Level Up Your Life, Level Up Your Community

WEBVTT

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Hello,

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and welcome back to Conversations with

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Karen and Kat,

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the podcast where we connect with powerful

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changemakers, visionaries,

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and everyday heroes who are shaping

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culture and community.

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I am Karen Scott Green.

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And I'm Kat Hardrick.

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And today we are excited to welcome

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Danielle Tuono.

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She's an author,

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a filmmaker and award-winning community

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leader and founder of Level Up Day and

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Level Up Day Foundation.

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Danielle is passionate about using

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storytelling and lived experiences.

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to create meaningful cultural community

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impacts.

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Through the Level Up Day Foundation,

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she works to advance leadership,

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education, civic awareness,

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and essential community support while

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helping individuals grow personally and

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professionally.

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At the heart of Danielle's work is a

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powerful message about purpose, service,

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and leadership,

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and the difference we can make when we

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use our experiences to uplift others.

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Danielle,

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welcome to Conversations with Karen and

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Kat.

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Thank you so much for having me.

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Oh, it's a pleasure.

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It is a pleasure.

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So Danielle,

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tell us what is Level Up Day and

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what is Level Up Day Foundation?

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Great question.

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Thank you so much, Karen.

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Before I begin,

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I just want to thank you both for

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having me on.

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But to answer your question,

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Level Up Day is all about doing whatever

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it takes to become the best possible

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version of yourself.

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So whether that is adopting healthier

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habits.

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creating new hobbies or doing more of what

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you love to become better for yourself,

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your family, your community.

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It's all about finding ways to just be

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better, do better and live better.

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Right.

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And so that is the initiative that took

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off in two thousand and twenty three and

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And it turned into an entire statewide

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movement,

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which cultivated the Level Up Day

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Foundation to celebrate those personal and

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professional achievements and collective

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community growth.

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Okay.

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So what was the thing that made you

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say,

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this is a need and this is what

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I need to do to fill this need?

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Well, honestly,

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it started with my own personal level-up

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journey.

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I've shared in multiple interviews that,

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you know,

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as someone who entered the military very

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young,

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became a wife and a mom at a

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very young age,

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I know firsthand what it feels like to

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desire the need to level up,

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but somehow...

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your story gets a bit distorted because

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you have to integrate all of these new

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responsibilities personally and

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professionally.

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Throughout my journey,

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I just made time like, hey,

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I need to be more active in the

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community.

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I need to not only focus on my

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needs,

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but hear the community out and better

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identify and understand their unique

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community needs.

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There are things that I need to learn

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about civic engagement,

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community engagement, volunteerism,

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all so that I can pour back into

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my own personal endeavors and in my

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household so that I can show my family

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the importance of community outreach and

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impact.

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Okay.

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You said you are a veteran.

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What branch of service were you in?

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I served in the Army National Guard.

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So jumping from being in the military and

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your work now,

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did the military help give you any

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foundation to where you are today?

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Absolutely.

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That's where service began.

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But honestly, service is in my bloodline.

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I come from a family who owns several

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businesses back where I'm from in Alabama.

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And so the importance of giving back to

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the community and just doing better or to

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help make the community a better place to

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live,

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work and play is something I've honestly

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been doing my whole life.

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But obviously in uniform,

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I think I developed more attributes as a

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leader.

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And I was able to, you know,

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use that to become the author,

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the filmmaker and the award winning

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community leader that ultimately landed me

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where I am today.

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But definitely the military did help

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instill some of those attributes and

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characteristics that I possess as a leader

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today, for sure.

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I know that.

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Every time I see you, girl,

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you know how to do it.

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You can easily spot people who are

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veterans.

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But you know what?

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You can spot us a mile away.

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It says something about us, right?

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Yeah, it is.

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And I was just saying,

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you and Karen must be twinsies because

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y'all have entrepreneurship in y'all

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blood.

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Yes, yes.

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Got to have multiple streams of income,

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multiple streams.

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But I mean, my family too, Karen,

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y'all have a history of,

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you have a legacy of entrepreneurs in your

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family, right?

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Yes, yeah.

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My father owned a few businesses.

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He owned dry cleaners.

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He was part owner in a nightclub before

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he got into the fire service.

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And even once he got into the fire

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service,

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he always had a little side hustle going

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in.

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Like, we didn't know he...

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he owned vending machines my dad had

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vending machines you know and yeah so he

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he always had like a little something

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something going on and my mom was a

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beautician she owned her own salon so that

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that's my my history um i always have

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a little something on the side but let

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me ask you absolutely absolutely

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particularly in this economy for sure

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So many people are hurting who only had,

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and even if you've got multiple streams,

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that doesn't mean you're not going to

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hurt,

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but having a little something coming in

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when you might not have anything coming in

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definitely helps.

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It's a great idea.

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And to add to that,

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we are living in the economy in the

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world where everyone is like, okay,

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I need an extra form of income,

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maybe even to supplement the revenue that

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they're already generating.

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However, in doing so,

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you still have to be a great leader

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because before you start the business or

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the hustle,

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You have to know what is the community

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in need of,

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which requires you to be an active

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listener, to go out there, grassroot,

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talk to people, get in their homes,

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get in their businesses or like find the

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lack.

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Yeah.

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So that you can have a business or

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a hustle that's not just something to say,

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OK, I own this,

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but something that's actually changing

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lives and making an impact and serving

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true needs of the people around you.

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One of my models that I say with

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my kids, when I was raising my children,

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they're adults now is as long as you

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seek to solve a problem,

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you will always have purpose.

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Absolutely.

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I believe is how you breed servant

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leaders.

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You know, absolutely.

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There's enough problems in the world that

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if we all just pick something that we

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like, I mean,

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think about the person who came up with

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the little thing that you put over the

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buggy.

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So you put your baby inside of the

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buggy.

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You know, that came from somebody's needs.

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Somebody said, look,

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I'm tired of putting my baby in this

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nasty buggy.

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You know, not exactly.

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You know what I'm saying?

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So what are some things with the level

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up that you empower your participants

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with?

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A great question.

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So one of my favorite things is

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volunteering.

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I encourage everyone who's a part of the

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Level Up Day movement to get out in

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the community and share a portion of your

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time with those business brands,

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individuals, and families who are in need.

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um leveling up is not all about yourself

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it's more about other people and the

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impact that goes far beyond the work that

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you do every day so signing up to

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volunteer um whether it's at a nursing

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home whether it's reading to the students

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at a school or whether it's going into

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the school or just picking a child in

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your community to mentor i mean it only

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takes a few moments a day

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to uplift someone else so i would

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definitely say i will start with

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volunteering that's something that i push

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very heavily the second thing i would say

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is civic awareness you know a lot of

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people like to complain about what's right

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or what's wrong or what's not going their

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way in the community but i also encourage

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them to get involved and know how local

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and state government works because that's

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where it all starts in order for you

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to

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create public discourse and build a

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consensus towards policies that matter.

