigan City High School  for the last seven. He also founded Worldgate Centre for Life, and the team there, among other contributions, helped to develop the MCPD Youth leadership Academy.

"Those people that impacted my life left an impression on me, and it's my duty to impact others," he said.

Although he grew up poor and his father went to prison, Campbell overcame. He graduated from Indiana State University in 1988 and from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in 1997 while being president of his class.

He said he should be a statistic of what happens to children from such backgrounds.

"Realistically, I shouldn't be where I'm at," he said.

He now focuses on helping others in three main ways. His vision is to empower leaders, engage youth and impact marriages, he said. Society centers on the family, he believes.

Most of his work right now starts with working with young people. He interacts with youth at MCHS, and he also participates in youth leadership seminars.

At MCHS, the students gave him the nickname "Dad," and he said he feels good knowing that young people believe he models what a father does.

"It really just speaks to the need for men in our society to be in place," he said.

Campbell's love for God provides his greatest motivation, and all his work is built on his faith. The principles in the Bible will build a robust life, he said, so he wants to impart those principles to others.

He also said nothing he does would be possible without his wife, LaRonda Campbell, who also has been a great leader.