August 12, 2025 • 44 mins
☕ In this inspiring conversation, Erica sits down with Emily Schmidt, founder of The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop and the nonprofit that powers it, to shine a light on a mission that is transforming lives.
The Cracked Pot serves young adults aging out of foster care and adoption, providing not just jobs but mentorship, life skills, and a community that stays. From first jobs to first apartments, Emily and her team walk with these young adults through every step, offering the consistency they have often lacked.
Now, they are aiming for a bold goal: raising $50,000 to bring on a second life coach and double the number of young adults they serve.
🎙 You’ll Hear:
• How The Cracked Pot began and the vision behind it
• The real challenges youth face after foster care
• Why consistency is the key to lasting change
• Success stories of transformation and resilience
• How you can join the mission to expand their reach
💬 “These are some of the strongest, most amazing people I have ever met… they just need someone to stay.” — Emily Schmidt
📍 Want to help?
Donate, volunteer, or connect with The Cracked Pot Coffee Shop here: https://www.thecrackedpotcoffeeshop.com/
🔗 Sponsored by:
TOCH Construction • Allstate Insurance – Rob Shaw
Chavis Law Firm • Dirty Dog Hauling
💼 Powered by The Erica Rawls Team
#CoffeeWithE #EmilySchmidt #TheCrackedPotCoffeeShop #FosterCareAwareness #MomGuilt #WomenInLeadership #NonprofitWork #YouthEmpowerment #LifeSkillsForYouth #FaithInAction #EricaRawlsTeam #BreakingCycles #LeadershipWithPurpose
Follow Us for More Inspiration:
📸 Instagram: @erica.rawls
🎥 YouTube: Erica Rawls
📧 For inquiries and collaborations: customercare@ericarawls.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Erica Rawls (00:00):
Hey you, I have a special episode for you.
If you are a strong womanleader and you're looking for
some motivation, some ambitionto get your day started, grab
your coffee, get your makeupready, or if you're driving to
work, I need you to listen up.
I sit down with Emily Schmidt.
She is the founder of CrackedPot and she has a wonderful
nonprofit organization thathelps young adults who are aging
(00:23):
out of the foster care andadoption system.
So, if you're motivated, at theend we're going to ask for a
couple dollars, and I know yougot it.
So stay tuned, stay encouraged,and I look forward to seeing
you in the comments today'sroast.
(00:55):
Let's stop the mom guilt.
Okay, let's stop it right now.
You want to know why.
This mostly happens to womenthat are in leadership positions
and they have children that arebeing there.
They feel as though they're notraising them properly because
they're not spending enough time.
I know, because I've been thereand you know what.
There was actually aconversation that I had with
someone just recently about thisone thing.
And did you know what?
We found out that the time thatyou spend with your children is
(01:20):
statistically higher than thetime spent with moms at home.
You want to know why.
Because you give that muchvaluable time and attention to
them when you have it available.
So stop with the mom guilt.
Today's the day that we do notallow ourselves to be sucked in
to feeling guilty for being thedarn woman that you are.
(01:40):
Okay.
Now I have the specialprivilege of sitting down with
Emily, who we were talking aboutjust before we started this,
recording.
That same thing, it's a thing,isn't it a thing?
It's a thing, it is.
Yeah.
How do you struggle with it?
Emily Schmidt (01:57):
I mean, I think I I have struggled with it, I
think I've gotten better at it,I think I've learned how to
prioritize things.
But I think you're you areconstantly kind of wrestling in
your mind about that.
You know your, your kidsobviously are your priority, but
when you for me, for exampleit's it's ministry work, it's
(02:19):
you're called into this, thisother space, to serve and to be
present it.
It really can be a challengesometimes and so I think that
you know I've wrestled with it,but I've also seen the
opportunities to be an exampleto my kids.
I never want my kids to thinkthat the world revolves around
them and I think sometimes inour society today that kids,
(02:40):
that parents feel the need tomake the kids the center of
their universe and I think thatthere's something healthy about
make the kids the center oftheir universe and I think that
there's something healthy aboutallowing the kids to see you
working hard and having your ownpurpose.
And in the ministry and thework that I do is getting the
kids kind of to have a front rowseat to serving other people
and it being about other people.
So I think it's something youhave to be aware of.
(03:03):
You do because you need to bepresent with your kids.
These years are very short andyou don't want to look back and
have regrets, but I thinkthere's plenty of opportunities
to prioritize things and bringthem along and make them a part
of your life without them beingin the center of it.
Erica Rawls (03:20):
A hundred percent Cause I think, um, I know, when
I was growing, uh, growing up,when my children were growing up
, I felt that too, and I'llnever forget, um, I shared with
another episode that one day, uh, my one of my daughters, um,
happened to say, mom, you knowwhat?
You are the best mom.
I'm so grateful that God hadblessed me to be your mother.
And it was in that moment I waslike, oh my gosh, all this time
(03:47):
I've been feeling like I didn'tspend enough time with them,
but no, it was the memorablemoments.
It was being there when theyneeded me, having those
conversations, making sure wehad dinner together, making sure
, you know, I was there,answering all their questions
when they came home from school,because their job was flexible.
That's what made it thedifference.
So, yeah, dirty Dog Hauling,thank you so much for your
sponsorship.
If you're looking for a junkremoval company, they are the
go-to company.
(04:08):
Whether you have a small job ora large job, and even
excavation, you want to checkthem out.
They are reasonable and alsotimely and effective.
Dirty Dog Hauling.
Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (04:20):
I feel like something that I had to learn a
few years into.
It was not being too hard onmyself, for you know just the
boundaries, but what I did is Ijust created some simple rules,
like some simple rules formyself that I was going to
follow.
So, like one of them is youknow, four days out of the week
(04:40):
I am making dinner and we aresitting down as a family.
So it's like I kind of look atthe calendar and I'm like these
are the four days.
Now, baseball season this yearhas kind of thrown that way off
because it's a lot ofChick-fil-A, you know, after the
baseball games, the rain delaysand all the things.
But I feel like when you cankind of set those rules and
(05:00):
really zero in on the thingsthat are important to your kids
and as a family, the things thatare important, I feel like I
was way more successful atsetting those rules.
Or if it was, hey, I'm going tospend 30 minutes before bed
with each one of my kids, or beat home when they come home, or,
you know, once a week makechocolate chip cookies, or you
(05:21):
know whatever that looks like, Ithink that sometimes those are
the easier things to follow.
It's just a couple of rules tobe present.
Erica Rawls (05:28):
I agree, emily.
So owner of the crackpotnonprofit had the privilege of
actually meeting you throughSydney Like I would go there,
right, but actually getting theprivilege of meeting you,
sitting down with you and justlearning everything about it.
So I was like, yeah, wedefinitely have to have a
conversation to shed light onactually what you do, so just
(05:50):
share with the world the amazingwork that you're doing here.
Emily Schmidt (05:55):
So we are a coffee shop.
It's the Crackpot Coffee Shop,and so it is indeed a coffee
shop.
We have coffee Right, I amautomatically your friend.
We serve coffee, but we haveall the breakfast and the brunch
and the lunch and the pastriesand all that.
(06:16):
But behind all of that, theheart of what we do is to work
with young adults that are agingout of the foster care system.
So the beauty of all of it isthat the coffee shop gives work
opportunity for these youngadults that we're working with.
But really the cool thing isseeing the community and the
sense of belonging for theseyoung adults that we work with
(06:38):
that just have this amazingcommunity that gives them a big
old hug while they're goingthrough our program, and so it's
been a really beautiful thingto see it all come together in
the way that it has.
Erica Rawls (06:49):
How in the world did you end up with this?
I'm just going to call it aministry because you have to.
It has to be God ordained foryou to do something like this,
Because most people would missthe children that are
transitioning from the adoptioncenter or foster care into world
life, right?
So how did you get into thisposition to want to help them,
(07:13):
that population?
Emily Schmidt (07:15):
Sometimes I ask myself that how in the world did
I, how did I get here?
It is all God, it is a ministryand it is God ordained first
and foremost.
I was born very close to wherethe first crackpot location is,
grew up in that town and havebeen in the restaurant industry
(07:36):
since I was about 12.
And when I was about 12, Idecided I had a dream to have a
coffee shop one day, and so Ididn't think that would ever
happen, but I certainly paidattention to coffee shops the
whole rest of my life.
I would go in, I wouldgravitate to coffee shops.
I wanted to see what theylooked like and how they were
different.
And I still go into coffeeshops and I just kind of like
(07:57):
pause and I just my eyes gobonkers Because you just I take
it in and I love this and youlook at this, and the thing I
noticed about coffee shops wasthey're all so different.
Erica Rawls (08:06):
They're all different, you don't go in.
They're different, they have apersonality.
Emily Schmidt (08:09):
And they do, and some you know, which is so cool,
but they're all the same.
There's this same common threadat every coffee shop, which is
Brings people together.
It's bringing people togetheraround usually a cup of you know
something.
It's this.
It's coming together, it'scommunity, and so I think that's
.
I've always loved coffee shopsbecause it's just this, this
(08:32):
visual of community, andsometimes it's meetings, and I
love that because even in our,in our shops, if you're there,
you see somebody having ameeting and you see a bunch of
women giggling in the corner andyou see kids with their moms
playing in the kids area.
It's just this beautifulpicture of a community coming
together at our locations.
And so I always loved that.
(08:53):
I always loved coffee shops.
I always have had a heart forserving.
That was something that I feellike the Lord gave to me at a
very young age.
I just always see the need tohey, can I get you something,
can I?
I've always had that in me.
And then the idea of the fostercare piece of things.
That was something that myhusband and I had talked about
(09:14):
early in our marriage, aboutbeing open to foster care.
You know, fostering, adopting,maybe one day and I didn't think
they went together.
