Episode 5: Overcoming Homelessness to Forge a Brighter Future

Episode Summary:

In this powerful episode of Inspire Shasta, we dive into the challenges and triumphs of homeless youth in Shasta County. Our guests include Megan Preller, who leads the Ready for Life Host Homes program, and Carla James, an inspiring young advocate with lived experience of homelessness. They share heartfelt stories of resilience, the impact of supportive housing, and the importance of kindness in transforming lives.

Later, we speak with Shelby Price from Enterprise Elementary School District and Joe Maikranz from UPrep, both of whom serve as liaisons for students experiencing homelessness. They discuss the unique challenges youth face, the importance of community partnerships, and their hopes for the next generation.

Key Takeaways:

• Carla’s Journey: Carla shares her experience of homelessness during her senior year of high school, her drive to break generational trauma, and her success in becoming an advocate for change.
• Ready for Life Program: Megan explains the Host Homes and transitional housing models that provide stability and resources for 18- to 24-year-olds navigating housing insecurity.
• Community Impact: Shelby and Joe reflect on their roles as liaisons, the importance of building relationships, and success stories of families finding stability through support.
• Do It Scared: A mantra shared by Carla to encourage young people to push through fear and pursue their goals, no matter the challenges.

Featured Guests:

• Carla James: Advocate and youth with lived experience
• Megan Preller: Program Lead, Ready for Life Host Homes
• Shelby Price: District Liaison, Enterprise Elementary School District
• Joe Maikranz: Counselor and District Liaison, UPrep

Transcript

Inspire Shasta Episode 5: Homeless Youth

[00:00:00] Welcome back to the Inspire Shasta podcast. Today we have the privilege of speaking with Megan Preller, who oversees Ready for Life Host Homes and works directly with 18 to 24 year old homeless youth in our community and Carla James, a resilient and inspiring young person who has lived experience of being a homeless youth in Shasta County.

Carla is now using her voice to not only share her story, but also to impact change in our County. Thank you both for joining us today. Thank you for having us. Yeah, I agree. Yeah, we're happy to have you guys. We're excited about this episode. Here at Inspire Shasta, we also have a signature question that we like to ask each one of our guests.

So this question will be for both of you. If you could go back to any grade in school for a day, which one would it be and why? Carla, we can start with you. Alright, I would go back to my senior year of high school. Even though my senior year was the same year that I became homeless, it was also the year that [00:01:00] I Overcame a lot.

And I took my CTE course and it's where I became a medical assistant. And I kind of was like, oh, I can't do this. Like, how am I ever gonna go through this? There's no way. And I I told my CTE medical teacher, I was like, can you just, like, Can you just send me off to one of the clinics, please? I was like, I don't want to go.

And she picked me to do my externship at the Just Regional Hospital. And it was like the best experience I've, I've probably ever had. And I loved doing that hands on work. And, and now it's probably where I'm, I'm at today and choosing nursing. It's amazing. So she, saw something in you that said you can do it, even though you were scared, and now it's a career that you're pursuing, which is amazing.

Yeah, I mean, if it wasn't for her, I would have never pushed myself as hard. Her name is, is Miss H, or Miss Harnikava, and she's probably, like, one of the best teachers I've ever had because she just, She constantly saw, like, resilience that I had and, and despite, like, test scores and everything. She just saw [00:02:00] my hard work and sometimes it's really hard.

Sometimes test scores are all it is to, like, a teacher. But she saw me as, as more than that. And I even ended up giving my graduation speech at my medical graduation, so. That's amazing. Yeah. Shout out to Miss Heekava. Yeah. Miss H. Miss H. Yeah, that's awesome. Megan, I feel like I can't even come close to answering like that, but I was I was also thinking about my senior year just because of the memories that you make in your in your senior year and playing sports for the last time and being with your friends and all of the fun trips that you get to do and activities and things like that.

So I think I would go back to that time. I had a lot of really great teachers growing up, but I think The friend group is probably the thing that I remember most, and just people that are still friends to this day. I went to a very small school, so I was friends with a lot of people that were not even in my grades that I still am friends with [00:03:00] today.

So I think that's the year I'd go back to. That's really cool. So sticking with that senior year ish age group, Megan can you tell us about your work with 18 to 24 year old homeless youth in Shasta County? Yes, I can. Funny enough, I actually started Working in this field my senior year. So there you go.

It all ties back. So back in 2019 actually part of the Homeless Youth Alliance, we kind of identified a gap in services for homeless youth and the Host Homes Program kind of began from that point. And the model of that is to find housing that's available in the community with individuals and families and people who have extra space to be able to just kind of host and temporarily house a young adult so that they can be prepared to move into permanent housing.

Over the years it's shifted a bit and our model has grown to also have like transitional housing for shared living with 18 to 24 year olds and that's actually been really successful. [00:04:00] Part of the program that Carla is in as well. So yeah, we have housing resources as well as our resource center That that provides services to 18 to 24 year olds as well.

That's amazing Yeah, and the Resource Center has lots of services that it provides, right? Like, you can come in and do your laundry, you can have use the internet if you need to do job searches or your college classes you guys will help with case management and connection to getting vital documents and all of that kind of stuff, so it's really a beneficial service for our 18 to 24 year olds.

Yeah, definitely. We, you know, we found that there's so many young adults who don't even have just a place to be. Just somewhere to go and spend time, especially those that are sleeping out of their car or they're couch surfing and kind of always feel like they're in we're trying to create an environment where they feel like they can just be safe and relax and not be judged and also have their needs met.

So, yeah, we have laundry clothing food. We have [00:05:00] case management computers and couches and ping pong. And so sometimes people just come and hang out and sometimes they're there just for a quick minute to get get something and then go. But yeah, it's been a great resource, I think, for the community.

Yeah, and a resource that has gotten busier and busier over time, right? More and more kids are accessing it. Yeah, I think word of mouth has been our biggest help, because if one youth says like, this is an okay place and they're safe and they're going to treat you well, like, then that will encourage them to come versus, you know, maybe seeing something on Google or hearing about it from a service provider.

I think word of mouth from other use has has definitely helped it grow. Such a, such an amazing resource for our county. Carla, we're gonna jump over to you and We were wanting to know if you would be open to sharing a little bit about your experience growing, growing up in Shasta County and your experience as a homeless youth in Shasta County.

Yeah, of course. So growing up [00:06:00] in Shasta County was, I mean, I grew up in the more poor side and kind of, I moved around not that much or as much as like most would but. Yeah, I, I went to Magnolia Preschool, which is right, like, down the road here, and then I went to Manzanita for elementary school, and then went to Sequoia for middle school, and then I went to Shasta High School for my high school years.

