Episode Transcript
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Scott McLean (00:00):
Welcome to the podcast.
I'm Scott McLean.
My guest today is Sean McPhee.
Sean is with Mission United,Broward County, Florida.
You notice how I said theMcPhee, not McPhee.
Yeah, because I'm Scottish.
That's right.
See, I know this.
Us Irish guys know thedifference.
Welcome to the podcast, Sean.
Sean MacFee (00:23):
Well, thank you for having me.
Scott McLean (00:24):
Welcome to the One man, one Mic Foundation studio,
donated and sponsored by Willowand Palm Construction.
Willow and Palm Construction,south Florida's premier builder,
located in Delray Beach,florida.
Willow and Palm Construction.
If you need it, they'll buildit, from driveways to roofs to
buildings.
Willow and Palm ConstructionFind them at willowandpalmcom.
(00:45):
I have to throw, you know, Ihave to throw that in there.
Sorry if that was rude.
Sean MacFee (00:52):
Same with the other podcast I'm in.
That's it.
Let him get his spit into it.
Scott McLean (00:57):
Got to get you people and welcome to the big
pink couch.
Sean MacFee (01:00):
Oh well, thank you.
Definitely won't go with mystuff in my house, no no, it's
different, right?
Yeah, so all right, you're aveteran, right yeah, spent about
24 years in the Navy.
Scott McLean (01:12):
All right, and what do you do for Mission
United Broward County?
What's your job title, yourposition?
Sean MacFee (01:17):
The job title is a community engagement officer for
veteran services.
Well, the job in whole isbasically is to advocate for the
programs of United Way andMission United anything that has
to do with veteran services.
Scott McLean (01:29):
Okay, so how long?
All right, let's go back toyour military.
When did you go?
In March of 94.
94.
Sean MacFee (01:35):
Okay, and you're in for how long?
24 years.
So I retired at the end ofMarch in 2015.
15.
Talk because you forget.
Time goes so fast.
So it was March of 2015.
Scott McLean (01:51):
So anything interesting happen while you're
in any out in the ocean?
Sean MacFee (01:57):
Oh yeah, I mean I have to say I was pretty blessed
in my career.
I got moved around a lot.
My job in the Navy was called aquartermaster and those in the
other branches quartermastermeans something else, but in the
Navy that means I was in chargeof navigation.
So it was basically I was thenavigator, historian, slash and
weather guy.
I basically helped the ship getfrom point A to point B,
wherever we needed to go.
(02:18):
So my job is very importantbecause, unlike some of the
individuals you can get underwaywith, you can't get underway
without a senior quartermasteron board.
So I got to see a lot moreplaces because over the years
technology has taken over ourjob so there's less and less of
us.
So as our numbers dwindled theyrequire us more to be.
(02:38):
So I did a couple of counterdrug ops on both sides of the
Panama Canal.
That was quite interesting todo, especially working with, you
know, the Coast Guard.
I did a couple NATO ops in theBaltic seas I was working with
probably about like four or fivedifferent.
You know nations, you know theBritish and you know a lot of
them that we did a lot ofoperations.
So it was very unique in a way.
(02:59):
You know especially people.
A lot of people don'tunderstand is yeah, so, like I
was doing operations in the WestPacific with a Japanese ship,
we were still able tocommunicate even though we spoke
different languages.
There's a universal code bookprovided in NATO, so all I had
to do was send them and they canconvert it back over so we
could actually have a fullconversation without ever
(03:21):
actually speaking each other'slanguage.
Scott McLean (03:23):
All right, what was your favorite port that you
pulled into?
Sean MacFee (03:27):
That has always been the question people have
always asked me.
Scott McLean (03:29):
I know it may be guys.
Sean MacFee (03:31):
I will say that I enjoyed Kiel, germany.
It was a very beautiful place.
It's very clean, the peoplewere very welcoming.
We were down there what theycall Kiel Week which here in the
States we call it the tall shipevents, where they brought in
all these sailing ships andstuff.
It was really great.
I really loved the Caribbean.
I mean the people down thereare so super friendly.
I mean I can't tell you, I mean, if we got lost, I mean it
(03:55):
wasn't just me.
Anytime you had a question, thelocals were always more than
happy to show you or point youin the directions of where you
needed to go.
You never have to worry aboutthat.
You walked up to somebody thatthey're going to give it a
negative impact back to you,going like, hey, look, you know
over there.
But yeah, there's quite a fewof them.
I've quite enjoyed over theyears Japan.
(04:15):
I actually got to experiencethat in Japan, where you know,
you see on the TV where thoseguys are on the platforms with
the white gloves pushing peoplein there.
I had to take a train ride andI thought it was just.
You know, I thought it wasover-exaggeration.
But nope, they're out thereshoving people in the train and
you know I'm squeezed up next topeople and they're like it's
(04:37):
every day to them.
It's like but we're packed inthere like sardines.
But they were super politeabout the whole thing.
Scott McLean (04:43):
So you got out in 2015, I guess around that.
Oh sorry.
Sean MacFee (04:48):
I'm losing track.
It was actually because I gotto my last desk job in 2015.
I riot March of 2018.
Okay, yeah, yeah.
So March of 2018 is when Iofficially retired.
My last job was a desk job atSpay War in San Diego.
It was just.
If anybody knows San Diego,it's right outside of Old Town.
Okay, was a desk job at SpayWar in San Diego.
(05:11):
It's just.
If anybody knows San Diego,it's right outside of Old Town.
Okay, all right.
And so you get out and what'sthe transition like?
Well, I mean my last desk job,my collateral duty.
I was a command careercounselor.
So it helped my transitioningout much easier because I spent
my last three years studying thetransition process, talking to
BFWs, american Legions, theveterans and stuff.
So when we were done in SanDiego, as much as I love San
Diego, it just wasn't costeffective, you know, for a
(05:34):
family of four to live there,especially on retirement pay.
So we decided that we weregoing to move to South Florida
because that's where my wife'sparents live.
So I actually came out herefirst because the kids were
still in high school and thoughtit would be much easier to job
hunt here in Florida fromFlorida than versus trying to
(05:57):
job hunt from San Diego.
So I came out here and I ranthe circuit.
So I got out here and a coupleof weeks after I retired and I
tell people that you know, whenyou job hunt it's a full-time
job, it's not like a fly jobhere, apply a job there.
It's Monday through Friday,eight to five, nine to one,
whatever you set hours and yougot to put in the grind.
(06:19):
Oh, yeah, so yeah between Aprilto August, I figured I applied
for 168 jobs.
I went to 12 job fairs.
I even submitted my resume to acouple of politicians to see if
maybe they can help me out.
I got three interviews Out of100, I only got three interviews
(06:40):
.
One of them was for aninsurance company, one of them
was for WastePro as a dispatcherand the last one was
CareerSource Broward, workingfor their.
Was it Jobs for Veterans?
State Grant, jbsg, okay, andyou took that job.
I took that job.
It actually.
