1 00:00:03,560 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: You've got a passion, you've got a great heart, you 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: have some experience with people with disabilities, but you don't 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:10,040 Speaker 1: have anything else. 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 2: Really, you're absolutely right. I had no experience in running 5 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,439 Speaker 2: a business, running a restaurant, running a nonprofit. You know. 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 2: We just started talking to friends at our church about it. 7 00:00:21,640 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 2: It's interesting the number of people who said, I want 8 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:28,960 Speaker 2: to help you with that. We had a woman she 9 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:35,360 Speaker 2: was the major fundraiser at a university in Kansas. She said, 10 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: I know how to fundraise. I want to help you 11 00:00:38,040 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 2: with that. We had another gentleman who was CEO of 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 2: a restaurant equipment company, and he said, oh my gosh, 13 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,360 Speaker 2: I can help you with that. We're Episcopalian. We passed 14 00:00:49,360 --> 00:00:53,559 Speaker 2: the piece and instead of saying the Peace of the 15 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 2: Lord be with you, I said, Kim, tell me about 16 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 2: your location downtown me Kenny, And she said, I want 17 00:01:01,360 --> 00:01:05,960 Speaker 2: hugs in my building. You ask me how I did this? 18 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: God put all these people in my path. 19 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: Welcome to an army of normal folks. I'm Bill Courtney. 20 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: I'm a normal guy. I'm a husband, I'm a father, 21 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: I'm an entrepreneur, and I'm a football coach in Inner 22 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:25,720 Speaker 1: City Memphis, and somehow that last part led to an 23 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: oscar for the film about one of my teams. That 24 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 1: movie is called Undefeated. Guys, I believe our country's problems 25 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: are never gonna be solved by a bunch of fancy 26 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,280 Speaker 1: people in nice suits using big words that nobody ever 27 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: uses on CNN and Fox, but rather by an army 28 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: of normal folks. That's us, you and me deciding hey, 29 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: I can help. That's what Ruth Thompson, the voice you 30 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: just heard, has done. Her restaurants ain't no ordinary restaurants. 31 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: Hugs Cafe employs adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. That's 32 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: eighty five percent of their operating staff. And Ruth's episode 33 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,760 Speaker 1: will teach you how to listen to callings on your heart, 34 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:16,799 Speaker 1: how an army of normal folks in your community can 35 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: make crazy callings like Ruth's happen, and how people with 36 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:26,000 Speaker 1: disabilities can do far more than our culture empowers them to. 37 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: But Ruth and her army are going to change all that, 38 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: and I cannot wait for you to meet her. Right 39 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 1: after these brief messages from our general sponsors, Ruth Thompson, 40 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:47,399 Speaker 1: Welcome to Memphis. 41 00:02:47,560 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 3: Thank you at long last, Yes after to me delays. 42 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:53,960 Speaker 2: That's okay, that's okay. 43 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 3: She still brought you a present through all those delays. 44 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 3: You brought me a present. 45 00:02:57,840 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 2: I did bring you a present. 46 00:02:58,960 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: Would you bring me I can? 47 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 2: I brought you wedding cake cookies. 48 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:10,080 Speaker 1: Wedding cake cookies out of town. Hold on, you bring 49 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 1: a fat guy something to eat. Everything stops. 50 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 2: It is taped. 51 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:14,840 Speaker 3: Open it. 52 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 2: There's tape. 53 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:17,959 Speaker 3: Look at packaging. That's coolssy. 54 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:19,600 Speaker 2: This is yes, there you go. 55 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 3: It's highly packaged. 56 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 2: So our number one dessert is wedding cake cookies. Oh 57 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 2: my goodness, they taped it. 58 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:30,959 Speaker 3: Well, well it does it taste like wedding cake? 59 00:03:30,960 --> 00:03:32,919 Speaker 2: Because I'm not going to say a thing. 60 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:34,240 Speaker 3: Oh my goodness. 61 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 2: So you put it in your mouth. 62 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 3: Do you want something? Oh yeah, I'm going to give 63 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 3: one to you want to buy cases? Here we go. 64 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 3: I'm not eating the whole one. I'm just eating this. 65 00:03:52,240 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 3: That is so good. 66 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, he's gonna eat the rest of it. 67 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 3: Holy all right, everybody. So I'll tell her about the 68 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:06,000 Speaker 3: cake lady on the drive over, Ruth Thompson bringing me cakes. 69 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: And it's because she's a founder or wedding cake cookies, 70 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 1: cake cookies. She's a founder of Hugs Cafe, which is 71 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: a little spot and started as a little most spot 72 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: in McKinney, Texas. That you were going to be shocked 73 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: at what it does and what it has become and 74 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:30,839 Speaker 1: what it continues to become. 75 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 3: I guess definitely. 