November 12, 2025 • 48 mins
In this conversation, Joy Nulisch speaks with Atavia about the inception and mission of Helping Hands of the Florida Keys, a nonprofit organization created to support working-class families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the importance of community trust, the challenges of running a nonprofit, and the significance of family legacy in community service. Atavia shares personal stories about the impact of the organization, especially during the holiday season, and emphasizes the need for confidentiality and support for teenagers. The conversation highlights the spirit of giving in Key West and the importance of oratory skills and family traditions in fostering community involvement.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_02 (00:00):
Good morning, Buenos Dia, Dobiano, and Buoncho.
I'm Richador and I open.
I open because I'm quick withthe beginning.
I'm not gonna go through a latenew club I'm in or what I've
done during my years at QSI.
I'm not going to tell you aboutmy experience with the week.
Instead, I'll take the time totalk about Quix.
(00:21):
More important, I'll have totell you how QSI can help you
know yourself.
Cont Cry.
I know, I know, it's beenweakening to your head and
drilled into your ears, but staywith me.
I know it seems like a taglineon a TikTok, but it's real.
And more importantly, it's foryou.
QSI owes you can't cry.
(00:43):
And you deserve it.
And all of you should be takingfull advantage of it.
Everyone of you.
The freshmen, the sophomores,the juniors, and everyone in
between.
This pride is for you.
The kids that have the bestparties and the kids that don't
get the invite.
This pride is for you.
The kids that would want to beforever friends, and the kids
(01:03):
that would just depart.
This pride is for you.
The kids that show every day,whether they want to or not,
that fight outside home and intheir personal lives, that even
their best friends don't know.
This pride is for you.
Those that smile bravely and cryinwardly, this pride is for you.
(01:23):
Those that dance to the feet oftheir own drum, this pride that
I feel today for you is for you.
Look at me.
I'm literally not what ourstandard homecoming court
attendant is supposed to looklike.
I know that if you take it, thispride, this cult pride is for
you to do.
(01:43):
I'm not perfect, but in thewords of our queen and exulted
ruler, Beyonce Gisongos Carter,I am flawed.
And each and every one of youare too.
It's not weird or wrong that I'mhere today.
It's solely because you all havesupposed to be.
And stuff like that.
You still eat your door.
And that means a lot.
(02:15):
Believe me, but how often doessomeone get the opportunity to
adjust the entire skin of bodyto remind you that you matter?
Your force matters.
And this pride is freedom.
I'm simply here to encourage youto take a piece of it for
yourselves.
You deserve this experience forhigh school.
Well, everyone's experiencedoesn't have to be the same.
Just to make sure you don'tagree with that number for.
(02:37):
Don't be afraid to disengage thefamiliar.
Step away from what you know orwhat society says someone like
you should like.
Don't waste the sport quickyears we have you're wondering,
what is?
And not take the chances to stepout of the boxes that we tend to
put ourselves in.
Already, many of our classmatesare not here with us for many
(02:57):
different reasons.
Don't leave out closed doorswith regrets.
Listen, whoever you choose to beyour home complete is absolutely
the right choice.
You cannot go wrong.
I want you to leave this podcaston you knowing one thing.
You are all deserving of conchpride and sharing the full high
school experience.
SPEAKER_00 (03:17):
Thanks for tuning in to the conks, a Bring Joy
podcast.
I'm your host, Joy Newlish.
I'm a first generation conkraised by a fourth.
What does that add up to?
A whole lot of conch pride.
And that's what this show is allabout.
Celebrating the incrediblepeople of Key West and their
stories from every corner of ourconk community.
(03:37):
So sit back and relax, cuz.
Let's do this thing.
This episode is sponsored byRamonis, promoting conk pride
since 1971.
How are we doing, conk fans?
I got a good one for you today.
We're talking with Otavia Dore,a true conk with deep roots on
the island, who's doing bigthings in the community.
(03:59):
Welcome to the show, Otavia.
SPEAKER_03 (04:02):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me, Joy.
This is this feels like a longtime coming.
I'm ready.
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
You know what?
What Mel Fisher says, today'sthe day?
SPEAKER_03 (04:11):
Today is the day.
SPEAKER_00 (04:13):
We've had we've had some conflicts trying to
schedule this for the lastmonth, really.
But but here we are, finally hitrecord, and definitely feel like
we should celebrate not onlythat we're meeting together
today, but also to celebratehelping hands across the Florida
Keys, the new nonprofit that youstarted.
And let's start right there.
Tell me about the the programand what's the mission.
SPEAKER_03 (04:37):
Absolutely.
So uh helping hands of theFlorida Key of the Florida Keys
came about um during COVID.
And my dear friend Roma reachedout to me and she was like, hey,
I know a lot of families becauseat the time she was working with
a local physician who was veryuh immersed in the COVID
pandemic.
(04:57):
She said to me, you know,there's a lot of families going
through it right now, Tavy.
What can we do?
You know, she knew my familyconnections and stuff.
We should do a toy drive.
And that's where it started.
And that was 2020, I believe,2019, 2020, 2020.
And so we set up a table at uhthe park downtown, and we were
(05:20):
collecting toys.
Well, the toy collection turnedinto be more so people reaching
out looking for help more thandrop-offs.
We received inquiries for morehelp.
And um we were like, whoa, whoa,whoa, this is, you know, this is
this is we were just trying to,you know, help a few families,
and and the need was there.
(05:42):
It was so great during the thepandemic years.
So we reached out to my dad, hewas out there as well, and
Dorian from the city of KeyWest, he lives right around the
corner, right in front of thepark.
So he came out and he was like,Well, let me call the fire chief
and the the chief of police andsee if they have any extra toys
or if there's anything that theycan do to help coordinate.
(06:05):
And they did, and they reallycame through.
And the first year I want tosay, with private donors,
private donors went crazy, and Ican't if I talk about it too
much, I'll start to cry becauseI'm an emotional gangster, Joy.
But you know, um, they reallycame through, and I want to say
the first year we helped five orsix families, which was really
good.
And with uh MetropolitanCommunity Church, they donated
(06:29):
food, so we had turkeys, theelks gave uh turkeys and canned
goods, and we were able todistribute these to local
families.
And one thing I'll point out topeople who who have a certain
picture of the families in needin mind, get that picture of who
is in need out of your mindbecause these are working class
(06:51):
families that were suffering.
So then the next year, ofcourse, we start to transition
out of the COVID era and theCOVID period, and the need is
still there.
You know, the next year, 2021,more families reach out, and
it's still working class conks,people that you see in the
growth working at the grocerystore, working in your doctor's
(07:14):
offices, you know, working atyour local hospital, working at
the aqueduct or the cityelectric, these are working
families that are still in need.
And um, so at your localhospitality and hotels, big
industry, you know.
So to live in Key West is onething, but to be able to thrive
(07:34):
and to go above, or to be ableto provide outside of basic
needs for working families canbe a whole different situation.
So as we continue to 2021,again, private donors, we don't
have a 401c3 registry, we'rejust two little elves.
Well, not so little, but twoelves, you know, trying to to
(07:56):
help as much as we can.
And then so from there, it justit really snowballed, and it
became Christmas afterChristmas, and more and more
families.
And I think one of the mosthumbling things about it for me,
Joy, and I think for Roma, I canspeak for Roma as well when I
say this is that if you knew whothe families were outside of who
(08:20):
we are, it's humbling to knowthat they trust us to help them
with complete confidence.
Because it takes a lot forpeople to ask for help, believe
it or not, especially in KeyWest, where it's you have so
many different extremes, but weall always meet in the middle.
You know, it's kind of hard forworking class families who
(08:45):
people may have this um visionof what they should be able to
provide for their families toask for help.
So the fact that these familiescome to us in confidence, you
know, and confidentiality andknow that we're willing to help
with an open heart is reallyhumbling.
It became Halloween costumes.
Hey, do you know anybody thathas an extra Halloween costume?
(09:07):
It became one year, the year mydaughter was on the homecoming
court, my youngest daughter wason the homecoming court.
A young lady had waited to thelast minute, she couldn't find a
homecoming dress.
Her parents weren't in a placeto, you know, overnight an extra
hundred dollars to have a dresssent here, right?
Because everything that comesacross that bridge is
(09:28):
exorbitant.
So I was in a good place thatyear, you know.
I didn't have a choice withlittle Dietra anyway, and I
still have dresses in here fromhomecoming, but that's a whole
nother situation.
SPEAKER_00 (09:42):
And I I have that on my list of things to talk about
is key West Homecoming.
And the tradition and the longlist of ladies that she's now
part of, but so sh I said, youknow, come over.
SPEAKER_03 (09:54):
And Didi says, Mom, I have dresses, you know, and um
that I'm not gonna wear.
So, and she she she wore one ofshe was able to wear one of the
dresses that Didi elected not towear, and she looked gorgeous.
And I just think that the Lorddoes things, everything for a
purpose, right?
Like the dress didn't fit Didithe way it was supposed to, but
(10:16):
it fit her perfectly.
So I say all that to say, andsometimes Joy redirect me
because I become like a dang mymy attention span becomes I have
to you have to catch me becauseI get like squirrel, you know.
I I lose it's easy for me tolose my focus when I start
because this I'm so passionateabout this.
No, I feel that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:35):
I feel that you talking about you were gonna
cry, you're about to make mecry, and all you're spilling is
goodness, so keep on.
SPEAKER_03 (10:42):
It's it's you know, I I've been a family in need,
you know.
People look at me and they say,Oh, your paint, your dad is so
and so, your mom did so and so,but I'm not my parents'
responsibility at this ripe oldage.
Now, don't get me wrong, I haveno problem asking them for help,
and they will tell you that.
But, you know, there comes apoint where you do stand on your
(11:05):
own two feet and you you're in aplace where you're in need.
Things come up.
Four kids in the city of KeyWest, and I'm married, you know,
and there's still, and I I I'llsay I have a good job.
My husband has a good job, butthere's times where you know
we're scraping our teeth, andthat's a fact.
That's a fact, you know.
(11:25):
Um it's not fancy, it's justliving.
And I think that that's whathelping hands of the Florida
Keys wants to do.
