Episode Transcript
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Robert Tidwell (00:18):
hello and welcome to the peach buzz by
Tidwell's Strimban injurylawyers.
Woodstock's full service,personal injury law firm.
The peach buzz is a podcastdedicated to showcasing people
who are making positive impactsin our communities and
Woodstock, Cherokee County,Metro Atlanta, and all of North
Georgia.
Today, we are very excited tohave with us a special guest and
(00:41):
a dear personal friend of mine.
Uh, Mr.
Zach can blend the chiefexecutive officer of the Goshen
Valley boys ranch.
Welcome to so the peach buzzact.
Zach Blend (00:51):
Oh, thank you, Robert.
It's great to be here today.
It's always nice to have thechance to talk about what we do
at Goshen, especially withfriends like yourself.
Well,
Robert Tidwell (01:00):
I appreciate that.
Uh, I'm pretty excited aboutwhat we're going to talk about
today.
Goshen is very near and dear tomy heart.
It's a place that I've had anopportunity to serve, uh, in the
past.
And for a number of years now,I've had an opportunity to go up
there and be a part of somepretty special projects.
And it's one of those thingsthat's near and dear to my
(01:21):
heart, just because of, youknow, sort of my background, a
lot of people might not knowthis, that, uh, I myself was in
the foster system as a youngchild and was fortunate to be
adopted by a loving home,through the efforts of other
people that do sort of what youguys are doing at Goshen.
So it's a very, uh, Exciting forme to have an opportunity to be
(01:44):
a part of what you guys aredoing.
And I'm looking forward tosharing with everybody here in
our community, why Goshen is sospectacular.
Zach Blend (01:53):
Yeah.
I appreciate that.
It's a, you know, it'sdefinitely a place of purpose
and it's a place that'sbenefited significantly from
Cherokee County and.
The fact that so many, whetherit be through their church,
through their business, througha civic group, but more and more
men and women, families,especially are connecting with
(02:15):
our work.
They're finding it to beimportant to them.
They're finding it to be apassion of sorts.
And when they had the chance tohear really from someone like
yourself, who.
Has experienced in, in somecases, a lot of what those we
serve are, are facing.
I think it just brings so muchmore of an understanding to
(02:38):
those that are invested
Robert Tidwell (02:41):
for those who don't know, uh, tell everybody
where Goshen Valley is located.
Zach Blend (02:46):
Yeah.
So, so it's really cool.
You Goshen Valley, um, you know,it was really, you know, uh, a
vision that was first cast by myfather, uh, John.
back in the early eighties, heand my mother moved to town.
My sister moved to town and mydad had this dream of, you know,
always, you know, owning a hobbyfarm.
And, he grew up in actually wasborn in, in, uh, Brooklyn and
(03:08):
grew up on long Island, uh,spent time, uh, in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, and when he was inschool and, um, Muellenberg
college.
And worked on a hobby farm whenhe was in college that kind of
birthed this idea when he was ina position to own something for
himself that, uh, he would, youknow, find a piece of property.
And when they moved to Georgia,uh, he was actually 36 years
(03:29):
old.
I just turned 37.
So kind of at the same period ofplate of time, where, where I am
today, um, he found this pieceof property in the silicone
Northwest Cherokee, that, hebought from all people.
Uh, the local moonshiner knewKlein who, uh, who told my
father, he had.
Uh, never really dealt with theYankee before at that point.
(03:52):
And he was in his eighties.
And, um, my dad tells thestories of sitting out on the
front porch and people drivingup on a Saturday and Newt
Stephan inside.
And it was a little house and,you know, pulling out a Mason
jar and watching thesetransactions take place and, uh,
you know, believe it or not knewfor whatever reason sold my
father from New York, you know,50 acres.
(04:12):
And that was, you know, the,the, the first piece of what is
now a 300 acre ranch.
That was truly just a hobby farmor place that, you know, we
lived in Dunwoody and we woulddrive up on Saturdays and we
were there.
We had horses and, you know, wewould kind of hang out, but it
wasn't necessarily purposeful.
It was important to my dad fordifferent reasons, but even the
early nineties, um, he and mymother found themselves in a new
(04:35):
church and it was really thatpastor at Redeemer Lutheran in
Atlanta who planted a seed bysharing to the congregation that
they had this vision of achildren's home, but they didn't
have any land to build it on.
My parents had only been at thechurch for a short period of
time.
And my dad that next day wentand saw the pastor and said,
Hey, you know, this might soundcrazy, but I've got this land
(04:57):
and we're not really doinganything with it.
Maybe the church can, you know,think of different ways that it
could be put to use.
And that in itself was the, the,this planted seed of sorts that
is Goshen Valley, boys ranch.
And from that day, over the nextseven or eight years, my father
and a team of people fromRedeemer worked on the
licensing, worked on thecontracting and the curriculum
(05:19):
and all the things that neededto be in place for the ranch to
open specifically for teenageboys that were living in the
state foster care system thathad been removed from their home
circumstances out of theircontrol.
And.
That was the first of what's nowbeen a 20 year journey where
specifically the ranch that'sstill the most well-known in
terms of the work we do hasserved, you know, over 700 boys,
(05:44):
ages, typically 12 to 18, whoare in a position where
typically they would be absentthe opportunity to be part of a
family because of thecircumstances surrounding, you
know, their, their, their pastexperiences.
There just aren't enough fosterhomes for teenage boys.
And what has happened in this,the creation of a family model
(06:07):
where these young men now liveon this beautiful ranch horses,
cows playing fields.
We built a gymnasium a couple ofyears ago that has really
transcended, um, our ability toserve at a unique level.
But most importantly, our boysare living with families, house
parents.
And they have the opportunity toreceive their, their therapy,
(06:27):
receive educational support,you're on their campus.
And that program, the successthat we've had in terms of
driving families through theattitude of service, really
local churches in particular whohave found their way to Goshen.
The resources that have comeinto play.
And the reputation that we'veestablished has allowed us to
(06:50):
now branch into other workwithin the foster care system.
Robert Tidwell (06:54):
Let's talk a moment about those homes.
A lot of times, I think whenpeople think of a group home.
Yeah.
So almost like a dormitory ideathat there's this big building
that everybody kind of has that,you know, they're all in one big
Bay or something, but that's nothow it Goshen is set up.
Uh, Goshen has several houses onthe property.
Zach Blend (07:14):
Is that right?
Yeah.
There's six different homes.
Uh, and, uh, the housesthemselves.
I remember my father saying, youknow, it's, you wanted to build
a home that he himself would beproud to live in.
And he wanted to ensure that theboys felt a sense of I think
significance in terms of thehome itself.
Every boy has their own bedroom,uh, has their own bathroom.
(07:36):
The houses themselves.
Most, most of them are over6,000 square feet with
basements, uh, where, you know,there's plenty of room for them
to be active and to beconnected, you know, with their
house parents, as well as withthe other boys in the home with
in many cases they think of asbrothers.
I remember a story from yearsago.
You know, one of the boys was,you know, at school, all the
kids attend the local publicschools there in Cherokee.
(07:59):
And, um, he was, you know,talking about the home that he
lived in.
And, you know, what that meantto him.
And these are kids thattypically, you know, were coming
from circumstances where some ofthem may not have had running
water.
You know, some of them may havebeen living from hotel to hotel.
Some of them may have been inthe back of someone's vehicle
for a period of time.
So to be able to have pride inwhere you live, that was
(08:20):
important and, and has alwaysbeen part of the Goshen model.
And, uh, I think people sensethat, uh, when they step onto
our campus, um, that, you know,there's a certain type of
standard that we want to set,um, in terms of what we want to
offer and what we want our, ouryoung people to experience while
they're with us.
Robert Tidwell (08:39):
Each time that I come and visit at Goshen, I'm
struck it just how great youguys are at providing structure
for these young men.
A lot of times they're pluckedfrom a situation where it's.
Quite frankly, it can bechaotic.
You don't know where you'regoing to stay that night.
You might not know what you'reeating, what you're wearing.
And then you get put in thisenvironment where you have house
(09:02):
parents, you have structure, youhave certain rules.
And I love the way the kids seemto maybe not at first, but they
seem to really get on board withthat notion of, you know, I have
certain responsibilities whileI'm staying here.
Could you share
Zach Blend (09:19):
that?
Yeah, I think not just for, for,you know, youth and foster care,
but really for everyone, yourespond to two things, you
respond to relationships and yourespond to the environment in
which you're in.
And that really is at the coreof what we try to provide and
try to ultimately provideinfluence around, um, first and
(09:41):
foremost, that connection that,that, that our boys have with
their house parents and.
The accountability and theresponsibility that comes with a
healthy relationship, which in alot of ways they haven't
experienced before.
It can be difficult for them tokind of acclimate to at the same
time, it's the environment thatthey live in.
(10:02):
We talk about some of theniceties that we've created.
There's also responsibility andkeeping it that way.
So Robert you've been to NewYork campus and you, if you step
into one of the boys' bedrooms,there's an expectation that that
rooms claim that the beds made.
Not because we're trying toprove a point, but because we're
trying to build maturity, youknow, for however long that
(10:23):
young man is with us, we want toensure that they're building
some discipline that they cantake with them.
And.
When they do that and they takeownership in themselves, they
then can start to develop anunderstanding of how they can
take ownership in someone elseas well.
And that's at the core of ouroutcome is personal
responsibility andself-awareness no different than
(10:46):
your children are mine.
Robert Tidwell (10:48):
That's outstanding.
You and I were talking a littlebit before we got on air and I
had shared with you that whenthe snowpocalypse hit here in
Atlanta, We were trying tofigure out if it was seven or
eight years ago, somewherearound in there.
And I was actually at Goshenwhen the snow started to fall
(11:08):
and it was beautiful.
We were in this, uh, thisconference room type area and I
could look out over the ranchand I mean, it's just a
beautiful place as it is.
But within goodness, 15, 20minutes, that place it covered
up in snow.
And it was just absolutelygorgeous.
And, uh, that's when my wifecalled that she was stuck trying
to pick up our oldest daughterfrom school.
(11:29):
So I had to leave.
But thinking back on that day,when snowpocalypse hit and I was
there at Goshen, Goshen wasprimarily a boys ranch, and you
guys were doing some amazingthings as just a boys ranch.
But now Goshen is so much morethan just a boys ranch.
What share, share with ourlisteners, just the different
(11:49):
things that Goshen is involvedin and the different services
that you guys provide now.
Zach Blend (11:53):
Yeah.
I appreciate that.
And I remember that day as well.
I almost got stuck at one of ourstaff member's houses for four
days.
It was really, you know,inexperienced.
So I'm glad that that's alasting memory.
Um, yeah.
You know, Goshen's become.
To be honest, prettyentrepreneurial in the last
couple of years, we'vediversified our services.
And what we've done is we'velooked specifically at areas
(12:15):
where we know that we're limitedin the ranch in a sense where if
all you do is serve 40 teenageboys, that work's important,
that work is transformational,but we started a bump up
against, you know, circumstancesthat we wish we had more control
of and more opportunity aroundthe first of which was when our
kids turned 18.
(12:36):
18 is an important, importantdate in their lives because they
have the opportunity at thatpoint, if they want to sign
themselves out of care.
And a lot of our boys weremaking poor decisions where they
were turning 18 and they werereturning back to the
circumstances they came from.
So the first piece that wereally launched and invested in
was an independent livingprogram.
Um, that's based out of Canton,where at 18, we have youth both
(12:59):
in the ranch and now from allover the region who are deciding
to be part of this with us whoare living primarily in
apartments, where they'refinishing high school or they're
attending college, um, they maybe, you know, working towards a
trade of some sort, but they'restill receiving supports from us
life skills, everything fromopening, a bank account to, you
(13:20):
know, learning how to drive to.
Understanding, you know, what ahealthy, personal relationship
looks like with the oppositesex, uh, things that at that
age, most 18 or 19 year old arestruggling with, but especially
if you don't necessarily havesomething to fall back on.
So what's been cool about thatis to see where are a lot of
those children.
Those youth are today.
(13:40):
Uh, both boys and girls thatwe've invested with the new
beginnings and to understand,you know, I call it extending
the runway, you know, that 18 to21 year old gap.
Where we've had the allowance tostay involved, give them
guidance, and now kind of seethem through what I believe is a
really important stage in theirlife.
It has to
Robert Tidwell (13:59):
be powerful at breaking that cycle.
Zach Blend (14:02):
Yeah, and they start to make good decisions for
themselves.
We've had a couple guys, I canthink of seven or eight that in
that period, they decided tojoin the military and they went
off and they served our country,but they realized that the
structure that you mentionedearlier was actually ideal for
them in terms of being able tofind purpose and really strength
(14:22):
in terms of their circumstance.
And God bless them for the livesthey've lived in and the support
they've offered all of us as aresult of that decision.
Um, some of them have gone on towork a trade where they, now
they have families of their own,but they have a consistent, um,
you know, opportunities as aresult of the investment they
(14:42):
made during those three years.
Um, so we're really proud.
It's Goshen, new beginnings and,uh, we're super proud of, of
what that program has been come,um, to, uh, in a similar
circumstance at the ranch.
We had a lot of boys that hadsisters placed elsewhere.
Maybe they saw them once amonth.
(15:03):
Maybe they didn't see him at alltoo often.
Siblings come in care andthey're separated because you
don't have opportunities forthem to be together.
And maybe that, that, thatsister gets adopted by a family
and the two brothers thatthey're not, and they're
stranded.
And as a result, really, thatfamily is fractured.
Happens far too often.
(15:24):
So we knew that we weren'tnecessarily in the position to
start a girls' ranch.
And we didn't think that wasnecessarily a solution.
So what, the direction that wewent in is we went in and
acquired with the state, acontract offer to open foster
homes.
So Goshen is now in the positionto recruit license.
(15:45):
And oversee foster homes,specifically Cherokee Cobb.
County's kind of the region thatwe're currently kind of focused
around, but those foster homesand those foster parents they're
trained to serve sibling groups.
So we are just uniquely, we workwith siblings who is that have
(16:06):
been separated, are now in ahome are receiving proper
therapy are receiving, you areconnected with their bio family.
Uh, on a irregular basis.
Um, and in some cases, Robertit's sibling groups of two,
three, four, we've had a siblinggroup of five or six, um, to
think about what thecircumstances would be, you
know, absent thoseopportunities, um, that program,
(16:29):
you know, we really, you know,just really got it off the
ground a couple of years agotoday we're serving, you know,
nearly 60 children in fosterhomes.
Um,
Robert Tidwell (16:38):
that's outstanding.
So you're, you're not onlytaking care of the boys on the
ranch, but now you also have the18 to 21 year olds through new
beginnings that you're serving.
And then also sibling groups infoster homes off campus, if you
will, that's outstanding.
Yeah.
Zach Blend (16:54):
There's 115 kids that we care for today with
direct care.
And we're very proud of thatwork and that work, those
agencies are accredited.
Those agencies all have theirown, um, you know, forms of, of
leadership policy curriculum.
So Goshen itself has branchedout where the work it's a lot of
what I do, kind of thecontinuity of keeping our team
(17:15):
close, keeping the cultureintact, even though we're, we're
starting to look in and work inareas that we haven't
previously, um, and really didto communicate.
Yeah.
Out to art, even to art, to ourown donor base, let alone the
greater community that we aremore than just the ranch.
Um, one thing that I'm reallyexcited about, because I can
(17:35):
understand the scale of wherethis work is ultimately headed,
um, is through community-basedservices.
So sometimes I feel like evenGoshen, we serve a little bit
like the insurance agency.
What I mean by that is that westep in.
After the accident after theincident has happened, that's
(17:56):
when we get involved.
And for a long time, my thoughthas been how and why can't we be
more of the defensive drivingclass?
Why can't we take our influence,our reputation, our resources,
and invest them in families.
Preventatively.
What does it look like forGoshen to be on the front end
and, you know, with the stateand with the ability to work
(18:17):
through, you know, kind ofdifferent models.
In 2019, we launched Goshentherapeutic services with the
focus, primarily being onpreventative care.
Trauma-informed preventativecare to bring that same standard
that we are known for.
To families on the front end andthe acceleration of services
(18:39):
that's taken place in the lastcouple of years to see really
the partnerships that we've beenable to establish with DFACS,
with an understanding that do Ithink there will always be a
need for foster care.
Absolutely.
But I also think that if placeslike Goshen are solely focused
on that, then we lose the rolethat we should have around
(19:00):
intended impact around thingsthat are much more.
