UPPER MARLBORO, Md. — From helping restore hundreds of thousands of dollars in education funding to lobbying in Annapolis, Juwan Blocker has spent years advocating for others. Now, after overcoming personal setbacks, including job loss and self-doubt, he’s stepping behind the microphone to share the lessons that shaped his journey — hoping his new podcast will inspire listeners to find purpose, embrace authenticity and move forward with confidence.
“Growth has required a mindset shift,” Blocker told The BayNet. “Letting go of the need to appear polished in professional spaces and embracing authenticity as a way to connect with others is what I’ve overcome.
“People relate more to honesty than perfection. I’m choosing to show up fully despite fear of criticism.”
On May 1, Blocker officially launched his podcast entitled “The Meet Up” podcast, and many followers have joined in to hear just how he’s overcome traumatic events, including job loss, and to gain understanding about navigating through this thing called life.
“My goal is to help young people as well as adults discover purpose and not live in fear,” Blocker stated. “I want The Meet Up podcast to serve as an accountability partner.”
Blocker has had many influencers in his life, one being his spoken word teacher and SGA adviser at Parkdale High School, Neville Adams.
“His mentorship helped unlock my voice and direction,” Blocker said. “He recognized my ability to speak and advocate for others. He taught me how to organize grassroots causes and campaigns.
“He connected me to leadership opportunities inside and outside of school. He helped position me to become a student member of the Prince George’s County Board of Education from 2016 to 2017, which was one of the most defining experiences of my life.”
Blocker assisted in restoring $500,000 in funding so students could take their advanced placement exams free of charge. He was a fundamental part of saving the Creative Writing Program at Hyattsville Middle School.
“Another pivotal part of my journey has been marrying my wife and purpose partner, Chakeia Blocker,” Juwan Blocker stated. “Building a life while serving the community requires alignment and sacrifice. We are raising four children, three under the age of 5. Chakeia supports the podcast by creating space for me to record when childcare is limited. She continues her own advocacy work while balancing family responsibilities. We share a commitment to empowering and uplifting others.”
Looking Ahead At Season 2: Equipping Listeners With Inspiration And Practical Strategies To Move Forward With Clarity And Purpose
The podcast is gaining supporters as it creates space for purpose-driven conversations. Season 2 will expand the impact by introducing new voices and practical insight featuring workforce development professionals offering career guidance.
“We’ll feature entrepreneurs who turned transitions into opportunity,” Juwan Blocker said. “We’ll also have AI professionals sharing ways to strengthen resumes and career positioning, and we’ll have influential leaders, including Maryland Secretary of Social and Economic Mobility Walter Simmons.”
Enter, Daisy Anderson-Dickens
Blocker featured his professional elementary school counselor, Daisy Anderson-Dickens, on the podcast episode entitled “Purpose in the Hallways” on June 15. It was recorded in Accokeek, Maryland.
Blocker stated that Anderson-Dickens created a space where he felt seen, heard and supported.
“That experience shaped how I view leadership and service,” Blocker said.
Anderson-Dickens recalls meeting Blocker as a third grader at Port Towns Elementary School in Bladensburg when he and his two brothers first entered the school in third grade. She stated that his mother took an added interest in her children’s lives, making sure that they were completing homework and getting the grades that would set them up for success early on.
“Juwan [Blocker] was an incredible child,” Anderson-Dickens said. “He was walking in his purpose but didn’t even realize it. I’m blessed to see his growth and his family; it just encourages me to see one of my students soaring like this. Juwan wore suits to school each day — in elementary school. He stood out, but it was as if he knew his purpose and his calling at a young age.”
“We spoke recently on his podcast about the purpose of communicating as a professional school counselor. We are on the front lines; we are important investors in our community. We are corresponding with the fire departments, the police stations, the Department of Social Services. We are the ones that take note when a child is repeatedly missing school. We contact parents and get involved.”
Anderson-Dickens has been working in education for more than 24 years now. She says it is something she knew she was ordained and called to do. She said at a young age, people would come to her for advice.
“It’s as if I innately knew the answers to their questions,” Anderson-Dickens stated. “Juwan reminded me of myself. He’s always been one to consider other people. He was always engaged in civics and assisting his community where he could. His character was always amazingly outstanding. He cared deeply about his schoolwork. It was really God moving through him.”
Anderson-Dickens and Blocker are both humanitarians and passionate about the partnership that is forming now. Blocker has returned to his former schools to give presentations to the students and encourage them moving forward in their life choices.
“He’s inspired me,” Anderson-Dickens said, “to teach and reach more. I think it’s remarkable, and this podcast is not just for the youth, but it’s really for everyone of listening age. All the guests have been professional, offering practical tools. Everyone can gain something from listening.”
Anderson-Dickens is also on the Prince George’s County Crisis Team; assisting families is something she elected to do. She noted it’s not for everyone, but she’s overcome challenging situations, one that almost made her walk away from her calling, but she knew deep down who she was really working for.
In 2023-2024, she and her class won the Minority Award Recognition Civil Rights Award at the Maryland State Education Association. She assisted her students with producing an anti-bullying, anti-body-shaming video.
“I was so very proud of them,” Anderson-Dickens said. “They really worked hard on it. You can view the video on the Prince George’s County Public Schools website.”
The next venture for Anderson-Dickens is the creation of “Captain Kindness, Our Super Amigo.”
The school superhero came to life at 3 a.m. when Anderson-Dickens awakened with the idea to have a superhero that would tackle the subject of bullying in school. The students named the hero.
With Anderson-Dickens being the go-getter that she is, she wrote out her vision and presented the idea to her school, and it has now come to fruition. The costume was ordered and has arrived in time for the upcoming school year.
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