Children First Director of Parent Advocacy & Engagement Inella Ray talks her work, career, Philly school closings & more

What's up? The artist is Doug E. Fresh and you're watching and we talk weekly you're listening to. Right here. And we talked weeklies after the talk with wppml P Philadelphia one on six point five FM. We talked weeklies after the talk with your boy Charles Gregory and a beautiful Lauren. And you already know what time it is. Why don't you let us know? Who do we have today? Who do we act today? Yes, so we are in for a treat because we have this amazing superwoman here. We have the beautiful Miss Annella Ray. She is an advocate, educator, and strategist focused on advancing equality for children and families. She is a Director of Parent Advocacy and Engagement at Children First, where she leads parent Empowerment for Change and parent led initiative driving education policy reform across Philadelphia and Southeast Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, parent advocates have helped Parent advocates have helped secure you Are more than two hundred million and new investments for public schools and expanding access to early childhood education. She is a graduate of Temple University. She also yes. Building Today. She also holds a Masters from from Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she received the Intellectual Contribution Awards. So let's give a huge we Talk weekly warm Welcome to miss Mela Ray. How is that in the building? Fantastic, fantastic? How are you? You know? We usually start with how was your day? You know, so how was your day? How are you feeling? I'm feeling really good. It's been a very long week, a very very long week. So I'm glad it's the weekend, right, I get to do this and talk. But it's been busy, and you know, we need to do the self care and so I've been trying to pouring myself today. I've spent a good amount of time with my mom and mom and so it's it's been lovely to have a chance to just settle. Yeah, yeah, for sure, for sure. Before we get into your full background and some of the things that you're doing, I just want to put this in context in the reason why you're on the show. I remember, Lauren actually had the privilege and opportunity to see you prior to when I had the opportunity to see you, and one thing that stood out for us was how unapologetic you are when speaking up for the people, and that stood out for me, and so I said, you know, we have to have this sister come to the show. Now, normally I wouldn't, like, you know, do a cold approaching. Like yo, I try to email you and I said, oh no, I'm not letting you go nowhere, nowhere, nowhere. So Sis, I had to have you on the show and you said sure, I no Problemly was. Excited to do that. So thanks for that and thanks for coming to the show. So let's let's let's let's back up, because I have to know, right kind of your your you know, your voyage or your travels through Temple, you and what you know kind of encourage you to proceed and pursue more education based especially was it Harvard Harvard education amazing? And then now to be so outspoken to your advocacy and speaking up for the folks. Yeah, so I'm from Philadelphia's. Shout. So for me, prior to getting the Temple, I had all these different experiences where I I would say, I kind of learned the things that we were talking about in college that I had delived experience first. Yes, And so what made me go to Temple and study economics is because I was really curious about why folks in my neighborhood were staying in our neighborhood. And what I meant by that is that I fact, we had this vicious cycle of if you grew up here, you stayed here, and you went nowhere else. And at a very young age, my grandmother always told me that education was something no one could ever take away from you. At the time, I didn't know what that meant. But what I did know was that I also listened to my grandmother, which I did, and what became very clear is that Temple politicized me. So growing up in Philly, I was seeing all these different things, but I didn't have the language for the thing. And so when I got to Temple, being in North Philly, which you all know is a place of civil rights, a place of protests organizing, and so I learned so much more, sorry Tempy University, outside the classroom than I did within it. And that came through being a part of of like things like Black Student Union, NAACP, National councilor of negor Women. Then you know, I pledged Delta single Data sorority. Yes yes, yes, yes yes, And so by doing all of that, you know, you you see the history of Black tradition, right, of us having always organized for changing our basic conditions and material needs. And so I come from that tradition, and so I know it's really important for me to realize that how I got to where I am was not because I was special, right, it had a lot. Well, I appreciate that, but I think that there's like this vein that like we only had, I mean the whole idea of talented tientph right, that there's only some of us who are talented. And I believe that we're all talented, but all of us don't have the conditions we need to succeed. So that's why I'm dedicating my life to making sure those conditions are enabled for everyone who comes from communities like minds to either have the journey that is similar to my or something else, whatever their wildest dreams are. But I know that a lot of ways, the folks who are in seats of power need to be pushed to do the things that are actually in the interest of the people. And so I think I was granted this calling to really exercise on the behalf of others. And I never tell people that I'm speaking you know, a voice for the voiceless, because one everybody has a voice, right, It's like who gets listened to? Right, And so I'm always trying to think about how do we situate ourselves to move those and influence those who actually have the power to change our lives. So what was the answer to that. Did you come up with the answer. I'm still trying to I'm still trying to figure that out. But I will say that values is really important. I think it's important to have increasing clarity around what's important to you. And so when I think about my values, I think about justice, I think about truth, I think about love, all these like different things that are guiding me. And so if I am actually like having integrity to those values, then it makes it very easy about how to show up right. And so and the work that I do, I work directly with folks who are raising children right and there are experiencing how systems are falling short. And so they keep me in alignment with my integrity. Right. They'll let me know I don't think that's the right way to be thinking about that, right, or listen to this right. And so I think a lot of what I'm doing is more listening than talking. So you have so Temple University. Now you graduate from Temple, what made you say? You know what, I need to go to Harvard. Now