You know, sometimes I tellpeople it's being in the right
place at the right time.
I had gone down becauseCareerSource is, in other words,
(07:04):
is a brand name for theAmerican Job Center, which is a
nonprofit throughout the entirecountry.
There's at least American JobCenter within 50 miles of every
major city and their job is toprovide support for people
looking for work.
So I had already known thatfrom my command career counselor
.
So I went down there and I satdown with my veteran rep and him
and I were talking and he toldme what his job title was.
(07:25):
I'm like that's funny.
He goes what?
I was just on the state jobboard page a week ago and I
applied for a job title that'sthe same as yours.
He goes.
That's really weird.
He goes the program manager'sin the building.
Why don't we ask her if sheever saw your resume?
She came over.
She was a naval officer, navyguy.
(07:47):
My career counselor, employmentspecialist, was the Navy guy.
We all got to chit-chat andsharing stories and she goes.
I think you'd be a perfect fit.
So I had.
I still, even though I knew Ihad the job in the bag, I still
went through the whole interviewprocess and that's where I was
for for.
For the last couple of years Iwas working with them.
Primarily.
My job was an employmentspecialist, helping veterans,
you know, connect withnonprofits, helping them with
(08:09):
their resume, showing them theproper techniques on how to
apply for jobs, because it'sjust a lot more than click and
there's a lot more skillsinvolved in finding the correct
job and applying for it properly.
People just don't understand.
It's a lot more than uploadingyour resume.
There's a lot more into it.
You have to really do yourhomework and take a look in
(08:31):
there.
And then I provided them withinterview techniques.
I usually do mock interviewswith them.
And then I got picked up for theemployer side of the house, so
they wanted me to work with theemployer.
So my job was to network withemployers.
Hey, I got vets.
What type of vet are youlooking for?
Let me introduce you.
There was no promises in it butI basically I was connecting
(08:53):
veterans and employers together,trying to help them feel
because, you know, hiringsomebody is a lot difficult for
a recruiter than a lot of peoplethink.
Because the thing that mostpeople don't understand is 75%
of all resumes are rejected by asoftware program with the IQ of
a third grader.
Yeah, and people don'tunderstand that.
It's like well, you fired offyour resume, yet oh, how do you
know that they got it?
(09:14):
Because it only takes one itemon a resume one item.
It could be an asterisk in awrong place or one wrong word in
.
That's why they're trying to doaway with resumes in the next
couple of years.
That's why a lot of companieshave gone to the video
pre-answering questions.
Just upload your resume andthen they want to hear you
(09:35):
answer some pre-questions.
Scott McLean (09:36):
All right.
So how did you get from thereto Mission United, Broward
County?
Sean MacFee (09:41):
So, being in the veterans department for the JPSG
program, I worked very closelywith a lot of nonprofits and one
of them happened to be MissionUnited.
So we were very close, workinghand in hand.
They had veterans that theywere trying to help that were,
on you know, in desperate needof whatever they needed, and one
(10:01):
of them was employment.
So I worked very closely withthem and they finally had a job
that fit exactly what I waslooking for.
I mean they we chit chattedback and forth over the years
Mission United about, you know,trying to get me to move from
career source to them and theyfinally offered me a position.
I couldn't say no.
I mean working for the state.
I had nothing against the statebut state.
You know a lot of bureaucrat,you know you have a lot of hoops
(10:23):
you have to jump through.
There's only certain people youcan help.
Mission United gave me a jobwhere I do the same thing I was
doing for, you know,careersource, but I don't have
half the requirements and theylet me do what I want to do and
they support me in whatever Iwant.
So I couldn't say no, so Ihopped on over.
Scott McLean (10:42):
Great organization .
So tell the listeners aboutMission United Broward County.
We had Jonathan Oakley on fromMission United Palm Beach County
.
We kind of went over thedifferences but having you here
kind of give the listener arundown of what Mission United
Broward County does, becausethey are like the grandfather of
(11:03):
Mission United, if I'm notmistaken.
Sean MacFee (11:05):
Yeah.
So United Way, of course, hasbeen around for 85 plus years.
So about 13 years ago theUnited Way of Broward County was
trying to think of there's gotto be a different way to help
vets.
So they reached out to a lot ofpredominant community partners
who were veterans of stealthlike Stephen Moss was the
(11:25):
founding member of MissionUnited and the rest of his team
and how can we do a better jobat helping vets, particularly
those that are homeless?
So they came up with a plan.
They put it all together.
United Way said okay, will yourun it?
So they did.
They started off, they put ittogether, they put the team
(11:46):
together and it's been goingpretty good since then.
They consider Mission Unitednot as a Department of United
Way but an initiative.
Now, even coming up on 13 years, it's only in 29 United Ways
have an initiative MissionUnited, which is not bad in a
12-year period considering thenumber of locations United Way
(12:09):
is around.
The world.
Scott McLean (12:10):
I was going to say do you know that number how
many United Ways just in theUnited States there are?
Oh, not off the top oflocations.
United way is around the world.
I was going to say do you knowthat number how many united ways
just in the united states thereare?
Oh, not off the top of my head,it's a lot they've been they
want.
Sean MacFee (12:18):
They're one of the premier non-profits that have
been around for as long as theyhave.
Yeah, and, matter of fact, fromwhat I understand don't quote
me on it, but I believe somebodytold me the other day they were
starting a United Way inAustralia.
Scott McLean (12:29):
Wow.
Sean MacFee (12:30):
So Miss United is in 29.
Now they provide.
They don't provide a lot.
Of them will provide directservices.
Scott McLean (12:38):
This is where the difference is.
Yes.
Sean MacFee (12:40):
Now the ones that are here.
Now there's eight of us thatprovide direct services Palm
Beach here, broward County,miami, a couple of the other
places is they provide directservices directly to the vet.
Basically, it means that a vetcan come in and actually sit
down with somebody instead ofjust being referred to somebody.
And this year we're opening upMiss United in Okeechobee.
(13:02):
We met with their town charterand they are very excited.
So a lot of us have beenworking with our counterparts up
there.
You know helping them get ontheir feet, you know letting
them so they don't have toreinvent the wheel.
So they're very excited.
So we're hoping to have that upand running anytime soon.
Scott McLean (13:18):
So Mission United Broward County, give the
listener a breakdown of all thethings that they cover in the
veteran space, because there'smore than just helping the
homeless vets.
So, and this is what separatesBroward County from the rest,
yes, it's because we set thegroundwork.
Sean MacFee (13:38):
Our primary is housing.
That's number one.
Right Now there's a grant thatcomes.
It's called SSVF, it's SupportServices for Veteran Families.
That's where a lot of ourhousing grant comes from.
We get not only grants from thestate but we get grants from
the VA as well.
Under that, the primary focusis to help veterans who either
were first month, last month orsecurity deposit.
(13:59):
We can pay their rent up forthe first couple months.
After that, if they still needto stay, we can pay half their
rent up for another year and ahalf.
