Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Denel McMahan. Denel is a high school senior - on the brink of graduation! Though he has yet to receive his diploma (something that will happen in mere days), Denel has already co-founded an alumni association, begun interning for Congressman Eric Swalwell, protested for Black Lives Matter, and coordinated with the local city council to put on social justice-oriented events in the Tri-Valley area. Ashanti and Denel discuss the front and back of their masks, and what Denel sees in his generation of future leaders.

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(2:00) Ashanti's introduction.

(4:56) Denel introduces himself, his work and accomplishments in the Tri-Valley community, his affiliation with Tri-Valley Black Lives, upcoming senior graduation, and how he and Ashanti know each other.

(9:04) Ashanti and Denel make their masks together.

(12:13) Denel shares how he has changed during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

(15:07) Denel shares the front of his mask - reserved, go with the flow, hard-working. Ashanti shares the front of his mask - caring, smart, hard-working.

(19:10) Denel shares the back of his mask - opinionated, struggle with confidence, passionate, humorous. He reflects on how he hides the strong, opinionated parts of himself, in order to maintain a “go with the flow” exterior.

(21:48) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness about death, uncertainty. He opens up about the uncertainty that comes with chasing a big dream, and how he has a tendency to avoid coming face to face with death, whenever it has affected his family and friends.

(27:38) Denel shares what he is seeing in the emotional health of his generation, especially as a Black man, and especially in the younger men at Dublin High School. They discuss why it is hard for people to show up for themselves emotionally.

(34:00) Denel tells Ashanti how he was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, and how it has helped him improve the Black Student Union at his school and form an alumni network.

(39:39) Ashanti gives Denel a breakdown of the Ever Forward Club’s history, how it has established a global reach, and his aspirations to bring young men in the club to experiences and locations they’ve never seen before.

(47:25) Denel gives some words of wisdom to younger peers and shares how his parents help him push his comfort zone.

(50:17) After gaining notoriety from his activism, Denel has also experienced being targeted on social media. He opens up about the experience, and how it gives him more conviction and a desire to maintain consistency when standing up for social justice.

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Connect with Denel McMahan

Instagram: instagram.com/dmcmahan_15

Instagram: instagram.com/dublinhsbsu

NBC News Segment used in this episode: nbcbayarea.com/news/local/dublin-man-apologizes-to-teen-after-threatening-social-media-post/2395833/

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch