Opening doors of possibility as a teacher, mentor, and friend.
Timothy “TJ” Dean is an educator, organizer, and Afrofuturist dedicated to creating a more just and imaginative world. For over 20 years, he has worked with young people as a classroom teacher, Dream Director, and youth organizer, building lasting relationships and empowering students to envision bold futures. His career spans arts-based youth programs, campaigns to end youth incarceration, and diversity, equity, and inclusion work. Founder of AfroFuturist Industries LLC, TJ blends a love of sci-fi, anime, and futures literacy with his passion for mentorship, helping communities open new doors to possibility and change.
Some teachers just do their job. Others change your life. I met TJ (Timothy Dean) in middle school, he was my 7th grade teacher. He was young, cool, and real in a way that none of the others were. But more than that, he was present. He made time. He saw me. Whether it was putting on a beat during lunch so I could rap, or driving me to a poetry workshop on the weekend, he always showed up.
Now that I’m older — teaching and mentoring in my own way — I understand how rare that is. I also understand just how much it shaped me.
This Spotlight Session is different. I’m giving props to someone who helped build the foundation of the person I am today. TJ wasn’t just my teacher. He’s family. And I’m honored to share a piece of our story.
💪 🚀 🎙️ Rising to the Challenge 🌟
Andre:
I always tell this story: I was a kid — maybe 12 or 13 — and I was working on my rhymes and I gave you a mixtape. It was my birthday party at the bowling alley, and I handed it to you like, “Tell me what you think.” And you did. You said you didn’t like it!
TJ:
Oh I remember. I was honest — but I told you why, too. It wasn’t bad, technically. But it didn’t sound like you.
Andre:
Yeah, I was rapping cliché, trying to sound like everyone else. But you weren’t mean about it. You were real. And that pushed me to go home and write something that actually reflected me. I called you and rapped it over the phone, and you were like, “You wrote that?” You told me it was the best thing I’d ever done.
And that moment changed everything. That’s when I joined the poetry group. That’s when I started writing with purpose.
🎧🧭 Listen as You Lead 🌱
Andre
I learned so many teaching lessons from you — even before I realized I’d be teaching myself one day. You remember when you got me that internship at South Philly High?
TJ:
Yeah, with the Future Project — you were assisting students there.
Andre:
Right. There was this one student who was trying to figure out her path after graduation. And I jumped in, trying to help her with all the answers. You stopped me and said, “Wait — let her work it out.”
That stuck with me. Because she did work it out. You showed me that sometimes being helpful means not solving the problem for someone. It means giving them the space to find the answer themselves.
TJ:
Yes, it’s so important to really listen as a leader. That reminds me of back when I was a Dream Director at South Philly High. I had a student who told me she wanted to be a businesswoman. So I started setting up networking opportunities — connecting her with Black business owners, trying to support her vision.
But something didn’t sit right. So I kept asking questions. And one day she admitted: “I just told you that because I thought that’s what you wanted to hear. What I really want… is to sing.”
So we made a new plan. I got her into a music production program in North Philly — they had vocal coaching, recording studios, everything. That same year, she starred in her school’s production of The Wiz. She played Evillene, and when she opened her mouth to sing, it was like a pro on stage. I posted a clip online, and a theater in D.C. reached out. She couldn’t take the offer — she was still in high school — but it was one of those moments where you just know: this is what it looks like when someone finds their passion.
🎁🤲 Paying It Forward 🔄
Andre:
When I was about to leave for college, you took me to Target and helped me get everything together. I think my uncle was getting on my nerves and you just stepped in. I didn’t even ask. You just showed up.
TJ:
That was just me doing what others did for me. Before I left for school, my community threw me a trunk party. People brought towels, snacks, school supplies — stuff I didn’t even know I needed.
So when it was your turn, that’s what made sense to me. This is what you do, when someone goes away to school.
I’ve done that for a few students — I’ve given driving lessons in empty parking lots, helped fill out forms, even took a student from Tallahassee with me to Philly one spring break. I remember he saw an ice cream truck and was like, “Yo, what’s that?” I realized he’d never seen one. So I gave him a few dollars and told him to run for it.
