Latest / Our Community, Our Mission / Ep #224 – Compassion and Professionalism: A Conversation with Kim & Miranda

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Ep #224 – Compassion and Professionalism: A Conversation with Kim & Miranda · Our Community, Our Mission

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you, lord, for this day, god, and this time to record this podcast.
• 0:03
  Speaker 1: Lord, thank you for our guests today, lord, their God-just commitment to doing the work that you have called them to do.
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Lord, pray, your blessing over this time and the conversation, and, lord, the listeners that would hear it.
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: Lord, in your holy name, we pray, amen.
• 0:20
  Speaker 2: Hello everybody.
• 0:21
  Speaker 2: You're listening to our Community, our Mission, a podcast of the Topeka Rescue Mission here on Wednesday May 29th of 2024, episode number 224.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: This is Barry Feeker, your host for today, with LaManda Broyles, our Executive Director, and Marion Crable, deputy Director of STUFF.
• 0:37
  Speaker 3: STUFF exactly.
• 0:38
  Speaker 2: Good stuff, good stuff yeah, how are y'all doing?
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: Good, yeah, wonderful, it's been a great day already it.
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: Wonderful.
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: It's been a great day already.
• 0:46
  Speaker 3: It has been, it has been.
• 0:47
  Speaker 3: It's been a joyful day, for sure it has.
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: So I missed last week's podcast and so we cried because you were gone.
• 0:54
  Speaker 2: Well, I cried because I didn't hear you crying.
• 0:56
  Speaker 2: So, but you know I'm back now and you know I'm in rare form and I didn't get to, you know, do my weekly question and answer thing, and so I've got some questions for you, miriam, not me, no, not you.
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: Why not me?
• 1:12
  Speaker 5: Well, this is a special.
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: Why you Because, Miriam, it's Fitness Day.
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: I know.
• 1:18
  Speaker 3: It's Fitness Day, I know, for seniors in high school right.
• 1:23
  Speaker 2: For seniors seniors In high school right what is a senior?
• 1:28
  Speaker 3: A senior?
• 1:29
  Speaker 3: Well, it's a number of things, because you might be in 12th grade, you might be in 16th grade, you might be over a particular age.
• 1:41
  Speaker 2: You might be like your last year of college until you go on for your master's.
• 1:44
  Speaker 2: Isn't that 16 years?
• 1:46
  Speaker 3: Yeah, that's grade 16, isn't it.
• 1:47
  Speaker 3: I was pretty sure I did the math right.
• 1:50
  Speaker 3: I didn't major in mathematics when I was in college.
• 1:52
  Speaker 3: I majored in people stuff.
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: People stuff.
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: Anyway, it's National Senior Health and Fitness Day.
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: That's why, Miriam, I asked you about this day.
• 2:01
  Speaker 3: Why would that be?
• 2:01
  Speaker 3: Because you are senior member of the rescue mission.
• 2:07
  Speaker 3: Keep digging, Barry Just keep digging.
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: I think we're going to move on to the next topic.
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: It's also known this day, on May 29th, is World Otter Day.
• 2:18
  Speaker 3: It is.
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: Amanda, we're going to go to you now.
• 2:20
  Speaker 2: Oh wonderful, what is it that you, otter, be doing today?
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: Josh, haven't we had otter day before?
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: Are we completely a whole year later?
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: It's possible?
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: We've been doing this a while, Is this?
• 2:33
  Speaker 3: There are no new days.
• 2:34
  Speaker 4: Otter day, what otter choice do?
• 2:36
  Speaker 2: we have Otters are otterfurs.
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: Otter are beautiful, playful animals that live in the wetlands across the world.
• 2:44
  Speaker 2: Now, that's important to know.
• 2:46
  Speaker 3: I do love otters.
• 2:47
  Speaker 4: I think they're cute.
• 2:48
  Speaker 3: They crack things on their chest, they crack their food.
• 2:51
  Speaker 4: Yeah, I love how they flip over and then swim like on their backs and then go over.
• 2:56
  Speaker 4: They're so cute they are cute.
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: You love wildlife.
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: You got those at your place?
• 2:59
  Speaker 2: No, I don't.
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: You don't have those.
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: No, one day I hope so.
• 3:11
  Speaker 2: And then for some of us seniors it's National Snail Day.
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: Why does that fit in the same day, miriam, of National Senior Health and Fitness Day and National Snail Day?
• 3:15
  Speaker 2: Is that like me trying to get out of bed saying I really ought to get on the treadmill?
• 3:19
  Speaker 3: I think that it has a lot to do with you.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: That's what it is.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: It has a lot to do with you.
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: That's what it is.
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: It has a lot to do with you.
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: Yeah, actually, though.
• 3:24
  Speaker 3: I hate snails.
• 3:25
  Speaker 3: They are yes, they are horrid.
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: Well, this is a day that you can not hate snails anymore, because this is a date and an opportunity to appreciate snails and the benefits these creatures have to offer us.
• 3:38
  Speaker 2: Snails are small, slow animals that cause very little harm.
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: So that is not true.
• 3:44
  Speaker 2: It's not.
• 3:44
  Speaker 2: No, it's not they eat your plants.
• 3:46
  Speaker 3: They eat your flowers.
• 3:48
  Speaker 3: They are horrid.
• 3:49
  Speaker 3: I have never heard you not like a creature.
• 3:51
  Speaker 3: Okay, and it's bad.
• 3:53
  Speaker 3: I probably have times I need to confess because if you lay salt down and they crawl across it, it kills them.