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You have to know where to start,

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what rooms to be in,

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and even who to reach out to.

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So knowing your council members,

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knowing your state legislators,

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um it all starts there um i like

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to go in and sometimes i often ask

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my kids when they were younger like okay

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you have a passport but do you know

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what department it came from i mean having

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those round kitchen table conversations

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just to get the wheels turning on how

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things work in the economy that you live

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in is always a great start for me

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so definitely those two things when you

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can make people understand or to see or

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think about

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how and why government serves them and

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what purpose and how important it is to

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be involved and engaged

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particularly at the local level,

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because that's where it impacts your

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lives,

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where it has the most impact on your

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life.

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What happens at your county commission and

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at the city hall level is going to

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impact your day-to-day more than what

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happens in Washington.

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What happens in Washington impacts your

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life too,

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but you're going to feel what happens at

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Snellville City Hall-

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And when that county commission,

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you're going to feel that much quicker

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than you will what happens in Washington.

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That takes a while to trickle down.

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But what happens,

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what your county commissioners do when

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they pass your millage rate,

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when they say like what zoning is going

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to happen in your neighborhood,

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like those are the things.

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And so that's why that's so important.

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So thank you for that work,

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getting people to make that connection.

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Absolutely.

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But what are some of the biggest

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challenges that you're seeing?

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Well, I'm going to ask you two questions.

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One,

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what is your demographic that you're

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working with?

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And secondly,

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what are some of the challenges that you

00:10:55.587 --> 00:10:58.490
see in the work that you're doing?

00:10:59.394 --> 00:10:59.754
OK,

00:11:00.095 --> 00:11:01.716
so definitely the demographic would be

00:11:01.836 --> 00:11:03.477
youth and young adult youth and young

00:11:03.518 --> 00:11:03.878
adults.

00:11:03.998 --> 00:11:06.660
I would say primarily between the ages of

00:11:06.760 --> 00:11:07.522
twelve,

00:11:07.881 --> 00:11:09.563
the youngest I've seen people who are

00:11:09.624 --> 00:11:11.164
really engaged and have like really

00:11:11.184 --> 00:11:13.126
important questions that want to know

00:11:13.206 --> 00:11:13.386
more,

00:11:13.407 --> 00:11:14.828
but they don't have access to the

00:11:14.869 --> 00:11:15.528
information.

00:11:16.009 --> 00:11:17.811
Youngest, youngest, probably ten,

00:11:17.831 --> 00:11:19.613
but definitely starting at the age twelve

00:11:19.732 --> 00:11:21.695
all the way up until the age thirty.

00:11:21.955 --> 00:11:22.075
Now,

00:11:22.095 --> 00:11:23.155
I'm not going to tell you how old

00:11:23.317 --> 00:11:23.636
I am.

00:11:23.876 --> 00:11:25.937
But I will say that I personally have

00:11:26.018 --> 00:11:28.379
peers who share that some of the

00:11:28.418 --> 00:11:30.860
challenges that they have in wanting to be

00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:32.860
involved in these opportunities or wanting

00:11:32.900 --> 00:11:35.721
to become more civically engaged or just

00:11:35.761 --> 00:11:37.503
to become aware in any community

00:11:37.523 --> 00:11:39.323
engagement opportunities is that they

00:11:39.344 --> 00:11:41.664
don't know where to find that information.

00:11:42.184 --> 00:11:42.544
I mean,

00:11:42.565 --> 00:11:44.166
we can go back to the conversation of

00:11:44.525 --> 00:11:45.806
the algorithm, okay?

00:11:45.865 --> 00:11:46.046
Like,

00:11:46.086 --> 00:11:47.966
whatever you search is what's coming to

00:11:47.986 --> 00:11:49.067
you, and that is, in fact,

00:11:49.128 --> 00:11:49.967
a true thing.

00:11:50.587 --> 00:11:51.568
But also...

00:11:53.330 --> 00:11:55.250
it's not in their, let's just say this,

00:11:55.370 --> 00:11:56.871
media is where it's at, right?

00:11:57.011 --> 00:11:58.732
We get most of our information on the

00:11:58.773 --> 00:11:59.173
media.

00:11:59.714 --> 00:12:00.394
Most of the time,

00:12:00.414 --> 00:12:01.916
we're not really sitting in front of a

00:12:01.956 --> 00:12:02.316
TV.

00:12:02.336 --> 00:12:03.537
We're scrolling on apps.

00:12:03.557 --> 00:12:05.378
So whatever falls in your timeline is

00:12:06.558 --> 00:12:07.639
what's given to you.

00:12:08.220 --> 00:12:09.561
Whether it's misinformation,

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:11.241
disinformation, or propaganda,

00:12:11.261 --> 00:12:12.442
that's what you have to go by.

00:12:12.842 --> 00:12:14.244
So a lot of my peers,

00:12:14.303 --> 00:12:15.585
a lot of youth and young adults,

00:12:15.625 --> 00:12:17.505
they're not getting the most important,

00:12:17.787 --> 00:12:19.868
the pertinent information that they need

00:12:19.908 --> 00:12:20.889
to make sound

00:12:21.369 --> 00:12:22.129
decisions.

00:12:22.730 --> 00:12:24.129
A lot of them, high schoolers,

00:12:24.190 --> 00:12:26.451
particularly the young adults that I work

00:12:26.471 --> 00:12:26.711
with,

00:12:26.772 --> 00:12:29.253
they don't know that you can register to

00:12:29.273 --> 00:12:30.933
vote at seventeen and a half,

00:12:31.293 --> 00:12:32.914
but then you can begin to vote at

00:12:33.034 --> 00:12:33.695
eighteen.

00:12:34.174 --> 00:12:35.895
So when I speak to them and I

00:12:35.936 --> 00:12:38.576
have these intimate conversations with the

00:12:38.596 --> 00:12:39.477
youth and young adults,

00:12:39.697 --> 00:12:41.278
I try my hardest to make sure that

00:12:41.359 --> 00:12:43.620
I push for them to follow

00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:48.264
organizations or activities that cultivate

00:12:48.365 --> 00:12:51.369
a knowledge of knowing how to locate these

00:12:51.428 --> 00:12:53.912
events and how to participate in these

00:12:53.951 --> 00:12:54.211
events.

00:12:54.653 --> 00:12:56.875
And also giving it to them way that

00:12:57.856 --> 00:12:59.418
community engagement is fun.

00:12:59.499 --> 00:13:00.919
Volunteerism is fun.

00:13:01.000 --> 00:13:02.743
Learning about legislation is fun.

