We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kevin Moody Jr. . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kevin below.
Kevin , appreciate you joining us today. Everyone has crazy stuff happen to them, but often small business owners and creatives, artists and others who are doing something off the beaten path are hit with things (positive or negative) that are so out there, so unpredictable and unexpected. Can you share a crazy story from your journey?
This year, our organization was blessed with the opportunity to create what has become our flagship program, “Handshakes Over Handcuffs.” This program was pitched to key decision-makers in the Baltimore City Public School System, and we were able to conduct a total of four programs within three schools this past year. “Handshakes Over Handcuffs” allowed us to connect with youth and truly make an impact by teaching key life lessons such as leadership, self-control, perspective, how to deal with authority, and self-belief.
One of the groups we had was a middle school group. They had so many positive traits, but when they got together, my Assistant Director, Derrick Johnson Jr., and I often wondered if we were really getting through to them. We didn’t change our approach but constantly redirected them, reminding them to make better choices and think about the consequences of their actions. We pushed them to recognize potential issues and be forward-thinking.
Now, let me take you to Easter Sunday, May 31, 2024. Derrick and I were working our current fulltime jobs as police officers, and The Mayor of Baltimore City hosted a huge party for all school students at the War Memorial Building in downtown Baltimore. We knew key locations in the area would be hotspots for youth to congregate. As the day ended and the party let out, Derrick transmitted over the radio that he needed me to respond to his location. When I got there, Derrick had a look on his face that I couldn’t decipher. He said to me, “no disrespect, but we’ve got to put the work stuff aside. You know you’re Sarge when we’re here, but I’ve got to address you as bro!”
He went on to explain that he was standing in one location when he heard people talking about kids being rowdy nearby. He walked over to find about 35-50 kids exactly as described. As he approached, he was thinking about how to handle the situation alone. Then, out of nowhere, one of the kids walked up to him and said, “don’t I know you?” The kid recognized Derrick from our program and asked if he was there for them. Derrick explained he was there because of the complaints and the kid immediately took charge, addressing his friends and telling them to change their behavior. He even asked Derrick to stay and talk with him until their train arrived.
Derrick was proud of how this young man, a middle schooler, showed leadership qualities and respect in front of his friends, who were mostly high schoolers. This was the moment we knew that what we were teaching was resonating, that our impact was real. It put a true smile on my face, and I completely understood Derrick’s look. It’s small connections like that which push you to keep going, to let you know that it’s working and that we are doing our part in saving our youth.
This experience reaffirmed our mission and showed us the tangible results of our efforts. It was a crazy, unexpected, and incredibly rewarding moment that highlighted the importance of our work. It’s these moments that make all the challenges worthwhile and fuel our passion to keep making a difference.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Kevin Moody Jr., and I am a servant of people. It took me until my adult years to understand that this calling to serve others is literally in my blood, a culture and love for service ingrained in me well before I was born. My father, Kevin Moody Sr., was a star athlete in the Cherry Hill neighborhood of South Baltimore, excelling in basketball, football, and baseball. As a teenager, he began serving his community by coaching these sports and mentoring the youth coming up behind him. At 18, my father joined the Army, serving his country and eventually settling in Texas. After retiring from the Army, he worked as a substitute teacher, earned a degree, and became a social worker in the school system. Today, he continues to serve as a community specialist manager, still dedicated to supporting the youth in his community.
Service runs deep in my family. My great-grandmother worked for the Baltimore City Public School System as a custodian at Arundel Elementary School until she retired. My grandmother dedicated her life as a special education teacher in the Baltimore City Public School System. My mother has worked in the nursing field for as long as I can remember, tirelessly serving others. Many of my cousins and other family members also work as teachers and school administrators. When I say I am a servant and that it’s in my blood, I mean it, and I love what I do.
