WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.360 --> 00:00:08.359 Hudson River Radio dot com. It beats listening to nothing. Being Frank. 2 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:15.839 We're the only way to be, is Frank? Whoa and welcome to Being 3 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:20.120 Frank. We're the only way to be, of course, Frank. I'm 4 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:23.239 your host, Frank Leborno. We'd like to thank you for joining us here 5 00:00:23.679 --> 00:00:28.519 on what we like to call the Intelligent Conversation Podcast. We know that your 6 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:33.000 time is valuable and competition is fierce. There's a lot of podcasts out there, 7 00:00:33.320 --> 00:00:37.159 but we like to think of ourselves as an alternative to all that noise, 8 00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:40.920 so we really appreciate you sharing some of your day with Being Frank. 9 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:45.640 We stream from Hudson River Radio dot com, where the mailman, mister Neil 10 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:50.439 Richter is our engineer. We call him that because he always delivers. But 11 00:00:50.560 --> 00:00:55.880 remember, Hudson River Radio is really our homebase, but you can download us 12 00:00:56.039 --> 00:01:02.119 wherever and whenever you listen to your favorite podcasts. That includes iHeartRadio, Spotify, 13 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:04.840 Apple, Spreaker, and all the others. You can find the links 14 00:01:04.879 --> 00:01:08.840 on our Being Frank Facebook page. It's public, it's easy to find. 15 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.959 Please think about becoming a subscriber and leaving us a comment too. As they 16 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:19.239 mentioned, we have our own Facebook page, Being Frank. Of course it's 17 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:23.079 public, so check it out and follow the page for more information about the 18 00:01:23.159 --> 00:01:27.159 podcast. You know, we bring our audience a new topical program every week, 19 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:32.200 beginning on Fridays. It's actually late Thursday night, but we say Fridays 20 00:01:32.280 --> 00:01:34.959 just to be on the safe side, so you can listen at your convenience, 21 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:38.840 and every program as archive, so you can listen to any Being Frank 22 00:01:40.239 --> 00:01:45.040 virtually anytime that you want. It's truly the intelligent thing to do. Hey, 23 00:01:45.040 --> 00:01:48.799 we're taping on April sixth, and it's a truly holy week because we 24 00:01:48.879 --> 00:01:53.400 have Passover, Easter, and Ramadan all happening this week and this weekend. 25 00:01:53.519 --> 00:02:00.000 So those who choose to celebrate happy. You know, I'm not particularly Orthodox 26 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.120 in any way, looking or practicing, but I do like holidays that bring 27 00:02:05.239 --> 00:02:08.879 people together, so that's a good thing. Please enjoy one another. You 28 00:02:08.879 --> 00:02:12.319 know, when I was a young man playing lots of football, there was 29 00:02:12.360 --> 00:02:16.719 a ubiquitous locker room slogan just sort everywhere when the going gets tough, the 30 00:02:16.840 --> 00:02:21.479 tough get going, it will made sense to me then, and it certainly 31 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:27.199 applies still today, and it applies to organizations as well as individuals. Times 32 00:02:27.199 --> 00:02:30.199 are tough today for most of us, and that applies in particular to those 33 00:02:30.280 --> 00:02:37.400 serving people with special needs or with less means. If you think that inflation 34 00:02:37.479 --> 00:02:42.400 has been tough on families, think about the effect on organizations that often serve 35 00:02:42.800 --> 00:02:46.599 hundreds or even thousands. Yes, you must be tough and resilient, but 36 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:53.439 innovative too. One organization that is continually adapting its methods to not only find 37 00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:58.319 new ways of fundraising, but to provide their many clients opportunities for a fuller, 38 00:02:58.919 --> 00:03:02.479 richer life, and that is Juannio. Since nineteen forty seven, Jeannio 39 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:07.520 has been providing thousands of adults, children, and families with a variety of 40 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:15.039 special needs that care they so desperately need. Now just last month March twenty 41 00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:17.719 twenty three, and we say that because this is archived. If you're listening 42 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.960 in the past or a few children of the case, maybe they came up 43 00:03:23.000 --> 00:03:28.599 with another unique, innovative and progressive way of helping their clients and the bottom 44 00:03:28.639 --> 00:03:32.439 line, and joining us once again to explain this fascinating new program, which 45 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:38.520 is called Rickett Again is the CEO of Juannio, Randy Rio's Castro Randy, 46 00:03:38.560 --> 00:03:42.199 thank you so much for joining us again. You were on about a year 47 00:03:42.240 --> 00:03:44.560 ago. As a matter of fact, a little bit less ten or eleven 48 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:47.840 months ago. I think he was celebrating an anniversary at the time, seventy 49 00:03:47.879 --> 00:03:54.159 five years. Seventy five years of serving lots of people, and for our 50 00:03:54.240 --> 00:03:59.599 listeners, perhaps they missed the first show. Tell us a little bit about 51 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:03.400 the organization. It's rather unique, it was created in a rather unique way 52 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:09.560 and it serves as thousands of people of year a year. So since nineteen 53 00:04:09.639 --> 00:04:14.400 forty seven, tens of thousands of people have been served by Chiwana. Tell 54 00:04:14.439 --> 00:04:17.399 us a little bit about the organization first, please sure. So Juana as 55 00:04:17.480 --> 00:04:24.439 a large human service