We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Matthew Conley a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Matthew thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
How did I learn to do what I do? That’s a great question to ask me. Every since I was a kid I was interested in reading, science and history were two of my favorite subjects throughout my schooling. Honestly, you can’t put a speed to what I know. I would learn and be able to experience those moments. Comprehension is the most important skill I could know. To comprehend is the ability to understand, a lot of people don’t understand, and that’s something I can be proud about. I had many obstacles, one being myself. You can be the biggest obstacle in your life and not even know it. Also, when I moved from California back to Texas, that transition messed up my plans, but it didn’t stop my determination.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Hello everyone, My name is Matthew James Conley. I’m 36, a Capricorn, and I’m from Fort Smith, Arkansas, but currently live in Dallas, Texas. The oldest out of 4, life wasn’t always a fairy tale. That doesn’t mean that I didn’t get a fairy tale ending. I did most of my schooling in Arkansas and Texas, graduating from Northside High School located in Fort Smith in 2007. I wouldn’t go the typical route after graduating, life would bring me back to Texas. It wouldn’t be until 2013 when I would enroll in my first set of college courses. I had just moved back to California after leaving in the summer of 2012. My cousin talked me in to enrolling at her old alma mater, Laney College, located in the heart of Oakland. This is when my journey would start or should I say take-off. I took my first African-American Studies class on Black Culture. This would be the first time I would learn what a critical thinker was. Also, I read “The Mis-Education of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson, a phenomenal book and one that would spark off an amazing chain reaction. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to finish college, I left California the next year and moved back to Dallas. This didn’t stop my determination to learn.
Over the next ten years, I’d amass a book collect of over 200 books. Back in 2019, I met this amazing woman, her name is Dr. Ashley Wade. We became good friends, reading together, traveling, doing events, and helping her with her book club. I do a lot of research and my family calls me Bill Nye. I help with putting context into thing. Every effect had a cause and I want to help understand that. From historical events in the Bible to the emancipation of African-Americans in the United States, Greeks, Romans, Assyrians too. “History doesn’t repeat itself, people repeat it.” Knowing these things and a lot more, it has allowed me to help people understand and to also prepare for the future.
I’m currently a 3rd grade teacher at a charter school in Dallas (Oakcliff to be exact). This was something that I wanted to do in college, but I wasn’t able to fulfill. Again, with hard work, dedication, and me not losing the motivation I had, I was able to become an amazing teacher. All the things that I know and continue to learn, I’m able to share with my students. They soak up the information like sponges. Not only do kids listen to me, adults as well. They’re just as engaged as my students are. Another thing that I’m excited about, is being a vice president of one of the oldest African-American historical societies in the country. ASALH which stands for the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. It was founded by Carter G. Woodson back in the 1920s. It’s a national organization with it’s headquarters in Washington D.C. I’m the vice president of the Dallas branch and also the youngest vice president out of all the chapters.
My grandmother was a community activist, she was sponsored by the Methodist Church to develop a program dedicated to help those less fortunate. My great-grandfather was a Methodist superintendent in Fort Smith, he was a preacher and came from Mississippi and going to Gamon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, GA. Greatness, human services, knowledge, and helping my fellow man is embedded in my DNA and soul.
Science, History, Astrology, Numerology, English and a little math is what I know. That’s just the surface of the iceberg, next time we’ll have to drill down a little deeper to get more.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Since 2014, I’ve been living in Dallas. I’ve had 4 different jobs while working in the city. The first was at TGI Fridays as a waiter. I did that for 2 years, actually, being a waiter was my first job at 16. As time went on, I needed a change. The second job I would have would be working with young adults who have intellectual disabilities. I currently still work at that job, working at AFIL taught me a whole new life and how you can impact those around you. My third job would be as a light rail operator for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Agency or DART as we call it. I did that for about four and a half year. I enjoyed it thoroughly, it paid great money and I was able to do something I love, which was operate trains. I never wanted to stay in the operators chair forever, I wanted to move up in the company. Unfortunately, the company saw how great of an operator I was and never gave me the opportunity. I quit in 2021 and took a break from work.
In 2023, I got the opportunity to become a teacher’s assistant at a school I went to in 6th grade. My teacher would end up quitting and my principle approached me with an opportunity to teach. I didn’t know what I was doing at first, but I made it through the storm. They brought me back the following year as the 3rd grade teacher. I still didn’t know what I was doing, but I went to trainings and had a Dean of Instruction who pushed me to my limits. I can only thank her for what she did. This school year 2024-2025 school, I know what I’m doing, but still learning. I am grateful for the opportunity the God set in my hands. I was given everything that I need to succeed and if I don’t have it, I could obtain it.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
There are so many books and movies that I could name, I’ll give a few and brief summary. First, there is “The Gospel of Barnabas,” it’s an Islamic book on the life of Jesus. When I read it, I had me thinking and made me rewrite what I knew. Next we have “The Mis-Education of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson. This was the first book I read in college and it opened my mind. Written in 1933 if I’m not mistaken. It spoke of the thing the Negro endured after the civil war in terms of education. “Third is the Egyptian Book of the Dead-The Book of Coming Forth by Day, also known as The Book of the Dead”. Reading this opened my mind to a new realm of unlimited possibilities. and I uncovered who I really am. Last and my current read is “The Education of the Negro Prior to 1861.” In this book, Carter G. Woodson talks about the progress Negroes and abolitionist made from the 17th century until the 19th century before the American Civil War.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: history_griot
- Other: email: [email protected]
Image Credits
Credits to Dr. Ashley Wade