Latest / Look Who's Talking / LeShay Johnson - A Day In The Life of a Pathway Specialist
Transcript
- 0:00You are listening to Look Who's Talking.
- 0:20This is Cameron Minter.
- 0:21I am your co-host and the wonderful, wonderful Jessica
- 0:23Coffie.
- 0:30Good morning, good evening, good day, whatever it is for you.
- 0:37Good day.
- 0:38How is it going?
- 0:39So, Cam, it's going.
- 0:40You know, the last time we spoke, I was a little bit under the weather.
- 0:41Yeah.
- 0:42I was a little concerned, though, for real.
- 0:43I was like, I don't want none of them terms.
- 0:44Listen to the last podcast.
- 0:45I was sounding like Darth Vader.
- 0:53Okay?
- 0:54Yeah, I was really concerned about your voice because I was like, you know, it turned out
- 0:59at the end.
- 1:00It's coming back.
- 1:01Yeah, yeah.
- 1:02It's in and out, but you know.
- 1:03And you're still saying it's allergies, huh?
- 1:04Well.
- 1:05Uh-uh.
- 1:06See, you were sick.
- 1:07Okay.
- 1:08I knew it.
- 1:09You had the bubonic plague over here.
- 1:10So I went to the doctor.
- 1:11I went to the doctor the next day.
- 1:12Uh-huh.
- 1:15And it was bronchitis.
- 1:17Oh, okay.
- 1:18That's not contagious.
- 1:19Yeah, no, no.
- 1:20I feel it.
- 1:21It's dealing with asthma and allergies and.
- 1:22You're asthma, baby.
- 1:23I am.
- 1:24Oh, my, me too.
- 1:25I was.
- 1:26Mine's gotten more control over the years, so thank God for that.
- 1:27You know, it's nothing like when summertime hits.
- 1:28Oh, it hits hard.
- 1:29And you get sick.
- 1:30Like, that's the way it is.
- 1:31It's the way it is.
- 1:32It's the way it is.
- 1:33It's the way it is.
- 1:34It's the way it is.
- 1:35It's the way it is.
- 1:36It's the way it is.
- 1:37It's the way it is.
- 1:38It's the way it is.
- 1:39It's the way it is.
- 1:40And you get sick, and you get sick.
- 1:42Like, that's the worst part of the summer.
- 1:43That's the worst.
- 1:44Absolutely.
- 1:45It's just like, no.
- 1:46Absolutely.
- 1:47I don't want this to happen.
- 1:48I understand that completely.
- 1:49So, what's been going on, Cam?
- 1:52Slow motion, slow motion.
- 1:53I am just trying to get myself ready for summer.
- 1:57Uh-huh.
- 1:58Your words, they radiate in my head all the time about getting out and enjoying the summer
- 2:04since summer is my season.
- 2:05You need to hit the streets.
- 2:06I need to get out in them streets.
- 2:07I need to get out in them streets.
- 2:09I need to get busy.
- 2:10And that's what's in my head right now.
- 2:12So what's your plan?
- 2:13Like, what you planning on doing?
- 2:16Right now, baby girl needs a camp.
- 2:18So if y'all know where some good camps are,
- 2:22let me know, because my granddaughter needs one.
- 2:24So things wrapped around keeping her entertained,
- 2:29exercise.
- 2:31She just wants to go walk.
- 2:32We can do that.
- 2:33Go to the park.
- 2:35Hoggies, I don't know if you're familiar with Hoggies.
- 2:37What is that?
- 2:38It's an ice cream place in Georgetown.
- 2:39And it's pretty good.
- 2:40Oh.
- 2:41Yeah.
- 2:41Yeah.
- 2:42So do y'all go there every day?
- 2:44No.
- 2:45No.
- 2:46No.
- 2:47At least once or twice a week.
- 2:50It's summertime, Cam.
- 2:52Yeah.
- 2:53You know, the end of school, whether it's really
- 2:56considered summer or not, that's summertime.
- 2:59You're right.
- 2:59You're absolutely right.
- 3:00You're absolutely right.
- 3:01This is my favorite time of year,
- 3:03because Fayette County ended school yesterday.
- 3:07Traffic.
