January 25, 2024 • 23 mins
Have you ever mistaken AM for PM and turned an entire day upside down with humor? That's exactly how we kickstart our vibrant conversation with Tracy Anderson and Merv Seymour—forces behind the "It Takes Little to Be Big" campaign by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County. This episode is a heartfelt rally cry to bring new volunteers into the fold, focusing on the power and urgency of mentoring. Steering the community outreach, Tracy paints a poignant picture of the 200 kids, especially boys of color, awaiting life-changing connections. With his transformative journey from Mississippi to Madison, Merv lends his voice to the narrative, unraveling the compelling reasons that call one to mentorship and the mutual enrichment it fosters.
Laughter and earnestness intermingle as comedian Marv jumps into the fray, underscoring the gravity of community participation, especially in the African-American sphere. Our six-week recruitment drive takes flight with innovative strategies aiming for hearts and minds across Madison. We swap stories that tug at the heartstrings, sharing how being raised by single mothers has sculpted our views on family dynamics and the tenacity it takes to steer such households. As the curtain falls on this powerful episode, we extend our deepest gratitude to Tracy and Merv, who've woven their tales into our larger narrative, leaving us richer for the shared experience.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up everybody.
This is your host, the star,here with.
Speaker 3 (00:02):
Tracy Anderson and Merv Seymour.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
How you guys doing this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We're good.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
I'm good, I'll take good afternoon Good, good enough
afternoon Right.
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
How you guys doing this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Same as I was this morning.
Good.
The road seemed a little better, so are you trying to confuse
you trying to confuse us alittle bit.
That's a trick question.
All right, how am I doing Huh?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
This afternoon.
This actually is a that isactually a deep question.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hmm, how am I doing?
How am?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I doing.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I thought I was okay, but I'm good.
I gotta think about it, I know.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, you caused all that.
You did all that.
Sorry about that.
So, tracy, tell us why we arehere.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I would love to.
So D thank you for having meback on the podcast.
I'm Tracy Anderson, communityoutreach and volunteer manager
at Big Brothers, big Sisters ofDink County.
D is always helping us out whenwe want to get the word out
about things.
And we have this big campaignthat we're launching and it's
called.
It takes little to be big.
It's a six week campaign andit's a recruitment campaign.
(01:11):
We're looking to try to get atleast like a hundred new
volunteers in the door,preferably men of color,
preferably men in general, andjust really see if we could put
a dent in our waitlist.
We have quite a waitlist.
It's close to 200 kids that arewaiting.
Most of those kids are kids ofcolor and most of them are boys.
So, you know, obviously, ascommunity outreach and just as
(01:32):
the organization in general,we're always out recruiting.
But we thought, you know, let'sgo into 2024 and do something
big and do like a bigrecruitment campaign.
So that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And you brought this fine gentleman here with you.
Can you tell who are youtalking?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
about?
Where is he?
Oh, you're talking about me.
Oh, wow, you're talking aboutme, okay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I did so.
I brought Merv Um.
I met Merv.
Actually, he reached out.
I believe you were referred tosomeone at your job.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Correct yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
And he reached out, you know, as community outreach,
when I talked to differentpeople, um, and if they're
interested, they reach out to me, just to you know, a quick
meeting, just to answer anyquestions, or they're thinking
about it.
And you know, honestly, thatday I thought, okay, it's going
to be, like you know, a regular,maybe 15 minute meeting.
We're just going to talk reallyquick, I'm going to answer any
(02:21):
questions.
And Merv really impressed me.
I think we stayed on for likean hour.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, probably.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
With his stories.
He impressed me, um, becausehe's a successful black male,
but also because it moved me thereason why he was reaching out.
So I thought I would love tohave Merv on just uh, I think
you really represent.
It.
Takes little to be big.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Is it kind of like mirroring the reason why you
chose to become a big sister?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Not exactly, and I think that's a really good point
too.
Is that so many people have somany different reasons, right?
I think probably, um, and wecan talk about this a little
more, but the commonality iswe're people of color, and that
was my number one reason.
Like I wanted, I was matched inSeptember.
I wanted a black girl, you know, a young black girl, so she
(03:09):
could have someone to look up to, and that was, you know, really
the biggest reason I wanted todo it.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
For the people that don't know.
You, Merv, can you tell us whodoesn't know?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Wait, let's stop, Stop, stop, stop.
Who?
Who Did you see his bio?
Who in here don't know who I?
Who doesn't know me?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Wait, okay, you're right.
Can you tell us a little bitabout yourself?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
It's like you don't realize sometimes the things
you've done and accomplished inlife and, um, it's like almost
like, oh, where do I begin?
But uh, in general I'm, you know, originally from Mississippi
and I moved to Madison when Iwas eight years old and then I
went to high school, middleschool, all that stuff here, and
decided that, um, I got tiredof being the only black kid in
all my classes so I wanted to goto a black historically black
(03:51):
college and I went to uh,Alabama A&M initially and then I
ended up transferring toSouthern University, which is in
Baton Rouge, alabama A&Ms inHuntsville, and then I got a
degree in journalism broadcastjournalism.
Came back to Madison aftercollege, couldn't get a job and
I think I worked at a brickfactory and after almost two
years of that kind of work Isaid, man, I did not go to
college for this.
So I ended up packing all mystuff up had, I think I had a
(04:14):
thousand bucks at that time,which was a lot of money you can
still lose a lot of money and Igot in my car and I went back
to Louisiana and I had a job inuh, the TV business two weeks
later, started off as a cameraguy and I worked my way into
becoming a news reporter.
