Lifting up Justice with Hearcel F. Craig

Ohio State Senator and longtime Columbus public servant. He served on the City Council, and later represented Ohio's 26th House in the Ohio House Representative. Craig is a U.S. Army veteran and has worked in youth services, community leadership, and nonprofit development.

He has served as Assistant Minority Leader as well.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

I work for the public. It's not the other way around. You know, and and and to let them know that's the it's their state house.

SPEAKER_03 0:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

And so we work for the public, not the other way around. I'm so deeply concerned about gun violence. I'm so deeply concerned about gun violence, and and I want us to certainly pray and link hands uh around each other. And so all of those issues to me, because they're so inextricably linked, uh, are the issues that I focus on daily, and I believe in this community, I live here.

SPEAKER_02 0:39

Yes, yes. I live in the community.

SPEAKER_00 0:41

I have not left. I represent the entire state of Ohio when in reality. Yeah, so I gotta make sure that there's not unintended consequences when we introduce legislation. Always we lift up justice, we lift up equality as we're doing our work. God has acquired us to do that.

SPEAKER_01 1:06

We want to say welcome to Turn Up with Pastor Charlie. First of all, we would like to say thank you to the River Radio Podcast Studio for the space that we now occupy to broadcast worldwide, to our visionary Burt and Stephanie Lindsay and the Lindsay Foundation, all of our partners, local churches, schools, 501c3s, and nonprofit organization that has come beside us all for the well-being of the community. I am always excited about my guests, but today I'm really excited because I have the person joining with me in the studio known as Senator Herschel Craig. Say hello to the watching and listening audience.

SPEAKER_00 1:47

Good morning. I'm uh uh Pastor Charlie. I'm honored to be with you this morning.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

I am so excited to have you here. Um today we are we have the honor of sitting down with a man who has dedicated his life to public service uh advocate advocacy and uplifting the people of Columbus. Um, the state senator Herschel Craig, he is the leader. Um he stretches statewide, but his heart has always been close to home, especially here in the neighborhoods of the east side, 4327-43232. These are communities with rich history, incredible families, and strong faith and resilient people. But these are also the community that deserve investment. This is a community that deserves opportunity and a voice at the table. So today, Senator Herschel Craig joined us to talk about what's happening on the east side, what's what progress is being made, and how we can work together to build a better and safer and stronger future. So, again, I say welcome and excited about having you in the studio with us today. For those who may not know you, would you just share a little bit about who you are, uh what led you um to be so involved in the community of Columbus?

SPEAKER_00 3:15

Thank you very much for that question. Uh you know, let me kind of start from the beginning. Absolutely. Uh I'm not originally from Ohio, from Columbus, but I've been here well over 60 years. Yes. Uh my mother came here from the coal mines of West Virginia. Uh her father had died before I was born. Okay. Uh they were not jobs there. And so my mother came here to find opportunity.

SPEAKER_03 3:44

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 3:45

I came here very, very poor, but someone who trusted God, believed in uh certainly pressing into that.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 3:55

Uh, and I watched my mother volunteering and serving. And so I get my impetus, I get my my zeal for serving, number one from my mother, who served in her church, who would go door to door uh raising money for cancer back in those days. Wow. For cancer prevention. Uh, so I watched my mother serving. My mother retired three times, and her last job was serving young people in schools, working in schools. And then her last position was helping seniors find employment.

SPEAKER_03 4:34

Oh, wow.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

So I watched my mother serving. The other thing, the part to that is as a single mother, uh I watched my mother, she was my den mother in scouting.

SPEAKER_03 4:45

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 4:45

And uh she had 10 young, uh, you know, we're eight or nine or ten years old every Saturday morning mentoring us. And she knew at that point uh my mother raised enough money for me to get into scouting. Uh and so I've had very early experiences of watching those that served. My early, my first pastor uh when coming to Columbus and uh uh, you know, built literally built the the put the bricks in the church, the Reverend B. J. Washington from the ground up.

SPEAKER_04 5:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:19

And I would watch him take the after service, he would take the seniors to uh to dinner. So I watched those salient, very critical uh points of service for me, and then went on to uh uh serve in the military. Uh you know, uh had gone to college initially, was drafted in the military, and served several years in the military, and then came out uh and started my journey uh working with those that were differently abled, very seriously differently abled.