What I would call root cause,and that can be community mental
health.
That can be affordable housing.
That can be job-related trainingif Goshen's not root cause.
And then who is and root causeis where we're going to
ultimately see transformation.
Robert Tidwell (19:21):
So you guys are.
Identifying families that are atrisk of the children entering
the foster system.
Correct.
And you're going out andproviding them support and
services in an effort to preventthe child from having to go into
foster care, to begin with.
Correct.
That's outstanding.
Well,
Zach Blend (19:41):
you think about, you know, the work that, you know,
your, your, your law group doesin trying to be in front of
people before that accidenthappens.
You know, I know you all aremissing a lot of resources and
just.
Creating a safer, you know, Ithink better connected community
around risk prevention, whichgladly is finally becoming.
(20:03):
I think, you know, more of thenorm in part, because you know,
insurance for everyone continuesto rise and go up.
So the only way we kind of comearound that is to be more, uh,
more risk adverse.
Now it's one thing if it affectsyou personally, but the fact
that it's affecting so manyfamilies generationally.
That's where Goshen, I think hasto have a role and, you know,
(20:26):
walk before you run.
And I want to build around theright people.
People don't realize this, butyou know, Goshen today we have
over, we have over 65 full-timeemployees.
We have today about 40contractors that are working
regularly out in the community.
We have nearly 50 foster parentsthat are working daily out in
the community.
(20:47):
So we've become a little bit ofthis force that I believe is
focused on things that matterand focused on things that
ultimately will drive ahealthier community.
That is
Robert Tidwell (21:00):
outstanding.
I love that approach.
Um, one of the other things thatI really like that you guys are
doing is sometimes.
These young boys come to yourhome and maybe they haven't been
in school for three, fourmonths, or sure.
Some for whatever reason, theyare behind their natural grade
(21:23):
level.
Uh, I understand you guys haveresources and services where you
can get these kids up to speedbefore they even go back into
the school district.
Is that right?
Zach Blend (21:35):
Yeah.
I mean, it's, it's amazing what.
What we've been offered throughthe partnerships that, that
exist within our community, theschool district being one.
So before I answer yourquestion, I think it's important
for people to realize thestrength of leadership within
the Cherokee County community.
I've benefited from thatimmensely.
(21:56):
When you think of people likeDr.
Brian Hightower, when you thinkof people like sheriff Frank
Reynolds, I think of Ben likeBen Looper, uh, with Southeast
restoration, um, Billy Hayeswith Northside Cherokee men that
I've had the opportunity tospend some time with and learn
from.
And they, each of them, as anexample, have extraordinary
(22:17):
teams that they built out.
And if anything, that's whatGoshen has really tried to
model.
So.
I know that I can only do somuch.
And really my, you know, mydirect reports can only do so
much as we've grown and we'vebecome something at scale that
is, you know, fairlysignificant.
So the gift of being able to,you know, raise up leadership to
(22:41):
your point in the world ofeducation, each of our agencies
now has an individual that'ssolely mindful of how they
support our kids, educationally,which.
Is immense because you got tounderstand that these kids,
they, they, a lot of them havespecial needs.
You know, a lot of them are, areparts of, you know, a special,
unique program within theirschools.
(23:02):
And if we can do anything, wecan help them get back on track.
We can help them understand theimportance of an education and
then make sure that they builtrelationships with their
teachers and with theadministrators.
But that work is being done.
You know, by individuals fitgladly as a result of the
resources that that funnel inthat are a part of now, this
(23:24):
greater team that can wake upeach day and just take that on
as what their expectation is.
And I think that's somethingthat I've learned is that, you
know, you have to trust yourteam.
You have to build an establishedstrength, bench strength so that
you can then get that much morespecific in the areas that
(23:44):
matter.
So what does that mean forGoshen?
Education is key.
Uh, therapy, the importance ofour kids, understanding their
circumstances specificallythrough the lens of trauma, um,
you know, the family dynamic,you know, being able to
understand that healthyrelationship that I mentioned
earlier, being a part of, of acommunity that's caring that
(24:08):
allows them to feel vulnerableand build transparency.
Um, a lot of that happensthrough our church partners and
through the attitude of service.
Um, so, you know, we've, we'vereally kind of focused on things
that we believe matter, andwe've been able to put people in
position education inparticular, they can drive
better outcomes.
Robert Tidwell (24:27):
So how can people get involved to support
Goshen?
And what are some of the thingsthat you guys need so that you
are so that you continue to beequipped to provide the services
that the community needs somuch?
Zach Blend (24:46):
That's a great question.
We're fortunate to have aplatform like this to, to even
talk about that.
Um, the first thing I, I reallythink about is, you know,
families, individuals kind ofembracing a certain perspective.
You know, I think sometimesservice can feel transactional.
Um, it's like something you'retold to do on a Saturday or, you
(25:09):
know, it's something that, youknow, a young person is kind of
dragged along to.
And in some fortunate, becausethat's how you then kind of
frame this mindset around whatit means to survive
Robert Tidwell (25:18):
kind of like court ordered community service.
Yeah.
And
Zach Blend (25:20):
I'll be honest.
I avoid a lot of that.
I have people reach out and, youknow, they need community
service hours.
And I said, you know, that's notreally for us.
And it's not because I don'twant them to have a place.
To connect because we're really,I think looking for a little bit
more depth in that it's not whatyou can do for us.
It's what can Goshen do for you?
We talk about two things.
(25:41):
We talk primarily in the livesof our kids, and now our
families that we're connectedto, as you mentioned, the first
thing is can we provide thempeace?
And what does peace mean?
Peace means security peace meanself-awareness peace means, uh,
the sense of transparency, youknow, peace is not a given in
(26:01):
this world.
And I guarantee that a majorityof the people we serve kids in
particular piece was not part ofthe equation before they met us
before they realized they had asafe place to connect, to feel
loved.
If we can do anything we canoffer peace.
The second is purpose.
What is your self esteem?
Where does that come from?
(26:22):
Do you realize that you havegifts and skills that not only
conserve yourself, but serveothers and Robert, this is what
I know.
I've had the chance to meet yourtwo lovely daughters.
All you want all you and yourwife want for them more than
anything is peace and purpose.
Absolutely.
So if that's something that afamily is looking to develop to
(26:47):
understand, to talk about, toexperience, find us, find Goshen
and just allow Goshen toresonate in your life.
Um, I, I tell people thatpassion is the very best place
to find your purpose.
(27:07):
People say, Zach, you know, I'mlooking for a place to serve.
I'm looking for a place toconnect and my messages, what is
it in this life that you love?
What is it that drives you?
What is it that you enjoy forme?
I was 23 years old.
When I really found Goshen.
I found it at a time when I wasout of college, I was back.
(27:29):
I was living at home.
I was coaching and teaching atmy high school in Atlanta.
Holiness's.
But I had a lot of free time onmy hands and I felt a little bit
like, you know, what am I doing?
Am I, is this now the track I'mon for the next 60 years?
And I remember one day I was inthe basement and I came
upstairs.
I was probably sitting on thecouch watching sports center and
(27:51):
my father walked in and he gaveme the best piece of advice I've
ever been given.
He looked me square in the eyeand he said, stop feeling sorry
for yourself and find someone toserve.
That was like, Whoa.
And I had fought Goshen off.
I had fought it off.
I didn't want to really work forhim.
(28:14):
I didn't really want to buy intowhat it was.
And I kind of took it almost.
Yeah.
As most, he, he kind of almostas a threat, like, Hey Zach, get
your act together.
So I said, okay.
So I started traveling with himup to the ranch and.
When I got there, I found abunch of boys who really loved
(28:37):
to shoot hoops and throw thefootball.
And I was like, wait, I love toshoot hoops.
I love to throw the football.
And I just started shootinghoops.
And by the end of that summer, Ihad God's love in my life where
he had taken me out of thisbasement, so to speak and
brought me to a place where Ihad felt peace and purpose and
(28:59):
really healing.
Where I then went to my father.
I said, I don't know what therole is, but I feel connected to
this place because it met mewhere I was.
And, you know, I've learned tokind of embrace burden.
And for people that are outthere saying, you know, how do I
connect two things, allow yourpassion to fuel your purpose and
(29:23):
embrace your burden.
There's so much learning thatcan happen.
