WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.560 --> 00:00:08.000 Wow. I normally speak more off the cuff, but you're following the governor 2 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:14.039 and the president and doctors, and you're just a basketball coach. I decided 3 00:00:14.039 --> 00:00:17.120 to put a little more into it. So I'd like to start by offering 4 00:00:17.160 --> 00:00:22.039 my condolences on behalf of my family, Lupi and Stephen Rook Allen. Stephen 5 00:00:22.280 --> 00:00:29.480 was at one of the buildings two nights ago, about ten minutes after things 6 00:00:29.559 --> 00:00:37.240 happened. So sometimes we don't understand because we haven't been through it. That 7 00:00:37.320 --> 00:00:43.240 little moment brought me a little closer to understanding, but as well as our 8 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:50.079 entire university community who was impacted by the horrific actions Monday night, I'm representing 9 00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:55.320 our athletic department, and I feel like Michigan State my fortieth year here. 10 00:00:56.600 --> 00:01:00.960 I don't like the place. I don't love the place I live, the 11 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:07.079 place. To the families of those who were senselessly taken from us, words 12 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:14.239 seems so hollow right now. To the individuals currently fighting for their lives in 13 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:18.879 a hospital and their families, we're praying for you. And I know that 14 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:22.040 my wife and I got a chance to go to the hospital. I know 15 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:26.840 Governor Whimer was there and I know our president was there and unbelievable people. 16 00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:30.920 There are so many good people in the world of the doctors, the nurses. 17 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:40.840 Although for me I'm also a father of two spartans of my own. 18 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:49.560 I can't begin to imagine what all of you are going through, but I 19 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:53.959 do know that we as a campus community can offer our support both to you 20 00:01:55.719 --> 00:02:02.040 and to each other. Look around, look next to you, shake somebody's 21 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:08.240 hand, Introduce to yourself to someone you don't know. That's what we are 22 00:02:09.080 --> 00:02:14.039 and that's what we need to be at this time. I'd like to offer 23 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:20.599 a special thank you, as all have, to our first responders who assume 24 00:02:20.639 --> 00:02:23.639 you get paid little and ask to put their life on the line each and 25 00:02:23.680 --> 00:02:29.520 every day. As I've learned through my own assistant coach not that long ago, 26 00:02:30.360 --> 00:02:36.960 the coordinated response from law enforcement from around the state, from the FBI 27 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:44.000 to the AMS to the hospitals was nothing short of remarkable. And to the 28 00:02:44.120 --> 00:02:53.199 students who listen to the Shelter in Place directive, your ability to follow protocol 29 00:02:53.159 --> 00:03:00.599 even in the face of fear was incredible. If you use that throughout your 30 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:07.759 life, it will be helpful. I won't belong, but I did want 31 00:03:07.800 --> 00:03:13.560 to offer a few words that someone that some of you will hopefully find helpful. 32 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:21.719 Michigan State is my home, everyone thinks, some of you per Yes, 33 00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:27.719 that's where I came from. But virtually all of my adult life I've 34 00:03:27.719 --> 00:03:35.000 been a spartan. I've seen some incredible highs and yes, unfortunately there have 35 00:03:35.120 --> 00:03:43.120 been some devastating lows. But as a spartan we always get through it together 36 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:50.520 or Spartan tough, Spartan strong. If you need proof, look at us 37 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:55.639 all standing here tonight, each and every one of us. We've come for 38 00:03:55.759 --> 00:04:02.599 many different reasons, to heal, to grieve, to honor our victims, 39 00:04:03.759 --> 00:04:08.919 to stand up to fear. But you're going to have to do a lot 40 00:04:08.960 --> 00:04:17.360 in your life. Whatever you're feeling, it's all valid. Emotions are different 41 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:23.360 for each and every person. I cry in front of my team, I 42 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:29.920 cry a national TV. Don't be afraid to show your emotions. We all 43 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:34.639 process trauma in a very different way. I'm just glad we're all here together 44 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:41.600 tonight. So let me close with the challenge. Let's all do a better 45 00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:46.600 job taking care of one another through no fault of our own. But COVID 46 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:51.639 has led us to all feel a little more separated from one another. It 47 00:04:51.759 --> 00:05:00.399 drives me crazy. We need each other for forty years. If I always 48 00:05:00.399 --> 00:05:04.480 believed that at Michigan State we are at our own strongest when we're together, 49 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:11.480 and athletics, the best teams are always greater than the sum of their individual 50 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:17.000 parts. The same is true for our community. Governor Whimer, you should 51 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:24.240 be proud that you know not only did our police not need did our hospitals, 52 00:05:26.079 --> 00:05:32.240 just the individuals and our community all banned together at this incredible university that 53 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:38.000 I have given most of my life too, and I have a lot more 54 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:44.399 to give in the future. If any of you need help, please speak 55 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:51.079 up. Be vulnerable, don't be afraid. It's no secret that I do 56 00:05:51.160 --> 00:05:58.680 wear my emotions on my sleeve, so I'm not afraid. Our hearts are 57 00:05:58.720 --> 00:06:06.000 heavy, our loss has been great, our lives have been permanently changed. 58 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:14.920 But with a shared commitment to help each other, and I promise to remember 59 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:20.920 those we have lost, we will learn to find joy once again. I 60 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:28.120 think everybody spoke that something has to be done in our society. Gun violence 61 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:35.839 is insane. Right now, we all have a platform. Some are small, 62 00:06:36.639 --> 00:06:42.480 some are high, but we all have a platform. And I hope 63 00:06:42.480 --> 00:06:48.759 each and every one of you use your platform tell others so other families don't 64 00:06:48.759 --> 00:06:56.920 have to go what these families are going through now. I appreciate everybody being 65 00:06:56.959 --> 00:07:00.920 here, and before you leave, I hope you meet the ten people around 66 00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:09.360 you and become closer. The world needs it, Michigan State needs it, 67 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:15.519 the grieving time needs it. I need it as we struggle as a Spartan 68 00:07:15.600 --> 00:07:25.000 family together to find the words to process what happened on a few days ago 69 00:07:25.480 --> 00:07:30.959 in Burkeye Hall and around the student union in Michigan State on campus. It's 70 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:34.319 hard to find the right words, but nobody does it better than Tom Izzo, 71 00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:42.360 as he did last night in front of a large crowd of Spartans that 72 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:46.560 are there trying to find a way to heal and get through this. It's 73 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:51.319 Thursday, February sixteen, twenty twenty three. I'm Jason Straehorn, your host, 74 00:07:51.399 --> 00:07:56.079 along with my co host Otis Wildie ju Culcrick. This is Sparta. 75 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:05.720 The victims that lost that we lost a few days ago. We want we 76 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:13.199 want to honor them today before we continue on the show and give a moment 77 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:20.920 of silence for them while we think about them and their hearts and their souls. 78 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:43.120 Thank you. In times like this, we need leadership to get us 79 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:48.600 through the tough times, a way to plan a foot forward and pivot into 80 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.200 the next direction. But we first must, you know, take an introspective 81 00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:56.080 look at what just happened and try to come together in the community so that 82 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:58.279 we can heal. You know, one of our own, jay U Kulker, 83 00:08:58.399 --> 00:09:03.559 has been through his own civil war as a young child, and he's 84 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:07.000 been through a lot of things. And Jayu, please bring some insight into 85 00:09:07.399 --> 00:09:13.240 where your heart is, what you feel. Yeah, Jason's it's definitely tough. 86 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:16.519 It's definitely tough for the three of us, especially you know and everyone 87 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.799 that we're surrounded with ass Spartans because we've walked those sidewalks of east Lands and 88 00:09:22.840 --> 00:09:26.320 we've walked, we've been in those classes. Main being a social science major. 89 00:09:26.559 --> 00:09:30.600 A lot of my classes we're in Burkey all you know, talking to 90 00:09:30.600 --> 00:09:33.200 otis a lot of his classes were in there. As Spartan fans. You 91 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:37.399 know, we tailgate, you know, outside the Union, we go through 92 00:09:37.399 --> 00:09:39.879 the Union, we go to the shops in there and everything like that. 93 00:09:39.960 --> 00:09:43.639 So this is very, very tough for us. And you know, when 94 00:09:43.639 --> 00:09:48.600 this happened, this tragic senseless incident happened on Monday night. You know, 95 00:09:48.320 --> 00:09:50.639 we you know, we had a meeting. We thought about, you know, 96 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:52.759 do we do a show, do we not do a show, and 97 00:09:52.799 --> 00:10:00.039 we decided in the best interest that out of respect to the victims, the 98 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:03.039 community, the university, to not do a show, because we know each 99 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:09.320 and every Tuesday and Thursday, we come together and we have a we have 100 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:13.039 a show that you know, polls the curtain back to what it means to 101 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:16.000 be a Spartan dog, what it means to be in that locker room, 102 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:20.840 and that was not the time to do that. And so that's why we 103 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:26.120 decided to you know, postpone the show on Tuesday and come on today. 