That was so cool to me, being there to provide him this opportunity that seems like a small thing but it’s more to me than that. I’ve always felt like I’ve had a lot of blessings in my life, and I want to take every chance to share those blessings with others.
Andre:
That’s so funny, I say that almost every time I do an interview, for real, that’s my mantra in life. When God blesses you, it becomes your responsibility to pass those blessings along, I really believe this.
🔮🛸 The Future is Now 🌌
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Andre:
You’ve always been deep into ideas and community organizing, but I’ve watched you take that to new levels over time. Especially now, with your work at Drexel and your focus on Afrofuturism.
TJ:
Yeah. I’ve been into sci-fi and futurism since I was a kid — watching Star Trek with my mom. But I didn’t learn the term Afrofuturism until 2014. And it gave me the language for what I’d always felt: the need to imagine beyond what we’re told is possible.
I was working on a campaign around police brutality at the time. We were always focused on what we don’t want — racism, violence, oppression. But I started asking, “Okay… but what comes next?” What’s the world we’re dreaming toward?
That’s where Futures Literacy comes in — it’s about using our vision of the future to shape how we act today. Our idea of the future informs how we show up in the present. The more we expand our view of what’s possible, the more intentional we can be.
📚↗️🌎 Beyond the Lesson Plan 🚪
TJ:
I’ve taught thousands of students, but I’ve only stayed close with a handful. And out of all of them, you’re the one I’ve stayed closest with.
Andre:
That means a lot. Because growing up, I didn’t always see examples of the kind of life I hoped to build — stability, family, purpose. I watched you do it. I saw you meet your wife, raise your kids, stay committed to your vision. You’ve been a visible blueprint for me.
TJ:
That’s humbling to hear. When I was a young teacher, it really felt that y’all were my kids in a way, and now that I have actual children, I recognize that same feeling: I just want you to be happy.
Just watching you do all these things gives me joy. I’m really grateful to witness your achievements and be a part of the full life you’re building. In 12+ years of teaching, I’ve sadly lost a lot of students to gun violence and other things, so it’s really important for me to recognize all the young people succeeding and growing and doing what they love. You’re one of the best examples I can think of.
I’m proud of the man you’ve become — not just the work you do, but the heart you do it with. You’re already passing that energy on.
✨🌟 Shine On ☀️🏆
This wasn’t just another interview for me — this was full-circle. TJ has been a part of many chapters of my life, from freestyling in middle school to publishing my first book. His care and consistency helped shape my path, and I know I’m not the only one.
As a kid, I didn’t always understand the power of what he was doing — the little things, the time spent, the hard truths. But now I see it clearly. And I’m grateful every day to be in a position where I get to pass that same energy on.
That’s what these Spotlight Sessions are all about, after all: showing love where it’s due, and reminding people that we all have something to give. If someone’s poured into you, think about how you can pass that goodness on. Big or small, it matters. And I hope this conversation inspires more people to show up, speak life, and be that blessing for someone else.
❓ What do you think? Hit the links for more info, and leave your comments below.
Spotlight Sessions is a series conceived of and developed by artist-educator Andre Saunders to highlight inspirational local people with personal, community-focused interviews. Read Andre’s previous Spotlight Session, a conversation with Andre Still of Back Yard Krafts, a new artist/entrepreneur embracing growth and change.
Congratulations to Andre on the continued success of his latest book, Honest Becoming Me, where he shares his artistic journey in an interactive format that encourages young readers to find their voice. Read all about it in Philly ArtBlog’s insightful interview showcasing Andre as a dedicated and multi-talented Philly creative.
Andre’s reading and book signing at Center City’s Barnes and Noble bookstore drew record crowds and no doubt inspired many to explore how our art makes us more of who we are. Andre’s book is relevant and accessible for a wide range of ages and abilities — it’s a must for hip-hop and poetry fans, perfect for anyone seeking to better express themselves through creativity.
And be sure to check out Andre’s latest music project “Better Late Than Never”, a deft, layered introspective with unforgettable rhymes and hooks. 
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