For my full-time job, I serve my community and state as a police officer. I’ve been a police officer for almost a decade and have held the title of Police Sergeant since 2019. However, my life’s job and passion lie in being the founder and executive director of Preparing Youth for Tomorrow, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to provide mentorship and foster stronger connections between the community and law enforcement. We are committed to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.
I got into this field because it’s my purpose, and our mission is something I am extremely passionate about. At 17, I followed in my father’s footsteps and began volunteering as a youth football coach. At 18, I started working for the Baltimore City Public School System. After a few years, I transitioned to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services as a Resident Advisor at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, also known as baby bookings. Eventually, I found my current role as a police officer. No matter where I worked or what I was doing full-time, I always found time to volunteer and mentor youth, especially those deemed troubled.
I learned that spending time with these youth helps keep them out of trouble. Showing an interest in them and learning about their backgrounds and stories gives you the key to their souls. Understanding why they act a certain way is often linked to past traumas. Gaining their respect and trust allows them to open up, enabling me to guide them, provide direction, or make referrals to resources aligned with their specific needs.
I am most proud of the success we’ve had in such a short time. I’m incredibly proud of the team I’ve been blessed to work alongside, including Derrick Johnson Jr. and Joelle Berry-Dortch. While many other family, friends, and colleagues support us significantly, these two are integral to our organization’s daily operations. I’m proud of the connections we’ve made with schools and children in our inaugural year and grateful for the opportunity to return to these schools and expand to new ones next year.
I’m proud of the trust we’ve gained with the youth and the impact we’ve made on their lives. Collaborating with other organizations to address the issues our youth face and connecting them with programs they are interested in, such as golfing, boxing, STEM, arts, and robotics, is incredibly rewarding. We breathe new life into the youth we serve, and watching their transformation from the beginning to the end is awe-inspiring. I’m also proud of the fact that I held back my tears during our final session with the youth at the end of the school year. When they embraced us and expressed how much they learned and appreciated us, it was a truly emotional moment.
In summary, my journey is rooted in a deep family tradition of service. Preparing Youth for Tomorrow, Inc. is my way of continuing that legacy, providing mentorship, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of the youth we serve. Our organization stands out because of our unwavering commitment to fostering connections, instilling life lessons, and creating positive change. We are dedicated to dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline and empowering youth to believe in themselves and their potential.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A lesson that I had to unlearn, and that I am still working on, is not to make decisions for other people. I’ve always felt so in tune with others that I believed I knew what they needed and wanted, what they could and couldn’t do, simply based on my observations. But that is the most incorrect mindset to have in business or even in life.
I remember having a conversation last year with my Assistant Director, Derrick Johnson Jr., about the organization. I was telling him about what I’d done so far and what I planned to do in the near future. I was excited and proud of myself, catching up with him since we hadn’t talked in a while. Knowing his passion for working with children and the community, I assured him that I wasn’t learning all this stuff for no reason. I told him that when he was ready, he could reach out to me, and I’d show him how to complete all the paperwork to get his own thing started.
At that moment, he asked, “Bro, I’ve got to stop you and ask you a serious question.” I told him to go ahead. He said, “I’m happy for you, and I know this is going to be great because I know you! But what I’d like to know is, why am I not included in this? Why am I not part of your team? Why aren’t I going on this journey with you?”
His question hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I was, thinking I was doing things the right way and considering what would best suit my friends, but my friend felt left out. I explained to him that I knew “life be lifing” and that we all have situations and things to handle in our lives. I was aware of certain things happening in his life, and I knew that if I made the request, he’d say yes. But I thought it would be selfish of me to make that request, knowing he had things to take care of in his personal life. I told him he was honestly the first person I thought of to go through this journey with because the vision fits us both so well, but I refused to be selfish and have my dreams be an additional burden.
Derrick responded by saying he understood and respected my explanation. However, he advised me not to make those types of decisions for people. He said I should give them the opportunity to make these decisions on their own. He suggested that when I made the request or asked the question, I should raise all my reservations from the beginning to let them know why I thought it might be a hindrance, but I shouldn’t keep them out and away when it might be something they’d be willing to take on. He pointed out that giving people something meaningful to do could actually save them.