So, and then at that point,unfortunately, the grant doesn't
allow us to pay beyond that.
We actually have a group ofindividuals that work directly
with landlords.
We have an agreement with themHUD-VASH, ssvf so that way we
(14:23):
can help mitigate to make surethat the rent is what they can
afford, and also we can be amediator between the landlord
and the vet.
So if either one are havingissues, they don't have to talk
to each other, they'll just callus right.
Another one we work with islegal aid we provide.
You know, again, make sure allthese services are at no cost to
(14:46):
veterans or their familieswhatsoever.
We don't charge them anythingand if anybody says otherwise,
they're lying.
So, like now, legal aid helpsus provide legal advice to our
veterans and their families,regardless of what the issue is.
So and if we can't help themdirectly like my boss or James
Heaton, a lawyer has a lot ofconnections in Broward County
(15:07):
and a lot of the other MissUniteds that have you know
connections as well that findinglawyers that are willing to
work pro bono at minimum cost tomake sure that there's no
hardship on the veterans.
So we have a great group ofindividuals.
Depending on what the veteranneeds, we can help them
hopefully overcome that obstacle.
We do have the medical side ofthe house.
We actually have a veteranservice officer and a VA rep who
(15:31):
come to our site.
We actually work directly withthem.
There are appointed contactsthat if a veteran's having any
medical needs or questions orthey need help with their claims
, or if they're having issueswith the VA denying them claims
or whatever, we can help themwith that.
One of the other things we helpthem also too, with is mental
health services.
We have a connection withHenderson Behavioral Health as a
(15:54):
direct connect for us.
We can help and all these arewarm handoffs.
We never send a veteran toanybody.
We may call them directly or wewill walk them there or
whatever, but we're going tomake sure that they get from
point A to point B and theydon't get lost in a shuffle.
So we help them with that weactually have now.
We're not an employment agency,but we do have an employment
(16:16):
team.
Their job is to help themresumes, interviews.
We have a lot of communitypartners that have interview
clothing that we can send themover for.
One of them is a gentleman Iused to work with at
CareerSource, robert Pagan.
He's the employer expert.
It's his job to work with theemployers to make that
connection between them, as wellas the veterans.
(16:38):
There's a lot, yeah, there is alot.
Scott McLean (16:42):
It's one-stop shopping.
It's one-stop shopping.
Sean MacFee (16:44):
Yeah, yeah, because we pretty much we tell vets if
there's any issues you're having, let us know.
Yeah, let's take a run at it,and if we can't do it, we're
going to find somebody that willdo it for them you know, you
just got stuck and that'susually in podcasting.
Scott McLean (16:58):
That's like right, but it's because there's so
many things that you guys aredoing like you got to think of
all of them, which is a goodproblem to have yeah, I mean we
even have an outreach team thatgoes out and talks to veterans
on the streets.
Sean MacFee (17:14):
Yeah, miss United also works very closely with
United Way and their programs aswell, so we kind of even though
our job is mainly is veterans,we still are integrated with
them for their programs that wecould connect best to them.
Like one of my favoriteprograms that United Way has
called the Next GenerationProgram, they're working with
entrepreneurs that are 30 andyounger, helping them
(17:37):
peer-to-peer support, makingsure that they understand that
they're a young entrepreneur butthey have support.
A couple months ago at achamber meeting met a gentleman
I believe he was 17 years old,opened his own business.
I connected him with ourprogram and now he doesn't have
to go along.
His parents are a lot morehappier because they don't feel
like they have to do all theworker supporting, even though
(17:58):
it's his business.
So it's working well.
But, yeah, we definitely have alot of different communities
and projects we work with soit's tough Sometimes I lose a
little track of all of themwe're working on.
Scott McLean (18:09):
No, there is a lot .
That's lose a little track ofall of them we're working on.
So no, there there is a lot.
That's why it's the it's veryunique out of the other mission
united's that are around.
I know miami focuses on twospecific things and you know
palm beach county has theirfocus, which I think is it's
really good because it's there'sa lot of options.
There's a lot of options forthe veteran right.
So is broward county missionunited specific to broward
(18:34):
county veterans that's one ofthe things I like about our
non-profit.
Sean MacFee (18:38):
Uh, for for us is we're not contained by a county
like a lot of non-profits likewill take career force.
For us they're only, they canonly work with individuals who
reside in broward.
We're not not.
We constantly support eachother.
That's the greatest thing Ilike is like if somebody needs
help, I've gone down and did aveteran stand down in Miami
because they needed somebody.
(18:58):
We were there, they were there.
We were there to support eachother.
When the hurricane rippedthrough the western side of
Florida, we reached out to ourTampa group and said, hey,
listen, if you need a home base,you can come here.
So we were all set up andprepared that if they want to
work out of our offices, we gotthem covered.
So just the way those serviceswere interrupted.
Scott McLean (19:18):
Yeah, that's great , because I know there's
probably someone listening thatwas like oh, I live in Palm
Beach County and but if you're aveteran, you're a veteran and
I'm sure that you reach out toBroward County Mission United.
They're not going to turn youaway.
None of the Mission Unites willturn you away.
So if a veteran wanted to takeadvantage of the many programs
(19:43):
that Mission United BrowardCounty offers, how would they go
about it?
So say, I needed legal aid,like, is there a specific place
they go to?
Is it all in one building?
Is it so?
How would that work?
If I'm a veteran that justheard this podcast, I'm like you
know what I could use that.
So how does my process work?
Oh, that's awesome.
Sean MacFee (20:04):
Well, we always refer.
There's a million phone numbersto remember.
You know acronyms for phonenumbers.
We and phone numbers toremember.
You know acronyms for phonenumbers.
We always tell them thesimplest one is dial 2-1-1.
2-1-1 is an international,across the entire United States
number.
It goes by the tower.
So if you're in Michigan, youknow whatever dial 2-1-1, you're
going to get the 2-1-1 helplineand that's what they are.
(20:25):
They're a resource provider.
Now we work very closely withthem that if you call them, say
hey, I'm a veteran, I need help,they're going to make sure that
they'll start the intakeprocess before you even step in
the door.
What is it you need?
They're going to try to smoothall that paperwork right up
front, answer all your questionsand then direct you either
(20:46):
directly to us or directly tothe community partner.
Now, I don't know about theother, Miss United, but here in
Broward, Mondays and Thursdays,we have what they call we bring
in all our community partners sothey can see all of them in one
building.
You don't have to go A, B, theycan come see us any time of the
day of the week and we can setthem up Monday through Friday
(21:06):
and but if they come on Mondaysor Thursdays.
I mean, sometimes the VA willeven bring one of those mobile
medical buses to us so they canget their shots, they can get
their examinations, whateverthey need, right then and there,
whatever happens, that's stoodin a VA.
So we try to minimize theiramount of moving around, but we
do most of the work to preventthem.
(21:26):
So we will always advocate forthem first, what is it you need,
Okay, so so tell us what's neat, let's talk before we put you
on the road.
