Full Transcript for 68. The Community Response to Youth Violence Prevention

in Des Moines here in about 2023, right? 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:21.520 And uh, you know, everybody was up on edge and wanted to do something, and everybody kind of came to a realization that something different needed to happen. 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:38.240 So from that, we kind of started having these convenings and kind of identifying a few issues that needed to be addressed and uh that new ways of doing things might be the path to getting us there. 00:02:38.560 --> 00:02:49.680 And, you know, shortly, well not shortly, like two years after convening, we kind of agreed that we wanted to keep this work going and that something official needed to be put together. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:55.520 And the group came together and kind of chose me to be the program manager for the initiative. 00:02:55.759 --> 00:03:03.199 So I'm here today, and I'm kind of at my one year, one month of this position. 00:03:03.439 --> 00:03:08.240 So we're making good progress, I think, and I'm happy and looking forward to the future. 00:03:08.479 --> 00:03:12.240 But don't sell yourself short because you've been doing the work for a lot longer than that. 00:03:12.639 --> 00:03:17.759 Yeah, but you know, it's the safe and thriving position been about a year. 00:03:17.919 --> 00:03:22.000 So and I always say it takes a full year to get to know a new job, too, right? 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:24.240 When you get married, do you count the dating? 00:03:24.879 --> 00:03:25.280 I don't know. 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.319 Okay, then five years then. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:30.879 There we go. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:36.960 Well, and we know that this plan looks at youth violence from several different angles, right? 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:42.960 From prevention and positive opportunities to community support and the law enforcement and youth justice system. 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.560 Why was it important to take such a broad approach this time? 00:03:47.520 --> 00:04:01.520 Uh well, first we realize that you can't really make immediate impact without these cross-sector things because the kids' lives don't fit inside of these boundaries that was created. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:15.759 You know, some of them they're in trouble for violent things, but this stemmed from a food insecurity issue or a housing insecurity issue with that they were feeling so much pressure, it drove them into this place. 00:04:15.919 --> 00:04:30.480 You know, so just from my experience of just being a mentor, it was always, you know, kid wants to be something, but it's this issue that needs to disappear before they can even consider buying into the future. 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:32.079 So, how do we get there? 00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:40.720 How do we connect everybody and make a system that just becomes like the way and not applying for programs and different things? 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:43.279 It's just kind of how we do business around here. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:51.920 You know, people know you can go to this place or these people because these are clearly identified things where you can get help and assistance from. 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:55.439 So and it takes time to learn the system, but it takes time to build trust. 00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:55.759 Yeah. 00:04:55.920 --> 00:04:56.480 Right, too. 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.480 Um, so we're well beyond writing a plan simply now. 00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:03.680 Um, where would you say the work stands today? 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:12.800 Uh right now I think we're somewhere in the middle because it, you know, the first stages was all about like data and stuff like that. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:17.519 And then we had a section of just planning and figuring out who and how. 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:40.879 And now we're kind of in a training stage where we identify what we think we need to do, but it's training that needs to happen before, you know, we don't want to just send all of these people who haven't had proper training or ways to communicate with each other and things like that out into the street without any type of knowledge of the science behind what they're about to do. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:53.279 So we identify a training, a GVI training, and it's about getting everybody trained up and trying to get on the same page and so that we can launch the initiative, you know. 00:05:53.680 --> 00:06:01.759 So, Kimberly, one of the most significant next steps is bringing this group violence intervention training or GVI training to Central Iowa this fall. 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.120 For someone who's never heard of this term before, um give us some more information and context around it. 00:06:07.600 --> 00:06:15.199 Yeah, so GVI stands for group violence intervention, and there's kind of a counterpart to that, CVI, um community violence intervention. 00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:21.600 They're kind of, I would say that GVI is kind of a subset of community violence intervention. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:30.000 Um and I I don't remember where I first read about it, but I read about it several years ago before I was the county attorney. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:44.800 And that was one of the things that when I first started meeting with all the police chiefs in our community and the sheriff's office, that I started talking about and saying, hey, this is the only thing I'm aware of that reduces fatal and non-fatal shootings in every jurisdiction where it's ever been rolled out across the nation. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.040 And I would really like to bring it here. 00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:56.000 Um and everyone has always said that sounds great, but it requires funding, uh, you know, and and you have to hire a coordinator, which we now have. 00:06:56.160 --> 00:07:00.079 Um and you have to, you know, get buy-in of a lot of different people in the community. 00:07:00.160 --> 00:07:01.920 And I think we're beyond that now. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:02.959 We we have that. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:08.160 So the next

