How to Advocate Like You Mean It

Caring isn't the same as convincing. This month, Henry and Brent dig into the art of advocacy, how to tell your cause's story, when to lead with heart versus facts, and how to keep showing up for something even when progress is slow.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:11

Well, hello, friends, and welcome to another edition of Service Uh to Self. And uh thank you so much for being here. You are listening to 50% of the podcast hosts. Uh, my name is Henry Saxon, and uh good afternoon, everyone. And I'd like to introduce and say hello to my dear friend and fraternity brother, uh Brent Carmichael.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Hey, most people call me Coach, so you can call me Coach Carmichael as we move forward with our podcast. It's always a pleasure um to get back on here with you and discuss the things that are very important and near and dear to our heart. So uh let's kick it off.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Absolutely. Well, uh, as we do and customary uh for our podcast, we uh we are reminded and keep central to our Lord and Savior. Uh uh without which we certainly wouldn't be here. So, man, what's going on in your life, man? What's what's been happening?

SPEAKER_01 1:12

Just happy to be here, staying busy, uh trying to stay active in the community. Um, you know, we're we're uh at that point in the summer where kids are getting ready to go back to school. So we're trying to do some volunteers, uh volunteer things uh to get them back ready to get back in that that uh groove of of education.

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Great, great.

SPEAKER_01 1:34

How about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 1:36

Well, um, you know, our neck of the woods has been hot, right? And uh like like most of the southeast, so it's been cooking, so so managing through that, but but just doing what you do on uh in the summer micro vacations and uh uh work and then just staying uh involved with the things that uh matter most to us. So, ladies and gentlemen, we have a wonderful program for you today, and uh consistent with our service over self-theme, we want to talk about uh how to advocate like you mean it, right? And so, so you know, those of us who are really passionate about service in our respective communities, you know, we have to advocate. And so today's topic is really um lending some voice around uh some better ways to do that. We'll be sharing some of our uh personal experiences and the like. So um I think let's just talk a little bit about you know uh each other's personal point of view uh about advocacy as a whole. So uh, you know, when I think of advocacy, I think about some of the absolute superstars uh who advocated in our in our country and abroad. I think about people like uh Dr. King, I think about people like uh Nelson Mandela, Frederick Douglass, even John Lewis, Rosa Parks, even Susan B. Anthony, you know, these are people that um really had strong convictions around what they believed in and went to the mat, frankly, um, for what was driving them. And when I think about you know, some of their personal attributes that sustained uh their their convictions, I mean their their attributes, uh things like conviction and purpose. These are these are high-knowledge people around what what the things they were advocating for. And they all had really uh personal vision, you know, around around what they wanted to see um a better world, right? So Brent, do you have any thoughts uh and a point of view on uh on advocacy advocacy and your in your experience?

SPEAKER_01 4:01

Well, I I'm gonna appreciate your your side just for the simple fact of the macro part of it, as you talk about, you know, those those ancestors who uh were very, very active in in bringing things to uh the table and to the forefront for where we stand today as as a people. I'm gonna do the micro piece and and kind of bring it into my uh uh personal experiences as as I look to, again, uh, you know, you'll you've heard me many times talk about uh a man named John Perez who um I'm gonna say taught me about what advocacy is. Uh he he uh picked up uh about 12 of us from the neighborhood and started a football program, um, you know, and he advocated for us through sports. And so I think from a micro perspective, I look at him as my mentor and look at him and the attributes that he gave. And I think the attributes that he gave one, honesty. He was always real with us, always passionate about what he believed in. He respected us, respected the things that we wanted to do or bring to the table. He was adaptable, adaptable because of the fact we all lived, we we were poor, we didn't have a whole lot. So he adapted to the lifestyle. But the thing that gets me the most and to this day that I love about this man is that he was humble. And so if you are gonna be an advocate from a micro or a macro macro standpoint, I think those attributes have to be present.

SPEAKER_00 5:40

And without without a doubt, you know, you know, because most people listening to this podcast, and I would even say uh ourselves, we are not going to boil the ocean with whatever it is we decide to do. We have a very small ecosystem that we operate in, and you know, we we can probably count the number of people that we engage and our level of influence um spills over to. So, but you're right, you know, it takes uh a few of us uh to do big things, but I think the point you're amplifying, which I totally agree with, you gotta express conviction around the things that matter most to you, right? The things that you're gonna do.

