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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Love host Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Hello and welcome to New Heights Educational Group Podcast. My
name is Kaden Beech and I'm going here for New
Heights and here today I'm with Analyst Clark, founder and
director of New Heights Educational Group, and our special guests
mister Keith Torbett of the part man I say this
is wrong whilst in police department? Well, San, how about everybody?
(01:06):
How are you guys doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Doing good? Thank you, Kaiden, good. Thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
And for more information about New Heights Educational Group after
the show, or if you want to volunteer for New
Heights Educational Groups, please visit www dot New Heights Education
dot org. Contact us at a phone number at four
one nine seven eighty six zero two four seven, or
email us at New Heights Education at yahoo dot com.
(01:33):
Today we're going to be interviewing our special guests mister
and Keith Trevett. So, Keith, why don't we start off?
But do you explaining how you came to contact with
New Heights Educational Group and what brought you to be
interested in the organization.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Well, actually, Kidin, it was purely by chance that I
came across New Heights if you remember four or five
years ago. Well, Disney had a program where you could
volunteer for a local organization and by volunteering, they would
give you two or they would give you a pass
(02:13):
for any one of their parks. Well, my youngest son
was going through lost An High school at the time,
and they had a group. He's in the band. The
band was going down to Walt Disney to march in
the main street parade. So I already had one pass,
but I needed an additional pass. So I was looking
(02:35):
to volunteer somewhere and I just came across New Heights
because they were just down the street and they were
looking for a grant writer. And that's what I do
for the police department.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Awesome. So after you came in contact with New Heights
said that he worked mainly as grant writer, ended on
this rule in New Heights, or have done anything else
for the organization.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Well, really, I've tried to help empower Pam and several
of the other people at New Heights to get more
proactive and working with the grants. I've been helping. You know,
if they've run across the grant they're working on something.
She will bounce ideas off me. If I see something.
I will send it to her if I think it's
(03:25):
a good fit for their organization. The biggest thing with
grants is a lot of times people look too big.
They want to throw everything into the pot instead of
breaking it up into little chunks. I hear you laughing there, Pam,
because you're really guilty of that.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, I am, because I was new.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
I didn't know anything about grant writing.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I'm upright, you know it's true. Yeah, you want to
try for you know, get one grant that will do
everything instead of five or ten grants that will do
a little bit but will get you to your ultimate goal.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yes. And one of the things Keith did for us
and continues to try to do, is is he more
or less When we would find a grant, we would
just go through the process of filling it out. I
would send it to him. He'd kind of proof read
it and make us think and make me think about Okay,
the kind of questions I was answering, how I was answering.
(04:22):
So it was more of almost the training, you know,
how to really do it to make us more independent.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
There was a couple of times I said, okay, call
me at the office so we can discuss this. We
actually had to sit down one time so I could,
you know, take her by the hand and get get
her through the actual grant writing process.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Yes, I think more than once, Keith, I think you're
being kind. Okay, yes, that's true.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So honestly, you've been with me mind for a few years. Now,
what have you wanted to volunteer from your minds? What's
the meaning that I an house lawn here?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, it's Pam's passion for the New Heights. Let's face it,
that's what keeps New Heights going. And it's a sorely
needed service. I mean, there's there are way too many
latch key kids in the world that need somewhere that
they can go and someone that can actually talk to
(05:27):
them and work with them and get them the help
that they need.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Oh gone, Pam much.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
No, I just said thank you that.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And for adults too. I mean we just got a
new student this week that you know, growing man and
you can't read to his kids, and those kind of
things that it really gets to me, and you know,
you just don't like to see those things happen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No, So talking about in that SuperFect segway into some
of the issues that think Heights is trying very hard
to overcome. What do you believe that you definitely can
see from volunteering at name of Heights and being around
thecuse yourself. What are some of the calends that you
(06:19):
think it's basic education and decided holding conpectations.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Well, you've got you know, twenty thirty years ago, you
didn't have the competition that you have now you don't have.
You know, now kids get their sources from the media,
the internet. They're inundated. They've got to start at such
an early age. When I was going through school, you know,
you started getting reading skills in the second, third, fourth grade. Now,
(06:51):
if you're in kindergarten and you're not reading, you're behind
the times. You've you've got to, you know, really pick
it up. And a lot of the kids don't have
the support system that they need at home outside the school.
