Born and raised in Harlem, New York, David Hopper is a respected community activist, filmmaker, spoken word artist, credible messenger mentor and author. David founded Nana’s Living Room Inc in 2022 as a response to the uprising in gun violence and young people arrested for crimes against the community. Being impacted by the criminal system and a gun violence survivor himself, he has experienced the hardships and obstacles that our youth are faced with on a daily basis. After graduating from The New School’s ‘ITM” Institute of Transformative Mentoring program he has been equipped to facilitate restorative justice circles and also became a restorative justice practitioner.  

David uses his book "Moments, Writings, Thoughts and Letters of a 2x Felon" to create dialogue on solutions of mass incarceration, conflict resolution and the school to prison pipeline. His mission is to use art, film and experiential learning to prevent violence. 

David and Nana’s Living Room Inc. organization were both highlighted as key subjects on BronxNet TV and recognized by the New York Amsterdam News for the work they do in the community. David has been featured in numerous documentaries speaking on being a Credible Messenger as well as his personal redemption story. David recently released the documentary Prison to Prosperity that has been doing well in the film festival circuit.