When you feel alone, left outout of place to be connected to
something else.
And for me, a lot of that thenhappened over the next couple of
years.
On three occasions, I traveledin Nicaragua where I went to
(29:43):
medical mission trips, and I am,I am the furthest thing from
medical, but I'm a pretty, youknow, I'm a tall, big guy and I
was in charge of carrying theluggage with the medication from
where the bus stopped.
To where the village was.
And remember that first trip.
I was like, by the end of it, Iwas like, my back hurt.
I was worn out.
(30:03):
I was like, everyone's talkingabout how they've experienced
God in their life.
And I'm like, all I know is Ineed some Advil.
And on that last day it wasraining.
I slipped, I fell, I had theluggage falls off my back and
I'm sitting here on the groundand Robert I'm honest, man.
(30:25):
I'm in the middle of nowhere inNicaragua.
And I see these donkeys kind ofout on a pasture and it reminded
me of, of Christ on a donkeyheaded to Jerusalem.
And, you know, I knew that forthat week, what I didn't realize
is that I had had God kind of onmy back and that he was using me
(30:46):
to get from one place to thenext.
And then, you know, in a wayit's kind of funny, but I was
kind of the donkey and I waslike, wow.
And I've embraced that eversince, you know, I've, I've
tried to stay humble in my workand I've tried to stay humble
and how I lead.
And I've tried to stay humble inhow I connect and that's what I
(31:07):
would want for people who areseeking that kind of connection,
that kind of depth, the bestplace to start quite honestly,
is our website, Goshenvalley.org.
You're going to get a lot ofinformation about our agencies.
You're going to get informationaround service States that are
going to start to open up again.
Second Saturday of every month,we're going to have people out
(31:27):
of the ranch in the morningdoing service work.
Um, you're going to getinformation about what it would
look like if you wanted to, um,have interest in learning about
being a foster parent.
We have monthly informationalsessions that you can get
information around and attend.
If you like.
And obviously information, ifyou feel led to support our
work.
(31:47):
Um, but find something thatyou're passionate.
If it's not Goshen, findsomething that you're passionate
about and allow that to driveyour purpose.
Robert Tidwell (31:59):
You are listening to the peach buzz,
brought to you by a Tidwell'sStrimban injury lawyers.
And again, we are here withGoshen Valley, boys, ranch, CEO,
Zach blend, as Zach.
I loved the story that you justshared with us about your dad
and his advice.
And that resonated with mebecause, and I'm getting
(32:21):
goosebumps just thinking aboutit.
That was how I met your dad.
Amen.
Because I, you know, was a youngattorney at the time was just
starting up a practice, wastaking my lumps, figuring things
out and was just feeling kind ofdown in the doldrums and your
dad, wasn't there to tell methat, but something in me said,
(32:45):
Quit whining and go findsomebody to serve.
And that is literally what Iwent through in, you know, put
together a small little projectwith some folks.
And that was how I actually metyour dad.
And also how I met some otherfolks that were involved with
the defects at the time on acouple of other projects.
And he was absolutely right.
(33:06):
It, um, nothing can make youfeel better or get you out of a
down spot.
More so than finding somebody toserve and sort of like your, um,
illustration of Nicaragua.
I've always heard, it said I'venot been fortunate.
I've not had an opportunity yetto, uh, go on a active mission
(33:26):
trip.
I intend to one day Lord willinghaven't happened yet, but I've
always been told you, go on amission trip thinking you're
going to change someone's life.
But it's actually your life thatgets changed, man.
And that's how my experiencewith Goshen has always been as
well.
And I would encourage folks ifyou are looking for an
(33:46):
opportunity to get involved insomething, be careful because if
you go to Goshen, you'reprobably going to fall in love
with it.
And you're probably going towant to continue to serve there,
but it is a great place.
And the work you guys are doingis, is.
Just fantastic.
We're all grateful for what youguys are doing
Zach Blend (34:09):
well, Robert, thank you for being such a committed
member to our Cherokee communityand for creating platforms like
this for people like me toshare.
And, uh, I look forward tocontinuing our partnership and
looking for ways to continue tostrengthen Cherokee in the
process I do as
Robert Tidwell (34:24):
well.
So the second Saturdays.
Yeah.
Um, can anybody, do you have tosign up on the website to show
up or is this something you canjust show up on Saturday
morning?
How does that work?
Zach Blend (34:36):
Yeah, it's best if you sign up, it just, it gives
us a chance to get a sense ofhow many people are going to be
there so we can pray, uh, planappropriately.
Um, it is a dynamic where wefeel comfortable with families,
you know, attending, um, thekind of environment where you
want to make sure, you know, youwork with your family.
Um, we don't have a bunch ofkids just kind of running around
the ranch.
(34:56):
So yeah, it's intended to bevery safe.
It's very structured and, um,it's really, you know, kind of
intended around the exposure.
Here's the truth.
Very few people ever have theopportunity to serve overseas or
go on a mission trip.
But if Goshen can be thereNicaragua, I feel that that's as
(35:17):
much our mission as it isserving foster kids.
So we try to create veryintentional environments.
Some of you are listening, youmight have a business and you
say, Hey, it'd be great to bringmy coworkers up.
And you might be a part of asmall group.
Um, maybe you're a part of acivic group.
We specifically createintentional environments for
those types of engagements and,and that can sometimes fall on a
(35:41):
weekday as well.
So, um, whether it be secondSaturday through the website,
whether it be reaching out, youknow, about, um, another group
that you might have interest inbringing up uniquely, uh, we
welcome the chance, especiallypost pandemic to, uh, have
people into and to put them togood work.
Robert Tidwell (36:00):
All right.
Now.
No, none of this about you untila few minutes before we got
started, this was one of thebest stories I've heard in a
while.
You actually deejayed.
I did a radio show in college.
Zach Blend (36:11):
I did.
Yeah.
So I attended Rollins college,small private school in winter
park, Florida and not far fromOrlando.
And, uh, yeah, that's what Iwanted to do.
I wanted to go into sportsbroadcasting when I was in high
school.
I loved sports, you know, verycompetitive.
And that was kind of my vision.
I worked for a guy named MattStewart when my senior year, you
(36:34):
know, ahead of going down toRollins where I was part of his
crew.
We get on a Turner field and,you know, I'd shoot tape and,
you know, hold the camera.
And I had this whole big visionand I get to Rollins.
And the one slot they hadavailable was the 12:00 AM to
2:00 PM, two nights a week.
And the guy said, if you wantit, you can do whatever you want
(36:55):
with it.
So personally for me at thattime, and I enjoyed hip hop, um,
outcast in particular.
And I would have my little showfrom 12 to two.
And I think the only people thatlistened were the guys that kind
of lived in my pod yet aroundthe dormitory.
And, you know, my mother wouldgo on the WPR K website and, and
(37:17):
find it and she would listen,but, you know, I loved it.
It was, uh, it was cool and itwas kind of the direction I was
headed in.
And then like most, you know, 18year olds, I joined a fraternity
shortly thereafter andeverything kind of went a little
sideways, but, uh, you know, theopportunity now, you know,
whether it be, you know, chanceslike this today, um, I love to
kind of look back on thoseroutes and, uh, the time I had
(37:39):
in the studio for sure.
Robert Tidwell (37:40):
That is awesome.
I love that story.
Like I said, best story I heardall week.
All right.
Great.
Well, Zach, thank you enough forcoming in today and it's been
great chatting with you.
And again, thank you so much foreverything that Goshen is doing.
Thank you for the lives thaty'all are touching.
Thank you for the impact thatyou're having.
And thank you for recognizing apart of our community.
(38:06):
That desperately needs to beloved on served and not just in
a way that makes you feel goodabout yourself, but more so in a
way that prepares these youngmen and women for life after
their interaction with you.
And just the success storiesthat I know of personally just
(38:26):
speaks volumes to y'all'scommitment to doing it the right
way.
And again, cannot thank youenough for that.
Zach Blend (38:33):
Thank you, Robert.
I'm excited to see how thingsgo.
Yeah.
As far as the podcast, I'mexcited for the people that you
have lined up and the impactthat this time with you will
also, uh, mean to those thatlisten.
So thank you for including me.
Robert Tidwell (38:45):
All right.
That has been the peach buzzbrought to you by Tidwell's
Strimban injury lawyers, and wewill look forward to joining you
next time.
hello and welcome to the peach buzz by
Tidwell's Strimban injurylawyers.