But, you know, during that time of growing up, my family has, like, Really big generational trauma that's just been Passed down like like this huge baton and so growing up I had this immense pressure to be someone who would break it or I started out with no expectations and I have I Actually have like a learning disability as well.

So school is really hard for me And I was constantly not getting stuff and like battling it but you know [00:07:00] My family looked to me to be someone who was this, like, strong and resilient person who could overcome those, like, educational struggles. And, so the expectations got higher as I got older. It became more than just do well in school, but also do well for our family.

Because, you know, not all of them were able to graduate with high school with their GED. Like, some of them didn't. Do that. Some of them had to go back to school and do their GAD and some of them never went back to school. Some of them went into the workforce. So I was the only one who stayed on that, that path that a lot of people normally do follow.

But for my family, it wasn't this normal path. And I kind of had to grow up and overcome that. And it definitely made me compensate in a lot of ways. I was extremely, like, academically driven. I, Did hundreds of extra tutoring hours just so I could catch up to other kids and exceed. I got a lot of awards throughout my educational [00:08:00] system and like, like principal awards or honors role awards a lot, especially in middle school and high school.

And I ended up getting a, a scholarship in high school, which was the McConnell Scholarship, and that was, like probably one of the best things that ever happened to me, but I I really did kind of Overcome that and show that there's more than just one path for my family. Yeah all while you were experiencing some really traumatic Challenging situations you were able to maintain your academics.

Yeah pursue a scholarship and go on to Sheff's College. Further education, yeah. That's, that's pretty impressive because a lot of people don't realize, I think, with a lot of our youth is what, what's going on at home. You know, we can have youth, like you just shared your story where from every day at school, probably a lot of your school staff and teachers would have never known what you were experiencing in your senior year as you shared that you experienced some homelessness.

Yeah They [00:09:00] saw a well behaved, put together kid who got great grades. And I remember in middle school, I went to the counselor office and I was, I was crying. I was just growing up in those big emotions and like growing up with a dysfunctional family where there's fights and arguments and worry for my mom's safety.

When you're put in those positions as a kid, Or you have these, like, heavy pressures to be kind of perfect. You don't even know what that is, like. I remember I came to the counselor crying and I was like, I just, I'm so, like, I can't, like, do this. And I remember my counselor pulled up my grades and they were like, But you're doing so well in school.

And I just remember feeling so like, isolated. Cause I was like, I am doing well in school. But I'm not doing well as like a, as like a person right now. Or mentally well with how I am. And sometimes it like exceeds past like that point. And in high school. A lot of people would have never guessed I would have been [00:10:00] homeless.

During December, I lost my house to a domestic violence case. And I was going to court against my stepfather for, like, fear of safety. And there was Lots of verbal abuse in my house that I grew up with and like constant nights where I couldn't sleep because I was Scared for my mom's safety and having to provide that and taking care of my grandma like these big Responsibilities outside of just being a high school student and on top of that.

I was like, okay Well, I'm just gonna go to school and I'm gonna get these good grades and and put on a smile and that was the way that I you know That was my coping mechanism. Yeah. That's how I wanted people to perceive me as. And it was, it was frustrating because, you know, nobody really asked, like, why I was late every day to school.

Why I was almost 30 minutes, 20 minutes late. Like, if you're five to ten minutes late, okay, maybe it's just like this kid who's just, you know, it's dwelling on [00:11:00] going, but 30 minutes late or missing a half the class period is like, what's going on? And, because I was, I loved learning. So when that learning became an issue, I feel like that's when the questions should have I've really been coming up because I've always been so academically driven.

And then the homelessness and the situation just kind of got worse. It became the point to where I didn't even know what I was going to do or What was gonna happen my mom for a short period of time was taken down to like, like the bond center for like gel and she didn't end up going but I had to stay with my cousins and they didn't even know that any of that was happening, they didn't know and I stayed with one of my oldest cousins and he let me stay in and they made a makeshift bed in their laundry room for me cause it was all they had, they had They're kids, and like, they let me in, and I remember crying into his arms, because throughout the entire process, nobody saw me as a kid.

They [00:12:00] saw me as an adult already. And I remember crying, because he was like, It's okay, you're like, you're just a kid, like, I understand, and it was just like, this moment of vulnerability, because someone was actually able to see through that. I was just like, I was a scared kid going through that, so, yeah, things like that were, were happening and, and not eating and still trying to focus on, like, education.

Yeah, you were carrying a lot. Yeah. A lot for your family and do you think that the outward appearance of how you came off, that you were so put together and academically driven, was a barrier to people asking? It was. They definitely, you know, my friends. I was staying so many nights at their houses that even they questioned why I was sleeping on their couch.

Like, even they had, like, this sincere, like, feeling of Just, what is that kid going through? That kid's going through so much, that I know they had there, and like, care. And [00:13:00] so, even though I came off as this very put together kid, even they questioned it. So I, I know, that, somewhere along the line, somebody probably saw, they just, I was so, like, Like, outwardly put together and doing all these big things and, and giving speeches and academically driven and club driven that they were like, okay, well, she must have it all together.

It must not be too bad to where she needs like that extra extension of help. She must have it handled. And I didn't have it handled. You know, I was just doing the best that I could with what I was given. Yeah. And that plate was overflowing. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's a good, message to educators and people working with youth to remember to check on even the youth that appear to have everything under control, you know from if they're doing well in school when those little things start happening and Them showing up late.

It's important to to check on them see how they're doing see if there's anything that they need to [00:14:00] to support or a person that they could talk to Yeah, I think it's important to know like that homelessness is not always what it looks like, honestly, because I'm definitely a case of that, and I think as long as we remember that it's not just Stereotypical, or someone you'll just see out on the street, or someone who maybe looks a bit messier.

Homelessness can look like a lot of different things. And I think if more people are able to understand that and see it right in front of them, then they will Be able to take action and be like, okay, like, you've been staying the night for almost two weeks. What's, what's going on? And like, they're gonna tell their friends because teens, especially who are going through that, the adults in their life are not someone they can count on.

And so they're gonna tell someone close to them or maybe who's like on that kind of same level as them and you need to like, you have to kind of lead them to that help because it's very hard to separate them from that situation. But [00:15:00] it is better on the outside of it now as an adult that I am so thankful that I did.

Yeah, I'm thankful too because I think that although all of the challenges that you have experienced in your life to, to get, to get to meet you I think about a year ago is when we first met and. To see the young woman that you're becoming you're taking those challenges and those struggles and you're doing something with it For good.

Yeah We always say that you're gonna change the world Listen I hadn't met you before right now, and I'm on that train Wow so kind of in that same vein of like challenges and difficulties. Megan, what would you say that you see in kind of that 18 to 24 age group as like the most common [00:16:00] challenges that come up in when it relates to housing and access to services and all that?