76 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:35,760 Speaker 1: So while I eat yeah this cookie, let's jump right in. 77 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 1: Because Ruth, you were about to retire. I mean, you 78 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: were on the verge of retirement. You've lived a full life. 79 00:04:44,440 --> 00:04:47,280 Speaker 1: Why don't you just stay comfortable and be done well? 80 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: I hope it's okay to say this right here, but 81 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 2: God's had other plans. 82 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: It's okay to say anything you want to say right here. 83 00:04:57,240 --> 00:05:00,400 Speaker 1: And we have plenty of people who listen to us 84 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,599 Speaker 1: who have faith. Some are Jewish, I am a Christian, 85 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: Some are agnostic. But I think everybody respects people's perspective. 86 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:14,159 Speaker 1: So tell me about how you know God had a 87 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: different plan for you other than to retire and go fish. 88 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 2: Yeah. Yeah, and I love fishing, by the way, But yeah, 89 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 2: I was. I was getting ready to retire. And there's 90 00:05:26,279 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: a long story that leads up to it. Do you 91 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,840 Speaker 2: want that story that leads up to it? 92 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 1: We'll get to that. Okay, Why don't you just Tell 93 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: me why you didn't retire. 94 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:37,600 Speaker 2: Tell me I didn't retire. 95 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 3: You're sleeping one night. 96 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, I had a dream two nights in a row, 97 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: of a restaurant that employed adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 98 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 2: And this was in twenty twelve. My husband and I 99 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 2: had planned, he had done such a great job all 100 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 2: our lives, planning for twenty thirteen, the year of retirement. 101 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: The reply to my dream was, we've got to do it. 102 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 2: God's hitting you at the two by four, We've got 103 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 2: to do it. 104 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 3: Briefly, what was the dream. 105 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:15,120 Speaker 2: It was a restaurant. And in this restaurant the majority 106 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 2: of the people working there were people with special needs 107 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:24,200 Speaker 2: intellectual and developmental disabilities, down syndrome, autism, three were palsy. 108 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: And uh yeah, it's uh we we did it. We 109 00:06:30,960 --> 00:06:34,440 Speaker 2: had never worked in a restaurant. Well, I digress. When 110 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 2: my husband was seventeen, he worked in an A and W. 111 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:46,719 Speaker 3: Fast, hardly a restaurant. Yes, yes, they got burgers and floats. Yeah, 112 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 3: I guess so, but yes, in your husband's. 113 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: Name, Chris, My husband's name is Chris. 114 00:06:51,680 --> 00:06:54,840 Speaker 1: Is it lost on anybody that you started a restaurant 115 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,000 Speaker 1: and together your names are Ruth Chris. 116 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 2: You know, that's how we get people to remember our names. 117 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:04,360 Speaker 2: We introduce ourselves as Ruth Chris. 118 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: No steakhouse, hilarious. All right, So the first dream you 119 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 1: said it was two nights in a row. Yeah, well 120 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: explain that. I mean, you dreamed it and then you 121 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 1: dreamed it again. And by the way, I've dreamed things, 122 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 1: and I didn't decide to change my entire life plans 123 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: and go do stuff. 124 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 3: So this was one I dream. It must have been 125 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 3: heavy on your heart. 126 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:31,120 Speaker 2: It was, it was. And I had been teaching adults 127 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:35,440 Speaker 2: with special needs how to cook it home, and he 128 00:07:35,480 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 2: would come in and volunteer. So he kind of got 129 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 2: the peace. Chris, my husband, Yes, Chris, and he would volunteer. 130 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 2: He would he got the bug. He fell in love 131 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 2: with a population of people that I had fallen in 132 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 2: love with. We don't have a family member with disabilities, 133 00:07:52,680 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: but we've now got about seventy, no ninety loved ones disabilities. 134 00:08:01,400 --> 00:08:04,160 Speaker 2: But you know we had to do it. 135 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 3: In what capacity? 136 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: Were you working with adults or kids or whomever with disabilities? 137 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: You just said before the dream, you'd been we volunteering 138 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: teaching people with disabilities how to cook and care for themselves. 139 00:08:20,200 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: Well, I was. There was a new grocery store that 140 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 2: it opened in McKinny right before I'm ken Texas McKinney, Texas, 141 00:08:28,480 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: right before I moved there called Market Street. They had 142 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: a cooking school and I was hired as the manager 143 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:40,200 Speaker 2: of the cooking school. My primary job was to book 144 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: Dallas local chefs to come in and teach the home 145 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 2: cook how to up his or her game. 146 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:49,199 Speaker 3: That's kind of cool. 147 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, it was really a lot of fun. 148 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: And that brings I guess conceivably brings more people into the. 149 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 3: Grocery store to buy. So it's a park to bring 150 00:08:58,240 --> 00:08:58,640 Speaker 3: people in. 151 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:02,679 Speaker 2: Absolutely as soon as they take a class, they want 152 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 2: to go down and shop for all of the need ingredients. 