Join Kosta and his guest: Shaquawana Wester, Philanthropist, Community Organizer and Empower Community Engagement Coordinator with UCHRA.
Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland:
https://empoweruppercumberland.org/
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.
This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Volunteer State Community College.
Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville
Join Kosta and his guest: Shaquawana Wester, Philanthropist, Community Organizer and Empower Community Engagement Coordinator with UCHRA.
Find out more about Empower Upper Cumberland:
https://empoweruppercumberland.org/
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a product of Morgan Franklin Media and recorded in Cookeville, TN.
This episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is made possible by our partners at Volunteer State Community College.
Find out more about Volunteer State Community College:
https://www.volstate.edu/campuses/cookeville
Vol State Elevate can meet your organization's workforce training needs. Whether you're scaling a small business or managing the company of 3000 employees, our mission is the same to prepare your team for what's next. That's why I have Vol State offers tailored training options designed to fit the unique needs of your organization. From on campus workshops to onsite training and online courses and certifications vol state adapts to your business culture, employee schedules and learning preferences. Vol State's flexible and affordable programs are designed to maximize your training budget by making their educators an extension of your training team. ensure employees aren't just prepared for today. They're ready for what's coming tomorrow. Schedule your free consultation today at volstate.edu/workforce
Shaquawana Wester:It's about whatever these kids need. I am willing to go to bat for it and every nine year old girl in poverty or nine year old boy, whatever it is, if they can have one person that will consistently say with them, then we can change all of the things that they think of themselves in the long run.
Morgan Franklin:Welcome to Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev, a podcast on parenting business and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you thoughtful conversation, making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better together. Here's your host, Kosta Yepifantsev.
Kosta Yepifantsev:Hey, y'all, it's Kosta today I'm here with my guest Shaquawana Wester. Philanthropist, Community Organizer and empower community engagement coordinator with UCHRA. In 2012, you started Kiwanis coats, a coat drive where anyone can come and get a coat, no paperwork, no questions asked. As someone who spends every day trying to guarantee and expand the opportunities of our community. How does open access to essentials like clothing give space for individuals to grow?
Shaquawana Wester:I believe that the common necessities of life I mean, clothing, food, hygiene products, I think those are just things that everybody needs once and I will never not give those things, right, no questions asked if you need food, I'm a feed you you need clothing, I got you. I understand that money. Sometimes people get a little antsy with handing out money. I will say sorry, to whomever may put the little signs out that say Do not give your money, if it's my money, I can get whoever I want to wherever I want to. But I do understand if you choose not to do so then that's fine. But I pride myself on just seeing youth, that child that might have needed a little bit of extra. And knowing the difference in how I felt when it was Easter Sunday, and I knew I was gonna get that extra little dress show, knowing how it felt when school was coming around. And I was gonna get the new school clothing. And at that beginning of the school year, how I walked into school feeling better. And you know, if you take that, and you put that into an adult that may not have and you say go get a job. And they're in rags, versus being able to be clean and well kept and have something on that they feel confident. And I just feel like if we can solve some of the problem by giving those things then why not? And I mean, how many times do you hear, you know, like, you may not have been qualified for the job. But she had such a great interview, you know, and it's that confidence and that self esteem, you walk in and you own it. And you may get the job and not be prepared for it. But people will invest in you so that you learn it, I got my first job I was
Kosta Yepifantsev:to say that I was ill prepared is an understatement. I had no preparation, but they gave me an opportunity. And they gave me a chance because I had the confidence to obviously not just look the part but also act the part. And that's because people throughout my childhood made a lot of investment in me and I felt valued. So I completely get it. It's those little things when somebody needs, you know, just a jacket. You know what I'm saying? A new jacket, you know, because kids are mean boy.
Shaquawana Wester:I thank the Lord that I am not a kid in the school system today because I cannot I cannot deal but just the name brand thing. That's a huge issue. And I'm so thankful that my mom did not raise me on name brand. And I have not done that with my kids. You know, yes, it's nice to have those things that if you can go and get those things, and when I mean if you can go get those things. I mean, once you hit 16 You better go get you a job and you can go get those things right. My daughter recently went to a Drake concert and came back with a sweat shirt that was $250 and I was I was So, but she worked she babysat and she dogs that and she saved all of that money on her own concert ticket down on the floor and was able to buy her this sweatshirt also, I could never write, I didn't have that mindset. And I can't forget that how the generational poverty is broken is you know what I'm saying? She She She spent her money on that sweatshirt. It's probably worth it. I'm sure. Look, now when they're Yeah, I'm sure that they're selling for like double that now. So she might have been an investment. Yeah. Smarts about her. Yeah, but I can just remember, in school, having a whole having a just little things like that. Now, I was lucky though, because I was a cheerleader. I played basketball, I was pretty athletic. And apparently, I just have a real good RBF. So kids were afraid of me. So I didn't have to worry too much for myself. But I can just remember other kids that would, you know, be made fun of and then you take that and amplified in today. And you're seeing people that are getting bullied to the point of taking their lives because of an article of clothing. So again, if I can take those items, I literally on Facebook, you'll see people tagging me to clothing to all of these things. And I have a storage building that I rent. And I store clothing and hygiene products in there. And I see people that need or a house fire or just you know, looking for their kids, whatever. If I can respond to that call, then I'm onit.