SPEAKER_03 5:54

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:55

And then um uh at Buckeye Ranch, I spent seven or eight years there uh working with young with young men. Okay. And uh my zeal for service uh really um cataboted from there uh in terms well before being elected to uh elected office, serving my church, and um uh as a very young person, uh, you know, being superintendent of of my Sunday school and all of that.

SPEAKER_01 6:26

So yeah, it seemed like um for most of us, church is our background. It has been our foundation, and it's amazing how um, you know, we allow that to uh allow us to build on top of that foundation and be, you know, um become the men that we have become. And people uh you can see the ones who have were raised up in church or have church background. You can see the difference. Um I often see you around the east side. Um, part of things that is happening on the east side, uh we attend several meetings together, we spend several functions together. Um you're around the city. You can be seen in the city doing work and serving. So how has um the 43227, 43232 um zip code areas? What what what have you seen out of out of the several several years from now, from then to now, the change and what you see coming?

SPEAKER_00 7:34

Well, you know, and and and that is an excellent question because you know, certainly as a young person, uh going to the Eastland Mall. Yes, you know, it it was it was exceptional. I mean, it was the mall. It was the place to be the place to be, and and uh people you could not get in the parking lot during this time of year, during the holiday season. Uh I've watched, you know, we had lots of industry in this area. We had uh coat of fabrics, uh, we had uh Xerox, where people could work 24-7 and make a living for their families. Correct. Uh so I've watched the transition of that. Uh and unfortunately, as you know, uh Pastor Charlie, uh, you know, with this issue with substance abuse and so many young people and families being caught up in that very, very tragic whale.

SPEAKER_03 8:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:35

Uh and but uh what I also see now uh is the the revitalization of this uh very wonderful, you know, it's it it those families cured deeply, families and children. You've got uh uh Marion Franklin High School, you've got South High School.

SPEAKER_03 8:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 8:56

We want to make sure that we're building capacity for those young people and families to continue to to live out their destiny, to have the resources important to them.

SPEAKER_04 9:06

Right.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

So I'm seeing right now, uh, with the work of the Lindseys uh who is driving a lot of this, uh, and other community leader leaders, Quay Barnes and with Mac and the area commissions, who have really uh uh their boots on the ground. Yes, yes, uh, with you uh with with uh uh turn up uh making a significant investment, yes, not just material resources, which are absolutely important, but investment in the lives of people. So I'm extremely encouraged by what I see.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Yeah. I I believe the future is extremely bright for the east side. Um what are the most pressing challenges on the east side residents are facing right now?

SPEAKER_00 9:55

Well, certainly, and I think, you know, uh I spent six months traveling around the state of Ohio in a bipartisan commit uh commission with uh Senator uh Michelle Reynolds uh on this question of access to affordable housing.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:10

And what we found throughout, whether it's an urban area, a suburban area, or a rural area, that families were struggling.

SPEAKER_03 10:19

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:19

We went to some parts, and even here in the city of Columbus where families were sleeping in cars, young people were dropping out of high school because they did not have, and that's deeply troubling to me.

SPEAKER_03 10:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

And so uh housing certainly is a relevant, it is a critical issue, yeah. Making sure also that we have the kind of jobs, not not just uh that that people can uh uh survive, but thrive. Right. Really develop careers. And so certainly having access to quality jobs and and careers, uh access to housing, uh certainly that issue around education, make sure that no matter what your zip code is, that our young people have state-of-the-art, yes, critical uh uh uh education uh opportunities, uh, and certainly health care is vital.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:12

And so all of those issues to me, because they're so inextricably linked, uh, are the issues that I focus on daily, and I believe in this community, I live here.

SPEAKER_02 11:22

Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

I live in the community. I have not left.

SPEAKER_02 11:26

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 11:26

And so uh I am intimately and and critically involved in what happens uh to the east side of Columbus. Would you speak to the safety of the east side right now? Yeah, I certainly do. I uh, you know, let's be honest, I think it, you know, where I live off of Livingston Avenue, uh I work a lot with Pastor Fred Lamar with his ministry, and he has done a phenomenal job.

SPEAKER_03 11:53

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

Uh every first Sunday, uh they are gathering folks literally to march around the community. Let folk know that we care deeply and we're involved in the community. But we had a number of of murders and and taking the lives of young people and others.

SPEAKER_03 12:13

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 12:14

And and I can see right now where we're because of the community coming together, linking hands, where we've been able to do a lot to to um bet. And and I I think this is one of the greatest communities in this state because of the involvement of our civic associations, our area commissions. And I would say to anyone uh that uh uh we have folks that care deeply. While there are real challenges, we also have incredible opportunities around that question of safe. And I would also uh mention what's happening with, you know, I served on Columbus City Council for about a decade. Yeah, and what the uh mayor uh Andrew Ginther and those in City Council are doing to also ensure that we have safe community, safe neighborhoods. So all of that works together. We have, you know, uh both uh you know very large uh churches, and of course, first church of God with the bishop uh Timothy Joseph Clark, and we have a number of other churches that have a linked hands to make sure that we have our young people are safe, our seniors are safe, and our communities are safe.

SPEAKER_01 13:32

And that's what Turn, um, the Ultimate Resource Network, Turn, um really appreciate the partnership of not just the larger church, but the smaller churches as well. I mean, the larger church, such as First Church of God, as you just mentioned, uh, where you attend, um, Bishop Um Timothy Clark, um, he has been um a true resource for us to help uh launch some of the programs and help be part of the events that are taking place that's bringing um unity in the city and especially on the east side. So, how is the state working to bring more jobs and opportunity to small businesses to support the east side community?

SPEAKER_00 14:19

Well, you know, I think um the investment, you know, again when and and with our capital bill several years ago. Yes, uh, I was very fortunate with the support of my colleagues to in in in our district to put uh out about over 600 million dollars.

SPEAKER_04 14:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:38

Now more directly to your question, uh, because those, you know, go all the that that captures both those very affluent communities and communities not so affluent materially, because all communities have capacity. Let me just make that point clear.

SPEAKER_03 14:57

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 14:58

Uh so uh the state uh certainly we're always making sure that we're supporting those entities because the state doesn't run programs. What they do are support financially those those programs. Okay. And so I've been able to uh get resources out the door uh that will provide the critical resources around public safety uh and investment in communities. Uh what I was able to do, it took it it it uh it was an investment. Uh it took me six years to do this. Uh I wanted a dental clinic in our district.

SPEAKER_03 15:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 15:33

And around the Mount Vernon area.

SPEAKER_03 15:35

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

And um was able to put almost $2 million. We cut the ribbon on that, on that dental clinic. Amen. And long after I'm gone, that will be they're already serving children and families right now.

unknown 15:49

Good.

SPEAKER_00 15:50

And so the other thing we were able to put a million dollars in the African-American African American Extension Center to for their uh uh for renovation. Now, what will happen there? You talked about uh investment and and and rehabilitation, you know, all of that, those things. Because young people can take graduate courses in that building, they can you the community can meet regularly uh in that building. And so there are a number of other investments that that the state needs and must be working with city government uh and community to make sure that we're helping to build jobs and capacity, make sure that investment, uh critical investment is coming to the east side of Columbus and and the state of Ohio.

SPEAKER_01 16:35

Oh, that's good. That's good. Mentioning um E Sci families often express concern about the youth opportunities. What programs are legislators are you championing that support mentorship after school programs and safe space for young people?

SPEAKER_00 16:56

Well, you know, again, I think uh programs like um directions for youth, certainly, you know, uh and and other programs that we can support. Uh I don't, you know, again, we can do more because I think that's what happens when we give investments on the front side of life and we can help families and children uh that are struggling. You know, I'm I'm I'm like them, I'm one of them. Well, there were times I would have to go to the fairgrounds to get commodities, and my mother worked every day. And so um the investment uh is it that's not an esoteric experience for me. It's it's it's finding and and letting young people know uh what they see is not what they're really, what they can see, what they can be. Right. They are uh, you know, and the and you know I'm a preacher, so they they are you know uh uh made in the image of God, and and we want them uh uh to live out their destiny and be all that they can be. But we can't just say that. We've got to be committed to mentor. And so we have, you know, the state is committed, I know I'm committed, certainly committed, uh, my caucus, um, the the uh ranking uh the uh assistant leader in my caucus in in the Senate to make sure that that that we're given getting those resources where they can be most helpful uh to our families and children to build capacity with families and children.