104 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:28.320 And today we have a lot of great people coming on, a lot of 105 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:33.759 experts in their fields. Because the three of us, we may be experts 106 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:37.279 on with x's and o's in football, but we're not experts when it comes 107 00:10:37.279 --> 00:10:39.320 to mental health. We're not experts when it comes to the spiritual side of 108 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:45.440 things. So we decided to create this platform today and for that one hour 109 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.279 that you know, all the Spartan nations all that this is part of MSU 110 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.039 fans, you know, come aboard with us. We want to create that 111 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:56.639 escape out of this tough, tough time that we're all facing right now, 112 00:10:56.840 --> 00:11:01.559 to come together as a family, huddle together at you know, for this 113 00:11:01.600 --> 00:11:03.440 one hour and create that escape. And also too, I know, we 114 00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:09.879 promoted MSU quarterback Noah Kim you know, to be on the show today, 115 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:13.679 but we feel, you know, as respect to Noah, as respect to 116 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:16.519 you know, the organization, the program and everything like that, it is 117 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:22.519 not fair to have him come out and be that one voice right now. 118 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:28.039 So today is a lot bigger than X's and O's. It's about healing as 119 00:11:28.039 --> 00:11:31.000 a community. It's about healing as Spartans. Is about coming together as Spartans, 120 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:39.759 and that's why this title is appropriately titled Spartan Strong. Well, great 121 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:46.000 words, olde, any words from you. Yeah, you know it's been 122 00:11:46.159 --> 00:11:54.240 Uh, it's been real tough man, from a standpoint of trying to work 123 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:58.279 I guess through it. You know, as a as a crisis, your 124 00:11:58.360 --> 00:12:05.840 job is is day to day with making sure you know, partners are you 125 00:12:05.879 --> 00:12:09.480 know, happy and satisfied. And to to Jay's point, you know, 126 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:16.240 athletic events we were canceled. So it's it's an immediate action when it happens 127 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.000 to be able to say, hey, you know, when will it be 128 00:12:22.039 --> 00:12:26.360 a time for me personally to you know process it. And uh, you 129 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:33.200 know, today I have the opportunity of delivering you know, food to you 130 00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:39.919 know the FBI and and our responders and investigating and and you know doing their 131 00:12:39.960 --> 00:12:43.840 their their part, you know, with this investigation at Burkey Hall, and 132 00:12:43.000 --> 00:12:48.840 you know, just walking up there to the side you know doors where you 133 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:54.679 have caution tape and you know, not being able to walk in there, 134 00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:58.519 but just really place the food inside of the inside the door so that they 135 00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:03.120 can take the take it back. And it's just an eerie it was. 136 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:09.279 It's eerie. It was an eerie feeling of I constantly played inside my mind 137 00:13:09.720 --> 00:13:18.159 of scenarios if I had class in that first four classroom, and what would 138 00:13:18.200 --> 00:13:24.360 I have done if something was to happen, if I was on campus just 139 00:13:24.519 --> 00:13:28.639 trading places, and those things were play in my mind of what could I 140 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:35.600 have what I have done, And the victims who are really chasing their dreams 141 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:39.840 and getting the education and thinking that this is a safe space, safe space. 142 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:45.320 It was robbed of that, uh, that that life and so it's 143 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:50.799 this show is it's really about that, and and you know we're so much 144 00:13:50.840 --> 00:13:56.759 bigger than like you said, Jau football sports. We have to truly take 145 00:13:56.919 --> 00:14:01.519 consideration of the human element of this in the aftermath that will continuously follow this, 146 00:14:03.519 --> 00:14:07.600 as everyone had a different feel and everyone had a different perspective experience in 147 00:14:07.639 --> 00:14:13.679 this this terror or this horror that really you know, took a Monday night 148 00:14:13.879 --> 00:14:18.840 evening by storm, and so this will be a tough one to truly talk 149 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:22.399 through. But I think this, to your point, is a great opportunity 150 00:14:22.440 --> 00:14:28.440 for us to all just be open and vulnerable and understanding that this this this 151 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:31.000 has to stop. What we have to pray for the hope and healing of 152 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:37.159 our victims and our victims families, but also the ones that are still validing 153 00:14:37.200 --> 00:14:41.240 their lives. Now I appreciate that. Guys, you know, we have 154 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:46.879 to the ways and great tools in order to cope with this and to move 155 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:52.279 forward. And while we honor the victims and understand the healing process is different 156 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:56.159 for everyone. So we have a guest on the show. We have a 157 00:14:56.159 --> 00:15:01.080 few guests from teams rising right now, We've got Vinnie, Well, we 158 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:05.919 have Ashley, Vinnie and Ashanti that we want to welcome to the show to 159 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:15.679 talk mental health. Welcome, Welcome, well, welcome, welcome, Welcome, 160 00:15:15.720 --> 00:15:18.000 see Vinnie. Thank you, sir. No. I appreciate you guys 161 00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:22.759 opening up this space. It is truly empowering in this moment, and I 162 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:26.480 feel honored alongside with Ashanti and on behalf of Ashley to be here to discuss 163 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:33.320 with you guys some of these reflections that we're having in this moment. Yeah, 164 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:37.879 we appreciate you, you know one, being open to joining. I 165 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:43.159 know it was a request that was a week of as we were, you 166 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:46.200 know, building out this this production of the show this week, and so 167 00:15:48.200 --> 00:15:52.480 you know, I think it's more so if your experience dealing with student athletes 168 00:15:52.759 --> 00:16:00.840 and and there's there's multiple things that happened in someone's lives that is trauma, 169 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.840 right, like trauma that you you have dealt with some student athletes and your 170 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:11.120 prior in your prior practice, and so like, can you can you give 171 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:15.480 us a little bit of insight of you know, what you witness obviously from 172 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:19.600 yours, yours, your chair where you're located, about our news, but 173 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:22.919 also about just mass shootings in general. But like as a student athlete, 174 00:16:22.919 --> 00:16:27.879 but just as a human being, the process of processing what just happened on 175 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:36.519 Monday night. Yeah, man, I think personally it's fascinating to see how 176 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:41.480 we're all responding to something that I'm coming from California to give you context. 177 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:45.399 I'm in the West Coast and we're hearing this news, and if I could 178 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:48.720 be completely transparent, although there's that initial shock because the news has been so 179 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:53.840 repetitive in our culture for so long, we react with numbness, and a 180 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:57.919 lot of times in our grief, that is our first response because we want 181 00:16:57.960 --> 00:17:02.759 to deny the reality that is in front of us. In working with student 182 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:06.799 athletes, and I also work with justice impacted youth, many times I see 183 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.720 that we're not treating grief with sacredness that it needs and necessitates. Many times 184 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:17.440 we think that grief has this linear pattern and path. I think a lot 185 00:17:17.480 --> 00:17:21.160 of people go to this model of like, you know, versus denial, 186 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.720 and then there's anger and depression, bargain, and then finally there's acceptance. 187 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:29.920 But I liken it to we're always battling between loss and restoration, and so 188 00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:33.640 in the loss, we acknowledge the emotions and the loss and the pain of 189 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.559 the loved ones. That that that that we loss of the communities that are 190 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:41.720 being impacted. But we also need to find a way in our grief to 191 00:17:41.160 --> 00:17:45.920 uh take take a break and then return, because only then are we able 192 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:49.799 to maintain that energy for us to keep moving and progressing forward. And so 193 00:17:49.880 --> 00:17:55.720 I see a lot of us we get caught up in this in this model 194 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:57.440 that this is how grief is supposed to look like. And if I could 195 00:17:57.480 --> 00:18:02.160 empower the student athletes and how are the students and anybody that was impacted by 196 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:07.599 this? Is that your grief should not be defined by what others believe it 197 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:11.240 should look like. In fact, your grief is sacred to you, yourself 198 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:14.000 as an individual, and the process and how you're going to react in that 199 00:18:14.119 --> 00:18:18.720 grief is going to be unique to you and your nature. And only then 200 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:25.359 can you really realize how are you going to move forward and proceed. I 201 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:30.240 want to strip away that set of expectations. Time doesn't necessarily mean that everything 202 00:18:30.319 --> 00:18:33.359 is going to be healed. That's actually a myth. When it comes to 203 00:18:33.400 --> 00:18:36.799 grief, each one is on their own path and so I think those type 204 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:41.039 of things need to be stripped open and need to be realized and people understand 205 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:45.079 that in their grief there are becoming advocates because they're actually acknowledging the reality of 206 00:18:45.119 --> 00:18:52.079 the pain that is occurring. Yeah, Bennie, you know you made a 207 00:18:52.119 --> 00:18:56.200 great point there, and you know you said that feeling of numbness when stuff 208 00:18:56.200 --> 00:19:00.400 like this happened because it happens so often, but also too, there's also 209 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:07.400 that feeling of yes, that happened, but it will never happen here until 210 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:10.039 it does, So, like, what do you tell these people, you 211 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:12.480 know, these people that when it finally hits home, you know, because 212 00:19:12.680 --> 00:19:15.759 when I was in college, you know, it happened to Virginia Tech, 213 00:19:17.119 --> 00:19:18.240 you know, and we're like, oh, you know, it will never 214 00:19:18.279 --> 00:19:21.960 happen here. We're walking around campus and you know, like, so what 215 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:26.880 do you tell those people that when it does happen and that shock that comes 216 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:32.880 in and how do you help cope with that shock? Yeah? I like, 217 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:34.960 And so for myself, one of my expertise is kind of group therapy. 