138 Ignite Nexus Series| DeAndre James: Importance of Black Leadership,Overcoming Adversity,Embracing Resilience

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Linkedin: Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley

About
Often, we are left wondering how to navigate the murky waters of the corporate world while being a person of color. How can we persevere through the darkness and everyday challenges that come with it? There’s no one better to answer these questions than DeAndre James, the executive director of Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. 
DeAndre puts his heart on the line as he shares his personal experiences as a Black CEO. His insights into staying resilient even when faced with adversity are not only enlightening but also empowering.

Racism, unfortunately, is a reality many people of color face in the workplace. But how do you handle it? This episode takes you into personal stories of overcoming such harsh realities. We also highlight the role of nonprofits in society, including their dilemma of donor focus versus community focus. 

Balancing these two aspects could be instrumental in dismantling systems of racism and inequality. By opening doors to opportunity, we believe positive change can be brought into our society.

The power of advice should not be underestimated and can indeed transform lives, as you'll hear from DeAndre's experiences. We also discuss strategies to manage personal desires versus community obligations, and how the transformative potential of music and conversations can bring about personal growth.

DeAndre talks about his ‘go-to’ stress relievers, books, movies that inspire him, and how astrology and power animals have been a source of motivation. Join us for this insightful conversation with DeAndre James and gain a fresh perspective on resilience, perseverance, and empowerment.

Ignite Nexus
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:11

Welcome back to Speak for Change podcast. I'm your host, Tom Asage-Peterson. Our mission is to inspire and create positive and lasting change in our local and global communities. We broadcast from the Tannery Art Center in Santa Cruz, California. I hope you enjoy the episode of Speak for Change podcast. Have a beautiful and impactful day.

Speaker 1: 0:38

Welcome to the Ignite Nexus series, the series dedicated to shedding light on the intricate connections that foster personal and professional growth. Our journey delves deep into leadership, development and beyond all, with the aim of inspiring both today's and tomorrow's leaders. Join us as we unveil the secrets to success and the ties that bind them. Deandre James is the executive director of Community Health Trust of Pajaro Valley. Deandre is an inspiring leader and a compassionate human being. His deep humility and his passion to open doors for people who don't have access to opportunities is deeply, deeply inspiring. I hope you enjoy today's episode.

Speaker 1: 1:45

Hi everyone, Tom Asage-Peterson here. I'm excited to introduce you to Ignite Nexus, a coaching and consulting firm that I co-founded alongside my good friend and past guest, Julia Greenspan, to help you unlock your potential. At Ignite Nexus, we believe in empowering individuals, executives, corporations, small businesses, nonprofits and organizations of all kinds to reach their highest potential. Our mission is to reveal and strengthen the unseen connections that can catapult you to new levels of success. We offer a diverse range of tailored services one-on-one or team, executive and life coaching, targeted professional development, notably in medical device sales and the arts, dedicated consulting for community engagement and small business empowerment, diversity, equity, inclusion, trainings and so much more.

Speaker 1: 2:43

We're here to facilitate your transformative growth with our array of practical tools and strategies. Whether it's from mock interviews, resume enhancements, community workshops or personalized coaching, we provide the critical support necessary for your journey of personal and professional growth. Situated in Santa Cruz, California, the reach of Ignite Nexus extends well beyond, ready to serve you no matter where you're located. Take the first steps towards realizing your aspirations. Reach out to us at ignitenexusco that isco, notcom, and mention speak for change to receive 50% discount on your first coaching session. Ignite your path to success with us today. Thank you so much for your time, DeAndre. Welcome to Speak for Change, Don't.

Speaker 2: 3:38

I'd have you on. Hey, it's great to be here.

Speaker 1: 3:45

Last time we talked we met up at Panout Express just out of nowhere. It was kind of just saw you hang in and I pulled over and was like is that DeAndre? And I was like hey.

Speaker 2: 3:59

Yeah, sometimes I feel like I'm a myth around here. People don't think I exist. They're like no, no, I swear I've seen him at something and I like gliding. Yeah, no, but it was. It was actually great, it was actually a good time to, like you know, see each other. I mean. I mean, I know we've like crossed paths on a lot of different work and a lot of different stuff.

Speaker 1: 4:19

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 4:20

And it was like the first time we really had a chance to just like you're not doing nothing, I'm not doing nothing, have a conversation and hang, and so that was, that was a good day.

Speaker 1: 4:27

I mean I left with so much from our conversation. You I was. When we first met, I was definitely in like a darker place. I was kind of. You know, I have a good mask you know what I mean, yeah. But I was definitely going through a lot and your advice really hit home for me. You know, it just felt like you were, just like a channel or something.

Speaker 2: 4:50

Yeah, I appreciate that.

Speaker 1: 4:51

So I appreciate you and kind of speaking on that, I'm kind of curious because in your, when I set out the forums, you know, for the for the topic, you said press or perseverance through darkness, yeah, and I kind of want to just kind of talk on what that means to you and like when he kind of experiences you have with that Well yeah, I think I said that in the sense of, like, a lot of people don't understand what people go through, especially people of color, and the things they face and challenges they face every day, and and trying to put that all in perspective.

Speaker 2: 5:23

you know me plus, and then you know for me, I'm fortunate enough to be, you know, a CEO of a company.

Speaker 1: 5:28

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 5:29

So that puts me in a whole another challenge the stratosphere of you. Know how people look you and view you, and so it. You know, as they say, it's lonely at the top sometimes. Yeah, it could be super lonely, you know, being in that position, but then, thinking about it from the space of you, being an African American male in this world, it gets even lonelier sometimes.

Speaker 2: 5:49

So yeah you get, you get in your mind, you're getting your head, you're getting your these, these things happen to you and you really get in these dark spaces. So how do you persevere? How do you come through that? How do you try to work yourself through that and bring yourself to a different space, man, and be that way? I mean that was conversation we had, like we're just sitting. There was like I needed that today to take my mind away from all of the other little things you can get yourself trapped into.

Speaker 1: 6:15

You know I do, and the kind of continue that I feel like, yeah, like what you're just saying, that a lot of people are going through things that we don't even know, right. You know, it's like I'm always shocked, I feel, I feel alone a lot of times right you know I feel alone when, when I'm going through like things that you don't really expect people to go through, like drama and weird things that I didn't expect anyway to go through and not many people talk about that.

Speaker 1: 6:46

No, you know they don't talk about this side. So I'm wondering what, like you were mentioning, like being a CEO and being a black man and going through these things Like what are these? What are some of the things that you go through that maybe other people wouldn't see right away.

Speaker 2: 7:03

So so how racism looks when you're CEO.

Speaker 1: 7:08

Right, right.

