True mentorship requires bold transparency | Brandon Steppe | TEDxSanDiego

While running a non-profit foundation where at-risk teens trade good grades for time in a professional-grade recording studio, Brandon Steppe discovered bold transparency as a necessary ingredient for earning trust, engaging in real conversations, and building successful mentoring relationships. He also realized two things, that hip-hop music is the perfect metaphor for mentorship, and perfect power is actually found in weakness. Brandon Steppe is a transformative force in the lives of “at-risk” and homeless teens in his hometown of San Diego, California. As the founder of The David’s Harp Foundation, Brandon provides these youth an artistic escape from their often challenging life situations. As Executive Director, Brandon has overseen the organization’s growth from his father’s garage in Southeast San Diego, to a state-of-the-art studio facility located in Downtown San Diego’s East Village community. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx