1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,280 Speaker 1: M Taking a Walk Nashville. 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,840 Speaker 2: Hi everyone, this is Sarah Harrelson, your host of Taking 3 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 2: a Walk Nashville, and today I am at Capitol View 4 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 2: and Downtown Nashville, which is near the Tennessee State Capitol 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 2: Building and. 6 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,880 Speaker 3: Bi Centennial Capital Mall State Park. 7 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,840 Speaker 4: Joining me here is Emily Winters, the CEO of Strings 8 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,639 Speaker 4: for Hope, and organization in Nashville that employee survivors of 9 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 4: interpersonal violence to create guitar string jewelry out of recycled 10 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 4: musical instrument strings. Emily, thank you so much for being 11 00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:37,559 Speaker 4: here today. So we're not in the usual workspace of 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,680 Speaker 4: Strings for Hope, are we We are not. 13 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:44,559 Speaker 3: We are at a temporary office as ours is closed. 14 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 3: Uh yeah, leaver kicked out of our building what about 15 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 3: a month ago? So yeah, yeah, we'reated in Germantown, GEA, 16 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 3: in the heart of Germantown. We love, we love Germantown, 17 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 3: one hundred Taylor Street. Yeah. So, due to some fire 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 3: code issues, we have been temporarily displaced with eighty two 19 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 3: other small businesses. So we are so grateful to Capital 20 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,240 Speaker 3: View They've allowed us to be in one of their 21 00:01:15,280 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 3: spaces and still looking. So yeah. 22 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 4: Well, I definitely hope people can support your cause while 23 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 4: you guys are transitioning into a new workspace. So let's 24 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 4: talk about the start of Strings for Hope. It was 25 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 4: established in twenty ten, but you actually took the role 26 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,680 Speaker 4: of CEO in twenty seventeen at a very young age. 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:40,560 Speaker 3: So how did you get involved with this organization? I 28 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,320 Speaker 3: love that you have all of that information readily available. 29 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 3: Bossis Sarah getting it right and correct. It's a very 30 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 3: interesting story, and I know I told you a few 31 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: times on different places, but yeah, I got involved as 32 00:01:54,320 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 3: the first little cart Girl is what we called ourselves. 33 00:01:58,120 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 3: It was me and another guy named Devin, and she 34 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 3: was my best friend and she got me involved in 35 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 3: Strings for Hope. She was going to Belmont University and 36 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:11,080 Speaker 3: Strings for Hope was working with Belmont at that time 37 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: with a program with students and she was a part 38 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 3: of that, and she got me involved and we started 39 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:22,400 Speaker 3: selling guitar string jewelry, which was at the time a 40 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,600 Speaker 3: craft and an interesting like project to give back to 41 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:30,919 Speaker 3: the community through food banks and medical clinics and schools 42 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:34,600 Speaker 3: and so not what Strings for Hope is today at all. 43 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: But it's been so incredible to be a part of 44 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,400 Speaker 3: the transition to what it is now. 45 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 4: M h. Yeah, and you were very young when you 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 4: got involved, So did you have another career path in 47 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 4: mind or did you just right away have a passion 48 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 4: for this organization. 49 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 3: Girl, Now, I had no idea what hap to doing. 50 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 3: I oh, let's see, gosh, it's not like I had 51 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 3: my jobs I had. I had like two before this, 52 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 3: So I was a walking cliche of Nashville. I was 53 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 3: teaching line dancing at the World Times Wildhorse Saloon Rip, 54 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 3: and I was selling cowboy boots at the buy one, 55 00:03:12,200 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 3: get two pair free place Love It. And that's honestly 56 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,119 Speaker 3: where I connected with Devin. We worked together. She's still 57 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 3: my best friend today. And that was that was what 58 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,160 Speaker 3: I was doing. I didn't have I didn't go to college. 