Two educators as parents. A shift from math to ethnic studies. And a Black man choosing service despite the pressure to chase a paycheck.

Joshua Moore—raised on Detroit's east side by two first-generation college graduates—learned early that community and education are inseparable. He shares how mentors Alan Washington and Anna Brown authentically believed in him, shaping his bold pivot from a math degree to a purpose-driven life.

Joshua opens up about discovering City Year/AmeriCorps, serving despite low pay and family pushback, and why representation matters when Black corps members navigate classroom trauma with restorative approaches.

He delivers a direct message to young people—especially Black men—to protect their dreams and pursue what fits their soul, not just their wallet. Joshua also introduces NRDM Organization ("In Our DM"), a tribute to his grandmothers funding scholarships through tutoring and community engagement, and speaks candidly about living with bipolar disorder while pausing public work for his job search.

Highlights:
🏠 Detroit Roots & Educator Parents: How two first-gen college grads instilled values of community, education, and service.
🎓 The Math-to-Ethnic Studies Pivot: Choosing purpose over a paycheck, despite family concerns about income.
🤝 Mentors Who Believed First: Alan Washington and Anna Brown’s authentic investment in his leadership.
✊ Finding City Year: From school assemblies and career fairs to choosing service over stability.
💰 Family Pushback & Low Pay: Why he served anyway, and the reality of the stipend conversation.
🧠 Representation & Classroom Trauma: How school-based trauma shows up for Black corps members and the power of a restorative approach.
💬 Advice for Black Men: Seize every opportunity, protect your dreams, and pursue what truly fits you.
🏆 Service Titans Shoutout: Honoring the people who shaped his journey.
🌱 In Our DM Project: Building a tutoring and community engagement legacy, inspired by his grandmothers, to fund scholarships.
🧘 Living with Bipolar Disorder: Pausing public work with transparency during a job search.

"Joshua’s story reminds us that the most radical act of service is often choosing the path that was designed for your soul, not your pockets."

Contact/Follow:
Guest: Joshua Moore
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamoore12/

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

Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Joshua
01:37 – Detroit Roots
03:16 – Mentors And Leadership
05:54 – Choosing Service Over Math
11:12 – Finding City Year
13:23 – Family Pushback
16:47 – Representation And Trauma
21:00 – Advice For Black Men
25:12 – Service Titans Shoutout
32:46 – In Our DM Project
38:35 – Closing Thanks

Hashtags:
#AmeriCorps #CityYear #NationalService #Detroit #BlackMenLead #RestorativePractices #EducationEquity #ServiceTitans #InOurDM #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorderAwareness #BlackLeadersInService

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