WEBVTT - Perseverance: Built her dream while in prison, now building STEM careers for Black girls. 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:01.040 Welcome to my show. 0:00:01.280 --> 0:00:04.680 I'm Rashaun McDonald a host of Money Making Conversations Masterclass, 0:00:04.880 --> 0:00:07.400 where we encourage people to stop reading other people's success 0:00:07.440 --> 0:00:09.360 stories and start planning your own. 0:00:09.840 --> 0:00:10.039 Now. 0:00:10.080 --> 0:00:12.240 You don't want to miss an episode, so please take 0:00:12.280 --> 0:00:14.800 a moment right now to follow or subscribe to Money 0:00:14.840 --> 0:00:16.440 Making Conversations Masterclass. 0:00:16.640 --> 0:00:17.320 It's free. 0:00:17.480 --> 0:00:21.440 You can follow me on iHeartRadio, app, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 0:00:21.560 --> 0:00:24.479 or wherever you listen to your podcast. New Money Making 0:00:24.520 --> 0:00:28.200 Conversations Masterclass episodes drop daily. I want to keep you 0:00:28.240 --> 0:00:30.760 on alert because my guests provide tips on how you 0:00:30.760 --> 0:00:34.880 can uplift your community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or 0:00:34.920 --> 0:00:38.520 advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Now, let's 0:00:38.520 --> 0:00:41.320 get this podcast started. My next guest role is from 0:00:41.320 --> 0:00:47.000 inconserration to receiving the President's Lifetime Achieving Award. She built 0:00:47.040 --> 0:00:51.000 a company in the cleaning industry and also provides architectural 0:00:51.040 --> 0:00:55.240 and construction camps inspire the next generation of architects and 0:00:55.360 --> 0:00:59.480 builders through design experiences. Let's hear our story and the 0:00:59.520 --> 0:01:02.720 inspiration that changed her life. Please work with the Money 0:01:02.720 --> 0:01:06.759 Making Conversation Masterclass. Robin Donaldson. How you doing, Robin? 0:01:07.240 --> 0:01:09.560 I am amazing. I am amazing. 0:01:10.480 --> 0:01:12.720 Well, Robin talked to you offline and you got a 0:01:12.720 --> 0:01:15.040 lot of energy, So I would get that same energy 0:01:15.040 --> 0:01:17.040 today because you went, I'm amazing. That was kind of 0:01:17.080 --> 0:01:18.600 low key that. 0:01:19.280 --> 0:01:24.080 There you go. Now, Robert, where are you based at? 0:01:24.440 --> 0:01:26.000 I'm in Tampa, Florida. 0:01:25.840 --> 0:01:26.559 Born and raised. 0:01:26.560 --> 0:01:28.840 Down in Tampa, Florida, born and raised. 0:01:29.400 --> 0:01:33.440 Tell me about your life growing up that nothing an't 0:01:33.440 --> 0:01:35.920 conservation part, just a part that when you grew up, 0:01:36.360 --> 0:01:39.120 any potential college in your life. Talk about your life 0:01:39.160 --> 0:01:40.040 as a teenager. 0:01:40.200 --> 0:01:43.920 Well, my life as a teenager was really sheltered. So 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:49.000 I grew up in a very strict religious household and 0:01:49.600 --> 0:01:57.080 education was not something that was even really spoke of, right, 0:01:57.600 --> 0:02:00.680 and so for me, I went to a train school 0:02:01.720 --> 0:02:05.520 where I learned industrial electricity, and so that is really 0:02:05.560 --> 0:02:10.600 where the love of construction came from. As a result 0:02:10.720 --> 0:02:15.079 of me graduating, I did have an opportunity to attend 0:02:15.160 --> 0:02:18.560 Georgia Tech because I was the first female to complete 0:02:19.000 --> 0:02:23.040 you know that program. However, again my mom, she was 0:02:23.480 --> 0:02:26.239 very religious, and they did not believe in going off 0:02:26.280 --> 0:02:29.960 to college. She felt that you know, a trade was 0:02:30.000 --> 0:02:32.880 sufficient and that I needed to get to work. 0:02:33.280 --> 0:02:35.760 So trade versus going