59 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 3: I was nineteen, so at this point it's twenty fifteen 60 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 3: when I got involved with Strings, and it just yeah, 61 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 3: it was just an opportunity. I was doing all of 62 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 3: the different things. But I will say I've always known 63 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 3: that I'm not meant for a conventional, normal job. I've 64 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 3: always enjoyed doing things that can just take me different places, 65 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 3: and opportunities to help others has been at my core. 66 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 3: But I don't think I realized that until much later 67 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 3: into running the organization. And so you did grow up 68 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 3: in Nashville, you're a unicorner. Yeah, I am. I grew 69 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 3: out a little outside of Nashville of like twenty thirty minutes. 70 00:04:08,400 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 3: But but you know, like everyone else, we claim it 71 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 3: when we're for that close. But yeah, I mean I 72 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 3: always say that I'm the only one they'll ever meet, 73 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 3: you know, that's from here when you're downtown. When I 74 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 3: was working downtown all the time, I'm like, it's just me, 75 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 3: I'm the only one from here. Yeah. 76 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 4: And so when you were just with Devin with the 77 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 4: Strings and the cart, did you have to figure out 78 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 4: over time like Okay, we need more people on the team, 79 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 4: we need marketing And was. 80 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 3: That difficult to grow the company? 81 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 4: Yeah? 82 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:42,440 Speaker 3: I mean it was honestly a little background to that story. 83 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:46,159 Speaker 3: So Strings for Helpe was started by Laura Wilson and 84 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 3: her husband, Brook Wilson, and they her husband built guitars 85 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 3: and Laura had a full time job at HTA still does, 86 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 3: and and that was so this was definitely something that 87 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 3: they were wanting to be a a really cool organization, 88 00:05:03,000 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 3: but not as big as what it has become. I 89 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 3: don't think that that was necessarily the goal or in 90 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 3: the cards of what they thought would happen. And so 91 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 3: when I and Devin got involved, we we were selling 92 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 3: this jewelry downtown. We were making the jewelry, and we 93 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:22,440 Speaker 3: were selling too much, so we were we were just 94 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,239 Speaker 3: moving the product really well. And people loved a piece 95 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 3: of Nashville, right. It really started with the strings. They 96 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 3: were like so interested in taking home a piece of 97 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 3: music city and that was just such a fun thing 98 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 3: for me. I really saw that excited me that people 99 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,760 Speaker 3: were able to like connect with the town that I, 100 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 3: you know, am from, like where being from here. Just 101 00:05:43,880 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 3: I'm like, no, you get it. You get to take 102 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,840 Speaker 3: home a piece of Nashville. So it's really cool. But 103 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 3: then fast forward, Yeah, we sold too much. I'm not 104 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 3: great at making jewelry. And so the idea was that 105 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 3: we should start working with one of our local halfway 106 00:05:58,200 --> 00:06:01,080 Speaker 3: houses in town, a treat and center as well, called 107 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,039 Speaker 3: the next Door. So that was the first one that 108 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,200 Speaker 3: we started working with, and a few other agency partners 109 00:06:07,279 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: we started working with, and it was really to have 110 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 3: hands to make the product and for others to have 111 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 3: job opportunity but it was not the core focus, so 112 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 3: that it just evolved over time. Yeah. 113 00:06:22,279 --> 00:06:24,800 Speaker 4: Yeah, and not only does it support a good cause, 114 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,560 Speaker 4: but it definitely cleans up the planet by recycling guitar strings. 115 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 4: So over the years, how many guitar strings, if you know, 116 00:06:33,320 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 4: have you recycled, and how many survivors have you employed? 