So I work at PBS Wisconsin inMadison and I cover social
justice and uh political typesof issues.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Well, you're in the state.
So what is one of the thingsthat really drew you to?
Big Brothers, Big Sisters?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I mean, it's really the admission statement their
overall impact on community andnot just the community, but our
community specifically, you know, and I just I just wanted to be
part of of the success of ofwhat they do and what they're
out to do and what they'relooking to accomplish and then
to just better, better the lifeof some young person.
They just spoke to me when Isaw there was a need and you
(04:59):
know I've been here three years,I've been back three years.
I moved here from Sacramento,california.
I was in Sacramento for aboutfive years.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Sack Town.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Sack Town, you know, and I wanted to just make myself
available to be used in any way.
Could help.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I do want to just jump in and say that's one of
the biggest things for thiscampaign.
Right, it takes little to bebig.
Not only do we want to recruit,you know, a hundred new
volunteers, you know bigs but infrom diverse backgrounds and
things like that.
But you know, there's just alot of misconceptions about
becoming a big.
You know, when I'm out, a lotjust presenting or at events,
(05:32):
you know, one of them is time,you know, and another is just
the burden of, maybe, mentorship, and it really takes little to
be big.
You know, having someone get aslice of pizza with you or some
ice cream, or, you know, lookingat and that's one of the things
you know, besides some of thestories that you told me that
were moving, of why you chose todo it too, but having a little
(05:56):
look up to you with all thatyou've accomplished, you know,
and, like you said, they mightnot want to be a journalist, but
they're exposed to it.
You know this is something thatthey can see and you know.
Again, I do want to stress,we're not asking people to be
perfect, we're just asking youto be present and that's really
it.
I mean, when I first became abig, you know, at first you're
(06:18):
like, oh, I got to do all thisgrand stuff, you know, and I
feel like for me I did come froma two parent household and that
was one of the other reasonswhy it pushed me, because I know
a lot of the kids on the waitlist are not coming from that
home.
I tried to do these big things.
You know, I took my little to abadger football game.
She was like I'm nine, I can'tkeep my attention during this.
(06:40):
You know, I thought it was abig deal, which I think it was
still, because when would shehave gotten the opportunity?
But then you know what I reallystarted, making it simple, it
takes little to be big.
We like went and got lunch oneday and she loved it.
You know, we played with slime.
I'm a slime fan.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Now, so that was one of the things I wanted to ask
you, tracy is what is the idealcandidate for a big?
What are the qualifications orthe characteristics that you're
looking for in a big?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
So I would say this I mean definitely, since I've
taken the role of communityoutreach we need more bigs of
color and we need more men.
I mean, it's just the truth,that's what we need.
Qualifications, just in general18 and older, being able to
pass a background check, havinga valid driver's license, auto
insurance, but in general, youdon't have to be perfect, just
(07:32):
be present, just you.
Living a life is enough.
Like enough of an example.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
So when you say, pass a background check, what does?
That look like.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So I think there's a lot of misconceptions that are
around that as well.
It is private.
You know, once we check abackground check, it's private.
There is no charge.
I think some people thinkthere's a charge to a background
check.
It is not.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Some people think it goes on your credit.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Some people think it goes on your credit.
It does not, and as long as ithas nothing to do with youth,
we're not going to.
I really wanna stress this too.
There are kids that are exposedto family members or friends
that are incarcerated or whathave you, and so having somebody
come in your life that could bean example and say, look, this
(08:19):
is what happened to me.
I'm human, mistakes have beenmade, but look how I changed my
life, and we definitely don'twant people feeling like, well,
I'm not gonna decide to be amentor because I have a past.
It really is a one-on-one,private conversation about what
that is.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And again, as long as it has nothing to do with youth
, on there, you're still acandidate I'd be curious to hear
what kinds of things havepeople had on there and they
were still able to be a part ofthe program.
What kind of anything come tomind?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Nothing comes to mind , but I think that's a good
question and I think that'ssomething that when we're doing
interviews or maybe justaddressing more of the
background checks, givingexamples of what could be,
because we don't want people tobe afraid to be a mentor you
know, you can actually changesomebody's life by the things
that you've done in your life.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
No, you can.
People can learn from it ifyou're willing to open yourself
up to share that with someonefor sure.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
For some reason this phrase just keeps coming into my
mind.
I want to share.
It takes one to know one.
So it's like when you're sayingyou know we need more, you know
bigs of color, we need peoplewith lived experience.
Right, it's just like, man, youknow.
It takes People like us, ittakes people that has been in
(09:40):
that type of situation to knowthe pitfalls, to know where to
go, where not to go, what roadkids are going down because
they've seen it before.
So it's like man, you're goingdown the wrong path.
I know because I went there,I've been there, I've done that.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I feel like it's a challenge to folks to don't
count yourself out, because youhave something to offer in terms
of someone learning from you.
You know I've dealt with peoplewho have been incarcerated who
can really speak to the pitfallsof what led them there, and
young people can learn from thatand it's just a matter of us
opening ourselves up, to bewilling to share that piece of
(10:19):
us and, as Tracy would say, thetime doesn't take a lot just to
have a little conversation withsomeone, for someone to pick up
on something that's going tohelp them.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean honestly , with my little and I, we meet
it's like every other week and,like I said when I started, you
know and I tell people this toobut it's funny when you become a
big how you don't follow yourown advice.
You know, I was like you don'thave to do anything big and
grand.
You know, in fact, do all thethings that you love to do.
Just bring a little along withyou.
