Donovan Stokes was raised in historically rich Charleston, South Carolina, where as a young boy he would walk along King Street and watch life in the South colored with a sensitive and spiritual nature. He felt the pangs of an oppressed soul and longed for a better life. One day while traveling, he noticed weeds growing through cracks in a sidewalk and marveled how weak but strong they were growing from such difficulty. That simple thought gave him inspiration in seeking new directions through life in the military and college where he would eventually earn a Bachelor's degree in Social Science and Education.