We were lucky to catch up with Rodney Duckett recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rodney, thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

My life has always been heavily centered around community involvement. In terms of community stewardship, I come from a history of community philanthropy. In 1998, I was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and my Army unit made the decision to focus more on community service. We had to search for a susceptible place that required our set of talents. Because the juvenile detention center was just up the road from Fort Hood, I made the decision to go there. Twice a month, I would volunteer. Although my army unit’s concept has dissolved throughout the years, I have remained in contact with the juvenile detention center.

On February 16, 2012, it seemed as though Trayvon Martin’s murder would forever alter my world. I compared Trayvon to other adolescents I’ve worked with in the past. I had the impression that as an African American man in my community, I needed to do more to connect with those who were weighing their options between making wise and unwise judgments. Consequently, the concept of developing Intelligent Minds Proving & Applying Commitment was based on the demands of accepting responsibility and ownership of misguided, misdirected, and miseducated young males in need of a manhood compass to lead them through the wilderness of life. I.M.P.A.C. was thus born.

I.M.P.A.C. (Intelligent Minds Proving & Applying Commitment), a highly charged motivation outreach, exists on the basis of curtailing epidemics that affect our youth, due to systemic plagues or hidden dangers restricting them from maximizing on their potential.

Rodney, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a community facilitator, Dr. Rodney Duckett has involved himself in all groups and organizations to reinstall that love once felt in the community. Rodney specializes in entrepreneurship, public inspirational & motivational speaking, archaeological/historical lectures, youth mentoring / coaching, community consulting, and community activism. Being multi-faceted and mastering multiple disciplines is a trait that has dissipated over the last five decades. As a community facilitator and activist for over fifteen years, he has assumed the responsibility of being the voice of the voiceless. “I work to serve as the mouthpiece for urban youth and disenfranchised people, speaking from the heart of the community.” Rodney is diligently working in juvenile detentions, probations, alternative schools, state schools, placement centers, foster cares, and even internationally in Ethiopia nearly 15 years.

Rodney comes from humble beginnings born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Ruby Duckett a master educator and librarian in which his burning zeal for learning and research grew. Ward Duckett an American made blue colored grit and grind hard working man where he developed his work ethic. Upon graduating from McLain High School in Tulsa he enlisted for 5 years in the US Army. His enlistments extended to an additional 7 years where he deployed to Desert Storm, Desert Shield, and Provide Comfort. In addition, deployed to Restore Hope in Somali as well as returning to Operations Iraqi Freedom II. During his enlistment in the army, he pursued certification to become Emergency Medical Technician and later national Registered Paramedic. In 2002, he attended Temple College where he graduated with honors and became a licensed vocational nurse. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing with a minor in Biblical Archaeology at University of Mary-Hardin Baylor, in Belton, Texas. He has worked in the medical field for nearly 20 years. Rodney is holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Incarnate Word.

His life works have led him to become the CEO and founder of the local organization I.M.P.A.C. Outreach (Intelligent Minds Proving & Applying Commitment). I.M.P.A.C. was established in 2011, a highly charged motivation outreach, exists on the basis of curtailing epidemics that affect our youth, due to systemic plagues or hidden dangers restricting them from maximizing their potential. I.M.P.A.C. the motto is “No Matter The Results YOU Control The Outcomes.” In addition, he is the executive producer of @iYouthChat TV Show, The Chat Everyone Needs to Hear. A youth driven awareness television show on PBS KNCT-TV. @iYouthChat provides an upbeat, energized, perspective on numerous important topics to viewers. The show is a monthly pre-recorded broadcast based upon ideas of educational dialogue aimed at curtailing the national epidemic of juvenile delinquency. The show provides an open source of ethics designed to define societal rules, conducts, and views of the youth population at large. @iYouthChat goal is to establish a platform that keeps audiences engaged and informed about societal concerns.

Rodney has been featured in several newspapers including Temple Daily Telegram, Killeen Daily Herald, Tex Appeal Magazine, Clinic Advisor, Canvas Rebel, American Nurse Association News, and The Anchor News. He has also appeared on local TV shows and radio shows such as PBS Focus Show, Attention Central Texas, KWTX 10, Fox News, You Matter, Community Hour, KXXV 25, Kazi Radio and Biblical Correct KRGN FM 98.5

His passion is public speaking, archaeology, research and traveling abroad. His travels have taken him to Europe, Africa, Asia, and Central America.

Rodney favorite quote that he has embodied over the years is an African proverb “What you help a person to love can be more important than what you help him to learn.”

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Operating a nonprofit organization is considerably more difficult than running a business. The objective is to increase awareness, education, production, stewardship, etc., but in order to do so, you will undoubtedly need funding. It cannot rely on gifts, favors, or broken promises. Even applying for grants might be extremely complex and time-consuming, letting you down in the process. Resilience is ingrained at the core of nonprofit organizations. Imagine 300 people being housed in a detention facility with a $16,000 annual budget. On a weekday or weekend, volunteers will travel a total of 50 miles round way to inform, educate, guide, direct, and facilitate firm footing for residents in the detention center upon their release. One of the most difficult challenges we’ve faced was to offer an outreach program once they are released to lessen recidivism, but funding has always been a problem. You can only push innovation so far, I assure you, but for the most part, for more than 15 years, we have ridden the resilient horse and given the most underserved people in our community the greatest resources available. Our steadfast dedication.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

For beginning any business, organization, going back to school, or pursuing your aspirations, steadfast dedication and unwavering commitment are fantastic qualities. But because you start to have tunnel vision, those advantages that motivate you could eventually turn into a curse. You may become estranged from your loved ones, friends, and other passions if you devote more than 15 years of your life to your goal. One of the significant pivots I needed to make was toward a career and life balance. There are some things that I still want to do professionally in terms of education. Additionally, I want to improve my quality of life so that I can balance my passion and purpose for community stewardship with some simple enjoyment of life. It has been a huge relief during this journey to learn to step back a bit and trust people. To help other successors who will succeed me is the present major pivot. When you’re on this trip, I believe you never anticipate the day when you’ll need to ask around to see who will pass the baton. When you’ve always been in the lead, it can sometimes become really challenging, but I now have a few individuals that I’m educating and training to take the lead and inject fresh ideas into the organization.

Contact Info:

• Website: impacoutreach.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/rod.duckett.39
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodney-duckett

Image Credits
Chyna Bennett , Darryl E. Awards