- 3:07Traffic.
- 3:08I knew it.
- 3:09Yes.
- 3:09Traffic.
- 3:10I get to work in five minutes.
- 3:14I love it.
- 3:14Well, maybe 10.
- 3:16I love it.
- 3:16Whereas when school starts, first it starts with UK.
- 3:20Then when public schools go, it takes me 30 minutes
- 3:25to get to work.
- 3:26I get you.
- 3:26I get you.
- 3:27I completely understand that.
- 3:2830 minutes to drive 11 miles.
- 3:29I love that the traffic is better.
- 3:33Yeah.
- 3:34I love it.
- 3:34Love it.
- 3:35This is the time where now I put my sunroof back.
- 3:40I blast my music.
- 3:41There it is.
- 3:42My hair is flowing.
- 3:43You know, when I think of summertime,
- 3:45what song comes to mind for me?
- 3:46Summer, summer, summertime.
- 3:48That is exactly what I was going to sing.
- 3:50That's my jam.
- 3:52Now, that's the ultimate summer song.
- 3:54Exactly.
- 3:54What would be summer song number two?
- 3:56You have one?
- 3:58It would be something like I would go real old school.
- 4:02Like, you know.
- 4:05You've answered it.
- 4:07OK.
- 4:07There is no other summer song.
- 4:09OK.
- 4:10That, the Will Smith, Jazzy Jeff.
- 4:12Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- 4:14That's just the ultimate summer song.
- 4:15But you know, you can't miss where Earth went in fire.
- 4:18Come on.
- 4:18What song?
- 4:22That got me all year round, though.
- 4:23Exactly.
- 4:24That's what I'm saying.
- 4:25But I associate that type of music with family reunion,
- 4:33summer.
- 4:34You know.
- 4:36Speaking of, it's summertime.
- 4:37Do y'all have a family reunion?
- 4:39We do.
- 4:39And I am going to get to know my family.
- 4:43I'm going to get to know my family.
- 4:45I am going to get to know my family.
- 4:48Does that mean you usually don't go?
- 4:49I usually don't go.
- 4:52I usually don't.
- 4:53And now they're going to Charlotte.
- 4:54I'm like, god, Ali, that's a grip.
- 4:56Go to Carolina?
- 4:57Yeah, yeah.
- 4:59You'll have a good time.
- 5:00I know, but my pockets, King, they
- 5:03got to match this good time.
- 5:04You're going to have a good time.
- 5:06OK.
- 5:06Are you going to go, Cam?
- 5:08I'm going to try.
- 5:09That means no.
- 5:11That means no.
- 5:12I'm going to try.
- 5:13I got to see how much it's going to cost me, man.
- 5:15I got to see.
- 5:16YOLO?
- 5:18Yeah.
- 5:19You know what that means?
- 5:20I don't know.
- 5:21It means pay the electric bill or go to the trip
- 5:24and come back and get it.
- 5:25You only live once.
- 5:27All right.
- 5:27We'll come back.
- 5:28Spend that money.
- 5:30Have no electricity.
- 5:32But we had a good old time.
- 5:33That's all that matters.
- 5:35Light a candle.
- 5:36Right.
- 5:36I'll feel you until that food is gone.
- 5:39OK.
- 5:40OK.
- 5:41I digress.
- 5:42Let's take a coffee break.
- 5:48What?
- 5:49Whoa.
- 5:51I'm in the wrong show.
- 5:55OK.
- 6:01So for today's coffee break, I want to let you all know,
- 6:05even when it gets tiring, exhausting,
- 6:09and absolutely excruciating, please remember this.
- 6:13Your hard work will pay off.
- 6:16Keep at it, and it will.
- 6:19Basically, don't give up.
- 6:20I feel like all my coffee talks about don't give up.
- 6:22Well, I mean, you know, if it is what it is, it is.
- 6:26It is what it is.
- 6:27You used a bunch of large double syllable words.
- 6:31So excruciating.
- 6:32I mean, come on.
- 6:33I'm going to have to look some more stuff.
- 6:35You know what?
- 6:36Because sometimes we go through growing pains
- 6:39to get to the next level.
- 6:41And it's important that you remember,
- 6:44no matter how hard it gets, like you can't give up,
- 6:48keep on pushing.
- 6:50And whatever that result will be, it will be well worth it.
- 6:55And it is important to go through it.
- 6:58I mean, nobody wants to go through anything.
- 7:01We would rather miss it, rather get away from it.
- 7:06But some of our roughest situations
- 7:09shape us, mold us into who we are.
- 7:11So yeah, we can't quit.
- 7:13Absolutely.
- 7:14And you know what?
- 7:15When you just said that, that made
- 7:17me think about community action.
- 7:18It made me think about Head Start.
- 7:20Roughest situations.
- 7:21OK?
- 7:22Because in 1965, there were some things happening.
- 7:26You're absolutely right.
- 7:27And what has come out of segregation and things
- 7:32like that, blossom programming to help others.
- 7:37But there were so many along the way that went through
- 7:41some excruciating times.
- 7:42You're right about it.
- 7:43I mean, if they would have quit.
- 7:45Man.
- 7:46We wouldn't be here dealing with these things today.
- 7:49Exactly.
- 7:50That's a great lesson.
- 7:52Great lesson.
- 7:52I love it.
- 7:53I love it.
- 7:53I like it.
- 7:54I love it.
- 7:55Hoo.
- 7:57What is our show about today?
- 7:59So our show today is, you know what?
- 8:03We are going to take a walk in the life of a pathway
- 8:08specialist, AKA family staff.
- 8:10OK.
- 8:10AKA our special guest for today is Lashay Johnson.
- 8:18And she works here at Community Action
- 8:22with the Head Start program.
- 8:23She is what I call, like, she's the person I call on that
- 8:30if I want something extra.
- 8:32Oh, she's your extra.
- 8:33Yeah.
- 8:34I'm glad we found out the source.
- 8:36Yeah.
- 8:36She's a person.
- 8:39She is great.
- 8:40She's an innovative thinker, very creative.
- 8:43Very creative.
- 8:44And she goes hard for her families.
- 8:47All right.
- 8:48So Lashay works at the Russell School.
- 8:52And she is a pathway specialist there.
- 8:54How are you doing?
- 8:57Welcome, Lashay.
- 8:58Glad to have you on the show.
- 9:00So glad to see you.
- 9:03I've worked with Lashay several times.
- 9:06So we're going to be good today on the show, Lashay.
- 9:09We're going to be good.
- 9:10Yeah.
- 9:10But you know what?
- 9:11Lashay reminds me.
- 9:13You ever watch Scandal?
- 9:15Yeah.
- 9:16Olivia Pope.
- 9:17Yeah.
- 9:17And she has a team.
- 9:18Uh-huh.
- 9:19That's Lashay.
- 9:20And Lashay's one of the, Lashay might be Hook.
- 9:23OK.
- 9:24OK.
- 9:24Oh.
- 9:25She might be, she's like the secret weapon.
- 9:29Yeah.
- 9:30OK.
- 9:31I like it.
- 9:31I'll take that.
- 9:32You take that.
- 9:33You remember Hook?
- 9:34Yes.
- 9:35She was the secret weapon then.
- 9:37I was like, graduation's coming.
- 9:39Oh, right.
- 9:40And we need decor.
- 9:41Right.
- 9:42Right.
- 9:43What you got?
- 9:44Because this is what I want.
- 9:45Yeah, and it was fantastic.
- 9:47Great job on that.
- 9:48Just giving you kudos.
- 9:49Thank you.
- 9:49I appreciate it.
- 9:50You had a good time doing it.
- 9:51It was fun.
- 9:52I know it was a lot of work.
- 9:53I know it was a lot to get together.
- 9:55But the end result was fantastic.
- 9:58And our kids, they felt fantastic.
- 10:02They felt really appreciated.
- 10:04And they grabbed them roses and those flowers and signs
- 10:11and stuff.
- 10:11It was just great.
- 10:12It was a great time.
- 10:13So Lashay, tell us about, to our viewers,
- 10:18we might have some Head Start families, some families that
- 10:22are not Head Start.
- 10:23Tell them about your role in Head Start and what you do.
- 10:27My role as a Head Start Pathway specialist
- 10:30is to help families become self-sufficient.
- 10:32When I first meet the parents, during enrollment,
- 10:35I explain my process and my relationship
- 10:38that they'll need to build with me outside of the teachers
- 10:40and the center manager.
- 10:43When I say become self-sufficient,
- 10:45I'm saying providing them with different resources that's
- 10:48local, that's free, or just pushing them
- 10:50and giving them that motivation that they need to get
- 10:53to the next step in their life.
- 10:55So this isn't a job where, say, if you don't like people,
- 11:02it ain't the job for you.
- 11:05Because what it sounds like is building a relationship.
- 11:09It really is.
- 11:09And you just don't realize that there's
- 11:11so many different walks of life.
- 11:12And I really learned about culture
- 11:15when I became a Pathway specialist
- 11:18and to have sympathy for different people
- 11:22and be more chill and just understanding and realize,
- 11:27kind of like a therapist in a certain kind of way.
- 11:30So every family is different, and every situation
- 11:33is different, but you just got to be a listening ear
- 11:36to understand them, to build that relationship,
- 11:38to push them forward.
- 11:39You have to keep up on the programs and things, too,
- 11:42that we offer so that you can be like, oh, you're
- 11:45having trouble here.
- 11:46We've got assistance here.
- 11:48We can do this.
- 11:50Without giving us any names, of course.
- 11:52But is there a special moment that you
- 11:54remember working with a family that really produced
- 11:58some great results for you?
- 11:59Oh, yes.
- 12:00My favorite one out of all of them,
- 12:02I had a family that was actually homeless
- 12:04and was living in an abandoned house out west end.
- 12:07And back then, we had fours of different donations came in.
- 12:11We ended up, they were actually allowed
- 12:14to stay in there because they had been there so long.
- 12:16I was trying to find them housing
- 12:17where they could be in an apartment with their name
- 12:19on the lease, but they were allowed to stay there.
- 12:21The person who actually owned the property
- 12:23knew that they were there, but they just
- 12:25weren't going to be responsible.
- 12:26So they ended up turning it into a lease situation.
- 12:29But they didn't have the funding to put into it.
- 12:31But we got them brand new carpet.
- 12:33We got the walls painted.
- 12:35There was mold in the house that got removed.
- 12:37Weatherization came in.
- 12:39That was probably my favorite.
- 12:40We got furniture.
- 12:42That was probably my favorite.
- 12:44And that was about eight years ago.
- 12:47And I'll never forget it.
- 12:48And I literally got to help paint the walls and everything.
- 12:51Do you stay connected with the families?
- 12:56The kids are now in middle school and high school.
- 12:58And she had eight.
- 12:59Wow.
- 13:00Wow.
- 13:02That's impressive.
- 13:03That's impressive.
- 13:04So it's building relationships.
- 13:06I mean, because I will assume that where you work,
- 13:12you see some people at their lowest.
- 13:15Oh, yes.
- 13:15Oh, yes.
- 13:16And you're able to help come out of that darkness.
- 13:20You know what I'm saying?
- 13:21So that's life changing.
- 13:22That's life changing.
- 13:23It is.
- 13:24And even that, I could see people at the medium
- 13:26where they feel like they're doing great.
- 13:28But like I always tell them, there's always room
- 13:30for advancement.
- 13:31Don't stop where you're at.
- 13:32Keep going.
- 13:33Keep pushing.
- 13:33So they can come in with an associate's degree
- 13:36and just feel like everyone's going through inflation
- 13:39right now.
- 13:39So I'm like, hey, go back to school.
- 13:41There's grants here.
- 13:43Take it.
- 13:43Push.
- 13:44Keep pushing.
- 13:44Because you can do it.
- 13:45That's just a little bit of motivation, like a friendship.
- 13:48So what do you have to do to stay
- 13:49connected with the resources?
- 13:51Right, because that's a lot.
- 13:52That's a lot to remember.
- 13:53Build relationships in the community.
- 13:55Go to their events.
- 13:57Get a stay on the phone.
- 13:59Answer emails constantly.
- 14:01And just be involved in the community.
- 14:04Where I'm on Toner Street out east end.
- 14:06So if there's an event going on that does not pertain to us,
- 14:09I'll go.
- 14:10Because that's how you build relationships.
- 14:12Yeah, so it's kind of your position
- 14:14is kind of twofold to where you're building relationships
- 14:17with the families.
- 14:19But you also have to build it with the community
- 14:22in order to know what's available for the family.
- 14:25Right.
- 14:25Gotcha.
- 14:26And then you'd be surprised.
- 14:26Some families that I've helped, they may become business owners.
- 14:29Well, they have that relationship with me.
- 14:31So they always come back and tell me.
- 14:32So I'm able to push those resources, too.
- 14:35So it's like a big circle.
- 14:36It all goes back around.
- 14:38So tell me, usually, the Prep Academy at Russell
- 14:44has some of the biggest family engagement events.
- 14:48How do you all work together to come up with the ideas
- 14:53and what you all will be presenting to your families?
- 14:57Over the years, basically, we kind of get that feel
- 15:00when we first meet the parents and let them know
- 15:02what we got going on.
- 15:03They kind of tell me a little bit,
- 15:05and I let them know about the family partnership agreement
- 15:08that we do.
- 15:08And they let me know their goals and what their needs are.
- 15:11Now, what's a family partnership agreement?
- 15:13What is it?
- 15:14It's a family goal that each family as a household,
- 15:18the parent decides to come up with that's
- 15:20going to help them advance.
- 15:21OK.
- 15:22So they set their own goals.
- 15:23They do set their own goals.
- 15:25So from those, those are tied into our,
- 15:28which is called our PR reports.
- 15:30And that's how we tie into our engagements.
- 15:34And we go from there.
- 15:35So we may like, one of our PR is mental health.
- 15:39And one of them is also health records and things like that.
- 15:45So if we have an event, I'll have someone come out
- 15:47that could assist with giving free resources to a primary care
- 15:55or dental clinic, things like that.
- 15:58Well, we're going to take a quick break.
- 16:00But Russell is known for his activities.
- 16:03He's known for his events.
- 16:05So we're going to talk a little bit more
- 16:07about that with LaShane.
- 16:09You're listening to Look Who's Talking.
- 16:11This past year has highlighted the strength of Community Action
- 16:25Council.
- 16:25Every day, our staff works together
- 16:28to help families recover from this crisis.
- 16:30We're educating children at home and in person,
- 16:33helping parents who lost their jobs,
- 16:35and helping households avoid eviction.
- 16:38Our work at Community Action Council
- 16:39has never been more important than it is right now.
- 16:42So why not join us?
- 16:44We have employment opportunities requiring a range of skills
- 16:47from entry level to advanced.
- 16:48Apply online at commaction.org.
- 16:53Community Action Council's Head Start programs
- 16:55are now enrolling for the 24, 25 school year in 15 counties,
- 16:59including Lexington.
- 17:00Head Start offers high quality early childhood education
- 17:03for qualifying families with children
- 17:05between the ages of six weeks and five years old.
- 17:08Spaces are limited and filling up quickly.
- 17:10So to help ensure your child receives the Head Start
- 17:12advantage this year, start your application today
- 17:15by calling 859-233-4600 or go online at commaction.org.
- 17:22That's C-O-M-M, action.org.
- 17:26And you are listening to Look Who's Talking.
- 17:55And we are here with Ms. Lashay Johnson.
- 17:59She is one of the pathway specialists
- 18:01here at Community Action Council for the Head Start program,
- 18:06specifically working at the Prep Academy at Russell School.
- 18:11So Lashay, before we were talking about some
- 18:15of the events that you all have, or specifically why
- 18:19you have certain events, tell us about getting families
- 18:23involved, specifically fathers, what you all do.
- 18:27I feel like nowadays, when I first started,
- 18:30I feel like it's made a big turn.
- 18:31Men want to be more involved now.
- 18:35I feel like we just had an event that was our Donuts with Dad.
- 18:39And we had a guy who didn't live in the same state as his daughter.
- 18:42He drove four hours from Michigan to make that.
- 18:44And we started at 8 30 in the morning.
- 18:47So he got up at nighttime to get there to get there
- 18:49to be with his baby.
- 18:51And then the conversations in the classroom with all the parents,
- 18:54with just the men being there with their children, it was great.
