Community Allies, LLC. - HSIC Podcast

Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesEpisode 5, Part 2: Charles Barnes, Director of Community OutreachConflict Resolution, Racial Reconciliation and Healing through Collaboration•Charles explains FFSC teachings around conflict resolution, starting with inner conflicts with ourselves and how to proact before facing triggering situations•Charles describes the mindsets and principles FFSC teaches for navigating unjust situations•These mindsets and principles are so powerful, they have the capacity to transform our region•Charles describes the cultures of commitment and collaboration (internal, city, regional, state, national) that lead FFSC to tremendous community impact and life-changing outcomes •Charles describes how many obstacles people are facing without the presence and support of every sector and how FFSC’s wholistic approach through commitment and collaboration is helping restore that village, helping coordinate sectors for collective impact•Charles explains the ways this village just keeps growing through the ongoing opportunities to get involved with the work of FFSCHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features•Supporting people in hearing their stories, finding their paths, recognizing their journeys•Supporting people in hearing other people’s stories, finding their paths and recognizing their journeys•Helping people root themselves in a stream of life so deep and wide, they tap into spiritual truths that carry and empower them•Replenishing the village of sectors working together for the good of all of our youth and families•Supporting youth and families in finding personal agency and developing the life skills to use communication to build healthy relationships while learning new sectors•Learning how to put ourselves in people’s shoes in ways that support communication and relationship-building within and across our differences, our departments, our sectors, and our fields•Supporting every person in an organization and creating mentorship and cross-departmental training that helps all employees advance their careers•The central importance of employment and of employers who help create talent pipelines and inclusive work environments

Preparing Youth and Underserved Communities for Employment in Different Sectors•Introduction to Podcast, Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain Communities•Charles explains what his position as Director of Community Outreach entails and whom he is seeking to partner with from social services to businesses who are hiring•Charles shares how he was a benefactor of Fathers, Families Support Center before working for them, including how Carol Schumer influenced his life and his abilities to communicate with his children•Charles hones in on the aspects of interpersonal growth, civic awareness and communication skills FFSC emphasizes in their programs and classes•Charles shares some of the key performance indicators that program participants demonstrate in areas such as building personal agency and productive and healthy relationships•Charles explains how the father’s rap sessions work and the power of story sharing for personal and community healing•Charles expands on the range of life supports and life skills participants develop through programming that focuses on navigating legal systems, teenage pregnancy prevention, financial literacies, gang violence prevention, and job readiness•Charles explains core program tenants as they relate to working with different sectors and to family breakthroughs: preparation, practice, and presentationHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features•Personal agency and responsibility as a core tenant of personal growth•Communities developing and practicing communication skills together•Classrooms where resources are maximized because everyone shares what they know•Communities sharing their stories and investing in one another’s healing•Youth programs: interviewing and networking with different sectors, presenting research to different sectors helps prepare youth for relationship building with a range of sectors that leads to future employment

Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesEpisode 4, Part 2: Carol Schumer, Parenting Specialist, Fathers and Families Support CenterTeacher Learning Stances that Build Trust and Healthy Learning Communities•Carol describes how the morning meeting works for men to help build trust, community and support•Carol describes the kind of parenting trauma men often experienced as youth and how she reframes “discipline” – a form of top-down punishment that removes youth agency and ownership over their decisions – as “disciple” – clearly teaching children in ways that align with their developmental age how to respect themselves and others•Sarah explains what children who are punished harshly internalize about themselves and what supporting children and their unique forms of expression entails – starting with our own self-acceptance, understanding of our unique gifts, self-possession, and modeling of what being a part of the world in positive ways entails•Carol shares some of the parenting scenarios she poses to the men who are navigating some of the most challenging moral complexities with their youth and what parenting action supports youth empowerment to make good decisions•Sarah describes the many places where youth are at risk for internalizing that they don’t matter to the world. She speaks to some of the pressures on families across our region that are impacting youth and the moral complexities they are navigating as a result•Carol names how children spell love, TIME and encourages parents to make family time with their youth because their youth do want that time with them even if they act like they don’t•Carol describes why, even as a Daughter of Charity, the men are so willing to share and discuss violence, gang violence, sexuality, and so much more of what they are navigating with her. She takes on a learning stance – learning with them. She shares her failures and is comfortably vulnerable with them. She helps them find their unique gifts. She helps them hear their truths – no matter what belief systems they are faced with. She welcomes the messiness of the world we all have inherited and the ways that mess shows up in all of us.•Carol explains how parenting skills translate to relationship skills, especially with life partners and commitment to employers.Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features•Embodying and inspiring personal power•Doing real life together•Servant leadership through authenticity, transparency, and vulnerability•Learning how to find our gifts and how to recognize our expertise•Learning how to hear and live from our truths•Transforming harmful narratives in ourselves

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesTeaching and Learning Across Race and Other Cultural DifferencesEpisode 4, Part 1: Carol Schumer, Parenting Specialist, Fathers and Families Support Center•Introduction to Podcast, Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain Communities•Carol introduces the core problem for men FFSC learned early – fathers feel left out of the family picture: welfare, court, and societal systems emphasize financial support over emotional support•Carol explains the holistic approach FFSC uses to address the full range of family needs - health, nutrition, employment, legal issues, counseling, social workers•Carol explains her background as a principal and educator and the role she plays with the men as a parenting specialist•Carol explains how she builds rapport as a white female working with mostly black men•Carol explains how she uses stories and cartoons to teach men about parenting and the different kinds of parenting youth often receive from dads and moms, which can be provided in any household or any family•Sarah and Carol share the importance to children of play in learning and connecting with loved ones•Carol explains how welfare historically has worked against families, isolating men from families and discussion about the many layers of ramifications that has for each member of a family – what gets internalized and passed down across generations that came from a broken societal system•Carol explains the hand up FFSC provides men and families instead of handouts and how programs are facilitated by male graduates who can say they’ve been there and come throughHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features•Bridge-building communicationoBeing real, transparent, aware of differences in our backgrounds•Classroom infrastructuresoCreating room for collaborative learning and mentorshipoEveryone is an expert and a teacheroEveryone is a learner•Building emotional intelligenceoUsing play as a central facet of learning that is both academic, social and emotional oUsing the power of stories to make real-world connections to content oExperiential learning that transforms us and builds our internal sense of confidence and competenceoRooting instruction in the local histories and systems that continue to impact our families

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 3, Part 2: Lynn Vaden, Account Manager, Fathers and Families Support Center-How employment training programs work and the ongoing roles FFSC plays in creating bridges between employers and program participant graduates, now employees-An explanation of the transition from justice systems to employment – the kind of learning stance employers need to become more trauma-informed-Lynn’s training as a manager before coming to FFSC – he was expected to do everything the people he hired did so he could better understand how to advocate for them financially and personally. This meant refinishing floors, scrubbing toilets, and more and what that did for company cultures and for retaining talent and saving time.-Lynn’s breakdown of the range of companies who are hiring FFSC program participants – from fast food to high paying companies.-More insight into the unique gifts and talents justice-involved people and people who have been overcoming tremendous obstacles bring to companiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast featuresTrauma-informed workplace cultures -Understanding how people are treated at times in different environments in our region and insight into reactions that signal trauma.-See our workshops on The Power of Our Stories to Build Bridges and Shift Organizational Cultures; Building Emotional Intelligence; Bridge-Building Communication through Stories - Building Bridges and Maximizing Cultural Expertise.

