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

Grace isn't soft—it's strategic." In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Jason Holton to explore his nearly two-decade career across national service. Jason shares his path from a telecom layoff to Public Allies and City Year Boston, detailing how a supervisor’s radical grace after a critical workplace mistake redefined his entire management philosophy. He offers candid insights into confronting imposter syndrome as a Black executive, enforcing alumni accountability across service institutions, and defining legacy through human relationships rather than corporate titles.

Key Highlights

• From Telecom to Public Allies: How a corporate layoff and a chance meeting transformed a sudden setback into a 15+ year calling in public service.

• The Strategic Power of Grace: How receiving compassion instead of termination after a major error reshaped his approach to executive leadership.

• The City Year Leap: Leaving comfort for Boston to scale grassroots youth initiatives while staying grounded in core institutional mission.

• Confronting Imposter Syndrome: Practical strategies for Black leaders to acknowledge self-doubt, cultivate trusted peer networks, and show up with confidence.

• Alumni Accountability: Why national service alumni carry a responsibility to hold institutions accountable to the communities they serve.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Jason Holton (LinkedIn)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)

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

#ServiceTitans #CityYear #PublicAllies #AmeriCorps #AuthenticLeadership #AlumniAccountability

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

#ServiceTitans #AmeriCorps #DigitalNeighborhoods #BlackMaleVisibility #TeachForAmerica #YouthService

What does it take to lead with unwavering congruence, courage, and presence in the face of systemic challenges? In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Tray Deadwyler—founder of Think For Good and Service Nerd. Raised in Atlanta by first-responder parents, Tray shares how his upbringing and pivotal AmeriCorps disaster-relief work during Hurricane Katrina established his philosophy on servant leadership. Tray breaks down navigating representation as a Black male executive, incorporating mindfulness into daily governance, and cultivating contemplative practices for sustainable social impact.

Key Highlights

• The First-Responder Blueprint: How growing up with a police officer mother and firefighter father established an unshakable foundation for service.

• Crisis & Purpose: Navigating AmeriCorps disaster response during Hurricane Katrina and turning crisis into a career calling.

• The Compass of Congruence: Why aligning daily decisions with core values is the bedrock of authentic executive leadership.

• Mindful Presence in Action: Utilizing contemplative practices and presence to manage cognitive load and build deeper organizational connections.

• Building Social Ventures: Lessons learned founding Think For Good and Service Nerd to train the next generation of purpose-driven leaders.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Tray Deadwyler (Think For Good | LinkedIn | Book: The Contemplative Morning)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn)

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

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction & Early Life in Atlanta

• 02:52 – First Steps into Service & Early Career

• 04:56 – Founding Men of Distinction

• 05:44 – Red Cross & Youth Development Foundations

• 08:54 – The AmeriCorps Experience

• 10:29 – Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Leadership

• 12:37 – Transitioning to Think For Good & Service Nerd

• 17:47 – Navigating Identity, Representation, and Authenticity

• 21:27 – Overcoming Fear & Cultivating Mindful Presence

• 27:14 – Field Stories & Honoring Mentors

• 32:49 – Final Reflections & The Contemplative Morning

#ServiceTitans #MindfulLeadership #AmeriCorps #ThinkForGood #AuthenticLeadership #SocialImpact

How do you scale servant leadership from a small-town upbringing to guiding national institutions? In the Season Finale of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with Michael Smith—former CEO of AmeriCorps and current President & CEO of Eckerd Connects. Michael delivers a masterclass on proximate leadership, sharing how staying close to served communities, bringing your whole self to executive roles, and driving an outcomes-focused culture can transform youth and family services across the nation.

Key Highlights

• Proximate Leadership Defined: Moving beyond buzzwords to lead with joy, accountability, and deep community proximity.

• Steering AmeriCorps at Scale: Operational takeaways from leading one of the nation's largest federal forces for public service.

• Authenticity in Senior Leadership: Why bringing your full personal identity to executive roles is essential for human-centered governance.

• Principles Over Platitudes: Tactical frameworks for smart hiring, building resilient teams, and maintaining a relentless focus on measurable outcomes.

• The "Stay Ready" Doctrine: Actionable advice for emerging social impact leaders navigating career pivots and executive opportunities.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Michael Smith (President & CEO, Eckerd Connects) (LinkedIn | Eckerd Connects)

• Host: Anton Taylor (Website | LinkedIn)

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

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Season Finale Welcome & Introduction

• 01:23 – Small-Town Roots & Early Community Influences

• 04:48 – Defining Proximate & Servant Leadership

• 07:14 – Executive Leadership at AmeriCorps

• 10:27 – Bringing Authentic Identity to Senior Roles

• 13:17 – Operationalizing Outcomes-Focused Leadership

• 16:44 – Driving Impact at Eckerd Connects

• 21:12 – Advice for Emerging Leaders: "Stay Ready"

• 24:33 – Honoring Titans & Season Finale Reflections

#ServiceTitans #ServantLeadership #AmeriCorps #EckerdConnects #NonprofitLeadership #ProximateLeadership

How does grassroots community service evolve into crafting state-level policy? In this episode of Service Titans, host Anton Taylor sits down with CEO and Ohio State Representative Phil Robinson to explore his journey from AmeriCorps and City Year Cleveland executive leadership to the state legislature. Representative Robinson shares candid insights on leveraging family legacy and Great Migration roots, shifting focus from individual intervention to systemic equity, and the responsibility senior leaders have to sponsor the next generation.

Key Highlights

• Grassroots to Governance: Tracing the evolution from direct-service AmeriCorps roles to state representative and executive leadership.

• The Great Migration Legacy: How family history and generational values establish a foundational blueprint for public service.

• Systemic Equity vs. Individual Fixes: Why sustainable youth investment requires reforming institutional policy rather than relying on short-term programs.

• Representation in Public Leadership: Navigating the hurdles and necessity of diverse executive leadership across nonprofits and government.

• Sponsoring the Next Generation: Moving beyond passive mentorship to actively creating space and opening doors for emerging leaders.

Connect & Resource Links

• Guest: Representative Phil Robinson (LinkedIn)

• Host: Anton Taylor (LinkedIn | Service Titans LinkedIn)

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

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 – Introduction & Foundations

• 01:35 – Meet Ohio State Representative Phil Robinson

• 04:09 – The AmeriCorps Catalyst & Discovering Service

• 09:21 – City Year Cleveland: Scaling Youth Impact

• 14:40 – Representation & Systemic Equity in Public Leadership

• 16:53 – Honoring Mentors & Family Legacy

• 20:02 – Future Policy Vision & Final Reflections

#ServiceTitans #PolicyChange #AmeriCorps #YouthInvestment #SystemicEquity #NonprofitLeadership