Full Transcript for Common Good for the Common Wealth: The Power of Partnership in Community Development

of those personal connections with our local elected officials. 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:41.280 But also, I there's so much federal and state money, but layers of administrative regulations that we have to comply with. 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:48.400 I don't even fully understand it, even as an attorney and someone who's very much in this space and married to a recovering politician. 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:58.960 I just think it's challenging and knowing that your group is there to help make sure that we're getting things turned in on time, which sounds very simple and kind of bureaucratic, but it needs to be done. 00:02:59.199 --> 00:03:05.599 But then also thinking bigger for our region on maybe we could think a little differently about this funding or this process. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:08.080 Um, we you touch on a lot of different things. 00:03:08.240 --> 00:03:12.240 If you want to speak to some of that leadership role, I think that would help our listeners too. 00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:12.960 Absolutely. 00:03:13.120 --> 00:03:30.159 So we do serve 52 cities in eight counties, there's 60 total jurisdictions, and that can be anything from helping small cities or actually many of our cities, like 39 of our communities, use our services to calculate their tax rates this year. 00:03:30.319 --> 00:03:30.560 Wow. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:42.479 So um, you know, because obviously we want to get that right, and we're happy to provide, even if it's just a check to have another set of eyes do that work uh to help our local city clerks, city treasurers, and city administrators out. 00:03:42.639 --> 00:03:53.039 Um, but we also serve, you know, if a local government comes to us, for example, and says, hey, we really need a new fire station, for example. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:03:56.240 Um, there are a number of ways that they could fund that. 00:03:56.400 --> 00:03:58.319 They could fund it through their own tax base. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.560 They could try to receive a state grant. 00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:05.120 Maybe they want to pair that with emergency management and try to go for federal funds. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:23.439 And so a lot of times thinking about the capital side of things, which is, you know, in your world, we can help our local communities think about what are all the potentials and then help write that grant, and then ultimately, if they receive it, which we've done pretty well lately, um, and then help administer it. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:36.959 And so to make sure that compliance is there, we want to make sure that everything is done in a timely way, but also, you know, there's certain standards about buying American, for example, with local supplies that are being purchased to build these things. 00:04:37.120 --> 00:04:53.519 And so we can help our communities through the entire from the visioning to uh creating the grant to getting the thing to making that project a reality, which I think can be um, you know, in some ways seem very

easy, but once you get into the mix of it, it can be pretty complicated. 00:04:53.680 --> 00:05:25.680 And so then our own funds are a mix of just like we do for our local communities, where approximately 70 to 75% of our funds are state funded, where we're running a program for the state, like for the example of Kentucky Infrastructure Authority, where we are really serving as their field agent, helping our local water and wastewater utilities be compliant in all of their um water um projects and wastewater projects, getting those um to KIA and hopefully getting those funded. 00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.639 We want to have sufficient water uh capacity. 00:05:28.879 --> 00:05:39.040 Um, but then also we have about 20, 15 to 20% of our funds are federal dollars, sometimes passing through Frankfurt and then coming to us. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:47.120 Things like workforce development or primarily federally funded aging services, helping our older adults live independently in their homes. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:06:11.279 They come through us, and then often we're handling procurement to make sure that all of those choices are being done, following the law, and then um working with partners like, say, Meals on Wheels, for example, or free store food bank, yes, um, who, you know, excellent nonprofit partners, and we're just making sure that those federal monies get distributed appropriately, and then we're monitoring for things like nutrition guidelines and things of that nature. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:22.079 And then the remainder of our funds are from local entities like the Horizon Foundation and also United Way and um Interact for Health and Greater Cincinnati Foundation and some others. 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:23.519 Dur Foundation. 00:06:24.079 --> 00:06:24.720 A lot, yes. 00:06:24.879 --> 00:06:26.800 We don't want to leave out RC Durr Foundation. 00:06:26.959 --> 00:06:27.680 Great partner. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:32.560 I I think of this, if I'm listening and I had not interacted with you, that's broad. 00:06:32.720 --> 00:06:36.879 And how does that apply to any one of these things that you've mentioned? 