- 18:57We had fathers wiping other kids' noses, just helping out.
- 19:00So any time we could have any male involvement, they come.
- 19:05They love coming to Russell to do it.
- 19:07I've had parents come in and read to the children
- 19:09and ask if they can come read to the children.
- 19:11I feel like we have a big participation when it comes
- 19:15to our male fathers in Russell.
- 19:17Y'all usually have this event called Ty the Night.
- 19:20Can you talk a little bit about that?
- 19:21Ty the Night was created by Miss Deb Tischner.
- 19:25Tischner, I think her concept was it was to get men involved
- 19:31in the community to come in and see a male older person dressed
- 19:36in a suit and tie the knot together.
- 19:39So it's gotten bigger and bigger over the years.
- 19:42You have to come to our next one, Cam, and tie a knot with you.
- 19:47You know I've been to all of them, really.
- 19:49Because if I'm not there tying a tie,
- 19:51I'm there taking some pictures.
- 19:53And you know what?
- 19:54I think Ty the Night was probably
- 19:57one of my first experiences.
- 19:58Not together.
- 20:00So it's gotten bigger and bigger over the years.
- 20:03You had to have a male-focused engagement event.
- 20:06And ever since then, I've noticed how many fathers
- 20:12want to actually be involved.
- 20:14It's not something that they'll choose not to do.
- 20:19Most fathers will choose to participate.
- 20:22And I think that's something great.
- 20:24I think in Russell, I think that's a culture that you all
- 20:28are evolving with your fathers.
- 20:30We are.
- 20:30And I feel like there's no judgment there.
- 20:33And that carefree zone, it's a safe space for them.
- 20:37Because we've heard different conversations with mother.
- 20:40They feel that the dad's not involved.
- 20:42But anytime we put something out for a father, they're coming.
- 20:46And it's been really receptive.
- 20:48And we love it.
- 20:49Even with that event, everybody doesn't know how to tie a tie
- 20:53when they're there.
- 20:54And so some of the other guys, we
- 20:56help the other guys learn how to tie a tie.
- 20:58I mean, so there's a little session
- 21:02where we're talking amongst ourselves.
- 21:04We're learning.
- 21:05We're networking.
- 21:06And in those moments, we teach another man how to tie a tie.
- 21:11So when the babies come in, boom.
- 21:13You know what I'm saying?
- 21:14So I love that.
- 21:16And that's generally how men work.
- 21:18I mean, we're going to come together.
- 21:20We're going to do what we can do to help us all exceed.
- 21:24So that's wonderful.
- 21:25That's wonderful, they are doing that.
- 21:26And at that event, we have also had a community member
- 21:30that taught a father how to tie a tie there.
- 21:32Actually, it was my son's dad.
- 21:34He didn't know how to tie a tie.
- 21:35Everybody don't know how to do that.
- 21:37You'd be surprised.
- 21:38They were just grateful to have that opportunity.
- 21:41And then at the same time, we had other different programs
- 21:43and other resources there at that event as well, too.
- 21:45So the fathers were able to sign up for CDL programs,
- 21:49our 24-7 Dad program.
- 21:51So it was a lot of different resources and a positive time
- 21:55while you were doing it and your children with you.
- 21:58So one of the things that keeps coming up from me, from you,
- 22:01is you are very engaged in what we're doing.
- 22:05You have to stay connected to all the different programs.
- 22:09You have to stay knowledgeable.
- 22:12You know what I'm saying?
- 22:13Because one thing I know about Community Action Council
- 22:15since I've been here, we change.
- 22:18We change all the time.
- 22:21Probably every 30 minutes.
- 22:22Right.
- 22:23And even some of the programs that we used to offer
- 22:26or have done in the past, the grant may expire.
- 22:30It may read.
- 22:31Or the requirements are different.
- 22:33So staying abreast is something.
- 22:36What would you tell a new staff member coming in?
- 22:40Because I think you probably do some trainings, too.
- 22:43So what would you tell them about how
- 22:46to be successful at the job that you're doing?
- 22:49Coming in, I basically.
- 22:51That's a good question.
- 22:52Listen up, y'all, because it's going to be on the exam.
