January 22, 2025 • 58 mins
Lisa Greathouse joins us on Soul Sisteries to illuminate the often-unseen power of community activism. As a passionate advocate and educator, Lisa candidly shares her journey of inspiring tangible change within her local school district. She challenges us to rethink our roles in activism, encouraging everyone to engage, whether through voting or creating inclusive environments in our daily lives. Lisa brings a unique perspective shaped by her Brooklyn roots and journalism background, driving home the message that embodying kindness and love in our actions can transform educational settings and communities at large.
We venture into the pivotal moments that sparked Lisa's fervent commitment to activism, from her high school experiments to opposing Proposition 8 in California. Her story is one of resilience and courage, highlighting the importance of using one's voice against injustices. Lisa's experiences in journalism and community activism reveal the crucial role of public education as a cornerstone for equality, urging us to improve rather than dismantle it. We explore how her personal history and family influences have shaped her dedication to advocating for truth and justice.
Our conversation doesn't shy away from the challenges faced in activism, especially in public education. Lisa shares her journey of running for the school board amidst personal hardship, underscoring the power of hope and community engagement. We delve into the pressing need for fostering media literacy and supporting educators under pressure. With a heartfelt reflection on the power of hope and love, we invite listeners to connect with Lisa's inspiring story and be motivated to make a difference in their own communities. Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of sharing stories and fostering connections that inspire meaningful change.
Thanks for listening to Soul SiStories. We hope you follow us on your favorite podcast platform. Five-star ratings and reviews always help to spread our message of hope.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I just want to say this is fun for me because I've
known Lisa for a long timeobviously not to the extent you
know Lisa and have interactedwith her, but I learned a lot
more about her than I knew andabout what she's doing and
really the difference she ismaking in the community is
(00:34):
incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right, I mean, don't you just like, oh my God, I'm so
impressed by you, you'reamazing and she is.
And she's so humble, you know,and she, you know, to inspire
other people as well.
This is, quote, unquote just amom, quote unquote, just a woman
right out there in the world.
She's a person like you whostands up, steps up and speaks
(01:01):
and does it again and again, soanyone can do this.
And right, isn't that thatthing that we think sometimes
there's some magic behind thosewho are doing big things in the
world and important things inthe world.
And sure, some people have aleg up.
Some people start in sort ofyou know, some people start in
(01:29):
sort of you know, a position ofsome entitled type of space that
exists, but for the most part,people are doing the things or
they're they're doing it.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Lisa even said that she knows she comes from a place
of privilege that allows her tobe able to be involved at the
level that she's involved in.
But that wasn't always the case.
She was involved at a differentlevel and we can all be
involved at some level.
And it's interesting when Ihear what she's doing, I think,
(01:56):
oh, what am I doing?
At what level can I you knowI'm very busy what level can I
participate in these differentyou know, activist roles?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
I guess I mean a vote , at the very least right.
We all can vote, and that isone of the things we see at the
polls where we have certain lowpercentages, people come out and
vote, and particularly come outto vote in these local
elections.
These things that really doimpact your immediate experience
(02:29):
and those of your immediatecommunity, of course, support
those larger elections as well.
But, my goodness, votes matter.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right and you know, having been next to the school
district that Lisa's, you knownext to the school district that
Lisa's worked with a while andgetting to hear how things have
changed over the years and howthings are going in that
district right now.
As a parent, I would be veryexcited to have her in the
classroom and, like you said,it's not to push any agenda
(03:01):
except for to teach the kidswhat they're supposed to be
learning, but that my kid andall the other kids in the
classroom were in a safe placewhere they were all accepted for
who they are.
They didn't have to be anythingthat they're not in order to be
given the same access toeducation, the same, you know,
(03:25):
the same love in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, you know it's interesting that word safe space
, when it comes to schools, hasbeen contorted here and
elsewhere.
To me, like I, really it's sohard to grasp this particular
twisting and turning.
But something about well, no,only the home should be a safe
(03:49):
space, so we can't use that termany place else, because then
we're taking it away from thehome.
I think, well, holy moly, Iwant my kids safe at school and
at work, and at home and out onthe freeway.
I would like it all to be asafe space.
So I have a very hard timeunderstanding that particular
(04:10):
contortion.
I don't really think when theyuse it that's not really sincere
.
What it is that they're sayingcertainly doesn't sound it.
It sounds like it's sort of amask of something they're saying
something else Even there wassome talk about.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
You know, treat others how you want to be
treated and use kindness.
I forget what the other thingswere offhand, but you know we
have all these stories of youknow.
Let's put the 10 commandmentsin the classroom.
How about we put these thingsthat really show that we are
being a loving environment forthe kids in the classroom?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, Like, how about maybe just living some of those
spiritual truths that we'rewanting to put forward?
Now, in all honesty, how aboutjust living some of those Right?
Using that modeling?
I sort of thought the whole youknow what would Jesus do thing
was that.
(05:10):
I think that was about thelet's love, love, love and
accept and just keep on loving.
I am so grateful, as I said, toknow our guest Lisa personally
and to call her my friend, butI'm so grateful that she's doing
(05:33):
this work in the world too andis a real teacher and model
about how we stay involved andactive for the greater good.
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
She's brought that Brooklyn girl into the mix,
right, yeah, I'm not going tostop her, she's.
That's an interesting thing.
She commented on the thethicker skin of being from
Brooklyn, and there's, you know,obviously we've heard that over
the years, yeah, but beingbeing the daughters of the
Brooklyn born and family.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yes, yeah, we get it All right.
Well that was.
That was so great.
I'm so excited for everybody tohear all that Lisa has to say
Good stuff.
Welcome everyone to thissession of Soul Sisteries, our
(06:25):
wonderful podcast, where I'mhere with my fabulous sister I'm
Donna Rice, I'm Diana Herwickand you know we've been sisters
forever, soul sisters always andhere to talk today to the
fabulous, the wonderful, the oneand only Lisa Greathouse,
longtime friend of mine.
(06:45):
I am really honored anddelighted to say.
Let me tell you a little bitabout Lisa.
Lisa is a native New Yorker.
New York is a big part of herheart and soul.
She is a longtime journalist,worked for many years with the
AP and has been writing, always,writes in many formats, and at
the heart of really how shelives and how she meets the
(07:08):
world is she is somebody whotakes action in her community.
She is an activist who isreally looking and working for
the greater good and putsherself forward in the community
.
In that way she's a greatmother and in her professional
(07:31):
life she brings this flavor oftaking action and making a
difference always to whatevershe does.
So I hope I said that right andwell, but welcome.
Welcome, lisa.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
We're so glad you're here with us today.
That was such a kindintroduction, donna.
Thank you so much, so happy andhonored to be here with you and
Diana.
So thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yay, and it's great to see you.
Lisa, I know I don't know youas well as Donna, but I've known
you for many years also, soit's great to have you here.
I know one of the things Donnashared is your involvement in
the community, and you knowcommunity activism, and I'm just
wondering, as we get started,if you can just tell us a little
bit about how you developed, Iguess, that mindset for
(08:15):
community activism.
Were you born with it?
Have you always done it?
Did it come about through yourjournalism?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
about through your journalism.
Yes, to all of those, really.
I would say that when I was inhigh school, a particular class
really stood out to me.
It was a social studies class.
I remember Mr Siegelman I thinkI was 10th grade perhaps, and
he did't experiment.
I think probably a lot oflisteners have had similar kinds
of classes to this where hewanted to make a point about
(08:51):
discrimination and he set theclass up to say if you have
brown eyes, you sit over here.
If you have blue eyes, you sitover here.
If you have green eyes, you sitover there.
And he then it went through andhe said you know, if you have
brown eyes, you're really not.
(09:12):
Your grades are not as good asyou're not as smart as this
other group with blue eyes.
And he went through and then hehad everyone switch.
And so it was such a greatlesson about the randomness of
discrimination in our societyand it stuck with me to my core
(09:33):
and I remember that triggeringsome interest in some other
things and getting involved insome clubs and getting involved
in the student newspaper, and Idon't really remember exactly
what triggered what, but I'vebeen writing for first in high
school, then in college, for thestudent newspaper throughout
(09:56):
that time and getting more andmore involved.
And then in college on the radiostation, doing the news on the
radio station and looking forthose stories that help to
symbolize a lot of social issuesthat were going on.
But really you know, whenyou're a journalist you cover
everything.
So I would say that when Ijoined the Associated Press I
(10:19):
wouldn't say that I wasparticularly politically active,
because really you couldn't be.
When you're working as aprofessional journalist you kind
of keep that part of your lifeseparate.
You want to be as objective andget to the core of being as
truthful as you can, without abias in whatever it is that
you're covering.
But definitely being ajournalist for that 10 or 12
(10:40):
years, definitely being ajournalist for that 10 or 12
years, excluding all of what Idid in college and high school
those things get you to see theworld, I think, in a particular
way where you're noticing moreways in which people are
discriminated against and seeinghow government works or doesn't
(11:03):
work, seeing corruption, seeingall of these different things
and really wanting to act on it.
But the best you can do at thattime is tell stories.
You're reporting, you'retelling the truth, you're trying
to expose and inform and reallyjust educate the public as best
you can about those things.
(11:23):
I would say that the first timeI really my first foray into I
would say, local activism camein probably 2008.
And both of you may remember,prop 8 was on the ballot and
that would basically haveamended the state constitution
to ban same-sex marriage.
(11:44):
And I remember seeing in thepaper that our local school
board was going to introduce aresolution advocating for Prop 8
.
So they were in the resolution.
They were talking about howawful homosexuality is and we
shouldn't be exposing ourchildren to any of this and this
(12:06):
is going to ruin the fabric ofour society and how detrimental
it was.
They were trying to tie it toeducation and really more about
kids.
We shouldn't be exposing themto homosexuality.
This is terrible for them tothink that this is normal.
So I was looking at thosestories and thinking what, this
(12:29):
is our school board, what areyou doing?
And so that was when and Ithink, donna, we probably had
discussions about it back then.
I know we did, I know we did,yeah, and I was just like how is
this part of their purview?
Like, what does this have to dowith that?
That was part of it.
And then you were alsosimultaneously appalled that
(12:53):
your community and you know wewere seeing all of this yes, on
Prop 8 signs all around ourcommunity that were being
distributed by our localmegachurch, and so all of those
things combined I went to theschool board meeting and that
was my first time speaking aboutsomething and I mean I remember
(13:15):
people booing and.
But then you'd find your kind ofcore group of people, some of
who were as outraged as I was,and going to speak about this.
So you kind of start findingyour community and it was
fascinating.