00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:43.040 Uh I would like to talk about Food and Safety Net in a moment because we have some strong collaboration in that space. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:50.879 We did go a few years ago to a conference that I believe was the Southeastern Regional Institute. 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:54.399 Similar uh ad-like entities. 00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:58.639 And I found it really interesting because of the work that you have chosen to do. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.879 Everyone maybe has a different flavor on how they show up in their community. 00:07:03.120 --> 00:07:07.920 But there was only one other group that raised their hand and said they partnered with a foundation. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.439 And that floored me. 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:20.639 And it really also reminds me how innovative you are and how willing our leaders are to have

your organization step up and say, we're going to talk about housing. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:23.839 We're going to talk about senior services. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:31.439 When uh senior services of Northern Kentucky shut their doors in 2017, the ad stepped up with your predecessor, Lisa Cooper. 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:38.399 Um, I know also beyond food insecurity, there's workforce development type issues that we talk about. 00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:41.199 I just was really floored that this is unique. 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:44.480 And I'm starting to gather this might be unique for the state too. 00:07:44.720 --> 00:07:46.000 Reflect on that a little bit. 00:07:46.240 --> 00:08:06.959 Yeah, so far before I became the executive director of the ad, we had some forward-thinking um team members or even in board members who had the foresight to we we are a unit of local government, um, you know, in Kentucky law, but we also have a 501c3. 00:08:07.680 --> 00:08:30.560 And who whomever that was back in the day that made that choice, it was a really good one because it enables us to have grants, it enables us to be that fiscal agent at times, while also I think speaking a language of government and also being that liaison between the nonprofit sector and we speak both languages, right? 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:34.159 And we sort of serve as that liaison or translator, if you will. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:40.000 And um, I think other regional councils are are trying to figure that out, right? 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:51.519 Which is why we went and we and we talked to that group, but um it's not necessarily the common trend to even receive private dollars. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:00.320 Um, one of the things that the Northern Kentucky ad um has done really well over time is keep our administrative costs relatively low. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:06.879 Um, it's challenging to do that, um, especially just in today's times because dollars are limited. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:11.120 But to be able to keep those dollars low means that we're more competitive for grants. 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:27.440 And then being more competitive for grants means we're really hopefully being more effective for our community and being able to um be aware of just what's possible in terms of all these different sources of capital and hopefully leveraging them together. 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:27.840 Yes. 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:28.240 Right? 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:46.159 So we're not just dependent on only federal dollars or only state or you know, or private, all the above, and then hopefully making use of um staff time and all those different things to combine it to say this is the impact that we're looking for, not just checking a box to say, oh, we just run this program. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:49.600 No, like how are we really helping job seekers connect with jobs? 00:09:49.840 --> 00:10:00.879 How are we really helping housing, you know, whatever that topic is, really focusing on the outcome, not just the one thing, the one program or something of that nature. 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:06.000 And I think our colleagues across the state and across at least the southeast are are trying to figure that out. 00:10:06.080 --> 00:10:21.200 But thankfully, my predecessors started that and then I was just able to kind of seize upon how do we think of the ad as one holistic entity that's serving our community, not maybe just our divisions or just individual programs. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:22.799 How the heck did you get here? 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:32.559 I mean, I know, but let's let's talk about it with our listeners because you've had several different roles that I think prepared you well for this particular position. 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:58.159 I always joke that I have uh a little bit of a crazy career journey, but it did, it did prepare me well because um I had a little bit of government experience, I had a lot of nonprofit experience, and then a lot of private sector experience that really I think caused me to to have that drive for I think impact and um not worrying maybe so much about staying in my lane, which some people like that, but I'm not very good at. 00:10:58.879 --> 00:11:11.679 So um I'm originally from uh northeastern Kentucky, the Boyd County Ashland area, um, which is one reason that I think I love northern Kentucky so much because I'm not from here originally. 