[NEW EPISODE] Leading the Charge to Dismantle Racism
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EPISODE SUMMARY: 

The Martin Luther King Center in Newport, RI strives to bring equity to the community by offering over 25 programs designed to address educational, nutritional, emotional wellbeing, and more. Executive Director Heather Strout says that they are committed to anti-racism training as a staff and board. The journey to dismantling racism is often frustrating and difficult, and those on the journey must have the skills, knowledge, and abilities to be effective in this goal.

Join Rev. Dr. TLC as she discusses with Heather the highs and lows of leading an organization in this charge. Hear about the important of the center. Listen in as they discuss how her racial identity impacts people’s response to and expectations of her as the center’s leader.

Tune in for this important conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Show Notes

Segment 1

The goal of the show is to educate and help eradicate racism. Rev. Dr. TLC explains that she hopes to motivate her listeners to do the work and dismantle racism. She encourages her listeners to subscribe to the show and share it with their friends. Rev. Dr. TLC begins the show with a guided meditation to prepare us for today’s topic. Dismantling racism is a journey you have to commit to. There will be times when you make a mistake or feel like giving up but it’s important to stay consistent. Rev. Dr. TLC explains that she has been doing this work for over 20 years and she still learns new things that she can grow from. She introduces her guest Heather Strout, who is Executive Director of MLK Jr. Center in Rhode Island. MLK Jr. Center offers over 25 programs to the community to address educational, nutritional, emotional well-being and plenty of more. Rev. Dr. TLC asks Heather what drew her to wanting to be on the MLK Jr. Board.

Segment 2

Rev. Dr. TLC asks Heather about her experience being on the board and what kind of interactions has she had. Heather explains that diversity of her board is not where it needs to be. She adds that they are having a diversity training in the up coming weeks. Heather’s staff is closing their services so they can receive the training. She explains that it is a requirement for the board which is not common. Rev. Dr. TLC asks Heather what is a position like as a white woman. Heather shares that a lot of people don’t expect her to be white in her position. She adds explains of how she continues to do the work like when her staff calls each other out when they are for example, othering.

Segment 3

Heather breaks down some of the demographic her center services. She also shares the types of programs they offer. 40 perfect of the demographic is white and about 26 percent is black or identifies as biracial. Heatehr explains that there is a growing number of hispanics each year. There has been a big change in the community in the past ten years. Heather discusses the hunger relief program and other resources MLK center offers including a preschool and an after school.

Segment 4

 Rev. Dr. TLC asks Heather what were some difficult decisions she had to make as Director, particularly as it relates to equity. Heather explains that she had to make some difficult decision during the height of George Floyd. Rev. Dr. TLC asks Heather What grounds her to help her continue to do this work. If you would like to donate to the MLK center you can donate at MLKCCenter.org.

Transcript

00:00:32.770 --> 00:00:46.000 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: hello and welcome to the dismantle racism show. I am your host, the river Doctor Tlc. As always, I'm super delighted that you have chosen to join me for our show today.

00:00:46.330 --> 00:01:06.610 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Our aim of the show is to dismantle racism. We wanna educate people on how to do that. We wanna provide examples of of folks who've been in the journey a little bit longer, who talk about, or maybe maybe not so long, much longer than some of you, but who talk about some of the things that they've done.

00:01:06.980 --> 00:01:22.749 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: in hopes that it will inspire you to go out and do what you can, in hopes that it will just motivate you, and to keep you going on this journey of of faith, this, which which is what I call it as a sacred intelligence journey of faith.

00:01:22.750 --> 00:01:43.650 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: To be able to do this faith in yourself, that you can change the status quo faith, that other people are there to support you. And really for me, faith in something much bigger than we are. So I'm so excited that you've joined. I wanted to ask you if you would if you've not done so already. So please make sure

00:01:43.830 --> 00:01:55.209 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that you subscribe to the show that you tell other people about the show, so they, too, may know how to dismantle racism and how to eradicate

00:01:55.230 --> 00:01:59.910 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: racism. And if you've not done so, please pick up a copy of my book.

00:02:00.550 --> 00:02:17.089 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: dismantling racism, healing separation from the inside out, because this work that we do takes a lot of internal work, and we'll talk about that a little bit on the show today. But as always, I want to get started

00:02:17.160 --> 00:02:21.099 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and have us to center ourselves, to focus ourselves

00:02:21.130 --> 00:02:36.569 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and get ready to have some stimulating conversation. So if you are able to, if you're not driving or doing something else that you that requires your attention, I would love for you to just close your eyes just for a moment.

00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:43.760 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: planning your feet solidly on the ground. If you're outside the floor, if you're inside

00:02:43.810 --> 00:02:52.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and just begin to breathe and just breathe in and out. connecting with your life source.

00:02:54.440 --> 00:02:57.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connecting yourself with

00:02:58.640 --> 00:03:00.959 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those who came before you.

00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:04.279 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those who stand with you now.

00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:08.559 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and those that will come after you

00:03:10.170 --> 00:03:17.519 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: just breathe in and out, and for a moment think about your work in dismantling racism.

00:03:19.510 --> 00:03:21.419 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Think about your commitment.

00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:24.149 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: your courage.

00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:30.619 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Think about what drives you and motivates you.

00:03:32.400 --> 00:03:35.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: think about what you need to continue the journey.

00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:41.020 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: just breathe in and out.

00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:45.649 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: thinking about the questions you might have

00:03:48.950 --> 00:03:51.599 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breathe in

00:03:51.770 --> 00:03:52.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and out.

00:03:55.580 --> 00:03:58.710 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: knowing that you are more than capable

00:03:59.130 --> 00:04:01.229 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of changing the status quo

00:04:04.580 --> 00:04:08.490 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: breathe in and out, connecting with your body.

00:04:09.320 --> 00:04:13.480 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: connecting with your mind connecting with your spirit.

00:04:17.910 --> 00:04:21.600 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and in this moment of breathing in and out.

00:04:22.640 --> 00:04:27.080 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: know that you are exactly where you're supposed to be.