Speaker 2: 7:10

Right, because you have to be the face, you have to be brave, you have to be the front man.

Speaker 2: 7:15

But, then somebody hits you with racism, right, right, and you can't like it, like sometimes you know you, like, if we was in the street, boy, I would you know. I mean this would be a whole different conversation, right, but you represent more, right, right, so you can't go there, you can't bring that anger, you can't bring that like, you just can't that frustration, right, and you take it, and you've got to take it in, because why I represent more, so I act out. Now, what do I, what am I an example of for other kids, for other things, even for my organization? Right, so when those things hit you and that racist stuff and those things hit you, and that is like wow, right, like I'm at this level and it's here, and what do I do with it? Right, and how do I deal with it? And how do I? I can't suppress it, right, you know what I mean. You can't take it away, right, so what do you do?

Speaker 2: 8:04

And so that it could bring you to a super dark place, yes, and you're like man, how many people around me are in that? Yeah, how many people around me are dealing? And let's think about it like, yeah, if I had a release or a way, or if I wasn't in my position, how would I deal with it? A total different way, right, right, and now I'm in this position, I can't, and so that's that's. It's tough, it's super tough, right, when you see all these different things, of these little things of racism, these little things of like how people take and how these conversations happen, yeah, and you're like wow, you're like wow, you know, like I wish I could say something. Yeah, I wish I could do something. What can I do? Right, right, and what could, what should I do? And I can't take it out in some other kind of crazy way, you know.

Speaker 1: 8:47

Yeah, yeah. Have you seen other people take it out in other crazy ways and like positions of power?

Speaker 2: 8:52

Yeah, I mean, you see people like they don't. They don't, they sometimes don't do what they're supposed to do, right, or they or they shut down yeah, or they quit yeah, or they get fired or they do something they're supposed to be doing because they're trying to figure out how to how to deal with it, yeah, and next thing, you know they get fired, right, that type of stuff. And you're like I'm, you know what I mean. How do I stand in the face of evil, right, and stand in the face of it and don't let it tear me down, don't let it break me, right? Don't let it be the thing that drives me to do other stuff.

Speaker 2: 9:25

Continue to fight the right fight, because you'll get caught up in it for yourself, yeah, and you'll be like, ah right, yeah, forget you, forget, you, forget you, yeah, but I need you to have success. That would break the chain, yeah, right, of nonsense. So I need you as much as I want to just say, no, I don't or don't forget you, or I can do it without you. Yeah, I need that. I need you. Racist, piece of trash person or whoever that is, or whatever that stuff you're doing. I need that Because I need to. I need to take that and let that fuel some other stuff that we need to actually get done man, so I Guess this is more of a personal question.

Speaker 1: 10:06

No, I like like with I mean with me too like just Coming at this. What are some strategies that you use in these, in these situations, because I mean, I've been in these situations. Yeah, talking about yeah, and I just kind of you find yourself in like an awkward space, right, this kind of vulnerable like whoa Do I just and I know other leaders in our community find that they sometimes they're like activists, like militant, right yeah, and sometimes I I sometimes don't think that's the way to do it, right.

Speaker 1: 10:35

I look at that and I'm like, hey, there's a strategy we can go about this. Really make an impact here, right they?

Speaker 2: 10:42

start fighting stuff or start standing up for stuff you like. Yeah, I understand, I feel you.

Speaker 1: 10:48

Yeah, I feel you right, like I.

Speaker 2: 10:50

You know me, I do, but it's like how do I actually get it done? Because all that's gonna do is one fool, another fight, yes, and put another wall up and sometimes right, right and like I don't need another wall to be up for me. You know, like I, I really took home. I get my hugs at home. Yeah right, I literally did. I go to my kids stuff, I got myself more involved with my kids stuff you know me and then you know of course you have to have your Avenue.

Speaker 2: 11:14

So I play basketball, so I try to play as much of that to get the physicalness part of it right, and then get my hugs at home and or the people around me.

Speaker 2: 11:24

Like, surround your circle with people who it doesn't matter, you know what's going on and you can just be there, right? Yeah, they don't. You don't have to say what's going on, you don't have to. I can just be here and be in this moment, yeah, and it doesn't matter to them. I'm just, I am who I am and they love me, whatever, regardless, right? Yeah, you surround yourself with some of those people. It becomes a little easier to deal with, right? Then you like okay, now I can take a breath and think about what I need to do next and how I need to handle it right.

Speaker 1: 11:53

So it's like the hearing, hearing what you're saying. It's like finding people that you genuinely, authentically love right. You have that heart connection and also finding different activities, different, either it's passion projects or whatever, yep, to help kind of Express yourself yeah, way that is is healthy and productive, yeah, and then you and you feel like you actually Okay, you know, I'm not gonna accomplish this over here because of that wall and the races of nonsense.

Speaker 2: 12:23

Yeah, I need to accomplish something, right, right. So let me go over here with this group. Yeah and you know, and get myself emerged in whatever that is off here and now I've accomplished something over here, right. Right, I accomplished something. I mean, like, if it is my kids playing sports, I'm like, hey, you know, I helped them play sports, okay you know, I accomplish something right, right like or something like that.

Speaker 2: 12:46

Yeah, I mean like I accomplished something and now I can go over here and try and face this, this uphill battle for this Eh evil. You know it's kind of wow man.

Speaker 1: 12:55

So all that note you have any examples of your life like that you feel comfortable sharing. Where you know racism has been an obstacle To your success and you've had to find a way of managing that in some form of a strategy that you're talking about.

Speaker 2: 13:12

Yeah, I mean so. I've had some incidents right where it's been right. So, previous to be being in California, I'm in California like Seven years, eight years now, right, and so previously that I was in Michigan right, yeah and then and where we were in Michigan, you know I was probably the only African-American executive for miles Like miles, just weird which is wild and weird, but you know me and I was there and they've never seen that before, yeah, and so imagine going to a lunch, you know, and because I'm at a level right, yeah, they take you to these lunches with physicians and doctors and stuff.

Speaker 2: 13:49

I'm in healthcare. So you go to this lunch and the vice president of HR is Having a racist joke, saying a racist joke, yeah, while you're sitting at the table and all of them are giggling, laughing, laughing about it. And so then that's when I learned Like I had took that and they were like, are you okay? And they came outside and they apologized for it, apologize for all this apology, and I internalized that and I didn't like them, yeah, right, and I got pissed off. So everything they wanted to do I was trying to fight against, right, I took it in that way, right not?

