The Children Deserve Success Podcast, hosted by Dr. Donald English features a compelling conversation with Ryan Tillman, who shares his journey from growing up in San Bernardino County to becoming a police officer and founder of Breaking Barriers United. He reflects on the experiences that shaped his mission to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community through trust, communication, and understanding.

Throughout the episode, Dr. English guides a discussion on practical strategies for those working with youth, emphasizing the importance of leading with love, empathy, and respect. Tillman highlights the value of building genuine relationships, using de-escalation techniques, and prioritizing connection over compliance to create lasting, positive impact.

In this episode of the CDS Podcast, we spoke with Lolofi Soakai, Executive Director and Founder of M.A.L.O., Motivating Action Leadership Opportunity. Lolofi shared her journey and the mission behind MALO, a community-rooted organization uplifting Tongan and broader Native Hawai'ian Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities through culturally grounded leadership, wellness, and advocacy work. She spoke about the challenges NHPI youth face, from chronic absenteeism to lack of representation, and how MALO is creating space for cultural pride, community healing, and meaningful change.

https://malotongaie.org/

Don English, Director of Children Deserve Success, interviews Leticia Herrera, a DACA recipient and educational advocate, about her journey and advocacy for immigrant youth. Leticia shares her experience growing up undocumented in the Coachella Valley, her challenges in accessing scholarships and loans, and her advocacy efforts, including founding the first cohort of the Dream.US scholarship recipients. She discusses the impact of DACA's potential removal in 2017, her sister's passing, and her subsequent legislative advocacy. Leticia emphasizes the importance of community support, mentorship, and the need for legislators to understand the contributions and challenges faced by immigrant youth and families.