From Lived Experience to Leadership: Transforming Youth and Community with Terrence Stone

In this episode of Beyond Academics: Connecting Classroom and Community, we sit down with Terrence Stone, CEO and founder of Young Visionaries Leadership Academy.

With over 20 years of service and more than 200,000 youth reached, Terrence shares how his lived experience shaped his mission to support young people and families across San Bernardino County. From gang intervention and violence prevention to workforce development and mental health services, his organization is redefining what holistic, community-based support looks like.

We explore the power of mentorship, breaking cycles, building trust in underserved communities, and the importance of meeting people where they are—without judgment.

This conversation highlights the impact of collaboration across schools, community organizations, and local systems, and how creating safe, dignified spaces can truly change lives.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• How lived experience can become purpose-driven leadership 
• What it takes to build trust in hard-to-reach communities 
• The importance of wraparound services for youth and families 
• Why collaboration is key to lasting community change

Transcript

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From Lived Experience to Leadership: Transforming Youth and Community with Terrence Stone

Intro Music

[00:00:00] Joanna: Welcome to Beyond Academics: Connecting Classroom and Community, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of community schools and explore how they're transforming education for students, families, and communities. We are highlighting the voices to inspire and elevate community storytelling. I'm Johanna Marrufo, your host, integrated supports outreach specialist with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and in today's episode, we're honored to welcome Terrance Stone, CEO of Young Visionaries Leadership Academy, who is going to share how he is addressing individual and community supports for youth and adults in San Bernardino County.

Terrance Stone founded Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy in 2001 and is also the president of Terrance Stone School and Community Consulting. With over 200,000 at-risk youth reached, Mr. Stone is nationally and state-certified gang intervention and prevention specialist who has helped diffuse conflicts between gangs and set up a workforce development program that provides training and jobs for young people.

Terrance's advocacy work has been recognized nationally and internationally, and is a published author. How To Move In a Room Full of Vultures is his latest book, where he encourages young people to realize their potential and understand that they have everything they need Terrance L. Stone also received an honorary doctorate degree in humanities, Doctor of Humane Letters, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to society, often focusing on human welfare, philanthropy, or humanities.

Terrance is an inspirational leader who has dedicated his life to empowering young people and helping them discover their true purpose to succeed. We are so grateful to welcome you into our space, and we are so excited to learn more about your wisdom and your knowledge. Terrance, um, I'd love to start with some grounding questions.

[00:02:17] Terrance: Yes. Good morning. How you doing?

[00:02:19] Joanna: Great. Wonderful.

[00:02:21] Terrance: Good. Good. Good. Good to see you.

[00:02:22] Joanna: Awesome. So, um, I, I wanted to hear from you about, um, how has your lived experience shaped your purpose in serving youth in San Bernardino County?

[00:02:33] Terrance: Oh, fan, that is a, um, great question. I, I think that, um, Young Visionaries, it's... It, it, it, it started, it was built on my lived experience, right?

Because I didn't have an honorary doctorate or, or education behind it or, or training or none of that. I just wanted to work with kids that I think that p- maybe or that have lived through what I've lived through. And what I've lived through, I was second-generation gang member.

Um, coming out of that, I, um, incarcerated as a, as a, um, youth is what... youth and young adult. And so, um, and so those things back then, because of the environment, I thought they were, like, cool and rites of passages and things like that. And so when I realized that it wasn't at all cool or rites of passages in the real world, I was like, Well, that's dumb. Let me go back and try to let these young people know that this is not the way to go.

Like, you can do and be whatever you wanna do and be in life. But also too, I know that I didn't have those great mentors or, or examples as well though, too. So I also try to go back So that young people can see me, right? And, and see me as a, um, CEO or executive director or someone that, that runs a business, so they can look at me and also know that I've been where they're at and s- and know that they can get there.

[00:03:56] Joanna: Wonderful. So it sounds like you're a model for the youth that you wish you could have had, like, um, a model that you-

[00:04:02] Terrance: Yes

[00:04:02] Joanna: ... Wish you could have had.

[00:04:03] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:04:03] Joanna: And so you're going-

[00:04:04] Terrance: Yeah

[00:04:04] Joanna: ... back into the community and really being that, um, servant leader.

[00:04:09] Terrance: Yes.

[00:04:09] Joanna: Um, I know you're also really involved with the Gangs and Drugs Task Force.

[00:04:14] Terrance: Yeah. Yeah. I've been there for a long ti- I think I've been, um, a part of or on the board of Gangs and Drugs Task Force probably over 15 years or so now. So yeah, I've, I've been there. It's, it's only really, like, a couple people that have been there longer than me. And, and one of those is, um, Stephanie Congdon.

She's been there forever. She's been doing everything forever, you know, um, within the county of San Bernardino. And um, besides that, I'm trying to think besides her who has been there. I don't think no one else has been there as long as her, as long as me, besides her. Yeah.

[00:04:47] Joanna: And do you mind describing what is the purpose and the role of that, um, San Bernardino County Gangs and Drugs Task Force?

[00:04:54] Terrance: Yeah, most def- the, the name is, is kinda misleading, right? Because we're not, like, a task force to go out and, and fight crime as a group or a unit and things like that. But what it is, it just really promotes, um, safety within the schools, um, safety within the communities, and just education within our young people, right?

So in that group of people, um, I think we have maybe around 20 or so people on the board, on the executive board, and then we have large, uh, meetings monthly. And so in those meetings, we're just talking about what resources do we have throughout San Bernardino County that can help our kids. And so that's just basically what the, um, San Bernardino Countywide Gangs and Drugs Task Force is about.