153 00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 2: And I had a passion for adults with special needs. 154 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:13,080 Speaker 3: Where did that come from? 155 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: That came from Colorado. I lived in Colorado for thirty 156 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 2: years and the last job I had up there was 157 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,320 Speaker 2: cear executive director for a company that was a for 158 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:32,920 Speaker 2: profit company that provided care for really families that had 159 00:09:33,000 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 2: severe children with severe disabilities. We started a day program 160 00:09:39,360 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 2: there for adults because there's nothing for them after they 161 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,559 Speaker 2: age out of school, which is the age of twenty one, 162 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: and that's across the nation. So we started a day 163 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,120 Speaker 2: program for adults, and I fell in love with a 164 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: population of people that are taught me so very much. 165 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 1: How do you fallm well with the population of people 166 00:10:01,600 --> 00:10:06,760 Speaker 1: that the vast majority of folks when they see people 167 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,080 Speaker 1: with disabilities turn away or walk the other way, or 168 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 1: at worst stare or are appalled. 169 00:10:13,840 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 2: You know, I just think it's my heart. I'll give 170 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 2: you a prime story. Just very recently, I was shopping 171 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,680 Speaker 2: in a shoe store, just walking around, and there's a 172 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 2: woman there pushing a child around. The child was twelve 173 00:10:30,960 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 2: and he's in a stroller, and to me, it was 174 00:10:36,160 --> 00:10:41,439 Speaker 2: very obvious that he had autism. He was nonverbal, and 175 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:45,000 Speaker 2: it was just he just had some of those obvious signs. 176 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:47,839 Speaker 2: And I walked up and started talking to him. I mean, 177 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 2: that's what I do. And she's the mother started crying 178 00:10:52,480 --> 00:10:56,559 Speaker 2: and she said, most people turn away and walk down 179 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 2: another aisle to avoid us, and you didn't. And that's 180 00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:00,640 Speaker 2: just who I am. 181 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: The reason I ask is because when I first met Lisa, 182 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:10,400 Speaker 1: my wife of thirty five years, when I went to 183 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: pick her up the very first night at her front door, 184 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:15,439 Speaker 1: I was greeted by a seven year old guy named Ben, 185 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:22,760 Speaker 1: her little brother, who clearly had some form of disability. 186 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: He was not downs, was not his ailment, and he 187 00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 1: wasn't autistic, But like you say, he had obvious signs 188 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:38,200 Speaker 1: of some disability in his speech and his mannerisms and 189 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,959 Speaker 1: his look. But he had a vis fall on his face, 190 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: and he introduced himself, shook my hand vigorously, and since then, 191 00:11:45,440 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: for thirty five years, Ben has been a part of 192 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: my life. He's my children's uncle, he's my wife's brother, 193 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,880 Speaker 1: he's my inlawst son. But I got to tell you, 194 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,560 Speaker 1: thirty five years with Ben has not been without a 195 00:12:01,559 --> 00:12:05,719 Speaker 1: lot of challenges. We certainly understand the twenty one year 196 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,560 Speaker 1: old aging out thing and what to do next, aging 197 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 1: parents in the mid seventies, and how do they care 198 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 1: for a forty something year old, two hundred and fifty 199 00:12:14,880 --> 00:12:18,960 Speaker 1: pound guy who, when he gets frustrated, could get angry. 200 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,760 Speaker 1: All of the things that I have no doubt if 201 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:24,840 Speaker 1: you have had a heart for and worked with folks 202 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:30,079 Speaker 1: with disabilities, you understand. So I get the bomb crying 203 00:12:30,720 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: as you greeted our autistic twelve year old in a 204 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:38,439 Speaker 1: wheelchair or a stroller. What I don't get is how 205 00:12:38,440 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: you decide a retirement. You want to take this population on. 206 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 3: It's hard. 207 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:49,720 Speaker 2: I want to agree with you and say it is. 208 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 2: But we still travel. That's what we wanted to do 209 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,960 Speaker 2: when we retired, and we still travel. We have staff, 210 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:04,560 Speaker 2: but we also have these people in the world that 211 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:10,600 Speaker 2: needs somebody to advocate for them, and we have to 212 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:11,640 Speaker 2: be that person. 213 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:20,360 Speaker 1: And now a few messages from our general sponsors. But first, 214 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 1: we've launched our first six local service clubs around the country. 