Speaker 2: 14:29

stand up for it and do what I supposed to do? No, and then I started standing up for stuff. I start being the activist at work. Yeah right, I'm like no, you're not gonna treat people like that. No, because I'm mad of how they treated me. Yeah right, you're not gonna treat. But, and now I'm fighting all these different little bitty fights all over the place. It have nothing really to do with me, but I'm fighting them, right, trying to stop all this stuff from happening, stop their hate and racism coming down to people I know and in my circle, not in my circle, right. And they set me up and next thing, you know, they said oh, you're not one of here. And they and they said oh, you know, you're not, you're not, you got to be fired. Now, luckily for me, you know I'm, I was smart enough in that situation to go yeah, it was some racist stuff said how about? You know? I mean I can get a lawyer.

Speaker 2: 15:20

Yeah or you put some zeros behind that firing. I Can. You know me and and I had, that's how I dealt with like I don't want to go through all this legal, all this fight and all this battle and all this stuff, put my family through all this stuff. You know, I mean, because of all this stuff, you know what, I don't want to be anywhere. It doesn't want me to be there. But you're not gonna walk away, just skate free. So you're gonna put some zeros on that. So a few zeros went on that thing and I said, okay, I'm out. You know, I mean, but I Learned from that lesson of these people.

Speaker 2: 15:50

People put you in those situations and it's how do you face that evil and how do you face it in the right way, or it's only gonna do spin around, and then they got you. They got you where they want you, right. But if you stand up, if you do it the right way, they can't get rid of you. You become stronger, your group becomes stronger, the people around you become stronger, right, and I face that stuff. You know. I mean that's just one example, but it's been many examples just like that, where you get put in that corner and now what, and I won't fight in everything you do. And now I look like that, I look like the bad guy, I look like the radical that doesn't want to go along with the team, and all that, and I'm like, no, you or the terrible person. But how I dealt with it. If I learned how to deal with it in a different way, then I can.

Speaker 1: 16:33

I can fight you another way All right man, just hearing that story I had a hold my mind back from just like you know, just you know it's coming in, because I feel like that is such a human thing, right To be in that situation and be have like a racist thing happen or some some shit happen, right, and you have to suddenly work, work in the same team that you don't feel any trust with right and it's like you and you're constantly trying to push back and even for things that maybe don't make any sense right Like to the point where it's not logical why you have to like almost figure out how to justify how you're going to push back on these people because you just don't like them, right?

Speaker 1: 17:23

And you know, I've experienced a lot of that and it's, it's hard, are you? You know, do you experience that now in your life? You don't have to give any direct examples, but do you just experience anything like that now in your life?

Speaker 2: 17:40

Yeah, I mean you know there was some things going on that that it's interesting how they play out right, and I'm like you don't understand how, like we were I brainwashed, but people were brought up in a certain environment and they're like, oh no, we should keep going that over. And I'm like you don't realize that rate that you you have been taught a racist way to to activate and do stuff Right and all you're doing is caring for a racist thing. I don't think you know it.

Speaker 1: 18:12

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 18:13

Right, and so, like, like, stop, take a minute and look right, you're talking to people and saying you want people to speak out and you want their voice to be heard, but you're doing these things that mute their voice. Right, because this is the system that, oh, this, this is how we used to do it all the time. Like, listen to yourself, hear yourself, stop yeah, you know what I mean Stop and carrying on, but that is going to impact more people and stuff, and now you're just carrying on these racist things to the next person and not, and those and that's what's been occurring, right, a lot of that. Like these racist, like processes and procedures that people keep holding up, yeah, and, but talk out of their mouths that they want something different, right, like you know what I mean.

Speaker 2: 18:55

They say, oh no, we want this different, we want that different. But then they uphold all these racist things that happen, yeah, and these racist practices, because they're sometimes, I think, they're afraid to lose. Yeah, and they're afraid to lose money. Yeah, right, and money, so it's the money involved, or things like that, instead of this is not right, right, like this is not the way we should do it.

Speaker 1: 19:19

Yeah, what? What example? What is an example of something that is a racist like policy or procedure, that that tends to happen in like circles that you've been in or are in?

Speaker 2: 19:32

Yeah, um, for instance, fundraising, yeah, like you could just say that in general, right.

Speaker 1: 19:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:44

You have some of these organizations right.

Speaker 1: 19:47

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 19:47

Whose job when they get the money is supposed to give the money, yeah, but how they're structured, how they're structured as an organization says, don't give out the money. So all it is is a shell game.

Speaker 1: 20:02

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 20:03

For these rich white people or rich people in general, but most of the time is rich whites.

Speaker 1: 20:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 20:08

To put their money over here and get the tax write-off. But the money never goes out and but they tout all their mouths. That is for the community.

Speaker 1: 20:19

Yeah, so it's almost like they they use the money to for, like, special tax write-offs for these wealthy people, tax write-offs for these wealthy people and then, and then they're unknown.

Speaker 2: 20:30

Right, and then you don't know their name Right, they magically don't this but their money, right? Yeah, you want to use like, but the money is supposed to be like. Oh, I want to donate all this money. It just doesn't go directly, it doesn't go directly to wherever it's supposed to go, or a percentage of it does, but like it really.

Speaker 1: 20:47

it really is supposed to be all of it, yeah, and then the other percentage is going to like a general fund.

Speaker 2: 20:53

A general fund or some other thing I mean technically you can probably even do bonuses in a month. Right, you can do bonuses, like you know what I mean Like it's so, it's stuff like the yeah Right, it's like so crazy, it's so crazy and shady.

Speaker 1: 21:04

It's so trippy Like talking about non-. I, you know, okay, like three years ago I knew nothing about nonprofits, right, but doing the podcast and then working on this, I get obsessed over things. So then I learned everything about nonprofits and I got into nonprofits, right, right, and I I realized, from being a business owner, right, see a nonprofit. I was like, wait a second, this is almost exactly the same. Yeah, it's just different words for different things. Yeah, you know, and I was just it kind of like my mind was blown a little bit. It was kind of like, oh, it's like people run their nonprofits like businesses, yeah, you know, and it's like they just have different words to describe different the same things. Like I would consider, you know, profit just goes into the general fund and then it does. You know what I mean.

Speaker 2: 21:56

Well, yeah, and from a guy who runs a nonprofit, it's ways that you do it. Yeah, and the benefit of being a nonprofit is the tax really. But you really have to run yourself like a business. Yeah, you have to run yourself like a business and you have to do that. But the thing about for me, for what you're supposed to be in a nonprofit, you're supposed to be more for the community. Yeah, right, and your funds and the things you do in the programs and all that stuff supposed to be more for the community, yeah, and so I think I call it sometimes, you know, robinhood, right, I'm Rob from the rich and give to the poor Right A little bit of that.