I had always looked at them astwo separate.
You know, if we foster andadopt, yeah, maybe we would do
that while our kids are young,and then maybe, once we move
south and we're retired, we do abed and breakfast or a coffee
shop or something.
And again, that was always adream, and so it started to
(09:38):
become a reality because Istumbled across the first
location.
I stumbled across the firstlocation and it was like I feel
like God kind of reignited thatdesire to have a coffee shop.
At the same time, we wereworking through fostering or
adopting, and and so these twothings started really becoming
something.
It wasn't until we went throughthe process of looking into
(09:59):
foster care where I reallynoticed the age of young adults
that never get adopted.
Erica Rawls (10:06):
Had to take two seconds to thank Allstate
Insurance for sponsoring thisepisode.
If you're looking for car lifeor casualty insurance, they're
gonna be your ultimate insurancecompany.
Thank you, rob Shaw, withAllstate Insurance.
Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (10:22):
And when I noticed that and I realized
these kids, these young adultswere just slipping through the
cracks and were kind of sent outinto the world to do what you
know people with parentsstruggle to do, you know that
are consistently there for them,it was like this is who we need
to help, this is.
And then it just kind of allcame together.
Erica Rawls (10:43):
Yeah, I was sharing with my friend right before
this recording.
She was like, hey, what are youdoing?
I was like, hey, I'm about tointerview some dynamic people
today and she was like, well,who are you interviewing?
And I shared you and then alittle bit of your story.
She's like you know what?
That's the population thatseems to always be missed we
don't hear enough about?
(11:03):
You know the people that areaging out of foster care or
adoption centers, and so she'slike I cannot wait to hear it.
So, yeah, you just know youhave a cheerleader.
Well, good, you have acheerleader, because I think a
lot of people need to know that,hey, that we need.
If you're looking to, you know,bring someone into your home.
(11:25):
Sure, there's natural birthright between the husband and
the wife.
Or, you know, whatever thedemographic is or how it looks,
your family looks, I think it'simportant to know that there's
other options out there forpeople, and adoption or foster
care may be that option, and Iwish, I think, I was sharing
(11:45):
with you.
I hope we can get thatpercentage of people that are,
you know, that are aging out ofthese facilities or this.
You know the programs, becauseI know there's probably a lot.
There has to be a lot more thanwe would tend to think, I think
.
Emily Schmidt (12:01):
Yeah, and I think sometimes, like I didn't
realize until I got into it,just just how alone sometimes
they are or how much it is onthem to initiate that help and
that extra, those extraresources.
But if you, if you don't knowhow to do that, if that's
overwhelming, you know,sometimes it's like well, I'm
(12:21):
just not going to do it.
I think sometimes a lot ofyoung adults, you know, they're
brought up in a system andsometimes they're consistently
in different placements sonothing's consistent for them.
It's, you know, one yearthey're here and they move so
much throughout their lives thatthere's not a consistency in
(12:43):
who it is that's helping them.
Like you know, like my parents.
You know my parents weren'tperfect, you know we had our
tough things in our family, butthey were consistently my
parents, my whole life and theirrules were the same
consistently through my life andthe way that they handled
finances were consistently thesame and taught me to do things.
(13:03):
And so I think this populationis they're just in survival, it
they're sick of constantly, youknow, moving to the next place
and then you've got all thetrauma, you've got all the stuff
(13:30):
that happened to them thatthey're also working through,
which sometimes you know thatthere's a lot of anger that goes
with that.
There's a lot of confusion thatgoes with what they've been
through, and so they're dealingwith that and they're also
trying to navigate an adult lifethat they haven't had anyone
consistently there.
Erica Rawls (13:47):
They haven't had a role model.
Yeah, so the consistency is theinconsistency.
Emily Schmidt (13:53):
Correct, correct.
And so then, the things thatare right and healthy are very
uncomfortable.
You know it's, it's.
We had somebody once take oneof our it was a mentor took one
of our kids to Thanksgivingdinner and they, that kid kind
of went back in a corner andjust was so uncomfortable and
(14:14):
this person was like we don't we, I mean anything that they
could have wanted was thereEverything?
You know, we had this beautifulspread and you think about it
beautiful Thanksgiving table.
How uncomfortable would that beif you're used to not eating
Thanksgiving dinner at a table.
There's usually alcohol,there's usually writing, there's
usually yes, and maybe you havea frozen TV dinner on a TV tray
(14:40):
or something like that.
It's just very, although thisis healthy although this is, you
know, something we do it's notnormal, it's not their normal,
and so it's really meeting themwhere they're at and trying to
help them, you know, navigatethrough and retrain and
reprogram, help their brainsunderstand what is healthy and
(15:01):
what's good and right for them,and that involves a whole team
of people to do that.
Erica Rawls (15:08):
You know.
So what does that look like?
What's the number of peopleLike?
What's capacity for you Ishould say, yeah, what's your
goal as far as how many children, or I should say adults, right
that aged out of these otherfacilities?
What's that number look like?
Consistently, do you seeyourself having um to host, or
to help or to support?
Emily Schmidt (15:30):
so because we do so much more than just housing
or just feeding meals to peopleyou know, we really do enter
their lives with them and do alot of it, all of it with.
We really walk it out with them.
We I just helped, we justhelped one of our young ladies
move into an apartment.
We're so pumped for her but Imean, I was there all day
(15:54):
Saturday scrubbing the apartmentand scrubbing the kitchen floor
and and getting things ready,you know, for for them.
You know, just helping themphysically move things into an
apartment.
So, uh, we're really differentin that way where we're walking
it out with them.
And so we we shoot for four tofive young adults that we're
working with at one time andthat's mainly because it's me
(16:18):
and then a team of people that Iwork with, you know, volunteers
and other professionals andthings like that that we work
together, but it's usually me inthe day to day.
But we're at a place right nowwhere we really want to try to
multiply the amount of youngadults we're working with and
bring more people onto the team,have more life coaches and
people that are helping themcase manage the young adults
(16:40):
that we have.
So we're really hoping that wecan, you know, get some more
financial assistance and thatkind of thing so that we're able
to hire people, because mostpeople don't want to do 40 hours
of case management andscrubbing apartments and all the
things without getting paid.
So we're working on that and ifwe can get that in place, then,
(17:01):
you know, I would love to seeus be able to double the amount
of youth that we work with,hopefully in the next year, yeah
, so you're considered a lifecoach.
That's you know.
That's what's always funny is Igo out with these guys or you
know, you're, you're doing stuffwith them and people are like,
oh, what is your, what is yourrole?
And you become, you really kindof become like a like a parent
(17:22):
to them, you know.
And so a lot of them you know,you become, they're not
necessary, that is a life coach.
That's really kind of what itcomes down to, yeah, and a lot
of them are like, hey, I didn'tknow who to put down as my
emergency contact.
Is it okay, I put you down andI'm like, absolutely, you know.
So you really become that adultperson, that person in their
life that is kind of like aguardian, kind of like a life
(17:44):
coach.
You know.
I say life coach, mentor iskind of you know what we become.
I think that's the easiest wayfor me to explain it to people
so that they understand what itis that we do.
So we're life coaches andmentors to these guys and yeah.
Erica Rawls (18:01):
So what is it that brings you the most joy to the
nonprofit?
Emily Schmidt (18:05):
There's a lot of things that bring joy, I mean.
I would say I would say thatit's it's it's seeing them at
peace and and happy you know,happy and at peace, I think that
there's and seeing theirself-confidence, seeing them
(18:31):
feel confident in themselves,whether it be a simple task that
they do.
You know, some of them don'teven know how to make a phone
call, you know, to set up anappointment.
What do you mean?
I mean just like calling thedoctor to set up an appointment.
Right, it's like awkward,because they've never done it.
There's always been someone tomake their appointments for them
.
And so you have a 20, 22, 23year old person that's like
(18:56):
doesn't call the doctor, doesn'tcall the doctor, like why
aren't you calling the doctor?
Can you do, you know?
And so no, but I'll, I'm gonnasit here with you and and you
can do it and we're gonna, we'regonna get through this.
So something as simple as that.
I mean to see them hang up thatphone and be like I did it like
I just made a phone call, I justmade my own appointment and
you're like you know, wecelebrate the little things big,
(19:18):
yeah, um.
But then there's a big thingfor granted.
Yeah, like, again, your parentsjust taught you how to do, or
you heard your parents doingthat Right and then you knew
what to say, yeah.
So there's little things likethat, but then there's big
things, like you got your own,like this is your first
apartment, you know, this isyour first.
(19:38):
Or you just got your driver'slicense, or I mean there's
things like that that are huge.
I think that that's what bringsme the most joy is seeing them
overcome things, get to placeswhere they didn't think they
would be, and see the confidenceand the joy and the peace that
comes with, like it's going tobe okay, yeah, and seeing them
(20:00):
have the ability to stop thosegenerational cycles of abuse and
neglect and all those thingsthey were born into.
And then, like, when theyrealize that, like I'm going to
be a better mom than what my momwas, or I'm going to be a
better dad, like I'm going to bebetter, and then believe it and
be on a better path alreadythan what their parents were, I
(20:21):
mean that's amazing.
Erica Rawls (20:23):
I had to take two seconds to interrupt this
episode.
I would like to thank one ofour most recent guests, attorney
Jenny Chavis, for sponsoringthis show.
Chavis Law Firm is an elite lawfirm in central Pennsylvania
that helps with estate planningas well as understanding what
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If you're looking for a greatattorney that understands estate
(20:46):
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Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (20:55):
Yeah.
Erica Rawls (20:56):
I think that would just be like so exciting to see,
rewarding to see, to see that,okay, they're making a
difference for whoever you knowthey're going to bring into
their lives.
Sure, I know whether it's ablended family or not, you know,
cause they actually had supportfrom you know the correct pot.
