Putting Unity in Community

Work was a reason for his day, not an interruption. That’s how Cleveland Smith views his 16 years at AACC where he learned, grew and honed his attitude of gratitude. Join host Dan Baum as he chats with the retired police officer and parking pass poet. Can't get enough Cleveland? Hear more in episode 27, “The Golden Rule.” 

For more, visit www.aacc.edu/podcast.

Transcript

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(lighthearted music playing)- [Dan] Welcome to Redefine U season five, I'm Dan Baum. Over the last few years, this podcast has been a place to share powerful stories of redefinition and lightning strike moments. And to learn and grow with one another through adversity and change. Even through a global pandemic. This season to close out the college's 60th anniversary, we invited members of the community, past and present, to join us in sharing their favorite AACC memories. Be sure to check out all of this season's episodes available now for your binge listening pleasure. In this episode, we revisit a friend of the podcast, Cleveland Smith, recently retired from AACC's Department of Public Safety and Police. If you'd like to hear more from Cleveland, you'll find him in Redefine U Episode 27, The Golden Rule.(lighthearted music playing) How are you Cleveland?- [Cleveland] Very well. Thank you.- [Dan] Well, let's go ahead and jump in. So tell me what's your favorite AACC memory?- [Cleveland] Well, I'm not sure. It's hard to pick just one. I've been here about 16 years, Dan, and had a lot of time to reflect on different things. And I, that's sort of a tough question, just one favorite memory, but if I could summarize, I would say 16 commencements. I think about all the commencements, and really, that's the pinnacle of what we come to Anne Arundel Community College for is to get a some kind of degree or certificate, and being here all year, and a couple of years, and you kind of almost get to see and know the students as they go through their tasks. And then come May, to see them to get their degree and certificates, it's almost like a part of me, to see that. And also the growth that the college has gone through over the past few years. And I'm just talking 16, not the whole 60, but of course when we started, we were having commencements in a tent on on the field that has, now has AstroTurf. Then we moved the tent to the practice fields, and then we moved the whole procedure, the whole ceremony into Maryland Live. So we had a couple commencements there. And then, of course, the pandemic. So we had the commencement that goes around Ring Road.- That was our car-mencement- Car-mencement, car-mencement. That's what it was, but that, I've got to participate in two of those. So, its been really an experience, and interesting to see, and that's my favorite memories I think ultimately, is to see the people achieve their goals with the Anne Arundel Community College.- [Dan] Well, I have to tell you how crushed I am that you're retiring, Cleveland. One of my favorite memories is around commencement. It was my first year here. I've probably told you this before. It was at the tent on the practice fields outside, and you were one of the first people I saw. And we just started talking. And talking about the college, and what it's meant to you. And how you had been a county police officer and found that when you walked around with your uniform, sometimes people weren't so friendly. And what a positive thing to be out in the community when you run into people, you're wearing AACC gear. You really impressed upon me that that night. And that's just stayed with me ever since.- [Cleveland] (Laughing) Especially I went to a pet store to buy dog food, but I was in a blazer. The lady behind the counter started saying, "Oh you work for Anne Arundel Community College. Oh yeah, yeah." And they're all like,"Thanks so much for my girls and hey, and me too. And we did this and we did, and we graduated and they're doing this and," and I'm standing there. I'm trying to check out and the line's getting longer and longer. And people are kind of like, I'm like, yes, ma'am there. But so it was really, it was wonderful to be recognized like that. It was almost embarrassing, but yes, people definitely, You can't go, talk about six degrees of separation at Anne Arundel Community College. You can hardly go anywhere, and you're gonna run into somebody who has some connection with the college.- [Dan] Well, you impressed that upon me that night at the commencement. Just, you know noting all these people who are graduating, and they're going out in the community and the impact we have. And that's just stayed with me ever since. Share about someone you met through AACC who had an impact on you.