SPEAKER_01 6:27

And then looking at, you know, just just knowing what I know about you over the years and your advocacy with the Boys and Girls Club. You know, I mean, you are out there day in and day out, comprehensively doing things to advocate for your children and for the the members that were at the boys and girls club. If it was traveling to another state, you know, to either share the things that you guys were doing at your centers or or what other people were doing, you were out there advocating. And so I I can't say enough about um the things that you've done uh post um college, as we knew, that knowing the professional things that you did. So uh again, kudos to you, as the young people say, clock it, you know. So I'm gonna ask you a question real quick, if that's okay. Okay. Sure. Um, with talking about you and your your humbleness and the things that you do. How about sharing a story for something that you advocated for in your career or your personal life? And what was the experience life, and what was the outcome from those experiences?

SPEAKER_00 7:36

Well, good point. Uh and good question, Brent. You know, you're absolutely right. You know, uh, my conviction um for advocacy was born out of my career with with boys and girls clubs. And and it was really shaped out of the out of the mindset that uh in this case, young people uh find themselves in circumstances that they had no say in, right? Whether it's their the neighborhoods they were born into, uh the family structures they were born into, the socioeconomic conditions they were born into. They had nothing, nothing uh to do with that. They just you know, they just found themselves in their in their circumstances. And for me, uh one time we had a uh, I'm not gonna say his name, but we had an adolescent member who lived in, you know, a tough neighborhood, and he he would uh dilly and dabble in the drug trade. And he got he got pinched, he got arrested, and uh, and got got incarcerated and had to go to court. And uh good kid, tremendous upside, but was then the was in the version of his life where you know he was making some choices um that were uh contradictory to at that time the standards and values for Boys and Girls Club. And so anyway, I just saw it upon myself to go to court the day he had his court hearing. And uh so I went to court and you know the prosecutor was there talking about the case, and uh, and to their credit, they acknowledged me. And um, and the judge asked me if I had anything to say uh about what was going on in the court proceedings, and uh I just said what was in my heart, and I just said that you know, uh putting this kid in jail um uh for this offense, not absolving him of his responsibility and accountability, but this kid has an upside. And we need to give him access to the same, um, to more positive interactions, positive um things that can develop his um future, just like he's exposed to the negative ones.

SPEAKER_02 10:06

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_00 10:06

And all we all we need is a chance to do that.

SPEAKER_02 10:09

Yes, sir.

SPEAKER_00 10:09

And I told the judge, I told the judge if if you if he would allow that accommodation, I would take personal responsibility um for him by ensuring that he comes to the club and and stay and remain under our supervision, particularly in after school time and other free time, where he can get access to that. So and the judge did not even blink. He agreed with it, and um, you know, and he you know he allowed for that accommodation. So I was I was really so appreciative of of the judge, you know, you know, allowing that uh to happen. But it just showed me how important advocacy was and is um when you feel a lot of conviction about things that matter most to you.

SPEAKER_01 11:01

That is so awesome, Sax. I again, you know, when when we look at stories like that, um, you know, when when you have that passion and and you had that inkling to say, I need to go to court to support this young man. And you know, I look at that uh and and phrase it as a channel to return. You know, we have to give our young people, we have we all had a channel to return at some point, you know. And so um, you know, as we look at advocacy, we have to look at the things and the people that shared with us that gave us that channel, that opportunity, that second chance, um, in order to be able to reach the heights that we've reached thus far. So that's awesome, man. Kudos again, clock it for you, the way that I see um, you know, advocacy at its best right there.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Well, Brent, you're no stranger uh to advocacy and service uh yourself. Um, you know, the work that you were doing in the Midwest after your professional basketball career, you know, there's few that can compare to you know your community service uh work. So again, you're no you're no stranger to it. So as we continue this dialogue, I have a question for you. So how how can everyday people advocate for a cause without even holding a leadership position?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

Well, I I think you know, uh for me, um I think my message to to people is to start at the ground, you know, to to start with that grassroot roots people and just listen. Listen to people, interact with people at the ground. Um, just because you're gonna get all of the the raw stuff that you're gonna need in order to um one decide for yourself if it's something that you want to do, two, you'll see how passionate people are about the things that they believe in and the things they want to advocate for. And so, you know, starting at that grassroots, just being able to find your niche. You don't have to be at the top of the table to be able to find your niche. You want to get there now, you want to reach that height to be in leadership position, but we all started at the base, and we all started at the base of obtaining knowledge, obtaining information, of being able to adapt and understand things that are going on and around our community. And so I I would share with anybody that um you know is listening or is is considering uh wanting to become an advocate or to become uh a person that gets out there and provides service for others, that you start by listening and understanding the things that you're gonna be passionate about. Because the one thing I've learned about people is that if you're not passionate and you're not being honest and you're not showing uh your forthcoming with things, people will peep you out real quick. And then you lose them. And that's the last thing you want to do if you're gonna be an advocate for somebody. So um start at the ground, start listening to people, find your passion and find out where you want to fit in, and then move from there. Um, again, with uh understanding, awareness, and knowledge. That's outstanding.