And let's face it, the schools are having funding cuts,
(07:11):
The teacher's aids are going away, the class sizes are
getting larger, the kids are not getting the one to
one instruction that they need.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Right having experience near this with your children and children
that you have relationsis with, like children think about.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
The school.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Well, I also too. I also mentor an hour week
at our local primary school here, and it's just amazing
how in just a year's time working with these kids
and giving them the one on one intention, how they
grow and progress within their reading skills. They're right skills
(08:01):
in just that short amount of time. If you do it,
you know, if you can sit down with someone for
more than that, for several years, you can really truly
make a difference.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Oh yeah, I've experienced that. I mean we usually meet
with them three hours a week depending on what subject,
especially for reading, in math and boy, you could see
a huge difference. And you know, spending three hours a
week with someone compared to even that hour, they just
(08:33):
grow and they blossom. I mean, in general, what we've
seen spending that kind of time is nine months. In
nine months time, they usually jump at least a grade
to two grade levels and reading. So that's pretty impressive
from what we've been faced with.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So, Keith, you mentioned just the support groups for the
children and spending that time really makes a difference. Uh,
do you have any other thing that you think with
help just be more efficient and more official to the
children through it As far as meeting educational needs.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
That's it's kind of hard to say. I mean there's
a lot of things that they can they need. I
mean a kid as kids almost like a sponge. They
want to succeed, they want to learn, They have the
need there. They just have to have people that are
willing to help them, you know, make that step and
(09:42):
show some interest in what they want and how how
what their well beings like.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
And I'm thinking back to talking about your specific role
for New Heights. I know obvious so you mentioned how
joggingly that there is some issues in the beginning, just
trying to assess what's actually grants accomplished.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Like you said, bringing up.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Stables too small, rules and products. Is there anything else
that you've experienced when writing grants, are boarding or in
general for your jobs that can sometimes make process difficult
many chaldons that you've come across.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
The biggest problem right now is the funding cuts. I
mean now people the competition for grants is getting so stiff,
and you've got instead of having maybe ten to fifteen
people applying for the same grant, you may have one
hundred hundred and fifty people applying for these small grants.
(10:54):
So you've got to have a Number one, you've got
to have a good program. You've got to have some
thing that works and a good successful track record. Otherwise
you're not going to get the funding because there are
(11:15):
so many people out there that are looking for this money,
and you've got to be able to write the grants
and write it the way they want it, because that's
what they're looking at to eliminate some of these people,
to make their job easier, to get the money out
to the sources.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Right. Yeah, And one of our obstacles too is I
can't do everything. I used to try to do everything,
but that's not really realistic for New Heights, And so
to get more people to help with the actual grant
writing has been my largest obstacle because I'll have people
that are all excited and they'll come on board and
(11:53):
they'll say, yeah, we really want to help, and then
they may work on half a grant and find out
it's not as easy as they they drop out out
of grant writing. So having assistance for me in that
apartment is the huge deal. And and you know, having
you know, I have a lot of volunteers, but I
don't necessarily have anyone that helps me run things day
(12:16):
to day or make calls or like a secretary. You know,
that's a big issue for us. It's a constant battle
to try to be and do the things we need
to do on the on the at the time scale
we should be doing them, and then also serve people
(12:37):
and try to oversee kids too. I mean, you know,
it's a full time.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Job, yes, And what's the grants. You almost have to
have someone that the person that writes it needs to
be the person that administers it, or at least is
able to teach someone else how to properly administer it.
There's just so many hoops that you have to jump
through to get this, to get this money and successfully
(13:05):
keep the money, because even though you get a grant,
if you don't follow the instructions and do what they ask,
they'll take the money back.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Yeah, and I feel, you know, a huge responsibility. I mean,
we've received some smaller grants here in town, and and
until we use the money in the way that I've promised,
I won't go back to them until I have something
to show them and ask for any more. I mean,
I'm adamant about that. I mean, well, we'll send letters
(13:38):
of updates and so forth, trying to keep them, you know, update.
But you know, I don't want to start asking for
money just for the sake of asking money. So until
we have enough people that are also willing to pay
for some services because we can't serve everybody for free anymore.
You know, there's that too, And that's also an off
(14:00):
to go for us, is you know, I want to
be accountable and I want people to feel like it.
