1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,280 Speaker 1: I've got a personal philosophy, and that personal philosophy is 2 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: be compassionate, be transparent, be present, and act boldly. And 3 00:00:08,680 --> 00:00:12,319 Speaker 1: that's worked for me for my entire professional life. It's 4 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: about how you show up for people. You got to 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: be compassionate with the folks that you support, but also 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:22,439 Speaker 1: people in the community that you're also trying to assist. 7 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: But you also have to be bold innovations not led 8 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 1: by the folks who are sitting back waiting to see 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:34,199 Speaker 1: what's going to happen here. 10 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 2: Everybody, Welcome to ano episode of Butter. I'm your host, 11 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 2: Brandon Butler, founding CEO of Butter atl and today got 12 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,120 Speaker 2: a special guest in the building. I've seen this brother 13 00:00:43,159 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 2: in multiple, multiple spaces, from sitting down with him in 14 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 2: his office to just the other week we were walking 15 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 2: down the street celebrating the. 16 00:00:50,159 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 3: Four or four to eight parade. 17 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 2: But I would like to introduce you all too, mister Milton, 18 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: little CEO of the United Way of Great Atlanta. 19 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 3: Milton, how you're doing, sir. 20 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:00,120 Speaker 1: I'm good. I dressed up for you. I got to 21 00:01:00,200 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: tie on today, I got a white shirt, so you 22 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: know you have earned this, my friend. 23 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 3: I appreciate it. You know, this is they call this 24 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 3: my life uniform. 25 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 2: I optimized for simplicity because there's only other things going on. 26 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 2: So I dressed like a cartoon character most days. But 27 00:01:13,800 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 2: I appreciate, you know, putting it together. Because last time 28 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 2: I saw you, man, you was out there relaxing a 29 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 2: little bit. 30 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: I had my hat on, had my Livy nighted t 31 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: shirt on. It was a warm Saturday, and it was 32 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: a great parade. Congratulations to you for pulling it off, 33 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:29,199 Speaker 1: my friend. 34 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:30,000 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 35 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 2: Man. Like I said, that was a you know, four 36 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 2: or four day. It was an amazing weekend and that 37 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,520 Speaker 2: parade was my baby. But the team did an amazing job, 38 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: and I was just, you know again, we were so 39 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: happy to see the whole city come out and celebrate. 40 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 2: That's an idea that I had. I always kind of 41 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: joke and tell people. I will not joke, but I 42 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 2: used to ride up and down p Street Street when 43 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 2: I was growing up and kind of like say, I'm 44 00:01:48,080 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 2: gonna do something in these buildings one day. So like 45 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: I told you, man, I shop a little thug t 46 00:01:52,160 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 2: here out there. When I saw people lined up, I 47 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: saw it. 48 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: You were walking around like a new papa yeah, you know, 49 00:01:58,280 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: the only thing missing was a cigar. 50 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,880 Speaker 3: Oh you know what next year? That's next year. 51 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: Well look, well I appreciate you pulling up. Man, CEO 52 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: of the United Way of Greater Atlanta. Let me start 53 00:02:08,840 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 2: this off and ask you. A lot of people know 54 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: the title of CEO, but like when people ask you 55 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 2: what that is, what do you say you do? 56 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: I have the awesome responsibility of leading if not the 57 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: largest and one of the largest United Ways in the 58 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: United States. It's an organization that's built around the idea 59 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: that ordinary citizens can be the architects of a just 60 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 1: and equal community if they pull their vision together, pull 61 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 1: their dreams together, pull their energy together to solve the 62 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: community's most important challenges. People know us for the Workplace campaign, 63 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 1: but that's how United Ways have raised money. That's not 64 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: exactly what they do. And what they do is really 65 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,239 Speaker 1: build strong communities. And my responsibility is to engage with donors, 66 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: to engage and lead the staff to do the important 67 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 1: mission driven work that inspires us every day. 68 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 3: Yeh man, that's beautiful. 69 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,440 Speaker 2: But look, I've seen some throwback photos that you have 70 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,079 Speaker 2: more house now, so we got to talk about how 71 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: you got here in that path but like, what was 72 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,440 Speaker 2: young Milton like back then, because you're not originally from Atlanta. 