It's just about helping our, our community and our youth by putting forth positive, um, innovative programs and things like that so that we can... You know, it's networking as well though, too. I've, I've met some, um, fantastic people, um, in that meeting.

Um, the person that first brought me to that meeting was, um, Dr. Margaret Hill and, um, and she would just take me to this monthly meeting, and it was intimidating back then. At that time, I think, um, Dr. Fisher, um, he was the, um, chair, uh, of the meeting and things like that. And, and, uh, and, and at that time too, you probably... If you walked in that meeting without a suit on or some type of professional attire m- uh, um, attire, you would really just be feeling, like, out of place.

So I knew on those days, wear a suit, you know, so I can go in there and fit in and just be able to, um, to sit down and work with some of those people. But it, it, it is a great group of people that's still here. I think they've been around probably close to 30 years or so now.

[00:06:34] Joanna: Yeah, I had the opportunity to be, uh, at some of those meetings and-

[00:06:38] Terrance: Yeah

[00:06:38] Joanna: um, be able to connect with the amazing resources that exist.

[00:06:42] Terrance: Yeah, yeah.

[00:06:43] Joanna: And I just love... It's like a family.

[00:06:45] Terrance: It is. It is.

[00:06:45] Joanna: You guys all know each other.

[00:06:46] Terrance: Yeah, yeah. And the thing is too, is that it's- it's- it's from every sector, right? You have law enforcement. There's judges that attend the meeting, elected officials, um, um, teachers, principals, you kn- you know, just community people.

You know, it's just a conglomerate of just, uh, you know, just great people in one space at one time, um, just talking about information in the community. No, I, I love it, especially when we go around and we have the, the people are, um, announcements, right? Like, "What are you doing? What's going on?" Like, you know, we probably can spend 15, 20 minutes on announcements.

I have to cut 'em off. Like, "You're talking too much on announcements," you know? Like, you did a whole presentation because... But it's so much information, and everyone's excited to be there and excited to give out the information that it is just, you know, an incredible meeting

[00:07:32] Joanna: Yeah, I, I've witnessed that. People are hungry for information-

[00:07:35] Terrance: Yeah, yeah

[00:07:35] Joanna: ... especially because, um, oftentimes we don't really see that interagency collaboration.

[00:07:41] Terrance: Right.

[00:07:41] Joanna: And this is where you're breaking down those silos, those walls, and really removing those barriers by-

[00:07:47] Terrance: Yeah

[00:07:47] Joanna: ... bringing everyone at the table-

[00:07:49] Terrance: Yeah

[00:07:49] Joanna: ... in this, so.

[00:07:50] Terrance: And, and let me tell you that 'cause people, like outside of the county, people will say like, well, um, and I've heard it before, like San Bernardino, um, organizations and things like they don't get along.

They've never been to a gang or drugs task force meeting, obviously, because this has every sector in there getting along. We're happy to see each other because we meet once a month, so I haven't seen you probably in a month or so, and, and it's just a great, um, situation of collaboration in there. We even took it, took that thing on the road to Chicago, and so we, uh, went to their, um, they have a large international gang training in Chicago, and we went out there just to present like, this is our model.

This is what we're doing in San Bernardino County. And so from there, uh, we were talking to people from all across the United States that, that works with gangs and drugs in their communities, and so, um, and they loved it. You know, they were actually like, "Well, how do you get all these people together at the table," you know?

I like, "Well, we nice to one another, first off. That's how you get 'em to the table." You know? Respect what everyone else is doing-

[00:08:52] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:08:52] Terrance: ... because everyone has a piece to play, um, you know, um, in that puzzle, basically.

[00:08:57] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:08:57] Terrance: So yeah.

[00:08:59] Joanna: Well, I love this. I love this camaraderie and the connections because it naturally fits in the work that you're doing with-

[00:09:05] Terrance: Yeah

[00:09:06] Joanna: Young Visionaries, um, working with youth. And so I wanted to talk a little bit more about, um, the population that you serve and where-

[00:09:14] Terrance: Yeah

[00:09:14] Joanna: ... do they extend? Where did it start and h- and where are you now?

[00:09:17] Terrance: Yeah. Well, well, y- actually our, our first schools were in Rialto, and, and those kids are, are doing well.

I've seen some, some of them already graduated from Cal State San Bernardino. Some of, some of them are working there, and they'll contact me like, "Hey, Mr. Stone, remember me?" And I'm like, "Uh, help me out, you know? I'm old." But We, we're in, um, elementary, middle, and high schools working with, um, young people.

We're in close to 50 schools right now throughout San Bernardino County. We're also, we also work with, um, San Bernardino County Probation, working with their young people, Riverside and, um, Los Angeles County Probation as well though too, working inside of the institutions and outside working with their, with their young people.

But we also have adults, I mean, p- um, programs for adults, right? So we have parenting classes and workforce development classes. We have a, um, guard card training card, training program where they get their guard card. Um, we do that for free. Um, their food handler's license and a lot of people is loving that program because it's usually like a one-day program, but we'll try to do follow-up and help them with, um, job placement and, and, and clothing and boots and shoes and things like that with- that they need to, um, be on the job.

So really we just work with like all the populations. We just got a contract even just to do, um, work with immigration, with families that's impacted by ICE and things like that, so we're working on that, um, right now as well though too

[00:10:44] Joanna: Wow, it sounds like you're extending, um, the services to not just youth, but also their families-

[00:10:49] Terrance: Oh, yeah

[00:10:51] Joanna: and the whole community.