I think it's a loaded question because it's kind of like an onion that there's so many layers to the complex needs. But I think one of the main things that, I would say is like a common denominator for all of our youth is like a lack of connection and support. And you know, even if it's just one person who's checking on you or who you can rely on or who you can call when you don't know what's happening with your oven and it's freaking out or like those just like basic things that we take for granted that we have someone we can call.

I think that's a huge barrier because if we didn't have those things, then it's very hard to kind of like. Progress and being able to accomplish things like housing and jobs and education and all of those things that we hope for our youth. And then there's basic logistical things like 18 year olds don't have credit scores and, you know, rental history and all of the [00:17:00] things that this, you know, society expects of them to have to be able to rent an apartment.

Even if you have a job and you have income, it doesn't really matter if. You don't have those things, and so that barrier, you know, combined with, well, I don't have someone who could cosign for me because you have to have pretty good credit, and I don't have even a person who I could ask, you know, so just all of that on top of past trauma and worrying about your basic needs being met I think that's another big thing that we see pretty often is like, I think the community often expects the community expects.

a lot from individuals who are experiencing homelessness and you know, if you really had to sit down and think about, well, what if I didn't know where I was going to sleep tonight or the next time I would have something to eat, you probably aren't going to be focusing on, you know, getting a job and holding down housing and all of those things that of course we hope for, for people and we want them to accomplish, but we have to be able to.

Meet their basic needs first. Yeah. Yeah, I think about [00:18:00] that when I was that age, you know, 18 to 24, and how many times I would call an adult, whether it be like my mom or my grandfather For anything. I mean, you know, how do you turn on the oven? You know, all the, all the simple things. You were an RA in college, right?

Oh, yeah. I mean, to say that I had it all together then. I'd even call my mom and like, say like, I'm blanking. Does the stamp go on the right or the left? You know, like, yeah, I just. Before Google was so easy, too. Yeah, yeah. I could consult my phone. But I would imagine you probably had lots of questions from students that, that they don't know how to, you know, how do I use the vacuum?

You know, there, there's simple things like that and then you get into like, how do I get a driver's license? Oh, yeah. What is insurance? Why do I need to have it? And navigating our systems is a nightmare. Like, even for you know, it's not easy for an educated professional to walk through all of the steps and jump through [00:19:00] hoops.

It's not easy. And so, you know, we expect people to just be able to figure it out on their own. And again, if you look back two steps, like they haven't eaten anything or slept and now figure out this really challenging system and do it well. And don't forget to turn it on time or else you lose all your benefits.

Like it's, it's a challenge. And I don't think it's yeah. You know setting people up for success most of the time. Yeah. Yeah, it's like it's very overwhelming because then it's like Oh, I have to do everything at once and yet I'm still like I still don't know where I'm gonna sleep or I'm still hungry Or I still have to figure out how I'm gonna get like To school or home from school like those kinds of issues and those become second problems in fact like those extra curriculars that I did I almost felt like I was playing dress up, like going to school and doing those things.

I remember sitting in my math class. It was like 8 30 in the morning. I was like, I should not be here. I was like, I should be at home trying to figure out what's going on with [00:20:00] mom, where she's at, if she's okay. And I was like, I was living like almost a double life. So many things. Yeah. And I was Just, just completely, it felt like all those big things that I was accomplishing were actually small considered to what the other things I was going through.

Wow. Cause I was like, those things are the vital things that I'm supposed to be doing. So even though I got all those awards and, and completed all those like, things that are considered big accomplishments, on the inside I was like. , but everything's not actually okay. Yeah. And it felt like I was just doing that as a way to make myself feel better or make feel self feel more normal.

Mm-hmm . Because during your senior year, you see all those other kids who have their senior year t-shirts, they have their yearbooks and they're, they're going to prom and they're like living out these, you know. Teen fantasies with their friends and you can't help but to feel a little bit sour because, you know, when you go home [00:21:00] you have to worry about what you're going to eat, what you're going to do, how you're going to make money, how to get your bank account out of the negatives, like, because, like, they, you know, I don't know, it's like those, those different kinds of struggles and I remember feeling so, like, annoyed that I just couldn't be you.

normal in a time that's really vital to you. Because after this, like, even as an adult, there are so many people who look at me and they're like, okay, why is your case manager here with you? You're an adult, why don't you know how to do this? Or, like, when I was first getting my licenses, it was, like, very harsh, or I was like, I'm not in contact with my family, and trying to explain that kind of stuff, and they're like, why?

And I'm like, okay, well, calm down a little. And it's like, how much time do you have? Yeah, it's like, I can't really give the whole explanation. But it's, they always assume, the first thing they assume is it's my fault. And it's very odd to, or that it's a choice. Like, yeah, have that as like [00:22:00] your default thought process.

When I'm still very young. Because they see me and they're like, well you should have it all put together already, because what age are you right now? And I'm like 19. Yeah, it should be more of what happened to you, not what you did wrong. Yeah, and it's, it's kind of like fighting that, honestly. Because even with having given everything, there's still so many struggles to kind of matching the same piece as everybody else around you.

Yeah, I, I mean, I would imagine when you were experiencing all of those accomplishments, and, and, and please correct me if I'm wrong, that you felt a little bit like you couldn't even be proud of them because there was so much going on outside of that, outside of the, the good that was happening in school that you really couldn't.

Accept those accomplishments as something that you earned. Yeah, I truly didn't believe that I deserved it. Down [00:23:00] to my core. I felt like somebody else needed it more than me. Which is, might sound crazy to say that considering Telling my story, but I remember talking to Dave, and Dave's like the McConnell scholarship, and he was talking to me, and he manages all that, and he's like, so how are you, how are you feeling?

Because he saw that I was off. And I'm sitting there in his office, the McConnell Foundation is, is huge. Okay, you look outside, you're like, oh, nice ponds, and you got your own ducks there. They're doing well. It's beautiful. It is, and I'm sitting here like, newly, freshly graduated and I'm like Dave, how do I say like, I feel like I'm not supposed to be here.

And he's like, it's okay. Like almost everybody feels like that who got that and he was like, you got that scholarship because you are you and like we invested in you and who you are and what you're going to do. And like, those are important reminders, you know, and it was very hard for [00:24:00] me to process that.

And to like accept that as this is my reality. I really did achieve something like this. They made the right choice. Yes, they did. So what kind of supports, we talked about the supports that are difficult to navigate, right? And so what about the supports that have been helpful to you in your journey, Carla to get where you are today and to continue where you're going?

What are some supports that you've utilized in Shasta County to help you navigate being homeless at 18 and a college student and, you know, all of the things that come along with that? The supports that I've utilized jumping straight into college was, was really rough. Ready for Life is probably the biggest one because right as I was about to go to the mission I lost my parents.

