my name is diane latiker. i am a founding president of kids off the block.t how the sun rises every day, it's like a guarantee you're going to hear gunshots. like this block here, this is basically one gang. and then my block, which is this block, it's another gang. one of our members, he was shot here. he was shot at 30 times. and when that happened and i thought that he was gone, i said that was it. i was giving up. and he survived. he still has five bullets in him, though. he came in and sat down in my living room, and then he said, "miss diane, if this door wasn't open, i don't know where i'd be. i'd probably be dead or in jail." and right then i changed my mind. the memorial is a tribute to young people killed by violence. from 24 years down. but those stones over there don't -- they don't say whether you're a man or not, do they? what makes you a man? they don't have a clue. because they haven't had a chance to be a kid. >> before i met miss diane, i was doing a lot of things. >> i was feeling like kill or be killed at the time. >> it's easy to pick up

my name is diane latiker. i am a founding president of kids off the block. just how the sun rises every day, it's like a guarantee you're going to hear gunshots. like this block here, this is basically one gang. and then my block, which is this block, it's another gang. one of our members, he was shot here. he was shot at 30 times. when that happened and i thought that he was gone, i said that was it. i was giving up. and he survived. he still has five bullets in him, though. he came in and sat down in my living room, and then he said, miss diane, if this door wasn't open, i don't know where i'd be. i'd probably be dead or in jail. and right then, i changed my mind. the memorial is a tribute to young people killed by violence. from 24 years down. but those stones over there, they don't say whether you're a man or not, do they? what makes you a man? they don't have a clue. because they haven't had a chance to be a kid. >> before i met miss diane, i was doing a lot of things. >> i was feeling like kill or be killed at the time. >> how easy to pick up a gun as

we'll be right back. >>> how great was diane latiker?ht now. welcome back to the program. the hiv/aids epidemic continues to ravage many parts of the world. in particular, africa. there are many ways to fight hiv/aids. education. prevention. medicine. our next hero has joined that battle, and she's fighting in a very unique and very innovative way. to tell us her story is a proud supporter of hope north, a refuge for escaped child soldiers in uganda, mary louise parker. [ applause ] >> good evening. there is a universal desire in all of us to connect. perhaps it's for survival, or maybe a littledy vine inspiration. but i'm glad it's there, just waiting for us to listen it tos direction. sometimes it is simple, and other times it sends us on a journey. our next hero, amy stokes, traveled to africa to adopt her beloved son. but for her, that was just the beginning. because of hiv/aids, she knew there were millions of children growing up alone, without guidance, care and love. so she found a way for them to connect with someone who cares, s

call or click today. >> how great was diane latiker? parts of the world, in particular africa. there are many ways to fight it. education, prevention, medicine. our nefks hero has joined that battle and she's fighting in a very unique and very innovative way. to tell us her story as a proud supporter of hope north. mary louise parker. >> good evening. there is a universal desire in all of us to connect. perhaps it's for survival or maybe a little divine inspiration, but i'm glad it's there waiting for us to listen to its direction. sometimes it is simple and other times it sends us on a journey. our next hero, amy stokes, traveled to africa to adopt her beloved son, but for her that was just the beginning. because of hiv aids she knew there were millions of children growing up alone without guidance, care or love. she found a way for them to connect with someone who cares, someone to say things like, what a beautiful drawing, you did great in school, i'm so proud of you, because every child ought to know the answer to this universal que

my name is diane latiker. i am a founding president of kids off the block.ically one gang. and then my block, which is this block, it's another gang. one of our members, he was shot here. he was shot at 30 times. when that happened and i thought that he was gone, i said that was it. i was giving up. and he survived. he still has five bullets in him, though. he came in and sat down in my living room, and then he said, miss diane, if this door wasn't open, i don't know where i'd be. i'd probably be dead or in jail. and right then, i changed my mind. the memorial is a tribute to young people killed by violence. from 24 years down. but those stones over there, they don't say whether you're a man or not, do they? what makes you a man? they don't have a clue. because they haven't had a chance to be a kid. >> before i met miss diane, i was doing a lot of things. >> i was feeling like kill or be killed at the time. >> how easy to pick up a gun as easy to pick up a book. >> they grew up with uncles and fathers selling drugs. and now guess what? they're in the same th