[00:10:51] Terrance: Yeah. We try to provide almost like a wraparound-type program.

[00:10:54] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:10:54] Terrance: You know, everything from, uh, mental health programs. So with the, with our mental health program, we've been contracting with, um, San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health. I think we had this particular contract since like 2012, 2013.

And so we're still on that contract working with, um, kids and families, uh, giving them therapy and, and just, uh, information on what is, um, mental health and just mental health awareness and things like that.

[00:11:21] Joanna: That's amazing. I love that you're connecting them even at home, right?

[00:11:24] Terrance: Yes.

[00:11:24] Joanna: Those convers- those difficult conversations that their, the parents can have with their kids-

[00:11:28] Terrance: Yeah

[00:11:28] Joanna: or even with themselves.

[00:11:30] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:11:30] Joanna: Um, I, I wanted to kind of, um, go back to that and ask specifically, like what have you seen? Like you, you shared a little bit of the, the impact it's made, but what... In the role that you're in and having seen it, having started in 2001, what makes your organization different from other nonprofits-

[00:11:50] Terrance: Yeah

[00:11:50] Joanna: doing this work?

[00:11:51] Terrance: Uh, I, I think that we are, um, we're, we're large enough to get it done, but we also smart, smaller, small enough to like pivot when things change, right? 'Cause we really started off as a, um, it was leadership academy, but we started off as like, kind of like a gang intervention program, right?

So, um, with that, and, and let me tell you, around 2007, 2008, all of the gang intervention money just dried up, right? And so a lot of my colleagues that they were like, "Yeah, we're pushing gang intervention." I was like, "Yeah, y'all about to be out of business." And most of them are out of business now because they were not able to pivot, right?

So we're, um, so we're good at the pivot. Like what- whatever which way we have to, um, or whatever programs that we have to a- add to enhance what we're doing, then we're willing to, and, um, learn it Um, and bring it on in so that we'll be able to, you know, work whatever, work with whatever population that we need to work with, you know?

So we're... I think we'll do that. And we're good, like, with the community.

[00:12:53] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:12:53] Terrance: Right? We are, like, we love being out in the community. Um, we just had a staff meeting this morning just setting up, like, two events within, um, the next two weeks and things like that. So we're, um, you know, we have a great relationship with our, our corporate sponsors.

So we just, you know, we'll pull up in your hood with a box truck full of free stuff, you know, and, and just pop that open and, and set up the tents and the tables and throw on some music and just be like, "Come on, come get this stuff," because it's, it's, um, dishwashing detergent and household items and, you know, stuff that they can use and stuff that they really need, right?

Um, you know, whether it be toiletries, whatever it is, we'll just pop up in your neighborhood. And that helps us, too, with, um, our outreach community and engagement, 'cause usually someone would think of outreach, and they will, um, probably walk through your neighborhood with some pamphlets and knocking on your door.

And, you know, and when you do that, people are, like, really short with the conversation, right? But if you got some Tide detergents- ... right, they coming outside. They looking. You know. You got some, some drinks and some, um, whatever it is we have, sometime clothing, you know, they like, Okay, we can have the, the conversation gonna be a little longer now, you know-

[00:14:03] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:14:03] Terrance: because you got some stuff, and I wanna know when you coming back," and all that, basically. So we try to do that type of, um-

[00:14:09] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:14:09] Terrance: ... type of, um, community outreach and engagement. And also, too, with that, we, we pop up in communities that people do not necessarily, like, go, right? So these are really hard-to-reach populations because nobody's gonna go over there, right?

Because either their, um, the crime rate is high, or they feel like this is a dangerous community. But when they see us come up, they like, "Oh, okay, this is gonna be good," right?

[00:14:32] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:14:32] Terrance: So we have a great relationship with our, um, communities out here.

[00:14:36] Joanna: I love it. I know that's what makes you unique, is that you come from the community, you're about the community, and you employ everyone that is representative of the community-

[00:14:45] Terrance: Yes

[00:14:46] Joanna: so that there is that trust already-

[00:14:48] Terrance: Right

[00:14:49] Joanna: ... built. Um, but, uh, but as well you're, you're consistent and, you know-

[00:14:54] Terrance: Yeah

[00:14:54] Joanna: ... you take the time to, to have that conversation-

[00:14:56] Terrance: Yeah .

[00:14:56] Joanna: .. Organically.

[00:14:57] Terrance: Yeah. And, and too, what we try to create, too, is a environment that they're not embarrassed to be in. You know what I mean? Let me tell you.

I remember growing up, and I, I don't know, you're probably too young, but when I grew up, we used to get, um, free, um, butter and, and, and, and the peanut butter and all that stuff and, and the big old giant thing of bologna and all... You know, we, it w- the, the, um, the county would give that out. The bad thing for me, it was good when we got it home, but the bad thing was that I had to go with my mom and to go get it.

You know what I'm talking? I was being embarrassed. They looking at me, I'm trying to put the hoodie on and everything. They like, "Look at Terrance over there getting the free stuff," you know? And it was just so embarrassing, right? Just to, um, just to be, you know... It's like standing in a free lunch line at school.

Like, you don't wanna know everybody know you got free lunch, but I'm still gonna eat today, right? So we try to put together events where it's not, like, embarrassing, right? And so, um, you can still have your dignity. For instance, we, um, we do, um, a few key community events. Um, we collaborate with, um, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools.

We do backpacks, right? That's coming up. We, um, we have our, um, uh... For Halloween, we have a Harvest Fest coming up. And then, um, Thanksgiving, um, we'll give out around, um, feed about 1,500 families with turkeys and things like that. That's coming up. And then also Christmas, Winter Wonderland. Now, Winter Wonderland Um, we give out toys and shoes to around 5,000 kids every year, right?