We're not going to send youanywhere, traveling anywhere
until we make sure that we'reminimizing the amount of time
that you're spending in travel.
Scott McLean (21:40):
so mondays and thursdays, say I don't need to
call 9-1-1.
I'm just curious.
I want to go find out about2-1-1.
What did I say?
9-1-1.
Yeah, oh, okay, I won't evenedit that.
Yeah, so I don't need to call2-1-1,.
And now I just heard what youhad to say.
So I go down to where.
Sean MacFee (22:00):
We're just down the street from the courthouse.
You can actually find theaddress In Fort Lauderdale.
In Fort Lauderdale yeah, we'reliterally just down the street
from the courthouse.
I don't have the addressmemorized off the top of my head
.
Scott McLean (22:10):
It's around Andrews right.
Sean MacFee (22:16):
Yeah, it's Andrews.
Yeah, you can look it up on ourwebsite.
You can go to Mission Unitedand look up the address or call
us.
Our phone number is on there.
You can always call us.
Scott McLean (22:21):
Yeah.
Sean MacFee (22:22):
I mean, even though I don't work in what they call
our veteran resource centers,people call me all the time.
Somehow they just punch numbersand they end up with me and I'm
like I got no problem.
They ask me all kinds ofquestions, like I don't have the
answers.
But let me tell you who can andI'll give them and let's make
sure, let me call and make surethey're in the office before I
transfer you and I always givethem, like here's my number,
here's my extension, just incase you didn't get it.
Scott McLean (22:51):
If you call me back, because I'm going to track
it down and find out why theyhaven't called you back.
And that's one of the beautifulthings of Mission United in
general, you do not get dustedoff.
You do not.
If you're a veteran, trust me,they will not dust you off and
be like, yeah, we'll get back toyou.
I know that it's action, it'slike we're going to help you.
I know that it's action.
It's like we're going to helpyou and as quick as a time as
(23:12):
they can, considering thesituation, like, yeah, they'll
handle you.
They will not blow you off.
Sean MacFee (23:18):
That's because a lot of us who work in a Miss
United department not all of us,but quite a few of us are
veterans and we're disabledveterans.
We've all been in differentsituations.
It's a long story for anotherpodcast.
But I was a kid.
I was homeless.
I remember being homeless.
I lived in a tent.
I used to do my homework byfirelight, you know, because my
parents didn't have enough moneyfor a place to live it's like.
(23:40):
So I understand that.
You know what it was kind oflike to be homeless.
You know scraping bottles.
You know, for five cents of,you know, pop, so that we can,
you know, have enough money forgas, yeah know.
So we've all been through theprocess at one point or another.
Some of us have, you know, PTSD.
Some of us have other issues.
So we can relate.
The last thing we're ever goingto do is leave a brother and
sister and their family, youknow, hanging dry.
(24:01):
We're going to make sure andthat's one thing I like about
this organization, the people Iwork with, you know we all have
that.
One employee You're like why areyou here?
I mean, we all have that.
We look at them like why I'vebeen with this group.
You know, like I said, I'veworked side by side with them
for the last six years.
I've been working for them foralmost a year now and I have yet
(24:22):
to meet that one employee, Imean even our front desk guy.
As soon as you walk into UnitedWay, he's like what can I do?
How fast?
What can I get you?
Can you get a drink of water?
Everybody, right up to our CEO.
I have never worked for a CEOthat has more energy, passion
than Kathleen.
I mean, she's just wonderful towork for.
Scott McLean (24:43):
Yeah, james is an okay guy too.
Yeah, james Eaton's an okay guy.
Sean MacFee (24:47):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know you just.
Scott McLean (24:50):
No, he's a really good guy.
I was being facetious.
Sean MacFee (24:53):
But you know, I tell vets, like you know, one of
the things that James isphenomenal about, as well as the
CEO, is they're open to.
Hey, have you ever thoughtabout doing this?
Yeah, and one of the things we,james and I, created was a
survey what services do you notget enough of?
James and I created was asurvey what services do you not
(25:13):
get enough of?
So we sent it out to all thecommunity partners trying to get
back like tell us, tell us whatwe're doing wrong and what
would you like to see more of,or what are we doing right, so
that we can do a better job atwhat we're doing.
And that's what I really likeabout this.
I like I said I have yet to meetthat one coworker going why are
you here?
I mean, everybody I work withis super passionate about
everything we do.
(25:34):
I mean you walk into some placeand somebody's just like you
were like how are you incustomer service with that
attitude?
I have yet to see that inMission United or United Way,
even when I go over to theVeteran Resource Center to talk
and visit, they make sure thatevery.
Are you okay?
Do you need some coffee youneed?
Are you okay, are youcomfortable?
I mean, they constantly werelike, hey, listen, you know.
(25:54):
Like, if you're, hey, you knowwhat's taking so long.
Hey, they need a couple more.
They make sure that when thevets come in there they're not a
number very welcoming.
Scott McLean (26:02):
Yeah, yeah, how many veterans do you know or do
you think get served a month ora year through Mission United
Broward County?
Sean MacFee (26:13):
I don't see the end numbers Right, but I believe
somebody told me last year wewere able to support 4,000
veterans and their families.
I think I'll have to doublecheck that number.
I apologize if I'm wrong, but Iknow that we are constantly
helping vets every day and thenumbers grow.
Sometimes they're a little lesson some months, but I believe,
(26:35):
if I remember, when we weretalking about numbers about a
month or two back, somebody saidwe had helped 4,000 veterans
last year.
Scott McLean (26:41):
Wow, Wow, and there's a lot of veterans in the
South Florida area, that's forsure.
Sean MacFee (26:46):
A lot of it is just people constantly ask well, if
veterans have all these benefitsand these resources, then why
are they on the streets?
Because it's all aboutcommunications.
It's because you got toremember.
A lot of them, prior to 2011,weren't told what their benefits
were.
They didn't know.
I always tell people there'sabout 150,000 service members
(27:07):
who leave service every year forwhatever reason, whether
they're kicked out theircontract's up or they retire.
You think about that is 150,000members leave service before
2011,.
Were given no information aboutit.
I know I didn't, yep.
Scott McLean (27:22):
I didn't get anything, and that's another
thing that a lot of veteransdon't know about nonprofits and
this is my listeners hear thisall the time but I'm still
frustrated and fascinated at thesame time at the lack of
publicity that nonprofits forveterans and I can only be
(27:44):
specific to veterans becausethat's the world I'm in but
nonprofits in general.
But in our world, the lack ofknowledge that these things
exist, mission United, browardCounty exists.
I lived in Hollywood for 20years, 15 years.
I didn't know you guys.
(28:04):
I probably could have used youguys.
Sean MacFee (28:07):
Yeah, I even had that when I was working for
CareerSource Broward.
I mean, a common thing we usedto hear all the time I worked
out of their Coconut Creekoffice for a while.
And the most common thing weused to hear I've lived here for
X number of years.
I didn't know you guys existeduntil unemployment sent me here.