Woodstock's full service,personal injury law firm.
The peach buzz is a podcastdedicated to showcasing people
who are making positive impactsin our communities and
Woodstock, Cherokee County,Metro Atlanta, and all of North
Georgia.
Today, we are very excited tohave with us a special guest and
(00:41):
a dear personal friend of mine.
Uh, Mr.
Zach can blend the chiefexecutive officer of the Goshen
Valley boys ranch.
Welcome to so the peach buzzact.
Zach Blend (00:51):
Oh, thank you, Robert.
It's great to be here today.
It's always nice to have thechance to talk about what we do
at Goshen, especially withfriends like yourself.
Well,
Robert Tidwell (01:00):
I appreciate that.
Uh, I'm pretty excited aboutwhat we're going to talk about
today.
Goshen is very near and dear tomy heart.
It's a place that I've had anopportunity to serve, uh, in the
past.
And for a number of years now,I've had an opportunity to go up
there and be a part of somepretty special projects.
And it's one of those thingsthat's near and dear to my
(01:21):
heart, just because of, youknow, sort of my background, a
lot of people might not knowthis, that, uh, I myself was in
the foster system as a youngchild and was fortunate to be
adopted by a loving home,through the efforts of other
people that do sort of what youguys are doing at Goshen.
So it's a very, uh, Exciting forme to have an opportunity to be
(01:44):
a part of what you guys aredoing.
And I'm looking forward tosharing with everybody here in
our community, why Goshen is sospectacular.
Zach Blend (01:53):
Yeah.
I appreciate that.
It's a, you know, it'sdefinitely a place of purpose
and it's a place that'sbenefited significantly from
Cherokee County and.
The fact that so many, whetherit be through their church,
through their business, througha civic group, but more and more
men and women, families,especially are connecting with
(02:15):
our work.
They're finding it to beimportant to them.
They're finding it to be apassion of sorts.
And when they had the chance tohear really from someone like
yourself, who.
Has experienced in, in somecases, a lot of what those we
serve are, are facing.
I think it just brings so muchmore of an understanding to
(02:38):
those that are invested
Robert Tidwell (02:41):
for those who don't know, uh, tell everybody
where Goshen Valley is located.
Zach Blend (02:46):
Yeah.
So, so it's really cool.
You Goshen Valley, um, you know,it was really, you know, uh, a
vision that was first cast by myfather, uh, John.
back in the early eighties, heand my mother moved to town.
My sister moved to town and mydad had this dream of, you know,
always, you know, owning a hobbyfarm.
And, he grew up in actually wasborn in, in, uh, Brooklyn and
(03:08):
grew up on long Island, uh,spent time, uh, in Allentown,
Pennsylvania, and when he was inschool and, um, Muellenberg
college.
And worked on a hobby farm whenhe was in college that kind of
birthed this idea when he was ina position to own something for
himself that, uh, he would, youknow, find a piece of property.
And when they moved to Georgia,uh, he was actually 36 years
(03:29):
old.
I just turned 37.
So kind of at the same period ofplate of time, where, where I am
today, um, he found this pieceof property in the silicone
Northwest Cherokee, that, hebought from all people.
Uh, the local moonshiner knewKlein who, uh, who told my
father, he had.
Uh, never really dealt with theYankee before at that point.
(03:52):
And he was in his eighties.
And, um, my dad tells thestories of sitting out on the
front porch and people drivingup on a Saturday and Newt
Stephan inside.
And it was a little house and,you know, pulling out a Mason
jar and watching thesetransactions take place and, uh,
you know, believe it or not knewfor whatever reason sold my
father from New York, you know,50 acres.
(04:12):
And that was, you know, the,the, the first piece of what is
now a 300 acre ranch.
That was truly just a hobby farmor place that, you know, we
lived in Dunwoody and we woulddrive up on Saturdays and we
were there.
We had horses and, you know, wewould kind of hang out, but it
wasn't necessarily purposeful.
It was important to my dad fordifferent reasons, but even the
early nineties, um, he and mymother found themselves in a new
(04:35):
church and it was really thatpastor at Redeemer Lutheran in
Atlanta who planted a seed bysharing to the congregation that
they had this vision of achildren's home, but they didn't
have any land to build it on.
My parents had only been at thechurch for a short period of
time.
And my dad that next day wentand saw the pastor and said,
Hey, you know, this might soundcrazy, but I've got this land
(04:57):
and we're not really doinganything with it.
Maybe the church can, you know,think of different ways that it
could be put to use.
And that in itself was the, the,this planted seed of sorts that
is Goshen Valley, boys ranch.
And from that day, over the nextseven or eight years, my father
and a team of people fromRedeemer worked on the
licensing, worked on thecontracting and the curriculum
(05:19):
and all the things that neededto be in place for the ranch to
open specifically for teenageboys that were living in the
state foster care system thathad been removed from their home
circumstances out of theircontrol.
And.
That was the first of what's nowbeen a 20 year journey where
specifically the ranch that'sstill the most well-known in
terms of the work we do hasserved, you know, over 700 boys,
(05:44):
ages, typically 12 to 18, whoare in a position where
typically they would be absentthe opportunity to be part of a
family because of thecircumstances surrounding, you
know, their, their, their pastexperiences.
There just aren't enough fosterhomes for teenage boys.
And what has happened in this,the creation of a family model
(06:07):
where these young men now liveon this beautiful ranch horses,
cows playing fields.
We built a gymnasium a couple ofyears ago that has really
transcended, um, our ability toserve at a unique level.
But most importantly, our boysare living with families, house
parents.
And they have the opportunity toreceive their, their therapy,
(06:27):
receive educational support,you're on their campus.
And that program, the successthat we've had in terms of
driving families through theattitude of service, really
local churches in particular whohave found their way to Goshen.
The resources that have comeinto play.
And the reputation that we'veestablished has allowed us to
(06:50):
now branch into other workwithin the foster care system.
Robert Tidwell (06:54):
Let's talk a moment about those homes.
A lot of times, I think whenpeople think of a group home.
Yeah.
So almost like a dormitory ideathat there's this big building
that everybody kind of has that,you know, they're all in one big
Bay or something, but that's nothow it Goshen is set up.
Uh, Goshen has several houses onthe property.
Zach Blend (07:14):
Is that right?
Yeah.
There's six different homes.
Uh, and, uh, the housesthemselves.
I remember my father saying, youknow, it's, you wanted to build
a home that he himself would beproud to live in.
And he wanted to ensure that theboys felt a sense of I think
significance in terms of thehome itself.
Every boy has their own bedroom,uh, has their own bathroom.
(07:36):
The houses themselves.
Most, most of them are over6,000 square feet with
basements, uh, where, you know,there's plenty of room for them
to be active and to beconnected, you know, with their
house parents, as well as withthe other boys in the home with
in many cases they think of asbrothers.
I remember a story from yearsago.
You know, one of the boys was,you know, at school, all the
kids attend the local publicschools there in Cherokee.
(07:59):
And, um, he was, you know,talking about the home that he
lived in.
And, you know, what that meantto him.
And these are kids thattypically, you know, were coming
from circumstances where some ofthem may not have had running
water.
You know, some of them may havebeen living from hotel to hotel.
Some of them may have been inthe back of someone's vehicle
for a period of time.
So to be able to have pride inwhere you live, that was
(08:20):
important and, and has alwaysbeen part of the Goshen model.
And, uh, I think people sensethat, uh, when they step onto
our campus, um, that, you know,there's a certain type of
standard that we want to set,um, in terms of what we want to
offer and what we want our, ouryoung people to experience while
they're with us.
Robert Tidwell (08:39):
Each time that I come and visit at Goshen, I'm
struck it just how great youguys are at providing structure
for these young men.
A lot of times they're pluckedfrom a situation where it's.
Quite frankly, it can bechaotic.
You don't know where you'regoing to stay that night.
You might not know what you'reeating, what you're wearing.
And then you get put in thisenvironment where you have house
(09:02):
parents, you have structure, youhave certain rules.
And I love the way the kids seemto maybe not at first, but they
seem to really get on board withthat notion of, you know, I have
certain responsibilities whileI'm staying here.
Could you share
Zach Blend (09:19):
that?