00:13:03.283 --> 00:13:03.543
You know,

00:13:03.663 --> 00:13:05.424
especially when they've been at school all

00:13:05.465 --> 00:13:07.686
day or especially when someone like

00:13:07.745 --> 00:13:08.846
myself, a peer of mine,

00:13:09.167 --> 00:13:11.148
when we're either a wife or a mother,

00:13:11.428 --> 00:13:12.708
we're burnt out by the end of the

00:13:12.729 --> 00:13:12.950
day.

00:13:13.049 --> 00:13:14.890
So usually we want to scroll for a

00:13:14.971 --> 00:13:16.951
little bit of that, you know, pleasure.

00:13:17.393 --> 00:13:19.153
But also while we're doing that,

00:13:20.094 --> 00:13:22.056
I think the challenge is finding how to

00:13:22.135 --> 00:13:23.756
take advantage of, for example,

00:13:23.797 --> 00:13:25.498
the Gwinnett Great Days of Service.

00:13:25.538 --> 00:13:25.697
Like,

00:13:25.758 --> 00:13:27.318
where do you find that if you're not

00:13:27.379 --> 00:13:27.960
in the loop,

00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:30.081
if it's not in your algorithm and if

00:13:30.100 --> 00:13:31.562
you're not one to go to,

00:13:31.642 --> 00:13:32.822
let's just say Gwinnett County,

00:13:33.283 --> 00:13:35.424
dot gov or dot com to find out

00:13:35.546 --> 00:13:37.466
all the information that's accessible to

00:13:37.508 --> 00:13:40.049
you as a resident um it is my

00:13:40.090 --> 00:13:42.572
job you know as the founder and executive

00:13:42.613 --> 00:13:44.934
director of the level update foundation to

00:13:44.995 --> 00:13:47.398
encourage and push those websites and

00:13:47.418 --> 00:13:50.400
those social channels for the level update

00:13:50.441 --> 00:13:53.443
foundation community to stay informed so

00:13:53.543 --> 00:13:54.845
how do you find the young people that

00:13:54.884 --> 00:13:55.405
you work with

00:13:56.822 --> 00:13:57.764
Boots on the ground.

00:13:58.465 --> 00:14:03.070
You guys know I am usually everywhere all

00:14:03.110 --> 00:14:03.791
the time,

00:14:04.091 --> 00:14:06.053
especially if it's an event that aligns

00:14:06.114 --> 00:14:08.976
with what I'm really passionate about.

00:14:09.136 --> 00:14:10.538
I have a passion for young people,

00:14:10.578 --> 00:14:12.260
of course, being a young mom,

00:14:12.301 --> 00:14:13.182
being a young wife,

00:14:13.241 --> 00:14:14.504
being a young business owner.

00:14:15.024 --> 00:14:17.206
there's like a gap between government,

00:14:17.225 --> 00:14:18.446
business, and community.

00:14:18.466 --> 00:14:20.467
So with it being important for me to

00:14:20.508 --> 00:14:23.350
bridge the gap with making an impact and

00:14:23.370 --> 00:14:26.772
connecting business owners or students

00:14:26.932 --> 00:14:29.854
with their local leaders and opportunities

00:14:29.953 --> 00:14:31.335
and just ways to level up,

00:14:31.355 --> 00:14:32.775
whether it's learning a new skill,

00:14:32.796 --> 00:14:33.976
it could be learning how to paint,

00:14:34.017 --> 00:14:34.917
learning how to sew,

00:14:35.378 --> 00:14:37.219
or just adopting healthier habits,

00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:39.480
connecting them to live healthy Gwinnett.

00:14:39.961 --> 00:14:42.261
It's really all about being outside.

00:14:42.322 --> 00:14:42.522
I mean,

00:14:42.562 --> 00:14:43.883
it's only so much that we can do

00:14:43.903 --> 00:14:44.683
behind a computer.

00:14:45.224 --> 00:14:48.886
So I make sure that I network across.

00:14:49.427 --> 00:14:49.966
Okay.

00:14:50.086 --> 00:14:51.788
If there's an opportunity that I see on

00:14:51.808 --> 00:14:52.948
your page, hey, Karen,

00:14:52.989 --> 00:14:53.990
how can I be involved?

00:14:54.049 --> 00:14:54.549
Hey, Kat,

00:14:54.870 --> 00:14:56.491
how can I be involved in sending people

00:14:56.511 --> 00:14:56.831
your way?

00:14:56.892 --> 00:14:57.832
I'm going to try to do that the

00:14:57.852 --> 00:14:58.692
best that I can.

00:14:59.433 --> 00:15:00.934
Of course, writing emails.

00:15:00.955 --> 00:15:02.095
Let me put a pin in that right

00:15:02.115 --> 00:15:02.416
there.

00:15:02.916 --> 00:15:04.496
So what I need for you to put

00:15:04.537 --> 00:15:06.999
on your calendar is MLK Day.

00:15:07.178 --> 00:15:08.659
Okay.

00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:12.961
There is an event hosted by...

00:15:13.863 --> 00:15:16.624
put on by Catherine Hardrick.

00:15:17.884 --> 00:15:20.104
It is a day of service where she

00:15:20.264 --> 00:15:22.924
is feeding the community.

00:15:23.284 --> 00:15:26.706
She partners with other organizations.

00:15:28.005 --> 00:15:30.647
It's an event that's going to be somewhere

00:15:30.667 --> 00:15:31.386
in Snellville.

00:15:32.486 --> 00:15:35.347
Her final numbers and things like that.

00:15:36.427 --> 00:15:38.567
That would be a great opportunity for your

00:15:38.628 --> 00:15:40.749
young people to work with my good friend

00:15:40.769 --> 00:15:41.609
Catherine Hardrick.

00:15:42.129 --> 00:15:43.931
Yes, I will always plug you, friend.

00:15:44.110 --> 00:15:45.432
Yes, I love that.

00:15:45.472 --> 00:15:46.033
You know what?

00:15:46.153 --> 00:15:46.774
I didn't get it.

00:15:46.813 --> 00:15:48.054
I don't think I got a chance to

00:15:48.115 --> 00:15:51.879
attend last year because that was a

00:15:51.899 --> 00:15:52.500
conflict.

00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.341
Yeah, a conflict commitment.

00:15:54.682 --> 00:15:57.644
But Kat knows that she can always call

00:15:57.684 --> 00:15:59.626
me online, text me anytime and say,

00:15:59.667 --> 00:16:01.948
show up, send me perishable items,

00:16:01.989 --> 00:16:03.750
send me some hands, girl.

00:16:04.390 --> 00:16:06.072
but that's that's why that's that's why

00:16:06.091 --> 00:16:08.974
we're telling you now get it on your

00:16:09.014 --> 00:16:12.395
calendar send me a date I'll lock it

00:16:12.475 --> 00:16:15.277
in Kat you know I got you it's

00:16:15.356 --> 00:16:18.678
MLK the weekend after MLK's birthday so

00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:22.400
yeah thank you my sister and brother green

00:16:22.421 --> 00:16:24.341
they always hold me down with the prayer

00:16:24.402 --> 00:16:27.563
line with coffee donuts all of the snacks

00:16:27.583 --> 00:16:30.105
for the volunteers so yeah man it's a

00:16:30.144 --> 00:16:31.145
big deal and

00:16:31.687 --> 00:16:32.768
It's community, right?