provider. We cover Rockland County as well as Westchester, 56 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:29.199 and we touch a little bit into Orange and the Bronx. We are a 57 00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:32.560 lifespan agency, so we serve individuals from birth through end of life in a 58 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:39.000 variety of capacities, and our focus is really on people with developmental disabilities, 59 00:04:39.279 --> 00:04:46.439 mental health challenges, and chronic medical conditions. So we help people with providing 60 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:51.199 them residential services, day programming, employment, you know. For the younger 61 00:04:51.279 --> 00:04:57.399 kids, we have early intervention and preschool as well. As a summer education 62 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:01.879 program and Article sixteen. So we're really touching a lot of different areas. 63 00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:06.759 And you know, we've been as pretty big staple in the community, as 64 00:05:06.759 --> 00:05:11.600 you said, for now seventy five years, and you know, I think 65 00:05:11.680 --> 00:05:15.680 it's it's important for people to understand it's not just a place that people go 66 00:05:15.759 --> 00:05:19.879 to and are serviced. It's broader than that. You involve people, you 67 00:05:20.079 --> 00:05:24.920 try to get the most out of them with ever whatever, with whatever abilities 68 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:29.399 they might have. In other words, instead of looking a quote unquote disability, 69 00:05:29.439 --> 00:05:32.480 you try to take advantage of the abilities they do have. And we're 70 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:39.079 going to talk a little bit about the Bricket Again program and how that is 71 00:05:39.959 --> 00:05:44.279 really embodies the spirit of Juanio. If you will, we'll talk about that 72 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:47.800 in more detail, but I want you to speak to the fact that again, 73 00:05:47.839 --> 00:05:51.439 it's a doing place, it's not just a being place. If if 74 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:55.600 you'll understand my play on words, if you could elaborate a little bit, 75 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.439 yeah, absolutely, So you know, are at the core of our mission 76 00:05:59.519 --> 00:06:03.600 is really to help people live as independently as possible. So we meet them 77 00:06:03.639 --> 00:06:08.360 wherever they are and we help them to attain the goals that they have for 78 00:06:08.399 --> 00:06:14.279 themselves. So for some people that goal includes employment, and we work with 79 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:17.160 them to get them to the point where they can go out and be employed 80 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:25.959 now. And obviously, working in a place such as Juannio, you must 81 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:31.720 see many stories of courage and inspiration, and not only by clients, but 82 00:06:31.800 --> 00:06:38.439 by staff as well, because their special needs takes a special person to care 83 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:41.759 for them, so it all kind of works together. Would you care to 84 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:46.920 share maybe a story or two that could really bring us to the core of 85 00:06:46.959 --> 00:06:51.439 what Juannio is about. Sure. I think one of the most compelling stories 86 00:06:51.519 --> 00:06:56.560 I could tell was when I first started at Juannio. You know, it 87 00:06:56.639 --> 00:07:00.959 was in the summer and we have our summer education program and the individual that 88 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:04.560 I was with that was giving me a tour of the program and kind of 89 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:10.879 explaining about it, we came upon this group and they were practicing singing and 90 00:07:11.199 --> 00:07:14.800 they were getting ready for the end of the summer show. And he points 91 00:07:14.839 --> 00:07:18.279 to this young woman and said, that young woman right there, when she 92 00:07:18.360 --> 00:07:23.040 came to Jeannio, she couldn't speak, and she was singing. And not 93 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:27.160 only was she singing, but she was preparing to do a solo. And 94 00:07:27.199 --> 00:07:30.199 when I tell you, this young woman had the most beautiful voice she could 95 00:07:30.199 --> 00:07:34.439 ever imagine hearing. She was brilliant in what she did, and she has 96 00:07:34.480 --> 00:07:41.959 performed every summer for years now and last summer was her last summer and it 97 00:07:42.040 --> 00:07:46.399 was so touching or getting up and singing her solo, and there's so many 98 00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:53.120 stories like that. At Jeannio and the staff that work for us are so 99 00:07:53.279 --> 00:08:00.360 dedicated to helping the individuals achieve their maximum potential that they do everything that they 100 00:08:00.399 --> 00:08:05.879 can define what's meaningful to the individuals and to help them in their quests to 101 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:11.800 get to attain those goals. You know, we produce the program the podcast 102 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:16.000 via zoom, which means there is video. Unfortunately we don't transmit it anymore 103 00:08:16.040 --> 00:08:20.319 for technical reasons. Be that as it may, that's not my point. 