They Changed the World: Encounters with History Makers
Find A Tree Pathways: Understand The Process: From A Seed To A Tree Determine Your Dream: Find a Tree and Get Started
Daniel Armstrong's interest in politics began in early childhood. Rather than telling him to wait until he was older, his mother encouraged him to pursue his interests and take action.
What began as a childhood interest led to extraordinary opportunities and encounters with presidents, political leaders, civil rights icons, and other individuals who helped shape history.
Daniel went on to study political science at Columbia University, earned his Juris Doctor degree from UCLA, worked at two Democratic National Conventions, and participated in presidential campaigns.
His journey illustrates a fundamental principle of Find A Tree: Young people should not have to wait until adulthood to pursue their dreams. When children are encouraged to act on their interests, extraordinary opportunities can unfold.
Daniel’s Mother
Presidents and Political Leaders
U.S. President Barack Obama
Washington Post editor David Maraniss comparedDaniel to President Obama in the biographyBarack Obama The Story.
U.S. President Lyndon Johnson
Daniel dictated a letter to his mother for U.S. President Lyndon Johnson. This is the envelope that the White House response arrived in. Based on the post office stamp, Daniel was 3 ½ years old when he received the envelope.
U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower
Upon the passing of former U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower, Daniel drew a picture of Eisenhower and sent a card to his widow Mamie Eisenhower. Here is the card and envelop from Mrs. Eisenhower. Daniel was 6 ½ years old when he received this response.
U.S. President Gerald Ford
Daniel (right) traveled to Washington, DC with his family for the National Bar Association convention. Here, he is at the U.S. Capitol where the group was joined by Congressman and future President Gerald Ford (left).
The President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings
From dreaming of visiting Africa as an elementary school student to later befriending Ghana’s president, Daniel’s journey came full circle when he organized activities surrounding President Jerry John Rawlings’s four-day visit to Los Angeles. The events included a banquet attended by government officials, business leaders, and entertainment figures, including Michael Jackson.
Following the visit, President Rawlings encouraged Daniel to move to Ghana and work with its youth. Daniel did so, and when his family later traveled to Ghana to celebrate his mother’s birthday, President Rawlings hosted them.
What began as a childhood dream of visiting Africa became a life-changing opportunity to help young people pursue dreams of their own.
Beverly Hills, California - November 1, 1995
Michael joins the First Lady and President on stage.
The President of Ghana, Jerry Rawlings
President Rawlings greets Daniel’s sister, nephew, and mother at The Castle.
(Accra, Ghana – March 6, 1998)
Daniel’s Mother with President Rawlings
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President Rawlings greets Daniel’s sister, nephew, and mother at The Castle.
(Accra, Ghana – March 6, 1998)
Daniel’s Mother with President Rawlings
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Enjoying conversation with President Rawlings before dinner.
Doris Davis: Mayor of Compton, California
Find A Tree Pathways: Understand the Process: From a Seed to a Tree
Daniel worked on his first political campaign at age 7 and then again at 11. He campaigned for Doris Davis, who was the first African-American woman elected to the office of mayor of a major U.S. city when she was elected mayor of Compton, California. Here Daniel is with Mayor Davis in the Compton Bulletin newspaper.
U.S. Senator Alan Cranston
Find A Tree Pathway: Create Opportunities Through Service
U.S. Senator Alan Cranston and presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention.
(San Francisco – August 1984)
Daniel worked on Senator Alan Cranston’s presidential campaign during the summer after his junior year in college and organized major campaign events in New York City that fall.
Rev. Jesse Jackson: Presidential Candidate
In the summer of 1984, after graduating from Columbia, Daniel joined the Democratic National Committee’s Office of Black Affairs at their Washington, D.C. headquarters to help prepare for the national convention in San Francisco. That same summer, he also served as an aide to Ron Brown, then a party vice-chair who would later become Bill Clinton’s Secretary of Commerce. While roaming behind the scenes on the convention floor, he came across Reverend Jackson’s private trailer. Jackson invited him inside, and they took this photo.