00:04:28.320 --> 00:04:34.199 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are in the right body. You are in the right gender.

00:04:35.140 --> 00:04:39.230 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are in the right socioeconomic class.

00:04:41.080 --> 00:04:48.310 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You are right where you're meant to be to do this work. and you've been called

00:04:48.490 --> 00:04:51.249 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: for such a time as this.

00:04:54.270 --> 00:04:56.639 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So take one more deep breath in.

00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:00.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and as you sigh it out slowly.

00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.940 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: recognize that the power of one

00:05:05.360 --> 00:05:08.429 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: contributes to the power of many.

00:05:13.210 --> 00:05:17.269 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Take one more deep breath in and let it out very slowly.

00:05:19.460 --> 00:05:24.770 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and we say, and so it is ashay. Amen.

00:05:28.140 --> 00:05:44.009 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I don't know about you all, but I always feel much better even after I do the meditation, because I do the meditation, as you know, because you've been listening for a while but for those of you who may be new to the show, I do it because connecting with our breath

00:05:44.290 --> 00:05:52.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: is one of the ways in which we learn how to wait through the discomfort. So if we're having a conversation with someone.

00:05:52.620 --> 00:05:55.709 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and we're feeling uncomfortable, and let's say.

00:05:56.080 --> 00:06:15.889 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the conversation is around race. It could be a conversation that's an interracial dialogue. It could be intra racial dialogue. It could be a conversation that you're having with a family member, and you just don't agree with what they're saying. If you take a moment to breathe through the discomfort.

00:06:16.440 --> 00:06:39.389 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the answer, or the response that you need will come to you. And so I always began to show with a breath, as a way of modeling for you how to get through the uncomfortable conversations. And generally you know my guest and I, we have really good dynamic conversations. But that doesn't mean it's not impacting some of you who are hearing it.

00:06:39.510 --> 00:06:45.329 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You could be stirred up in the process. and if you are, I'll say one, I'll say good.

00:06:45.560 --> 00:06:51.200 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but 2. It's a chance for you to to practice the breathing technique.

00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:58.189 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Earlier this week I was doing a a training, and I was doing it at a a community college.

00:06:58.250 --> 00:07:04.510 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I had students there. I had some administrators, teachers who were present, and

00:07:04.760 --> 00:07:05.680 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know

00:07:06.030 --> 00:07:11.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: it. It was dynamic to be able to remind them that they need to breathe.

00:07:11.370 --> 00:07:21.000 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: But one of the things that I wanted to say to that I said to them, and I wanted to say to you. This is a long haul journey.

00:07:21.610 --> 00:07:33.450 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: People often ask me for quick fixes when I'm in training. and I always say to them, you can't go to a 1 h training and think you know everything there is to dismantle racism.

00:07:33.840 --> 00:07:43.430 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Matter of fact, you could be studying this for a year, and you're still going to make mistakes. There's still more learning you have to do.

00:07:43.790 --> 00:07:55.889 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I've been doing this for over 20 years of training people in dismantling racism. I learn new things all the time. even in terms of my approach to training people.

00:07:56.880 --> 00:07:59.330 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I make mistakes sometimes.

00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:11.970 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because as a person of color who's doing this work, whenever I'm training, I have to make sure that I'm holding care for the people of color who are in that room, who may be triggered and wounded at the time.

00:08:12.730 --> 00:08:14.920 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and I also have to push

00:08:15.030 --> 00:08:27.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: people who are not so familiar with how to dismantle racism. Or I have to push someone white. For instance, if they're saying things that I know that I need to push them on. And so there's a balance there.

00:08:28.380 --> 00:08:37.719 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So I'm constantly learning, and I'm sharing this with you because I want you to know that this is a long journey.

00:08:38.150 --> 00:08:51.420 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You can't just listen to the show and what other people are doing, and think that you're super informed. And now you can go out and either do this work or you know how to interact with folks who differ from you racially.

00:08:52.150 --> 00:08:54.740 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: It takes being committed.

00:08:55.130 --> 00:09:04.440 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And my guest today Heather Straout is one of those people who's extremely committed to doing the work of dismantling racism.

00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:18.210 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Before I tell you about heather. II do want to say she's the executive director of the Martin Luther King Center in Newport, Rhode Island, and I want to tell you a little bit about the center before I introduce you to her.

00:09:18.340 --> 00:09:42.690 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: The the Mlk Center and Rhode Island strives to bring equity to the community. They offer 25 plus programs that are designed to address educational, nutritional emotional well being and a lot more. And so Heather says that they are committed to anti racism training. And we've discussed that word anti racism on this show before. But

00:09:42.720 --> 00:09:53.879 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: the journey to dismantling racism, as I said, it's a long haul, and it can be very frustrating sometimes, and difficult. And you have to have the knowledge, skills, and

00:09:54.020 --> 00:10:17.239 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: really abilities to effectively reach your goals. And so Heather straout who joined the Mlk. Centers, for in June of 2015 has a long that really, that's almost 10 years actually, that you've been doing at this work heather she has a really long history of doing the work of racial

00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:36.569 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: equity. After a 25 year career of teaching at Clooney and Penfold Schools. She was named the Center's Assistant executive director in June of 2016, in conjunction with the Centers Bank of America, neighborhoods builder Award Heather was named the 37

00:10:36.570 --> 00:10:51.879 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: emerging Leader, where she participated in leadership development with nonprofit leaders from across the country. She was named the Center's Executive director in 2018 heather has led the centers on ceasing community response throughout COVID-19

00:10:52.390 --> 00:11:17.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: through the pandemic. And we know what that was like. And in 2022 she oversaw the Ml. Case milestone community celebration of his Centennial of its Centennial. Simultaneously heather steered the centers. 7 million Dollar Building Hope campaign which exceeds its goal. In just 8 months I could go on and on and on, and tell you about heather straout.

00:11:17.290 --> 00:11:28.720 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but she can tell you more about herself. I want to welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome, Heather! I wouldn't welcome you to the dismantle racism show. Thank you for joining me this morning

00:11:30.020 --> 00:11:51.870 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and just unmute yourself there heather as well. Yeah.