You know, our money has went exactly the way we
wanted and this is the kind of growth they've had,
and if I don't feel like we've done that, then
you know, I'm up. I try to be upfront about it,
you know, but at the same time, I'm not going
to ask them for another penny until I make their
(14:21):
uns count.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Frustrating for me. But at the same time, you know,
I go in these circles of you know, if we
weren't here offering it to Joe, Susan whatever, you know,
then they wouldn't receive services. So I know that what
we're doing meaning something to some people, even if it's
not the number of people that I wish it was
(14:47):
at right now. And that's for a reason too. I mean,
it's just difficult.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, and definitely it definitely requires a lot of attention
and dedication, and I see that every day, especially with
Hamas who's always, like you said, he's so enthusiastic and
so dedicated to New Heights. Also one of the reasons
why I really enjoy volunteering for New Heights, which brings
(15:16):
us our next question, why do you think that the
role of volunteers is so important to nonprofits in our
community and specifically two New Heights.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well, let's face it, if you don't volunteer, most nonprofits
wouldn't be in existence. They cannot afford to pay for
all the time and personnel and things that need to
be done in order to stay afloat. I mean, you've
got to have volunteers to help out. For every volunteer
(15:51):
that helps out, that's ten to fifteen dollars an hour
that can go somewhere else. Even if you're only volunteering
an hour or two, say, it's a tremendous amount of money,
and that is brought in a lot of these grants
also you can use in kind, So just by someone
volunteering their services gives New Heights, you know, a large
(16:16):
chunk of in kind contribution that they can use towards
a grant to service the community.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Yeah, yeah, we've done that. Actually, that's true because that
actually I think that help does get the Verizon grant
of ten thousand dollars about two years ago. So just
that fact alone because of the inkind.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
And besides the use of volunteers is you can pull
in people from all walks of life, from police officers
like myself, to bankers, to politicians, to factory workers to
housewives that have a whole different view and take on
the world and really broadened the students experience.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yes, definitely, I know that I myself have learned a
lot from all the volunteering that I've been able to
do at New Heights in other places, and just communicating
with different people sometimes from all over the world and
like you said, from different walks of life is truly
not only beneficial to the organization, but I think also
(17:27):
a volunteer is very beneficial. So also about volunteering, Pamela
has shared that you do a lot of volunteering within
your community, not just necessarily with New Heights. What are
some of the other activities that you do in the
community and your involvements.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Well, I'm on the border directors for the First Call
for Help. I also set on the border directors for
the Center for Child and Family Advocacy, part of the
Lost Down Masons. I belonged to the Fulton County Paternal
Order of Police. I served with the Ohio Association the
(18:09):
Chiefs the Police as on their education committee and also
on the Law Enforcement Foundation. Through the Ohio Association Chiefs
the Police on the board that oversees the Police Executive
Leadership College as well as the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program.
(18:30):
Boy Scout volunteer for twenty some years. I'm sure there's
a few others that. Yeah. I've helped out with the
United Way. I've done a lot of presentations for the
United Way for First Call for Help. I was also
(18:52):
on the board for Women and Family Services, which was
a nonprofit agency out of Defiance that unfortunately one under
due to loss of revenue, loss of grounds.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
They were there thirty some years and had a closure
doors just because you know, money crunch.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Oh my, So, as a as a volunteer for New Heights,
what are some of the goals that you would like
to see New Heights accomplished or the achievements that you'd
like to eat in your time as a volunteer for
New Heights, I.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Guess the number one goal would actually have Pam to
have something other than just New Heights, because she's pretty
much one hundred percent committed to it. And they'd be
a pretty much a self standing organization that has its
own place, brick and mortar building where people would be
(19:55):
able to come to and know that that's what it's
there for and the services can provide.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Yeah, yes, because I think people would be more apt
to come to us two than to come to my
home or to you know, some of the buildings that
we've been blessed enough to use around town. But that's
one of my goals too. But again challenges.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
That's that is a major challenge for any anyone because
anybody that has written grants knows that the brick and
mortar grants are very, very difficult to get a hold of.
The Most grant funders want to fund programs, they want
to fund services. They want something that they can see,
(20:42):
touch and feel and that there's you know, and most
of them don't want to fund buildings. They just that's
not their thing. It's very difficult to find those grants
or foundations that are willing to give that money up
for basic construction.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah, So, how did in general did you become interested
in grant writing and working? I know you said that
you're a grant writer for the police department. What made
you want to be a grant writer and how did
you obtain those shows?
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Well, I started. I've been a police officer twenty nine
years now. I'm currently the chief of police here for
the city, but as a patrolman back in the nineties,
we had a lot of domestic violence and sexual assaults
going on in the city of wals On. It was,
I guess, not any more than anywhere else, but I
(21:41):
just noticed that in one year we had ninety cases,
and from looking at it, I can only see where
nine people out of those nineties ever got any victim
advocate services or ever went for counseling after they filed
their report. We lost track of them. We didn't have
(22:01):
couldn't see where they had got any help whatsoever after
following the report. So I went to the chief at
the time, showed him this information and asked him if
he would mind if I tried to write a grant
for a locally based victim advocant. Well, I wrote that one.