I mean, that's basically it,because match support does a
(10:50):
great job.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Matching and asking for the match support specialist
.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
They do an amazing job and it's a hard job because
you know, you know they'regetting your hobbies, interests
and where you live.
We like to keep the matcheswithin 20 miles, but then they
also check in on you.
You know they do regular checkins once a month, especially the
first year that you're matched,and they're just always there
for you.
You're not, you're not alone atall, but you know, I like to
(11:16):
say too, just the things thatyou like to do, bring a little
along with you.
Like I said, the past fewoutings that I've had, as long
as I've kept it simple, she'sactually been happy.
We've, we've both left happy,you know, like we have.
So now I'm thinking next week,you know, maybe I'll take her
for a slice of pizza.
She likes Ian, so you know I dotoo.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Take me, who doesn't like the macaroni cheese pizza?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
which I never thought I would like, but I was like
okay, that actually tastespretty good.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I like the scallop potato one.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I haven't tried that either.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, Well it's, it's really good.
I like it Shout out to Ian's.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, that's us to check.
Very good, very good pizza Gotme hungry.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Right now the kickoff , can we get into?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
that.
Thank you so much.
Yes, so we're doing a kickoffof the campaign.
It's going to be at Lake Louisand it's January 31st, from 530
to seven, and it's going to bevery chill, a mix and mingle,
great time to socialize, network, what have you?
You will learn about the sixweek campaign that we're doing,
which is running February 1stthrough March 15th, and just how
(12:21):
you know you can help, so itshould be fun.
I think it's going to be a lotof fun.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
So from February 1st to March 15th, what kind of
activities and events do youguys have going on after the
first?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
So the plan for the six weeks is to be everywhere,
like we want to do a takeover,because we really want to see if
we can recruit 100 newvolunteers.
So that means you could be in arestaurant and see table tents
with it.
It takes little to be big.
I'm doing presentations withdifferent businesses in Madison,
qti, baker Tilly, just aboutthe campaign, podcast interviews
(12:57):
, radio.
We've got some great radiopartners.
There are places that are doinga drink of the month, so Carbon
4 is going to do a drink of themonth for us.
So we plan on being everywhere.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
That sounds really interesting.
And how can people get involved?
If they hear this and they sayyou know what, I want to do it
right now?
What website do they go to?
What phone number?
How can they get in contactwith?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
you so you can go to our website BBBSMadisonorg and
that should have all theinformation about.
It takes little to be big andyou know, just telling you how
you can help.
Like, if you want to become abig yourself, refer a friend, we
will have yard signs that youcan sign up for.
So if you want to do that ittakes little to be big and have
them in your yard or businessfrom February 1st through March
(13:42):
15th and just come to thekickoff.
You know it would be great tocome to the kickoff.
Learn more on January 31st.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
So this kickoff, I just want to go through the
night I get there.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
What am I expecting?
What, what, what magical thingsdo you?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
have planned for us.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
In other words, what do you?
What do you have that's free?
What do you have that's goodies?
What kind of incentives is youknow?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Well, all right Well we're going to have.
You know.
Well, you know people want toknow.
So we are definitely going tohave appetizers, light snacks,
raffle prizes, drinks.
You'll get a drink ticket andthen you'll just get to be
around our lovely big brother,big sister team, because we do
have an amazing team around here.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So you guys absolutely do, yeah, we do so it
should be fun.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You know we want to keep it light and again, like
when we do talk about thecampaign and just kind of
educating people really about,you know, the six week campaign,
what it entails, how you canhelp.
We're going to keep it brief.
We really just want people tocome together, um, network,
socialize and just have a goodtime and really spread the word.
(14:51):
You know it takes a little tobe big.
Spread the word.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Absolutely so.
One thing that I just learnedthat Marv is actually a comedian
.
Marv is actually Merv's.
Did you just learn that, or didyou see what I did there?
No, you should see his face.
Now what if I called you C star.
Actually, that's my son.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Oh really yeah, his name's.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Chase, so I call him C star all the time.
Shout out to my son, chase.
Shout out to Chase aftergetting it done.
Yesterday was his birthdayGetting it done, happy, belated
man, nine years old.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Chase, I got you the same thing I got you last year,
so look for it.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Yeah, look for it.
It'll be in the mail on the33rd.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Okay, on the 33rd.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, there you go.
So can you give us a quickthree minutes stand up?
Absolutely not Okay.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
I mean, and if a comedian tells you he can, I
want to check that comedian'sresume.
Three minutes on a podcast withno audience except except
YouTube, I could laugh.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
I don't even know how to feel right now.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
I'm just saying it would hurt man.
That's all I'm saying for now.
Comedy's always, you know.
But yeah, comedy's bestexperience, live and in person,
you know, because you get peopleto look at you and they'll find
some video of you on YouTubeand then this and that, whatever
, and they'll tell a friend.
I just thought it was okay andit's like, well, you know, you
got kind of need to be there.
It's a certain, it's adifferent energy, different kind
of energy.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
So what is your final message?
What is your message for thecity?
For it takes little to be bigkickoff.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
We are running a six week campaign because we want to
put a dent into our waitlist.
We want to cut it in half.
So we want a hundred newvolunteers with diverse
backgrounds, definitely.
And yeah, just please help usput a dent in our waitlist
because, you know, what would begreat is if we have mentors
that are actually waiting to bematched instead of what we have
now.
So I'd like to leave you withthat.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
And I just want to challenge anyone that's out
there listening that's eventhinking or not thinking to
think and get involved and andstop being selfish and stop.
You know the time that youspend sitting on your couch
doing absolutely nothing.