step is, um, and I'm I could not be, I mean, I get kind of emotional about it. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:11.120 Like, um, could not be more excited to have the training. 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.240 Uh, I think in October is when the trainers are coming. 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:26.319 So I'm hopeful that I mean, I don't know, we'll find out from them more what the timeline realistically is, but I'm hoping we will have something certainly next sometime next year where we have this actually up and running. 00:07:26.480 --> 00:07:39.920 And kind of in the simplest way to describe it with just with GVI is that it focuses on that small number of people that are going to potentially be the highest at risk for being involved in violence, typically shootings. 00:07:40.079 --> 00:07:43.199 It can be, of course, other things too, but that's typically what we see. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:59.279 Um and it operates um with kind of a collaboration between law enforcement and the community, and people like social workers could be pastor that that young person knows, um, maybe a teacher, somebody that that person knows and trusts. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:03.040 And really, and it's just, you know, most basic form. 00:08:03.279 --> 00:08:10.959 It involves when we hear this noise, this chatter, oftentimes it's on social media, online, or just through other kinds of intel. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:18.079 We um law enforcement realizes that something is probably about to go down, um, that things are heating up. 00:08:18.319 --> 00:08:28.560 Um, law enforcement, pastor, social worker, whoever we feel is the appropriate group gets together and literally knocks on that young person's door and says, Hey, what's going on? 00:08:28.720 --> 00:08:29.439 Do you need help? 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:32.879 We want to see you alive, safe, and not in prison. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.600 Um, you know, how can we help? 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:43.279 And it sounds really kind of almost absurdly simple, but but it's it's not, it's pretty complicated and nuanced. 00:08:43.440 --> 00:08:47.600 And again, it's the only thing that I'm aware of that actually has the data behind it. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:50.159 It's been rolled out in Scott County, Davenport. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:54.399 Um, just I'm talking about Midwestern locations that I'm aware of and the people I've talked with. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:56.879 It's been rolled out in Ramsey County, which is St. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:08:59.840 Paul, Minnesota, Hennepin County, Minneapolis. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.320 Um, and I've been in touch with those county attorneys and I I know how successful it's been there. 00:09:04.399 --> 00:09:06.960 So I'm I'm incredibly excited to see it here. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:22.240 So it's something you heard about that was working really well in other communities, brought the idea to um important people that could help make it happen here, and then together it's about to about to come alive here. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:23.120 I love that. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:27.279 We've talked a lot on this podcast about, you know, listen to what's going on. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:29.840 If you hear of others doing things well, bring it here. 00:09:29.919 --> 00:09:36.320 If you have an idea, if you want to think of things differently, and if you don't have the ideas, listen to others that may have those ideas and help bring them to life. 00:09:36.480 --> 00:09:37.200 And you digest that. 00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:49.519 I would say for for people that I just thought of this, for people that want to know more in depth, kind of about G VI, CVI, there's a book called Bleeding Out by Thomas Abbt, A-P-A-B-T is his last name, Thomas Abbt Apt. 00:09:50.080 --> 00:09:56.159 Um, and it really is, you know, a lot of more detail about how this all comes together and how this all works. 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:56.720 Okay. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:10:05.360 And Tone, when this training's coming pulled together, being pulled together for this fall, is there anything else you want to tell us about what you hope participants take away from it? 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.120 Um, yeah. 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:12.960 So, like she was saying, when she first brought in the GVI thing, you know, I'm a community guy. 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:15.039 I wasn't really that fond of it. 00:10:15.120 --> 00:10:18.639 I had to poke at it for a while, but she kept saying one thing. 00:10:18.720 --> 00:10:20.559 It's only, it's only one way. 00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:23.440 And I'm going, well, why she keep saying that? 00:10:23.600 --> 00:10:27.200 Let me look this up and figure out what's going on here while she's saying it. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:31.279 And it's really just what you call the language of what we do. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:32.879 It's a lot of different efforts. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.159 You know, it's not one thing that's going to solve every problem. 00:10:36.399 --> 00:10:48.960 But this, if amongst all the different types of ways that we might have here in Des Moines, this is the way that will unite us together under one umbrella so that we know this is what we expect from each other. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:11:08.960 You know, and that's what we want to join, we want to get from this training is a simple way of protocols of, you know, our standard operation processes that we can work together, even though we have different organizations, different sizes of towns, different counties, because we do three, right? 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:15.759 Um, and then just building stronger community bonds amongst each other. 00:11:15.840 --> 00:11:30.639 Because when we first started, part of that two years was building sanctuary amongst the group where you gotta learn to trust that I know Bridget's giving her all on this, and if she falling short, it's because something's changed in her life, something busy. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:32.240 I might need to just check on her. 00:11:32.320 -->

00:11:36.480 I don't think she's falling behind on this, it's just that she needs a little help. 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:37.679 Let me reach out. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:58.000 You know, she knows Tom might need my hand to make this call for him real fast because I know my word can go up, maybe some rooms that his might not, you know, and we still get the same jobs done because we got common goals amongst each other that we established during these classes and things like that. 00:11:58.240 --> 00:12:07.600 So you can make plans and know that you got backup because we all knew next summer we're doing summer youth engagement and it's gonna be strong. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:09.600 So have something, you know. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:21.279 And that's what I'm hoping that we it kind of rallies us together and gives us one beat, one drum, the march to, you know, and I think it'll be good for us, yeah. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:21.679 You know. 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.440 But let's turn to the woman who always gives it her all, Bridget. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:33.200 Um, as CEO of Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central Iowa, you see every single day how much relationships matter in the lives of young people. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:40.240 When people hear the term violence prevention, they may immediately think about what happens after a violent incident. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:44.320 But prevention obviously begins much earlier than that, doesn't it? 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:46.240 As much as possible, yeah. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:13:11.519 I mean, mentoring is absolutely essential to being able to help navigate or help young people navigate, give them guidance, give them direction, give them a safe place to land, um, give them that positive reinforcement, give them that encouragement, uh, give them that gentle, empathetic ear to just listen and not judge. 00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:16.240 That's where the mentoring's mentoring part starts. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:35.840 But um in some cases, and a lot of our in a lot of cases with uh with our littles, the trauma or the experience that has caused some sort of emotional distress, which that's where the violence is coming from, is emotional distress. 00:13:36.080 --> 00:13:40.159 It is not coming from a place of just inner anger and rage. 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:43.440 It's coming from a place of emotional distress. 00:13:43.600 --> 00:14:07.039 And that was very clear when we started three years ago when United Way congregated all of us over at Corinthian to first introduce this concept of, hey, let's come together, um, not knowing what it was going to evolve to, not knowing what planning needed to be done, but we just needed, we knew something needed to be done. 00:14:07.200 --> 00:14:34.399 And in that room, and I think I told this on the last time when I was when I was on the podcast, there was one youth, one teenager in the in the room, one teenage male who got up courageously and spoke in this room of 50 to 60 adults who s basically said, We're not angry, we don't know how to breathe, we have so much emotional baggage that we are carrying, and we don't have a place to unload it. 00:14:35.679 --> 00:14:44.320 That was paramount for that entire room to hear because we finally paid attention. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:54.960 Their voice came forward, and as someone who advocates for youth every single day, that was what I needed to hear. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:58.639 Was what is the root cause? 00:14:58.960 --> 00:15:00.399 We just got the answer. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.559 Now we can go do something about it. 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:07.039 And I think all of us worked out of that room feeling like, okay, now we know. 00:15:07.360 --> 00:15:09.519 Let's do let let's figure this out. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:14.399 And so um But if you don't ask, and you don't listen, well, you're never gonna know. 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:17.679 It's the it it and and honestly, it's the listening part. 00:15:17.840 --> 00:15:32.399 We'll ask a million times, but as adults, we already have we already have it figured out in our heads, which prevents us from paying attention and listening to the voices that matter, which are the ones who are saying, I need help. 00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:37.679 And so um through mentoring, that's you know, that's what we do. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:16:08.000 We create an opportunity for young people to have a adult who is committed to them, who they're committed to, who can build that trust, who can build that connection, who can build that additional support base, not taking anything away from their parents or their guardians, but definitely adding to that support network that they need in order to just feel stable. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:15.519 And what do you see happen when that young person knows there's that trusted adult who consistently shows up for them? 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.159 It's a it's a comfort. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:19.200 Go ahead. 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.960 I can answer it for it. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:28.480 So I just dropped a uh I had a kid in my studio that emailed me when she was 14. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:34.879 And she won, she just wanted to come and make clothing in my in my shop at mainframe, right? 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:39.120 But she can't afford to go to school or anything, she didn't have a plan for this. 00:16:39.200 --> 00:16:46.000 She thought she was gonna go into medical because somebody in her family does medical, and that's just the route for them. 00:16:46.240 --> 00:16:50.639 But as she was going, she was in a central campus fashion program. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:50.879 Yeah. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:53.039 So she was in there for all four years. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:59.440 She's excelling, she's winning awards every year, and I'm starting to realize I got a star in my studio, you know? 00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:04.880 And I know that from me being a creative and being young, I didn't have somebody that

supported that. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:12.480 I gotta push her and let her know that her journey is gonna be alone because you got a gift that nobody can give you advice on. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:21.440 And she decided to stop applying for like junior colleges and smaller things, and she applied for the best fashion schools in the country. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.279 And she got into two. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:24.319 I love that. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:27.920 And I just dropped her off this weekend at FIT in Manhattan. 00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:28.720 Oh my gosh. 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:41.599 When and some uh somebody asked her why did she decide to do it because they noticed the change in her, and she said, I just I had somebody to help me just stop giving a care about all of the things, the pressure and stuff. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:47.200 And I told her, you know, it's tuition gonna come up, but I'm gonna still be here. 00:17:47.359 --> 00:17:53.759 So don't go thinking, seeing those numbers in New York for the rent and things like that, don't get scared when you see it. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:54.880 Just call me. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:59.519 And now she's there, you know, she's she she's gonna be a star, you know. 00:17:59.680 --> 00:18:02.000 And I told her, this is gonna change your life. 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:06.640 You off the couch with this move right here, you know, and I'm telling you to do it. 00:18:06.720 --> 00:18:08.000 I'll be here with you. 00:18:08.160 --> 00:18:10.960 You know, and now her whole life is just different now. 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.640 And that's what happened when you mentor and said that. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:21.920 When an adult invests in in a young person, the it's and I'm gonna speak figuratively, the skies open up. 