to Georgia Tech. 0:02:35.960 --> 0:02:39.559 I didn't go off to college. I just got a 0:02:39.680 --> 0:02:43.919 job locally with the Electrical Fund and that's where I learned, 0:02:43.960 --> 0:02:49.680 you know, more hands on about industrial electricity. After a 0:02:49.720 --> 0:02:54.160 couple of jobs, I decided I didn't like being out 0:02:54.200 --> 0:03:00.160 in the sun, thank you and so, and actually I 0:03:00.200 --> 0:03:04.560 had at a temple right right, and I'm talking about 0:03:04.639 --> 0:03:08.600 being in a small quarters. It was that was not 0:03:08.720 --> 0:03:11.920 what I wanted to do for a long term. So 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:16.840 I changed my focus to being a hairstylist. And so 0:03:16.919 --> 0:03:20.639 I had gotten my license for cosmetology and for barbering, 0:03:21.200 --> 0:03:24.120 and for a while I was doing hair and that 0:03:24.280 --> 0:03:30.120 was until I got connected with my kid's father. Actually 0:03:30.160 --> 0:03:32.680 that's one of the reasons how I ended up in jail. 0:03:33.080 --> 0:03:36.040 Now you come into this relationship. 0:03:36.720 --> 0:03:41.080 What did your values change the led you being incarcerated. 0:03:42.160 --> 0:03:43.680 Was it easy money? 0:03:44.440 --> 0:03:47.560 Was it the thought process that hey, I was just 0:03:47.640 --> 0:03:49.200 gonna do it for a little bit and get out. 0:03:49.760 --> 0:03:53.440 Talk to is Robin, Well in order for you to 0:03:53.520 --> 0:03:56.000 understand them and have to back it up, let's back 0:03:56.040 --> 0:04:00.080 it up. Do so. Because I was in such a 0:04:00.080 --> 0:04:04.320 strict of household, right, Okay, the moment I graduated. I 0:04:04.360 --> 0:04:06.560 had my certificate in one hand and I had my 0:04:07.080 --> 0:04:09.160 luggage in the next. I had to give him away, 0:04:10.000 --> 0:04:12.760 and so from that I ran to the arms of 0:04:13.040 --> 0:04:17.839 an older guy, and he happened to be a drug dealer, 0:04:20.000 --> 0:04:25.680 and things just really spiraled out. I mean from me 0:04:27.520 --> 0:04:32.040 selling drugs from him, to using drugs, to making stupid 0:04:32.040 --> 0:04:36.320 decisions in the way of using my account to harbor 0:04:36.440 --> 0:04:39.960 money to write checks. So I was just really running 0:04:40.000 --> 0:04:44.400 from one situation to the other, and being with that 0:04:44.839 --> 0:04:48.120 my kid's father. I was involved in a lot of 0:04:48.200 --> 0:04:52.159 illegal activity that's finally caught up to me, and as 0:04:52.160 --> 0:04:53.880 a result, I did go to prison. 0:04:54.480 --> 0:04:57.320 Okay, now, how many children did you have at the 0:04:57.320 --> 0:04:58.480 time when you went to prison. 0:04:58.920 --> 0:05:01.640 I had two kids and I was pregnant with one. 0:05:01.880 --> 0:05:03.440 Now, when you. 0:05:03.440 --> 0:05:06.400 Say the word drug dealer, that's such a broad word. 0:05:06.640 --> 0:05:08.599 You know that you can say that people who are 0:05:08.800 --> 0:05:12.000 these pharmaceutical companies are drug dealers the way because they 0:05:12.040 --> 0:05:14.360 got to pay out these money. But you are more 0:05:14.440 --> 0:05:17.200 along the lines of the street. What type of drugs 0:05:17.240 --> 0:05:20.200 were you guys? Selling crack cocaine? 0:05:20.520 --> 0:05:21.560 And you are a user? 0:05:22.360 --> 0:05:23.160 Yes, I was. 0:05:23.600 --> 0:05:26.960 At one point, did you not say to yourself very smart, 0:05:27.000 --> 0:05:28.840 young lady, this is not good. 0:05:29.320 --> 0:05:31.640 I was at that smart thing now that I was 0:05:31.720 --> 0:05:36.200 book smart, but street smart. I had no idea. I 0:05:36.320 --> 0:05:39.120 was looking for love. I was looking for a father figure, 0:05:41.000 --> 0:05:42.920 and that is what I received. 