It's time that you could spend,you know, serving and helping
and being an impact to somebodyelse.
You know, I know some folks outhere in this community and they
(17:14):
all have something to offer.
You know and obviously you know,we want African-Americans to
get involved and because that'sthat's where this greatest need
is, and I know there's enough ofus in this town to be involved
and to impact and to make adifference.
So I challenge everyone outthere to just just get involved.
Make the call, you know.
Go to the website, give Tracy acall.
(17:35):
Let me give you her number realquick.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Please and honestly, I just want to stress two hours
of your time, two hours.
You know, like I said, the besttime that I've had so far with
my little is sitting down andhaving lunch for two hours, and
you could just tell all shewanted was that one on one time
and we both left, leaving sohappy.
(17:59):
So it's just a couple hours youcan make it happen.
And I do want to give a quickshout out to the sponsors,
though.
There's so many people that arealways helping us out, like
Louis.
Thank you so much, you know,for having us, like Louis, and
then the Muay Thai Blast,kickboxing.
They've been amazing.
Radio partners 93, one jamsmagic, 98, I heart the mallards
(18:21):
are always helping out.
I mean, there's just greatpartners in the community.
So again, I know there's somany organizations out here and
it just Madison continues toamaze me with the generosity.
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, just yeah, and when you step up, just get one
other person to step up and letthe chain begin, let the chain
evolve, and we can.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
we can put a dent in this thing, absolutely.
You know, I do a podcast and inproduction class at the
juvenile shelter and at thejuvenile detention center and
where I come and teach a two dayclass to kids.
That's in a rough spot, youknow, and I teach them
podcasting and production, soit's two day class.
(19:00):
So first the first day I comein, teach them the basics of
audio and then how to conduct aninterview, and then the second
day I bring in a special guest,just those, and the classes are
an hour and a half a piece.
So I understand like just thatlittle bit of time makes so much
(19:21):
of a difference in the kidslife.
You know, and that's me and afew kids.
I can just imagine if it wasjust one on one.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So yeah, well, we wait, and I think so many of us
waste time on social media andjust doing frivolous things that
take up more than that in aweek.
And why not do something that'sgoing to have an everlasting
impact on somebody, somethingthat's going to change
somebody's life?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah, and you feel good.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yeah, that's what I was about to say you feel good
Like.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
sometimes it is overwhelming how I feel when I
walk away from you know, justhaving two hours with her, or
the happiness that I feel.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Then you feel accomplished, like you actually
did something with your week oryour day.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, or sometimes I'm emotional.
I mean there's times I'll justcry because you know I was
worried with the job.
I'm like, why am I crying?
I cry a lot but it just, youknow, like just to see people
step up and take that time, andyou know you'll see that my
little, my little, took a biteof pizza and she loves it
(20:24):
Macaroni and cheese she had themacaroni and cheese pizza.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
It's so good, that's right.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Make me cry so good Pizza is so good, it was so good
.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
But I feel you, tracy , because I care to the point
too that it makes me emotionaland I'm dead serious Because I
think back to like.
I remember going to a bank onceand there was this young man,
you know, a father, with his twokids, and he was clearly
teaching them how to money in abank account and showing them
what money is, and I rememberhim saying well, it sounded like
(20:54):
he was giving them like ahundred bucks, which I wish he
gave me a hundred bucks but hesays to the teller would you
mind just giving it to him sothey can see what it feels like?
You know, and I didn't grow upwith a father, and so I just
thought, wow, how cool is that.
You know to have someone inyour life that's gonna Show you
how to value money and how tostart.
(21:16):
You know really, really early.
So you know, by the time you dobecome a teenager or you get to
college and you get your firstjob, you know you totally
understand how to manage itwithout Feeling like you have to
, you know, go into debt to dothose sorts of things.
You know so it's.
It is an emotional thing, youknow, and when you care, and
especially about our community.
You just you can't help but beemotional.
(21:38):
So I I totally feel you on thatand I'm being dead serious
about that.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And you'd be.
You'd be surprised what youmiss.
Coming up without a father,without a mother, you know you'd
be surprised, like the littlethings that you even see, like
on bring your, bring your kid towork day.
Or you know certainInteractions that you see
between father and son when theycome and pick them up from
school.
(22:02):
Or they, you know they come toa basketball game.
You like, wow, that's how,that's how a dad supposed to act
, that's how they supposed tofeel, that's that's.
And then you start livingvicariously through that kids
like man, I would feel like that, or I would.
You know what?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I mean, I tell people all the time it's like, you
know, look at your life and Takeyour father and all the things
that he means to you and whathe's done for you and taught you
, taught you, impacts you, justall those sorts of things.
Now Take them out of your life,like take, take away all the
things that they did for you andwhat does that feel like?
(22:38):
What does that look like?
You know, and it's it hurts.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
A lot of times the people can't even imagine it.
Yeah, you can't imagine it, andso you don't know.
You don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Don't know and I tell you when I see, when I, you
know, I started seeing familywhen I was in college, really,
and I started spending myholidays at other people's
families and and I learned, youknow, because you know, when you
have a single mom, you know andthey're doing everything.
There's only so much they cando.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Hey you guys.
Thank you so much for coming onthe podcast.
I really appreciate you guys.
I had a great time.
Thank you, I mean I appreciatethe opportunity Absolutely.
I'm D star until next time,guys.
What's up everybody.
This is your host, the star,here with.
Speaker 3 (00:02):
Tracy Anderson and Merv Seymour.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
How you guys doing this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
We're good.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
I'm good, I'll take good afternoon Good, good enough
afternoon Right.
So yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
How you guys doing this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Same as I was this morning.
Good.
The road seemed a little better, so are you trying to confuse
you trying to confuse us alittle bit.
That's a trick question.
All right, how am I doing Huh?
Speaker 1 (00:29):
This afternoon.
This actually is a that isactually a deep question.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Hmm, how am I doing?
How am?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
I doing.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Yeah, I'm doing.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
I thought I was okay, but I'm good.
I gotta think about it, I know.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Yeah, you caused all that.
You did all that.
Sorry about that.
So, tracy, tell us why we arehere.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
I would love to.
So D thank you for having meback on the podcast.
I'm Tracy Anderson, communityoutreach and volunteer manager
at Big Brothers, big Sisters ofDink County.
D is always helping us out whenwe want to get the word out
about things.
And we have this big campaignthat we're launching and it's
called.
It takes little to be big.
It's a six week campaign andit's a recruitment campaign.
(01:11):
We're looking to try to get atleast like a hundred new
volunteers in the door,preferably men of color,
preferably men in general, andjust really see if we could put
a dent in our waitlist.
We have quite a waitlist.
It's close to 200 kids that arewaiting.
Most of those kids are kids ofcolor and most of them are boys.
So, you know, obviously, ascommunity outreach and just as
(01:32):
the organization in general,we're always out recruiting.
But we thought, you know, let'sgo into 2024 and do something
big and do like a bigrecruitment campaign.
So that's why I'm here.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And you brought this fine gentleman here with you.
Can you tell who are youtalking?
Speaker 3 (01:45):
about?
Where is he?
Oh, you're talking about me.
Oh, wow, you're talking aboutme, okay.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
I did so.
I brought Merv Um.
I met Merv.
Actually, he reached out.
I believe you were referred tosomeone at your job.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
Correct yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
And he reached out, you know, as community outreach,
when I talked to differentpeople, um, and if they're
interested, they reach out to me, just to you know, a quick
meeting, just to answer anyquestions, or they're thinking
about it.
And you know, honestly, thatday I thought, okay, it's going
to be, like you know, a regular,maybe 15 minute meeting.
We're just going to talk reallyquick, I'm going to answer any
(02:21):
questions.
And Merv really impressed me.
I think we stayed on for likean hour.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
Yeah, probably.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
With his stories.
He impressed me, um, becausehe's a successful black male,
but also because it moved me thereason why he was reaching out.
So I thought I would love tohave Merv on just uh, I think
you really represent.
It.
Takes little to be big.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
Is it kind of like mirroring the reason why you
chose to become a big sister?
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Not exactly, and I think that's a really good point
too.
Is that so many people have somany different reasons, right?
I think probably, um, and wecan talk about this a little
more, but the commonality iswe're people of color, and that
was my number one reason.
Like I wanted, I was matched inSeptember.
I wanted a black girl, you know, a young black girl, so she
(03:09):
could have someone to look up to, and that was, you know, really
the biggest reason I wanted todo it.
Speaker 1 (03:15):
For the people that don't know.
You, Merv, can you tell us whodoesn't know?
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Wait, let's stop, Stop, stop, stop.
Who?
Who Did you see his bio?
Who in here don't know who I?
Who doesn't know me?
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Wait, okay, you're right.
Can you tell us a little bitabout yourself?
Speaker 3 (03:31):
It's like you don't realize sometimes the things
you've done and accomplished inlife and, um, it's like almost
like, oh, where do I begin?
But uh, in general I'm, you know, originally from Mississippi
and I moved to Madison when Iwas eight years old and then I
went to high school, middleschool, all that stuff here, and
decided that, um, I got tiredof being the only black kid in
all my classes so I wanted to goto a black historically black
(03:51):
college and I went to uh,Alabama A&M initially and then I
ended up transferring toSouthern University, which is in
Baton Rouge, alabama A&Ms inHuntsville, and then I got a
degree in journalism broadcastjournalism.
Came back to Madison aftercollege, couldn't get a job and
I think I worked at a brickfactory and after almost two
years of that kind of work Isaid, man, I did not go to
college for this.
So I ended up packing all mystuff up had, I think I had a
(04:14):
thousand bucks at that time,which was a lot of money you can
still lose a lot of money and Igot in my car and I went back
to Louisiana and I had a job inuh, the TV business two weeks
later, started off as a cameraguy and I worked my way into
becoming a news reporter.
So I work at PBS Wisconsin inMadison and I cover social
justice and uh political typesof issues.
Speaker 1 (04:33):
Well, you're in the state.
So what is one of the thingsthat really drew you to?
Big Brothers, Big Sisters?
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I mean, it's really the admission statement their
overall impact on community andnot just the community, but our
community specifically, you know, and I just I just wanted to be
part of of the success of ofwhat they do and what they're
out to do and what they'relooking to accomplish and then
to just better, better the lifeof some young person.
They just spoke to me when Isaw there was a need and you
(04:59):
know I've been here three years,I've been back three years.
I moved here from Sacramento,california.
I was in Sacramento for aboutfive years.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Sack Town.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Sack Town, you know, and I wanted to just make myself
available to be used in any way.
Could help.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I do want to just jump in and say that's one of
the biggest things for thiscampaign.
Right, it takes little to bebig.
Not only do we want to recruit,you know, a hundred new
volunteers, you know bigs but infrom diverse backgrounds and
things like that.
But you know, there's just alot of misconceptions about
becoming a big.
