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<v Speaker 1>Good morning, Welcome, welcome, welcome idiots at time now for

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<v Speaker 1>our community connection right here on K one. The one

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<v Speaker 1>you trust and which is today is Mike Shornson. He's

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<v Speaker 1>the program director for n and Mayah Community Development. And Mike,

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<v Speaker 1>my goodness sake, what a great story you have about

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<v Speaker 1>helping people trying to get ready to help themselves. Tell

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<v Speaker 1>us a little bit about me and Mayah Community Development.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, we've been working since twenty ten. Our goal, we say,

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<v Speaker 2>we want to provide hope, health and housing to the

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<v Speaker 2>people in Washington County.

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<v Speaker 1>Huh.

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<v Speaker 3>We start in twenty ten.

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<v Speaker 2>It started with Orlando Parker who began it just wanting

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<v Speaker 2>to help. He saw people coming out of jail that

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<v Speaker 2>had no idea how to function. They didn't have a job,

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<v Speaker 2>they didn't have a car, they didn't have any way

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<v Speaker 2>to just function in society, and they're trying to rebuild

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<v Speaker 2>their lives. So that was his goal, was just to

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<v Speaker 2>jump in and just get in the mess with people

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<v Speaker 2>and try to figure out what they need to help them,

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<v Speaker 2>you know, learn how to be a good father, or

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<v Speaker 2>learn how to you know, get a good job and

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<v Speaker 2>have a good work ethic.

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<v Speaker 3>Things like that.

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<v Speaker 2>It led into really a focus on housing is kind

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<v Speaker 2>of our core.

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<v Speaker 4>We've had men's and women's houses in.

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<v Speaker 2>Town, group homes where we allow people to we provide

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<v Speaker 2>the housing, but then we get into all those messes

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<v Speaker 2>of life with trying to help them with just functioning independently.

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<v Speaker 2>Independent living is kind of our goal with people.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, this is a massive undertaking, and we're familiar with

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<v Speaker 1>the tiny houses and a few of the projects that

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<v Speaker 1>you have here in Death. Yeah, but you got a great,

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<v Speaker 1>big wing. It's been in the work for a while.

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<v Speaker 1>We do.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, we did the cottages on sixth Street on West.

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<v Speaker 2>If anybody goes west on Adams, they see the little

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<v Speaker 2>bright colored.

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<v Speaker 3>Homes over there.

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<v Speaker 2>We built affordable housing, thank you. We built those started

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<v Speaker 2>in twenty seventeen. There's twenty of those units now that

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<v Speaker 2>are affordable. And when we started that project, we saw

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<v Speaker 2>the need come out. When he opened the first three,

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<v Speaker 2>we had like near one hundred applicants for those and

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of people who even if they weren't homeless,

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<v Speaker 2>they were couch hopping or things, they didn't make enough

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<v Speaker 2>to be able to live independently in town.

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<v Speaker 3>So we saw that big need.

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<v Speaker 2>So the next step that we went to besides our

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<v Speaker 2>men's and women's homes.

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<v Speaker 3>As we went and bought the Emerald.

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<v Speaker 2>Hotel, it was formerly an Emerald Hotel that was abandoned

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<v Speaker 2>up on seventy five in Tuxedo, and so we've owned that.

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<v Speaker 2>We are in kind of grant process for now right

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<v Speaker 2>now trying to get our funding to do the big

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<v Speaker 2>work over there.

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<v Speaker 3>But that's going to be a kind of group.

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<v Speaker 2>Home process, transitional housing basically where we can fit up

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<v Speaker 2>to one hundred and forty people in that facility, and

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<v Speaker 2>it'll be a three step process basically for people to

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<v Speaker 2>move into independent living. So they start, they come in,

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<v Speaker 2>they're coming out of rehab, they're coming out of homelessness,

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<v Speaker 2>they come out of jail, sometimes with mental health court

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<v Speaker 2>or something like that, and we're helping them with mental

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<v Speaker 2>health issues, substance issues. We're also working with them on

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<v Speaker 2>learning how to get a job, learning how to you know,

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<v Speaker 2>getting their driver's license, getting their ged, various things to

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<v Speaker 2>that they're ready to be an independent member of society.