0:05:43.960 --> 0:05:45.120 And so you are. 0:05:45.160 --> 0:05:47.679 I'm pretty sure you're a mentor. How do you feel 0:05:47.720 --> 0:05:51.279 when you communicating your story to young ladies who you 0:05:51.480 --> 0:05:54.159 don't want to see go down the same path you 0:05:54.240 --> 0:05:54.680 went down? 0:05:54.800 --> 0:05:57.800 Robin? How do you connect with them by. 0:05:57.720 --> 0:06:01.520 Keeping it real? One time? I was shamed. I was 0:06:01.560 --> 0:06:04.920 shamed to tell my story and then also to talk 0:06:04.960 --> 0:06:09.080 about all of the mental variable abuse that I had 0:06:09.120 --> 0:06:11.680 to undergo just the just in the name of love. 0:06:12.600 --> 0:06:15.960 Like I really get some crazy things like from the abuse. 0:06:16.120 --> 0:06:18.159 I thought that was his way of showing me that 0:06:18.240 --> 0:06:22.080 he loved me to the point that I would instigate 0:06:22.160 --> 0:06:24.040 an argument so he can whoop my behind. 0:06:24.600 --> 0:06:28.000 Stay with us more money Making Conversation master Class coming 0:06:28.080 --> 0:06:35.520 up next. Welcome back to money Making Conversation master Class 0:06:35.600 --> 0:06:39.360 hosted by me Rashaun McDonald. Money Making Conversation master Class 0:06:39.360 --> 0:06:43.679 continues online at Moneymaking Conversations dot com and follow money 0:06:43.680 --> 0:06:48.360 Making Conversations master Class on Facebook, X and Instagram. Now 0:06:48.440 --> 0:06:53.479 I ate that stupid Uh No, Now, when you got incarcerated, 0:06:55.240 --> 0:06:57.239 you said you were pregnant at two children. 0:06:57.520 --> 0:07:00.480 Okay, So before I got incarcerated, before because I had 0:07:00.520 --> 0:07:05.679 to turn myself in, I was afcluding the authorities until 0:07:05.680 --> 0:07:07.440 I had my daughter because I did not want to 0:07:07.480 --> 0:07:12.040 have my daughter in the penitentiary. So after I gave 0:07:12.120 --> 0:07:14.680 birth and I was cleared, I turned myself in. 0:07:15.480 --> 0:07:18.400 Now you have your child, you turn yourself in. How 0:07:18.400 --> 0:07:21.760 many years were you incarcerated? Five five years? 0:07:22.200 --> 0:07:23.040 Which that through? 0:07:23.080 --> 0:07:25.640 Did you get out early through probation or you did 0:07:25.680 --> 0:07:26.680 the entire sentence. 0:07:27.040 --> 0:07:28.520 I did the entire sentence. 0:07:29.480 --> 0:07:32.120 Now I have asked the question, did you learn anything 0:07:32.280 --> 0:07:33.200 while you were in pression? 0:07:33.600 --> 0:07:34.840 That's what it all changed. 0:07:35.800 --> 0:07:36.280 Talk to me. 0:07:36.600 --> 0:07:40.320 I had time to think, I had time to explore. 0:07:41.040 --> 0:07:44.160 I had an opportunity to advance. 0:07:43.800 --> 0:07:46.600 My education well a while in prison. 0:07:47.160 --> 0:07:47.960 While in prison. 0:07:48.080 --> 0:07:50.760 When you say advance your education, tell us about what 0:07:51.000 --> 0:07:53.160 level of education you advanced. 0:07:52.680 --> 0:07:58.160 Too, associate degrees. So for me, prison was very hard 0:07:58.400 --> 0:08:00.679 and I spent a lot of time. I'm in concern 0:08:01.880 --> 0:08:06.080 and I made the best use of confinement. I'm confined 0:08:06.080 --> 0:08:08.320 for twenty three hours. I go out for a hour. 0:08:09.720 --> 0:08:14.840 My time my days was meditating and learning. Then I 0:08:14.920 --> 0:08:20.320 had guards. We became very very close and a couple 0:08:20.360 --> 0:08:24.600 of them they were attending their local community college, and 0:08:24.600 --> 0:08:27.920 I would assist them with their books. In return, I'm 0:08:27.960 --> 0:08:31.440 able to read their books, you know. So if I'm 0:08:31.440 --> 0:08:33.680 going to help tutor you on business law, well guess 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:34.920 what I know business law. 0:08:35.000 --> 0:08:36.920 Now I'm talking to Robin Donaldson. 