Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Better Together with Kosta Yepifantsev is a podcast about business, parenting and living life intentionally. We're here every week to bring you intentional conversations on making your own path to success, challenging the status quo, and finding all the ways we're better. Recorded in Cookeville, TN, Kosta joins guests from all walks of life to bring fresh perspective and start your week with purpose. We're better together.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Vol State
Elevate can meet your
organization's workforce
training needs. Whether you're
scaling a small business or
managing the company of 3000
employees, our mission is the
same to prepare your team for
what's next. That's why I have
Vol State offers tailored
training options designed to fit
the unique needs of your
organization. From on campus
workshops to onsite training and
online courses and
certifications vol state adapts
to your business culture,
employee schedules and learning
preferences. Vol State's
flexible and affordable programs
are designed to maximize your
training budget by making their
educators an extension of your
training team. ensure employees
aren't just prepared for today.
They're ready for what's coming
tomorrow. Schedule your free
consultation today at
volstate.edu/workforce
Shaquawana Wester: It's about
whatever these kids need. I am
willing to go to bat for it and
every nine year old girl in
poverty or nine year old boy,
whatever it is, if they can have
one person that will
consistently say with them, then
we can change all of the things
that they think of themselves in
the long run.
Morgan Franklin: Welcome to
Better Together with Kosta
Yepifantsev, a podcast on
parenting business and living
life intentionally. We're here
every week to bring you
thoughtful conversation, making
your own path to success,
challenging the status quo, and
finding all the ways we're
better together. Here's your
host, Kosta Yepifantsev.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Hey, y'all,
it's Kosta today I'm here with
my guest Shaquawana Wester.
Philanthropist, Community
Organizer and empower community
engagement coordinator with
UCHRA. In 2012, you started
Kiwanis coats, a coat drive
where anyone can come and get a
coat, no paperwork, no questions
asked. As someone who spends
every day trying to guarantee
and expand the opportunities of
our community. How does open
access to essentials like
clothing give space for
individuals to grow?
Shaquawana Wester: I believe
that the common necessities of
life I mean, clothing, food,
hygiene products, I think those
are just things that everybody
needs once and I will never not
give those things, right, no
questions asked if you need
food, I'm a feed you you need
clothing, I got you. I
understand that money. Sometimes
people get a little antsy with
handing out money. I will say
sorry, to whomever may put the
little signs out that say Do not
give your money, if it's my
money, I can get whoever I want
to wherever I want to. But I do
understand if you choose not to
do so then that's fine. But I
pride myself on just seeing
youth, that child that might
have needed a little bit of
extra. And knowing the
difference in how I felt when it
was Easter Sunday, and I knew I
was gonna get that extra little
dress show, knowing how it felt
when school was coming around.
And I was gonna get the new
school clothing. And at that
beginning of the school year,
how I walked into school feeling
better. And you know, if you
take that, and you put that into
an adult that may not have and
you say go get a job. And
they're in rags, versus being
able to be clean and well kept
and have something on that they
feel confident. And I just feel
like if we can solve some of the
problem by giving those things
then why not? And I mean, how
many times do you hear, you
know, like, you may not have
been qualified for the job. But
she had such a great interview,
you know, and it's that
confidence and that self esteem,
you walk in and you own it. And
you may get the job and not be
prepared for it. But people will
invest in you so that you learn
it, I got my first job I was
Kosta Yepifantsev: to say that I
was ill prepared is an
understatement. I had no
preparation, but they gave me an
opportunity. And they gave me a
chance because I had the
confidence to obviously not just
look the part but also act the
part. And that's because people
throughout my childhood made a
lot of investment in me and I
felt valued. So I completely get
it. It's those little things
when somebody needs, you know,
just a jacket. You know what I'm
saying? A new jacket, you know,
because kids are mean boy.
Shaquawana Wester: I thank the
Lord that I am not a kid in the
school system today because I
cannot I cannot deal but just
the name brand thing. That's a
huge issue. And I'm so thankful
that my mom did not raise me on
name brand. And I have not done
that with my kids. You know,
yes, it's nice to have those
things that if you can go and
get those things, and when I
mean if you can go get those
things. I mean, once you hit 16
You better go get you a job and
you can go get those things
right. My daughter recently went
to a Drake concert and came back
with a sweat shirt that was $250
and I was I was So, but she
worked she babysat and she dogs
that and she saved all of that
money on her own concert ticket
down on the floor and was able
to buy her this sweatshirt also,
I could never write, I didn't
have that mindset. And I can't
forget that how the generational
poverty is broken is you know
what I'm saying? She She She
spent her money on that
sweatshirt. It's probably worth
it. I'm sure. Look, now when
they're Yeah, I'm sure that
they're selling for like double
that now. So she might have been
an investment. Yeah. Smarts
about her. Yeah, but I can just
remember, in school, having a
whole having a just little
things like that. Now, I was
lucky though, because I was a
cheerleader. I played
basketball, I was pretty
athletic. And apparently, I just
have a real good RBF. So kids
were afraid of me. So I didn't
have to worry too much for
myself. But I can just remember
other kids that would, you know,
be made fun of and then you take
that and amplified in today. And
you're seeing people that are
getting bullied to the point of
taking their lives because of an
article of clothing. So again,
if I can take those items, I
literally on Facebook, you'll
see people tagging me to
clothing to all of these things.