215 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,120 Speaker 1: At a time when only thirty three percent of Americans 216 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,960 Speaker 1: are contributing in their community at the level that they 217 00:13:33,000 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 1: want to. The mission of these clubs is to make 218 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: service easier for everyone. The first sex are in Memphis, Oxford, Wichita, Atlanta, 219 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:51,160 Speaker 1: Ozak County, and the Milwaukee area, and North Dutchess County, 220 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 1: which is New York. If you live in one of 221 00:13:53,880 --> 00:13:57,160 Speaker 1: these areas, visit the service club section of our site 222 00:13:57,360 --> 00:14:00,240 Speaker 1: normal folks dot us and get plugged in like other 223 00:14:00,360 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: Army members that are launching clubs in their communities later 224 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: this year, including San Antonio, Lincoln, Nebraska, Huntsville, Alabama, Lincoln County, Ohio, 225 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,760 Speaker 1: Lorraine County, Ohio. If you happen to live in one 226 00:14:13,800 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: of these following areas and are interested, email Alex at 227 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 1: Army at normal Folks dot us and he'll get you 228 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:35,080 Speaker 1: connected to them. We'll be right back. You know, you 229 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:42,720 Speaker 1: said you had two dreams. Some would call that a calling. 230 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: Do you call it a calling? 231 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 2: I do? This is our ministry, This is our ministry. 232 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: Well, how do you know it's not just a dream? 233 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: How do you know it is a calling? And you're 234 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: about to retire. You've worked your whole life, Your husband 235 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 1: Chris has, as you said, planned for retirement, and you've 236 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:13,320 Speaker 1: had this dream. Certainly you're passionate about people's disabilities because 237 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: of what you've just told us. But for those listening, 238 00:15:18,200 --> 00:15:21,240 Speaker 1: we've all had thoughts about things we would like to 239 00:15:21,280 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: do or we think would be good for society, and 240 00:15:24,880 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: then we go on about our daily lives. What about 241 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 1: this was so poignant to you? That this was more 242 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: than a dream and it was a calling? And what 243 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: does it say about your belief that you had a 244 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: responsibility to answer that calling and that at your age, 245 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:48,800 Speaker 1: that calling didn't have an expiration date. 246 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, a dream, two nights in a row, the same one. 247 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: Everything about it I don't believe I have ever had, 248 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 2: and a dream that was so real, I don't think 249 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 2: I have ever had. I did go and talk to 250 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:14,120 Speaker 2: my priest about it, and he said, yes, this is 251 00:16:14,160 --> 00:16:16,880 Speaker 2: God talking to you. And he said, but usually God 252 00:16:16,960 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 2: needs a two by four for me to listen. And 253 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 2: he said, well, maybe to the same dream two nights 254 00:16:24,960 --> 00:16:28,720 Speaker 2: in a row as your two by four. We just knew, 255 00:16:29,160 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 2: we just knew we had to do this and make 256 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:35,760 Speaker 2: a difference in someone else's life. 257 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: It feels like it rides on the coketails of the 258 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:45,000 Speaker 1: introduction that you probably never saw coming was the culinary 259 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: program that you talk about, right. 260 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 3: Right, So how'd that start? 261 00:16:50,960 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: I mean, what I just heard was housewives coming into 262 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: buy groceries. I did not hear a culinary program at 263 00:16:58,200 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: a grocery store for people disability. 264 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 3: So how did it? Moorph? 265 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:06,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, when I was interviewed for the manager's position. First 266 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 2: of all, when I got to Texas, I wanted to 267 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:14,520 Speaker 2: continue that line of work with adults with disabilities and 268 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:20,400 Speaker 2: could not find anything. There were no opportunities truly at 269 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 2: that time, not only for someone looking for work, but 270 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 2: for that population. It was very slim loved to cook, 271 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 2: had a passion for cooking and hospitality, and the cooking 272 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 2: school it opened. When they asked me what my passion was, 273 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 2: and I told them about my work with adults with 274 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 2: special needs, they said, make it work here. So in Texas, 275 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: In Texas, Yes, When I applied for the job, interviewed 276 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 2: for the job as manager of the cooking school m Chinney, 277 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:01,639 Speaker 2: the person interviewing me said, what are you passionate about? 278 00:18:02,280 --> 00:18:04,679 Speaker 2: And I told them about my work with adults with 279 00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,240 Speaker 2: special needs, how I just had this passion for them, 280 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 2: and she said, make it work here. So I started 281 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 2: cooking classes and again, teaching them how to do something 282 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 2: as simple as scrambling eggs and making toast, all the 283 00:18:21,080 --> 00:18:24,639 Speaker 2: way up to one class, I got real ambitious and 284 00:18:24,680 --> 00:18:28,879 Speaker 2: taught them how to make pasta. Never did that one again. 285 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:35,439 Speaker 2: It was fun. It was fun, but very messy. But 286 00:18:35,880 --> 00:18:39,119 Speaker 2: after and we started these classes in two thousand and five. 287 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 2: I retired in two retired in twenty thirteen, and when 288 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 2: I left there, we had over one hundred and twenty 289 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 2: adults with special needs who would take classes from us 290 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:53,680 Speaker 2: in one month. 291 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: That's phenomenal, yes, which obviously is what planted the seed 292 00:18:59,560 --> 00:19:02,040 Speaker 1: for the dreams and for what you're doing now. But 293 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: during that time I read something that I found fascinating. 