0:08:37.040 --> 0:08:40.840 She went from incarceration to be honored by the President 0:08:40.920 --> 0:08:44.319 with a Lifetime Achievement Award, and all she does camps, 0:08:44.400 --> 0:08:48.760 mentoring camps for youth in architecture and instruction design in 0:08:48.800 --> 0:08:51.760 the area of Tampa, Florida. She's not only turned her 0:08:51.800 --> 0:08:55.480 life around, but now she's turning other young people's lives around. 0:08:55.640 --> 0:08:57.080 And she's really to tell her story. 0:08:57.320 --> 0:09:00.480 That's why she's on money Making Conversation master classes to 0:09:00.559 --> 0:09:03.600 tell our story. She's not trying to hide her situation. 0:09:03.920 --> 0:09:07.839 She's trying to convey from authentic matter that you don't 0:09:07.840 --> 0:09:09.720 want to live the life that she lived. But if 0:09:09.760 --> 0:09:12.840 you live this life, you can't turn your life around. 0:09:13.080 --> 0:09:14.600 And that's the story I want to tell. On the 0:09:14.640 --> 0:09:18.920 shoulder day, Robin, you turning your life around now when 0:09:18.960 --> 0:09:21.520 you got out of prison, you learned a lot while 0:09:21.559 --> 0:09:25.599 you were in prison. Robin was there steps as you 0:09:25.679 --> 0:09:30.079 were seeing you, they come up preparing for the exit. 0:09:30.440 --> 0:09:33.360 Well, at the time, I didn't really have an exit plan. 0:09:33.679 --> 0:09:38.280 And the exit plan came when I learned how to 0:09:38.320 --> 0:09:44.079 strip in buffs floors in prison at the highest level, 0:09:45.160 --> 0:09:49.560 I mean the floor's glass, right, So what I did? 0:09:50.160 --> 0:09:51.720 I took that knowledge. 0:09:51.920 --> 0:09:53.679 Did they ask you to do that or you just 0:09:54.160 --> 0:09:54.839 stepped it up? 0:09:55.120 --> 0:09:57.280 Okay, So you want to get back to that story. 0:09:57.320 --> 0:10:02.080 Okay, absolutely, you don't go to the why are you 0:10:02.160 --> 0:10:03.240 doing it at this level? 0:10:03.480 --> 0:10:05.000 But I know you could have just done it at 0:10:05.000 --> 0:10:05.520 this level. 0:10:05.679 --> 0:10:10.000 Okay, you want to know the story story because I 0:10:10.120 --> 0:10:18.560 again I frequent confined it a lot, right. And it 0:10:18.600 --> 0:10:23.880 was one incident where I was allowed to be released 0:10:23.920 --> 0:10:29.040 to the compound and the Wharton had stopped me, he said, 0:10:29.080 --> 0:10:32.440 missus in McDonald's. And you have a problem with, you know, 0:10:32.960 --> 0:10:36.080 instigating things on the compound. He said, I got I 0:10:36.120 --> 0:10:39.679 got a solution for you. While everybody's woe from to 0:10:39.720 --> 0:10:42.320 put you on third shift, you go stripping wax the 0:10:42.400 --> 0:10:48.240 administrator build it right, all right? So again that is 0:10:48.280 --> 0:10:53.520 where I learned how to strip wax. And buff floors 0:10:54.280 --> 0:10:58.480 like no other on the third shift, on the third 0:10:58.520 --> 0:11:01.120 shift when everybody was sleeping, when the compound was open 0:11:01.160 --> 0:11:02.000 an hour of sleep. 0:11:04.120 --> 0:11:08.360 So he saw your true gift was to stop you 0:11:08.400 --> 0:11:11.800 from having personal contact and put you to work when 0:11:11.800 --> 0:11:15.240 everybody else was sleep and when everybody would uh you 0:11:15.320 --> 0:11:15.840 were asleep. 0:11:16.040 --> 0:11:16.520 Yes, sir. 0:11:17.040 --> 0:11:20.480 Now as you came out, because I mentioned in your 0:11:20.520 --> 0:11:25.160 intro you have you have a cleaning bit. But when 0:11:25.200 --> 0:11:28.200 you come out, we know that's not an easy accent. 0:11:29.080 --> 0:11:31.040 You know you have three children out there. Way know 0:11:31.120 --> 0:11:34.440 you what was the man of your life at that point? 