And I have a storage building
that I rent. And I store
clothing and hygiene products in
there. And I see people that
need or a house fire or just you
know, looking for their kids,
whatever. If I can respond to
that call, then I'm onit.
Kosta Yepifantsev: And so how do
people donate, like through
Facebook? Or do they call you
like say for example, Jessica
and I wanted to donate, where
would we start? A
Shaquawana Wester: little bit of
anything. I mean, like my phone
number, unfortunately is out
there because of the current
draft. So it's like everybody
has my phone number so it can be
a text. It's Facebook. The other
day somebody handed me down
through at UC HRA and brought me
some prom dresses. And I'm like
I work from home mostly. So I do
say just try to reach out to me
I will meet you in a public
place or have you to come to the
storage and unload.
Kosta Yepifantsev: I mean, you
want to like throw your number
out there like my Jones or
Shaquawana Wester: email okay,
do email email is s Wester at UC
hra.com. If you email me, I will
give you my number.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Fantastic. I
love it. So you're from
Cookeville.
Shaquawana Wester: I am born in
Nashville. Okay, I'm gonna throw
that out there. I know nothing
about it. But it sounds cool.
Kosta Yepifantsev: It's all
good. So as food, housing and
almost everything becomes more
expensive in the upper
Cumberland, how are we keeping
up with the needs of our
underserved community? And is
this community growing?
Shaquawana Wester: The community
is definitely growing the amount
of homeless families. I don't
know if you've talked with
anyone in the school system and
the amount of homeless families
with youth. Yeah, I can't even
think of the percentage that
they gave the this last time but
it absolutely blew my mind and
homelessness, especially for
kids. We're not necessarily just
saying sleeping outside. But if
you are sleeping at a friend's
on a couch because you know
you're not in your own room,
you're not on your own time,
you're you know, usually food is
scarce, it's harder to get
stamps and things if you don't
have your own address and things
there's a lot of hoops and
things that you have to jump
through. I'm gonna say you know,
a huge shout out. I know that
there are tons in the last few
years of organizations that are
coming together and doing more
to actually go out and be the
hands and feet and surveying and
finding people. And then I also
have to shout out places like
Publix and food line. I go over
there to food line every Monday
and Wednesday and Friday and I
pick up bread and I'm able to
sit it out at you say Trey and
families can come through and
get what they want. Again, no
questions asked. You just walk
inside the front doors. We have
a little display there. You
don't have to become into uch
right to get that you just come
in and get the food Highlands
residential also has that out
there Monday, Wednesdays and
Fridays, I believe. And they
usually also have vegetables and
things like that where I don't
have room to put the vegetables
and things out at use HRA. On
Sundays, I usually have bread
and that's another one where you
can email me if you need and on
Sundays, I can meet you
somewhere and I have food and
vegetables and things that I
would be more than happy to give
out. So
Kosta Yepifantsev: when we
interviewed core b He said like
one in two kids are either at or
close to the poverty line.
Statistically, I don't know if
you know the percentage but how
many kids in Putnam County
School System are considered
homeless? I don't. We've spoken
to Justin Beals before talking
about the homeless population.
And one of the things that he
mentioned which is kind of
shocked us. He said that the
average homeless person in
Putnam County, when I say that
word, you would assume that it's
probably you know, an old man or
woman or somebody that's on
drugs or someone that's made a
lot of really bad life choices,
but it's actually a nine year
old girl. So We'll just put that
into perspective. Or I guess it
helps us understand how do kids
survive and set themselves up
for success when they don't have
a stable home environment. So
Shaquawana Wester: if you are
trained in aces, and if you're
not, then look it up adverse
childhood experiences, it tells
you that it takes one, one
person to consistently be there
for a child to change all of
those experiences, whether
that's poverty, whether that is
living in a home with someone
who is suffering from
alcoholism, domestic violence,
all of these things, a lot of
people know me from things needs
training. And that was a huge
turning point for my life,
because I was able to come from
being that child that lived in
public house and to work in in
public housing and giving back
to the same children and
understanding their needs.
Because I needed them, I can say
that the relationship that I
built with the children, they're
from K through 12, and beyond,
because they still contact me,
one of one of my sweet children
that, I'm glad not to hear from
her. Because if I hear from her,
I know that something's not
good. And that's okay. Because
at the end of the day, if she
knows that she can call me and
that I'm gonna be there, then
I'm glad to be that person, I
just have to give her a hard
time if she ever hears this, you
know, whether it was for food
for just my parents don't
understand whether it was just
to cry, whether it was to laugh,
whatever it is, I was
consistent. Teachers change from
kindergarten to first grade, the
teacher changed from
kindergarten, they they're in
fifth grade, now they're in
seventh grade, now they've
graduated, all of these things
change their boyfriends change,
parents may pass, whatever. But
right now, I'm still here. And
so I am that one consistent
figure in their life. And I
think that that is one of the
biggest things that people don't
understand. It's just being
there, it's not always doing
this huge investment. Now, don't
get me wrong. working in
nonprofits, I'm going to say
that, yes, I will take your
items, and I will take your
monies, and I will find good
things to do with them. As I
said before, if you're living in
a home, just two teenage girls
and a mom, that's three females,
and the hygiene items that are
needed for these girls, okay? If
you don't have that going into
school, you're not going to
raise your hand, you're not
going to want to be in the
group, you're not going to want
to be in the clubs you are
trying to make. And I know
people are like no pads and
tampons is not a hugely
expensive, right, it is
expensive. And when you're a
young lady, and you aren't just
trying to not bring up to your
parents that you need more that
you need to have more than that,
and you're trying to make it
last for so long. And you don't
have the self that you need to
keep you're like all of these
things. I have kids that knew
that they could come to me and
just, I need more, I need more
of those things. And a young man
that came to me one time in high
school, a high school boy that's
coming to me and asking me for
help because his socks had
holes, you know, just little
things like that, that one
person that they know that they
can come to, for all of those
things, had to fill out an
application because he was too
embarrassed in school to say
that he needed it, you know, or
just not having the money to be
in the yearbook, he had to pay a
fee for the sitting fee. And
that's a whole nother tangent.