SPEAKER_01 18:33

That's good. Um How can churches and community organizations partner more intentionally with state incentives to strengthen families and these zip codes?

SPEAKER_00 18:45

Well, you know, again, I think uh I know that Senator Reynolds now has legislation, she can she can talk more clearly about it. We have a number of bills together and others uh that I'm working with in the legislature. Uh, but one of those because we're there are churches that have uh have uh land and property, yes, she's looking, she calls it the Promised Land Bill, okay, where they can actually uh they're looking at helping to provide resources so they can build housing on those properties to house folks.

unknown 19:18

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 19:18

You know, so that's a clear direction uh that we're looking at uh has, you know, the faith community has always had had a way of of partnering with government uh when we find a way to do that. Uh when they're appropriate, 501 C C3s uh has a lot of accountability there.

SPEAKER_04 19:45

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 19:45

And the work that they're doing, we're we're looking to build partnerships that help, again, uh improve the lives of families and children, particularly around that issue of housing, again, issues of education, uh health care. You know, as you know, on at first church, yes, uh they have a relationship with Mile Carmel Hospital. There is is a uh health uh uh uh facility, this clinic right on the grounds of the church. Absolutely. And so, but it doesn't uh you know, certainly as much as I love my church, there there, you know, there there is work happening all throughout this district with churches that care so deeply that have been vested uh to ensure that they have certainly uh uh commitments and relationships uh with uh with Columbus State Community College, right, uh with the Ohio State University and other places to make sure that young people are getting the resources that they need.

SPEAKER_01 20:49

How do you see or how can residents better engage with the resources already available, such as neighborhood safety committees or mental health services?

SPEAKER_00 21:00

Listen, uh you know, you and I tell folk when they come to the state house, and and and we have to demystify, you know, that's I work for the public. It's not the other way around.

SPEAKER_01 21:16

Demystify.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

You know, and and and to let them know that's the it's their state house.

SPEAKER_03 21:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 21:22

And so we work for the public, not the other way around.

unknown 21:26

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 21:26

And so uh I want them to know uh we need to certainly we have a newsletter that my staff has, they've they've done a great job that we're disseminating information uh about not only what we're doing in the legislature, but we connect them with a number of other uh of our uh of uh the Adam Board and other places, what they're doing, uh, so that we we get as many resources as possible to let them know what is available, how they can get there, uh, and have access to those. Programs. And so part of it is information.

SPEAKER_03 22:04

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 22:04

And Pastor Charlie, we've got to continue to make sure that we're uh giving the information, the conveyors of information, so publics know, pub the public know where to get resources, how to get resources. We go out, I was out at Mary Haven uh not long ago, where I spent uh several hours out at Maryhaven. Uh we're touring a number of sites. I was out at a pharmaceutical, uh, this uh major pharmaceutical place uh several weeks ago where people can get internships.

SPEAKER_03 22:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:38

You know, that's a path, a career path for them. Uh, you know, work with the Ohio Chamber uh and other entities so that we're able to get information where it needs to be uh in the community.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

That's good. That's good. So, in regards to the housing and affordable living, um, the East Side has a mix of longtime homeowners and renters. What is being done to protect affordable housing and prevent displacement in these neighborhoods?

SPEAKER_00 23:10

Well, you know, again, uh one of those clear issues is around property taxes.

SPEAKER_04 23:16

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:17

And as you know, I mean, I've got several bills because uh it was a perfect storm here several years ago.

SPEAKER_03 23:25

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 23:26

Uh where at the same time that that uh we had this uh significant increase, uh it grew exponentially with property taxes. Uh we had a a ballot issue for schools. I've never voted against our children, and I didn't then. Okay. But I had to also be concerned about our seniors, making sure that they nobody will uh will have to leave their home. I am committed to that. Yes. Uh and so uh we continue to work on that property tax issue, both it's short-term and long-term sustainable issues. But but you you raise a good question because uh this as you know, as this area is transitioning, we've got to make sure that our seniors, our seniors and those that have played by the rules have been in their homes 40, 50 years.