I need to pursue bigger education or more education to. Do what I've do. So when I first lest left Temple, you know, I had a economics major and I did that through the business school, so I was qualified to go to like companies to work and so homegrowl need a job homegrow being me, and so I went the Fortune five hundred route. I hated my life. It was like a year and a half later, and I started doing work in new work with young people on a volunteer basis, and I was like, this is what I ought to be doing full time, And so I left that job. Everybody thought I was crazy because I had a good job. Right, My parents like, you got benefit. You got to what your job help the kids for? You need to help yourself. And so you know, I took a leap of faith and I went into education. And now I'm kind of like doing more systems level work both with an education but also other things that touch the lives of children and families. And so fast forward to like you know, when it came down to like, do I need to go get more education. I'm like, this work is too important not to be actually skilled up in what you're trying to do. We have a lot of people, a lot of positions, with a whole lot of incompetence, and so it was really important, and so it was really important for me to have both the lived experience of professional experience but also the technical knowledge. And quite frankly, I mean, I think you all know that we live in a society where people pay attention to credentials, right, good, bad, are indifferent, and so I know that going to Harvard would give me a certain license to say things right right strategy, Yeah, and. That that makes me think also that you know, as a black woman, that that's something that we have to do right, and it's it's because we have to kind of go above and beyond where somebody can come in that you know, our non minority counterpart can come in and just be mediocre, be. And and not need. Those credentials and can just be given the job or be a family member. Right. But that's how power works, right, Yes, right, it's not fair, but I think that's that's fundamentally what I'm trying to change. You know, something I was told at a very young age by teachers mentors was I need to work twice as hard. Yeah, right to have half of what they got. I think we all know who the who, the who the other is right, And so I never want to be in a position where I have to tell another generation that, because that means I wasn't doing what I needed to do to change the conditions for them to be able to just be enough in enough themselves and not having to do more. Because we're talking about wellness. How can you be well when you're having a work twice as hard for yes, you know, half of what they got. So but thank God for you for au you know, because and that you know, it decreases the person that has to come behind you and do all of that work. So thank God for that, because then there's less you know, mental health issues, less burnout, less anxiety, less stress, and you know, especially for you know, women of color who are trying to walk in your footsteps. So yes, and I guess thank God for the people came before me. Even the men too. Yes, thank you for the he was mentioned. It's hard, there. No doubt and so all right, so we were in Harvard we graduate. What was the first thing on the bucket list? I was trying to think about, like what not a role, but like, what was the impact that I was trying to make? Right, And shout out to doctor Scott of Harvard University who was just like he asked me that question when I was trying to talk to him about what I was trying to do after school, he was just like, what is the impact you're trying to have? And for me, it was all about trying to change your trajectory of where people who look like me and come from neighborhoods like me tend to go not because of their you know, intellect, because of their lack of will, but because of the conditions of their lives. And so for me, it was really important that I was working at the preventative side of things and not the reactive side. So what could I do between zero to eight of a child's life and their family's lives to really move things. I Mean, my dad is one of the smartest people that I know, right, but my dad also had a very tough life. He grew up in North Philadelphia and you know, he was at hershey, you know, at a point and then came home and then his life kind of just took certain turns in different ways. And so I was always wondering, like, what would have happened if my dad had certain interventions in his life that would have made the difference. And so I'm thinking, how can I do that for other people? Because I think if we're focused on the reactive side of policy, then we're doing this all wrong, right. We need to be focused on the preventative side, And so that's what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to, you know, put more resources into the respective systems, which is why I advocate both at the city, state, and federal level. But I'm also thinking about what are the things that we already have the tools and wisdom of doing, but just need the actual resources to do them right and agency to do them. And so I'm also trying to, you know, talk with philanthropy about you know, investing in everyday people in the community. Right, Like, let's stop thinking that we need institutions to change things, right, we have people, you know, the grand mom on the block, the block cap. Is always say that those are like the the communal like wisdom, right, and they know so much, right, and they care so much. And not only did you know about the kid in front of them, but they also know about where they come from. Right. And so when we think differently about how we support communities, I think we can be in a better position that everybody can fill their wildest dreams but also fulfill their potential. Yeah, and how how do we get this and just thinking about that because I love that idea, but how do we get this buy into that with the different dynamics when it comes to generation, especially when you have like and I've seen this when when with corporations, when especially when they all work together, you got the gen you know, gen Y, and then you have the millennials, and then you have the gen Z and gen Y wants. Nothing to do with gen Z. And that's just on a corporate level. And we got yeah, like and the and the in the black community, how do we get this buy in of just like community civic engagement working together and just like we need to build something so that we can rely on one another like other you know communities have like you know within the Asian community and in other communities, Like, how. Do we absolutely just like bridge that gap. Yeah, I think as we had it before. Yeah, and I see microcosms of it now. I think, you know, we live in we live in a society that teaches us to be individualistic, right, so we have to be consciously like combating the idea that we can do