294 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:10,439 Speaker 1: You said that it was there that you developed a 295 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:16,920 Speaker 1: hot take, which was, we often treat people disabilities like mascots. 296 00:19:17,080 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 3: What in the world are you talking about. 297 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 2: There? Some people look at adults with disabilities as they're fun. 298 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:35,119 Speaker 2: They make me smile. Yeah, they laugh a lot, but 299 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:41,080 Speaker 2: there's so much more to them, and they want to learn. 300 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:47,200 Speaker 2: They want to learn, so that's what we're doing. 301 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: I guess your your take on mascots is another way 302 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:57,679 Speaker 1: of saying, tongue in cheek that a lot of the 303 00:19:57,720 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: way we think about people with disabilities is condescension. 304 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:09,960 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, I like the mascot word better, but condescending. 305 00:20:11,440 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 3: But that's what you're saying. 306 00:20:12,920 --> 00:20:13,200 Speaker 2: True. 307 00:20:14,119 --> 00:20:18,640 Speaker 1: Yes, aren't they cute? Yeah, in the South, we might 308 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,440 Speaker 1: say bless their heart, bless their heart. 309 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,919 Speaker 3: Or you also tell the story of silverware. 310 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,960 Speaker 2: Let's give them just some several jobs if you can 311 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:33,880 Speaker 2: tell that story, And that's so often a restaurant may say, well, 312 00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:38,359 Speaker 2: we hire somebody that has disabilities and they roll the silverware, 313 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:45,240 Speaker 2: and it's they can do so much more than just 314 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:52,320 Speaker 2: roll silverware or a grocery store. It irritates me sometimes 315 00:20:52,359 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 2: when someone says, oh, the local grocery store and I 316 00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:02,160 Speaker 2: won't name any names, hires those people and they bag groceries. 317 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,840 Speaker 2: Try to put them in the bakery. Oh my gosh, 318 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:11,119 Speaker 2: put somebody with autism in a bakery. You're going to 319 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: have some fabulous items coming out of there, and they're 320 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:18,560 Speaker 2: going to be the same way every single time. 321 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 3: We could attest to that. We just ate it. 322 00:21:22,000 --> 00:21:27,959 Speaker 1: So with that background and that mentality, you have this dream. 323 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:33,400 Speaker 1: But a dream is a long way from starting a restaurant, yes, 324 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: which we're going to get to. But I do want 325 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: to I do want to just drop a couple of 326 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:43,639 Speaker 1: quotes on you before we go to the actual restaurant 327 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 1: that you said at Huggs. We don't clap for effort. 328 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: We train for excellence. We don't clap for effort. 329 00:21:52,520 --> 00:21:53,119 Speaker 3: We train for it. 330 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: In other words, we don't we don't pat folks on 331 00:21:57,440 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: the back for showing up. You have the same expectations 332 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,160 Speaker 1: of them on the basics as you do with someone 333 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 1: without disabilities, and you expect them to rise to the occasion. 334 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,400 Speaker 1: I want you to talk about that. And you also 335 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,920 Speaker 1: said when you lower the bar, people disappear into it. 336 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,679 Speaker 3: I love that quote. Talk about bethose things. 337 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, the first one was. 338 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:25,000 Speaker 3: You don't clap for effort. We train for excellence. 339 00:22:25,160 --> 00:22:30,360 Speaker 2: Absolutely. We have people who have been at the cafe 340 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 2: for ten years. We don't have turnover, and they want 341 00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: the same thing that you and I and Alex and 342 00:22:43,480 --> 00:22:48,119 Speaker 2: everyone else wants in this world, to be successful and 343 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 2: to have their own purpose and training for excellence. We 344 00:22:53,800 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 2: have one young woman I'm going to call out, Tamika 345 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 2: who is she's on the spectrum and she started she's 346 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:10,240 Speaker 2: very very quiet, but that woman can run our kitchen 347 00:23:11,080 --> 00:23:16,240 Speaker 2: and we have promoted her to kitchen lead. And she 348 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 2: started out never having been in a kitchen, but we 349 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 2: trained her for excellence and this is what we've got now. 350 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:31,600 Speaker 2: She now trains if we have a new volunteer, she 351 00:23:31,960 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: trains the new volunteers that come in. If we have 352 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:38,919 Speaker 2: new staff, she trains them. And this is a woman 353 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 2: who just wouldn't talk. 354 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 3: Who was probably destined to roll silverware. 355 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,359 Speaker 2: Who is destined to roll silverware. If she were in 356 00:23:47,440 --> 00:23:50,000 Speaker 2: another restaurant, that's what she would be doing. 357 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,640 Speaker 1: Because your approach is we trained for excellence. We don't 358 00:23:52,680 --> 00:23:53,639 Speaker 1: just clap for trying. 359 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:54,760 Speaker 2: That is correct. 