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 3, Part 1: Lynn Vaden, Account Manager, Fathers and Families Support CenterIntroduction to Podcast, Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain Communities-Lynn’s story of coming to St. Louis from Arkansas, what drew him to St. Louis and what challenges he sees St. Louis facing -Lynn’s experiences of the challenges of creating equitable access to transportation in St. Louis-The respect people in FFSC programs experience that prepares them for employment-The kind of advocacy companies have helped provide FFSC to overcome obstacles FFSC is facing to secure employment for program participants-The kind of daily advocacy Lynn and his employment and social service teams exercise on behalf of program participants-The reality that many across our region suffer from alcohol and drug addiction or are going through a hard time and the benefits Lynn and FFSC offers program participants as they walk closely with them and with their employers -Sweet spot stories that capture when program participant expertise aligns perfectly with company specific talent needs-The type of asset-based listening Lynn and FFSC engages with program participants to hear all that they have been becoming in the midst of challenges, hardships, and traumas-How living in justice centers is some of the best preparation for adding value to a company-Stories of employer advocates who become so invested in program participants and the transportation or other challenges they may face because they are experiencing how much value program participants bringHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features-Organizations who are rooted in local history and forging collective action with others in order to do our part together to help people overcome lack of access to sustainable resources. -This episode touches on past and present St. Louis transportation history rooted in deficit perspectives. -Deficit perspectives hinder the access of all of our communities to public transportation that goes from the city to the county.-Deficit perspectives also work against regional investment in all our youth and families and against our regional economic growth.-Organizations who are building relationships across sectors to support one another in Doing Our Part Together. -St. Louis companies who are doing their part to join FFSC in getting to know FFSC employment training program participants. When good matches are found, these companies are reaping the benefits of their investment in program participants as a result.-Training programs rooted in the stories of employees, and employers who take the time to learn the stories of employees. The result is the retention of diverse multifaceted talent. -The power of listening to and learning the many assets people have and bring, especially people who are overcoming the obstacles associated with living in communities without access to consistent and sustainable resources. This deep listening prepares employers for working more effectively with all of their employees.

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 2, Part 2: Cheri Tillis, COO Fathers and Families and Support CenterMore information on the range of St. Louis and Missouri funders who have run interference for --FFSC, provided essential trainings, and help grow their capacityFFSC as a village around youth and families; funders as a village around themThe range of ways individuals, businesses, and sectors have joined the work and are needed to keep joining the workThe kinds of FFSC partnerships available that support businesses tooHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast featuresServing as a BridgeHelping people understand how their fields and their expertise are needed to provide for specific community needsIT support, data analytics, marketing, legal translation, any field can be a supportHelping organizations understand the services FFSC provides that are needed everywhere, not just in NSTLGrowing collective regional capacity in the process

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 2, Part 1: Cheri Tillis, COO Fathers and Families and Support CenterIntroduction to Podcast, Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain Communities-Introduction to core structure of the trainings provided by Fathers and Families Support Center-Cheri’s story of growing up in St. Louis and her career path and how she found FFSC-Cheri’s story of creating every position she occupied from case manager to COO-How FFSC operated as a team to support one another through the growing pains-How FFSC discovered community core needs and recruited funders and supporters to help them provide for those needs-How FFSC branched out from those core community needs and expanded the resources they provided -How FFSC secured steady funding that aligned with their mission and their niche-How FFSC worked strategically with funding to keep employees employed-How FFSC hires and promotes from within, including people who partake of their programs-Funders who are key players in both securing funding, systematizing operations and in helping remove obstacles FFSC faces-The range of resources St. Louis and Missouri funders provide-Specific support and tough love for employees that streamlines operations and provides for employees and the organizationHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods this podcast features-Building inclusive innovative change-making teams-Recognizing range of strengths and weaknesses of team members-Learning the value in the cultural language practices of team members-Providing needed training to help team members expand cultural expertise and communicate with needed audiences-Supporting employees through learning process-Multiple sectors as key village partners-Identifying specific needs of community members-Partnering with funders and organizations who join the team and understand or research the multi-faceted nature of those needs by getting to know programs, people, obstacles program participants are facing-Building a village that makes the village FFSC is possible