73 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: I'm not originally from Atlanta. And here's what I tell 74 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: young people all the day, every day. I was not 75 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: born in this suit. And so yes, you know I 76 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: was a young man like everybody else. I grew up 77 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:31,960 Speaker 1: and was born in Queen's raised in Brooklyn, and the 78 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: family moved to Roosevelt Long Island, the home of Julius Irving, 79 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: Howard Stern, Adie Murphy. And so those are the folks 80 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: that we all knew growing up. And you know, I 81 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: played ball like everybody else. I was a really good student, 82 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: so I always did well in school. But you know, 83 00:03:51,160 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: if my mama was still alive, she'd tell you I 84 00:03:53,040 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: was a knucklehead like every other kid. I got more 85 00:03:55,600 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: spankings than the law would allow today. You know, they 86 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: called daifus or defects on my family. But you know 87 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: it was a strict family. You know, father's roots were 88 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: West Indians, So you know, Jamaicans don't take nothing from 89 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: knucklehead kids. And I gave them plenty to work with. 90 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 2: And you said you mentioned like your parents were involved 91 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:19,520 Speaker 2: in the Civil rights movement. A lot growing up, Like, 92 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,279 Speaker 2: how did that influence who you became? 93 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 1: You know, you know, there was a northern civil rights 94 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 1: movement that most folks don't pay attention to. My father 95 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: and mother were actively involved in the NAACP and the 96 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,120 Speaker 1: Congress on Racial Equality. If the meetings weren't happening in 97 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 1: my house, they were happening nearby. I'm old enough to 98 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 1: have made signs for all of the people who were 99 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: leaving Long Island going to the march on Washington. And 100 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,920 Speaker 1: so that's the presence that we saw. My parents really 101 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 1: understood unions in New York that were not integrated, They 102 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: understood school systems that did not serve black people well, 103 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: and they were actively involved in working there. So as 104 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: a young man, I saw it, I was exposed to it. 105 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: They taught me the principles of social justice. Uh, and 106 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 1: they become part of you know, my DNA. 107 00:05:15,960 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think, you know, again, getting exposure to that 108 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: kind of stuff early on, it's it's always interesting because 109 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:21,919 Speaker 2: you don't really realize how much it might influence you. 110 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: And you know, I think exposure just in general is 111 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: really important for kids. I always kind of give the 112 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: example of you know, even if it just comes like 113 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: a house, right, Like, you don't know a big house 114 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: until you've seen a big house, right exactly. 115 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 3: And guess what, there's probably a bigger house even somewhere else. 116 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: So you have to have to like expand that vision 117 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: and even in those moments, you know. I know, for me, 118 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: that's why I bring my kids with a lot of 119 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: stuff that I do. Like they sit there and they 120 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: play their phones and their games, but they they're around it. 121 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,839 Speaker 2: And my hope is that you know, they're seeing these 122 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: moments and it's like slowly kind of building something into 123 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:50,800 Speaker 2: them and understand they can do a lot of stuff 124 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: out here. So it seems like you have a very 125 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:53,839 Speaker 2: similar kind of exposure I do. 126 00:05:54,000 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: And you know, I tell people all the time. My 127 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,400 Speaker 1: mother told me something when I was eight years old. 128 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 1: She leans, she got on her knee and she looked 129 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: me in the eye and she said, whatever you do 130 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: in the world as an adult, make sure you try 131 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 1: to help somebody. Yeah, And I don't know that she 132 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: thought that that was going to become sort of my 133 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: my mantra over my life, but it was one of 134 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,560 Speaker 1: those things that had that pivotal you know, meaning for 135 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 1: me and every career decision I've made has been viewed 136 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: through the lens of is this ultimately about me? Or 137 00:06:29,640 --> 00:06:31,920 Speaker 1: is it about me helping somebody that's great? Man? 138 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 2: So what brought you to Atlanta was Morehouse? The first thing, like, 139 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: did you decide to come down here for Morehouse? 140 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:40,200 Speaker 1: Was the first thing that that got me here A 141 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: long long time ago. I never applied until after I 142 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: was accepted. You know, Morehouse saw that I had been 143 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: accepted to every other school, and somehow somebody found me 144 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 1: and told me that I was automatically enrolled. If I 145 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,320 Speaker 1: decided to come, I could fill out the application later. 146 00:06:56,400 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 1: Most folks have never heard that story. Yeah, and so 147 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 1: that was a long, long, long time ago. It was 148 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: a great experience. But I never thought I was coming 149 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: back and way a I never thought i'd stay for 150 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: graduate school or professionally. And then once I left, I 151 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: was never sure i'd come back to live. I was 152 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: always coming back here to work, to visit, to see people. 153 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: But you know, when I finally got here eighteen years ago, 154 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: I wondered what took me so long to get back. 155 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:23,960 Speaker 2: You know, it's interesting a lot of people who come 156 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:25,920 Speaker 2: down here, especially for the AUC. I mean, I spent 157 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 2: time there as well. And I always kind of noticed 158 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:30,080 Speaker 2: the difference between people that grew up in Atlanta versus 159 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 2: people that'd come there. Like I think when you grew 160 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 2: up in Atlanta, you see a lot of this stuff. 