104 00:08:20.120 --> 00:08:24.639 What I would like to share with people is that I can see how your 105 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:30.399 face has lit up just thinking about those stories, how much joy it brings 106 00:08:30.439 --> 00:08:37.559 to you. It must be a unique perspective to be an administ administrator because 107 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:43.120 there are administrative issues, paperwork, etc. Fundraising, all that other nuts 108 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:46.039 and bolts stuff that you have to deal with, but it also has that 109 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:52.279 human element to it where you get to share with these incredible people, both 110 00:08:52.360 --> 00:08:54.720 clients and staff. So if you can tell us a little bit about how 111 00:08:56.320 --> 00:08:58.320 to make you feel, if you share that with us, you know, 112 00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:01.279 it's it's interesting, you know, as you said, being an administrator and 113 00:09:01.360 --> 00:09:07.279 an organization of our size, you know, it's it's complicated. There are 114 00:09:07.600 --> 00:09:11.279 very challenging days that you have in dealing with you know, the myriad of 115 00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:16.480 issues, you know, worrying about funding. But when you can walk through 116 00:09:16.919 --> 00:09:22.000 different programs and see the individuals that you're supporting and watching them obtain their goals 117 00:09:22.600 --> 00:09:26.960 and watching the staff help them, it just everything. It makes everything that 118 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:31.919 you do worthwhile. And then you hear all these other stories and you know, 119 00:09:31.960 --> 00:09:33.960 I know we're going to talk about Bricket again, but you know, 120 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:39.639 Diana, recently, our chief communications officer, recently sent me a video from 121 00:09:39.679 --> 00:09:43.360 a family member of one of the individuals that's working in the store, and 122 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:48.639 it was like to the point where you almost cried listening to this family say 123 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:54.399 how proud they were and how much their son look forward every day to getting 124 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:56.879 up, setting his clothes, getting them all ready to go to work. 125 00:09:58.480 --> 00:10:01.200 And when you know that you and do that and help people, you know, 126 00:10:01.279 --> 00:10:07.200 live their best life. It makes everything worthwhile, you know, it's 127 00:10:07.279 --> 00:10:13.000 it's it's so important that you know the people know. Also, you mentioned 128 00:10:13.039 --> 00:10:20.000 it's a large organization, and your website mentions helping thousands of people a year. 129 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.600 How many at any given time, how many clients are served by how 130 00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:30.120 much staff at Juannio? How large is it? Sure? So right now 131 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:35.240 we're serving about thirty five hundred people a year, give or take. They 132 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:39.000 come and go sometimes depending on the program, and right now we have about 133 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:45.440 nine hundred staff. So it's it's a large and very complicated organization. You're 134 00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.480 located in New City, if I remember correctly, and there were just some 135 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:52.159 renovations on the campus. Tell us a little bit about the interesting if you 136 00:10:52.200 --> 00:10:54.519 will, before we move on. We have a little bit of time. 137 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.759 And I think it's important because Jiuanio is so unique in so many ways from 138 00:10:58.759 --> 00:11:03.519 the things that you do, how you serve people, but even the inception 139 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:07.360 of it, how it all came about, I think is very interesting because 140 00:11:07.360 --> 00:11:13.279 it was really aggressed roots organization that grew from from families for families, and 141 00:11:13.320 --> 00:11:16.679 I think it's important for people to know that. Would you share a little 142 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:20.559 bit of the history. Yeah, So there was a group of families that 143 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:24.639 got together that really wanted more for their children. They didn't want them to 144 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:28.559 be institutionalized. They wanted them to, you know, be able to live 145 00:11:30.399 --> 00:11:35.200 a normal life and be engaged in their communities. So they came together and 146 00:11:35.639 --> 00:11:39.720 founded Jiwanio. And you know, it started off with a small group of 147 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:46.879 families and they put together this summer education program called Camp Jiwanio. And from 148 00:11:46.919 --> 00:11:52.799 there, you know, the organization just blossomed into multiple programs adding on, 149 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.840 you know, after so many years, to the point now that you know, 150 00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:01.039 we have over a dozen different programs that were providing Let's talk a little 151 00:12:01.039 --> 00:12:05.120 bit about funding. Obviously that many people that have to be provided for it 152 00:12:05.960 --> 00:12:11.279 do all the clients live there or some do some commute, but they are 153 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:16.720 living quarters. So it's obviously an expensive place to run. How are you 154 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:20.120 funded? How do you manage? So we you know, we are we 155 00:12:20.159 --> 00:12:24.279 do get funding from the state. A lot of the individuals that we support 156 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:28.919 are you know, they get Medicaid and some of them have private insurance. 157 00:12:28.360 --> 00:12:33.480 And then we have foundations that support us and we do a lot of fundraising. 158 00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:39.559 Um the fundraising is what helps us to do innovative programming. So without 159 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:45.200 that, you know, we really can't innovate because we don't have the funds 160 00:12:45.240 --> 00:12:48.120 to do that. So we were fortunate, you know, with the Bricket 161 00:12:48.159 --> 00:12:54.480 against Or because we received a very large grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. 