So that's huge.
Yeah, that is really huge.
(21:17):
I appreciate that.
So then your children, whenthey see you doing this mission,
do they get?
They get excited or they'relike, hey, that's my mom.
Emily Schmidt (21:28):
You started with a little of both of that, you
know so no, I mean, I think mykids you know my kids are are
getting older and they've seenthis.
I think my kids love thecrackpot kids.
I mean there's some kids thatare like older siblings to my
kids, my biological kids, youknow, it's like it's really neat
to see that and my kidssometimes are the biggest
(21:51):
cheerleaders you know for, andthey don't see all of what
happens, enough to see maybesome of the things, some of the
consequences, some of theboundaries, some of the things
that I have to do with one ofthe young adults because they're
(22:11):
not doing what they need to bedoing or they're not as
committed as what they need tobe, and they're tough on me,
honestly, they're like you'rebeing too hard on them.
Why did you?
Why are they?
You know I'm like honey, youdon't know, you don't know all
the details Right, or they'llwant to ask questions about like
.
Well, why is he, you know?
Why is he not here anymore?
Why you know like?
Because sometimes you know ourkids in the program they'll take
(22:33):
off, you know.
Erica Rawls (22:34):
Sure.
Emily Schmidt (22:35):
It's a lot of back and forth coming and going
with the kids so they'll likewhat happened with the and I'm
like I can't, I won't, I can'tshare that with you, but I share
enough with them that they knowum what's going on and I think
that they they really enjoy umthe ones that they get close
with and that they have you knowopportunities.
(22:56):
I mean, you know my, my kidsgive them hugs and you know are
cheering them on and all thatkind of thing.
So I think I think that theythey enjoy it, they see the
value in it.
We talk very openly about justthe effects that what they've
been through has and I try toshare that with them when
they're in school.
(23:16):
Like you have no idea whatpeople are going through at home
and school might be the safeplace for them.
So if I ever find out thatyou're making fun of people or
that you know it's like one ofthose cause I'm like don't you
care, you have no idea whatpeople are going through.
Erica Rawls (23:32):
Yeah, cause if you're in foster care or the
adoption centers, they have togo to school.
Yeah, so you don't know?
Um, that is such a good pointyeah.
Emily Schmidt (23:41):
And sometimes they're not even in foster care,
but they have a whole lotthey're going through at home
that no one has seen yet youknow they're going back home to
abuse.
I mean, some of our kids.
They don't even go into fostercare until they're, you know, 17
years old.
Until someone, finally, youknow, notices something or they
speak up about something, right.
So you know it's tough, but you, I just try to tell them, like
(24:06):
you don't know what people aregoing through, you know what
trials they have.
So just be kind to people andyou know.
Erica Rawls (24:13):
What would you say?
Your succession rate is, as faras you know, seeing these
children acclimate properly tonormal.
I guess a normal life toacclimate properly to normal.
Emily Schmidt (24:25):
I guess a normal life Like.
What would you say your successrate is?
You know we have been up andrunning for eight years now.
Oh, congratulations.
Yeah, yeah, so our firstlocation opened up eight years
ago over eight years ago now,and you know we've had about 24
young adults that we've beenable to work with.
Yeah, and unfortunately and Ithink anyone in this line of
(24:46):
work that's working with thisgroup of young adults, you know
you don't have as great of asuccess rate as maybe what
people would want to see.
Everyone wants happy endings,everybody wants to see, you know
, somebody come into a programand do it and finish and be
great.
A lot of what we do is there'sthis pattern of young adults
(25:11):
come into our program.
Let's say they come in at 18,you know 18 to 25 is who we
serve.
So they come in at 18 and theyhave never been on their own and
things have always just beendone for them because they've
been in, you know, foster care,and so now you're asking this
adult and maybe they haven'tworked through the trauma, so
now you're asking this adult toto start showing up, talking in
(25:36):
a respectful way, um and andputting forth effort and doing
what they need to do.
And so there's it's hard.
It's hard.
All of a sudden, now you arekind of that, that
accountability person, thiscoach, this accountability
person.
That's like you know.
Like I say to these guys youknow, you, you can look at
somebody who's who's bulked upand has muscles and you want
(25:58):
those muscles.
You want to look like that guy,right?
Well, don't we?
All right, there's a lot ofhard work and dedication and
discipline and going to bedearly so that you can get up
early.
There's a lot of that thathappens.
So, well, how do?
Erica Rawls (26:13):
you teach someone, Emily, that doesn't know this?
Emily Schmidt (26:16):
That's huge it is and it's exhausting because
it's a lot of back and forth,it's a lot of trying to help
them understand the benefits ofit.
And I'll share with my one guywho's been with me for over
eight years now, because I knowhe will not mind at all.
I mean, he started with us whenhe was like 18 years old and he
(26:37):
was so hard to work withbecause he was so set that this
is what he wanted to do and thisis what he was going to do and
no one going to stop him andblah, blah, blah.
And now he I mean if he weresitting here, he would be like I
was.
I was, so it was crazy for meto be that stubborn and that
kind of thing.
So there's a, there's a levelof maturity.
That's just natural with anyone, right?
(26:57):
And if they're not in fostercare at those ages, well, 18,
yeah, for a they don't.
Erica Rawls (27:02):
They don't mature until what 27.
Right, so, or do they, or dothey right?
I'm looking at my husband.
Emily Schmidt (27:10):
No.
So I think that there's justthat natural understanding of
the maturity, but then on top ofit, you get the trauma and then
they're just.
Things have been soinconsistent.
So it really is a tough, toughthing that we do.
But we see this pattern of ifthey're serious, if they want to
put forth the work and theeffort to do it.
(27:32):
It might be a hard first round,like the first time.
There's this honeymoon periodand everyone comes in and oh,
it's so great and it's a coffeeshop and oh, it's so fun,
everyone's new and everyone'sgiving them things and it's all
about them, right.
And then we start talking aboutmoney and budgeting and we
start talking about, hey, if you, if, if you want money, if you
want the apartment, then you gotto save your money and in order
(27:55):
to get money, you got to go tobed on time so that you can get
up and get to work.
Like there's the all of thesepieces, yeah, and sometimes they
yeah, and sometimes they don't.
Like that.
I mean I don't want to do this,it's too hard, or you're
pushing me.
You know, you get that RightSometimes from you're pushing me
, you're pushing me too hard.
But if we don't push a little,then we're not doing our job
Right.
And then you know, so it's alot of that it, and you know
(28:19):
they'll sometimes leave and thenthey'll come back.
And so there's, I would saythere's probably like a.
I would say, given the eightyears, I would say there's
probably like a 25, like 30%,you know success rate where they
finish the program and they're,you know, they're in their own
(28:40):
apartment and they have the carand they're independent and
confidently moving forward.
However, that being said,there's a lot of them that are
in that in-between period, rightnow too, where they've left and
they may be coming back, youknow, in a few months or years
or whatever.
So they have from 18 to 25years to utilize this, the
(29:01):
services that we provide, and sowe've seen over the years that
there's a lot of that wherethey'll be with us for two years
and it's a lot of back andforth, and then they leave and
then they come back and they'relike I'm ready to do it this
time, yeah.
So we just try to stayconsistent in our lives.
We try to, even if they're nothuge compared to what they've
been through, so right and evenif they do leave our program,
(29:23):
even if if they say I don't wantto do this, this is too hard,
you're pushing too hard, westill reach out to them even
after that and include them inthe things that we're doing.
We have a group that meets.
It's like a social group foryoung adults that are coming out
of foster care, so they'realways invited to that.
They're always invited to ourChristmas parties.
(29:43):
They're always invited to that.
They're always invited to ourChristmas parties.
They're always invited to our.
We do like a Thanksgivingdinner on the Friday after
Thanksgiving.
So it's like they're alwaysinvited If we have their address
, if we have their phone number.
We kind of keep pulling themback into that community and
letting them know like we arestill here, we still love you.
You, just because you kind ofran away from it or we had to
(30:07):
close your case because youweren't doing, you know, your
part, doesn't mean that we'renot still here for you and in a
way, like a community would be,yeah, you know.
So we try to keep that goingwith them.
Erica Rawls (30:17):
No, matter what.
There was something that yousaid about pushing too hard and
you're trying to find thatbalance.
How do you set that expectationgap between what they're
expecting you know to occurversus what you know that you're
going to be implementing orworking with them about?
Do you have consultations withthem before they actually come
on board and say, hey, this iswhat we're going to be doing and
(30:39):
okay, because I think thatwould be a lot just to spring on
?
Yes, yes.
Emily Schmidt (30:44):
So when they come into our program, we usually
receive a referral either fromthem or from someone who works
with them that says hey, we'veheard about your program.
We think so-and-so would bereally great for this.
It'd be good for them.
Get to know them a little bit,talk to them about, like, do you
understand what we are, what wedo, and we share that all with
(31:04):
them.
We actually go through thecurriculum and explain to them
the building blocks.
These are the things we'regoing to focus on.
I try to give them a heads up asmuch as possible.
That you know, of course, whenthey like, the first time you
meet, they're like you know, I'mlike.
There may be days that youdon't like me or you don't like
what I have to say.
They're like no, no, I'm like.
No, trust me, there will,because there is that
(31:28):
accountability and there is that, hey, you're not showing up and
you can't keep doing this.
And so there's those toughconversations that you have to
have and you give so much graceand you give so much patience
and you try to navigate throughhow to keep them where they need
(31:49):
to be, to be meeting therequirements.
But there does come points wherewe have to say to them hey, you
know, we've tried to reach outto you, we've tried to let you
know that you know you've got tomeet these requirements.
You know, one of ourrequirements is they have to be
at therapy in person once a week.
That's one of our requirementsbecause we know the value and
the importance of that, givenwhat they've been through.
