Take the Meeting
Sometimes the most important thing you can give a young person isn't money. It's proof that their ideas matter.
When Dorian was planning his birthday cake fundraiser, an effort to make sure children in families who are struggling still get to celebrate their birthdays, he came to me with a request. He had met Ricky Hughes a few times, really looked up to him, and asked if I would reach out to see whether Ricky might help him come up with a plan. Ricky didn't just send a quick note of encouragement. He sat down with Dorian, listened to his ideas, asked thoughtful questions, and helped him map out how to turn a vision into something real. Then, without being asked, he donated $1,000 to help Dorian reach his goal.
The $1,000 helped him reach his goal. The time Ricky gave him will shape his life.
Ricky is one of many adults who have stopped, listened, and taken Dorian seriously over the years. A business owner who returned a call, a community leader who made an introduction, a mentor who asked what he thought instead of telling him what to do. Each of those moments built something in him: the confidence to ask, the courage to think bigger, and the belief that people will show up when you invite them in. Today, Dorian's birthday cake drive has collected more than 5,000 cake items in three years for local food pantries, and every one of those cakes traces back, in some way, to an adult who decided a young person's idea was worth their time.
From Being Lifted Up to Lifting Others
Dorian presenting at a kick off of The D-Max Effect
Now Dorian is the one walking into classrooms. As the inspiration behind The D-Max Effect and a nationally recognized young entrepreneur and philanthropist, he stands in front of students and tells them about the adults who believed in him. Then he helps them see something most young people have never considered, that those same kinds of people are already in their own lives, waiting to be asked.
It's one of the core beliefs of The D-Max Effect: you already know more people than you think. And there's something powerful about hearing it from a peer rather than an adult. When Dorian shares his story, students don't see a guest speaker. They see someone like them who asked for help, was taken seriously, and built something that matters. In that moment, he becomes the bridge between young people with big ideas and the adults who can help bring those ideas to life.
Every time a student in a D-Max Effect classroom works up the courage to reach out to a business owner, a coach, or a neighbor, what Ricky and so many others gave Dorian travels a little further. That's the ripple effect of listening to a young person. It doesn't stop with them. It moves through them to everyone they inspire.
A Note to Every Adult Reading This
When a young person comes to you with an idea, take the meeting. Listen before you advise. Ask what they think. You may never know how far your time will travel, but I can promise you it will travel further than you imagine.
Bring The D-Max Effect to Your Classroom
Thanks to funding from the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center (NE PTTC), two more high school classrooms can experience The D-Max Effect this year at no cost to their schools. Over six weeks, students partner with a nonprofit, tackle a real community need, discover the power of their own networks, and turn their ideas into meaningful action. And you don't need to be an expert to make it happen, because Dorian and I will support you every step of the way, from kickoff to celebration.
Imagine your students learning what Dorian learned: that their ideas are worth hearing, and that the people around them are ready to help. Spots are on a first-come, first-served basis. Email lisa@poweroftransparency.com with the subject line "Bring The D-Max Effect to My Classroom!"
Let's show your students what's possible when someone takes the meeting.