It was very eye opening in inmany, many ways because I was
learning about more about theconservative nature of this part
(13:38):
of Southern California that Ijust really wasn't expecting and
paying attention to a schoolboard that was filled with
people who were kind of handselected by this megach church
and funded by them to getelected.
So that was kind of my firstentry into what I guess was
(14:03):
community activism.
I wouldn't have called it thatat the time.
It was just one person standingup and saying what the hell is
this?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Right, absolutely, and doing so, I mean, here's
part of the magic your clarityof understanding honed over many
years, so you had a purposefulvoice in your speaking at that
(14:40):
time and ever since.
And that, and just the boldnessin taking that on and
willingness to be, I guess, atarget for other perspectives in
order, while you speak, truth.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, thank you, and that goes a little bit back to
that whole New York attitude and, in keeping with the theme here
, having two older sisters whoalso are bold and you know one
of them is a school board memberin another community and you
know us kind of going throughour lives and not taking a whole
(15:18):
lot of BS from people.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So there's part of that too is that it goes back to
sort of how you were raisedabout speaking up when you saw
something that wasn't right, andthat's what I've always known
about you, my friend, is thatyou know, if there is an
injustice, you're going to speakup, you're going to call it
like it is, with simplicity,with love, with professionalism,
(15:42):
with care, human to human,which are going to be really
clear and direct.
I want to interject somethingelse, and I know we really want
to talk to you, but I want tosay out loud for the record you
know I've known you more than 20years.
You're one of those.
I moved into my littleneighborhood here, one of the
first people I met, andinstantly we became friends,
(16:03):
very like-minded.
I just I have so much respectfor you and you truly are when
we talk about just good peoplein the world.
That's you, that's how you liveyour life, it's who you are and
you do everything with so muchintegrity and it's just a heart
of love and goodness forhumankind.
(16:25):
That is absolutely who you areand without question.
And so I'm just like I'm sayingthat out loud right now for the
record, declaring the absolutetruth of that.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
That's so kind of you .
And back at you, my friends, Ican't say enough, but yeah,
thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Love you, pal, love you so much, so yeah, so let's,
let's talk more to you, though.
Get more from you what you haveto say, that's what we want to
know.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
More to you, though get more from you what you have
to say.
That's what we want to knowBefore we started talking.
I know Donna had asked you knowkind of what is your?
You know how do you find hope?
Hope through what?
And it was this idea ofcommunity activism.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It sounds like a lot of work and a lot of headache
and a lot of pain to go throughthat.
So I'm curious how do you findhope through that?
It's a loaded question, forsure, and let me first say that
I feel incredibly privileged tohave a life that allows me to
get as involved as I do, becauseI know I hear from so many
people in our community andoutside our community who say I
(17:40):
want to do what you're doing.
I just you know they may haveyoung kids at home, they may be
working two jobs, they don'thave the time to do it.
And what I always say is you dowhatever it is that you can,
(18:05):
and if it's just getting to thepolls or filling out your
mail-in ballot at home, if thatis all that you have time to do,
that's what you do.
Make a couple of phone calls orgo canvassing with us for
candidates that we reallybelieve in, or write postcards
to send out in your community toadvocate for a particular
candidate or an issue, then dothat.
My daughter lives in New Yorknow and she went to a postcard
(18:30):
writing party the other day anddidn't even tell me about it
before she went, just mentionedthat she was doing it and I was
so proud of that because she'sdoing what she can do.
And you know what, once you getyour feet wet and you feel like
you're making a difference,there is nothing more contagious
than that.
Because if you feel like you'veeven reached one voter and you
(18:54):
maybe touch their heart andtheir minds about an issue or
about a candidate, there'snothing that gets you more
motivated than that.
And then the next year, whenmaybe you have a little bit more
time, you can do more.
You can go walking with acandidate, you can get involved,
you can write a letter to theeditor.
There are a million things thatpeople can do, but sometimes
(19:14):
they need a little bit ofguidance.
People say I want to write aletter to the editor of our
local newspaper.
How do I even do that?
And there are people in yourcommunity who are there waiting
to help with that and to go tothe concept of hope.
Oh my gosh.
I mean it sounds cliche, butthe young people today are
(19:37):
motivating.
Two years ago I ran for schoolboard, as you both know, and I
ran unsuccessfully,unfortunately.
But I met a bunch of students.
Some of them were advocatinghard for LGBTQ issues.
Some of them are advocatingbecause they know we have
teachers in our district thatare leaving our district because
(19:58):
of the political climate in ourdistrict.
There's a whole host of reasonsfor them to get involved, but
those kids are so smart and somotivated and just so ready to
make a difference in the world,it know.
It really just makes youexcited about the future and
(20:18):
makes you hopeful about the nextgeneration and then really
being able to perhaps have alittle bit more success than our
generation did in what we thinkis being on the right side of
history, basically.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Yeah, absolutely.
I agree with you sowholeheartedly being with and
(20:58):
working with these veryimpassioned young people who see
clearly what the right path isthis place of love and
acceptance, and just things inright order, right alignment is
really.
It's just beautiful and veryempowering and hopeful for sure.
Yeah, yeah, Well, thank you,Thank you for that.
Couldn't have said that better.
That's absolutely gorgeous.
What do you think?
So, on your own journey as ayoung person and you spoke to
this a little bit but I'd loveto know, I'd love to know more
and more specifically, what doyou think really brought you to
(21:22):
this moment, this time in yourjourney?
What you know, what is it thatkind of not just made you but,
like, made this so important foryou to speak in this way now?
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, there, you know there's so many issues right
now that I know both of youunderstand we want to be
fighting for reproductive rights.
We want to be fighting for youknow fairness and election
integrity.
We want to be fighting for somany things.
But I think the issue thattouches me the most, and I know
(22:03):
is really important to you too,is public education, and you
know I'm a product of publicschools back in Brooklyn.
You know my kids went to publicschools.
I know that that is not thecase with the two of you, but
obviously you have a ton ofexperience with your kids going
to public schools and you know Ialways go back.
(22:26):
I was an educator in publicschools.
We're an educator.
You're both educators.
Yes, you know, I think, eventhough I was never a teacher, I
am substitute teaching.
Now it's out there in thecommunity what a danger I am.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Oh my God, the kids should be so lucky to have you
as the sub, please.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I mean, you know, and I take it very seriously when I
go into stuff, absolutely doyeah, but I will say that you
know and I heard Tony Thurman,who is our superintendent of
public instruction, in inCalifornia now I heard him talk
(23:09):
about this not long ago and itkind of reminded me of the quote
of public education being thegreat equalizer.
And you know, we all know, thatyou know, no matter where you
grow up or what neighborhood youare, if you're going to a
public school, and you know wehave a long way to go.
It's not like our publicschools are perfect, but this is
(23:31):
the closest that we have toreally be giving everyone that
level playing ground and let'sstart at the same place, whether
it is with TK and getting kids,you know, in transitional
kindergarten here in California,getting kids to school early so
they have that great foundation.
(23:52):
Again, it's it's not perfectand it's not equal all over.
You know, where do the bestteachers want to teach?
Do they want to teach in thepoorest neighborhoods or do they
want to go to the affluentneighborhoods?
You know so we know, that thisis not a perfect system by any
means.
There are so many things thatyou know are inequalities in how
(24:14):
kids grow up, but publiceducation is something that we
can't turn our back on and overthe years and it really this.
This started many, many yearsago, which people don't realize,
but I remember as a journalistin the 80s covering this issue
of of private vouchers.
(24:35):
There is a big segment of oursociety who would like to close
down, as is in Project 2025,close down the Department of
Education and let's have all oftaxpayer funds that are going to
education.
Let's just give them tofamilies and let those families
decide where their kids want togo to school and they can take
(24:57):
them to, you know, whateverreligious school that they want.
They can take it to a schoolthat is, you know, just teaching
one thing and not giving kids abroad based education.
They can select where they wanttheir kids to go to school.
Perhaps in a perfect world,something like that could make
(25:17):
sense, but I don't want to payfor any child to go to a school
that I know is preaching hate orpreaching discrimination, or
not allowing in Black kids, ormaybe kids with a disability, or
maybe, you know, there's awhole host of reasons why this
(25:41):
would not work and would createuh, I would just be very, very
detrimental, I think, for oursociety.
So I kind of feel like this is.
What I'm fighting for is topreserve and improve public
education.
It's why I wanted to be on theschool board is because I saw
lots of opportunities.
(26:02):
Why don't we have, you know,foreign language in all of our
elementary schools?
You know, why don't?
There's a whole host of thingsthat are.
Why don't we have bettervocational training in our high
schools and set the kids whodon't want to go to college or
that was never part of theirplan?
Let's get them on great careerpaths as well and give them the
(26:22):
tools that they need.
There's a million things thatwe can do to really improve our
public education system, butit's all about setting
priorities, because obviouslythere's a limited number of
funds, so you kind of have toset those priorities.
I see a tremendous potential inimproving public education with
the right priorities, or atleast what I think are the right
(26:42):
priorities.
But I know what's not the rightpriority is what our school
board and school boards acrossthis country are doing, which is
using culture wars to getpeople riled up.
Which is using culture wars toget people riled up so they
think, you know, the transgenderkids are the enemy, or that you
know a book that mentioned sexin it in our high schools has to
(27:05):
be ripped off the shelves, like, let's ban all of these books
that maybe say something that mypastor wouldn't allow, you know
.
So it's these kinds of thingsthat are so worth fighting for,
in my opinion, that I almostcan't take my eye off the ball
that is public education.
But believe me behind thescenes donating where I can and
(27:28):
getting involved where I can onall of these other issues that
if there were more hours in theday I would be on a lot of other
soapboxes as well.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
So that, really that exactly what you just said,
really speaks to something forthose who are really looking to
maintain a sense of hope intheir lives, those who kind of
have that heart for activism,for making a difference, really
having an impact.
There's a certain wearinessthat can come about seeing all
(28:00):
the challenges, the ills of theworld and wanting to make a
difference and all, and itbecomes debilitating.
So exactly what you were sayingis how do we maintain hope
through that?
And I think you answered it andthat you find that calling that
thing that you, you know you goin all in there in as much as
(28:22):
you can and support others,support others in ways that you
can, but you can't be all thingsto all of these issues and also
still, let's face it, have alife like have your own life and
your own well-being.
A caretaker needs to care firstfor themselves, right?
All of us the air mask on firstprinciple right to what your
(28:50):
life is.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
At that moment, when I was running for school board
in 2022, I was working full-timeat a really demanding job.
I was commuting a couple ofhours a day.
My kids, fortunately, are doingreally well and have moved out
(29:11):
of the house, so it's not likeI'm a young parent.