162 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.600 Without that, we would have never been able to do something like this. 163 00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:03.240 Well, and we mentioned and I've always been appreciative of some of the 164 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:07.879 innovations that come out of Juannio, And we mentioned Diana hass And I have 165 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:09.720 to think it was going to wait to the end of the show, but 166 00:13:11.200 --> 00:13:13.919 thank you here and now for coming through with with you a great guest and 167 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.399 a great topic on Passover Nola. I don't ask for much. No, 168 00:13:18.840 --> 00:13:22.799 it's pass over tonight. Can you get Randy for me? On short notice? 169 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:26.679 And she pulled it together and she's also Shepherd's A lot of it was 170 00:13:26.720 --> 00:13:31.240 a dodgeball tournament. I think you guys did for a while of basketball things. 171 00:13:31.279 --> 00:13:35.279 You're you're always innovative, and I wanted to talk a little bit about 172 00:13:35.360 --> 00:13:41.360 some of those challenges of coming up with new and innovative ideas. Especially COVID 173 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:45.240 had must have had a huge effect because it had effect on all of us 174 00:13:45.320 --> 00:13:50.279 in general. And something as confined, if you will, as people working 175 00:13:50.279 --> 00:13:54.399 in such a close atmosphere as they have to with Juanio must have had a 176 00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:58.200 unique challenges. How did you How did you weather that? You know, 177 00:13:58.240 --> 00:14:03.120 the staffing is really our biggest challenge is getting staff to come and work, 178 00:14:03.240 --> 00:14:09.159 because you know, to be able to pay a competitive salary is a little 179 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:13.759 challenging when you're competing with for profit businesses and you know you're a not for 180 00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:18.240 profit and what you're what you're paying is based on the reimbursements from the state. 181 00:14:18.840 --> 00:14:22.720 So you know, there's a lot of advocacy around um, you know, 182 00:14:24.080 --> 00:14:28.879 the state paying staff a living wage and doing a cost of living adjustment 183 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:35.000 that would help us to you know, increase their salaries. So that really, 184 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:37.799 during the pandemic was our was our biggest challenge. I will say that, 185 00:14:39.320 --> 00:14:43.000 you know, we probably weathered the storm better than some of the other 186 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.120 agencies because of our long history, because we have staff that have been with 187 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:50.480 us in some cases for decades, UM that are just so committed to the 188 00:14:50.519 --> 00:14:56.320 people that we're supporting. I mean, they love these individuals like they're a 189 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:58.120 member of their own family, and for some of them, it's the only 190 00:14:58.120 --> 00:15:03.279 family they've ever so for you know, a place like Juannio. You know, 191 00:15:03.600 --> 00:15:07.559 having the staff is really at the heart and soul of everything that we're 192 00:15:07.639 --> 00:15:13.440 doing, because without them we couldn't provide the programs we provide. And where 193 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:16.240 do you draw people from? Do they come from all over the state to 194 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:22.840 work at Juanio locally? And again because our listeners, because we do stream 195 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:28.080 and we do have listeners from all over hopefully to make your hopsa and beyond 196 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:31.240 just Rockland County. So you know, there are times I give the relative 197 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:35.759 area Rockland County about twenty five thirty miles or so north of New York City, 198 00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:39.759 relatively affluent. We've talked about it. People to people, there are 199 00:15:39.799 --> 00:15:43.960 still no matter where you are, no matter how wealthy the community, there 200 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:50.799 are always people in need, and so services are important to to provide. 201 00:15:52.159 --> 00:15:58.480 But to finish that long winded question, do you draw people workers, employees 202 00:15:58.559 --> 00:16:02.200 from all over the state, all over the areas and they come to work 203 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:06.159 at Juana Um? Yeah, I mean at our large portion of our staff 204 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:10.480 are from Rockland, but we do draw staff from the city, from Westchester 205 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:14.759 County, Orange County, Duchess, Putnam, um. You know, pretty 206 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:18.519 much the surrounding counties or the people that are coming to work for us. 207 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:23.240 We do get some staff coming in from New Jersey, but primarily, I 208 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:27.039 would say, you know, for our Rockland sites, the staff are primarily 209 00:16:27.080 --> 00:16:33.919 from Rockland, and for our Westchester sites, primarily from Westchester, and like 210 00:16:33.960 --> 00:16:37.799 the Bronx area. All right, we've got the good background. So let's 211 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:44.120 let's talk about Rickett again. It's just absolutely terrific. Again, you can't 212 00:16:44.159 --> 00:16:48.000 see us smiling. I'll just have to tell everyone we're smiling ear to ear 213 00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:52.919 because this just the coolest thing ever. I gotta say, how did you 214 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:56.200 come first? Exped I'm so excited, I'm going to get ahead of myself. 