• 4:03
  Speaker 3: I've done that with slugs, but not snails.
• 4:05
  Speaker 5: Same difference.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: It's not national.
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: One has a shell, one doesn't.
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: Now we have National Snail Homicide Day.
• 4:10
  Speaker 3: Oh yeah, that's exactly it.
• 4:12
  Speaker 3: Do you know?
• 4:12
  Speaker 4: I have a pet snail they bubble up.
• 4:14
  Speaker 3: No, you don't.
• 4:15
  Speaker 4: Yes, we do.
• 4:30
  Speaker 2: I mean, it's really my daughter's, but yeah, lives in there with the turtle and the pet snail is turbo.
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: So we're going to devote the rest of this podcast today to the debate on snails are good or bad.
• 4:34
  Speaker 2: They're bad, they're very bad.
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: So we know that.
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: Again, thank you for not crying last time to make me feel like I was missed, but I'm back, and so we do have some really important things to talk about today.
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: So we have a couple of great ladies who are on staff at Topeka Rescue Mission yes, and they've been here for a little bit while, and one for a very long time, but she's not even a senior yet.
• 4:51
  Speaker 2: But so, lamanda, talk about our two ladies and their role and how it's changing.
• 4:59
  Speaker 4: You know, I think Miriam and I have been so excited to do this podcast.
• 5:04
  Speaker 4: No, I think Miriam and I have been so excited to do this podcast.
• 5:07
  Speaker 4: Miriam and I both just have been blessed to have had really great mentors, you know, along our professional careers and personal careers, and it's just been incredible.
• 5:15
  Speaker 4: And so one of the things we love to do is mentorship, and the two ladies that we have on today they're just sponges, just for everything that they soak in and they want to learn.
• 5:27
  Speaker 4: But what's incredible is there is nothing selfish about either one of them.
• 5:32
  Speaker 4: Like they want to learn, they want to do better, they want to be better, one for the Lord, like they just want to be everything that he needs them to be, but also for TRM.
• 5:46
  Speaker 4: I can't already cry, but just their devotion to what we do and their loyalty to our work is impeccable, and so Miriam and I are having so much fun right now, as we're also pulling out our hair, because anytime there's transition, it's hard, so all four of us are juggling so much, but I love both of them, miriam.
• 6:08
  Speaker 3: And they're so tolerant of the two of us, right, yeah?
• 6:12
  Speaker 3: And that says a lot, that's a skill.
• 6:15
  Speaker 3: And that they both wanted to be in these positions that they knew going in were not going to be easy to adapt to.
• 6:22
  Speaker 3: So they are.
• 6:23
  Speaker 3: They have been just wonderful and such an incredible asset.
• 6:27
  Speaker 3: I don't know that they will ever realize exactly how much pressure they take off of yes, lamanda and me, because we can trust them and we know they're going to do the very best possible that they can do and that they will do everything they can to be ahead of us.
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: Right, yeah, they're.
• 6:51
  Speaker 2: They're wonderful.
• 6:52
  Speaker 2: So next week we'll get back to tell you who they are.
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: No, we've run out of time.
• 6:55
  Speaker 2: We have Kim Turley and Miranda Molinaire here today and they are just rock stars at.
• 7:00
  Speaker 2: Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 7:01
  Speaker 2: Kim, we're going to start with you.
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: You have been the executive assistant to the executive director here at Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: Kim, we're going to start with you.
• 7:05
  Speaker 2: You have been the executive assistant to the executive director here at Topeka Rescue Mission and you've done some other roles.
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: Actually, you and I debate a little bit on this.
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: When you actually started the rescue mission, but I believe it was seven, you say it was eight, your goal, and so tell a little bit about your journey and what you've been doing, and then we're going to talk to Miranda here in a second.
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: Yeah, Sorry.
• 7:27
  Speaker 1: Yeah, I've been around the mission.
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: When you say seven, I say eight.
• 7:32
  Speaker 1: I really don't know for sure.
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: You know, at that age I don't know exactly how old- Well, I'm so old now I'm not really sure how old, I know right.
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: So I was blessed to just be around the mission growing up and experience everything.
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: Obviously, I went to Washburn Rule graduated there in 2008.
• 7:49
  Speaker 1: So some people say you could live a sheltered life, but being able to be exposed to what all is around you in your own community at such a young age was very eye-opening.
• 8:02
  Speaker 2: Didn't probably take it in when I was younger, but definitely, looking back and those experiences, you had a unique opportunity because your mom worked here for a long time and your dad worked here and your brother worked here for a little bit too, didn't he?
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: So it was kind of a family thing.
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: Yeah, my mom worked here for just over 20 years or right at 20 years, I forget what it is and then my dad retired and then came here to work here for a little bit as well.
• 8:22
  Speaker 1: But being able to come and just work alongside both my parents at some point or come and spend several Christmases here was really great.
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: And then when I came on staff in 20, almost 10 years ago was that 2014 then In August of 2014, that was a really great experience.
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: I'd worked here for like a summer before that, but that was like just a summer job, one of those things at the age.
• 8:49
  Speaker 1: But then being able to come back here with my husband and he's on staff too, obviously on the podcast.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: He's the guy that makes this happen.
• 8:58
  Speaker 2: Every once in a while, we hear from him.
• 9:00
  Speaker 4: Yeah, the guy behind the curtain Right, he's the guy that prays.
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: Yeah, so it's just been a great experience overall.
• 9:07
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so talk about your different positions that you've had and then the new one that you've been moving into.