But at the same time, I wasdealing with a lot of stuff.
I was going through a divorceat the time.
I was.
I was handling a lot of stuff inmy life when I was running and
you know what I made time for it.
I made time to go outcanvassing every single weekend.
We were walking and walking.
I mean, you know you, youhosted an event for me.
(29:33):
So you know, I mean it was justa constant thing when you're
running for office.
It's the same thing just withbeing, you know, involved in
your community.
You make the time for thethings that are really important
to you.
And you know, right now I havea life that you know I'm
semi-retired and I'm able todevote more time to it.
(29:56):
But you know, back in thosedays when you know, just a
couple of years ago, when I wasjuggling all that, I was
probably putting in as manyhours as I am now.
Really, I just am not quite asexhausted as I was two years ago
when I was running for office.
But I'm campaigning, as youknow, for for a couple of other
(30:16):
candidates who are running forschool board right now, and I'm
supporting some congressionalcampaigns and some other races
as well.
Motivates you and touches yourheart and you know you're
fighting for what you trulybelieve is best for the students
(30:37):
and families of your district,of your community.
You find the time somehow.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You find the time, you find the energy, and I think
that's when you when throughthis community activism.
I think the piece where hopecomes in is knowing, believing
and knowing that you can make adifference, that the time and
energy you put into this fightis to make a difference for so
(31:05):
many other people.
Not for your kids, because yourkids are out of school now, but
for their kids, for thechildren in your community, the
kids that are still in yourneighborhood, and being able to
help create kind of that culture, that environment that you
really see for them to hold outthat little bit of hope that it
can make the difference.
(31:26):
I think that is what keeps youpushing for change in your own
district, then, of course, atthe state level and beyond.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
And that's such a good point, because we hear that
all the time when we'recanvassing door-to-door, diana
is.
People will say, oh, you know,my kids are older, they're out
of the district now, and that issuch a I don't want to sound
condescending, but it's ateachable moment.
It's that moment where you saymy kids are out of the district
(32:03):
for many years.
But the truth is, publiceducation affects all of us,
even on the very kind of basiclevel.
It affects your property values.
Don't you care about yourneighbor's kids who are in
school, and don't you care aboutyour you know your nieces and
nephews and just about yourcommunity?
Public education is such a corepiece of our democracy, making
sure we have well-educated,well-rounded young people who
(32:27):
are going to grow up to be, youknow, productive adults in our
society.
It's just such a basic to methat.
But you know, a lot of peoplejust don't think that far and
that's not like right.
Like we were saying, lifehappens and people are dealing
with getting by day to day.
They're not really thinkingabout that.
(32:48):
But as soon as you say that,there's usually like that light
bulb moment where they say, well, yeah, public education is
important to me too, and so it'sa matter of connecting with
them on that level.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
Yeah.
So I think another thing thatwe need to mention as you're
talking, lisa, is that all ofthis that you've been doing,
it's got to be and you can speakto this it's got to be this
cause that you're holding at theforefront, that is supporting
you as you work through somepretty heavy criticisms and
(33:31):
commentary.
That I can say as somebody whoknows you I'm appalled, human to
human, that some people wouldsay the things that they're
saying, but also, knowing you,how contrary these things are to
you.
They're absolutely made upnonsense coming from somewhere
(33:52):
and some pretty hateful stuffcoming from somewhere and some
pretty hateful stuff, but yetyou stay the course and you keep
fighting the fight and you keepspeaking with grace and
integrity.
What is it?
How is it?
How do you find that drive?
Talk to us a little bit aboutthat.
Well, first I'll go back toBrooklyn.
Yeah, it all starts in Brooklyn, my friends.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
You know, after a while, it's that whole thing of
consider the source right.
When you get some of thesenasty things said to you, I
always say consider the source.
And I say that to thecandidates who are running, who
are getting trolled online.
The other person who wasrunning, who was the president
(34:51):
of the school board at the time,and myself we were, you know,
not exactly a slate, but we weresort of a slate.
We were getting death threatsand you know there are really
disgusting things going on outthere.
And you know, to this day, as Ishowed you the other day, donna,
you know I get called all kindsof names by the folks on the
(35:12):
other side and I really try notto engage with them.
I just that's what they want.
You know you come out of boardmeetings and they're there with
a camera in your face trying toegg you on calling you names,
you know, because they want toget a rise out of you and they
want to have something that theycan post.
Get a rise out of you and theywant to have something that they
(35:37):
can post.
So I try not to lower myself tothat level.
I really try to stay.
You know, I want to be able tolook in the mirror at the end of
the day and be proud of the waythat I responded to something,
or you know, I never want tohave something I said come back
at me and feel ashamed of that.
So that's one thing.
I always keep my kids in mind.
They always say you know, yourkids are watching.
(35:59):
And I just turn around and Isay my kids are proud of me and
they're proud of what I standfor and I hope your kids are
proud of what you stand for.
But I don't really mean that.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
So your kids are incredibly proud of you and awed
by the work that you do.
You're such a model and I knowI know personally from them how
incredibly proud they are of you.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
That's very kind, and I and I know that there were
times when they were in highschool and I was up talking at
the school board and a teacher,one of their teachers, would say
something to me.
I know that they were kind ofembarrassed and you know, of
course, probably saying like mom, do you really have to get out
there every school for me?
But you know what theyunderstood, that it was
important to me and that I wasdoing it for them but for all of
(36:43):
the other students out theretoo, and the teachers and the
staff members, and so you knowthat gives me more pride.
When I see my kids starting toget involved and start to try to
make a difference, then you'relike, oh, they really were
watching.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
So yeah, go ahead.
I was going to comment becauseyou shared that your daughter
went to the postcard writingparty.
So clearly you've inspired herto step into this at whatever
level she can be active rightnow.
Who inspires you, then?
Oh?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
my gosh.
Like I said earlier, the kidsinspire me so much.
I have just been so inspired bysome of these young people, but
also the teachers.
The teachers in our districthave been under fire from this
particular school board and I'msorry that I'm hammering so much
on our school board, but youknow they got threatening
(37:40):
letters.
They're being told you can'thave a pride flag or a sign that
says a safe space in my class.
They're being instructed totake those down.
Their free speech is beingimpacted.
They are being.
Everything that they say and dois being scrutinized so intently
(38:03):
that they can't even reallyfocus on their job to teach.
So these teachers, when theycome up to me and they're
sharing stories, or they come upand they thank me for something
that I said at a board meeting,or they tell me you know I'm
starting to apply in otherdistricts because I just I want
(38:25):
to stay the course.
Really, my heart just breaksfor them.
But they also inspire mebecause we have plenty of
teachers who are gettinginvolved and saying we are going
to change things here.
We're going to get back to aplace where our focus can be on
teaching and we're not going tobe accused of grooming or
(38:49):
indoctrinating or all of theseridiculous things that they're
being accused of.
They're being called demons.
Really, you're calling ourteachers demons.
We have fantastic teachers inthis community, of course, all
over, but just because I know somany of the teachers here and I
have a huge heart for what theygo through, I don't know that
(39:10):
there's a tougher job out there,and so I just really am
inspired by the ones who arelike hitting the ground and
saying we're going to work ourtails off to get these
candidates elected to our schoolboard, to improve the
conditions for our students, tomake sure that the students who
do need someone to talk to theyknow they can talk to.
(39:32):
Teachers need someone to talkto, they know they can talk to
teachers.
And, like teachers are, as youknow, you're providing like
social services in some casesfor kids who don't have anywhere
else to go, and as much as wemight like to say, oh, you know,
we should always be directingkids to go home and talk to
their.
Of course we should.
Of course we all want as muchparental involvement as possible
(39:55):
.
Just a lot of these kids don'thave that at home.
They don't have someone wholistened to them without, you
know, perhaps being very harshwith them.
You know where did the kid goto talk about an issue that they
might be having at home?
They're probably going to go toa teacher or maybe a principal
or a counselor.
(40:15):
Those are the people that we,you know that we should be
trusting and not, you know, notblindly.
We all want to get to know ourteachers, but the truth is to
demonize them, to demonize ateacher's union and all unions,
is just talk about somethingthat's dangerous for our society
(40:35):
, and I would say that's amongone of the top reasons I'm
involved.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Amazing.
I mean.
That's inspiring.
All that you're sharing is soinspiring and we just feel the
passion around that and honoryou for following forward so
wholeheartedly, for sure, in allof this.
So, as you think about what gotyou here and all the parts that
(41:06):
have created this sum and havebrought you together, have they
molded in you sort of a lifephilosophy or a life motto or
something that you really holdas foundational, that you live
by?
Speaker 3 (41:22):
Probably the thing that I say most often is live
and let live.
You know, who are we to judgethe way as long as nobody is
hurting anybody else in the waythey live?
Who are we to judge what'sright or who somebody loves or
(41:44):
whatever path they take?
There is seems to be a factionof our community and our society
in general that thinks thatthere's such a black and white
way to live and you're wrong ifyou do this and you're right if
you live this way.
(42:05):
And you know, sometimes I feelfrankly like that comes from
organized religion andparticular types of more
extremist views on what peoplethink Christianity is.
But I never have understood howanyone can draw that line and
(42:29):
say you're living the right waybecause you choose to live and
marry and love somebody of thisgender versus.
I just never understood howanybody can make those kinds of
judgments to anybody else and Ijust truly believe that unless
(42:50):
you're hurting somebody else,you get to choose the life that
you want.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
Absolutely, absolutely.
You know, love one another as Ihave loved you, sort of that
message right, like supposed tobe a foundational tenant.
So perhaps, perhaps we need tothink about that.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Yeah, right, and the golden rule, right, Like treat
others the way you would like tobe treated.
And you know that's another one.
I mean I did not really grow upwith, you know, with going to
to temple very often, but thetruth is that I have imparted
that upon my kids, just with allof the other morality lessons
(43:31):
that I like to think that weteach over a child's childhood,
and that's, you know, that's oneof the main things is like,
just because they're doingsomething that you don't like
doesn't give you the right tocriticize them and also treat
them with respect as you wouldlike to be treated.
Yeah, so I think those thingsare good at any age, right?
(43:52):
Good reminders.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Absolutely For sure.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
So, lisa, if you think about your life, either
where it's gone from or where itis today, is there a song that
you could say would be yourtheme song?
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Oh boy, that is a tough one.
It's that song that they playwhen you're walking out at the
stage at that rally where you'rethe next speaker.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
It's your walk-up song.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
It's your walk-up song, that's it.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
I like that.
That's right.
Anything that I'm going tothink of is going to be so
cliche right now.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Cliches or cliches for reasons that's right.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
That's right.
