Who Am I? (Glad You Asked)

Hello, my friend,

My name is Rodney, and my life has been a testament to one undeniable truth: resilience is born in the fire of adversity. As children, we rarely understand the weight of what we endure. We just keep moving forward. But here’s the beautiful part: those struggles don’t define us; they refine us.

I grew up in Des Moines, Iowa, in a neighborhood some called the “Southside Bottoms.” It wasn’t the picture of white picket fences. Instead, we had junkyards, tire plants, slaughterhouses, and a wastewater treatment plant. But to me? It was home. It was safe, it was real, and it taught me grit. And today, I wouldn’t change a thing, because every moment shaped the man I’ve become.

My journey led me to create Desert Bloom Mindset, a philosophy forged through the challenges I’ve faced and the lessons I’ve learned. One of those defining moments? The story I shared in Jill E. Schultz’s powerful book, Liberated: Releasing the Dark Cloud of Shame. In it, I open up about surviving sexual abuse at a rec center just steps from my childhood home, and the transformational power of forgiveness when I later faced my predator as a young man home from college. That moment taught me: we have the power to rewrite our stories.

This blog is your invitation to think deeper, grow stronger, and break free from what’s holding you back. We’ll explore:
🔥 Personal development: how to rise above limitations and own your potential.
🔥 Human & animal relationships: because healing often comes on four legs.
🔥 Social work insights: from addiction recovery to elder care, grief, and beyond.
🔥 The mindset shifts that change everything: because your thoughts create your reality.

And more!

With over 25 years in social work, from guiding adolescents through addiction, to welfare-to-work programs, nursing home care, personal development coaching, and even macro-level social work in the veterinary field, I’ve seen the power of resilience firsthand. I’m also the author of Mindful Melanin: Empowering Black Youth in Predominantly White Environments, because representation, belonging, and unshakable self-worth matter.

Here’s my promise to you: If you’re feeling stuck, searching for answers, or just need a roadmap to your next breakthrough, I’ve got you. Through support groups, trainings, books, and raw, real conversations, we’ll find the tools you need to own your story, give yourself grace, and step into your purpose.

Remember this: If you woke up today, you have a mission. The world needs YOUR voice, YOUR strength, YOUR fire.

Let’s rise together.