🎙️ Episode 3: “I Am These Kids” (with Steve Coleman)

🎙️ Episode 3 Show Notes“I Am These Kids” (with Steve Coleman)In this episode of Frames of Truth, Bobby Rettew sits down with Steve Coleman, Director of College Outreach at Piedmont Technical College and founder of MODELS Academy, for a real and unfiltered conversation about access, opportunity, and what it takes to change the trajectory of a life.Steve shares the story behind MODELS Academy, a program built to invest in the academic and personal development of young Black men across the region. What started through a grant initiative has grown into something much deeper…a commitment to showing students what’s possible.At the center of this conversation is a powerful idea:exposure changes everything.Together, Bobby and Steve explore: Why MODELS Academy was created and the need it addresses The reality of educational and economic gaps facing Black men Steve’s personal journey from a 1.9 GPA to a life of impact The importance of accountability, mentorship, and high expectations Why college visits and campus exposure matter for students who have never seen it before What it means to prepare students for both their community and the broader world The evolving future of the program, including unexpected moments that are shaping what comes nextSteve also shares a defining perspective that shapes his work:“I am these kids.”The conversation moves from personal story to systemic challenge, and ultimately to possibility…what can happen when students are given the chance to see themselves in spaces they once thought were out of reach.There is a clear invitation throughout this episode:Not just to listen, but to invest.To show up.And to create opportunities where they don’t yet exist.Because sometimes, the first step toward changing a life…is simply showing someone what’s possible. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bobbyrettew.substack.com