[00:16:32] Joanna: Wow.

[00:16:32] Terrance: And so with that, too, it's not embarrassing because if your parents or your mom or dad or whoever's taking care of you, they have to stand in this long line, too, so that their son, daughter, or kids can get a toy, you know.

[00:16:46] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:16:46] Terrance: We wanted to make it seem like, you know, like it's not embarrassing, right?

[00:16:50] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:16:50] Terrance: We... So we got snow out there, working with the, um, our partners at Chic Shoes. They bring out the snow and fill about a half of the parking lot up with snow. Then we have, you know, vendor booths and music and, and you know, it's, like, entertaining. So the kids can't wait to get into the gate, to get in there.

[00:17:07] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:07] Terrance: Right? And it's not embarrassing, and they get to get a toy, and if they're a teenager, they get to get some shoes. But it's not like an embarrassing moment, right?

[00:17:15] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:16] Terrance: It out... Actually, it's a memorable moment 'cause they out there with their cell phones and they taking pictures-

[00:17:20] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:17:20] Terrance: ... and they just love to be there. So we try to create those type of, of environments, right, for our community when we doing community outreach and engagement, right? And so we're out there. We're still collecting data 'cause we gotta justify... You know, we know exactly how many kids w- showed up, exactly their ages, what communiti- communities they came from and things like that because we still are collecting data. But it's not, it's not gonna be an embarrassing situation.

[00:17:45] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:17:45] Terrance: People, you know, will probably be posting pictures all week-

[00:17:48] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:17:48] Terrance: ... you know, about that just because they were there and hanging out and, and having fun, and you know, free food trucks and things like that for, for the kids and the families. So, um, w- so because we know, like you said, we're like from the community.

[00:18:01] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:18:01] Terrance: Like, um, I have a whole bunch of staff, and most of them graduated locally from our high schools and from our elementary schools and, and middle schools, and, um, and they're back here and loving to serve our community.

[00:18:15] Joanna: I love it. I love it. Thank you so much for sharing and how far you've come along. You've really, um, created such a beautiful, lasting organization that really meets students and families where they're at in their neighborhoods.

[00:18:29] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:18:30] Joanna: Really, um, meeting those gaps or, like, removing those barriers to, to meet those needs, especially when it comes to basic needs and-

[00:18:39] Terrance: Yeah

[00:18:39] Joanna: ... you know, um, things that most people might take for granted. But it's really, like, those are the things that are essential and, and prevent families from having a, you know, a a better life.

[00:18:52] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:18:53] Joanna: So thank you so much for the hard work-

[00:18:55] Terrance: No, thank you, guys

[00:18:56] Joanna: ... and the service that you're doing. Um, I wanted to ask you, what are some challenges you faced in supporting youth, and how have you been able to over- overcome any of those challenges-

[00:19:06] Terrance: Yeah

[00:19:06] Joanna: that you faced?

[00:19:08] Terrance: I think, um, one organization-wise, I, it's always funding. Like, we run a nonprofit organization and, and no matter how much money someone will fund your programs, it always runs out, right? And so, um, so it's just ha- having that continuous flow of funding coming in, you know, working with our families.

I, I think that's always the biggest barrier for community-based or nonprofit organizations is just staying consistent with the fundings. Right now, we probably have, um, close to 20 different funding streams, um, coming in from different, uh, we're funded, um, federally, state, um, county. Um, ci- we have city fund- city funding, and also, uh, we have foundations that, that help us out as well though too.

But it's just, you know, that's why we collect all that data, letting them know, like, "Hey, we did a good job. Do it again," you know? Um, so we're just, you know, out there. But, uh, but I think one of the things is, is the, um, I think the transferable trauma, right? Because we're working with kids that, that have been through, uh, a lot of different things and working with families that have been through a lot of different things and, and sometimes my team is so close with working with the, the families and, and their trauma that they're going through that the trauma kind of just transfers to our team members and to our staff because they're so, um, close to the situation and things like that.

So then, um, so with that, we try to give them their mental health days and, and, you know, they have a few, you know, they have halfiversaries and birthdayversaries where they can take time off and be able to, uh, regroup and things like that as well though too. So, um, I, I think those are two of the, the main things, just funding and just that transferable trauma that our team goes through.

[00:20:53] Joanna: Yeah, that's real. Taking care of your staff that's doing that, you know, that w- that heavy work- 

[00:21:00] Terrance: Yeah

[00:21:00] Joanna: ... is so important and, and organizations, um, are, are needing tho- those wellness and, you know-

[00:21:07] Terrance: Yeah

[00:21:07] Joanna: ... like, saying, "Hey, like, we do need mental health days" and, and that's really important for them, for them to, like, um, fill their cup again-

[00:21:15] Terrance: Yeah, yeah

[00:21:15] Joanna: so that they can keep serving.

[00:21:17] Terrance: Yeah. And, and for, I, I remember, um- A long time ago, we had a, a, a young kid and, and we were work- we was working with him and his family. And, um, so at school he was, he was falling asleep at school. Like, he would just fall asleep at school, right? And so, uh, and so he would get in trouble for falling asleep at school.

He's in elementary school, a little kid. And so, um, and so since he would do that, and so the- they would kick him out of class or go to the principal's office or go to the counselor, you know, trying to... But this is why. So he lived in apartments within our county. I'm not gonna say the city. But Um, in the apartments that he lived in, there was a playground and, and, and there were gang members that hung around the playground.