00:11:51.870 --> 00:12:00.939 Heather Strout she/her/hers: community. And that overflows and hopefully makes a more equitable state in a more equitable country, and so on, and so on. So thank you for for asking me to be here.

00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:07.169 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yes, so so heather we. We are going to talk about some of the programs in a bit. But

00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:13.580 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know what made you decide that you wanted to be on the board in the first place?

00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:36.780 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Because this was long before you became the executive director. So what drew you to? Mlk, yeah. So the Mlk center is 101 years old and I've lived. I was born and raised here in Newport. So I've known about the Mlk Center my whole life. But I'm embarrassed to say that until about 11 years ago I really wasn't familiar with

00:12:36.910 --> 00:12:57.909 Heather Strout she/her/hers: with what I needed to be familiar with, and I went to an event. I went to a fundraiser for the Mlk center. I was invited by the head of the board at the time, and I sat in the room for those 2 h, and I was a changed person and I knew immediately that I needed to be more involved in the Mlk center, and I

00:12:58.230 --> 00:13:25.579 Heather Strout she/her/hers: started to volunteer and got involved in that way. Then I was asked to join the board, and then there was a position coming up as the assistant executive director. It was a new position that was being built for succession planning, and II couldn't. I couldn't sleep at night thinking about how I wanted to work so badly in this in this work, and I loved every minute of being a teacher, but it was time for me to do something different. So

00:13:25.580 --> 00:13:49.160 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I resigned from the board, and I applied for this position, and I interviewed, you know, like other people did and I was thankfully offered a a position, and and honestly, I am where I meant to be. You said at the beginning, when we were doing that breathing, that that right now we're where we're supposed to be, and I firmly believe that I was put in this position. It's it's a calling. It's an honor

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:56.430 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and and I know I take it very seriously. What we do in the community and and how we do it.

00:13:56.600 --> 00:14:08.109 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You know, II love that, you said Calling, because I think this work is a calling. There are there sacrifices that to be made all the time, and and you know I use the term is difficult to do it

00:14:08.230 --> 00:14:32.170 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you in order for you to stay the course of doing this work. You you gotta just be called to do it right. But but Heather, we have to take a really quick break, and when we come back I do want to just continue the conversation around. Not just you, as a white person being on the board, but really kind of thinking about other white people who serve on boards. And then we're gonna talk about what's what's it like to be white

00:14:32.170 --> 00:14:44.450 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and to be the head of the Mlk center. Because, you know, we when we use that word mlk, we generally know the population is serves, although you have some thoughts about that as well. So let's take a really quick break.

00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:48.989 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: This is the dismantle racism show. We will be right back.

00:16:56.650 --> 00:17:12.340 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we're back with the dismantle racism. Show my guest today is Heather Stout, who is the executive director of the Mlk. Center in Newport, you know. Heather. So you mentioned being on the board of Mlk. And

00:17:12.349 --> 00:17:16.020 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: often I know, even from my experience, that

00:17:16.690 --> 00:17:24.160 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: there there are many white people who serve on the boards of centers like this, and sometimes

00:17:24.300 --> 00:17:26.339 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: those people are serving

00:17:26.450 --> 00:17:32.960 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: because it's a feel good thing to do or they don't. They still have their

00:17:33.410 --> 00:17:58.080 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: stereotypes about the people they're serving, or they are. Have a savior complex like I'm here to save these poor little kids of well, and I mean poor literally, and in a metaphorical sense, these poor little kids or families, or people who can't do any better. So tell me a little bit about your experience sitting on on the board. What do you? What do you find? Mostly

00:17:58.490 --> 00:18:00.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: with board members?

00:18:00.620 --> 00:18:11.899 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Yeah. So I was set on the board for a very short time, actually until this position came up. But of course I am, and part of the board as the executive director, and I.

00:18:12.010 --> 00:18:36.470 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I hear what you're saying, and that is something that our board. We have a very difficult time with diversity of our board. It's you know, our staff is another story. That's something in our last strategic plan. We made it our goal to increase the diversity of our staff, and I'm I'm really proud to say that we have beyond exceeded my expectations in that. But, as far as our board goes, I, you know, not

00:18:36.470 --> 00:18:43.209 Heather Strout she/her/hers: proud to say that. The diversity of our board is not what it needs to be. But II think

00:18:43.590 --> 00:19:05.379 Heather Strout she/her/hers: part of it is is doing the work, you know. Next week we have a retreat of our board. It's the second one that we've done in the past 6 months of of, you know, anti racism training with our board and and trying to get to a more equitable place and doing that, we have to start at the very top of the organization, which is why I have been embedded in this work

00:19:06.130 --> 00:19:21.470 Heather Strout she/her/hers: for my entire time involved with with the Mlk center. And it's it's like you said. It's a long journey, and it's a journey that I will be on for the rest of my life. I know that because that's what I should be doing as as a human being.

00:19:21.510 --> 00:19:32.679 Heather Strout she/her/hers: But it's something that's required of our board, and it's something that II hope they all are doing it because they want to be doing it, not because it's required, and that's the same with our staff. We

00:19:32.910 --> 00:19:41.710 Heather Strout she/her/hers: we did not close down for one single day during Covid. We were here in person, working every single day as scary as it was.

00:19:41.800 --> 00:20:00.299 Heather Strout she/her/hers: But we've closed down already, or we are but about to close down for a second day our services for a day this year, or to do this work with our with our staff, so that everybody can be in the room together for an entire day doing these trainings, having these conversations and if if my staff

00:20:01.060 --> 00:20:20.759 Heather Strout she/her/hers: has that, then it's going to only trickle down to our 500 volunteers. And it's only gonna trickle down to the people that we that we serve. So that's how seriously we take it. In that we are closing down again for a second day in the past 6 months to do this work with our entire staff. And it's it's a requirement of them.