Kosta Yepifantsev:And so how do people donate, like through Facebook? Or do they call you like say for example, Jessica and I wanted to donate, where would we start? A
Shaquawana Wester:little bit of anything. I mean, like my phone number, unfortunately is out there because of the current draft. So it's like everybody has my phone number so it can be a text. It's Facebook. The other day somebody handed me down through at UC HRA and brought me some prom dresses. And I'm like I work from home mostly. So I do say just try to reach out to me I will meet you in a public place or have you to come to the storage and unload.
Kosta Yepifantsev:I mean, you want to like throw your number out there like my Jones or
Shaquawana Wester:email okay, do email email is s Wester at UC hra.com. If you email me, I will give you my number.
Kosta Yepifantsev:Fantastic. I love it. So you're from Cookeville.
Shaquawana Wester:I am born in Nashville. Okay, I'm gonna throw that out there. I know nothing about it. But it sounds cool.
Kosta Yepifantsev:It's all good. So as food, housing and almost everything becomes more expensive in the upper Cumberland, how are we keeping up with the needs of our underserved community? And is this community growing?
Shaquawana Wester:The community is definitely growing the amount of homeless families. I don't know if you've talked with anyone in the school system and the amount of homeless families with youth. Yeah, I can't even think of the percentage that they gave the this last time but it absolutely blew my mind and homelessness, especially for kids. We're not necessarily just saying sleeping outside. But if you are sleeping at a friend's on a couch because you know you're not in your own room, you're not on your own time, you're you know, usually food is scarce, it's harder to get stamps and things if you don't have your own address and things there's a lot of hoops and things that you have to jump through. I'm gonna say you know, a huge shout out. I know that there are tons in the last few years of organizations that are coming together and doing more to actually go out and be the hands and feet and surveying and finding people. And then I also have to shout out places like Publix and food line. I go over there to food line every Monday and Wednesday and Friday and I pick up bread and I'm able to sit it out at you say Trey and families can come through and get what they want. Again, no questions asked. You just walk inside the front doors. We have a little display there. You don't have to become into uch right to get that you just come in and get the food Highlands residential also has that out there Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays, I believe. And they usually also have vegetables and things like that where I don't have room to put the vegetables and things out at use HRA. On Sundays, I usually have bread and that's another one where you can email me if you need and on Sundays, I can meet you somewhere and I have food and vegetables and things that I would be more than happy to give out. So
Kosta Yepifantsev:when we interviewed core b He said like one in two kids are either at or close to the poverty line. Statistically, I don't know if you know the percentage but how many kids in Putnam County School System are considered homeless? I don't. We've spoken to Justin Beals before talking about the homeless population. And one of the things that he mentioned which is kind of shocked us. He said that the average homeless person in Putnam County, when I say that word, you would assume that it's probably you know, an old man or woman or somebody that's on drugs or someone that's made a lot of really bad life choices, but it's actually a nine year old girl. So We'll just put that into perspective. Or I guess it helps us understand how do kids survive and set themselves up for success when they don't have a stable home environment. So
Shaquawana Wester:if you are trained in aces, and if you're not, then look it up adverse childhood experiences, it tells you that it takes one, one person to consistently be there for a child to change all of those experiences, whether that's poverty, whether that is living in a home with someone who is suffering from alcoholism, domestic violence, all of these things, a lot of people know me from things needs training. And that was a huge turning point for my life, because I was able to come from being that child that lived in public house and to work in in public housing and giving back to the same children and understanding their needs. Because I needed them, I can say that the relationship that I built with the children, they're from K through 12, and beyond, because they still contact me, one of one of my sweet children that, I'm glad not to hear from her. Because if I hear from her, I know that something's not good. And that's okay. Because at the end of the day, if she knows that she can call me and that I'm gonna be there, then I'm glad to be that person, I just have to give her a hard time if she ever hears this, you know, whether it was for food for just my parents don't understand whether it was just to cry, whether it was to laugh, whatever it is, I was consistent. Teachers change from kindergarten to first grade, the teacher changed from kindergarten, they they're in fifth grade, now they're in seventh grade, now they've graduated, all of these things change their boyfriends change, parents may pass, whatever. But right now, I'm still here. And so I am that one consistent figure in their life. And I think that that is one of the biggest things that people don't understand. It's just being there, it's not always doing this huge investment. Now, don't get me wrong. working in nonprofits, I'm going to say that, yes, I will take your items, and I will take your monies, and I will find good things to do with them. As I said before, if you're living in a home, just two teenage girls and a mom, that's three females, and the hygiene items that are needed for these girls, okay? If you don't have that going into school, you're not going to raise your hand, you're not going to want to be in the group, you're not going to want to be in the clubs you are trying to make. And I know people are like no pads and tampons is not a hugely expensive, right, it is expensive. And when you're a young lady, and you aren't just trying to not bring up to your parents that you need more that you need to have more than that, and you're trying to make it last for so long. And you don't have the self that you need to keep you're like all of these things. I have kids that knew that they could come to me and just, I need more, I need more of those things. And a young man that came to me one time in high school, a high school boy that's coming to me and asking me for help because his socks had holes, you know, just little things like that, that one person that they know that they can come to, for all of those things, had to fill out an application because he was too embarrassed in school to say that he needed it, you know, or just not having the money to be in the yearbook, he had to pay a fee for the sitting fee. And that's a whole nother tangent. But anyway, he had to be able to pay this fee to be in the yearbook. And so I was able to call someone in the school system and make that change. And I was the person that he came to, you know, when it's not about it being me, me, me, it's about whatever these kids need, I am willing to go to bat for it. And every nine year old girl in poverty, or nine year old boy, whatever it is, if they can have one person that will consistently stay with them, then we can change all of the things that they think of themselves in the long run.