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 9:14
  Speaker 1: So I started as a volunteer coordinator and then we made some changes into the department, made it a volunteer department fully and I was assistant director when we had another staff member here and then she left and I took that position as director and then we've kind of just grew that department and that's when we had a bunch of change.
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: We took on net reach and we had mentoring.
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: It was a full bunch of volunteers here.
• 9:38
  Speaker 1: I can't remember how many volunteer hours we had and then COVID hit.
• 9:42
  Speaker 1: That was a very stressful time being a volunteer coordinator and you have no volunteers.
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: So walking through that, walked through that with Miriam.
• 9:51
  Speaker 1: She was overseeing volunteers at that point and it was a very different time to be a volunteer coordinator.
• 9:57
  Speaker 1: And then made some changes later on, after I left for maternity leave, came back, barry asked if he wanted to be his executive assistant.
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: Did not know what that meant at the time, that he was going to step down and retire.
• 10:12
  Speaker 4: He does that sometimes he doesn't give the full thing, just glimpses.
• 10:16
  Speaker 3: Yeah, I don't want to say no, bait and switch, bait and switch, bait and switch.
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: Yeah, so it was really so for me.
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: All of a sudden the bomb dropped.
• 10:25
  Speaker 1: He's like I'm retiring.
• 10:26
  Speaker 1: He's like what does that mean?
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: What does that mean for me?
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: And so then he had told me about LaManda.
• 10:34
  Speaker 1: I met her randomly at a school function.
• 10:37
  Speaker 1: We were doing the map thing.
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: I came out there for media relations and being able to learn Barry and LaManda together was just a great experience in my walk and um experience here at the mission, just seeing Barry's vision and Lamanda's vision and how they really walk beside each other.
• 10:55
  Speaker 1: But they're yet they're so different in the way they lead became um executive assistant.
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: Um lamanda grew that role exponentially because she just had to become who she is today and her role.
• 11:08
  Speaker 1: So and then, um, oh, how long ago was it what?
• 11:14
  Speaker 4: three months ago, five nine years, what it feels like nine years?
• 11:18
  Speaker 4: No, oh my gosh it's.
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: It's fallen by um, lamanda.
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: I never thought about switching roles, so I just love what I do.
• 11:25
  Speaker 1: Lemanda and Miriam were like we had a dream.
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: And I was like what we did.
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: You should take HR, you guys actually sleep.
• 11:34
  Speaker 3: It's probably more of a daydream.
• 11:35
  Speaker 3: I was going to say I think it was a daydream, it was a vision.
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: They just closed their eyes.
• 11:38
  Speaker 1: You know Fascination.
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: Yeah.
• 12:06
  Speaker 1: Could, yeah, which that idea has never made me like run screaming.
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: I didn't like run out the door, so, um, but um, I had taken a class um through LaManda taking over.
• 12:09
  Speaker 2: She um.
• 12:09
  Speaker 1: We have 70 city vision classes I started taking um, we get my associates and eventually my bachelors and, uh, one of the classes I took was HR and the best class I've ever taken.
• 12:11
  Speaker 1: Really enjoyed that one, which some people think that's kind of crazy.
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: But so I took an HR class and so really interests me and I have so far enjoyed my journey.
• 12:16
  Speaker 2: So, lamanda, having a good executive assistant is a gift, and really when you have an organization of this, nature of this size is a gift and really, when you have an organization of this nature, of this size, you've got to have that person, and so I know you appreciated Kim and her role.
• 12:30
  Speaker 2: How hard was that to let her go over to this new role.
• 12:40
  Speaker 4: You know, on one hand I felt like I wanted to hold on to her and not let go, and then, on the other hand, it was the easiest thing because it's not about me, it's about what God has for all of our people.
• 12:48
  Speaker 4: And so a couple of years ago, kim and I went to lunch.
• 12:52
  Speaker 4: We were out on the border, and one of the things I told her was you can never let comfort or complacency with me hold you back, like I, selfishly, would keep you as my assistant the rest of my life.
• 13:06
  Speaker 4: But don't, let me not mentor you like I do everyone else, because you are my person and I want to always make sure I'm pouring into you too.
• 13:16
  Speaker 4: And she was really content with her position, and I was too.
• 13:21
  Speaker 4: But I've always seen in Kim a professionalism that I wasn't sure would just stop with executive assistant, and so I needed to make sure that I didn't thwart anything that the Lord would be doing with her as a wife, a mom.
• 13:41
  Speaker 4: You know I want to support that.
• 13:42
  Speaker 4: So when HR came up, I actually was asleep, believe it or not, woke up at two 30 in the morning and very clearly was like this is what Kim needs to do.
• 13:53
  Speaker 4: And so the next day.
• 13:56
  Speaker 4: You know, normally I would pray about that for several days and then probably process privately with Miriam.
• 14:02
  Speaker 4: And anyways, kim and Miriam and I actually Josh was in there too we were working on some, kim and Miriam and I actually Josh was in there too we were working on some things and out of nowhere I just said, you know, let's talk about the elephant in the room, kim, have you thought about HR?
• 14:16
  Speaker 4: And before Kim could respond, miriam turned around and she goes.
• 14:18
  Speaker 4: I was up last night at 3.30 in the morning thinking about that and I said I was too at 2.
• 14:23
  Speaker 4: 30.
• 14:23
  Speaker 4: And it was so cool because then we just had this conversation with her where she was like, well, I don't feel like I should run from it and I did love my class, and so we just were excited and kind of prayed see where it went.