215 00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.639 So it's stumbling, as we call it being Frank. It's too much 216 00:17:00.679 --> 00:17:04.200 Frank from time to time. But anyway, very excited to hear about Bricket 217 00:17:04.319 --> 00:17:08.200 again. What is it? How did it come about, what are you 218 00:17:08.240 --> 00:17:11.519 trying to accomplish with it? Etcetera, etcetera. We'll get to them all, 219 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:18.119 but first what is Bricket again? So Bricket Again is a retail shop 220 00:17:18.200 --> 00:17:23.240 that where we sell Legos, both used and new Lego products. And really 221 00:17:25.319 --> 00:17:27.880 the idea stem from a couple of things. You know, I watch my 222 00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:33.680 nephews play with Legos and you know, you just see how much joy they 223 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:37.200 got out of it. And then I started thinking, these legos are pretty 224 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.720 expensive. Where do they do with them when when they're done with them? 225 00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:44.559 And then I started thinking about an organization I was on the board for called 226 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:48.920 Yes She Can. They had a store called Girl Again where they resold American 227 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.759 girl dolls and their clothes and accessories. And I thought, well, they 228 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:56.960 could resell American Girl dolls and get their stuff donated. Why can't we do 229 00:17:57.000 --> 00:18:03.839 the same thing with legos. So the idea was born. And really the 230 00:18:03.880 --> 00:18:07.880 goal we were trying to accomplish and we are accomplishing, is to get people 231 00:18:07.880 --> 00:18:11.480 to work. We have a lot of individuals with us that they really they 232 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:17.240 want to be meaningfully employed, They want to earn a paycheck, and this 233 00:18:17.319 --> 00:18:21.240 is a really good opportunity for them to do that. We, you know, 234 00:18:21.279 --> 00:18:26.400 we do that primarily because we have a really great community. We've had 235 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:29.839 a lot of people come in and donate the Lego products to the store, 236 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:34.599 and what our individuals are doing is they are cleaning them, sorting them, 237 00:18:34.799 --> 00:18:40.880 repackaging them, and selling them. So it's really like the best of both 238 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:45.839 worlds. We're providing you know, this retail shop in the community where people 239 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:49.119 can come in they could purchase Lego products. We're going to be doing birthday 240 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:55.319 parties there and other you know, community type events, and we are putting 241 00:18:55.359 --> 00:19:00.680 people to work well, you know, you mentioned and all the good will 242 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:06.559 in the world and getting I'm sure a lot of parents donating legos step on 243 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:11.519 them any longer in the middle in the middle of the night. But you 244 00:19:11.640 --> 00:19:15.319 mentioned earlier on that some funding was necessary to get it off the ground. 245 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:19.920 You know, the great ideas and great intentions are just that they're they're great, 246 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:23.400 but to make them happen, you needed some funding. And I understand 247 00:19:23.400 --> 00:19:27.839 you got a special grant. Yes, we got a three hundred thousand dollars 248 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:33.319 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, and that really afforded us the opportunity 249 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:41.200 to you know, rent the space by buy some products, renovate uh and 250 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:45.559 higher staff, and really help us get this off the ground for the first 251 00:19:45.880 --> 00:19:49.400 basically the first year of operations. So I'm assuming then, if I might, 252 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:53.720 um, it's a combination of some of your clients who are working on 253 00:19:53.759 --> 00:20:00.119 a certain level that are adaptable to cleaning, sorting, and things of that 254 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:03.920 nature. But you also have, if you will, professional help, a 255 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:08.240 store manager and people who are actually work in retail to be able to guide 256 00:20:08.279 --> 00:20:12.759 them. So it's a true and I'm driving at it's a true working environment. 257 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:17.759 Absolutely, it's a it's an integrated site. So we do have a 258 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:21.519 store manager, We're going to be hiring a party host that will you know, 259 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.160 really run all the birthday parties and the special events. And then we 260 00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:29.200 have the other individuals that are working there that will help with you know, 261 00:20:29.240 --> 00:20:32.519 as I mentioned, the cleaning, the sorting, the packaging, and then 262 00:20:32.559 --> 00:20:36.519 the selling of the product. Now, again with respecting people's privacy, what 263 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:41.160 type of clients are able and capable of work? What kind of people would 264 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:47.079 you like to see working at the Juanio store. So you know, we 265 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:52.839 support people with developmental disabilities, mental health challenges, and chronic medical conditions, 266 00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:56.079 and we have you know, a wide variety of people that are working in 267 00:20:56.119 --> 00:21:00.519 the store right now. So it's a great opportunity for people that you know, 268 00:21:00.599 --> 00:21:04.480 have have those types of skills. We're really looking for people that are 269 00:21:04.559 --> 00:21:10.119 Lego enthusiasts that really understand the Lego product. Because there are things that you 270 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:15.359 