(32:11):
And so if they're not showingup for therapy and they do that
a couple of times we need tohave that tough talk that's like
, hey, are you really seriousabout wanting to do this program
?
Because that's one of therequirements, right, you know,
again, if they're, if they'rewilling to receive that, and say
, yeah, you're right, I need toget back on track with that, and
(32:32):
they have a desire and awillingness to to work at it and
get back on on track, versussomeone that's like I don't want
to go to therapy and you can'tmake me Okay, well then why are
you in this program?
Erica Rawls (32:45):
Yeah, for their fit .
Emily Schmidt (32:48):
Yeah.
So there's just that we try tobe gracious, we try to be
patient with them, but therealso comes a time sometimes with
them where it's like, you know,we're going to kind of pump the
brakes on this and we're goingto give you a break to really
evaluate if you, if you're readyto be committed to this.
Um, you know, and, and then wekind of let that the ball on
(33:10):
there.
It's their choices, it's theirchoices, um, one thing that we,
that we say, is like the threeshows, you know, show up.
Erica Rawls (33:15):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
Emily Schmidt (33:16):
Yeah, show up, show respect and show effort,
and so it's.
It's one of those things wherethe first thing is is you got to
show up.
You know no one's doinganything at the gym if they
don't show up.
Um, you gotta be respectful.
I'm not going to work with youif you're being nasty and
because I'm not helping you.
The reality of going out in lifeand treating and talking to
(33:39):
people that way, I'm not doingyou any good if I let you do
that with me.
And so we try to just remindthem that, like you know, you've
got to be respectful, and we docourses and we do orientation
on soft skills and just how topresent yourself so that they
have the tools.
We're also we're giving themthe tools and we're letting them
(34:00):
know that they've got to usethem.
You know, professionally,socially, this is the
expectation, this is what'sgoing to help you get further in
life.
You know you might be able todo the job the hard skills but
the soft skills are going tohelp you keep the job.
You know, if you treat peopledisrespectful, you probably
won't be there long.
Erica Rawls (34:17):
Hey, I need to take two seconds to interrupt this
wonderful show that you'rewatching.
I run a real estate businessand the way we fund this podcast
is through that business, theErica Ross team.
I would love it if you wouldjust give us one opportunity to
service your real estate needs,whether you are in central PA or
around the entire world.
Think of us first, so we canhelp you.
Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (34:39):
So it's just all of that.
But it really comes down to theeffort that they put into it.
And if they're being consistentand sometimes that means
they're leaving and coming back,and leaving and coming back,
until they mature and they'relike these people are still here
, they're not going anywhereThen we work with them.
We meet them where they're atand try to really work with them
(35:00):
as they learn.
Erica Rawls (35:02):
How many second chances do you give them?
You give them all the way up totheir 25 and then like you know
, it's kind of I love your grace.
Yeah, like seriously.
Emily Schmidt (35:11):
But I think that they're.
I mean, I go back to like youknow Jesus right, like Jesus has
always been very gracious withme and on the chances and still
is when I met up.
So I think, ultimately, likehow many chances have I received
personally?
So that's one thing, and thenthe second thing is is sometimes
(35:35):
it takes multiple chances.
I mean again going back to thatmaturity and going back to even
my own biological parents andhow many chances, how many times
I got it wrong, how many timesI was disrespectful, you know,
and got grounded.
You know, like how many timeshas that happened?
And if there was a cutoff, tolike my parents saying like,
(35:56):
okay, you did that five times,now there's the door.
I mean, if they come back andthey have a willingness to
accept what they've done andthey're willing to do it the
right way and to own you knowwhat they did or didn't do, yeah
, and they're ready to do it,then we try to give them a
(36:17):
chance.
Because I think sometimesthat's I think sometimes in
foster care that can be theproblem is, I think too many
doors shutting on them andsaying sorry Stances are so high
that they can't even live up tothe expectations.
Erica Rawls (36:32):
And then they fail.
And then so they see you andthey're just like what do you
mean?
I get another chance.
Emily Schmidt (36:38):
So you're great.
They settled with avatage.
They settled with avatage.
Erica Rawls (36:43):
You are grace.
Emily Schmidt (36:44):
I love that.
Well, I mean it's necessary.
It's necessary for these guys,and they're some of the
strongest, most amazing peopleI've ever met and they can
change.
I mean, you look at who youwere when you were 18 and who
you were when you were 25.
Drastically different, totallydifferent.
Yeah, things clicked a whole lotmore in those years for me, and
(37:08):
why?
Because I did things on my own.
I did stupid things on my ownRight, I made a lot of mistakes
on my own, but there was someone, consistently, that was there
that was saying it's okay, let'stry again.
You know, yeah.
And so I think that they a lotof them self-sabotage things.
We see that a lot.
(37:29):
When they're getting to a placewhere everything's coming
together, it's like they runaway and you're like what you
were just going to get?
A car and an apartment, andwhat do you mean?
You ran away with your friend.
Your success is huge.
Yes, it's just it's toooverwhelming or they don't want.
They don't want us to be theone saying goodbye and things
come to an end.
So it's navigating through alot of that.
Erica Rawls (37:52):
Yeah, so they want to be the one to break up
because they feel as though it'scoming Absolutely.
Emily Schmidt (37:57):
It's inevitable, it's happened all my life, so
you know what I'm going to dothis Right, right, yeah, yeah,
so it's, it's, it's challengingand you know, just like your own
biological kids, each one ofthem are different.
So it's really getting to knowthem and what works for them,
what doesn't work for them, howto talk to them, how not to talk
(38:21):
to them.
Yeah, you know, but it's.
I would say the seeds areplanted at the crackpot.
We don't always get to see thefull outcome of the seeds that
are planted, but we do know thatfor the time that the Lord
brings them to us and we have anopportunity to work with them
and love them and speak truth tothem and show up for them, that
(38:42):
hopefully, you know the seedsthat were planted while they
were there somewhere down theroad.
You know there will be fruitthere, someone else will water
them and they will.
We don't always get to see thesuccess, the full story with
them, because some of them doleave and they don't give us
their phone numbers.
You know, or they change phonenumbers or whatever.
(39:03):
We lose touch with them.
But that's where we just haveto pray, pray that the seeds
that are planted while they'rewith us will matter.
Erica Rawls (39:12):
I'm sure at least one person is going to be
interested in either serving ordonating, so can you share, like
how someone can serve in yournonprofit or even at the coffee
house, and also where they canactually donate?
Emily Schmidt (39:29):
Yeah, there is plenty of opportunities to serve
from transportation volunteers.
A lot of our kids don't havetheir licenses, so we're always
looking for people to help, youknow, get them to different
places and be a part of ourtransportation team.
You know, working with just onthe mission side of what we do,
but a lot of times we're lookingfor people in the coffee shop
(39:50):
that can help with baking orslicing strawberries or, you
know, coming in and wipingtables and running food out and
filling coffees.
And you know, even if it's aonce a week or once twice a
month kind of thing, you know,every little bit helps and
that's what we love is thecrackpot gives people the
opportunity to serve.
(40:10):
You know, and they're teenagers, you know that kind of thing.
It's a great opportunity toserve in that way.
So we're always looking forvolunteers in the shop and in
the mission so they can visitour website and email our
manager.
The information's there.
And then financially, we arealways looking for and grateful
for financial contributions thata lot of the money that people
(40:35):
contribute to donate to thecrackpot.
It pays for their therapy.
We pay for their therapy sothat they don't have to worry
about that.
Oh, that's wonderful Drivingschool.
You know just odds and ends.
If it's, you know prescriptionswe got to pick up.
Or we had one of our girls justgot a job the other day and we
were running errands and she'slike I need slip-proof shoes and
(40:56):
I start my job, you know, likethis weekend.
So I was like, well, we'll justzip in here.
I know a place where they haveslip, so we got, we were able to
buy her shoes so that she has.
So so there's, there's thingslike that that help there.
Sometimes kids are in crisissituations where they're in a
very, very unsafe environment orthey're homeless, but they want
(41:16):
to start fresh, they want a newbeginning, and so we're able to
kind of work with them and andmaybe even give them a hotel
room for a couple of nightsuntil they can get their feet
under them and breathe a littlebit and we can find another.
So there's a lot of ways thatthose donations help.
And again, like I said earlier,having more funding so that
(41:37):
we're able to bring in, you know, another coach, someone that
can kind of do what I'm doingand and and reach and serve more
youth all at the same time, umwould be huge.
So, yes, yes and yes, we'realways looking for volunteers.
So New York's monetary goal.
Erica Rawls (41:51):
So you can hire someone, you can put it out
there and be an innovator.
Emily Schmidt (41:54):
She don't know who's going to get this?
I know, I mean we, I would sayit's.
You know, there it's, it's as awhole, it's.
You know it's just the missionside of what we do and you know
the team that works with them.
So there's volunteers, there'sall of that.
I mean I don't know, you wantlike a goal of like just for
(42:17):
that person or just for whatever.
Erica Rawls (42:19):
Okay, yes, just goal, whatever goal, whatever is
on your heart, to say, hey,we're looking to raise X amount
of dollars.
Okay, y'all, she was not readyfor this.
Can you see her?
She's squirming.
She is a woman and she does notwant to ask.
And I'll make it.
Emily Schmidt (42:35):
Yes, I, I mean, I would say, I mean, I'm just
thinking of how, like the, the,if, if let's say 50,000, how?
About that?
How about that?
Does that sound good?
50,000 would be an amazingblessing to our ministry.
Um, because I think we would beable to start seriously talking
(42:58):
about bringing you know anothercoach in and and training them
and and doubling the amount ofyouth that we work with, yeah,
so there you go.
Erica Rawls (43:08):
I love that, okay, y'all.
So we have a mission.