Speaker 1: 22:30

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 22:31

But that's what I'm saying, that's what it's supposed to be. But some of these nonprofits, some of these organizations, don't run that way. Yeah Right, some of them don't run that. And they upheld this system, right, a system of money and hiding cash and all this stuff that came from, all this racist stuff, yeah Right. And putting money in certain holes and telling you oh, you're not good enough to get. You know what I mean, and this is who I think deserves and doesn't deserve. You're not poor enough to get the money, or you're not. You know what I mean. You're not this, it's all those different practices. But then you tout on the other side that, hey, we're for the community, and what and what, where, what part of it. So I mean, those are the type of systems like. Some of that stuff continues to hold up, right, yeah. And then you get politics involved and now it's over, right?

Speaker 1: 23:18

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 23:19

And then he comes in and if he shakes your hand or kiss a baby in front of you, you're dancing. Yeah Right, instead of saying, like, what are we doing for the people?

Speaker 1: 23:29

And I think I resonate deeply with that Like being a force for the people rather than being just another being wound up in bureaucracy. It's almost fun.

Speaker 2: 23:42

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 23:42

These donors and to kind of you know donor, donor focus nonprofits versus, like people, focus nonprofits. You know and I get that, you need it. You know what I mean. I'm pragmatic in that sense, I get it.

Speaker 2: 23:58

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 24:02

But also we have to remember, like what you're saying, what the root of it is. Right, and you've mentioned in the past that your purpose is to help open doors for folks. Right, and I remember that hit me like, like I had to meditate on that for a couple of days, because they kept I kept seeing you in a new light. You know, I kept seeing your organization in a new light. I kept seeing, because I follow your the was.

Speaker 1: 24:28

I keep on to say, I keep wanting to say Paro Valley, but I know it's community health Valet right yeah and I Followed over Instagram and so I see all the cool projects you all are doing, you know, and I'm always like man and I keep thinking about that opening the door, right Thing and so I'm wondering if you can talk a little bit more about that, about your kind of purpose here, yeah, of your. What drives you?

Speaker 2: 24:52

I, I say this stuff all the time. I said, you know, I mean I'm, I'm like I said I'm blessed to be where I'm at, or blessed to be in the position I am, and you know I mean it's not that many African-American males who were, who were CEOs of stuff in this country.

Speaker 2: 25:05

Amazing, right so it's a deal, right? Even small business owners, it's just a percentage of itself, right? These people, there's a lot of people doing a lot of great work, man, and I said once you get in this position, yeah, like for me, my, my deal is to open as many doors To many possibilities as anybody. Right, like I got up here some type of way. Now my job is to open as many doors as possible, and I think about it sometimes in the sense of, like I came from the hood.

Speaker 1: 25:29

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 25:30

I came from Like, if you look up where I came from, east St Louis, illinois is the murder capital of the world To the 90s. And then flip men's skin, said they'll take over and we went to number two.

Speaker 2: 25:40

Okay, yeah but I'm from that Right and I'm like I made it here. And how did I make it here? By people opening those doors and I'm saying, like you get mad at a kid If they're only doors in front of them. Is drugs and alcohol, yeah, or gang and drugs, and they choose one of them, doors. Why you mad at them?

Speaker 2: 25:56

Yeah but what if you put other doors of opportunity in front of them and he had an opportunity to choose those different doors, then what? So what's my job? Put other doors in front of them, put other four doors in front of other people and see what choice they make, then I don't make the choice for them. But if I put another door in front of you to college or the education or to this or something, yeah, I figure out a way to put another door to fresh fruits and vegetables and stuff like that. Yeah, now, what do you choose? Do you choose McDonald's? Now, when the door is open? Right, and so you know, I mean, that's, that's what I think my mission is like. Okay, let's open as many doors as we possibly can for anybody in these in the right like brown, green, purple, whatever, let's go.

Speaker 2: 26:37

You know me yeah but I mean, I mean it's, it's, it's, it's harder than what I say you know me, because everybody doesn't think about they very bad thinks about themselves sometimes and what's not, not. And don't get me wrong, that's not, I'm not saying is wrong.

Speaker 1: 26:51

Yeah right.

Speaker 2: 26:52

I'm just saying sometimes it's hard to take yourself out of the middle of it, right, and say, okay, what can we do to open these doors?

Speaker 1: 26:59

Yeah, I'm wondering on that note, you know, because it You're talking about how people open the doors for you and that's, that's a community thing, right? Like people and like if you look at community in the broader sense.

Speaker 2: 27:11

Yeah like just people right, you know, human beings, oh yeah.

Speaker 1: 27:14

I'm wondering what? What for one? Like what? How has come? How, as, like the general community, like the other people, helped you Succeed personally.

Speaker 2: 27:24

Yeah, I mean, well, we're talking about Santa Cruz.

Speaker 1: 27:27

No, just just.

Speaker 2: 27:29

Generally your whole life.

Speaker 1: 27:31

People helped you right.

Speaker 2: 27:33

Okay, it was. I was in the Navy for like seven years.

Speaker 2: 27:36

Yeah right and I Came out of boot camp, yeah, with, like, because you get all these checks, like you've been working. You ain't been working, you've been getting your butt kicked for weeks, but what's you? At the time they had these paper checks right. I had like five or six of them right, and it was part of the most money I ever had my hand at one point time never and it was a.

Speaker 2: 27:57

It was a black man who was like you know, he's been in the military for a long time. And he saw me and he said, hey, brother, what you gonna do? I said we, and it was like you know, he didn't have to talk to me, right, but he stopped me and he said we gonna do with that. I was like I don't know, man, I'm gonna try to. I don't know, I don't, it's about to go down. I know that, whatever it is, it's about to go down. And but he said invest. He said you know what investment is? No, like, who's investing? What is investment? What is investment? What do you mean? Like, stick it in my shoe or something like that. Like I don't know what you're talking about.

Speaker 2: 28:36

And he took me on and taught me about investments. He said all right, let me show you. This is what investment is. This is what you do, this is what you put me. So you and he taught me the whole system of paying yourself first and putting money over here and let it grow. What are you doing with that? You ain't got nothing to do. You're a young guy, you know he's. And he said to me at the end of that I wish somebody had told me when I was your age and came from, that I wish they told me I would have X amount of money by now. So I'm telling you, and so that was like whoa, all right, amazing, right, I'm getting out of the military and the guy tells me he say before I get a military like you, they transfer you to closest to your home. So I'm getting close to my home and I'm in Chicago, right, because I'm familiar.