00:11:11.840 --> 00:11:19.840 So I see all the things that we have that maybe others um aren't just don't realize, all the blessings that we have in northern Kentucky. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:25.120 Um I went to Center College, um actually majored in international relations in Spanish, fun fact. 00:11:25.279 --> 00:11:32.960 So I was thinking I was gonna um, you know, go to Guatemala or somewhere and and you know help them with their uh economic development. 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:35.279 And then um I was in Washington, D.C. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:36.720 uh when 9-11 happened. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:39.360 We had that uh anniversary, unfortunately, recently. 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:51.200 And 25 years ago, I had the realization, probably about now, uh, that, you know, maybe this only child from northeastern Kentucky um could do economic development in Kentucky. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.919 You know, maybe that was maybe that is that's right. 00:11:56.080 --> 00:12:00.240 And so um returned to the Commonwealth um while I was gone. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:03.600 My parents had moved to northern Kentucky, so that's how I ended up here. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:16.559 But they've long since moved away several times, different places, and and I stayed, I really love it here and um ended up working at most of the growth organizations um in northern Kentucky over the years. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:26.080 So uh started actually at the ad, left and went to what is now BNKY, but at the time was Triad, then went to Vision 2015 where we worked together. 00:12:26.399 -->

00:12:27.200 That's where we first met. 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:27.759 Yes. 00:12:28.080 --> 00:12:31.840 And um that is now obviously one in KY. 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:39.120 And then from there, um, let's see, I was a stay-at-home mom for a couple years, so you can do that and then come back. 00:12:39.440 --> 00:12:42.799 Yes, you can be everything, maybe just not all at the same time. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:43.679 Right, right. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:50.480 And then uh returned, went uh to the catalytic fund, um, United Way of Greater Cincinnati. 00:12:50.720 --> 00:13:01.279 When I was at United Way, also I was a lobbyist, and I think that gave me a very interesting perspective on um, you know, if something's not working the way we want, let's just try to change it. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:03.440 Um so that was very, I think, helpful. 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:11.919 And then returned to the to the area development district where I first led our workforce team um and then became executive director just over four years ago. 00:13:12.480 --> 00:13:16.480 You mentioned a few organizations that you still partner with pretty actively now. 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:38.879 One that we're really glad you're partnering with, which is United Way, yes, the uh Safety Net Alliance, which for those of you who don't know is a I'll call it a collective, a collaborative group of nonprofits serving Northern Kentucky who are addressing safety net issues, whether it's food, housing, um, some health care. 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:41.039 I I think it's a pretty broad group. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.000 Very comprehensive. 00:13:42.320 --> 00:13:49.759 Um, because it's so broad, I also think it's challenging to track really what the real need is. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:14:07.039 And so I know as a funder, I know companies, I know um elected officials who say, well, when you say that there is a need for food, or you say um in the housing study there's a certain number of units that we need, how do we really track um, you know, those that you're serving? 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:08.480 Is it the same person? 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:13.279 If somebody has a need and they come back the next week, are they counted twice, or is that the same number? 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:25.200 Which none of this sounds super sexy, but at the end of the day, it has a real impact on how tax dollars are used, how I'm rallying along with other funders, the community to step up and to give back. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:43.120 Um, so our community impact fund and our grant making committee and our board, our council of trustees agreed that for the first time we have a single grant coming from this fund, and all of the money went towards this pilot project where you are the fiscal sponsor as the ad. 00:14:43.440 --> 00:14:48.000 Talk to us about that and and maybe why did you say yes to being the fiscal sponsor? 00:14:48.159 --> 00:15:03.120 I, you know, I understand the magnitude of it, but there is some connectivity to the work that you've been describing with the ad and and stepping up in that role to partner with Safety Net and United Way to track more data and provide better services for our neighbors in need. 00:15:03.360 --> 00:15:03.679 Yeah. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:09.519 Well, flashback to way back when I was with the Catalytic Fund. 00:15:09.919 --> 00:15:16.000 Um, you know, this was really like post-recession, you know. 00:15:16.559 --> 00:15:27.919 And and even before that, I attended a few SafetyNet Alliance meetings back in the day, you know, way, way long ago, um, when foreclosures were such a huge issue. 00:15:28.720 --> 00:15:39.200 And not only were they able to provide, you know, some of the data, but the anecdotes of, hey, these are the calls that we're getting this week, these are the emergencies that we're seeing. 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:50.080 And so I had had a long understanding of the work that they did and really helping um people, families, you know, find the services they need. 00:15:50.159 --> 00:15:52.080 And truly, it's a safety net, right? 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:54.320 It's those emergencies that are arising. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:16:02.639 Um at the area development district before we became the fiscal agent, um, I needed to find out some services available. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:22.000 I've learned that one of our employees, unfortunately, through a whole series of events, had lost their home, had been evicted, horrible situation, and was able to turn to some of these partners to say, hey, we have this situation, you know, what's possible, what's out there, what where can we turn to help this person? 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:32.399 Um, and so then, you know, when we uh were approached about becoming the fiscal agent, um it was just impossible to say no. 00:16:32.559 --> 00:16:44.559 Of course, we wanted to support this organization and its collaboration to make sure that we're thinking holistically about these issues, that we're thinking regionally and not duplicating. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:54.879 Um, I think there's just a lot of benefit to the work and to the collaboration amongst the providers to make sure that ease of referrals, um, all kinds of things. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:59.679 And so fast forward now to this newest very exciting project. 00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:15.200 Um, using technology to even further combine and collaborate between partners to really make sure that the experience for that person or that family that needs help is first of all as seamless as possible. 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:22.160 So they're not having to, first of all, take off more time off work, uh, you know, to go to visit all these various providers. 00:17:22.400 --> 00:17:46.240 They're not having to relive the trauma and experience of retelling that story over and over again of how they got there and really can just focus on one intake and then, hey, how do we make use of all these resources available in this region, which can be

rich, but sometimes are quite complex to get back on their feet, to be financially self-sustaining as quickly as possible. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:51.359 Um, and I think that's what we have been trying to do as a region for so long. 00:17:51.680 --> 00:17:56.960 And this seems like um really our best effort to date to me. 00:17:57.119 --> 00:18:03.359 I mean, from all throughout my career, this seems like what we've been kind of searching for and trying to do. 00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:11.839 And so um the ad was happy to be able to step forward to make, you know, just to be in that very kind of technical and not exciting role. 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:18.400 But you know, somebody has to make sure that those finances are right and the compliance is there, and we were happy to do that. 00:18:18.559 --> 00:18:29.440 And then um, it's been such an honor to work with um the Safety Net Alliance team as they are doing what they do best, which is you know, figure out the ins and outs of the operations. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:40.640 And then, of course, United Ways team, which is bringing the technology itself to the to the table to say, hey, let's use this care suite app, let's make sure it's working, how you know, we'll get the pilot going. 00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:45.680 And then the grant will enable us to scale uh to get more nonprofits involved. 00:18:45.920 --> 00:18:48.000 So, you know, it just gets even better. 00:18:48.160 --> 00:18:49.279 So very exciting. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:19:02.880 And I like the idea that this could be a blueprint, this dashboard that'll be created because I think at some point we need all of our organizations across the region to think, I think a little more intentionally around how we're tracking numbers. 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:24.799 And my big dream would be to have some predictive analytics tied into it, which isn't really as much of a big dream as it used to be, because AI is such a like a help in this space, in particular, where you can say if we're doing something in one part of our region, um, maybe it could work well in another's, or maybe it wouldn't, because of a base number of facts that you might have through data. 00:19:24.960 --> 00:19:40.960 So my uh wonkier side of me that you know gets excited about the data piece, I I think it will be helpful for us to think how we can innovate a little bit more because we have our resource rich, but I think sometimes we don't have the best data to help move us forward in that way. 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:41.440 Right. 