know, get donated that have value that UM like real Lego enthusiasts are looking 271 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:18.599 to purchase, so they will draw them to the store. And then as 272 00:21:18.599 --> 00:21:21.599 well as you know, catering to the young kids, so we have kids 273 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:23.680 that will come in and play with play with the products, and build right 274 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:29.559 there in the store, which was you know, really exciting. And you 275 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:32.319 know, all of these things I think, you know, the individuals that 276 00:21:32.359 --> 00:21:34.559 we're supporting, they love to do, they love to interact with people, 277 00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:38.000 and you know, they really make some of the best employees because they're so 278 00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:44.279 dedicated and they don't ever call it out thick. Yeah, that's great, 279 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:49.920 It's really great. Now you mentioned community involvement and that you accept donations. 280 00:21:51.440 --> 00:21:56.000 How how did will you take virtually anything A piece, two pieces, five 281 00:21:56.039 --> 00:22:00.279 pieces, anything Lego. So we'll take the bricks, we'll take the mini 282 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:07.359 figures, we take Lego books, Lego movies, any anything Lego. UM 283 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:10.519 the community can donate. They can come right down to the store. It's 284 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:14.880 at seven Lake Ridge Plaza and Valley Cottage. They can bring it to our 285 00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:19.079 site in New City at two sixty North Little Tour Road, or they can 286 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:23.559 bring it bring it down to our Yonker site and any of those are you 287 00:22:23.599 --> 00:22:27.200 know, great drop off points. Um. You know, for more information, 288 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:36.200 they can visit our website at www. Dot bricket again dot org um. 289 00:22:36.279 --> 00:22:40.279 And you know, we're we're happy to for for real large pick up 290 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:45.079 product donations. We're happy to come pick it up. And how is it 291 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:48.319 going so far? Are you getting a lot of donations? Are you selling 292 00:22:48.359 --> 00:22:52.640 a lot of products? Tell us about I think we're off to a really 293 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:56.720 great start. I mean we've had, you know, a lot of people 294 00:22:56.759 --> 00:23:00.240 donating products to us. That we had this one, this one and that 295 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:06.400 called Diana and said I have a thousand pounds of legos to donate and Diana 296 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:10.640 and Diana she so she's texting me and she said she goes. He said 297 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:12.519 it's a thousand pounds. I said, Diana, tell him for a thousand 298 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:17.839 pounds, we'll go pick it up. And we sent we sent a staff 299 00:23:17.920 --> 00:23:23.000 with one of our vans and it literally was a thousand pounds of legos um, 300 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:30.160 multiple bins of Ferris Wheel and VW bug. Like just the guy was 301 00:23:30.200 --> 00:23:33.680 incredible, you know and just so generous. Wow. Now, then how 302 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:37.559 do you sell them? People go to the store. Is it Is it 303 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:41.039 a mail Do they say mail order anymore? When my gun I'm so square? 304 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:48.000 Order online? Excuse so, Malcolm. People purchase these yeah so um 305 00:23:48.200 --> 00:23:52.279 they So we have a few different ways that you can purchase. So you 306 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:56.519 can come into the store and you can purchase by the pound. Um, 307 00:23:56.559 --> 00:24:00.759 there's you know, we they're sorted the pieces, so there's technical pieces that 308 00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:03.160 are a little bit more and then you have your regular bricks so they can 309 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:08.079 they can pick their whatever ones they want and we will package them and sell 310 00:24:08.119 --> 00:24:12.960 them by the pound. There's pre owned sets that are complete sets that we're 311 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:18.359 selling in the store, and then we have new products anything that like the 312 00:24:18.440 --> 00:24:22.519 new products and the pre owned sets, we are also putting on the Bricket 313 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:29.759 again website and people can buy off of the website if I might. Before 314 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:33.160 we go to the commercial break, I wanted to read something that came from 315 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:37.839 the Rockland County Business Journal and I think it's important and just give me a 316 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:42.519 moment. It's interesting to think about Juanio's scheme to open a store that sells 317 00:24:42.640 --> 00:24:49.079 used in new lego bricks. Given a nonprofits strenuous reputation for building an environment 318 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:56.559 that nourishes people with developmental disabilities every day. The organization lays the foundation for 319 00:24:56.680 --> 00:25:02.160 people with challenges to better inhabit and function in the world. I just think 320 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:06.839 that's absolutely terrific and it really says an awful lot about you, the organization 321 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:10.480 and how you keep going. And I said, these these are tough times, 322 00:25:11.039 --> 00:25:15.200 uh, and you know we have to ask or organizations do, and 323 00:25:15.240 --> 