SPEAKER_01 24:18

Yeah, we're not trying to kick them out. We are not going to do that. Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 24:22

They're gonna be in their homes, and we're gonna do everything we can to sustain them in their homes. Uh at the same time, we want young people to come and build their families. Uh it's a delicate balance, but in one in which we've got to pay uh attention to and make certain uh as our city grows, as you know, it's already predicted that the city is gonna grow by 800 to a million people, and that will happen. But it's how our city is going to grow. And I am committed to make sure that we're gonna grow uh uh in the appropriate way. Yes. Well, those that live here will find comfort in their homes. Those that will come will find that this will be a valuable place to uh to build their lives, to build their families.

SPEAKER_03 25:12

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 25:12

And so uh we have to do that, but we have to do that together.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Yes, I mentioned doing it together. Uh, how do you see churches and pastors playing a role in community transformation on this east side?

SPEAKER_00 25:25

Well, certainly, you know, uh you know, in the scriptures in Matthew, it said, have you feel, you know, when I was home, we did you feel me, amen. Uh that you put a roof over my head. So we have a we have a salient, yes, very critical uh role to pay. But let's do that uh when we're doing it to make sure that always we lift up justice, we lift up equality as we're doing our work. And so God has has required us to do that. And so I think uh the the faith community, I you know, there were uh uh uh a number of uh clergy that were at the state house uh last week uh talking about, you know, certainly I worked with Bread early on, the the organization Bread. Yes, yes when I was on Columbus City Council. And so I think there there are uh very substantive ways that that the faith community uh can can work uh in tandem with the work of the of the of the legislature of the government uh to make sure that all of our families and children, nobody needs to be out of side. I was sharing with my aide today with this intense cold, nobody needs to be outside today.

SPEAKER_03 26:48

That's right.

SPEAKER_00 26:49

Uh and and we can do we can do better to make sure that that people are housed, that they're in a safe environment, yes, that are all of our children really have real opportunity for success. However they define that, making sure that that their destiny uh can be realized.

SPEAKER_02 27:07

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 27:10

What upcoming legislation or community and incentives should Esai residents be watching for in the next 12 to 18 months?

SPEAKER_00 27:19

Well, certainly let's see around property taxes. Okay. I I've got to stay there because we've got to make sure while there has been some legislation, and I I think it can be helpful, okay. We still have much work to do there.

SPEAKER_03 27:34

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:34

I think around uh uh how the housing issue uh for me is critical.

SPEAKER_03 27:39

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:40

Whether we're talking about infant mortality, and unfortunately, uh we have a very high incident uh rate of infant mortality in our com in our community.

SPEAKER_01 27:50

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 27:51

That can't be.

SPEAKER_01 27:53

Understand.

SPEAKER_00 27:54

You know, and and African-American children are dying at three times the rate of other other children. We've made some progress, but any child dying is too many, no matter who you are.

SPEAKER_02 28:04

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 28:04

So we've still got work to do in in that in that frame. Um you know, uh so you know, housing is gonna be critical. I think issues around education. We have bills where we're looking at right now. Uh uh I am uh looking to um uh uh we just actually got a bill coming up that I believe the governor will sign.

SPEAKER_02 28:30

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 28:30

It's called the the six triple eight bill where the African-American women they needed to get mail out. Yeah, they did it uh not only did they do it on time, they did it before time and efficiently. So that bill we hope will pass out of the house and the and the Senate. That'd be good, and we believe the governor will sign that.

SPEAKER_03 28:50

That's good.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

And so um uh I was able to uh with Chief James Jackson, uh I wanted a highway bill for him. We got it passed out of the House unanimously, out of the Senate unanimously, and so we're still waiting for kind of for the movement of that bill.

SPEAKER_04 29:06

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 29:07

Uh we've got a number of other things, we've probably got at least 13, 14 bills that we're working on right now that we're hoping to get movement on from issues around health care to to housing, to education, uh health care to health care. So health care, you know, it's it's it's important. When we looked at SNAP, that was so critical.

SPEAKER_03 29:32

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 29:33

Eye-opening. You know, that was eye-opening because that affected so many families and seniors and veterans that you know, and we had to make sure uh that that that it that issue, because it left left such a it would have left uh a critical gap in the services of of hundreds of thousands. Uh and around our state, millions of families would have certainly been affected by that.

SPEAKER_01 30:03

Yes, yes, absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 30:04

So, you know, again, it's we've got in our work, we've got to be thoughtful. Uh in anytime I introduce legislation does not just affect uh my district because I represent the entire state of Ohio with in reality.

