Full Transcript for Episode 7: Harrison Grigsby — Be Intentional About Greatness

used, John Hope. 00:05:30.319 --> 00:05:36.800 Yeah, um, but you know, you were moving through the foster care system as a kid here in Providence, born and bred. 00:05:36.959 --> 00:05:41.439 And what made a nine-year-old reach for words like that in the first place? 00:05:42.079 --> 00:05:55.680 Uh, you know, I think I was looking for connection because of the instability that I had um earlier on, uh, you know, I was trying to find connection and I found it with hip-hop. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.079 And I found it through the music and through the arts. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:06.720 And and, you know, sometimes whether you're nine years old or whether you're an adult, sometimes you go through experiences and you think you're you're on an island. 00:06:07.040 --> 00:06:09.199 You think you're the only one experiencing this. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:19.759 And then for but for me, um, I I found through the music um that I wasn't alone and the the way I was feeling, the things that I was, you know, experiencing. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:23.600 And it just was I I mean, I was hooked. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:24.399 I was hooked. 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:36.160 And so I it started out initially um, you know, creating rhymes or or writing poetry that was based on the music that I heard. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:39.360 Like I didn't, I don't know if I had the identity just yet. 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:47.759 Um well, I didn't, um, but it it gave me an outlet to really experience to really share what I was feeling. 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:53.759 Um, because there was a lot of just chaos, you know, ear earlier on. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:07:01.759 And then um I would say like once I got into high school that things started becoming more clarified. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:08.639 Um, I I can I always tell this story, but there was uh I went to uh school in Pawtucket St. 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:12.800 Rayfield Academy, and there was this uh teacher, um, Mr. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:14.000 David Estes. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:21.439 He uh he made us do an assignment, um, and we had to do an assignment about Buddhism. 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:32.399 And I don't know what told me, I was about to I was a sophomore, and I don't know what told me to ask him this, but I was like, hey, can I rap my project? 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:40.639 And at the time, I, you know, my that gift, I didn't think that it could be in a classroom, you know. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:46.240 Um, and so I always kept it sort of like compartmentalized, like in my pocket, if you will. 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:47.839 Something told me, I was like, hey, Mr. 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.920 S, do you mind if I rap about Buddhism? 00:07:50.160 --> 00:07:52.240 And so um he said, yeah. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:54.639 And I did, I got an A. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:09.759 And, you know, that experience was sort of, you know, looking back was like the genesis of, you know, um the fusion and the marriage between, you know, youth development, hip hop, and um, and education. 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:13.759 Um, I I never stopped chasing that, you know, because I felt seen. 00:08:13.920 --> 00:08:22.959 I felt like I was um able to uh bring in this identity that I thought could only exist like in my neighborhood and so forth. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:49.440 And so um, yeah, and then you know, the rest is history in terms of like how I view um my gift, my talent, um, and my outlook on the world, you know, I am a proud multi-hyphenate, you know, and whereas I think uh growing up, I was really wrestling with this idea of just being, you know, told that you you can only do one thing and so forth. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:56.000 And so now um way much more confident um and and and proud to be that. 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:57.279 Multi-hyphenate. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:09:07.360 I think that's really important because even in my own journey, as I have been kind of forced to over the last several years, explore other opportunities work-wise. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:16.480 And I think you also, there's this thing I've read about with millennials that they're kind of getting to this age in our 40s, if you will, that you're like, what am I doing with my life? 00:09:16.639 --> 00:09:19.039 Like, you know, that the corporate gig, the this, the that. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:25.919 And I think you've always been somebody who has pursued successfully your creative outlets. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:35.600 But I'm someone who I'm just kind of now within the last few years at 40 years old, starting to kind of do these things, hosting a podcast and and you know, really leaning into it. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:38.879 Doesn't just have to be one thing and it can be other things. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:44.720 And and so I think it's just great advice for anyone that like you can be a multi-hyphenate at any point. 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:45.519 Any point. 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:46.240 At any point. 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:46.720 Really? 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:51.279 Yeah, it's it's starting to become more um popularized and acceptable, I guess. 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:52.080 Acceptable. 00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:54.000 Yeah, I think that's yeah, that's the operative word. 00:09:54.240 --> 00:09:54.639 Yeah, yeah. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:56.720 More much more socially acceptable. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:10:01.440 Um, I like to think I was behind, you know, I was listening I was early in it. 00:10:01.600 --> 00:10:03.440 Um, but but yeah, you are right. 00:10:03.600 --> 00:10:20.559 I see a lot of people um within our age group and younger who are really embracing that, you know what I mean, and understanding that there are um much like there are multiple ways to create income, but they we have multiple passions. 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:21.759 We have multiple interests. 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:22.480 And that's okay. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:23.519 And that is okay. 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:27.039 And even as so we have an