218 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:40.960 One of the three curative factors that I try to allow for people to 219 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:45.119 proceed in their grief is hope, universality, and connection. We have to 220 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:48.240 instill that there will be a sense of hope that we can progress from this 221 00:19:48.319 --> 00:19:51.680 at some time. Doesn't have to be now, but at some point and 222 00:19:51.720 --> 00:19:53.720 in our time, there is a hope that we are trying to progress too. 223 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:57.440 Then the concept of universality is what I find beautiful and I think this 224 00:19:57.480 --> 00:20:02.200 is what you guys are offering on on this podcast, is that we're not 225 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.240 unique in our pain. I'm not the only one that is suffering. There 226 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:07.839 are other individuals that are also suffering from the same pain, and so in 227 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:14.000 the community, as we are processing the shock and processing the grief, when 228 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:18.279 we realize that other individuals are alongside with us in our pain, we feel 229 00:20:18.319 --> 00:20:21.799 a sense of comfort. I'm not the only one that is going through this. 230 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:23.119 I'm not the only one that's angry. I'm not the only one that's 231 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:26.839 looking for justice. There are others that are in the same path along with 232 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:32.880 me, and that comfort allows them to progress in their grief with more certainty. 233 00:20:33.480 --> 00:20:37.839 And then finally, the idea of connection. And I think that's what 234 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:41.920 we are doing on this podcast and having this dialogue. I'm sure at Michigan 235 00:20:41.960 --> 00:20:45.839 State the same things occurring amongst the students and opening that safe space of talk 236 00:20:45.920 --> 00:20:51.200 and make it real because we have to run away from this idea of disassociating 237 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:53.400 about what happened. We'll have to confront with this head on. And when 238 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:57.319 we confront head on, the raw emotions just have to be allowed into the 239 00:20:57.400 --> 00:21:00.519 room and into the space. Way too many times we're trying to shut it 240 00:21:00.559 --> 00:21:04.200 down and suppress it, or we like I know, a lot of times 241 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:07.039 I hear from young folks he answer to the athletes. I'll explain all my 242 00:21:07.160 --> 00:21:11.319 pain to some older folks, whether it be coaches, whether it be my 243 00:21:11.319 --> 00:21:15.480 advisors and mentors, but they shut me down my pain with advice. And 244 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.400 so a lot of times we're trying to speak life into individuals, but it's 245 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:21.920 the wrong time. Instead, we're supposed to be listening. So let me 246 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.279 hear and validate where you're coming from. Let me provide that safe space for 247 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.599 you to really come forward with all the pain, all its rawness. And 248 00:21:27.640 --> 00:21:30.440 I'm gonna be real. When we hear situations like this, will be individuals 249 00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.519 that'll come forward with a sense of vengeance, with a sense of need to 250 00:21:34.599 --> 00:21:41.039 advocate for a sense of anger, a sense of questioning their existence, questioning 251 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:44.200 of their communities, of the society that they live, in and so if 252 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:48.279 we don't validate that provide that comfort for those type of raw emotions, we're 253 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:51.880 not going to progress in the grief that is necessary. And so if we're 254 00:21:51.960 --> 00:21:55.200 able to hit those points, and I think that's what we're doing here collectively 255 00:21:55.559 --> 00:21:59.880 on Spart and Strong, we're beginning that dialogue in order to empower the youth 256 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.920 were being affected by the most by these type of shootings to come forward and 257 00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:07.920 speak with their grief openly. Uh, so that action can can can take 258 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:15.319 place. Wow, this is this is extremely interesting, intriguing to me when 259 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.720 you when you talk about from the athletic side, A lot of times people 260 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:23.319 look at athletes as tough and leaders and that they should be able to weather 261 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:29.599 things like this. But you know, in your professional opinion, I believe 262 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:33.079 you know vulnerability is best. What kind of tools you know? Do you 263 00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:40.359 see that that athletes are people who have that same uh, persona, I 264 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:44.559 guess that it's okay to be vulnerable at this time in order to process things 265 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:48.640 at their own time. Great question. I think Also, if Ashley and 266 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:52.759 Ashanta, you guys want to join in, feel feel free as well. 267 00:22:52.759 --> 00:22:57.200 I feel free. But a couple of points that I would bring up is 268 00:22:57.319 --> 00:23:03.039 the willingness to challenge the culture. The willingness to challenge the culture. I 269 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:04.759 think a lot of young men when I talk with them, they seem to 270 00:23:04.839 --> 00:23:08.279 understand that this is the way that we can go. That I'm supposed to 271 00:23:08.359 --> 00:23:11.119 lead with the limp is what I like to call it, alongside in my 272 00:23:11.200 --> 00:23:15.359 circles, lead with the limp. I think our generation is tired of seeing 273 00:23:15.400 --> 00:23:19.400 individuals lead in a sense of perfection. But if we're leading with the limp, 274 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:23.400 therefore vulnerability, more people are going to be attracted to humanity and your 275 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:26.960 pain and will want to follow you. And that's why I think we have 276 00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:30.640 to step forward with that grief. I think for me personally, it's challenging 277 00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:34.279 the culture more and more and more. If athletes are able to find a 278 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:41.480 sense of empowerment among first within themselves and then amongst their local athletes right on 279 00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:44.400 their team, for them to come forward to the cultures, for them to 280 00:23:44.440 --> 00:23:45.799 come forward to the culture and say, no, I do want to speak 281 00:23:45.839 --> 00:23:48.200 on the pain that I'm having. I don't want to suppress it any longer 282 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:52.279 because it's affecting my play, it's affecting my perception my self perception as a 283 00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:57.920 man. Then we could begin the actual discussions for this to take presidents nationally. 284 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:03.799 But that challenge of the culture has to be embraced wholeheartedly. I think 285 00:24:03.799 --> 00:24:07.160 the discussions in dialogue have commenced, but this is some of the work that 286 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:11.720 Team Rising is attempted to do and move forward in is challenging that culture and 287 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:15.559 having that sense of empower to continue challenging. Our job is not yet done, 288 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:19.000 though the discussions of dialogue are occurring, although we are seeing changes in 289 00:24:19.039 --> 00:24:22.039 what it means to be a man. What does it mean to be vulnerable? 290 00:24:22.119 --> 00:24:26.759 Cannot be vulnerable as a man or as an athlete? Those questions may 291 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:30.000 come up forward, that's just dialogue. It then has to become a repetitive 292 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:33.160 theme and pattern. And so I think we're still in the beginning and we're 293 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.440 still in that processing and that work of contingency challenging the culture. That's where 294 00:24:37.480 --> 00:24:45.839 I believe it has to begin first and foremost extremely well said Yeah, and 295 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:52.359 you know, I know Shanti is on as well as Ashley. You know, 296 00:24:52.440 --> 00:25:00.200 I think from a standpoint of it's all of the perspectives of that have 297 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:04.440 been me or that we talked about the six degrees of separation or you know, 298 00:25:04.720 --> 00:25:10.319 not the separation where someone had someone close, like you said, influenced 299 00:25:10.319 --> 00:25:15.759 by this, I guess from a standpoint of the healing process, and you 300 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:21.119 know, having our students potentially come back on Monday, you know, we're 301 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:22.599 having this kind of constant battle of it. You know, when is it 302 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:27.279 too soon or is it open kind of door policy of you come when you're 303 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:33.319 ready. I guess kind of talk to is just a mental mindset of you 304 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:36.559 know, how do they how do we how do we communicate the proper ways 305 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.519 to truly cope with the timing. Like you said, there's no timetable. 