Kosta Yepifantsev:So I have a few questions there. But typically, I mean, there has to be a adult there if it's a nine year old girl, right or just child in general. So I mean, are you saying that some of these kids don't have any stability period, like they have no consistency in terms of figure that they can look up to or they can rely on?
Shaquawana Wester:I'm saying that when you are a parent and you're going through poverty, you're dealing with a whole demon itself. And I can say that just from looking back at me with my first daughter and living in public housing versus myself as a mom now, my kids 10 years later, in between the birds have a completely different mom, and I'm always apologetic to my first daughter like I'm so sorry, not that I was doing anything horrible. I was just trying to survive myself. I was trying to figure out how to get the job. I needed a better job. I was trying to better myself. I was taking classes I was going to take time today my CDA was trying to salvage the relationship with her father and doing all the crazy things that I needed to do to keep him. I was doing all the things that I thought I needed to be doing for my daughter, except being 100% consistent for my daughter, right? And so it's not always this horror story, it's that maybe that adult doesn't have that one person that was consistent for them. And then before that, that adult didn't. And that's where we get into that generational poverty thing. Because you can only teach what you know, I can't go out here and teach my daughter how to be a dad because I've never been one, right. You know, I can teach my daughter how to be a lot of things because I didn't have it. And my mom didn't have it, and her mom didn't have it. And that's not bad. It's just, you know, my mom did the best that she could. I had what I needed. I definitely was not the worst. Like I said before, when I'm thinking of poverty, I got to be a cheerleader. I got to be a lot of things. But I'll tell you what, what I didn't have is somebody that Lord, you don't see some pictures of my head. We didn't have the money to go and always do that get the perms and stuff. So I have some pictures where I'm like, Why did y'all not tell me that I was not a little white girl in school, and I had my hair teased and hair sprayed. And I had on some translucent powder, because I can't afford makeup and translucent on my skin. It's not translucent. All right. So I mean, it's things like that I didn't have anybody to tell me I didn't have the money. I didn't want to go to her to bother her with it. And so I just I mean, do so
Kosta Yepifantsev:were you always in the community service realm? Or was there something that maybe like an inflection point that occurred as you were, you know, essentially raising your daughter, you know, understanding the struggles of poverty that you said, You know what, I'm going to get out of this, you got out. And then you said, You know what, I'm going to get back to my community, I got to teach more people how to do this. So
Shaquawana Wester:it actually kind of happen. It was kind of modal and all all of those things together. So like I said before, I've always worked. When I had her I started in childcare, because I knew that I could take her with me, I found a place that I could take her with me. And so that's how it started. And I've always loved kids. I had to go to a coat giveaway, one time I cannot afford a coat for and I had to give them so much information for this coat that I was embarrassed and she had not needed it. I would have left. My pride was like, huh, like, I just need a coat. Why
Kosta Yepifantsev:do they collect I lose info?