emerging leaders council at the chamber. 00:10:27.200 --> 00:10:27.360 Yeah. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:34.960 And as I interact more with them, they do seem to have their nine to fives or or whatever it is, but they also have these other passions. 00:10:35.039 --> 00:10:38.720 Oh, well, I also do this, I do wedding content, I do all these things, right? 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:43.039 And I love that because I think that, oh, you're good at that and you're passionate about it. 00:10:43.200 --> 00:10:46.159 Find a way to make the things work, and especially when you're young now. 00:10:46.320 --> 00:10:46.639 Right. 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:48.399 Okay. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:53.440 Um I mean, so you and I, we've teed up a little bit that we've known each other for a long time. 00:10:53.600 --> 00:11:02.559 Um, and one of one of your multi-hyphenates back in the day was the both of us uh were you an intern at Hot 106 and then on the street team? 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:02.799 Same. 00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:10.960 So so we were both, you know, RIP to our little WWKX Hot 106 radio station that flipped formats just a few years ago. 00:11:11.200 --> 00:11:15.200 But um it was the little engine that could of of hip hop here in in Rhode Island. 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:17.759 And I think back to those days. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:21.519 What's funny is you were cool and like did Hot 106 events. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:25.039 I was coolish and did 92 Pro FM events. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.720 I would say from the in the very beginning, right? 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:30.879 But we'd always cross over because the events we loved the most, Light Rock 105. 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.759 Light Rock 105. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:33.840 The Art Spencer, shut up. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:36.320 Did you see he just got to the radio hall of fame? 00:11:36.960 --> 00:11:37.600 I digress. 00:11:37.919 --> 00:11:39.840 But I feel like we were grinding, right? 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.320 Like you were pursuing higher education. 00:11:42.639 --> 00:11:44.639 Um, we were grinding at the radio thing. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:47.279 I was trying to go to multi-markets with that. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:12:03.519 And I think that those days, and I'm gonna sound like kids these days, like, but I know what do you feel like that grinding of not only for your music career, but for just your career in general, of like us grinding it out in the radio stations, like connecting with an audience. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.039 What did you learn from those days? 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:10.159 Yeah, yeah, man, those days, um, that the those are some of the best times, you know? 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:17.200 And um, I think for me, what I appreciated, especially looking at us now, you know what I mean? 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:28.320 I think it was this, I don't even know if it was even intentional, but we were just so um eager. 00:12:28.960 --> 00:12:35.600 Like we, we, we, I I don't even know if we knew what exactly what the goal was, yeah, but we knew we wanted more. 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:51.120 Yeah, you know, and I don't know if that's an innate thing and it just so happened sort of serendipitously that this group of young people were we we just had this like energy about us, um, where we um we went to South by Southwest. 00:12:51.279 --> 00:12:53.279 We were in New York, like you know what I mean? 00:12:53.360 --> 00:13:02.399 Like we did a lot of different things, and I think um what I can appreciate is how much we supported each other, right? 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:06.879 Like there were times where we were like, you know, man, I'm trying to figure this thing out. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.759 Well, all right, you you know. 00:13:08.080 --> 00:13:08.799 What do you think about this? 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:09.759 And we still call each other. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:13.840 Like I always say to people, network across, not just us. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:15.600 That was advice I got years ago. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:28.799 Yes, and I when I tell people that story, especially these days, I always reference that I have friends who I was interns with, and now, you know, where they've gotten me gigs recently when I was in need, I call them for advice. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:32.240 I, you know, even with the chamber gig, I was like, I gotta call B. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:38.639 You know, I think that that is there's those people that you have this foundation with that you trusted. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:47.039 And I think that that is great advice for young people in in any industry that you are there most likely in the same industry because you have common interests. 00:13:47.519 --> 00:13:50.960 And we were specific to hip hop and and media, right? 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:57.279 But in any industry you're in, those people who are there from the beginning with you, you have a commonality. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:58.960 You both ended up in the same place, right? 00:13:59.120 --> 00:13:59.279 Right. 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:08.639 So network across because you're gonna 20 years into your career, like the fact that those are the people, like I trust this person, that's who's gonna, I just think that that's great advice. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:09.679 1000%. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:11.360 Find those people you're grinding with, right? 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.720 That you're grinding with, yeah. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:23.279 Because you know, that there isn't um, you guys, it's not only the common interest, but like there's um you're able to, I don't know if it's trial and error. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:29.519 I don't want to say make mistakes, but you're able to trial and error and then bounce, you know, ideas off of each other. 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:32.799 Like there's there's a there's a communal aspect, you know what I mean? 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:39.759 And and it it forges, you know, um you know, uh positively and possibly friendships. 00:14:39.840

--> 00:14:40.080 Yeah. 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:40.480 Right? 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:42.480 Like, like real, genuine friendships. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:45.120 I I I mean, I have you're my friend, right? 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:45.840 You know what I mean? 00:14:45.919 --> 00:14:52.159 But I mean like I have some real great, great friendships from those days um that have helped tremendously. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:15:01.600 I mean, you know, I I've gotten acting gigs from um, I mean, big time, you know, uh acting gigs from people that were around during that time. 00:15:01.840 --> 00:15:02.320 Kobe. 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.200 Yeah, you know what I mean? 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:05.039 He's over there with Tom Brady, you know what I mean? 00:15:05.120 --> 00:15:06.080 And uh casual. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:11.120 Yeah, and he at one point, I believe, was an probably technically an intern for us at Aqua. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:19.360 Yeah, there's a handful of people like that that are so successful now that we um have far surpassed. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:20.480 Oh my gosh. 00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:22.080 Uh and and look at you. 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:25.039 I mean, executive director, founder of this. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:32.399 But I think your journey, like you simultaneously, as you and I were out there doing our light rock gigs that we love doing. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:39.600 Um, you were also, you spent close to a decade in financial aid and student um support roles at CCRI and RIF, right? 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:45.600 And I always felt like you were great for that because you were so related, relatable to the kids. 00:15:45.919 --> 00:15:48.960 And like that journey, again, doesn't surprise me. 00:15:49.120 --> 00:15:54.000 You were you then finished your master, master's in educational leadership in 2014. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:56.399 You were building your music career as John Hope. 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:57.759 Yeah, um procedure research. 