306 00:25:38.680 --> 00:25:42.079 You can't put a time on it. But this is what they're dealing with 307 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:48.920 internally of making sure that our students come back and feel safe. Well, 308 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:52.680 this is Chauncey. Thank you for having me. I'm really thankful for this 309 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:57.480 conversation. And one of the things that in our work we we talked about 310 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:03.079 with young people is around and around the timing, is that we can't choose 311 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:07.079 the timing. And I think that what what I noticed over the last couple 312 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:11.400 of days, I've been watching some of the news articles and even the same 313 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:14.640 night when there were some students who were they were grappling or what are they 314 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:17.880 were experiencing. They were feeling a lot of feelings in that moment. You 315 00:26:17.880 --> 00:26:22.960 know, sometimes we are going to respond to things different than another person will. 316 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:27.400 And so maybe somebody who right now is feeling a real intense level of 317 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:33.559 feelings around it because they have a deep emotional connection to what just happened, 318 00:26:33.960 --> 00:26:37.519 and some maybe in the moment of like, yeah, I'm not I mean, 319 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:41.119 I'm sad that these people, you know, passed, but I'm not 320 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:45.839 I'm numb to it or I have not yet, I don't know how I 321 00:26:45.839 --> 00:26:48.839 feel. And I think what happens on our campus is some time is after 322 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:52.920 a tragedy three days, four days, they have counselors available, and then 323 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:56.160 all the counselors pack up and go back wherever they were before the four days 324 00:26:56.200 --> 00:27:03.319 were and then when the stuff after math comes, when the aftershocks come, 325 00:27:03.559 --> 00:27:06.680 the counselors are no longer around, and so there's nobody who's saying on a 326 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:08.920 regular basis, Hey, anything that comes up, you got some spaces to 327 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.599 go to. I think we missed that, and we've had to happen not 328 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:15.599 only you know, as we see on these college campuses. We haven't happening 329 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:18.839 in our high schools as well. A tragedy happens the first few days after, 330 00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:25.279 there's plenty of counselors easily available. But what happens a week later everyone 331 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:26.680 is packed up and going back because they think that, hey, we were 332 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:30.559 here for a week. You should have dealt with it a week ago while 333 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:33.720 we were here for What begins to happen is all the other stuff, the 334 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:40.480 residual trauma, the residual pain, sadness, worry, feared, doubt begins 335 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:44.440 to come up, and I think we need to be making more space, 336 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:48.160 more regular for the support and our work. We talk about this emotional mask. 337 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:53.400 The mask is what we let people see. And if you are on 338 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:59.359 a team where showing emotions is not acceptable, then you would probably follow a 339 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:02.319 long suit with like, oh, we don't talk about feelings on this team, 340 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:07.440 and where do you go? Well, if you go to the some 341 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:11.839 of the coaches or whoever, are you worried about that your position may be 342 00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:14.920 in jeopardy because you're telling them that you're having some challenges. I think that 343 00:28:15.200 --> 00:28:18.279 we have to make it more open, that it is normal, it is 344 00:28:18.359 --> 00:28:23.480 expected to talk about what you're going through whenever it is. And I think 345 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:29.200 oftentimes the pressure. I didn't play at college level, but I do. 346 00:28:29.319 --> 00:28:32.559 I do have a lot of friends who did, and they would be talking 347 00:28:32.599 --> 00:28:36.960 about injuries, but they didn't tell their coach because they didn't want to lose 348 00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:40.200 their position, and so they they were like trying to deal with it themselves, 349 00:28:40.200 --> 00:28:42.160 with some you know, some being gay and some rap in the back. 350 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:45.119 You're like, dude, you need you need a doctor. What do 351 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:48.680 you talk about? And I think that oftentimes if we don't make sure that 352 00:28:48.759 --> 00:28:52.319 they know that your health, your wealth, your your your health is your 353 00:28:52.319 --> 00:28:56.759 wealth, and your your your mental health mental health is also important, that 354 00:28:56.759 --> 00:29:00.359 that's first. But I don't think that every athletely knows that or believes that. 355 00:29:02.039 --> 00:29:04.119 So therefore, you may not talk about what you need, whether it's 356 00:29:04.119 --> 00:29:08.559 physically or mentally, until you know that you can trust that you can talk 357 00:29:08.599 --> 00:29:12.720 about it, get the support and it doesn't jeopardize what you believe you're there 358 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:17.880 for in the first place. Yeah, yeah, that's a good point, 359 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:22.240 and maybe Ashley you can jump in an answer to this, but Ashanti drew 360 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:26.519 a good point there that there's all this time where we you know, in 361 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:33.319 the moment, we're in the moment we have there's counselors on the scene and 362 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:37.799 everything like that. So talk to this for current students that are there, 363 00:29:37.839 --> 00:29:42.160 but also a lot of people that are hurting as well, are former students, 364 00:29:42.200 --> 00:29:45.960 people that are sitting there watching this show, people that graduated ten fifteen 365 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:49.200 years ago, like the three of us sitting in here, you know, 366 00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:55.440 like and when these students come back and when those thoughts, you know, 367 00:29:55.480 --> 00:30:00.319 when they're walking the sidewalks of East Landson and they walk by the Union walk 368 00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:03.920 by Berkey Hall, you know, what are some coping mechanisms that they can 369 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:11.640 do to get them back in the same place. Yeah that you know, 370 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:15.960 it's tricky, right because this is such an individual journey, and so you 371 00:30:15.000 --> 00:30:18.200 know, on the one hand, I think we need to redefine you know, 372 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:18.920 what strong it is, right, and I think that we're doing a 373 00:30:18.920 --> 00:30:25.000 good job doing that in these conversations of strong it's being able to understand and 374 00:30:25.039 --> 00:30:30.119 recognize the whole human experience, which includes all of our emotions, which includes 375 00:30:30.119 --> 00:30:34.480 this grief. And you know, you know, next February, when someone's 376 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:37.559 walking down you know, the sidewalk and the shadow hits just it a certain 377 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:40.400 way, or the sun hits a certain way, and it's going to take 378 00:30:40.440 --> 00:30:44.119 someone back to that day. And so things like that are going to come 379 00:30:44.200 --> 00:30:48.160 up in life, and so there's not one thing someone can do right. 380 00:30:48.200 --> 00:30:52.519 But I think what's most important is is knowing what is right for you and 381 00:30:52.559 --> 00:30:55.599 knowing that you're able to stand in that and say, you know what, 382 00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:57.359 this is not a good day for me, or this is this is not 383 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:02.079 a day where I can you know, go to the union like, this 384 00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:04.480 is not a day for me. And so to find to recognize and respect 385 00:31:04.519 --> 00:31:07.160 that in yourself that that doesn't mean you're not strong. It means that you're 386 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:14.759 recognizing what feels right for you and that you kind of continue on that journey 387 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:18.640 of understanding what wellness looks like for you and then respecting that for yourself. 388 00:31:22.680 --> 00:31:26.920 Yeah, you know, from all those things, and you know when Jason 389 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:29.960 alluded to at the beginning, you know, I've went through a civil war, 390 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:33.680 you know, coming from West Africa here literally walking over dead bodies, 391 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:37.759 refugee camp to refugee camp and everything like that. End when I tell my 392 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:41.680 story it is that I don't want you to feel sorry for me. I 393 00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:45.039 want you to gain strength from the fact, you know that I went through 394 00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:48.720 this and I survived. I'm a survivor of this, you know. So 395 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:52.720 what message can we tell some of these kids that went through this. This 396 00:31:52.839 --> 00:31:57.559 is their second time that they've been in a mass shooting situation, you know, 397 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:00.799 second time within a year, that have gone through this. So what 398 00:32:00.920 --> 00:32:06.160 message can we you know, say that, hey, you're not a victim, 399 00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:08.680 You're a survivor. You know, you're you know, you can persevere 400 00:32:08.759 --> 00:32:13.359 through this. So what is that message that we can pass along, you 401 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:21.079 know, that they can take with them. I think I don't know if 402 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:23.680 I'll go I'll take a fresh shout of shot and then I had to do 403 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:28.680 I know for myself. Brother, from what you the way you responded saying 404 00:32:28.720 --> 00:32:31.400 I'm not a victim, I am a survivor. That is a result of 405 00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:36.400 someone doing the internal work to make sure that they're not identified as a victim. 406 00:32:36.680 --> 00:32:38.599 Not everyone necessarily is going to be in that place or is yet ready 407 00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:43.880 to accept that. Some individuals in order to get to that to that place, 408 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.079 they're going to have to do the necessarily internal work, and maybe they're 409 00:32:46.119 --> 00:32:50.400 not yet ready to necessarily tell their story in a way where I want to 410 00:32:50.400 --> 00:32:53.279 empower others. Maybe right now is I want to keep it closed. However, 411 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:58.400 with that being said, the moment that they are ready to move towards 412 00:32:58.440 --> 00:33:05.000 that at that that final venue of hope and acceptance, the mentality that they 413 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:07.039 need to have, and it was something that I had said earlier, is 414 00:33:07.039 --> 00:33:09.400 that in your grief and the way you expect through grief and the things that 415 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:14.039 you have gone through, you have now become an advocate for others. So 416 00:33:14.079 --> 00:33:16.400 in our pains and our sufferings, we are then learning that what I have 417 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:20.039 gone through, at some point, when we reach that acceptance stage, when 418 00:33:20.039 --> 00:33:23.000 we reach that hope stage, what I've gone through can now elicit help for 419 00:33:23.119 --> 00:33:28.839 others. Right, And so from that moment onward, I'm now becoming an 420 00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:31.440 advocate with my voice and in my story. But that processing is going to 421 00:33:31.480 --> 00:33:37.240 take on each individual's terms. And so what is interesting is I think a 422 00:33:37.240 --> 00:33:40.000 lot of people are ready to hear the scenario of I'm not a victim, 423 00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:44.799 I'm a survivor. We want to get to that point, but the body 424 00:33:44.880 --> 00:33:47.200 and the emotion is saying I'm not yet there. So when we try to 425 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:52.119 ignore that, we're then accelerating ourselves to a stage that we think is acceptance 426 00:33:52.160 --> 00:33:54.079 and hope, and all of a sudden we're back to anger and denial because 427 00:33:54.119 --> 00:33:58.920 it was not yet properly felt. So in order for us to get to 428 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:02.160 that point where I want to power my story might ePower my story for others, 429 00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:07.319 the work and the diligence on the individual for them to confront the wrawness 430 00:34:07.319 --> 00:34:10.280 of the emotion has to be done. And it begins with the dialogue and 431 00:34:10.320 --> 00:34:14.559 community, and it begins with the journal, and it begins to be confronting 432 00:34:14.639 --> 00:34:16.559 self about all the emotions of what they're feeling. So I guess, for 433 00:34:16.599 --> 00:34:21.599 an example, I'll have students of mind in some of the nonprofit work that 434 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:24.559 I've done, where they'll be a shooting victim and the question that's enraging in 435 00:34:24.599 --> 00:34:29.880 their mind is why me? And why us? And if they do not 436 00:34:30.039 --> 00:34:35.360 process those questions fully in its fullness the vengeance that there is, then they're 437 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:38.400 going to follow them forward and they're going to re enact the vengeful cycle back 438 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:43.480 and in that they've become a victim of their own story. But if they 439 00:34:43.519 --> 00:34:46.119 process that vengeance and then flip the script like you have done, with your 440 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:49.800 own story and they're able to say, no, I'm not going to act 441 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:52.719 with this vengeance and I'm instead of going to use the story as an advocate. 