Scott McLean (28:21):
It's unbelievable why this isn't a thing Like.
Veterans don't know about thesethings.
There's so many of them.
Sean MacFee (28:32):
Well, it's because a lot of the grants that a
non-profits receive, there'sonly certain things you can do
with the money, and marketing isusually the smallest part of
that.
Yeah, so it's very difficult tomarket it, because that's the
question we're talking about,like how can we don't have tv
commercials, yeah, you know.
So that's why I'm trying to getout there on the podcast you
know circuit, because a lot ofpeople seem to be listening to
those versus radio nowadays andtry to get an understanding is,
(28:52):
there is a ton of services outthere.
I mean even the va has a ton ofservices, but they don't talk
about them.
I mean, I found out rightbefore I retired that the, the
va, offers a reimbursement fortravel.
A lot of vets are not aware ofthat.
I tell them all the time whetheryou drive five miles or you
drive 50 miles, you getreimbursement for your travel
(29:14):
yeah yeah, you know that therewas all kinds of stuff like that
and like they give like a Ican't remember how much there
was, like I think it was thelast time I looked it was like
22 000 to remodel or purchase anew vehicle if your disability
has an issue with your driving.
Nobody knows these things theyactually do.
(29:34):
Where they have a clothingallowance, reimbursement.
Scott McLean (29:36):
Wow.
Sean MacFee (29:37):
That if you, like you have a medical device that
ruins your clothes Like you'reone of those guys that have, or
gals that have one of those likeyou got to wear the injector
for your back yeah, it ruinsyour clothes you can submit a
travel.
You can submit a reimbursementclaim to be reimbursed because
the medical devices that areservice-connected are destroying
your clothes.
Yeah, the vets don't know that.
Scott McLean (29:57):
So what's an average day for Sean McPhee?
Sean MacFee (30:02):
You know, that's one thing about it.
Scott McLean (30:03):
Or there's no such thing as an average day.
There's no such thing for men.
Sean MacFee (30:07):
When I meet with people all the time, like you
know, like I go out to a lot ofchamber and community events and
they're like, oh hey, have youever thought about being a
chamber meeting?
I mean member, and I'm like,well, it's very difficult for me
because no day is the same forme.
I mean, there was a time I waslaughing.
I went in at 8, 30, 10 minutesafter I got there I got a phone
call saying we needed somebodyto be representing event and
(30:30):
plantation and since I was inthe office, could I grab a bunch
of stuff and go?
Oh sure, when does it start?
15 minutes, and you want me toget from fort lauderdale to
plantation?
All right, I'll do my best.
Yeah, and I drove down there.
There are some days where, fromthe minute I get up till the
minute I get home, I'm goingfrom one event to another or
i'm'm meeting with one of ourpoliticians or, you know, you
(30:52):
know a few people don't know, acouple of our politicians are
veterans themselves, which makesmy life much easier to converse
with them and advocate, youknow.
And they're more open,receptive.
And there's quite a few other.
You know our community partners, you know, especially, like I
said, those in the politicianrealm that are open to helping
vets.
Scott McLean (31:08):
So and Mission United, broward County takes
donations.
Sean MacFee (31:12):
Yes, we actually.
Even on our website you can dodonations.
Like you know, everybody getsthe typical donations for
holidays but we still getdonations for all kinds of stuff
.
You know, I even had acommunity partner ask me like,
hey, we're always looking forvolunteer events.
We have on our webpageunitedwaybrowardorg.
(31:33):
You can look at it.
We have a volunteer slot Ifyou're open and you want to do
some volunteer stuff with us.
Great and hint hint for any ofthose out there looking for work
.
Some of the best people to meetis at a volunteer event,
because not everybody is anemployee or a volunteer.
Some of them are CEOs, some ofthem are politicians.
Can't tell you the number ofvets that have helped find work
that went out to a volunteerevent and met somebody and got a
(31:53):
job.
So throwing that out there.
Scott McLean (31:56):
There you go.
Good information, alright.
Is there anything else you wantto tell us about the website
address, anything like that?
Sean MacFee (32:03):
Unitedway Brouwerorg is the website and
Mission United is a backslashmission.
Mission-unitedorg is in thereas well, or you can just find
everything right on the UnitedWay page and we've updated it.
We have events that are goingon community events.
Scott McLean (32:23):
And anything coming up in the next couple of
months that you know offhand.
Sean MacFee (32:27):
Well, we're always having events going on.
One of the major ones thatwe're having come up we have a
mental health summit that we puton once a year is coming up in
May.
We'll be hosting that at theBroward Convention Center
Usually oh God, trying to thinkwe had like a thousand people
last year.
I think so.
It was very informative.
A lot of talk about wherethings are going with mental
health, the different thingsthat we're doing, what they call
(32:49):
it the chamber now, thedifferent things that we're
doing.
What do they call it thechamber now?
The Baramac Chamber thing.
That seems to be a good way.
Mental health of some of thecommunity.
Scott McLean (32:56):
Oh, you're talking like the 22 Project, hyperbaric
oxygen therapy, the hypergenicthing.
Yeah, that's a big deal.
Sean MacFee (33:02):
That's a big deal that's been going on and they're
striving in new ways of helpingveterans, particularly for
mental health issues.
So it's a very great you knowdifferent ways of doing it.
I met a community partner thatwhere you know, kind of like Dr
Phil's, you know doctors withoutborders.
They kind of do the same thingfor vets, you know, but it's an
online, so you know, definitelya lot of stuff.
Scott McLean (33:24):
All right.
Well, sean, thanks for comingon the podcast.
My friend Glad you liked thebig pink couch in the One man,
one Mic Foundation studio.
Here's my cheap plug for theOne man, one Mic Foundation.
Go to my website,onemanonemicfoundationorg.
See what we're doing over there.
We're helping veterans, we'reteaching them how to podcast,
because, well, there's been nopoint in the history of this
(33:45):
country where a veteran has hadmore of an opportunity to be
heard than there is right now inthis moment.
It's not TikTok or Instagram,it's podcasting, because you're
not doing a 30-second clip or aone-minute clip.
You can talk and we teachveterans from start to finish,
from concept to publication.
It's all free how to do it, andthis place is charging a lot of
(34:07):
money to do that.
Sean MacFee (34:09):
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, and a little plug for
podcasts.
You know there's quite a few.
You have one, I have one, plugit.
Yeah, so mine is fromBattlefront to Homefront.
It's on Facebook, so that'stalking about all the services
that Mission United and UnitedWay provide for services.
But you know, podcastsdefinitely come away.
We actually quite a few famouspeople on TV started out as a
podcast.
Scott McLean (34:30):
Yeah, and I will get James on here eventually.
Yep, I know, pinning him downis like trying to get a greasy
cat.
Sean MacFee (34:37):
Yeah, him and I are different because even I have
to pin down.
That's why half the time I haveto email him to let him know
what I'm doing, because him andI are in different schedules.
