
Meet Darnell
Darnell Caldwell is a Youth and Student Empowerment Speaker and the Author of Gonna Be Success: The Interactive Student Success Guide. Darnell grew up just south of Houston, Texas. Some would say that Darnell's neighborhood was located on the wrong side of the tracks. However, he credits his neighborhood for sparking his passion for serving youth and students in the urban context and beyond. He began working with young people nearly 20 years ago. His previous experience includes small group instruction, mentoring, nonprofit, ministry, and more.
Darnell possesses the uncanny ability to quickly build rapport and earn the respect of students from diverse backgrounds. He believes that all students can be successful regardless of situation and circumstance.
Darnell is a proud graduate of Texas Southern University. He is a first generation college graduate and a first generation entrepreneur. He is passionate about empowering students to overcome the obstacle of self limiting belief, develop their mindset, and take ownership of their success.
Darnell and his beautiful wife reside in Dallas, TX and have three beautiful children.
SCHEDULE A CALL WITH DARNELL TO DISCUSS A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP



Motivation Speaker, School Speaker, School Assembly, College Speaker, Student Speaker
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING
STUDENT
SUCCESS
OVERCOMING
ADVERSITY
DECISION
MAKING
MINDSET
DEVELOPEMENT
SELF
CONFIDENCE
Presentations are high energy, engaging, and interactive. Presentations are motivational, empowering, thought provoking, and call students to take action. Presentations are typically 30 to 60 minutes in length. Custom topics are available upon request.
IDEAL FOR: Conferences, Assemblies, Pep Rallies, Ceremonies, Celebrations, Large Groups of 100+
STUDENT EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOPS
MINDSET MATTERS!
STRATEGY
Objective: To highlight the importance of mindset development and how to overcome self limiting beliefs and self confidence struggles. Students will be challenged to identify obstacles to their mindset development and how to make a practice of developing their mindset.
MINDSET DEVELOPMENT
THE CHEAT CODE
Objective: To guide students through the steps of creating a practical plan to achieve their goals. Students will be tasked with initiating the creation of a personalized plan for success that incorporates short, mid, long range goals.
Objective: To introduce students to the basics of entrepreneurship. Students will explore entrepreneurial mindset, creativity/idea creation, marketing/pricing, and how to create a simple business plan.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Objective: Students will leave this workshop with actionable steps to discover their gift/super power and practical ways to develop it. Additionally, students will leave with a basic understanding of how their gifts intersect with college and career.
ENTREPRENEURIAL
EMPOWERMENT
YOUR GIFT, COLLEGE,
AND CAREER
SUCCESS PLANNING
GIFT DISCOVERY/DEVELOPMENT
Student Empowerment Workshops are based on the book, Gonna Be Successful: The Interactive Student Success Guide. Workshops are engaging, motivational, empowering, and a hands on opportunity for students to develop skills that will impact their success in school and the market place. Book individual workshops or combine multiple workshops for maximum impact and to meet the unique needs of your students. Workshops are approximately 90 minutes in length and can be delivered virtually or in person.
IDEAL FOR: Groups of 100 or less
PROGRAMS
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR SUCCESS
TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR SUCCESS is an 8 to 32 week program and geared for middle school and high school students. Weekly group meetings also known as Student Empowerment Sessions are designed to help students think critically, develop leadership skills, and ultimately take ownership of their success. Participants will learn to:
- Develop Healthy Identities
- Manage and Express Emotions
- Set and Work Towards Achieving Goals
- Show Empathy
- Establish Healthy Relationships with Others
- Make Responsible Decisions
- and more
Each participant will receive a copy of Gonna Be Successful: The Interactive Student Success Guide
Why bring TAKE OWNERSHIP OF YOUR SUCCESS to your campus/organization?
- Re-engage Disengaged Students
- Give Students Tools for Leadership
- Recapture or Prevent Drop-outs
- Help Students Build New Friendships
- Expand Support on Campus without the costs and hassle required to hire additional staff.
IDEAL FOR: Student groups of 50 or less.
STAFF/ DEVELOPMENT
THE POWER OF PLANTING SEEDS
THE POWER OF PLANTING SEEDS is a professional development training for educators and youth workers.
Participants will be challenged to consider the long term impact of their daily work and encouraged to plant seeds in the lives of the students that they serve. Participants will be encouraged to take full ownership and take advantage of the opportunity to:
- "Plant seeds" of affirmation
- "Plant seeds" of demonstrated excellence
- "Plant seeds" of care and concern
- Empower students to take ownership of their success
- and more
IDEAL FOR: Staff Development, Youth Ministry Workers, Non-Profit Organizations, Youth Workers, and more.
TESTIMONIALS
Mrs. Thomas - Program Director
Darnell's message was right in line with our mission and the purpose of our event. He was energetic, engaging and inspiring. We were pleased with the message of the day and glad he left such a positive impression on our audience.
Ms. Johnson - Non-Profit Director
Darnell makes engaging with youth look so easy. He has a magnetic personality that draws young people in effortlessly. His passion for youth to become the best version of themselves is evident.
Mr. Mobley - Teacher
The students loved it they told me beginning of the presentation really got them engaged in it and that they were shocked by it. My expectations were exceeded.
Student
This session was very inspirational and helped me understand the process of being successful and what it takes to get there.
Student
The message you gave was very inspiring and now I know that I can work towards being what I want to be right now instead of waiting.
TEDx Organizers
...your presentation was extraordinary. It has inspired our team and audience more than you know.
Ms. Pendergraph - Asst. Program Director
Myself, my team as well as our students thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. It gave them a lot of take aways, and definitely inspired many of them in areas they weren't necessarily inspired before. We thank you for SPEAKing to our scholars!
Ms. Rodriguez - Administrator
Darnell's desire to equip the next generation of leaders with the tools necessary to lead. Darnell's energy and passion burst through in his message, leaving a young audience inspired.
Student
Your presentation today reminded me about the importance of setting a vision, making a plan, and executing that plan despite what may be going around me. Thank you
Mr. Middleton - Educator
Darnell is a phenomenal speaker that seeks to stir his audience towards action. Darnell has a rare mixture of competency and conviction that leaves a memorable experience with his listeners. He is a skilled communicator that can reach groups of any size and background. I would highly recommend booking Darnell for your next engagement.
Student
...it’s individuals like yourself who dedicate their life journey in helping students like me not give up or loose hope. Thank you again for speaking with us at TrioUB.
As a first generation college graduate Darnell understands many of the challenges and hardships that aspiring first generation college students face. The “GONNA BE” mindset says that I’m going to be successful in spite of challenges that I may face and/or my shortcomings. The book challenges students to:
- Apply Social Emotional Learning principles
- Take ownership of their thinking and embrace a growth mindset
- Begin planning their success NOW
- Take inventory of their unique giftedness
- Set goals short, medium, and long range
- Create a plan to achieve their goals
- And more...
Book Features:
119 Pages
Relatable Stories of Overcoming and Success
Exciting 30 Day Challenge
Notes Sections
Workbook
Reflection Questions
Success Plan Template
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GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL:
THE INTERACTIVE STUDENT
SUCCESS GUIDE
EMPOWERED APPAREL