SPEAKER_00 14:36

That that is outstanding. Yeah, and you're right.

SPEAKER_01 14:40

Yes, yes, in keeping with questions, uh, you know, I think that you know, uh, I hope our listeners understand this is not just about us talking, this is about people learning from what we're trying to say and encouraging and influencing others through our experiences. So, my my second question to you, uh um, Brother Sachs, is gonna be what are some misconceptions people have who are a strong advocate for their causes?

SPEAKER_00 15:11

Good question. You know, as I think about it, you you know, Brent, we live in a very divided nation today. And uh the civil discourse that we live in now is I think it's awful. I think you know, people aren't listening to each other, there are hidden agendas, and and I'm obviously talking more in the political realm, but it does have outside influence on our overall uh day-to-day life and our overall culture. So I think where misconceptions come in is when you have people that are passionate about uh something that they believe in, who are willing to speak on it, right? You know, uh there's an attempt out there to silence their voices and to marginalize, you know, who they are, all to protect uh some ridiculous narrative, right? Because, you know, at the core, we should respect each other. Right. We should listen to each other, you know, and and we should listen um to understand um before seeking to be understood. So so I just think there's a basic courtesy associated with it, but the misconceptions uh are people uh who feel um strongly about a cause, and if for some reason it's it's it's offensive or disruptive to another group of people, they they immediately try to marginalize them or they immediately try to silence them. You know, I I I give, like for example, um Black Lives Matter come comes to mind. And there's, as you remember, there's a a ton of advocates really around that and the whole George Floyd thing. Now, I have no idea about the fidelity of the organization, meaning that, you know, how well financed it is, or or whoever is uh whoever the current leadership is, but there were people that were generally talking about, you know, um this country recognizing, you know, every uh subgroup of of its citizenry, and and that everybody needed to be respected, including blacks. And so so there was an attempt to marginalize folks who who spoke up about that. I think that's a perfect example of some of these misconceptions, you know, that come about uh uh in this example. So don't turn down the noise, just turn it down, don't allow you, don't allow yourself to do it, and um, and just walk right through it and stick to your convictions.

SPEAKER_01 18:11

Yeah, and and I think, you know, just uh to piggyback a little bit on what you're saying, um, you know, the more you know, the more you do your homework and you're diligent about understanding um, you know, your purpose and the purpose of whatever organization that you put you align yourself with, um, those misconceptions can be deleted, thrown out, uh ignored with the quickness. So I agree with you on that one, Sax.

SPEAKER_00 18:41

No, no doubt, no doubt. What uh coach Brent, I got a question for you. So if if our listeners could take one action today to become a better advocate, what would you encourage them to do?

SPEAKER_01 18:54

Hmm, okay. Kind of what I I talked a little bit about um earlier. Um, I'm gonna encourage them first thing again is to be a great listener. Um, we have to listen to others. Um, we have to to to be able to meet people where they are, um, you know, and then be able to um acknowledge where they are and what they're dealing with to be able to help them become great advocates. I think, and and that means listening to your peers, listening to you the the the OGs, listening to your coworkers. Not that you gotta talk, but just listen. And so I think the one of the biggest takeaways for me, and I guess that falls under the umbrella of communication. And so the takeaway would be uh all aspects of communication, if it's nonverbal, um verbal, um, you know, just the way you stand, the way you look, take all of those things and and and put them into a ball um and see how you can fit um inside those to become the best advocate can you can because there's gonna be times where you can talk, there's gonna be times when you can listen, there's gonna be times where you can't do either, but you still have to be an influence. And so um, you know, I want our listeners to know there's a lot to it, but you can always find a way to communicate with somebody to encourage them to become an advocate for somebody in their family, somebody in their school, somebody in their community, state, or nation. So um that's my message to our listeners um when it comes to um you know being able to take one thing away from what I'm saying today on our podcast.

SPEAKER_00 20:52

Well, I think that's sage advice as always, Brent. And you know, and as I think about this in the same context that you just shared, you know, I I agree, you know, uh things get changed in this world by people that champion change, right? It just doesn't happen, you know, through sheer osmosis. There are people that put energy and conviction, you know, behind these things, and that's how that's how the wheels turn. So, you know, our message today um to everybody out here that's watching this is to go and get off the couch. And if you feel strongly about something, just go ahead and get behind it. And, you know, there's a number of avenues you have available to you um to do that, certainly. But but just take action. Just absolutely, absolutely take action.