0:11:34.600 --> 0:11:35.520 Was he still in your life? 0:11:36.600 --> 0:11:37.960 He was doing time as well? 0:11:38.520 --> 0:11:39.080 Okay? Cool? 0:11:39.120 --> 0:11:41.640 So you came out by yourself basically, how did you 0:11:41.679 --> 0:11:44.280 start getting those feet and putting those feet down on 0:11:44.280 --> 0:11:46.440 that concrete and start walking forward like you know you 0:11:46.520 --> 0:11:47.120 belong there? 0:11:47.280 --> 0:11:48.079 Talk to me, Robin. 0:11:48.960 --> 0:11:53.079 So what happened was I was able to get on 0:11:53.200 --> 0:11:57.520 work release. It was six months prior to my release date. 0:11:57.679 --> 0:12:00.959 They allowed me to go to a work least program 0:12:01.200 --> 0:12:04.560 where I would be local, not in prison. It's a 0:12:04.640 --> 0:12:05.360 halfway house. 0:12:05.440 --> 0:12:06.560 It's transitioning there. 0:12:06.559 --> 0:12:10.679 You go a transitioning house and one of the requirements 0:12:10.720 --> 0:12:13.199 is you had to have a job, and so right 0:12:13.280 --> 0:12:16.120 up the street there was a homewood Suites by Hilton, 0:12:16.520 --> 0:12:20.600 right and I applied, and that's where I learned how 0:12:20.679 --> 0:12:25.800 to clean at the highest level. Hilton is by far 0:12:25.960 --> 0:12:30.680 one of the cleanest chains that I know. And again, 0:12:30.960 --> 0:12:35.080 learning how to clean at the highest level, plus knowing 0:12:35.120 --> 0:12:38.800 how to strip wax and buff at the highest level, 0:12:39.240 --> 0:12:43.240 it only made sense for me to be a cleaning service. Reason. 0:12:43.320 --> 0:12:45.360 I liked listening to you because that's to say, that's 0:12:45.360 --> 0:12:47.680 a smile on your face, because that means you good 0:12:47.720 --> 0:12:50.280 at it. You know, it's always great to be good 0:12:50.280 --> 0:12:52.240 at something. You know, I'm gonna take the word out. 0:12:52.280 --> 0:12:55.480 I'm like saying good she's smiling because she's great at it. 0:12:55.840 --> 0:12:59.320 Because she uses the word highest level, she's never used to, 0:12:59.480 --> 0:13:01.480 I'm undermining her talents. 0:13:01.480 --> 0:13:04.760 And I apologize. She kif used the word I learned at. 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:07.840 The highest level. I buff at the highest level. So 0:13:08.600 --> 0:13:12.679 those skills you recognize were different from everybody else because 0:13:12.720 --> 0:13:14.000 you put in more effort. 0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:16.040 Are you just naturally talented at it? 0:13:16.520 --> 0:13:19.040 Well? See, it's part of a bigger plan. When I 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:23.200 came home, I said, I opened the cleaning service, but 0:13:23.320 --> 0:13:26.960 the ultimate goal was to be into the construction industry. 0:13:27.480 --> 0:13:32.000 That has been the overarching goal. And what better way 0:13:32.160 --> 0:13:36.480 to get into the construction industry is by cleaning the 0:13:36.559 --> 0:13:40.079 construction trailers. I mean, because that's where all the decision 0:13:40.120 --> 0:13:44.560 makers are, that's where all action happens. And so I 0:13:44.640 --> 0:13:49.439 started cleaning trailers. Then I developed relationships, and then they 0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:52.920 had me doing final clean, post construction clean. 0:13:53.520 --> 0:13:54.640 Please don't go anywhere. 0:13:54.840 --> 0:13:58.520 We'll be right back with more money Making Conversations Masterclass. Now, 0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:01.000 I need for you to do me a favor right 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:04.720 now to follow or subscribe to money Making Conversation. It's 0:14:04.760 --> 0:14:08.760 free and you can find it on the iHeartRadio app, Spotify, 0:14:09.120 --> 0:14:12.960 Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Please do 0:14:13.040 --> 0:14:19.800 me that favor, follow or subscribe money Making Conversations. Welcome 0:14:19.800 --> 0:14:23.720 back to money Making Conversations Masterclass hosted by me Rashaun McDonald. 