You know, one of the songs thatI have always loved and it
really is not a walk-up song, tobe honest is it's just a song
that has touched me and Iremember as a kid just really
loving it is just you've got afriend, I love that song, it's
(45:04):
got the whole.
You know I listened to CaroleKing and James Taylor sing that
together yeah, concert live, andit just it brought back just a
flood of memories and justloving that concept that, no
matter where, you are or whatyou might need, or where we have
been in our lives and you knowmaybe I haven't talked to you in
(45:26):
the longest time, but you'vegot a friend and you know you
can call on me when you, whenyou need me.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
So we can draw a line .
We'll make the you know, theobvious conclusion there.
Draw that obvious line, whichis exactly what you're talking
about here.
When you're down in trouble,you need a helping hand, but
this is, this is how you'vechosen to live your life, to be
that friend.
Also, I'm going to step up andI up and I am that friend.
So you know, just calling outthe obvious there.
(45:57):
It makes sense.
That is what you're talkingabout and I can see why.
I mean it's a gorgeous song,but I can see why that's
speaking to you in particular,because it matters to you.
It does.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
It does and and and.
Having friends like the two ofyou, you know that can get you
through a lot of stuff in yourlife when you have good friends.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
You know my family is incredibly important, but a
community of good friendsthere's nothing like that, yeah,
when you know you're not alonein that sandbox, right, right,
it makes all the difference.
And a good laugh, because, god,if you don't have a good sense
of humor about all of this, whatis the point?
(46:42):
Right, how do we get throughhumor?
So important, that's right.
Well, okay, pal.
So so much good, so much goodwork already done and years of
good work ahead.
But you know, come that daywhen you move on, how do you
hope that those who are hereremember you, the old what's
(47:13):
going to be on your tombstonequestion, I always loved that
concept of the dash in thetombstone.
Speaker 3 (47:25):
That's where you live , your life is in that dash.
I don't know that in the workthat I've done that I really
have made a difference.
But I try, and so you know thatwhole concept is I've tried to
(47:45):
make a difference.
Right, you've tried to educateand you've tried.
You know, I feel like throughmy work in journalism, I tried
to inform, I tried to touchpeople with storytelling
throughout my career, which isso important.
But I really, in all of that,you're trying to make a
difference.
You're trying to touch heartsand minds and convey your values
(48:10):
to others and hope that atleast a piece of that maybe
helps inspire somebody else.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
And you said you don't know if you've made the
difference, but you know to try,that you've tried to make the
difference and what you saidearlier about you know when
you're canvassing around theneighborhood and maybe you can
share some new ideas with justone person, just one person who
changes their vote.
I promise you you've made adifference.
So there's not just this tryingthat, there are multiple
(48:43):
individuals that you haveimpacted, just even the way that
you speak out at the schoolboard meetings for children to
know that there's somebody who'son their side, because for a
lot of kids in the public schoolsystem they don't have anybody
on there.
It doesn't feel like they haveanybody on their side because
(49:05):
the other voice is so loud.
Speaker 1 (49:07):
Yes, yeah, and when you're sitting in those meetings
and knowing that theindividuals you're speaking to
it's just going over their heads, it's nothing, but you are in
fact speaking for all those inthe audience who need to hear,
the teachers and the studentswho hear that support, and that
you are with them and thatyou're fighting the fight.
(49:28):
I mean, my goodness, what adifference you make every day,
and I can tell you personallyyou've made a huge difference in
my life the gift of yourfriendship and also the modeling
that I have of somebody with somuch integrity, and I honor so
much your voice and yourwillingness to speak out.
So, in my own little world, abig difference, friend.
(49:49):
So okay, mission accomplished.
Speaker 2 (49:51):
Yeah, I didn't know until today that you are now
doing substitute teaching andI'm just thinking, like how
blessed these kids are in theclassroom with them, especially
if they're kids that know whatyou've been fighting for, like
how neat to have you step intothe classroom.
That's your walk-up song.
(50:13):
I want that song to be playedwhen you're walking into the
classroom.
Speaker 1 (50:16):
Right, but of course also we need to say and I want
to say, knowing you then as aneducator in the classroom, that
your purpose and your missionthere would be the education.
It's not to talk a differentgame, it's to support the
education, the students.
On that topic, what's beforeyou to talk about?
(50:36):
You know, social studies, math,whatever it is, we're gonna,
we're gonna do that work and Iknow that to be true.
Oh, 100%.
Speaker 3 (50:45):
You know a lot of people, you know got people who
are on the other side of someissues, as I am, you know, got
really hot and bothered byfinding out that I was a
substitute teacher and thinking,oh more indoctrination.
No, I'm there, I'm there tofollow the lesson plan that the
teacher left and get toeducating kids and actually had
(51:06):
one kid at the high school acouple of weeks ago.
Say to me, did you run forschool board a couple of years
ago?
And I was so impressed, numberone, that you know an 11th
grader would have paid enoughattention to see.
You know, and put two and twotogether.
And, believe me, she said to mesomething like oh well, you know
(51:27):
, my parents had some questionsabout this election and I said
you know what?
I really can't talk about thathere, you know, right, because
we want to be so careful.
So when the other side issaying you know indoctrination
and you're all demons and you'rethe, the idea is so ludicrous,
right?
A teacher and even a lowlysubstitute like myself would
(51:51):
ever abuse the privilege ofbeing in a classroom to.
You know try and you know sayanything political it's, it's
all so ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (52:02):
It is, and so, as any good teacher knows, it is
ridiculous yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:08):
You're there to teach and that's what you're sticking
to and you know you don't.
You don't want to even get youknow.
If you want to.
Here's a website you could.
You know.
Like right, like, read thenewspaper but you do want it.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Here's the thing you do want.
You do want the kids to knowthat they are seen, that they
are welcome, that this is a safespace to be who they are, yeah,
and to learn and grow from thisspace.
That's what you do want them toknow, exactly.
So if that's someindoctrination, okay.
Speaker 3 (52:43):
Another really important issue, because I have
reached out to a couple ofjournalism teachers in our
district and you know I'm goingto be going into, I guess, be a
guest speaker in one of theirclasses.
But another reason whycommunity activism is so
important, probably more todaythan any other time, is because
our, our media landscape is sodifferent now.
(53:05):
Reporters that would have beenat all the school board meetings
and have been, you know, doingsome investigative reporters,
perhaps investigative journalism, perhaps to a mega church that
is buying up, you know, schoolboard seats All of that is now
(53:26):
gone.
Like our, our journalists arejust hanging on day to day
getting done what they need todo, because there's like maybe
half of them that there werebefore.
So it takes a certain level ofcommunity activism to go out
there and point out things tothe community, whether it's on
social media or writing lettersto the editor or whatever it is
(53:49):
to get out there and point outthings that are just not being
covered, not because our greatjournalists don't want to, it's
because they don't have time.
And it's like they're playingwhack-a-mole because there's so
much outrageous stuff going onevery day locally and, of course
, when you're talking aboutnationally as well, like there's
so much happening every day andthere just aren't the number of
(54:12):
journalists to cover it all.
And on top of that, look at allof the disinformation that's
out there so much, and so reallyteaching kids how to
differentiate between you knownews that has, you know
journalists with training andintegrity and are from
established institutions andintegrity and are from
(54:40):
established institutions, versusjust some dude who's got a blog
or just goes on social mediaand starts making up stuff.
So how do you differentiate?
Those things are more criticaland not really just for kids,
for adults too, and we're notdoing a good enough job, I don't
think teaching that.
So there are so many levels tothis and it's all intertwined
(55:00):
Fair point.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
Fair point for sure.
All right.
So we're at the point where weneed to pull it all together and
what we like to do is a little.
We call it rapid fire.
It's just like answer with thefirst thing in your mind right,
just a few little rapid firesand we'll bring this all.
We'll bring this all home, yeah.
So, sis, take it away.
Speaker 2 (55:24):
What color is hope?
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Blue- All right, what does hope sound like?
Speaker 3 (55:33):
It's a steady, low, beautiful sound of the ocean.
Speaker 2 (55:38):
Beautiful Fill in the blank.
The soul is what.
Speaker 3 (55:44):
Forever, Love.
Speaker 1 (55:47):
Activism is Hope.
Speaker 2 (55:51):
Yeah, the meaning of life is love that original.
Speaker 1 (55:59):
Perfect and hope is Hope, is love too.
Yeah, it all kind of comes backaround, right.
That's sort of the anchor, thefocal of all of it Hope and love
, a little hope and love For me,there's a reason Like you said.
Speaker 3 (56:14):
And love, a little hope and love For me.
There's a reason like you said.
Speaker 1 (56:17):
There's a reason for cliches Absolutely, absolutely,
and not a whole lot else matters.
When all is said and done whichI know is behind all this work
that you do, because that'sthat's at the heart of this we
don't have this, then what do wehave Right?
I can't thank you enough.
We can't thank you enough fortaking your time to be with us
here and to speak so gorgeously,so eloquently on these really
(56:40):
important matters, and I knowthat are so close to your heart.
You are a gem.
You're a gem personally.
You're a gem in the world, andI and this community are so, so
fortunate to have you.
Speaker 3 (56:54):
Oh well, my head grew three sizes.
Thank you both so much.
I'm so honored to be here withyou and I'm so excited about
your venture.
I love your voices, and so Ijust thank you both for allowing
me to take this platform andshare some of my ideas.
Speaker 2 (57:12):
Thank you so much for joining us.
I loved listening to you and itreally does give me hope just
hearing these stories, and thenI just think you know how
blessed I am that you're in myworld.
You know that I could reach outand touch you, which is very
cool.
So, yeah, thank you so much.
Thanks, lisa.
Speaker 1 (57:30):
Absolutely Like.
That's at the heart of it.
I'm going to save this one lastthing because I talk so much.
At the heart of it, we're doingthis because what we want to be
part of these messages of hope,but this is what is filling us
up as well.
It's like, oh right, oh see, ohsee, oh see.
Yes, this is what's happening.
This is the stuff, this is thegood stuff, this is the real
(57:53):
stuff.
That is really yeah, this iswhy we're going to fly, we're
going to keep flying.
Speaker 3 (57:58):
So yay team, I can't wait to listen to all of the
other great messages that you'regoing to be providing a
platform.
Speaker 1 (58:06):
Oh wonderful.
Thank you, pal.
Thanks for being here andthanks everyone for listening.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries and thanks for
sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
(58:28):
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (58:40):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to.
Speaker 1 (58:51):
Soul Sisteries.