Speaker 2: 29:22

And so that, and the guy there, I get there In Chicago and the guy says what are you gonna do? I don't know, but I'm getting out. He's like don't you know that you already paid for the Montgomery? I pay for what you pay for the Montgomery's year. I bill, so you get that. I was like what I get, what I get money. It's like, yeah, you, you can apply for that, but you got to go to school. He was like, what, I got to go to school, oh, yeah, let's go, I'll go to college right now. You know me like I was taking classes already, so I mean like I can finish this up. It was like, yeah, they give you money in the state of Illinois, pays for if you go to he. I mean he put me on Right without that guy having that conversation with me about, like, finishing school because I had took all these classes.

Speaker 2: 30:07

If you look at my transcript, man, I got, I got probably a class in every state Because I took classes everywhere, like you know. I was like, oh, I'll take a class in art and this and that, and I took all these classes while I was in the military. And then, you know, and then the guy, so you got to finish up, and then he got me in this program. And the guy said to me man, you, you know, you're being in health care. Have you been in health care management? I was a healthcare management. He's like it's the business side of healthcare. What? It's another black guy. I'm like I know this stuff existed. So now I'm going to school while I'm finishing my last year in the military on campus, I'm already accepted off campus. It took me one year to finish my bachelor's degree once I got out, because the guy put me on I Go to that school, this school counselor, right, like these are people that have had impacts in my life.

Speaker 2: 30:51

Man, like I've changed the trajectory of where I'm going. I go to the school. Here's the counselor this probably. I told the story. I told the story to my nieces and nephews until the story and it's a good deal like the counselor, right, I'm thinking military. Right, the counselor goes what are you gonna do after here? And I was like, oh yeah, I need to probably get a solid job. You know me like whatever job. She's like okay, look, come my office and bring. Like what jobs you're thinking about? And I'm thinking military in my head. Right, this is what I'm thinking. Oh, this is what counselors do. They just get your job, because that's when the military, they just give you a job. Right, right, I come.

Speaker 2: 31:24

I'm like, oh man, I'm gonna go to this student counselor, she gonna give me a job. I had went, did all this mad research. Man, you tell, all night I had the 10, 10 best jobs you had ever seen, right, I got them listed out, folded up, real nice. I'm walking in with my folder, like, yeah, we getting this done. And then I put it on the table and I'm like choose one, anyone, anyone of them, and get me you might get me that job right. Like, like, I don't know who you gonna call, I'm about to get one of them jobs like it's own. I got them all. She reached them all right, and and she did something for me. That was amazing. She read them all. Then she says, oh, these are great.

Speaker 2: 32:07

And she says she says you know what? All of them require a master's degree. Well, you could. You could just tell me I had to go get a master's degree, but what it taught me was that I wanted more. That's what she showed me. She showed me all the jobs you picked out means you want to do more. You can't do more and you should do more. Right, you didn't pick out the janitor jobs. You didn't pick out any low jobs. You pick high jobs, that. So you want more. And this is what she said you want more, so let's go get more. I'm like dang okay, do you know me? No, but that's I mean. So then she's like let's go.

Speaker 2: 32:48

And so next, you know I'm going to grad school. If you asked anybody I grew up with that I would have a master's degree in healthcare or I have a master's degree at all. They what they laugh at you, right. But she put me in that space of saying this is what you want to do, this is how you need to do it. You need to get to that level right and put yourself in that position.

Speaker 2: 33:06

So I didn't know what schools to go to. She took me and held my hand, put me through all the stuff right, I got accepted these schools. I'm like I'm going to grad school. This is crazy. You know me. And so I get out of military one year, fans my bachelor's degree two years, get a master's degree and the whole time I'm getting paid by the Montgomery GI bill to go to school. So I didn't have to have a job Right, and the investment money that the guy told me to invest covered my housing and everything like that for three years. I Didn't have a job for almost four years and I went to school straight. Because of these three people set me up in that way. That is opening doors.

Speaker 1: 33:47

Oh my gosh, I don't even know what to say to that that's opening doors.

Speaker 2: 33:54

These cats put me on. I didn't know, that's they. They open up doors and open my mind to another way of thinking, another way to go. The two on a.

Speaker 1: 34:02

It's like the power of Just for one, you being open to it. So I want to acknowledge like that part of it as well, because I know people have given me advice and I've been just like you know, right, but the fact that you were even in the space, in the curiosity, right, you know, and to want to know more you know, and trusted these people to give you that information.

Speaker 1: 34:24

That tells me a lot about you. You know, I was like, as a human being, right and yes, these other people Like open these doors for you, but you were also willing to go through the doors, oh, yeah, I mean it's like some courage and some and some, you know, I mean you have to be courageous. I mean I think everything. But yeah, of course you got to be. Face your fears.

Speaker 2: 34:50

I'm just saying, but I mean, yes, of course you have to like be okay and courageous with like going and staying, curious man. But you know it's like you can either what's the guy says me. You can either let the world happen to you or you can happen to the world.

Speaker 1: 35:06

That's the. Right, yeah, let's go and just Question along the lines of because you've had help here from other folks and we in the beginning of this conversation we talked about, you know, dealing with people on like kind of the more negative side by having to deal with racist stuff, with Conflict, obstacles with other people, but and like having to kind of put your ego in check almost.

Speaker 2: 35:38

Oh yeah, with those folks yeah so I'm wondering for you.

Speaker 1: 35:42

This is kind of a odd question. I don't expect you to know the exact answer, but how is? What is the relationship between Like the individual, you? Like you and like the community that you're helping. You know oh, right yeah those two things, for me personally anyway, tend to sometimes being conflict. You know, I feel like, oh, I'm just being really selfish right now. Right something along the lines of that, or or maybe I'm like don't like this person in community.

Speaker 1: 36:11

Yeah like, but like I know, I have to work with this person right to do bigger things for the yeah, yeah, yeah yeah right. So I'm wondering like do you go through that and if you do, what? What are some strategies you do to when you're going through stuff like that?

Speaker 2: 36:26

I'm a music fan, yeah, and I drive in the car to work and to from work, and that 2015 20 minute drive it's probably solace and it's music, and I grew up on rap.

Speaker 1: 36:39

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 36:40

I drew up on some dirty South wrap. People probably don't even know Like, all right, don't take this. You know me, you don't know in the car you think I'm listening to some. You know jazz or something. I am listening Just some groups of dirty dad rap music, right, with some with some profanity, and some things of trap music, and you name it right, I'm, I'm trap music in the car. People probably don't know. They're like, oh, the hundred, just a straight ladies guy, but I If but.

Speaker 2: 37:04

So I had some funny thing. I had a co-worker, like I had it, I forgot I had it on and I and they was like, oh, I'll go with the lunch with you. And then they got in the car and it was loud and oh, oh, wait, wait, wait, I Was having one of my moments, right, I had to go in there and like, yeah, get some release of like, because some of that music of people don't understand like it comes from the streets. And if you come from the street that like being dirty, grimy stuff, you like I don't do that, no more, but sometimes you got to hear that. Right, you got it like hear it and getting your chest a little bit Like to get out there like I would just.