0:14:24.000 --> 0:14:28.440 Money Making Conversation Masterclass continues online at Moneymaking Conversations dot 0:14:28.480 --> 0:14:32.840 com and follow money Making Conversations Masterclass on Facebook, X 0:14:32.920 --> 0:14:33.640 and Instagram. 0:14:33.920 --> 0:14:38.440 And from that, that is how I was able to 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:41.280 secure the contract for the Tempa Convention set. 0:14:41.400 --> 0:14:42.280 Congratulations. 0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:46.960 I had three shifts. Three shifts with sixty five employees. 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:53.120 And then from that, I was selected by the NFL 0:14:53.560 --> 0:14:58.200 as the premium cleaning company for the Super Bowl and 0:14:58.320 --> 0:15:01.040 telp for Florida. They like job that I did so 0:15:01.160 --> 0:15:06.200 well they called me back for the NFL kickoff. From that, 0:15:06.320 --> 0:15:10.920 I was on the news channel thirteen. I get a 0:15:10.920 --> 0:15:14.960 phone call. Somebody said, I'm called her from Home Depot. 0:15:15.080 --> 0:15:17.680 I want to make you a distributor. I said him, 0:15:17.680 --> 0:15:20.080 I'm getting pranked this upthing right now, Like, how did 0:15:20.120 --> 0:15:22.880 you get my number? He said, I saw you on 0:15:22.960 --> 0:15:25.120 the news and we wanted to follow the money trail. 0:15:25.920 --> 0:15:28.040 And as a result of that, I'm a distributor from 0:15:28.080 --> 0:15:30.760 Home Depot. So now all of the clients that I 0:15:30.840 --> 0:15:34.160 cleaned for now I supply them with their supplies and 0:15:34.200 --> 0:15:35.400 their paper products. 0:15:35.640 --> 0:15:40.520 Now, Robin, first of all, you've been incarcerated five years. 0:15:40.880 --> 0:15:42.120 How do you get past that? 0:15:42.280 --> 0:15:47.320 Because I'm sure there's a trust factor that people a stereotype. 0:15:47.360 --> 0:15:52.400 You're black, omer, drugs, incarcerated five years? How do you 0:15:52.480 --> 0:15:56.680 start getting past those negative points that stop a lot of. 0:15:56.680 --> 0:16:03.680 People start with it? Like I don't. I don't tiptoe 0:16:03.760 --> 0:16:06.680 around it. I mean, that is not a selling point, 0:16:07.240 --> 0:16:10.280 but it's nothing that I'm ashamed of either. Right, So 0:16:10.400 --> 0:16:12.840 for for a long time I would never use my 0:16:13.040 --> 0:16:15.920 government name because I didn't want anyone doing any type 0:16:16.000 --> 0:16:20.960 of research that I don't care. This is who I am, right, 0:16:21.520 --> 0:16:27.280 And it was one superintendent who told me something. He says, Robin, 0:16:27.360 --> 0:16:30.400 that's what you were, not who you are. And he said, 0:16:30.400 --> 0:16:33.600 there is nobody walking, living, breathing that does not have 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:37.240 a family member or have been affected by such. But 0:16:37.280 --> 0:16:39.560 you are a sterling example of what you could, what 0:16:39.720 --> 0:16:42.120 you were, what you could be. And I took it 0:16:42.160 --> 0:16:44.880 for what it was. And so again I have no 0:16:44.960 --> 0:16:48.000 problem introducing myself as inmate four, seven, five, nine to 0:16:48.000 --> 0:16:51.680 eleven because that's not who I am today. And if 0:16:51.680 --> 0:16:54.200 you want to stick to what I was when maybe 0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:56.920 we're not, we don't need to work together. And that's 0:16:56.960 --> 0:16:57.840 just how it is. 0:16:58.000 --> 0:17:01.200 In your beating days, how were you securing jobs? 0:17:01.240 --> 0:17:03.680 And as a rf P they call it request for 0:17:04.200 --> 0:17:06.000 proposed Right, what does that? 0:17:06.320 --> 0:17:08.520 What does that look like? What did you have to submit? 