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 1, Part 2: Jarrett Kendall, Director of Employment Services, Fathers and Families Support Center-Jarrett Kendall explains what businesses may not know about the talent and resourcefulness of individuals coming out of the justice system-Jarrett invites more businesses to come and learn the stories and the talent of the individuals FFSC is preparing for the workforce-Sarah shares what happens for companies and schools when employees and students get to teach other people their language and cultural knowledge-Jarrett and Sarah talk about how they experienced segregation in St. Louis and how they navigated and continue to navigate the challenges of bridge-building-Jarrett and Sarah talk about commonalities across demographics that bring us together-Sarah paints a picture of what regional coordinated action on behalf of all St. Louis youth and families would involveHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® methods podcast Episode 1, Part 2 features-Communication as a two-way street in every relationship, industry, sector, and field-When we ask people to assimilate, we miss out on every cultural, language, and identity asset they bring to our organizations – assets that help us connect with broader demographics, innovate better solutions with communities, rediscover ourselves and our organizations and expand markets-When we ask people to assimilate, we limit ourselves to rigid systems that often aren’t working for us either – we miss out on the agile change-making systems that come with connecting meaningfully with the full knowledge, cultural expertise, and disciplinary knowledge people bring-Bridge-building communication-We exist in societies and a world that has created opportunity similarly and differently for people based on certain combinations of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, ethnic identities. Our societies have also used methods of social control through media narratives, surveillance, violence and discrimination to secure access to resources for some while denying access to resources for others.-Every person and every family, every generation from the beginning of time has experienced these injustices. Some have seemingly benefitted and still today have the most access to resources. In reality, everyone has been deeply impacted and scarred. When we don’t know or understand how our family scarring by society has worked, we are at risk for perpetuating it.-Every single person from every race, class, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, ability needs personal, family, organizational and societal relational healing.-When we limit ourselves to the silos we have been trained to normalize, we don’t encounter the relationships that generate the kind of healing we and our families need to get back all we have lost as a result of the falsehoods we have been trained over multiple generations to believe are normal. -St. Louis is a holdout for affordable housing and has the opportunity to create a national model for coordinating action that strengthens our regional economy-To get there, we need to operate as one family as a region-We need to be the village around our youth and families-We need real relationship and coordinated regional action to show our youth and our next generations we have their backs-Every person, family, neighborhood, organization and sector has work to do-Every person, family, neighborhood, organization and sector needs healing too-Every person, family, home, neighborhood, organization has a crucial part to play-There are bridge-building organizations that are the village around our youth and families we can join and learn with and from

Copyright 2020 EthnoLiteracies, LLC. All Rights ReservedEpisode 1, Part 1: Jarrett Kendall, Director of Employment Services, Fathers and Families Support Center-Introduction to Podcast, Honoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain Communities​-Introduction to Mission and Vision of Fathers and Families Support Center-Jarrett’s story of growing up in St. Louis and his career path and how he found FFSC-Discussion of where violence in St. Louis is coming from-Discussion about how NSTL became under resourced and what is happening currently-Jarrett explains how FFSC programming prepares people to navigate a range of sectors, from the courts to the companies they might work for-Jarrett shares how FFSC employment programming for families connects people to businesses-Jarrett tells powerful stories of justice-involved FFSC participants who overcome deeply engrained biases through FFSC programs-Jarrett explains how program participants often have come to view themselves as less, the many obstacles they have been overcoming and how FFSC helps them open significant doors and experience their incredible value to themselves, their families, and our region-Jarrett explains the power of men mentoring and advocating for one anotherHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum®: How to Build and Sustain CommunitiesHonoring Stories and Integrating Curriculum® Methods this Podcast Features-Organizations that are rooted in local STL and federal history and engaging in collective action with multiple sectors to transform our region-Bridge-building communication-We all have biases and patterns of judgment that come from similar places that are getting in our way of connecting-Stepping out of judgment and into listening for how we are similar, how the collective sharing of our stories helps us move forward individually and together-Building emotional intelligence-The power of collective story telling-Strengthening the capacity for self and collective advocacy-Learning target markets and how to connect with target audiences