SPEAKER_01 21:51

So well, I I just you know, getting back to the original conversation as far as how do you advocate like you mean it. Excuse me. I think again, you gotta find out, you know, you know, what's your what's your meaning behind what you want to do? Um, I found a motivation again with uh you know my mentor, but um my advocacy for autism and with my son came through a personal experience of me being a father, a single father, with a child who is on the spectrum. And then I came from that point to advocate for schools and kit children and students in schools because I was an interventionist in a high school and then a basketball coach. So, you know, the passion that you have for the things that you uh your everyday life may bring to you may be the reason you know that you become an advocate, just because of the fact that your purpose, your purpose is is based on your job and your life and things that you've gone on in your life. So again, why um advocate like you mean it? Because it's personal, it's something that becomes very personal for you.

SPEAKER_00 23:15

I I think that is spot on. I think that is spot on. And Brett, I personally have watched you go on that journey and and and have personally watched and and supported you through your organization, uh and and in support of uh uh autism. Um, and you're a subject matter expert now, and you because you've lived it and and you believe the the importance of you know anybody in the sound of your voice, you know, uh uh keeping that in mind and making sure it's an important um area of consideration for our life. You know, I feel the same way about nonprofits, you know, and and the fact that, you know, the organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs, uh, who I had the privilege of serving for so many years, you know, now in our professional practice at Saxon Advisors, I mean, that's how we feel about it. Uh, if you are a nonprofit organization, it is important that you understand that there are standards. Uh, the work that you do should be optimized. Right. And I call it the non-sexy stuff, like building your boards and structuring your operations and those things. There's a right way and a wrong way to do it. And I think the people that faithfully attend your organization deserve the best that you have to offer, you know, and so so that gets to the advocacy, you know, for me and for uh our our firm is to every organization should do it the right way.

SPEAKER_01 24:58

Man, I sure hope that's the way this is listening. Oh, I sure hope our listeners are listening. You know, we we need to to encourage them to get involved. These are these are things that again, you just you know, you you can't understand the the feeling that you get when you see somebody years later or months later that have um that you have advocated for and the things that you've done. You may not see this the success in that week or that month or that year, but when someone comes back to you and says, Thank you, because you advocated for me, is one of the greatest feelings in the world. So I want to challenge our listeners. I want to challenge y'all to get out, you know, get out and and and find your passion and help others because again, it will come back on you. Okay, we we started this podcast with talking about God, you know. Um, we are humble servants of Him. And so, you know, those are the blessings that we get and be able to get, and those blessings will come back. So I'm I'm just suggesting that you get out and try to find something real small first and then build your way up. So that's that's my message to our listeners. Let's call them to action.

SPEAKER_00 26:20

Absolutely, absolutely, and and we'll we'll wrap things up on that note. But folks, before we go, we want to uh thank our sponsor today, uh European and domestic autocare. You know, our good friends uh over there, Eli and the guys. Uh guys, yes, thank you. Thank you. They they they if you got a European car, they can take care of you. You know, BMWs, Jags, you know, older versions, newer versions, it doesn't matter. Uh, but those guys are pros. Uh, and we we appreciate their generosity um to to support uh our our podcast. Thank you guys. Yeah, yeah, thanks, thanks. Uh well folks, uh that brings us to uh the end of another edition. Um uh next month we'll be talking to um uh Jay Rattery, and Jay is a board member uh at the South Carolina Center for Families and Fathers, and we'll be talking to him about uh board about board service. And uh Brent, you got anything coming up in the next 30 days or so that uh we can promote or get our get our viewers to check out?

SPEAKER_01 27:40

Uh not right now. Actually, um I'm again like I said, I I think with me, I'm I'm doing more volunteering right now than I am uh engaging in in our own stuff. Uh most of my stuff is during during the school year and in uh into next year. So um again, I I can't express enough that call to action for our listeners. You know, get out and get engaged. This is a time we all have to come together and be uh and be one uh in order to deal with some of the things we're dealing with in our society. So um, Sax, it's always a pleasure, my man. Always love chatting and chopping it up with you. Uh, can't wait to hear from Jay. Um, and then uh look forward to getting back on here with you um for the next podcast.

SPEAKER_00 28:28

Absolutely. And folks, uh, you can find us on all of the major uh streaming channels. Be sure to subscribe uh and to give us a big like uh in the review. So you all be safe. Uh God bless, and we'll see you next time.