00:16:32.908 --> 00:16:35.030
I love what you're saying,

00:16:35.051 --> 00:16:36.251
how you're bringing in young people and

00:16:36.272 --> 00:16:37.653
you're starting as early as twelve.

00:16:37.714 --> 00:16:39.535
And, you know,

00:16:42.239 --> 00:16:43.559
I just had this conversation today.

00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:45.162
So I just, that's why I'm stopping.

00:16:45.462 --> 00:16:47.465
You know, oh, it all starts at home.

00:16:47.504 --> 00:16:50.048
Yes, we know they started home.

00:16:50.087 --> 00:16:51.048
They come from home.

00:16:51.551 --> 00:16:53.414
But home needs support.

00:16:53.475 --> 00:16:55.519
Home needs services.

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:56.341
You know what I'm saying?

00:16:56.360 --> 00:16:59.727
So I just want to shake somebody.

00:17:00.509 --> 00:17:02.494
Everybody doesn't have everything at home.

00:17:02.782 --> 00:17:06.384
that's true that's true that's true and

00:17:06.464 --> 00:17:08.086
i'll be honest with you um i don't

00:17:08.105 --> 00:17:09.586
know if i mentioned this earlier but i

00:17:09.626 --> 00:17:12.469
am a mother of six so i my

00:17:12.608 --> 00:17:15.411
oldest is and my youngest is three so

00:17:15.471 --> 00:17:17.893
it is impossible for me to have everything

00:17:17.913 --> 00:17:19.993
at home yeah yeah like even though i

00:17:20.034 --> 00:17:22.736
am multifaceted i can't teach everyone

00:17:22.836 --> 00:17:25.478
everything at the same time there are so

00:17:25.518 --> 00:17:27.940
many personalities so many characteristics

00:17:28.380 --> 00:17:30.781
So many ways of learning that sometimes

00:17:30.821 --> 00:17:31.863
they need a mentor.

00:17:31.883 --> 00:17:33.523
They need a cat or a Karen or

00:17:33.564 --> 00:17:36.807
Danielle to help them level up and go

00:17:36.866 --> 00:17:38.048
to the next level.

00:17:38.367 --> 00:17:39.608
Case in point, my son,

00:17:39.628 --> 00:17:40.690
my eighteen year old,

00:17:41.049 --> 00:17:43.913
he just left to go to Georgia Southern

00:17:44.413 --> 00:17:45.153
on August.

00:17:45.233 --> 00:17:46.214
I'm back in August.

00:17:46.234 --> 00:17:47.695
His first day of class was August the

00:17:47.736 --> 00:17:48.256
nineteenth.

00:17:48.375 --> 00:17:50.778
And I had to reach out to.

00:17:51.818 --> 00:17:53.640
People within my network to say, hey,

00:17:53.660 --> 00:17:54.000
listen,

00:17:54.060 --> 00:17:56.662
help me navigate this college transition.

00:17:57.182 --> 00:17:58.743
How do I talk to the younger,

00:17:58.844 --> 00:18:00.525
you know, the younger children of mine,

00:18:00.545 --> 00:18:01.505
letting them know that, hey,

00:18:01.525 --> 00:18:02.705
there's about to be a shift.

00:18:03.086 --> 00:18:06.127
Another kid is leaving the nest and

00:18:06.208 --> 00:18:08.309
helping them navigate that mentally.

00:18:08.329 --> 00:18:08.410
Yes.

00:18:09.569 --> 00:18:11.550
And that mental health is like a whole

00:18:11.631 --> 00:18:12.570
nother conversation.

00:18:12.611 --> 00:18:14.011
But it's a lot that happens in a

00:18:14.071 --> 00:18:16.531
household in transitions when you are

00:18:16.632 --> 00:18:17.492
leveling up.

00:18:17.952 --> 00:18:18.752
So essentially,

00:18:18.853 --> 00:18:20.874
I want the Level Up Day Foundation to

00:18:20.913 --> 00:18:23.295
be the hub for all things resources where

00:18:23.315 --> 00:18:25.535
you can come level up and get poured

00:18:25.694 --> 00:18:27.556
into as much as you pour into others.

00:18:28.064 --> 00:18:28.865
And listen, girl,

00:18:28.904 --> 00:18:30.406
when we're talking about those kids,

00:18:30.426 --> 00:18:32.509
we need to remember that mom, dad,

00:18:32.528 --> 00:18:33.611
grandma, auntie, uncle,

00:18:33.851 --> 00:18:35.393
we all need help to level up and

00:18:35.413 --> 00:18:36.513
just maintain, too.

00:18:36.775 --> 00:18:37.494
And it's important.

00:18:37.535 --> 00:18:39.877
My sister always say we need to serve

00:18:40.398 --> 00:18:42.201
from our saucer and not our cup.

00:18:42.221 --> 00:18:43.722
That's right.

00:18:43.782 --> 00:18:45.164
What's in the cup is for you.

00:18:45.424 --> 00:18:46.967
Everybody else gets your overflow.

00:18:47.458 --> 00:18:48.419
I like that.

00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:48.979
Okay.

00:18:49.038 --> 00:18:49.959
I got to use that, Karen.

00:18:50.078 --> 00:18:50.599
I love that.

00:18:51.319 --> 00:18:51.839
I got it from .

00:18:51.880 --> 00:18:52.319
It wasn't me.

00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:56.102
No, but that makes plenty of sense,

00:18:56.142 --> 00:18:56.342
though.

00:18:56.462 --> 00:18:57.643
That makes plenty of sense.

00:18:57.663 --> 00:18:59.443
Absolutely.

00:18:59.463 --> 00:18:59.584
Yeah,

00:18:59.604 --> 00:19:01.025
we all just try and lift each other

00:19:01.065 --> 00:19:01.404
up, man.

00:19:02.566 --> 00:19:02.986
Go ahead, Karen.

00:19:03.006 --> 00:19:03.746
No, I was asking,

00:19:03.865 --> 00:19:06.007
so what are some of the challenges that

00:19:06.067 --> 00:19:07.968
you're seeing in the work that you're

00:19:08.008 --> 00:19:09.969
doing as far as resources?

00:19:12.614 --> 00:19:16.018
any type of setbacks or challenges that

00:19:16.038 --> 00:19:20.383
you're seeing in your work i would say

00:19:20.462 --> 00:19:22.945
the biggest thing that we are currently

00:19:22.965 --> 00:19:24.468
facing right now and what i see a

00:19:24.528 --> 00:19:26.490
lot of my colleagues face right now is

00:19:26.611 --> 00:19:27.151
funding

00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:37.074
Funding is very limited right now,

00:19:37.615 --> 00:19:40.117
not just from a local level,

00:19:40.157 --> 00:19:42.401
but from a state level and from a

00:19:42.461 --> 00:19:43.261
federal level.