it all ourselves. Right. Yeah, But I think the main thing that I've learned is humility. Right, whether or not you think folks you know above you did it wrong, et cetera. They got more years, they got more years on this earth, so they have certain wisdom that you need to decern and listen to. And what I've found that anytime that I've been humble enough to listen to an older even when we differ an opinion, there's this opening where they can hear me too. Right. But I also think that, you know, the younger generations, we got to get active, right, and social media activism is one thing, but we also need to be active in person. Right. So when we think about even like who's at the polls in our neighborhoods, right, it's the older generation of black women. Right, how can we actually show up at things like town halls that are in our communities? Right? All these different things I think are really really important. But a lot of people don't want to know their neighbors. Right. You going in the house, you're not even speaking. You can't call somebody to pick up your package because you don't know them right right, So we have to kind of get out of the silos. You got to get to a place where we can actually see each other, right and then build together. But that comes with a deep respect of humility, but also realizing that you can't get it by yourself. Right. What's the African proverb that says, if you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together, right? So I love that you gotta do more of that. It's like, it's like something I always say that. You know, we always hear the idea of each one teach one, but it's incorrect. Each one teach three. And the reason you do that is the one the first person you teach, they might forget it. The second person you teach, they might take it and run off with it. It's the third person you teach that potentially would take it and pass it throughout the generations and thing. And when I first heard that, I never forgot that because it was like this aha moment, like yes, that's what it is, and we have to share that. You know, you mentioned something that was very interesting, and that was that the old idea or I shouldn't say, oh, the traditional idea of what community actually was. Right. There was a. Time where we can go to the neighbors or go down the street and. Miss Johnson, can I boot all piece of rent? You know? If that's how it used to be, you know? Or are you acting up down the block? Come here? She grab you and you get a beaten from your neighbor and sit back and then you know, and you go. Boom, missus Johnson hit me. But what did you do? You know it was like that? Then what did you do? You know? And so I think we. Lost this idea, this this connection of community. And I don't know what to actually blame that on. I can't put my finger on where that disconnect actually happened. Uh, But it's something that we need to get back to, and unfortunately, I don't. Think we will ever get back to it. I think we're in a different time now and we have to find new ways to connect. And it may be, you know, a digital revolution that we connecting that way, because now we're connecting with people right, people that we wasn't able to you know, so I'm always asking, especially for a platform like this, because we're a solution space, right, And so it's what are the answers? What were seeking those questions? I mean you went to school, that's the first thing to ask you, right. You know you have a thesis, your dissertation. Like research one took me in university, right, So it's ingrained in us and asking the question why, right, And so we're constantly asking that question of why. And so if you were put on this stand to say, what is that solution that we can get back our connectedness with our community? What would what would your answer me? Yeah? I think the first is having awareness of other people, right. I think if you just take a ride, whether it's on the train, whether you're walking down the street, everybody is connected to their phones. They're like every like everybody is distracted, right, We're not even aware there's times where we will literally walk past someone who may be in help. Right. So it's first, I think it's an awareness of that the world is much greater than you and your world. Right. And then too, when we have that level of awareness, we then get to understand I guess other people's lives and that creates to have like a different, a deeper sense of empathy, right. And I think empathy is so good because it it allows us to understand what it means to actually empathize with somebody else's situation in a way where we're moved. I think we've been so like disconnected. Yes, yeah, there's so much going on in the world, and then people are kind of just like, yeah, I gotta I gotta cut it off. I just think that we actually need to having more human and human interactions. Like when's the time you spoke to a stranger and said hello or smile? Right, you don't know what people are going through, you know. I'll never forget. It was one day, it was my birthday, and I was walking along the you know, the river and like the like right near the Art museum, like and there was this you know woman who was she was just looking out at the water, but then she was like positioning herself to get up on top of something. And at that moment, you know, we talked with her just around like whatever you're going through, you can get through it, right. So it's just like these like little like things where you if you see people. Yeah, I think is so so important. And you know that's what poets have taught us, right, especially poets in the black tradition. Right do you see me? Right? Tony Morrison talks about this, right do you see me? And I think that you know, in a lot of ways, all the stuff that's going on right now is a distraction from doing our work, you know. Tony Morrison said, racism is the distraction from doing our work, right, And so I think it's both seeing people but then also getting very clear what are your gifts and are you actually pouring into those gifts and if you're not, you need to be pouring into them or finding out what they are, right, Yeah. Yeah, because you've been doing that and you've been doing a lot of the work. And speaking of work, let's talk about your work with the school district. Yeah, a lot of you. Did a lot of innovative programs there. You increase kindergarten enrollment yep, Yeah, strengthen their family engagement. Can you talk a little bit about that and some of those experiences. Absolutely. So. When I being at Children First, I got to partner with the school. So talk a little bit about children First. As you know those who are listening and watching. Yes. And then so Children first used to be called PCCY, So some people may know the organization from that same organization, but we underwent a name change. But in the very simplest form, we fight on the behalf of children and families in not only