(funky music)
Antonio Bassan.
Would you get next to the microphone, sir?
Yes, sir.
Good morning, Antonio.
Good morning. How are you?
Antonio.
Yes, sir.
That's a great name.
My brother's name is Antonio.
Yes. Saint Antonio.
(laughing) Why were you named Antonio?
Were you named after someone?
Well, it's a funny story,
but my mother, I was born in North Carolina,
when she sailed, so my mother, she was a merchant sailor.
I don't how she got the name Antonio,
being in the south,
where she was,
but I thank God for it because it means praise.
So, you know, I love praising my God.
So, I think he gave me the name Antonio.
A lot of people call me Minister Antonio,
because, that's what I do.
Early in the mornings, I go out on Broad Street
where it's heavy at,
with addicts, and so forth,
and I minister to em.
Because I was once there.
I was out there at one time.
But having a new mindset, a different life,
now I can give to them,
let them know, look, there's a way out.
And try to help the community out as well.
So, you can call, they call me minister,
they call me pastor.
I just recently got ordained as a minister,
so I know that there's a way out,
and that's what I'm trying to do for those people out there.
So, you can say Minister Antonio.
Well, Minster Antonio, let me ask you a question.
Yes, sir.
And, I'm not trying to get you to,
try to embarrass you or anything like that.
But, you've had issues in the past,
is that what you're trying to?
Oh, absolutely. What?
I used to smoke crack, I used to deal, big bouncer,
I'm not ashamed of my past,
because my past got me where I'm at today.
And I'm grateful where I'm at today,
cause I'm, I'm trying to help the community and society
from the plague that's out there,
diminishing and taking people's minds,
you know, from their true life of living.
And you know it firsthand?
That's right, firsthand.
Absolutely, absolutely.
Did you serve time?
Yes I did. Absolutely.
I had time in jail from Florida to North Carolina,
here in Rhode Island.
Give me a typical day, something you would be doing.
I feed them. I make bag sandwiches, donuts.
I give them blankets,
and I just share love.
That's the most important thing is love.
Let them know that they are loved.
Someone does love them, that they are worth something.
I lost, I thought I lost, the American dream,
having a house, I own my own home.
I have my own business.
I have a beautiful wife.
I thought I lost that dream.
But here it is, 10 years later,
a over flood.
There is a God and he's good.
Well, I can tell things are going pretty good for you,
because Yes.
You don't even have a parking ticket in your record.
He has, he has absolutely nothing.
For some reason, you failed to appear
and you were defaulted, did you know that?
Yes, sir, I was doing, I was working
and a dear friend, law office,
and I found out, we realized, excuse me,
I realized I had court and I came,
and they locked the doors on me
the same day, so.
Okay.
I apologize for that, I didn't know.
Okay, based on the record, the matter will be,
the vacate, the default, will be vacated.
And the matter will be dismissed.
Thank you, sir.
Keep up your good work.
Good luck to you.
I will. Thank you.
You know, just something,
you get up in the morning,
you're out there feeding people, feeding.
It's curious, just tell me your biggest success.
Well, got two people off the streets.
They're not panhandling, they're coming to church,
we're helping with the job,
getting back in the community, social skills,
as far as their dressing and speaking.
That's my big success, saving two souls.
Okay, how many houses did you paint?
I see you got paint on your shirt.
Oh, that's my business, that's what I do.
You're a painter?
Yes, sir.
(laughing) Good luck to you.
The matter is dismissed.
Thank you.
Come on, how cool was that?
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