• 14:38
  Speaker 4: And then the question came of like what was I going to do?
• 14:42
  Speaker 4: And so there's this tall bookshelf type thing in Miriam's office and Miriam was on one side of it, kim was next to me and I said, okay, selfishly, the only way I'm going to say I'm going to do this is if God's calling Miranda to be my person and if God's not calling Miranda to be my person, then we're not doing this.
• 15:00
  Speaker 4: And we all just kind of laughed and Kim said that's exactly who I was thinking, and so it was just incredible.
• 15:08
  Speaker 4: So, on one hand, it has been the hardest thing for me to lose Kim, because when I say she's my person, she's my person.
• 15:14
  Speaker 4: Kim has seen me in some of the successes that God has allowed.
• 15:18
  Speaker 4: Kim has been the reason for some of the successes God has allowed.
• 15:22
  Speaker 4: She has helped me clean up messes.
• 15:24
  Speaker 4: She has helped me love on people who were disgruntled.
• 15:29
  Speaker 4: She has seen it all Right, and so I love that.
• 15:32
  Speaker 4: And so on one hand I was like no, but then, when you know that it's so much bigger than you or anything else, god also just gives you a piece to say I'm working in everyone's lives and you can't stand in the way of that.
• 15:45
  Speaker 2: I want to talk to you in a minute, Miranda.
• 15:46
  Speaker 2: But, Miriam, a lot of people think of a nonprofit and a ministry.
• 15:51
  Speaker 2: Slash both.
• 15:52
  Speaker 2: Is they just go do good things?
• 15:56
  Speaker 3: But this is a business, oh, in every sense of the word.
• 15:59
  Speaker 2: And a business of any size which Topeka Rescue Mission has become over the years, Business of any size which Topeka Rescue Mission has become over the years takes an intentional looking at and managing the human resources piece of this.
• 16:11
  Speaker 2: Yes, and you well know this, You've been in other nonprofit things before and other things like Chamber of Commerce and those kind of things, so you oversee this area.
• 16:22
  Speaker 3: I do.
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: How important was it?
• 16:25
  Speaker 2: It's kind of already been stated.
• 16:27
  Speaker 2: What would it mean to you to have Kim come over into this role?
• 16:31
  Speaker 3: five months ago.
• 16:31
  Speaker 3: It made it so much easier than if it would have been somebody from outside the organization, because Kim and I already have a relationship and so being able to um, talk about things and train on different things is exceptionally simple.
• 16:49
  Speaker 3: That way, right, we already sort of know each other's styles.
• 16:53
  Speaker 3: We already know, um kind of what our perspective is on different things.
• 16:57
  Speaker 3: So it's just been, while it is a complicated transition, it's been a really easy transition in terms of not having to get to know each other.
• 17:06
  Speaker 2: Right and try to teach somebody about the organization itself.
• 17:08
  Speaker 2: Absolutely.
• 17:09
  Speaker 2: Kim obviously knows about this organization.
• 17:11
  Speaker 3: Yes, and Kim is somebody who just dives in Right, so she's fearless.
• 17:16
  Speaker 3: When it comes to technology, when it comes to trying new things, when it comes to picking up the phone and calling to ask questions or coming to me to ask questions, she is fearless and that makes transition so much easier than if I would have to be kind of prodding her or trying to pull information out of her Not necessary.
• 17:37
  Speaker 3: So it's just been, it's been wonderful.
• 17:39
  Speaker 2: So for people who kind of generally understand the term HR, what does HR mean?
• 17:43
  Speaker 2: What does this involve?
• 17:45
  Speaker 2: It's a lot, but what are some of the highlights?
• 17:47
  Speaker 3: Well, it involves everything from hiring to counseling, to training, to termination, to benefits, to different kinds of onboarding situations, trying to make the opportunity that people have when they're first coming onto the mission in terms of employment with the mission, make it as smooth and attractive as possible, and then finding payroll.
• 18:12
  Speaker 3: That always makes people happy if we get that done, but also just kind of understanding what does it take to really help people feel valued and Kim has a heart for making people feel special and that's part of HR as well.
• 18:28
  Speaker 3: So it is broad in terms, especially when you're a one-person department and have 74-ish people that you're trying to keep track of, support, et cetera.
• 18:40
  Speaker 3: It's a big job.
• 18:42
  Speaker 3: It's just a big job and it's critical to the success of the organization.
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: Kim, you've got a lot of experience with TRM as a volunteer and a staff member for the last 10 years or so.
• 18:51
  Speaker 2: You had an opportunity to enroll in City Vision University.
• 18:56
  Speaker 2: You had an opportunity to enroll in.
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: City Vision University.
• 18:57
  Speaker 2: How's that helped you to then expand your educational opportunities or educational needs?
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: And how's it helped to get you equipped for this HR director position?
• 19:13
  Speaker 1: City Vision has a range of classes Miranda has enrolled it as well and we've talked about there's just a level of professionalism and training, hands-on training, that the courses provide you with.
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: We've walked through business communications.
• 19:26
  Speaker 1: I've done the HR, I've done one that was very painful financial accounting.
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: So it was all very beneficial for me in getting a broader range of like a business administration side of things, which kind of falls under a lot of HR areas.
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: So the courses have really been very successful for pushing me forward in how I want to move forward in the organization.
• 19:55
  Speaker 2: For people that don't know what city vision is, what?
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: What is city vision university?
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: it used to be called rescue college.
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: Is that what is what I think was like rescue mission college or something?
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: Um?
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: They did a revamping a couple years ago and it's a?