Philadelphia but in Southeast PA. And by doing that, we're also fighting for all of the Commonwealth's kids. But we do that work across early childhood education, K twelve education, child health, physical and mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice. So we're really looking at the lifespan of a child, but also all the things that really affect the conditions of how a child's life plays out, as well as the family that supports them. And so we really focus on political advocacy, right, and so that means we're meeting with folks at the city, at the state, and all the folks who are as system level leaders of these different institutions. And so when we partner with the School District of Philadelphia, they were really trying to meet this challenge of having families enrole on time into kindergarten. So most families think that as long as you sign up before labor day. It is all good, And what that doesn't allow is for proper planning of a school to make sure that they're ready for that child on day one. Yeah, because labor day is like next day is school exactly, So signing up on labor day, how can you get any information on what your child needs for day one? Right? And so parents really like helped us think about what were the things you wish you would have knew a part of, like your process of enrolling your child, or even school selection that we can think about in terms of piloting with certain schools that had low enrollment to see if these things the strategies that parents actually came up with. And so when we think about like all the different things that we did at the district, all those different ideas came from parents, came from parents. So the question become, you know, how are we effectively listening to what parents are saying right? And are we applying their wisdom and expertise to how we actually do the systems level work? And so what I thought was really beautiful about that project is because it shows when you actually listen to what parents have to say, you probably you have bolts right. And so I think we need to do a better job at writ large about listening to parents, but particularly black parents, yes, and black parents from low income communities, because when people say things like parents don't care, we know that's coded language, right, And so I think it's really really important that we understand that if people are not showing up, perhaps it's not that they don't care. Perhaps you haven't done the work necessary to get them to show up. Yes, that's yeah. Yeah, Because I worked at a charter school for a several years, and I remember hearing even now that I've said that, I will not say, since I'm going into this, I won't say what the school name was, But I remember hearing from you know, staff that you know, saying like, oh, well, parents will show up if you take the kid's phone, or parents will show up if they if it's a fight and they need to get engaged in a physical fight on behalf of their child. So it was. I didn't even think about it until like, are you actually doing something to get the parents, get them engaged and get them involved. Absolutely, it has. To be more than just like sending out a letter or the phone blast or you know, it has to be more than that. It has to start with seeing people on relationships. Relationships are I think they're king right in the sense that if you actually are taking a time I may get to know people, You're also going to know their stories and their needs, right. And so I remember there was this parent. I used to work at a school in Camden, and this parent would pick their child up late every day and everybody in the administration was complaining, like, we have to stay longer because his parent had always So I had a conversation with the parent. I was like, you know, we're noticing a pattern, right, the after school program ends at this time you get here sometimes and she was like, yeah, I'm waiting for the bus, right, And I don't know how much people know about Camden, but like Camden is not you know, well positioned like Philadelphia is from an infrastructure in terms of public transportation. So she was like, this bus comes at this time or this time, and by the time I get off work, there are sometimes where I missed the bus. Once we had that conversation, I said, as long as you know I'm here, your child can stay with me while I clean and break down the school, you know, to shut it down. But what that lot and that parent after that not only was hardly ever late, but I knew when she was late it was because of that, right, And that opens things, right, because some at some schools that could be them open up a DHS case. Yes, you're absolutely right, that's right, and that could change the trajectory not only of that family's lives, but that child's life. So I think we have to be very careful about the decisions that we make and also making assumptions, because those assumptions are not neutral, right, Those assumptions have political consequences for families that collass not only for that year, but throughout the course of their lives. So I think it's serious business when we're thinking about if we want to be in this work, which is why I tell people, if you're not serious about this work with children, families and communities, you need to get out absolutely yeah. Yeah, And you wouldn't have known that had you not had that conversation, had you not had the passion and concern to check on the parent first self. That's yeah, awesome, Yeah, yeah, kudos. You don't get another ram real quick, cause you know you. Out there, you know, doing a good work for good folk, right, And so I want to talk a little bit about I want to read this and it's just the kind of uh intro to the next question. So this is from w HYY. Despite protests, meeting disruptions, and threats from most of Philadelphia City Council to block the vote, the city's Board of Education improved the district controversial plan to close seventeen schools. Now, you were at a town hall and you had a strong opinion as it relates to the budget, and you know, kind of like the needs and what we need to do. I would love to know your position now and what do we do going forward, because there's a lot of people who are very upset about this. Believe that there could have been other means to not only raise that money, but that the ball was dropped before we even got here. And I believe that's the discussion that people are not having, and so I would love to know your position on that and where do you stay in now? Yeah. Yeah, Thursday was a very tough day for the city, a very tough day, and particularly for the children, the families and communities who are impacted not only by the seventeenclosures, but also these co locations and all the schools are impacted, right, But to your point, the ball was dropped well before Thursday. Right. We have had decades and decades of underfunding of our schools, particularly in this commonwealth, and the Philadelphia