161 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:35,080 Speaker 2: And I mean even with based on you know, the 162 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 2: way you grew up, you definitely got exposure to some 163 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 2: you know, levels of like black excellence, just amazing things happening. 164 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:42,680 Speaker 2: But Atlanta's a really special place. Like what did you 165 00:07:42,840 --> 00:07:45,040 Speaker 2: notice when you first came down here to Atlanta? Just 166 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 2: about the auc and just Atlanta in general, especially coming 167 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:48,560 Speaker 2: from New York. 168 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:50,280 Speaker 1: Well, let me tell you this. When I got on 169 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 1: the plane at Kennedy Airport, thinking that I was going 170 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: to go to a place where I wouldn't know anybody, 171 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: there were kids that I had gone to camp with 172 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 1: who were on the plane coming to Spellman, going Clark 173 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 1: go to Morehouse. I said, oh Lord, okay, this is 174 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: I'm not going to be a stranger. I got to Morehouse. 175 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: First first thing I saw was a camp counselor who 176 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: was a guy played against in summer leagues on the 177 00:08:12,720 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: basketball court. And so it was a familiar place because 178 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,360 Speaker 1: so many people I knew were coming here. It was 179 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: a welcoming place because it was the first place I 180 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,920 Speaker 1: had ever come where strangers would say, hey, what's up. 181 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: You know, they'd all not say hello, and I was like, 182 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:30,600 Speaker 1: who you're talking to? Because in New York you don't 183 00:08:30,600 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: talk to strangers, and here everybody was sort of just open. 184 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: When I came back here eighteen years ago for the 185 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: job and realized how many folks were in Atlanta from 186 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: someplace else, it was a reminder of both how welcoming 187 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:52,920 Speaker 1: Atlanta is but how important people felt it was to 188 00:08:53,240 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: have you feel a part of the community as quickly 189 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: as possible and to get engaged as quickly as possible. 190 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:03,960 Speaker 1: It was then and it has always been for me, 191 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:08,280 Speaker 1: a place of welcome and a place of expectation that 192 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: if I got a skill or a talent, you know, 193 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 1: here's the place I can deploy it and have it 194 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 1: deliver its highest and best good. 195 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, man, that's so the hospitality thing. Like I do 196 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 2: only trust anybody that doesn't give me a nod if 197 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:21,920 Speaker 2: I'm walking down the street. 198 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 4: Right, No, absolutely, you're right, you're right. 199 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 2: So look, United Way is celebrating one hundred and twenty 200 00:09:38,920 --> 00:09:41,200 Speaker 2: years and that's a big thing. Like, you know, what 201 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:42,720 Speaker 2: goes through your mind when you think about that kind 202 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:44,960 Speaker 2: of legacy, especially as the CEO of United Way of 203 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 2: Greater Atlanta. 204 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:47,920 Speaker 1: You know, one hundred and twenty years started off by 205 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 1: a young attorney named Joseph Logan in nineteen oh five, 206 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,280 Speaker 1: in the middle of an ice storm, got a bunch 207 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: of his friends together to help people who were shut 208 00:09:55,880 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: in from this ice storm at risk of death. And 209 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: so it was the reminder that one person can make 210 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: a big difference. 211 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, and in the. 212 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,640 Speaker 1: Company of friends and others who share the same values, 213 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: share the same passion, you can make a big difference. 214 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: And that's the tradition that I feel inspired to maintain. 215 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: How do I get folks like you, Brandon and others 216 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: to feel like the United Ways a place where they 217 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,800 Speaker 1: can be their best selves and deliver value to the 218 00:10:25,840 --> 00:10:29,000 Speaker 1: community and be inspired by other folks who have the 219 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:32,160 Speaker 1: same kind of motivations. And so you can't help but 220 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:36,880 Speaker 1: feel good about getting up for that mission and putting 221 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: your head on the pillow every night knowing that somewhere 222 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: somebody across Greater Atlanta is better off for something I 223 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: had a part in being responsible for that day. 224 00:10:48,280 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I mean, you're the first black CEO of 225 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:54,040 Speaker 2: United Way in Atlanta in Atlanta, and you know you've 226 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 2: made all these great things. One thing I wonder about, 227 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,000 Speaker 2: especially when you reach that level, is I always say, 228 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: you can only kind of connect the dots looking backwards, right, 229 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:06,679 Speaker 2: Like correct, what Steve Job said that when you think 230 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 2: about it, right, Like, how did you end up in 231 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 2: this role in the first place? Like how does a 232 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,120 Speaker 2: person end up as CEO of the United Way of 233 00:11:13,120 --> 00:11:13,760 Speaker 2: Greater Atlanta. 