INSPIRED
Giving-Back; Inspiring and Uplifting Individuals to Actively Pursue Their Dreams; Teaching Life, Business, and Soft Skills
"It's not about me, it's about the collective 'we,' and I'm trying to find the next me." ---S. L. Young
According to the Department of Education’s data (2010), more than 1 in 5 U.S. students don't graduate high school --- and Dr. Young was almost one of them. This experiential knowledge drives him to:
- Give-back to various individuals and communities (including those who are considered to be opportunity "at-risk" students),
- Share his unlikely journey to overcome his educational challenges, and
- Inspire others to achieve their potential.
Dr. Young's past educational challenges drive him to do more to educate, uplift, and inspire others. His mantra is “It’s not about me, it’s about the collective ‘we,’ and I’m trying to find the next me.” --- as others (like him) were also told that they weren't worthy of someone’s time and attention.
Regardless of age, background, environment, or setbacks, Dr. Young provides valuable insights and guidance based on his hard-learned life lessons to encourage others to have a positive mentality, growth mindset, strategic focus, and the development of a "can do" attitude.
Highlights of Dr. Young's inspirational work, along with select media coverage:
- Dr. Young's Keynote for the 2019 Arlington County Detention Facility's General Educational Development (GED) Celebration
- Dr. Young receives the "Distinguished County Volunteer Award (July 2018)," which is given to an individual or a group (through volunteerism) who has shown outstanding commitment and care to Arlington, VA citizens.
- Dr. Young was selected to be the Arlington County Sheriff's Office's inaugural "Volunteer of the Month" (June 2018).
- Article "Reflecting on an Unimaginable Educational Journey."
- Dr. Young received the "2018 Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major Innovative Service Award" from the U.S. Department of Education's Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, in collaboration with the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for African-Americans.
- Dr. Young's article "Becoming a Better Man" appears in the 2018 Arlington Magazine (March/April). This piece details the way giving-back by teaching inmates helped him to understand his value and reclaim his life after a near-suicide in March 2014.
- A regular feature in the Falls Church News-Press --- "Our Man in Arlington" by Charlie Clark --- highlights Dr. Young's work at the Arlington County Detention Facility with his nonprofit organization "Saving Our Communities at Risk Through Educational Services (SOCARTES)".
- Letter of Support from the Northern Virginia Community College's - Woodbridge Campus - MAN UP (Minority Male Initiative) Program
- Letter of Support from the "Department of Human Services - Division of Behavioral Healthcare" about Contributions to the "Arlington County Detention Facility's Addiction, Corrections, and Treatment (ACT) Program."
- Are You Willing to Fight for Students' Success?!
- Discovering My Mythological Student Solidifies the Reasons I'm an Educator
- Video: Presentation About "Success Beyond Profits" at the 2016 Alpha Kappa Psi's "Principled Business Leadership Institute."
- Letter of Support from the "Arlington County Detention Facility" in Arlington, VA
- Interview: S. L. Young Reunites with the Principal Who Prevented Him from Dropping Out of High School
- Inmate Management: What's Wanted Better Criminals or Citizens?
- Educators - Like Gwen Felder - Change and Save Lives
- Letter of Support from the "Sheriff's Community Impact Program" in Sacramento, CA
- Article "What If" - What if a decision you were afraid to, chose not to, or didn’t make could’ve changed your life and others?
- Interview: Discussion with Autria Godfrey on News Channel 8 About Overcoming My Educational Challenges
- The Highly Unlikely and Improbable Commencement Speech
- S. L. Young's 2015 Fairfax County Public Schools Commencement Address
- Beyond Just Talk - 5/19/15 - Kristen Cane and Dr. Young discuss volunteering in the jail and the services offered
- FOX 5 DC with Allison Seymour - 3/11/15 - discussion about Dr. Young's depression and recovery after a near-suicide
- Real Life with Lisa Jesswein - 02/5/15 - discussion about overcoming educational challenges, depression, suicidal thoughts, and workplace bullying.
- Innovative and inspirational educational non-profit "Saving Our Communities at Risk Through Educational Services (SOCARTES)."
- Presentation, video, and annotated slides: Strategies to Help Struggling Students
- Inspirational discussion about overcoming my educational challenges at the Department of Human Services "Countdown to Graduation Retreat" in Arlington, VA.
- Simple Steps Real Change interview topics: overcoming educational challenges, depression, and near-suicide.
- Article "More Than a Label" - Words are only limiters if you believe them; therefore, define your own word(s) to make your dreams and others come true.
- Presentation: Belief: A Powerful Component of Success (In-Person) and Belief: A Powerful Component of Success (Webinar)
- Maggie Linton Show - 02/10/14 - discussion about overcoming challenges, developing communities, helping inmates make positive changes, and my non-profit "Saving Our Communities at Risk Through Educational Services (SOCARTES)".
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Talks with Sheba - Powerful, informative, and potentially life saving interview about depression, along with ideas to 'save yourself and others.'
- Article "Unnecessarily Difficult to Give-Back and Provide Low Cost Educational Options" about the issues experienced while trying to give-back with an innovative approach to address our nation's growing educational and economic challenges.
- Passionate article "Look Into Their Eyes, They'll Show You Their Hearts" about the importance of second chances, especially for the inmate population who might have made a bad choice at a moment in time, but shouldn't be held back for their entire lifetime.
- Article that captures my raw and unexpected initial reaction after my first day teaching inmates at a jail: "Beyond the Clothes."
- Article that documents my valuable eye-opening experiences teaching inmates at a jail "Lessons Learned From 9 Months Voluntarily Locked-Up."
- Honored to be profiled as an American University alumni success story, "Stacey Young Empowers 'At Risk' Students to Succeed in Business (January '14)" by Heidi Hokanson.
- Tweet "Social entrepreneurship is about being real - helping others with their struggles - to inspire others to uplift themselves." was quoted in a Storify Story "Social Entrepreneurship & Education (12/12/13)" by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.
- S. L. Young Discuss Active Versus Passive Learning and Teaching
- Book Summary: "Above Expectations - My Story: an unlikely journey from almost failing high school to becoming a college professor" - discussion about my ability to overcome educational challenges, taking a long path toward success, and the importance of individual accountability and responsibility, along with a summary of information contained in the book (e.g., journey from bad-to-good student, the impact of an individual's choices, the importance of perseverance).
- Presentation: Inspirational Discussion About Overcoming Educational Challenges