As I scanned through my Rolodex of names that I considered featuring on @insidevoicesseries last year, many had been on my mind for some time. Many of the names I had known for well over a decade. But Dr. S was one of the few that didn’t meet this criteria. We actually didn’t meet in person until shoot day, funny enough. Yet, he was one of the people I knew would be vital to a project of this nature.

Our paths crossed initially in 2019. I was heads down working on my final thesis project for one of my journalism courses. The topic at hand: The prevalence of metal detectors in inner city schools and their impact on students. As the son of two correction officers and a friend to many who have been impacted by the school to prison pipeline—the topic was near and dear to me. Low on sources for the story, I was lacking an authority who could speak to the mental health impacts of the device’s presence.

Insert, Dr. Randy Sconiers. A licensed social worker with a Doctorate in Social Work. Experience counseling youth in inner city communities. A trained mental clinician. He was the perfect person for my project… And five years later, I would be repeating those words again.

Dr. Sconiers is the owner and founder of @mentalhop. A platform dedicated to exploring mental health education through hip-hop. What a concept. What a mission. Dr. Sconiers breathed life into this project before he even knew it. We discussed the power of vulnerability, the illusions our egos create and his own healing journey as a mental health professional.

Dr. S, thank you for your mission, your work, your time and for your willingness to help whenever I reach out. It means the world. I’m inspired by your words, your action and your consistency. And much like my thesis project, this wouldn’t have been the same without you as a part of it.