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<v Speaker 3>So we're working on that.

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<v Speaker 2>That'll be like a three step process so they're ready

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<v Speaker 2>by the time they're done and they move out of

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<v Speaker 2>that facility, they're ready to get their own apartment, they've

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<v Speaker 2>got their own car, and they're they're working, they're doing

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<v Speaker 2>everything they.

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<v Speaker 4>Can do to be productive members of society.

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<v Speaker 1>Right now, we're kind of looking for a little bit

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<v Speaker 1>of generosity on behalf of the people in the community

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<v Speaker 1>to kind of help out because the way you haven't

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<v Speaker 1>set up, I understand you've got you're moving yet, yeah,

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<v Speaker 1>and it's like life is hitting you like a sledgehammer

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<v Speaker 1>all over again. But you're taking a thirty day pause

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<v Speaker 1>on some of this stuff, right.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, So when people move into our prayer right now,

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<v Speaker 2>we have a men's in a women's house and it'll

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<v Speaker 2>just amplify when the hotel opens. But people come into

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<v Speaker 2>our program, they usually vast majority do not have a job.

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<v Speaker 2>They either come out of jail or homelessness or out

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<v Speaker 2>of rehab or something like that, and when they come

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<v Speaker 2>in don't have any ability to pay for anything themselves,

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<v Speaker 2>but we don't and we do move them towards getting

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<v Speaker 2>a job, but that first thirty days we really want

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<v Speaker 2>them to focus on doing the program, just deal with

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<v Speaker 2>whatever mental health issues, substance use issues, whatever brings them

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<v Speaker 2>in the program. We usually find we need to focus

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<v Speaker 2>on some of that first before they're off working all day,

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<v Speaker 2>and so we want them to take that first thirty

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<v Speaker 2>days and not work. But if we do that, then

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<v Speaker 2>the housing fees they have to pay, like we have.

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<v Speaker 3>A mortgage today and all that.

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<v Speaker 2>So when they're paying their housing fees and transportation fees,

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<v Speaker 2>now they're behind thirty days in. They get a job

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<v Speaker 2>thirty or sixty days in, and now they're already in debt,

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<v Speaker 2>and that is to set up for failure financially for them.

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<v Speaker 2>So what we're trying to do is raise some support

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<v Speaker 2>that allows us to help both pay off some debts

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<v Speaker 2>for some of our people in the program now and

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<v Speaker 2>also set up scholarships so that when people come in

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<v Speaker 2>we can say, don't work your first thirty days, that

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<v Speaker 2>money is taken care of.

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<v Speaker 3>Work on you, Yeah, so work on you for thirty

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<v Speaker 3>We're going to trust me.

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<v Speaker 2>We want them to work because that's part of the

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<v Speaker 2>program as you're expected to figure out how to find

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<v Speaker 2>a job, and we're teaching them work ethic, we're teaching

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<v Speaker 2>them how to do their resume and all that stuff.

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<v Speaker 4>So we're going to be moving them there.

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<v Speaker 2>We want them to have a little breathing room, so

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<v Speaker 2>they're not panicking because some people it's stressful to them

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<v Speaker 2>right off the bat, like I gotta get working and

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<v Speaker 2>that's all they get focused on because they don't like

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<v Speaker 2>feeling like they're in debt. So we want them to

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<v Speaker 2>be able to relax and say, hey, people have taken

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<v Speaker 2>care of your first thirty days. You just focus on

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<v Speaker 2>you that thirty days is up. We're expecting you to

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<v Speaker 2>get a job and we'll get to work and we're going.

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<v Speaker 4>To do all those other pieces.

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<v Speaker 2>So yeah, we're asking if there's people who are open

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<v Speaker 2>to donating, that would be a huge blessing to our

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<v Speaker 2>participants and it would help bridge some gaps for them.

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<v Speaker 2>I know they would greatly appreciate it. It would be a

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<v Speaker 2>huge relief some of our participants now who are working

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<v Speaker 2>hard and are now in jobs, but also still it's

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<v Speaker 2>like yeah, yeah they are, And then I think you

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<v Speaker 2>know a lot of them, it's a struggle some people.