00:19:44.042 --> 00:19:45.284
A lot of people think like, okay,

00:19:45.324 --> 00:19:46.766
you know, I have my nonprofit.

00:19:46.905 --> 00:19:47.467
I've, you know,

00:19:47.507 --> 00:19:49.548
I've been awarded this five Oh one C

00:19:49.588 --> 00:19:50.210
three grant.

00:19:50.349 --> 00:19:53.712
tax exempt status from the rs like what's

00:19:53.752 --> 00:19:56.454
next well the next thing is funding for

00:19:56.515 --> 00:19:59.777
you to be able to financially source your

00:19:59.836 --> 00:20:02.098
products i mean source i'm sorry source

00:20:02.138 --> 00:20:05.141
your your programs and your initiatives

00:20:05.842 --> 00:20:09.365
and so finding those grants or those

00:20:09.424 --> 00:20:14.388
corporate donors who want to work with um

00:20:15.229 --> 00:20:17.009
Women-owned organizations,

00:20:17.189 --> 00:20:19.069
Black-owned organizations,

00:20:19.930 --> 00:20:22.310
veteran-owned organizations.

00:20:22.371 --> 00:20:25.010
And then the demographic that you serve.

00:20:25.211 --> 00:20:27.652
And the youth and young adults, you know,

00:20:27.692 --> 00:20:29.771
the organizations that serve youth and

00:20:29.811 --> 00:20:30.352
young adults.

00:20:30.432 --> 00:20:31.452
And to be clear, you know,

00:20:31.532 --> 00:20:33.452
I want to say that we service everyone.

00:20:33.492 --> 00:20:35.373
Like Level Up Day is a community-driven

00:20:35.413 --> 00:20:37.814
nonprofit that creates and supports

00:20:37.834 --> 00:20:38.054
individuals.

00:20:38.294 --> 00:20:40.595
initiatives and programs that foster

00:20:40.654 --> 00:20:42.496
leadership development, volunteerism,

00:20:42.556 --> 00:20:43.175
engagement,

00:20:43.237 --> 00:20:45.438
civic awareness and legacy building.

00:20:45.478 --> 00:20:46.938
So we are for everyone.

00:20:46.998 --> 00:20:48.118
I want to make that clear.

00:20:48.798 --> 00:20:49.339
However,

00:20:49.400 --> 00:20:53.541
there are programs like the seasonal

00:20:53.582 --> 00:20:55.903
giving program that we are about to launch

00:20:55.962 --> 00:20:58.044
as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas.

00:20:58.683 --> 00:21:01.288
That we are catering to seniors.

00:21:01.368 --> 00:21:01.528
Well,

00:21:01.568 --> 00:21:03.952
there's not a lot of funding out there

00:21:04.472 --> 00:21:05.816
for seniors.

00:21:05.855 --> 00:21:06.896
And when I say seniors,

00:21:06.936 --> 00:21:09.240
we're talking about the fifty five plus

00:21:10.201 --> 00:21:12.586
community that may need meals.

00:21:12.906 --> 00:21:13.607
Stop it.

00:21:20.295 --> 00:21:28.318
Listen, by no means am I being funny.

00:21:28.578 --> 00:21:31.840
I am just saying that this particular

00:21:31.921 --> 00:21:33.481
holiday initiative,

00:21:33.561 --> 00:21:35.803
Level Up the Holidays for Seniors,

00:21:35.982 --> 00:21:36.482
are for our...

00:21:38.003 --> 00:21:40.266
Fifty five and plus communities that are

00:21:40.306 --> 00:21:43.169
without or who would probably go without

00:21:43.229 --> 00:21:45.230
if organizations like myself or

00:21:45.550 --> 00:21:47.953
initiatives like the MLK don't provide

00:21:48.013 --> 00:21:50.276
them meals or even household essentials.

00:21:50.615 --> 00:21:52.758
We're talking about people who are.

00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:57.364
on limited incomes who may or may not

00:21:57.403 --> 00:22:00.186
be receiving Social Security, disability,

00:22:00.227 --> 00:22:01.788
or some other form of family support.

00:22:01.828 --> 00:22:03.309
You're not getting Social Security at

00:22:03.329 --> 00:22:04.571
fifty-five now.

00:22:04.592 --> 00:22:06.032
Some people are.

00:22:06.053 --> 00:22:07.935
You may have a medical condition.

00:22:08.615 --> 00:22:08.935
Yeah,

00:22:09.016 --> 00:22:10.737
if you have a medical condition or if

00:22:10.797 --> 00:22:13.818
you depend on family members to take care

00:22:13.858 --> 00:22:14.098
of you,

00:22:14.118 --> 00:22:16.740
there's only so much in the financial pool

00:22:17.221 --> 00:22:21.123
that we can give for a nutritious meal

00:22:21.222 --> 00:22:21.762
every month.

00:22:22.064 --> 00:22:24.484
So just imagine if the holidays come

00:22:24.525 --> 00:22:26.046
around and you don't have a turkey or

00:22:26.125 --> 00:22:29.988
any perishable items or nowhere to get the

00:22:30.028 --> 00:22:32.128
funds from or nowhere to share those

00:22:32.189 --> 00:22:32.769
moments with.

00:22:33.289 --> 00:22:34.830
So I didn't call you out, Karen,

00:22:34.851 --> 00:22:35.151
you did.

00:22:35.171 --> 00:22:37.271
A hit not gonna holler.

00:22:37.392 --> 00:22:40.213
every time i'll be in a few weeks

00:22:40.374 --> 00:22:42.894
i am so proud i am so proud

00:22:42.954 --> 00:22:45.797
of being going on as you own it

00:22:48.458 --> 00:22:50.199
out there i would tell you that i

00:22:50.219 --> 00:22:52.759
am proud to be i look good i

00:22:52.819 --> 00:22:54.401
feel good and i am proud of the

00:22:54.441 --> 00:22:56.603
work that we all three are doing here

00:22:56.702 --> 00:22:58.182
in guinness and across the state of

00:22:58.202 --> 00:22:58.584
georgia

00:22:59.604 --> 00:23:01.105
Listen, because it takes a lot.

00:23:01.145 --> 00:23:03.048
So our legs,

00:23:03.087 --> 00:23:04.970
our limbs and hands are working and I'm

00:23:05.029 --> 00:23:06.131
excited to be doing the work.

00:23:06.451 --> 00:23:07.772
Let me say my age too.

00:23:07.873 --> 00:23:08.854
I'm twenty-eight, girl.

00:23:08.874 --> 00:23:09.934
So let's put it out there too.

00:23:09.954 --> 00:23:11.395
I love it.