And so one of the gang members from a different gang came over and then, and, and, and shot one of the other older kids, right, with a 12-gauge shotgun, right? And so, but that little kid was on the playground when he did it. So now, when he went to school, that was his safe space, right? So he would... His body, his brain would relax, and he was able now to, you know, decompress and go to sleep because he was scared to sleep at home-

[00:22:31] Joanna: Mm

[00:22:31] Terrance: because that incident happened, like, right where he lived at, right? And so the, um, the principal didn't know that. They didn't talk about it. The, the, um, counselors didn't know that. The teacher didn't know that. But because my kids was working with this family, right, they knew that. So then when they found out what was going on and, and then, and, you know, we have therapists and things on, on staff, and figured out, like, "Oh, this is, like, this is his safe space."

Which is, is, which is good because h- at least he felt that his safe space was at school.

[00:23:03] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:23:03] Terrance: That mean he had some, some great educators in there and a, and a, and a, um, nice, comfortable, safe environment, right? But, you know, but we like, "But you got to stay up, though." Right? So we had to, you know, work that out and let them know, "This is why this kid, he's not sleeping at home."

[00:23:19] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:23:20] Terrance: Right? So when I talk about the transferable trauma as well, though, too, like you working directly with this-

[00:23:25] Joanna: Mm

[00:23:25] Terrance: ... this family. We have our, um, our Violence Intervention Prevention team. Um, now we're switching them over. We call them community health workers. They're all trained community health workers.

And, and so we work directly, um, with the city of San Bernardino. And so, and so we get the phone calls and things like that when something happen, and we're, um... And, you know, so we have to go. We're not solving crimes. They're not Batman out there. But we have to figure out, okay, what happened, so that we're trying to prevent it from happening again.

[00:23:53] Joanna: Mm.

[00:23:54] Terrance: So that's even sitting on, on couches of mothers have just, that have just lost their, their kids through, like, some type of, um, gang violence or, or, or shooting or something like that.

[00:24:05] Joanna: Mm.

[00:24:05] Terrance: And just figure, "Okay, how can we get you through this situation?"

[00:24:08] Joanna: Mm.

[00:24:09] Terrance: And they've sat on hundreds of couches over the years, like, of, of mothers throughout the city, um, just... or, or throughout the county, really. Just trying to figure out, you know, how can we help you?

[00:24:20] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:24:20] Terrance: You know what I mean?

[00:24:20] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:24:21] Terrance: And, and so, and sometimes it just be simple things. I remember one mother, she couldn't, um, um, her son had got shot and killed and, and, um, and she was trying to see him. But she lived, um, she lived in a city area, but her son got shot in a county area, so she was going to the wrong department.

[00:24:38] Joanna: Mm.

[00:24:38] Terrance: Like, oh, you... Like, you been going to the police department, but- That's the sheriff department you need to be talking to. Just things like that that average people don't know because they're going through their trauma at that time.

[00:24:49] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:24:50] Terrance: So they're not trying to, um, learn all the logistics of who to talk to and, and, and what to do and things like that.

[00:24:57] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:24:57] Terrance: Because, like, nobody was expecting this to happen.

[00:25:00] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:00] Terrance: Nobody wanted it to happen.

[00:25:02] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:02] Terrance: But now that it happened, now we're dealing with what happened, basically.

[00:25:05] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:25:05] Terrance: So, um, so we have a team that go out and, and just, um, does that basically. And that's actually the team that goes into all the communities with the canopies and the truck and is giving out all the stuff and things like that-

[00:25:16] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:25:16] Terrance: too as well. So, um, yeah, we have a great team.

[00:25:19] Joanna: Wow. That's really, really important.

[00:25:23] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:25:23] Joanna: And I can only imagine, like, the, the value that you bring because that... You guys are like angels, you know? Making sure that, that folks are walked along that path of whatever they need and, you know, that, that model of support-

[00:25:40] Terrance: Yeah

[00:25:40] Joanna: is so vital. And als- also asking, like, why? Why is the student falling asleep?

[00:25:45] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:25:46] Joanna: Like, like, getting to the root and seeing kind of, like, those trickle-down of why that happened, and I think that, that you're a bridge to the school, you're a bridge to the city. Um, even, like, the, the community. Being, being that, that, um, that trusted support is-

[00:26:02] Terrance: Yeah

[00:26:02] Joanna: so, so important.

[00:26:04] Terrance: Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, we, we try to be there. And, and also, too, like I said, it's just a pivot. It's... And al- also understanding, like, what's going on, like, out there, right?

[00:26:13] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:13] Terrance: So just being in all of those schools, we can understand that. Also going into the juvenile facilities, you know, and, um, you know, 'cause everywhere is a source of information for us so that we can figure out, how can we make the community better, right?

[00:26:27] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:26:27] Terrance: And you can't really make it better if you don't have all the components to the recipe, right? You can't even make a good cake without the components to the recipe. So, um, so we have to try to figure out, okay, what components are there, what components are missing, and how can we put all this together and make it happen?

[00:26:43] Joanna: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it sounds like, um, that you guys are doing it, and you guys are evolving, adapting, you know.

[00:26:50] Terrance: Yeah.

[00:26:50] Joanna: As you, you, you mentioned, you pivot, um, to meet the needs. Um, I wanted to, um, ask specifically related to, um, how can schools be effective partners in bringing these programs to our youth and to the ca- their campuses? What can schools do be- how can schools do better, um-

[00:27:12] Terrance: I think, one, just with us, just requesting us. You know, we're always looking for, for schools to go into and, and work with the population, 'cause we'll get the funding from somewhere, federal, state, um, county, and, and then the next thing is like, "Okay, we got the funding, now where's the population," right? And working with kids is the, um, perfect condition of gr- of curating a population of kids that you can work with because they're, like, there, right?