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: Um.
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: They're based out of kansas city, um, but it's a accredited courses college um university for a full four-year accredited yeah, and they have different tracks that you can go for, and it's basically for people that are in the rescue mission work or those social services type of work, um, and so it's providing those opportunities to individuals that may not got them in otherwise.
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: Um, they can get scholarships through them too and you get certifications, but it's a really great opportunity for missions to dive into for their employees.
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: Originally it was started to be able to equip for rescue mission training for people who were staying in rescue missions.
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: That's where it started and it grew over the years to say, well, if we're training people who stay in a rescue mission, how about the people who work in a rescue mission?
• 20:58
  Speaker 2: And it grew and grew and grew and finally became a full-fledged accredited university today LaManda.
• 21:04
  Speaker 2: It's been important, as an educator yourself, to provide some opportunities for growth of staff, which helps them personally as well as helps the ministry itself.
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: What is this connection that Topeka Rescue Mission has with City Vision University and how does TRM invest in our employees in that way?
• 21:23
  Speaker 4: Yes, you know, I think it's a real blessing of a partnership, because we have all walks of life here on staff, you know, from people who have not yet gotten a GED to people who have multiple degrees, and so what I love about City Vision is it does not matter your ability, your level, your experience, there is something for everyone.
• 21:49
  Speaker 4: And so they have everything on there, from free one hour trainings that we can show to all of our staffs and send the videos out, to master's level courses, and so to me it's really important because, yes, we're all called to the rescue mission from the Lord, but that doesn't mean we're called and then just be stagnant, and so I want people to be able to know you can have a calling and it be a career.
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: How is TRM investing in the employee to be able to go to school?
• 22:24
  Speaker 4: So we have a couple of churches that have partnered with us to give us donations, and so we are able to do a process.
• 22:33
  Speaker 4: People fill out, staff members are able to fill out this little form if they're interested in taking classes, and then we pay for so much of the different classes for everyone.
• 22:44
  Speaker 4: We pay for books, and all of that through the donations that we get.
• 22:50
  Speaker 4: That's pretty awesome, isn't it?
• 22:51
  Speaker 4: Yes, and we also allow you know, we've got four or five right now enrolled in classes, and so we know when it's finals week, and so we try to give them some extra time, encouragement space, whatever they need, so that they are not just having to do schoolwork in their family times, because we have everything from people who are single taking classes to married to moms and dads, and they're juggling it, and you know, our first ministries are always our families, and so anything that we can do where people can do stuff here too and split their time, we want to support that.
• 23:27
  Speaker 2: Darrell Bock.
• 23:28
  Speaker 2: Miranda, you also are involved and enrolled in City Vision and you're the new executive assistant here which I get a chance to now work with you even more like I used to work with Kim because of Compassion Strategies and helping out in that regard.
• 23:41
  Speaker 2: So you didn't start volunteering here when you were seven years old.
• 23:45
  Speaker 2: You came a different way.
• 23:46
  Speaker 2: Tell us about your journey and then what different positions you've held here at TRM.
• 23:50
  Speaker 5: Okay.
• 23:50
  Speaker 5: So I came to the Hope Center in 2018 as a guest, got involved in the SIP program and the Hope Center front desk was my detail.
• 24:02
  Speaker 5: From there, I graduated the SIP program, worked at the Hope Center front desk until 2019, and then I was promoted to intake and record specialist for the guest management team.
• 24:13
  Speaker 5: Then I was promoted to being a case manager, then a housing navigator.
• 24:17
  Speaker 5: Then I switched promoted to being a case manager, then a housing navigator, then I switched over to the administrative assistant position at the distribution center, and I've just learned so many things in each role that have really helped me grow.
• 24:29
  Speaker 2: Kind of typical rescue mission you go from here to here to here other than the executive director.
• 24:33
  Speaker 2: They usually only stay in one spot.
• 24:34
  Speaker 2: But you mentioned the SIT program.
• 24:37
  Speaker 2: You came in as a guest.
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: You enrolled in this that was called Servants in Training.
• 24:41
  Speaker 2: This was pre-pandemic.
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: How long was it and how did it help equip you to be able to get where you are today?
• 24:49
  Speaker 5: So it was a one-year program.
• 24:52
  Speaker 5: It was pretty intensive.
• 24:53
  Speaker 5: You held like a 40-hour work detail which was like a regular job, and we did bible study every single day, monday through Friday, which was so important for me coming out of addiction.
• 25:04
  Speaker 5: It helped stabilize me and learn more about the Lord and just really helped me to spiritually mature into the person that I am today you know and still am growing.
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: So when you were approached about being the executive assistant to the executive director, you had been doing some community relation things with the distribution center records and those kind of things.
• 25:33
  Speaker 2: What was your first thought when LaManda said Miranda, are you interested in this?
• 25:39
  Speaker 5: I was a little bit blown away, you know, just looking back on my journey, you know, I was like, wow, you know, I'd love to do that.
• 25:48
  Speaker 5: But it was also pretty amazing because in one of the classes that I was doing through City Vision, we were doing like personal reflections and our strengths and our weaknesses, and, um, I had just started feeling like I wanted to do more, you know, and I didn't know at that time, you know, what the Lord would be calling me to do, um, but when the man approached me, I was like, you know, this is it, this is this is like the right.
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, so, so, um, your husband works here as well.
• 26:15
  Speaker 2: He's the director of our facilities.
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: Marcus and you guys get to see each other a lot probably less now because of what you're doing in this role but what does it mean, from where you had come into the rescue mission, to be at this place?