00:23:11.616 --> 00:23:12.478
I love it.

00:23:12.498 --> 00:23:12.778
I love it.

00:23:12.837 --> 00:23:13.959
I love it.

00:23:13.979 --> 00:23:15.441
But no, like funding.

00:23:15.461 --> 00:23:18.443
To answer your question, simply funding.

00:23:18.503 --> 00:23:19.345
It's a stretch.

00:23:20.125 --> 00:23:21.646
I'm gearing up behind the scenes.

00:23:22.656 --> 00:23:24.297
So Level Up for the Holidays,

00:23:25.076 --> 00:23:27.057
around what time frame is that going to

00:23:27.117 --> 00:23:27.978
encompass?

00:23:28.077 --> 00:23:29.938
I know you talked about Thanksgiving.

00:23:31.238 --> 00:23:33.239
Would it generally run around Thanksgiving

00:23:33.278 --> 00:23:34.519
to Christmas?

00:23:34.558 --> 00:23:38.400
We kicked off our Level Up the Holidays

00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:41.839
fundraiser in August with Chipotle in

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.359
Duluth.

00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:44.161
So that happened, I think,

00:23:44.320 --> 00:23:45.520
August the twenty eighth.

00:23:45.780 --> 00:23:48.340
We did over a thousand dollars in sales.

00:23:48.381 --> 00:23:50.041
And so twenty five percent of that was

00:23:50.082 --> 00:23:51.942
donated to the Level Up Day Foundation.

00:23:52.442 --> 00:23:54.343
um every dollar counts big or small so

00:23:54.363 --> 00:23:56.884
we're excited about that but generally we

00:23:56.983 --> 00:24:01.125
really push hard um the first the first

00:24:01.205 --> 00:24:03.346
of october because from there thanksgiving

00:24:03.386 --> 00:24:05.327
and christmas is like in our backyard so

00:24:05.367 --> 00:24:07.930
we accept donations and we try to land

00:24:08.150 --> 00:24:10.931
um corporate donorships and sponsorships

00:24:11.191 --> 00:24:12.892
so that people can either adopt us as

00:24:12.932 --> 00:24:16.614
a charity or sponsor a meal or two

00:24:16.753 --> 00:24:19.214
or twenty or a hundred for our families

00:24:19.234 --> 00:24:20.016
who are in need in the

00:24:21.128 --> 00:24:23.491
And so for someone who's interested in

00:24:24.653 --> 00:24:26.355
donating or companies that may be

00:24:26.415 --> 00:24:28.859
interested in donating to Level Up Day

00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:29.820
Foundation,

00:24:30.241 --> 00:24:32.904
how can they get in contact with you

00:24:32.964 --> 00:24:33.747
or the foundation?

00:24:34.383 --> 00:24:34.742
Yeah,

00:24:34.762 --> 00:24:38.944
so you can visit us at www.levelupday.org.

00:24:39.464 --> 00:24:41.345
There's also going to be more information

00:24:41.384 --> 00:24:44.746
coming out in the coming weeks about ways

00:24:44.766 --> 00:24:45.626
to volunteer,

00:24:45.807 --> 00:24:48.028
where you can drop off donated items,

00:24:48.147 --> 00:24:51.009
and that information will come through our

00:24:51.128 --> 00:24:53.648
social media channels as well as our

00:24:53.689 --> 00:24:54.970
community newsletter.

00:24:55.369 --> 00:24:57.471
So once you visit levelupday.org,

00:24:57.550 --> 00:24:59.811
you will be able to subscribe to the

00:24:59.832 --> 00:25:00.932
newsletter and, of course,

00:25:00.972 --> 00:25:02.894
follow us on our social media channels.

00:25:02.953 --> 00:25:04.474
And those channels include Facebook,

00:25:04.555 --> 00:25:05.776
Instagram, and LinkedIn.

00:25:06.256 --> 00:25:07.115
All right.

00:25:07.576 --> 00:25:11.378
So that is levelupday.org.

00:25:11.878 --> 00:25:13.140
And there's a phone number.

00:25:14.126 --> 00:25:15.787
they could also you can also reach us

00:25:15.807 --> 00:25:18.567
directly um at four zero four nine one

00:25:18.607 --> 00:25:21.689
three one two one one so if it's

00:25:21.729 --> 00:25:23.249
not me picking up it'll be one of

00:25:23.308 --> 00:25:25.308
our volunteers and they'll be able to

00:25:25.368 --> 00:25:27.450
guide you um through whatever it is you

00:25:27.509 --> 00:25:29.109
need whether it's either assistance

00:25:29.130 --> 00:25:30.570
whether you wanting to be a part of

00:25:30.651 --> 00:25:33.490
one of our programs um our biggest program

00:25:33.510 --> 00:25:34.892
right now that i'm really super excited

00:25:34.912 --> 00:25:37.432
about is our public service in action aka

00:25:37.471 --> 00:25:40.432
psa so that is our program where we

00:25:40.512 --> 00:25:41.373
actually connect

00:25:41.932 --> 00:25:43.634
um individuals in the community who are

00:25:43.673 --> 00:25:45.834
interested with learning more about civic

00:25:45.875 --> 00:25:47.575
engagement and how to become more civic

00:25:47.595 --> 00:25:52.136
aware um and informed all right you know

00:25:52.196 --> 00:25:53.856
i'm gonna drop this because if you don't

00:25:53.876 --> 00:25:55.837
have this on your radar i know you

00:25:55.877 --> 00:25:58.358
take your young people to candidate forums

00:25:58.439 --> 00:25:59.858
or you inform them about those and

00:25:59.878 --> 00:26:03.060
everything but uh there's a candid forum

00:26:03.080 --> 00:26:06.241
coming up on today friday

00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:09.742
at Berean Christian Church at six thirty.

00:26:09.762 --> 00:26:10.503
It's a candid forum.

00:26:10.523 --> 00:26:12.546
It's going to have statewide races and

00:26:12.586 --> 00:26:13.306
local races.

00:26:13.646 --> 00:26:15.407
So if you have a group of young

00:26:15.428 --> 00:26:17.509
folks, you want to expose them to that.

00:26:17.891 --> 00:26:19.471
It is going to be streamed live as

00:26:19.531 --> 00:26:21.314
well as in person and live.

00:26:21.693 --> 00:26:23.576
So go to Berean Christian Church Gwinnett

00:26:24.115 --> 00:26:26.459
and share that with your students and

00:26:26.479 --> 00:26:27.179
their parents.