Welcome to Soul Sisteries.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
I just want to say this is fun for me because I've
known Lisa for a long timeobviously not to the extent you
know Lisa and have interactedwith her, but I learned a lot
more about her than I knew andabout what she's doing and
really the difference she ismaking in the community is
(00:34):
incredible.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Right, I mean, don't you just like, oh my God, I'm so
impressed by you, you'reamazing and she is.
And she's so humble, you know,and she, you know, to inspire
other people as well.
This is, quote, unquote just amom, quote unquote, just a woman
right out there in the world.
She's a person like you whostands up, steps up and speaks
(01:01):
and does it again and again, soanyone can do this.
And right, isn't that thatthing that we think sometimes
there's some magic behind thosewho are doing big things in the
world and important things inthe world.
And sure, some people have aleg up.
Some people start in sort ofyou know, some people start in
(01:29):
sort of you know, a position ofsome entitled type of space that
exists, but for the most part,people are doing the things or
they're they're doing it.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Lisa even said that she knows she comes from a place
of privilege that allows her tobe able to be involved at the
level that she's involved in.
But that wasn't always the case.
She was involved at a differentlevel and we can all be
involved at some level.
And it's interesting when Ihear what she's doing, I think,
(01:56):
oh, what am I doing?
At what level can I you knowI'm very busy what level can I
participate in these differentyou know, activist roles?
Speaker 1 (02:07):
I guess I mean a vote , at the very least right.
We all can vote, and that isone of the things we see at the
polls where we have certain lowpercentages, people come out and
vote, and particularly come outto vote in these local
elections.
These things that really doimpact your immediate experience
(02:29):
and those of your immediatecommunity, of course, support
those larger elections as well.
But, my goodness, votes matter.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Right and you know, having been next to the school
district that Lisa's, you knownext to the school district that
Lisa's worked with a while andgetting to hear how things have
changed over the years and howthings are going in that
district right now.
As a parent, I would be veryexcited to have her in the
classroom and, like you said,it's not to push any agenda
(03:01):
except for to teach the kidswhat they're supposed to be
learning, but that my kid andall the other kids in the
classroom were in a safe placewhere they were all accepted for
who they are.
They didn't have to be anythingthat they're not in order to be
given the same access toeducation, the same, you know,
(03:25):
the same love in the classroom.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Yeah, you know it's interesting that word safe space
, when it comes to schools, hasbeen contorted here and
elsewhere.
To me, like I, really it's sohard to grasp this particular
twisting and turning.
But something about well, no,only the home should be a safe
(03:49):
space, so we can't use that termany place else, because then
we're taking it away from thehome.
I think, well, holy moly, Iwant my kids safe at school and
at work, and at home and out onthe freeway.
I would like it all to be asafe space.
So I have a very hard timeunderstanding that particular
(04:10):
contortion.
I don't really think when theyuse it that's not really sincere
.
What it is that they're sayingcertainly doesn't sound it.
It sounds like it's sort of amask of something they're saying
something else Even there wassome talk about.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
You know, treat others how you want to be
treated and use kindness.
I forget what the other thingswere offhand, but you know we
have all these stories of youknow.
Let's put the 10 commandmentsin the classroom.
How about we put these thingsthat really show that we are
being a loving environment forthe kids in the classroom?
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, Like, how about maybe just living some of those
spiritual truths that we'rewanting to put forward?
Now, in all honesty, how aboutjust living some of those Right?
Using that modeling?
I sort of thought the whole youknow what would Jesus do thing
was that.
(05:10):
I think that was about thelet's love, love, love and
accept and just keep on loving.
I am so grateful, as I said, toknow our guest Lisa personally
and to call her my friend, butI'm so grateful that she's doing
(05:33):
this work in the world too andis a real teacher and model
about how we stay involved andactive for the greater good.
It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
She's brought that Brooklyn girl into the mix,
right, yeah, I'm not going tostop her, she's.
That's an interesting thing.
She commented on the thethicker skin of being from
Brooklyn, and there's, you know,obviously we've heard that over
the years, yeah, but beingbeing the daughters of the
Brooklyn born and family.
Speaker 1 (06:01):
Yes, yeah, we get it All right.
Well that was.
That was so great.
I'm so excited for everybody tohear all that Lisa has to say
Good stuff.
Welcome everyone to thissession of Soul Sisteries, our
(06:25):
wonderful podcast, where I'mhere with my fabulous sister I'm
Donna Rice, I'm Diana Herwickand you know we've been sisters
forever, soul sisters always andhere to talk today to the
fabulous, the wonderful, the oneand only Lisa Greathouse,
longtime friend of mine.
(06:45):
I am really honored anddelighted to say.
Let me tell you a little bitabout Lisa.
Lisa is a native New Yorker.
New York is a big part of herheart and soul.
She is a longtime journalist,worked for many years with the
AP and has been writing, always,writes in many formats, and at
the heart of really how shelives and how she meets the
(07:08):
world is she is somebody whotakes action in her community.
She is an activist who isreally looking and working for
the greater good and putsherself forward in the community
.
In that way she's a greatmother and in her professional
(07:31):
life she brings this flavor oftaking action and making a
difference always to whatevershe does.
So I hope I said that right andwell, but welcome.
Welcome, lisa.
Speaker 3 (07:41):
We're so glad you're here with us today.
That was such a kindintroduction, donna.
Thank you so much, so happy andhonored to be here with you and
Diana.
So thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
Yay, and it's great to see you.
Lisa, I know I don't know youas well as Donna, but I've known
you for many years also, soit's great to have you here.
I know one of the things Donnashared is your involvement in
the community, and you knowcommunity activism, and I'm just
wondering, as we get started,if you can just tell us a little
bit about how you developed, Iguess, that mindset for
(08:15):
community activism.
Were you born with it?
Have you always done it?
Did it come about through yourjournalism?
Speaker 3 (08:29):
about through your journalism.
Yes, to all of those, really.
I would say that when I was inhigh school, a particular class
really stood out to me.
It was a social studies class.
I remember Mr Siegelman I thinkI was 10th grade perhaps, and
he did't experiment.
I think probably a lot oflisteners have had similar kinds
of classes to this where hewanted to make a point about
(08:51):
discrimination and he set theclass up to say if you have
brown eyes, you sit over here.
If you have blue eyes, you sitover here.
If you have green eyes, you sitover there.
And he then it went through andhe said you know, if you have
brown eyes, you're really not.
(09:12):
Your grades are not as good asyou're not as smart as this
other group with blue eyes.
And he went through and then hehad everyone switch.
And so it was such a greatlesson about the randomness of
discrimination in our societyand it stuck with me to my core
(09:33):
and I remember that triggeringsome interest in some other
things and getting involved insome clubs and getting involved
in the student newspaper, and Idon't really remember exactly
what triggered what, but I'vebeen writing for first in high
school, then in college, for thestudent newspaper throughout
(09:56):
that time and getting more andmore involved.
And then in college on the radiostation, doing the news on the
radio station and looking forthose stories that help to
symbolize a lot of social issuesthat were going on.
But really you know, whenyou're a journalist you cover
everything.
So I would say that when Ijoined the Associated Press I
(10:19):
wouldn't say that I wasparticularly politically active,
because really you couldn't be.
When you're working as aprofessional journalist you kind
of keep that part of your lifeseparate.
You want to be as objective andget to the core of being as
truthful as you can, without abias in whatever it is that
you're covering.
But definitely being ajournalist for that 10 or 12
(10:40):
years, definitely being ajournalist for that 10 or 12
years, excluding all of what Idid in college and high school
those things get you to see theworld, I think, in a particular
way where you're noticing moreways in which people are
discriminated against and seeinghow government works or doesn't
(11:03):
work, seeing corruption, seeingall of these different things
and really wanting to act on it.
But the best you can do at thattime is tell stories.
You're reporting, you'retelling the truth, you're trying
to expose and inform and reallyjust educate the public as best
you can about those things.
(11:23):
I would say that the first timeI really my first foray into I
would say, local activism camein probably 2008.
And both of you may remember,prop 8 was on the ballot and
that would basically haveamended the state constitution
to ban same-sex marriage.
(11:44):
And I remember seeing in thepaper that our local school
board was going to introduce aresolution advocating for Prop 8
.
So they were in the resolution.
They were talking about howawful homosexuality is and we
shouldn't be exposing ourchildren to any of this and this
(12:06):
is going to ruin the fabric ofour society and how detrimental
it was.
They were trying to tie it toeducation and really more about
kids.
We shouldn't be exposing themto homosexuality.
This is terrible for them tothink that this is normal.
So I was looking at thosestories and thinking what, this
(12:29):
is our school board, what areyou doing?
And so that was when and Ithink, donna, we probably had
discussions about it back then.
I know we did, I know we did,yeah, and I was just like how is
this part of their purview?
Like, what does this have to dowith that?
That was part of it.
And then you were alsosimultaneously appalled that
(12:53):
your community and you know wewere seeing all of this yes, on
Prop 8 signs all around ourcommunity that were being
distributed by our localmegachurch, and so all of those
things combined I went to theschool board meeting and that
was my first time speaking aboutsomething and I mean I remember
(13:15):
people booing and.
But then you'd find your kind ofcore group of people, some of
who were as outraged as I was,and going to speak about this.
So you kind of start findingyour community and it was
fascinating.
It was very eye opening in inmany, many ways because I was
learning about more about theconservative nature of this part
(13:38):
of Southern California that Ijust really wasn't expecting and
paying attention to a schoolboard that was filled with
people who were kind of handselected by this megach church
and funded by them to getelected.
So that was kind of my firstentry into what I guess was
(14:03):
community activism.
I wouldn't have called it thatat the time.
It was just one person standingup and saying what the hell is
this?
Speaker 1 (14:11):
Right, absolutely, and doing so, I mean, here's
part of the magic your clarityof understanding honed over many
years, so you had a purposefulvoice in your speaking at that
(14:40):
time and ever since.
And that, and just the boldnessin taking that on and
willingness to be, I guess, atarget for other perspectives in
order, while you speak, truth.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
Yeah, thank you, and that goes a little bit back to
that whole New York attitude and, in keeping with the theme here
, having two older sisters whoalso are bold and you know one
of them is a school board memberin another community and you
know us kind of going throughour lives and not taking a whole
(15:18):
lot of BS from people.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
So there's part of that too is that it goes back to
sort of how you were raisedabout speaking up when you saw
something that wasn't right, andthat's what I've always known
about you, my friend, is thatyou know, if there is an
injustice, you're going to speakup, you're going to call it
like it is, with simplicity,with love, with professionalism,
(15:42):
with care, human to human,which are going to be really
clear and direct.
