Helping people of all ages rise with resilience and hope.
A Proven Path to Overcoming Challenges and Growing Stronger
Through 14 powerful stories, How to Fall Up teaches practical skills for building resilience, navigating challenges, and growing with purpose.
About Hashim
Hi, I’m Hashim Garrett.
For more than two decades, I’ve been speaking to audiences around the world about resilience, forgiveness, and personal growth. I’m the author of How to Fall Up, a collection of 14 real-life stories about young people navigating setbacks and learning how to rise stronger.
At 15, I survived a shooting in Brooklyn, NY, that left me paralyzed from the waist down. That moment could have defined me. Instead, it became the foundation of my life’s work—helping young people, families, and communities transform pain into purpose.
I’ve shared my story and lessons with schools, universities, prisons, and corporations across the United States and internationally, including events at Harvard and Yale. My goal is simple: to remind people that setbacks don’t define you—how you rise does.
What You’ll Find in My Work
I’m an advocate for practical strategies that build emotional strength. The central question I explore is:
“How do we teach resilience in a world where challenges come first and lessons come later?”
My talks, workshops, and writing focus on themes like:
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How to respond to challenges with mindfulness instead of anger
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How to build self-discipline to stay focused on what matters
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How to embrace forgiveness as a tool for healing and growth
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How to turn setbacks into opportunities for resilience and leadership
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How mentorship and role models shape our ability to thrive
Much of what I share isn’t only drawn from lived experience. It’s grounded in social work research and shaped by the wisdom of mentors I’ve learned from. My role is to translate those insights into something practical, inspiring, and useful.
About Me
Here are a few notable things about me:
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Author of How to Fall Up: 14 Lessons in Resilience from the Lives of Young People
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Motivational speaker who has reached hundreds of thousands of students, parents, and educators worldwide
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Advocate for nonviolence, forgiveness, and mental health awareness
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Social worker dedicated to supporting all communities, families, and people living with disabilities
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Survivor of gun violence at 15, now using my story to empower others
Fall Up Weekly – Resilience Delivered to Your Inbox
Join Hashim Garrett’s community of readers and changemakers. Each week, you’ll receive practical lessons on resilience, growth, and purpose—drawn from Hashim’s experiences as a speaker, mentor, and author of How to Fall Up.
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