SPEAKER_04 30:21

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:21

So I gotta make sure that there's not unintended consequences when we introduce legislation. But I could say to you unequivocally that I'm certainly gonna be most concerned about the folks that that I love and and have prayed for me and have uh supported supported me over many years. And I'm so deeply grateful um, you know, to them. I ran for the school board in 1990 because I was seeing young people. I represented the Department of Youth Services and with some of the issues that they're struggling with now, with aggravated murder and and and and and a number of other very serious issues.

SPEAKER_03 31:00

Yes.

SPEAKER_00 31:01

I don't want to see another young person die. And so I ran again in '98. So I have lost elections, but all the while uh people have stood with me. Yes, and I'm so deeply grateful to them and honored because nobody has to do it.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

So I'm deeply honored. Well, you have been doing a marvelous work. I remember being at your um not ordination. Well, when you were installed, you're swearing in. I was there. Um I was like, man, this man is powerful. He's doing some mighty work. So I've always been following what you do and been supportive of what you do. Uh, is there anything on your heart that you would like to share? Um, as you were driving over, said, you know, hey, I just want to make sure I mentioned this, you know, um, to the watching and listening audience. I'll give you a few moments just to share what's on your heart.

SPEAKER_00 31:54

Well, Pastor Charlie, let me thank you so much for all that you do. I love you, I appreciate you and all the leadership that you provide. Thank you so much. I want folks to pray for Australia.

SPEAKER_02 32:05

Yeah. That's a good call.

SPEAKER_00 32:07

I want them to pray for those folks, and I want them to pray uh for those young people uh that that you know are struggling in in uh the university and and those those lives that were lost. Yes, that's a good thing. I'm so deeply concerned about gun violence. I'm so deeply concerned about gun violence, and and I want us to certainly pray and link hands uh around each other because uh as I started out, we are Imag O'Day. Yes, we are made in the image. Amen. And uh uh, you know, it's not political. I think uh I would not be here because many of the sociologists and psychologists would say he's coming from the wrong side of the tracks. But I want young people to know that's right, you can do and you will do, and you will do all that that God will uh commission you and put you in a place to do. So get ready. Yes, and uh let's go. Let's go get the work done and let's go serve.

SPEAKER_01 33:13

How can listeners and watchers um connect with your office and get involved with uh the community that focus um and work along beside you?

SPEAKER_00 33:24

Let me give you my number and I'm gonna give you both my cell phone number, my personal number, and my office number. My office number is 614 466-5131. Again, 614-466-5131. And then my uh cell phone number, my mobile number is 614-315-5815. We have a newsletter that we that we're put up uh that that we that uh we uh uh put out about every quarter. And also, uh, you know, if you if if you call the office, if there's an issue you want to talk about at the legislature, you can uh give testimony both in person or in writing. Uh, but we need your help. We don't want to do things in a silo or a vacuum. So um uh please contact our office and we are available to you.

SPEAKER_01 34:20

We appreciate that. I know you are reachable, and that is the online, you can be definitely reaching there. Someone will get back to you right away. I'm a witness to it. Um so if you have an issue or not, not just an issue, but if you want to give um encouragement words, send those as well. So I'm sure he would love to read and hear the encouraging words too. So I want to take this time and opportunity to say thank you for spending your moments with us today. I know you're extremely busy, man. I see you're personally around the city, so I know you're extremely busy. So thank you for taking time out to come and share with us today. We truly appreciate you being with us and being a part of Turn of your um your touch with Turn and knowing that the ultimate resources out there. You've been to our festivals, you've been to one of our meetings. So we just want to say thank you for all that you're doing as well. You're loved and you are loved by us as well. God bless you. God's blessed God bless you so much. Honor to be with you, Pastor Charlie. Thank you. God bless you. You have been listening to Pastor Charlie, um turn up with Pastor Charlie, and we want to say thank you to our guest, um, Senator Herschel Craig, that was in the studio today. So we want to honor him, and we say um to our visionary Burton Stephanie Lindsay and the Lindsey Foundation, as well as all of our partners, our uh 501c3s, our nonprofit organizations, our churches, and local businesses, uh all coming together for the well being of the community. We say thank you. God bless you.