But anyway, he had to be able to
pay this fee to be in the
yearbook. And so I was able to
call someone in the school
system and make that change. And
I was the person that he came
to, you know, when it's not
about it being me, me, me, it's
about whatever these kids need,
I am willing to go to bat for
it. And every nine year old girl
in poverty, or nine year old
boy, whatever it is, if they can
have one person that will
consistently stay with them,
then we can change all of the
things that they think of
themselves in the long run.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So I have a
few questions there. But
typically, I mean, there has to
be a adult there if it's a nine
year old girl, right or just
child in general. So I mean, are
you saying that some of these
kids don't have any stability
period, like they have no
consistency in terms of figure
that they can look up to or they
can rely on?
Shaquawana Wester: I'm saying
that when you are a parent and
you're going through poverty,
you're dealing with a whole
demon itself. And I can say that
just from looking back at me
with my first daughter and
living in public housing versus
myself as a mom now, my kids 10
years later, in between the
birds have a completely
different mom, and I'm always
apologetic to my first daughter
like I'm so sorry, not that I
was doing anything horrible. I
was just trying to survive
myself. I was trying to figure
out how to get the job. I needed
a better job. I was trying to
better myself. I was taking
classes I was going to take time
today my CDA was trying to
salvage the relationship with
her father and doing all the
crazy things that I needed to do
to keep him. I was doing all the
things that I thought I needed
to be doing for my daughter,
except being 100% consistent for
my daughter, right? And so it's
not always this horror story,
it's that maybe that adult
doesn't have that one person
that was consistent for them.
And then before that, that adult
didn't. And that's where we get
into that generational poverty
thing. Because you can only
teach what you know, I can't go
out here and teach my daughter
how to be a dad because I've
never been one, right. You know,
I can teach my daughter how to
be a lot of things because I
didn't have it. And my mom
didn't have it, and her mom
didn't have it. And that's not
bad. It's just, you know, my mom
did the best that she could. I
had what I needed. I definitely
was not the worst. Like I said
before, when I'm thinking of
poverty, I got to be a
cheerleader. I got to be a lot
of things. But I'll tell you
what, what I didn't have is
somebody that Lord, you don't
see some pictures of my head. We
didn't have the money to go and
always do that get the perms and
stuff. So I have some pictures
where I'm like, Why did y'all
not tell me that I was not a
little white girl in school, and
I had my hair teased and hair
sprayed. And I had on some
translucent powder, because I
can't afford makeup and
translucent on my skin. It's not
translucent. All right. So I
mean, it's things like that I
didn't have anybody to tell me I
didn't have the money. I didn't
want to go to her to bother her
with it. And so I just I mean,
do so
Kosta Yepifantsev: were you
always in the community service
realm? Or was there something
that maybe like an inflection
point that occurred as you were,
you know, essentially raising
your daughter, you know,
understanding the struggles of
poverty that you said, You know
what, I'm going to get out of
this, you got out. And then you
said, You know what, I'm going
to get back to my community, I
got to teach more people how to
do this. So
Shaquawana Wester: it actually
kind of happen. It was kind of
modal and all all of those
things together. So like I said
before, I've always worked. When
I had her I started in
childcare, because I knew that I
could take her with me, I found
a place that I could take her
with me. And so that's how it
started. And I've always loved
kids. I had to go to a coat
giveaway, one time I cannot
afford a coat for and I had to
give them so much information
for this coat that I was
embarrassed and she had not
needed it. I would have left. My
pride was like, huh, like, I
just need a coat. Why
Kosta Yepifantsev: do they
collect I lose info?
Shaquawana Wester: I really I
don't know. And I mean, I
understand again, it's like,
when you go to certain places,
you can only go you know, so
many times and what and I get it
maybe they would be I don't get
it because I have to turn
donations away like I can you
know there's times that some
I've been hit so hard sometimes
and I'm like, Okay, nope, I
don't have the audience for
that. Or, you know, yes, I can
do it. I can use those or
whatever. So I'm like, I really
don't get it. But it was just
like, either give me a code or
not. But why do you like it was
just embarrassing. So when I
became an AmeriCorps, I've
always wanted to own a home. I
may not I knew that. I was
living in public housing. I
moved from public housing to
HUD, and you know, that's
assistance and I was lucky
enough to live in a little house
over close to Capshaw. So then
that was cool. Because if you
live close to capture, obviously
you're not in poverty. And I was
like, Ha ha joke's on y'all. But
it was because then kids that
can normally stay the night with
my daughter, all of a sudden,
they could say the night with my
daughter because we lived over
by cutshaw Interesting. Yeah, so
cool. How that happens, I didn't
change you would have thought
that I was a whole new person. I
was like, I'm literally the same
person. And we're still gonna be
listening to gangsta rap put
your kid in my house. And that's
so it's geographic. Gillis, we
lived in public housing. And you
know, I'm fortunately here. The
places are known, you know, and
it's changed so much. I mean,
now, the new ones are beautiful.