Shaquawana Wester:I really I don't know. And I mean, I understand again, it's like, when you go to certain places, you can only go you know, so many times and what and I get it maybe they would be I don't get it because I have to turn donations away like I can you know there's times that some I've been hit so hard sometimes and I'm like, Okay, nope, I don't have the audience for that. Or, you know, yes, I can do it. I can use those or whatever. So I'm like, I really don't get it. But it was just like, either give me a code or not. But why do you like it was just embarrassing. So when I became an AmeriCorps, I've always wanted to own a home. I may not I knew that. I was living in public housing. I moved from public housing to HUD, and you know, that's assistance and I was lucky enough to live in a little house over close to Capshaw. So then that was cool. Because if you live close to capture, obviously you're not in poverty. And I was like, Ha ha joke's on y'all. But it was because then kids that can normally stay the night with my daughter, all of a sudden, they could say the night with my daughter because we lived over by cutshaw Interesting. Yeah, so cool. How that happens, I didn't change you would have thought that I was a whole new person. I was like, I'm literally the same person. And we're still gonna be listening to gangsta rap put your kid in my house. And that's so it's geographic. Gillis, we lived in public housing. And you know, I'm fortunately here. The places are known, you know, and it's changed so much. I mean, now, the new ones are beautiful. And you want I mean, like, the new ones are just amazing. Yeah, I'm so jealous of the people that live in the new places. So how is residential? Y'all owe me? Not live in the I live in the bricks? So yeah, it was literally driving through a neighborhood and your kids outside and a family season then they realize, oh, you live in like it changed, just like that. So yeah, living over in the capture area, she was able to have kids that normally wouldn't be able to stay there not with her. So that was a thing. And I knew you know, from there, became in America or it is set up where you're doing service. So it is not it's not a job it is to prepare you and so I had always worked in childcare. I had not been in an office, but they had a position with the youth program. And so I was like, you know, let's try you they gave me a shot. And I did that for three years and in that three years I was able to work and not be punished if you so well because I call it kind of punished, the better you do, the more they take from you. So I was able to work and my rent did not change based off of that. So I was able to build that career, I was able to build my credit, do all of those things and that was how I was able to move out. But as far as community service my my Ding ding ding was when America or challenged us to do a project that meant something to us. And the coats instantly came to my mind that I wanted to be able to give away coats without making people feel any
Kosta Yepifantsev:you don't make them take all this information and really nothing
Shaquawana Wester:like it's almost like when I that my best coat jobs Oh, after COVID It's hard to change a little bit. But the best coat drives have been all of these people. We've had people come out in handout doughnuts and do flu shots. And WC T brings you know Clifford the Big Red Dog. I mean, all of these things are going on and games for the kids and giveaways and Oh, while you're here, grab a coat. I think that's how it shouldn't be.
Kosta Yepifantsev:So here's something that always interests me. Okay, so you were able to find AmeriCorps. Right. And you guys have the empower you see? Why don't more people follow that path? And this is kind of a second question that ties into the first one. Is there just not enough resources to serve the problem of poverty because it's such a big problem
Shaquawana Wester:with AmeriCorps I? That's like a hidden gem. I know Tech has a program where they use AmeriCorps through their agriculture, and then Hollins uses AmeriCorps. I don't know if there's any other businesses that do I mean, it's out there. It's over in East Tennessee, and they would love for you to holler at them and to place more people here, you know. But even at Hollins, it was like to like your that's two people. So again, you're not going to stop the world with people is I found it I'm blessed. I'm so lucky and how and still they have an AmeriCorps there. Now they have maybe seven eight, AmeriCorps over the last few years have went through there and made it's made a huge difference. I know that myself and my neighbor, actually my neighbor that lived with me on beltmann Street and public house and she is a homebuyer. Now Taylor and she went through AmeriCorps and did things. So that's pretty cool. I'm going to shout out our Empower upper Hamilton, we are we are hoping that we are going to be able to show how to make a change in poverty for the families that want it. You know, I've been in rings where people say people don't want to work. And that's what the issue with poverty is. But with Empower, we are looking for the work in family, we're not for crisis.
Kosta Yepifantsev:Does it kind of go hand in hand, though? I mean, if you're if you're working poor, aren't you always in
Shaquawana Wester:crisis, definitely. And I guess our definition is, you know, we can't save you on the spot. Like, if you're not in a home, like we're not going to be able to pitch you in a home tomorrow. We're looking for that that working family that either you're working or you want to work, you have to have a child in the home, and you qualify for services. And so what we're trying to show is if you pair people with consistency, if you pair them with support as they are working, so every 90 days that a family is working, they can receive a milestone, I'm not gonna bless that milestone, but it is a financial milestone for every 90 days that you're working. If you move up, if you get a raise, and you keep that raise, that's a milestone, we are also able to throw in some other things in there that are, you know, supportive, you know, job training, and just a lot of emotional. And when I say emotional, it's just kind of mental health is a huge thing. And it's hard to get in and find openings. And so we are able to connect you with people were able to look at the whole picture, and then partner you with people in the community that have made it. And we're hoping to show the people that maybe have not ever been in poverty. And then the people that are in poverty, how much we are really similar. We all just want the same thing. And maybe you've been blessed with people that have surrounded you and fostered you and helped you move up. And maybe this person just doesn't have that and how you share in that knowledge. Community. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev:Can you get me going on empower you see in the 10 of grants, so it's been extended for a fourth year. Are you confident that it's going to keep getting extended?