So she would like to raise$50,000 so she can continue this
great work at the crackpot,where she helps children I
should say young adults thathave aged out of place of foster
care and adoption centers, andshe's looking to get some
support.
So guess what we're going to do?
We're going to have a link sothat you can actually donate,
(43:31):
and if you're looking to donateyour time, I will actually make
sure that you get the emailaddress so you can actually
donate your time as well.
What I believe is making surethat you're working for a
purpose, and the purpose thatshe has at the crackpot is
indeed something that we allneed to elevate and get exposure
on, because the children, theyoung adults, they actually need
us.
Emily Schmidt (43:51):
So, emily, yeah, yeah, thank you so much it's
been a pleasure Not only today,but the coffee shop visit and
all things.
Oh, we're not done, we're notdone, no we're not done.
Erica Rawls (44:06):
We're not done.
No, we're not playing much morecoffee, yes.
So you guys, thank you so muchand until next time I will see
you.
Hey, please make sure, do notforget to subscribe to share
this special message, and Icannot wait to see you in the
comments.
Hey you, I have a special episode for you.
If you are a strong womanleader and you're looking for
some motivation, some ambitionto get your day started, grab
your coffee, get your makeupready, or if you're driving to
work, I need you to listen up.
I sit down with Emily Schmidt.
She is the founder of CrackedPot and she has a wonderful
nonprofit organization thathelps young adults who are aging
(00:23):
out of the foster care andadoption system.
So, if you're motivated, at theend we're going to ask for a
couple dollars, and I know yougot it.
So stay tuned, stay encouraged,and I look forward to seeing
you in the comments today'sroast.
(00:55):
Let's stop the mom guilt.
Okay, let's stop it right now.
You want to know why.
This mostly happens to womenthat are in leadership positions
and they have children that arebeing there.
They feel as though they're notraising them properly because
they're not spending enough time.
I know, because I've been thereand you know what.
There was actually aconversation that I had with
someone just recently about thisone thing.
And did you know what?
We found out that the time thatyou spend with your children is
(01:20):
statistically higher than thetime spent with moms at home.
You want to know why.
Because you give that muchvaluable time and attention to
them when you have it available.
So stop with the mom guilt.
Today's the day that we do notallow ourselves to be sucked in
to feeling guilty for being thedarn woman that you are.
(01:40):
Okay.
Now I have the specialprivilege of sitting down with
Emily, who we were talking aboutjust before we started this,
recording.
That same thing, it's a thing,isn't it a thing?
It's a thing, it is.
Yeah.
How do you struggle with it?
Emily Schmidt (01:57):
I mean, I think I I have struggled with it, I
think I've gotten better at it,I think I've learned how to
prioritize things.
But I think you're you areconstantly kind of wrestling in
your mind about that.
You know your, your kidsobviously are your priority, but
when you for me, for exampleit's it's ministry work, it's
(02:19):
you're called into this, thisother space, to serve and to be
present it.
It really can be a challengesometimes and so I think that
you know I've wrestled with it,but I've also seen the
opportunities to be an exampleto my kids.
I never want my kids to thinkthat the world revolves around
them and I think sometimes inour society today that kids,
(02:40):
that parents feel the need tomake the kids the center of
their universe and I think thatthere's something healthy about
make the kids the center oftheir universe and I think that
there's something healthy aboutallowing the kids to see you
working hard and having your ownpurpose.
And in the ministry and thework that I do is getting the
kids kind of to have a front rowseat to serving other people
and it being about other people.
So I think it's something youhave to be aware of.
(03:03):
You do because you need to bepresent with your kids.
These years are very short andyou don't want to look back and
have regrets, but I thinkthere's plenty of opportunities
to prioritize things and bringthem along and make them a part
of your life without them beingin the center of it.
Erica Rawls (03:20):
A hundred percent Cause I think, um, I know, when
I was growing, uh, growing up,when my children were growing up
, I felt that too, and I'llnever forget, um, I shared with
another episode that one day, uh, my one of my daughters, um,
happened to say, mom, you knowwhat?
You are the best mom.
I'm so grateful that God hadblessed me to be your mother.
And it was in that moment I waslike, oh my gosh, all this time
(03:47):
I've been feeling like I didn'tspend enough time with them,
but no, it was the memorablemoments.
It was being there when theyneeded me, having those
conversations, making sure wehad dinner together, making sure
, you know, I was there,answering all their questions
when they came home from school,because their job was flexible.
That's what made it thedifference.
So, yeah, dirty Dog Hauling,thank you so much for your
sponsorship.
If you're looking for a junkremoval company, they are the
go-to company.
(04:08):
Whether you have a small job ora large job, and even
excavation, you want to checkthem out.
They are reasonable and alsotimely and effective.
Dirty Dog Hauling.
Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (04:20):
I feel like something that I had to learn a
few years into.
It was not being too hard onmyself, for you know just the
boundaries, but what I did is Ijust created some simple rules,
like some simple rules formyself that I was going to
follow.
So, like one of them is youknow, four days out of the week
(04:40):
I am making dinner and we aresitting down as a family.
So it's like I kind of look atthe calendar and I'm like these
are the four days.
Now, baseball season this yearhas kind of thrown that way off
because it's a lot ofChick-fil-A, you know, after the
baseball games, the rain delaysand all the things.
But I feel like when you cankind of set those rules and
(05:00):
really zero in on the thingsthat are important to your kids
and as a family, the things thatare important, I feel like I
was way more successful atsetting those rules.
Or if it was, hey, I'm going tospend 30 minutes before bed
with each one of my kids, or beat home when they come home, or,
you know, once a week makechocolate chip cookies, or you
(05:21):
know whatever that looks like, Ithink that sometimes those are
the easier things to follow.
It's just a couple of rules tobe present.
Erica Rawls (05:28):
I agree, emily.
So owner of the crackpotnonprofit had the privilege of
actually meeting you throughSydney Like I would go there,
right, but actually getting theprivilege of meeting you,
sitting down with you and justlearning everything about it.
So I was like, yeah, wedefinitely have to have a
conversation to shed light onactually what you do, so just
(05:50):
share with the world the amazingwork that you're doing here.
Emily Schmidt (05:55):
So we are a coffee shop.
It's the Crackpot Coffee Shop,and so it is indeed a coffee
shop.
We have coffee Right, I amautomatically your friend.
We serve coffee, but we haveall the breakfast and the brunch
and the lunch and the pastriesand all that.
(06:16):
But behind all of that, theheart of what we do is to work
with young adults that are agingout of the foster care system.
So the beauty of all of it isthat the coffee shop gives work
opportunity for these youngadults that we're working with.
But really the cool thing isseeing the community and the
sense of belonging for theseyoung adults that we work with
(06:38):
that just have this amazingcommunity that gives them a big
old hug while they're goingthrough our program, and so it's
been a really beautiful thingto see it all come together in
the way that it has.
Erica Rawls (06:49):
How in the world did you end up with this?
I'm just going to call it aministry because you have to.
It has to be God ordained foryou to do something like this,
Because most people would missthe children that are
transitioning from the adoptioncenter or foster care into world
life, right?
So how did you get into thisposition to want to help them,
(07:13):
that population?
Emily Schmidt (07:15):
Sometimes I ask myself that how in the world did
I, how did I get here?
It is all God, it is a ministryand it is God ordained first
and foremost.
I was born very close to wherethe first crackpot location is,
grew up in that town and havebeen in the restaurant industry
(07:36):
since I was about 12.
And when I was about 12, Idecided I had a dream to have a
coffee shop one day, and so Ididn't think that would ever
happen, but I certainly paidattention to coffee shops the
whole rest of my life.
I would go in, I wouldgravitate to coffee shops.
I wanted to see what theylooked like and how they were
different.
And I still go into coffeeshops and I just kind of like
(07:57):
pause and I just my eyes gobonkers Because you just I take
it in and I love this and youlook at this, and the thing I
noticed about coffee shops wasthey're all so different.
Erica Rawls (08:06):
They're all different, you don't go in.
They're different, they have apersonality.
Emily Schmidt (08:09):
And they do, and some you know, which is so cool,
but they're all the same.
There's this same common threadat every coffee shop, which is
Brings people together.
It's bringing people togetheraround usually a cup of you know
something.
It's this.
It's coming together, it'scommunity, and so I think that's
.
I've always loved coffee shopsbecause it's just this, this
(08:32):
visual of community, andsometimes it's meetings, and I
love that because even in our,in our shops, if you're there,
you see somebody having ameeting and you see a bunch of
women giggling in the corner andyou see kids with their moms
playing in the kids area.
It's just this beautifulpicture of a community coming
together at our locations.
And so I always loved that.
(08:53):
I always loved coffee shops.
I always have had a heart forserving.
That was something that I feellike the Lord gave to me at a
very young age.
I just always see the need tohey, can I get you something,
can I?
I've always had that in me.
And then the idea of the fostercare piece of things.
That was something that myhusband and I had talked about
(09:14):
early in our marriage, aboutbeing open to foster care.
You know, fostering, adopting,maybe one day and I didn't think
they went together.
I had always looked at them astwo separate.
You know, if we foster andadopt, yeah, maybe we would do
that while our kids are young,and then maybe, once we move
south and we're retired, we do abed and breakfast or a coffee
shop or something.
And again, that was always adream, and so it started to
(09:38):
become a reality because Istumbled across the first
location.
I stumbled across the firstlocation and it was like I feel
like God kind of reignited thatdesire to have a coffee shop.
At the same time, we wereworking through fostering or
adopting, and and so these twothings started really becoming
something.
It wasn't until we went throughthe process of looking into
(09:59):
foster care where I reallynoticed the age of young adults
that never get adopted.
Erica Rawls (10:06):
Had to take two seconds to thank Allstate
Insurance for sponsoring thisepisode.