[00:27:39] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:27:39] Terrance: So we'll work, um, during school, after school programs, you know, to figure out, um... And it depends on the program as well though, too. Uh, we have great young people that go into the, to the schools.

But I think that partnership with the schools are, are very important, so we always look forward to partnering with, with our schools. Um, and from, from- From the East Valley to the high desert, we're like in a plethora of different schools working with young people. But that partnership is very important to us.

[00:28:07] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:28:07] Terrance: We love our districts.

[00:28:08] Joanna: Mm-hmm. Yeah, so it m- so that leadership component of-

[00:28:11] Terrance: Yeah

[00:28:12] Joanna: ... you know, inviting the organizations-

[00:28:14] Terrance: Yeah

[00:28:14] Joanna: ... nonprofits onto campus. I know with community schools, that's definitely that next step for, um, a lot of schools who haven't yet reached out to you or nonprofits to come in and provide those, like, really culturally relevant and also, um, h- beneficial and valuable resources-

[00:28:34] Terrance: Yeah

[00:28:34] Joanna: that schools haven't yet provided.

[00:28:36] Terrance: Yeah, most definitely. And, and when we go in, we're not doing ABCs and one, two, threes. We understand the educators and went to school, and they're great at that. But, um- What we do do is we provide behavioral modification type programs, right? So you're trying to get through the, with the ABCs, one, two, threes, but little Stevie ain't listening 'cause he ain't gonna sit down today, right?

So how do you, how do we get little Stevie to sit down and just, and help him to model that positive behavior? So what we do, we call it Secure the BAG, right? So kids think that's, "Okay, get the money, secure the bag." We like, "No, um, you're too young to get the money right now." So BAG stands for behavior, attendance, and grades, right?

So secure that BAG, that behavior, attendance, and grades, then you'll be able to do whatever you wanna do later on in life.

[00:29:21] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:29:21] Terrance: But first off, let's secure our behavior, attendance, and grades. So we, um, so we try to model that. But then we also have our, um, Secure the BAG youth conferences, which are, um, great.

We have, um, Gabriel Cannon, Nick Cannon's little brother, um, and Javen Cannon, his other little brother. They come out and they help to host those, um, conferences and things like that. And, and, and so they're super entertaining. Um, we bring out music artists and things like that. But we also in between, we have, um, like our little workshops basically, you know?

And we don't... You know, they stay right there until it's lunchtime and come right back. And so because when we, we find that when we send them off to different workshops and different rooms, they lose their attention spans, and they trying to hang out with their little friends and things like that. So I just keep them right there, and we's gonna hit them with all the information-

[00:30:10] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:30:10] Terrance: that we can and entertain them, give them some prizes. But it's super, what the kids say, turnt up. It's super turnt up. Yeah.

[00:30:18] Joanna: I love it. I love it. That sounds amazing. I wanna be invited to the next one so I can-

[00:30:23] Terrance: You got it. Yeah

[00:30:23] Joanna: ... so I can experience this t- this experience. . And, and make sure... you know, like, and share that story of how you've been able to, um, create these safe spaces really where youth feel comfortable. They're, they feel ready to ask for help, you know? That's exactly what we need to really-

[00:30:40] Terrance: Yeah

[00:30:40] Joanna: ... support them holistically.

[00:30:42] Terrance: Yeah. Yeah. We're, and we're working on that as well though too. We have a, like I said, we have a, a great staff. You know, I'm, I'm getting old. I know I'm getting old.

I'm not even trying to hide it. I have gray hair everywhere. But so I try to hire s- young people and just train them up in, in what we do and things like that. And so, um, so yeah. They're doing a Great job. You know, we have our staff meetings every week and, you know, get all our staff together. If they're in the high desert, they can log on on Zoom.

If they're local, San Bernardino region, they come into the office. But then we just discuss every single program that we have, what are the barriers, uh, what are the successes, and things like that so that we can understand what's happening and also who needs support.

[00:31:25] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:31:25] Terrance: You know, sometimes, um, another program might need support, um, from another program. We have our also, uh, anti-human trafficking program, and so, um, our young lady, Whitney, she, um, she can educate the other schools and things like that on the, on the dangers, uh, and, and the tricks that people do to ke- to get you entrapped in, in human trafficking basically.

[00:31:48] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:31:48] Terrance: So she's, um, great at that.

[00:31:50] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:31:50] Terrance: So she's also, um, will pop in at the other schools to make sure that those kids have that information, things like that as well though too. So we try to just be, you know, uh, well-rounded in, in trying to get kids the, the best information that we can.

[00:32:04] Joanna: Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's very important. And, and that sp- that specific, um, population, you're trying to inter- you know, intervene and ha-

[00:32:12] Terrance: Yeah

[00:32:12] Joanna: be preventative-

[00:32:13] Terrance: Yeah

[00:32:13] Joanna: ... so they know, like, Hey, these are the signs that-

[00:32:16] Terrance: Yeah

[00:32:16] Joanna: ... you know, that you might need to look out for if there's someone who's, um, who's predatory, right?

[00:32:21] Terrance: Yeah, yeah. Don't accept them shoes. Them shoes come with a price, you know?

[00:32:25] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:32:25] Terrance: So just different things like that.