00:15:58.080 --> 00:15:58.960 You know, casual. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:15:59.679 It was easy. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:00.399 It was easy. 00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:05.840 How much did those years in higher ed end up shaping what you're doing today with HSI? 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:07.600 Tremendous. 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:21.759 Uh because I I recognized it was almost um in social work, they have this thing called counter transference, where um essentially you see yourself in, you know, uh the the people that you serve. 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:22.639 You know what I mean? 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:32.480 And so um working in higher ed, I was in higher ed nearly nearly 20 years, you know, working at um CCRI, Rhode Island College, and student success. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:38.240 Um I was able to see how the food is cooked, you know what I mean? 00:16:38.480 --> 00:16:40.879 Um for for for better or worse, you know. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:58.480 But um it really gave me insight on how to best excuse me, on how to best engage students or or ways or opportunities um that maybe um would be seen as innovative or uh uh not so common. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:26.240 Um it built a uh um a wealth of knowledge, a b a belt of a a wealth of transferable skills in terms of um just understanding how education works, um, understanding how um you know young people uh just the dynamics of what it what it means to be a college student and uh or a student in general. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:34.640 And I took those experiences and it was from that point is where I decided to no longer compartmentalize. 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:45.119 Because what was happening was all those things you mentioned, again, I'm still sort of wrestling with that, you know, multi-hyphen it versus what is sort of socially acceptable. 00:17:45.279 --> 00:17:51.200 So I would have a show at SOB's um and then come right back, you know. 00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:52.720 Famous club in New York City. 00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:55.039 Famous, yeah, famous club in New York City. 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:58.559 This is where all your your your greats would start out. 00:17:58.880 --> 00:18:02.000 And so I would have a show there, like say on a Tuesday night. 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:04.000 Um, I would leave CCRI. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:18.880 It was I I call it the Clark Kent Superman thing, um, change in the car or like at a you know, at a gas station, perform, come right back, you know, and and go to work and and so forth. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:22.480 Um and and doing that, it it takes a toll. 00:18:22.559 --> 00:18:34.480 But what I was seeing was because this is during the blog era, you know, um, I would like to say, as far as you know, um independent artists from Rhode Island, I was definitely doing my thing. 00:18:34.640 --> 00:18:39.920 And so you know, young people would come into my office and they'd be like, yo, yo, are you hope? 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.519 Yo, yo, yo, you generally hope. 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:46.240 And funny enough, I would, again, I would compartmentalize like, nah, that's my twin brother. 00:18:46.480 --> 00:18:49.440 Or like, you know, actually now that you say it. 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:52.799 Yeah, like I didn't really like, you know, fully embrace it. 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:53.200 Yeah. 00:18:53.359 --> 00:19:07.200 And um, but what I did see is the level of engagement, the way that we would use the culture as a as a as a um as a talking point, as a point of engagement, as a point of contact. 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:14.400 Um, and then we would, I would go over, okay, I'm looking at your grades or I'm helping with financial aid and so forth. 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:18.079 So that was sort of like, okay, we'll we got something here, right? 00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:23.359 Like, like they they want to know, they want to feel comfortable and feel seen. 00:19:23.440 --> 00:19:25.039 That's why they're coming to my office. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:27.440 Yeah and so I'm using the culture. 00:19:27.519

--> 00:19:34.720 And so those sort of that time was sort of the breeding ground for HSI and it helped inform HSI. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:42.799 And so when I jumped off the proverbial porch um in in 2018, um I started doing community workshops. 00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.400 I was like, man, you know what? 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:57.920 I think there's something here um where we can, you know, use the culture um as as an opportunity for for learning to really, you know, um have a creative learning experience. 00:19:58.000 --> 00:20:10.559 And so I would partner up with the libraries, and then um I got my my first footing into um the Department of Youth Services um working with um committed youth. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:14.400 And um, and then from there I I was you know, I just took off. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:14.880 Yeah. 00:20:22.559 --> 00:20:25.680 Work and Wonder is sponsored by Coastal One Credit Union. 00:20:25.920 --> 00:20:28.640 At Coastal One, Work and Wonder go hand in hand. 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:37.359 For more than 98 years, the credit union has helped Rhode Islanders pursue their goals through trusted financial guidance, local expertise, and a commitment to community. 00:20:37.599 --> 00:20:45.519 Whether you're growing your business, buying a home, or planning what's next, Coastal One offers personalized solutions backed by local decision makers. 00:20:45.839 --> 00:20:47.519 Coastal One Credit Union. 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:50.000 Wonder what smarter banking feels like? 00:20:50.319 --> 00:20:51.519 Wonder no more. 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:55.279 It's uh it's a beautiful journey. 00:20:55.519 --> 00:21:07.039 And I do think to use, I mean, we talk about like using the culture to relate to the students, but it's authentic because you have always been, you still are in that culture and representing of the culture. 00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:14.319 And I mean, there was no one better to do the show at SOBs and turn around like Clark. 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.319 And you were always so focused, which I think is just great advice for people. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:23.359 That, you know, my career previous to this was a long time in hip hop as well. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:26.640 And there's a lot of chaos you can get sucked into in that. 00:21:26.880 --> 00:21:42.559 And I think that you always, I mean, if you were doing that show at an SOB's, but then you're doing coming back and you had your shirt on with your suit and tie for the kids on a Monday, um, but then you're hanging with me, like just very reliable, always super focused. 00:21:42.640 --> 00:21:52.880 And I think that that was like you knew what you wanted, but you also were like again, it's just such a perfect serendipitous journey of you've now been able to merge these things together. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:59.759 Was there a point where, like, I mean, in your so those listeners who who might not be the number one John Hope fans like I am on their spot. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:00.880 That's weird. 00:22:00.960 --> 00:22:06.480 But um, I mean, you've released seven albums, you've you've toured the world at this point. 00:22:06.640 --> 00:22:09.839 You shared stages with Nas, Wiz Khalifa. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:22.720 Um, was there a point where the artist side, because you still I see you out there still touching stages, but is there a point where the artist side and the advocate side, did you start to feel like it was the same person? 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:25.839 Like, you know, you kind of said you compartmentalized it for a long time. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:29.200 When did it, when did you realize that those could both be married? 00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:32.240 Uh I would say uh during the pandemic. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:32.799 Okay. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:41.200 During the pandemic is when I realized because I think at that time particular, people were looking for something different. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:49.119 And there was such a ripe opportunity because um the schools they had to figure out content. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:51.200 Content, how we're gonna engage. 00:22:51.359 --> 00:23:02.240 And so there was there was this just ripe opportunity for them to try anything because they knew like we we gotta, you know, we have to find some way to keep our kids engaged. 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:12.240 And so that's when I kind of merged um uh the two worlds, and I realized that, you know, the kids saw me almost as the same thing. 00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:13.359 Yeah, you know what I'm saying? 00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:17.440 Like when I would, you know, they that's why they'd be like, yo, it's hope, it's hope, it's hope. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:18.400 You know what I mean? 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:27.039 Um, and what it did for me was give me confidence um in knowing that, okay, this thing could work. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:43.359 This is not a novelty, this isn't just um this like after school, like this can be a full-on ecosystem curriculum, uh, uh, uh a model, you know, in terms of um alternative education. 00:23:43.599 --> 00:24:06.960 Um if we, you know, the the Brookings Institute um that does a lot of educational research, it showed that um by 2020, um students, the the the student makeup would be is gonna be um like it'll be more there'll be more diverse populations than actually white students. 00:24:07.279 --> 00:24:07.759 Yes, yes, yes. 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:08.720 You know what I mean? 00:24:08.960 --> 00:24:21.359 And so understanding that, you know, if you take heed to that, as an institution, you want to diversify your curriculum, your programming, the way in which that you want to engage. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:28.319 And so it was just a ripe time to come in there and be my most authentic self because I had essentially nothing to lose. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.720 Like they they were like, all right, let's do it. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:44.079 And so, you know, um, you know, shout out to uh my first

partnership, which was Charette Charter School in Providence, and um we had some um really great programming there. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:53.359 I was keynote speaker, and so it was just like this building block of confidence and and and recognizing, oh, this this can be a thing. 00:24:53.519 --> 00:25:03.200 Um and and then now, you know, um we we we serve over a thousand youth per year, you know, uh through programming and and impact. 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:06.559 And um we've increased our partnerships. 00:25:06.799 --> 00:25:11.039 Um we serve not not only just Rhode Island, but you know, Southern New England. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.400 Um, and so I'm I'm I'm I'm really excited. 00:25:14.480 --> 00:25:19.839 And what it's what it tells me is that um to bet on yourself. 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.160 Yeah. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.359 You know what I mean? 00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:25.920 Like I I think my biggest um, I'll bookend it with this. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:32.000 My biggest uh, I don't know, if accomplishment, if you will, is that I live a designed life. 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:41.440 I love that I live, like I am exactly, I think we live in a world that encourages people to let go of your childhood ambitions. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:47.839 And, you know, I see a lot of people that I grew up with that, you know, they had to do that. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:52.160 And, you know, I look at them, I look at me, and I'm I'm happy to be here. 00:25:52.480 --> 00:25:53.519 You're happy to be here, yes. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:25:56.400 No, that so let's unpack a little bit what HSI does. 00:25:56.480 --> 00:26:01.599 Like, I I know that you've said it's not that students can't learn, it's how they're engaged that's the barrier. 00:26:01.759 --> 00:26:02.079 Correct. 00:26:02.240 --> 00:26:03.200 What does that look like today? 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:05.279 Like, what does that barrier actually look like? 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:09.839 Yeah, I think uh the barrier it looks like lack of representation. 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:25.119 Yep, it looks like um uh tokenism, it looks like um um indirect messaging or direct messaging that tells marginalized groups that you can't, right? 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:35.759 And so um, you know, though those those things coupled with the the systems and things that 400 years, yeah, yeah. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.599 Right, you know what I mean, all that stuff. 00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:39.599 We know we know what the score is, you know. 00:26:39.759 --> 00:27:03.839 So I think for me, um what where where we uh as an organization try to insert ourselves is the we have uh we have we operate the the the thing that just this differentiates HSI from other organizations is one we use creativity as a developmental tool, not as some like off like offshoot. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:05.440 Fun thing you do on the side, yeah. 00:27:05.759 --> 00:27:06.799 Exactly, you know what I mean? 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:13.519 So there's that,

and then two, we operate with uh our ethos is assumed brilliance, right? 00:27:13.920 --> 00:27:22.640 And so um again, uh we we serve all youth, but we do have a concentration with those who are furthest away from the opportunity. 00:27:22.880 --> 00:27:33.200 That population not only is the furthest away, but they are already pegged as a nuisance, troublesome, at risk, and so forth. 00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:39.279 And so when you engage them and you have that mindset already, you're already operating at a deficit. 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:48.880 And so a lot of um the programming that engages uh uh that population, it's centered around they need to be fixed. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:50.640 Yeah, they are broken, right? 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:52.480 So that's just mentality-wise. 00:27:52.559 --> 00:28:01.039 And so with us, we come in with this assumed brilliance, understanding that, hey, you know, you have an existing gift, an existing talent. 00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:14.000 It's just that these traditional systems were measuring your success and your your, you know, they didn't have the they didn't have the cultural competency, they didn't have the systems, the wherewithal to identify that. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:14.960 You know what I mean? 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:21.200 And so I think that's where we um really uh tend we really land the plane. 00:28:21.359 --> 00:28:22.960 Um and so what does that look like? 