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gonna be your ultimate insurancecompany.
Thank you, rob Shaw, withAllstate Insurance.
Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (10:22):
And when I noticed that and I realized
these kids, these young adultswere just slipping through the
cracks and were kind of sent outinto the world to do what you
know people with parentsstruggle to do, you know that
are consistently there for them,it was like this is who we need
to help, this is.
And then it just kind of allcame together.
Erica Rawls (10:43):
Yeah, I was sharing with my friend right before
this recording.
She was like, hey, what are youdoing?
I was like, hey, I'm about tointerview some dynamic people
today and she was like, well,who are you interviewing?
And I shared you and then alittle bit of your story.
She's like you know what?
That's the population thatseems to always be missed we
don't hear enough about?
(11:03):
You know the people that areaging out of foster care or
adoption centers, and so she'slike I cannot wait to hear it.
So, yeah, you just know youhave a cheerleader.
Well, good, you have acheerleader, because I think a
lot of people need to know that,hey, that we need.
If you're looking to, you know,bring someone into your home.
(11:25):
Sure, there's natural birthright between the husband and
the wife.
Or, you know, whatever thedemographic is or how it looks,
your family looks, I think it'simportant to know that there's
other options out there forpeople, and adoption or foster
care may be that option, and Iwish, I think, I was sharing
(11:45):
with you.
I hope we can get thatpercentage of people that are,
you know, that are aging out ofthese facilities or this.
You know the programs, becauseI know there's probably a lot.
There has to be a lot more thanwe would tend to think, I think
.
Emily Schmidt (12:01):
Yeah, and I think sometimes, like I didn't
realize until I got into it,just just how alone sometimes
they are or how much it is onthem to initiate that help and
that extra, those extraresources.
But if you, if you don't knowhow to do that, if that's
overwhelming, you know,sometimes it's like well, I'm
(12:21):
just not going to do it.
I think sometimes a lot ofyoung adults, you know, they're
brought up in a system andsometimes they're consistently
in different placements sonothing's consistent for them.
It's, you know, one yearthey're here and they move so
much throughout their lives thatthere's not a consistency in
(12:43):
who it is that's helping them.
Like you know, like my parents.
You know my parents weren'tperfect, you know we had our
tough things in our family, butthey were consistently my
parents, my whole life and theirrules were the same
consistently through my life andthe way that they handled
finances were consistently thesame and taught me to do things.
(13:03):
And so I think this populationis they're just in survival, it
they're sick of constantly, youknow, moving to the next place
and then you've got all thetrauma, you've got all the stuff
(13:30):
that happened to them thatthey're also working through,
which sometimes you know thatthere's a lot of anger that goes
with that.
There's a lot of confusion thatgoes with what they've been
through, and so they're dealingwith that and they're also
trying to navigate an adult lifethat they haven't had anyone
consistently there.
Erica Rawls (13:47):
They haven't had a role model.
Yeah, so the consistency is theinconsistency.
Emily Schmidt (13:53):
Correct, correct.
And so then, the things thatare right and healthy are very
uncomfortable.
You know it's, it's.
We had somebody once take oneof our it was a mentor took one
of our kids to Thanksgivingdinner and they, that kid kind
of went back in a corner andjust was so uncomfortable and
(14:14):
this person was like we don't we, I mean anything that they
could have wanted was thereEverything?
You know, we had this beautifulspread and you think about it
beautiful Thanksgiving table.
How uncomfortable would that beif you're used to not eating
Thanksgiving dinner at a table.
There's usually alcohol,there's usually writing, there's
usually yes, and maybe you havea frozen TV dinner on a TV tray
(14:40):
or something like that.
It's just very, although thisis healthy although this is, you
know, something we do it's notnormal, it's not their normal,
and so it's really meeting themwhere they're at and trying to
help them, you know, navigatethrough and retrain and
reprogram, help their brainsunderstand what is healthy and
(15:01):
what's good and right for them,and that involves a whole team
of people to do that.
Erica Rawls (15:08):
You know.
So what does that look like?
What's the number of peopleLike?
What's capacity for you Ishould say, yeah, what's your
goal as far as how many children, or I should say adults, right
that aged out of these otherfacilities?
What's that number look like?
Consistently, do you seeyourself having um to host, or
to help or to support?
Emily Schmidt (15:30):
so because we do so much more than just housing
or just feeding meals to peopleyou know, we really do enter
their lives with them and do alot of it, all of it with.
We really walk it out with them.
We I just helped, we justhelped one of our young ladies
move into an apartment.
We're so pumped for her but Imean, I was there all day
(15:54):
Saturday scrubbing the apartmentand scrubbing the kitchen floor
and and getting things ready,you know, for for them.
You know, just helping themphysically move things into an
apartment.
So, uh, we're really differentin that way where we're walking
it out with them.
And so we we shoot for four tofive young adults that we're
working with at one time andthat's mainly because it's me
(16:18):
and then a team of people that Iwork with, you know, volunteers
and other professionals andthings like that that we work
together, but it's usually me inthe day to day.
But we're at a place right nowwhere we really want to try to
multiply the amount of youngadults we're working with and
bring more people onto the team,have more life coaches and
people that are helping themcase manage the young adults
(16:40):
that we have.
So we're really hoping that wecan, you know, get some more
financial assistance and thatkind of thing so that we're able
to hire people, because mostpeople don't want to do 40 hours
of case management andscrubbing apartments and all the
things without getting paid.
So we're working on that and ifwe can get that in place, then,
(17:01):
you know, I would love to seeus be able to double the amount
of youth that we work with,hopefully in the next year, yeah
, so you're considered a lifecoach.
That's you know.
That's what's always funny is Igo out with these guys or you
know, you're, you're doing stuffwith them and people are like,
oh, what is your, what is yourrole?
And you become, you really kindof become like a like a parent
(17:22):
to them, you know.
And so a lot of them you know,you become, they're not
necessary, that is a life coach.
That's really kind of what itcomes down to, yeah, and a lot
of them are like, hey, I didn'tknow who to put down as my
emergency contact.
Is it okay, I put you down andI'm like, absolutely, you know.
So you really become that adultperson, that person in their
life that is kind of like aguardian, kind of like a life
(17:44):
coach.
You know.
I say life coach, mentor iskind of you know what we become.
I think that's the easiest wayfor me to explain it to people
so that they understand what itis that we do.
So we're life coaches andmentors to these guys and yeah.
Erica Rawls (18:01):
So what is it that brings you the most joy to the
nonprofit?
Emily Schmidt (18:05):
There's a lot of things that bring joy, I mean.
I would say I would say thatit's it's it's seeing them at
peace and and happy you know,happy and at peace, I think that
there's and seeing theirself-confidence, seeing them
(18:31):
feel confident in themselves,whether it be a simple task that
they do.
You know, some of them don'teven know how to make a phone
call, you know, to set up anappointment.
What do you mean?
I mean just like calling thedoctor to set up an appointment.
Right, it's like awkward,because they've never done it.
There's always been someone tomake their appointments for them
.
And so you have a 20, 22, 23year old person that's like
(18:56):
doesn't call the doctor, doesn'tcall the doctor, like why
aren't you calling the doctor?
Can you do, you know?
And so no, but I'll, I'm gonnasit here with you and and you
can do it and we're gonna, we'regonna get through this.
So something as simple as that.
I mean to see them hang up thatphone and be like I did it like
I just made a phone call, I justmade my own appointment and
you're like you know, wecelebrate the little things big,
(19:18):
yeah, um.
But then there's a big thingfor granted.
Yeah, like, again, your parentsjust taught you how to do, or
you heard your parents doingthat Right and then you knew
what to say, yeah.
So there's little things likethat, but then there's big
things, like you got your own,like this is your first
apartment, you know, this isyour first.
(19:38):
Or you just got your driver'slicense, or I mean there's
things like that that are huge.
I think that that's what bringsme the most joy is seeing them
overcome things, get to placeswhere they didn't think they
would be, and see the confidenceand the joy and the peace that
comes with, like it's going tobe okay, yeah, and seeing them
(20:00):
have the ability to stop thosegenerational cycles of abuse and
neglect and all those thingsthey were born into.
And then, like, when theyrealize that, like I'm going to
be a better mom than what my momwas, or I'm going to be a
better dad, like I'm going to bebetter, and then believe it and
be on a better path alreadythan what their parents were, I
(20:21):
mean that's amazing.
Erica Rawls (20:23):
I had to take two seconds to interrupt this
episode.
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Jenny Chavis, for sponsoringthis show.
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Now back to the show.
Emily Schmidt (20:55):
Yeah.
Erica Rawls (20:56):
I think that would just be like so exciting to see,
rewarding to see, to see that,okay, they're making a
difference for whoever you knowthey're going to bring into
their lives.
Sure, I know whether it's ablended family or not, you know,
cause they actually had supportfrom you know the correct pot.
So that's huge.
Yeah, that is really huge.
(21:17):
I appreciate that.
So then your children, whenthey see you doing this mission,
do they get?
They get excited or they'relike, hey, that's my mom.
Emily Schmidt (21:28):
You started with a little of both of that, you
know so no, I mean, I think mykids you know my kids are are
getting older and they've seenthis.
I think my kids love thecrackpot kids.
I mean there's some kids thatare like older siblings to my
kids, my biological kids, youknow, it's like it's really neat
to see that and my kidssometimes are the biggest
(21:51):
cheerleaders you know for, andthey don't see all of what
happens, enough to see maybesome of the things, some of the
consequences, some of theboundaries, some of the things
that I have to do with one ofthe young adults because they're
(22:11):
not doing what they need to bedoing or they're not as
committed as what they need tobe, and they're tough on me,
honestly, they're like you'rebeing too hard on them.
Why did you?
Why are they?