117 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,279 Speaker 4: So this is always fun because it's like it's a 118 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,760 Speaker 4: kind of rough guest in it. Obviously with the strings, 119 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 4: like there's so many you've been to our office before 120 00:06:47,040 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 4: her old huffs do there's so many strings, guys, So 121 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 4: we've had I mean, we I like to work in 122 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 4: pounds because it's a lot easier to like digest and understand. 123 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:01,440 Speaker 4: But it's over ten thousand pounds load strings. And we 124 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 4: do this because we will wait, we know the approximate 125 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 4: weight of string, and when we get a bin in, 126 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 4: we'll weigh those. And so it's we weren't even recording 127 00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 4: that in the beginning of string Wow. And so now 128 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 4: it's been incredible to see and we still are a 129 00:07:16,880 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 4: recycling program. That's how we like to be viewed as 130 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,520 Speaker 4: a recycling program for the musicians, a work development program 131 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:27,679 Speaker 4: for survivors, and obviously a beautiful product and experience for 132 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 4: the public and consumers and customers. So yeah, and then 133 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 4: as far as women, we've had over gosh, at this point, 134 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 4: over one hundred and fifty women go through the program. 135 00:07:39,440 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 4: But the program evolved so before when. 136 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:46,239 Speaker 3: We first started working with survivors, again, the mission wasn't 137 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 3: to necessarily focus on them and their work development. It 138 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:54,520 Speaker 3: was to give a job, and that's for to donate 139 00:07:54,600 --> 00:08:00,320 Speaker 3: money to random, awesome organizations. But when streamlining that focus 140 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 3: and realizing the demographic we were working with, that was 141 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 3: my job, right. I was going in and teaching a 142 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,720 Speaker 3: lot of these women, and I just realized that there's 143 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:13,119 Speaker 3: a lot more opportunity to keep people out of those 144 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 3: food banks and create keep people out of those safe 145 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 3: houses even by creating financial and emotional autonomy. And so 146 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,640 Speaker 3: that evolved over time, and that means we slowed down 147 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 3: the program, making it intentional for people to find not 148 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 3: just you know, cash for the moment making jewelry, but 149 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:39,680 Speaker 3: now a certified jeweler apprenticeship program where they are here 150 00:08:39,760 --> 00:08:44,560 Speaker 3: for you know, it could be max. A year to 151 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 3: two years, or it could be their whole career. Like 152 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 3: it just depends on what people want and we're there 153 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 3: to help them through that journey. Yeah, that's great. They 154 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 3: can take that certification and you know, use it anywhere. Yeah, yeah, 155 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 3: and it's it's We're really grateful to the Apprenticeship State 156 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,679 Speaker 3: Office of Tennessee because for them to come through and 157 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 3: be like, the work you're doing with guitar strings actually 158 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:12,360 Speaker 3: is great work. And look is it's jewelry. Like they 159 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:15,000 Speaker 3: valued it that much. And notice that we're doing the 160 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 3: same skills with soldering and micro wilding and doing all 161 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 3: the things that we do. It was just validation of 162 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:28,120 Speaker 3: years of hard work of wanting to create something more quality. 163 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 3: M hmm. Yeah. 164 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,559 Speaker 4: And the cause definitely pulls on your heart strings as well. 165 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 4: Can you share a story with us that just resonates 166 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 4: you of a time that strings for hope, save someone, 167 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 4: maybe someone's specific story. 168 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:47,680 Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean I feel like I always get weary 169 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 3: about like using the word like saved or like helped people. 