234 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: See long time ago, I said I wanted to run 235 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:21,720 Speaker 1: a large nonprofit. I was agnostic about what kind of 236 00:11:21,760 --> 00:11:25,720 Speaker 1: nonprofit it was. But then I looked back and say, 237 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:28,400 Speaker 1: you know, to the point, we just made everything I 238 00:11:28,480 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: did previously led me here. I worked in New York 239 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,160 Speaker 1: City government, so I learned how government works. I worked 240 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,840 Speaker 1: in public policy feels and learned how the levers of 241 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:45,360 Speaker 1: public policy and legislation work. I worked in corporate philanthropy 242 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: and understood philanthropy, but also understood how corporations define how 243 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:58,280 Speaker 1: they want to engage in community, inspire the volunteerism of 244 00:11:58,320 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: their employees, unemployee giving programs, and so when you look 245 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,160 Speaker 1: at each one of those individual skills, they're all a 246 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: part of what United Way is all about. So it 247 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:12,640 Speaker 1: feels like I've been apprenticing for this job for a 248 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 1: very long time. 249 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:16,520 Speaker 2: And it just you got the opportunity to finally cause again, 250 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 2: like a lot of people don't even necessarily. 251 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 3: I think that doesn't come up often. 252 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:20,920 Speaker 2: Like people might say they want to be a CEO, 253 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,480 Speaker 2: but you sound very intentional about wanting to be a 254 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 2: CEO of a large nonprofit. 255 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 3: What inspire that? 256 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:30,040 Speaker 1: You know? I was always inspired by change agents. I 257 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:34,239 Speaker 1: was always inspired by organizations that were serving the community. 258 00:12:35,480 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: I knew that I did not have the spirit or 259 00:12:39,080 --> 00:12:43,200 Speaker 1: the capability to be a direct service person. I'd done 260 00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:45,080 Speaker 1: some of that when I was in grad school, and 261 00:12:45,080 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: that's hard work. And I was too easily frustrated by 262 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: my clients not seeing the world that I wanted them 263 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 1: to see or behaving the way I wanted them to 264 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,839 Speaker 1: behave as we charted a path from where they were 265 00:12:57,880 --> 00:13:00,240 Speaker 1: to where they hoped they wanted to be. But could 266 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:04,200 Speaker 1: be in an organization whose responsibility was to create an 267 00:13:04,360 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: environment in which those direct service people could be their 268 00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: best selves and accomplish their personal missions. And so it 269 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,280 Speaker 1: moved me to organizations that were doing that kind of work. 270 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: When it was a National Urban League or whether it 271 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: was a United Way in Boston or here in Atlanta. 272 00:13:21,280 --> 00:13:21,600 Speaker 3: Okay. 273 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:24,120 Speaker 2: And as the CEO, you know you're responsible obviously for 274 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 2: the organization, but also really like the strategic visions, yes 275 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 2: of the organization, like what footprint? What thumb print did 276 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:31,520 Speaker 2: you already want to leave on United Way of Greater 277 00:13:31,559 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 2: Atlantage when you came in, you said, I'm going to 278 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: come in, I'm going to get in this role, but 279 00:13:34,880 --> 00:13:35,959 Speaker 2: my impact is going to. 280 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: Be what United Ways have been operating in the United 281 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:46,960 Speaker 1: States since eighteen eighty seven and for more than seventy years, 282 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: have really placed their priority on workplace campaigns. People in 283 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,680 Speaker 1: workplaces like Delta or Coca Cola, who would give in 284 00:13:58,720 --> 00:14:04,559 Speaker 1: an employee campaign. The world's changing. Companies are changing, and 285 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: workplace campaigns are changing. So the thumb print that I 286 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: wanted to leave was could I be part of an 287 00:14:12,280 --> 00:14:17,199 Speaker 1: organization that was making strategic shifts in how it positioned 288 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:20,680 Speaker 1: itself in community and how it raised money to be 289 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: relevant to a world that is very different from post 290 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:30,360 Speaker 1: World War Two when the workplace campaign was at its heyday. 291 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 292 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 2: Now right now, Atlanta's ranked fiftieth in economic mobility. And 293 00:14:35,040 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: that's a pretty tough stat to kind of hear. But 294 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,280 Speaker 2: will you sell those numbers? How did it hit you 295 00:14:39,320 --> 00:14:40,000 Speaker 2: for the first time? 296 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:42,800 Speaker 1: You know, it was the United Wlates done great work 297 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,680 Speaker 1: in Atlanta. We have raised lots of money, We have 298 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,960 Speaker 1: supported great organizations. Each one of those organizations made a difference. 299 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 1: But that statistic that if you're born in Atlanta poor, 300 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:58,920 Speaker 1: you've got less than a five percent chance to escape 301 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: poverty by adulthood. The promise we make to poor kids 302 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: in Atlanta is, if you were born poor in Atlanta, 303 00:15:04,760 --> 00:15:07,160 Speaker 1: you stay here, you gonna die poor. Yeah, And I 304 00:15:07,360 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: that was just not something I could handle. That is 305 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:15,160 Speaker 1: just not something United Way could stand behind. And so 306 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,440 Speaker 1: you know, we've pushed the organization to try to be 307 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:23,280 Speaker 1: at the forefront of the community's change agenda that gives 308 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: more than a fighting chance to poor kids who look 309 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:32,000 Speaker 1: like you and me primarily, and who deserved the same 310 00:15:32,240 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 1: chances that you and I had to be the best 311 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: people we could be doing the best work we can 312 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: do and do it for others. 