Derrick Tillman admits that aspects of his younger years weren’t exactly easy. But those early
hardships came with a silver lining, as they have fueled his professional and personal passions
throughout his life. And now, as he raises his own children in the region that shaped him, he’s
hoping to provide not only them with a better life but many other young people as well.
Growing up in the Pittsburgh region and bouncing around different neighborhoods in Section 8 housing, Tillman gained an appreciation for this area and his communities while also recognizing the hardships due to an imbalanced housing system that negatively impacted many people in the African American community.