We want to be able to seeworking families in the city of
Key West and the Florida Keysnot have to put something off
because, you know, especially,you know, their kids.
(11:47):
And I'm not just talking inelementary school and middle
school, I'm talking high schoolstudents too.
With this last one, especially,you know, you've I've seen so
many opportunities that Icouldn't imagine if I didn't
have the tribe around me thatshe would have missed out on,
you know?
And what if somebody doesn'thave that tribe or does have it,
(12:11):
but still just needs that extrapush, you know?
What opportunities can theymiss?
The extra set of cleats forbaseball, the extra baseball
bag, uh, some, you know,$50 cashin their hand for the 500 trips
that they take with the sportsteam every year.
And I know the coaches and thestaff at Key West High School,
(12:32):
God bless them, amazing.
They graduated four doors.
We're like the Weasley family ofKey West, you know, another
door, you know.
But they they've Monroe CountySchool Department has seen their
last door, prayerfully, youknow, and uh so but they I know
they work hard to make sure thatthe needs are met, but there's
(12:53):
always people that don't ask forhelp because they are ashamed or
and we want to remove thatstigma, I think, with with with
our one of the big things thatwe want to do is remove that
stigma with helping hands andtrust that you know we're doing
it in confidence and we'll talk,Roma and Eric and I will talk
(13:14):
amongst ourselves, but it's notgonna go past there.
Even with our donors, you know,and our donors are have been
such blessings.
They don't ask who, they don'task what, they don't ask why.
You tell them that there'ssomeone in need and they're
willing to fill that void, andthey they trust us to know that
we're not just out here beingfrivolous, which is another
(13:38):
trust.
SPEAKER_00 (13:39):
No, absolutely.
And so, what took it from beingthis grassroots movement where
you met at the park and it youshared like a typical Key West
story, right?
You're out there at the park,and then Dorian, who works at
the city, lives across thestreet, and he's got the fire
chief's number, so he calls him,you know, and that village that
happens that Key West is so wellknown for, it gives gives me the
(14:01):
chills.
But what what happens that makesyou decide to go ahead and make
it official and register and youknow the growth over the last
couple of years to where you areuh recently with the big
announcement online?
SPEAKER_03 (14:15):
Because uh we honestly we've seen the checks
that a lot of nonprofits havebeen receiving, and we've seen
the need that is being unmet.
So if we can get some of thatmoney and funnel it towards that
definitive need that we see thatwe get phone calls for outside
(14:40):
of being a nonprofit, and thatwe feel outside of being a
nonprofit, imagine what we cando if we can get that money and
funnel it back into our Key Westcommunity, into our homes, into
our families.
Imagine the children, the youngpeople that don't have to miss
out on opportunities.
Imagine the moms that don't haveto work an extra 10 hours this
(15:04):
week to and miss out on theirchild's school play because they
have to, you know, pay theirelectric bill that's higher in
the summertime, and their kidhas the opportunity to go to
drive toward Tugas camp.
Imagine being able to take thatand meet that need that seems to
be missed a lot, a lot.
(15:26):
So yeah, that that was likeafter doing it, okay, 2020, 21,
22, 20, and Roma's like, youknow what?
Oh gosh, and Roma, I can't againsquirrel, but I can't talk
enough about Roma.
She's a dog, and I don't meanthat in the negative way.
I mean she is a dog.
When she sinks her teeth in, sheis going to do it until it gets
(15:46):
done.
She is phenomenal.
SPEAKER_00 (15:50):
And and you know, it takes that because there are
many nonprofits on thisbeautiful island, lots of people
doing big things, but it's noteasy to do.
You've got to go out there andyou've got to grind, and you've
got to be able to ask for moneyand keep coming back and take no
for an answer.
And you you need those people,you need the workers to help
(16:11):
you, you know, collect, and thenyou need those that can go and
um, I believe she was on theradio recently.
SPEAKER_03 (16:18):
Plus, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (16:19):
And uh you mentioned Erica also.
Is there other people involved?
SPEAKER_03 (16:24):
Is it three of it's primarily the three of us me,
Erica, and Roma?
And uh, you know, Erica does thebackground, she's really like
our third person, she's ourchecks to our balances, and
she's she's she's our real it inguys type person.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
So, what are some of the um gaps that you fill?
You mentioned money, youmentioned dresses.
So, what what what do you takein?
What are the gaps that you'reseeing?
And is there anything that youcan't do, or what do you what do
you focus on offering families?
SPEAKER_03 (16:57):
At Christmas time, right now our main focus is as
as it started out with ourgrassroots, like you pointed
out, um, has been Christmastime.
And one of the biggest gaps atChristmas time that we see is
our teens.
Teenagers in the keys, theylaugh there it goes again.
I said, This interview is notgonna make me cry the whole
(17:20):
time.
Last year we had a 16-year-oldreach out to us via Facebook.
She sent a list for her siblingsand didn't ask for anything for
herself.
So we came out of pocket, but wereached out to our donors and
some of them came through aswell, and we were able to help
(17:40):
that family of three, includingthe teenager, you know, with
gift cards and let her pick upbecause you know, teen they're
very funny about what they wear.
Trust me, I know.
But we were able to provide forthe 16-year-old who was asking
for her siblings as well.
SPEAKER_00 (17:59):
That's powerful, yeah.
And so you mentioned youmentioned Christmas.
We're here in November, theholiday season is upon us.
Hopefully, those holidaysinspire a generous spirit in us.
So if there's someone out therethat's listening that has the
opportunity to donate, how dothey get in touch and how how do
they reach you to make make adonation?
SPEAKER_03 (18:21):
They can reach us through our website, which is
helping hands of thefloridaceys.com.
They can go on our Facebookpage, helping hands of the
Florida Keys.
They can go to our email, whichour email is Otavia's A T A
Via's and Victor, I A S HelpingHands with an S at gmail.com.
SPEAKER_00 (18:44):
And I'll put those on the screen too.
I'll get them from you and makesure that we have them on the
screen so that people people cansee.
So there's several ways thatpeople can reach out and help.
SPEAKER_03 (18:55):
Absolutely.
No, no, just know me aroundtown, just stop me, and you
know, and now we're registered,so now you can get your your
slip back saying you donated tothis nonprofit, and it's and you
can file that with your taxes aswell, too.
And the fact that the pastyears, Troy, people have been
willing to do it without thathas yeah, just fueled us.
SPEAKER_00 (19:18):
And uh perfect timing for you guys to go
official, not only with theholiday season, but tax season
coming up, right?
The end of 2025.
So those those generous donorshave you know one more deduction
off that tax return, go aheadand and reach out and and make
something happen.
You know, one of the one of thethe strongest things someone can
(19:41):
do is ask for help.
But as you said, so hard to do,and we really need to change
that narrative.
It sounds like that's one of themissions of your program.
If there is a family out therethat needs help, that's that's
listening to this, do they usethose same connections to reach
out?
SPEAKER_03 (20:01):
Absolutely, absolutely, by all means, uh
please do.
Like I said, we we do a littlequick questionnaire, it's just a
basic questionnaire because wehave to report back to the to
the government, you know, and umso it's just it's very simple.
Where's the need?
How can we help?
And if we can.
(20:22):
And because we're just startingoff, you know, I know that
there's a lot of there may be alot of big needs.
I don't we don't want to turnanyone away.
But right now we're just wedon't have much, so every every
little bit helps.
SPEAKER_00 (20:37):
You don't have you don't have much yet.
SPEAKER_03 (20:40):
Yes, yet, yes, right?
SPEAKER_00 (20:42):
But from our our mouth to God's ears and all our
friends out there, right?
SPEAKER_03 (20:46):
All in between.
Amen.
SPEAKER_00 (20:48):
That's that's that's fill it up, and just as the
holidays offer such a generousand loving spirit, it's a great
time for celebration.
It also brings a lot of stressto families who who are, like
you said, working families,two-income families that have
some gaps.
And I think about Thanksgivingcoming up a couple of weeks away
(21:11):
and being able to put a meal onthe table, and then thinking,
you know, three weeks later,needing to wrap a gift for for
our kids.
No, no, no child and no familyin Key West should go without.
We can't, we might be able tonot reach all the way across the
country, right?
But but let that let's take careof of Key West and the Keys, and
(21:34):
there's so many opportunities tohelp.
And this helping hands of theFlorida Keys is official on the
books, ready to make it happen.
So thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (21:46):
Thank you, thank you, Joy, for letting us get
that out there.
SPEAKER_00 (21:50):
Absolutely, I'm I'm happy to do it, and you know
that's the other thing, too.
Not everyone has an opportunityto give, but we can spread the
word.
SPEAKER_03 (21:59):
Yes, spread the word and help.
Listen, we take help too becauseRoma's uh fiance, Brett, and my
husband, Dor, they're sick ofbeing asked to put bicycles
together, you know, two andthree the night before Christmas
and and helping to set this upand lift these boxes.
We take help in all forms.
(22:19):
So if you have an extra set ofhands, you know, again, that's
that's that's the mission,helping hands where you know,
put your strengths together andwork together.
SPEAKER_00 (22:30):
I love that.
I've done about three episodesnow on this new show called The
Conks, and without anyintention, one of the common
threads is community service.
Absolutely, you know, talk aboutconch pride.
Michelle Cohen was on the show acouple of weeks ago, and one of
the things that her and RalphMajor did a great job, the rest
(22:51):
of the board over there at theJunior Football League was
community outreach, and theystarted engaging the baseball
team and the basketball team,and not only students, but
adults in the community as wellto come out and and give up
their time.
Because once you do it once andyou see what an uplifting
feeling you get when you servesomeone else, it it becomes
(23:16):
contagious.
And those young people that thatstart to help out at an early
age, like you mentioned, yourdaughter giving giving address
to her friend, right?
That's something that it getsinside of you.
I encourage anybody out therelistening.
If you haven't extended yourselffor someone else yet, it's time.
SPEAKER_03 (23:34):
It is, it is the time, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
I I also mentioned in the intro that you had deep
roots on this island, many ofwhich are community leaders,
right?
Your family is full of communityleaders from the church to the
classroom to city hall.