Like, place of housing that I did have, and I was staying in an office, and so much had happened with my mom, and I was like, oh, because I was basically fully connected to her. Her decisions were [00:25:00] my decisions. I didn't tell anyone this, but she had opened up credit cards in my name, and like, all these kinds of factors that tied me to her, not only even emotionally, but also like, like, physically as well, because she, she had those things held.

Over me. And so, they, they saw that, I think Megan did see that, and at the time, Cassandra was the case manager back then, and I think they saw how vital it was and how important I needed to get out of that situation, and they, they got me in as soon as they could, and I was in the housing, and I moved in, and, you know, at first I felt really lonely, but then I felt this sense of relief.

I felt like I could breathe for the first time because my entire life, I was constantly worried about someone else's life while living mine. I never had like the time to sit there and be like, what does Carla want? I was like, what does my mom want? [00:26:00] Yeah, you had a moment to breathe. Yeah. And so I. I flourished, definitely, being there, and I had to open myself up, of course.

I think Sean will probably tell you about how long it took me to, like, speak for the first, like, six months living there. I was like, hi. Like, Like, it's a joke now, but back then I was like, man, like, oh, I don't know how to do this. And talk to people, because the past living situations I had was all very, like, Eggshells.

If I did one thing wrong, oh no, like what if I can't stay here, or everything has to be clean all the time, and this isn't permanent, therefore I shouldn't make emotional connections, and losing people like that is, it just happens so much when you are homeless or experience those things, and so it becomes this big fear to really give, like, other people a chance and open up a vulnerability like that but living there, you know.

Helped me so much to like gain that kind of [00:27:00] vulnerability back and actually have a connection and everyone who is in that house Has experienced something similar. So even though it's unspoken and not everyone says their stories to each other There's this bond that forms and it's like this unwritten rule You know, like this, this thing that happens naturally because we just understand each other.

We are able to, like, get each other on a different level and emotionally connect. And I love everyone who lives there. They are such the kindest people ever and it's a big part of why I started doing this too. You know, I saw them and who they were and I was like, the struggles that you went through and like, who you are is like, They're just good kids.

Like, they really are. And it's really like It's kind of breaking my heart that society or like these opportunities won't give them the chance or other kids don't get that same chance that [00:28:00] we are and living in this, this program that we're able to. So I was like, something needs to be done. More people need to be given a chance because I see it working and I see them thriving and actually living out their lives.

And making those connections and going out into the world and following their passions. And when you're homeless, you're not allowed to have passions. Yeah, there's no, there's no space for that, right? And it sounds like it took the first six months of you being in transitional housing for you to find out who, who you are, you know, with, on your own, by yourself without having to walk on eggshells or worry about your mom and, and and you have flourished from that.

You are in. Shared housing. Yes. Correct. Megan, do you want to talk a little bit about that? Yeah, if I can not cry over here, Carla. I'm just so proud of her. She's, she's just wonderful and I think she's the epitome of why this is so important because, could you imagine a world without Carla? No. No. Me neither.

And [00:29:00] Carla, I think, The, a big part of your story is, is the adults that surrounded you and made you feel safe for you to be able to grow into your own. Yeah. Which now I'm gonna cry. I know. I've completely forgotten the question. Oh Carla's in transitional housing, which is connected to host homes.

And so you want to tell us a little bit about that? Yes. That was the question. Okay. So like I kind of said earlier, we started with the model of trying to find people who would host young adults on a temporary basis and kind of like, provide a home living environment. And, you know, we were able to successfully do that for a number of youth, but it's also, it's a hard ask to the community to invite people into their home.

And it just, The need was too high that we couldn't we couldn't help enough people doing it that way So we tried to kind of shift our model to also a like transitional housing shared living [00:30:00] environment and Carla was one of the first people actually to move into the home and Really the intention of this shared living is I think it's a great opportunity for them to have like, obviously the basic things shelter and somewhere to be.

But also an opportunity for them to learn how to just like. Do life with other people and how to be a good roommate and learning how to navigate things that they may have not otherwise had the opportunity to do. And also, I think we take for granted the. The things that were modeled to us and the things that we just observed happening growing up that maybe didn't happen for everyone.

And so this kind of environment where there are other people who care and who can step in if needed, like, it's a safe place to learn those things and not have to worry that you're like, out on your own doing it. And so I think that's been a really beautiful, like, [00:31:00] Opportunity for the youth to be able to figure out things like soft skills and also like Real life skills of, you know, we legitimately had a oven that put itself on self cleaning and it went into this crazy, like 500 degree.

It was a whole thing. It was, I was there. Does everybody at this table have, have anybody had that happen? My oven actually did the same thing. Really? It scared me so much. Your house fills with smoke. It's very scary. Well, and it wasn't like an intentional thing. So they called the fire department. It was a whole thing, but like they, Why would they have known that they wouldn't have?

So like those types of little things that we can laugh about now. Like it's a safe place to make mistakes and to learn and to grow and to ask questions. So I think that's a really cool component that, that works well in this. And obviously shared living is not for everyone. Mm-hmm . We recognize that and we try really hard to get to know.

The young adults before moving them into the home, because not only do we want to set them up [00:32:00] for success, but we also have to consider everybody else who's there. Yeah. And like, you know, six or seven people in one house could go really bad if you're not intentional about it. And, and they still have their, their challenges and their, you know, bumps in the road, but also, we're really invested in making it work and try and be really intentional about who goes I just feel, yeah, I don't know what I'm trying to say right now, but I just feel very fortunate to be part of this conversation, and I think you both are incredible Carla, I want to go back to just kind of like school and community and thinking about as you're growing up, but also thinking about current homeless youth, like what supports do you wish would have been provided to you or what do you see like in the community of like things that educators or community members could do to better support homeless youth?

For better supporting the homeless youth, thinking back on it, the things that I would have wanted I think that connection [00:33:00] probably with some adult or authority figure to help me kind of figure it out or making that connection. And Honestly, the help I needed was probably more counseling and therapy access, if that would have happened, because in that you have to take accountability, and you have to reflect on others actions, and you learn from someone that that's not okay, that's not how you treat a child in that situation, and for so long I grew up thinking that it was my fault.

Or that I deserve to have experienced what I did. And I thought, you know, that was the, the only way to be raised. And I think if kids are pulled out of that situation, and they can have therapy, or they can have counselling as, like, this easy access, then they can learn it's not their fault. And I think that's the first steps.

Because, really. What I would want is to go back to the main course, which I think is, like, the family [00:34:00] dynamics. But starting off from there is so difficult to actually, like, hit that point and make sure you can get them out of that space, because I know they will, like, kids natural instinct is to defend their parents, even if, like, their parent isn't wrong.