313 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 2: Now, people always joke and say Atlanta we full Yeah, 314 00:15:43,520 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 2: you know, I tell about the traffic. I don't know 315 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,600 Speaker 2: it's getting closed but there's a lot of people down here. Again, 316 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 2: as somebody that grew up out here, I could definitely 317 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 2: tell the difference when I get on the freeway, he's 318 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:55,040 Speaker 2: just like man, rush hour keeps starting early and earlier. 319 00:15:55,160 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 2: And you know, even with that, like, United Way has 320 00:15:57,080 --> 00:15:58,920 Speaker 2: evolved a lot with Atlanta, But like, what are some 321 00:15:59,040 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 2: of the things you've seen organization do to shift alongside 322 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 2: the city's growth and challenges over the years. 323 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: You know, we have expanded. You know, when United Way 324 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:10,800 Speaker 1: first began, it was a downtown organization. It's now in 325 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 1: thirteen counties across Greater Atlanta, and roughly half the state's 326 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 1: population is covered by the work that we do, and 327 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: so that geographic spread is wide. You know, it's a 328 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:26,960 Speaker 1: much more racially, ethnically and gender diverse organization. We've got 329 00:16:27,200 --> 00:16:32,520 Speaker 1: LGPT staff, We've got LGBT affinity group that works with 330 00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: the United Way, and so we try to be as 331 00:16:34,640 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: present in the community as it evolves as we can 332 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: be and represent that diversity at the board level, at 333 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,440 Speaker 1: the staff level, at the volunteer. 334 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,480 Speaker 2: Level, and tell us about Career Ready, Like, I know 335 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 2: that's a big program that you all have, Like what's 336 00:16:50,920 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 2: the goal behind that program and how does it help 337 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: shift these mobility numbers for Atlanta. 338 00:16:55,040 --> 00:16:58,800 Speaker 1: Career Ready is one of the important strategies that's in 339 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:02,760 Speaker 1: place to address that social mobility issue. You know, there's 340 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: a lot being said about college being unaffordable for most people, 341 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,959 Speaker 1: or that not every person needs to go to college, 342 00:17:10,359 --> 00:17:13,760 Speaker 1: and both of those are true, but that doesn't mean 343 00:17:13,840 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: that folks need not be prepared for careers and career 344 00:17:19,280 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: advancement and opportunity. And so career Ready is designed to 345 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: provide youth apprenticeship opportunities for young people basically between the 346 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: ages of eighteen and twenty four, but some of the 347 00:17:33,960 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: kids are younger than that, to give them opportunities in construction, 348 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:45,840 Speaker 1: in IT and cybersecurity, in future forward jobs with career 349 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,280 Speaker 1: ladders and high paid potential. My favorite example is when 350 00:17:50,320 --> 00:17:52,400 Speaker 1: we started this, we started with a group of kids 351 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:55,680 Speaker 1: in foster care who are leaving foster care. If you're 352 00:17:55,720 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: in foster care three years out, you are more likely 353 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,800 Speaker 1: to be I'm going through human trafficking, homeless, or unemployed 354 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: than you are likely to have a job. Wow. But 355 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:09,359 Speaker 1: the kids that went through Career Ready were now in IT, 356 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:13,639 Speaker 1: they were in cybersecurity, they were beginning to raise their 357 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 1: own families, they were buying homes, they were making upwards 358 00:18:17,480 --> 00:18:20,080 Speaker 1: of seventy five or eighty thousand dollars, the same kids 359 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:24,320 Speaker 1: who would have been unemployed were it not for this program. 360 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:27,200 Speaker 1: That's the promise of Career Ready, and that's what we're 361 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: trying to make more available to thousands of kids across 362 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: Greater Atlanta. 363 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:32,280 Speaker 3: No, that's great. 364 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:34,040 Speaker 2: I mean, I know for myself, I grew up and 365 00:18:34,119 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 2: I was in a program called Inroads growing up, and like, 366 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:38,000 Speaker 2: I really believed that that was one of the things 367 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,560 Speaker 2: that gave me a lot of opportunities and just exposure 368 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:42,359 Speaker 2: I wouldn't have traditionally gotten. Right, I was able to 369 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 2: get internships at companies like Semens Energy and Automation, and 370 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:47,360 Speaker 2: and you know, it was funny when I look back 371 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,159 Speaker 2: on it, you know, when my friends were you know, 372 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 2: I look at my summer jobs. 373 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,200 Speaker 3: I used to work at Sears some shoes. I made 374 00:18:54,200 --> 00:18:55,760 Speaker 3: good money at Seri Shoes too. 375 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 2: But right, the opportunity to kind of work in that 376 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 2: space earlier, I think kind of really kind of help 377 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,280 Speaker 2: get me on my path and technology back then a 378 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,440 Speaker 2: lot earlier, and so those programs are interesting and really important. 379 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: But what you said is key. It is about opportunity, right, 380 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:13,600 Speaker 1: you know. It's people will say that kids are lazy, 381 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: they don't want to work. Kids will rise to the 382 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:19,720 Speaker 1: level of the opportunities given to them when you put 383 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:22,639 Speaker 1: a kid. I just saw some kids last week who 384 00:19:22,720 --> 00:19:29,159 Speaker 1: were doing construction, moving heavy equipment and ground, who are 385 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:34,159 Speaker 1: doing power transmission lines. You know these are kids eighteen, nineteen, 386 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,400 Speaker 1: twenty years old. It's about giving the kid an opportunity 387 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: and they'll show you what they're capable of doing. 