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:30.880 Because not only can they start seeing what's possible, they realize what they're capable of. 00:18:31.119 --> 00:19:06.880 And those are the two biggest obstacles that any young person who gets involved in violence and violent activities, that's those are two, they have to see what they're capable of within themselves, but then they have to they have to know that somebody else sees it too and will remove any obstacle, will move literally move heaven and earth to be able to help them achieve whatever that potential is, whether it's sports, whether it's fashion, whether it's medicine, whether it's healthcare, regardless, whether it's business, it doesn't matter. 00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:17.279 If they see something, if an adult sees something in a young person, that is the most beautiful, beautiful revelation there can ever be. 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:36.400 Absolutely, and as parents, we know our kids are only gonna listen to us to a certain degree because they know we are 150% biased. 00:19:37.359 --> 00:19:43.920 But when somebody else can step in and say, Wow, you're amazing. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:47.119 Wow, you have a lot of skill. 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:49.119 Wow, you're a star. 00:19:50.720 --> 00:19:52.880 Those things right there, words matter. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:56.240 You think about, and and it makes me think about the five love languages. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:06.319 Our young people, I will tell you the ones that we work with, one of their love languages is words of affirmation. 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:28.880 When they can hear somebody affirm the positive good things that are there, not to say that they aren't hearing that at home, but when somebody who you barely know or just met or have spent maybe three to six months with can automatically tell you in that short period of time, you're amazing. 00:20:30.559 --> 00:20:34.799 And not just that you're amazing, you're amazing, and here's why. 00:20:35.680 --> 00:20:38.480 So it gives them it, it empowers them. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:42.960 Yeah and it makes them want to achieve and accomplish. 00:20:43.200 --> 00:20:48.880 And once once they have that hunger of achievement and accomplishment, they soar. 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:50.480 They soar. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:51.920 Yep. 00:20:52.079 --> 00:20:59.839 Once you get those moments of buy-in, it's just you need to have somebody there to be strong for them, you know, to get you over that point. 00:20:59.920 --> 00:21:07.279 You know, Ari had the point where she saw her her tuition price and what she was gonna have to pay every month. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:09.359 And she's sending me text messages. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:12.640 If I don't get a such and such by next week, I'm not gonna go. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:14.640 And I'm like, no, we're gonna go. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.319 Even if I gotta walk you all the way through the door, you're gonna go. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:27.680 Because if you think about that number and what your future can be, that's a little bit of money, you know, and it can start Monday. 00:21:27.920 --> 00:21:34.720 It'll your life gonna change Monday if you just accept this and decide that we're gonna work and we're gonna do this. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:36.640 We already been doing it, you know. 00:21:36.720 --> 00:21:42.720 And I had to just reaffirm her, you already been doing the stuff that people who succeed at this do. 00:21:43.680 --> 00:21:55.839 You've been a self starter, everything that you need to be, uh as far as an entrepreneur and creative and staying on task and uh getting over adversity. 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:58.000 You already did it all. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.519 New York is just a new place. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:04.640 Do it again, like to test yourself, and you don't have to worry about that stuff. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:08.000 Just buy into this that you a fashion designer now. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.000 You is it's this is a real thing. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:13.279 And you're not alone, and you're not gonna be alone. 00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:16.480 And you're not gonna be, and you know, and she is lucky to have you.

00:22:16.720 --> 00:22:18.640 That's what they tell me, but I'm I gotta do that. 00:22:18.880 --> 00:22:20.400 I think you're lucky to have her too, right? 00:22:20.559 --> 00:22:22.559 You know, I gotta send a kid through college now. 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:34.480 Well, I'm gonna do just a pause and say, hey, listeners, think about those people that have made an impact on youth in your life, whether they're your kids, your neighbors, your friends' kids, who's made an impact on their life. 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:35.119 Yeah. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.960 And have you ever thanked them? 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.599 Yeah. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:49.759 Put that on your task list for this week, and then look at the kids around you that need someone to look out and walk alongside them and and build those relationships and believe in them and invest in them because so important. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:50.559 They're our future. 00:22:50.880 --> 00:22:54.160 And I'll say, look at look and look for the diamonds in the rough. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:23:01.279 Look in the shadows, look on the sidelines, because guaranteed that's where your stars are. 00:23:01.359 --> 00:23:02.880 That's where your diamonds are. 00:23:03.119 --> 00:23:06.000 They're the ones that don't necessarily have the access. 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:09.839 They're not they're the ones that don't necessarily have the opportunities. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:13.519 They're the ones that don't necessarily have the resources. 00:23:14.400 --> 00:23:20.720 That's those are the those are the kids, and I don't like calling kids, those are the young people because they are human beings. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:30.079 Those are the young people that we're collectively trying to save with safe and thriving youth. 00:23:30.400 --> 00:23:36.960 We are trying to save them so that we can get them to a point of where they are thriving on their own. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:41.200 And once they're thriving on their own, it becomes reciprocal. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:44.720 Because and then you've got you've got a continuum. 00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:45.039 Yeah. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:46.559 And you just keep working that. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:47.279 Thank you. 00:23:47.599 --> 00:23:48.240 Great reminder. 00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:54.160 Okay, so uh we've learned there's an important connection between the approaches that both of you have different. 