Speaker 2: 37:40

Yeah and then you're like okay, I'm out the car, that's peace and you're going with it, right, I think I think that's you know. I mean like having that release of something like that that Mentally takes you to another spot and brings you to that spot like and some of it. Like I said, some people is they hard to find a positive, and I'm like it is positive. You listen to what he's saying, like I'm gonna fight for this and I will fight for that, and it's like, yeah, you do me out, fight for it. You know, I take it and try and say that's what I want to do when I get out of the car.

Speaker 2: 38:07

Yeah, I don't want to do exactly what. That you know me. I ain't shooting nobody in the streets, anything like that, but I want to attack whatever I'm about to do with that same energy and effort. That map, that music Kind of had me in that space. So that's what I try to do, like some of that you know me. And then, like, when I know I'm gonna go in a meeting with somewhere, that I know that that it's going to be difficult conversations, or I can't look people in the face because of who they are, my person, my person can't look you in the face. Yeah, but I have to be in this room. I Try to be Steel, as they say, quiet.

Speaker 1: 38:44

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 38:45

I and I ask even more questions or clarifying questions. Yeah, because if I speak with, what I want to say is not gonna come out right. It's not no matter how many times I do it.

Speaker 2: 38:55

The person me is going to say FU in some type of way right Like very diplomatic FU, right, like it's going to be one coming out, right, I'm gonna shoot it, yeah. So I try to be steel and then just listen. Yeah, I try to listen, even as hard as I want to say some. I listen even more. I try to write something down that they said and then ask a clarifying question, just about that, to even listen even more. Because if I don't, if I talk, it's over, yeah, it's over.

Speaker 2: 39:25

I'm gonna blow up whatever that is, and we're gonna. It's not gonna go in. The direction needs to go in, or I'm not going to get the lesson I need to get out of it, the nugget that I need to get out of it. I'm not gonna get to push my what, I, what we need to do further. If I don't do that, if I, if I just go in and shoot, the gun is over, yeah, and sometimes you do, you have to, because sometimes that conversation gets too big. You know, alright, I got to shoot the pistol here.

Speaker 2: 39:49

Yeah, like pop pop, let's bring that down a little bit right but Most of the time I try to go in there and just listen.

Speaker 1: 39:55

Yeah right, that's great advice. Yeah, say like hard advice, oh it's hard.

Speaker 2: 40:01

I'm gonna tell you it's not hard like how many times I'm drinking water. I probably drink. I need a glass of water, because I'm drinking this water like about a pound right now right. And I'm like alright, I need to go to bathroom, I need to get up and walk. You mean like yeah, so, if you ever in a meeting with me, I'm drinking like nine cups of water.

Speaker 1: 40:20

I'll be like afterwards, like what's up, what's up.

Speaker 2: 40:23

You're in a meeting with me and I got like 10 glasses of water going down. Yes, you can just talk to me later. We can take a walk.

Speaker 1: 40:32

Oh, that's beautiful. Alright, so we're gonna go on to our second part here. Okay, these are just our general questions. The first question is do you have any quotes that you live by or think of? Often you can think about it.

Speaker 2: 40:44

Okay, yeah, um, I'm a Eric, I'm a Eric Thomas fan. Yeah, I love, I love Eric Thomas. I'm a huge Eric Thomas fan, you know, because he came from some of that stuff, right, oh man, I got to think of one of his quotes. Here's it Um, I, oh man, he does have the lion and gazelle one. I've never heard that one. I don't think so. Like he said, in the jungle somewhere there's a lion in the gazelle getting up. What you think is that because they are lying, they don't work as hard, but they do, because they got to catch that gazelle, yeah, and you think the gazelle is like, oh Well, he's just gonna eat me and I'm gonna stay. Well, no, the gazelle got to get up and run. So you ain't got to be a lion, yeah, but you got to get up and work as hard as one.

Speaker 1: 41:40

Yeah, yeah, it reminds me of Like how people who don't know how to box when they watch boxing, yeah right, they're like, oh, it's just people hitting each other. But then when you know how to box and you watch boxing, you're like, yeah, but the other person doesn't want to get hit right, you know, he's like like he's turning his body a certain way, all this stuff, yeah, but just strategy, but just strategy. Yeah, I love that quote because it really highlights that, yeah, it doesn't matter what's happening, you really have to be on it.

Speaker 1: 42:13

Yeah, you got to get up and go. Yeah, I love that. What is something that you believe is crazy? That, or what is one of something that you believe that other people think is crazy?

Speaker 2: 42:31

That don't watch the news. People think I'm crazy. People like, how do you stay on these topics and know this stuff that's coming up and you don't watch the news? Like I don't watch the news because it's just trauma stories.

Speaker 2: 42:41

Yeah it's not necessarily any educational, it's just a bunch of trauma stories. So I don't watch the news. I watch sports only because it doesn't either win or lose and and it's more strategy in the sport of how you lost or how you won Right. So it's actually more strategy and more things you learn and watching those things that people don't believe it. So people think I'm crazy. You watch sports. I was worse because it's more strategy and learning how you either lost that game or how you won that game Right. Then it is and watching the news. So yes, I'm crazy, I'm nuts, I'm full-blown nuts. It's, it's a sad our deal, but I don't. And then they're like how do you stay on these events? I don't, I don't, I don't. You gonna tell me about, that's how I know. And then I know it's coming straight from you and I know it's fact.

Speaker 1: 43:29

I love that's advice I've heard before, but I you know it's. It's good. It's a good, good thing to say what new belief, behavior or habit has both changed, has changed your life recently.

Speaker 2: 43:42

Hmm, new belief or habits change my life. Going to bed early, yeah, it is, and not that you have to go to sleep.

Speaker 2: 43:57

Yeah but it's allowed me to build a routine of just going being in the bed right. So now, since I don't sit down and just snack at night for no reason apparently at all, to put, besides, finish that bag of chips with my freaking fingers, it don't just me, and and you know me, so you know me, so I'm like you know what, it's late enough, I'll go just lay in the bed right, and you know I'll maybe watch a TV or something like that, and then that's kind of. So that's actually changed me, that to Build a routine a little bit different. You know, yeah.

Speaker 1: 44:33

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed or unfocused?

Speaker 2: 44:36

ooh yeah, overwhelming on. Focus is the early morning walk.