You know, when I'm out, a lotjust presenting or at events,
(05:32):
you know, one of them is time,you know, and another is just
the burden of, maybe, mentorship, and it really takes little to
be big.
You know, having someone get aslice of pizza with you or some
ice cream, or, you know, lookingat and that's one of the things
you know, besides some of thestories that you told me that
were moving, of why you chose todo it too, but having a little
(05:56):
look up to you with all thatyou've accomplished, you know,
and, like you said, they mightnot want to be a journalist, but
they're exposed to it.
You know this is something thatthey can see and you know.
Again, I do want to stress,we're not asking people to be
perfect, we're just asking youto be present and that's really
it.
I mean, when I first became abig, you know, at first you're
(06:18):
like, oh, I got to do all thisgrand stuff, you know, and I
feel like for me I did come froma two parent household and that
was one of the other reasonswhy it pushed me, because I know
a lot of the kids on the waitlist are not coming from that
home.
I tried to do these big things.
You know, I took my little to abadger football game.
She was like I'm nine, I can'tkeep my attention during this.
(06:40):
You know, I thought it was abig deal, which I think it was
still, because when would shehave gotten the opportunity?
But then you know what I reallystarted, making it simple, it
takes little to be big.
We like went and got lunch oneday and she loved it.
You know, we played with slime.
I'm a slime fan.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Now, so that was one of the things I wanted to ask
you, tracy is what is the idealcandidate for a big?
What are the qualifications orthe characteristics that you're
looking for in a big?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
So I would say this I mean definitely, since I've
taken the role of communityoutreach we need more bigs of
color and we need more men.
I mean, it's just the truth,that's what we need.
Qualifications, just in general18 and older, being able to
pass a background check, havinga valid driver's license, auto
insurance, but in general, youdon't have to be perfect, just
(07:32):
be present, just you.
Living a life is enough.
Like enough of an example.
Speaker 1 (07:39):
So when you say, pass a background check, what does?
That look like.
Speaker 2 (07:43):
So I think there's a lot of misconceptions that are
around that as well.
It is private.
You know, once we check abackground check, it's private.
There is no charge.
I think some people thinkthere's a charge to a background
check.
It is not.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Some people think it goes on your credit.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Some people think it goes on your credit.
It does not, and as long as ithas nothing to do with youth,
we're not going to.
I really wanna stress this too.
There are kids that are exposedto family members or friends
that are incarcerated or whathave you, and so having somebody
come in your life that could bean example and say, look, this
(08:19):
is what happened to me.
I'm human, mistakes have beenmade, but look how I changed my
life, and we definitely don'twant people feeling like, well,
I'm not gonna decide to be amentor because I have a past.
It really is a one-on-one,private conversation about what
that is.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
And again, as long as it has nothing to do with youth
, on there, you're still acandidate I'd be curious to hear
what kinds of things havepeople had on there and they
were still able to be a part ofthe program.
What kind of anything come tomind?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Nothing comes to mind , but I think that's a good
question and I think that'ssomething that when we're doing
interviews or maybe justaddressing more of the
background checks, givingexamples of what could be,
because we don't want people tobe afraid to be a mentor you
know, you can actually changesomebody's life by the things
that you've done in your life.
Speaker 3 (09:13):
No, you can.
People can learn from it ifyou're willing to open yourself
up to share that with someonefor sure.
Speaker 1 (09:19):
For some reason this phrase just keeps coming into my
mind.
I want to share.
It takes one to know one.
So it's like when you're sayingyou know we need more, you know
bigs of color, we need peoplewith lived experience.
Right, it's just like, man, youknow.
It takes People like us, ittakes people that has been in
(09:40):
that type of situation to knowthe pitfalls, to know where to
go, where not to go, what roadkids are going down because
they've seen it before.
So it's like man, you're goingdown the wrong path.
I know because I went there,I've been there, I've done that.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
I feel like it's a challenge to folks to don't
count yourself out, because youhave something to offer in terms
of someone learning from you.
You know I've dealt with peoplewho have been incarcerated who
can really speak to the pitfallsof what led them there, and
young people can learn from thatand it's just a matter of us
opening ourselves up, to bewilling to share that piece of
(10:19):
us and, as Tracy would say, thetime doesn't take a lot just to
have a little conversation withsomeone, for someone to pick up
on something that's going tohelp them.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Yeah, I mean honestly , with my little and I, we meet
it's like every other week and,like I said when I started, you
know and I tell people this toobut it's funny when you become a
big how you don't follow yourown advice.
You know, I was like you don'thave to do anything big and
grand.
You know, in fact, do all thethings that you love to do.
Just bring a little along withyou.
I mean, that's basically it,because match support does a
(10:50):
great job.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
Matching and asking for the match support specialist
.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
They do an amazing job and it's a hard job because
you know, you know they'regetting your hobbies, interests
and where you live.
We like to keep the matcheswithin 20 miles, but then they
also check in on you.
You know they do regular checkins once a month, especially the
first year that you're matched,and they're just always there
for you.
You're not, you're not alone atall, but you know, I like to
(11:16):
say too, just the things thatyou like to do, bring a little
along with you.
Like I said, the past fewoutings that I've had, as long
as I've kept it simple, she'sactually been happy.
We've, we've both left happy,you know, like we have.
So now I'm thinking next week,you know, maybe I'll take her
for a slice of pizza.
She likes Ian, so you know I dotoo.
Speaker 1 (11:34):
Take me, who doesn't like the macaroni cheese pizza?
Speaker 3 (11:40):
which I never thought I would like, but I was like
okay, that actually tastespretty good.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
I like the scallop potato one.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
I haven't tried that either.