00:23:54.400 --> 00:24:02.480 Um, and you've both described Kimberly GVI is designed to focus attention on people who may be at a particularly high risk of involvement in serious violence. 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:10.319 Bridget, the community also has been ready with relationships, resources, and meaningful opportunities for these youth when they need them. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:14.640 What has to happen between these two pieces for an approach like this to work? 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:18.400 And I'll let either one or both of you to jump in on that one. 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:24.400 I'm gonna say we gotta get we have to first and foremost, we gotta get GBI off the ground. 00:24:24.880 --> 00:24:26.640 That that has to happen. 00:24:26.880 --> 00:24:29.519 Um and it's it's thankfully it's scheduled. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:30.880 We're moving forward with it. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:38.640 Assembling, I think Tone is assembling or has assembled the first cohort um that will go through the training. 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:42.960 Um, and then it's all about sustaining it after that. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:56.240 And that requires every aspect, every sector of the community to come together and hold up this initiative, hold up this coalition, and make it work. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:06.880 We've tried so many different attempts in the past that, and and even the people who have been involved in the trenches have said there was something missing. 00:25:07.119 --> 00:25:12.880 This is the first time that I think we've all collectively looked at it and said, it's there's no gaps. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:17.680 There, this this plan, this initiative, this effort is is comprehensive. 00:25:17.839 --> 00:25:19.440 There's no gaps this time. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:26.400 But everybody has to be willing to step up and play their part and play their role because everybody has a role. 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:38.160 Yeah, I mean, I look at GVI as kind of the more, as I mentioned, kind of the more urgent, the more time-sensitive, you know, we have to do this right now move aspect of it. 00:25:38.400 --> 00:26:31.200 CVI is the long game, you know, and but but the CVI piece, like through things like Big Brothers, Big Sisters, through lots of other nonprofits that work with kids in our community and do a great job at it, work with our young people, that's kind of been ongoing and will continue to be ongoing, you know, and that's that's but that's the GVI is kind of um coming in and more surgically, you know, looking at, hey, this is about to pop off among these specific people, and we know it and we know who they are, and we need to go try to, as I always kind of in my brain look think of it, the image I always get in these situations is, you know, these young people are gulping for oxygen in this raging river and they're about to go over the waterfall, and we're just trying to pull them out of the river before they hit the waterfall, you know, and it's kind of that's more of a that's more of one of the that's how I think of GVI. 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.680 It's like, oh, we got to get there right now. 00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:35.759 Yeah, it's immediate response time. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.240 It's it's immediate response time. 00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:38.960 Yeah. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:45.759 So a piece of this then, um, and while it might sound simple but addresses a real challenge is communication. 00:26:45.920 --> 00:26:47.680 Um, I'd bring that bring that forward. 00:26:47.759 --> 00:26:52.480 There are already

organizations throughout central Iowa offering programs, activities, resources for young people and families. 00:26:52.720 --> 00:26:58.319 But um, is part of the problem simply making sure people know what's available? 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:03.839 Uh yeah, so that's part of it is people know what they know. 00:27:04.079 --> 00:27:17.680 You know, it's hard to know when it's crossing different neighborhoods or different ethnicities, or you know, it's it's certain things that are available on both sides of the fence and it's funding for this and funding for that. 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:27.519 But the overall community sees the gaps because they don't know to make the connection from this organization to that organization. 00:27:27.680 --> 00:27:32.000 This is where this service stops and the next level picks up, you know. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:47.680 So that's what we we're trying to do is to organize these sectors and make these make it clearer so that you can see that if you're you're looking to be an entrepreneur and you need to know what it takes to be an entrepreneur, these organizations help you. 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:52.720 And when you're ready to start the business, these are the ones who help you file the paperwork. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:00.640 And then the next step is, you know, skills, speaking, and all of these uh things that go along with being in that position. 00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:20.559 You know, you can cross sectors through that, you can do it through different programmings and know that once your kid passes a certain age, this organization works with that the different age demographic, other than just stopping or having a gap for some period where they don't have any help or guidance or mentors. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:48.960 So the the aspect that we're trying to do is add some uh communication through some type of app where the uh CEOs of the organization or the key person that's handling the issue can reach out to the next organization and expedite things faster so that if we do something like a custom call, which is what that's called when we send the credible messengers to intervene, they can get straight on. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:51.599 Hey, this guy says he needs to be out of town. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:29:03.599 We can get him out of town tonight and know that his family's safe and that he's dealing with somebody that cares about him because you get this one second to prove yourself. 00:29:03.759 --> 00:29:07.599 If I call him back tomorrow with an answer, I don't have him. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:11.759 He already did something and it ain't the same as when I had him. 00:29:11.839 --> 00:29:13.920 But when I had him, he told me he was down for it. 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.440 I need to make this happen. 00:29:15.599 --> 00:29:33.680 So we want to make the back phone a real thing where we can pull this out and say, hey, Kimberly, this guy said he's willing to give up the gang life if we can get XYZ done for him, and it's all simple things that we have access to inside of our coalition. 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:47.920 So, you know, just making more access to the community and also making uh access to each other amongst the people who can press the buttons and and make impact happen. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:51.839 So I was thinking newsletters and community calendars, and here you've got apps and backgrounds. 