I want to interject somethingelse, and I know we really want
to talk to you, but I want tosay out loud for the record you
know I've known you more than 20years.
You're one of those.
I moved into my littleneighborhood here, one of the
first people I met, andinstantly we became friends,
(16:03):
very like-minded.
I just I have so much respectfor you and you truly are when
we talk about just good peoplein the world.
That's you, that's how you liveyour life, it's who you are and
you do everything with so muchintegrity and it's just a heart
of love and goodness forhumankind.
(16:25):
That is absolutely who you areand without question.
And so I'm just like I'm sayingthat out loud right now for the
record, declaring the absolutetruth of that.
Speaker 3 (16:39):
That's so kind of you .
And back at you, my friends, Ican't say enough, but yeah,
thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Love you, pal, love you so much, so yeah, so let's,
let's talk more to you, though.
Get more from you what you haveto say, that's what we want to
know.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
More to you, though get more from you what you have
to say.
That's what we want to knowBefore we started talking.
I know Donna had asked you knowkind of what is your?
You know how do you find hope?
Hope through what?
And it was this idea ofcommunity activism.
Speaker 3 (17:18):
It sounds like a lot of work and a lot of headache
and a lot of pain to go throughthat.
So I'm curious how do you findhope through that?
It's a loaded question, forsure, and let me first say that
I feel incredibly privileged tohave a life that allows me to
get as involved as I do, becauseI know I hear from so many
people in our community andoutside our community who say I
(17:40):
want to do what you're doing.
I just you know they may haveyoung kids at home, they may be
working two jobs, they don'thave the time to do it.
And what I always say is you dowhatever it is that you can,
(18:05):
and if it's just getting to thepolls or filling out your
mail-in ballot at home, if thatis all that you have time to do,
that's what you do.
Make a couple of phone calls orgo canvassing with us for
candidates that we reallybelieve in, or write postcards
to send out in your community toadvocate for a particular
candidate or an issue, then dothat.
My daughter lives in New Yorknow and she went to a postcard
(18:30):
writing party the other day anddidn't even tell me about it
before she went, just mentionedthat she was doing it and I was
so proud of that because she'sdoing what she can do.
And you know what, once you getyour feet wet and you feel like
you're making a difference,there is nothing more contagious
than that.
Because if you feel like you'veeven reached one voter and you
(18:54):
maybe touch their heart andtheir minds about an issue or
about a candidate, there'snothing that gets you more
motivated than that.
And then the next year, whenmaybe you have a little bit more
time, you can do more.
You can go walking with acandidate, you can get involved,
you can write a letter to theeditor.
There are a million things thatpeople can do, but sometimes
(19:14):
they need a little bit ofguidance.
People say I want to write aletter to the editor of our
local newspaper.
How do I even do that?
And there are people in yourcommunity who are there waiting
to help with that and to go tothe concept of hope.
Oh my gosh.
I mean it sounds cliche, butthe young people today are
(19:37):
motivating.
Two years ago I ran for schoolboard, as you both know, and I
ran unsuccessfully,unfortunately.
But I met a bunch of students.
Some of them were advocatinghard for LGBTQ issues.
Some of them are advocatingbecause they know we have
teachers in our district thatare leaving our district because
(19:58):
of the political climate in ourdistrict.
There's a whole host of reasonsfor them to get involved, but
those kids are so smart and somotivated and just so ready to
make a difference in the world,it know.
It really just makes youexcited about the future and
(20:18):
makes you hopeful about the nextgeneration and then really
being able to perhaps have alittle bit more success than our
generation did in what we thinkis being on the right side of
history, basically.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Yeah, absolutely.
I agree with you sowholeheartedly being with and
(20:58):
working with these veryimpassioned young people who see
clearly what the right path isthis place of love and
acceptance, and just things inright order, right alignment is
really.
It's just beautiful and veryempowering and hopeful for sure.
Yeah, yeah, Well, thank you,Thank you for that.
Couldn't have said that better.
That's absolutely gorgeous.
What do you think?
So, on your own journey as ayoung person and you spoke to
this a little bit but I'd loveto know, I'd love to know more
and more specifically, what doyou think really brought you to
(21:22):
this moment, this time in yourjourney?
What you know, what is it thatkind of not just made you but,
like, made this so important foryou to speak in this way now?
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Yeah, there, you know there's so many issues right
now that I know both of youunderstand we want to be
fighting for reproductive rights.
We want to be fighting for youknow fairness and election
integrity.
We want to be fighting for somany things.
But I think the issue thattouches me the most, and I know
(22:03):
is really important to you too,is public education, and you
know I'm a product of publicschools back in Brooklyn.
You know my kids went to publicschools.
I know that that is not thecase with the two of you, but
obviously you have a ton ofexperience with your kids going
to public schools and you know Ialways go back.
(22:26):
I was an educator in publicschools.
We're an educator.
You're both educators.
Yes, you know, I think, eventhough I was never a teacher, I
am substitute teaching.
Now it's out there in thecommunity what a danger I am.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Oh my God, the kids should be so lucky to have you
as the sub, please.
Speaker 3 (22:48):
I mean, you know, and I take it very seriously when I
go into stuff, absolutely doyeah, but I will say that you
know and I heard Tony Thurman,who is our superintendent of
public instruction, in inCalifornia now I heard him talk
(23:09):
about this not long ago and itkind of reminded me of the quote
of public education being thegreat equalizer.
And you know, we all know, thatyou know, no matter where you
grow up or what neighborhood youare, if you're going to a
public school, and you know wehave a long way to go.
It's not like our publicschools are perfect, but this is
(23:31):
the closest that we have toreally be giving everyone that
level playing ground and let'sstart at the same place, whether
it is with TK and getting kids,you know, in transitional
kindergarten here in California,getting kids to school early so
they have that great foundation.
(23:52):
Again, it's it's not perfectand it's not equal all over.
You know, where do the bestteachers want to teach?
Do they want to teach in thepoorest neighborhoods or do they
want to go to the affluentneighborhoods?
You know so we know, that thisis not a perfect system by any
means.
There are so many things thatyou know are inequalities in how
(24:14):
kids grow up, but publiceducation is something that we
can't turn our back on and overthe years and it really this.
This started many, many yearsago, which people don't realize,
but I remember as a journalistin the 80s covering this issue
of of private vouchers.
(24:35):
There is a big segment of oursociety who would like to close
down, as is in Project 2025,close down the Department of
Education and let's have all oftaxpayer funds that are going to
education.
Let's just give them tofamilies and let those families
decide where their kids want togo to school and they can take
(24:57):
them to, you know, whateverreligious school that they want.
They can take it to a schoolthat is, you know, just teaching
one thing and not giving kids abroad based education.
They can select where they wanttheir kids to go to school.
Perhaps in a perfect world,something like that could make
(25:17):
sense, but I don't want to payfor any child to go to a school
that I know is preaching hate orpreaching discrimination, or
not allowing in Black kids, ormaybe kids with a disability, or
maybe, you know, there's awhole host of reasons why this
(25:41):
would not work and would createuh, I would just be very, very
detrimental, I think, for oursociety.
So I kind of feel like this is.
What I'm fighting for is topreserve and improve public
education.
It's why I wanted to be on theschool board is because I saw
lots of opportunities.
(26:02):
Why don't we have, you know,foreign language in all of our
elementary schools?
You know, why don't?
There's a whole host of thingsthat are.
Why don't we have bettervocational training in our high
schools and set the kids whodon't want to go to college or
that was never part of theirplan?
Let's get them on great careerpaths as well and give them the
(26:22):
tools that they need.
There's a million things thatwe can do to really improve our
public education system, butit's all about setting
priorities, because obviouslythere's a limited number of
funds, so you kind of have toset those priorities.
I see a tremendous potential inimproving public education with
the right priorities, or atleast what I think are the right
(26:42):
priorities.
But I know what's not the rightpriority is what our school
board and school boards acrossthis country are doing, which is
using culture wars to getpeople riled up.
Which is using culture wars toget people riled up so they
think, you know, the transgenderkids are the enemy, or that you
know a book that mentioned sexin it in our high schools has to
(27:05):
be ripped off the shelves, like, let's ban all of these books
that maybe say something that mypastor wouldn't allow, you know
.
So it's these kinds of thingsthat are so worth fighting for,
in my opinion, that I almostcan't take my eye off the ball
that is public education.
But believe me behind thescenes donating where I can and
(27:28):
getting involved where I can onall of these other issues that
if there were more hours in theday I would be on a lot of other
soapboxes as well.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
So that, really that exactly what you just said,
really speaks to something forthose who are really looking to
maintain a sense of hope intheir lives, those who kind of
have that heart for activism,for making a difference, really
having an impact.
There's a certain wearinessthat can come about seeing all
(28:00):
the challenges, the ills of theworld and wanting to make a
difference and all, and itbecomes debilitating.
So exactly what you were sayingis how do we maintain hope
through that?
And I think you answered it andthat you find that calling that
thing that you, you know you goin all in there in as much as
(28:22):
you can and support others,support others in ways that you
can, but you can't be all thingsto all of these issues and also
still, let's face it, have alife like have your own life and
your own well-being.
A caretaker needs to care firstfor themselves, right?
All of us the air mask on firstprinciple right to what your
(28:50):
life is.
Speaker 3 (28:51):
At that moment, when I was running for school board
in 2022, I was working full-timeat a really demanding job.
I was commuting a couple ofhours a day.
My kids, fortunately, are doingreally well and have moved out
(29:11):
of the house, so it's not likeI'm a young parent.
But at the same time, I wasdealing with a lot of stuff.
I was going through a divorceat the time.
I was.
I was handling a lot of stuff inmy life when I was running and
you know what I made time for it.
I made time to go outcanvassing every single weekend.
We were walking and walking.
I mean, you know you, youhosted an event for me.
(29:33):
So you know, I mean it was justa constant thing when you're
running for office.
It's the same thing just withbeing, you know, involved in
your community.
You make the time for thethings that are really important
to you.
And you know, right now I havea life that you know I'm
semi-retired and I'm able todevote more time to it.
(29:56):
But you know, back in thosedays when you know, just a
couple of years ago, when I wasjuggling all that, I was
probably putting in as manyhours as I am now.
Really, I just am not quite asexhausted as I was two years ago
when I was running for office.
But I'm campaigning, as youknow, for for a couple of other
(30:16):
candidates who are running forschool board right now, and I'm
supporting some congressionalcampaigns and some other races
as well.
Motivates you and touches yourheart and you know you're
fighting for what you trulybelieve is best for the students
(30:37):
and families of your district,of your community.
You find the time somehow.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
You find the time, you find the energy, and I think
that's when you when throughthis community activism.