Shaquawana Wester:I am confident that we are going to show the need for what we're doing. Yeah, our wording was bringing families to under 50% at above poverty level. And that changes like so it changes so we're like, oh, you know, I don't know necessarily that it's going to look exactly like what we have it. But I do believe that if the changes wanted, if they really wanted to see what we could do, yes, we are showing that there's some gaps in the system and that things need to be reworked and changed. And definitely 100% can say that what we have is, is poverty management, we manage poverty doesn't improve, it's not improved, not meaning Empower, you see, but just the system itself, the more that you do, you know, we take from and so it's easier as a mom, say, you have two kids, and you gotta work and you're making this minimal amount, versus if you don't work if you find work under the table that people frown upon. But if you find that work under the table, or babysat, or do things that give you some compensation, the government gives you so much more, right. And so we've got to change that I had someone look at me one time and say, So you're telling me that people should get paid to go to work, you know, we should, we should give them more assistance to go to work. And I said, versus given them more assistance to not
Kosta Yepifantsev:work, I mean, in the end, exactly. And what people don't understand is, they're gonna find a way to make ends meet, like the human being is built in a way where their own survival is paramount, or the survival of their children, familial relations, whatever it might be. So it just depends on how they get paid, you know, they could get paid by working a nine to five, or they could get paid by by selling drugs, you know, and there's a lot of people that choose that lifestyle, and you want to talk about generational poverty, what about generational organized crime, in the sense that, you know, you've got families that have been selling drugs, prescription medications for decades, you know, on math, and all this other stuff. And I mean, that's entrenched to in the family system. So I mean, making a financial investment to get somebody out of that lifestyle, so it doesn't perpetuate and continue to hurt the broader economy as a whole kind of seems like a pretty good investment to me. Yeah,
Shaquawana Wester:because I don't understand why people don't get that if we can change it from the beginning, instead of trying to, you know, just same as juveniles, if we can reach them before they ever get there, if we can reach into the families now. And you know, one of the things that I see with with empowers that the families that we have, especially the families that I'm doing the community engagement for the families that they do want to work, every family that I have in my group is a working family, and then they're committing to come into my program one night a week, they get dinner, but we're also pouring into them with community, you know, it's churches coming in it is guest speakers coming in, it's going through and learning how to budget, not just how to budget, but working your budget, you know, not knowing that this is where my bills go, but then what how to start a savings, how to walk into a bank, and just breaking down all of the things that you feel like people automatically know, and taking all of that away and pouring into them.
Kosta Yepifantsev:So you're trying to create an infrastructure, right. So whether it's networking with people that you know, are not in poverty that you know, may have certain relative levels of success, to then pour into the individuals that are trying to get out of generational poverty, you're trying to build those connections. But at the same time, you're trying to find employment. And I just want to hear your perspective, because I've heard Meghan's on this, do you consider the employers in this community to be able to actually pull people out of poverty, given the wages that they pay? Because, I mean, like, I pay poverty wages. Now I'm mandated by the state to pay poverty wages, mind you, but I mean, still I pay poverty, wages, hope somebody from the states listen to this, by the way. And at the same time, you know, when I talked to Meghan Spurgeon, she said, Oh, we're looking at remote work, may not be a popular topic, but they pay a lot better, you know, outside of this community, relative to the businesses in this community. Because the individuals that are in poverty are not, they're not always qualified for jobs that are paying, you know, 25 to $30 an hour,
Shaquawana Wester:definitely. And we just had a big hot topic on this at a meeting recently, and my answer previous to this meeting versus now would probably be so it's so different. But you're right, you're dealing with, are we qualified, do we have qualified workers to come into positions that are paying this, but at the same time we have, if we're not able to pay this, then we are not moving anybody out of poverty? And so therefore, we're not coming to the job, and we're going to take all the benefits, right? So we are definitely still we're looking for those remote jobs. And when you think of the remote jobs that also touches on the family dynamic of you're working at a factory that might pay a little more than working elsewhere, but then your child is sick. And you're a single mom, and you have to go and get that child. And so now you got a point. Or it's most of the jobs, the time that the job starts, and the time that the job begins versus the time that you can take your kid to school and the time your kid gets out of school, none of that lines up. It's like we make things so hard to survive. It's ridiculous. Thus, like I said, I went into childcare, work childcare, to be able to be able to get out. But at the same time, once I had more than one child, I had to quit and stay home because I was not going to make enough in childcare to have my kids in childcare. So it literally just it's like this big Sacco of Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev:Exactly. It's a big Yeah, Corby King actually said it best whenever we had him on the podcast, we are turning into a community and I've lived here since 2012. So that's what 12 years, in 12 years, we have, like hyperspeed turned into a community of haves and have nots. And the divide is getting so wide now. Like, I'm just I'm trying to figure out like how people that are not making $20 An hour or even surviving. I mean, I'm assuming they're all living together. Like they're probably like multiple families living in one house or in one apartment. I mean, like, that's how we did it in Russia. But that's a different country. That's not the greatest country in the world, like America. So I mean, how did we get to 2024? Well, we're all cohabitating because nobody can afford their own place. Because you know, there's not enough high paying jobs.