170 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:55,000 Speaker 3: But because I really do believe that as survivors and 171 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,959 Speaker 3: women in this space like we do, that we make 172 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:02,199 Speaker 3: the choice right this that was the whole that was 173 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,640 Speaker 3: a shift for me is realizing that this is a 174 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:09,080 Speaker 3: choice for myself and for them, and so that's us 175 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:13,480 Speaker 3: taking that step in that leap to save ourselves and 176 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 3: create a path forward. So I feel like it's evolved 177 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 3: so much. But in the there's so many, too many 178 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:24,680 Speaker 3: good stories to bring up. But I guess I can. 179 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 3: I can kind of talk about one individual for the 180 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 3: sake of her privacy, I won't like use her name, 181 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 3: but there's been individuals that have all struggled with, you know, 182 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 3: substance use. We work with survivors of substance use, trafficking 183 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 3: and domestic interpersonal violence, and so this specific story kind 184 00:10:45,040 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 3: of touches on more of that, that trafficking side of things, 185 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 3: and it's not Recovery is not linear, and I think 186 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 3: we all kind of know that, but I feel like 187 00:10:57,080 --> 00:10:59,040 Speaker 3: as someone in this space, a leader in the space, 188 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:01,720 Speaker 3: we need to talk about that a lot more. You know, 189 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:05,080 Speaker 3: we need to say like, it's not linear, and we 190 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:07,719 Speaker 3: want to support our team as they're they're evolving and 191 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 3: growing through through Strings. But this one particular person, she 192 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 3: had gotten out of treatment and started working with Strings 193 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,000 Speaker 3: for Hope, so she was still in a residential partnered facility. 194 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 3: We work with many partners still and having that those 195 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,920 Speaker 3: case managers to work with and so she started working 196 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,959 Speaker 3: with Strings for Hope and she was doing okay. She 197 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,560 Speaker 3: wasn't like picking it up really quickly. She kind of 198 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:38,679 Speaker 3: didn't seem ready to come out of the life. And 199 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 3: we say that we use that term a lot in 200 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 3: our space, but like, she didn't, she doesn't seem ready 201 00:11:42,400 --> 00:11:46,840 Speaker 3: to come out of the life. And unfortunately she ended 202 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 3: up running, leaving the facility and going back out, and honestly, 203 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 3: I didn't think we would see her again. It's it's scary, 204 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 3: you know, going back to your views her and I 205 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 3: was like, okay, she's gone. Hopefully we can help the 206 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:06,439 Speaker 3: next person that comes through. Fast forward. It was probably 207 00:12:06,520 --> 00:12:11,240 Speaker 3: like a year later this individual comes back through our 208 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:16,679 Speaker 3: program and has was just a different person completely and 209 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,320 Speaker 3: is still to this day thriving. It was like the 210 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 3: most beautiful thing to see is someone just wasn't ready 211 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 3: had to go back out, and obviously we all don't 212 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,600 Speaker 3: want that, but for her to come back and feel 213 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:34,240 Speaker 3: safe to even do this program again was just like 214 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,160 Speaker 3: a testament to like our work and what we do. 215 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 3: And so's she's killing it. She's a leader at Strings. 216 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:45,839 Speaker 3: And I think that I bring her up so much 217 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 3: because I think she's just like. 218 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 4: Such a great example. And for many people in our organization, 219 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,559 Speaker 4: this might be the only job they've ever had. 220 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:02,080 Speaker 3: So this is just definitely something that in someone that 221 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:04,520 Speaker 3: I'm so incredibly proud of, and I definitely feel like 222 00:13:05,960 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 3: us being a safe place for her helped contribute to 223 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:11,839 Speaker 3: her saving her own life. It's beautiful. 224 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:17,960 Speaker 4: And he recently partnered with the nonprofit organization Infinite Possibilities 225 00:13:18,080 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 4: and actually announced this partnership when we collaborated on a 226 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 4: benefit show with Women behind the Lyrics. How has this 227 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 4: partnership with Infinite Possibilities helped your employees? 