💬 "Entering City Year homeless. A manager who left at the worst moment. A young Black man stepping up when no one else would." -Paul Willis

🧢 Paul Willis is a hip-hop educator, artist, and 6-year AmeriCorps veteran. He joined City Year without knowing where he'd sleep that night. Raised by his grandmother amid his mother's addiction, Paul chose to pay it forward.

🎧 In this episode, Paul gets real about:

• 🔁 Why he joined City Year homeless

• 🧠 The trauma-informed training that changed him

• 🎤 Finding his voice when leadership collapsed

• 🖤 Being a rare Black man in service leadership

• 🤝 Why collective responsibility > ego

• 🎶 How hip-hop became his tool for healing, leadership & learning

✨ Highlights:

🔹 Paying It Forward – Teachers, advisors, and Grandma's love
🔹 Homeless & Hungry – Structure over the streets
🔹 Returning to His School – Healing where he once struggled
🔹 Finding His Voice – Stepping up when chaos hit
🔹 Health & Safety Fair – One idea. Whole school movement.
🔹 Representation Matters – Leading while Black
🔹 Teamwork Over Ego – Trusting a tired, diverse team
🔹 Charlie Rose – The mentor who saw what he couldn't
🔹 Hip Hop Leadership – Album. Book. Curriculum. Beats & bars for healing.
🔹 California Book Tour – Catch Paul live 🎤

💡 "Leadership doesn't require a full résumé — it requires showing up with integrity when everything is unstable."

📲 Connect:

🎤 Guest: Paul Willis
🔗 www.hiphopleadership.com
🔗 www.paulwillishiphop.com
📱 https://www.instagram.com/paulwillisishiphop/

🎙️ Host: Anton Taylor
🔗 https://www.linkedin.com/in/antontaylor

📖 Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome
00:10 – Paul Willis Intro
01:05 – Why AmeriCorps Matters
01:29 – Paying It Forward Origins
03:46 – First Year Reality Check
05:55 – Returning to His School
07:30 – Trauma Healing & Growth
13:06 – Finding His Voice
13:51 – Stepping Into Leadership
21:02 – Representation & Responsibility
25:31 – Teamwork Over Ego
29:05 – Service Titan Spotlight
30:00 – Charlie Rose Mentorship
33:48 – Hip Hop Leadership Project
36:11 – Closing & Farewell

Hashtags

#AmeriCorps #NationalService #CityYear #HipHopEducation #ServantLeadership #CommunityHealing #BlackMenInService #ServiceTitans #HipHopLeadership #Podcast

Jason Holton—youngest of five boys, raised on the move went from a telecom layoff to nearly two decades in national service.

He shares how a high school trip to the Dominican Republic taught him empathy through language barriers, how a chance meeting with Public Allies' changed his path, and how his supervisor responded to a major mistake with radical grace shaping Jason's entire leadership philosophy.

After a risky leap to Boston for City Year, Jason opens up about staying grounded in mission, imposter syndrome as a Black leader, alumni accountability, and why legacy isn't a title—it's the relationships you carry forward.

Highlights:

• 🏠 Growing Up on the Move: Youngest of five boys, a teacher mom, and Jesuit "men for others" values.
• 🌍 Dominican Republic Lesson: Grace and compassion learned through language barriers.
• 🤝 From Layoff to Public Allies: A telecom layoff + a chance meeting with Kenisha Terrell = a new path.
• 💔 Grace: A major mistake met with kindness, not termination and how it changed everything.
• 🚀 The City Year Leap: Leaving stability for Boston, nearly 15 years of service, and staying mission-connected.
• 🎭 Imposter Syndrome as a Black Leader: Naming it, finding support, and showing up anyway.
• 🔁 Alumni Accountability: Why those who served must hold institutions responsible.
• 👑 Legacy Through Relationships: Leadership defined by the people you lift, not the titles you hold.
• Service Titans Shoutout: Honoring his aunt and mom, and Sonali's AmeriCorps fellowship.

"Jason's story proves that grace isn't soft—it's strategic. And the best leaders never forget what it felt like to be seen after a mistake."

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Contact/Follow:

🎙️Guest: Jason Holton

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-m-holton-7456176

🎙️Host: Anton Taylor
https://www.linkedin.com/in/antontaylor

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Hashtags:
#AmeriCorps #NationalService #CityYear #PublicAllies #Leadership #Grace #ImposterSyndrome #ServiceTitans #AlumniAccountability #BlackLeadersInService #Podcast

From the streets of North Philly to the digital neighborhoods where young people live today, Tony joins us to talk about service, visibility, and why we need to meet youth where they actually are.

This week, we sit down with Tony, a proud North Philadelphia native and first-generation college graduate whose journey from a blue-collar, community-centered upbringing led him to the frontlines of service with AmeriCorps and Teach For America.

Tony reflects on teaching in Paterson, NJ—the hardest yet most meaningful job he’s ever had—and why service remains critical in 2026, despite the financial barriers that can make it inaccessible.

We dive into his research on trauma, gun violence intervention, and the concept of "digital neighborhoods," exploring how social media can be a tool for connection and prevention.

Tony also shares his mission to make Black boys and men "visible" by documenting their lived experiences, inspired by Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man.

Highlights:

• North Philly Roots: How a tight-knit, blue-collar community and the value of education as the “silver bullet” shaped Tony’s path.
• The Hardest Job: Teaching in Paterson Public Schools (the "Lean On Me" district) and learning that everyone has assets they can leverage to help others.
• AmeriCorps in 2026: The ongoing need for service vs. the reality of low compensation acting as a barrier for those without financial privilege.
• Digital Neighborhoods: Why half of U.S. kids are online constantly, and how service organizations must adapt outreach to social media.
• Making Black Boys Visible: Tony’s legacy goal to use research and storytelling to ensure Black men and boys are seen, heard, and understood.
• Service Titans: Shoutouts to Estelle Richmond, Dr. Howard Stevenson, and Dr. Desmond Patton for their action-oriented work in communities.

Tony’s work reminds us that visibility is the first step toward equity. Whether it’s on the streets of Philadelphia or in the algorithms of social media, we have a responsibility to see each other—and to serve. Thanks for listening.

Guest: Anthony Shaw

https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-s-626883b/

Host: Anton Taylor

https://www.linkedin.com/in/antontaylor?trk=people-guest_people_search-card

Chapters:

00:00 - Introduction: From North Philly to Now

02:51 - The “Silver Bullet”: Education and Community Values

05:58 - Answering the Call: Joining AmeriCorps via Teach For America

09:35 - Classroom Wars: Teaching in Paterson (The "Lean On Me" School)

12:48 - The State of Service: Why AmeriCorps Needs to Pay Better in 2026

17:41 - Digital Neighborhoods: Reaching Youth Where They Live (Online)

22:20 - Legacy and Visibility: Research on Black Boys, Trauma, and Coping

26:45 - Service Titans: Honoring the Ground Game

32:48 - Connect with Tony

34:17 - Final Thoughts and Signoff

Hashtags:
#AmeriCorps #NationalService #TeachForAmerica #NorthPhilly #EducationEquity #DigitalNeighborhoods #SocialMediaForGood #BlackBoysMatter #GunViolencePrevention #ServiceTitans #CommunityImpact #FirstGenGrad #InvisibleMan #RalphEllison #Podcast #ServiceStories