• 26:33
  Speaker 2: What does that mean to you in regards to what God's plan for you is?
• 26:39
  Speaker 5: That's a hard one.
• 26:40
  Speaker 5: I don't know.
• 26:43
  Speaker 5: I don't know what the Lord's plan is.
• 26:46
  Speaker 5: Does it surprise you sometimes?
• 26:48
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
• 26:49
  Speaker 2: So it may surprise you, but what does it mean when people begin to believe and invest in you, to say you have gifts, right To be able to say, yeah, you may come in as a guest, which is fine, but I'm sure when you came through the front doors you didn't ever dream that you would be in this position.
• 27:14
  Speaker 2: Right, right, yeah.
• 27:15
  Speaker 2: So what does that say?
• 27:18
  Speaker 2: What does that say to you?
• 27:19
  Speaker 5: It says to me that you know, no matter what your walk is, you always have the potential to invest in yourself, like how the Lord invests in you, and you know there's always an opportunity to continue to grow.
• 27:32
  Speaker 5: And just take those opportunities and roll with it.
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: So when you see guests coming in every single day at the rescue mission and you're not in the shelters now, but you know about this, you've been there before what do you feel when you see somebody coming through that door who maybe just came off the streets and probably wondering if they matter at all?
• 27:54
  Speaker 2: What does that do to you?
• 28:01
  Speaker 5: if they matter at all.
• 28:01
  Speaker 5: What does that do to you?
• 28:02
  Speaker 5: So I can touch on that a little bit from my position as a case manager.
• 28:04
  Speaker 5: But it was just seeing people come in and me being in their shoes at one point.
• 28:09
  Speaker 5: It was just an opportunity to love on them and I know how hard it would have been for them, or how hard it is for them to come in and, you know, not know what their next step is, and to be that person to say you know, maybe you have to get your ID or Social Security card, but I've been there before, I know how to do it and we could make this so much easier.
• 28:31
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so what would you say were some of the key things to help you to get where you are today?
• 28:35
  Speaker 5: Yeah, let's see.
• 28:40
  Speaker 5: Sorry for the silence.
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: That's okay.
• 28:42
  Speaker 2: We'll never rehearse questions here because we don't know what they're going to be until we get into them.
• 28:48
  Speaker 5: So the key characteristics would be, I would say, self-love, realizing the potential that you have in yourself, realizing the community that you have around you and not being afraid to seek out assistance from those around you.
• 29:04
  Speaker 5: That's good, and perseverance For sure.
• 29:08
  Speaker 5: You just don't turn your life over to Jesus and it's instantly easy.
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: It's not a magic wand.
• 29:15
  Speaker 2: No Poof, everything's fine.
• 29:19
  Speaker 5: It's a walk.
• 29:20
  Speaker 2: Yeah, so what excites you about being LaManda's executive assistant?
• 29:24
  Speaker 5: New opportunities to learn.
• 29:26
  Speaker 5: It's a little bit more intense and fast-paced, you know, which kind of reminds me of my days as a case manager.
• 29:33
  Speaker 5: But that's okay.
• 29:34
  Speaker 5: It's just a little bit more fast-paced and intense in a different way, in more of a business way, which I'm doing my associate's degree for business administration, so it kind of goes hand in hand.
• 29:47
  Speaker 2: So education is very big part of this as well.
• 29:49
  Speaker 2: Amanda Merriam, kind of unpacked HR.
• 29:51
  Speaker 2: What is an executive assistant at Topeka Rescue Mission?
• 29:56
  Speaker 2: What, generally, are some of the highlights of that position, if you can even define it?
• 30:01
  Speaker 4: I can easily define it she is the ringleader of a circus.
• 30:04
  Speaker 4: That's what she's doing, and so she's telling people who's next?
• 30:10
  Speaker 4: Telling people you're supposed to be here, you're supposed to be here trying to keep me in order.
• 30:14
  Speaker 4: When the animals don't cooperate, she helps bring them all back together.
• 30:17
  Speaker 4: No, on a serious note, you know she, I would say a huge part of what she does is anticipating what I'm going to need, because my role is so fast paced and like she's already scheduling stuff out in August, september for me and so being able to be ahead of the game.
• 30:41
  Speaker 4: But when I look at some of the just responsibilities, it's everything from being an extension of me.
• 30:46
  Speaker 4: So when people want to schedule or they have questions or they're needing something, a lot of times that goes to her first and for her to know what she can just handle on my behalf and what she needs to loop me in on and all of that, that's a big part.
• 31:03
  Speaker 4: It's also an extension of me in which she does all of the scheduling.
• 31:07
  Speaker 4: So when there's speaking events and needs in the community or a kid's group has collected something and they want me to show up, like all of that goes through Miranda.
• 31:17
  Speaker 4: I've learned very quickly that apparently anytime I try to put stuff on my calendar I mess things up.
• 31:23
  Speaker 4: So now I've been forbidden by Kim and Miranda to just not touch my calendar.
• 31:29
  Speaker 4: So juggling just these I'm going to say real task oriented things to also really in depth thinking and a heavy load thinking and a heavy load.
• 31:51
  Speaker 4: You know Miranda sees me prepare for lighthearted type things that we're doing.
• 31:53
  Speaker 4: She also just went, and you know last week I was blessed and honored and humbled to be able to speak at the cadet TPDs cadet graduation and so she went with me to that and that was kind of a heavy moment.