Okay.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Yeah, Well it's, it's really good.
I like it Shout out to Ian's.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
Yeah, that's us to check.
Very good, very good pizza Gotme hungry.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
Right now the kickoff , can we get into?
Speaker 2 (11:59):
that.
Thank you so much.
Yes, so we're doing a kickoffof the campaign.
It's going to be at Lake Louisand it's January 31st, from 530
to seven, and it's going to bevery chill, a mix and mingle,
great time to socialize, network, what have you?
You will learn about the sixweek campaign that we're doing,
which is running February 1stthrough March 15th, and just how
(12:21):
you know you can help, so itshould be fun.
I think it's going to be a lotof fun.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
So from February 1st to March 15th, what kind of
activities and events do youguys have going on after the
first?
Speaker 2 (12:34):
So the plan for the six weeks is to be everywhere,
like we want to do a takeover,because we really want to see if
we can recruit 100 newvolunteers.
So that means you could be in arestaurant and see table tents
with it.
It takes little to be big.
I'm doing presentations withdifferent businesses in Madison,
qti, baker Tilly, just aboutthe campaign, podcast interviews
(12:57):
, radio.
We've got some great radiopartners.
There are places that are doinga drink of the month, so Carbon
4 is going to do a drink of themonth for us.
So we plan on being everywhere.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
That sounds really interesting.
And how can people get involved?
If they hear this and they sayyou know what, I want to do it
right now?
What website do they go to?
What phone number?
How can they get in contactwith?
Speaker 2 (13:19):
you so you can go to our website BBBSMadisonorg and
that should have all theinformation about.
It takes little to be big andyou know, just telling you how
you can help.
Like, if you want to become abig yourself, refer a friend, we
will have yard signs that youcan sign up for.
So if you want to do that ittakes little to be big and have
them in your yard or businessfrom February 1st through March
(13:42):
15th and just come to thekickoff.
You know it would be great tocome to the kickoff.
Learn more on January 31st.
Speaker 1 (13:48):
So this kickoff, I just want to go through the
night I get there.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
What am I expecting?
What, what, what magical thingsdo you?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
have planned for us.
Speaker 3 (13:59):
In other words, what do you?
What do you have that's free?
What do you have that's goodies?
What kind of incentives is youknow?
Speaker 2 (14:06):
Well, all right Well we're going to have.
You know.
Well, you know people want toknow.
So we are definitely going tohave appetizers, light snacks,
raffle prizes, drinks.
You'll get a drink ticket andthen you'll just get to be
around our lovely big brother,big sister team, because we do
have an amazing team around here.
Speaker 1 (14:27):
So you guys absolutely do, yeah, we do so it
should be fun.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
You know we want to keep it light and again, like
when we do talk about thecampaign and just kind of
educating people really about,you know, the six week campaign,
what it entails, how you canhelp.
We're going to keep it brief.
We really just want people tocome together, um, network,
socialize and just have a goodtime and really spread the word.
(14:51):
You know it takes a little tobe big.
Spread the word.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Absolutely so.
One thing that I just learnedthat Marv is actually a comedian
.
Marv is actually Merv's.
Did you just learn that, or didyou see what I did there?
No, you should see his face.
Now what if I called you C star.
Actually, that's my son.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Oh really yeah, his name's.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Chase, so I call him C star all the time.
Shout out to my son, chase.
Shout out to Chase aftergetting it done.
Yesterday was his birthdayGetting it done, happy, belated
man, nine years old.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Chase, I got you the same thing I got you last year,
so look for it.
Speaker 1 (15:31):
Yeah, look for it.
It'll be in the mail on the33rd.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
Okay, on the 33rd.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
Yes, there you go.
So can you give us a quickthree minutes stand up?
Absolutely not Okay.
Speaker 3 (15:46):
I mean, and if a comedian tells you he can, I
want to check that comedian'sresume.
Three minutes on a podcast withno audience except except
YouTube, I could laugh.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
I don't even know how to feel right now.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
I'm just saying it would hurt man.
That's all I'm saying for now.
Comedy's always, you know.
But yeah, comedy's bestexperience, live and in person,
you know, because you get peopleto look at you and they'll find
some video of you on YouTubeand then this and that, whatever
, and they'll tell a friend.
I just thought it was okay andit's like, well, you know, you
got kind of need to be there.
It's a certain, it's adifferent energy, different kind
of energy.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
So what is your final message?
What is your message for thecity?
For it takes little to be bigkickoff.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
We are running a six week campaign because we want to
put a dent into our waitlist.
We want to cut it in half.
So we want a hundred newvolunteers with diverse
backgrounds, definitely.
And yeah, just please help usput a dent in our waitlist
because, you know, what would begreat is if we have mentors
that are actually waiting to bematched instead of what we have
now.
So I'd like to leave you withthat.
Speaker 3 (16:52):
And I just want to challenge anyone that's out
there listening that's eventhinking or not thinking to
think and get involved and andstop being selfish and stop.
You know the time that youspend sitting on your couch
doing absolutely nothing.
It's time that you could spend,you know, serving and helping
and being an impact to somebodyelse.
You know, I know some folks outhere in this community and they
(17:14):
all have something to offer.
You know and obviously you know,we want African-Americans to
get involved and because that'sthat's where this greatest need
is, and I know there's enough ofus in this town to be involved
and to impact and to make adifference.
So I challenge everyone outthere to just just get involved.
Make the call, you know.
Go to the website, give Tracy acall.