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:28.000 It looks like things like we have um core programs, like one is called the album club. 00:28:28.160 --> 00:28:29.279 Yeah, tell me about the album club. 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:30.400 Album club is dope. 00:28:30.559 --> 00:28:36.400 So think about um a book club concept, but instead it's an album, you know, or music. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:37.359 How do I join? 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:39.759 Are you looking for 42-year-old white women? 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.319 Yeah, of course. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:41.359 Oh, okay, cool, cool, cool. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.720 No, but yeah, we're ready to go. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:43.039 Yeah. 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:53.359 Um, but yeah, no, it's it's it's uh it's a youth development program that threads music, literacy, social emotional learning. 00:28:53.599 --> 00:29:10.240 Um, and so, you know, we're learning about um growth and accountability through um AbSol, you know, or you know, uh we might be talking about um redemption and and and prison reform through Meek Mill. 00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:10.480 Okay. 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.359 You know what I mean? 00:29:11.519 --> 00:29:12.799 Uh things of that nature. 00:29:12.880 --> 00:29:17.359 Um, or you know, women empowerment um through Cardi. 00:29:17.680 --> 00:29:18.640 You know what I'm saying? 00:29:18.799 --> 00:29:23.279 Um, and so we're we're meeting the young people right where they're at. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:33.440 Um we we have guided discussions, we do lyric annotation, um, and more than anything, it's an affirming culture, it's an affirming program, right? 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:47.440 It it tells the young people that the way in which that they live, that they consume um uh content and art, art is not um is is not othered. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:48.480 It belongs here. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:57.839 And so if you just start with that, yeah, just start with that, um you're gonna be excited, you're gonna be feel, you're gonna feel seen, you're gonna feel heard. 00:29:58.000 --> 00:30:01.279 Um, and so you know, we have a capstone project. 00:30:01.359 --> 00:30:39.279 Um, usually it's about 10 weeks, um, and we partner with schools and um other youth-serving institutions, and um we have a capstone project called an album release party, um, which is um an opportunity for the young person to create a playlist that's based upon their life, um, whether that's um a positive experience or a positive person, and they have to present out, you know, and so you know, you identify a lyric or you identify a song, and you know, we we invite family, we invite staff, and it's just awesome, you know what I'm saying? 00:30:39.440 --> 00:30:42.960 And so, you know, it's just a a different way to learn and engage. 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:53.680 And we've seen um real improvement in attendance, real improvement in self-efficacy, self-confidence, communication skills, literacy. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:31:00.000 And these are all things um that are transferable to any other arena. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:08.079 So it's not, I don't want people to get this understanding, this thing that, you know, because you're in HSI or you're in the album club, you have to rap or whatever. 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:09.680 That's not really what it is. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:14.880 It's really another way to connect you to transferable skills and so forth. 00:31:22.079 --> 00:31:24.400 Attention, Rhode Island business owners. 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:25.839 Are you ready to grow? 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:33.279 The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce gives you the network, the advocacy, and the exposure to take your business further. 00:31:33.440 --> 00:31:37.920 Connect with local leaders, reach new customers, and get your voice heard. 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:40.799 This is your chamber and this is your moment. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:44.880 Visit nrichamber.com to join us today. 00:31:48.079 --> 00:31:52.319 You uh on a personal note, you're a dad now of two young daughters. 00:31:53.680 --> 00:31:54.480 Who would have thought? 00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.200 How did we get here? 00:31:55.359 --> 00:31:55.839 How do we get here? 00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.960 Not be at age 20. 00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:01.839 Yeah, uh, what do you want them to understand like about their father's story? 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:06.240 And and before they're old enough to even hear the harder parts of it, right? 00:32:06.400 --> 00:32:10.319 But you uh, you know, you've had this story, you've had this journey.

00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:11.839 Are they listening to John Hope music? 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:12.079 Yeah. 00:32:12.319 --> 00:32:12.480 Okay. 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.039 Well, of course, I think. 00:32:13.279 --> 00:32:13.680 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.960 My kids they can't, they come in the studio. 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.680 They're in the lab. 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:16.160 They're in the lab. 00:32:16.640 --> 00:32:27.359 But what do you I think one thing I really like asking people who have kids is like, what do you want them to know you as and know and know what you do as, since you are a multi-hyphenate. 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:30.960 If if if they're at school and it's like, Hope, what do you what does your dad do? 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:33.119 That's so crazy because that has happened. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:38.079 Um, and it's so funny because like the kids, this is weird. 00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:40.400 That's so that's a funny question. 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:48.240 Some of my daughters, uh, I have a seven-year-old, Hope, and I have a two-year-old named Uni, Aria, but we call her uni. 00:32:48.960 --> 00:32:57.759 And um uh I went to go pick up my daughter the other day uh from after school, um, like enrichment or something like that. 00:32:58.000 --> 00:33:05.279 And one of her classmates, the parent, who listens to my music and you know, or whatever. 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:14.880 So she's like, so I I pick up Hope and she's like, um, she's like, she's like, Hope, uh tell, tell everybody, your dad is John Hope, right? 00:33:14.960 --> 00:33:15.440 You know what I mean? 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.720 You know what I mean? 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.640 And um And what does Hope say? 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:21.279 And she was just she got it, she got it, yeah. 00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:23.279 She was like, yeah, you know what I mean? 00:33:23.440 --> 00:33:23.759 Exactly. 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.640 She was so proud. 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:28.000 And to me, you can't quantify that, you know. 00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:35.119 And I think um, you know, I would say 2014 is when I let go of like vanity metrics, right? 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:37.039 Um, you were around. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.880 To get on two dope boys was like the thing. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:41.359 Yeah, yeah. 00:33:41.519 --> 00:33:41.680 Right? 00:33:41.759 --> 00:33:42.160 You know what I mean? 00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.440 This was a hip hop blog back in the day. 00:33:43.680 --> 00:33:44.799 It's a hip-hop blog, yes, yes. 00:33:45.039 --> 00:33:46.319 If you remember, we're in the northern round. 