I think the piece where hopecomes in is knowing, believing
and knowing that you can make adifference, that the time and
energy you put into this fightis to make a difference for so
(31:05):
many other people.
Not for your kids, because yourkids are out of school now, but
for their kids, for thechildren in your community, the
kids that are still in yourneighborhood, and being able to
help create kind of that culture, that environment that you
really see for them to hold outthat little bit of hope that it
can make the difference.
(31:26):
I think that is what keeps youpushing for change in your own
district, then, of course, atthe state level and beyond.
Speaker 3 (31:36):
And that's such a good point, because we hear that
all the time when we'recanvassing door-to-door, diana
is.
People will say, oh, you know,my kids are older, they're out
of the district now, and that issuch a I don't want to sound
condescending, but it's ateachable moment.
It's that moment where you saymy kids are out of the district
(32:03):
for many years.
But the truth is, publiceducation affects all of us,
even on the very kind of basiclevel.
It affects your property values.
Don't you care about yourneighbor's kids who are in
school, and don't you care aboutyour you know your nieces and
nephews and just about yourcommunity?
Public education is such a corepiece of our democracy, making
sure we have well-educated,well-rounded young people who
(32:27):
are going to grow up to be, youknow, productive adults in our
society.
It's just such a basic to methat.
But you know, a lot of peoplejust don't think that far and
that's not like right.
Like we were saying, lifehappens and people are dealing
with getting by day to day.
They're not really thinkingabout that.
(32:48):
But as soon as you say that,there's usually like that light
bulb moment where they say, well, yeah, public education is
important to me too, and so it'sa matter of connecting with
them on that level.
Speaker 2 (33:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (33:02):
Yeah.
So I think another thing thatwe need to mention as you're
talking, lisa, is that all ofthis that you've been doing,
it's got to be and you can speakto this it's got to be this
cause that you're holding at theforefront, that is supporting
you as you work through somepretty heavy criticisms and
(33:31):
commentary.
That I can say as somebody whoknows you I'm appalled, human to
human, that some people wouldsay the things that they're
saying, but also, knowing you,how contrary these things are to
you.
They're absolutely made upnonsense coming from somewhere
(33:52):
and some pretty hateful stuffcoming from somewhere and some
pretty hateful stuff, but yetyou stay the course and you keep
fighting the fight and you keepspeaking with grace and
integrity.
What is it?
How is it?
How do you find that drive?
Talk to us a little bit aboutthat.
Well, first I'll go back toBrooklyn.
Yeah, it all starts in Brooklyn, my friends.
Speaker 3 (34:29):
You know, after a while, it's that whole thing of
consider the source right.
When you get some of thesenasty things said to you, I
always say consider the source.
And I say that to thecandidates who are running, who
are getting trolled online.
The other person who wasrunning, who was the president
(34:51):
of the school board at the time,and myself we were, you know,
not exactly a slate, but we weresort of a slate.
We were getting death threatsand you know there are really
disgusting things going on outthere.
And you know, to this day, as Ishowed you the other day, donna,
you know I get called all kindsof names by the folks on the
(35:12):
other side and I really try notto engage with them.
I just that's what they want.
You know you come out of boardmeetings and they're there with
a camera in your face trying toegg you on calling you names,
you know, because they want toget a rise out of you and they
want to have something that theycan post.
Get a rise out of you and theywant to have something that they
(35:37):
can post.
So I try not to lower myself tothat level.
I really try to stay.
You know, I want to be able tolook in the mirror at the end of
the day and be proud of the waythat I responded to something,
or you know, I never want tohave something I said come back
at me and feel ashamed of that.
So that's one thing.
I always keep my kids in mind.
They always say you know, yourkids are watching.
(35:59):
And I just turn around and Isay my kids are proud of me and
they're proud of what I standfor and I hope your kids are
proud of what you stand for.
But I don't really mean that.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
So your kids are incredibly proud of you and awed
by the work that you do.
You're such a model and I knowI know personally from them how
incredibly proud they are of you.
Speaker 3 (36:21):
That's very kind, and I and I know that there were
times when they were in highschool and I was up talking at
the school board and a teacher,one of their teachers, would say
something to me.
I know that they were kind ofembarrassed and you know, of
course, probably saying like mom, do you really have to get out
there every school for me?
But you know what theyunderstood, that it was
important to me and that I wasdoing it for them but for all of
(36:43):
the other students out theretoo, and the teachers and the
staff members, and so you knowthat gives me more pride.
When I see my kids starting toget involved and start to try to
make a difference, then you'relike, oh, they really were
watching.
Speaker 2 (36:59):
So yeah, go ahead.
I was going to comment becauseyou shared that your daughter
went to the postcard writingparty.
So clearly you've inspired herto step into this at whatever
level she can be active rightnow.
Who inspires you, then?
Oh?
Speaker 3 (37:17):
my gosh.
Like I said earlier, the kidsinspire me so much.
I have just been so inspired bysome of these young people, but
also the teachers.
The teachers in our districthave been under fire from this
particular school board and I'msorry that I'm hammering so much
on our school board, but youknow they got threatening
(37:40):
letters.
They're being told you can'thave a pride flag or a sign that
says a safe space in my class.
They're being instructed totake those down.
Their free speech is beingimpacted.
They are being.
Everything that they say and dois being scrutinized so intently
(38:03):
that they can't even reallyfocus on their job to teach.
So these teachers, when theycome up to me and they're
sharing stories, or they come upand they thank me for something
that I said at a board meeting,or they tell me you know I'm
starting to apply in otherdistricts because I just I want
(38:25):
to stay the course.
Really, my heart just breaksfor them.
But they also inspire mebecause we have plenty of
teachers who are gettinginvolved and saying we are going
to change things here.
We're going to get back to aplace where our focus can be on
teaching and we're not going tobe accused of grooming or
(38:49):
indoctrinating or all of theseridiculous things that they're
being accused of.
They're being called demons.
Really, you're calling ourteachers demons.
We have fantastic teachers inthis community, of course, all
over, but just because I know somany of the teachers here and I
have a huge heart for what theygo through, I don't know that
(39:10):
there's a tougher job out there,and so I just really am
inspired by the ones who arelike hitting the ground and
saying we're going to work ourtails off to get these
candidates elected to our schoolboard, to improve the
conditions for our students, tomake sure that the students who
do need someone to talk to theyknow they can talk to.
(39:32):
Teachers need someone to talkto, they know they can talk to
teachers.
And, like teachers are, as youknow, you're providing like
social services in some casesfor kids who don't have anywhere
else to go, and as much as wemight like to say, oh, you know,
we should always be directingkids to go home and talk to
their.
Of course we should.
Of course we all want as muchparental involvement as possible
(39:55):
.
Just a lot of these kids don'thave that at home.
They don't have someone wholistened to them without, you
know, perhaps being very harshwith them.
You know where did the kid goto talk about an issue that they
might be having at home?
They're probably going to go toa teacher or maybe a principal
or a counselor.
(40:15):
Those are the people that we,you know that we should be
trusting and not, you know, notblindly.
We all want to get to know ourteachers, but the truth is to
demonize them, to demonize ateacher's union and all unions,
is just talk about somethingthat's dangerous for our society
(40:35):
, and I would say that's amongone of the top reasons I'm
involved.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Amazing.
I mean.
That's inspiring.
All that you're sharing is soinspiring and we just feel the
passion around that and honoryou for following forward so
wholeheartedly, for sure, in allof this.
So, as you think about what gotyou here and all the parts that
(41:06):
have created this sum and havebrought you together, have they
molded in you sort of a lifephilosophy or a life motto or
something that you really holdas foundational, that you live
by?
Speaker 3 (41:22):
Probably the thing that I say most often is live
and let live.
You know, who are we to judgethe way as long as nobody is
hurting anybody else in the waythey live?
Who are we to judge what'sright or who somebody loves or
(41:44):
whatever path they take?
There is seems to be a factionof our community and our society
in general that thinks thatthere's such a black and white
way to live and you're wrong ifyou do this and you're right if
you live this way.
(42:05):
And you know, sometimes I feelfrankly like that comes from
organized religion andparticular types of more
extremist views on what peoplethink Christianity is.
But I never have understood howanyone can draw that line and
(42:29):
say you're living the right waybecause you choose to live and
marry and love somebody of thisgender versus.
I just never understood howanybody can make those kinds of
judgments to anybody else and Ijust truly believe that unless
(42:50):
you're hurting somebody else,you get to choose the life that
you want.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
Absolutely, absolutely.
You know, love one another as Ihave loved you, sort of that
message right, like supposed tobe a foundational tenant.
So perhaps, perhaps we need tothink about that.
Speaker 3 (43:08):
Yeah, right, and the golden rule, right, Like treat
others the way you would like tobe treated.
And you know that's another one.
I mean I did not really grow upwith, you know, with going to
to temple very often, but thetruth is that I have imparted
that upon my kids, just with allof the other morality lessons
(43:31):
that I like to think that weteach over a child's childhood,
and that's, you know, that's oneof the main things is like,
just because they're doingsomething that you don't like
doesn't give you the right tocriticize them and also treat
them with respect as you wouldlike to be treated.
Yeah, so I think those thingsare good at any age, right?
(43:52):
Good reminders.
Speaker 1 (43:53):
Absolutely For sure.
Speaker 2 (43:57):
So, lisa, if you think about your life, either
where it's gone from or where itis today, is there a song that
you could say would be yourtheme song?
Speaker 1 (44:18):
Oh boy, that is a tough one.
It's that song that they playwhen you're walking out at the
stage at that rally where you'rethe next speaker.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
It's your walk-up song.
Speaker 1 (44:27):
It's your walk-up song, that's it.
Speaker 3 (44:29):
I like that.
That's right.
Anything that I'm going tothink of is going to be so
cliche right now.
Speaker 1 (44:37):
Cliches or cliches for reasons that's right.
Speaker 3 (44:41):
That's right.
You know, one of the songs thatI have always loved and it
really is not a walk-up song, tobe honest is it's just a song
that has touched me and Iremember as a kid just really
loving it is just you've got afriend, I love that song, it's
(45:04):
got the whole.
You know I listened to CaroleKing and James Taylor sing that
together yeah, concert live, andit just it brought back just a
flood of memories and justloving that concept that, no
matter where, you are or whatyou might need, or where we have
been in our lives and you knowmaybe I haven't talked to you in
(45:26):
the longest time, but you'vegot a friend and you know you
can call on me when you, whenyou need me.
Speaker 1 (45:34):
So we can draw a line .
We'll make the you know, theobvious conclusion there.