228 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh, I'm so happy you're bringing that up. 229 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:38,680 Speaker 3: It's been the biggest thing that ever happened, I think 230 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,959 Speaker 3: with Strings for Hope, I'm so grateful for Rhonda who 231 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:48,600 Speaker 3: runs Infinite Possibilities and yeah, now Strings for Hope nonprofit arm. 232 00:13:48,760 --> 00:13:52,240 Speaker 3: She's licensing the name and we're combining and joining forces 233 00:13:52,480 --> 00:13:56,640 Speaker 3: even in a bigger and better way. What Infinite Possibilities 234 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:02,320 Speaker 3: aka Strings for Hope does is supports the survivors in 235 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,360 Speaker 3: so many different ways and so not just it shrinks 236 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:08,840 Speaker 3: for Hope. So she will help with emergency financial relief 237 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 3: for survivors partnering with so many different agencies, including our 238 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 3: local government agency, Office of Family Safety, and will provide 239 00:14:17,559 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 3: transportation for survivors that are trying to get to court, 240 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,920 Speaker 3: filling intentional gaps that you don't think about. But I'll 241 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 3: tell you who does. Those women that are terrified to 242 00:14:28,920 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 3: show up to court and see their abuser or you know, 243 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 3: trying to figure out how to even get to a job, 244 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:36,440 Speaker 3: and they have to have kids, and they have to 245 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 3: leave early, and they have so many things, and as 246 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 3: a company, I can't always provide PTO that extends outside 247 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 3: of our realm of work development boundaries, if you will. 248 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 3: And so that's where Rhonda comes through and she sees 249 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 3: the situation as a whole and how she can not 250 00:14:57,600 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 3: just give you know, a financial relief or something to 251 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,120 Speaker 3: help them, but something that will help continue to move 252 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 3: the needle for survivors. And so she's been such a 253 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 3: great asset to this state, to be honest with you. 254 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,400 Speaker 3: She also helps fund our phase one of our work 255 00:15:14,400 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 3: development program. So that's where we go into those facilities. 256 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 3: We literally meet women where they're at physically, mentally, and emotionally, 257 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,680 Speaker 3: and so we are focusing on so much more than jewelry. 258 00:15:25,400 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: We're focusing on showing up for yourself, resume building, financial literacy, 259 00:15:30,080 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 3: things that as a job you don't think that would 260 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:34,920 Speaker 3: That'd be amazing if you were at a job and 261 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 3: they invested in you that much. And investing in people 262 00:15:38,560 --> 00:15:42,400 Speaker 3: is expensive, but it's worth it. And so that's our 263 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 3: goal is with the nonprofit arm to assist in that 264 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:49,280 Speaker 3: investment and those skills. We're able to pay survivors what 265 00:15:49,320 --> 00:15:54,320 Speaker 3: they deserve and keep moving the needle for the jewelry process. 266 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 3: And also just our journey with working with so many 267 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,920 Speaker 3: different industries here in Nashville. Yeah, yeah, Ron, it's amazing. Yeah, 268 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: it was amazing to see how Strings for Hope has 269 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 3: evolved over the years and has helped the Nashville community. 270 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 3: You know, we talked about how you started in this 271 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 3: organization at a young age. So what advice would you 272 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 3: give to. 273 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 4: Maybe young professionals wanting to start their own company or 274 00:16:21,600 --> 00:16:23,800 Speaker 4: go out on their own with an organization. 275 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 3: My gosh, I love that question. I've recently become really 276 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 3: passionate about this generation like that's coming up, which makes 277 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 3: me feel definitely old, and I know I'm not, but 278 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 3: I feel very I feel jaded, but I feel so 279 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 3: like passionately about young people doing. Knowing what they want 280 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:49,040 Speaker 3: to do is not the goal, but knowing how to 281 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 3: ask questions is my goal for young people. Because when 282 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 3: I first took over Strings for Hope, I was scared 283 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,240 Speaker 3: of many things and I