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:47.039 That's right. 00:33:47.359 --> 00:33:50.079 Harrison and I could do a hip-hop uh podcast ourselves. 00:33:50.160 --> 00:33:53.119 But yes, that was a big deal if you were featured on this hip-hop blog. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.480 Huge, huge deal, right? 00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:57.680 To get on blogs, to get coverage and things of that nature, right? 00:33:57.839 --> 00:34:00.640 Um, I let that all go in 2014. 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:14.880 Um to me, uh the biggest uh indicator of success for me personally is the fact that I can still that my children get to see me doing what I love. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.519 Like that is is is everything. 00:34:17.599 --> 00:34:21.599 You know, my last album, my daughter was on the album cover with me, you know what I mean? 00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:25.440 We had a big billboard in the Providence Place Mall. 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:32.800 Like, you know, so um she's been on sets with me to act, she's been a part of campaigns, you know. 00:34:32.960 --> 00:34:42.480 Um, so those types of things that I, you know, the idea that I can share the experience with my children is like everything. 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:48.719 And at least now, I'm sure when she gets older, I'm not corny. 00:34:48.880 --> 00:34:49.519 You know what I mean? 00:34:49.599 --> 00:34:50.159 I'm not, you know. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:52.880 You're in that five-minute window where you're not corny. 00:34:53.199 --> 00:34:53.679 Yeah, yeah. 00:34:53.920 --> 00:34:54.960 It's gonna, it's gonna happen. 00:34:55.199 --> 00:35:00.960 I'm hoping for you as a hip hop superstar, community advocate, leader, that it lasts a little longer. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:02.400 But no promises, I guess. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:03.840 No, no, definitely no promises. 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.639 Yeah, yeah. 00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:07.119 We have our own handshake and things of that nature. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:10.320 We dance, we do we do a lot of dancing in the living room. 00:35:10.400 --> 00:35:14.079 So just sharing the experience, I think, is the biggest um reward. 00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:15.119 That's so nice. 00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:16.239 How do you decide? 00:35:16.320 --> 00:35:19.360 Like any, we talk about balance a lot, right? 00:35:19.599 --> 00:35:28.400 And you know, we've talked to others on our podcast who are like balance is a myth, like you got to do the best you can do in every any given day, right? 00:35:28.639 --> 00:35:30.000 Like, how do you balance your work? 00:35:30.320 --> 00:35:35.280 But how do you decide in any given week which version of yourself you give the most time to? 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:39.199 And what I mean by that is artist, creative, right? 00:35:39.360 --> 00:35:43.920 You are you're merging it together, but it still is this multi-hyphenate of actor. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:46.239 You've done had incredible work the last few years. 00:35:46.400 --> 00:35:46.559 Yeah. 00:35:46.719 --> 00:35:53.760 And then obviously your your core these days is that you are, you know, the executive director, HSI. 00:35:54.159 --> 00:35:56.639 Yeah, I think, I think you have to prioritize. 00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:58.880 And and and I think this is a good segue. 00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:10.000 I I think entrepreneurship, the um merged with social media has romanticized a

lot of things. 00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:15.280 And I think there's a there's a reality, not not a harsh reality, but you have to prioritize. 00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:21.519 Yeah, you know, especially when it comes to sustainability, when it comes to scalability, right? 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:39.039 Um, and so I recognize that uh HSI has yielded the most results um in terms of from a fiscal standpoint, but also um an impact standpoint. 00:36:39.199 --> 00:36:56.320 And so for me, um at this stage of my of my life and my um business life, um my my focus is on organizational efficiency, uh, scalability, um, ensuring that there are repeatable systems. 00:36:56.480 --> 00:37:09.599 As much as I am tied to HSI, the next step is now for me to ha make sure it's it's a standalone thing and that if I leave or whatever, it still you know can go on. 00:37:09.920 --> 00:37:10.960 It still can go on. 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:13.599 So, you know, that's where my efforts are. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:25.840 Um luckily because my world is so merged, there are opportunities for me to kind of bring, I call them touch points, you know, to bring the artistry. 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:43.840 You know, we're working on um affirmation, um, an affirmation album, you know, for that that will be directly um um marketed or or or for our scholars who are committed, you know, in detention centers and stuff like that. 00:37:44.000 --> 00:37:49.119 Um, so I can record, I'm John Hope, I'm doing my thing, you know what I mean? 00:37:49.280 --> 00:37:59.599 And then, you know, when there's time off, you know, luckily, like you mentioned, the last two years, my acting has like I've been I've been I've been in a number of different commercials and stuff. 00:38:00.079 --> 00:38:04.400 Is that Harrison of the Super Bowl commercial or like whatever at any given moment? 00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:07.519 And then that goes back to our network from from early on, right? 00:38:07.760 --> 00:38:12.559 But also you're gotta give in talent and working hard and being open to all the opportunities. 00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:14.000 All the opportunities, you know. 00:38:14.079 --> 00:38:19.199 I did a a a World Cup uh uh uh commercial, did some VO work for Verizon. 00:38:19.519 --> 00:38:30.559 Um so yeah, so those I think if I I think prioritizing and then being open, having a level of openness with with my creativity, right? 00:38:30.639 --> 00:38:37.920 I'm not so fixated on being the rapper today, but but I am open to being a creative. 00:38:38.079 --> 00:38:43.360 And so whatever the toolbox calls for, that you know, I'll I'll pick from that if that makes sense. 00:38:43.760 --> 00:38:46.960 I think you and I are both in a year of yes type of situation. 00:38:47.119 --> 00:38:52.480 I don't know if you've read that book, but I think that are there things that scare you still? 00:38:55.199 --> 00:38:58.559 Yes, because there's things that I would say intimidate me hosting a podcast. 00:38:58.800 --> 00:38:59.039 Of course. 00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:02.480 But what I've learned is I just kind of blindly say yes. 00:39:02.559 --> 00:39:06.320 I go in with blind faith, say yes, and generally it works out. 00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:07.679 If not, you learn from it. 00:39:07.840 --> 00:39:12.719 But like, are there things that you still do that scare you and how do you get past those things? 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:16.960 Like I say you have to meet every opportunity as a friend. 00:39:17.679 --> 00:39:18.000 Okay. 00:39:18.639 --> 00:39:28.079 Um, you know, whether whether, you know, like you have to I I think at this point, I'm I'm like, there are opportunities, there are things that scare me. 00:39:28.159 --> 00:39:30.960 Like I have a huge hosting gig coming up. 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:33.280 Um, and then I'm like, oh, okay. 00:39:33.440 --> 00:39:38.400 You know, um, but I think uh I I I just look at the the journey. 00:39:38.559 --> 00:39:39.840 Yeah, I think that's what it's for. 00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:41.039 You know, remember your history. 