So, yeah, like half the timeI'm like when I went into the
office this morning I forgotwhat my password for my computer
was.
Scott McLean (34:52):
Haven't we all?
I'm going to do my outro andstick around.
Of course You're sitting infront of me, so you're not going
anywhere.
Well, once again we builtanother bridge this was a very
good bridge from county tocounty to county, mission United
.
Look them up, go to thewebsites Broward County, palm
Beach County, Dade County.
They're all doing great workfor veterans.
(35:13):
If you're not interested, butyou know a veteran or a family
member of a veteran that mightbe interested in their services,
let them know.
And again I want to thank youfor listening.
Your support has been amazing.
This podcast is it's alreadyfar exceeded my expectation.
I appreciate people like Seanreaching out and wanting to be
on the podcast and while youlisteners are the engine that
(35:36):
drives this machine.
So again, thanks for listening.
I think that's it.
Stick around for the publicservice announcement.
Yeah, the public serviceannouncement at the end.
It's a very informative one.
It actually mentions 2-1-1 andall the services that 2-1-1 has,
and 9-8-8.
And it helps veterans, familymembers of veterans, friends of
veterans or just general public.
(35:58):
Take a listen.
It's only 30 seconds long andit's my wife's voice, so it's
very nice, soft, easy going.
It's not my, my voice.
It's worth listening to aftermy voice.
So, and yeah, like I always say, you will hear me next week
with a new episode.
Welcome to the podcast.
I'm Scott McLean.
My guest today is Sean McPhee.
Sean is with Mission United,Broward County, Florida.
You notice how I said theMcPhee, not McPhee.
Yeah, because I'm Scottish.
That's right.
See, I know this.
Us Irish guys know thedifference.
Welcome to the podcast, Sean.
Sean MacFee (00:23):
Well, thank you for having me.
Scott McLean (00:24):
Welcome to the One man, one Mic Foundation studio,
donated and sponsored by Willowand Palm Construction.
Willow and Palm Construction,south Florida's premier builder,
located in Delray Beach,florida.
Willow and Palm Construction.
If you need it, they'll buildit, from driveways to roofs to
buildings.
Willow and Palm ConstructionFind them at willowandpalmcom.
(00:45):
I have to throw, you know, Ihave to throw that in there.
Sorry if that was rude.
Sean MacFee (00:52):
Same with the other podcast I'm in.
That's it.
Let him get his spit into it.
Scott McLean (00:57):
Got to get you people and welcome to the big
pink couch.
Sean MacFee (01:00):
Oh well, thank you.
Definitely won't go with mystuff in my house, no no, it's
different, right?
Yeah, so all right, you're aveteran, right yeah, spent about
24 years in the Navy.
Scott McLean (01:12):
All right, and what do you do for Mission
United Broward County?
What's your job title, yourposition?
Sean MacFee (01:17):
The job title is a community engagement officer for
veteran services.
Well, the job in whole isbasically is to advocate for the
programs of United Way andMission United anything that has
to do with veteran services.
Scott McLean (01:29):
Okay, so how long?
All right, let's go back toyour military.
When did you go?
In March of 94.
94.
Sean MacFee (01:35):
Okay, and you're in for how long?
24 years.
So I retired at the end ofMarch in 2015.
15.
Talk because you forget.
Time goes so fast.
So it was March of 2015.
Scott McLean (01:51):
So anything interesting happen while you're
in any out in the ocean?
Sean MacFee (01:57):
Oh yeah, I mean I have to say I was pretty blessed
in my career.
I got moved around a lot.
My job in the Navy was called aquartermaster and those in the
other branches quartermastermeans something else, but in the
Navy that means I was in chargeof navigation.
So it was basically I was thenavigator, historian, slash and
weather guy.
I basically helped the ship getfrom point A to point B,
wherever we needed to go.
(02:18):
So my job is very importantbecause, unlike some of the
individuals you can get underwaywith, you can't get underway
without a senior quartermasteron board.
So I got to see a lot moreplaces because over the years
technology has taken over ourjob so there's less and less of
us.
So as our numbers dwindled theyrequire us more to be.
(02:38):
So I did a couple of counterdrug ops on both sides of the
Panama Canal.
That was quite interesting todo, especially working with, you
know, the Coast Guard.
I did a couple NATO ops in theBaltic seas I was working with
probably about like four or fivedifferent.
You know nations, you know theBritish and you know a lot of
them that we did a lot ofoperations.
So it was very unique in a way.
(02:59):
You know especially people.
A lot of people don'tunderstand is yeah, so, like I
was doing operations in the WestPacific with a Japanese ship,
we were still able tocommunicate even though we spoke
different languages.
There's a universal code bookprovided in NATO, so all I had
to do was send them and they canconvert it back over so we
could actually have a fullconversation without ever
(03:21):
actually speaking each other'slanguage.
Scott McLean (03:23):
All right, what was your favorite port that you
pulled into?
Sean MacFee (03:27):
That has always been the question people have
always asked me.
Scott McLean (03:29):
I know it may be guys.
Sean MacFee (03:31):
I will say that I enjoyed Kiel, germany.
It was a very beautiful place.
It's very clean, the peoplewere very welcoming.
We were down there what theycall Kiel Week which here in the
States we call it the tall shipevents, where they brought in
all these sailing ships andstuff.
It was really great.
I really loved the Caribbean.
I mean the people down thereare so super friendly.
I mean I can't tell you, I mean, if we got lost, I mean it
(03:55):
wasn't just me.
Anytime you had a question, thelocals were always more than
happy to show you or point youin the directions of where you
needed to go.
You never have to worry aboutthat.
You walked up to somebody thatthey're going to give it a
negative impact back to you,going like, hey, look, you know
over there.
But yeah, there's quite a fewof them.
I've quite enjoyed over theyears Japan.
(04:15):
I actually got to experiencethat in Japan, where you know,
you see on the TV where thoseguys are on the platforms with
the white gloves pushing peoplein there.
I had to take a train ride andI thought it was just.
You know, I thought it wasover-exaggeration.
But nope, they're out thereshoving people in the train and
you know I'm squeezed up next topeople and they're like it's
(04:37):
every day to them.
It's like but we're packed inthere like sardines.
But they were super politeabout the whole thing.
Scott McLean (04:43):
So you got out in 2015, I guess around that.
Oh sorry.
Sean MacFee (04:48):
I'm losing track.
It was actually because I gotto my last desk job in 2015.
I riot March of 2018.
Okay, yeah, yeah.
So March of 2018 is when Iofficially retired.
My last job was a desk job atSpay War in San Diego.
It was just.
If anybody knows San Diego,it's right outside of Old Town.
Okay, was a desk job at SpayWar in San Diego.
(05:11):
It's just.
If anybody knows San Diego,it's right outside of Old Town.
Okay, all right.
And so you get out and what'sthe transition like?
Well, I mean my last desk job,my collateral duty.
I was a command careercounselor.
