A guidance counselor saw something in me that I didn't see in myself." That single moment transformed Deontre L. Clayton from a high school student on the verge of failing into an honors graduate from North Carolina A&T and a national education leader. In this episode of Service Titans, Tre shares his journey from rural Roxboro, NC, to directing AmeriCorps early literacy and numeracy initiatives. Host Anton Taylor dives deep with Tre into relational leadership, overcoming systemic bias, and the life-changing power of mentorship.

Key Highlights

• The Graduation Saver: How high school counselor Helen Johnson stepped in to rewrite Tre's future when he was on the brink of dropping out.

• The A&T Turnaround: Bouncing back from academic probation to graduate with honors in just three years.

• The Law School Pivot: Discovering his true calling through an AmeriCorps tutoring role and Teach For America in Opa-locka, Miami.

• Relational Leadership: Navigating the realities of national service pay, representation challenges, and leading with authenticity.

• Honoring Titans: A moving tribute to Bertrand Poole, founder of Men of Distinction.

Connect & Resource LinksGuest:

• Deontre L. Clayton (LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)
• Community: Follow the ⁠Service Titans LinkedIn Page⁠ and subscribe to our podcast on Spotify

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & Origins

• 02:08 – High School Struggles & The Counselor Who Saved Graduation

• 04:47 – NC A&T Fresh Start: From Probation to Honors

• 06:49 – The Spark: AmeriCorps Tutoring & Rethinking Law School

• 09:07 – Teach For America Miami (Opa-locka)

• 10:20 – Full-Circle Leadership as Program Director

• 12:33 – Relational Leadership & Authentic Growth

• 15:14 – Advice for Black Men in Service

• 17:37 – Navigating Representation and Bias

• 21:00 – Legacy & Impact Stories

• 24:58 – Honoring Service Titan Bertrand Poole

• 28:10 – Closing & Where to Connect

  #ServiceTitans #AmeriCorps #BlackMenInEducation #MentorshipMatters #EducationEquity #RelationalLeadership

Choose the path designed for your soul, not your pockets." In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Detroit native Joshua Moore to explore his transition from a math degree to ethnic studies and full-time national service. Joshua breaks down how two educator parents shaped his foundation, how he navigated family pushback and low stipends during City Year, and why restorative practices are essential when Black male educators address classroom trauma. Plus, Joshua opens up about founding the NRDM Organization to honor his grandmothers and leading with radical transparency while living with bipolar disorder.

Key Highlights

• Detroit Roots & Educator Foundations: Raised on Detroit's East Side by two first-generation college graduates who instilled community-first values.

• Purpose Over Paycheck: Shifting from a lucrative math trajectory to ethnic studies and City Year despite financial concerns and family pushback.

• Restorative Practices & Trauma: How Black corps members can implement restorative care rather than punitive discipline when navigating classroom trauma.

• The "In Our DM" Legacy: Establishing a tutoring and scholarship project named in tribute to his grandmothers.

• Mental Health & Radical Transparency: Openly discussing his journey with bipolar disorder and prioritizing mental health during career transitions.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Joshua Moore (LinkedIn)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)

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

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & Meet Joshua Moore

• 01:37 – Detroit Roots & Educational Foundations

• 03:16 – Mentors Who Believed First: Alan Washington & Anna Brown

• 05:54 – The Pivot: Choosing Purpose & Ethnic Studies Over Math

• 11:12 – Discovering City Year & Entering National Service

• 13:23 – Navigating Low Stipends & Family Pushback

• 16:47 – Representation, Restorative Practices & Classroom Trauma

• 21:00 – Direct Advice for Emerging Black Male Leaders

• 25:12 – Honoring Service Titans

• 32:46 – The "In Our DM" Project & Scholarship Legacy

• 38:35 – Closing Reflections & Mental Health Transparency

#ServiceTitans #CityYear #EducationEquity #RestorativePractices #BlackMaleLeadership #MentalHealthAwareness

Leadership doesn't require a full résumé it requires showing up with integrity when everything is unstable." In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Paul Willis—a hip-hop educator, artist, and six-year AmeriCorps veteran. Paul shares his raw journey from entering City Year while unhoused to stepping up as a service leader when management collapsed. He breaks down how trauma-informed training altered his life, the weight of Black male representation in education, and how he leverages hip-hop as a tool for healing, leadership, and culturally responsive learning through his national Hip Hop Leadership Project.

Key Highlights

• Overcoming Housing Instability: Navigating the transition from an unhoused youth raised by his grandmother to a six-term AmeriCorps veteran and national advocate.

• Trauma-Informed Service: Applying structured trauma-informed care to heal personal history while supporting students facing systemic adversity.

• Crisis Leadership: Finding your voice and stepping up to guide a team when leadership structures fail.

• Hip-Hop as Leadership Pedagogy: Utilizing beats, bars, and curriculum to drive educational equity, youth engagement, and emotional healing.

• Representation & Collective Responsibility: Navigating the realities of Black male service leadership while prioritizing team trust over personal ego.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Paul Willis (Hip-Hop Leadership | Artist Site | Instagram)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)

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

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

• 01:05 – Why AmeriCorps Matters & Paying It Forward

• 03:46 – First-Year Reality Check: Entering Service Unhoused

• 05:55 – Returning to Serve at His Former School

• 07:30 – Trauma Healing & Personal Growth

• 13:06 – Finding His Voice & Stepping into Crisis Leadership

• 21:02 – Representation & Responsibility as a Black Leader

• 25:31 – Teamwork Over Ego: Leading Through Chaos

• 29:05 – Service Titan Spotlight & Charlie Rose Mentorship

• 33:48 – The Hip-Hop Leadership Project: Album, Book & Curriculum

• 36:11 – Closing Remarks & California Book Tour

#ServiceTitans #CityYear #AmeriCorps #HipHopEducation #TraumaInformedService #BlackLeadership