00:20:20.830 --> 00:20:31.859 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Yeah. But but you said, it's a requirement of the board as well. And I think that's great, because that doesn't always happen, and I find that there'll be people sitting on boards that

00:20:32.430 --> 00:20:50.829 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: feel like I don't really need to have this training because I I'm I'm I'm serving in this way. I'm I'm serving to help things make things better. And so I really appreciate you saying that that is so. That is a requirement of your board. Now talk to me a little bit about

00:20:50.890 --> 00:21:13.010 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What? What pushback have you received being a white woman sitting in this position? Because often when we think about the head of equity and inclusion, or we think about centers that serve predominantly people of color, which II think you have some different stats where you are. What? What pushback do you get?

00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:18.800 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Yeah, I mean, I'm certainly asked quite often, especially when I first started this position.

00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:30.589 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know that people would say, Wow! I when I met you I expected you, I expect, didn't expect you to be a white person, and II understand that and I think for me, that's that's

00:21:31.070 --> 00:21:34.829 Heather Strout she/her/hers: something that that people do feel but I

00:21:35.360 --> 00:21:53.739 Heather Strout she/her/hers: think that I have proven, and I continue to try to prove myself to anybody who says that that I am the person to lead this organization, and that it's my job to surround myself with the other people who will do this work and do it with an equity lens, and make sure that they are

00:21:53.950 --> 00:22:14.629 Heather Strout she/her/hers: always trying to step back and see. How can we do better? How can we? How can we do this work and make everybody in our community feel included, and and not others. That's something we talk about all the time as a staff othering. And you know, I'll say, you know, that's othering. And you know we? We call each other out on it, because

00:22:14.800 --> 00:22:21.010 Heather Strout she/her/hers: again, we're human beings, and sometimes you have to catch yourself doing things and stop. Take a step back

00:22:21.080 --> 00:22:23.820 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and know that you need to do better.

00:22:23.990 --> 00:22:44.030 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Well, what I what I appreciate is that you're continuing to do the work. Sometimes people are involved in this work again, and they in the work of dismantling racism, and they don't bother to go deeper into uncover the ways in which you have implicit biases. And you know.

00:22:44.030 --> 00:22:58.600 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what I love about it is is that you're showing up authentically as who you are. You don't have to pretend like you're black, as we know some people have done it to say I'm a black woman, and and in fact, they aren't

00:22:58.610 --> 00:23:02.089 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to do this work. I think it is your passion.

00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:09.790 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and you're calling, as you said, that continues to drive you Have there been ways, though.

00:23:09.900 --> 00:23:37.689 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: that being a white woman has served you to be able to connect more with certain people so that you get donations or so that you get people who are willing to come in. Do you think that race has impacted any of that for you. I yeah, I mean, I think I would be not being honest with myself and with your listeners if I said, No, II think, of course, I think every day as a white woman I have privileges that

00:23:39.470 --> 00:23:52.309 Heather Strout she/her/hers: come out because of that can I say specific examples. No, I really can't think of specific examples or off the top of my head, but I know by knowing what the perception of people

00:23:52.510 --> 00:24:09.759 Heather Strout she/her/hers: is that that? Yes, I'm sure that my color has allowed us to connect with people that maybe it wouldn't have if I want to go back to something, though Heather. Thank you for answering that you said that your board isn't diverse. Why do you think that's the case? Like.

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:15.160 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know, it's it's something that we struggle with in that

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:31.720 Heather Strout she/her/hers: honestly, all of the other nonprofits in our community, I shouldn't say all. But I've had this conversation with many, many of the other nonprofits in our community who are struggling with the same thing. And II don't really know the simple answer to that. What I know is that we need to try harder

00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:48.860 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and to reach farther, and we need to make sure that we there's no excuses for it. I don't wanna make up excuses for it because there aren't it's something that we that I need to. The next time I talk to you I need to be able to tell you this is the work that we've done to change that

00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:53.670 Heather Strout she/her/hers: statistic, because again, we've been able to do this with our staff very, very

00:24:53.670 --> 00:25:09.689 Heather Strout she/her/hers: well, and that's always something that we're we're looking towards. We want our staff to look like our clients and and we've done a really good job of that. I'm you know, proud of that work. So the board is is something, we're working on

00:25:09.860 --> 00:25:27.020 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what are some of and I'm, gonna hold, you to that heather? Maybe not. The next time we talk, because we might be talking, you know soon. Who knows but but I will hold you to that to say, how are you all doing? With that? You know, in this journey, though what are some of the

00:25:27.390 --> 00:25:35.289 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: what's been? Some of the the mistakes you've made, or some of your your learnings, even through this process, as a white woman

00:25:35.670 --> 00:25:46.410 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: who is in the throes of advocating for racial equity, economic equity. You know all of these things. What would have been some

00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:51.640 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: learnings or and some mistakes? Those are sort of 2 different questions. But

00:25:51.740 --> 00:26:03.309 Heather Strout she/her/hers: perhaps we can get to one before the break. Well, I think one of the things that I've learned and I've tried to to always remember. But it's something I definitely wasn't as good at as I'm am now, is

00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:31.009 Heather Strout she/her/hers: not making decisions for other people, and not assuming that I know what somebody else needs, but actually involving involving people that we help in the conversations of what? What do you need, and how? How can we do better? And you know some of the like. We have a food pantry. It's it's the largest food pantry in Newport County. I know a lot of listeners probably think Newport, Rhode island that's yachts and mansions. And

00:26:31.030 --> 00:26:47.409 Heather Strout she/her/hers: what does she mean? There's a it's the largest food pantry. One of the largest in the state of Rhode Island, in fact, and some of the things that we have in place at our food pantry we're looking at now, because right now we pair up a volunteer with the client when they shop, and

00:26:47.540 --> 00:27:00.400 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know I think about that. I'm like when I go to Shaw's. I don't have someone pulling my grocery cart around with me, telling me what I can take and what I can't take. So those are the conversations that we're having right now as a staff of

00:27:00.850 --> 00:27:25.099 Heather Strout she/her/hers: why are we doing that? Why did we start doing that? And if if there's a reason why we started doing that which there were reasons, do we need to still do that. One of the things that's happening here right now, and which is why I'm in a closet right now. If you can't tell as we are, as you said, going through a large construction expansion of our building, and our food pantry is double our new food pantry is gonna be about double the size. Well.