Daniel with Jesse Jackson’s family when Jackson was nominated to be the Democratic nominee for president.
Jacqueline Jackson, wife of presidential candidate Jesse Jackson, celebrates with Daniel at the Democratic National Convention.
U.S. Senator Bill Bradley
U.S. Senator Bill Bradley of New Jersey at the Democratic National Convention
Human Rights Advocates
Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr. (“Daddy King”)
Find A Tree Pathways: Empower Yourself Lead Yourself
When Daniel was in 2nd grade his father gave him this biography about Dr. King. Daniel was fascinated by the life and work of Dr. King. By 5th grade, he memorizedDr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.
Daniel is in Atlanta, Georgia outside of King’s former church where he met King’s father, Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr.
What if every student had a dream that gave purpose to their education?
Rosa Parks: Civil Rights Icon
Bishop Desmond Tutu: Nobel Laureate
Daniel met with Bishop Tutu at his Johannesburg office and gained his endorsement for the anti-apartheid divestment campaign at Columbia University.
(April 1985 – Johannesburg, South Africa)
Thurgood Marshall: Supreme Court Justice
Sports and Entertainment
Stevie Wonder: Music Legend
Find A Tree Pathway: Tap Into Your Creative Genius
Daniel joined Stevie Wonder in mourning the loss of Wonder’s wife and musical collaborator, Syreeta Wright, an enthusiastic supporter of Daniel and Find A Tree.
Motown artist and wife of Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright (center), joins Daniel at Compton High School.
Jerry Moss: Music Mogul
Find A Tree Pathway: Start A Business
Jerry Moss was the co-founder of A&M Records, where Daniel worked while in grad school. A&M started in co-founder Herb Alpert’s garage. Jerry and Herb found their tree and got started.
Jerry West: NBA Logo
Find A Tree Pathway: You Will Achieve What You Expect And Try For
Daniel and His UCLA Classmates Meet NBA Legend Jerry West
While studying for his master’s degree in business administration at UCLA, a group assignment was to interview a corporate executive on how he or she managed their organization. Daniel’s team were basketball fans, so their ideal interviewee was Jerry West, who was the Lakers' general manager. A member of Daniel’s team called the Lakers and made the request to West's secretary. West agreed to do the interview. He met with Daniel and his classmates for over two hours and discussed his management of the Lakers.
One lesson Daniel learned from this experience is something he tells students: do not wait until you graduate to reach out to people. Tell them you are a student, and people will see you. Jerry West did.
Mike Tyson: Boxing Champion
Find A Tree Pathway: Lead Yourself
While in graduate school Daniel had a dream: bring together business students, business persons, government officials from around the world. He founded the International Black M.B.A. Student Association. At the conference Mike Tyson and boxing promoter Don King spoke on sports management and promotion.
(Los Angeles, California – December 28, 1988)
During a break at the organization’s inaugural conference, Daniel chats with Diane Abbott, a member of the British Parliament, boxing promoter Don King, and Mike Tyson’s manager.
Discussing politics and sports with Diane Abbott of the BritishParliament (left) and boxing promoter Don King (right) at theInternational Black M.B.A. Student Conference.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson: Basketball Great and Businessman
Find A Tree Pathway: You Will Achieve What You Expect And Try For
Growing up Johnson had a dream of being a successful businessman, as well as a basketball star. When he helped his father clean office buildings, he would sit in the office desks imagining himself as a successful businessman. Today, Johnson is a billionaire.
The Magic Johnson Foundation has utilized Daniel as amotivational speaker.
John Wooden: UCLA’s Legendary Basketball Coach
Find A Tree Pathway: Distinguish Yourself With Excellence
Daniel often quotes Coach Wooden. One of his favorite quotes is: “Details make the difference between a champion and a near champion.”
Every Dream Begins Somewhere These encounters were not simply opportunities to meet extraordinary people. They were experiences made possible by discovering interests, pursuing dreams, taking initiative, and creating opportunities.
The same principles that shaped Daniel's journey are at the heart of Find A Tree.
Every young person deserves the opportunity to discover their interests, pursue their dreams, and begin creating an extraordinary life—starting now.