- 22:54We're doing a lot of training.
- 22:56Coming in, I basically explain the program.
- 22:58And I ask them why they came here.
- 22:59And basically, coming in here, you've
- 23:01got to have an open mind.
- 23:02You've got to want to be able to change people's lives.
- 23:05You want to be involved.
- 23:06You've got to have realized that every day is not the same.
- 23:10Some people want that same job, the repetitive job
- 23:14all the time.
- 23:15But this isn't that environment.
- 23:17Tomorrow is definitely different from today.
- 23:20You might be putting a fire out one day.
- 23:22You just never know.
- 23:23Woo!
- 23:26But I have that conversation.
- 23:28And I just tell them, just bear with it.
- 23:30And everyone's friendly.
- 23:31Everyone's like family.
- 23:32We all take care of each other.
- 23:34And just like we take care of our participants,
- 23:36we take care of each other.
- 23:37So if you ever have a question, feel
- 23:39free to come see me, email me, call me, text me,
- 23:41whatever you want to do.
- 23:43Kam, I think one thing that puts Lashay
- 23:46a part of other people in the position
- 23:50is she incorporates her passion.
- 23:53So it's not just you doing, oh, this is my job.
- 23:56From the job description, we're going to do this, this, this,
- 24:00and this, and that's it.
- 24:01No, she puts her heart and soul into you.
- 24:05Try to reimagine it.
- 24:06Exactly.
- 24:07And I know that Lashay likes decorating.
- 24:12So because I know her passion, I'm
- 24:15going to be like, look, you know,
- 24:17on that job description when it says other duties has a sign,
- 24:20I need you to help me.
- 24:25And I feel like, in a way, there's
- 24:29ways that we are alike because I know
- 24:32that she's a creative person.
- 24:34And I'm an innovative person.
- 24:36Those people go together.
- 24:38We understand each other.
- 24:40Now, Lashay might be like, can I spend $10,000?
- 24:43No.
- 24:45No.
- 24:46But you can spend eight.
- 24:49But I think, again, with the position she's in,
- 24:54it's so crucial that you understand
- 24:59that you have to have great relationships with people.
- 25:02And how you interact with people can
- 25:06literally affect where they're going in life.
- 25:10Absolutely.
- 25:10Because it just takes one bad day for someone
- 25:13to just fall off the map.
- 25:16I've got a question.
- 25:17This is more personal.
- 25:18So with all the things that you are knowledgeable about,
- 25:22how has being here changed your personal life?
- 25:25Now, you said you encourage people to do more.
- 25:30What has that rubbed off on you?
- 25:33Oh, of course.
- 25:35Before I came into Community Action, I used to own my own
- 25:37child care center.
- 25:38So I had kids.
- 25:39And it's kind of hard because you get those daycare
- 25:41kids when you own your center.
- 25:42But once I got in, I came in kind of strong
- 25:45because I had good recruitment skills
- 25:47and I already had a relationship in the community.
- 25:50But changing me, it made me slow myself down.
- 25:53Because straight after high school,
- 25:54I went straight into business mode.
- 25:56And hey, I had the resources.
- 25:58I was able to go ahead and open a business.
- 26:00But I'm able to enjoy myself and still keep
- 26:03advancing at the same time.
- 26:05You can still do everything.
- 26:07And you're saying you only live once.
- 26:10But you still got to have that drive to keep pushing forward.
- 26:15So I've learned to just take things at a time
- 26:18and speak my mind sometimes.
- 26:20But I've definitely enjoyed the ride.
- 26:25Good deal.
- 26:25What would you tell someone who is possibly
- 26:32coming to Russell to look at this Child Development Center,
- 26:36kind of contemplating, should I put my kid in this Child
- 26:40Development Center?
- 26:43What makes them great?
- 26:45Why Russell's great?
- 26:46Wait a minute.
- 26:47What she saying?
- 26:48What she saying?
- 26:48What she saying?
- 26:49Why Russell's great?
- 26:50What?
- 26:51She said that fast.
- 26:52I did.
- 26:53I did.
- 26:53I always start off, you know you're
- 26:54going to eat good over here at Russell.
- 26:56We eat really good.