00:29:51.920 --> 00:29:52.240 Oh, yeah. 00:29:53.839 --> 00:30:00.480 We knew that we had to because there's gotta be, I mean, the situations, especially when you're talking about in the trenches, so what did you call it? 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.200 Custom call. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:01.440 Yeah. 00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:05.839 When the custom call happens, Tone's exactly right. 00:30:06.079 --> 00:30:09.759 You have to, it's immediate response time. 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:18.480 And there's gotta be, it's gotta filter through the network, but it's also in some, it's it's gotta be confidential. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:20.160 It's gotta be trusted. 00:30:20.400 --> 00:30:24.799 It can't be something to like calling 411, calling 1999. 00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:28.880 It can't be any of that because that's trackable. 00:30:29.039 --> 00:30:39.359 It has to be something pretty much that it gets to the right people at the right time to who can take the right action so that the worst doesn't happen. 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:43.680 Because and that's part of what wasn't there before. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:51.039 On the other side, when it comes to violence prevention, how is better communication tied to that side? 00:30:51.359 --> 00:31:16.400 Um I I would say it's again, it's it's very similar because if you get wind of something, and that's you know kind of why we call it the bat phone, that if somebody gets wind of something, Kimberly gets wind, Tone gets wind, I get wind, then I can any one of us can call the bat phone and make sure every single sector or every part of the every every stage in the process, somebody knows and they can be ready. 00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:16.720 Okay. 00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:19.119 Whether you're whether it's just as important. 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.319 And the urgency's still there. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:23.680 And it's and the urgency is still there because things can change. 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:31.839 What is what's the saying that every every human being is one decision away from either death or being put in jail? 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:34.160 It's real. 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:36.799 It is every it it split second decision. 00:31:37.599 --> 00:31:38.559 So yeah. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:43.039 So safe and thriving youth is a long-term community effort. 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:46.240 How will you know whether it's making a difference? 00:31:47.200 --> 00:31:50.960 Well, we can ask the people because we know them. 00:31:51.039 --> 00:31:53.920 And that's the thing about it, is this is a community base. 00:31:54.400 -->

00:32:15.200 It starts with, I'm in this position because I'm a person who knows people, you know, and then the the other aspect that we add in that's been that's gonna be different from any other programs that's out there, I think, is the communication, having the tech behind it, where we're able to see the connections from intervention to prevention. 00:32:15.519 --> 00:32:25.839 So we can see that which organization helped with the custom call and what they needed to make that situation a success. 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:36.079 So we can see that hip hope needed to get housing and food, and that housing and food came from this organization and that organization. 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:44.799 And then this kid enrolled in XYZ's program to get a job, and that came from this program. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:53.920 And now he's working for this company, and at this company he accomplished this, this, and this, which fed back to the community. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:33:05.599 And now he's a high-level executive somewhere because he had opportunity to take what he, you know, he was going through and turn it into something kind of like myself, you know? 00:33:06.240 --> 00:33:22.240 So we just want to make more of me across the community and build up these community stars, keep them looking special and making it so that kids want to be like them so that they can get the buy-in at these moments when they have trouble. 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:30.559 And that's how you will be able to see the impact because you'll be able to just ask the people that still gonna be here, they'll be around. 00:33:30.799 --> 00:33:32.160 And we got data now. 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:34.079 Yeah, tangible outcomes. 00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.400 Yeah. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.920 I mean, that's that's everything. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.599 Tangible, tangible outcomes. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:38.000 Yeah. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:59.759 I mean, for me, it's it's for for just my little lane, it's yeah, it's even easier because if I I hope to see a decrease in kids with guns in the next few years, um that that the cases that are referred to us from juvenile court services for then prosecution, um, be you know, with attempted murder or with homicide charges. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:09.760 I mean, just yesterday I had to make the really tough decision to whether to keep a 17-year-old in juvenile court or send the, you know, keep the juvenile. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:13.679 It was a direct file because it was a homicide, keep the juvenile in adult court. 00:34:14.320 --> 00:34:16.400 And those are the decisions that I have to make all the time. 00:34:16.960 --> 00:34:18.639 And I don't like to make those decisions. 00:34:18.960 --> 00:34:21.119 I hate making those decisions. 00:34:21.920 --> 00:34:25.840 And I equally hate, um some people don't know. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:28.960 I am called out personally on every single homicide in Poe County. 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:47.119 And I um would

