XtraLenz

Charles Atkins, Jr. was gifted with the XtraLenz after being blessed with a life of many enriching experiences. He was raised in Camden, New Jersey one of the poorest cities the U.S. that gave him a deep appreciation for life and love. After graduating from Camden High School, he went on to Haverford College in Pennsylvania. While there, Charles spent an influential year abroad studying Sociology and Developing World Economics at lUniversit de Montpellier in South France. Upon his return from living and working in the music industry of Paris for several years, Charles enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) where he received a Master of Divinity Degree, a Master of Arts in Religious Education and was ordained for ministry. Charles earned a PhD in Practical Theology at the School of Theology and Religion Sciences at The University of Montreal in Quebec, Canada and currently works as a Chaplain with the N.J. Department of Corrections where he has developed several programs to teach incarcerated youth and young adults methods of overcoming inner and outer violence through the practical application of spiritual principles.

Being fluent in French and proficient in Spanish, Charles has worked to bring an XtraLenz to projects of spiritual empowerment and socio-economic development in Jamaica, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Zimbabwe, France, Haiti, Mexico and Cuba.

The XtraLenz album "Snatch Hop Back" is not only an album of inspiring poetry put to hip hop music. It is part a campaign to inspire people to overcome those personal habits and social structures that hold one back from advancing in life. It is one part of the XtraLenz mission to use poetry, presentations, preaching, and musical performances for teaching and inspiring practical methods of encouraging young people from challenging environments. 

Some website references:
On Facebook: "XtraLenz"