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:43.839 And as you mentioned earlier, it can be really challenging. 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:50.240 But this this is really, I think, a great option to be able to capture that data in real time, even. 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.119 So very cool. 00:19:51.359 --> 00:19:54.799 And speaking of data, but we'll pivot a little bit away from that data piece. 00:19:54.880 --> 00:19:58.400 But the housing study that you helped to spearhead. 00:19:58.480 --> 00:20:00.480 And just to give a little history, it's interesting. 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:14.160 When we launched Horizon Community Foundation in 2017, um, I had this kind of uh interesting, I would say, idea of gathering leaders in the community to form a human accelerator. 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:24.559 We called it the Horizon Accelerator, you were part of it, and we said, what is it that's happening in the community and what do we want to do collectively to address a particular need? 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:37.759 And so over a period of facilitated conversations, we landed on people experiencing homelessness, which ended up in a very long, indirect way, kind of coming back around to this housing discussion. 00:20:37.920 --> 00:20:43.680 But there were many iterations where we were able to help inform our early grant making on this. 00:20:43.920 --> 00:20:49.920 We did do some research on data, we did some fundraising with these amazing community leaders like yourself. 00:20:50.160 --> 00:21:05.680 And then conversations were happening with uh Candace McGraw at the time, CEO of the airport, um, Chris Knuckleman, Judge Knuckleman, Judge Executive of Kenton County, um, who is also on my board, but thinking through what they can do to lean in. 00:21:05.759 --> 00:21:09.599 And then there were several iterations of talking about housing overall. 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:19.039 And I think we took a step back, if I recall, correct me if I'm wrong, and said maybe it's not so much addressing this um population. 00:21:19.599 --> 00:21:23.759 That continues to change over time for people who are in house. 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:31.440 But how do we loosen up the system a little bit more so that there's more housing opportunity at the right levels of income? 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:35.359 And so here we are, we have this study that you guys leaned in on. 00:21:35.440 --> 00:21:44.240 If you want to share more about that process, huge group of different constituent groups that are involved, still active today, but really trying to tackle housing. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:44.960 Yeah. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:51.599 Well, and it was definitely one of those situations where so many pieces came together, right? 00:21:51.759 --> 00:21:57.200 Not just the ad, but everything that you had done, you know, leading up to that. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:59.279 The chamber had done some things. 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:07.759 Um, But, you know, all of our nonprofits that work in the housing space, of course, were continuing to do what they could do independently. 00:22:07.920 --> 00:22:14.000 Um, and then United Way also, you know, had shown an interest in this space, which they continue to have as well. 00:22:14.240 --> 00:22:27.279 Um, from my perspective, what really kind of kicked off me personally being involved was that um I was the director of the workforce investment board based at the ad during COVID. 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:42.480 And then even as COVID

sort of waned, companies were coming back online, and we were just getting calls from frantic HR professionals saying, oh my gosh, we're coming back online, but we are not finding the talent that we need. 00:22:43.039 --> 00:22:50.960 And so um that really got me personally involved in the situation to say, okay, we can't just have more job fares here. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:54.400 Like we really need to get deeper into what's you know keeping people back. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:08.559 And from COVID, there were a lot of things that were assumed, changes in childcare, for example, ongoing issues with transportation for folks, certainly a lot of retirees, people wanting different schedules or sort of liking remote work, all kinds of things. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:24.960 Um, but we did a study, uh a survey in partnership with BNKY and our career center partners through the web and found that a lot of employers were reporting that housing was a barrier uh to attracting and retaining talent. 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:31.119 And, you know, for me, it was like, okay, well, where do we even begin with something like that? 00:23:31.359 --> 00:23:39.759 Um, our governance board, we have a web board made up of employers, but then we have kind of a co-equal governance board made up out of our eight judges, executive. 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:48.079 So we took them the findings and said, hey, you know, if this housing situation is gonna be a challenge, you know, where's where do you feel like we should head from there? 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:55.279 Um, and they said, you know, we're gonna need more data in order to really, before we can make any kind of policy decision, we're gonna need some more data. 00:23:55.359 --> 00:23:59.359 And that's really where that original housing data study was born. 