And you want I mean, like, the
new ones are just amazing. Yeah,
I'm so jealous of the people
that live in the new places. So
how is residential? Y'all owe
me? Not live in the I live in
the bricks? So yeah, it was
literally driving through a
neighborhood and your kids
outside and a family season then
they realize, oh, you live in
like it changed, just like that.
So yeah, living over in the
capture area, she was able to
have kids that normally wouldn't
be able to stay there not with
her. So that was a thing. And I
knew you know, from there,
became in America or it is set
up where you're doing service.
So it is not it's not a job it
is to prepare you and so I had
always worked in childcare. I
had not been in an office, but
they had a position with the
youth program. And so I was
like, you know, let's try you
they gave me a shot. And I did
that for three years and in that
three years I was able to work
and not be punished if you so
well because I call it kind of
punished, the better you do, the
more they take from you. So I
was able to work and my rent did
not change based off of that. So
I was able to build that career,
I was able to build my credit,
do all of those things and that
was how I was able to move out.
But as far as community service
my my Ding ding ding was when
America or challenged us to do a
project that meant something to
us. And the coats instantly came
to my mind that I wanted to be
able to give away coats without
making people feel any
Kosta Yepifantsev: you don't
make them take all this
information and really nothing
Shaquawana Wester: like it's
almost like when I that my best
coat jobs Oh, after COVID It's
hard to change a little bit. But
the best coat drives have been
all of these people. We've had
people come out in handout
doughnuts and do flu shots. And
WC T brings you know Clifford
the Big Red Dog. I mean, all of
these things are going on and
games for the kids and giveaways
and Oh, while you're here, grab
a coat. I think that's how it
shouldn't be.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So here's
something that always interests
me. Okay, so you were able to
find AmeriCorps. Right. And you
guys have the empower you see?
Why don't more people follow
that path? And this is kind of a
second question that ties into
the first one. Is there just not
enough resources to serve the
problem of poverty because it's
such a big problem
Shaquawana Wester: with
AmeriCorps I? That's like a
hidden gem. I know Tech has a
program where they use
AmeriCorps through their
agriculture, and then Hollins
uses AmeriCorps. I don't know if
there's any other businesses
that do I mean, it's out there.
It's over in East Tennessee, and
they would love for you to
holler at them and to place more
people here, you know. But even
at Hollins, it was like to like
your that's two people. So
again, you're not going to stop
the world with people is I found
it I'm blessed. I'm so lucky and
how and still they have an
AmeriCorps there. Now they have
maybe seven eight, AmeriCorps
over the last few years have
went through there and made it's
made a huge difference. I know
that myself and my neighbor,
actually my neighbor that lived
with me on beltmann Street and
public house and she is a
homebuyer. Now Taylor and she
went through AmeriCorps and did
things. So that's pretty cool.
I'm going to shout out our
Empower upper Hamilton, we are
we are hoping that we are going
to be able to show how to make a
change in poverty for the
families that want it. You know,
I've been in rings where people
say people don't want to work.
And that's what the issue with
poverty is. But with Empower, we
are looking for the work in
family, we're not for crisis.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Does it kind
of go hand in hand, though? I
mean, if you're if you're
working poor, aren't you always
in
Shaquawana Wester: crisis,
definitely. And I guess our
definition is, you know, we
can't save you on the spot.
Like, if you're not in a home,
like we're not going to be able
to pitch you in a home tomorrow.
We're looking for that that
working family that either
you're working or you want to
work, you have to have a child
in the home, and you qualify for
services. And so what we're
trying to show is if you pair
people with consistency, if you
pair them with support as they
are working, so every 90 days
that a family is working, they
can receive a milestone, I'm not
gonna bless that milestone, but
it is a financial milestone for
every 90 days that you're
working. If you move up, if you
get a raise, and you keep that
raise, that's a milestone, we
are also able to throw in some
other things in there that are,
you know, supportive, you know,
job training, and just a lot of
emotional. And when I say
emotional, it's just kind of
mental health is a huge thing.
And it's hard to get in and find
openings. And so we are able to
connect you with people were
able to look at the whole
picture, and then partner you
with people in the community
that have made it. And we're
hoping to show the people that
maybe have not ever been in
poverty. And then the people
that are in poverty, how much we
are really similar. We all just
want the same thing. And maybe
you've been blessed with people
that have surrounded you and
fostered you and helped you move
up. And maybe this person just
doesn't have that and how you
share in that knowledge.
Community. Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Can you get
me going on empower you see in
the 10 of grants, so it's been
extended for a fourth year. Are
you confident that it's going to
keep getting extended?