Shaquawana Wester:I mean, I'm sitting here thinking, you know, even two parent homes, two parent homes, and you have more than a child, you're I mean, you're still,
Kosta Yepifantsev:the latest statistics that I that I saw was that you have to make $96,000 a year to be considered middle class, the median household income in the country is 68,000. So I mean, I don't know, you know what I'm saying, but like, when you talk to the business community, how do they what do they say?
Shaquawana Wester:I've seen a change, that's literally the same conversation, like it was literally verbatim exactly what you said. It's like, well, you're not giving us people that are, you know, they're not they're not qualified. And we're like, yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev:it's the chicken trying.
Shaquawana Wester:I mean, you know, we're trying we do have tech that's doing classes where families can go through and get more training, we have Holland's Training Center, where they can go in and get those soft skills. And I don't know the answer, that one's a tough one.
Kosta Yepifantsev:One of the most intimidating parts of going back to college as a non traditional student was trying to figure out which degree I was going to get, and more importantly, how I could actually use it at Vol State Community College, they've taken the guesswork out of which degrees will actually help students prepare and land jobs in our community with five specialized AAS programs, including computer information technology, mechatronics, nursing business, Vol State has designed their courses around the jobs hiring the upper class, whether you're looking for your next career, or you just want to level up in your current field. Allstate has customized options for full time workers, parents, and students of all ages, for more information on financial aid classes, and how to enroll visit ball state.edu. Well, I mean, I think it's always I think poverty has always been a component of society. It's just, like, not frustrating. But what's more or less concerning is we are investing considerable resources to fixing the problem. But the people who are trying to fix the problem that are trying to work with these individuals, people that are sort of bringing them to the table are doing their job. And it just feels like there's a missing component on the other side for businesses to create somewhat fertile ground for them to be successful. Because I'll be honest, if you want to solve the problem of poverty, money is important. It's probably the most important step one, right? But the only reason it's the most important is because it leads to a number of different factors that increase stability, but flexibility. Okay, without changing the entire infrastructure is probably number two. You know, I'm saying, Yeah, you're right. You're out there. As Cookeville grows, and becomes more diverse. Do you think people of color are getting more opportunities and representation? Or are you taking the blame for the change many are reluctant to see in this area?
Shaquawana Wester:If you're lucky, I feel that I have been lucky getting pulled in at Hollins. But Kevin and AmeriCorps and my first coat drive, maybe even the first two. I can't remember who was in office, but you know, it was just kind of, oh, we'll sign the paper. They did the thing and whatever. And I was like, okay, you know, cool, but then it was Mayor Shelton, and he actually signed the little paper thing and he said, you know, what day is your job and he said, I'm gonna, I'm gonna come out. And I was like, Okay, I've heard that before. And then he came out. That's great. And from that day forward, he talked with me, he wanted to know, you know how this came about. And he just kind of invested in my family. And then from there, it's been impact the group impact that we were at the dinner. So they talked about how they had their morning meetings, it was all the fellas would meet. And they blessed me with being I was the first female, they got to come into one of their meetings, so to tell about what I was doing. And then they came out to my coat drive. And I've just been blessed that I've met people that say, my name and rooms that I will never be in. No matter where I've seen Mayor Shelton, he has always reached out and grabbed me, hey, I want you to make sure calling in his wife, hey, I want you to meet her. Do you know shawanna? I will see them and just kind of like open up. I would be I don't know whether to speak I don't know. We were talking the other day at a meeting. And they said something about how there was like a person at one of our programs. And she went in and asked for a raise that she was like, I'm gonna ask for a raise. And they were like, Whoa, what's you know, and she did it. And they were like, I don't know what we did that made her get the confidence to go and get that raise. And I said, it's permission, right? Sometimes when you're coming from poverty, and there's the social rules that are hidden, you don't know, you know, just just little things that can be done that I'm not going to know, because I've not been in that atmosphere before. And so it was this dude, do I speak, he's with his people do I speak. And he gave me without ever knowing permission by grabbing me and pulling me over and giving me a hug and letting me know that it doesn't matter who's in the room. I know you and you're my friend, that was permission. And so I know now that no matter where I see that family that I can speak, my point is it's just kind of like it's been a luck thing. It's not that I've done anything more than any other African American woman or person here. It's who I know, and what they believe in society and what they want to happen in society. And they have given me that permission and almost unknowingly, other people permission to get to know me. Whereas before, I'm like, I've been on Facebook, MySpace, all these things for years. And now I have 4000 people and people are like, Oh, 4000 people on my girls are not my friends. It's just permission. And so with that being said, it gives me the open doors to move up. And so the kids today that are out here, and they're holding their signs, and they're being heard, and they are like they are they're not asking for that right there, you know, that? They're like, No, we are here, and we're going to be seen, and we're going to be heard, and we're coming to your buildings, and we are going to be part of your community. And that's what's needed. Because it's not, is there? Is there change? Yes, and it's good change is good change? Because you're if you're scared, good. Yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev:we've been doing the same thing for ever. And it ain't went ain't working. You know what I'm saying? Like, at the end of the day, while may make people feel uncomfortable, and it may be against the status quo, you know, because you're not supposed to say certain things that you're you're not supposed to do certain things are, you know, it's like you said, you know, you've got to wait, your turn, I guess, essentially, or