442 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.360 Then we're going to see the benefit and the fruit from that self that 443 00:34:55.400 --> 00:34:59.679 they have gone through. But I think in this moment, for a lot 444 00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:02.920 of times, for this sensitive period of time, there has to be a 445 00:35:02.960 --> 00:35:07.239 trust and a sacredness to the space that we provide for these individuals to speak 446 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:12.000 freely on the pain, even if it does come from a sense of victimization, 447 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:16.519 because that that is that is a part an avenue as they progress in 448 00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:20.559 their healing, and if we're not sensitive to that, if we're not willing 449 00:35:20.599 --> 00:35:22.840 to guide and protect them at this very vulnerable stage, that point of them 450 00:35:22.880 --> 00:35:30.920 becoming a survivor mentality may never occur. Yeah, I totally agree with everything 451 00:35:30.960 --> 00:35:35.760 that you just said because I think, you know, just talking and when 452 00:35:35.760 --> 00:35:38.920 I said, you know that I went through that, and I come out 453 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:43.599 on saying I was, but it didn't it wasn't just like that that I 454 00:35:43.719 --> 00:35:45.920 was sort surviving and that's what you know. I'll we were missed if I 455 00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:50.199 didn't say that, because there was a time when I came and I saw 456 00:35:50.320 --> 00:35:52.760 an airplane flying over. I was like, Oh, they're gonna go and 457 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:54.519 bomb us. And I ran in the house and everything like that, and 458 00:35:54.679 --> 00:36:00.519 I had that support group to you know, be like it's okay, it's 459 00:36:00.559 --> 00:36:04.320 okay. But I displayed that vulnerability, just like you said, Vinny, 460 00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:07.800 that that I was that victim at that time. And you know, I 461 00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:15.199 think for everybody it needs to it's okay to be that victim. It's okay, 462 00:36:15.559 --> 00:36:17.599 you know for that moment, that that period of time, however long, 463 00:36:17.719 --> 00:36:22.000 that it takes you to you know, cope with this and get to 464 00:36:22.039 --> 00:36:27.239 the point in your life where you can come by it and say your survivor. 465 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:30.039 I think that's something that can't be taken out of context. That you 466 00:36:30.079 --> 00:36:35.960 know, there is a period of time that healing process and it comes to 467 00:36:36.119 --> 00:36:40.719 people at different times and everything like that, and people surrounding others that went 468 00:36:40.800 --> 00:36:47.360 through this should be okay with those other people being that victim and being that, 469 00:36:47.679 --> 00:36:54.960 you know, till they get to that survivor stage. Man, go 470 00:36:55.000 --> 00:37:00.159 ahead, go ahead, go ahead. Just going to say, and I 471 00:37:00.199 --> 00:37:02.559 really appreciate what you just said, and I want to add to that. 472 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:07.400 I want to say and the part where we are not ready to because we're 473 00:37:07.440 --> 00:37:10.880 watching everybody else around us, and if we're not careful, we can totally 474 00:37:12.079 --> 00:37:15.320 see people the next day playing video games having fun, and we think that 475 00:37:15.360 --> 00:37:20.039 they're not feeling real things, but maybe they're trying to numb themselves, or 476 00:37:20.079 --> 00:37:23.599 maybe they have substanced themselves to numbness so that they are now trying not to 477 00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:28.480 feel what they're really feeling. And what we when we create the idea of 478 00:37:28.480 --> 00:37:31.320 the Million Mask movement, it was around what are you letting people see? 479 00:37:31.639 --> 00:37:35.559 Because I think what's going to happen over these next even probably right now, 480 00:37:35.760 --> 00:37:38.199 some people have moved on to the next thing. Right They got to go 481 00:37:38.239 --> 00:37:40.280 to work, they got to go deal with their family, got to deal 482 00:37:40.320 --> 00:37:43.639 with friends, they got to deal with sports or whatever. The things that 483 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:45.679 are in their real life is happening. And when you can recognize that, 484 00:37:45.719 --> 00:37:52.119 some people are gonna wear it differently. Some people today are smiling, but 485 00:37:52.360 --> 00:37:54.159 there's a whole lot happening behind what a smile looks like on the outside. 486 00:37:54.840 --> 00:37:59.800 Some people today have gone back to business as usual, but there's a lot 487 00:38:00.000 --> 00:38:02.440 happening behind what you can see on the outside. And I think that's why 488 00:38:02.480 --> 00:38:06.800 we created this tool that I was trying to say, Look, there's more 489 00:38:06.840 --> 00:38:08.960 than There's more to me than you can see. There's more to you than 490 00:38:09.000 --> 00:38:13.000 I could see. I would never know your story if you hadn't have shared 491 00:38:13.039 --> 00:38:16.199 it right here with me today. But that's what happens because we oftentimes read 492 00:38:16.280 --> 00:38:20.599 the outside and we think we know what people was really going on with people. 493 00:38:20.679 --> 00:38:23.000 I think people being more general with themselves, Like if you think people 494 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:27.159 have moved on, they may not have. Don't don't assume that people are 495 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:30.119 not taking it serious or not grieving, because we all grieve differently, and 496 00:38:30.159 --> 00:38:36.000 so having ways of finding the safe people that we can talk about what we're 497 00:38:36.000 --> 00:38:38.880 feeling, even though on the outside everyone's walking around like we're back to business 498 00:38:38.920 --> 00:38:45.199 as usuals That that was one. I just want to let you all, 499 00:38:45.280 --> 00:38:50.239 three, three of you know that truly have obviously a blessed but also blessed 500 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:54.000 my soul because I'm I'm I'm still pro I mean, we're all processing, 501 00:38:54.039 --> 00:39:00.760 but I'm I never had the time to truly unplug and process fully this right 502 00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:06.480 Like I quickly had to go to work, like I had to, like 503 00:39:06.519 --> 00:39:12.480 I said, do the necessary things that around me, things were were good 504 00:39:13.840 --> 00:39:16.480 really only the right the time, right before this show, as we kind 505 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:21.639 of built this out as where like I had to, I had to go 506 00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:28.440 and just basically say like, I'm struggling with this. I am truly struggling 507 00:39:28.440 --> 00:39:31.079 with this. From the post. Yesterday, I had to have this conversation 508 00:39:31.119 --> 00:39:36.119 with my four year old about the students who died because she saw this on 509 00:39:36.159 --> 00:39:38.719 the on on the news, and no, I'm not trying to shield that 510 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:45.039 from her, like clearly that that that talk is obviously being it's going to 511 00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:50.159 happen, but didn't wasn't truly prepared of it happening yesterday. And so you 512 00:39:50.199 --> 00:39:53.360 know, for me, it's how do I how do I give that that 513 00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:59.320 story to her? Which I did, but she was still innocent, and 514 00:39:59.360 --> 00:40:06.280 I ask forward to or rewind to those those kids, those students who are 515 00:40:06.280 --> 00:40:08.079 innocent. Man. Kind of that's where it hits home, where you look 516 00:40:08.119 --> 00:40:12.400 at the aftermath. My daughter has fell in love with Alma Mater, loves 517 00:40:12.440 --> 00:40:15.960 going to sporting events, love dancing, hanging out, you know, supporting, 518 00:40:15.159 --> 00:40:20.480 and you know that's now something that we have to kind of take into 519 00:40:20.519 --> 00:40:23.880 consideration now of you know, is it safe for us to truly go back 520 00:40:23.920 --> 00:40:29.079 to that. And so this, this this conversation truly has opened that up. 521 00:40:29.079 --> 00:40:32.079 And I appreciate you guys being vulnerable coming on and just telling us, 522 00:40:32.519 --> 00:40:37.840 you know how this truly is going to to to parlay through everybody's minds because 523 00:40:37.880 --> 00:40:43.239 this is national news. But to your point, where we're conditioned now to 524 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:49.000 just do mass mass or sense this act, then it's the support. Then 525 00:40:49.039 --> 00:40:54.480 it's just the ever cycle that we're now conditioned to where like when is that 526 00:40:54.599 --> 00:40:59.280 stop and truly needs to just break the chain there right like, And so 527 00:40:59.840 --> 00:41:04.599 I appreciate you all of doing that because that's really helped me kind of go 528 00:41:04.679 --> 00:41:10.079 through this as we're talking in real time on live you know media standpoint of 529 00:41:10.119 --> 00:41:15.239 me trying to really now you know, verbalize that and really be open and 530 00:41:15.559 --> 00:41:21.599 vulnerable. But we we're going through here internally on campus and this is day 531 00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:25.559 to day, this is non stop. So appreciate you all. Yeah, 532 00:41:25.679 --> 00:41:31.639 definitely definitely appreciate every one of you. You know, that was very insightful 533 00:41:32.119 --> 00:41:37.239 and you know, very thoughtful words that were said by all of you. 534 00:41:37.559 --> 00:41:42.559 Jayu too, man, look man, like, I really appreciate this. 535 00:41:43.320 --> 00:41:49.920 If there is any athletes out there or anybody period that once a chastise somebody 536 00:41:49.960 --> 00:41:52.280 for going through this process that they're not. Look, there's there's a lot 537 00:41:52.320 --> 00:41:54.639 of words I can say that are probably getting a lot of trouble for, 538 00:41:55.039 --> 00:41:59.719 but those aren't our kind of people at all. Are kind of people of 539 00:41:59.760 --> 00:42:04.480 people we like we have on this show right now that are giving us tools 540 00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:08.800 and understanding that it's okay to be vulnerable. It is totally it's okay. 541 00:42:09.440 --> 00:42:15.880 And anybody that thinks different, take hike. We're human. I believe in 542 00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:20.320 the human race. I believe in the evolution of what we're doing. Our 543 00:42:20.360 --> 00:42:24.199 mind, our species are our people. The kindness in our heart is something 544 00:42:24.239 --> 00:42:30.079 that I think will press forward for eternity. Thank you all for coming on 545 00:42:30.119 --> 00:42:35.440 this show. Teams Rising, Ashley, Vinny, Ashanti, I can't say 546 00:42:35.559 --> 00:42:38.840 enough for what you guys have just shared with us. Thank you. Definitely 547 00:42:38.880 --> 00:42:43.199 appreciate it, guys, appreciate it. Thank you all so much as you 548 00:42:43.320 --> 00:42:45.920 guys, You guys are doing a blessing job. Man, keep fighting. 