School District is the largest school district within that of the Commonwealth. And we also don't have the ability to you know, well school board doesn't have the authority to raise property taxes, whereas in other counties and other districts they do have that authority. And so we're always in this you know, political dance trying to figure out how much are we getting from Harrisburg, isn't enough, if it's not enough, how much of the city needs to do, and how much can the city afford to do? And so I think we're in a legacy moment right now because the choices that we either make today or don't make today are not just going to have consequences for next year. But I think we also understand what happens when people so for example, in the case of what's happening right now in the city, both with the school closures, but also the structural deficit, right that if that structural deficit is not made up, there are going to be three hundred and forty school based staff positions cut across the school district. And what we know about school positions is that they're people, right, So when we talk about relationships and importance, that a kid may not be coming to school because they want to come to school, but they come to school because that person that's there sees them, right. And so I think it's really important in this moment that all of our elected officials and all those who have the power to actually put not only resources and also both thinking into what we do in education in the city. But if they're thinking about this as a legacy moment, because what's going to happen is that whatever they decide, we're going to see generations of that. Because right now what we're seeing in terms of how our children are you know, people say different things about the young people of today, etc. But that was indicative of all the things that happened prior to now. These were ten years ago, are the products of what we're seeing, right, So that disinvestment. So I really think is important currently that we think boldly about what we're doing in terms of investments for children and communities. Absolutely, yeah, I want to play this clip real quick. It's really important to start from really the chronic underfunding the school district and other districts across the Commonwealth have had to weather. So a lawsuit happened, and that lawsuit confirmed that the ways in which we fund are our schools are unconstitutional, and so Harrisburg had to get to work. And what that meant was that the school District of Philadelphia was one point two five billion dollars underfunded. And so when we think about that large number, Harrisburg was like, we can't actually close that in one year. So they've been working incrementally to close that gap. So the state has been working on that and they have put a twenty two percent down payment on that. So it's about two hundred and seventy four million dollars that they put into that underfunding, which means, if you're doing the math, that's about nine hundred and seventy eight million dollars underfunding right Nine hundred and seventy eight million dollars were underfunded right now. On top of that, we have close to a three hundred and fifty structural deficit separate from that other funding. Structural deficit is coming from the ARPA funds that are now pretty much have vanished. So just I mean, you hear that's just the talking, right, she's talking talking. You know, thought I thought that just listening to that whole commentary, that dialogue that you guys were having, it was it just was an eye opener, and it was something that I don't believe a lot of people actually knew. And I was very disappointed, not in any of you guys, but just how many people were not there, right, And so you will then have the community saying. Well, what's going on or I didn't know about. Anything, or what you know? So for me, that tells me there's a communication problem. Is that disconn they're somewhere that we are not getting that word out the way that we should. And who responsibility is that? Right? Is it the responsibility of the community to find out? Is it the responsibility for those who are given a message, the producer? Who responsibility is it to make sure that that message get up? Yeah? So very good question. I think it's all of our responsibility. So I think that like the community has a crucial role to play to understand how they can engage, you know, in a public forum, we have all of our government like interactions are available digitally right. And so when we think about that, folks could watch how people vote, they can watch the different questions folks have to respective entities like the school district of Philadelphia. You can also go to a school board meeting, because when you're actually going to these meetings over time, you're also going to a better understanding of how decisions are made and also how influence happens. Right. Influence doesn't happen at the last hour, Right, Influence happens over time, and it happens with relationships. And so I think it's really important that we are collectively engaged. But I think the media also has a huge role to play to be the truth tellers in room, to make sure that the facts are actually leading the conversation. That it's not respective you know, perspectives of people in power who are charging the narratives. Right. But then I do think it's the responsibility of elected officials to create the conditions for people to participate. For example, a lot of city council public hearings. I mean, they have the budget form which is in the evenings, but if you're a hearing, you have to take off work to actually participate in adherent or have the flexibility to be there, right, So there are times when people actually want to engage the like I actually can't be off work. So I think also folks in positions are powered need to think a little bit differently about how to make the governm more accessible. Right, So because people don't have seven hours to sit in city council to wait to say something for one minute, yeah, and so that your time is up, right, So I think we have to think differently. But I think this is where social media really can be of immense value. Right. People are so creative on social media, being able to take really complex information and distilling it for people in ways that people say, oh, now I understand how all these different things connect. And these are the ways that you can show up. And I think we have to create a menu of options for people to show up. So like, maybe you can't show up and do the testimony, right, maybe assigning a petition, Maybe it's calling your elected official, Maybe it's actually talking to the media. So there's so many different ways to engage, and I think people just have to find your lane. There are some people also who are like, you know, I'd just rather collect like petitioning signatures and that's like my you know, my value, and that's great. I think