- 26:57You might put a little pound on her too.
- 26:58But we eat good at Russell.
- 27:00But I always say we're family oriented, smaller centers,
- 27:06smaller classrooms.
- 27:07So you get that intimate feel that you need in child care.
- 27:11Because some of a lot of people don't
- 27:12feel good about putting their kid in an educational center
- 27:15and leaving their child, especially at a young age.
- 27:17We're at six weeks to five.
- 27:19So people just, the kids can't communicate.
- 27:22So with there only being eight kids in the early head start
- 27:24classrooms, that's a bonus there.
- 27:27And we all communicate.
- 27:28We're always in the hallway.
- 27:29I'm not sitting behind a desk all day.
- 27:31I may sit at my desk 20 minutes out of the day.
- 27:33I'm running around with my head cut off, talking to parents,
- 27:36talking to, doing what I do best.
- 27:39But I always let them know open door policy.
- 27:42If I can't fix it, my boss is going to fix it.
- 27:44There's so many people you can talk to.
- 27:46And I think that's a win for us at Russell.
- 27:49Shout out to Theo Ware.
- 27:52He's the center manager over there.
- 27:54And just great things are always happening over at Russell.
- 27:58So saying that, I know y'all got some stuff coming up.
- 28:02What's coming up?
- 28:04Yes, we got kind of, we're doing like a laid back environment
- 28:09at Russell on June the 20th.
- 28:10We're going to have a block party.
- 28:12So it's going to be all of our current head start families
- 28:16that are coming in.
- 28:18And then we're also going to be inviting our new head start
- 28:21families that are coming in in August.
- 28:23That way they can come meet and greet and mingle
- 28:26and see how we get down at Russell.
- 28:27We're going to have a lot going on.
- 28:29We're going to have like a basketball tournament
- 28:30with the dads and the children.
- 28:32Spades game.
- 28:33Like fan reunion style.
- 28:35Fan reunion.
- 28:36I'm standing.
- 28:37See, look, look.
- 28:38That's your summer song.
- 28:39That's the summer song.
- 28:41Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- 28:43We're going to have Art on the Move is going to come and join
- 28:45us.
- 28:45DJ Smooth is coming to join us.
- 28:48And we're going to have bubbles, bounce house, everything
- 28:52from the ages all the way down to six months all the way up.
- 28:55Yeah, now I'm going to tell you, if you haven't been
- 28:57to a Russell event, I don't know.
- 28:59It seemed like it's so many folks that they all
- 29:02can't be at Russell.
- 29:03God, Lee.
- 29:05But it's a wonderful experience.
- 29:07They really lay out the red carpet.
- 29:10They want you to feel welcome.
- 29:12And they want you to.
- 29:13All I'm thinking right now is, who bringing the potatoes out?
- 29:17Who brought the potatoes out?
- 29:18Theo.
- 29:21Well, Shea, it's been a pleasure having you on the show.
- 29:26We really appreciate what you do.
- 29:28We really appreciate what you're pouring in to our families.
- 29:33And Lashay, how can, if viewers want to come,
- 29:39say, take a tour of Russell or inquire
- 29:43about getting their child in the Head Start program,
- 29:48let them know how to do that.
- 29:50You can always call me, email me,
- 29:53message me on social media, do a walk in.
- 29:56I don't just do enrollment just for Russell.
- 29:59I do enrollment for everybody in all of our locations.
- 30:01So I don't mind meeting you at that center
- 30:03and having those conversations and giving you a tour.
- 30:05But I'm always open for it.
- 30:07And you can always email me, or you can call the office at 859-554-4350.
- 30:14There it is.
- 30:16What are you going to give this Head Start word of the day?
- 30:18The Head Start word of the day is reunion.
- 30:22Look at that.
- 30:23She's just going to stole y'all.
- 30:25She's going to stole y'all things.
- 30:27Look at that.
- 30:28Reunion is the Head Start highlight word of the day.
- 30:32We thank you for listening to the show.
- 30:34We encourage you to share it.
- 30:36Tell other people about it.
- 30:38You know, we got some good things going on over here.
- 30:40Good things.
- 30:43You are listening to Look Who's Talking.
- 30:46Thank you.