Shaquawana Wester: I am
confident that we are going to
show the need for what we're
doing. Yeah, our wording was
bringing families to under 50%
at above poverty level. And that
changes like so it changes so
we're like, oh, you know, I
don't know necessarily that it's
going to look exactly like what
we have it. But I do believe
that if the changes wanted, if
they really wanted to see what
we could do, yes, we are showing
that there's some gaps in the
system and that things need to
be reworked and changed. And
definitely 100% can say that
what we have is, is poverty
management, we manage poverty
doesn't improve, it's not
improved, not meaning Empower,
you see, but just the system
itself, the more that you do,
you know, we take from and so
it's easier as a mom, say, you
have two kids, and you gotta
work and you're making this
minimal amount, versus if you
don't work if you find work
under the table that people
frown upon. But if you find that
work under the table, or
babysat, or do things that give
you some compensation, the
government gives you so much
more, right. And so we've got to
change that I had someone look
at me one time and say, So
you're telling me that people
should get paid to go to work,
you know, we should, we should
give them more assistance to go
to work. And I said, versus
given them more assistance to
not
Kosta Yepifantsev: work, I mean,
in the end, exactly. And what
people don't understand is,
they're gonna find a way to make
ends meet, like the human being
is built in a way where their
own survival is paramount, or
the survival of their children,
familial relations, whatever it
might be. So it just depends on
how they get paid, you know,
they could get paid by working a
nine to five, or they could get
paid by by selling drugs, you
know, and there's a lot of
people that choose that
lifestyle, and you want to talk
about generational poverty, what
about generational organized
crime, in the sense that, you
know, you've got families that
have been selling drugs,
prescription medications for
decades, you know, on math, and
all this other stuff. And I
mean, that's entrenched to in
the family system. So I mean,
making a financial investment to
get somebody out of that
lifestyle, so it doesn't
perpetuate and continue to hurt
the broader economy as a whole
kind of seems like a pretty good
investment to me. Yeah,
Shaquawana Wester: because I
don't understand why people
don't get that if we can change
it from the beginning, instead
of trying to, you know, just
same as juveniles, if we can
reach them before they ever get
there, if we can reach into the
families now. And you know, one
of the things that I see with
with empowers that the families
that we have, especially the
families that I'm doing the
community engagement for the
families that they do want to
work, every family that I have
in my group is a working family,
and then they're committing to
come into my program one night a
week, they get dinner, but we're
also pouring into them with
community, you know, it's
churches coming in it is guest
speakers coming in, it's going
through and learning how to
budget, not just how to budget,
but working your budget, you
know, not knowing that this is
where my bills go, but then what
how to start a savings, how to
walk into a bank, and just
breaking down all of the things
that you feel like people
automatically know, and taking
all of that away and pouring
into them.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So you're
trying to create an
infrastructure, right. So
whether it's networking with
people that you know, are not in
poverty that you know, may have
certain relative levels of
success, to then pour into the
individuals that are trying to
get out of generational poverty,
you're trying to build those
connections. But at the same
time, you're trying to find
employment. And I just want to
hear your perspective, because
I've heard Meghan's on this, do
you consider the employers in
this community to be able to
actually pull people out of
poverty, given the wages that
they pay? Because, I mean, like,
I pay poverty wages. Now I'm
mandated by the state to pay
poverty wages, mind you, but I
mean, still I pay poverty,
wages, hope somebody from the
states listen to this, by the
way. And at the same time, you
know, when I talked to Meghan
Spurgeon, she said, Oh, we're
looking at remote work, may not
be a popular topic, but they pay
a lot better, you know, outside
of this community, relative to
the businesses in this
community. Because the
individuals that are in poverty
are not, they're not always
qualified for jobs that are
paying, you know, 25 to $30 an
hour,
Shaquawana Wester: definitely.
And we just had a big hot topic
on this at a meeting recently,
and my answer previous to this
meeting versus now would
probably be so it's so
different. But you're right,
you're dealing with, are we
qualified, do we have qualified
workers to come into positions
that are paying this, but at the
same time we have, if we're not
able to pay this, then we are
not moving anybody out of
poverty? And so therefore, we're
not coming to the job, and we're
going to take all the benefits,
right? So we are definitely
still we're looking for those
remote jobs. And when you think
of the remote jobs that also
touches on the family dynamic of
you're working at a factory that
might pay a little more than
working elsewhere, but then your
child is sick. And you're a
single mom, and you have to go
and get that child. And so now
you got a point. Or it's most of
the jobs, the time that the job
starts, and the time that the
job begins versus the time that
you can take your kid to school
and the time your kid gets out
of school, none of that lines
up. It's like we make things so
hard to survive. It's
ridiculous. Thus, like I said, I
went into childcare, work
childcare, to be able to be able
to get out. But at the same
time, once I had more than one
child, I had to quit and stay
home because I was not going to
make enough in childcare to have
my kids in childcare. So it
literally just it's like this
big Sacco of Yeah.
Kosta Yepifantsev: Exactly. It's
a big Yeah, Corby King actually
said it best whenever we had him
on the podcast, we are turning
into a community and I've lived
here since 2012. So that's what
12 years, in 12 years, we have,
like hyperspeed turned into a
community of haves and have
nots. And the divide is getting
so wide now. Like, I'm just I'm
trying to figure out like how
people that are not making $20
An hour or even surviving. I
mean, I'm assuming they're all
living together. Like they're
probably like multiple families
living in one house or in one
apartment. I mean, like, that's
how we did it in Russia. But
that's a different country.
That's not the greatest country
in the world, like America. So I
mean, how did we get to 2024?
Well, we're all cohabitating
because nobody can afford their
own place. Because you know,
there's not enough high paying
jobs.
Shaquawana Wester: I mean, I'm
sitting here thinking, you know,
even two parent homes, two
parent homes, and you have more
than a child, you're I mean,
you're still,
Kosta Yepifantsev: the latest
statistics that I that I saw was
that you have to make $96,000 a
year to be considered middle
class, the median household
income in the country is 68,000.