I muddled through it, got through it, and we were
(22:24):
awarded it. And ever since then, I've been righting. We've
got it for seventeen years in a row now, and
we've been able to keep a victim advocate in the
City of Wasson for Fulton County for seventeen years without
it costing any money to the City of Wacon or
Fulton County. This is all done through grant funds and
(22:48):
donations from the community.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
So you started this and then you just continued it
because of the success that you had initial.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
One and at it.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Once you write one and then the second one is
a little bit easier, and after you write the third
or fourth one, people expect you to write him after that.
So I've I've lost count I'm almost up to two
hundred probably two million dollars in grant funds brought in
for the City of Wasson.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Wow, that's amazing that you were able to be a
big contributor to most of that is claim.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
Yeah, it is wow.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
And it's funny because I feel like Keith has taught
me more about grant writing than anyone else. And even
though I've had other grant writers that have had experience
working with me, He's really the one that's helped me.
And one of our greatest advocates Marianne Hirst, she you know,
(23:58):
has a master's and you know, English and so forth,
and she's helped me, and she says, I'm a grant writer,
but I still don't feel like a grant writer. I mean,
not compared to what Keith does or what I've seen
other people do. I still just don't feel that I'm
a true grant writer like you know Keith is.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
But I do my best. I mean, I've written some
grants for school. We had a grant writing class, and
I remember how difficult it was to follow the guidelines
for different grants, to know if you're filling out all
your information thoroughly enough or too thoroughly, and definitely budgeting
(24:39):
was one of the main things that was very difficult
for me. So I was wondering, Keith, if you had
any advice to people who are trying to pursue grants
and trying to write grants for the first time or
have had not so much experience in it, if you
could kind of walk us through the process that you
went through when you were first trying to figure out
(25:01):
how to best can struct a grant. Are you there?
Maybe maybe the call had dropped.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I still showing up. Cay rry there, can you hear us?
Speaker 2 (25:29):
I think we may have mayah, we might have Well,
we can try. Let me see if I can reach
him on Myselfham.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
I can put it on speak if you can.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Mm hmmm. So let's see mm hmm. Always technical difficulties sometimes,
let put this on for sure.
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Okay, sorry audience.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yes, all right, h you know, sometimes we have things
that occur out of our control with this, uh, with technology.
Yep Ope.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
I think he's going in on another number or on
a second Hello, Hello, Hello Keith? Is that you.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
M hm?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Maybe his connection wherever he is is not very very good. Unfortunately,
let's see, I'll do him again.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
M hm. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
It said when I tried to doll him that there
was network difficulties. So unfortunately he might be in an
area where the connection has gone out for some reason. Pama,
(27:10):
well apologize once again the audience. I think that we
are all experiencing some difficulties, either with the Internet or
with our individual phones. So unfortunately we may have to
end the episode here as I can't get in contact
with Pamela or with Keith. But we very much.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Oh you're back, okay, yeah, but thank you, Yeah, thank
you for listening, and thank you Keith for your time.
Do we have a topic for next week?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Well, we're thinking next week. What I wanted to talk
about specifically as we approach prom at least for my
school and as we as children are going off to
college soon. But I thought would be a good topic
to discuss is alcohol and drug safety and driving safety.
I know that it's usually brought up this time of
(28:07):
year with programs such as what's it called? It's the
program at my school that we have where they introduce,
you know, families that have lost their children to drunk
driving and things like that. Rude Awakenings is a program.
So I thought that would be a good, good topic
to discuss.
Speaker 6 (28:32):
Okay, it sounds good.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
All right, We'll see you next week at our normal time,
Saturday the twentieth.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
Okay, thank you, thank you audience, nks.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Well, thank you for having the film.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Okaith, this good to have you packed. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
See on your show.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Raised me.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I can be.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
You raised me two more than can be
Speaker 4 (29:47):
M
Love host Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Hello and welcome to New Heights Educational Group Podcast. My
name is Kaden Beech and I'm going here for New
Heights and here today I'm with Analyst Clark, founder and
director of New Heights Educational Group, and our special guests
mister Keith Torbett of the part man I say this
is wrong whilst in police department? Well, San, how about everybody?
(01:06):
How are you guys doing today?
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Doing good? Thank you, Kaiden, good. Thanks.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
And for more information about New Heights Educational Group after
the show, or if you want to volunteer for New
Heights Educational Groups, please visit www dot New Heights Education
dot org. Contact us at a phone number at four
one nine seven eighty six zero two four seven, or
email us at New Heights Education at yahoo dot com.