0:17:09.880 --> 0:17:15.119 So's I start before the RFP ever comes out. So, 0:17:16.320 --> 0:17:21.760 to be very frank, it's like playing chess instead of 0:17:21.760 --> 0:17:26.919 playing checkers. When an RFP hits the streets, right, you 0:17:27.080 --> 0:17:30.800 have to maybe a month to respond, depending on the 0:17:30.840 --> 0:17:35.919 scope of work. I don't I don't want to. I 0:17:35.960 --> 0:17:40.000 don't wait for those opportunities. I know first of all, 0:17:40.119 --> 0:17:44.520 I have a goal. I have a plan as to 0:17:44.560 --> 0:17:46.480 who I would like to work with and the type 0:17:46.480 --> 0:17:50.080 of work that I want to do. So I study 0:17:50.119 --> 0:17:54.960 those individuals, I understand what the forecast looks like for them, 0:17:56.080 --> 0:17:59.160 and I'm going to go ahead and develop the relationships. 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:02.440 So when opportun when of these do arise, my name 0:18:02.720 --> 0:18:06.040 Renewed Construction Services is the first one on your tongue. 0:18:06.160 --> 0:18:09.520 You're going to notify me. And then also I attend 0:18:09.600 --> 0:18:15.800 events in understanding again the forecast of a found projects 0:18:16.359 --> 0:18:21.520 and again cultivating those relationships, and that's how I am 0:18:21.680 --> 0:18:26.680 able to secure most of the contracts. But I think 0:18:26.720 --> 0:18:31.040 that something else that I learned in prison, and it's 0:18:31.080 --> 0:18:34.479 the art of collaboration. Because one thing I do, I 0:18:34.520 --> 0:18:40.119 do not play small. However, I understand my limitations and 0:18:40.200 --> 0:18:44.239 my strengths. So one thing that I have done is 0:18:44.720 --> 0:18:50.800 other smaller construction companies that are looking to scale. I 0:18:50.960 --> 0:18:56.159 will respond to a large RFP that would require me 0:18:56.840 --> 0:19:01.720 collaborating with smaller fetoms. Right, and so now they have 0:19:01.800 --> 0:19:04.639 an opportunity to put on their resume that they have 0:19:04.840 --> 0:19:09.840 done or as a part of a project of such magnitude. 0:19:10.000 --> 0:19:15.240 Now, men at your you've been blessed, how do you 0:19:15.640 --> 0:19:20.639 share those blessings with the young people in a community. 0:19:17.840 --> 0:19:22.320 Of Every time I can, I can get the ear 0:19:22.520 --> 0:19:28.840 of a youth, I impart something from nugget. However, either 0:19:28.840 --> 0:19:33.720 the focus or the majority of the impact would be 0:19:33.800 --> 0:19:38.520 through the nonprofit which is called STEM Exposure, and STEM 0:19:38.600 --> 0:19:43.680 Exposure is a non as a nonprofit whose mission is 0:19:43.720 --> 0:19:50.359 to expose black girls to unrepresented STEM careers as it 0:19:50.400 --> 0:19:59.000 relates to architecture, construction, beauty sports. I can honestly say 0:19:59.600 --> 0:20:03.840 that after I did start my business, I had a mentor. 0:20:04.520 --> 0:20:07.000 And my mentor, her name is an mc mill down 0:20:07.000 --> 0:20:11.439 in South Florida. She's an amazing individual. She took me 0:20:11.480 --> 0:20:14.399 around the country and exposed me to different fastest of 0:20:14.520 --> 0:20:17.960 construction until I found my calling. If that is the 0:20:18.000 --> 0:20:21.919 same thing that I do to others, Basically, I encourage 0:20:22.000 --> 0:20:25.680 people to bring their talents to the construction industry. Right, 0:20:25.880 --> 0:20:28.560 So whatever it is you're good at it, let's see 0:20:27.880 --> 0:20:32.879 how it applies to the construction industry. And then from 0:20:32.920 --> 0:20:36.800 that I also teach the construction trades. So it's all 0:20:36.840 --> 0:20:40.520 about whether you are a third through twelfth grader or 0:20:40.560 --> 0:20:43.720 you are an adult. I'm going to inspire you one 0:20:43.720 --> 0:20:44.440 way or the other. 