So let's let's shift gears andand talk about your conk family,
if we may.
SPEAKER_03 (23:55):
Yes, absolutely.
Both uh my mother and my father,I don't I don't have a choice
but to be the way that I am,really.
I um I'm blessed to have two ofthe most selfless parents that I
can even imagine.
And I've watched them workselflessly, both of them,
(24:15):
without any want or desire forany recognition.
You know what I mean?
And it's the little things thatthat I've that I've witnessed
both of them do that you knowthat they'll never speak of.
And one one woman that I knowyou know well, my grandma Rose
(24:35):
was very much like that.
She she was that woman, shenever looked for anything back.
My grandma went to her grave,God bless her, knowing so much
that she never spoke of, so muchthat she never, you know, that
she carried and she did itgladly.
(24:56):
She received a lot of, you know,and gave of herself, like but
like without it was veryhumbling to I use that word a
lot, but it was it was thatthat's how I was raised, you
know, with that humility to doselflessly.
But grandma Rose is the one thattaught me when you pray, you
(25:18):
know, you go into the closet andpray.
You take that between you andGod, you know, you don't do it
for the world to see what you'redoing, just like your good
works.
That's between you and thatperson and God.
That's that let your your worksbe through through you, you
know, not through everything.
You don't taking a picture asyou're handing somebody a
(25:38):
sandwich, you know?
So that that's how I was wasreally raised.
SPEAKER_00 (25:43):
And yeah, I don't have a choice but to be the way
that I that that I actually hadthis question on here to ask
you.
Did you learn simply by example,which is how you're answering
the question now, or did did atsome point they sit you down and
say, Look, this is what thisfamily does, you know.
But but oh that's both.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
A little bit of both, you know.
Um I was always raised, again,both sides of my family, that
I'm a reflection of my family,and that's one thing I've tried
to instill in my kids that whenyou walk out this door, my
husband, he he has a good I lovethe way he says this.
He tells my kids that he'sloaning them his last name.
(26:28):
That's my last name.
I'm loaning it to you.
So when you take it past thesedoors, you treat it with
respect, you know?
So I love that, but yeah, youknow, you carry your on your
bloodline years of respect andand selfless giving and
self-worth.
Yeah.
So did they sit me down and tellme, yeah, yeah, there was times
(26:51):
where they have to reel me in.
There's times today where theystill have to reel me in a
little bit.
All right, Tavy, you may bedoing a little money now, you
know.
But um uh, no, they they it wasand it was talked about in the
family, you know, like you sawthem like in church.
What can we do?
What are we doing, you know?
And and then there was the thethe private moments that maybe
(27:14):
you weren't supposed to see, butyou got a glimpse of or an ear
of, and you saw them alwaysworking.
So yeah, it was it, it's justit's very much a part of who I
am.
SPEAKER_00 (27:26):
You talk about a name and a legacy.
Recently, Key West opened thelofts at Bahama Village.
Yes, and your father, ClaytonLopez, was an integral part of
bringing that to fruition.
How cool is that to be able tosee that project come to pass
because something like thattakes years and years.
(27:48):
You also have there's alsoanother housing complex,
Roosevelt Sands, that's yourfamily.
Talk about a name and a legacywhen your family's name is on
buildings.
That that's a legacy and aresponsibility, right?
No pressure, but no pressure.
SPEAKER_03 (28:06):
In fact, I'm gonna I'm gonna clip this part of the
this interview and send it to mykids because I always tell them
that you know there is a legacywithin your family that you have
to respect.
No pressure, no weight, butyeah, a lot of pressure and a
lot of weight to to do, youknow, to to continue.
(28:27):
I don't my dad and my grand, mygreat-grandfather, Roosevelt
Sands Sr.
and my uncle Junior, RooseveltSands Jr.
always used to talk about beinga man amongst giants.
And that's that's that's where Ifeel like I am.
I'm just I'm a woman amongstgiants, trying to live up to
(28:49):
this this legacy that they'vethey've left for me in my own
way, you know, in my own way.
So, but yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (28:57):
I think they're proud.
SPEAKER_03 (28:59):
I hope so.
I hope so.
SPEAKER_00 (29:02):
That's good stuff, and besides a family of givers
and leaders, very talentedfamily.
SPEAKER_03 (29:09):
Not it's top tier.
It's here.
I I I sing, I play nothing, I II have no voice.
SPEAKER_00 (29:17):
I couldn't sing, but it's a dad, your aunt, your
uncle, your cousin Kofi button.
SPEAKER_03 (29:24):
Oh yeah.
Oh you can't sing I cannot holda note in a brown paper bag.
In fact, when they get together,they have me sing this uh one
one song, and it used to justtickle my grandma rose to death.
Uh so they they make me sing itas a joke.
(29:44):
And I won't I will not burdenthe the the watchers of this
interview with with doing that.
SPEAKER_00 (29:53):
They don't even let you play the tambourine cuts.
No.
You just take pictures for them.
SPEAKER_03 (29:59):
I take I say I'm the dancer.
I'm the backup dancer.
SPEAKER_00 (30:04):
Somebody's got to be hype in the crowd.
SPEAKER_03 (30:06):
Somebody's got to be the hype, man.
That's me.
That's me.
SPEAKER_00 (30:10):
Man.
So, you know, this is also oneof the first shows that I've
done where sports isn't thecenterpiece of the conversation.
But that doesn't mean we're notgoing to talk about it because
you know I'm a big baseball fan.
That's my passion.
Roosevelt Sands, I I want to saythat must be a great-granduncle,
(30:31):
okay, grandfather, was one ofthe greatest players in Key West
baseball history.
He was a catcher with Key WestCoconuts and other baseball
teams that played on this islandin the late 1800s, early 1900s,
uh, played against uh eachother, the Cubans, the military,
(30:52):
whoever came to play baseball,he was he was a huge, I should
be letting you talk, but I getwound up when um I'm alone.
SPEAKER_03 (31:01):
By all means, by all means, Joy.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
He was uh the story as I know it is that he was
asked to go with the NegroLeagues and travel the country,
but he decided to stay home andstart his family.
Is that a true story?
And is there any other storiesyou could share?
SPEAKER_03 (31:19):
That's very much a true story from what has been
told to me and what I've heard,you know, is that he he stayed
here and uh grew his roots inthe community and elected to uh
you know marry his lovely wife,my great-grandma Mina.
Um, I'm I've been very blessed,Joy.
I've had the privilege ofknowing one, two, three, four,
(31:40):
four of my great-grandparents,and actually to the point having
conversations and talking tothem.
And I remember my after mygrandma Mina passed away, Pop,
Roosevelt Sands Sr.
would always he his house wasright around the corner on
Amelia Street from mygrandmother's house, Grandma
Rose's house on WhiteheadStreet.
(32:01):
So every day she would cookdinner and she would have you
know him come over, he wouldbring his own little bird
peppers that he picked off thetree to to accompany his dinner
because he said they they helpedyou live longer and they kept
out, and it did, it did.
He was well, well, well into his90s.
SPEAKER_00 (32:17):
Um we should all have a bird pepper tree then,
huh?
SPEAKER_03 (32:22):
Um, and uh he used to sit in the den area after he
ate his dinner, and grandmawould get his dessert and he
would watch baseball.
I never I'm gonna be honest, I'mI'm not a huge baseball fan.
I'm a football fan.
My my oldest son played conchfootball, he was phenomenal, but
um he used to I we would hearhim and he would say, Great
(32:44):
googly mogly.
That's when you knew it was areally good play going on.
He would Great Googly Mugly, didyou see what that man just did?
So yeah, and my my littlebrother Robbie, he uh he had the
privilege of knowing Pop andUncle Junior, and he used to
call him the man with theboomin' voice.
He pop wasn't a big man, hewasn't big in stature, but he
(33:10):
filled every room he walkedinto.
SPEAKER_00 (33:12):
So speaking of powerful and voices, Mr.
Roosevelt sands that many ofConks my age and and older know
from from Key West High Schoolwas the the greatest speaker I
ever heard talk about an order.
I believe that you have thattalent.
That's not I don't show likewow, that that's a lot.
(33:36):
It's time time to bring thatout.
I've heard you speak eloquentlyon more than one occasion, and I
I know you're you're a strongvoice for for those in need, but
I I I always believe that thatthat's coming to you if it
hasn't already.
You feel that?
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
I just felt that for real right now.
I've been been blessed to havespoken to my with my church
family at MCC.
I love being there.
Started with Steve Torranceasking me and inviting me to
speak multiple times as a guestspeaker, and then now more
recently, Miss Joan Higgs hasasked me to to speak.
(34:19):
And when I get the opportunityto speak, I just it's a
different process.
And I don't know if it's theright way.
I don't know, I don't know whatthe right way or the wrong way
is, but I always just try toconnect with my journey and
where I'm at, you know?
And that's something that Ithink I learned from those great
(34:39):
orators that you spoke of, youknow, Pop and my Uncle Junior,
and even being consideredanywhere near my uncle Junior,
that that that's a lot.
That's a that's a lot.
Because if anyone ever heard himdo I have a dream, and recently
someone sent us a video, and Ithought I saved it on my phone,
but I got a new phone.
(35:01):
But it was my uncle Junior atZion Church and my grandmother
accompanying him on the piano ashe did I Have a Dream, and I
believe it's on YouTube.
If anybody ever finds it, it isworth the repeat.
SPEAKER_00 (35:18):
I would love to find that.
I wish I could show it and addit to this um episode somehow
because you we're talking abouthim, and like I could feel him
coming from the back of theroom, everybody sitting down
facing this way, and he comesfrom the back of the room, the
auditorium of Kiwis High or thechurch and um yeah, just just uh
(35:43):
talk about raise the room andeverybody's spirit to another
level.
That was a blessing for forthose of us that had had the
opportunity to hear him speak.
And um I I was actually tuned inrecently at MCC Church, and you
were speaking, and I was tunedin to the live, and that came
into my mind that that's thenext generation up there
(36:07):
speaking.
So no pressure, cuz but I justmean it with with with love, at
least to share that I had thatthat moment where I thought
about him and you when you weredelivering your words.
