Reach the Students
Nobody Else Can.
Six named programs. Every grade level. One speaker whose story comes from the same streets your hardest-to-reach students call home. No slides. No gimmicks. Just proof that the ceiling is a lie.
He came from there.
Ypsilanti, Michigan. 30% poverty rate. High crime. His story is not borrowed. When he describes the environment your students live in, he is describing his own childhood. That authenticity is what breaks through.
He built something real.
Army veteran. Top producer at the largest mortgage lender in America at 19. CEO before 30. Your students do not need to be told success is possible. They need to see someone who came from their world and got there.
He speaks to your hardest students.
The students in the back with their arms crossed. The ones who have already mentally checked out. These are the students Darius specifically reaches. Every principal says the same thing: he got the ones we could not get.
Six Programs.
Built for Your Students.
NO CEILING
Middle School + High School
45 / 60 / 90 min
All-school assemblies, back-to-school kickoffs, leadership events
Students leave with proof that their zip code does not decide their ceiling, and a framework they can use the next time someone or something tries to cap their potential.
- +Darius opens with his Ypsilanti origin story, naming the specific statistics and circumstances that said he would not make it
- +Walks through the Army, the decision to enter corporate America at 19, and the grind that followed
- +Closes with a direct challenge to every student in the room: the door is kickable
- +Students receive a specific take-home framework for the next hard decision they face
THE DECISION
High School
60 / 90 min
Leadership programs, NHS inductions, character education events
One choice separates the students who make it from the ones who almost do. Students leave with a clear decision-making framework they will carry past graduation.
- +Built around the specific moments where Darius chose differently than his environment pointed him
- +Students identify their own personal crossroads and apply the decision framework in real time
- +Addresses peer pressure, social media influence, and the cost of letting others make your choices
- +High-energy, high-impact, and personal. No slides.
BUILT DIFFERENT
Middle School
45 / 60 min
Middle school assemblies, anti-bullying programs, back-to-school season
Grit, identity, and what it means to be built for something bigger. For the students who are still figuring out who they are and who they want to become.
- +Speaks directly to the middle school experience: the pressure to fit in, the fear of standing out
- +Darius shares the specific moments in his early life that shaped who he became
- +Students leave with one clear statement about who they are and what they are built for
- +Fun, energetic, and age-appropriate without being condescending
RED RIBBON READY
All Grade Levels
45 min
Red Ribbon Week (October), health and wellness events, prevention programming
Drug prevention led by purpose and identity, not fear or statistics. Students leave with a reason to say no that comes from who they are, not what they are scared of.
- +Never leads with fear. Leads with identity. Who are you, and is this decision aligned with that?
- +Darius speaks specifically about the choices available to him growing up in Ypsilanti and the specific reason he chose differently
- +Evidence-based approach: students with a strong sense of purpose are statistically less likely to use substances
- +Grant-eligible: Safe Schools and Title IV funding commonly cover Red Ribbon programming
GRADUATION SEND-OFF
12th Grade
20 / 30 / 45 min
High school graduation ceremonies, senior banquets, end-of-year celebrations
The last message students hear before they walk across that stage. A closing that honors the journey, names the real challenge ahead, and lights a fire that does not go out.
- +Darius speaks directly to graduating seniors as someone who was once where they are
- +Acknowledges what it cost them to get to this moment, especially students who came from hard circumstances
- +Delivers one central message they will carry into college, career, and life
- +Does not give advice. Gives proof. Then gives a challenge.
TEACHER RECHARGE
Faculty and Staff
60 / 90 min
Professional development days, back-to-school staff kickoffs, district-wide PD events
For the educators who pour everything into students every day. A reminder of why they started, who they are, and why the work they do is the highest-stakes work in America.
- +Speaks to the specific reality of educator burnout, decision fatigue, and compassion depletion
- +Frames the teacher's role through the lens of the students who need them most
- +Darius shares which specific teachers in his life held the door open for him and what that cost them
- +Staff leave with restored purpose and one actionable commitment to their students for the coming year
Budget Not a Problem.
Here Is Why.
Most schools that book Darius do not pay out of the general fund. These are the funding sources your district may already have available:
Ready to Check Availability?
Submit a school inquiry with your event date, grade levels, and program interest. Darius's team responds within 2 to 3 business days with availability, program details, and fee information.
Submit School InquiryWe respond within 2 to 3 business days
Common Questions
From Principals.
How far in advance should we book Darius?+
For Red Ribbon Week (October) and graduation season (May-June), book by August 1 and February 1 respectively. For back-to-school assemblies, book in the spring. Peak dates fill 90-120 days out. If you have a specific date in mind, submit an inquiry now to check availability.
Can Darius do multiple sessions in one day?+
Yes. A common format is three grade-level sessions in one school day: one for middle grades, one for upper grades, one for seniors. This allows for age-appropriate customization and keeps every group fully engaged rather than splitting attention across a mixed audience.
Does Darius work with Title I schools?+
Yes, and Title I schools are where his message lands most powerfully. His story comes from exactly the environment many Title I students live in. Title I funds can be used to cover assembly programming when it supports student achievement, school culture, or family engagement goals. Ask your district federal programs coordinator.
What does Darius need from us to customize the program?+
Two to three weeks before the event, Darius's team will send a short school profile form. We ask about your student population, grade levels, specific goals for the assembly, and any context we should know. The more we know, the more personal the program becomes.
What if a student in the audience is visibly affected or breaks down?+
This happens at nearly every program. Darius has years of experience navigating emotional moments with students without exploiting them or shutting them down. We also recommend having a counselor available and accessible during the program for any student who needs follow-up support.
Can we fund this with a PTA budget or grant?+
Yes. Common funding sources include Title I funds, Title IV Part A (Student Support and Academic Enrichment), Safe and Drug-Free Schools grants (especially for Red Ribbon Week), PTA/PTO discretionary funds, and local business sponsorships. We are happy to provide documentation to support your grant or budget request.