rather never again go out on a homicide and hear family members screaming over in the corner and you know, see a young person um dead literally on the street, um, you know, because we continue to have this level of violence here. 00:34:47.360 --> 00:34:57.519 And we're actually, funny enough, we actually have a pretty low level comparatively to a lot of other states and a lot of other, you know, bigger cities, etc. 00:34:57.920 --> 00:35:00.639 We experience a a much lower level of that. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:05.119 And still, of course, it's horrific, you know, and there's no level that's acceptable. 00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:05.360 Right. 00:35:05.679 --> 00:35:09.360 When it's it's the fact that we are smaller, the impact is bigger, though. 00:35:10.239 --> 00:35:11.599 Because we all know each other, you know. 00:35:12.000 --> 00:35:12.320 Absolutely. 00:35:12.480 --> 00:35:12.800 That's right. 00:35:13.039 --> 00:35:15.119 It don't matter what good happens to you today. 00:35:15.199 --> 00:35:19.119 If somebody gets killed out here, everybody's down and sad. 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:20.960 It's it's all over the place, you know. 00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:25.039 So it's if you didn't know the kid yourself, then you knew someone who knew who knew that. 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:29.199 All kinds of, he shoveled my snow. 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:31.119 It was all six degrees of joining. 00:35:31.440 --> 00:35:35.039 And that's the thing, but that's also the reason why we're able to succeed. 00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:39.360 You know, is we are at a size where we're able to do something about this. 00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:44.480 And but the thing is, if something happens, the impact is is bigger. 00:35:44.800 --> 00:35:58.159 So, you know, we have to we have to really pay attention to this and make sure that we we do our best to execute with these trainings and its implementation and sustaining it because of that. 00:35:58.239 --> 00:36:06.559 You know, it's it's a small place, it's a doable job, but without some real hard focus on it, it's not possible. 00:36:06.719 --> 00:36:10.320 But if we do it, we can make history with these programs here, you know. 00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:30.880 So and I mean, Tone, I'd say Tony and Kimberly, talk more about like what the training entails, um, especially for GVI, because it's not just your one and done training, it's a whole series of things that are being taught um on a totally different level. 00:36:31.360 --> 00:36:50.159 So the I mean, the the trainings, this first training is a three-day training, and this one is all about just learning protocol, language, paperwork, uh conflict resolution, and how to work together in these situations through different organizations and things like that. 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:56.159 Um, but then there's a another class after it where it's all about implementation. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:37:12.320 So we'll have another group that learns the implementation, which is about taking it and being able to establish these things in other counties around Iowa and um kind of make more of this as we go. 00:37:12.480 --> 00:37:16.639 And then the last stage is training the trainers. 00:37:16.960 --> 00:37:23.679 So then we will have some people here that's able to train more people and we'd be able to sustain this within our own community. 00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:25.519 And it's a true certification. 00:37:26.000 --> 00:37:27.599 Yes, this is a real certification. 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:29.840 This is something that people get jobs off of. 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:37.039 The people that train us, they this is like$60,000 a year jobs when you when you do these jobs in other cities, you know. 00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:45.039 I don't know what the budgets here might be or whatever, but this is a legit career for the people who take these classes. 00:37:45.280 --> 00:37:47.440 So that part I'm I'm proud of. 00:37:47.519 --> 00:37:59.840 That part too, being able to change some of these guys because they come from you know the street life, you know, and now all of a sudden your lived experience is going to get you a job where you're able to thrive with your family and stuff. 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:02.800 So I'm I'm proud of that part. 00:38:03.039 --> 00:38:03.519 Yeah. 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:11.119 Going back to or going forward um to what success looks like, we've heard um a couple of perspectives, Bridget. 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:15.039 I'd love to know what you hope young people themselves would tell us is different. 00:38:16.000 --> 00:38:22.400 Um they see opportunity and they see real genuine authentic support. 00:38:22.800 --> 00:38:35.760 Um, they start trusting adults again because adults are listening and they're showing up and they recognize that that that for me is gonna be the measurement is that adults showed up for me. 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:38.079 An adult showed up for me. 00:38:38.960 --> 00:38:41.119 This group of adults showed up for us. 00:38:42.239 --> 00:38:48.800 We know the adults have our back, that language isn't being said today, and that language hasn't been used in a very long time. 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:52.079 And that's not their fault, but that's on us. 00:38:52.639 --> 00:38:58.079 And so once we can make that paradigm shift, to me that's gonna be the success. 00:38:58.320 --> 00:39:10.079 Because then I know that what we've put together, what we've assembled, we've done the right thing, we have the right people in the right seats in the right position at the right time. 00:39:11.519 --> 00:39:13.119 So let's close with something practical. 00:39:13.360 --> 00:39:22.960 Someone listening right now who cares about young people and wants Central Iowa to be safer, but they don't work in the youth justice system or for a youth serving organization. 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:25.679 What's one thing they can do? 00:39:25.840 --> 00:39:30.079 I'll start with show up for someone that no one else is showing up for, right?

00:39:30.320 --> 00:39:32.079 That's coming through loud and clear. 00:39:32.800 --> 00:39:41.199 Um what's what's one thing someone can do, just even a small thing, a large thing that can just start and help in this effort? 00:39:41.519 --> 00:39:42.480 I have two suggestions. 00:39:42.719 --> 00:39:42.880 Good. 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.519 Come for two. 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:46.000 So um truancy is a really big problem. 00:39:46.159 --> 00:39:50.000 Kids just their butts aren't in the seats, um, especially in Des Moines public schools. 00:39:50.079 --> 00:39:58.559 It's with schools across the nation, so it's certainly not a Des Moines public schools exclusive problem, but it's a very high, high rate in Des Moines public schools. 00:39:58.800 --> 00:40:10.880 And um, I have often thought, you know, just because it's a ready-made group of people, if our faith communities would just get together and and I don't know exactly how they're gonna do this, but they can figure out the how. 00:40:11.039 --> 00:40:13.920 Find some families that are struggling to get their kids to school. 00:40:14.079 --> 00:40:18.079 And, you know, retired folks that have time and don't have to be at a job at 8 a.m. 00:40:18.239 --> 00:40:22.800 every day, go find out if you can pick up some, you know, neighbors' kids and take them to school. 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:25.920 I mean, obviously you have to establish relationships, et cetera, et cetera. 00:40:26.159 --> 00:40:32.079 But seriously, families need help making sure their kids get to school every single day. 00:40:32.239 --> 00:40:36.400 If you cannot read your way out of a paperback, what is your future going to look like? 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:39.119 And we have a real problem. 00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:42.400 Again, it's not a Des Moines exclusive, it's across the nation. 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:45.920 So many kids cannot read at grade level by third grade. 