Yeah, I think not just for, for,you know, youth and foster care,
but really for everyone, yourespond to two things, you
respond to relationships and yourespond to the environment in
which you're in.
And that really is at the coreof what we try to provide and
try to ultimately provideinfluence around, um, first and
(09:41):
foremost, that connection that,that, that our boys have with
their house parents and.
The accountability and theresponsibility that comes with a
healthy relationship, which in alot of ways they haven't
experienced before.
It can be difficult for them tokind of acclimate to at the same
time, it's the environment thatthey live in.
(10:02):
We talk about some of theniceties that we've created.
There's also responsibility andkeeping it that way.
So Robert you've been to NewYork campus and you, if you step
into one of the boys' bedrooms,there's an expectation that that
rooms claim that the beds made.
Not because we're trying toprove a point, but because we're
trying to build maturity, youknow, for however long that
(10:23):
young man is with us, we want toensure that they're building
some discipline that they cantake with them.
And.
When they do that and they takeownership in themselves, they
then can start to develop anunderstanding of how they can
take ownership in someone elseas well.
And that's at the core of ouroutcome is personal
responsibility andself-awareness no different than
(10:46):
your children are mine.
Robert Tidwell (10:48):
That's outstanding.
You and I were talking a littlebit before we got on air and I
had shared with you that whenthe snowpocalypse hit here in
Atlanta, We were trying tofigure out if it was seven or
eight years ago, somewherearound in there.
And I was actually at Goshenwhen the snow started to fall
(11:08):
and it was beautiful.
We were in this, uh, thisconference room type area and I
could look out over the ranchand I mean, it's just a
beautiful place as it is.
But within goodness, 15, 20minutes, that place it covered
up in snow.
And it was just absolutelygorgeous.
And, uh, that's when my wifecalled that she was stuck trying
to pick up our oldest daughterfrom school.
(11:29):
So I had to leave.
But thinking back on that day,when snowpocalypse hit and I was
there at Goshen, Goshen wasprimarily a boys ranch, and you
guys were doing some amazingthings as just a boys ranch.
But now Goshen is so much morethan just a boys ranch.
What share, share with ourlisteners, just the different
(11:49):
things that Goshen is involvedin and the different services
that you guys provide now.
Zach Blend (11:53):
Yeah.
I appreciate that.
And I remember that day as well.
I almost got stuck at one of ourstaff member's houses for four
days.
It was really, you know,inexperienced.
So I'm glad that that's alasting memory.
Um, yeah.
You know, Goshen's become.
To be honest, prettyentrepreneurial in the last
couple of years, we'vediversified our services.
And what we've done is we'velooked specifically at areas
(12:15):
where we know that we're limitedin the ranch in a sense where if
all you do is serve 40 teenageboys, that work's important,
that work is transformational,but we started a bump up
against, you know, circumstancesthat we wish we had more control
of and more opportunity aroundthe first of which was when our
kids turned 18.
(12:36):
18 is an important, importantdate in their lives because they
have the opportunity at thatpoint, if they want to sign
themselves out of care.
And a lot of our boys weremaking poor decisions where they
were turning 18 and they werereturning back to the
circumstances they came from.
So the first piece that wereally launched and invested in
was an independent livingprogram.
Um, that's based out of Canton,where at 18, we have youth both
(12:59):
in the ranch and now from allover the region who are deciding
to be part of this with us whoare living primarily in
apartments, where they'refinishing high school or they're
attending college, um, they maybe, you know, working towards a
trade of some sort, but they'restill receiving supports from us
life skills, everything fromopening, a bank account to, you
(13:20):
know, learning how to drive to.
Understanding, you know, what ahealthy, personal relationship
looks like with the oppositesex, uh, things that at that
age, most 18 or 19 year old arestruggling with, but especially
if you don't necessarily havesomething to fall back on.
So what's been cool about thatis to see where are a lot of
those children.
Those youth are today.
(13:40):
Uh, both boys and girls thatwe've invested with the new
beginnings and to understand,you know, I call it extending
the runway, you know, that 18 to21 year old gap.
Where we've had the allowance tostay involved, give them
guidance, and now kind of seethem through what I believe is a
really important stage in theirlife.
It has to
Robert Tidwell (13:59):
be powerful at breaking that cycle.
Zach Blend (14:02):
Yeah, and they start to make good decisions for
themselves.
We've had a couple guys, I canthink of seven or eight that in
that period, they decided tojoin the military and they went
off and they served our country,but they realized that the
structure that you mentionedearlier was actually ideal for
them in terms of being able tofind purpose and really strength
(14:22):
in terms of their circumstance.
And God bless them for the livesthey've lived in and the support
they've offered all of us as aresult of that decision.
Um, some of them have gone on towork a trade where they, now
they have families of their own,but they have a consistent, um,
you know, opportunities as aresult of the investment they
(14:42):
made during those three years.
Um, so we're really proud.
It's Goshen, new beginnings and,uh, we're super proud of, of
what that program has been come,um, to, uh, in a similar
circumstance at the ranch.
We had a lot of boys that hadsisters placed elsewhere.
Maybe they saw them once amonth.
(15:03):
Maybe they didn't see him at alltoo often.
Siblings come in care andthey're separated because you
don't have opportunities forthem to be together.
And maybe that, that, thatsister gets adopted by a family
and the two brothers thatthey're not, and they're
stranded.
And as a result, really, thatfamily is fractured.
Happens far too often.
(15:24):
So we knew that we weren'tnecessarily in the position to
start a girls' ranch.
And we didn't think that wasnecessarily a solution.
So what, the direction that wewent in is we went in and
acquired with the state, acontract offer to open foster
homes.
So Goshen is now in the positionto recruit license.
(15:45):
And oversee foster homes,specifically Cherokee Cobb.
County's kind of the region thatwe're currently kind of focused
around, but those foster homesand those foster parents they're
trained to serve sibling groups.
So we are just uniquely, we workwith siblings who is that have
(16:06):
been separated, are now in ahome are receiving proper
therapy are receiving, you areconnected with their bio family.
Uh, on a irregular basis.
Um, and in some cases, Robertit's sibling groups of two,
three, four, we've had a siblinggroup of five or six, um, to
think about what thecircumstances would be, you
know, absent thoseopportunities, um, that program,
(16:29):
you know, we really, you know,just really got it off the
ground a couple of years agotoday we're serving, you know,
nearly 60 children in fosterhomes.
Um,
Robert Tidwell (16:38):
that's outstanding.
So you're, you're not onlytaking care of the boys on the
ranch, but now you also have the18 to 21 year olds through new
beginnings that you're serving.
And then also sibling groups infoster homes off campus, if you
will, that's outstanding.
Yeah.
Zach Blend (16:54):
There's 115 kids that we care for today with
direct care.
And we're very proud of thatwork and that work, those
agencies are accredited.
Those agencies all have theirown, um, you know, forms of, of
leadership policy curriculum.
So Goshen itself has branchedout where the work it's a lot of
what I do, kind of thecontinuity of keeping our team
(17:15):
close, keeping the cultureintact, even though we're, we're
starting to look in and work inareas that we haven't
previously, um, and really didto communicate.
Yeah.
Out to art, even to art, to ourown donor base, let alone the
greater community that we aremore than just the ranch.
Um, one thing that I'm reallyexcited about, because I can
(17:35):
understand the scale of wherethis work is ultimately headed,
um, is through community-basedservices.
So sometimes I feel like evenGoshen, we serve a little bit
like the insurance agency.
What I mean by that is that westep in.
After the accident after theincident has happened, that's
(17:56):
when we get involved.
And for a long time, my thoughthas been how and why can't we be
more of the defensive drivingclass?
Why can't we take our influence,our reputation, our resources,
and invest them in families.
Preventatively.
What does it look like forGoshen to be on the front end
and, you know, with the stateand with the ability to work
(18:17):
through, you know, kind ofdifferent models.
In 2019, we launched Goshentherapeutic services with the
focus, primarily being onpreventative care.
Trauma-informed preventativecare to bring that same standard
that we are known for.
To families on the front end andthe acceleration of services
(18:39):
that's taken place in the lastcouple of years to see really
the partnerships that we've beenable to establish with DFACS,
with an understanding that do Ithink there will always be a
need for foster care.
Absolutely.
But I also think that if placeslike Goshen are solely focused
on that, then we lose the rolethat we should have around
(19:00):
intended impact around thingsthat are much more.