549 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:52.440 Appreciate sure, thank you appreciate it. Yes, that's incredible, you know, 550 00:42:54.239 --> 00:42:59.320 and we always got your back, Jay you We definitely got your back. 551 00:42:59.599 --> 00:43:04.880 Otis don't worry about that. I think all the of Spardan nation agrees 552 00:43:04.960 --> 00:43:07.079 with that. You know, you guys laid it on the line, and 553 00:43:07.119 --> 00:43:15.519 I appreciate that we need to now get some levity in this conversation when you 554 00:43:15.599 --> 00:43:21.320 talk about from a spiritual side of things, and you know, no one 555 00:43:21.599 --> 00:43:27.559 does it better than the pastor Marvin who is joining the show now from Trinity. 556 00:43:28.639 --> 00:43:31.920 Uh. He's inspiring people to turn that minutes into moments. Author of 557 00:43:32.159 --> 00:43:38.639 the Daily Bread, Pastor Marvin Williams joins, this is Sparta, Hey, 558 00:43:38.760 --> 00:43:42.920 gentlemen, thank you, thank you for having me, having me on, 559 00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:49.400 and this is this is a very very important conversation and and I celebrate you 560 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:55.800 all for making space and making room for for all of us to grieve but 561 00:43:55.960 --> 00:44:02.719 also to look forward to hoping again as well. And Team Rising, all 562 00:44:02.719 --> 00:44:10.119 three of them just did such a phenomenal job Chante, Vinni and Ashley reminding 563 00:44:10.199 --> 00:44:15.440 us of just how important mental health is, and how important vulnerability is, 564 00:44:15.559 --> 00:44:23.000 and how important being connected to one another is and so so very very grateful. 565 00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:29.400 And again we've already mentioned it, but our hearts break for the three 566 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:36.039 that lost their lives. Brian Ariel and Alexandria and those five who are fighting 567 00:44:36.039 --> 00:44:40.000 for their lives in the hospital. One we got news today that has been 568 00:44:40.079 --> 00:44:46.760 upgraded from critical to stable and that is good news for us. And so 569 00:44:46.760 --> 00:44:54.440 so again, thank you for making space for this conversation. Yeah, pastor, 570 00:44:54.480 --> 00:44:58.159 we really appreciate you taking the time to come on, you know, 571 00:44:58.280 --> 00:45:01.400 with us, and you know of all everything. I know, you know 572 00:45:01.519 --> 00:45:09.000 this is a tentage. We all need a little Jesus and I especially I'm 573 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:14.840 going to crack a joke here. Yeah, we don't need around this. 574 00:45:15.880 --> 00:45:19.280 Anytime I can get I can get closer to the Lord. You know, 575 00:45:19.639 --> 00:45:22.440 I'm all in for you know, I'll throw a couple of shekels in the 576 00:45:22.519 --> 00:45:29.559 collection plate. Extra word from it sounded like Rico Beard a little bit. 577 00:45:29.599 --> 00:45:36.000 He always trying to give me money for the building, funk. So that 578 00:45:36.119 --> 00:45:39.440 was a good laughter, good one. That was good. We have to 579 00:45:42.000 --> 00:45:49.119 Yeah, we still haven't given me any money, so that's awesome. Really 580 00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:53.800 absolutely, you know you know what you mean to me man, my family. 581 00:45:55.400 --> 00:45:58.039 You know, I told you, like love, I trust you with 582 00:45:58.159 --> 00:46:01.079 my life. Uh, you know we have relationship. You also helped my 583 00:46:01.159 --> 00:46:05.719 staff and when I started, you know, doing a workshop, from just 584 00:46:05.840 --> 00:46:08.400 team team bonding, but trying to set the tide. And I appreciate you 585 00:46:08.440 --> 00:46:13.679 doing that for for us, but you know, it's you know, I'm 586 00:46:14.039 --> 00:46:19.679 a pastor's kid man and stray as well. And and when I think about 587 00:46:19.960 --> 00:46:23.840 just things that we've we've had to deal with, you know, from a 588 00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:29.440 standpoint of a lot, we've we've we know that it's inevitable, everyone has 589 00:46:29.480 --> 00:46:32.840 a time step, and we know death is is, there's no stinging death 590 00:46:32.960 --> 00:46:39.440 right, but it's it's still still the kind of the why questions of why, 591 00:46:39.679 --> 00:46:44.639 like why why would this occur? And I think that's something that people 592 00:46:44.840 --> 00:46:46.440 kind of want to, you know, hear from a standpoint of where you're 593 00:46:46.440 --> 00:46:50.679 going and reaching out to your community and your church of how do you lean 594 00:46:50.760 --> 00:46:54.159 properly on your your leaders there? Yeah, man, that's that's a great 595 00:46:54.440 --> 00:46:58.159 Again, it's a great question. I've asked the same, uh, the 596 00:46:58.280 --> 00:47:01.599 question of you know, I find myself sometimes in the wilderness of why. 597 00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:13.440 And Monday was another moment I have to be transparent and and I hope we 598 00:47:13.480 --> 00:47:17.000 can find space for this because I think Team Rising talked about this a little 599 00:47:17.039 --> 00:47:23.519 bit. You we're hearing this so often now that one of the first responses 600 00:47:23.719 --> 00:47:30.119 is, oh, there's another there's another shooting, or there's another mass shooting. 601 00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:36.800 And it feels like every day. I think it's been sixty or seventy 602 00:47:37.000 --> 00:47:40.920 so far in the in the year of twenty twenty three. So it almost 603 00:47:40.920 --> 00:47:45.880 feels you feel this sense of numbness, and and I have to catch myself. 604 00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:52.079 I really have to to reject and resist numbness, because the moment I 605 00:47:52.119 --> 00:47:57.559 become numb, then I stop caring, not just about that situation, but 606 00:47:57.639 --> 00:48:01.519 I stop caring about people around me who are going through all kinds of things. 607 00:48:01.519 --> 00:48:07.920 And so one of my first responses was like it there was a sense 608 00:48:08.000 --> 00:48:13.239 of, oh, this is another swatting, because we had had two swattings 609 00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:19.119 earlier within the last couple of weeks. But it wasn't until my son sent 610 00:48:19.199 --> 00:48:23.239 a text message saying that we are locked down at the House of Prayer, 611 00:48:23.239 --> 00:48:28.960 which is right next door door to five guys. We are locked down now 612 00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:36.559 and because there's craziness going on, there's an active shooter, and the moment 613 00:48:36.599 --> 00:48:42.960 it becomes close to home, it takes away the numbness. And I began 614 00:48:43.039 --> 00:48:46.840 as a parent. I began my wife and I we began like we were 615 00:48:46.920 --> 00:48:52.519 concerned, not just concerned, but even fearful. And I think that we 616 00:48:52.679 --> 00:48:58.400 have to treat all of these as if it's close to home, because I 617 00:48:58.440 --> 00:49:05.599 think that allows us to the maintain feeling that that this is somebody's child, 618 00:49:06.440 --> 00:49:09.079 This is somebody's brother, this is somebody's sister. It may not be mine, 619 00:49:09.719 --> 00:49:15.440 but if we take the idea that it's the village and we are all 620 00:49:15.760 --> 00:49:20.800 human, we are all connected and there's a human solidarity. Uh And and 621 00:49:20.840 --> 00:49:25.119 I think then he talked about the universality of humanity. I think we can 622 00:49:25.199 --> 00:49:30.480 maintain the feeling the moment of like like this is my brother, this is 623 00:49:30.519 --> 00:49:36.920 my sister who's experiencing this is this is my mother, my father feeling the 624 00:49:36.920 --> 00:49:39.440 pain and the grief of losing a child. I know, I know that 625 00:49:39.599 --> 00:49:45.400 it feels like it's so distant sometimes, but I think we have to play 626 00:49:45.400 --> 00:49:52.000 those mental gymnastics and say, no, this is a part of who this 627 00:49:52.079 --> 00:49:54.960 is, this is another part of me. And so so I think there's 628 00:49:55.000 --> 00:50:02.360 this sense where we we can't afford to be numb about this but really look 629 00:50:02.400 --> 00:50:08.760 at all of humanity as as connected. Now the why part is because of 630 00:50:08.800 --> 00:50:15.199 the brokenness of humanity. And again I don't know everybody's faith journey and what 631 00:50:15.360 --> 00:50:22.480 their faith leaning is. But according to my faith, because of Adam and 632 00:50:22.599 --> 00:50:25.960 Eve's disobedience in the Garden of Eden, and a lot of people say, 633 00:50:27.000 --> 00:50:30.079 well, I don't believe in all of that, But I don't know any 634 00:50:30.159 --> 00:50:37.400 other explanation how disobedience and evil and brokenness was passed down to all of humanity 635 00:50:37.519 --> 00:50:45.360 that would lean or lead someone to do the kinds of atrocities and evils that 636 00:50:45.400 --> 00:50:47.920 we've seen that we saw on Monday, but also in the world period. 637 00:50:49.039 --> 00:50:54.639 So because of the brokenness of humanity, peace and security will always be under 638 00:50:54.679 --> 00:51:00.000 threat. And I think we have to be aware of that at and that 639 00:51:00.119 --> 00:51:07.000 we're not special that it cannot happen, that it cannot happen to us. 640 00:51:07.000 --> 00:51:10.679 So I think the brokenness of humanity does lead to these kinds of evils and 641 00:51:10.679 --> 00:51:16.320 atrocities that upsets it really upsets us, and not just upsets us, but 642 00:51:16.480 --> 00:51:28.800 shakes us to the very core. Yes, you haven't a you know, 643 00:51:28.840 --> 00:51:32.599 we we've all had to pivot here, you know, because of what the 644 00:51:32.599 --> 00:51:37.360 what would happened a couple of days ago. But you also at your Church 645 00:51:37.400 --> 00:51:43.239 at Trinity have had to pivot and you're having a special service coming up this 646 00:51:43.320 --> 00:51:46.000 weekend. Correct, Yeah, that's correct. So we've been going through a 647 00:51:46.079 --> 00:51:51.599 series of messages and it would be kind of tone death for us to just 648 00:51:51.639 --> 00:51:54.880 go ahead with what we're what we're doing. We were going to be talking 649 00:51:54.920 --> 00:52:01.480 about what does it mean to what does the Bible say about work and how 650 00:52:01.559 --> 00:52:06.800 we should show up every day at work, and man, we just felt 651 00:52:06.880 --> 00:52:09.280 like it wasn't the it wasn't the right move, and so we've pivoted. 