388 00:19:39,560 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 389 00:19:40,320 --> 00:19:42,560 Speaker 2: What are some other programs that United Way have greater 390 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:44,600 Speaker 2: Atlanta has and maybe people don't know about or you 391 00:19:44,640 --> 00:19:46,440 Speaker 2: think and also are also super impactful. 392 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: We have been a pioneer and lots of what the 393 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: regions been doing around early learning. How do you help 394 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:56,560 Speaker 1: kids between the ages of zero and four make sure 395 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: that they're ready for kindergarten? And we have done this 396 00:19:59,520 --> 00:20:03,600 Speaker 1: work the nineties and I'm excited about the partnerships and 397 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,720 Speaker 1: I'm excited about what we have seen as we have 398 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,320 Speaker 1: tried to be part of that vanguarter folks that are 399 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: making sure that kids are reading on grade level by 400 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:19,480 Speaker 1: third grade, performing maths appropriately, and ready for graduation. We've 401 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: also been the backbone for the Regional Commission on Homelessness 402 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: to address the unhoused challenge that exists across Greater Atlanta 403 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: and especially in the City of Atlanta, and so on, 404 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: the big issues that we as community people face every day. 405 00:20:39,280 --> 00:20:42,000 Speaker 1: United Ways been at the forefront of most of the 406 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: public response to them. 407 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:44,480 Speaker 3: That's great, man. 408 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 2: Now, when it comes to running organization, obviously, the CEO, 409 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:02,000 Speaker 2: you're responsible the culture of the organization. But I got 410 00:21:02,080 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 2: to ask, especially as a leader, because I've done a 411 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 2: lot of leadership trained over the years, but I also 412 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 2: know you're in the jazz now. Yeah, so when it 413 00:21:07,960 --> 00:21:10,800 Speaker 2: comes to your leadership style, you know you like more 414 00:21:11,160 --> 00:21:14,199 Speaker 2: Miles Davis, more coal train, Like, how would you kind 415 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 2: of define your leadership style in a relation to jazz? 416 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: That's a that's a great question. You know, I'm probably 417 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: a little more coal train. Okay, then Miles Miles would 418 00:21:23,800 --> 00:21:25,480 Speaker 1: get on the stage and turn his back on it 419 00:21:26,240 --> 00:21:28,480 Speaker 1: and cuss you out, even if you're an audience and 420 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:30,159 Speaker 1: pay an audience. So I'm not going to do that. 421 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 1: But I'm more to try to, you know, organize her 422 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:41,760 Speaker 1: choreographer of the movement of United Way but also trying 423 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,080 Speaker 1: to be innovative, like and a little bit avant garde, 424 00:21:45,240 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: like like. 425 00:21:46,160 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 2: Train was okay, okay, And how do you inspire your 426 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 2: team to kind of stay motivated? Like what's your you know, 427 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:53,359 Speaker 2: how do you inspire people to kind of act and 428 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,600 Speaker 2: stay hopeful, especially with kind of work you're doing. I mean, 429 00:21:55,640 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 2: because again, that could be tough on people to face 430 00:21:58,080 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 2: some of these stats and some of the challenges that 431 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 2: people deal with. 432 00:22:00,480 --> 00:22:01,720 Speaker 3: So how do you inspire your team? 433 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:05,440 Speaker 1: So I've got a personal philosophy, and that personal philosophy 434 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: is be compassionate, be transparent, be present, and act boldly. 435 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 1: And that's worked for me for my entire professional life. 436 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:19,199 Speaker 1: It's about how you show up for people. You've got 437 00:22:19,320 --> 00:22:23,440 Speaker 1: to be compassionate with the folks that you support, but 438 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,199 Speaker 1: also people in the community that you're also trying to assist. 439 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,440 Speaker 1: But you also have to be bold. You know, the 440 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: world has not been innovations, not led by the folks 441 00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,280 Speaker 1: who are sitting back waiting to see what's going to happen. 442 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: They're folks who are willing, like you, with this parade 443 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: and the other stuff you've done, willing to stick your 444 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: neck out and take some risks, and so boldness is 445 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:54,640 Speaker 1: something that you and I need to use our platforms 446 00:22:54,720 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: to try to inspire the folks who pay any attention 447 00:22:57,840 --> 00:23:00,680 Speaker 1: to what we have to say, to try to emulate. 448 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: If there's anything that I would want them to follow 449 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:07,960 Speaker 1: that you and I do, it's the willingness to be bold, 450 00:23:08,119 --> 00:23:11,439 Speaker 1: willingness to take some risks and try some new stuff. 451 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, I really believe that you got to put the 452 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:15,840 Speaker 2: things you want to see in the world. Like, one 453 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 2: of the things I always think about is just everything 454 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 2: that you see, everything that we interact with, it all 455 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 2: started from a thought. Yeah, you know, no matter how 456 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:27,000 Speaker 2: complex it is, like this studio, these microphons, like everything 457 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 2: starts sort of thought, And like, I think the ability 458 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 2: of the human mind to take things from an idea 459 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,879 Speaker 2: and manifest them into reality is a superpower, and I 460 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:37,040 Speaker 2: really wish it, to your point, more people will kind 461 00:23:37,080 --> 00:23:38,639 Speaker 2: of take that boldness and say, like what can I 462 00:23:38,720 --> 00:23:40,680 Speaker 2: put into the world? Like what can I Because again, 463 00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:42,359 Speaker 2: even with the stuff that I've done, whether it's four 464 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 2: or four y or everything else, right, I really do 465 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 2: hope that that's something that that tradition goes on way 466 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:47,920 Speaker 2: beyond me. 467 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:49,080 Speaker 3: In a lot of ways. 468 00:23:49,119 --> 00:23:50,240 Speaker 2: And I think that's how we have to kind of 469 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 2: look at things like what legacy am I really trying 470 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 2: to leave? Especially in the world, people are like quick 471 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 2: to take things from it, like what are you kind 472 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:56,959 Speaker 2: of putting back into it? Right? 