[00:32:27] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:32:27] Terrance: So yeah, we have, we have a whole bunch of great programs that we, um... some of the programs, let me r- like our mental health programs. Um, we also do a little bit of academic support. They need tutoring and things like that. We have staff that is equipped for that as well though too. Our, um, our violence intervention- prevention program is, is literally, you know, just hitting communities.

They're out there right now, um, going into communities and, and seeing where the next hotspot, you know, potentially can be at so they can go in there and intervene. Um, also our employment development program, like I said, our food handler's card program, we just started that, and that is going, um, great, right?

And I think we just thought about that in the staff meeting, like, "Okay, what else can we do to help? What about, uh, help them get their food handler's card?"

[00:33:11] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:33:12] Terrance: And I was thinking like, "Hmm, it might or might not help," but it is helping. Like, people are calling all the time, um, to get their free food handler's card, right?

Wow. And I'm talking about we have, we had a mother and a daughter in there, a mother and her teenage daughter in there at the same time getting their food handler's card.

[00:33:28] Joanna: Wow.

[00:33:28] Terrance: You know, and they both passed and got their, um, certificates and things like that. It was awesome. Um, our mentoring program is, it's super strong. That's, that's where we go into the juvenile facilities as well though too and all of the schools, um, just doing mentoring. And one of our, our, our team members, uh, Montre. Um, Montre works with us. He's in, uh, a few different schools, also working with probation. But I remember he was a little kid in our programs, right?

He was a mentee. Now he's a mentor, you know-

[00:33:58] Joanna: Wow

[00:33:58] Terrance: ... working, working with kids and things. So that, that's incredible. Um- Access and linkage to s- to additional service. That's why things like the Gangs and Drugs Task Force is important, because we understand that we do not do everything, right? So then, um... But having those great partners that you can trust and you know that they get stuff done and make stuff happen, you have to, like, know who they are, right?

[00:34:20] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:34:20] Terrance: And also, too, when you're calling into a, maybe a large organization, it's hard to get to the person that you really need to get to to get it done. So just having those relationships, so you... So it could be like, "Well, just call John," you know? And, and ask for John, and, and John is gonna make it happen for you to get whatever you need to help this family, right?

[00:34:38] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:34:38] Terrance: So it's just building up those relationships. So that's why those in- those meetings like that are highly important as well though, too.

[00:34:45] Joanna: Wonderful. Thank you so much for reminding us of, you know, how holistic your, um, nonprofit and all the- ... services that they provide. But not just that, it's the more, more the relationships-

[00:34:56] Terrance: Yeah

[00:34:56] Joanna: and how, um, you're a magnet really for that positive energy, bringing-

[00:35:01] Terrance: Ah, well, thank you ...

[00:35:03] Joanna: you, you know-

[00:35:03] Terrance: Yeah

[00:35:03] Joanna: ... youth, inspiring them, and even employing them-... and, and making them part of, of the solution and, and h- letting them know that they're valued and they're loved and they're ca- cared for. So thank you so much.

[00:35:15] Terrance: Oh, thank you. Um, what, what I try to do or what I think about, we work with kids that are at risk, whether it be their environments they grew up in or, or whatever it is, their household. And sometimes we- we'll work with those kids and we think like, "Okay, well, um, like, what would a... What would this kid look like if he makes it?"

I'm what that kid will look like if he makes it, right? So that's why I, I try to be visible and vocal as well though, too, because, like, um, they have to have a something to shoot towards, you know?

[00:35:50] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:35:50] Terrance: So sometimes I'm in a suit, you know, and sometimes you might just catch me in jeans and a T-shirt, you know, hanging out and, and talking to people and things like that because, um, I feel like I'm what they should shoot not even for, but past, right?

[00:36:05] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:36:05] Terrance: We, we... And, and shoot past me and be whatever they wanna be, but at least they have some type of target.

[00:36:11] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:36:11] Terrance: And, and also too, the other providers should have like a visual target as well though, too, because I'll tell you, like, yeah, I was second generation gang me- I didn't think I was gonna live this long.

Like, I lived double my life that I thought I was gonna live, you know? Um, because I thought I was gonna... I thought I would not make it out of my 20s. You know what I mean? So now that I did, I was like, "Oh, what am I gonna do with myself?" You know, I lived past my expectations, right? And so if they live past their expectations, um, you know, what are they gonna do, right?

So they can do whatever you wanna do, right? Um, I just, you know, as an adult, I started getting serious about my education and going to college and things like that. I didn't even know I can do my work, right, until I had to pay for it. I'm just playing. But for real. Um, but I understood that, you know, that education is important, whether it be getting a degree or getting a certification in doing something that you love to do.

[00:37:08] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:37:08] Terrance: Right? I'm like, "Just do it. You can make it happen," right? And that's what I, I tell these kids. Um, I, I wrote my book, How To Rule Move in a Room Full of Vultures, and it's just a, a manual. It's my life in a manual. . You know? And, and after every chapter it has, you know, um, leadership quotes and takeaways and, and questions and things like that.

And I put a, I put a, um, like, questions in the back of the book as well though, too, so, you know, so that they can go through and, and, and just go through the book like a, a manual, right?

[00:37:37] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:37:37] Terrance: But this is what it looks like when you're, when you, you've lost your, your, your family member or your father is at a young age. And you know, my, my biological father, he overdosed on heroin when I was two, right? And so my mother remarried by the time I was six, but, um, the guy was, you know, runs a gang or was the founder member of the gangs that me and my brothers grew up in.

[00:38:00] Joanna: Mm.

[00:38:00] Terrance: Right? And I'm like, well, if you come from an environment like that, and we have kids that have came from en- environments like that-

[00:38:07] Joanna: Mm

[00:38:07] Terrance: like, how do you work with them? What do you do, and what's really their manual for them to get past that?