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:03.039 Fast forward, it was released in September of 23. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:11.839 And then in partnership with Brighton Center and Brighton Properties, we were able to lead with a grant from Interact for Health this whole work, right? 00:24:11.920 --> 00:24:26.880 That Nancy, you were so involved with through 2024 of all those partners and bringing people together and really getting to the details of okay, if this is the data, then what would have to be true from a strategy standpoint to get us out of the situation with this gap that we found? 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:43.279 And the number that's thrown around a lot is that 6,650 units needed, but you know, and we need all kinds of units, but we needed what we called income aligned, which means not just smaller, uh less expensive units, which we need a lot of, by the way. 00:24:43.440 --> 00:24:43.599 Right. 00:24:43.759 --> 00:24:48.319 Um, but we also need, you know, mid-market for just families and people. 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:58.240 And then we also, by the way, need higher-end units of varying sizes for, you know, attracting those CEOs to the region and making sure we're still competitive in that way. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:11.519 And so that's where income aligned really means we need all the different kinds of homes at all the different price points to be able to make sure we're keeping all the different folks in all those life stages, you know, here in northern Kentucky. 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:20.319 I think about my older daughter who sadly has left the area and is in Florida now, though happily for her, uh, she and her husband are in are in Florida. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:23.119 She's a resident now uh as an OBGYN. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:41.920 But when she was in med school and thinking about where she could live and how quickly units would who had just come online, new builds for apartments, even, and and she had the opportunity, she could pay, you know, a reasonable rate and even slightly above that, how fast they went. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:50.079 And and so we're talking about grad students, we're talking about healthcare workers and teachers, uh, first responders. 00:25:50.240 --> 00:26:02.079 I think the list is long where we need to, I just feel like shake up in some ways kind of that movement up and down, kind of that um pipeline for housing, depending on whatever income level they're at. 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.880 Absolutely. 00:26:03.039 --> 00:26:10.240 And we hear time and time again so many anecdotes of, you know, my parents wish they could downsize. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:12.240 I mean, so it's not even younger people. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:15.599 We're talking about the entire spectrum of ages as well. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:22.960 When you think about um your pathway here, you've you're you, your family, you give back a lot. 00:26:23.119 --> 00:26:24.720 I think um you're very passionate. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:26.160 You're you're known for that. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:30.640 Um actually, we were able to celebrate your family with the Horizon Award. 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:37.359 Um, I would say it's it's you and Shane, particularly, your husband, but also your children are part of that too. 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:40.319 Um, I think that's for the future of Northern Kentucky. 00:26:40.400 --> 00:26:48.960 And and this is a question maybe we hadn't discussed previously, but that ethos, I think, is so important to um future generations. 00:26:49.119 --> 00:26:51.200 How are you instilling that with your kids? 00:26:51.359 --> 00:26:58.480 How do you share with them what they might do to continue that as they mature and hopefully they stay in northern Kentucky too? 00:26:58.720 --> 00:27:00.799 Yes, that would be so great if they would stay. 00:27:00.960 --> 00:27:05.839 I have a senior in high school right now, so um definitely trying to figure out where he's headed next. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:13.440 But um well, one of the ways that we do that is through one of my favorite nonprofits, which is Scouting America. 00:27:14.000 --> 00:27:20.319 Um, and you know, Nancy, uh Shane and I are very

involved in what we call the scouting movement, right? 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:22.960 So our daughter is a Cub Scout. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:28.880 Um our oldest uh is just almost getting his eagle with the projects done. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:30.160 So we're just doing the paperwork. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.720 Oh wow. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:37.039 And then um our our middle son, he's um or middle child, he's uh he's working on it as well. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:38.960 He's I think star rank at this moment. 00:27:39.119 --> 00:28:01.200 But anyway, you know, the values of service and um and leadership, etc., are that scouting um instills in a lot of fun activities and outdoor um adventure have been something that we see as a really powerful way to instill service and and and being a part of a community. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:11.839 Um I try to also do that not only with my kids, but you know, even with like team members, just helping people, you know, we have a lot of younger team members right now. 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:26.400 And and one of the ways that I do that, whether it's at home or at work, is just helping anyone that's kind of younger kind of think about where are they fitting or what the topic is, how does it fit into sort of a larger discussion? 00:28:26.640 --> 00:28:37.200 So asking a lot of questions about what do they see, um, and then how does what they're seeing kind of fit with what they see about policies and different things like that. 00:28:37.359 --> 00:28:53.839 And um, it can be a lot of fun to uh to kind of watch those dots connect for someone who didn't realize that they could be, you know, connected and really only a step away from, you know, things like local policies. 00:28:54.000 --> 00:29:02.640 I don't want to get too political here, but scooters and e-bikes, you know, which is on topic, on topic in northern Kentucky right now. 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:08.880 Um, you know, helping the kids see, like, you know, you're experiencing this, your friends are experiencing this. 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:12.000 Um, and and then there's local policy around that. 00:29:12.160 --> 00:29:19.440 And something like that can be a really easy entryway for a young person to see, like, oh, I see now why this would matter to me. 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:26.000 And then, you know, they might not be as excited about other policies, but that's one that they can kind of get their head around. 00:29:26.079 --> 00:29:27.039 So we try to do that. 00:29:27.279 --> 00:29:31.839 And your, I mean, your career pathway definitely has always had that flavor to it. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:39.519 I think you've been a civil servant of some sort, depending on which you know, organization or entity you were working with. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:47.599 But I think to your point, regardless of what career pathway people have, they can they can still get involved in that space. 00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:48.079 Absolutely. 00:29:48.240 --> 00:29:48.480 Yeah. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:48.799 Yeah. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:30:00.559 Before we wrap up here, I I really would love, as we're talking about your kids, and we mentioned, you know, my daughter, we have two girls who are older now in their 20s, uh, which makes me shudder thinking how old that makes me. 00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:03.519 But uh, what gives you hope for the region? 00:30:03.599 --> 00:30:10.160 I, you know, as a fellow uh non-original Northern Kentuckian, this I grew up in Lexington. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:19.359 There's so much that we have to celebrate, and I always love hearing from others what gets you excited, maybe what gets you out of bed in the morning related to Northern Kentucky. 00:30:19.599 --> 00:30:19.920 Yeah. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:30.240 Um, and maybe it is cliche, but truly, truly our kids, our actual three kids, and then also all the other kids that I have an opportunity to help. 00:30:30.319 --> 00:30:46.480 I was actually recently a merit badge counselor for these two boys that are getting their final merit badge before they reach Eagle Scout and hearing them, their excitement at having their first job, their excitement at where they're headed next, and they both want to go to military academies. 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:51.839 You know, just and these are these are just, you know, just two examples, right? 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:54.160 Of like all these awesome uh kids. 00:30:54.319 --> 00:31:01.200 The Northern Kentucky experience, I think, you know, there's all kinds of things that we can always do to improve. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:20.079 And I don't want to, we're not talking about that today, but as far as education, but truly seeing that our kids really have so many opportunities today, and the data and the information that they have access to, if used productively, you know, can open their eyes to so many things. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:31.680 I mean, I had a conversation um about the stages of matter with my second grader the other day, and I'm thinking, I'm not sure that I knew about that until way later, right, in school. 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:45.200 And so just the knowledge that they have access to, the opportunities that they have access to here in our region, whether it's the zoo or various museums, art programs, there's so many things. 00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:58.799 And so um we recently had an annual meeting at the ad, and our speaker um mentioned um it's not so much the opportunities, but making sure that we don't leave anyone behind in accessing them. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:01.359 And I just thought a hundred percent. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:07.440 So um, so knowing that those are out there and then we just have to connect people to them, that's what gives me hope. 00:32:08.319 --> 00:32:10.079 Thank you for all you do for our region. 00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.599 Thanks for being here. 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.640 Thanks for having me. 00:32:12.960 --> 00:32:18.160 Until next time, I'm Nancy Grayson, and this is Common Good for the Commonwealth.