So it's very hard to bring them out of that, and I think if someone would have done that for me at an earlier age. I would have had more of an advantage because I would have separated myself in the situation or if I would have if there was a program that could get like those kids out of that situation or like able to access that without Breaking all these different rules or boundaries that would be probably the most perfect thing that those kids need because They do need someone strong that they can actually rely on because most of the times they're just kids relying on themselves.

Yeah, because the adults around them often have their own challenges, right? That don't allow them to show up for their, for their kiddos. And having a space where you [00:35:00] can have hope that this is not your life trajectory and that you can do things for yourself to change. And then the adults that surround you to be able to come alongside you and walk that path of change with you.

I think that's what has gotten you here today. Yeah. Yeah, I think, I think it's really important. I think a lot of our homeless youth are unseen. A lot of our homeless youth are couch surfing or living with friends and schools often don't even know. It's not, it's not because they know and they're ignoring.

It's because they're, they're not aware. And I know it is difficult for you to, to share what they're going through because there's a lot of fears that are surrounded with that, you know, and so we just really appreciate You, using your voice for youth like you, so they can see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and, and then there's something that they can, people that will care at services that they can access so, so I'm just really thankful that [00:36:00] you have, that you are using your story for positive change and impact.

So, thank you, Carla. Well, guys. So, we're gonna in closing, we have a closing question. And here at SCOE, we have core values, and one of our core values is focused on being hopeful and helpful. And so, this question is for both of you, and you can choose which one you want to answer. Megan, what is your hope for the next generation, or who is someone that has been helpful to you in your journey?

I think My hope for the next generation. Again, another complex answer, but I, I think it mostly comes back to just like that people care and that there's a lot of people out there who want to see you succeed and really want what's best and that it's worth continuing on and fighting for the opportunity to.

I think it's really important to do better [00:37:00] things and to get out of situations that are hard. And I think oftentimes in the challenges and like when you're down in the dumps, it's really hard to see any other thing. And if you don't feel like there's anybody who's rooting for you or who believes in you, I don't imagine why anybody would, you know, crawl out of that.

Like, that's a really hard thing. So I think I think having hope that there is, there is better and there is people who care and there are kind people out there. I think that's the main thing because it really kind of goes across to every single challenge that someone could be having is that it, you know, just hope that there's, there is goodness out there and that.

If we all just show a little bit more goodness, it would go a long way. Yeah, I 100 percent agree. I mean, we, at the end of the day, we're all human. Mm hmm. You know, no matter what our situation is, and so for somebody to be able to see you as that it's, it's like the basic Everyone deserves kindness.

Yeah, everybody deserves kindness. [00:38:00] I agree. Put that on a t shirt. Probably is on a t shirt somewhere. And how about for you, Carla? What is your hope for the next generation, or who is someone that has been helpful to you in your journey? My hope for the next generation, man, I think, you know, do it scared.

I'm about to be 20, and I think, The biggest hope I have for them is to do with scared. If you have this fear in you that you're just so scared to go to this next chapter of your life and you're like, I can't do this. Like, why am I doing this? Just like Do it, because you will come out the other side and you will have experienced, you know, something that maybe you needed to experience.

And I'm not saying do it scared for like, really bad scenarios. Let me sketch it. You're like, alright, let's go scale this mountain and then something bad happens. Please don't do that. I'm saying like, When you grow up out of these experiences, it's so hard to let yourself move on, or so hard to let yourself be happy.[00:39:00] 

And, you know, your worries once used to be, where am I going to sleep tonight? How am I going to get home? But now it's like, oh, I have to fill out this application for, like, university. What do I do? And it's, you know, let your worries be that, and, and go, and travel. And, you know, you have so much of your life just, like, Stop taking that time to just kind of reflect on what everybody else would want and start thinking about what you would want.

And like, live your life without that fear that you have someone pulling you back. Your friends will understand if they're your real friends. You need to kind of Go out and meet those people, and do travel abroad programs, and try to go for every grant, because trying is better than never trying, is all I can hope for them.

Because you never know what might happen. I mean, I almost never submitted my scholarship. I, I wrote six essays and then it got all deleted and I was like, okay, this is [00:40:00] a side. And then, almost at the end deadline, it was like 11. 50, I submitted my essays and I was like, I'm not gonna get it. These are not good.

And then I got my interview and I was like, oh my god. Like, I was sitting in there in the waiting room and I heard them go, Oh, she's really good. That's really good. And I was like, oh no, I'm definitely not getting this. And I was so nervous. And then the next two days, I got this email from Dave and I got this scholarship.

So I'm just saying, like, do it scared and try. Try even if you think it won't work out. And you might just get, like, the best experiences. Because I never foresaw me being a homeless youth advocate. And I knew I wanted to help people. I just never knew what it was. And then something about this felt right.

I had never felt. More happy than the happiness I feel when I'm helping others. Nothing else could really ever compare to it, so, you know. And I [00:41:00] think that kindness, I agree with that. It does go a long way and, I've seen it actually change people. People who have this sourness in their hearts or this anger, you never really know why it's really there.

And there are two ways people can be. And when they go through things, some turn to anger and some turn to kindness. It's just how it works sometimes. And I think, I've seen people actually My constant kindness or constant reassurance to them and just treating them as a person Despite how they may react towards me It actually changes them and it makes them rethink on their actions how they can be and they think maybe I can I can choose this too.

Yeah, I mean I think, do it scared. I think that's where we leave it. That's the t shirt. That's the t shirt. That's every age though, it's so true. Yeah, and I think it's important to say that. I think that there are, I have been in rooms where I feel like I don't belong, like, and I've worked [00:42:00] to get into that room, and I still feel like an imposter.

Every, like, milestone of life, I think sometimes feels that way. And so, At almost 20, you're going to have many more of those experiences, but continuing to do it scared is, is, yeah, that's the t shirt. But this mindset you have right now, it is incredible. It is. It's been a pleasure. Yeah, it really has.

Thank you guys so much for being here today and sharing your insights. And Carla, your incredible journey to be open with us is, is really a beautiful thing. So we appreciate you guys being here today. Well, thank you for having us, you know. Thank you for inviting me. Thank you.

Welcome back to part two of episode five. Earlier today, we had Megan Preller from Ready for Life Host Homes and Carla James, a youth with lived experience of being homeless in Shasta County.

And now we are thrilled to have joining us Shelby Price from Enterprise Elementary School District and Joe Maikranz from UPrep. Both of them serve as district liaisons helping students [00:43:00] and families experiencing homelessness. Thank you guys for being here today. Thanks for having us. So we're going to start with a fun question and it is if you could go back to any grade in school for a day which one would it be?

And why? So Joe, let's start with you. Yeah, I actually thought about this earlier today, but I would definitely say 9th grade. I think that's an easy decision for me, because I think I would like to do that over again, because I think I was kind of a little, I was probably pretty difficult as a 9th grader, and I think I would like to have a redo of that, that year.