You know I'm like honey, youdon't know, you don't know all
the details Right, or they'llwant to ask questions about like
.
Well, why is he, you know?
Why is he not here anymore?
Why you know like?
Because sometimes you know ourkids in the program they'll take
(22:33):
off, you know.
Erica Rawls (22:34):
Sure.
Emily Schmidt (22:35):
It's a lot of back and forth coming and going
with the kids so they'll likewhat happened with the and I'm
like I can't, I won't, I can'tshare that with you, but I share
enough with them that they knowum what's going on and I think
that they they really enjoy umthe ones that they get close
with and that they have you knowopportunities.
(22:56):
I mean, you know my, my kidsgive them hugs and you know are
cheering them on and all thatkind of thing.
So I think I think that theythey enjoy it, they see the
value in it.
We talk very openly about justthe effects that what they've
been through has and I try toshare that with them when
they're in school.
(23:16):
Like you have no idea whatpeople are going through at home
and school might be the safeplace for them.
So if I ever find out thatyou're making fun of people or
that you know it's like one ofthose cause I'm like don't you
care, you have no idea whatpeople are going through.
Erica Rawls (23:32):
Yeah, cause if you're in foster care or the
adoption centers, they have togo to school.
Yeah, so you don't know?
Um, that is such a good pointyeah.
Emily Schmidt (23:41):
And sometimes they're not even in foster care,
but they have a whole lotthey're going through at home
that no one has seen yet youknow they're going back home to
abuse.
I mean, some of our kids.
They don't even go into fostercare until they're, you know, 17
years old.
Until someone, finally, youknow, notices something or they
speak up about something, right.
So you know it's tough, but you, I just try to tell them, like
(24:06):
you don't know what people aregoing through, you know what
trials they have.
So just be kind to people andyou know.
Erica Rawls (24:13):
What would you say?
Your succession rate is, as faras you know, seeing these
children acclimate properly tonormal.
I guess a normal life toacclimate properly to normal.
Emily Schmidt (24:25):
I guess a normal life Like.
What would you say your successrate is?
You know we have been up andrunning for eight years now.
Oh, congratulations.
Yeah, yeah, so our firstlocation opened up eight years
ago over eight years ago now,and you know we've had about 24
young adults that we've beenable to work with.
Yeah, and unfortunately and Ithink anyone in this line of
(24:46):
work that's working with thisgroup of young adults, you know
you don't have as great of asuccess rate as maybe what
people would want to see.
Everyone wants happy endings,everybody wants to see, you know
, somebody come into a programand do it and finish and be
great.
A lot of what we do is there'sthis pattern of young adults
(25:11):
come into our program.
Let's say they come in at 18,you know 18 to 25 is who we
serve.
So they come in at 18 and theyhave never been on their own and
things have always just beendone for them because they've
been in, you know, foster care,and so now you're asking this
adult and maybe they haven'tworked through the trauma, so
now you're asking this adult toto start showing up, talking in
(25:36):
a respectful way, um and andputting forth effort and doing
what they need to do.
And so there's it's hard.
It's hard.
All of a sudden, now you arekind of that, that
accountability person, thiscoach, this accountability
person.
That's like you know.
Like I say to these guys youknow, you, you can look at
somebody who's who's bulked upand has muscles and you want
(25:58):
those muscles.
You want to look like that guy,right?
Well, don't we?
All right, there's a lot ofhard work and dedication and
discipline and going to bedearly so that you can get up
early.
There's a lot of that thathappens.
So, well, how do?
Erica Rawls (26:13):
you teach someone, Emily, that doesn't know this?
Emily Schmidt (26:16):
That's huge it is and it's exhausting because
it's a lot of back and forth,it's a lot of trying to help
them understand the benefits ofit.
And I'll share with my one guywho's been with me for over
eight years now, because I knowhe will not mind at all.
I mean, he started with us whenhe was like 18 years old and he
(26:37):
was so hard to work withbecause he was so set that this
is what he wanted to do and thisis what he was going to do and
no one going to stop him andblah, blah, blah.
And now he I mean if he weresitting here, he would be like I
was.
I was, so it was crazy for meto be that stubborn and that
kind of thing.
So there's a, there's a levelof maturity.
That's just natural with anyone, right?
(26:57):
And if they're not in fostercare at those ages, well, 18,
yeah, for a they don't.
Erica Rawls (27:02):
They don't mature until what 27.
Right, so, or do they, or dothey right?
I'm looking at my husband.
Emily Schmidt (27:10):
No.
So I think that there's justthat natural understanding of
the maturity, but then on top ofit, you get the trauma and then
they're just.
Things have been soinconsistent.
So it really is a tough, toughthing that we do.
But we see this pattern of ifthey're serious, if they want to
put forth the work and theeffort to do it.
(27:32):
It might be a hard first round,like the first time.
There's this honeymoon periodand everyone comes in and oh,
it's so great and it's a coffeeshop and oh, it's so fun,
everyone's new and everyone'sgiving them things and it's all
about them, right.
And then we start talking aboutmoney and budgeting and we
start talking about, hey, if you, if, if you want money, if you
want the apartment, then you gotto save your money and in order
(27:55):
to get money, you got to go tobed on time so that you can get
up and get to work.
Like there's the all of thesepieces, yeah, and sometimes they
yeah, and sometimes they don't.
Like that.
I mean I don't want to do this,it's too hard, or you're
pushing me.
You know, you get that RightSometimes from you're pushing me
, you're pushing me too hard.
But if we don't push a little,then we're not doing our job
Right.
And then you know, so it's alot of that it, and you know
(28:19):
they'll sometimes leave and thenthey'll come back.
And so there's, I would saythere's probably like a.
I would say, given the eightyears, I would say there's
probably like a 25, like 30%,you know success rate where they
finish the program and they're,you know, they're in their own
(28:40):
apartment and they have the carand they're independent and
confidently moving forward.
However, that being said,there's a lot of them that are
in that in-between period, rightnow too, where they've left and
they may be coming back, youknow, in a few months or years
or whatever.
So they have from 18 to 25years to utilize this, the
(29:01):
services that we provide, and sowe've seen over the years that
there's a lot of that wherethey'll be with us for two years
and it's a lot of back andforth, and then they leave and
then they come back and they'relike I'm ready to do it this
time, yeah.
So we just try to stayconsistent in our lives.
We try to, even if they're nothuge compared to what they've
been through, so right and evenif they do leave our program,
(29:23):
even if if they say I don't wantto do this, this is too hard,
you're pushing too hard, westill reach out to them even
after that and include them inthe things that we're doing.
We have a group that meets.
It's like a social group foryoung adults that are coming out
of foster care, so they'realways invited to that.
They're always invited to ourChristmas parties.
(29:43):
They're always invited to that.
They're always invited to ourChristmas parties.
They're always invited to our.
We do like a Thanksgivingdinner on the Friday after
Thanksgiving.
So it's like they're alwaysinvited If we have their address
, if we have their phone number.
We kind of keep pulling themback into that community and
letting them know like we arestill here, we still love you.
You, just because you kind ofran away from it or we had to
(30:07):
close your case because youweren't doing, you know, your
part, doesn't mean that we'renot still here for you and in a
way, like a community would be,yeah, you know.
So we try to keep that goingwith them.
Erica Rawls (30:17):
No, matter what.
There was something that yousaid about pushing too hard and
you're trying to find thatbalance.
How do you set that expectationgap between what they're
expecting you know to occurversus what you know that you're
going to be implementing orworking with them about?
Do you have consultations withthem before they actually come
on board and say, hey, this iswhat we're going to be doing and
(30:39):
okay, because I think thatwould be a lot just to spring on
?
Yes, yes.
Emily Schmidt (30:44):
So when they come into our program, we usually
receive a referral either fromthem or from someone who works
with them that says hey, we'veheard about your program.
We think so-and-so would bereally great for this.
It'd be good for them.
Get to know them a little bit,talk to them about, like, do you
understand what we are, what wedo, and we share that all with
(31:04):
them.
We actually go through thecurriculum and explain to them
the building blocks.
These are the things we'regoing to focus on.
I try to give them a heads up asmuch as possible.
That you know, of course, whenthey like, the first time you
meet, they're like you know, I'mlike.
There may be days that youdon't like me or you don't like
what I have to say.
They're like no, no, I'm like.
No, trust me, there will,because there is that
(31:28):
accountability and there is that, hey, you're not showing up and
you can't keep doing this.
And so there's those toughconversations that you have to
have and you give so much graceand you give so much patience
and you try to navigate throughhow to keep them where they need
(31:49):
to be, to be meeting therequirements.
But there does come points wherewe have to say to them hey, you
know, we've tried to reach outto you, we've tried to let you
know that you know you've got tomeet these requirements.
You know, one of ourrequirements is they have to be
at therapy in person once a week.
That's one of our requirementsbecause we know the value and
the importance of that, givenwhat they've been through.
(32:11):
And so if they're not showingup for therapy and they do that
a couple of times we need tohave that tough talk that's like
, hey, are you really seriousabout wanting to do this program
?
Because that's one of therequirements, right, you know,
again, if they're, if they'rewilling to receive that, and say
, yeah, you're right, I need toget back on track with that, and
(32:32):
they have a desire and awillingness to to work at it and
get back on on track, versussomeone that's like I don't want
to go to therapy and you can'tmake me Okay, well then why are
you in this program?
Erica Rawls (32:45):
Yeah, for their fit .
Emily Schmidt (32:48):
Yeah.
So there's just that we try tobe gracious, we try to be
patient with them, but therealso comes a time sometimes with
them where it's like, you know,we're going to kind of pump the
brakes on this and we're goingto give you a break to really
evaluate if you, if you're readyto be committed to this.
Um, you know, and, and then wekind of let that the ball on
(33:10):
there.