00:27:25.450 --> 00:27:38.819 Heather Strout she/her/hers: the reason why we started that matching up a volunteer to a shopper was because our food pantry is so small we needed to keep things moving. So we didn't have lines of people waiting outside. Well, when we open up our new food pantry.

00:27:38.850 --> 00:27:45.259 Heather Strout she/her/hers: if there are not lines of people waiting outside. There is no reason why we need to have people shopping with other people, because that's othering.

00:27:45.280 --> 00:28:05.449 Heather Strout she/her/hers: And we're we don't wanna we don't wanna do that. So that's a mistake that we're making right now. Is is making people feel that way when they shop, and it's it is something that we're having lots of conversations about. And again, I hope to be able to save you that we really looked at that. And we changed the way we do that to make people

00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:08.839 Heather Strout she/her/hers: feel respected and valued and

00:28:09.330 --> 00:28:22.389 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: equitable. So so the other thing I hear you doing through your process is, there's a continued mindset of assessing where you are now, and how do we make things better? And I think that's the mark

00:28:22.390 --> 00:28:41.560 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: of a good leader. We have to take a break, and when we come back heather, I'd love for you to really talk a little bit about your programs. You know some of them you got over 25, so you can't talk about all of them. But I'd love to hear about who you serve since you mentioned being in Newport. And people think about how wealthy

00:28:41.560 --> 00:29:05.940 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know Newport is who you serve and what are some of the programs you offer. So in the meantime, for those of you who are listening, please go to Facebook or Youtube, and just send your questions or comments. And we would love to hear from you, and if you're watching it after the show airs, send your comments into us anyway, because we'd love to know what you think we'll be right back with the Dismantle racism show.

00:31:07.630 --> 00:31:33.729 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we're back with my guest today. Heather Strauss, who is the executive director of the Mlk. Center and Newport and heather before the break. You know, we were talking about who you serve. You know that people might be surprised at who you serve. Can you? Just tell us a little bit about the population you to serve. You serve the demographics and

00:31:33.800 --> 00:31:38.410 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and then maybe share with us some of the programs as well that you offer.

00:31:38.620 --> 00:32:05.310 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Sure, I'd love to. So just so everyone knows the reason why you might hear some noise in the background is I am working in the middle of programs right now, and on the other side of the door, right there we are serving lunch to about usually about a hundred 50 people in our community, so you can hear probably voices, and I apologize for that. But I also think it's really important for me to always be here in the space because things come up that I'm needed for So

00:32:05.310 --> 00:32:29.170 Heather Strout she/her/hers: we serve all of Newport County, which is 7 communities here in Rhode Island and we serve last year. A little over 6,000 people. Some of those people come to the center for for help every day. Some people might come here every month, and some people might come here only a few times a year. We are definitely seeing an increase in need, especially in our hunger relief programming, which is

00:32:29.170 --> 00:32:42.430 Heather Strout she/her/hers: one of the 3 main headings of programs that we do. We serve a lot of different people in our community. And our our actually, our our clients very much reflect our staff. As I said earlier,

00:32:42.450 --> 00:33:05.029 Heather Strout she/her/hers: 40% of the people that we serve are are white and about 13% identify as black and 13% identify as biracial. So and then we have a very large growing population of Hispanic people in our community that is growing year over year. We've seen a big change in our community. Over the past 10 years.

00:33:05.030 --> 00:33:12.519 Heather Strout she/her/hers: And so you know, having Spanish speaking staff, and making sure that we are again making everybody feel welcome

00:33:12.600 --> 00:33:37.569 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and respected, is is part of that as far as what our programs do. We have 3 main components. We have our hunger relief programming which brings food equity out to our community. We have programs here on site, we have programs that we bring out to all different neighborhoods, especially neighborhoods. In Newport County, where transportation is a barrier, we really focus on fresh, healthy food. We know that people.

00:33:37.570 --> 00:33:49.169 Heather Strout she/her/hers: People who are poor deserve to eat the same food as people who are not so. Fresh produce is something that is offered here every day. And we we have.

00:33:49.200 --> 00:34:15.330 Heather Strout she/her/hers: we. We give out so much pre fresh produce. And we know that that's what people want. And we we make sure that we always have a large variety of of things like that. We also have a mobile food pantry that goes out into neighborhoods and sets up food pantries throughout our community. We have food delivery to homebound seniors and disabled people. We have produce to the people a program that sets up produce

00:34:15.330 --> 00:34:26.739 Heather Strout she/her/hers: what what you can imagine as a small farmers, market, and neighborhoods throughout Newport County, and all of what I'm talking about is that no cost to individuals who who need help.

00:34:26.920 --> 00:34:39.469 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Excuse me just for 1 s, then your food pantry. Is there a minimum income or a maximum income that you must?

00:34:39.469 --> 00:34:54.809 Heather Strout she/her/hers: No, that's that's a really good question. And I think that's something that maybe we can all learn from that. There is not. When when someone comes through the first time we do an intake on them similar to what you would do if you went to a doctor's office for the first time, except for a lot less questions.

00:34:54.810 --> 00:35:11.119 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and we try to make it as easy and equitable as possible by, you know, helping people doing it for them if they need it on whatever whatever needs to happen to make that an easy and respectful process for them. But we need that for Grant reporting and the questions that we get asked on grants, which is.

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:27.570 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know, about a quarter or more of our total budget, is Grant. So we have to have the answers to the questions on grants, which is something I push back on all the time to our Grant funders. Why do you need to know this? Why do you need to know that. You know, I try to try to eliminate those questions when I can.

00:35:27.570 --> 00:35:56.790 Heather Strout she/her/hers: But we do ask how much someone's income is, because that again is something that's reported. But if somebody came through the doors today and they said that their income last year was $500,000, we would not turn them away, because everybody has circumstances, and just because somebody is wealthy doesn't mean that tomorrow their life circumstances could change in a minute, and they could be in a totally different place, and we have seen that happen, and that person stepping through the doors is

00:35:56.860 --> 00:36:12.470 Heather Strout she/her/hers: a very difficult thing for them, and we know that no one, when no one wakes up in the morning and says I'm so happy that I'm in a situation that I have to go to a food pantry, you know. That's not. That's the reality that we want everyone to feel welcome. We don't, we don't.