Speaker 1: 44:42

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 44:43

I take it early morning walk and I, like I said, my music fans, so out though on like some old soul, yeah, some NDI re some. You know Eric Abadu, they always get you going. You know me, yeah, some of those types, and I'll take a nice little walk in the morning Right before the world gets you. I like watching the world go by, so I'm a I'm a fan of the beach and not a fan of the beach right, like the sand thing, man, it's just like saying it's everywhere, but I love sitting there watching the ocean and listen to the ocean and listen to the world Right just sitting and listen to the world go by.

Speaker 2: 45:19

So when it's stressful like that, it makes you realize there's bigger things in you. Yeah, like this water is gonna move If I'm sitting here or not. Yeah right, I Take a walk. I'm like this stuff, the birds, the stuff is all gonna happen regardless. So it's like, okay, there is something bigger than me, so I don't need to stress out about. This is something.

Speaker 1: 45:43

I love that so much. I'm like what is one book you'd recommend to somebody? Book? If you don't have a book, you could have a movie or well as many movies, yeah both.

Speaker 2: 46:00

You know what? What's his name? My son just got this book. He was given to him. He played basketball and the coach actually gave him a book, which I thought was great. It was a Andre Iga dollars book Warriors oh, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, his book and Just reading about you know His background, where it came from and stuff that he had to get through to get through where he's at. I think that's a it's a great book to get.

Speaker 1: 46:28

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 46:28

Yeah yeah movie wise, let's see. I always point out this one movie that if you haven't seen it it'll trip you out. It's called the life of David Gale. I have never seen that. Yeah, the life of David Gale is one of my. Like it trips you up, like it makes you go. After you finish it you will go back to the whole beginning of the movie and say, oh, I gotta see this again.

Speaker 1: 46:58

Oh, have you seen that movie?

Speaker 2: 47:00

Life of David Gale there you go.

Speaker 1: 47:05

Who's who is somebody, they who you would consider successful, hmm.

Speaker 2: 47:12

Wow, that's a it's a great question right there.

Speaker 1: 47:16

It's a super great question.

Speaker 2: 47:19

You know what success comes in many different shapes of forms right right and I don't, as they say, ball at your level and a success for your level. Any person who was out there Living their passion I find to be successful. I don't care what it is. If you're living your passion, living your thing, to me You're successful. You know me, because the one thing you don't get back is time. So if you're spending your time and something you're passionate about and you're doing that 90% of your time is spent at that then you're successful to me.

Speaker 1: 47:59

Amen. What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Speaker 2: 48:04

Oh, put down the Twinkies. That's right. That's super true. That's so true. I was slapped Twinkies up, man. Um, I would you know what I would say. They say it now, but I don't think people know what that means. When they say Jesus, take the wheel.

Speaker 1: 48:48

Yeah, and.

Speaker 2: 48:50

And that that right there I Ten years ago, here's a while. Ten years ago, prize at ten years ago, all over ten years ago, right I, I've been always trying to move to California. Okay, never in my wildest dreams that I ever think I'll make it here. Right, michigan thing happens. My we're like, ah, we can stay here, I'll build my own business, is no problem, we'll be here, no problem.

Speaker 1: 49:21

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 49:22

My wife great to her and said do you want to keep your career going? I think, well, yeah, but I'll build my own business, I do my own thing, I don't care. She said no, keep going. So a mutual friend said everything you're about, all your things says come to California. Yeah, okay, brilliant, I've heard that before and I'll get there. Yay, uh, and so then you know, they said interview and I interviewed and I dignity health is the reason I came out here right and I still have massive respect for them, even though I'm not there anymore.

Speaker 2: 49:55

But so I'm like they say, come out to California, right, and they bring me the Pasadena right, gorgeous. Look what in the world? This is Crazy, ridiculous, right I'm standing this beautiful hotel, you know me. I'm like this is nuts, right, and and the funny thing about that is like we came from Michigan, right.

Speaker 2: 50:17

Yeah so I'm. They had a rooftop deck pool and so I'm swimming in it and then security guy comes to me. He's like dude, you okay, yeah, I'm fine man, what's going on? He's like dude because nobody's whims at 70 degree weather. I'm like dude is 30. When I left, man, it's freaking heat wave, but anyway, I do an interview and then I said thank you, you know. And I go back to Michigan and I'm like you know how many smart people there are before they get to me in Michigan. Right, look at, count the states. Yeah, there's a bunch of people before they get to me, all on the East Coast.

Speaker 1: 50:44

Yeah, like they ain't gonna happen.

Speaker 2: 50:46

And we sat in the car, me and my wife driving, and she said but what if it does? What? What, what we, what we need? I said it would have to be this amount of money. Yeah, they'd have to. Let me do you know this. And it have to be like that right, like I'm not moving. If it ain't okay, how about that? No, huh, smart woman Right right in the car, okay, I Wanted to take my time and bring my wife out there.

Speaker 2: 51:14

She's just take the wheel, you understand. You put it out and that's what. And we're like, I'm like, I'm like, do you? I'm like a defoncate. She's like so we think they offered this, so what? And they're gonna do this, and they're gonna do this. Yeah, and see, and they want you to come out, what? So we go out, me and my wife come out, and they take us and we're outside of LA and like Ventura, by the beach, you know that. And they put us and we're like, no way, and we meet all these people. I'm like, you know, dude, I'm not gonna hire me, I'm telling you they're not. This is, this is fake.

Speaker 2: 51:54

Yeah it's just like honey. They offered you all this stuff and then she's like you want to turn this down? Look what we're Said. Okay, I guess we're moving to California.

Speaker 2: 52:03

We've been here since oh and so when people ten years ago of just Believing yeah and putting it out there and truly knowing, like you know me like let it go, don't, it's already handled for you, it's already in the works. You've been working on it. You even know, yeah, and then the work. I came out here, which is so crazy. I said it was like letting the line out of the cages, everything. You let me hear I'm there's a lot of line occasion. I'm gonna go nuts and I'm gonna do. We're gonna do some wall stuff and we did a lot of stuff of the dust, get stuff for dignity, you know, and it was cool, right, and but it was all the stuff that I was so hard trying to make happen. Yeah, the walls are blocked up. That these cats was like I want it. So you felt like you belong.

Speaker 2: 52:52

Yeah you felt like this thing and it felt like the person who said everything you want to be, everything you can right in California. That's crazy.