(01:33):
Today we're going to be interviewing our special guests mister
and Keith Trevett. So, Keith, why don't we start off?
But do you explaining how you came to contact with
New Heights Educational Group and what brought you to be
interested in the organization.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Well, actually, Kidin, it was purely by chance that I
came across New Heights if you remember four or five
years ago. Well, Disney had a program where you could
volunteer for a local organization and by volunteering, they would
give you two or they would give you a pass
(02:13):
for any one of their parks. Well, my youngest son
was going through lost An High school at the time,
and they had a group. He's in the band. The
band was going down to Walt Disney to march in
the main street parade. So I already had one pass,
but I needed an additional pass. So I was looking
(02:35):
to volunteer somewhere and I just came across New Heights
because they were just down the street and they were
looking for a grant writer. And that's what I do
for the police department.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Awesome. So after you came in contact with New Heights
said that he worked mainly as grant writer, ended on
this rule in New Heights, or have done anything else
for the organization.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
Well, really, I've tried to help empower Pam and several
of the other people at New Heights to get more
proactive and working with the grants. I've been helping. You know,
if they've run across the grant they're working on something.
She will bounce ideas off me. If I see something.
I will send it to her if I think it's
(03:25):
a good fit for their organization. The biggest thing with
grants is a lot of times people look too big.
They want to throw everything into the pot instead of
breaking it up into little chunks. I hear you laughing there, Pam,
because you're really guilty of that.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Yes, I am, because I was new.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
I didn't know anything about grant writing.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
I'm upright, you know it's true. Yeah, you want to
try for you know, get one grant that will do
everything instead of five or ten grants that will do
a little bit but will get you to your ultimate goal.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Yes. And one of the things Keith did for us
and continues to try to do, is is he more
or less When we would find a grant, we would
just go through the process of filling it out. I
would send it to him. He'd kind of proof read
it and make us think and make me think about Okay,
the kind of questions I was answering, how I was answering.
(04:22):
So it was more of almost the training, you know,
how to really do it to make us more independent.
Speaker 3 (04:30):
There was a couple of times I said, okay, call
me at the office so we can discuss this. We
actually had to sit down one time so I could,
you know, take her by the hand and get get
her through the actual grant writing process.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
Yes, I think more than once, Keith, I think you're
being kind. Okay, yes, that's true.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
So honestly, you've been with me mind for a few years. Now,
what have you wanted to volunteer from your minds? What's
the meaning that I an house lawn here?
Speaker 3 (05:06):
Well, it's Pam's passion for the New Heights. Let's face it,
that's what keeps New Heights going. And it's a sorely
needed service. I mean, there's there are way too many
latch key kids in the world that need somewhere that
they can go and someone that can actually talk to
(05:27):
them and work with them and get them the help
that they need.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Oh gone, Pam much.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
No, I just said thank you that.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
And for adults too. I mean we just got a
new student this week that you know, growing man and
you can't read to his kids, and those kind of
things that it really gets to me, and you know,
you just don't like to see those things happen.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
No, So talking about in that SuperFect segway into some
of the issues that think Heights is trying very hard
to overcome. What do you believe that you definitely can
see from volunteering at name of Heights and being around
thecuse yourself. What are some of the calends that you
(06:19):
think it's basic education and decided holding conpectations.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
Well, you've got you know, twenty thirty years ago, you
didn't have the competition that you have now you don't have.
You know, now kids get their sources from the media,
the internet. They're inundated. They've got to start at such
an early age. When I was going through school, you know,
you started getting reading skills in the second, third, fourth grade. Now,
(06:51):
if you're in kindergarten and you're not reading, you're behind
the times. You've you've got to, you know, really pick
it up. And a lot of the kids don't have
the support system that they need at home outside the school.
And let's face it, the schools are having funding cuts,
(07:11):
The teacher's aids are going away, the class sizes are
getting larger, the kids are not getting the one to
one instruction that they need.