00:25:22.039 they need generosity. But I think the key and truly the key of evolution, 324 00:25:22.119 --> 00:25:26.640 it's not it's not really the survival of the fittest. It's the survival 325 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:30.519 of the most adaptable. And you guys seem to keep adapting and in fun 326 00:25:30.559 --> 00:25:36.079 and interesting ways all the time. We're trying, we're trying, and like 327 00:25:36.119 --> 00:25:40.640 I said earlier, we're really fortunate because we have a very supportive community and 328 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:45.160 a lot of you know, community based organizations that are helping us with the 329 00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:48.759 lego donations by doing lego drives of their own. So you know, they're 330 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:52.680 having people that are donating their use legos. They're asking people to donate new 331 00:25:52.759 --> 00:25:57.079 sets and then they're bringing them to us or we're picking picking them up from 332 00:25:57.119 --> 00:26:02.559 them. So let's take a brief commercial break. When it come back, 333 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:06.400 let's talk a little bit more about your websites, how people can get in 334 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:10.680 touch with you future events. Because I know I can see again, I 335 00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:12.519 can see you. I know the head is spinning. Whether there's all things 336 00:26:12.519 --> 00:26:17.960 going but between you and Diana, that's something going to be going on down 337 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:22.640 the road that's going to be fun and profitable hopefully for you NEOs. And 338 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:26.599 we'll talk to all about that when we come back from these brief messages. 339 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:30.960 This is being Frank. I'm your host, Frank Labono. Will be more, 340 00:26:30.039 --> 00:26:37.440 will be back with more intelligent conversation right after these brief messages. Hudson 341 00:26:37.559 --> 00:26:41.799 River Radio dot com bring a dash of green into your life. Check out 342 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:47.039 the Many Shades of Green with Maxine, Margot Reuben, and Malcolm Burman. 343 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:52.640 Get informed about environmental issues and current events that affect us all. Pick a 344 00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:56.000 shade of green and raise your eco consciousness with the Many Shades of Green. 345 00:26:56.559 --> 00:27:03.440 Available on Apple Podcasts, Art, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. 346 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:08.559 Be sure to check out another one of our podcasts, Big Jim Wheelers 347 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:14.960 Classic Radio Theater. It features historic radio shows from the nineteen thirties through the 348 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:21.279 nineteen sixties, including Dragnet Gunsmoke, the Shadow, and tons of other classic 349 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:26.960 hits. Check out Big Jim Wheelers Classic Radio Theater on Apple Podcasts, iHeart, 350 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:37.920 Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts, Hudson River Radio dot com. 351 00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:41.920 We're back, well at least I'm back. Hopefully you're back. It's being 352 00:27:42.000 --> 00:27:45.200 Frank. We're the only way to be is Frank. I'm your host, 353 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:52.400 Frank Lagono, and we're talking to brandeios Castro from the CEO of Juannio and 354 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:59.519 their wonderful new innovative program Brick It Again, where they're refurbishing old legos, 355 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:03.640 making them new again and for sale to provide employment for some of their clients 356 00:28:03.759 --> 00:28:08.640 and also to make a little bit of money. We want to talk a 357 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:12.559 little bit about how people can get in touch with you again. I think 358 00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:18.279 it's important if they have need of your organization as a family member, how 359 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:21.200 can they get in touch with you? If they want to be involved with 360 00:28:21.640 --> 00:28:25.839 Bricket Again? How can people follow you? You must have a Facebook page, 361 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.799 Instagram, etc. Let's let's give them all that information. Hold on, 362 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:32.880 everybody, get a pencil, write this down because we don't have any 363 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:38.480 graphics that we can, so let's give it to Randy please, so you 364 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:42.880 know, you can definitely get in touch with us on our bricket again dot 365 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.400 org website. There's a way for you to contact us there. You could 366 00:28:48.440 --> 00:28:55.960 also call our main campus at eight four five seven zero eight two zero zero 367 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:59.720 zero. Those are great ways to get in touch with us. You can 368 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:03.799 all so visit our Juanio dot org site. So it's www. Dot Janio 369 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:08.279 dot org and any one of those means will put you in touch with us 370 00:29:08.319 --> 00:29:12.839 and we'll be able to help direct you whether it's you know, looking you're 371 00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:17.960 looking to you know, get somebody employed and have us, you know, 372 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:21.799 work with you on that, or you're looking to donate to us. You're 373 00:29:21.880 --> 00:29:25.559 use legos that are probably sitting in your basement growing dusk. This is a 374 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:30.759 great opportunity for