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<v Speaker 2>If you have a criminal history or different things, like

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<v Speaker 2>there's a limit to what jobs people are willing to

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<v Speaker 2>get you, and a lot of them they may not schooling.

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<v Speaker 2>It's going to take some time for them to get

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<v Speaker 2>their ged or do some of the things they need

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<v Speaker 2>to get a quality job, and so it's a long

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<v Speaker 2>process sometimes with people. And the more flexibility we can

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<v Speaker 2>give them to say, you're working on the ethic of it,

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<v Speaker 2>you're practicing, you're working hard, you're doing you're responsible, you're

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<v Speaker 2>doing what you need to do. But to take some

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<v Speaker 2>of that pressure off of them so they're not panicking right.

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<v Speaker 3>Away and going what am I going to do? I

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<v Speaker 3>can't this feels overwhelming.

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<v Speaker 2>When we can make it feasible for them, then I

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<v Speaker 2>find they thrive in that because they feel like somebody's

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<v Speaker 2>given them a chance.

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<v Speaker 1>This is great. It's a Neilmiya Communitydevelopment dot Com is

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<v Speaker 1>where you can go and we'll have a little link

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<v Speaker 1>on the website there that there will also kind of

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<v Speaker 1>you bring that out more prominently in the news story.

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<v Speaker 1>That way, you just click on there and you can

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<v Speaker 1>find out the information and you can make your decision

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<v Speaker 1>as to whether or not you're going to help out.

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<v Speaker 1>I really think that this is a great way for

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<v Speaker 1>those who are doing okay to help about our brothers

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<v Speaker 1>and sisters who are trying to do okay.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah, and that's that's who we're looking for.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, is the people who they want out that

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<v Speaker 2>they they that they need support, they need a leg

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<v Speaker 2>up on how to get out, and so we're here

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<v Speaker 2>to provide that bridge to help them move into independent living.

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<v Speaker 1>Now, how did you get drawn to this, Mike Sorenton?

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<v Speaker 1>You know, heck a guy, nice fella, and you waded

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<v Speaker 1>into some pretty deep water here, young man.

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<v Speaker 4>Maybe I like it though.

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<v Speaker 2>I well, my background, I'm a licensed professional counselor.

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<v Speaker 3>That was what my degree was in.

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<v Speaker 2>I got a licensed I used to run a counseling

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<v Speaker 2>practice up on the East Coast, but I moved here

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<v Speaker 2>ten years ago to go on staff at Grace Community Church. Actually,

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<v Speaker 2>so I was doing small groups pastoring, still did some

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<v Speaker 2>counseling and things over there, and probably probably six years

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<v Speaker 2>ago or so, I got familiar with what Neamia was

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<v Speaker 2>doing in town and met some of their participants, and

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<v Speaker 2>I started to do in relationship classes for them.

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<v Speaker 4>They now jokingly call me doctor Love.

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<v Speaker 3>Sometimes because as that was their introduction to me.

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<v Speaker 2>As I would come every Wednesday morning and do a

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<v Speaker 2>relationship class and we talk about conflict resolution and things

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<v Speaker 2>like that, and I just came to really love the

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<v Speaker 2>people there and love the work they were doing. So

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<v Speaker 2>as this new project this past year with the Hotel

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<v Speaker 2>Orlando Parker who started it. We were good friends and

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<v Speaker 2>we would meet regularly and talk, and I started feeling

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<v Speaker 2>the leading, like God was leading me, like you need

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<v Speaker 2>to be more involved in this. So I transitioned in

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<v Speaker 2>January to work full time for Nehemiah and out of Grace.

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<v Speaker 2>Grace is still a big supporter what we do so

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<v Speaker 2>in local missions, and so that's been a really good

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<v Speaker 2>connection there. There's still my church and everything, but it

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<v Speaker 2>kind of blends this weird combination of my background in

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<v Speaker 2>both pastoral and counseling and I like strategic leadership kind

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<v Speaker 2>of stuff. So it ends up bringing all of those

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<v Speaker 2>kind of gifts together in the same place.