we all just need to find our lane and do the things that that actually moved the needle. Fantastic. We're pretty much at the top of the hour, so I have to do our little time check right now. I gotta do it. So this is We talked weekly after the talk on w p P M LP Philadelphia one on six point five FL We talked weekly after the talk with your boy Charles Gregoran and beautiful Laurence is beautiful, yeah, and we have her on the shoulder day and we're talking to good Old Talk. Did you have a question? I did, because I know a lot of people are I guess this this decision has raised a lot of red flags and basically what you had explained, people are trying to understand, like how is this even going to happen? Like you know, yeah, you're saying this in theory, but how is that going to happen if there's such a huge deficit in Like where are you going to get this money from to get all this done? And why isn't this person contributing and you know who is? Why can't we get money from Harrisburg? Why isn't. Why is this entity who is self governing and they are collecting so much money from the city and they're coming up with all these different sanctions to get more money from the city. I won't name any any names, but they're coming up with these, you know, different collaborations with you know, different people and different government local government people, and then they're coming up with these different sanctions and things where they can get more money to have more I guess for them, but that doesn't really trickle into the city and the city isn't getting any of this money like that, Like, so how are you going to get the money that you are trying to get? So they're like the mathing, so like what's going on? They want answers. Yeah, you know, I think it's really important that we don't just come out for the big moments, right because the seventeen like closures that was approved on Thursday, it's not effective next school year. It's effective the following school year. So what that tells me in my organizer mind that there is still opportunity to influence, right, and so that means we don't throw up our hands right. That battle, you know, was contentious on Thursday, but people have to remain engage to be still influence that process because perhaps there are additional schools that may come off this list that was finalized, but also what's going to happen to those children? We can influence that too, But also we need to be influencing the kind of investments. So we're not here five years later closing another fifteen schools. Yes, because the last time we were here was twenty thirteen. Oh. Yes, and I was working at the school that I was at in the Germantown area, and I think one of the biggest fears was the schools that they were closing and bringing at all schools. Yeah, and they closed King and Yes, and they were talking about merging them into a school and then we were just like, oh my goodness, what's going to happen to these students because their rivals and we were just so afraid. And I remember our hearts were broken. So we don't want to be here again. How do we not get here to this point again? I think the School District of Philadelphia has to do stuff differently, and I think part of that different comes with transparency. Right. I think a lot of people, regardless of their position about the vote. The fact that that vote was moved online. People were mad about that. Yes, yes, And I think we have to look at things not only from the lens of like you know, like logistical it may be easier to have a vote online, but with the symbolism that we're communicating by doing that, right, And so I think it's really intentional for the district as they move forward to make sure that they're actually listening. But I think part of this too is that there has to be consistent pressure right for them to listen. You know, Frederick Douglass said, you know, power conceives nothing without demand. Right, you're coming. So we gotta we gotta, we gotta organize, right, And I think that, like you know, the district has said that this next year will be a transition year, all right, So who wants to be on a transition committee? Right? Right? What if? I mean, one of the things that was so devastating about the last round of closures is the the increase in truancy that happened after that. Right, what are we going to be doing now and this year to make sure that doesn't happen again? And that's that's a that's a great point because a lot of that you're talking about. Imagine moving move when we were coming up two rival schools, was you see an Overbrook? Can you imagine you see closing and have to come into Overbrook? What do you do at that point? And so when you talk about truancy, it's like, Yo, I ain't going to school. I'm not going to school. And what I think is that the numbers are bigger than the people. The monies is bigger than the people. And so it. Becomes that it appears that I don't care about the schools. They don't care about the kids, they don't care about the community. So why should I care about the kids? Why should I care about the community? And why should I care about going out the vote? Because my vote don't count, which is something that we advocate for, especially for our young people, all of the time. So how can you then say to a young person your vote count. Meanwhile, you're kicking me out of my school. And I voted for you, or I voted for. This particular party that's supposed to be supporting some of the things that I would like. So then what do you say to that young person? Because you work with young people, and I'm sure that that's always a discussion. So what do you say to young people as it relates to voting and things like this? Yeah, so I always try to talk about voting as it being part of a larger equation of civic engagement. Right, if you just do your vote, you know, doing the primaries and doing the general, in my mind, you're not doing your civic duties, okay, right, because the whole you're putting someone in a position to speak on the behalf of you, your interests, in your community interests. But if you're not watching what they do, right and looking at their because I don't judge a politician by what they say. I judge them by their political record. Right. And so if we're putting somebody in a position to be elected, and then we're saying okay, and I'll see you you know next time, you know, election time, and see how you did. That's not how we do anything else in society. Right, You're just gonna get hired for a job, and that people are like, all right, we're gonna see how this going in two to four years. Right, you have a performance review the things that I'm not going good, you're called into the office. Right, And so we have to continuously be vigilant, right. And I think that the federal level, there's so much stuff happening that people are getting this kind of like news fatigue, right, And I think it's so important that people are engaged