👔 Real Talk with Uncle Rodney: Work, Wisdom & Watching Out for Yourself
- Developer tester
- Nov 14
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 18
Guest: Uncle Rodney Gainous
Topic: Growing up in DC, finding your purpose, and making smart choices 💪🏾
💬 Meet Uncle Rodney
Hey Sugars 💜 — this week’s tea is a little different. You know we love hearing from our aunties, but today we’re hearing from one of our uncles — because it takes a village of men and women to help you grow into your best self.
Meet Uncle Rodney Gainous, program analyst for DC’s Department of Employment Services and a proud mentor to youth across the city. He helps teens find internships and learn what real work looks like — not just for the summer, but all year long.
“We wanted to give students more than six weeks of experience,” he said. “So now our internship program runs all the way from October to June. It’s paid — $10 an hour, up to eight hours a week.”
💡 The Tea:
Get that bag and the experience. Your first job can teach you skills you’ll use forever.
🌟 Finding His Calling
Uncle Rodney didn’t always plan to work with youth — but the idea started years ago at Hampton University.
“One night in the dorm, we were just hanging out and my boy said, ‘We need to do something for the young people when we graduate.’ And that stuck with me.”
Fast forward almost 29 years, and he’s still doing exactly that.
“I found what I love — working with young people and helping them grow.”
🏫 Growing Up in the DMV
Rodney grew up right here in the DC area — born in Southeast, raised in Peppermill Village — and graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in the 80s.
“It was different then,” he said. “We could move around without worrying too much about violence. I grew up with go-go music. Every weekend we were finding where the bands were playing — Air Raid, Mass Extension, Rare Essence.”
💡 The Tea:
Every generation has its rhythm. Find yours — but keep your values steady.
💞 Sugar Q: “I’m in 10th grade — should I date a guy three years older?”
“No,” Uncle Rodney said quickly. “That age difference is a big deal. If he’s 18 and you’re 15, he’s in a different stage of life.”
“And honestly,” he added, “my question would be — why is an 18-year-old interested in a 15-year-old?”
💡 The Tea:
If he’s too grown to sit in your class, he’s too grown to date you. Period.
🚦 Sugar Q: “Why can’t I hang out with my friends after school?”
“Your parents are thinking about safety,” he said. “It’s not that they don’t trust you — they just don’t always trust everybody else.”
Uncle Rodney’s seen too many young people end up in bad situations just by being in the wrong crowd.
“You can hang out — just be smart about where, and with who.”
💡 The Tea:
If everyone’s not going where you’re headed, you might need a smaller circle.
💗 Sugar Q: “What is self-love, really?”
“It’s accepting who you are, just as you are,” he said. “People can tell when you don’t love yourself — and they treat you accordingly.”
He reminded us that you are the first example of how the world should treat you.
“If you say you’re not good enough, people will believe you. So start speaking life into yourself.”
💡 The Tea:
The words you tell yourself are just as powerful as the ones you post.
🎁 Sugar Q: “My bae never buys me anything. Does that mean he doesn’t love me?”
“If he got you a $50 birthday gift and he’s in high school — that’s a lot!” Rodney laughed. “But real love isn’t about gifts. It’s about effort, time, and how he treats you.”
💡 The Tea:
A healthy relationship isn’t bought — it’s built.
📚 Sugar Q: “I hate studying. Are good grades even important?”
“You’ll always be learning,” he said. “Studying doesn’t stop after school — it’s a skill for life.”
Grades matter, but what matters more is your effort.
“Show you can stick to something. That grit will take you further than any GPA.”
💡 The Tea:
Find your rhythm — flashcards, audiobooks, or talking it out. Learn how you learn best.
💗 Simi’s Sip
Uncle Rodney’s story is a reminder that you can grow, learn, and glow right where you are. Whether you’re figuring out love, school, or yourself — remember this: you set the standard for how the world treats you.
Not a lecture, just a sip of tea. ☕💋
💁🏽♀️ Meet Uncle Rodney Gainous
Rodney Gainous Jr. is a program analyst with DC’s Department of Employment Services, Office of Youth Programs. For nearly 30 years, he’s helped young people in the DMV find opportunities, confidence, and purpose.
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