What I would call root cause,and that can be community mental
health.
That can be affordable housing.
That can be job-related trainingif Goshen's not root cause.
And then who is and root causeis where we're going to
ultimately see transformation.
Robert Tidwell (19:21):
So you guys are.
Identifying families that are atrisk of the children entering
the foster system.
Correct.
And you're going out andproviding them support and
services in an effort to preventthe child from having to go into
foster care, to begin with.
Correct.
That's outstanding.
Well,
Zach Blend (19:41):
you think about, you know, the work that, you know,
your, your, your law group doesin trying to be in front of
people before that accidenthappens.
You know, I know you all aremissing a lot of resources and
just.
Creating a safer, you know, Ithink better connected community
around risk prevention, whichgladly is finally becoming.
(20:03):
I think, you know, more of thenorm in part, because you know,
insurance for everyone continuesto rise and go up.
So the only way we kind of comearound that is to be more, uh,
more risk adverse.
Now it's one thing if it affectsyou personally, but the fact
that it's affecting so manyfamilies generationally.
That's where Goshen, I think hasto have a role and, you know,
(20:26):
walk before you run.
And I want to build around theright people.
People don't realize this, butyou know, Goshen today we have
over, we have over 65 full-timeemployees.
We have today about 40contractors that are working
regularly out in the community.
We have nearly 50 foster parentsthat are working daily out in
the community.
(20:47):
So we've become a little bit ofthis force that I believe is
focused on things that matterand focused on things that
ultimately will drive ahealthier community.
That is
Robert Tidwell (21:00):
outstanding.
I love that approach.
Um, one of the other things thatI really like that you guys are
doing is sometimes.
These young boys come to yourhome and maybe they haven't been
in school for three, fourmonths, or sure.
Some for whatever reason, theyare behind their natural grade
(21:23):
level.
Uh, I understand you guys haveresources and services where you
can get these kids up to speedbefore they even go back into
the school district.
Is that right?
Zach Blend (21:35):
Yeah.
I mean, it's, it's amazing what.
What we've been offered throughthe partnerships that, that
exist within our community, theschool district being one.
So before I answer yourquestion, I think it's important
for people to realize thestrength of leadership within
the Cherokee County community.
I've benefited from thatimmensely.
(21:56):
When you think of people likeDr.
Brian Hightower, when you thinkof people like sheriff Frank
Reynolds, I think of Ben likeBen Looper, uh, with Southeast
restoration, um, Billy Hayeswith Northside Cherokee men that
I've had the opportunity tospend some time with and learn
from.
And they, each of them, as anexample, have extraordinary
(22:17):
teams that they built out.
And if anything, that's whatGoshen has really tried to
model.
So.
I know that I can only do somuch.
And really my, you know, mydirect reports can only do so
much as we've grown and we'vebecome something at scale that
is, you know, fairlysignificant.
So the gift of being able to,you know, raise up leadership to
(22:41):
your point in the world ofeducation, each of our agencies
now has an individual that'ssolely mindful of how they
support our kids, educationally,which.
Is immense because you got tounderstand that these kids,
they, they, a lot of them havespecial needs.
You know, a lot of them are, areparts of, you know, a special,
unique program within theirschools.
(23:02):
And if we can do anything, wecan help them get back on track.
We can help them understand theimportance of an education and
then make sure that they builtrelationships with their
teachers and with theadministrators.
But that work is being done.
You know, by individuals fitgladly as a result of the
resources that that funnel inthat are a part of now, this
(23:24):
greater team that can wake upeach day and just take that on
as what their expectation is.
And I think that's somethingthat I've learned is that, you
know, you have to trust yourteam.
You have to build an establishedstrength, bench strength so that
you can then get that much morespecific in the areas that
(23:44):
matter.
So what does that mean forGoshen?
Education is key.
Uh, therapy, the importance ofour kids, understanding their
circumstances specificallythrough the lens of trauma, um,
you know, the family dynamic,you know, being able to
understand that healthyrelationship that I mentioned
earlier, being a part of, of acommunity that's caring that
(24:08):
allows them to feel vulnerableand build transparency.
Um, a lot of that happensthrough our church partners and
through the attitude of service.
Um, so, you know, we've, we'vereally kind of focused on things
that we believe matter, andwe've been able to put people in
position education inparticular, they can drive
better outcomes.
Robert Tidwell (24:27):
So how can people get involved to support
Goshen?
And what are some of the thingsthat you guys need so that you
are so that you continue to beequipped to provide the services
that the community needs somuch?
Zach Blend (24:46):
That's a great question.
We're fortunate to have aplatform like this to, to even
talk about that.
Um, the first thing I, I reallythink about is, you know,
families, individuals kind ofembracing a certain perspective.
You know, I think sometimesservice can feel transactional.
Um, it's like something you'retold to do on a Saturday or, you
(25:09):
know, it's something that, youknow, a young person is kind of
dragged along to.
And in some fortunate, becausethat's how you then kind of
frame this mindset around whatit means to survive
Robert Tidwell (25:18):
kind of like court ordered community service.
Yeah.
And
Zach Blend (25:20):
I'll be honest.
I avoid a lot of that.
I have people reach out and, youknow, they need community
service hours.
And I said, you know, that's notreally for us.
And it's not because I don'twant them to have a place.
To connect because we're really,I think looking for a little bit
more depth in that it's not whatyou can do for us.
It's what can Goshen do for you?
We talk about two things.
(25:41):
We talk primarily in the livesof our kids, and now our
families that we're connectedto, as you mentioned, the first
thing is can we provide thempeace?
And what does peace mean?
Peace means security peace meanself-awareness peace means, uh,
the sense of transparency, youknow, peace is not a given in
(26:01):
this world.
And I guarantee that a majorityof the people we serve kids in
particular piece was not part ofthe equation before they met us
before they realized they had asafe place to connect, to feel
loved.
If we can do anything we canoffer peace.
The second is purpose.
What is your self esteem?
Where does that come from?
(26:22):
Do you realize that you havegifts and skills that not only
conserve yourself, but serveothers and Robert, this is what
I know.
I've had the chance to meet yourtwo lovely daughters.
All you want all you and yourwife want for them more than
anything is peace and purpose.
Absolutely.
So if that's something that afamily is looking to develop to
(26:47):
understand, to talk about, toexperience, find us, find Goshen
and just allow Goshen toresonate in your life.
Um, I, I tell people thatpassion is the very best place
to find your purpose.
(27:07):
People say, Zach, you know, I'mlooking for a place to serve.
I'm looking for a place toconnect and my messages, what is
it in this life that you love?
What is it that drives you?
What is it that you enjoy forme?
I was 23 years old.
When I really found Goshen.
I found it at a time when I wasout of college, I was back.
(27:29):
I was living at home.
I was coaching and teaching atmy high school in Atlanta.
Holiness's.
But I had a lot of free time onmy hands and I felt a little bit
like, you know, what am I doing?
Am I, is this now the track I'mon for the next 60 years?
And I remember one day I was inthe basement and I came
upstairs.
I was probably sitting on thecouch watching sports center and
(27:51):
my father walked in and he gaveme the best piece of advice I've
ever been given.
He looked me square in the eyeand he said, stop feeling sorry
for yourself and find someone toserve.
That was like, Whoa.
And I had fought Goshen off.
I had fought it off.
I didn't want to really work forhim.
(28:14):
I didn't really want to buy intowhat it was.
And I kind of took it almost.
Yeah.
As most, he, he kind of almostas a threat, like, Hey Zach, get
your act together.
So I said, okay.
So I started traveling with himup to the ranch and.
When I got there, I found abunch of boys who really loved
(28:37):
to shoot hoops and throw thefootball.
And I was like, wait, I love toshoot hoops.
I love to throw the football.
And I just started shootinghoops.
And by the end of that summer, Ihad God's love in my life where
he had taken me out of thisbasement, so to speak and
brought me to a place where Ihad felt peace and purpose and
(28:59):
really healing.
Where I then went to my father.
I said, I don't know what therole is, but I feel connected to
this place because it met mewhere I was.
And, you know, I've learned tokind of embrace burden.
And for people that are outthere saying, you know, how do I
connect two things, allow yourpassion to fuel your purpose and
(29:23):
embrace your burden.
There's so much learning thatcan happen.