(17:35):
Let me give you her number realquick.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
Please and honestly, I just want to stress two hours
of your time, two hours.
You know, like I said, the besttime that I've had so far with
my little is sitting down andhaving lunch for two hours, and
you could just tell all shewanted was that one on one time
and we both left, leaving sohappy.
(17:59):
So it's just a couple hours youcan make it happen.
And I do want to give a quickshout out to the sponsors,
though.
There's so many people that arealways helping us out, like
Louis.
Thank you so much, you know,for having us, like Louis, and
then the Muay Thai Blast,kickboxing.
They've been amazing.
Radio partners 93, one jamsmagic, 98, I heart the mallards
(18:21):
are always helping out.
I mean, there's just greatpartners in the community.
So again, I know there's somany organizations out here and
it just Madison continues toamaze me with the generosity.
So thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yeah, just yeah, and when you step up, just get one
other person to step up and letthe chain begin, let the chain
evolve, and we can.
Speaker 1 (18:39):
we can put a dent in this thing, absolutely.
You know, I do a podcast and inproduction class at the
juvenile shelter and at thejuvenile detention center and
where I come and teach a two dayclass to kids.
That's in a rough spot, youknow, and I teach them
podcasting and production, soit's two day class.
(19:00):
So first the first day I comein, teach them the basics of
audio and then how to conduct aninterview, and then the second
day I bring in a special guest,just those, and the classes are
an hour and a half a piece.
So I understand like just thatlittle bit of time makes so much
(19:21):
of a difference in the kidslife.
You know, and that's me and afew kids.
I can just imagine if it wasjust one on one.
Speaker 3 (19:29):
So yeah, well, we wait, and I think so many of us
waste time on social media andjust doing frivolous things that
take up more than that in aweek.
And why not do something that'sgoing to have an everlasting
impact on somebody, somethingthat's going to change
somebody's life?
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Yeah, and you feel good.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Yeah, that's what I was about to say you feel good
Like.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
sometimes it is overwhelming how I feel when I
walk away from you know, justhaving two hours with her, or
the happiness that I feel.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Then you feel accomplished, like you actually
did something with your week oryour day.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah, or sometimes I'm emotional.
I mean there's times I'll justcry because you know I was
worried with the job.
I'm like, why am I crying?
I cry a lot but it just, youknow, like just to see people
step up and take that time, andyou know you'll see that my
little, my little, took a biteof pizza and she loves it
(20:24):
Macaroni and cheese she had themacaroni and cheese pizza.
Speaker 3 (20:27):
It's so good, that's right.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
Make me cry so good Pizza is so good, it was so good
.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
But I feel you, tracy , because I care to the point
too that it makes me emotionaland I'm dead serious Because I
think back to like.
I remember going to a bank onceand there was this young man,
you know, a father, with his twokids, and he was clearly
teaching them how to money in abank account and showing them
what money is, and I rememberhim saying well, it sounded like
(20:54):
he was giving them like ahundred bucks, which I wish he
gave me a hundred bucks but hesays to the teller would you
mind just giving it to him sothey can see what it feels like?
You know, and I didn't grow upwith a father, and so I just
thought, wow, how cool is that.
You know to have someone inyour life that's gonna Show you
how to value money and how tostart.
(21:16):
You know really, really early.
So you know, by the time you dobecome a teenager or you get to
college and you get your firstjob, you know you totally
understand how to manage itwithout Feeling like you have to
, you know, go into debt to dothose sorts of things.
You know so it's.
It is an emotional thing, youknow, and when you care, and
especially about our community.
You just you can't help but beemotional.
(21:38):
So I I totally feel you on thatand I'm being dead serious
about that.
Speaker 1 (21:42):
And you'd be.
You'd be surprised what youmiss.
Coming up without a father,without a mother, you know you'd
be surprised, like the littlethings that you even see, like
on bring your, bring your kid towork day.
Or you know certainInteractions that you see
between father and son when theycome and pick them up from
school.
(22:02):
Or they, you know they come toa basketball game.
You like, wow, that's how,that's how a dad supposed to act
, that's how they supposed tofeel, that's that's.
And then you start livingvicariously through that kids
like man, I would feel like that, or I would.
You know what?
Speaker 3 (22:15):
I mean, I tell people all the time it's like, you
know, look at your life and Takeyour father and all the things
that he means to you and whathe's done for you and taught you
, taught you, impacts you, justall those sorts of things.
Now Take them out of your life,like take, take away all the
things that they did for you andwhat does that feel like?
(22:38):
What does that look like?
You know, and it's it hurts.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
A lot of times the people can't even imagine it.
Yeah, you can't imagine it, andso you don't know.
You don't know.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Don't know and I tell you when I see, when I, you
know, I started seeing familywhen I was in college, really,
and I started spending myholidays at other people's
families and and I learned, youknow, because you know, when you
have a single mom, you know andthey're doing everything.
There's only so much they cando.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
Hey you guys.
Thank you so much for coming onthe podcast.
I really appreciate you guys.
I had a great time.
Thank you, I mean I appreciatethe opportunity Absolutely.
I'm D star until next time,guys.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Intentionally Disturbing
Join me on this podcast as I navigate the murky waters of human behavior, current events, and personal anecdotes through in-depth interviews with incredible people—all served with a generous helping of sarcasm and satire. After years as a forensic and clinical psychologist, I offer a unique interview style and a low tolerance for bullshit, quickly steering conversations toward depth and darkness. I honor the seriousness while also appreciating wit. I’m your guide through the twisted labyrinth of the human psyche, armed with dark humor and biting wit.