00:39:41.119 --> 00:39:42.800 My mom always said, remember your history. 00:39:43.039 --> 00:39:43.679 Shout out to mom. 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:47.840 I know but like you've done hard things before, you can do them again. 00:39:48.000 --> 00:39:53.760 And you you being nervous about a hosting gig after that's a good segue because you did 15 seasons. 00:39:54.000 --> 00:39:54.559 Is that correct? 00:39:54.800 --> 00:40:02.480 With um people who may not know all of your other hyphenates might know, remember you from uh the Fryers PC basketball hosting. 00:40:03.360 --> 00:40:09.280 And I feel like that was a massive stage when you made that decision to walk away from that. 00:40:09.519 --> 00:40:10.960 Are there things you miss about it? 00:40:11.119 --> 00:40:20.320 Are there yeah, yeah, because you know, for next to the head coach, I was the second most recognizable face. 00:40:20.400 --> 00:40:20.960 Yes, right? 00:40:21.039 --> 00:40:21.760 Next to Ed Cool. 00:40:21.920 --> 00:40:22.559 So I'm going in. 00:40:22.639 --> 00:40:25.039 I mean, till this day, I was in Dave's market. 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:31.440 Man, hey, we miss you, go fryer, you know, somebody like down, you know, in another aisle. 00:40:31.519 --> 00:40:32.480 You know what I mean? 00:40:32.719 --> 00:40:36.480 Um, you know, it it means a lot, you know. 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:42.880 That that was such a developmental time, like in terms of public speaking. 00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:46.159 I got that gig off of rap. 00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:49.840 I they booked me for their late night madness. 00:40:49.920 --> 00:40:50.239 Okay. 00:40:50.800 --> 00:40:59.920 And um I did my thing, and they were like, hey, do you do you want to audition for the the in-game arena host? 00:41:00.079 --> 00:41:00.960 And I'm like, all right. 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:04.320 I was like, yo, I told them, I was like, yo, I I'm a musician. 00:41:04.400 --> 00:41:07.199 Yeah,

I don't have any history, you know, experience. 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:10.079 They were like, no, we like the way you engaged or whatever. 00:41:10.159 --> 00:41:12.480 And so I had a I had a uh an audition. 00:41:12.559 --> 00:41:13.679 It was myself. 00:41:13.840 --> 00:41:17.039 Um, it was the in-game arena host for the Connecticut Sun. 00:41:17.199 --> 00:41:17.440 Okay. 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:20.480 And there was a radio person from Cat Country. 00:41:20.639 --> 00:41:20.960 Oh. 00:41:21.440 --> 00:41:22.000 Yeah. 00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:29.119 And uh I did my thing, and and and three coaches later, a number of biggies championships. 00:41:29.360 --> 00:41:31.360 Um I didn't know. 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.559 What a fun life experience. 00:41:32.639 --> 00:41:34.320 What made you step away? 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:37.280 Was it just kind of the prioritization they were talking about? 00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:39.119 Yeah, a little bit of that, yes. 00:41:39.519 --> 00:41:42.639 But I think it could be so I wanted another challenge. 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:43.840 I wanted the next step. 00:41:44.000 --> 00:41:44.559 It was time. 00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:45.280 It was time. 00:41:45.440 --> 00:41:45.679 Yeah. 00:41:45.920 --> 00:41:52.079 For our chamber members, building something from scratch, and really like you have the credentials, you have the history. 00:41:52.159 --> 00:41:57.280 So it wasn't really from scratch for HSI, but building a nonprofit, I mean, from the jump. 00:41:57.440 --> 00:42:00.960 What's one thing you wish someone had told you year one of that? 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:02.639 Oh man. 00:42:02.880 --> 00:42:10.400 I wish someone would have told me about the paying attention to details. 00:42:11.039 --> 00:42:17.760 Again, that the the romanticizing, you know, I'm not I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a business owner, right? 00:42:17.840 --> 00:42:18.960 Yeah, that sounds cool. 00:42:19.039 --> 00:42:19.199 Yeah. 00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:21.599 But, you know, do you have QuickBooks? 00:42:21.920 --> 00:42:22.559 You know what I mean? 00:42:22.800 --> 00:42:23.760 Shout out to QuickBooks. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:24.960 Yeah, you know what I mean? 00:42:25.039 --> 00:42:29.039 Like, do you have your, you know, do you know about your like taxes, right? 00:42:29.199 --> 00:42:35.920 Like just all of those things, particularly if you're someone who doesn't have that skill set, that skill set, that background. 00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:48.639 And I would say um building those relationships, you know, there is so much value in investing in in investment in in yourself. 00:42:48.719 --> 00:42:53.599 And and what I mean by that, investing in a membership like the the chamber, right? 00:42:53.679 --> 00:42:54.079 You know what I mean? 00:42:54.400 --> 00:42:55.440 Amazing segue, Harrison. 00:42:55.599 --> 00:42:56.159 Yeah, you know. 00:42:56.559 --> 00:43:00.000 Tell us about your membership with the chamber. 00:43:00.079 --> 00:43:13.840 I just uh but it is from a we hear a lot from small businesses and then executives at companies, and that's a lot of our membership, but from a nonprofit standpoint, yeah, like how do you interact with the chamber and and you know? 00:43:14.159 --> 00:43:38.400 Yeah, so I think it's about again the the relationship building, um, you know, uh understanding and identifying um other businesses, whether for or nonprofit, that share similar missions, um, and seeing where there might be some synergy in terms of um support and collaboration. 00:43:38.719 --> 00:43:45.599 Um, you know, we have a number of um um part of our organizational chart. 00:43:45.679 --> 00:43:49.599 You know, our grant writer um was via, you know, the chamber. 00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:50.079 That's great. 00:43:50.400 --> 00:43:51.039 You know what I mean? 00:43:51.360 --> 00:43:59.760 Um and and a number of just different different parts of of what we do, um, I can I can say emphatically and proudly. 00:44:00.400 --> 00:46:00.239 um it came from the chamber and it it it's it's really about finding that to me finding that synergy so being intentional about going to the to to the you know the coffee the meetups and you know um just leveraging and utilizing the the dollars that you know that come into your membership you know and I think again um I don't I I I don't know if it's a mindset thing I don't know what it is but I just I the the word that keeps coming to mind is just intentionality about how to leverage you know that network yeah right and not just go and show up and you know take photo ops but like really hey how you doing this this is what I have going on and you know um trying to you know uh see where there could be some um you know just relationship building support for work and wonder comes from Coastal One Credit Union for nearly a century Coastal One has partnered with Rhode Islanders to build stronger financial futures stronger businesses and stronger communities by investing in our members employees and neighborhoods Coastal One is helping create opportunities across the ocean state learn more at one of our 19 convenient branches throughout Rhode Island Coastal One Credit Union local people local decisions the smarter way to bank I think the chamber is a great example of like a classic a thing that I've always had in my career which is like I can be the connector like I might might not have that skill specifically but like I know a guy right and and that is I think what one of the benefits of the chamber is that can always reach out to any one of us who work at the chamber day to day right but also coming to those events and just sharing with others they might say oh you're working on this I actually know somebody who's been looking to invest in a in something just like that. 00:46:01.599 --> 00:46:10.639 Exactly I think that that connecting point and just not being afraid to reach out right I mean that's literally what we're here for and what we want to do for people.