When you feel alone, left outout of place to be connected to
something else.
And for me, a lot of that thenhappened over the next couple of
years.
On three occasions, I traveledin Nicaragua where I went to
(29:43):
medical mission trips, and I am,I am the furthest thing from
medical, but I'm a pretty, youknow, I'm a tall, big guy and I
was in charge of carrying theluggage with the medication from
where the bus stopped.
To where the village was.
And remember that first trip.
I was like, by the end of it, Iwas like, my back hurt.
I was worn out.
(30:03):
I was like, everyone's talkingabout how they've experienced
God in their life.
And I'm like, all I know is Ineed some Advil.
And on that last day it wasraining.
I slipped, I fell, I had theluggage falls off my back and
I'm sitting here on the groundand Robert I'm honest, man.
(30:25):
I'm in the middle of nowhere inNicaragua.
And I see these donkeys kind ofout on a pasture and it reminded
me of, of Christ on a donkeyheaded to Jerusalem.
And, you know, I knew that forthat week, what I didn't realize
is that I had had God kind of onmy back and that he was using me
(30:46):
to get from one place to thenext.
And then, you know, in a wayit's kind of funny, but I was
kind of the donkey and I waslike, wow.
And I've embraced that eversince, you know, I've, I've
tried to stay humble in my workand I've tried to stay humble
and how I lead.
And I've tried to stay humble inhow I connect and that's what I
(31:07):
would want for people who areseeking that kind of connection,
that kind of depth, the bestplace to start quite honestly,
is our website, Goshenvalley.org.
You're going to get a lot ofinformation about our agencies.
You're going to get informationaround service States that are
going to start to open up again.
Second Saturday of every month,we're going to have people out
(31:27):
of the ranch in the morningdoing service work.
Um, you're going to getinformation about what it would
look like if you wanted to, um,have interest in learning about
being a foster parent.
We have monthly informationalsessions that you can get
information around and attend.
If you like.
And obviously information, ifyou feel led to support our
work.
(31:47):
Um, but find something thatyou're passionate.
If it's not Goshen, findsomething that you're passionate
about and allow that to driveyour purpose.
Robert Tidwell (31:59):
You are listening to the peach buzz,
brought to you by a Tidwell'sStrimban injury lawyers.
And again, we are here withGoshen Valley, boys, ranch, CEO,
Zach blend, as Zach.
I loved the story that you justshared with us about your dad
and his advice.
And that resonated with mebecause, and I'm getting
(32:21):
goosebumps just thinking aboutit.
That was how I met your dad.
Amen.
Because I, you know, was a youngattorney at the time was just
starting up a practice, wastaking my lumps, figuring things
out and was just feeling kind ofdown in the doldrums and your
dad, wasn't there to tell methat, but something in me said,
(32:45):
Quit whining and go findsomebody to serve.
And that is literally what Iwent through in, you know, put
together a small little projectwith some folks.
And that was how I actually metyour dad.
And also how I met some otherfolks that were involved with
the defects at the time on acouple of other projects.
And he was absolutely right.
(33:06):
It, um, nothing can make youfeel better or get you out of a
down spot.
More so than finding somebody toserve and sort of like your, um,
illustration of Nicaragua.
I've always heard, it said I'venot been fortunate.
I've not had an opportunity yetto, uh, go on a active mission
(33:26):
trip.
I intend to one day Lord willinghaven't happened yet, but I've
always been told you, go on amission trip thinking you're
going to change someone's life.
But it's actually your life thatgets changed, man.
And that's how my experiencewith Goshen has always been as
well.
And I would encourage folks ifyou are looking for an
(33:46):
opportunity to get involved insomething, be careful because if
you go to Goshen, you'reprobably going to fall in love
with it.
And you're probably going towant to continue to serve there,
but it is a great place.
And the work you guys are doingis, is.
Just fantastic.
We're all grateful for what youguys are doing
Zach Blend (34:09):
well, Robert, thank you for being such a committed
member to our Cherokee communityand for creating platforms like
this for people like me toshare.
And, uh, I look forward tocontinuing our partnership and
looking for ways to continue tostrengthen Cherokee in the
process I do as
Robert Tidwell (34:24):
well.
So the second Saturdays.
Yeah.
Um, can anybody, do you have tosign up on the website to show
up or is this something you canjust show up on Saturday
morning?
How does that work?
Zach Blend (34:36):
Yeah, it's best if you sign up, it just, it gives
us a chance to get a sense ofhow many people are going to be
there so we can pray, uh, planappropriately.
Um, it is a dynamic where wefeel comfortable with families,
you know, attending, um, thekind of environment where you
want to make sure, you know, youwork with your family.
Um, we don't have a bunch ofkids just kind of running around
the ranch.
(34:56):
So yeah, it's intended to bevery safe.
It's very structured and, um,it's really, you know, kind of
intended around the exposure.
Here's the truth.
Very few people ever have theopportunity to serve overseas or
go on a mission trip.
But if Goshen can be thereNicaragua, I feel that that's as
(35:17):
much our mission as it isserving foster kids.
So we try to create veryintentional environments.
Some of you are listening, youmight have a business and you
say, Hey, it'd be great to bringmy coworkers up.
And you might be a part of asmall group.
Um, maybe you're a part of acivic group.
We specifically createintentional environments for
those types of engagements and,and that can sometimes fall on a
(35:41):
weekday as well.
So, um, whether it be secondSaturday through the website,
whether it be reaching out, youknow, about, um, another group
that you might have interest inbringing up uniquely, uh, we
welcome the chance, especiallypost pandemic to, uh, have
people into and to put them togood work.
Robert Tidwell (36:00):
All right.
Now.
No, none of this about you untila few minutes before we got
started, this was one of thebest stories I've heard in a
while.
You actually deejayed.
I did a radio show in college.
Zach Blend (36:11):
I did.
Yeah.
So I attended Rollins college,small private school in winter
park, Florida and not far fromOrlando.
And, uh, yeah, that's what Iwanted to do.
I wanted to go into sportsbroadcasting when I was in high
school.
I loved sports, you know, verycompetitive.
And that was kind of my vision.
I worked for a guy named MattStewart when my senior year, you
(36:34):
know, ahead of going down toRollins where I was part of his
crew.
We get on a Turner field and,you know, I'd shoot tape and,
you know, hold the camera.
And I had this whole big visionand I get to Rollins.
And the one slot they hadavailable was the 12:00 AM to
2:00 PM, two nights a week.
And the guy said, if you wantit, you can do whatever you want
(36:55):
with it.
So personally for me at thattime, and I enjoyed hip hop, um,
outcast in particular.
And I would have my little showfrom 12 to two.
And I think the only people thatlistened were the guys that kind
of lived in my pod yet aroundthe dormitory.
And, you know, my mother wouldgo on the WPR K website and, and
(37:17):
find it and she would listen,but, you know, I loved it.
It was, uh, it was cool and itwas kind of the direction I was
headed in.
And then like most, you know, 18year olds, I joined a fraternity
shortly thereafter andeverything kind of went a little
sideways, but, uh, you know, theopportunity now, you know,
whether it be, you know, chanceslike this today, um, I love to
kind of look back on thoseroutes and, uh, the time I had
(37:39):
in the studio for sure.
Robert Tidwell (37:40):
That is awesome.
I love that story.
Like I said, best story I heardall week.
All right.
Great.
Well, Zach, thank you enough forcoming in today and it's been
great chatting with you.
And again, thank you so much foreverything that Goshen is doing.
Thank you for the lives thaty'all are touching.
Thank you for the impact thatyou're having.
And thank you for recognizing apart of our community.
(38:06):
That desperately needs to beloved on served and not just in
a way that makes you feel goodabout yourself, but more so in a
way that prepares these youngmen and women for life after
their interaction with you.
And just the success storiesthat I know of personally just
(38:26):
speaks volumes to y'all'scommitment to doing it the right
way.
And again, cannot thank youenough for that.
Zach Blend (38:33):
Thank you, Robert.
I'm excited to see how thingsgo.
Yeah.
As far as the podcast, I'mexcited for the people that you
have lined up and the impactthat this time with you will
also, uh, mean to those thatlisten.
So thank you for including me.
Robert Tidwell (38:45):
All right.
That has been the peach buzzbrought to you by Tidwell's
Strimban injury lawyers, and wewill look forward to joining you
next time.
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