360 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,320 Speaker 3: When you lower the bar, people disappear into it. They do. 361 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 2: We have another young man, Danny, and Danny also, Oh 362 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 2: my gosh, I wish I'd brought Danny with me. We 363 00:24:09,800 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 2: now have an ambassador program and some of our mission 364 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:17,320 Speaker 2: based staff will go out when I go out to speak, 365 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,480 Speaker 2: and they will go out and speak. Danny is one 366 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 2: of our ambassadors. We could have just let Danny. He 367 00:24:26,640 --> 00:24:31,240 Speaker 2: started out in the dishpit as a dishwasher. He could 368 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:34,920 Speaker 2: still be there. He's been there for ten years. At 369 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:39,959 Speaker 2: the cafe, he now runs the front of the house, 370 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 2: the dining room. Some people don't know what front of 371 00:24:43,240 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 2: the house means. He runs the dining room, he runs 372 00:24:47,640 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 2: the dishpit. He goes out and speaks about his journey 373 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 2: with Hugs, And we could have left him in the 374 00:24:56,359 --> 00:24:57,920 Speaker 2: doing dishes in the dishpit. 375 00:25:00,119 --> 00:25:03,080 Speaker 3: He would have, in other words, if he lowered the 376 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 3: bar to that, he'd disappeared into that forever. Absolutely, we'll 377 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:11,480 Speaker 3: be right back. 378 00:25:23,560 --> 00:25:27,359 Speaker 1: So with that background and mentality and that background of 379 00:25:27,440 --> 00:25:30,800 Speaker 1: experience and that background of passion, which, by the way, 380 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: we say constantly around here that the beauty and magic 381 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:41,240 Speaker 1: happens when someone's passion intersects with opportunity. Well, you clearly 382 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,280 Speaker 1: had the passion, you had the calling and the dream. 383 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: But a restaurant that's a long way. And even classes 384 00:25:51,640 --> 00:25:55,080 Speaker 1: to teach folks with disabilities how to cook, and even 385 00:25:55,640 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: a background at the grocery store. Although all of that 386 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,680 Speaker 1: clearly or steps along the way to setting you up 387 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:07,040 Speaker 1: for this ultimate goal screwing up your retirement, You're still 388 00:26:07,080 --> 00:26:12,400 Speaker 1: a long way away from a restaurant, from a facility, 389 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: from a location, from having cash flow to or operation 390 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:24,359 Speaker 1: capital to buy food to deal with, to own silverware 391 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 1: and plates and places to sit, and all of the 392 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,760 Speaker 1: places all of the things you need to cook, like 393 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: stoves and ovens. And I've worked in restaurants. I put 394 00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: myself through college going through restaurants. They're expensive enterprises to 395 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: start up, and your barn rate, meaning those first few 396 00:26:40,560 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: months where are doing nothing but spending money trying to 397 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: get things going, often kills enterprises before they ever get going. 398 00:26:48,160 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 1: And candidly, you've never run a restaurant or run a business, 399 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: so I don't even know if you know any of 400 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,760 Speaker 1: what I'm talking about at that point in your life. 401 00:26:55,760 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: I'm certain you do now having done this. But great, 402 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:04,040 Speaker 1: you got a passion, you've got a great heart, you 403 00:27:04,119 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: have some experience with people with disabilities. You feel like 404 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:09,760 Speaker 1: you have a calling, you have a dream, but you 405 00:27:09,800 --> 00:27:14,800 Speaker 1: don't have anything else. Really, so how does how does 406 00:27:14,840 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: a dream in saying yes to them or calling and 407 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:22,080 Speaker 1: saying yes to them? How does opening a real world 408 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 1: cafe with that basis? 409 00:27:25,520 --> 00:27:26,240 Speaker 3: How does that work? 410 00:27:27,200 --> 00:27:29,240 Speaker 2: Yeah? 411 00:27:29,440 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: Clearly what I said ring true because of the look 412 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:33,840 Speaker 1: on your face when you did the long Yeah. 413 00:27:34,600 --> 00:27:41,439 Speaker 2: Yes, you're absolutely right. I had no experience in running 414 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:46,280 Speaker 2: a business, running a restaurant, running a nonprofit. We are 415 00:27:46,320 --> 00:27:47,800 Speaker 2: a nonprofit organization. 416 00:27:48,119 --> 00:27:49,879 Speaker 1: Yeah, you also got to get set up with a five, O, 417 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:51,360 Speaker 1: one C three and that's miserable. 418 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:55,080 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I mentor people now on all of the 419 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 2: things not to do. 420 00:27:57,640 --> 00:28:02,600 Speaker 3: Means you learned by doing them? Probably yes, but really, 421 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:04,040 Speaker 3: how does that work? How do you? 422 00:28:04,119 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: You and Chris are sitting there looking at each other. 423 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: We got a dream, we got this, we got this 424 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:09,960 Speaker 1: little bit of experience, but we don't know what we're doing. 425 00:28:09,960 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 1: But we're going to go try to do I mean, 426 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 1: I don't even know how that happened. Really, how does 427 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:14,960 Speaker 1: it take us back? 428 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:15,800 Speaker 2: Yeah? 429 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 3: We go first day. 430 00:28:17,640 --> 00:28:20,320 Speaker 2: You know, we just started talking to friends at our 431 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: church about it. This is what we want to do. 432 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:29,520 Speaker 2: And it's interesting the number of people, uh who said 433 00:28:29,560 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 2: I want to help you with that, who had what 434 00:28:33,240 --> 00:28:38,240 Speaker 2: we needed. We had a woman who said, I want 435 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:42,200 Speaker 2: to help you with that, and she was a fundraiser 436 00:28:42,280 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 2: before she moved to Texas from Kansas. I believe she 437 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 2: was the major fundraiser at a university in Kansas. She said, 438 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,080 Speaker 2: I know how to fundraise. I want to help you 439 00:28:56,160 --> 00:29:00,920 Speaker 2: with that. I know how to write of ten twenty 440 00:29:00,960 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 2: three is the form that you filed for your nonprofit? 