Speaker 5 (07:21):
Right having experience near this with your children and children
that you have relationsis with, like children think about.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
The school.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
Well, I also too. I also mentor an hour week
at our local primary school here, and it's just amazing
how in just a year's time working with these kids
and giving them the one on one intention, how they
grow and progress within their reading skills. They're right skills
(08:01):
in just that short amount of time. If you do it,
you know, if you can sit down with someone for
more than that, for several years, you can really truly
make a difference.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
Oh yeah, I've experienced that. I mean we usually meet
with them three hours a week depending on what subject,
especially for reading, in math and boy, you could see
a huge difference. And you know, spending three hours a
week with someone compared to even that hour, they just
(08:33):
grow and they blossom. I mean, in general, what we've
seen spending that kind of time is nine months. In
nine months time, they usually jump at least a grade
to two grade levels and reading. So that's pretty impressive
from what we've been faced with.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
So, Keith, you mentioned just the support groups for the
children and spending that time really makes a difference. Uh,
do you have any other thing that you think with
help just be more efficient and more official to the
children through it As far as meeting educational needs.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
That's it's kind of hard to say. I mean there's
a lot of things that they can they need. I
mean a kid as kids almost like a sponge. They
want to succeed, they want to learn, They have the
need there. They just have to have people that are
willing to help them, you know, make that step and
(09:42):
show some interest in what they want and how how
what their well beings like.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
And I'm thinking back to talking about your specific role
for New Heights. I know obvious so you mentioned how
joggingly that there is some issues in the beginning, just
trying to assess what's actually grants accomplished.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
Like you said, bringing up.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Stables too small, rules and products. Is there anything else
that you've experienced when writing grants, are boarding or in
general for your jobs that can sometimes make process difficult
many chaldons that you've come across.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
The biggest problem right now is the funding cuts. I
mean now people the competition for grants is getting so stiff,
and you've got instead of having maybe ten to fifteen
people applying for the same grant, you may have one
hundred hundred and fifty people applying for these small grants.
(10:54):
So you've got to have a Number one, you've got
to have a good program. You've got to have some
thing that works and a good successful track record. Otherwise
you're not going to get the funding because there are
(11:15):
so many people out there that are looking for this money,
and you've got to be able to write the grants
and write it the way they want it, because that's
what they're looking at to eliminate some of these people,
to make their job easier, to get the money out
to the sources.
Speaker 6 (11:32):
Right. Yeah, And one of our obstacles too is I
can't do everything. I used to try to do everything,
but that's not really realistic for New Heights, And so
to get more people to help with the actual grant
writing has been my largest obstacle because I'll have people
that are all excited and they'll come on board and
(11:53):
they'll say, yeah, we really want to help, and then
they may work on half a grant and find out
it's not as easy as they they drop out out
of grant writing. So having assistance for me in that
apartment is the huge deal. And and you know, having
you know, I have a lot of volunteers, but I
don't necessarily have anyone that helps me run things day
(12:16):
to day or make calls or like a secretary. You know,
that's a big issue for us. It's a constant battle
to try to be and do the things we need
to do on the on the at the time scale
we should be doing them, and then also serve people
(12:37):
and try to oversee kids too. I mean, you know,
it's a full time.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
Job, yes, And what's the grants. You almost have to
have someone that the person that writes it needs to
be the person that administers it, or at least is
able to teach someone else how to properly administer it.
There's just so many hoops that you have to jump
through to get this, to get this money and successfully
(13:05):
keep the money, because even though you get a grant,
if you don't follow the instructions and do what they ask,
they'll take the money back.
Speaker 6 (13:15):
Yeah, and I feel, you know, a huge responsibility. I mean,
we've received some smaller grants here in town, and and
until we use the money in the way that I've promised,
I won't go back to them until I have something
to show them and ask for any more. I mean,
I'm adamant about that. I mean, well, we'll send letters
(13:38):
of updates and so forth, trying to keep them, you know, update.
But you know, I don't want to start asking for
money just for the sake of asking money. So until
we have enough people that are also willing to pay
for some services because we can't serve everybody for free anymore.
You know, there's that too, And that's also an off
(14:00):
to go for us, is you know, I want to
be accountable and I want people to feel like it.
You know, our money has went exactly the way we
wanted and this is the kind of growth they've had,
and if I don't feel like we've done that, then
you know, I'm up. I try to be upfront about it,
you know, but at the same time, I'm not going
to ask them for another penny until I make their
(14:21):
uns count.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
So you know, it's.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Frustrating for me. But at the same time, you know,
I go in these circles of you know, if we
weren't here offering it to Joe, Susan whatever, you know,
then they wouldn't receive services. So I know that what
we're doing meaning something to some people, even if it's
not the number of people that I wish it was
(14:47):
at right now. And that's for a reason too. I mean,
it's just difficult.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Yeah, and definitely it definitely requires a lot of attention
and dedication, and I see that every day, especially with
Hamas who's always, like you said, he's so enthusiastic and
so dedicated to New Heights. Also one of the reasons
why I really enjoy volunteering for New Heights, which brings
(15:16):
us our next question, why do you think that the
role of volunteers is so important to nonprofits in our
community and specifically two New Heights.