So it helped my transitioningout much easier because I spent
my last three years studying thetransition process, talking to
BFWs, american Legions, theveterans and stuff.
So when we were done in SanDiego, as much as I love San
Diego, it just wasn't costeffective, you know, for a
(05:34):
family of four to live there,especially on retirement pay.
So we decided that we weregoing to move to South Florida
because that's where my wife'sparents live.
So I actually came out herefirst because the kids were
still in high school and thoughtit would be much easier to job
hunt here in Florida fromFlorida than versus trying to
(05:57):
job hunt from San Diego.
So I came out here and I ranthe circuit.
So I got out here and a coupleof weeks after I retired and I
tell people that you know, whenyou job hunt it's a full-time
job, it's not like a fly jobhere, apply a job there.
It's Monday through Friday,eight to five, nine to one,
whatever you set hours and yougot to put in the grind.
(06:19):
Oh, yeah, so yeah between Aprilto August, I figured I applied
for 168 jobs.
I went to 12 job fairs.
I even submitted my resume to acouple of politicians to see if
maybe they can help me out.
I got three interviews Out of100, I only got three interviews
(06:40):
.
One of them was for aninsurance company, one of them
was for WastePro as a dispatcherand the last one was
CareerSource Broward, workingfor their.
Was it Jobs for Veterans?
State Grant, jbsg, okay, andyou took that job.
I took that job.
It actually.
You know, sometimes I tellpeople it's being in the right
place at the right time.
I had gone down becauseCareerSource is, in other words,
(07:04):
is a brand name for theAmerican Job Center, which is a
nonprofit throughout the entirecountry.
There's at least American JobCenter within 50 miles of every
major city and their job is toprovide support for people
looking for work.
So I had already known thatfrom my command career counselor
.
So I went down there and I satdown with my veteran rep and him
and I were talking and he toldme what his job title was.
(07:25):
I'm like that's funny.
He goes what?
I was just on the state jobboard page a week ago and I
applied for a job title that'sthe same as yours.
He goes.
That's really weird.
He goes the program manager'sin the building.
Why don't we ask her if sheever saw your resume?
She came over.
She was a naval officer, navyguy.
(07:47):
My career counselor, employmentspecialist, was the Navy guy.
We all got to chit-chat andsharing stories and she goes.
I think you'd be a perfect fit.
So I had.
I still, even though I knew Ihad the job in the bag, I still
went through the whole interviewprocess and that's where I was
for for.
For the last couple of years Iwas working with them.
Primarily.
My job was an employmentspecialist, helping veterans,
you know, connect withnonprofits, helping them with
(08:09):
their resume, showing them theproper techniques on how to
apply for jobs, because it'sjust a lot more than click and
there's a lot more skillsinvolved in finding the correct
job and applying for it properly.
People just don't understand.
It's a lot more than uploadingyour resume.
There's a lot more into it.
You have to really do yourhomework and take a look in
(08:31):
there.
And then I provided them withinterview techniques.
I usually do mock interviewswith them.
And then I got picked up for theemployer side of the house, so
they wanted me to work with theemployer.
So my job was to network withemployers.
Hey, I got vets.
What type of vet are youlooking for?
Let me introduce you.
There was no promises in it butI basically I was connecting
(08:53):
veterans and employers together,trying to help them feel
because, you know, hiringsomebody is a lot difficult for
a recruiter than a lot of peoplethink.
Because the thing that mostpeople don't understand is 75%
of all resumes are rejected by asoftware program with the IQ of
a third grader.
Yeah, and people don'tunderstand that.
It's like well, you fired offyour resume, yet oh, how do you
know that they got it?
(09:14):
Because it only takes one itemon a resume one item.
It could be an asterisk in awrong place or one wrong word in
.
That's why they're trying to doaway with resumes in the next
couple of years.
That's why a lot of companieshave gone to the video
pre-answering questions.
Just upload your resume andthen they want to hear you
(09:35):
answer some pre-questions.
Scott McLean (09:36):
All right.
So how did you get from thereto Mission United, Broward
County?
Sean MacFee (09:41):
So, being in the veterans department for the JPSG
program, I worked very closelywith a lot of nonprofits and one
of them happened to be MissionUnited.
So we were very close, workinghand in hand.
They had veterans that theywere trying to help that were,
on you know, in desperate needof whatever they needed, and one
(10:01):
of them was employment.
So I worked very closely withthem and they finally had a job
that fit exactly what I waslooking for.
I mean they we chit chattedback and forth over the years
Mission United about, you know,trying to get me to move from
career source to them and theyfinally offered me a position.
I couldn't say no.
I mean working for the state.
I had nothing against the statebut state.
You know a lot of bureaucrat,you know you have a lot of hoops
(10:23):
you have to jump through.
There's only certain people youcan help.
Mission United gave me a jobwhere I do the same thing I was
doing for, you know,careersource, but I don't have
half the requirements and theylet me do what I want to do and
they support me in whatever Iwant.
So I couldn't say no, so Ihopped on over.
Scott McLean (10:42):
Great organization .
So tell the listeners aboutMission United Broward County.
We had Jonathan Oakley on fromMission United Palm Beach County
.
We kind of went over thedifferences but having you here
kind of give the listener arundown of what Mission United
Broward County does, becausethey are like the grandfather of
(11:03):
Mission United, if I'm notmistaken.
Sean MacFee (11:05):
Yeah.
So United Way, of course, hasbeen around for 85 plus years.
So about 13 years ago theUnited Way of Broward County was
trying to think of there's gotto be a different way to help
vets.
So they reached out to a lot ofpredominant community partners
who were veterans of stealthlike Stephen Moss was the
(11:25):
founding member of MissionUnited and the rest of his team
and how can we do a better jobat helping vets, particularly
those that are homeless?
So they came up with a plan.
They put it all together.
United Way said okay, will yourun it?
So they did.
They started off, they put ittogether, they put the team
(11:46):
together and it's been goingpretty good since then.
They consider Mission Unitednot as a Department of United
Way but an initiative.
Now, even coming up on 13 years, it's only in 29 United Ways
have an initiative MissionUnited, which is not bad in a
12-year period considering thenumber of locations United Way
(12:09):
is around.
The world.
Scott McLean (12:10):
I was going to say do you know that number how
many United Ways just in theUnited States there are?
Oh, not off the top oflocations.
United way is around the world.
I was going to say do you knowthat number how many united ways
just in the united states thereare?
Oh, not off the top of my head,it's a lot they've been they
want.
Sean MacFee (12:18):
They're one of the premier non-profits that have
been around for as long as theyhave.
Yeah, and, matter of fact, fromwhat I understand don't quote
me on it, but I believe somebodytold me the other day they were
starting a United Way inAustralia.
Scott McLean (12:29):
Wow.
Sean MacFee (12:30):
So Miss United is in 29.
Now they provide.
They don't provide a lot.
Of them will provide directservices.
Scott McLean (12:38):
This is where the difference is.
Yes.
Sean MacFee (12:40):
Now the ones that are here.