00:26:27.239 --> 00:26:28.259
And then at least, you know,

00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:29.942
maybe you can incorporate that or at least

00:26:30.551 --> 00:26:33.032
show them later or what have you but

00:26:33.472 --> 00:26:34.913
yeah it's important i like that you're

00:26:34.932 --> 00:26:36.433
doing that man because a lot of times

00:26:36.473 --> 00:26:38.474
we need somebody filling the gap we say

00:26:38.515 --> 00:26:41.375
go get registered to vote and then we

00:26:41.415 --> 00:26:43.496
say vote and then it's this huge gap

00:26:43.516 --> 00:26:46.096
of who will wear how why and run

00:26:46.737 --> 00:26:53.299
yeah like absolutely yes so any way that

00:26:53.339 --> 00:26:56.099
i can help do that you know partner

00:26:56.119 --> 00:26:57.661
with you align with you support you

00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:59.421
you know, let's make it happen.

00:26:59.480 --> 00:26:59.740
You know,

00:26:59.800 --> 00:27:00.922
conversations with Karen and Kat,

00:27:00.942 --> 00:27:02.962
we're all about, you know, empowerment,

00:27:03.022 --> 00:27:03.823
informing people.

00:27:03.863 --> 00:27:05.923
And we are a trusted source for people

00:27:05.943 --> 00:27:06.704
to get information.

00:27:06.724 --> 00:27:09.066
You know, my girl, she ran, I ran,

00:27:09.266 --> 00:27:10.586
and we both know what it's like.

00:27:10.606 --> 00:27:12.028
So we want to make sure that we

00:27:12.387 --> 00:27:14.628
empower our young leaders of all walks of

00:27:14.669 --> 00:27:16.029
life to get involved.

00:27:16.410 --> 00:27:18.090
So I really thank what you're doing, sis.

00:27:18.250 --> 00:27:18.852
I love it.

00:27:19.332 --> 00:27:20.271
Thank you so much.

00:27:20.432 --> 00:27:21.292
I appreciate it.

00:27:21.863 --> 00:27:23.002
You are so welcome.

00:27:23.502 --> 00:27:26.223
So if someone is listening to you today,

00:27:26.243 --> 00:27:28.105
particularly a young person listening to

00:27:28.125 --> 00:27:28.724
you today,

00:27:29.505 --> 00:27:31.786
and they want to make an impact in

00:27:31.865 --> 00:27:32.865
their community,

00:27:33.405 --> 00:27:36.307
what is one thing that you would tell

00:27:36.346 --> 00:27:39.968
them on how to start that journey?

00:27:40.107 --> 00:27:44.209
Start by making the decision to level up.

00:27:45.160 --> 00:27:47.122
that's the first thing in order to make

00:27:47.142 --> 00:27:49.483
an impact you have to start with yourself

00:27:49.523 --> 00:27:50.964
in order to be better for others you

00:27:51.005 --> 00:27:53.446
have to be better for yourself so i

00:27:53.487 --> 00:27:56.589
would say look i like to call it

00:27:56.630 --> 00:27:59.853
a purpose audit so do an individual

00:27:59.913 --> 00:28:02.555
purpose audit and discover ways that

00:28:02.755 --> 00:28:04.037
yourself you

00:28:04.676 --> 00:28:07.638
can level up mentally, physically,

00:28:07.959 --> 00:28:10.300
emotionally, financially.

00:28:10.401 --> 00:28:12.301
Like look at things that you're doing and

00:28:12.342 --> 00:28:13.982
find ways to do it better.

00:28:14.563 --> 00:28:16.284
So that way when you do go out

00:28:16.324 --> 00:28:17.164
in the community,

00:28:17.505 --> 00:28:20.547
you can share lived experience.

00:28:21.307 --> 00:28:24.828
with your community and you know multiple

00:28:24.868 --> 00:28:26.430
cultures because that's what it's about

00:28:26.450 --> 00:28:27.351
you want to be able to make a

00:28:27.431 --> 00:28:29.392
cultural and a community impact

00:28:29.771 --> 00:28:32.153
simultaneously so if there's something

00:28:32.192 --> 00:28:35.474
that you've changed about yourself or need

00:28:35.494 --> 00:28:37.615
to change about yourself once that is done

00:28:37.655 --> 00:28:39.978
go out and share that with someone because

00:28:40.018 --> 00:28:41.999
essentially that's what empowers and

00:28:42.038 --> 00:28:44.099
encourage them encourages them

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:46.000
to do the same thing.

00:28:46.901 --> 00:28:50.121
It may not be the same journey.

00:28:50.141 --> 00:28:52.102
It may not be the same habit that

00:28:52.122 --> 00:28:53.102
needs to be broken.

00:28:53.122 --> 00:28:54.942
It may not be the same addiction.

00:28:55.022 --> 00:28:57.262
It may not be the same mental health

00:28:57.323 --> 00:28:57.762
battle.

00:28:58.262 --> 00:29:01.304
It may not be the same financial stressor.

00:29:01.723 --> 00:29:05.805
But whatever you have that needs to be

00:29:06.325 --> 00:29:07.025
leveled up,

00:29:07.704 --> 00:29:09.766
share that experience with someone because

00:29:09.786 --> 00:29:10.365
trust me,

00:29:10.726 --> 00:29:12.866
it always empowers the next person.

00:29:13.007 --> 00:29:13.366
Amen.

00:29:14.421 --> 00:29:16.804
one Kat you got the last question sis

00:29:17.184 --> 00:29:20.328
yes girl we know on Conversations with

00:29:20.348 --> 00:29:21.891
Karen and Kat we want to eliminate the

00:29:21.931 --> 00:29:24.074
negative stigma behind mental health and

00:29:24.134 --> 00:29:26.637
we want to share tools and resources with

00:29:26.698 --> 00:29:29.701
our listeners so with a busy life big

00:29:29.721 --> 00:29:31.663
family how do you manage your mental

00:29:31.703 --> 00:29:32.085
wellness

00:29:33.166 --> 00:29:34.107
That's a great question.

00:29:34.167 --> 00:29:35.429
Big life and big family.

00:29:35.749 --> 00:29:36.849
You know what I do?

00:29:37.529 --> 00:29:41.472
I hide in the bathroom.

00:29:41.932 --> 00:29:44.114
Listen, this is an honest platform, right?

00:29:44.734 --> 00:29:47.115
With a husband and six kids,

00:29:47.517 --> 00:29:50.699
sometimes the bathroom is my safe haven.

00:29:50.759 --> 00:29:52.339
It's the only place in the house where

00:29:52.420 --> 00:29:54.820
I feel no one will disturb you.

00:29:55.161 --> 00:29:57.823
Like no one knows you're there.

00:29:57.942 --> 00:29:58.864
And if you're there...

00:29:59.423 --> 00:30:00.544
It's quiet time.

00:30:00.804 --> 00:30:02.904
So spend some alone time with yourself in

00:30:02.924 --> 00:30:03.525
the bathroom.

00:30:03.545 --> 00:30:04.605
For some people, it may be the car.