SPEAKER_03 (36:19):
So, well, you know, taking me out of the
conversation, my uh I actuallythought about my Uncle Junior
when my daughter, my youngestdaughter, gave her homecoming
speech.
That I sat there because shedidn't want to read it for me
the night before.
She didn't want me to hear her.
She didn't, she literally criedwhen I said, Deitra, please read
(36:39):
it for me, let me hear it.
And she was like, No, no, no,no, I don't want you to.
So sitting there that when shegave her speech that day, that I
think that was uh thirdThursday, Thursday, and I I
boo-hoo cried.
I wasn't ready.
And my mind went to my uncleJunior.
And I mean, again, removing mefrom the conversation, I thought
(37:01):
I saw my dad, I saw my uncleJunior, I saw my my grandmother,
my mother's mother, whograduated from Douglas High
School valedictorian, and shewould quote, I mean, up until
9092, she was still quoting andremembering poems and at last
came one of the very truth, thegayest rally of all the group.
SPEAKER_01 (37:26):
He stood beside her and whispered, Lo, I'll help you
across if you wish to go.
So she lay her hand on hisstrong young arms and face, and
so without curse or harm, sheguides her trembling earrose,
proud that his own was firm andstrong.
(37:49):
Then back again to his friendshe wears.
His young heart, happy, and wellcontent.
She's somebody's mother, boy,you know.
She's old and strong and her ownand somebody's mother out low
her head in her home that night.
(38:11):
And the Christ she said was Godbe kind to that noble boy who is
somebody's son with pride andjoy.
SPEAKER_03 (38:26):
And when I heard that of my daughter, I said,
holy moly, I said, Wow.
She did it, she's it.
She did it, and and my youngestdaughter, now my boys are
different, but that's a storyfor another day.
But my oldest daughter, youknow, she she also she gave the
keynote address at when shegraduated with her associate
(38:47):
from now what's now College ofthe Florida Keys.
And that that had me in tearstoo.
You know, she spoke of growingup in Haiti and the
opportunities.
So moving.
I don't know.
Anyway, I'm blessed.
I'm blessed.
And it just made me feel like,hey, maybe I, you know, maybe I
was able to pass something on tothem to them.
(39:08):
Maybe they did pay attention alittle bit.
SPEAKER_00 (39:11):
Yeah, just yeah, just like you, just like you
paying attention, right?
Now, this next generation, andand that was one of the things I
had on here to talk about.
We mentioned already yourdaughter being part of the
homecoming queen tradition.
QSI recently celebrated 75 yearsof the homecoming celebration
and invited all 75 years ofhomecoming queens, whoever
(39:34):
could, to come back.
What is it for you to see yourdaughter on a list, a long list
of great Key West women, and toknow that she's already making
her place and and your your kidshere, you've got four raising
four up.
What are some of the traditionsthat you hope that they'll take
(39:55):
from you and keep going and passon to other generations?
SPEAKER_03 (39:58):
Pray every night that my kids know I'm here to
support them to be that muchbetter than me.
I had uh some wonderful, myparents have been amazing, and I
stand on their shoulders, theystood on their parents'
shoulders, and now I gladly, youknow, have my kids stand on me
(40:20):
and my husband's shoulders.
I, you know, I have uh fourkids, I have four high school
diplomas, all four diplomas arehonorary honors diplomas.
Um, I have my youngest son, Mr.
TJ.
He is on the spectrum, but he'sin college.
He's gonna get his regularassociate's degree.
He graduated with his regularhigh school diploma.
(40:43):
You know, I have my oldest sonwho is taking his time, but he
promised me he's gonna get thatdegree.
You know, my oldest daughter,when we talk about homecoming, I
have to, you know, my girls, Isay they're different, but you
know, I brag a little bit on myoldest daughter because she was
the first Haitian-born conquetteat Key West High School.
(41:06):
She was also one of the firstHaitian-borns, if I if I got
this correctly, to be nominatedfor the top 20.
She didn't make it to court, butshe was nominated for to the top
20.
Then, you know, along comes herlittle sister, and I I tell
Chris all the time, you youopened the doors, you know.
We can't take anything from you.
You stood in the paint so thatshe can, you know, do what she
(41:31):
did, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (41:32):
As big sisters often have to do, right?
Often do, you know.
I know my I had two big sis, Ihave two big sisters that, you
know, clear the path for me.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (41:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
All the time.
She called, they were on thephone with me last night, and
she's she tells Dietra, Dietra,you know I raised you.
And I said, All right, Crystal,you pushing it, but you you
definitely you opened somedoors, but yeah, no, no, you
pushing it a little bit now.
SPEAKER_00 (42:00):
Man, that's that's really good.
SPEAKER_03 (42:02):
But Didi comes from a long, long, you know,
homecoming tradition.
Her grandmother was on thehomecoming court.
We've had my mom was on thehomecoming court, my cousin
Linda, my cousin Paulette Revis,you know, her cousin Jaquilla
was a queen.
Jeez, who else?
(42:22):
Pam, her our cousin Pam Ramingwas the first black homecoming
queen at P West High School.
So, you know, it is, it's been aand I never really thought of it
that way, honestly.
Going into it, I never I waslike, okay, she she probably
won't get the nomination.
And she was like, Mom, I got it.
And then I'm sitting there onthe field on the bench, and I
(42:44):
remember looking at her andthinking, now, how am I gonna
break it to her that it's okayshe didn't win?
And then it's always that,right?
Just in case.
And then they called her name,and I think I went into absolute
shock, like literal shock.
Missy Vett Talbot came over tome and she was like, Are you
(43:05):
okay?
And I'm like, I couldn't speak.
I remember not being able tospeak, and there's this amazing
video of my husband jumping upand punching the air four times
in a row, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (43:20):
Because he's out there on the field having escort
in the run.
SPEAKER_03 (43:23):
Ear to ear like the Cheshire cat, you know.
And it was, it's, and I justremember thinking it's a little
bit different from her becauseDee Dee wasn't your
stereotypical queen, she wasn'tthe size six, she wasn't the one
that was, you know, the uh theclass president or the president
(43:43):
of this or that.
She was always the supporter,you know, she was always there
supporting and rallying.
And so I just felt like it was alittle different for her.
But I can go on forever aboutthat spot of it.
SPEAKER_00 (43:55):
Hey, yeah, no, I love it.
And and and cheers to her forputting the uh supporting cast
in the in the spotlight.
You know, you already talkedabout Ms.
Rose, and I held the tears back,but I'm gonna I I'm gonna talk
about it too because and you youknow I love her, but um, just
(44:16):
anybody out there that'swatching, anybody that went to
Glenn Archer school um knows Ms.
Rose Lopez from the computer labway back in the day.
This is who we speak, in caseyou were wondering.
But I was I was early in mycareer, the late 80s, started
working for the school district,and Ms.
Rose was already had many yearsworking in the computer lab and
(44:40):
managing that lab.
And you know, she she helped meso many times.
It turned out that that Mr.
Donnie Williams he retiredunexpectedly, and I I was just
like, what am I supposed to do?
I was just supposed to be ateacher aide, right?
And how many times did I callyour grandmother and say, hey,
can I come over and sit in thelab and spend a couple hours and
(45:02):
just watch you?
And I had a bunch of questionsabout the computers and the
reports and everything else.
And Miss Rose always remindedme, we're not here for the
computers, we're here for thekids.
Wow.
If you if you worry too muchabout the computers, you're
gonna miss what we're doing, isfor the kids.
And I promise you, cuz I neverforgot that I retired with 35
(45:24):
years and I always held thatthat close to me.
And um talk about somebody beingnamed appropriately.
Miss Rose was just justbeautiful with a smile that when
when when she smiled, her eyeswould twinkle, you know.
You could hear that little ding,right?
You know, it was just her wholeface smile, and um I miss her
(45:47):
hugs, man.
I could use one right now.
And uh the thing about her hug,man, was that when she hugged
you, you know, I don't know whythis is happening, but I'm going
with it because go.
Yep.
Maybe because I need a hugtoday, but uh when she hugged
you long after she let go, shewas still holding.
(46:09):
You know what I mean?
When you get a good one, it'ssomething special.
And and obviously it's been areal long time since I got one
of those hugs, but I rememberthem fondly.
And um and uh yeah, I just loveI I love her, I love your daddy.
I'm proud of what he did for KeyWest.
And you know, you and I haven'thad as many opportunities to
(46:31):
connect, but I see you, and I'mso happy that I've been able to
get you on the podcast and shinea little light, and now we
connected.
SPEAKER_03 (46:42):
Amen.
SPEAKER_00 (46:43):
Now we got each other's number, and you know, we
we got our own thread that thatwe've made that we've made
today, you know, not just Q assisters, but through your
family, and and now we have wehave our own connection.
SPEAKER_03 (46:56):
My text coming to you at all hours of the night
because once you open the door,I I come right in.
Once you open the door, I'm in.
You can't put me out.
SPEAKER_00 (47:07):
You you heard it here first.
I'm fully committed.
So we're gonna go ahead and wrapup this episode with uh two two
big questions.
Complete this sentence.
SPEAKER_03 (47:15):
I'm proud to be a conk because it's tradition,
it's loyalty, and it'sdedication to community above
self.
SPEAKER_00 (47:24):
That's good stuff, and finally, what brings you
joy?
Family.
SPEAKER_03 (47:28):
And family isn't just who you're birthed into,
it's who you surround yourselfwith.
You're my family, Joy.
So you bring me joy, and youbrought me joy with this
opportunity.
So thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (47:43):
Right, right back at you.
Thank you so much for being onthe show, everything you do for
Key West, and uh I'll see youout there.
SPEAKER_03 (47:50):
You will, you will, about to hit the ground running.
Go conks.
Go conks.
SPEAKER_00 (47:56):
This episode is sponsored by Ramonis, promoting
Conk Pride since 1971.
I'm Joy Newlish, and Iappreciate you tuning into my
podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share, and
subscribe because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can find more joyful contenton YouTube, the socials, or
check my website atjoynoolish.com.
(48:18):
Now go surround yourself withthe things that bring joy to
your world.