That's some self reflection right there. Yeah. Just with like, the people in my lives and the adults I interacted with, I could see that being, yeah, Yeah, that's awesome. So I thought about it kind of a different way. Although ninth grade would be a good grade to redo for The same reasons for being a turkey.

But third grade was so fun. I ended up with Mrs. Thacker, who [00:44:00] had been a teacher at Sycamore Elementary for years and years, and her husband at some point had built this loft in the back corner of her classroom, and I got to be in that classroom, and they did reading group underneath the loft, and if you earned a reward, you could be up in the loft when she read to the class, and it was just a fun class to be in, and it was It's, you know, something that I remember and I was always super excited to be in that class.

That sounds fun. Who doesn't like a loft? Yeah. Yeah. Third grade is where the fun's at. My, my teacher let us dissect fish at third grade, which was pretty brave, but yeah. No, I, no, no fish dissecting for me, but we grew crystals. But comfortability. So that, that was fun. Well, thank you guys for sharing that with us.

I think mine was third grade too. Yeah. It's, it's funny to reflect, like when you think about that question, like let me think about all of the grades. I do like the ninth grade cause you can be real squirrely as a ninth grader and you probably aren't your [00:45:00] best self. Yeah. And unfortunately that kind of puts you on a trajectory typically for the next few years.

And usually ninth grade, you're not thinking about the future. You're not thinking about like what you're having for dinner, what you're doing that night. You know what I mean? But those consequences. And your actions definitely have a impact on your future. So I think that's probably why I chose 9th.

Yeah, and you work with high schoolers, so there's that as well. So both of you guys are district liaisons for a elementary district in our county as well as a high school district. And so Shelby, can you describe for us your role as the district liaison and what that entails? So, for me, my basic role is to make sure that the basic needs of our families are being met.

So, we don't always have all of the answers, but I try to make sure that I am connected with the resources that I need so that I can support those families. It's been imperative to have the network that [00:46:00] we do here in Shasta County. So something that I couldn't necessarily do at the school level that I could reach out to community members and be able to lean on them to, for support for those families.

So it's really being available to our families to meet them where they are and help them be successful. And, and along with that role, that's not the only role you have in your school district, right? Like, no, not at all. So the district liaison position is never one typically that is applied for. It is a hat that is handed.

I am grateful that the hat was handed to me because I do enjoy the work. But I have a laundry list of other responsibilities daily. Yeah. The woman of many hats. So what about you Joe. I think my role is probably a little bit different than maybe some other liaisons because I'm at one school and I'm at the school that I work at.

So I think I, it's a little bit, maybe a little bit easier for me than some. So I think probably my [00:47:00] position is just being unique, being a counselor at a school and also being a liaison at our school. That's not very big. So I think that kind of gives me an advantage of just knowing our population, knowing parents, knowing students.

So but yeah, that's, I mean that's the role support our school and just kind of working with our. Our parents our families and teachers. So yeah, I would say that that does make your role unique because many of the liaisons Especially in our county are one liaison for an entire district that has many school sites and so It's it's probably such a benefit to your students and families that you are located at the school site that the kiddos attend and you probably have a a better pulse on some things that maybe our larger schools take longer to become aware of because of that model.

Yeah, and I think just being in a smaller school, like, teachers will email me, Hey, I heard this, or a kid heard this, you know, and then I just call them in. Like, it's pretty easy to make that, [00:48:00] Hey, I heard you're in this situation, so. Where I think when you're in charge of other schools, you can't, it's harder, right you're not gonna show up You're more networking through other adults 100 percent but to that point.

It's necessary for me to foster the relationships with our Registrars at the site as well as our community connectors. We're lucky enough to have seven connectors at within nine of our sites and so We are able to have and I think it's important to have, you know, boots on the ground, right, to have people there on campus that have made those connections, like you are able to, with the families and the students, and so I can hear something, and rather than me cold calling the parent, I can reach out to either the community connector or the registrar and kind of have that warm handoff to find out how we can best support, because sometimes they'll shut down before you even, You might not even be able to talk to them, they might not [00:49:00] even pick up your phone call to see how we can support.

Yeah, those relationships are really, really critical to be able to for our families to be responding to those phone calls, whether, you know, because the cold call is challenging or even a call to a parent that you might have a relationship with, it's hard to talk about what they're experiencing. And so if you don't have that relationship with either the parent or in your case, Joe, you shared that you have the teacher relationship, that you have like a smaller campus where.

The teachers can will just directly email you because they feel that that communication is open and you have to empower other people on other sites to be able to do that because you're not located at every site and your district, correct? Yeah, so those relationships are really, really impactful and vital, right to the work that you guys do 100%.

Yeah, I think like. Those two questions kind of go hand in hand. You know, the relationship piece is probably the most important, you know, whether it's with a [00:50:00] teacher or another staff member on campus or whatever, you know. Cause you talked about, you know, how do we leverage those relationships, you know.

It's like, that's, that's how I network all of it, is just through those relationships. And then also just like knowing a lot of our students, coaching a lot and that's kind of why I coach so many different random sports, just to kind of give me a connection with those students and it makes it a little easier to talk about home life if you kind of know them a little bit more.

Well, and in the sports realm, like their guard is down probably a little bit, right? It's different than in the classroom or in the principal's office. What supports Shelby have you implemented in your district to support your homeless students and families? So, like I said, I think it's just really important to lean on the relationships that we have, and within our community connectors, we have been able to have just been able to support our families greater in what their needs are, whether it's you know, a food box [00:51:00] or, you know, shoes or anything like that.

Yeah. And Joe, with your role as a counselor what supports have you put in place when you're supporting your youth because you do the ninth through twelfth graders? And so I would imagine a lot of your communication is also directly with that youth. It's a little bit different than elementary.

So what are some supports that you put in place to, to be able to have those regular check ins with, with your students? I mean, I don't know like what supports, I kind of already do that. Normally, you know, like I, I do check ins with students and so I don't think that's, that's like an added thing, you know what I mean?

But I might add more students to that list of the check in, right? Like I have one in particular, he's not like an academic, it's, he's literally homeless, so I just randomly check in with him, but I've also coached him and spent time with him and so, you know, I don't. Yeah. Yeah. And I, I. Feel like you do a really good job of connecting them to outside [00:52:00] supports as well.

Like, you know, you'll, you'll look around for if there's a need, hey, is, is this available in the community to be able to connect? Well, and that's, that's where the relationship with you guys is really helpful. I, I can't really take credit for that or you know, knowing Austin and Megan and, you know, just kind of being in that realm.

But I think the thing that's really helpful is You know, I did some social work back before I was a school counselor, but all of that changes, like, and it changes every year, what supports are available, and so that's why, like, I'll shoot you an email, or Austin email, you know, back, and, and cause it's constantly evolving and changing and so, yeah.