0:20:45.920 --> 0:20:50.560 You rose from a conservation to getting the President's Lifetime 0:20:50.600 --> 0:20:56.320 Achievement of War. Now, it wasn't about getting the contract 0:20:56.359 --> 0:20:59.879 for an NFL the Tampa or the Tampa Convention Center, 0:21:00.080 --> 0:21:02.560 all your all your legacies that you created. 0:21:02.800 --> 0:21:07.080 It's about those kids that you're changing, those. 0:21:06.840 --> 0:21:11.679 Girls who you were inspiring to pursue a stam opportunities. 0:21:13.119 --> 0:21:16.760 That's what makes you special. When you got the President's award, 0:21:17.160 --> 0:21:18.280 did you understand that? 0:21:20.000 --> 0:21:25.080 I don't think you understand that, Lusha, the same that 0:21:25.160 --> 0:21:28.000 locked me up was the same agency that gave me 0:21:28.040 --> 0:21:31.159 a Presidential Lifetime Achievement award. And I'm a posed on 0:21:31.240 --> 0:21:31.840 that one. 0:21:33.480 --> 0:21:34.800 No polls keep speaking. 0:21:35.160 --> 0:21:38.960 Because there was pain and fear there was tied to 0:21:39.000 --> 0:21:43.320 that agency. Now there was celebration and hope there was 0:21:43.359 --> 0:21:46.119 tied to that same agency. That's why I don't have 0:21:46.160 --> 0:21:49.240 to pause, because I know when you go out the 0:21:49.240 --> 0:21:51.800 front door, sometimes going out that back door, it's the 0:21:51.800 --> 0:21:52.359 same house. 0:21:52.640 --> 0:21:53.200 Absolutely. 0:21:53.640 --> 0:21:55.919 That's why I wanted to interview you, because see, we 0:21:56.000 --> 0:21:58.359 all got these stories out here, because your story is 0:21:58.480 --> 0:22:01.080 going their movie. I'm just let you know that darn 0:22:01.160 --> 0:22:04.520 that movie now, cause you because you were combative in jail, 0:22:04.720 --> 0:22:08.159 and you know, you didn't get along with nobody. They 0:22:08.160 --> 0:22:10.240 had to put you in confinement all the time. That 0:22:10.320 --> 0:22:12.880 means that you didn't talk to nobody, couldn't nobody tell 0:22:12.960 --> 0:22:17.400 you nothing. You were just robbing on headed dogs, that's 0:22:17.440 --> 0:22:23.960 who you were. But somebody saw something me you put 0:22:24.000 --> 0:22:25.040 you on that third. 0:22:24.840 --> 0:22:28.080 Shift, and the rest is history. 0:22:29.320 --> 0:22:31.040 Rest is history. 0:22:31.080 --> 0:22:32.520 So what's the future for Robin? 0:22:34.240 --> 0:22:36.640 Well, remember I told you in the beginning, the whole 0:22:36.680 --> 0:22:41.720 the overarching goal was to be a contractor, and you know, 0:22:42.560 --> 0:22:47.000 start my construction company. And I am glad to say 0:22:47.960 --> 0:22:53.360 that twenty nineteen is when actually we started the construction company. 0:22:53.880 --> 0:22:55.840 And I always knew what it was going to be, 0:22:55.920 --> 0:23:00.239 so I named it as such, Renewed Construction Services. We 0:23:00.280 --> 0:23:05.600 are licensed rufirst, we are licensed contractors and architectural designers. 0:23:06.440 --> 0:23:08.840 Now I can pause. Now I'm pausing, not because you 0:23:08.880 --> 0:23:10.320 know you got that little smirk. 0:23:10.560 --> 0:23:12.080 Well, I'm gonna tell you some if I wish I 0:23:12.200 --> 0:23:14.120 was like, that's the only inview iver done about life. 0:23:14.119 --> 0:23:17.000 I wish our lives like ye r I five hug 0:23:17.480 --> 0:23:21.159 and because it's just so calm about it, because but 0:23:21.240 --> 0:23:23.159 you know the hard work being put in place. 0:23:23.720 --> 0:23:27.800