Until next time, much love.
Good morning, Buenos Dia, Dobiano, and Buoncho.
I'm Richador and I open.
I open because I'm quick withthe beginning.
I'm not gonna go through a latenew club I'm in or what I've
done during my years at QSI.
I'm not going to tell you aboutmy experience with the week.
Instead, I'll take the time totalk about Quix.
(00:21):
More important, I'll have totell you how QSI can help you
know yourself.
Cont Cry.
I know, I know, it's beenweakening to your head and
drilled into your ears, but staywith me.
I know it seems like a taglineon a TikTok, but it's real.
And more importantly, it's foryou.
QSI owes you can't cry.
(00:43):
And you deserve it.
And all of you should be takingfull advantage of it.
Everyone of you.
The freshmen, the sophomores,the juniors, and everyone in
between.
This pride is for you.
The kids that have the bestparties and the kids that don't
get the invite.
This pride is for you.
The kids that would want to beforever friends, and the kids
(01:03):
that would just depart.
This pride is for you.
The kids that show every day,whether they want to or not,
that fight outside home and intheir personal lives, that even
their best friends don't know.
This pride is for you.
Those that smile bravely and cryinwardly, this pride is for you.
(01:23):
Those that dance to the feet oftheir own drum, this pride that
I feel today for you is for you.
Look at me.
I'm literally not what ourstandard homecoming court
attendant is supposed to looklike.
I know that if you take it, thispride, this cult pride is for
you to do.
(01:43):
I'm not perfect, but in thewords of our queen and exulted
ruler, Beyonce Gisongos Carter,I am flawed.
And each and every one of youare too.
It's not weird or wrong that I'mhere today.
It's solely because you all havesupposed to be.
And stuff like that.
You still eat your door.
And that means a lot.
(02:15):
Believe me, but how often doessomeone get the opportunity to
adjust the entire skin of bodyto remind you that you matter?
Your force matters.
And this pride is freedom.
I'm simply here to encourage youto take a piece of it for
yourselves.
You deserve this experience forhigh school.
Well, everyone's experiencedoesn't have to be the same.
Just to make sure you don'tagree with that number for.
(02:37):
Don't be afraid to disengage thefamiliar.
Step away from what you know orwhat society says someone like
you should like.
Don't waste the sport quickyears we have you're wondering,
what is?
And not take the chances to stepout of the boxes that we tend to
put ourselves in.
Already, many of our classmatesare not here with us for many
(02:57):
different reasons.
Don't leave out closed doorswith regrets.
Listen, whoever you choose to beyour home complete is absolutely
the right choice.
You cannot go wrong.
I want you to leave this podcaston you knowing one thing.
You are all deserving of conchpride and sharing the full high
school experience.
SPEAKER_00 (03:17):
Thanks for tuning in to the conks, a Bring Joy
podcast.
I'm your host, Joy Newlish.
I'm a first generation conkraised by a fourth.
What does that add up to?
A whole lot of conch pride.
And that's what this show is allabout.
Celebrating the incrediblepeople of Key West and their
stories from every corner of ourconk community.
(03:37):
So sit back and relax, cuz.
Let's do this thing.
This episode is sponsored byRamonis, promoting conk pride
since 1971.
How are we doing, conk fans?
I got a good one for you today.
We're talking with Otavia Dore,a true conk with deep roots on
the island, who's doing bigthings in the community.
(03:59):
Welcome to the show, Otavia.
SPEAKER_03 (04:02):
Thank you.
Thank you for having me, Joy.
This is this feels like a longtime coming.
I'm ready.
SPEAKER_00 (04:07):
You know what?
What Mel Fisher says, today'sthe day?
SPEAKER_03 (04:11):
Today is the day.
SPEAKER_00 (04:13):
We've had we've had some conflicts trying to
schedule this for the lastmonth, really.
But but here we are, finally hitrecord, and definitely feel like
we should celebrate not onlythat we're meeting together
today, but also to celebratehelping hands across the Florida
Keys, the new nonprofit that youstarted.
And let's start right there.
Tell me about the the programand what's the mission.
SPEAKER_03 (04:37):
Absolutely.
So uh helping hands of theFlorida Key of the Florida Keys
came about um during COVID.
And my dear friend Roma reachedout to me and she was like, hey,
I know a lot of families becauseat the time she was working with
a local physician who was veryuh immersed in the COVID
pandemic.
(04:57):
She said to me, you know,there's a lot of families going
through it right now, Tavy.
What can we do?
You know, she knew my familyconnections and stuff.
We should do a toy drive.
And that's where it started.
And that was 2020, I believe,2019, 2020, 2020.
And so we set up a table at uhthe park downtown, and we were
(05:20):
collecting toys.
Well, the toy collection turnedinto be more so people reaching
out looking for help more thandrop-offs.
We received inquiries for morehelp.
And um we were like, whoa, whoa,whoa, this is, you know, this is
this is we were just trying to,you know, help a few families,
and and the need was there.
(05:42):
It was so great during the thepandemic years.
So we reached out to my dad, hewas out there as well, and
Dorian from the city of KeyWest, he lives right around the
corner, right in front of thepark.
So he came out and he was like,Well, let me call the fire chief
and the the chief of police andsee if they have any extra toys
or if there's anything that theycan do to help coordinate.
(06:05):
And they did, and they reallycame through.
And the first year I want tosay, with private donors,
private donors went crazy, and Ican't if I talk about it too
much, I'll start to cry becauseI'm an emotional gangster, Joy.
But you know, um, they reallycame through, and I want to say
the first year we helped five orsix families, which was really
good.
And with uh MetropolitanCommunity Church, they donated
(06:29):
food, so we had turkeys, theelks gave uh turkeys and canned
goods, and we were able todistribute these to local
families.
And one thing I'll point out topeople who who have a certain
picture of the families in needin mind, get that picture of who
is in need out of your mindbecause these are working class
(06:51):
families that were suffering.
So then the next year, ofcourse, we start to transition
out of the COVID era and theCOVID period, and the need is
still there.
You know, the next year, 2021,more families reach out, and
it's still working class conks,people that you see in the
growth working at the grocerystore, working in your doctor's
(07:14):
offices, you know, working atyour local hospital, working at
the aqueduct or the cityelectric, these are working
families that are still in need.
And um, so at your localhospitality and hotels, big
industry, you know.
So to live in Key West is onething, but to be able to thrive
(07:34):
and to go above, or to be ableto provide outside of basic
needs for working families canbe a whole different situation.
So as we continue to 2021,again, private donors, we don't
have a 401c3 registry, we'rejust two little elves.
Well, not so little, but twoelves, you know, trying to to
(07:56):
help as much as we can.
And then so from there, it justit really snowballed, and it
became Christmas afterChristmas, and more and more
families.
And I think one of the mosthumbling things about it for me,
Joy, and I think for Roma, I canspeak for Roma as well when I
say this is that if you knew whothe families were outside of who
(08:20):
we are, it's humbling to knowthat they trust us to help them
with complete confidence.
Because it takes a lot forpeople to ask for help, believe
it or not, especially in KeyWest, where it's you have so
many different extremes, but weall always meet in the middle.
You know, it's kind of hard forworking class families who
(08:45):
people may have this um visionof what they should be able to
provide for their families toask for help.
So the fact that these familiescome to us in confidence, you
know, and confidentiality andknow that we're willing to help
with an open heart is reallyhumbling.
It became Halloween costumes.
Hey, do you know anybody thathas an extra Halloween costume?
(09:07):
It became one year, the year mydaughter was on the homecoming
court, my youngest daughter wason the homecoming court.
A young lady had waited to thelast minute, she couldn't find a
homecoming dress.
Her parents weren't in a placeto, you know, overnight an extra
hundred dollars to have a dresssent here, right?
Because everything that comesacross that bridge is
(09:28):
exorbitant.
So I was in a good place thatyear, you know.
I didn't have a choice withlittle Dietra anyway, and I
still have dresses in here fromhomecoming, but that's a whole
nother situation.
SPEAKER_00 (09:42):
And I I have that on my list of things to talk about
is key West Homecoming.
And the tradition and the longlist of ladies that she's now
part of, but so sh I said, youknow, come over.
SPEAKER_03 (09:54):
And Didi says, Mom, I have dresses, you know, and um
that I'm not gonna wear.
So, and she she she wore one ofshe was able to wear one of the
dresses that Didi elected not towear, and she looked gorgeous.
And I just think that the Lorddoes things, everything for a
purpose, right?
Like the dress didn't fit Didithe way it was supposed to, but
(10:16):
it fit her perfectly.
So I say all that to say, andsometimes Joy redirect me
because I become like a dang mymy attention span becomes I have
to you have to catch me becauseI get like squirrel, you know.
I I lose it's easy for me tolose my focus when I start
because this I'm so passionateabout this.
No, I feel that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:35):
I feel that you talking about you were gonna
cry, you're about to make mecry, and all you're spilling is
goodness, so keep on.
SPEAKER_03 (10:42):
It's it's you know, I I've been a family in need,
you know.
People look at me and they say,Oh, your paint, your dad is so
and so, your mom did so and so,but I'm not my parents'
responsibility at this ripe oldage.
Now, don't get me wrong, I haveno problem asking them for help,
and they will tell you that.
But, you know, there comes apoint where you do stand on your
(11:05):
own two feet and you you're in aplace where you're in need.
Things come up.
Four kids in the city of KeyWest, and I'm married, you know,
and there's still, and I I I'llsay I have a good job.
My husband has a good job, butthere's times where you know
we're scraping our teeth, andthat's a fact.
That's a fact, you know.
(11:25):
Um it's not fancy, it's justliving.
And I think that that's whathelping hands of the Florida
Keys wants to do.
We want to be able to seeworking families in the city of
Key West and the Florida Keysnot have to put something off
because, you know, especially,you know, their kids.
(11:47):
And I'm not just talking inelementary school and middle
school, I'm talking high schoolstudents too.
With this last one, especially,you know, you've I've seen so
many opportunities that Icouldn't imagine if I didn't
have the tribe around me thatshe would have missed out on,
you know?