441 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:07,000 Speaker 2: I know how to do that. Let me help you. 442 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:12,160 Speaker 2: We had another gentleman who was CEO of a restaurant 443 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:13,320 Speaker 2: equipment company. 444 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:16,000 Speaker 3: You're kidding, No, I. 445 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:18,680 Speaker 2: Had no he was a friend. I had no what 446 00:29:18,800 --> 00:29:21,239 Speaker 2: he did. I mean, we had just been friends for 447 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:23,640 Speaker 2: all a long time. I knew he traveled a lot. 448 00:29:24,080 --> 00:29:26,160 Speaker 2: But I told him what we wanted to do, and 449 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:28,160 Speaker 2: he said, oh my gosh, I can help you with that. 450 00:29:29,760 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 2: You ask me how how I did this? God put 451 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 2: all these people in my path. I didn't know what 452 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:43,479 Speaker 2: EJ did. I didn't know what this other woman. You know, 453 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 2: everybody was in the right. 454 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:48,440 Speaker 3: People were there also. 455 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:51,440 Speaker 1: Read that you were already resigned to You're going to 456 00:29:51,480 --> 00:29:54,280 Speaker 1: have to put this thing out away from everything because 457 00:29:54,360 --> 00:29:57,760 Speaker 1: rent and a place was so expensive. Yeah, and they're 458 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: sitting in front of you at church one day. 459 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 2: That's that's right. The story with the building is February 460 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,920 Speaker 2: of twenty fifteen. You know, I don't I'm not very 461 00:30:08,920 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 2: good at remembering dates, but boy, that's one. 462 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:15,160 Speaker 3: I remember well. It February of fifteen. 463 00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: You had the dream in thirteen, so you've been doing 464 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:19,000 Speaker 1: prep on this for eighteen month. 465 00:30:19,160 --> 00:30:22,680 Speaker 2: Yes, we had been working on applying for the nonprofit 466 00:30:22,840 --> 00:30:27,960 Speaker 2: status and we had started raising some money by doing 467 00:30:28,160 --> 00:30:32,800 Speaker 2: big cells. I mean the things that we did to 468 00:30:32,920 --> 00:30:35,880 Speaker 2: raise money. And you know, boy, if somebody wrote us 469 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:40,000 Speaker 2: one hundred dollars check, I was praising God. 470 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:47,360 Speaker 1: And a hundred dollar check doesn't cover the spoilage for 471 00:30:47,440 --> 00:30:47,840 Speaker 1: the day. 472 00:30:48,400 --> 00:30:50,560 Speaker 3: Were you trying to raise one point a million or something? 473 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:58,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, trying to raise one point five million? You know, 474 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 2: how do you eat an elephant? 475 00:31:01,000 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 3: I understand, but my goodness. 476 00:31:03,280 --> 00:31:08,479 Speaker 2: Kay, okay, bear with me. We're raising money. 477 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:11,560 Speaker 1: By the way, the brook you gave me when I 478 00:31:11,600 --> 00:31:15,280 Speaker 1: said that speaks to your determination back then, because you 479 00:31:15,320 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 1: looked at me like I was an idiot for even 480 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:21,720 Speaker 1: saying such a thing. Yes, you're bound and determined clearly, Okay, 481 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:22,440 Speaker 1: so go ahead. 482 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 2: Yes. I had my board of directors. They were getting 483 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:31,520 Speaker 2: us through the processes. I was working every single day 484 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 2: on this, and actually we put together a concert downtown McKinney. 485 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:42,480 Speaker 2: Let me set the stage a little bit. Downtown McKinney, 486 00:31:42,560 --> 00:31:50,240 Speaker 2: Texas is this beautiful old historic courthouse which is now 487 00:31:50,520 --> 00:31:57,040 Speaker 2: a performing arts center, and mckinne Square is a tourist attraction. 488 00:31:57,840 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 2: All these wonderful stores that people come to, and we 489 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 2: have october Fest and Home for the Holidays and all 490 00:32:06,280 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 2: sorts of fun things. It is Norman Rockwell incarnate. And 491 00:32:15,800 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 2: so we had a concert to raise money our former 492 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:25,800 Speaker 2: mayor Well at the time, he was not our mayor. 493 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:32,520 Speaker 2: George Fuller's wife, Meylee Fuller, drove by and she said, 494 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:37,560 Speaker 2: what's going on? And someone told her what was going on, 495 00:32:37,680 --> 00:32:41,160 Speaker 2: and I came out to introduce myself to her. She 496 00:32:41,480 --> 00:32:46,960 Speaker 2: has a nonprofit organization, Love Life Foundation, and she donates 497 00:32:47,040 --> 00:32:50,240 Speaker 2: to nonprofits, and she had written a check for one 498 00:32:50,320 --> 00:32:54,160 Speaker 2: hundred dollars and I came out, I told her what 499 00:32:54,200 --> 00:32:57,160 Speaker 2: we were getting ready to do, and my damn, she 500 00:32:57,280 --> 00:33:01,200 Speaker 2: added another zero to that check. And that was our 501 00:33:01,320 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 2: first thousand dollars check. And uh I was, I cried, Yes, 502 00:33:09,840 --> 00:33:12,360 Speaker 2: But you know we did like I said, we did. 503 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:18,680 Speaker 2: Every we auctioned off mixers, you know, bias the mixer. 504 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:22,560 Speaker 2: So people would we would auction off a mixer. They 505 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:25,880 Speaker 2: don't get the mixer, they get to give us the 506 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 2: money for a mixer. Anyway, February we were still trying 507 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:34,240 Speaker 2: to raise money. February of twenty fifteen, we had eight 508 00:33:34,320 --> 00:33:35,680 Speaker 2: thousand dollars in the bank. 509 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:39,000 Speaker 3: Oh my gosh against a one point five budget. 