At that moment, I told him again that I’d love for him to be on the team and for us to figure this out together. He said he’d be more than happy to be part of it, and since then, we’ve been on an amazing journey, making an impact all around Baltimore City.
I often think about that conversation and how I could have missed such an important piece of the puzzle because of my own assumptions. As I mentioned, I still struggle with this. When we have events where I’d like officers to help foster stronger connections between the community and police, I sometimes hesitate to ask certain people because it’s their day off, they live far away, or have other commitments. Yet, when they find out, they always show up for me and the community. They ask why I didn’t invite them directly, and when I explain, they remind me why I need to unlearn this habit.
So, I implore anyone who thinks like me to just make the request. Just ask the question, and more often than not, people will support you, especially when it’s for a good cause.
How do you keep your team’s morale high?
Managing a team and maintaining high morale is all about understanding your people and putting them in positions where they can perform at their highest level. It’s about being part of the team yourself and not letting your title as CEO, owner, or founder get in the way of the bigger mission.
Know Your People
Learn your team members’ strengths, passions, and what drives them. For instance, Derrick Johnson Jr. is a phenomenal motivational speaker. His ability to move a crowd is a gift, and it’s his purpose. When we attend events and someone from Preparing Youth for Tomorrow, Inc. (PYT) is asked to speak, if Derrick is there, he takes the microphone. Initially, he used to ask if what he said was okay, but now he confidently asks, “How did I do?” because he knows he has my trust. Putting Derrick in his element ensures our message is delivered with passion and authenticity.
Joelle Berry-Dortch, on the other hand, is the organizational mastermind. She keeps everything tight and in order. During events, people often come to me with logistical questions, and my response is always, “That’s a Joelle question.” Even I go to her for direction on where things should go because she operates so smoothly within her gift. This seamless operation is possible because we respect and trust each other’s roles and expertise.
Be Part of the Team
To effectively manage a team, you must be part of it. Lead by example and don’t hesitate to take direction from others. This collaborative approach ensures that everyone feels valued and respected. It’s not just about giving orders but also about receiving them and working together towards the common goal. When we have events, I’m just as likely to be setting up tables and banners, asking Joelle where they should go.
Respect and Trust
Respect and trust are crucial for maintaining high morale. We get along well, and we make it a point to connect outside of work to strengthen our bond. When misunderstandings or differences arise, we have conversations to allow cooler heads to prevail and make decisions that are best for the organization.
We’ve also had instances where people wanted to join our team, but we collectively decided not to move forward with those requests. Less is often more, and having the wrong mix of people can disrupt the harmony of the team. It’s important to remember that oil and water do not mix.
Attention to Details
Boosting morale also involves paying attention to the small things that matter to your team members. For example, Derrick doesn’t eat meat, and Joelle doesn’t eat beef or pork. So, when we have events, it’s a given that we have veggie burgers for Derrick and turkey burgers for Joelle. These small considerations show that you care and respect their preferences, which in turn fosters loyalty and appreciation.
Integrity and Leadership
As a leader, you must have integrity, hold your own weight, and do what you promise. Leading by example is crucial because the team is always watching you. Demonstrating commitment and reliability builds trust and respect.
In summary, managing a team and maintaining high morale is about understanding and respecting your people, being an integral part of the team, leading by example, and paying attention to the small details that show you care. When everyone operates in their purpose and feels valued, the team can achieve great things together.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/pytincmd
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-moody-4568a894
- Twitter: https://x.com/pytincmd
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@pytincmd?sub_confirmation=1
- Other: Personal IG:
https://instagram.com/_mistermoodyPersonal FB:
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.moody.9615?mibextid=LQQJ4dTikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@_mistermoody?_t=8naJTUO8m8x&_r=1