wait for recognition for you to be able to engage. But, again, I'm gonna go back to leadership tendency for a second, you know, and I've heard some, some elected officials that say, you know, well, those activists that are in the state legislature, you know, and I'm like, hell, yeah, they're activists, you know, but the older generation, even the African American generation that I speak to, they say, I don't know if that's the right way to handle things. And you know what I tell them, I say, Okay, well, listen, you haven't gotten anything for the last 12 years that you asked for your overall the the infrastructure, and your lives really haven't improved. So I mean, you can if you're gonna keep waiting for an opening, you may just end up waiting forever. You need to go ahead and follow the leads of Justin Jones and Justin Pearson and take it yes, you know what I'm saying and so, like, that's my point of view. And I feel like you and I share that point of view and in a lot of ways, I am so so excited for the younger generation younger than me, like my kids, your kids to come in and just blow the doors off. Well, they can even skip us you know, they can skip Millennials like you and I will sit back and just watch they can Skip Gen Z, but the next these young kids that are like we're done, yeah, this area
Shaquawana Wester:lots to think that there's, I've heard I've been in somebody's rooms where people are like COVID is not like that, like, we're we don't have that problem. And you know, the thing that I like to say is, it's not what you'll say when I'm in the room, right? It's what you're saying, when I'm not in the room when you're with, you know, it's because the good ol boys, you know, is that, you know, and, and I've learned that because I have friends that are Caucasian that have mixed kids, that people may not be aware that they have those myths kids in their in those rings, because they get to be in those rooms. And then something said, and it's like, hey, you know, it's those things. And if it's hidden, that doesn't mean that it's not there, it means that you're you know, that is hidden, speaking earlier about about race and not seeing race and things like that, like, I don't want to be in a place where you don't see my race that you don't see color, I don't see color, you have to see color, because I want to be in a room that not that I'm treated differently because of my color. I don't want special things because of my color. I just want to know that I'm safe, and that you're making sure that I get the same
Kosta Yepifantsev:as somebody that's a person of color. Right? Exactly.
Shaquawana Wester:That's all I want. I just want the same opportunity. And it's still even hearing in Cookeville. When I walk into a room, the first thing that I do, I scan the room, when I go into these meetings now, you know, I scan the room to see, I need to see I need to I need to know what's there. And I need everybody else to know. Because if there's that one instance, it's just knowing that I'm in the room, making sure that I'm safe making sure that I'm getting the same opportunity, making sure that you know whether it's a job, whether it's just treatment, whatever it is, I just want the same opportunity. If I don't qualify because I don't qualify, then that is fine. But not because my name is Johanna and I have brown skin
Kosta Yepifantsev:and your own experience, what's the most impactful support we can give to our children and the youth of the upper Cumberland?
Shaquawana Wester:Listening? I think that it's so easy to want to give all of our experiences to intercept things for kids. But it's just listening. And that is become so much more open to me as I've worked in the youth program and becoming a foster mom and the stories that kids come to me with and I'm not solving the problem for them. A lot of times they can solve the problem on their own, if they just have someone to listen and not tell them that they're wrong in their thoughts.
Kosta Yepifantsev:So here's the million dollar question. Shaquan Do you feel like you're represented in your community? Like you may have access to opportunities? And you may feel fulfilled? Right? And you may have stability, and you're not in poverty, obviously, and you have an opportunity to raise your family. Do you feel like you are represented like the community has your back?
Shaquawana Wester:I believe that I have a community good. It's not where I want it to be yet. I'm not done. And I believe that I have a foundation. I believe that I am building. But
Kosta Yepifantsev:I'm not then. That's great. Damon came on when he was running for city council. And I said is Cookeville ready for Black City Council member? And he said no. And I want to make sure that as you work in your area, and I'll work in my area and Morgan will work in her area. We build a community where when I ask somebody that question doesn't matter what color your skin is, doesn't matter where you're from, doesn't matter if you're you know, LGBTQ plus i i want them to emphatically say yes. I mean, not even questioning because because you're absolutely right. Like it's touch and go
Shaquawana Wester:that would be absolutely amazing. Let me let me tell you, I made a post on Facebook. And in my wording. I didn't realize that apparently I came out as gay. And I didn't change it. I didn't change it. I was like because it was so astounding how the comments I was like the wow, I literally made my point was, you know me. I've worked with your kids for this many years. When I first started in childcare I literally had a woman that came and took her she said I didn't know the new teacher was going to be and she kept doing this thing. With her hand over her face, and I was like, What? What did you not know? And I literally had a kid that came that said, our new teacher is he said the word like he straight out said, like, this is back, like food. I was 2121. And he said that he did not know his new teacher was going to be a in, I was like, Oh my gosh, like like it those it has changed a lot. Again, my kids know that they can come to me with if you tell me that this is your friend. And if they them, then I'm they they're like I'm all the way all the way. So I made this post basically saying how, you know, if you would not let me watch your children, if you know, you find out that I'm gay, like and I was friends. It hit me when I saw the comments. I was like go and see your friends see how many friends and I lost friends and that is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous to me that
Kosta Yepifantsev:you can't just take a position on anything without somebody being offended by it. You know what I'm saying? It doesn't change
Shaquawana Wester:who I am right nothing changed already washed the kid you know what I'm saying? Like I've already watched the kid you already know me like what what changed right there. I dream of a community where black, red and yellow, black and white. They are precious. And it's like, you know,
Kosta Yepifantsev:what's next for you? You're raising your kids, you're back to be an empty nester.