So I mean, I don't know, you
know what I'm saying, but like,
when you talk to the business
community, how do they what do
they say?
Shaquawana Wester: I've seen a
change, that's literally the
same conversation, like it was
literally verbatim exactly what
you said. It's like, well,
you're not giving us people that
are, you know, they're not
they're not qualified. And we're
like, yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev: it's the
chicken trying.
Shaquawana Wester: I mean, you
know, we're trying we do have
tech that's doing classes where
families can go through and get
more training, we have Holland's
Training Center, where they can
go in and get those soft skills.
And I don't know the answer,
that one's a tough one.
Kosta Yepifantsev: One of the
most intimidating parts of going
back to college as a non
traditional student was trying
to figure out which degree I was
going to get, and more
importantly, how I could
actually use it at Vol State
Community College, they've taken
the guesswork out of which
degrees will actually help
students prepare and land jobs
in our community with five
specialized AAS programs,
including computer information
technology, mechatronics,
nursing business, Vol State has
designed their courses around
the jobs hiring the upper class,
whether you're looking for your
next career, or you just want to
level up in your current field.
Allstate has customized options
for full time workers, parents,
and students of all ages, for
more information on financial
aid classes, and how to enroll
visit ball state.edu. Well, I
mean, I think it's always I
think poverty has always been a
component of society. It's just,
like, not frustrating. But
what's more or less concerning
is we are investing considerable
resources to fixing the problem.
But the people who are trying to
fix the problem that are trying
to work with these individuals,
people that are sort of bringing
them to the table are doing
their job. And it just feels
like there's a missing component
on the other side for businesses
to create somewhat fertile
ground for them to be
successful. Because I'll be
honest, if you want to solve the
problem of poverty, money is
important. It's probably the
most important step one, right?
But the only reason it's the
most important is because it
leads to a number of different
factors that increase stability,
but flexibility. Okay, without
changing the entire
infrastructure is probably
number two. You know, I'm
saying, Yeah, you're right.
You're out there. As Cookeville
grows, and becomes more diverse.
Do you think people of color are
getting more opportunities and
representation? Or are you
taking the blame for the change
many are reluctant to see in
this area?
Shaquawana Wester: If you're
lucky, I feel that I have been
lucky getting pulled in at
Hollins. But Kevin and
AmeriCorps and my first coat
drive, maybe even the first two.
I can't remember who was in
office, but you know, it was
just kind of, oh, we'll sign the
paper. They did the thing and
whatever. And I was like, okay,
you know, cool, but then it was
Mayor Shelton, and he actually
signed the little paper thing
and he said, you know, what day
is your job and he said, I'm
gonna, I'm gonna come out. And I
was like, Okay, I've heard that
before. And then he came out.
That's great. And from that day
forward, he talked with me, he
wanted to know, you know how
this came about. And he just
kind of invested in my family.
And then from there, it's been
impact the group impact that we
were at the dinner. So they
talked about how they had their
morning meetings, it was all the
fellas would meet. And they
blessed me with being I was the
first female, they got to come
into one of their meetings, so
to tell about what I was doing.
And then they came out to my
coat drive. And I've just been
blessed that I've met people
that say, my name and rooms that
I will never be in. No matter
where I've seen Mayor Shelton,
he has always reached out and
grabbed me, hey, I want you to
make sure calling in his wife,
hey, I want you to meet her. Do
you know shawanna? I will see
them and just kind of like open
up. I would be I don't know
whether to speak I don't know.
We were talking the other day at
a meeting. And they said
something about how there was
like a person at one of our
programs. And she went in and
asked for a raise that she was
like, I'm gonna ask for a raise.
And they were like, Whoa, what's
you know, and she did it. And
they were like, I don't know
what we did that made her get
the confidence to go and get
that raise. And I said, it's
permission, right? Sometimes
when you're coming from poverty,
and there's the social rules
that are hidden, you don't know,
you know, just just little
things that can be done that I'm
not going to know, because I've
not been in that atmosphere
before. And so it was this dude,
do I speak, he's with his people
do I speak. And he gave me
without ever knowing permission
by grabbing me and pulling me
over and giving me a hug and
letting me know that it doesn't
matter who's in the room. I know
you and you're my friend, that
was permission. And so I know
now that no matter where I see
that family that I can speak, my
point is it's just kind of like
it's been a luck thing. It's not
that I've done anything more
than any other African American
woman or person here. It's who I
know, and what they believe in
society and what they want to
happen in society. And they have
given me that permission and
almost unknowingly, other people
permission to get to know me.
Whereas before, I'm like, I've
been on Facebook, MySpace, all
these things for years. And now
I have 4000 people and people
are like, Oh, 4000 people on my
girls are not my friends. It's
just permission. And so with
that being said, it gives me the
open doors to move up. And so
the kids today that are out
here, and they're holding their
signs, and they're being heard,
and they are like they are
they're not asking for that
right there, you know, that?
They're like, No, we are here,
and we're going to be seen, and
we're going to be heard, and
we're coming to your buildings,
and we are going to be part of
your community. And that's
what's needed. Because it's not,
is there? Is there change? Yes,
and it's good change is good
change? Because you're if you're
scared, good. Yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev: we've been
doing the same thing for ever.
And it ain't went ain't working.