Speaker 3 (15:29):
Well, let's face it, if you don't volunteer, most nonprofits
wouldn't be in existence. They cannot afford to pay for
all the time and personnel and things that need to
be done in order to stay afloat. I mean, you've
got to have volunteers to help out. For every volunteer
(15:51):
that helps out, that's ten to fifteen dollars an hour
that can go somewhere else. Even if you're only volunteering
an hour or two, say, it's a tremendous amount of money,
and that is brought in a lot of these grants
also you can use in kind, So just by someone
volunteering their services gives New Heights, you know, a large
(16:16):
chunk of in kind contribution that they can use towards
a grant to service the community.
Speaker 6 (16:27):
Yeah, yeah, we've done that. Actually, that's true because that
actually I think that help does get the Verizon grant
of ten thousand dollars about two years ago. So just
that fact alone because of the inkind.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
And besides the use of volunteers is you can pull
in people from all walks of life, from police officers
like myself, to bankers, to politicians, to factory workers to
housewives that have a whole different view and take on
the world and really broadened the students experience.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
Yes, definitely, I know that I myself have learned a
lot from all the volunteering that I've been able to
do at New Heights in other places, and just communicating
with different people sometimes from all over the world and
like you said, from different walks of life is truly
not only beneficial to the organization, but I think also
(17:27):
a volunteer is very beneficial. So also about volunteering, Pamela
has shared that you do a lot of volunteering within
your community, not just necessarily with New Heights. What are
some of the other activities that you do in the
community and your involvements.
Speaker 3 (17:47):
Well, I'm on the border directors for the First Call
for Help. I also set on the border directors for
the Center for Child and Family Advocacy, part of the
Lost Down Masons. I belonged to the Fulton County Paternal
Order of Police. I served with the Ohio Association the
(18:09):
Chiefs the Police as on their education committee and also
on the Law Enforcement Foundation. Through the Ohio Association Chiefs
the Police on the board that oversees the Police Executive
Leadership College as well as the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program.
(18:30):
Boy Scout volunteer for twenty some years. I'm sure there's
a few others that. Yeah. I've helped out with the
United Way. I've done a lot of presentations for the
United Way for First Call for Help. I was also
(18:52):
on the board for Women and Family Services, which was
a nonprofit agency out of Defiance that unfortunately one under
due to loss of revenue, loss of grounds.
Speaker 6 (19:06):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
They were there thirty some years and had a closure
doors just because you know, money crunch.
Speaker 2 (19:16):
Oh my, So, as a as a volunteer for New Heights,
what are some of the goals that you would like
to see New Heights accomplished or the achievements that you'd
like to eat in your time as a volunteer for
New Heights, I.
Speaker 3 (19:33):
Guess the number one goal would actually have Pam to
have something other than just New Heights, because she's pretty
much one hundred percent committed to it. And they'd be
a pretty much a self standing organization that has its
own place, brick and mortar building where people would be
(19:55):
able to come to and know that that's what it's
there for and the services can provide.
Speaker 6 (20:01):
Yeah, yes, because I think people would be more apt
to come to us two than to come to my
home or to you know, some of the buildings that
we've been blessed enough to use around town. But that's
one of my goals too. But again challenges.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
That's that is a major challenge for any anyone because
anybody that has written grants knows that the brick and
mortar grants are very, very difficult to get a hold of.
The Most grant funders want to fund programs, they want
to fund services. They want something that they can see,
(20:42):
touch and feel and that there's you know, and most
of them don't want to fund buildings. They just that's
not their thing. It's very difficult to find those grants
or foundations that are willing to give that money up
for basic construction.
Speaker 2 (21:01):
Yeah, So, how did in general did you become interested
in grant writing and working? I know you said that
you're a grant writer for the police department. What made
you want to be a grant writer and how did
you obtain those shows?
Speaker 3 (21:19):
Well, I started. I've been a police officer twenty nine
years now. I'm currently the chief of police here for
the city, but as a patrolman back in the nineties,
we had a lot of domestic violence and sexual assaults
going on in the city of wals On. It was,
I guess, not any more than anywhere else, but I
(21:41):
just noticed that in one year we had ninety cases,
and from looking at it, I can only see where
nine people out of those nineties ever got any victim
advocate services or ever went for counseling after they filed
their report. We lost track of them. We didn't have
(22:01):
couldn't see where they had got any help whatsoever after
following the report. So I went to the chief at
the time, showed him this information and asked him if
he would mind if I tried to write a grant
for a locally based victim advocant. Well, I wrote that one.