00:36:12.820 --> 00:36:24.660 Heather Strout she/her/hers: We don't want to know where your circumstances are, unless you wanna tell us so that we can help you. But we wanna help anybody who needs help. And I have had some donors. And volunteers

00:36:25.000 --> 00:36:50.090 Heather Strout she/her/hers: ask those questions, you know, when someone pulls up in a in a nice car, and they'll say, How does that person have that car. And they and they question that. And I, this is the work I've done is I push right back at somebody that says something like that, because how do you know if that's their car? How do you know why they have that car? And why does that matter today? They need food, and that's what we're here for. So you know, making people look at things differently.

00:36:50.170 --> 00:37:17.220 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Is is part of this work is a big part of this work and that's something. It doesn't matter how much somebody makes, how much or how little we just wanna help them. Yeah, I thank you for you know, saying all of that, because there might be listeners out here who want to refer people to entries or they may need to go to a pantry themselves, because, like, you say, you know, it only takes a second for your life

00:37:17.230 --> 00:37:24.090 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to really change right? And not everybody can put away hundreds of thousands of dollars and

00:37:24.090 --> 00:37:48.149 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: in a bank account, so that if something happens right and so I wanna hear a little bit about your donors in in just a moment. But before we go there you were. You were telling me about all these great programs. And so I wanna make sure that we get a few more of those listed people are listening. Yeah, so that so hunger, relief programming is a big part of what we do. We also have education programs for young children.

00:37:48.150 --> 00:38:01.630 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Which include a preschool. And after school program and an amazing summer camp. That brings. You know, these also are about equity. We want the children who come to our programs to have the same experiences as their peers.

00:38:01.630 --> 00:38:28.909 Heather Strout she/her/hers: who's maybe their parents aren't working and can take them to after school sports and ballet and music lessons. And so we provide those things to our families who are all working parents. And the third thing that we do. Our community programs and our community programs are vast. They're everything from free exercise classes to free concerts, to support groups for Lgbtq, Ia. Plus teams to we we let our space

00:38:28.960 --> 00:38:45.119 Heather Strout she/her/hers: be used by a lot of different other nonprofits who offer things that maybe we don't offer. So we really believe in partnering with others. Because why do something when somebody's doing it? Better bring them in. And let's do this together. So our community programs are.

00:38:45.120 --> 00:39:02.629 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know, a big part of what we do cooking classes. And again, these are these are things that are at no cost to people in our community. And we do see people coming to our exercise classes, to our cooking classes, to our concerts who don't, who could pay for these things. And some of those people donate.

00:39:02.850 --> 00:39:07.109 Heather Strout she/her/hers: But it's about people being together and not looking at.

00:39:07.490 --> 00:39:08.670 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know

00:39:09.200 --> 00:39:31.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: who they are and and how much they make. But just people being people it's about, it's. And it's really about beloved community, as Dr. King would say, right. And I think that in order for us to understand each other racially, culturally, economically, we have to be able to be in relationship with people who differ from us. So

00:39:31.890 --> 00:39:43.479 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know, with your volunteers. Where do they mostly? Where do you mostly get them from? Are you finding that people from all socioeconomic status statuses will come and volunteer or

00:39:43.770 --> 00:40:07.460 Heather Strout she/her/hers: yes, we are. And actually, we're seeing a lot more lately of our clients wanting to also volunteer which we love. Our breakfast program, which is every day from 7, 30 to 9. We have about 75 people in our community who come for breakfast, and a lot of the people who come to breakfast, have now started volunteering, helping with the program, but also helping in other programs.

00:40:07.700 --> 00:40:20.359 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Because again, it's that feeling in that sense of community. There, you know, there are people that have a difficult time holding a job for a variety of reasons. It might be mental health issues but doing

00:40:20.450 --> 00:40:26.179 Heather Strout she/her/hers: doing a job for an organization in a community that you care about

00:40:26.190 --> 00:40:33.360 Heather Strout she/her/hers: can lift somebody up to a place that that makes them feel valued. And so we have.

00:40:33.360 --> 00:40:56.269 Heather Strout she/her/hers: You know we could do better. You know our volunteers. I'm not gonna sit here and say that many of our volunteers aren't wealthy people that are looking to feel good, right? But but again, it's it's really about training volunteers and having conversations with volunteers to make sure that they are representing the Mlk center the way Dr. King would want the Mlk center to be represented.

00:40:56.310 --> 00:41:02.659 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So I want to just say, just even from a a teaching perspective for me.

00:41:02.760 --> 00:41:13.749 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Maybe people do show up initially, cause they want to feel good sometimes until people can be involved in something and have a changed mindset.

00:41:14.000 --> 00:41:19.349 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: They have to do it for the reasons they've come in. But what I always say to people is, Know your why

00:41:19.730 --> 00:41:44.169 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: be true. Be true with yourself about your why, in my, in my book, I talk about your about the sacred motive. Because if your why is just to feel good when things get really really hard. You're going to stop doing this work, and I can see. Look if you've been doing this work since 2,015, and you were in the height of what was going on in 2020, not just with Covid, but with

00:41:44.170 --> 00:41:51.350 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: George Floyd being murdered, and you're still continuing. That's the sign of a person who's committed some people.

00:41:51.620 --> 00:41:55.240 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: especially when George Floyd was murdered. They would just throw away money.

00:41:55.890 --> 00:42:13.610 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: but they didn't really understand what they were throwing money at it was like, I wanna feel good or I wanna help. You know III have this money and I wanna contribute right. But I don't understand why I'm making the the contribution. I know that. We have to take a break in a minute.