You know what I'm saying? Like,
at the end of the day, while may
make people feel uncomfortable,
and it may be against the status
quo, you know, because you're
not supposed to say certain
things that you're you're not
supposed to do certain things
are, you know, it's like you
said, you know, you've got to
wait, your turn, I guess,
essentially, or wait for
recognition for you to be able
to engage. But, again, I'm gonna
go back to leadership tendency
for a second, you know, and I've
heard some, some elected
officials that say, you know,
well, those activists that are
in the state legislature, you
know, and I'm like, hell, yeah,
they're activists, you know, but
the older generation, even the
African American generation that
I speak to, they say, I don't
know if that's the right way to
handle things. And you know what
I tell them, I say, Okay, well,
listen, you haven't gotten
anything for the last 12 years
that you asked for your overall
the the infrastructure, and your
lives really haven't improved.
So I mean, you can if you're
gonna keep waiting for an
opening, you may just end up
waiting forever. You need to go
ahead and follow the leads of
Justin Jones and Justin Pearson
and take it yes, you know what
I'm saying and so, like, that's
my point of view. And I feel
like you and I share that point
of view and in a lot of ways, I
am so so excited for the younger
generation younger than me, like
my kids, your kids to come in
and just blow the doors off.
Well, they can even skip us you
know, they can skip Millennials
like you and I will sit back and
just watch they can Skip Gen Z,
but the next these young kids
that are like we're done, yeah,
this area
Shaquawana Wester: lots to think
that there's, I've heard I've
been in somebody's rooms where
people are like COVID is not
like that, like, we're we don't
have that problem. And you know,
the thing that I like to say is,
it's not what you'll say when
I'm in the room, right? It's
what you're saying, when I'm not
in the room when you're with,
you know, it's because the good
ol boys, you know, is that, you
know, and, and I've learned that
because I have friends that are
Caucasian that have mixed kids,
that people may not be aware
that they have those myths kids
in their in those rings, because
they get to be in those rooms.
And then something said, and
it's like, hey, you know, it's
those things. And if it's
hidden, that doesn't mean that
it's not there, it means that
you're you know, that is hidden,
speaking earlier about about
race and not seeing race and
things like that, like, I don't
want to be in a place where you
don't see my race that you don't
see color, I don't see color,
you have to see color, because I
want to be in a room that not
that I'm treated differently
because of my color. I don't
want special things because of
my color. I just want to know
that I'm safe, and that you're
making sure that I get the same
Kosta Yepifantsev: as somebody
that's a person of color. Right?
Exactly.
Shaquawana Wester: That's all I
want. I just want the same
opportunity. And it's still even
hearing in Cookeville. When I
walk into a room, the first
thing that I do, I scan the
room, when I go into these
meetings now, you know, I scan
the room to see, I need to see I
need to I need to know what's
there. And I need everybody else
to know. Because if there's that
one instance, it's just knowing
that I'm in the room, making
sure that I'm safe making sure
that I'm getting the same
opportunity, making sure that
you know whether it's a job,
whether it's just treatment,
whatever it is, I just want the
same opportunity. If I don't
qualify because I don't qualify,
then that is fine. But not
because my name is Johanna and I
have brown skin
Kosta Yepifantsev: and your own
experience, what's the most
impactful support we can give to
our children and the youth of
the upper Cumberland?
Shaquawana Wester: Listening? I
think that it's so easy to want
to give all of our experiences
to intercept things for kids.
But it's just listening. And
that is become so much more open
to me as I've worked in the
youth program and becoming a
foster mom and the stories that
kids come to me with and I'm not
solving the problem for them. A
lot of times they can solve the
problem on their own, if they
just have someone to listen and
not tell them that they're wrong
in their thoughts.
Kosta Yepifantsev: So here's the
million dollar question. Shaquan
Do you feel like you're
represented in your community?
Like you may have access to
opportunities? And you may feel
fulfilled? Right? And you may
have stability, and you're not
in poverty, obviously, and you
have an opportunity to raise
your family. Do you feel like
you are represented like the
community has your back?
Shaquawana Wester: I believe
that I have a community good.
It's not where I want it to be
yet. I'm not done. And I believe
that I have a foundation. I
believe that I am building. But
Kosta Yepifantsev: I'm not then.
That's great. Damon came on when
he was running for city council.
And I said is Cookeville ready
for Black City Council member?
And he said no. And I want to
make sure that as you work in
your area, and I'll work in my
area and Morgan will work in her
area. We build a community where
when I ask somebody that
question doesn't matter what
color your skin is, doesn't
matter where you're from,
doesn't matter if you're you
know, LGBTQ plus i i want them
to emphatically say yes. I mean,
not even questioning because
because you're absolutely right.
Like it's touch and go
Shaquawana Wester: that would be
absolutely amazing. Let me let
me tell you, I made a post on
Facebook. And in my wording. I
didn't realize that apparently I
came out as gay. And I didn't
change it. I didn't change it. I
was like because it was so
astounding how the comments I
was like the wow, I literally
made my point was, you know me.
I've worked with your kids for
this many years. When I first
started in childcare I literally
had a woman that came and took
her she said I didn't know the
new teacher was going to be and
she kept doing this thing. With
her hand over her face, and I
was like, What? What did you not
know? And I literally had a kid
that came that said, our new
teacher is he said the word like
he straight out said, like, this
is back, like food. I was 2121.