And what if somebody doesn'thave that tribe or does have it,
(12:11):
but still just needs that extrapush, you know?
What opportunities can theymiss?
The extra set of cleats forbaseball, the extra baseball
bag, uh, some, you know,$50 cashin their hand for the 500 trips
that they take with the sportsteam every year.
And I know the coaches and thestaff at Key West High School,
(12:32):
God bless them, amazing.
They graduated four doors.
We're like the Weasley family ofKey West, you know, another
door, you know.
But they they've Monroe CountySchool Department has seen their
last door, prayerfully, youknow, and uh so but they I know
they work hard to make sure thatthe needs are met, but there's
(12:53):
always people that don't ask forhelp because they are ashamed or
and we want to remove thatstigma, I think, with with with
our one of the big things thatwe want to do is remove that
stigma with helping hands andtrust that you know we're doing
it in confidence and we'll talk,Roma and Eric and I will talk
(13:14):
amongst ourselves, but it's notgonna go past there.
Even with our donors, you know,and our donors are have been
such blessings.
They don't ask who, they don'task what, they don't ask why.
You tell them that there'ssomeone in need and they're
willing to fill that void, andthey they trust us to know that
we're not just out here beingfrivolous, which is another
(13:38):
trust.
SPEAKER_00 (13:39):
No, absolutely.
And so, what took it from beingthis grassroots movement where
you met at the park and it youshared like a typical Key West
story, right?
You're out there at the park,and then Dorian, who works at
the city, lives across thestreet, and he's got the fire
chief's number, so he calls him,you know, and that village that
happens that Key West is so wellknown for, it gives gives me the
(14:01):
chills.
But what what happens that makesyou decide to go ahead and make
it official and register and youknow the growth over the last
couple of years to where you areuh recently with the big
announcement online?
SPEAKER_03 (14:15):
Because uh we honestly we've seen the checks
that a lot of nonprofits havebeen receiving, and we've seen
the need that is being unmet.
So if we can get some of thatmoney and funnel it towards that
definitive need that we see thatwe get phone calls for outside
(14:40):
of being a nonprofit, and thatwe feel outside of being a
nonprofit, imagine what we cando if we can get that money and
funnel it back into our Key Westcommunity, into our homes, into
our families.
Imagine the children, the youngpeople that don't have to miss
out on opportunities.
Imagine the moms that don't haveto work an extra 10 hours this
(15:04):
week to and miss out on theirchild's school play because they
have to, you know, pay theirelectric bill that's higher in
the summertime, and their kidhas the opportunity to go to
drive toward Tugas camp.
Imagine being able to take thatand meet that need that seems to
be missed a lot, a lot.
(15:26):
So yeah, that that was likeafter doing it, okay, 2020, 21,
22, 20, and Roma's like, youknow what?
Oh gosh, and Roma, I can't againsquirrel, but I can't talk
enough about Roma.
She's a dog, and I don't meanthat in the negative way.
I mean she is a dog.
When she sinks her teeth in, sheis going to do it until it gets
(15:46):
done.
She is phenomenal.
SPEAKER_00 (15:50):
And and you know, it takes that because there are
many nonprofits on thisbeautiful island, lots of people
doing big things, but it's noteasy to do.
You've got to go out there andyou've got to grind, and you've
got to be able to ask for moneyand keep coming back and take no
for an answer.
And you you need those people,you need the workers to help
(16:11):
you, you know, collect, and thenyou need those that can go and
um, I believe she was on theradio recently.
SPEAKER_03 (16:18):
Plus, yes.
SPEAKER_00 (16:19):
And uh you mentioned Erica also.
Is there other people involved?
SPEAKER_03 (16:24):
Is it three of it's primarily the three of us me,
Erica, and Roma?
And uh, you know, Erica does thebackground, she's really like
our third person, she's ourchecks to our balances, and
she's she's she's our real it inguys type person.
SPEAKER_00 (16:40):
So, what are some of the um gaps that you fill?
You mentioned money, youmentioned dresses.
So, what what what do you takein?
What are the gaps that you'reseeing?
And is there anything that youcan't do, or what do you what do
you focus on offering families?
SPEAKER_03 (16:57):
At Christmas time, right now our main focus is as
as it started out with ourgrassroots, like you pointed
out, um, has been Christmastime.
And one of the biggest gaps atChristmas time that we see is
our teens.
Teenagers in the keys, theylaugh there it goes again.
I said, This interview is notgonna make me cry the whole
(17:20):
time.
Last year we had a 16-year-oldreach out to us via Facebook.
She sent a list for her siblingsand didn't ask for anything for
herself.
So we came out of pocket, but wereached out to our donors and
some of them came through aswell, and we were able to help
(17:40):
that family of three, includingthe teenager, you know, with
gift cards and let her pick upbecause you know, teen they're
very funny about what they wear.
Trust me, I know.
But we were able to provide forthe 16-year-old who was asking
for her siblings as well.
SPEAKER_00 (17:59):
That's powerful, yeah.
And so you mentioned youmentioned Christmas.
We're here in November, theholiday season is upon us.
Hopefully, those holidaysinspire a generous spirit in us.
So if there's someone out therethat's listening that has the
opportunity to donate, how dothey get in touch and how how do
they reach you to make make adonation?
SPEAKER_03 (18:21):
They can reach us through our website, which is
helping hands of thefloridaceys.com.
They can go on our Facebookpage, helping hands of the
Florida Keys.
They can go to our email, whichour email is Otavia's A T A
Via's and Victor, I A S HelpingHands with an S at gmail.com.
SPEAKER_00 (18:44):
And I'll put those on the screen too.
I'll get them from you and makesure that we have them on the
screen so that people people cansee.
So there's several ways thatpeople can reach out and help.
SPEAKER_03 (18:55):
Absolutely.
No, no, just know me aroundtown, just stop me, and you
know, and now we're registered,so now you can get your your
slip back saying you donated tothis nonprofit, and it's and you
can file that with your taxes aswell, too.
And the fact that the pastyears, Troy, people have been
willing to do it without thathas yeah, just fueled us.
SPEAKER_00 (19:18):
And uh perfect timing for you guys to go
official, not only with theholiday season, but tax season
coming up, right?
The end of 2025.
So those those generous donorshave you know one more deduction
off that tax return, go aheadand and reach out and and make
something happen.
You know, one of the one of thethe strongest things someone can
(19:41):
do is ask for help.
But as you said, so hard to do,and we really need to change
that narrative.
It sounds like that's one of themissions of your program.
If there is a family out therethat needs help, that's that's
listening to this, do they usethose same connections to reach
out?
SPEAKER_03 (20:01):
Absolutely, absolutely, by all means, uh
please do.
Like I said, we we do a littlequick questionnaire, it's just a
basic questionnaire because wehave to report back to the to
the government, you know, and umso it's just it's very simple.
Where's the need?
How can we help?
And if we can.
(20:22):
And because we're just startingoff, you know, I know that
there's a lot of there may be alot of big needs.
I don't we don't want to turnanyone away.
But right now we're just wedon't have much, so every every
little bit helps.
SPEAKER_00 (20:37):
You don't have you don't have much yet.
SPEAKER_03 (20:40):
Yes, yet, yes, right?
SPEAKER_00 (20:42):
But from our our mouth to God's ears and all our
friends out there, right?
SPEAKER_03 (20:46):
All in between.
Amen.
SPEAKER_00 (20:48):
That's that's that's fill it up, and just as the
holidays offer such a generousand loving spirit, it's a great
time for celebration.
It also brings a lot of stressto families who who are, like
you said, working families,two-income families that have
some gaps.
And I think about Thanksgivingcoming up a couple of weeks away
(21:11):
and being able to put a meal onthe table, and then thinking,
you know, three weeks later,needing to wrap a gift for for
our kids.
No, no, no child and no familyin Key West should go without.
We can't, we might be able tonot reach all the way across the
country, right?
But but let that let's take careof of Key West and the Keys, and
(21:34):
there's so many opportunities tohelp.
And this helping hands of theFlorida Keys is official on the
books, ready to make it happen.
So thank you.
SPEAKER_03 (21:46):
Thank you, thank you, Joy, for letting us get
that out there.
SPEAKER_00 (21:50):
Absolutely, I'm I'm happy to do it, and you know
that's the other thing, too.
Not everyone has an opportunityto give, but we can spread the
word.
SPEAKER_03 (21:59):
Yes, spread the word and help.
Listen, we take help too becauseRoma's uh fiance, Brett, and my
husband, Dor, they're sick ofbeing asked to put bicycles
together, you know, two andthree the night before Christmas
and and helping to set this upand lift these boxes.
We take help in all forms.
(22:19):
So if you have an extra set ofhands, you know, again, that's
that's that's the mission,helping hands where you know,
put your strengths together andwork together.
SPEAKER_00 (22:30):
I love that.
I've done about three episodesnow on this new show called The
Conks, and without anyintention, one of the common
threads is community service.
Absolutely, you know, talk aboutconch pride.
Michelle Cohen was on the show acouple of weeks ago, and one of
the things that her and RalphMajor did a great job, the rest
(22:51):
of the board over there at theJunior Football League was
community outreach, and theystarted engaging the baseball
team and the basketball team,and not only students, but
adults in the community as wellto come out and and give up
their time.
Because once you do it once andyou see what an uplifting
feeling you get when you servesomeone else, it it becomes
(23:16):
contagious.
And those young people that thatstart to help out at an early
age, like you mentioned, yourdaughter giving giving address
to her friend, right?
That's something that it getsinside of you.
I encourage anybody out therelistening.
If you haven't extended yourselffor someone else yet, it's time.
SPEAKER_03 (23:34):
It is, it is the time, absolutely.
SPEAKER_00 (23:37):
I I also mentioned in the intro that you had deep
roots on this island, many ofwhich are community leaders,
right?
Your family is full of communityleaders from the church to the
classroom to city hall.
So let's let's shift gears andand talk about your conk family,
if we may.
SPEAKER_03 (23:55):
Yes, absolutely.
Both uh my mother and my father,I don't I don't have a choice
but to be the way that I am,really.
I um I'm blessed to have two ofthe most selfless parents that I
can even imagine.