- [Cleveland] That's another tough one because I thought about that. And, and it's not fair to say one person. I mean, it could be one, but for me, when I think about it it, it takes a village. Once again, it's the whole community. Of course, my coworkers directly here in the department of public safety, but also the faculty and staff that I work with, that we've worked with over the years, and of course of the students and, and vendors that we work with and we've established relationships with. And it's just a wonderful place to work. You know, the saying that "You're not an interruption to my day. You're the reason for my day." And that's what I think about when I come to the college, come to work all the time. It's a good thing. And I can get a little, emotional about it sometimes.- [Dan] That's because you put the 'unity' in community.- [Cleveland] We do.(Dan laughing)(Cleveland laughing) That's true. And we all do. And that's, it's fun to say. And it really makes a difference, in that regard. I've seen how the college has grown internally and how departments that we've busted down silos. We've progressed through cooperation within the college and externally throughout the community. So we have put the 'unity' in community, and it's ongoing. It's a process. It's not an event. And it's a journey. It's not the destination. It's ongoing. So, it's a wonderful thing.- [Dan] Well, I'm sure I speak for others as well as for me that one of the impacts is when you send out your notes'cause you always have a real positive, either a great saying, like putting the 'unity' in community or you have a poem or any of those things. So that's always fun. How has being part of the AACC community redefined you?- [Cleveland] It continues to redefine me, and every day it does all kinds of things, from a coaching experience, and even if I'm not a actual coach per se, I try to be coach-like, because there's so many good things about being coach-like. Whether you're helping someone else, or you're helping yourself for your professional life or your personal life, just to see the good in people. And how much we can accomplish when we're on the same page, when we're all singing the same song, we can, get stuff done. And, and it happens frequently. Sometimes somebody gets off the page, but we all get back on the page where we're superstars. We're hittin' and stickin' like Popeye's chicken. We're too legit to quit.- [Dan] There you go again. [Laughing] You know, maybe, maybe we did this when you did the Redefine U podcast with me, but I just wanna ask again, what drew you to coaching in the first place?- [Cleveland] It made sense. And of course, the instructors. I knew Jen [Lara] anyway, and for her to be an instructor, that was cool. I'd love to sit in a class with Jen and the coworkers, the pod, the people that I ended up being on a team with, become like family, almost. You know more about people. Even afterwards and the subsequent pods and as yourself. I mean, there's a bond there that, that I feel even if I, I need to talk to you about something, I could. I mean, it's hard to explain. It's one of those things that, unless you experience it, you really can't explain it. You have to experience it. Kinda like seeing Niagara Falls or watching a of a postcard of it. It's one thing to look at the postcard, but when you see it you're in awe and that's kind of what coaching, that's what Anne Arundel Community College is like, Niagara Falls. You have to experience it to truly appreciate it.- [Dan] So well said, what you just expressed is so true for a lot of people is a particular instructor, in this case, Jen. But it could be any number of instructors."Oh, I wanna, I wanna work with that person." And then when you do, and you get that experience, and then the experience with others in the classroom, or in the team is, you create this bond, this kind of family. So.- [Cleveland] Absolutely.- [Dan] Yeah. Well you you're big part of this family, Cleveland. Wow. I'm getting choked up too. Hate to see go, man.(both laughing) It's been fun.- [Cleveland] Absolutely, and I wouldn't trade it. I'm thankful, you know?- [Dan] Yeah. Good.- [Cleveland] What is it, gratitude attitude?- [Dan] You got it. You always have an attitude of gratitude. I have never seen you with anything but an attitude of gratitude. (laughing)- [Cleveland] Well, you know, sometimes we forget or I forget, and and different things come along to help remind me, but I'm just thankful.- [Dan] Great. Well, thank you for taking the time. I'm thankful for you to, coming in here and certainly enjoyed when we did the podcast. And so, this has been good.- [Cleveland] Absolutely. Thank you for everything.(lighthearted music)- [Dan] Thank you for joining us for this special season of Redefine U, celebrating AACC's 60th anniversary. We hope this season inspires you to think about your own favorite AACC moments. How is being a part of this community, near or abroad, as a student, faculty or staff member, parent, or friend redefined you?(lighthearted music playing)(light rock music playing) Redefine U is a production of Anne Arundel Community College. Our executive producer is Allison Baumbusch, and our producer is Jeremiah Prevatte. Others who helped with this podcast include Amanda Behrens, Angie Hamlet, Ben Pierce, and Alicia Renehan. Special thanks to all our guests for sharing their stories. Subscribe, find show notes, and other extras on our website, aaac.edu/podcast. I'm your host and creator of this podcast, Dan Baum. Thanks for listening.