Draw that obvious line, whichis exactly what you're talking
about here.
When you're down in trouble,you need a helping hand, but
this is, this is how you'vechosen to live your life, to be
that friend.
Also, I'm going to step up andI up and I am that friend.
So you know, just calling outthe obvious there.
(45:57):
It makes sense.
That is what you're talkingabout and I can see why.
I mean it's a gorgeous song,but I can see why that's
speaking to you in particular,because it matters to you.
It does.
Speaker 3 (46:11):
It does and and and.
Having friends like the two ofyou, you know that can get you
through a lot of stuff in yourlife when you have good friends.
Speaker 1 (46:22):
You know my family is incredibly important, but a
community of good friendsthere's nothing like that, yeah,
when you know you're not alonein that sandbox, right, right,
it makes all the difference.
And a good laugh, because, god,if you don't have a good sense
of humor about all of this, whatis the point?
(46:42):
Right, how do we get throughhumor?
So important, that's right.
Well, okay, pal.
So so much good, so much goodwork already done and years of
good work ahead.
But you know, come that daywhen you move on, how do you
hope that those who are hereremember you, the old what's
(47:13):
going to be on your tombstonequestion, I always loved that
concept of the dash in thetombstone.
Speaker 3 (47:25):
That's where you live , your life is in that dash.
I don't know that in the workthat I've done that I really
have made a difference.
But I try, and so you know thatwhole concept is I've tried to
(47:45):
make a difference.
Right, you've tried to educateand you've tried.
You know, I feel like throughmy work in journalism, I tried
to inform, I tried to touchpeople with storytelling
throughout my career, which isso important.
But I really, in all of that,you're trying to make a
difference.
You're trying to touch heartsand minds and convey your values
(48:10):
to others and hope that atleast a piece of that maybe
helps inspire somebody else.
Speaker 2 (48:19):
And you said you don't know if you've made the
difference, but you know to try,that you've tried to make the
difference and what you saidearlier about you know when
you're canvassing around theneighborhood and maybe you can
share some new ideas with justone person, just one person who
changes their vote.
I promise you you've made adifference.
So there's not just this tryingthat, there are multiple
(48:43):
individuals that you haveimpacted, just even the way that
you speak out at the schoolboard meetings for children to
know that there's somebody who'son their side, because for a
lot of kids in the public schoolsystem they don't have anybody
on there.
It doesn't feel like they haveanybody on their side because
(49:05):
the other voice is so loud.
Speaker 1 (49:07):
Yes, yeah, and when you're sitting in those meetings
and knowing that theindividuals you're speaking to
it's just going over their heads, it's nothing, but you are in
fact speaking for all those inthe audience who need to hear,
the teachers and the studentswho hear that support, and that
you are with them and thatyou're fighting the fight.
(49:28):
I mean, my goodness, what adifference you make every day,
and I can tell you personallyyou've made a huge difference in
my life the gift of yourfriendship and also the modeling
that I have of somebody with somuch integrity, and I honor so
much your voice and yourwillingness to speak out.
So, in my own little world, abig difference, friend.
(49:49):
So okay, mission accomplished.
Speaker 2 (49:51):
Yeah, I didn't know until today that you are now
doing substitute teaching andI'm just thinking, like how
blessed these kids are in theclassroom with them, especially
if they're kids that know whatyou've been fighting for, like
how neat to have you step intothe classroom.
That's your walk-up song.
(50:13):
I want that song to be playedwhen you're walking into the
classroom.
Speaker 1 (50:16):
Right, but of course also we need to say and I want
to say, knowing you then as aneducator in the classroom, that
your purpose and your missionthere would be the education.
It's not to talk a differentgame, it's to support the
education, the students.
On that topic, what's beforeyou to talk about?
(50:36):
You know, social studies, math,whatever it is, we're gonna,
we're gonna do that work and Iknow that to be true.
Oh, 100%.
Speaker 3 (50:45):
You know a lot of people, you know got people who
are on the other side of someissues, as I am, you know, got
really hot and bothered byfinding out that I was a
substitute teacher and thinking,oh more indoctrination.
No, I'm there, I'm there tofollow the lesson plan that the
teacher left and get toeducating kids and actually had
(51:06):
one kid at the high school acouple of weeks ago.
Say to me, did you run forschool board a couple of years
ago?
And I was so impressed, numberone, that you know an 11th
grader would have paid enoughattention to see.
You know, and put two and twotogether.
And, believe me, she said to mesomething like oh well, you know
(51:27):
, my parents had some questionsabout this election and I said
you know what?
I really can't talk about thathere, you know, right, because
we want to be so careful.
So when the other side issaying you know indoctrination
and you're all demons and you'rethe, the idea is so ludicrous,
right?
A teacher and even a lowlysubstitute like myself would
(51:51):
ever abuse the privilege ofbeing in a classroom to.
You know try and you know sayanything political it's, it's
all so ridiculous.
Speaker 1 (52:02):
It is, and so, as any good teacher knows, it is
ridiculous yeah.
Speaker 3 (52:08):
You're there to teach and that's what you're sticking
to and you know you don't.
You don't want to even get youknow.
If you want to.
Here's a website you could.
You know.
Like right, like, read thenewspaper but you do want it.
Speaker 1 (52:21):
Here's the thing you do want.
You do want the kids to knowthat they are seen, that they
are welcome, that this is a safespace to be who they are, yeah,
and to learn and grow from thisspace.
That's what you do want them toknow, exactly.
So if that's someindoctrination, okay.
Speaker 3 (52:43):
Another really important issue, because I have
reached out to a couple ofjournalism teachers in our
district and you know I'm goingto be going into, I guess, be a
guest speaker in one of theirclasses.
But another reason whycommunity activism is so
important, probably more todaythan any other time, is because
our, our media landscape is sodifferent now.
(53:05):
Reporters that would have beenat all the school board meetings
and have been, you know, doingsome investigative reporters,
perhaps investigative journalism, perhaps to a mega church that
is buying up, you know, schoolboard seats All of that is now
(53:26):
gone.
Like our, our journalists arejust hanging on day to day
getting done what they need todo, because there's like maybe
half of them that there werebefore.
So it takes a certain level ofcommunity activism to go out
there and point out things tothe community, whether it's on
social media or writing lettersto the editor or whatever it is
(53:49):
to get out there and point outthings that are just not being
covered, not because our greatjournalists don't want to, it's
because they don't have time.
And it's like they're playingwhack-a-mole because there's so
much outrageous stuff going onevery day locally and, of course
, when you're talking aboutnationally as well, like there's
so much happening every day andthere just aren't the number of
(54:12):
journalists to cover it all.
And on top of that, look at allof the disinformation that's
out there so much, and so reallyteaching kids how to
differentiate between you knownews that has, you know
journalists with training andintegrity and are from
established institutions andintegrity and are from
(54:40):
established institutions, versusjust some dude who's got a blog
or just goes on social mediaand starts making up stuff.
So how do you differentiate?
Those things are more criticaland not really just for kids,
for adults too, and we're notdoing a good enough job, I don't
think teaching that.
So there are so many levels tothis and it's all intertwined
(55:00):
Fair point.
Speaker 1 (55:01):
Fair point for sure.
All right.
So we're at the point where weneed to pull it all together and
what we like to do is a little.
We call it rapid fire.
It's just like answer with thefirst thing in your mind right,
just a few little rapid firesand we'll bring this all.
We'll bring this all home, yeah.
So, sis, take it away.
Speaker 2 (55:24):
What color is hope?
Speaker 1 (55:26):
Blue- All right, what does hope sound like?
Speaker 3 (55:33):
It's a steady, low, beautiful sound of the ocean.
Speaker 2 (55:38):
Beautiful Fill in the blank.
The soul is what.
Speaker 3 (55:44):
Forever, Love.
Speaker 1 (55:47):
Activism is Hope.
Speaker 2 (55:51):
Yeah, the meaning of life is love that original.
Speaker 1 (55:59):
Perfect and hope is Hope, is love too.
Yeah, it all kind of comes backaround, right.
That's sort of the anchor, thefocal of all of it Hope and love
, a little hope and love For me,there's a reason Like you said.
Speaker 3 (56:14):
And love, a little hope and love For me.
There's a reason like you said.
Speaker 1 (56:17):
There's a reason for cliches Absolutely, absolutely,
and not a whole lot else matters.
When all is said and done whichI know is behind all this work
that you do, because that'sthat's at the heart of this we
don't have this, then what do wehave Right?
I can't thank you enough.
We can't thank you enough fortaking your time to be with us
here and to speak so gorgeously,so eloquently on these really
(56:40):
important matters, and I knowthat are so close to your heart.
You are a gem.
You're a gem personally.
You're a gem in the world, andI and this community are so, so
fortunate to have you.
Speaker 3 (56:54):
Oh well, my head grew three sizes.
Thank you both so much.
I'm so honored to be here withyou and I'm so excited about
your venture.
I love your voices, and so Ijust thank you both for allowing
me to take this platform andshare some of my ideas.
Speaker 2 (57:12):
Thank you so much for joining us.
I loved listening to you and itreally does give me hope just
hearing these stories, and thenI just think you know how
blessed I am that you're in myworld.
You know that I could reach outand touch you, which is very
cool.
So, yeah, thank you so much.
Thanks, lisa.
Speaker 1 (57:30):
Absolutely Like.
That's at the heart of it.
I'm going to save this one lastthing because I talk so much.
At the heart of it, we're doingthis because what we want to be
part of these messages of hope,but this is what is filling us
up as well.
It's like, oh right, oh see, ohsee, oh see.
Yes, this is what's happening.
This is the stuff, this is thegood stuff, this is the real
(57:53):
stuff.
That is really yeah, this iswhy we're going to fly, we're
going to keep flying.
Speaker 3 (57:58):
So yay team, I can't wait to listen to all of the
other great messages that you'regoing to be providing a
platform.
Speaker 1 (58:06):
Oh wonderful.
Thank you, pal.
Thanks for being here andthanks everyone for listening.
We'll talk to you again soon.
Thanks for joining us today onSoul Sisteries and thanks for
sharing stories with us.
We'd love to hear your storiesas well and keep the
conversation going, absolutelykeeping the hope going.
So we're really hopeful thatyou'll connect with our guests
(58:28):
as well, who have great storiesto share.
Go ahead and follow them invarious social media platforms
or live venues, wherever it isthat they're performing and
sharing what they do.
Speaker 2 (58:40):
We would love to have you follow us on all of our
social media platforms,subscribe and rate, as that will
help us get our message of hopeout to others.
Thanks for listening to.
Speaker 1 (58:51):
Soul Sisteries.
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