473 00:23:57,160 --> 00:23:59,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, absolutely, And it goes back to one of 474 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,040 Speaker 1: your early questions about, you know, my parents and the 475 00:24:02,119 --> 00:24:05,680 Speaker 1: inspiration you know, being part of a household in which 476 00:24:05,760 --> 00:24:09,439 Speaker 1: the civil rights movement was part of just dinner conversation. 477 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:12,479 Speaker 1: You know, whether it was Martin Luther King or Malcolm 478 00:24:12,760 --> 00:24:15,920 Speaker 1: X or Paul Robeson or Fanny lou Hamer, each one 479 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:19,480 Speaker 1: of them and every other civil rights leader was driven 480 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: by a vision of what the world ought to look 481 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,680 Speaker 1: like and how black folks ought to be able to 482 00:24:24,160 --> 00:24:27,080 Speaker 1: prosper and engage in it. And so you've got to 483 00:24:27,119 --> 00:24:30,600 Speaker 1: have a vision. My vision is sort of anchored in, 484 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:37,880 Speaker 1: you know, the sacrifices and dreams of folks that created 485 00:24:37,920 --> 00:24:41,200 Speaker 1: the world in which you and I feel a little 486 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: more equal than we would have felt if you and 487 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:48,919 Speaker 1: I were having this conversation in you know, eighteen ninety 488 00:24:49,040 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 1: seven or you know, nineteen oh four, nineteen oh five. 489 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:59,640 Speaker 1: So what inspires you, you know, making sure that more 490 00:24:59,760 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: kids that look like me have an opportunity like I 491 00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: had to, you know, just try to live a dream 492 00:25:08,600 --> 00:25:12,520 Speaker 1: and to try to sometimes even just to have a dream. Yeah, 493 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:15,880 Speaker 1: you know, we know kids have just been beaten down 494 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:19,440 Speaker 1: that don't think tomorrow's promised to them, don't think they're 495 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,960 Speaker 1: going to live past twenty one, you know, and think 496 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:25,920 Speaker 1: whatever they got today, it's not going to get any 497 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:26,640 Speaker 1: better tomorrow. 498 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:28,879 Speaker 3: And I just can't. 499 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:33,040 Speaker 1: I can't abide by that. So that that's what inspires me. 500 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:35,560 Speaker 2: Is there any traditions that have just kind of like 501 00:25:35,640 --> 00:25:37,639 Speaker 2: stuck with you through your journey, whether it's you know, 502 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:40,560 Speaker 2: food or music or like, you know, culture, and you like, 503 00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 2: what are some traditions that maybe again, as you kind 504 00:25:42,920 --> 00:25:44,960 Speaker 2: of look backwards and think, you know what, that's really 505 00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:46,720 Speaker 2: something that's maybe who I am today? 506 00:25:46,880 --> 00:25:50,720 Speaker 1: Now, you know what Christmas Okay, I'm still you know, 507 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:54,879 Speaker 1: five years old when it comes to Christmas. You know, music, 508 00:25:55,680 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: you know, sports. My father turned down an opportunity to 509 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:01,040 Speaker 1: play with the Harlem Globe, but taught me how to 510 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:03,200 Speaker 1: play basketball when I was three years old. So I've 511 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: always been like driven by by that. You know. It's 512 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,680 Speaker 1: there's all kinds of stuff that I've just had the 513 00:26:09,760 --> 00:26:14,879 Speaker 1: opportunity to you know, travel, food, you know, just just 514 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: living life. Man. You know, life is life is a 515 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: lot bigger than you know, Roosevelt Long Island, which is 516 00:26:21,640 --> 00:26:24,320 Speaker 1: only one mile square, and so you know, I had 517 00:26:24,359 --> 00:26:26,440 Speaker 1: to get out of those boundaries and see what the 518 00:26:26,480 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: rest of the world is like. And you know, it's 519 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,560 Speaker 1: a pretty cool place, absolutely. 520 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,040 Speaker 2: Like, and you know, you got to see stuff again. 521 00:26:33,040 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 2: You got to get out here and you can get exposure. 522 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 2: I think that's one of the biggest things, like we 523 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,679 Speaker 2: were talking about before, right, it is just going different places, 524 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:41,200 Speaker 2: seeing different things. The world is big and there's a 525 00:26:41,240 --> 00:26:42,920 Speaker 2: lot of it that people should definitely get a chance 526 00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 2: to kind of see. Like, but I got to ask 527 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 2: you though, you said Christmas, So are you like a 528 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,240 Speaker 2: real Christmas tree kind of guy? Are you like a 529 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,520 Speaker 2: fake Christmas I got a fake Christmas treet, nothing wrong 530 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:53,919 Speaker 2: with that, but like, what kind of Christmas tree guy 531 00:26:53,960 --> 00:26:54,080 Speaker 2: are you? 532 00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:57,720 Speaker 1: And you know, I am, in my heart, a real 533 00:26:57,880 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: Christmas guy. But you know, my last couple have been 534 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, fake ones because I'm you know, I'm like 535 00:27:05,359 --> 00:27:07,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people, you know, come July, I don't 536 00:27:07,280 --> 00:27:10,639 Speaker 1: still want to be fine in piney right around the house. 