Speaker 2: 53:00

So as man so ten years ago, is like, hey, man, let Jesus take the wheel. Man, you've already got it. So I've been here. I mean the funny thing about me being a CEO of this organization I was like I never wanted to be a CEO of anything, right, like I was gonna be CEO. That's too much drama, yeah, I mean, like I, I'd be the second guy be CEO. I can do that, you know, I mean, but it was like you got to learn these different lessons, right, yeah, and you learn these different spots and these different things. Man, so many different stories I can say about you know, jesus taking the wheel and what we've been doing these last ten years. It's been nuts. And so I am where I'm at and I'm, like I said, I'm blessed to be where I'm at Doing what I'm doing. I mean, like it's crazy, I Own a home in California, man, right, like I own a home, like are you kidding me? Yeah, right, like I own a home, kept like, who? Like what? Right, it's people who grew up here don't even own.

Speaker 2: 53:53

Right, yeah, most people right so I'm like dude, that's what I'm saying like it's been these, these crazy blessings along this pathway man, I've been fortunate to be a part of it and and that's what's it that that ten years ago like chill out.

Speaker 1: 54:08

Man, I love that. Here's the last question for this part, and then we have two silly questions. Okay, this one's what's the worst advice you've ever received.

Speaker 2: 54:20

No, the worst advice I've probably received, you know me, was you can do it without anybody. So, yeah, that's probably worse advice. It's like, you know, I mean like, and you know they're homie, they want to have your back, you know, I mean, they want to have your, they're your guy, they're your people, right, and they have your back and they have the most intentions, but it's, it's a foulless, right. They tell you, you know me, oh, you don't need them, people, you don't need them, you don't need that, you don't need that. No, you need everybody, I think, to figure out which way I can utilize that person in the positive way. Right, right, I need them all, you, I mean. And the more I have around me, the more successful I'm gonna be, and and so that advice of like you don't need these people and you don't need now, you don't need the drama, you don't need the headache, you don't need the stress, but you don't need somebody.

Speaker 1: 55:20

Nah yeah, right, yeah, that's excellent advice, like what you're saying right, yeah. Yeah, it's funny this question. When I ask most of my guests, they always Tell me you know this person has good intentions. Ah, you know, isn't that interesting. Like this person is who gave me this advice. Like loves me.

Speaker 2: 55:45

Oh, they're out of love. You know what I mean, yeah.

Speaker 1: 55:47

Yeah, I think that's really interesting is that some of the worst advice people get are from people who are trying to help.

Speaker 2: 55:58

They're trying to help you and they just say you some stuff, because I think they're trying to figure out ways to cheer you up. Yeah versus giving you advice.

Speaker 2: 56:06

Yeah right, because if you're true, like you're, like your true person takes a step back and go, I'm gonna tell you ain't gonna like what I'm gonna say, yeah right, you might not like what I'm gonna say, but I'm gonna tell it to you, right, and you're, and you're a person who's right to die with you. They just like dude. You gonna feel better fuck now Like yes yes, there's a bit of that in there, but I need the advice I need at this point.

Speaker 1: 56:29

I need some different advice right, yeah, oh my gosh, I love it. Okay, so this last question, or the last two questions, okay, I'm kind of like okay, santa Cruz questions.

Speaker 2: 56:38

Oh right.

Speaker 1: 56:39

So first question is what is your astrology sign and you resonate with it.

Speaker 2: 56:46

Yeah, I'm a Gemini, okay right, and in the morning Cherry, in the afternoon I might be, I might be somebody else. I mean it's probably two.

Speaker 1: 56:59

it's too sad to me, you know like it, like the Listening to all the trap music right in the car.

Speaker 2: 57:05

Yeah, being the professional right, yeah, it's like I'm in the trap music.

Speaker 1: 57:08

I'm like I was like okay.

Speaker 2: 57:11

Right, and then I get out like no, no, sir.

Speaker 1: 57:13

How can I help you today?

Speaker 2: 57:15

Right, so yes, I am I resonate with.

Speaker 1: 57:18

you're just a diverse, I'm a diverse individual and it comes to that deal.

Speaker 2: 57:22

Yes, I have have that right, you know me, so I love it. I mean, yeah, I got a couple of sides of me, yeah.

Speaker 1: 57:28

and then the second one is if you had a power animal, what would it be?

Speaker 2: 57:33

Power animal that would give you, like confidence, motivation, that kind of thing that you would have been one of my entire life and it's been for my dad and it's been an eagle, oh, okay, so he used to wear these eagle necklaces, right, yeah, and when he passed away he gave them. Before he passed away, he gave them to me and it's been in my life ever since. So the eagle, but out of doubt.

Speaker 1: 57:52

Oh, that's beautiful. There's actually a bald eagle and a ptos.

Speaker 2: 57:55

Yeah, yeah, so the eagle has been, yeah, been the deal.

Speaker 1: 57:59

Yeah, man, that's beautiful. All right, here's your time for your last words. So in this part, you just tell the world what they want to hear. You give them advice, share about your business, your nonprofit, whatever you want. This is your time, and just give me a thumbs up when you're done, and there we go.

Speaker 2: 58:15

Yeah, well, you know. If you don't know who I am, I work. I'm the CEO of the community health trust and us at the community health trust has been our word is to Help anybody in health and look out for that, irregardless of what's going down. It's been a lot of stuff going around who we are as an organization and what we stand for as an organization, and we always stood for the health and wellness of the whole entire community, irregardless of what's going on. Yeah, what happened with bringing Washingtonville Hospital? We have been very instrumental in bringing that to fruition. I mean, we help fundraise all the money to happen. Or, even though you didn't see our name on anything, we were behind the scenes on all of it, right, and that's that. And for us, health and wellness of the Power Valley includes that hospital. It's not us versus them or them versus us and all that stuff, and all we want to do is continue to try to support the community in any way we can.

Speaker 2: 59:07

And for me personally Look man, I, you know, I mean I'm I Just want to stand up for that. I go to my kids school stuff, I go to all these different things because I want these kids to see a positive black role model in there in this community, all the time doing the right thing. So I try to show up for all these things. I don't make them all, I apologize to you, right, I try to come to them, but the things I try to do is try to show people like this is you know, you could be this if you want to be, put your mind to it, right, and so that's it.

Speaker 2: 59:40

Man Like I'm, I'm here, I want to help, I'm trying to be around, I'm, I'm fun sometimes, if you don't know. You know I mean I got two kids and I try to spend most time in their life because, like I said, the thing you don't get back, it's time. But you know me, I'm working for the people and I love being in where I'm at and working for the people, and that's all I want to do is help.

Speaker 1: 1:00:04

Well, the Andre was an honor to have you on and and I want to get you on again to share the story of kind of the whole thing with the Watsonville Hospital. Yeah yeah, the community health trust. I just I don't know much information about it and we're we're short on time right now, but I think having you back on to just talk about that specific thing would be amazing. Yeah, so, but this has been speak for change podcast. I'm your host, thomas age Pedersen. Thank you so much for listening and have a wonderful day.