And I've watched them workselflessly, both of them,
(24:15):
without any want or desire forany recognition.
You know what I mean?
And it's the little things thatthat I've that I've witnessed
both of them do that you knowthat they'll never speak of.
And one one woman that I knowyou know well, my grandma Rose
(24:35):
was very much like that.
She she was that woman, shenever looked for anything back.
My grandma went to her grave,God bless her, knowing so much
that she never spoke of, so muchthat she never, you know, that
she carried and she did itgladly.
(24:56):
She received a lot of, you know,and gave of herself, like but
like without it was veryhumbling to I use that word a
lot, but it was it was thatthat's how I was raised, you
know, with that humility to doselflessly.
But grandma Rose is the one thattaught me when you pray, you
(25:18):
know, you go into the closet andpray.
You take that between you andGod, you know, you don't do it
for the world to see what you'redoing, just like your good
works.
That's between you and thatperson and God.
That's that let your your worksbe through through you, you
know, not through everything.
You don't taking a picture asyou're handing somebody a
(25:38):
sandwich, you know?
So that that's how I was wasreally raised.
SPEAKER_00 (25:43):
And yeah, I don't have a choice but to be the way
that I that that I actually hadthis question on here to ask
you.
Did you learn simply by example,which is how you're answering
the question now, or did did atsome point they sit you down and
say, Look, this is what thisfamily does, you know.
But but oh that's both.
SPEAKER_03 (26:05):
A little bit of both, you know.
Um I was always raised, again,both sides of my family, that
I'm a reflection of my family,and that's one thing I've tried
to instill in my kids that whenyou walk out this door, my
husband, he he has a good I lovethe way he says this.
He tells my kids that he'sloaning them his last name.
(26:28):
That's my last name.
I'm loaning it to you.
So when you take it past thesedoors, you treat it with
respect, you know?
So I love that, but yeah, youknow, you carry your on your
bloodline years of respect andand selfless giving and
self-worth.
Yeah.
So did they sit me down and tellme, yeah, yeah, there was times
(26:51):
where they have to reel me in.
There's times today where theystill have to reel me in a
little bit.
All right, Tavy, you may bedoing a little money now, you
know.
But um uh, no, they they it wasand it was talked about in the
family, you know, like you sawthem like in church.
What can we do?
What are we doing, you know?
And and then there was the thethe private moments that maybe
(27:14):
you weren't supposed to see, butyou got a glimpse of or an ear
of, and you saw them alwaysworking.
So yeah, it was it, it's justit's very much a part of who I
am.
SPEAKER_00 (27:26):
You talk about a name and a legacy.
Recently, Key West opened thelofts at Bahama Village.
Yes, and your father, ClaytonLopez, was an integral part of
bringing that to fruition.
How cool is that to be able tosee that project come to pass
because something like thattakes years and years.
(27:48):
You also have there's alsoanother housing complex,
Roosevelt Sands, that's yourfamily.
Talk about a name and a legacywhen your family's name is on
buildings.
That that's a legacy and aresponsibility, right?
No pressure, but no pressure.
SPEAKER_03 (28:06):
In fact, I'm gonna I'm gonna clip this part of the
this interview and send it to mykids because I always tell them
that you know there is a legacywithin your family that you have
to respect.
No pressure, no weight, butyeah, a lot of pressure and a
lot of weight to to do, youknow, to to continue.
(28:27):
I don't my dad and my grand, mygreat-grandfather, Roosevelt
Sands Sr.
and my uncle Junior, RooseveltSands Jr.
always used to talk about beinga man amongst giants.
And that's that's that's where Ifeel like I am.
I'm just I'm a woman amongstgiants, trying to live up to
(28:49):
this this legacy that they'vethey've left for me in my own
way, you know, in my own way.
So, but yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (28:57):
I think they're proud.
SPEAKER_03 (28:59):
I hope so.
I hope so.
SPEAKER_00 (29:02):
That's good stuff, and besides a family of givers
and leaders, very talentedfamily.
SPEAKER_03 (29:09):
Not it's top tier.
It's here.
I I I sing, I play nothing, I II have no voice.
SPEAKER_00 (29:17):
I couldn't sing, but it's a dad, your aunt, your
uncle, your cousin Kofi button.
SPEAKER_03 (29:24):
Oh yeah.
Oh you can't sing I cannot holda note in a brown paper bag.
In fact, when they get together,they have me sing this uh one
one song, and it used to justtickle my grandma rose to death.
Uh so they they make me sing itas a joke.
(29:44):
And I won't I will not burdenthe the the watchers of this
interview with with doing that.
SPEAKER_00 (29:53):
They don't even let you play the tambourine cuts.
No.
You just take pictures for them.
SPEAKER_03 (29:59):
I take I say I'm the dancer.
I'm the backup dancer.
SPEAKER_00 (30:04):
Somebody's got to be hype in the crowd.
SPEAKER_03 (30:06):
Somebody's got to be the hype, man.
That's me.
That's me.
SPEAKER_00 (30:10):
Man.
So, you know, this is also oneof the first shows that I've
done where sports isn't thecenterpiece of the conversation.
But that doesn't mean we're notgoing to talk about it because
you know I'm a big baseball fan.
That's my passion.
Roosevelt Sands, I I want to saythat must be a great-granduncle,
(30:31):
okay, grandfather, was one ofthe greatest players in Key West
baseball history.
He was a catcher with Key WestCoconuts and other baseball
teams that played on this islandin the late 1800s, early 1900s,
uh, played against uh eachother, the Cubans, the military,
(30:52):
whoever came to play baseball,he was he was a huge, I should
be letting you talk, but I getwound up when um I'm alone.
SPEAKER_03 (31:01):
By all means, by all means, Joy.
SPEAKER_00 (31:04):
He was uh the story as I know it is that he was
asked to go with the NegroLeagues and travel the country,
but he decided to stay home andstart his family.
Is that a true story?
And is there any other storiesyou could share?
SPEAKER_03 (31:19):
That's very much a true story from what has been
told to me and what I've heard,you know, is that he he stayed
here and uh grew his roots inthe community and elected to uh
you know marry his lovely wife,my great-grandma Mina.
Um, I'm I've been very blessed,Joy.
I've had the privilege ofknowing one, two, three, four,
(31:40):
four of my great-grandparents,and actually to the point having
conversations and talking tothem.
And I remember my after mygrandma Mina passed away, Pop,
Roosevelt Sands Sr.
would always he his house wasright around the corner on
Amelia Street from mygrandmother's house, Grandma
Rose's house on WhiteheadStreet.
(32:01):
So every day she would cookdinner and she would have you
know him come over, he wouldbring his own little bird
peppers that he picked off thetree to to accompany his dinner
because he said they they helpedyou live longer and they kept
out, and it did, it did.
He was well, well, well into his90s.
SPEAKER_00 (32:17):
Um we should all have a bird pepper tree then,
huh?
SPEAKER_03 (32:22):
Um, and uh he used to sit in the den area after he
ate his dinner, and grandmawould get his dessert and he
would watch baseball.
I never I'm gonna be honest, I'mI'm not a huge baseball fan.
I'm a football fan.
My my oldest son played conchfootball, he was phenomenal, but
um he used to I we would hearhim and he would say, Great
(32:44):
googly mogly.
That's when you knew it was areally good play going on.
He would Great Googly Mugly, didyou see what that man just did?
So yeah, and my my littlebrother Robbie, he uh he had the
privilege of knowing Pop andUncle Junior, and he used to
call him the man with theboomin' voice.
He pop wasn't a big man, hewasn't big in stature, but he
(33:10):
filled every room he walkedinto.
SPEAKER_00 (33:12):
So speaking of powerful and voices, Mr.
Roosevelt sands that many ofConks my age and and older know
from from Key West High Schoolwas the the greatest speaker I
ever heard talk about an order.
I believe that you have thattalent.
That's not I don't show likewow, that that's a lot.
(33:36):
It's time time to bring thatout.
I've heard you speak eloquentlyon more than one occasion, and I
I know you're you're a strongvoice for for those in need, but
I I I always believe that thatthat's coming to you if it
hasn't already.
You feel that?
SPEAKER_03 (33:58):
I just felt that for real right now.
I've been been blessed to havespoken to my with my church
family at MCC.
I love being there.
Started with Steve Torranceasking me and inviting me to
speak multiple times as a guestspeaker, and then now more
recently, Miss Joan Higgs hasasked me to to speak.
(34:19):
And when I get the opportunityto speak, I just it's a
different process.
And I don't know if it's theright way.
I don't know, I don't know whatthe right way or the wrong way
is, but I always just try toconnect with my journey and
where I'm at, you know?
And that's something that Ithink I learned from those great
(34:39):
orators that you spoke of, youknow, Pop and my Uncle Junior,
and even being consideredanywhere near my uncle Junior,
that that that's a lot.
That's a that's a lot.
Because if anyone ever heard himdo I have a dream, and recently
someone sent us a video, and Ithought I saved it on my phone,
but I got a new phone.
(35:01):
But it was my uncle Junior atZion Church and my grandmother
accompanying him on the piano ashe did I Have a Dream, and I
believe it's on YouTube.
If anybody ever finds it, it isworth the repeat.
SPEAKER_00 (35:18):
I would love to find that.
I wish I could show it and addit to this um episode somehow
because you we're talking abouthim, and like I could feel him
coming from the back of theroom, everybody sitting down
facing this way, and he comesfrom the back of the room, the
auditorium of Kiwis High or thechurch and um yeah, just just uh
(35:43):
talk about raise the room andeverybody's spirit to another
level.
That was a blessing for forthose of us that had had the
opportunity to hear him speak.
And um I I was actually tuned inrecently at MCC Church, and you
were speaking, and I was tunedin to the live, and that came
into my mind that that's thenext generation up there
(36:07):
speaking.
So no pressure, cuz but I justmean it with with with love, at
least to share that I had thatthat moment where I thought
about him and you when you weredelivering your words.
SPEAKER_03 (36:19):
So, well, you know, taking me out of the
conversation, my uh I actuallythought about my Uncle Junior
when my daughter, my youngestdaughter, gave her homecoming
speech.