00:46:10.719 --> 00:46:12.559 So I think that's that's really good advice. 00:46:13.840 --> 00:46:26.800 You know here at Work and Wonder we like to talk about what we are curious about and what we wonder about and that's sort of our thing that we're we're just constantly is there something it could be anything that you are endlessly curious about right now. 00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:29.119 Like what is on your radar? 00:46:32.159 --> 00:46:41.760 What is something that I'm curious about it could be anything yeah AI it could be like what are you what are you on in your what are you googling? 00:46:43.039 --> 00:46:51.280 I think I I I mean I'm I'm I'm curious about how my daughters are gonna navigate this world. 00:46:51.760 --> 00:46:54.559 And it's there's concerns there for all of us. 00:46:54.880 --> 00:48:53.679 Yeah that's real that's real so I I I really want I want to make sure that they're empowered you know what I mean and then um you're the perfect girl dad by the way I was thinking about that this morning I'm all about that yeah I'm all about that you know what I mean like we do affirmations in the morning all that um so yeah I'm curious about how my girls are gonna grow up you know uh in an AI world and um with you know uh laptop not laptops um iPads and all this other stuff you know what I mean like I I I want them to I'm curious about how they're gonna hold on to their own authenticity identity and so forth um that is that's yeah so that would be a great answer yeah all right lightning round at the end here rapid fire what's the HSI program you're most proud of the album club yeah uh what's a album could be hip hop or otherwise you wish more people knew about um okay hip hop comment beat um non-hip hop carol king tapestry just hit me with those two have you seen beautiful the Carol King musical no we'll talk about it after um it's beautiful it's beautiful yeah uh what's one word your daughters would use to describe you man I guess more so hope because she's got she's seven yeah yeah um that would use to describe me um I don't know probably crazy that that means fun you know everything um okay final question is yeah I wanted to ask you what your favorite you know you at HSI you guys go through in the album club you annotate lyrics you go through them you study them I know I I think I know that your favorite artist of all time is Nas. 00:48:53.920 --> 00:49:51.519 Nas yeah yeah what is your favorite slash most inspiring Nas quote of all time oh gosh um do you have a bar that sticks out to you um yeah uh in New York state of mind he says um beyond the walls of intelligence life is defined I think a crime when I'm in a New York state of mind and and I think about like just the idea when I hear those lyrics I think of how he um going above and beyond like I'm serious like like going beyond the status quo going beyond what it what is deemed as normal um just like being intentional about greatness you know like that's that's that's really you know life is defined in that when you color outside the lines you know and so for me that's that's a that's a line that sticks out to me. 00:49:51.920 --> 00:50:00.159 Being intentional about greatness I think you just named the episode of the podcast Harrison thank you so much for being here today what I want to know finally is how can people support HSI? 00:50:00.239 --> 00:51:30.400 How can they find you and what is the best way that people can do what is the best thing that people can do to support the best thing people can do to support um you know is uh two ways you know one uh visit our website uh hopescholarspvd.org um and you know share share uh share the word about some of the great things that we're doing we're really you know part of the vision is to um create chapters in in some of the uh uh different communities so HSI Providence HSI Waysaki HSI Pawtucket um and then also you know you can donate you can donate we are uh 501c3 and so you know we really um part of our uh functionality is from the investment from the community and so there's a direct relationship with our young people workforce development and the future of this state yes um and so you know if you're if you're someone who is um really passionate about that kind of stuff um visit our website and uh support donate awesome that's it yeah thank you for joining me Harrison thank you the sophomore who asked if he could wrap his Buddhism project is now building entire programs around the idea that young people walk in the door already brilliant and I loved Harrison's advice for anyone building something from scratch get your QuickBooks in order and be intentional about your network. 00:51:30.559 --> 00:51:32.320 Don't just show up for the photo op. 00:51:32.639 --> 00:51:34.639 Tell people what you've got going on. 00:51:34.880 --> 00:51:43.199 If this conversation got you fired up you can see Hope Scholars in action at one night only HSI's signature annual fundraiser. 00:51:43.360 --> 00:51:49.840 It's happening Friday November 13th from 6 to 8 p.m at 1017 Broad Street in Providence. 00:51:50.079 --> 00:51:56.239 This year's theme is From healing to hope and they'll be recognizing their level up scholarship recipients. 00:51:56.639 --> 00:52:02.800 Every ticket helps fund HSI's work in literacy, mentorship and workforce readiness for Rhode Island youth. 00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:11.199 Grab yours at hopescholarspvd.org and if you enjoyed this episode follow work in wonder wherever you get your podcast and leave us a review. 00:52:11.360 --> 00:52:13.599 It really helps other listeners find us. 00:52:13.920 --> 00:52:32.639 You can learn more about the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce and everything we've got coming up at nrichamber.com Work and Wonder is a production of the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce hosted by me, Lauren Malloy and Bethany Kent with guest hosting by Monica Zuluaga. 00:52:33.119 --> 00:52:39.039 Executive producers are Lauren Malloy and Bethany Kent for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. 00:52:39.360 --> 00:52:52.320 Editing by Lauren Malloy Coordinator for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber Bethany Kent production assistance by Emma Kazarowski of Center Bank and Emily Gates of the United Way of Rhode Island. 00:52:52.559 --> 00:52:55.440 Mixed and mastered by Retna Creative Lab. 00:52:55.840 --> 00:53:03.280 Audio engineer Dan Phillips season one of Work and Wonder made possible by Coastal One Credit Union. 00:53:03.519 --> 00:53:10.880 Special thanks to the Northern Rhode Island Chamber Emerging Leaders Council for their ideas and enthusiasm in shaping Work and Wonder