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<v Speaker 3>So I really loved being part of it.

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<v Speaker 1>It sounds like you are where you need to be.

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<v Speaker 3>I feel that way. Yeah.

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<v Speaker 1>Wow, wait, that's a pretty cool story. But once again, folks,

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<v Speaker 1>I want you to remember this website. It's Neomia Communitydevelopment

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<v Speaker 1>dot Com. It's kind of long, but if you can

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<v Speaker 1>remember that Neamyah Communitydevelopment dot Com, you can follow along

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<v Speaker 1>and follow a little bit more into detail what we've

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<v Speaker 1>been discussing here on the air, and then right there

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<v Speaker 1>on the website. If you wish to donate, there's a

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<v Speaker 1>place where you can do that too, and that would

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<v Speaker 1>be so greatly appreciating. Man. I tell you what, there

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<v Speaker 1>are a lot of folks in this day and age

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<v Speaker 1>that need help like this. They're just right on that edge.

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<v Speaker 1>I can either succeed or I can fall back to

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<v Speaker 1>where I have been and start all over again. And

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<v Speaker 1>nobody really wants to do that. So let's kind of

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<v Speaker 1>get people over the finish line.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's hard, messy work sometimes, I think, but we've

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<v Speaker 2>said a few just come out of rehab, they have

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<v Speaker 2>some tools, they come out Okay, I'm ready to get clean.

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<v Speaker 2>But then they don't have a job, they don't have

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<v Speaker 2>a car, they don't have any income or place to stay.

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<v Speaker 2>They very quickly, even no matter how good their rehab was,

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<v Speaker 2>they don't have the ability to make it work.

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<v Speaker 3>They're going to go back to the people they know.

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<v Speaker 2>And so we find they revert back to an old

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<v Speaker 2>way of life because just no one helped bridge that gap.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's kind of where we come in. We really

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<v Speaker 2>love to get into the messy part that no one wants.

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<v Speaker 4>To get in there sometimes, to get in there.

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<v Speaker 2>And deal with all of that, But that's what we

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<v Speaker 2>have a passion for, Like, let's get in there with

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<v Speaker 2>them all these various things that come up, and let's

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<v Speaker 2>try to help give them a leg up, give them

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<v Speaker 2>a pathway forward, and if they'll take it and accept

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<v Speaker 2>the help. I find it's amazing the stories we've seen

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<v Speaker 2>the people in our.

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<v Speaker 3>Program that have stuck that out and worked at it.

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<v Speaker 2>We got people working in our office now that graduated

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<v Speaker 2>our program that are doing a lot of the work

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<v Speaker 2>for us right now that are amazing. Every one of

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<v Speaker 2>them has crazy, amazing testimonies of what they've been through.

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<v Speaker 3>And you wouldn't believe it.

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<v Speaker 2>You see them now, and you not believe the stories

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<v Speaker 2>they tell where they used to One of our lads

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<v Speaker 2>of works in our office now said she used to

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<v Speaker 2>as a homeless addict, would sneak into the hotel that

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<v Speaker 2>we bought sometimes to try and sleep in there. And

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<v Speaker 2>now she's helping us build this whole program over there.

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<v Speaker 2>So we have these stories of just people who come

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<v Speaker 2>out of just seemingly hopeless situations.

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<v Speaker 4>That are now living really productive, great lives.

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<v Speaker 2>And that's what energizes me, is to see that kind

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<v Speaker 2>of transformation is an amazing thing.

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<v Speaker 1>Well, you know something. First of all, it's been a

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<v Speaker 1>pleasure getting to know you a little bit better today. Mike,

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<v Speaker 1>Mike Sorenson has been our guest program director with me

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<v Speaker 1>and my Community Development Don't be a stranger, all right.

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<v Speaker 4>We would love to be back, all right.

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<v Speaker 1>Thank you very much for being with us year on

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<v Speaker 1>our Community Connection. Mild weather day coming up for most

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<v Speaker 1>of it. We'll finally see a little bit of sunshine

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<v Speaker 1>before