That I sat there because shedidn't want to read it for me
the night before.
She didn't want me to hear her.
She didn't, she literally criedwhen I said, Deitra, please read
(36:39):
it for me, let me hear it.
And she was like, No, no, no,no, I don't want you to.
So sitting there that when shegave her speech that day, that I
think that was uh thirdThursday, Thursday, and I I
boo-hoo cried.
I wasn't ready.
And my mind went to my uncleJunior.
And I mean, again, removing mefrom the conversation, I thought
(37:01):
I saw my dad, I saw my uncleJunior, I saw my my grandmother,
my mother's mother, whograduated from Douglas High
School valedictorian, and shewould quote, I mean, up until
9092, she was still quoting andremembering poems and at last
came one of the very truth, thegayest rally of all the group.
SPEAKER_01 (37:26):
He stood beside her and whispered, Lo, I'll help you
across if you wish to go.
So she lay her hand on hisstrong young arms and face, and
so without curse or harm, sheguides her trembling earrose,
proud that his own was firm andstrong.
(37:49):
Then back again to his friendshe wears.
His young heart, happy, and wellcontent.
She's somebody's mother, boy,you know.
She's old and strong and her ownand somebody's mother out low
her head in her home that night.
(38:11):
And the Christ she said was Godbe kind to that noble boy who is
somebody's son with pride andjoy.
SPEAKER_03 (38:26):
And when I heard that of my daughter, I said,
holy moly, I said, Wow.
She did it, she's it.
She did it, and and my youngestdaughter, now my boys are
different, but that's a storyfor another day.
But my oldest daughter, youknow, she she also she gave the
keynote address at when shegraduated with her associate
(38:47):
from now what's now College ofthe Florida Keys.
And that that had me in tearstoo.
You know, she spoke of growingup in Haiti and the
opportunities.
So moving.
I don't know.
Anyway, I'm blessed.
I'm blessed.
And it just made me feel like,hey, maybe I, you know, maybe I
was able to pass something on tothem to them.
(39:08):
Maybe they did pay attention alittle bit.
SPEAKER_00 (39:11):
Yeah, just yeah, just like you, just like you
paying attention, right?
Now, this next generation, andand that was one of the things I
had on here to talk about.
We mentioned already yourdaughter being part of the
homecoming queen tradition.
QSI recently celebrated 75 yearsof the homecoming celebration
and invited all 75 years ofhomecoming queens, whoever
(39:34):
could, to come back.
What is it for you to see yourdaughter on a list, a long list
of great Key West women, and toknow that she's already making
her place and and your your kidshere, you've got four raising
four up.
What are some of the traditionsthat you hope that they'll take
(39:55):
from you and keep going and passon to other generations?
SPEAKER_03 (39:58):
Pray every night that my kids know I'm here to
support them to be that muchbetter than me.
I had uh some wonderful, myparents have been amazing, and I
stand on their shoulders, theystood on their parents'
shoulders, and now I gladly, youknow, have my kids stand on me
(40:20):
and my husband's shoulders.
I, you know, I have uh fourkids, I have four high school
diplomas, all four diplomas arehonorary honors diplomas.
Um, I have my youngest son, Mr.
TJ.
He is on the spectrum, but he'sin college.
He's gonna get his regularassociate's degree.
He graduated with his regularhigh school diploma.
(40:43):
You know, I have my oldest sonwho is taking his time, but he
promised me he's gonna get thatdegree.
You know, my oldest daughter,when we talk about homecoming, I
have to, you know, my girls, Isay they're different, but you
know, I brag a little bit on myoldest daughter because she was
the first Haitian-born conquetteat Key West High School.
(41:06):
She was also one of the firstHaitian-borns, if I if I got
this correctly, to be nominatedfor the top 20.
She didn't make it to court, butshe was nominated for to the top
20.
Then, you know, along comes herlittle sister, and I I tell
Chris all the time, you youopened the doors, you know.
We can't take anything from you.
You stood in the paint so thatshe can, you know, do what she
(41:31):
did, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (41:32):
As big sisters often have to do, right?
Often do, you know.
I know my I had two big sis, Ihave two big sisters that, you
know, clear the path for me.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_03 (41:43):
Yeah.
Yeah.
All the time.
She called, they were on thephone with me last night, and
she's she tells Dietra, Dietra,you know I raised you.
And I said, All right, Crystal,you pushing it, but you you
definitely you opened somedoors, but yeah, no, no, you
pushing it a little bit now.
SPEAKER_00 (42:00):
Man, that's that's really good.
SPEAKER_03 (42:02):
But Didi comes from a long, long, you know,
homecoming tradition.
Her grandmother was on thehomecoming court.
We've had my mom was on thehomecoming court, my cousin
Linda, my cousin Paulette Revis,you know, her cousin Jaquilla
was a queen.
Jeez, who else?
(42:22):
Pam, her our cousin Pam Ramingwas the first black homecoming
queen at P West High School.
So, you know, it is, it's been aand I never really thought of it
that way, honestly.
Going into it, I never I waslike, okay, she she probably
won't get the nomination.
And she was like, Mom, I got it.
And then I'm sitting there onthe field on the bench, and I
(42:44):
remember looking at her andthinking, now, how am I gonna
break it to her that it's okayshe didn't win?
And then it's always that,right?
Just in case.
And then they called her name,and I think I went into absolute
shock, like literal shock.
Missy Vett Talbot came over tome and she was like, Are you
(43:05):
okay?
And I'm like, I couldn't speak.
I remember not being able tospeak, and there's this amazing
video of my husband jumping upand punching the air four times
in a row, you know.
SPEAKER_00 (43:20):
Because he's out there on the field having escort
in the run.
SPEAKER_03 (43:23):
Ear to ear like the Cheshire cat, you know.
And it was, it's, and I justremember thinking it's a little
bit different from her becauseDee Dee wasn't your
stereotypical queen, she wasn'tthe size six, she wasn't the one
that was, you know, the uh theclass president or the president
(43:43):
of this or that.
She was always the supporter,you know, she was always there
supporting and rallying.
And so I just felt like it was alittle different for her.
But I can go on forever aboutthat spot of it.
SPEAKER_00 (43:55):
Hey, yeah, no, I love it.
And and and cheers to her forputting the uh supporting cast
in the in the spotlight.
You know, you already talkedabout Ms.
Rose, and I held the tears back,but I'm gonna I I'm gonna talk
about it too because and you youknow I love her, but um, just
(44:16):
anybody out there that'swatching, anybody that went to
Glenn Archer school um knows Ms.
Rose Lopez from the computer labway back in the day.
This is who we speak, in caseyou were wondering.
But I was I was early in mycareer, the late 80s, started
working for the school district,and Ms.
Rose was already had many yearsworking in the computer lab and
(44:40):
managing that lab.
And you know, she she helped meso many times.
It turned out that that Mr.
Donnie Williams he retiredunexpectedly, and I I was just
like, what am I supposed to do?
I was just supposed to be ateacher aide, right?
And how many times did I callyour grandmother and say, hey,
can I come over and sit in thelab and spend a couple hours and
(45:02):
just watch you?
And I had a bunch of questionsabout the computers and the
reports and everything else.
And Miss Rose always remindedme, we're not here for the
computers, we're here for thekids.
Wow.
If you if you worry too muchabout the computers, you're
gonna miss what we're doing, isfor the kids.
And I promise you, cuz I neverforgot that I retired with 35
(45:24):
years and I always held thatthat close to me.
And um talk about somebody beingnamed appropriately.
Miss Rose was just justbeautiful with a smile that when
when when she smiled, her eyeswould twinkle, you know.
You could hear that little ding,right?
You know, it was just her wholeface smile, and um I miss her
(45:47):
hugs, man.
I could use one right now.
And uh the thing about her hug,man, was that when she hugged
you, you know, I don't know whythis is happening, but I'm going
with it because go.
Yep.
Maybe because I need a hugtoday, but uh when she hugged
you long after she let go, shewas still holding.
(46:09):
You know what I mean?
When you get a good one, it'ssomething special.
And and obviously it's been areal long time since I got one
of those hugs, but I rememberthem fondly.
And um and uh yeah, I just loveI I love her, I love your daddy.
I'm proud of what he did for KeyWest.
And you know, you and I haven'thad as many opportunities to
(46:31):
connect, but I see you, and I'mso happy that I've been able to
get you on the podcast and shinea little light, and now we
connected.
SPEAKER_03 (46:42):
Amen.
SPEAKER_00 (46:43):
Now we got each other's number, and you know, we
we got our own thread that thatwe've made that we've made
today, you know, not just Q assisters, but through your
family, and and now we have wehave our own connection.
SPEAKER_03 (46:56):
My text coming to you at all hours of the night
because once you open the door,I I come right in.
Once you open the door, I'm in.
You can't put me out.
SPEAKER_00 (47:07):
You you heard it here first.
I'm fully committed.
So we're gonna go ahead and wrapup this episode with uh two two
big questions.
Complete this sentence.
SPEAKER_03 (47:15):
I'm proud to be a conk because it's tradition,
it's loyalty, and it'sdedication to community above
self.
SPEAKER_00 (47:24):
That's good stuff, and finally, what brings you
joy?
Family.
SPEAKER_03 (47:28):
And family isn't just who you're birthed into,
it's who you surround yourselfwith.
You're my family, Joy.
So you bring me joy, and youbrought me joy with this
opportunity.
So thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (47:43):
Right, right back at you.
Thank you so much for being onthe show, everything you do for
Key West, and uh I'll see youout there.
SPEAKER_03 (47:50):
You will, you will, about to hit the ground running.
Go conks.
Go conks.
SPEAKER_00 (47:56):
This episode is sponsored by Ramonis, promoting
Conk Pride since 1971.
I'm Joy Newlish, and Iappreciate you tuning into my
podcast.
If you enjoyed this episode,drop a review, share, and
subscribe because there's a lotof good stuff on tap.
You can find more joyful contenton YouTube, the socials, or
check my website atjoynoolish.com.
(48:18):
Now go surround yourself withthe things that bring joy to
your world.
Until next time, much love.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.