652 00:52:09.360 --> 00:52:15.119 And so this coming weekend at both our nine to fifteen and eleven o'clock service, 653 00:52:15.199 --> 00:52:17.960 we're going to have a service of grief and hope, and so where 654 00:52:19.000 --> 00:52:22.199 we're going to be you know, singing, we're going to be praying for 655 00:52:22.400 --> 00:52:28.119 MSU and students, and we're going to be praying for kids K through twelve 656 00:52:28.320 --> 00:52:31.679 just like otis you just mentioned you have to explain to your your four year 657 00:52:31.719 --> 00:52:40.119 old how to manage this, and it's it's so heartbreaking that this generation has 658 00:52:40.159 --> 00:52:47.719 not this generation has known active shooter drills from the time they've been in kindergarten 659 00:52:49.239 --> 00:52:52.719 up until now, which is sad. And so we want to be praying 660 00:52:52.760 --> 00:52:58.519 for our k through twelve. And then we're going to have some administrators Alexis 661 00:52:59.000 --> 00:53:05.480 Travis, Sam Saldivar and Elliott Daniels probably, I think he might be there 662 00:53:05.519 --> 00:53:09.039 as well, just to kind of share perspective and then how we can pray 663 00:53:09.199 --> 00:53:19.360 for students. There's going to be another student who who experienced just just the 664 00:53:19.400 --> 00:53:22.880 student's perspective, and we're going to hear from them. And then we're going 665 00:53:22.920 --> 00:53:28.880 to spend some time praying for administrators, students, praying for the campus and 666 00:53:28.880 --> 00:53:31.400 and then well we'll give a message on you know, what do you do 667 00:53:31.440 --> 00:53:36.079 when you lose What do you do when you lose your piece? What do 668 00:53:36.119 --> 00:53:38.880 you do when you lose optimism? What do you do when you lose hope? 669 00:53:39.440 --> 00:53:45.840 And and we hope that it will be just one small piece to help 670 00:53:45.840 --> 00:53:50.559 bring healing, healing to the community m s U community, but the community 671 00:53:50.599 --> 00:53:57.360 at large. Yeah, pastor for uh, what's the address? Yeah, 672 00:53:57.719 --> 00:54:00.400 before you say that, because Jalli and duncle Jo, I'm on, I'm 673 00:54:00.440 --> 00:54:04.920 on the I'm on looking at the streamer and I see people. I'm just 674 00:54:04.960 --> 00:54:07.440 looking at the comments and everything, and and Steve Smith, I'm calling you 675 00:54:07.480 --> 00:54:09.719 out. You said, yeah, I need to show up the Passage Church, 676 00:54:10.039 --> 00:54:16.800 so let us know where. So thirty thirty three fifty five Duncle Road 677 00:54:16.960 --> 00:54:22.519 and Trinity Church and and it's if you know they're the four corners, you 678 00:54:22.599 --> 00:54:30.920 have, the speedway, you have, the the the coffee shop. I 679 00:54:30.920 --> 00:54:35.480 can't think of the coffee shop's name, now coffee, that's right. And 680 00:54:35.639 --> 00:54:39.320 uh. And so so we're we're kind of on that dunkle. You go 681 00:54:39.440 --> 00:54:43.440 back and you'll see us in the in the back by thirty three fifty five 682 00:54:43.480 --> 00:54:49.320 Duncle Road nine fifteen and eleven. And I mean, we just we just 683 00:54:49.480 --> 00:54:53.599 want to be We've been a part of this community. And we always ask 684 00:54:53.679 --> 00:55:00.800 the question, if Trinity Church was not in the community, would the community 685 00:55:00.960 --> 00:55:06.280 miss us? And and I think that's that's a question not only for a 686 00:55:06.440 --> 00:55:08.880 church, I think that's a question for all of us. If if we 687 00:55:08.880 --> 00:55:13.880 were no longer here, would people miss us? And I would I would 688 00:55:13.960 --> 00:55:16.199 say, and again, this is this is this is Sparta. If this 689 00:55:16.360 --> 00:55:22.920 is Sparta MSU was not on the air right now, would people miss it? 690 00:55:22.960 --> 00:55:27.599 And I think I think since you all have gotten started, you all 691 00:55:27.639 --> 00:55:31.320 have added so much value, and I think people would miss it. If 692 00:55:31.320 --> 00:55:35.519 it were not on the air, And I think we should ask that question 693 00:55:35.599 --> 00:55:38.000 of us personally, but I think it should we should ask that question of 694 00:55:38.039 --> 00:55:43.119 the organizations that we're part of, and we continue to ask that question of 695 00:55:43.119 --> 00:55:45.960 Trinity Church. If Trinity Church was not in the community, would people miss 696 00:55:46.039 --> 00:55:51.440 us? And I think this is a perfect opportunity to say God has placed 697 00:55:51.519 --> 00:55:57.400 us here to be to be light and salt in this community and and so 698 00:55:57.480 --> 00:56:00.760 yeah, so it's it's our pleasure to be able to serve this community, 699 00:56:00.800 --> 00:56:06.320 but also to be able to serve the MSU community. Yeah. I think 700 00:56:06.599 --> 00:56:09.039 something that you just said that that really hit me was you know if when 701 00:56:09.039 --> 00:56:13.159 you said that, if Trending Church was not I think we can use that 702 00:56:13.199 --> 00:56:15.840 in every in our everyday life absolutely, like, you know, if I 703 00:56:15.920 --> 00:56:20.199 was not you know what this person missed me or you know, your job 704 00:56:20.400 --> 00:56:25.159 or anything like that, that really really put things in perspective to see what's 705 00:56:25.280 --> 00:56:30.199 really important and what, you know, what you think is important at the 706 00:56:30.280 --> 00:56:31.960 time, you know. So I think that's a really good, you know, 707 00:56:32.159 --> 00:56:36.320 good statement, and that's something that stuck with me. I appreciate it. 708 00:56:37.639 --> 00:56:47.039 Yeah, right, Sometimes sometimes I you know, I rock, I 709 00:56:47.159 --> 00:56:52.559 rock my hose, the hose in the jeans and and then other days I'll 710 00:56:52.599 --> 00:56:59.119 have my my my African suit on with from Nigeria. So it just on 711 00:56:59.239 --> 00:57:04.719 how I'm feeling in that weekend. But you can come as you are and 712 00:57:04.719 --> 00:57:08.320 and it's it's pretty laid back, pretty casual. Otis knows how we rock, 713 00:57:08.400 --> 00:57:13.199 knows how we roll, and and we're gonna we try to give a 714 00:57:13.239 --> 00:57:19.559 message that is relevant to where people are and and you can obviously check out 715 00:57:19.599 --> 00:57:23.000 some of the some of the messages, uh some people. So so the 716 00:57:23.039 --> 00:57:29.400 website is actually the front door to our church. So if you say, 717 00:57:29.880 --> 00:57:32.199 I want to find out what this church is about, go to the website, 718 00:57:32.280 --> 00:57:37.000 listen to a couple of the messages and see what we've been doing over 719 00:57:37.039 --> 00:57:42.840 the last over this last this last year. And we've been talking about a 720 00:57:43.000 --> 00:57:46.280 lot of relevant issues as to what the Bible says about certain things. And 721 00:57:46.360 --> 00:57:50.599 so if you want to check us out before you come, you can do 722 00:57:50.719 --> 00:57:53.719 that and and you'll see that you're you're more than you're more than welcome. 723 00:57:54.719 --> 00:58:00.400 So pass you mentioned you say in Nigerian garb you have roots or no. 724 00:58:00.480 --> 00:58:05.039 So so when I did the twenty three and me and uh and did the 725 00:58:05.280 --> 00:58:12.559 ancestry dot com. I I have a large, a large part of my 726 00:58:12.679 --> 00:58:17.400 DNA is in Western Africa, beneaing Togo and and Jay who you would be 727 00:58:19.039 --> 00:58:23.079 hopefully I think you would love this. My first trip to the continent was 728 00:58:23.400 --> 00:58:30.000 to Ghana, a kra Oblasi and Kumasi got my first can't take cloth from 729 00:58:30.119 --> 00:58:37.840 Kumasi and uh So I think you I think you can appreciate that absolutely absolutely, 730 00:58:37.840 --> 00:58:45.199 And I'm from Liberia. Liberia has the best jelf rice. Okay when 731 00:58:45.239 --> 00:58:50.519 my when Mama Calcer come, I will get some. Okay. I will 732 00:58:50.559 --> 00:58:52.960 have to say. Ghana is part of one of the most beautiful countries in 733 00:58:53.000 --> 00:58:59.440 Africa. Okay, well listen, that's consistent. Okay, Okay, So 734 00:58:59.519 --> 00:59:04.559 go Africa, go to Ghana beautiful. Yeah. Our college age minister, 735 00:59:04.639 --> 00:59:09.880 our collegiation director, Emanuel Boating is from Ghana, and we have a large 736 00:59:09.960 --> 00:59:15.920 group of Nigerians as well as Ghanians who attend our church on uh on the 737 00:59:15.920 --> 00:59:21.760 weekend. And so yeah, just we we again we we. I love 738 00:59:21.800 --> 00:59:27.159 the fact again I've gone to been to Africa probably eight or nine times now 739 00:59:27.760 --> 00:59:36.199 from from Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Kenya just literally 740 00:59:37.079 --> 00:59:42.719 I was justin Zimbabwe a few We did a five country U sixteen five countries 741 00:59:42.760 --> 00:59:47.159 in sixteen days about about three months ago, four months ago, and so 742 00:59:47.400 --> 00:59:51.440 beautiful, beautiful continent. I'm glad I got a chance to go. Yeah. 743 00:59:51.440 --> 00:59:52.800 But if you ever want to send your church in an uproar, go 744 00:59:52.920 --> 00:59:58.599 up there and say, because the big three is Liberia, Nigeria and Ghana 745 00:59:58.719 --> 01:00:07.519 for the jalla right, Okay, votes are in. Okay, Now do 746 01:00:07.599 --> 01:00:10.519 you cook it? Do you cook it? My mom cooks it. I 747 01:00:10.519 --> 01:00:14.599 can't cook it like I can't do it. Justice, Okay, do it 748 01:00:14.639 --> 01:00:15.800 for the first time, but all right, when she comes, when she 749 01:00:15.880 --> 01:00:19.719 comes, you got to make sure she cooks it and make sure I get 750 01:00:19.800 --> 01:00:23.679 some yes, and then after you get it, then you can go off 751 01:00:23.719 --> 01:00:30.880 there and say all right, that's right, a big shattle. Yeah. 752 01:00:31.159 --> 01:00:37.400 Well listen, before I know, I know, time is running. And 753 01:00:37.440 --> 01:00:39.840 the last thing that I want to say, and uh and I would love 754 01:00:39.880 --> 01:00:46.000 to pray for the m s U community is that I know not everybody is 755 01:00:46.119 --> 01:00:54.039 there yet, but hope is still good. Hope is still good. And 756 01:00:54.039 --> 01:01:00.079 and as Vinnie talked about, uh, not everyone is there, you know, 757 01:01:00.199 --> 01:01:06.639 again. We you know, some might still see themselves as victims before 758 01:01:06.679 --> 01:01:12.800 they come to a place of being ambassadors of peace and healing. We have 759 01:01:12.880 --> 01:01:17.920 to say, hope is still good, and it might come tomorrow, it 760 01:01:19.000 --> 01:01:24.519 might come three weeks from now, but we have to keep rehearsing that hope 761 01:01:24.559 --> 01:01:30.559 is good and that the sun does shine after the darkness. It does shine 762 01:01:30.559 --> 01:01:37.280 after the darkness, and it just has to be our posture. After we 763 01:01:37.400 --> 01:01:40.880 finish grieving, after we finish morning, there's a time where we need to 764 01:01:40.920 --> 01:01:50.280 stand up and uh and become those ambassadors of healing as well. An appreciated 765 01:01:50.320 --> 01:01:52.400 pastor, if you know my past, can you send us off in a 766 01:01:52.440 --> 01:01:58.960 prayer? Please? Absolutely absolutely, let's let let's pray so Father. Our 767 01:01:59.000 --> 01:02:07.599 hearts are heavy from all that we've experienced over the last few days. We 768 01:02:07.639 --> 01:02:15.880 are broken, and we carry the pain of those three families that lost Brian, 769 01:02:16.400 --> 01:02:23.599 Ariel and Alexandria. There are families who are still battling the anxiety of 770 01:02:25.159 --> 01:02:31.880 the five that are still in the hospital, praying and hoping that there would 771 01:02:31.880 --> 01:02:37.280 be speedy recovery, and we pray that as well, and so we pray 772 01:02:37.360 --> 01:02:42.440 for comfort for those families. We pray that your presence would be unique and 773 01:02:42.679 --> 01:02:50.400 palpable for those families who have lost children. And we asked that you would 774 01:02:50.519 --> 01:02:54.119 meet them there and that you would remind all of us that you too lost 775 01:02:54.239 --> 01:03:00.199 a child, You too lost a son Jesus, and I asked that you 776 01:03:00.400 --> 01:03:05.039 would you would be with the doctors and the nurses who are tending to the 777 01:03:05.119 --> 01:03:08.920 five that are in the hospital. And then I ask your blessing over the 778 01:03:09.440 --> 01:03:15.599 students that are struggling, struggling to come back to the campus, whether it's 779 01:03:15.599 --> 01:03:19.599 safe or not, and I asked that you would be with them in a 780 01:03:19.679 --> 01:03:22.440 unique way. I pray that they would find space to talk and fake space 781 01:03:23.199 --> 01:03:30.320 to grieve and space to weep, and space to actually be with connected with 782 01:03:30.400 --> 01:03:36.480 others. Then I pray for faculty members who are also struggling, and I 783 01:03:36.519 --> 01:03:42.320 pray for all those who are part of the MSU community. Thank you for 784 01:03:42.440 --> 01:03:46.440 first responders and the MSU police and the East Lansing Police and the local police. 