537 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 2: So you know, I remember my mom used to make 538 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,000 Speaker 2: me crawl under tree and water it. Oh yeah, that's 539 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 2: probably the biggest reason why. 540 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:16,479 Speaker 3: That's all. 541 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:20,000 Speaker 1: I know. Those needles hurt after, you know, the first 542 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 1: couple of weeks. No matter how you keep that thing wet, 543 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:23,320 Speaker 1: they dry out. 544 00:27:23,640 --> 00:27:23,840 Speaker 3: Yeah. 545 00:27:24,080 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 2: Is there like a you know, a core belief for 546 00:27:26,000 --> 00:27:28,560 Speaker 2: philosophy that you just in generally, you know, get kind 547 00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,840 Speaker 2: of adopted and live by you know what I. 548 00:27:30,880 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 1: Said before, you know, a boat acting boldly, trying to 549 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,520 Speaker 1: be transparent. You know, I am what you see. You know, 550 00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:39,960 Speaker 1: I'm not going to try to play games with you, 551 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:45,120 Speaker 1: you know, be compassionate, you know, and and just try 552 00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:50,200 Speaker 1: to live life each day as if it's the last one. 553 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:54,359 Speaker 1: You know. I've seen too much death in my life 554 00:27:54,480 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: to know that I should I should consider tomorrow, you know, promise, 555 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:02,480 Speaker 1: And I got to make the best of today and 556 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:03,359 Speaker 1: do the best I can. 557 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: Have no regrets, absolutely, And what you got a way 558 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 2: of Greater Atlanta being one hundred and twenty years old, Like, 559 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 2: what do you hope for the next hundred and twenty 560 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 2: years of your organization? 561 00:28:11,000 --> 00:28:13,480 Speaker 1: You know, I hope it continues to be a relevant institution. 562 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:17,000 Speaker 1: I hope it continues to inspire people to want to 563 00:28:17,400 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: engage with it as donors, as volunteers. I hope we 564 00:28:21,119 --> 00:28:25,800 Speaker 1: continue to be at the forefront of the community solutions 565 00:28:25,840 --> 00:28:29,080 Speaker 1: to its challenges. And I hope the challenges that we 566 00:28:30,200 --> 00:28:34,320 Speaker 1: have to face are fewer and fewer because the work 567 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:36,960 Speaker 1: that we do is more successful each day. 568 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, well, look, we're getting ready to wrap this up. 569 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: Last question for you is when you look back at 570 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,480 Speaker 2: your time at United Way, like, what's one headline about 571 00:28:44,520 --> 00:28:48,200 Speaker 2: you that you hope people remember with your time as CEO, that. 572 00:28:48,280 --> 00:28:51,520 Speaker 1: I came to Button Nomics with a certain time, you know. 573 00:28:51,760 --> 00:28:53,840 Speaker 1: I mean, it's it's that I got a chance to 574 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: be in the company of change makers in the community 575 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,920 Speaker 1: and somebody thought I might have earned that place among them, 576 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: you know. It's it's I've been blessed by the people 577 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,480 Speaker 1: I've had the opportunity to meet, to work with, to 578 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:14,760 Speaker 1: inspire and to be inspired by. And I just hope 579 00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 1: people look back and say, yeah, he deserved to be there, 580 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:21,000 Speaker 1: he deserved to be in that job, and we are 581 00:29:21,080 --> 00:29:22,440 Speaker 1: better for what he did. Yeah. 582 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 583 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: I remember we first met a couple of years ago 584 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 2: around four four to and me and a Bame Joiner 585 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,480 Speaker 2: sat down which you'd had a conversation. I've seen the 586 00:29:29,560 --> 00:29:31,680 Speaker 2: amazing work you all kind of continue to do since then, 587 00:29:31,760 --> 00:29:33,720 Speaker 2: and you know you'all have been showing up every day 588 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:35,840 Speaker 2: in Atlanta. So you know, Atlanta appreciates that. I know 589 00:29:35,920 --> 00:29:37,800 Speaker 2: the people that you all are impacting and making a 590 00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 2: difference appreciated. Thank you before you out of here. How 591 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,200 Speaker 2: can people get more information about United we have Greater Atlanta. 592 00:29:43,240 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 2: How can they support the organization? Like give them all 593 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 2: the thing? 594 00:29:45,960 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 1: Come to the website United waya Atlanta dot org. If 595 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 1: you're a person out there who's in some kind of 596 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,840 Speaker 1: challenging circumstance you need some help, you can just reach 597 00:29:56,960 --> 00:30:00,640 Speaker 1: us at by dialing two one one. That is our 598 00:30:01,000 --> 00:30:05,440 Speaker 1: information and referral helpline that's designed to help people address 599 00:30:05,560 --> 00:30:08,480 Speaker 1: any human service challenge that they face. And so two 600 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: one one or United Way Atlanta dot org and that'll 601 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:14,720 Speaker 1: get you started on your road to learning more about 602 00:30:14,840 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: United Way. 603 00:30:15,720 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 2: Absolutely well, mister Milton Little, CEO of United Way of 604 00:30:19,280 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 2: Great Atlanta. We appreciate you pulling out the button nomics. 605 00:30:21,600 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 2: Thank you for the time, Thank you for the suiting time. 606 00:30:23,600 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 3: Brother, you look you know. I appreciate it. 607 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: Man, No, no, no, I got to I have to 608 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,600 Speaker 1: lift up to the level of the conversation that I 609 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:31,520 Speaker 1: knew I was going to have. 610 00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:33,760 Speaker 3: Good to see you, Brandon, hey man, Thank you so much. 611 00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:34,720 Speaker 1: And that's it. 612 00:30:34,880 --> 00:30:35,720 Speaker 3: We out. That's the pot. 613 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:36,000 Speaker 1: Y'all. 614 00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 2: You've been listening to button Nomics and I'm your hosts 615 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:42,640 Speaker 2: Brandon Butler. Got comments, feedback? Want to be on the show? 616 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:45,720 Speaker 2: Send us an email today at Hello at butteronomics dot com. 617 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:49,280 Speaker 2: Butter Nomics is produced in Atlanta, Georgia at iHeartMedia by 618 00:30:49,360 --> 00:30:52,080 Speaker 2: Casey Pegram, with marketing support from Queen and Nikki. 619 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 3: Music provided by mister Hanky. 620 00:30:54,280 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 2: If you haven't already, hit that subscribe button and never 621 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:58,600 Speaker 2: missed an episode, and be sure to follow us on 622 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,120 Speaker 2: all our social platforms at butter dot a t L. 623 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 2: Listen to better Nomics on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, 624 00:31:04,720 --> 00:31:06,160 Speaker 2: or wherever you get your podcasts.