Yeah, I feel the same way. Like, even being in the work every day, it's constantly involving who you reach out to always changes. The list is never the same. Well, and the supports, like you say, aren't always the same. You know, there's one community group that might be able to offer X, Y, and Z, and then funding maybe goes away for that group, and then we have to punt and [00:53:00] figure out where to, you know, get those resources from somewhere else.

Yeah. Totally. Totally. So, from both of you, whichever one of you want to answer first, we'd love to hear some success stories of things that you've experienced in your school or in your district of just ways you've been able to support these families as liaisons. So I had one student text me over the summer, and he, you know, said, hey, I've been, I wanted to tell you this, but I'm getting kicked out of my house.

And so, You know, I'm like, Oh man, this is, I said, Hey, give me, give me a couple hours. I'll need to digest this a little bit and see what I can do. So, you know, through lots of conversations with him some people at UPrep and then you know, sending out some emails, you know, we were able to, he did, he did lose his housing and we were able to get him some temporary housing.

With Megan, who was here, it sounds like, earlier today. But and so it was like, honestly, it was just like wild to me that that was able to happen within, because I think he gave me like a week and a half heads up that [00:54:00] he needed a place to stay, and we were able to find him a place to, and so we got connected with the house, and then Department of Rehab got him like a paycheck coming, and so.

Yeah, he's still in school, which I think is a big success. It's a big, a giant success. He's in his senior year. Yeah. Yeah. It's amazing. How about you Shelby? I thought quite a bit about this. I feel like there was, Some pretty big successes that we've had, but there was one at a site that mom had actually lost her kids.

She was, her housing was in terrible shape and accidentally, eventually lost her children and But she started working really hard. She, she found a couple jobs. She was able to work with myself and the school site. They were able to eventually secure housing. She's got her kids back. The kids were always taken care of.

Like, even though she didn't have them, she was still a part of their life. But she's got them back. They are in permanent [00:55:00] housing now and they're just, they're thriving. So, it was hard work, but, and it, it wasn't a week and a half. It was, you know, a couple of years, because I think that that's more standard, unfortunately.

But she stuck with it, and she worked through the hard parts. And, so, she's got her kids back, and she's got permanent housing. Yeah, those are both amazing stories. And I do, to your point, Shelby, like housing is the biggest challenge, right? Securing it is one challenge, but maintaining it is another. And for our 18 year olds, it's really even, I would say, harder because they Don't have any history of anything and so your student Joe was fortunate to be able to be connected at the Timing there worked out where he could get somewhere and get into a transitional housing Home, I believe he's Carla's roommate.

She was here today and continue navigating through that journey on his [00:56:00] own with your support. And that probably wouldn't have happened. And some of these connections wouldn't have happened without the role of the liaison being at the district and, and jumping in when they got a text and a phone call or, you know, when someone at the school let them know that this family was having challenges.

So going along with the successes, there's obviously a lot of challenges, right? So either one of you again, take take the lead on this, but what are some of the biggest challenges that you face? in your individual roles? I think not being able to save everyone. You know, I, I think that you can't, you can't bring them all home and feed them all dinner and give them a cozy place to stay at the end of the day.

And I think that's the hardest part. And so, all we can do is do our best and, and foster those relationships with our community members to, to get their own cozy place at home. Yeah, and be the consistent. Yeah. Yeah. How about you, Joe? I think at, at our site, [00:57:00] some of the, kind of, the way, you know, sometimes I've offered help or assistance and some people are just resistant to it because of the appearance and, you know because we do have a lot of families that are very supportive and affluent and they try to, blend in and hide and not, you know, try to fly below the radar.

They don't want to draw any attention. They don't want to, yeah. And, you know, but at the same time that's a, I think there's also value in that because They also are able to have these relationships, supportive relationships as well with families that can take them in or do whatever and we do have a lot of that, like, I want to commend our parents, like, we do have a lot of parents that step up and do stuff like that which is really cool, but it also is intimidating for some students that are struggling financially, but then their peers are not and they just got to fake it and feel that pressure, you know, I think that's, that's kind of hard.

Yeah, I think it's challenging for [00:58:00] anybody to, to say what they're going through when they're experiencing homelessness or hard times or challenges in their lives. And, and to do that as a youth where you already maybe feel like you don't fit in to begin with because of what you're surrounding is, is a big challenge as well.

But I love to hear that there are parents that are also jumping in and saying this is our community. We want to support all students that attend, you know, this school. And so if there's a need, it sounds like you have a good community that are willing to fill it. So speaking of community partners they often play a big role.

You've mentioned Megan. What community partners and supports have been most helpful for your sites and are there any ones you want to give a shout out to? I would say you guys have been a big help, honestly. I don't know if that counts as a community because you guys are kind of connected to the schools, but I would, I would say you guys are huge.

Just being able to email all you guys and say, Hey, I got this situation. What can I do and then within usually I hear back within the day and here try this this isn't this [00:59:00] like the latest one I don't forget who I emailed but you know I got really good feedback and pass it on to the kid and pass it on to the mom and they're in temporary housing They're in a hotel, you know, I mean so there it was able to boom boom boom work really quickly and so I'm really thankful.

Like you said those those things change constantly and so having and we don't I don't have a ton of situations or scenarios so it's like Not always in the game and you guys are like in the game a little bit more and and know Who to contact and what to call who to call and whatnot. So I think that's really helpful But then also like ready for life, you know, obviously, yeah, but there are one situation that they're awesome Yeah, and I think we really value being in partnership with our districts And so I think it hearing hearing that the work is hard, you know, and there's a lot of gray area And so having people you can reach out to is really important, and even if it's just somebody to say, like, Am I doing the right thing here?

It's really, really important. We have to do it with each [01:00:00] other. How about you, Shelby? Well, you stole my answer. But I would have to say, like, for me, Maggie is my number one go to. And it might just be that I needed to make that phone call and say, Is this the right thing to do? And you're always there to say, Yes, that's exactly what I would do.

Or Yes, but maybe do it like this. And so you're always willing to lend an ear. I would consider you a friend at this point that you're not just, you know somebody that I work with or reach out to at the county office. I think that you give valuable feedback and want to make sure that our families are doing you know, being successful.

So, and you. are able to provide that bridge, that maybe I didn't have a connection to a community member, but you had some obscure connection with some group, you know, on the outskirts of town that maybe we didn't, you know, utilize very often, but you're like, Oh, I remember this one time at this one meeting, so this person might be a good contact.

Yeah, we [01:01:00] will phone a friend or throw up a bat signal whenever.

What, as liaisons, your guys role, there's a lot of challenges, right? We've talked about successes, challenges, it's a hat that you were voluntold about it wasn't something that you applied for and so I think that there's a lot of misunderstanding about, like, what the liaison does, and so what is one thing or something that you would want the families you serve or your district to know about your role as a liaison?