• 32:07
  Speaker 4: You know I touched on division in our community and how sometimes we don't support law enforcement and sometimes we're even on different sides with our approaches, but how we're united and that I stand firm with TPM, with TRM, supporting TPD and all of this stuff.
• 32:23
  Speaker 4: So she gets to see all of these different sides and help me with that.
• 32:27
  Speaker 4: And I am blessed to just always have someone, whether I'm needing it for paperwork that we're needing or if I need to just look at her and cry and say we need to go to the Lord in prayer because I don't know what to do for this person, or I don't know what to do for this person, or I don't know what to do for this situation.
• 32:45
  Speaker 2: So I'll tell you from personal experience it's a game changer to have a really good person in that position.
• 32:51
  Speaker 2: It just it makes it or breaks it for you to be able to advance and do the things that you're called to do.
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: Well, kim Miranda, you guys work together still, because your desks are about six feet apart from each other, so there's still a transition going on here, right, where you may have some questions for Kim, is that right, miranda?
• 33:13
  Speaker 5: That's right.
• 33:14
  Speaker 5: She's able to help you out.
• 33:15
  Speaker 5: Sometimes she puts in her AirPods.
• 33:18
  Speaker 4: Yeah, the other day I came in and I was talking and Kim didn't say anything and she was just talking to herself.
• 33:24
  Speaker 4: And I looked at Miranda, like, did Kim?
• 33:26
  Speaker 4: Did Miriam send Kim over the edge?
• 33:29
  Speaker 4: Kim survived with me, but she's sitting up and then Miranda just laughed and she goes.
• 33:33
  Speaker 4: She has her earphones and she's on the phone.
• 33:37
  Speaker 1: I tell Miranda before I put them in sometimes, and then all of a sudden, like Miranda's like looking at me and I like take him out, she goes.
• 33:42
  Speaker 1: I was talking to you, I'm so sorry.
• 33:44
  Speaker 1: So she can throw a spit wad at you or a paper airplane.
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: If she needs to get your attention, I'm going to get her some bean bags.
• 33:52
  Speaker 2: Yeah, you can give me permission to throw bean bags at her.
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: Yeah.
• 33:55
  Speaker 2: Well, we like to in our community.
• 33:57
  Speaker 2: Our mission cover a lot of topics, could be individuals who are in leadership in the community, it could be volunteers, it can be people who are experiencing homelessness, and we also like to let you know about who some of the staff members are and some of their journey and what they do here at Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 34:14
  Speaker 2: I think it's important and I know LaManda, miriam, you would echo this that an organization that is responsible for as many different moving parts as Topeka Rescue Mission and not only to saving lives but changing lives because of the love of Christ, and to be able to have this organization, it's important that we have a healthy HR area as well as executive assistant to the director here, because they do those and many more things.
• 34:43
  Speaker 2: And so, miriam, being a leader of nonprofit before Topeka Rescue Mission, I know you very much, are committed here and love this place.
• 34:50
  Speaker 2: But how would you describe Topeka Rescue Mission in regards to its professional approach?
• 34:57
  Speaker 2: To doing things that are not just a nonprofit.
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: But what is the level of professionalism that exists here and why is that important?
• 35:10
  Speaker 3: You know, barry, I think it's a very unique kind of professionalism, right, because it has to be totally immersed in compassion, right.
• 35:21
  Speaker 3: So professionalism is one thing, and the folks that we have are very professional, right, they know how to do what they need to do, but to me, the most important thing is that they do it with a compassionate heart, right.
• 35:38
  Speaker 3: So where there may be rules and you may need to treat some things as black and white, it's either this or it's not this.
• 35:46
  Speaker 3: I think here at TRM it is about finding that gray, sometimes too right, because we are a second chance organization second chance for the people we serve, second chance for people that we hire, second chance for people that come to us for all different kinds of reasons, even sometimes our volunteers.
• 36:05
  Speaker 3: So it is about having standards and expectations, but never losing that understanding that we are here to serve the Lord and treat others the way Christ would treat others, and that gives a whole different kind of shade to professionalism.
• 36:23
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, that gives a whole different kind of shade to professionalism.
• 36:25
  Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah.
• 36:25
  Speaker 2: Well, that's a good thing to point out, is that?
• 36:28
  Speaker 2: I guess you can be professional?
• 36:29
  Speaker 3: and just do your job.
• 36:30
  Speaker 2: Right, but here it has to go a step beyond that Absolutely.
• 36:33
  Speaker 2: But it's also important to have all those essential elements in place.
• 36:36
  Speaker 3: Oh yeah.
• 36:38
  Speaker 2: You know, if I'm in a wreck out here on the highway and an ambulance pulls up, I want somebody that's really been trained well.
• 36:43
  Speaker 2: Absolutely here on the highway and an ambulance pulls up.
• 36:45
  Speaker 2: I want somebody that really been trained well, absolutely, and I want them to be professional and care at the same time.
• 36:50
  Speaker 2: Right, but LaManda in order to have a team here that is equipped to care for some of the most vulnerable citizens we have.
• 36:58
  Speaker 2: You have to have an HR department to be able to work with the 70 to 80 staff members, and volunteer department to work with all those to 80 staff members, and a volunteer department to work with all those volunteers and to keep all those balls rolling.
• 37:09
  Speaker 2: It's not just hey, you come in, you get three hots and a cot.
• 37:12
  Speaker 2: It's much, much more than that and to have somebody that can stand alongside you to help you, to be available to the team, to be available to the community, to be available to do all these things and, most recently, to be available to the community to be available to do all these things and, most recently, to be available on a national level to help others to be able to keep this thing moving forward in the right direction.