I muddled through it, got through it, and we were
(22:24):
awarded it. And ever since then, I've been righting. We've
got it for seventeen years in a row now, and
we've been able to keep a victim advocate in the
City of Wasson for Fulton County for seventeen years without
it costing any money to the City of Wacon or
Fulton County. This is all done through grant funds and
(22:48):
donations from the community.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
So you started this and then you just continued it
because of the success that you had initial.
Speaker 6 (23:00):
One and at it.
Speaker 3 (23:03):
Once you write one and then the second one is
a little bit easier, and after you write the third
or fourth one, people expect you to write him after that.
So I've I've lost count I'm almost up to two
hundred probably two million dollars in grant funds brought in
for the City of Wasson.
Speaker 1 (23:22):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Wow, that's amazing that you were able to be a
big contributor to most of that is claim.
Speaker 6 (23:31):
Yeah, it is wow.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
And it's funny because I feel like Keith has taught
me more about grant writing than anyone else. And even
though I've had other grant writers that have had experience
working with me, He's really the one that's helped me.
And one of our greatest advocates Marianne Hirst, she you know,
(23:58):
has a master's and you know, English and so forth,
and she's helped me, and she says, I'm a grant writer,
but I still don't feel like a grant writer. I mean,
not compared to what Keith does or what I've seen
other people do. I still just don't feel that I'm
a true grant writer like you know Keith is.
Speaker 2 (24:17):
But I do my best. I mean, I've written some
grants for school. We had a grant writing class, and
I remember how difficult it was to follow the guidelines
for different grants, to know if you're filling out all
your information thoroughly enough or too thoroughly, and definitely budgeting
(24:39):
was one of the main things that was very difficult
for me. So I was wondering, Keith, if you had
any advice to people who are trying to pursue grants
and trying to write grants for the first time or
have had not so much experience in it, if you
could kind of walk us through the process that you
went through when you were first trying to figure out
(25:01):
how to best can struct a grant. Are you there?
Maybe maybe the call had dropped.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (25:20):
I still showing up. Cay rry there, can you hear us?
Speaker 2 (25:29):
I think we may have mayah, we might have Well,
we can try. Let me see if I can reach
him on Myselfham.
Speaker 6 (25:40):
I can put it on speak if you can.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
Mm hmmm. So let's see mm hmm. Always technical difficulties sometimes,
let put this on for sure.
Speaker 6 (25:54):
Okay, sorry audience.
Speaker 2 (26:02):
Yes, all right, h you know, sometimes we have things
that occur out of our control with this, uh, with technology.
Yep Ope.
Speaker 6 (26:12):
I think he's going in on another number or on
a second Hello, Hello, Hello Keith? Is that you.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Hello?
Speaker 1 (26:30):
M hm?
Speaker 2 (26:31):
Maybe his connection wherever he is is not very very good. Unfortunately,
let's see, I'll do him again.
Speaker 1 (26:42):
M hm. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (26:47):
It said when I tried to doll him that there
was network difficulties. So unfortunately he might be in an
area where the connection has gone out for some reason. Pama,
(27:10):
well apologize once again the audience. I think that we
are all experiencing some difficulties, either with the Internet or
with our individual phones. So unfortunately we may have to
end the episode here as I can't get in contact
with Pamela or with Keith. But we very much.
Speaker 6 (27:31):
Oh you're back, okay, yeah, but thank you, Yeah, thank
you for listening, and thank you Keith for your time.
Do we have a topic for next week?
Speaker 2 (27:45):
Well, we're thinking next week. What I wanted to talk
about specifically as we approach prom at least for my
school and as we as children are going off to
college soon. But I thought would be a good topic
to discuss is alcohol and drug safety and driving safety.
I know that it's usually brought up this time of
(28:07):
year with programs such as what's it called? It's the
program at my school that we have where they introduce,
you know, families that have lost their children to drunk
driving and things like that. Rude Awakenings is a program.
So I thought that would be a good, good topic
to discuss.
Speaker 6 (28:32):
Okay, it sounds good.
Speaker 2 (28:33):
All right, We'll see you next week at our normal time,
Saturday the twentieth.
Speaker 6 (28:39):
Okay, thank you, thank you audience, nks.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Well, thank you for having the film.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
Okaith, this good to have you packed. Thank you.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
See on your show.
Speaker 4 (29:12):
Raised me.
Speaker 1 (29:16):
I can be.
Speaker 6 (29:24):
You raised me two more than can be
Speaker 4 (29:47):
M
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