785 01:03:46.800 --> 01:03:50.480 Thank you for the dispatchers. Thank you for all of those who played 786 01:03:50.480 --> 01:03:58.239 a part in helping to make sure that the pain and suffering was not expanded 787 01:03:58.280 --> 01:04:04.159 and extended. And so we pray that as we as we move forward another 788 01:04:04.239 --> 01:04:11.400 day tomorrow, you would bring us a little bit closer to healing, a 789 01:04:11.440 --> 01:04:15.800 little bit closer to hope. Thank you for this is Sparta, the voices 790 01:04:16.360 --> 01:04:20.119 on this program, they're very important. Even though it's about sports and it's 791 01:04:20.119 --> 01:04:27.320 about x's and o's, it's about meeting and connecting with student athletes. It's 792 01:04:27.400 --> 01:04:33.719 more than that. It's about connecting an entire community around something that we all 793 01:04:33.760 --> 01:04:39.239 can share. So I pray your blessing upon Jason. I pray your blessing 794 01:04:39.280 --> 01:04:45.000 abon Jake, who pray your blessing upon Otis the voices would remain strong during 795 01:04:45.039 --> 01:04:49.599 this season. Yeah, we pray all of this in Jesus' name. Amen, 796 01:04:51.519 --> 01:04:58.159 as I saying, like Veria Coy Okay, all right, appreciate it 797 01:04:58.440 --> 01:05:01.519 absolutely, Thanks thanks for having me on. Thank you. I appreciate you 798 01:05:01.559 --> 01:05:09.480 all right. Man, Guys, you know something like I'll say, we 799 01:05:10.760 --> 01:05:15.000 for me, I needed this tonight. I needed this platform. I needed 800 01:05:15.039 --> 01:05:19.639 to be around you guys. I needed to be around the guys behind to 801 01:05:19.679 --> 01:05:26.360 seeing Tony Pee, Alicia, everybody, and I needed to be around you 802 01:05:26.400 --> 01:05:31.159 know. I'm just sitting there looking at the comments roll through, just as 803 01:05:31.239 --> 01:05:33.960 much as those people that are saying, you know, this is great, 804 01:05:34.039 --> 01:05:38.960 we needed this today. They're leaning on each other. I needed this today. 805 01:05:39.119 --> 01:05:45.199 I needed to have a laugh with my brothers. I needed to have 806 01:05:45.280 --> 01:05:49.920 a you know, the sad moments, the happy moments, the difficult moments 807 01:05:49.960 --> 01:05:54.880 with everyone. I needed that today. And I appreciate you guys. I 808 01:05:54.920 --> 01:06:00.880 appreciate everyone that tuned in and listening and the people that are posting their comments. 809 01:06:01.000 --> 01:06:04.360 Is the first time I ever went on to look at the different comments 810 01:06:04.400 --> 01:06:11.159 and stuff that's coming in. And I think the viewers, the Faithful that 811 01:06:11.199 --> 01:06:15.440 this is part of Faithful, they needed this as well. And I appreciate 812 01:06:15.519 --> 01:06:20.199 everyone that came together to make this possible today because, like I said, 813 01:06:20.239 --> 01:06:24.800 you know, we're seven minutes over an hour, and if this is something 814 01:06:24.880 --> 01:06:30.679 that can give us some type of you know escape for an hour, something 815 01:06:30.760 --> 01:06:33.400 that we can laugh, we can do a little he he ha ha over 816 01:06:33.440 --> 01:06:39.239 here and just escape all the bs that's happened, you know, in the 817 01:06:39.320 --> 01:06:43.480 last forty eight hours and all the trauma, all the hurt and everything. 818 01:06:44.440 --> 01:06:48.840 This is why we're here, This is why this platform is here. And 819 01:06:49.000 --> 01:06:53.199 you know, big shout out to you, otis big shout out to Jason, 820 01:06:53.360 --> 01:06:57.000 big shout out to Pete, Tony, Alicia, everyone that made as 821 01:06:57.039 --> 01:07:00.039 possible, and even big shout out to everyone that's watching. You know, 822 01:07:00.159 --> 01:07:05.840 we needed this today and this was for us tonight without a questions. You 823 01:07:05.920 --> 01:07:10.480 too late, you know, let me tell you something. Man like you 824 01:07:10.480 --> 01:07:15.639 know, you search for reasons why things happen when they do happen, and 825 01:07:15.000 --> 01:07:20.079 as I'm sure you did when you were a young man in West African Liberia, 826 01:07:20.800 --> 01:07:26.079 when those terrible things, those atrosses that you saw right there, were 827 01:07:26.119 --> 01:07:30.239 happening in front of your eyes. Somehow, some way, you end up 828 01:07:30.239 --> 01:07:35.079 at Michigan State University from Western New York, and you become a beacon of 829 01:07:35.159 --> 01:07:39.360 light for the people who are going through this strategy right here. Leadership. 830 01:07:40.119 --> 01:07:43.679 You know, the way that this thing is orchestrated comes in different ways, 831 01:07:43.719 --> 01:07:46.440 and I just thank him for it. I really do. Thank you. 832 01:07:46.480 --> 01:07:55.719 Guys. MSU Baseball, our basketball and baseball are going to continue this weekend, 833 01:07:55.760 --> 01:07:58.960 which is a bright spot. I don't want to highlight that thing, 834 01:07:59.159 --> 01:08:02.079 you know, obviously, I think you know, Michigan State baseball is gonna 835 01:08:02.079 --> 01:08:10.400 be in Arizona as you see here, and in basketball I think they're going 836 01:08:10.440 --> 01:08:13.599 on the road down the road, aren't Aren't they going down there to that 837 01:08:13.760 --> 01:08:17.520 school down the road? Who? Look, have they been supportive? We'll 838 01:08:17.600 --> 01:08:20.600 make it about X and o's and all that stuff we talked about. But 839 01:08:20.840 --> 01:08:26.119 this is happening Saturday, which is good. You know. Our a d 840 01:08:26.439 --> 01:08:30.279 our athletic director Alan Haller said that, you know sometimes when they took a 841 01:08:30.319 --> 01:08:34.560 poll of the community, Uh, the players, I feel like getting back 842 01:08:34.600 --> 01:08:40.640 into it is going to help them therapeutically, and we're all for that if 843 01:08:40.680 --> 01:08:45.760 it helps them therapeutically. And just for the record, uh, if he 844 01:08:45.920 --> 01:08:48.680 can throw us up, we got an invite to Hona Liul, Hawaii. 845 01:08:49.640 --> 01:08:57.399 It's in the comments here. I saw that too. I saw that too. 846 01:08:59.439 --> 01:09:03.800 Well, take you off on that car, Sam, and right ready 847 01:09:03.840 --> 01:09:13.600 for me, that's uncle. Uh. You know. Also, yeah, 848 01:09:14.279 --> 01:09:19.880 you know from a standpoint of you know, I think about how sports unites 849 01:09:20.760 --> 01:09:28.319 everything, right, like it's it's heroic efforts, it's in tragedy. It's 850 01:09:28.399 --> 01:09:33.000 kind of that nostalgia of just heroism or like just you know what we're gonna 851 01:09:33.039 --> 01:09:36.199 do now, coach, Yeah, right, right, you know, so 852 01:09:36.920 --> 01:09:43.760 I think it's a it's one student athletes have to process as well. This 853 01:09:43.880 --> 01:09:48.439 is not all on them to like I said, be entertainment for the university. 854 01:09:48.520 --> 01:09:53.600 This is truly an opportunity for them personally to go back out there and 855 01:09:53.880 --> 01:09:58.600 continuously perfect their craft and you know, compete and that's their therapy. Like 856 01:09:58.640 --> 01:10:02.560 you said, you know with that event, you know you have women's basketball 857 01:10:02.640 --> 01:10:09.880 at home, so that'll be our first home event on Saturday the eighteenth. 858 01:10:09.920 --> 01:10:14.880 So it's one of those where this is we're just really judging on who's going 859 01:10:14.960 --> 01:10:17.000 to be open and welcome me coming back, and then whoever's in that building 860 01:10:17.680 --> 01:10:24.560 is truly give them just hope throughout this game. That's truly the deal there. 861 01:10:24.600 --> 01:10:28.520 So our student athletes they need your support near and far that this is 862 01:10:28.560 --> 01:10:32.880 gonna be tough to deal with, and time and time again we do this 863 01:10:33.079 --> 01:10:36.840 moments of silence, we honor our victims, and it's just kind of like 864 01:10:36.920 --> 01:10:41.720 you said, it's it's a cycle that somewhere nun but we do truly got 865 01:10:41.720 --> 01:10:45.439 to pray and support our student athletes as they do take the field. It's 866 01:10:45.600 --> 01:10:50.439 representing the green and white after experiencing that will happen on Monday. Purp I 867 01:10:50.439 --> 01:10:54.319 always said Purp. If you can't go to Arizona's for the baseball, you 868 01:10:54.359 --> 01:10:59.119 can't go to and Arbor hit the brezling up. Support the women's sports, 869 01:10:59.159 --> 01:11:02.600 give them that support that they need. Every strengthened number right now. Yeah, 870 01:11:02.640 --> 01:11:11.720 absolutely strengthened numbers. Sunday there's going to be a special Spartan social event 871 01:11:11.840 --> 01:11:16.039 taking place from one to four pm. Yeah, so one to four pm. 872 01:11:16.119 --> 01:11:21.720 You know, one of our graduate students on campus, Emily Dummins, 873 01:11:21.800 --> 01:11:28.720 she has organized this with her close friends and her mother. And what started 874 01:11:28.760 --> 01:11:33.399 out as a small organized event, as you can imagine, as spartans have 875 01:11:33.520 --> 01:11:39.199 really spartans will and they will support and come through and enjoy the unite, 876 01:11:39.199 --> 01:11:45.119 and it's become bigger, obviously than what she expected. So so you know, 877 01:11:45.279 --> 01:11:50.399 Sunday one to four pm, we will basically be welcoming back students back 878 01:11:50.439 --> 01:11:56.479 to campus, and so it'll be an event for students to come and grab 879 01:11:57.119 --> 01:12:01.199 you know, goodies and snacks and food and bridges and toilet trees, et 880 01:12:01.279 --> 01:12:05.159 cetera, just to get them, you know, not say acclimated, but 881 01:12:05.279 --> 01:12:12.239 just as good will of supporting them in this time. And so we had 882 01:12:12.279 --> 01:12:16.960 Meyer fully step up and support. We also had our very own cow and 883 01:12:17.079 --> 01:12:24.840 Hi Hop step up this morning to feed our FBI who's you know, investigating 884 01:12:24.880 --> 01:12:29.880 Bricky Hall. So you know, the partner's community. Everyone is rising up 885 01:12:30.239 --> 01:12:33.960 and supporting and it's not about me, It's not about us, It's really 886 01:12:33.960 --> 01:12:38.960 about we, right, It's everybody. And that's what's a good effort from 887 01:12:39.039 --> 01:12:43.279 Kyle and and I Hop and you know they're the supporting partner of this show, 888 01:12:43.359 --> 01:12:45.359 man. So it's just that opportunity of showing the good will and good 889 01:12:45.359 --> 01:12:49.840 Spartan love that we just want to continuously put good love out and show the 890 01:12:49.840 --> 01:12:54.680 beacon of light to the Spartan nation. And everyone's coming here and far too, 891 01:12:54.680 --> 01:12:58.640 man. So if you are in the city, come down and help 892 01:12:58.680 --> 01:13:00.880 and volunteer. You know, we you know, follow some We'll put some 893 01:13:00.920 --> 01:13:05.079 stuff on our social just to help drive the awareness for you if you want 894 01:13:05.079 --> 01:13:09.159 to take part in that. But Sunday will be We'll be there. I'll 895 01:13:09.159 --> 01:13:14.239 be there doing this. So appreciate you you guys give me that platform to 896 01:13:14.279 --> 01:13:19.000 support that initiative. No, appreciate you guys, all of you guys for 897 01:13:19.039 --> 01:13:25.199 this. You know, speaking of there's cal right there, speaking of I 898 01:13:25.319 --> 01:13:30.760 hob the Keon Coleman Autograss signing will be postponed. It will be pushed just 899 01:13:30.760 --> 01:13:33.560 a couple of weeks down the road as it was. I believe it's going 900 01:13:33.600 --> 01:13:36.640 to be in brightened. Follow our socials for that. I'm not going to 901 01:13:36.680 --> 01:13:43.439 do that this weekend. And also I Hoap has stepped up and said on 902 01:13:44.119 --> 01:13:47.920 February twenty eighth, it's going to be a National Pancake Day every store, 903 01:13:48.399 --> 01:13:55.720 every store in the state of Michigan. Proceeds will be going from whether the 904 01:13:55.800 --> 01:13:58.399 short stack they're going to give you for free. Come in and get a 905 01:13:58.399 --> 01:14:01.239 free short stack, and if you want to donate some money, it's going 906 01:14:01.439 --> 01:14:08.600 straight to the Spartan Strong Fund for the victims of this horrific accident thing that 907 01:14:08.760 --> 01:14:15.800 happened to the people on campus in Michigan State on Monday evening. Here's our 908 01:14:15.960 --> 01:14:21.439 wink tree if you want to see that and go through and donate to MSU 909 01:14:21.560 --> 01:14:30.039 Strong. Take a look this record. This support the families of those eighth 910 01:14:30.119 --> 01:14:39.640 victims. Any way you possibly can. Fellas and for Otis Wiley, Jay, 911 01:14:39.680 --> 01:14:43.000 you, colchrigm, Jason string On. This is Sparta. Everybody, 912 01:14:43.000 --> 01:14:57.960 have a good night, God, Bless and go greet. This is part 913 01:14:58.000 --> 01:15:01.840 of MSUs a BIND presentation of Playfly Sports Properties in Michigan State Sports Properties. 914 01:15:02.079 --> 01:15:08.680 The show is produced by Pete Manez with additional support from Tony Costella Operations and 915 01:15:08.760 --> 01:15:14.840 Social media support is provided by Alicia Straehorn with support from Cecily Max Brown on 916 01:15:15.039 --> 01:15:18.920 location. Technical support is provided by Good Fruit Video. Be sure to follow 917 01:15:18.920 --> 01:15:25.279 our hosts Jason Strayhorn, jay U Culchrik and Otis Wiley on social media to 918 01:15:25.319 --> 01:15:29.079 stay up to date with all the latest. This is spartan news. Please 919 01:15:29.199 --> 01:15:32.000 like and subscribe by visiting our link tree and tell a friend to do the 920 01:15:32.039 --> 01:15:35.800 same. Thank you for your support and as always, go green.