[00:38:13] Joanna: Mm.

[00:38:13] Terrance: That's why I said How To Move in a Room Full of Vultures because in every room, you know, it's not built for you to win in, but you still have to figure out how you win in that room. right, and still keep going.

[00:38:24] Joanna: Wonderful. Yeah. That, that book is probably a lifeline for a lot of our kids.

[00:38:30] Terrance: It is.

[00:38:30] Joanna: And is a lifeline.

[00:38:31] Terrance: It is. They love it. I, I do... When I go into the juvenile halls, I, I do one-on-one sessions. We read the book, and then we go through the questions, you know, with the kids, and they just, um, you know, they're just in.

They was like, "Is that you on the cover?" Like, "Man, yes, that's me right there. You know, you can write one, too. You just do it." But, you know, they really love it. I, I've been getting some great feedback-

[00:38:52] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:38:52] Terrance: ... from, from, um, I didn't wanna say older people, but older people. Elected officials all the way down to just-

[00:38:58] Joanna: Mm-hmm

[00:38:58] Terrance: you know, street dudes. I had a dude, um... I'll call him a street dude. He is. And so, um, he was like, "Man, let me, um, let me get one of your books." I don't know what he was looking for in there, but what he said to me, he said, "You know what? I was looking for a way..." He wanted to hate on me, right, on the book. But he said, "Man, this is a good book.

I can't even hate on you." You know, he said, "You did a good job, you know, in this book," basically. And so he read it and, and, and passed it on, and then, you know. But from every standpoint, I've been getting great, uh, feedback, you know, from the book basically because it's, it's more encouraging. Because when I...

I'd been working on it for quite some time. But also I know a lot of people have autobiographies and telling their story, so I said, "Okay, I, I don't wanna just... Like, I don't wanna tell my story unless it can help somebody." Besides that, we just talking, right? So I had to put it in a way like, "Okay, well let me put it into a format that it can help somebody."

Let me put questions at the end and, and, and it's not my entire life 'cause, you know, I'm pretty old. It would've took 50-some years to write it. But it was key points in my life where I, I had to sit down and I had a thought process.

[00:40:05] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:40:06] Terrance: You know, what if I would've did this different and, you know, things like that and, you know, just, you know, just my w- points in my life where I know that I sat down and I had a thought process about what's happening right now, and I had to...

You know, and I also made it short chapters 'cause kids don't read like we used to, you know?

[00:40:24] Joanna: Mm-hmm.

[00:40:24] Terrance: These kids ain't gonna sit down and read no Harry Potter book, you know? It's too long. So some of the chapters are literally, like, a page and a half, you know? Right. Um, because their attention span, because I think social media has done that, so I, so I, I shortened them really good so that they can, you know, so they'll read it basically, so.

[00:40:43] Joanna: I love, I love that it's a manual, you know, and it's putting things into practice-

[00:40:47] Terrance: Yeah .

[00:40:47] Joanna: .. So that they can move forward, you know, find that, that resilience that they have inside of them-

[00:40:53] Terrance: Yeah

[00:40:53] Joanna: ... to keep going and, and yeah, it's just so inspirational.

[00:40:56] Terrance: Thank you. Thank you.

[00:40:57] Joanna: Yeah. Thank you so much. Well, I'm so happy to have interviewed you today- and really learn more about how, um, your passion, your heart, and really your history with being able to be that bridge with schools-

[00:41:12] Terrance: Yeah

[00:41:12] Joanna: ... with, um, all the departments that you work with, and, and really connecting us for the better, and I'm really happy that you're part of our community and we get to, um, experience, you know, all the...

And I can't wait for what's next for Young Visionaries as well.

[00:41:26] Terrance: Oh, I, I can't either 'cause I don't know, so thank you. But thank you, Joanna. No, I, I thank you for letting me be on the show. I appreciate it. And oh, let me tell you last thing. We also have a podcasting class, too, for kids.

[00:41:40] Joanna: Wow. Who else has a podcasting class?

[00:41:41] Terrance: We do. And we do, we run that in the High Desert with, um, um, Nick Cannon's little brother Gabriel Cannon, and so him and his brothers, not Nick, they got a whole bunch of brothers. There's a lot of them. They all got kids. But, um, they have the, um, Cannon Brothers Morning Show, right? And so the Cannon Brothers Podcast, so then we have a few of them.

They're, they're just teaching kids, you know, just how to podcast. So we have the equipment in there and everything. We partner with IEHP and, um, and Victorville, and so yeah. So that's gonna be incredible. I wish we can... He's at the office right now too. I should've brought him over here. But he would've took up all my time.

He liked to talk. He's a professional talker. Right. No, he's a great guy.

[00:42:23] Joanna: I love that. Yeah. Well, I can't wait. I can't wait for those podcasts to come out and the stories- Yeah ... that the kids are gonna be able to, you know, elevate.

[00:42:31] Terrance: Yeah, it's incredible.

[00:42:32] Joanna: Wonderful.

[00:42:32] Terrance: But thank you. Thank you.

[00:42:34] Joanna: Thank you for joining us at Beyond Academics: Connecting Classroom and Community, where we dive deep into the stories from people who are making a difference in school.

They are the change makers who bring community schools to life by making an impact for families and children by meeting their needs. Don't forget to connect with us on social media accounts. You can find us on X @SI_RTAC, Instagram at SBCSS_IEbranch, at our website CCSPPSIRTAC.ORG. Tune in for more episodes.

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