• 37:33
  Speaker 2: To have someone like Kim has served before and now Miranda has served in this position.
• 37:38
  Speaker 2: So when you invest in Topeka Rescue Mission, you're investing in some very, very basic, fundamental things like a place to sleep, something to eat, some clothes to wear, a shower, to get.
• 37:51
  Speaker 2: But you're investing in way more than that.
• 37:53
  Speaker 2: You're investing in the people who help the people to have an opportunity like Miranda has, and to be able to have Miranda's, be able to be there to give other people an opportunity for life change, for an opportunity.
• 38:05
  Speaker 2: It's not just about providing a place for someone to stay.
• 38:08
  Speaker 2: It's about helping people to realize their value and how important they are to God and how important, as you said, self-love.
• 38:16
  Speaker 2: You've got to know that you're okay with yourself too, and that's what Topeka Rescue Mission gets an opportunity to do, and you have to have the right people show up at the right time with the right professionalism and compassion at the same time Miranda anything else you'd like to say today?
• 38:33
  Speaker 5: Nope Help.
• 38:37
  Speaker 2: Can I take the headphones off Almost.
• 38:39
  Speaker 2: Kim anything else you'd like to say?
• 38:42
  Speaker 1: Well, I've told Miranda multiple times I'm just so excited for her to take this role and take it to another level Because of her experience.
• 38:48
  Speaker 1: As you heard, she's been so many different places that I've never experienced, and that's just going to amplify what her knowledge is and for the role she's taking.
• 39:00
  Speaker 2: So if I don't, if I ever, once in a while, say Miranda LaManda, Amanda.
• 39:04
  Speaker 2: I'm just the girl over there.
• 39:07
  Speaker 3: That's right.
• 39:08
  Speaker 2: So, miranda LaManda, would you like anything else to say?
• 39:13
  Speaker 4: You know, I think it's just incredible how we get to be so people first here at TRM, whether we're talking about those we serve, whether we're talking about policies that we have to have in place and sometimes it is so tricky to go back and forth of procedure and policy but person, but God just always shows up, like he gives us the discernment when that person and that second chance like Miriam, is saying you know when we're supposed to take it versus what the policy says and versus, nope, we've got to stick to the policy because this is the need.
• 39:48
  Speaker 4: And so you just also have to have comfort in knowing that you have people individually praying to the Lord every day for their own wisdom, their own discernment, for them to know when to push back on me and Miriam if in case our thinking is wrong, and when they need to trust us and our leadership, and so I'm thankful for both of them.
• 40:09
  Speaker 4: I also want to add I'm thankful for Miriam.
• 40:11
  Speaker 4: You know, she is just someone who is always in my right pocket.
• 40:17
  Speaker 4: I feel like I can pull her out at any time.
• 40:21
  Speaker 4: And I it doesn't matter what it is, it doesn't matter if I am struggling as just a leader, it doesn't matter.
• 40:28
  Speaker 4: If I'm excited about something like she is someone that I know is going to mourn with me.
• 40:34
  Speaker 4: She is someone that's going to celebrate with me.
• 40:36
  Speaker 4: She is going to be someone who shakes her head at me Um and so there's just one more yeah.
• 40:42
  Speaker 4: Um and so there's just one more yeah, that's for another podcast.
• 40:46
  Speaker 4: Um.
• 40:50
  Speaker 4: And I'm also thankful because it seems like, just because of our roles, anytime there's a transition with her, there's a transition with me, and vice versa, and I was just telling someone this weekend it truly is.
• 40:59
  Speaker 4: I say this jokingly, but I mean it's truly a miracle that Miriam and I are joined the way we are, because we don't always see things out of the same lens, we don't always understand timelines or processes the same way, but it always works and I just look at it as a lot of times, she is the strength to my weakness, and vice versa, and the trust that God has deeply rooted with us is such a beautiful thing for his purpose, and I'm I'm thankful for her, just like I'm thankful for Kim and Miranda and their willingness, because so much when things are changing around here, it impacts Miriam and you can always count on her to be juggling the fires, the eggs, the balls, whatever you want to say, and I'm thankful for her too.
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: I have to echo that too.
• 41:56
  Speaker 2: You've been a gift here.
• 41:58
  Speaker 2: Yes, I'm so glad that you volunteered to help us with Christmas one year and stayed Bait and switch, but you stayed.
• 42:07
  Speaker 2: I did, mary, last word.
• 42:10
  Speaker 3: You know, I honestly know.
• 42:12
  Speaker 3: All I will say is that I am so thankful for Miranda and I am so thankful for Kim and I am so excited about what they're going to be doing going forward, because they will make TRM better, I agree.
• 42:26
  Speaker 2: Amen Well thank you.
• 42:28
  Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to our community, our mission.
• 42:30
  Speaker 2: On this 224th episode, you've heard a little bit more about the inner workings of Topeka Rescue Mission and really four incredible ladies here at this table here today and two who are transitioning into some new roles here Kim and her vast experience since seven or eight years old, miranda coming in a different capacity and one being our new HR director and the other being the executive assistant in a new position here to this executive director, thank you for your support of Topeka Rescue Mission.
• 43:00
  Speaker 2: If you'd like more information about TRM, you can go to trmonlineorg.
• 43:04
  Speaker 2: That's trmonlineorg, a donation-supported ministry that depends upon you with your prayers, with your volunteering and also your financial support.
• 43:15
  Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Our Community, our Mission.