00:30:04.644 --> 00:30:08.086
Just spending pockets of time to

00:30:08.145 --> 00:30:11.086
decompress and debrief from a long work

00:30:11.126 --> 00:30:12.707
day or a long day of being a

00:30:12.787 --> 00:30:14.807
mom, a wife, a community leader,

00:30:14.827 --> 00:30:17.827
a councilwoman, whatever it is, you know,

00:30:17.887 --> 00:30:19.108
from the hustle and bustle.

00:30:19.128 --> 00:30:21.209
Take a moment for yourself to literally

00:30:21.269 --> 00:30:23.309
smell the roses and give yourself a pat

00:30:23.329 --> 00:30:25.450
on the back of what you've accomplished

00:30:25.490 --> 00:30:26.009
that day.

00:30:26.309 --> 00:30:28.471
If everyone made it back into your house,

00:30:28.990 --> 00:30:30.833
If everyone was able to eat something,

00:30:30.932 --> 00:30:32.934
everybody came back with all their limbs

00:30:32.974 --> 00:30:34.715
and their sound mind and the blood is

00:30:34.796 --> 00:30:36.397
running warm in their veins.

00:30:36.817 --> 00:30:39.201
That is something to celebrate at the end

00:30:39.240 --> 00:30:39.760
of the day.

00:30:40.181 --> 00:30:42.604
And so I decompress by saying, okay,

00:30:42.663 --> 00:30:43.443
everybody good?

00:30:43.964 --> 00:30:44.925
Everybody done ate?

00:30:45.465 --> 00:30:46.247
Okay.

00:30:46.287 --> 00:30:47.508
That's my pocket of time.

00:30:47.548 --> 00:30:48.669
So whether it's in the bathroom,

00:30:48.709 --> 00:30:49.250
in the car,

00:30:49.650 --> 00:30:51.211
or anywhere where I'm just alone.

00:30:51.852 --> 00:30:53.534
Danielle Tawano is going to give her alone

00:30:53.594 --> 00:30:53.753
time.

00:30:54.773 --> 00:30:55.954
I know you're right.

00:30:55.974 --> 00:30:57.115
Look, it's amazing you said that.

00:30:57.154 --> 00:30:58.256
At Bible study today,

00:30:58.516 --> 00:30:59.635
I know it's the last time, Karen,

00:30:59.675 --> 00:31:00.096
I'm sorry.

00:31:00.497 --> 00:31:02.518
At Bible study today,

00:31:02.617 --> 00:31:05.499
where is it in the Bible where Jesus

00:31:05.558 --> 00:31:07.920
does the miracle where he turns the fish

00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:10.201
and the bread and he feeds everybody?

00:31:10.721 --> 00:31:12.942
A few passages above that,

00:31:14.363 --> 00:31:16.383
it says he got the news,

00:31:16.482 --> 00:31:17.884
I guess he got the news about his

00:31:17.923 --> 00:31:20.565
cousin, you know, the John the Baptist.

00:31:20.585 --> 00:31:22.425
And he went

00:31:23.105 --> 00:31:24.808
And he sat alone.

00:31:26.049 --> 00:31:28.032
He went and found a quiet place and

00:31:28.073 --> 00:31:28.953
he sat alone.

00:31:29.674 --> 00:31:31.137
And when you said that, I was like,

00:31:31.577 --> 00:31:33.019
would you have Bible study with me today?

00:31:34.291 --> 00:31:36.893
no because it's important because after a

00:31:36.952 --> 00:31:39.493
long busy day i mean the the the

00:31:39.554 --> 00:31:42.075
world is so loud yeah it's loud it

00:31:42.095 --> 00:31:44.817
becomes chaos and if when there's chaos

00:31:44.836 --> 00:31:47.397
there's confusion and you know not to get

00:31:47.458 --> 00:31:48.998
all religious here but my god is not

00:31:49.018 --> 00:31:51.419
the author of confusion so if it's if

00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:54.560
i'm confused and it's too much chaos going

00:31:54.721 --> 00:31:57.301
on i i need to sit with self

00:31:57.662 --> 00:31:58.202
That's right.

00:31:58.262 --> 00:31:58.703
That's right.

00:31:58.743 --> 00:32:00.326
And it's important to do every day.

00:32:00.526 --> 00:32:01.067
That's right.

00:32:01.166 --> 00:32:02.088
And that's what I'm saying.

00:32:02.148 --> 00:32:04.051
Scripture said that's what Jesus did and

00:32:04.172 --> 00:32:04.913
Jesus did it.

00:32:06.255 --> 00:32:07.376
He did it several times.

00:32:08.892 --> 00:32:10.633
When he went to the garden to pray

00:32:10.692 --> 00:32:12.855
alone and he told them to watch,

00:32:13.496 --> 00:32:13.776
you know,

00:32:13.816 --> 00:32:15.436
to keep watch while he went to go

00:32:15.497 --> 00:32:15.817
pray.

00:32:16.157 --> 00:32:17.618
When he went to the wilderness,

00:32:17.638 --> 00:32:19.101
the forty days and the forty nights,

00:32:19.121 --> 00:32:21.843
there were multiple times that he was

00:32:21.883 --> 00:32:22.383
alone.

00:32:22.723 --> 00:32:24.305
He had to go and be by himself.

00:32:26.326 --> 00:32:27.228
And be with the Lord.

00:32:27.528 --> 00:32:29.388
And as a follower of Jesus Christ,

00:32:29.490 --> 00:32:32.932
I'm going to follow his lead and be

00:32:33.093 --> 00:32:33.313
alone.

00:32:37.233 --> 00:32:41.454
Thank you so much for this conversation.

00:32:41.654 --> 00:32:44.836
I want to remind our listeners that they

00:32:44.875 --> 00:32:49.377
can contact the Level Up Day Foundation

00:32:49.938 --> 00:32:53.818
via email at info at levelupday.org,

00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:55.759
via the phone number at

00:33:00.182 --> 00:33:03.944
And at the website, levelupday.org.

00:33:04.285 --> 00:33:06.506
Find out how you can plug in,

00:33:06.546 --> 00:33:07.747
how you can give,

00:33:08.086 --> 00:33:11.650
and how you can pour into others.

00:33:11.690 --> 00:33:12.589
To our listeners,

00:33:12.630 --> 00:33:14.991
we want to remind you to subscribe to

00:33:15.031 --> 00:33:17.393
Conversations with Karen and Kat on

00:33:17.513 --> 00:33:19.575
YouTube, Facebook, IG,

00:33:19.654 --> 00:33:21.996
and wherever you get your podcasts.

00:33:22.396 --> 00:33:23.156
Remember,

00:33:23.597 --> 00:33:25.759
you are a part of the conversation.

00:33:26.376 --> 00:33:28.881
Thank you for joining us on this episode

00:33:28.941 --> 00:33:31.125
of Conversations with Karen and Kat.

00:33:31.305 --> 00:33:32.988
Well, we are impacting the world.

00:33:33.008 --> 00:33:34.490
My conversation at a time.