didn't ask for help. Within 284 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,440 Speaker 3: my first year of taking over the company, the team 285 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 3: member passed away of an overdose and another one ended 286 00:17:07,640 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 3: up leaving and kind of taking all of our jewelry 287 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 3: designs and running with it on our own. And so 288 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:19,399 Speaker 3: there was a lot of pain and fear that developed 289 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:21,480 Speaker 3: from that, and I was so young that I was 290 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 3: really affected by it. And I will say that if 291 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 3: I had any advice, it would be to endure those 292 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 3: kind of things and pig up yourself and go down 293 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:36,600 Speaker 3: the road and ask another business leader for help, because 294 00:17:36,640 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 3: I think we would have been much further along if 295 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,199 Speaker 3: I did that. And I will say I definitely do 296 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 3: that now. Yeah, I ask so many people for help. 297 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 3: I'm like, do you have advice on this? Or I've 298 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 3: done taxes wrong so many times, so if anyone has advice. 299 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,880 Speaker 3: But I also think being open to the mentorship, yes, 300 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 3: is really important. I think lean into the things that 301 00:17:56,720 --> 00:18:00,000 Speaker 3: you're scared of. I was really fearful that someone else 302 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:04,320 Speaker 3: would learn about our designs and then go and do 303 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 3: it again and kind of steal the concept. And so 304 00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:08,920 Speaker 3: what do I do now? I created an apprenticeship jewelry 305 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:13,280 Speaker 3: program so they could become jewelers themselves. It's just leaning 306 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 3: in to the things that scare you. So that's that's 307 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 3: probably yeah, big advice. Yeah, that's that's great advice. 308 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 4: And I always ask this question on taking a walk 309 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 4: in Nashville, and this is a good one to ask 310 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:26,960 Speaker 4: since you're a Nashville. 311 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:29,120 Speaker 3: Native, But do you have a favorite place to take 312 00:18:29,119 --> 00:18:32,320 Speaker 3: a walk in Nashville? Oh my gosh, I have so 313 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 3: many places. I mean, I love does Percy Warner count 314 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, Edmund Warner, park, Edwin Warner, Percy Warner. I 315 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,520 Speaker 3: love it out there. If I'm actually going on like 316 00:18:41,520 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 3: a real hike, I would advise everyone to go out there. 317 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:48,639 Speaker 3: I also think that's also advised and for like any human, 318 00:18:48,840 --> 00:18:51,920 Speaker 3: but just going on a walk. While this podcast great name, 319 00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 3: but taking a walk is just it just clears your head. 320 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 3: It is literally the one thing I think that can 321 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,440 Speaker 3: like fully ground to me. There's so many great places 322 00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 3: so definitely Edwin Warner, Percy Warner. But when I lived 323 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:08,640 Speaker 3: in East Nashville, this is a funny one. I would 324 00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:12,679 Speaker 3: walk in that cemetery like next She's like kind of creepy, 325 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: but y'all it's pretty. So just go there and you'll 326 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 3: see what I mean. My friend Devin, we keep bringing 327 00:19:17,680 --> 00:19:21,600 Speaker 3: her up, but she showed me the cemetery, and because 328 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 3: she used to do the same thing and we would, 329 00:19:23,920 --> 00:19:25,440 Speaker 3: I walked over there and I just loved it. I 330 00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 3: thought it was beautiful. It's over there by sip cafe okay, 331 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,879 Speaker 3: like going in the into Madison, So it's a pretty 332 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: big cemetery. It's huge. I think it's like, think, I 333 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,520 Speaker 3: know which one you're on the right. Everyone is like 334 00:19:38,560 --> 00:19:41,320 Speaker 3: shaking their head while listening to this podcast. I know 335 00:19:41,359 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 3: which one. It's right there on the right Sip cafes 336 00:19:44,400 --> 00:19:47,720 Speaker 3: like across the street or something by Bridley Parkway, okay, 337 00:19:48,240 --> 00:19:50,479 Speaker 3: in East Nashville off of Gallatin, And I'm telling you, 338 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:53,200 Speaker 3: it is so pretty like the sunset and like you're 339 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,040 Speaker 3: just like, this is beautiful. There's so many good places, 340 00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 3: and Nashville's great. I love the unconventional. I know, the 341 