you to help us build futures brick by brick. Now, 375 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:33.839 I understand that's a great little play on words. They're almost as clever as 376 00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:41.960 being frank almost any point. I understand there as a contest involved with the 377 00:29:41.000 --> 00:29:44.480 donations of the legos. Can you tell us a little bit about that? 378 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:48.119 So not only are people doing good, they're going to get good. Yeah, 379 00:29:48.119 --> 00:29:51.279 So if you come in and you donate to the store, you have 380 00:29:51.319 --> 00:29:56.880 an opportunity to win a wet Raffle prize. So one of the prizes is 381 00:29:56.920 --> 00:30:03.079 for donating products, you can win tickets to Legoland. And then we have 382 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:07.759 another prize that if you come in and make a purchase, you can you 383 00:30:07.799 --> 00:30:11.839 can win a chance for a birthday party at the store. So cool. 384 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:15.440 And what's in the future, What's what's the next You have the next Bricket 385 00:30:15.440 --> 00:30:21.079 Again somewhere in the recesses of your mind. What can we do. There's 386 00:30:21.079 --> 00:30:22.680 a couple of ideas that are brewing. I mean, you know, it 387 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.160 would be nice to open up a second Bricket Again store at some point, 388 00:30:26.200 --> 00:30:30.240 maybe in the future. We have a couple other ideas that I don't really 389 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:33.640 want to share at the moments. I don't want Toyboy stealing them. But 390 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:38.119 there's a lot there's a lot of ideas that have been brewing around Juana on 391 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:42.519 how we can get more people to work and continue the programming that we're doing 392 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:48.559 there. So when they come to Fruition you'll join us again and absolutely we'll 393 00:30:48.559 --> 00:30:51.480 talk about it again. In the meantime, again, I have to thank 394 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:56.640 Diana Hess and also say that Neil Richter says, Hello, they go back 395 00:30:56.680 --> 00:31:00.359 a long ways. That's a little frightening to me, especially Diana if she 396 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:07.920 knows rictor that long. So be afraid, be very afraid. Anyway, 397 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:11.279 Randy, I want to thank you on a serious note. We had some 398 00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:15.440 fun tonight, but you're doing a great job. I've been there on a 399 00:31:15.519 --> 00:31:19.319 number of occasions. It's a fabulous organization. And this is what you do 400 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.960 is you know the right things, the right ways, with the right people 401 00:31:23.039 --> 00:31:26.559 for the right people. If that makes any sense to anyone. I really 402 00:31:27.400 --> 00:31:32.039 we really appreciate you having me on the show, and you know, we're 403 00:31:32.079 --> 00:31:36.880 so grateful to you and the community for your support because we need that in 404 00:31:36.960 --> 00:31:41.720 order to continue doing what we're doing. Well. We call it intelligent conversation, 405 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:45.799 and I have to add, at least I have very intelligent guests like 406 00:31:45.880 --> 00:31:52.079 yourself that carry most of the conversation. We'll leave it at that. Of 407 00:31:52.079 --> 00:31:55.480 course, we like to give a special thanks to our listeners who take the 408 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:59.319 time to give us a voice in their lives. Remember we offer a fresh 409 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:04.440 topic every week and you can catch us wherever and whenever you get your favorite 410 00:32:04.440 --> 00:32:08.839 podcasts. Remember that's apples, Spotify, a heart radio speaker and all the 411 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:14.039 rest, and of course you can check us out on our Facebook page. 412 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:16.640 Before we go, let me leave you with our last two little tidbits. 413 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:21.799 This one is from Teddy Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, and I think I always 414 00:32:21.799 --> 00:32:25.319 try to pick something that's a little apropos appropriate for our conversation, and this 415 00:32:25.400 --> 00:32:31.599 is do what you can with what you have where you are. I'd call 416 00:32:31.720 --> 00:32:36.880 that pragmatic and practical. We've got some great music from a good friend, 417 00:32:36.920 --> 00:32:40.680 Tim O'donohu and the TMU band. The song I really like. It's about 418 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:46.799 the hard working immigrants who built this country, and it's called Central Line. 419 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:51.759 I'm your host, Frank Labona or we hope to see you on the next 420 00:32:52.359 --> 00:33:00.680 being Frank, We're the only way to be, is Frank you? A 421 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:13.039 song of my cee. Our country became great only built railroads. The author 422 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:16.480 of this song is named Jo Harm. She holds the ancestors built the railroads 423 00:33:16.480 --> 00:33:22.200 for me west coast towards the east, my legal Irish and the grant ancestors 424 00:33:22.240 --> 00:33:52.599 build the least towards the west. The math Comtory top songs about that untaste 425 00:33:53.680 --> 00:34:14.639 right. This is the people Store in San Francisco. I'm set behind play 426 00:34:14.679 --> 00:34:43.960 A time had come then you don't want mine? No one has to play 427 00:34:53.559 --> 00:35:57.000 all s strove the line. I made it through my fear away. What 428 00:35:57.079 --> 00:36:08.119 would make any hand for it? Ten miles A with a friendly he ain't 429 00:36:08.199 --> 00:37:30.800 together, stroke no wrong staying away to line. This is Hudson River Radio 430 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:31.400 dot com.