And he said that he did not know
his new teacher was going to be
a in, I was like, Oh my gosh,
like like it those it has
changed a lot. Again, my kids
know that they can come to me
with if you tell me that this is
your friend. And if they them,
then I'm they they're like I'm
all the way all the way. So I
made this post basically saying
how, you know, if you would not
let me watch your children, if
you know, you find out that I'm
gay, like and I was friends. It
hit me when I saw the comments.
I was like go and see your
friends see how many friends and
I lost friends and that is
ridiculous. Absolutely
ridiculous to me that
Kosta Yepifantsev: you can't
just take a position on anything
without somebody being offended
by it. You know what I'm saying?
It doesn't change
Shaquawana Wester: who I am
right nothing changed already
washed the kid you know what I'm
saying? Like I've already
watched the kid you already know
me like what what changed right
there. I dream of a community
where black, red and yellow,
black and white. They are
precious. And it's like, you
know,
Kosta Yepifantsev: what's next
for you? You're raising your
kids, you're back to be an empty
nester.
Shaquawana Wester: Oh God a
couple years and we're in foster
parenting. for teenage girls in
the house right now. Let's say
I've got a freshman. So I've got
I've got a few years. Right now
I just am really wanting to
build the circles, the circles,
that's really where my goal is,
I don't see past my here. And
now it's kind of this is my
blog, this is where I'm at. I'm
hard and heavy on it be your
focus. And that's it. So you
know, that's, that's just who I
am. I guess. When
Kosta Yepifantsev: you define
what success looks like for you,
relative to the individuals that
you've been serving, what does
it look like,
Shaquawana Wester: if I can help
move even one family out of
their situation, given them the
tools, and only I don't even
want to say given them the tools
because the tools are there, but
helping them understand how to
use the tools and move them
faster than you know, that's my
biggest thing. If I can get you
there sooner than I got there,
then that success to me, I feel
like everything that I've kind
of been through in my life has
happened so that I can pour it
back into the community. And you
know, people are always like, do
you see I'm not gonna I'm not
traveling. I'm not going
anywhere. I you know, I do want
to give back to the community
and when I say that, it's those
like I said those staple people
that have kind of carried me
along the way whether it's the
mayor it's the it's impact those
people if I can take what
they've given me pour that back
into someone else. And of course
my kids moving them out before
they ever make it there. My
daughter I have to shout her out
she's gonna be a junior she's
starting dual enrollment this
next year. Wow, can we can add
volleyball we're hoping for
scholarships. If I can change
that for them, then I'm that my
part here? I think that I've
done what the Lord put me here.
Yeah,
Kosta Yepifantsev: can I give a
PSA real quick, just a short one
real short PSA. For any families
that have juniors go to vol
state and get them dual
enrolled. They can graduate high
school with two years of
college. And now you don't you
can't get a well paying job with
just a bachelor's degree you
need a master's, which means
that after they finish four
years of college after they got
their first two years done at
high school, they'll have a
master's degree. And they'll
make $85,000 a year in their
first job. And we're hoping it's
going to be in Cookeville by the
time our kids grow up. Anyway,
dual enrollment vol state, it's
a fantastic program. And
honestly, I went to the
fundraiser of Allstate and learn
more about this. I wish I had
that opportunity.
Shaquawana Wester: And I have to
throw in the tech is on it too.
She'll actually be going she'll
be doing tech. Okay, sorry.
Yeah,
it's tech as it is, right? Yeah,
all of that. Yeah. It's,
she will say in high school,
she's not gonna get out early,
but she will be earning those
college credits. And so if I can
just change in that, that
poverty cycle way before I ever
you know, in my 30s or whatever,
if I can do that for my family,
your family, any family, you
know, if you are working, have a
child, check out our website,
empower Africa amberlynn.org And
see if you're a fit for our
program.
Kosta Yepifantsev: I love it. So
we always like to end the show
on a high note. Who is someone
that makes you better? Are when
you're together.
Shaquawana Wester: I'm gonna I'm
gonna go with my family I'm
gonna have to dump it all in
there. My family I'm very family
oriented. So my family being
behind me they put up with my
craziness and so definitely,
this family
Kosta Yepifantsev: Thank you to
our partners at Ball State
Community College for presenting
this episode. Vol state is a
public comprehensive community
college offering associate's
degrees in certificates as well
as general education classes
with tuition free options like
Tennessee promise in Tennessee
reconnect, students can pursue a
variety of associate's degrees
and certificates at no cost to
enroll for the spring 2024
semester, find out more about
financial aid or schedule a tour
visit ball state.edu
Morgan Franklin: Thank you for
joining us on this episode of
Better Together with Kosta
Yepifantsev. If you've enjoyed
listening and you want to hear
more, make sure you subscribe on
Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or
wherever you find your podcasts.
Leave us a review or better yet,
share this episode with a
friend. Today's episode was
written and produced by Morgan
Franklin post production mixing
and editing by Mike Franklin.
Want to know more about Kosta
visit us at
kostayepifantsev.com. We're
better together. We'd like to
remind our listeners that the
views and opinions expressed
during this episode are those of
the individual speakers and do
not necessarily represent or
reflect the official policy or
position of this show its
producers or any related
entities or advertisers. While
our discussions may touch on
various topics of interest,
please note that the content is
intended to inspire thought
provoking dialogue and should
not be used for a substitute for
professional
advice.Specifically, nothing
heard on this podcast should be
construed as financial, legal,
medical or any other kind of
professional advice. We
encourage our listeners to
consult with a professional in
these areas for guidance
tailored to their specific
circumstances.