Where do young people actually live today and how do public service organizations meet them there? In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Anthony "Tony" Shaw—a North Philadelphia native, first-generation college graduate, and Teach For America/AmeriCorps alumnus. Tony breaks down his experiences teaching in Paterson, NJ, the financial realities of national service, his research on gun violence intervention, and the concept of "digital neighborhoods." Drawing inspiration from Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, Tony details his mission to document the lived experiences of Black boys and men to ensure they are seen, heard, and understood.

Key Highlights

• North Philly Roots: How a tight-knit, community-centered upbringing established education as a "silver bullet" for mobility.

• Paterson Public Schools: Navigating the realities of classroom teaching in the famous "Lean On Me" district and uncovering community assets.

• AmeriCorps Compensation Realities: Addressing low stipends in national service as a structural barrier for underrepresented corps members.

• Digital Neighborhoods: Why service outreach must adapt to social media platforms where youth spend their daily lives.

• Documenting Visibility: Applying research to make Black boys visible, counter trauma, and build long-term equity.

• Honoring Community Titans: Recognizing ground-game leaders Estelle Richmond, Dr. Howard Stevenson, and Dr. Desmond Patton.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Anthony Shaw (LinkedIn)

  Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)

  Community: Follow the ⁠Service Titans LinkedIn Page⁠ and subscribe to our podcast on Spotify..

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction: From North Philly to Now

• 02:51 – Education & Community Values as the "Silver Bullet"

• 05:58 – Joining AmeriCorps & Teach For America

• 09:35 – Classroom Realities: Teaching in Paterson, NJ

• 12:48 – The State of Service: Compensation & Equity

• 17:41 – Digital Neighborhoods: Social Media as Service Outreach

• 22:20 – Legacy & Visibility: Researching Trauma and Coping

• 26:45 – Honoring Ground-Game Service Titans

• 32:48 – Connecting with Anthony Shaw

• 34:17 – Final Reflections & Signoff

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