>>> how great was diane latiker.e hiv/aids epidemic continues to ravage many parts of the world. in particular, africa. there are many ways to fight hiv/aids. education, prevention, medicine. our next hero has joined that battle, and she's fighting in a very unique and very innovative way. to tell us her story is a proud supporter of hope north, a refuge for escaped child soldiers in uganda, mary-louise parker. [ applause ] >> good evening. there is a universal desire in all of us to connect. perhaps it's for survival, or maybe a little divine inspiration. but i'm glad it's there, just waiting for us to listen to its direction. sometimes it is simple, and other times it sends us on a journey. our next hero, amy stokes, traveled to africa to adopt her beloved son. but for her, that was just the beginning. because of hiv/aids, she knew there were millions of children growing up alone, without guidance, care and love. so she found a way for them to connect with someone who cares, someone to say things like, "what a beau

my name is diane latiker, we're known as kob, kids off the block. did y'all do one of these? i tell kids, this is a peace place. this is a safe place. if they knock on that door, they can come in. there are people here who care. and i'm one of them. >> such spectacular and inspiring stories. and we've got the incredible stories of the rest of our top ten heroes coming up later in our show tonight. and i want you to know that you can make a difference. right now, it is so easy to do. all you have to do is head on over to cnnheroes.com, click on the "donate" tab. listen to this, 100% of your donations are going to the nonprofit of the hero of your choice. thanks to our friends over at google, you're not paying any transaction fees. you get all the money, google's picking up the tab. i encourage you to donate now. right now i want to introduce rapper 50 cent. i know you've watched this from the comfort of your own home before, why is it important to be here this year? >> it's important to acknowledge everyday people making a difference. some of the more influential people need t

we're going to have a closer look at top ten hero diane latiker through the lens of photographer chrisnn johnson. >> i was sent to photograph the chicago neighborhood of roseland. >> we're losing a generation to violence. >> diane expanded a nonprofit she has set up this program for those caught in the middle of this violence and for those who want out. she has an open-door policy. she provides a safe place and she will sit down and really listen to these kids. i was struck by how many said that diana allowed them to believe in themselves again and to go after something they felt passionate about, whether it was music or finishing school. >> diane, she changed my life. i love her for that. >> major things can happen when you start with even the smallest numbers. or as diane says, that little bit of hope. >> diane and the rest of the ton -- top ten heroes, they're going to join me in los angeles this sunday night, december 11th, for cnn heroes, an all-star tribute starting at 8:00 p.m. eastern. it's going to be remarkable broadcast. really inspiring night. i hope you join me for it. >>>

my name is diane latiker, we're known as kob, kids off the block. did y'all do one of these? i tell kids, this is a peace place. this is a safe place. if they knock on that door, they can come in. there are people here who care. and i'm one of them. >> such spectacular and inspiring stories. and we've got the incredible stories of the rest of our top ten heroes coming up later in our show tonight. and i want you to know that you can make a difference. right now, it is so easy to do. all you have to do is head on over to cnnheroes.com, click on the "donate" tab. listen to this, 100% of your donations are going to the nonprofit of the hero of your choice. thanks to our friends over at google, you're not paying any transaction fees. you get all the money, google's picking up the tab. i encourage you to donate now. right now i want to introduce rapper 50 cent. i know you've watched this from the comfort of your own home before, why is it important to be here this year? >> it's important to acknowledge everyday people making a difference. some of the more influential people need t

all of these faces will be honored tomorrow, faces like s dia diane latiker.e has a remarkable story. you wanted to do something, make a difference in your commune, chicago, a very tough neighborhood. you're actually pulling in kids, complete strangers off the streets into your own home. tell us why that was so important to you. >> it was important because i just wanted to do my small part. i just wanted to be a part of their lives and show them that we care and i want to nurture them and help them to succeed because that's what adults are supposed to do. >> this is also a personal mission for diane. growing up you wanted to make sure your lovely daughter wasn't pulled into that crime ridden world. >> right. exactly. i wanted to do anything i could because she was the last one in the house. i wanted to make sure i kept up with her, make sure she didn't get caught up in the street. it's so easy in our community. >> you've been getting so emotional. these walls are filled with faces of these heroes. you got so emotional standing there looking at yourself. you ar

sal dimiceli, derrek kayongo, diane latiker, robin lim, patrice millet, bruno serato, richard st.rybody is very excited.

we're going to have a closer look at top ten hero diane latiker through the lens of photographer chriso photograph the chicago neighborhood of roseland. >> we're losing a generation to violence. >> diane expanded a nonprofit community program called kids off the block to help young people to get off the streets, to put down the guns and make a life change. the streets of roseland are no joke. these are violent streets and there are reports of gunfire each night we were there. diane is a bit of a warrior on the streets. she's brave and she's tough and she has set up this program for those caught in the middle of this violence and for those who want out. she has an open-door policy. she provides a safe place and she will sit down and really listen to these kids. i was struck by how many said that diana allowed them to believe in themselves again and to go after something they felt passionate about, whether it was music or finishing school. >> diane, she changed my life. i love her for that. >> major things can happen when you start with even the smallest numbers. or as diane says, that l