Shaquawana Wester:Oh God a couple years and we're in foster parenting. for teenage girls in the house right now. Let's say I've got a freshman. So I've got I've got a few years. Right now I just am really wanting to build the circles, the circles, that's really where my goal is, I don't see past my here. And now it's kind of this is my blog, this is where I'm at. I'm hard and heavy on it be your focus. And that's it. So you know, that's, that's just who I am. I guess. When
Kosta Yepifantsev:you define what success looks like for you, relative to the individuals that you've been serving, what does it look like,
Shaquawana Wester:if I can help move even one family out of their situation, given them the tools, and only I don't even want to say given them the tools because the tools are there, but helping them understand how to use the tools and move them faster than you know, that's my biggest thing. If I can get you there sooner than I got there, then that success to me, I feel like everything that I've kind of been through in my life has happened so that I can pour it back into the community. And you know, people are always like, do you see I'm not gonna I'm not traveling. I'm not going anywhere. I you know, I do want to give back to the community and when I say that, it's those like I said those staple people that have kind of carried me along the way whether it's the mayor it's the it's impact those people if I can take what they've given me pour that back into someone else. And of course my kids moving them out before they ever make it there. My daughter I have to shout her out she's gonna be a junior she's starting dual enrollment this next year. Wow, can we can add volleyball we're hoping for scholarships. If I can change that for them, then I'm that my part here? I think that I've done what the Lord put me here. Yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev:can I give a PSA real quick, just a short one real short PSA. For any families that have juniors go to vol state and get them dual enrolled. They can graduate high school with two years of college. And now you don't you can't get a well paying job with just a bachelor's degree you need a master's, which means that after they finish four years of college after they got their first two years done at high school, they'll have a master's degree. And they'll make $85,000 a year in their first job. And we're hoping it's going to be in Cookeville by the time our kids grow up. Anyway, dual enrollment vol state, it's a fantastic program. And honestly, I went to the fundraiser of Allstate and learn more about this. I wish I had that opportunity.
Shaquawana Wester:And I have to throw in the tech is on it too. She'll actually be going she'll be doing tech. Okay, sorry. Yeah, it's tech as it is, right? Yeah, all of that. Yeah. It's, she will say in high school, she's not gonna get out early, but she will be earning those college credits. And so if I can just change in that, that poverty cycle way before I ever you know, in my 30s or whatever, if I can do that for my family, your family, any family, you know, if you are working, have a child, check out our website, empower Africa amberlynn.org And see if you're a fit for our program.
Kosta Yepifantsev:I love it. So we always like to end the show on a high note. Who is someone that makes you better? Are when you're together.
Shaquawana Wester:I'm gonna I'm gonna go with my family I'm gonna have to dump it all in there. My family I'm very family oriented. So my family being behind me they put up with my craziness and so definitely, this family
Kosta Yepifantsev:Thank you to our partners at Ball State Community College for presenting this episode. Vol state is a public comprehensive community college offering associate's degrees in certificates as well as general education classes with tuition free options like Tennessee promise in Tennessee reconnect, students can pursue a variety of associate's degrees and certificates at no cost to enroll for the spring 2024 semester, find out more about financial aid or schedule a tour visit ball state.edu
Morgan Franklin:Thank you for joining us on this episode of Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev. If you've enjoyed listening and you want to hear more, make sure you subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Leave us a review or better yet, share this episode with a friend. Today's episode was written and produced by Morgan Franklin post production mixing and editing by Mike Franklin. Want to know more about Kosta visit us at kostayepifantsev.com. We're better together. We'd like to remind our listeners that the views and opinions expressed during this episode are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy or position of this show its producers or any related entities or advertisers. While our discussions may touch on various topics of interest, please note that the content is intended to inspire thought provoking dialogue and should not be used for a substitute for professional advice.Specifically, nothing heard on this podcast should be construed as financial, legal, medical or any other kind of professional advice. We encourage our listeners to consult with a professional in these areas for guidance tailored to their specific circumstances.