00:42:13.670 --> 00:42:18.290 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: And so I'm gonna prime you for the question already I wanna talk about

00:42:18.440 --> 00:42:23.959 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: would have been some of the difficult decisions that you've had to make

00:42:24.240 --> 00:42:25.660 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: as

00:42:26.030 --> 00:42:32.019 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: really, just as an executive director. But you know we can add race on top of that as well.

00:42:32.120 --> 00:42:40.269 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: There's sacrifices that we have to make when we do this work. And so when we come back from the break. If you could give us an example of of what are

00:42:40.440 --> 00:42:57.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: some of the difficult decisions you've had to make in order to make sure that you are moving forward with with the work of racial equity and economic equity and and the like. So we're gonna take a quick break. We'll be back with the dismantle racism show right after this

00:45:02.180 --> 00:45:15.790 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: we're back with Heather Straout, who is the executive director of the Mlk. Center in Newport and heather right before the break. I asked you to kind of think about some of the difficult decisions you've had to make

00:45:16.060 --> 00:45:21.700 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: as as the director, but particularly as it relates to

00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:23.630 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: issues of equity.

00:45:24.560 --> 00:45:36.169 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Yeah. So I mean, there's there's one that really sticks out of my mind. And it's actually a pretty difficult thing for me to talk about, because it was. It was a real eye opening experience for me. But

00:45:36.220 --> 00:45:45.669 Heather Strout she/her/hers: After the death of George Floyd, II put out a message to our community on that on behalf of the center. And in that message I did talk about

00:45:45.690 --> 00:45:50.280 Heather Strout she/her/hers: being a white woman leading this organization and and knowing that that

00:45:50.310 --> 00:45:58.310 Heather Strout she/her/hers: to some people was probably something that they question. But II also talked about how our center was here for the community, and

00:45:58.330 --> 00:46:09.520 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know it was a. It was a pretty emotional talk that I did, and after that I had one of our donors reach out to me that wanted to meet with me, and this was a a long time donor somebody who

00:46:09.580 --> 00:46:23.369 Heather Strout she/her/hers: had supported the center for many years at a very high level. And when I met with that person I was really shocked at the conversation that was had and that that person wanted me to take back my remarks and

00:46:23.760 --> 00:46:29.200 Heather Strout she/her/hers: said some very derogatory things about about black people, and about

00:46:29.270 --> 00:46:50.090 Heather Strout she/her/hers: the reason, you know and I these are, this is not me speaking. This is this is the words of that person about why, if people black people worked harder, then they wouldn't be in the position that they're in today and and things along those lines. And II sat there and II honestly II was fighting back for tears. To think that somebody who supported our organization

00:46:50.220 --> 00:47:05.040 Heather Strout she/her/hers: so strongly for so long felt that way, and I that day had to, you know, stop the relationship with that person because they wanted me to take back those words, and I said, Absolutely not. I stand by everything, I said, and I stand by

00:47:05.260 --> 00:47:16.599 Heather Strout she/her/hers: the mission of the center. If that's not something you're aligned with, and that's we're not an organization that you should support, and that's a very difficult decision to make, because I knew that.

00:47:16.970 --> 00:47:44.080 Heather Strout she/her/hers: you know, dollars are what make food come into our food pantry, and I and staff all of our different programs. But I also knew I wasn't being my true self, and I wasn't being responsible to the center by allowing somebody to tell me that I shouldn't be standing up for the rights and the equity of all people, and so we've never seen a donation from that person ever since. And nor do we want that if that's how they feel.

00:47:44.130 --> 00:47:47.860 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I did, you know, try to have conversations about

00:47:47.910 --> 00:48:04.539 Heather Strout she/her/hers: why those things weren't that being said weren't okay. And II had hoped that maybe that person left that day, and at least thought about the things that they said and hopefully, has done some work since to understand why that was just wrong. But I don't know that.

00:48:04.590 --> 00:48:09.260 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Did you get pushed back from your board cause, you know, when money leaves.

00:48:09.790 --> 00:48:22.130 Heather Strout she/her/hers: No, I was so proud because I did tell my board that story, because I thought you know, they may end up hearing it from from that person and my board. Every single one of them were so proud, and

00:48:22.420 --> 00:48:25.130 Heather Strout she/her/hers: stood by me 100%.

00:48:25.230 --> 00:48:52.449 Heather Strout she/her/hers: And honestly, as they say, when you do the right thing it comes back and and you somehow get rewarded. You know there are people who support our center now that didn't support our center before then, that now see that we are true to our word, and that we're doing the work. And we're not perfect. And every day is a growing day, and every day is a new day. But when we see something that's not right, we try to make it better, and we try.

00:48:53.140 --> 00:49:02.520 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: you know when you're committed. There are other people out here who are going to help you, and that's what I was speaking of, even with just the faith that you can do this work

00:49:02.570 --> 00:49:05.480 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: and that other people are supporting you. But

00:49:05.870 --> 00:49:09.550 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so so what do you do, though, to

00:49:09.850 --> 00:49:12.260 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: encourage yourself

00:49:12.490 --> 00:49:39.570 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: to stay committed in this role. Because whether you're at Mlk or not, you you seem like the type of person who's committed to doing this work long term. So you could be. II don't know working somewhere else, and choose to look at through the lens of equity. So what do you do to encourage yourself to to uplift yourself on the days when it's like this is so overwhelming.

00:49:40.490 --> 00:49:48.090 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I mean, I don't. I don't know. I think for me it just comes. It comes pretty easily, because II just see in here

00:49:48.120 --> 00:50:03.100 Heather Strout she/her/hers: stories of such hurt, and I can't imagine what we've all been in places where we've been hurt by others, intentionally or unintentionally. And to think that I can make a difference, and at least helping someone not feel that hurt

00:50:03.110 --> 00:50:15.150 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and making making that better in lives of people that I don't even know. And I don't know. I just think that that comes pretty easily. I don't think there's a day that I wake up that I think

00:50:15.270 --> 00:50:31.570 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I'm I'm not gonna do this. I'm not gonna try to be the best I can be today to everybody I encounter. So I get that. II get that heather but you haven't always been in this place, and so all of us

00:50:31.760 --> 00:50:36.109 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: who are engaged in this work we have to have.