Yeah, you have five to ten minutes in front of them. What do you want them to know? Shelby? What do I want them to know? I, just that they don't have to walk this path by themselves. You know, that, and it's, it's very prideful. Like you said, it's very hard for somebody to come and ask for help. But I think one of my biggest takeaways in the last year is, It's just having the information that there is help available, present [01:02:00] and out there, so that somebody can quietly send an email in the evening, or somebody can quietly leave a voicemail on my, you know, phone at the office, to seek help and Oftentimes people don't even know that there's help out there Yeah, so I think that's the biggest thing is that you don't have to do it by yourself There's loads of people with big hearts that want to help. Yeah Joe do you got anything to add to that? Yeah, I think just if I had someone's like just tell them to not be ashamed of their situation, you know A lot of people go through hard things and, you know, we're here to help and can do it confidentially, you know, and but yeah, that would probably be the biggest thing is just just try to let them know, like, we're here to support them and not to judge them, not to put them down, not to make them feel that they're not good enough, but really just to come alongside them and navigate you know, looking for different opportunities, different ways to, [01:03:00] to get back on track.

Yeah. Yeah. Without judgment. I like that. You guys work with both different age groups. We talked about that. Joe, you're in high school and Shelby, you work in an elementary district. So Shelby, what in what ways does your approach differ between being a liaison for an elementary school district? And then Joe, what is yours look different with high school?

I think for me, I'm, I would probably be more with supporting the whole family, I, you would check in with your student, whereas I would check in with a parent so I think that's probably one of the biggest differences, although it's the same work, you know, the, the student at the end of the day we want to do what's right for the student, so is that, you know, making sure that there's box, is that keeping a student in their school of origin, you know, is that, Getting an after school spot for them.

Is that what's gonna help mom be able to keep a job so that she can get permanent housing [01:04:00] But I think that's probably the biggest difference is checking in with the family versus the student But I think otherwise the work is all the same Yeah, that's probably pretty accurate. Honestly, just my main point of contact as a student first typically we have we have junior high too So, you know, there are Junior high families that we come in contact with.

But honestly, I think all of us counselors we all kind of do the same thing. I think the only difference of being the liaison is I have access to like you guys and emails and resources. And so. You know, if they see something, oh, you know, then I can help with, you know, the gift cards or whatever, you know what I mean?

So that's, that's kind of the, I think the biggest difference is working straight with the students and, you know, I think the other two counselors on site, they, they kind of do the same thing I do for the most part, but. Yeah, it lends to the counseling role. The liaison, the liaison work. Totally. Yeah.

Like, I feel like I would be doing a lot of this. Anyway, if I didn't have an actual title or that hat, you know what I mean? [01:05:00] Having that title, I feel more equipped, I guess. You proudly wear the hat. Yeah. But, I have access to you guys. Yeah. And different things. Yeah. So at SCOE, one of our core values is to be hopeful and helpful.

And so we have, this is our signature closing question, but you can either choose to answer both, both of them, or one of them. But what is your hope for the next generation and, or, Who has been someone that has been particularly helpful to you in your journey? So I guess my hope would be that just we continue to do better.

I know we were I know better when I started at the district office, and I know that we're doing better now than when we, when I started. And we were always doing our best, but the more we know, the better we can do. And so as long as we continue to grow as a community, we will be able to better support our families.[01:06:00] 

And Joe. I love that. Yeah. Yeah. So, what is my hope for the next generation? You know, I, I think my hope for the next generation is that that they will see that we live in a, a country that every day they can make a choice. They can make a choice to do something with their life, or they can make a choice not to do something.

And I think you know, I, I bring, I try to get students to come to this realization often, you know, when I'm talking to them. Like, you know, we, We live in a country with a lot of opportunities, and you can take advantage of that, or you can not take advantage of that. Like, and every day you have a choice.

You can choose to do it, or you can choose not to do it. And so my hope for the next generation is that they choose to do it, take advantage of the things to better your life and to better yourself. So, I don't know, that's kind of my biggest thing. And I think my, my person who has been helpful to me or like someone that I've, you know, looked at as probably just like my parents.

My parents were [01:07:00] homeless. We were homeless as a kid off and on a couple of times, but they always worked really hard and worked really, really hard and gave us as much as they could until they, you know, they just kept living, kept living, kept pushing, pushing and, and, and got us to where we are today.

And me and my other brothers and we're all doing, doing okay. So, I, I appreciate you sharing that because I think oftentimes and we've talked about this earlier today about how people have an idea of what homelessness looks like. Right. And we do have a lot of homeless families in our community that are doing everything they can to get back on their feet.

And something happened to where they, they had some struggles along the way, and that could be a multitude of things. And, and that's sometimes a rollercoaster, right? We might get back on our feet and then struggle again. But we do have a lot of parents that are trying to do what's best for their kiddos.

They are just having a hard time getting to where they need to be to be stabilized. And so sharing a little bit of that from your upbringing, [01:08:00] I think is really important because I think people need to realize that like, you, Joe, are a successful counselor in our community and you had some trials when you were growing up, some experiences where you had to make the choice to, to do more for yourself as you got to the age where you could make those choices.

And we often forget that, I think. We forget that our parents are trying. That homelessness isn't just a choice for everybody and that as youth, you do get to an age where you, your choices are going to start impacting your future, and so making the choice to do every day is important. Yeah, and I think, you know, for, you know, if I was to encourage parents too, like, If you have the will to get your, your kids to the next level and to get them to succeed, you can.

Doesn't mean that you necessarily will, but I think my parents hope was that the next generation was going to do better. Every year, [01:09:00] hopefully, and that my kids will do better than I did, and you know what I mean? And, and be able to thrive. And so I think my parents just believed in that so much that they sacrificed a lot for themselves, just for us to kind of be able to move forward.

And And I think that model worked, you know so, yeah. Well, we thank you guys very much for being here today and enjoying joining us on Inspire Shasta podcast. And really for the incredible work that you do. The liaison role is challenging. Walking alongside our families is, is hard, you know, because it is a roller coaster.

It isn't just, here's this, now you're good. There's a, there's a lot of work that goes into it. And you guys are doing. that is bettering our community and helping our students and our families. And so we just appreciate you coming here today and sharing with us your experiences. And we celebrate your work in our community.

Thank you. We appreciate you guys. You guys are really awesome. And Easy to access and nice to talk to and you know, I think that just [01:10:00] makes a huge It's people are more willing to like reach out and ask for help when you are personable and Kind and helpful. So you guys are really good at your jobs 

thank you to our listeners for tuning in. Be sure to subscribe and join us next time as we continue to celebrate the people making a difference in our community. Until next time, take care and stay inspired. Do it scared.