Publication Date: July 4, 2023
A Soldier’s Redemption is a true, candid, no-holds-barred story of infamous former gangster disciple Lorenzo Louden, a.k.a. “Shorty G.” His story immerses you in the notorious world of gangs, taking you on a bone-chilling ride through the streets of 1970s Chicago. While serving 17 years behind bars, his militant rule of the underworld expanded from the streets to the prisons until a spiritual encounter directed his journey out of the darkness onto a miraculous path of purpose and possibility.
Getting a second chance in life allowed Lorenzo Louden, also known as Shorty G., to serve as a cautionary tale for other young men growing up on the streets of Chicago.
His book, A Soldier’s Redemption, traces his unstable childhood bouncing between homes, leading to his eventual incarceration. As a young boy, he was exposed to the seedy underbelly of prostitution, drugs, and criminal activity.
Gang affiliation was a natural step as he shifted from traditional values to role models demonstrating how to survive. The author shares plenty of stories from his teen years that emphasize the survival mindset. From a reader’s perspective, it was inevitable that incarceration would be next.
The author’s experience in prison proves to be a catalyst for change in a number of ways. He works his way up through the ranks of a gang, which has lasting implications. Seventeen years of incarceration gave him a desire to help others re-enter society after being locked up.
A Soldier’s Redemption serves as a story of hope for all those boys caught up in the street life, where it seems the only way out is prison or death.
Lorenzo Louden was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but grew up on the notorious streets of the West Side of Chicago, Illinois, an area known as K-Town. He was raised in the foster care system until he was 14 years old. Lorenzo grew up on the streets and endured a lot of hardship as a young teenager. As an adult, he believed that his past did not have to dictate his future, so he strived to be the best he could be. During a 17-year stay, from 1977 to 1994, courtesy of the Illinois prison system, he gained 4 degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in business. In 2005 Lorenzo started a non-profit organization called Tower of Refuge, dedicated to aiding and assisting returning citizens. For the 10 years following, he and his team worked diligently to ensure that these individuals had the services and support they needed to make a smooth transition back to society. The organization had a 96% success rating over that 10-year period. Lorenzo, a noted motivational speaker, who has positively influenced the lives of hundreds of detainees, is also the published author of “A Soldier’s Redemption: The Life of Gangster Shorty G,” an autobiographical account of his life as a gangster.
CEO of Black Chamber of Commerce of Illinois in Bloomington, IL; granted a contractual employee position for the Illinois Department of Corrections for mentoring and educating individuals incarcerated prior to their release; current owner of Illini Construction & Waterproofing, LLC; a father to three wonderful young adults that are contributing hugely to the societies that they are currently residing; loving brother, uncle, and friend to all who he has encountered.
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