E015 - From the Projects to City Council - Damian Gordon on Community & Brotherhood

Tha Motiv8tors Table Host Dr. J.R. McIntyre (Tha Hood Motivator) Summary Dr. J.R. McIntyre sits down with Damian Gordon, a Long Beach native, husband, father, volunteer girls basketball coach, HOA president, and candidate for Long Beach City Council. Damian traces his path from growing up in the Carmelitos housing projects on the North Side, through the culture shock of being bussed to Nukem Academy and later Cabrillo High School, to finding brotherhood in Phi Beta Sigma later in life. He speaks candidly about the systemic barriers tied to growing up without an active father, the daily work he does as a social worker housing the homeless, and a moment of real accountability when he made amends with someone from his past at a community event. The conversation closes with a call for civic engagement ahead of the June 2nd election. Main Topics • Growing up in the Carmelitos projects on Long Beach's North Side and being bussed to Nukem Academy • Culture shock and the racial divide navigated at Cabrillo High School • Crossing into Phi Beta Sigma fraternity later in life and the value of brotherhood and network • Daily work as a social worker housing homeless singles and families, plus twice-weekly food distribution • Coaching girls basketball and raising his own children after growing up without an active father • Running for Long Beach City Council - candidate packets due March 6, election day June 2nd • Making amends with someone from his past at the Marathon Burger grand opening • The importance of voting and registering, especially for young people who've been told their vote doesn't count Intriguing Quotes • “You should be ashamed to die until you've won some victory for humanity.” • “Put others before self.” • “I'm not a politician. I'm just looking to be an extension of my community, our community, our city.” • “Look at the message. Don't look at the messenger.” • “The rose that grew from the concrete. That's all of us.” Key Moments • 0:01 - Opening thanks to Los Angeles Tribune, Riverside, and sponsors before bringing Damian Gordon to the stage • 2:14 - Damian introduces himself - husband, father, coach, HOA president, and Long Beach City Council candidate • 4:53 - His mother bussing him to Nukem Academy after he sabotaged his way out of the gate program • 12:08 - The cowboy hat lesson - a crash course in west side politics on his first week at Cabrillo High • 13:20 - Crossing into Phi Beta Sigma later in life after being mentored by Brother Ali Braswell • 26:10 - A look at his Monday through Friday work housing the homeless and coaching girls basketball • 30:21 - Making amends with someone from his past at the Marathon Burger grand opening • 43:00 - Closing words on the importance of voting and registering ahead of the June 2nd election Notable Guests/Resources • Damian Gordon - social worker, volunteer girls basketball coach, HOA president, and candidate for Long Beach City Council. Connect with him on Instagram: Damian_Gordon Sr. • Sponsors mentioned: Los Angeles Tribune, Riverside platform Special Announcements:🌐 Official Website: https://www.thahoodmotiv8tor.com/🎧 Watch & Listen on All Platforms🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6gmg75s...🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@THAHOODMOTIV8TOR📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tha_motiv8tor_table_podcast/ From the Block to the Board — Every Story Has Power.MOTIV8TORS MOUNT UP. IT'S TIME TO SHAKE THA ROOM. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.