Wilks, Burrel Lee 1967–

views updated

Wilks, Burrel Lee 1967–

(Burrel Lee Wilks, III)

PERSONAL:

Born May 6, 1967; son of Burrel Lee (a sanitation worker and drug dealer) and Gloria Wilks; married; children: Marshawn (died, 2002).

ADDRESSES:

Office—Burrel Streetwise, Inc., Palazzo, 6240 W. 3rd St., Ste. 2404, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

CAREER:

Writer, businessman, speaker, and life coach. "Strategies for Millionaire Magnetism" program, creator; Diamond Developments, Inc. (property development), partner; Burrel Streetwise, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, founder, owner, and president. Has owned a grocery store, concert promotion business, gas stations, a furniture store, car dealerships, and jewelry stores. Has also worked with Ready-Set-Work (nonprofit).

WRITINGS:

Tattoos on My Soul: From the Ghetto to the Top of the World: A Sizzling Story of Grit, Glitz, and Personal Growth, Burrel Streetwise (Chicago, IL), 2006.

SIDELIGHTS:

Born May 6, 1967, Burrel Lee Wilks grew up in the West Side neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois. The neighborhood was once known for its rough atmosphere and mob activity, and Wilks was groomed for this lifestyle. Wilks's father was a sanitation worker who sold drugs from his garbage truck and who was also connected to many high-profile Chicago mobsters. Before Wilks turned sixteen, his father had introduced him to marijuana and was using Wilks to keep track of the proceeds from his illicit side business. From there, Wilks began living on his own, working as a drug dealer, pimp, and hustler. Wilks watched as several of his peers died violently, and he made the life-changing decision to leave gang life behind. Wilks ultimately became a highly successful businessperson. He is a writer, entrepreneur, speaker, and life coach. He created and trademarked the "Strategies for Millionaire Magnetism" program and became a partner in the property development company Diamond Developments, Inc. Burrel is also the founder, owner, and president of Burrel Streetwise, Inc., based in Los Angeles. Additionally, Burrel has owned multiple businesses, including a grocery store, concert promotion business, gas stations, a furniture store, car dealerships, and jewelry stores.

Even in the face of success, Burrel has not forgotten his roots, and he continues working with underprivileged and at-risk children, as well as with the nonprofit organization Ready-Set-Work. Burrel communicates his struggles and successes to children that are much like he once was, and he serves as an inspiration to them. For this reason, Burrel chose to write and self-publish his memoir, Tattoos on My Soul: From the Ghetto to the Top of the World: A Sizzling Story of Grit, Glitz, and Personal Growth, in 2006. The memoir was written in the hope that Burrel could reach and inspire more people with his remarkable story. As the author stated in a URLwire interview: "I knew my life story of transformation and personal success was motivational … and I felt it was time to take it to the world." A biographical profile of Burrel, posted on the author's home page, stated that "Burrel knows it's the tough lessons he learned when young—his ‘Soul's Tattoos’ as he calls them—that are the foundation for how he lives his life today." Reviewing the memoir in Booklist, Vanessa Bush observed that "readers interested in gritty urban culture and survival stories will enjoy this story of personal transformation."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

BOOKS

Wilks, Burrel Lee, Tattoos on My Soul: From the Ghetto to the Top of the World: A Sizzling Story of Grit, Glitz, and Personal Growth, Burrel Streetwise (Chicago, IL), 2006.

PERIODICALS

Booklist, March 15, 2006, Vanessa Bush, review of Tattoos on My Soul: From the Ghetto to the Top of the World: A Sizzling Story of Grit, Glitz, and Personal Growth, p. 10.