00:50:37.030 --> 00:50:53.559 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: So, for instance, I don't wake up saying I'm not going to do dismantling racism anymore, because this is just part of who I am like. You're saying. I have had my moments, though, of where I've thought that my call was something else, that I thought it shifted right. So you know, as the pastor.

00:50:53.740 --> 00:51:02.530 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I see a lot of wounds of religion. So I thought, my call has shifted to that. And then, of course, because I'm also passionate about this. There's been

00:51:02.590 --> 00:51:17.059 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: focus on that in recent years. But I do find that in doing these this work for moments when things are difficult, when they're overwhelming, and I know my situation is a little different than yours.

00:51:17.150 --> 00:51:30.319 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: That is great. To have a support team is great for me to have a grounding and something bigger than I am. It's it's great for me to go back and to look at the work of the people who've come before me, and even when I train

00:51:30.380 --> 00:51:43.879 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I always invite white people to go back and look at the white people in history who were doing this work as motivators. Right? And so that's what I mean. I'm just wondering if you have

00:51:43.980 --> 00:51:48.760 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: something that that guides you and ground you and supports you

00:51:48.820 --> 00:51:50.369 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: in this work.

00:51:50.440 --> 00:51:56.819 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I mean, II guess I think what's grounds me and supports me are the people that I see every day

00:51:57.150 --> 00:52:02.099 Heather Strout she/her/hers: who need and deserve for me to be doing this work.

00:52:02.210 --> 00:52:19.539 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I think that that's really what grounds me. I mean, III do reading, and II like II try to attend any opportunity to learn more. I was recently invited to be part of a Dei training at a local municipality. And that was

00:52:19.910 --> 00:52:45.979 Heather Strout she/her/hers: that was hard. I at points. I sat there biting my tongue, and then I realized, why am I biting my tongue. I'm not gonna bite my tongue. I'm gonna say, how I feel. It doesn't matter who's in this room? I need to speak. And I think that's what I tried to do. I just try to be my honest self. And I talk about my growing up and the things in my house that were not okay that were taught to me that now I have to dismantle in my my life and make sure my children.

00:52:45.980 --> 00:52:57.749 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Don't think those things are okay. So but I think it's also not trying to be someone who thinks that I know at all cause I definitely don't. And being able to say my fault

00:52:57.750 --> 00:53:07.369 Heather Strout she/her/hers: to my staff, to my donors, to you, you know, and if there are things that I know I've done wrong or do wrong, I just have to own them

00:53:07.600 --> 00:53:08.800 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and grow.

00:53:09.080 --> 00:53:19.069 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I so appreciate that now, before we have to go, because I know our time is going to be running out here. So if someone wants to donate to the Mlk center, how can they do that?

00:53:19.250 --> 00:53:43.440 Heather Strout she/her/hers: Well, that would be amazing. We are actually an organization that is not publicly funded. We get well. I shouldn't say that we get less less than 3% of our funding comes from any kind of municipal or Federal or State support. So it's really our individual donors that make this happen. Our website is mlk, ccenter.org. So there are 2 C's in there.

00:53:43.440 --> 00:54:03.459 Heather Strout she/her/hers: and we have a donate button right there on our website. People can reach out to me. My, my email address is H. Stout at mlk c-centre.org. If anybody is ever in Newport and wants to come by and see the center, I'm always so proud to to show people what we do. And to tell people how they can get involved

00:54:03.540 --> 00:54:05.589 Heather Strout she/her/hers: because there are ways to get involved.

00:54:05.600 --> 00:54:17.590 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: so no donation is too, small so please go center. Make sure you do the C in there.org, and make your donations

00:54:17.670 --> 00:54:18.750 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: heather.

00:54:18.940 --> 00:54:26.589 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: What final words, anything that I didn't cover with you today that that you feel like is really important for you to share with our audience.

00:54:27.360 --> 00:54:31.529 Heather Strout she/her/hers: I mean, I guess I just encourage everybody that's listening to

00:54:32.600 --> 00:54:42.749 Heather Strout she/her/hers: try to just do better every day. And and by listening to this to this radio show, that's what you're doing, and and to know that

00:54:42.920 --> 00:55:00.090 Heather Strout she/her/hers: that we all are gonna make mistakes. And hopefully, we're all growing from them. And III try to do that. And I hope everybody else out there is trying to do the same thing. And I also think if there's ever a time that somebody sees me making a mistake, I want them to tell me, because I think sometimes we

00:55:00.400 --> 00:55:03.929 Heather Strout she/her/hers: do things, and we don't even realize that we're doing so.

00:55:04.170 --> 00:55:14.800 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I tell my staff that all the time. Yeah, I will say Amen to that, because when we're in this human body, you know you you just don't ever know, Mike.

00:55:14.820 --> 00:55:19.460 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: my kids are really good with keeping me, you know

00:55:19.500 --> 00:55:24.330 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: on on track, because the other thing is, you mentioned how we learn things from.

00:55:24.440 --> 00:55:32.729 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: You know, there are things that we've learned even in that's internalized racism. And these young people, you know.

00:55:32.760 --> 00:55:59.559 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: they have a whole different language than we did, and they'd like, say that. But, thank you so much, heather for being on the show. Thank you for the work that you and your staff and your board are doing in Newport, Rhode Island. I appreciate so much the work of the beloved community at Mlk Center in Newport. So thank you for being here.

00:55:59.760 --> 00:56:12.489 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: I want to thank you to my listeners for always, always listening. And please don't forget to subscribe to the show and tell others about it. I want you to stay tuned for the conscious consultant hour with Sam Leibowitz.

00:56:12.880 --> 00:56:38.739 Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery: Sam helps you to walk through life with the greatest of ease and joy, may today you tap into that sacred part of you that allows you to make choices that manifest the good in you and those around. You know that we are all one and exist because of one another, make it a priority to share hope, compassion, and peace. Today be well, be safe, be encouraged until next time

00:56:39.080 --> 00:56:40.289 bye, for now.

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