It's their choices, it's theirchoices, um, one thing that we,
that we say, is like the threeshows, you know, show up.
Erica Rawls (33:15):
Yeah, I was going to ask you about that.
Emily Schmidt (33:16):
Yeah, show up, show respect and show effort,
and so it's.
It's one of those things wherethe first thing is is you got to
show up.
You know no one's doinganything at the gym if they
don't show up.
Um, you gotta be respectful.
I'm not going to work with youif you're being nasty and
because I'm not helping you.
The reality of going out in lifeand treating and talking to
(33:39):
people that way, I'm not doingyou any good if I let you do
that with me.
And so we try to just remindthem that, like you know, you've
got to be respectful, and we docourses and we do orientation
on soft skills and just how topresent yourself so that they
have the tools.
We're also we're giving themthe tools and we're letting them
(34:00):
know that they've got to usethem.
You know, professionally,socially, this is the
expectation, this is what'sgoing to help you get further in
life.
You know you might be able todo the job the hard skills but
the soft skills are going tohelp you keep the job.
You know, if you treat peopledisrespectful, you probably
won't be there long.
Erica Rawls (34:17):
Hey, I need to take two seconds to interrupt this
wonderful show that you'rewatching.
I run a real estate businessand the way we fund this podcast
is through that business, theErica Ross team.
I would love it if you wouldjust give us one opportunity to
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Emily Schmidt (34:39):
So it's just all of that.
But it really comes down to theeffort that they put into it.
And if they're being consistentand sometimes that means
they're leaving and coming back,and leaving and coming back,
until they mature and they'relike these people are still here
, they're not going anywhereThen we work with them.
We meet them where they're atand try to really work with them
(35:00):
as they learn.
Erica Rawls (35:02):
How many second chances do you give them?
You give them all the way up totheir 25 and then like you know
, it's kind of I love your grace.
Yeah, like seriously.
Emily Schmidt (35:11):
But I think that they're.
I mean, I go back to like youknow Jesus right, like Jesus has
always been very gracious withme and on the chances and still
is when I met up.
So I think, ultimately, likehow many chances have I received
personally?
So that's one thing, and thenthe second thing is is sometimes
(35:35):
it takes multiple chances.
I mean again going back to thatmaturity and going back to even
my own biological parents andhow many chances, how many times
I got it wrong, how many timesI was disrespectful, you know,
and got grounded.
You know, like how many timeshas that happened?
And if there was a cutoff, tolike my parents saying like,
(35:56):
okay, you did that five times,now there's the door.
I mean, if they come back andthey have a willingness to
accept what they've done andthey're willing to do it the
right way and to own you knowwhat they did or didn't do, yeah
, and they're ready to do it,then we try to give them a
(36:17):
chance.
Because I think sometimesthat's I think sometimes in
foster care that can be theproblem is, I think too many
doors shutting on them andsaying sorry Stances are so high
that they can't even live up tothe expectations.
Erica Rawls (36:32):
And then they fail.
And then so they see you andthey're just like what do you
mean?
I get another chance.
Emily Schmidt (36:38):
So you're great.
They settled with avatage.
They settled with avatage.
Erica Rawls (36:43):
You are grace.
Emily Schmidt (36:44):
I love that.
Well, I mean it's necessary.
It's necessary for these guys,and they're some of the
strongest, most amazing peopleI've ever met and they can
change.
I mean, you look at who youwere when you were 18 and who
you were when you were 25.
Drastically different, totallydifferent.
Yeah, things clicked a whole lotmore in those years for me, and
(37:08):
why?
Because I did things on my own.
I did stupid things on my ownRight, I made a lot of mistakes
on my own, but there was someone, consistently, that was there
that was saying it's okay, let'stry again.
You know, yeah.
And so I think that they a lotof them self-sabotage things.
We see that a lot.
(37:29):
When they're getting to a placewhere everything's coming
together, it's like they runaway and you're like what you
were just going to get?
A car and an apartment, andwhat do you mean?
You ran away with your friend.
Your success is huge.
Yes, it's just it's toooverwhelming or they don't want.
They don't want us to be theone saying goodbye and things
come to an end.
So it's navigating through alot of that.
Erica Rawls (37:52):
Yeah, so they want to be the one to break up
because they feel as though it'scoming Absolutely.
Emily Schmidt (37:57):
It's inevitable, it's happened all my life, so
you know what I'm going to dothis Right, right, yeah, yeah,
so it's, it's, it's challengingand you know, just like your own
biological kids, each one ofthem are different.
So it's really getting to knowthem and what works for them,
what doesn't work for them, howto talk to them, how not to talk
(38:21):
to them.
Yeah, you know, but it's.
I would say the seeds areplanted at the crackpot.
We don't always get to see thefull outcome of the seeds that
are planted, but we do know thatfor the time that the Lord
brings them to us and we have anopportunity to work with them
and love them and speak truth tothem and show up for them, that
(38:42):
hopefully, you know the seedsthat were planted while they
were there somewhere down theroad.
You know there will be fruitthere, someone else will water
them and they will.
We don't always get to see thesuccess, the full story with
them, because some of them doleave and they don't give us
their phone numbers.
You know, or they change phonenumbers or whatever.
(39:03):
We lose touch with them.
But that's where we just haveto pray, pray that the seeds
that are planted while they'rewith us will matter.
Erica Rawls (39:12):
I'm sure at least one person is going to be
interested in either serving ordonating, so can you share, like
how someone can serve in yournonprofit or even at the coffee
house, and also where they canactually donate?
Emily Schmidt (39:29):
Yeah, there is plenty of opportunities to serve
from transportation volunteers.
A lot of our kids don't havetheir licenses, so we're always
looking for people to help, youknow, get them to different
places and be a part of ourtransportation team.
You know, working with just onthe mission side of what we do,
but a lot of times we're lookingfor people in the coffee shop
(39:50):
that can help with baking orslicing strawberries or, you
know, coming in and wipingtables and running food out and
filling coffees.
And you know, even if it's aonce a week or once twice a
month kind of thing, you know,every little bit helps and
that's what we love is thecrackpot gives people the
opportunity to serve.
(40:10):
You know, and they're teenagers, you know that kind of thing.
It's a great opportunity toserve in that way.
So we're always looking forvolunteers in the shop and in
the mission so they can visitour website and email our
manager.
The information's there.
And then financially, we arealways looking for and grateful
for financial contributions thata lot of the money that people
(40:35):
contribute to donate to thecrackpot.
It pays for their therapy.
We pay for their therapy sothat they don't have to worry
about that.
Oh, that's wonderful Drivingschool.
You know just odds and ends.
If it's, you know prescriptionswe got to pick up.
Or we had one of our girls justgot a job the other day and we
were running errands and she'slike I need slip-proof shoes and
(40:56):
I start my job, you know, likethis weekend.
So I was like, well, we'll justzip in here.
I know a place where they haveslip, so we got, we were able to
buy her shoes so that she has.
So so there's, there's thingslike that that help there.
Sometimes kids are in crisissituations where they're in a
very, very unsafe environment orthey're homeless, but they want
(41:16):
to start fresh, they want a newbeginning, and so we're able to
kind of work with them and andmaybe even give them a hotel
room for a couple of nightsuntil they can get their feet
under them and breathe a littlebit and we can find another.
So there's a lot of ways thatthose donations help.
And again, like I said earlier,having more funding so that
(41:37):
we're able to bring in, you know, another coach, someone that
can kind of do what I'm doingand and and reach and serve more
youth all at the same time, umwould be huge.
So, yes, yes and yes, we'realways looking for volunteers.
So New York's monetary goal.
Erica Rawls (41:51):
So you can hire someone, you can put it out
there and be an innovator.
Emily Schmidt (41:54):
She don't know who's going to get this?
I know, I mean we, I would sayit's.
You know, there it's, it's as awhole, it's.
You know it's just the missionside of what we do and you know
the team that works with them.
So there's volunteers, there'sall of that.
I mean I don't know, you wantlike a goal of like just for
(42:17):
that person or just for whatever.
Erica Rawls (42:19):
Okay, yes, just goal, whatever goal, whatever is
on your heart, to say, hey,we're looking to raise X amount
of dollars.
Okay, y'all, she was not readyfor this.
Can you see her?
She's squirming.
She is a woman and she does notwant to ask.
And I'll make it.
Emily Schmidt (42:35):
Yes, I, I mean, I would say, I mean, I'm just
thinking of how, like the, the,if, if let's say 50,000, how?
About that?
How about that?
Does that sound good?
50,000 would be an amazingblessing to our ministry.
Um, because I think we would beable to start seriously talking
(42:58):
about bringing you know anothercoach in and and training them
and and doubling the amount ofyouth that we work with, yeah,
so there you go.
Erica Rawls (43:08):
I love that, okay, y'all.
So we have a mission.
So she would like to raise$50,000 so she can continue this
great work at the crackpot,where she helps children I
should say young adults thathave aged out of place of foster
care and adoption centers, andshe's looking to get some
support.
So guess what we're going to do?
We're going to have a link sothat you can actually donate,
(43:31):
and if you're looking to donateyour time, I will actually make
sure that you get the emailaddress so you can actually
donate your time as well.
What I believe is making surethat you're working for a
purpose, and the purpose thatshe has at the crackpot is
indeed something that we allneed to elevate and get exposure
on, because the children, theyoung adults, they actually need
us.
Emily Schmidt (43:51):
So, emily, yeah, yeah, thank you so much it's
been a pleasure Not only today,but the coffee shop visit and
all things.
Oh, we're not done, we're notdone, no we're not done.
Erica Rawls (44:06):
We're not done.
No, we're not playing much morecoffee, yes.
So you guys, thank you so muchand until next time I will see
you.
Hey, please make sure, do notforget to subscribe to share
this special message, and Icannot wait to see you in the
comments.
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