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:50.639 So not only if you can help some kids get regular, you know, consistently get to school, do that. 00:40:50.719 --> 00:40:58.559 And the other thing is go to your local elementary school and find out when and how and where you can help help kids learn to read. 00:40:58.719 --> 00:41:07.599 Like a lot of schools have programs in the morning before school where you can just sit and read with a kid, or the kid will read and you'll help them figure out some of the words they can't figure out. 00:41:07.840 --> 00:41:09.840 Reading unlocks everything in life. 00:41:10.079 --> 00:41:12.719 If you can't read, you can't even, you can't even do a trade. 00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:15.679 People say, well, get in the trades if you don't have a college education. 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:18.239 You can't become an electrician without knowing how to read. 00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:20.480 You can't become a plumber without knowing how to read. 00:41:20.559 --> 00:41:23.119 You can't become an iron worker without knowing how to read. 00:41:23.360 --> 00:41:31.199 So having a really solid grip on reading and, you know, is is everything that opens your entire world up. 00:41:31.360 --> 00:41:37.039 So I would say if there's any way that somebody can volunteer in that way, that that's an investment in our future. 00:41:37.280 --> 00:41:37.840 I love that. 00:41:38.000 --> 00:41:41.679 Give rights to school, read to kids, let them read to you. 00:41:41.840 --> 00:41:42.880 What do you want to add? 00:41:44.639 --> 00:41:47.360 Um, I would say it don't take a lot, man. 00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.880 Just validation. 00:41:49.119 --> 00:41:55.039 When you, if you know that you're a person that's around these kids all the time, pay attention to them. 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:58.880 See what they're doing naturally and validate the skill. 00:41:59.039 --> 00:42:04.000 Because that's what gets the buy-in to them learning how to read or wanting to learn how to read. 00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:21.519 You know, everything that I do today is because I wanted to make music so bad that I do whatever I had to do to learn how to make music, you know, and that was from just learning how to read music all the way to wiring a building so that my studio wires can be hidden. 00:42:21.679 --> 00:42:23.519 And that's a job, you know. 00:42:23.760 --> 00:42:25.840 That's how you end up in these places. 00:42:25.920 --> 00:42:32.079 And when every job I had, I exceled because I overdo it because I built my studios at home, you know? 00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:36.719 So it's these, it's these informal ways that you can get kids to buy in. 00:42:36.800 --> 00:42:40.800 But the first thing is to just pay attention and recognize what they're good at. 00:42:41.039 --> 00:42:41.840 It's small stuff. 00:42:41.920 --> 00:42:44.719 It can be shoveling snow, you're strong, ain't you? 00:42:45.679 --> 00:42:49.039 I uh you should you should play football, you so strong. 00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:53.519 You know, but it it just gives them a pathway, something to look into. 00:42:53.760 --> 00:43:00.320 When the path to go wrong shows up, you can say, my next door neighbor always told me I was a strong dude. 00:43:00.400 --> 00:43:04.159 Maybe I should find a job where I can use my muscles. 00:43:05.119 --> 00:43:06.800 And now you're at mainframe studios, right? 00:43:07.199 --> 00:43:13.519 You know, and they ask me to do anything that pop up on their minds, I get to make it for a living. 00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:20.800 But it all just starts from the passion of wanting to be a musician and somebody telling me you're pretty good at that. 00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:21.280 Yeah. 00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:24.639 You know, so I've got three. 00:43:24.800 --> 00:43:25.599 I'm cheating. 00:43:25.920 --> 00:43:26.960 Way cheating. 00:43:27.280 --> 00:43:33.199 But first thing is um kind of piggybacking on what both Kimberly and Tone said. 00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:38.320 If if if you see a if you see a youth that's hungry, feed 'em. 00:43:40.159 -->

00:43:40.719 Seriously. 00:43:40.960 --> 00:43:44.880 If you see that they are hungry, they're not eating, they're starving, feed 'em. 00:43:45.199 --> 00:43:52.719 Because that right there is going to feed their spirit, that's going to feed their soul, as well as feeding their physical body. 00:43:54.000 --> 00:43:56.320 Second thing is join the coalition. 00:43:57.119 --> 00:43:57.920 Simple as that. 00:43:58.159 --> 00:44:09.519 Reach out to Tone, learn have a meeting with him, get talk to one reach out to one of us who's who are part of the coalition and have been part of this this work for the last three years. 00:44:09.840 --> 00:44:13.760 And we'll bring you up to speed so that you can get activated. 00:44:14.159 --> 00:44:17.280 Third thing is call me. 00:44:17.440 --> 00:44:18.559 Become a mentor. 00:44:20.079 --> 00:44:22.719 We've got youth on our waiting list. 00:44:22.800 --> 00:44:32.719 Um, thankfully we're finally under 200, but still, we've got youth who've who've who've been on the waiting list for a long time simply because we can't find enough mentors. 00:44:33.440 --> 00:44:38.320 Step up and say, Yes, I'll serve, I'll support, I'll help. 00:44:39.599 --> 00:44:40.480 All that can be. 00:44:40.639 --> 00:44:41.840 All that is easy to do. 00:44:42.000 --> 00:44:43.199 All of it is easy to do. 00:44:43.519 --> 00:44:43.840 Yeah. 00:44:44.480 --> 00:44:47.519 And you're gonna get more out of it than the kid is likely in the end, aren't you? 00:44:47.679 --> 00:44:48.320 Oh my God. 00:44:48.639 --> 00:44:52.480 We have heard so many ways that each of us can be a part of this work. 00:44:52.559 --> 00:44:55.039 Uh, the more ideas, the merrier, the better. 00:44:55.199 --> 00:44:57.679 Um, and that feels like an important place to wrap. 00:44:57.760 --> 00:45:02.719 Um, it just makes so much sense that preventing youth violence starts long before crisis. 00:45:02.960 --> 00:45:09.840 It starts by helping young people feel connected, supported, and able to see opportunity in their own future. 00:45:10.079 --> 00:45:14.079 And ultimately, a safe and thriving community is something we build with young people. 00:45:14.239 --> 00:45:15.519 We also build with each other. 00:45:15.679 --> 00:45:18.000 It takes us all, it takes a community. 00:45:18.239 --> 00:45:20.000 Thank you, uh, Kimberly. 00:45:20.079 --> 00:45:20.800 Thank you, Tone. 00:45:20.880 --> 00:45:21.840 Thank you, Bridget. 00:45:22.000 --> 00:45:23.039 Thanks for joining us. 00:45:23.119 --> 00:45:25.440 Thank you for listening to Community Difference Makers. 00:45:25.519 --> 00:45:28.079 Thank you for being community difference makers. 00:45:28.320 --> 00:45:32.320 We know when we come together around a shared purpose, we just don't talk about change. 00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:34.159 We make a difference together. 00:45:34.320 --> 00:45:36.880 That's the purpose of these podcast conversations. 00:45:37.039 --> 00:45:38.000 So thank you. 00:45:38.159 --> 00:45:44.719 Um next week, we are turning our focus to better preparing students for successful futures after graduation. 00:45:44.960 --> 00:45:46.159 You won't want to miss it. 00:45:46.239 --> 00:45:49.119 I promise you'll learn something really important next week as well. 00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:50.239 Thank you.