How He Turned Everything Into Gold | Melvin Thomas | REAL Mentors Podcast Ep. 57

Melvin Thomas is building something most people never imagine possible. At 22, he was a psychiatric social worker on a mobile crisis team in Brooklyn, talking a 17-year-old down from a fire escape. Today, he's the founder of Mr. Thomas NYC—a luxury brand creating handcrafted, one-of-one lapel pins that celebrities wear on national television.

But this episode isn't just about pins and profit. It's about the Bronx kid who became the youngest dean ever hired in the NYC public school system, who still teaches kids K-8 by day, coaches basketball through the Omari Lawrence Foundation, and just launched his podcast to inspire the next generation.

Topics:

• Crisis counselor to luxury designer
• Fire escape moment at 22
• Youngest dean ever hired in NYC
• Pandemic scraps to $10K pins
• Adam Lefkoe collaboration (NBA broadcast)
• Authentic craftsmanship & storytelling
• Why only 30% of kids have both parents
• Mentorship & what men owe their communities
• Dominican heritage & family values
• Real talk on mental health & medication

This episode is about real struggle turned into art, real impact on young lives, and the responsibility of men who make it out to bring others with them.

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🔗 Connect with Melvin Thomas

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.thomasnyc/

Podcast (New!): "What's the Deal with Mr. Thomas?" | https://www.instagram.com/whatsthedealwithmrthomas/

Follow REAL Mentors Podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmentorspodcast

Host Sean Martin: https://www.instagram.com/theseanmartin

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About the Guest – Melvin Thomas

Melvin Thomas is the founder and principal artisan of Mr. Thomas NYC, a luxury brand redefining handcrafted accessories through one-of-one lapel pins and brooches. Born and raised in the Bronx to Dominican immigrant parents, Thomas broke barriers as the youngest dean ever hired in the New York City public school system at just 23 years old.

With degrees in Sociology and English from Lehman College, Thomas began his career as a psychiatric social worker on a mobile crisis team at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn—a position that shaped his understanding of human connection and resilience.

During the pandemic, while working as a dean, Thomas discovered his artistic calling through therapeutic metalwork using construction scraps. What started as pandemic therapy evolved into a luxury pin business that caught the attention of NBA broadcaster Adam Lefkoe, leading to a collaboration with celebrity jeweler Aunt Tasha Diamonds on a solid gold, glow-in-the-dark piece featured on national television.

Today, Thomas operates Mr. Thomas NYC with a waiting list of clients, coaches basketball through the Omari Lawrence Foundation, and serves as a dean in Spanish Harlem working with K-8 students. He recently launched his podcast "What's the Deal with Mr. Thomas?" to amplify voices of people of color in entrepreneurship and leadership.

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