locally. Right, Yes, you need to know what's happening, and at the federal level, yes you need to know what's happening in Harrisburg, but what's happening in your community. Yes, So I think we have to be intentional about our awareness. But also for young people also say that, like, you all are changing the tenor of what is acceptable, right, and so as we push right, and so you know, I think my you know, generations before me came up, the generation that if you're a part of this party versus this party, then like you're all right, right, But I think we have to really get very clear on what we want our politicians to do on the behalf of us and holding them accountable, and then when they don't execute an alignment with what we think they should be doing, then you get them out. One of the Oh no, I was just going to say, you know, back going back to the school board during that the Lympes community conversations where we just heard. You know, you speak so eloquently, and I like how you book that down. There was a question raised about should board members be paid. What are your thoughts on that, because the work that they're essentially doing, yeah, for the city of Philadelphia's you know, students and you know, yeah, and making these decisions. Yeah, you know, I think an absence of not being paid, then you really limit who's able to sit in these seats, right. And I don't know the exact time commitment of what it is to be on the school board, but I'm sure it is not five hours a month, right, I'm sure it's probably especially in certain seasons, it's probably to the tune of maybe a full time job. Right. And so that means that you want you limit who's available and have that flexibility, right, which is a class thing. Right. Then also a time thing is a generational thing. So you'll now have more people who are either retirement or approach your retirement age. Right, So you don't even allow for there to be a younger person. Because when we think about the nature, and this is why I think we really have to think more critically about what are the different ways we have historically created forms for people to engage in government and do those same systems work now? Right? And so I think that like, perhaps the school board should be paid because it would allow other people to actually be in a position to do some of this work who wouldn't otherwise. I'm not saying they should get necessarily a salary, but I think that like, when you're utilizing your time and your labor for some then that is significant and for the future of this city there should be some regard whether that's like, for example, is your childcare provided to the people who have kids on that board? Right, It's like what are And you know, I think sometimes folks get funny when you say things that are paying people for like public service. They're supposed to be doing the kindness of their hearts. But like when we think about the economics of today, right. I've just seen an eight none dollars. Eggs, Okay, And so I think it's like we have to also be real about if we truly want people to engage, how are we creating the conditions for engagement. For example, when I train up parents, and I use parents of anybody raising young kids, they have two mills where they're longer than three hours together. They have childcare and they get a stipend, right, because then that takes a distress out of what it means to participate. Right. So now I have these people here, their kids are right next door that they can see, but they can be fully present to actually learn about how power moves and also how can I advocate not only for my child but for all children. And so I think that we just have to think differently. But that also requires things like philanthropy sad thing differently. Right, So what are we willing to say is acceptable in a grant report? Right? And I think we have to also be diligent if we're doing this stuff that we're also showing the impact too, right, Because it's one thing to get the money, it's another thing to show the impact of how the money is actually working. And when you're investing in people, you have to tell that story through, you know, showing like things. And so I definitely we just have to change the conditions of engagement in a lot of ways. It's antiquated. As we come down to the last few questions, you talk about budget and money, and I have a question as it relates to our dear mayor. One of her proposed budgets is a dollar text on the people via all rochs here yep. What are your thoughts on that? And do you see that being an issue to the people or do you see that that might be a great opportunity there for raising funds? Yeah, I want to you know, when I think about the structural deficit and how the mayor thought about like, Okay, we have the structural deficit. Now what are we going to do about it? Right? And I think that you know, the challenge with making sure that we're plugging this structured just for this year, but for next year, is that we need reoccurring funds. Right. So a text is a reoccurring funding source. Right. But to the point that we just made people are hurting from a pockets perspective four seventy five for gas right, right. And so while people may fundamentally agree that our kids need, you know, to be funded and invested in, I think people are having, you know, are contending with the idea of like is this tax the right way to go? What I will say is that right share, both uber and Lyft don't have to pass it on to consumers. That's true, that's. Right, right, But we live in a capitalistic society. Right, So so mean. I see that, right, I'm gonna just push back, push back, push, bash back a little bit on that, because that's with everything right every I mean, you talk about, okay, a gas. Company, they don't have to go up so high, and so they don't want to eat. The cost of way they push it, right, I think anyone who is in business do not want to eat the costs. They're going to pass it to someone. So when I hear that defense, yeah, I have been staunchly against yes. And the reason is because I believe there's other ways if we were not in the position or the situations that we are in today with the rise of everything. Literally we're still fighting for minimum weight. So you're talking about brought up access, Yes, brought up access. So now you're who are the only people generally using rise here? People look like us? Yeah? Right? And then not only that, not cut you off, but I just wanted to throw this little piece in here because I heard some parents saying, like they send their child to school and because they don't want them on the bus or the trade because of violence. It was a slap in the face of them. No, So I so listen I'm not saying this is the best proposal. It's the only one on the table right now. So the question is who has authority to create other proposals that part yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, Okay, that's fair, that's fair, that's