510 00:33:39,240 --> 00:33:42,640 Speaker 2: Yes, if we had gone to into a strip mall, 511 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 2: four blank walls, needing everything from bottom to top at 512 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 2: this point in time, we would have needed one point 513 00:33:49,800 --> 00:33:55,640 Speaker 2: five million. Got it, And I said, okay, let's raise 514 00:33:55,760 --> 00:34:00,960 Speaker 2: one point five million. February two thousand fifteen, we had 515 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 2: eight thousand in the bank. I'm at church. I sit 516 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:07,960 Speaker 2: on the wrong side of the church. A friend of mine, 517 00:34:08,000 --> 00:34:11,120 Speaker 2: who usually goes to the later service, comes to the 518 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 2: early service. So I'm on the wrong side. At my church. 519 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:18,359 Speaker 2: You have your place that. 520 00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:21,360 Speaker 3: You set your pew. 521 00:34:21,840 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 2: Yes, my pew doesn't have a name on it. But 522 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 2: and I sat on the other side, sat behind her, 523 00:34:28,440 --> 00:34:31,360 Speaker 2: not thinking anything. Didn't know she was going to be 524 00:34:31,400 --> 00:34:37,920 Speaker 2: at this service. We're Episcopalian. We passed the peace and 525 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:41,640 Speaker 2: instead of saying the peace of the Lord be with you, 526 00:34:41,719 --> 00:34:45,600 Speaker 2: I said, Kim, tell me about your location downtown me Kenny, 527 00:34:46,800 --> 00:34:53,000 Speaker 2: And she said, I want hugs in my building. We 528 00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,560 Speaker 2: had the name, you know, she knew all about it. 529 00:34:57,040 --> 00:34:59,839 Speaker 2: And she said, come down tomorrow and let's see if 530 00:34:59,840 --> 00:35:05,759 Speaker 2: the work in the dream that I had two nights 531 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,560 Speaker 2: in a row. It was an open kitchen two years ago. 532 00:35:09,600 --> 00:35:13,520 Speaker 2: Two years before. It was an open kitchen so that 533 00:35:14,400 --> 00:35:21,480 Speaker 2: customers could see these incredible people working, actually making the food, 534 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:27,080 Speaker 2: actually making those incredible cookies that you just tried. Her 535 00:35:27,840 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 2: kitchen was an open kitchen, dining room, looks in and 536 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:35,839 Speaker 2: sees what's going on. 537 00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 3: So what did she do for you? 538 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:47,799 Speaker 2: They made it very affordable for us to move in. 539 00:35:48,400 --> 00:35:53,160 Speaker 2: There was a pizza restaurant that was there before us, 540 00:35:54,080 --> 00:36:02,760 Speaker 2: and when they moved out, they left everything. And yes, 541 00:36:04,120 --> 00:36:08,880 Speaker 2: now they left pizza ovens. We didn't need pizza ovens, 542 00:36:09,480 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 2: but she gave us the opportunity to sell those pizza ovens, 543 00:36:14,800 --> 00:36:20,920 Speaker 2: and keep the funds. Anything that we couldn't use, sell it, 544 00:36:21,080 --> 00:36:25,080 Speaker 2: she said. And we kept the funds. So we went 545 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 2: from needing one point five million to needing one hundred 546 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 2: and fifty thousand. 547 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:32,040 Speaker 3: Wow. 548 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:36,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and so now you actually have something raised to Yes, 549 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:38,200 Speaker 1: you can tell a story. 550 00:36:38,280 --> 00:36:42,040 Speaker 2: We have a place, yes, and we have something that 551 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 2: you can walk in and see. We could bring donors 552 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:50,000 Speaker 2: in and they can see it, envision it. We already 553 00:36:50,040 --> 00:36:53,320 Speaker 2: had the staff. I mean, these people were just waiting 554 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:56,080 Speaker 2: to be trained to work at a restaurant. So we 555 00:36:56,160 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 2: would have events in that space, unraising events in that space, 556 00:37:02,960 --> 00:37:05,040 Speaker 2: and we would have our feet She didn't. 557 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:06,200 Speaker 3: Even charge you rent or anything. 558 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:08,719 Speaker 2: And she did charge us rent, yes, but it was 559 00:37:08,800 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 2: not downtown McKenny, it's very expensive. She was very gracious 560 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:19,600 Speaker 2: and did not charge us what everyone else pays. 561 00:37:19,960 --> 00:37:24,919 Speaker 1: So have to be there. That was February of twenty fifteenth. Yes, 562 00:37:25,719 --> 00:37:26,479 Speaker 1: so when's you open? 563 00:37:27,520 --> 00:37:31,080 Speaker 2: We opened October the thirteenth of twenty fifteen. 564 00:37:31,360 --> 00:37:34,799 Speaker 3: Only seven chaper seven months later. 565 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:39,000 Speaker 2: Yes. By August we had raised all of the funds 566 00:37:39,320 --> 00:37:43,359 Speaker 2: and then we bought the equipment that we needed. Like 567 00:37:43,440 --> 00:37:46,640 Speaker 2: I said, we had one gentleman who was on our board, 568 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 2: who was CEO of a restaurant equipment company. So anything 569 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:56,759 Speaker 2: that we needed, most equipment that we needed, he got 570 00:37:56,800 --> 00:37:58,000 Speaker 2: donated to us. 571 00:37:58,600 --> 00:37:59,720 Speaker 3: That's unbelievable. 572 00:38:00,960 --> 00:38:04,960 Speaker 1: But what I'm so impressed by that I think got 573 00:38:05,360 --> 00:38:08,279 Speaker 1: missed a little in some of what I've read is that. 574 00:38:09,719 --> 00:38:12,960 Speaker 3: You had a dream. You only had eight thousand dollars 575 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:15,480 Speaker 3: and you didn't quit. 576 00:38:16,280 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 1: I mean a lot of people six seven months into 577 00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:21,160 Speaker 1: something like hell, this sounded great, but it's just not 578 00:38:21,239 --> 00:38:24,400 Speaker 1: going to work. You worked on this for over two 579 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:26,880 Speaker 1: years to just get it open. 580 00:38:29,320 --> 00:38:31,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, why why didn't you give up? 581 00:38:32,480 --> 00:38:34,160 Speaker 2: Well? My question is why not? 582 00:38:35,960 --> 00:38:39,239 Speaker 1: Because it didn't seem when you need one point five 583 00:38:39,320 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: million and you only got eight grand of. 584 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,200 Speaker 3: The bank after about six months, it's going to happen. 585 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:47,120 Speaker 2: I had faith. I had faith. 586 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: And that concludes part one of our conversation with Ruth Thompson, 587 00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:57,960 Speaker 1: and you don't want to miss part two. It's now 588 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,600 Speaker 1: able to listen to other guys. 589 00:39:00,880 --> 00:39:03,839 Speaker 3: We can change this country, but it starts with you. 590 00:39:04,400 --> 00:39:05,439 Speaker 3: I'll see in part two.