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,639 Speaker 3: weirdest thing ever, also, I love coffee, so anywhere in 342 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:04,480 Speaker 3: your coffee shops, probably outside a walk. You know, we 343 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:07,119 Speaker 3: have a ton of good coffee shops in Nashville for sure. 344 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 3: So lastly, what's. 345 00:20:10,119 --> 00:20:14,000 Speaker 4: Next for Strings for Hope? Where can people send in 346 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 4: their used instruments strings right now and get involved with 347 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,479 Speaker 4: Strings for Hope. I know you're in a temporary space, 348 00:20:19,520 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 4: so I don't know if there's a better place for 349 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:22,120 Speaker 4: people to. 350 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 3: Send in strings right now. Yeah, yeah, So if you 351 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,159 Speaker 3: go to our website, we're actually updating it right now, 352 00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:31,240 Speaker 3: but seeing where our drop off locations are, so we 353 00:20:31,359 --> 00:20:34,680 Speaker 3: have different local music shops you could support them too, 354 00:20:35,480 --> 00:20:38,720 Speaker 3: but you can also go bring your strengths there. So 355 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,560 Speaker 3: one place that is going to be doing that as 356 00:20:41,640 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 3: Carter Vintage Guitars, and there's so many different places. But 357 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 3: also you can still drop them off with us and 358 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:51,680 Speaker 3: ship them to our old office. We are still picking 359 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:55,359 Speaker 3: up packages from there and that's hundred Taylor. You can 360 00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 3: see all of that information on our website Strengthsfohope dot com. 361 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:02,119 Speaker 3: There's also a link that's as like Recycling Programs for 362 00:21:02,280 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 3: learning how to be a part of our recycling program. 363 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:08,840 Speaker 3: We would love to like highlight those musicians. What's next, 364 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 3: I mean, I think right now it's holiday season, so 365 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:16,000 Speaker 3: we are definitely because we're in such an interesting spot 366 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:18,840 Speaker 3: and we've definitely I know I've expressed you had some 367 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 3: loss of income on loss of wages because of the situation. 368 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 3: We are really trying to level up for holidays. So 369 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 3: we are trying to give as much as opportunity for 370 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,280 Speaker 3: the survivors to work right now, and that means selling 371 00:21:32,320 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 3: a lot of product. Yeah, so we are going to 372 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:39,480 Speaker 3: be launching some deals online and we're going to be 373 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 3: everywhere that we can. So really just being involved in 374 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:46,720 Speaker 3: that way is always. Purchasing is always good. Or of 375 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 3: course you could donate to our nonprofit if you don't 376 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:51,640 Speaker 3: want to purchase any jury or you're like I own 377 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 3: your entire collection. There's a lot of people like that. 378 00:21:54,560 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 3: We are working on new designs, but you can donate 379 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,359 Speaker 3: to our nonprofit arm which where we're doing so many 380 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,919 Speaker 3: different campaigns. And one thing that we are working on 381 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 3: right now is benefits. The loss of STAP benefits is 382 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:11,639 Speaker 3: affecting so many people in Nashville, including some of our 383 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:14,320 Speaker 3: family members and team members. So we are going to 384 00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:18,320 Speaker 3: hopefully be able to do some things through a nonprofit 385 00:22:18,359 --> 00:22:20,720 Speaker 3: there too. Yeah, yeah, that's great. 386 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 4: I hope listeners can support your cause by just donating 387 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 4: to infinite possibilities, buying product on strings for hope, I 388 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 4: have some cute pieces on today, and even just shipping 389 00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 4: in use guitar strings no matter where you live. So 390 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 4: thank you so much Emily for being on Taking a 391 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 4: Walk Nashville today. 392 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 3: Thank you, Sarah, You're the best. 393 00:22:45,160 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to Taking a Walk Nashville with singer 394 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:52,879 Speaker 1: songwriter Sarah Harrelson. And check out our other podcasts, Music 395 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: Save Me, Comedy Save Me, and Taking a Walk. Available 396 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 397 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:00,800 Speaker 1: your podcasts.