fair. I'm always I'm always pushing against that. It's the people. Stop taxing the people. I have for pround with texting. I mean they taxed this again to remember, stop using the plastic bags. Yeah, I guess what, stop drinking so I'd be having to bring my too. How about the sugar tax? I mean, you're talking about all these taxes and to get pushed to the people all the time. And then if you're talking about generating funds of revenue for the city, that's what people started doing because of the sugar tax. They start going to the county. So we're not getting the money who we thought that we were to get. And so I'm always I'm very hard when it comes to PPA because I believe there there is a proposal that can directly target that for money you're talking about we're talking about schools. They just put red light cameras around the school zones because people were speaking. Why can't if it's directly for the schools. Why can't you take a dollar for every ticket there? Right? For some reason, I don't see any pushback against PPA that is taking money handover fist from the citizens. And most of them look like us from m pounding of cars. Guess who can't afford to get our calls out? So they're taxing us with that. Every day there's another block that has meters on. It, taxing the people. Broad Street just got fifty thousand cameras on it. Guess what they're taxing more people one hundred dollars a ticket, that's fifty whatever it is, it's too much. Why can't that money go to the schools? It doesn't make sense to me? Go ahead, But this is the creative thinking that we need, right, that needs to happen in community. Right. And then that thing that we're talking about, we're not just talking about it. We're actually coming up with a different alternate native to to to the vision. But then we got to take that vision to the people who can do something with it, right. And so I think it's really really important that people are engaged right and are doing the work necessary. And the thing is too you know, sometimes you know elected officials have all these different areas that they're working across, right, Some have passions in certain areas, right, But you can take proposals to elected officials. Mhm, I got you. Yeah, we gotta do the work too. Shout out, No, shout out to our dear mayor though, because I appreciate her vigilance and in her uh, because she'll say it. I'm not apologetic, you. Know, about her doing her best for the city in Philadelphia. So I can appreciate that. I do believe that there's people out there that's all that's already doing the work that there needs to be an heir to because they're already doing the work and found some solutions, and I don't think that's considered like it should, right, And so kind of closing off, what would be the legacy that you would love to lead for the work that you do? Mm hmmm. Legacy question, that's big. Mm hmm. Well. I lost a dear friend in December this past year, Ashley Rosario, and she was such a such a a ferocious fighter for justice. And I came across this quote by the Journal Truth that was like, when I go home, I want to go home like a shooting star. Getting another round for you, coming up with a lot of. These drop them, And so I guess I don't know what my legacy is going to be, but people remember how We'll remember how you treat them right. And I always want people to think about was I real? Was I kind? And was I fighting for folks like even even when it meant risking myself right? I think that is so so important. So for me, it's just like when I am on you know, my deathbat. I want to be at peace knowing that I gave it. I gave them at all, my all. So for me, it's going home like a shooting star. You're definitely a shooting star, my sister. Yeah, you've been doing the work and I appreciate your voice in fighting for us and keep up the good fight. You mentioned media, and you know one of the things that we taught weekly does his try our best to give platforms to people like you so people can hear that, right, hear your work. Here are the things that you do too often. We I hate to use the word fault, but we fought legacy media for not doing some work that we know that they have the ability to do. But I believe that their space for people like us and others and independent media to offer those lanes, right, and so we get that everywhere there's a lane for everyone. The challenge that we have oftentimes because you mentioned how you know, the way that we can get out to people is the media. Oftentimes people like us get boxed out from opportunities because legacy media will be there, right, And so when we talk about access, then that means we don't have access to give information out right. So there's a disconnect some political challenges in that ecosystem, right, and so we continue to fight that. People believe we are bigger than who we are, you know, that's that's that's not a bad thing, good thing and different whatever. But that's the work of three people just doing the work. We're a small team, but we do the work. And that's something that I'm proud to say, and I'm proud to offer opportunities to give platform for the community and the people that's watching. Allow your voice. So it's not a voice that's voiceless, it's just a voice that needs to be heard. And we get the platform for that. Thank you so much, Thanks you so much for the work that you all are doing. I'm here. Like I said, media is a very important player and part of you know, shifting systems is so narrative, right, And so thank you all for doing this good, righteous work and forgetting in good trouble. Take you about the random class ladies and gentlemen. Ladies and gentlemen. I know love, right, Why don't you give? For you know a young person who's watching and looking at you and. Like I like her, I would love to be her one day. Would you tell that young lady who's looking at you and. Like, wow, this is beautiful? Would you tell her. To be your full self? Your full self is enough. For the longest time, I thought that I had to contort and to code switch and do all these different things. All you have to do is be yourself and however you want to show up right like I'm gonna wear my braids, listen, I'm gonna do the things that feel good to me. And so I think the most important thing is for people to get to know their values, to be themselves they're authentic selves, and know that they're enough as they are. And if they can't be the full selves in a room, that room, isn't it for you? That's fantastic, But now you have it. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't want you to go anywhere since we talk about those babies. We're gonna play something with these babies, you know. But I'm your boy, Charles Gregor with the beautiful Lawrence and the beautiful I know all right. I don't go anywhere, and we'll be right back after this show. Hey, this is my saying chante. If we cannot be complete unless you listen to or watch we talk, please believe you bad