Now there's eight of us thatprovide direct services Palm
Beach here, broward County,miami, a couple of the other
places is they provide directservices directly to the vet.
Basically, it means that a vetcan come in and actually sit
down with somebody instead ofjust being referred to somebody.
And this year we're opening upMiss United in Okeechobee.
(13:02):
We met with their town charterand they are very excited.
So a lot of us have beenworking with our counterparts up
there.
You know helping them get ontheir feet, you know letting
them so they don't have toreinvent the wheel.
So they're very excited.
So we're hoping to have that upand running anytime soon.
Scott McLean (13:18):
So Mission United Broward County, give the
listener a breakdown of all thethings that they cover in the
veteran space, because there'smore than just helping the
homeless vets.
So, and this is what separatesBroward County from the rest,
yes, it's because we set thegroundwork.
Sean MacFee (13:38):
Our primary is housing.
That's number one.
Right Now there's a grant thatcomes.
It's called SSVF, it's SupportServices for Veteran Families.
That's where a lot of ourhousing grant comes from.
We get not only grants from thestate but we get grants from
the VA as well.
Under that, the primary focusis to help veterans who either
were first month, last month orsecurity deposit.
(13:59):
We can pay their rent up forthe first couple months.
After that, if they still needto stay, we can pay half their
rent up for another year and ahalf.
So, and then at that point,unfortunately, the grant doesn't
allow us to pay beyond that.
We actually have a group ofindividuals that work directly
with landlords.
We have an agreement with themHUD-VASH, ssvf so that way we
(14:23):
can help mitigate to make surethat the rent is what they can
afford, and also we can be amediator between the landlord
and the vet.
So if either one are havingissues, they don't have to talk
to each other, they'll just callus right.
Another one we work with islegal aid we provide.
You know, again, make sure allthese services are at no cost to
(14:46):
veterans or their familieswhatsoever.
We don't charge them anythingand if anybody says otherwise,
they're lying.
So, like now, legal aid helpsus provide legal advice to our
veterans and their families,regardless of what the issue is.
So and if we can't help themdirectly like my boss or James
Heaton, a lawyer has a lot ofconnections in Broward County
(15:07):
and a lot of the other MissUniteds that have you know
connections as well that findinglawyers that are willing to
work pro bono at minimum cost tomake sure that there's no
hardship on the veterans.
So we have a great group ofindividuals.
Depending on what the veteranneeds, we can help them
hopefully overcome that obstacle.
We do have the medical side ofthe house.
We actually have a veteranservice officer and a VA rep who
(15:31):
come to our site.
We actually work directly withthem.
There are appointed contactsthat if a veteran's having any
medical needs or questions orthey need help with their claims
, or if they're having issueswith the VA denying them claims
or whatever, we can help themwith that.
One of the other things we helpthem also too, with is mental
health services.
We have a connection withHenderson Behavioral Health as a
(15:54):
direct connect for us.
We can help and all these arewarm handoffs.
We never send a veteran toanybody.
We may call them directly or wewill walk them there or
whatever, but we're going tomake sure that they get from
point A to point B and theydon't get lost in a shuffle.
So we help them with that weactually have now.
We're not an employment agency,but we do have an employment
(16:16):
team.
Their job is to help themresumes, interviews.
We have a lot of communitypartners that have interview
clothing that we can send themover for.
One of them is a gentleman Iused to work with at
CareerSource, robert Pagan.
He's the employer expert.
It's his job to work with theemployers to make that
connection between them, as wellas the veterans.
(16:38):
There's a lot, yeah, there is alot.
Scott McLean (16:42):
It's one-stop shopping.
It's one-stop shopping.
Sean MacFee (16:44):
Yeah, yeah, because we pretty much we tell vets if
there's any issues you're having, let us know.
Yeah, let's take a run at it,and if we can't do it, we're
going to find somebody that willdo it for them you know, you
just got stuck and that'susually in podcasting.
Scott McLean (16:58):
That's like right, but it's because there's so
many things that you guys aredoing like you got to think of
all of them, which is a goodproblem to have yeah, I mean we
even have an outreach team thatgoes out and talks to veterans
on the streets.
Sean MacFee (17:14):
Yeah, miss United also works very closely with
United Way and their programs aswell, so we kind of even though
our job is mainly is veterans,we still are integrated with
them for their programs that wecould connect best to them.
Like one of my favoriteprograms that United Way has
called the Next GenerationProgram, they're working with
entrepreneurs that are 30 andyounger, helping them
(17:37):
peer-to-peer support, makingsure that they understand that
they're a young entrepreneur butthey have support.
A couple months ago at achamber meeting met a gentleman
I believe he was 17 years old,opened his own business.
I connected him with ourprogram and now he doesn't have
to go along.
His parents are a lot morehappier because they don't feel
like they have to do all theworker supporting, even though
(17:58):
it's his business.
So it's working well.
But, yeah, we definitely have alot of different communities
and projects we work with soit's tough Sometimes I lose a
little track of all of themwe're working on.
Scott McLean (18:09):
No, there is a lot .
That's lose a little track ofall of them we're working on.
So no, there there is a lot.
That's why it's the it's veryunique out of the other mission
united's that are around.
I know miami focuses on twospecific things and you know
palm beach county has theirfocus, which I think is it's
really good because it's there'sa lot of options.
There's a lot of options forthe veteran right.
So is broward county missionunited specific to broward
(18:34):
county veterans that's one ofthe things I like about our
non-profit.
Sean MacFee (18:38):
Uh, for for us is we're not contained by a county
like a lot of non-profits likewill take career force.
For us they're only, they canonly work with individuals who
reside in broward.
We're not not.
We constantly support eachother.
That's the greatest thing Ilike is like if somebody needs
help, I've gone down and did aveteran stand down in Miami
because they needed somebody.
(18:58):
We were there, they were there.
We were there to support eachother.
When the hurricane rippedthrough the western side of
Florida, we reached out to ourTampa group and said, hey,
listen, if you need a home base,you can come here.
So we were all set up andprepared that if they want to
work out of our offices, we gotthem covered.
So just the way those serviceswere interrupted.
Scott McLean (19:18):
Yeah, that's great , because I know there's
probably someone listening thatwas like oh, I live in Palm
Beach County and but if you're aveteran, you're a veteran and
I'm sure that you reach out toBroward County Mission United.
They're not going to turn youaway.
None of the Mission Unites willturn you away.
So if a veteran wanted to takeadvantage of the many programs
(19:43):
that Mission United BrowardCounty offers, how would they go
about it?
So say, I needed legal aid,like, is there a specific place
they go to?
Is it all in one building?
Is it so?
How would that work?
If I'm a veteran that justheard this podcast, I'm like you
know what I could use that.
So how does my process work?
Oh, that's awesome.
Sean MacFee (20:04):
Well, we always refer.
There's a million phone numbersto remember.
You know acronyms for phonenumbers.
We and phone numbers toremember.
You know acronyms for phonenumbers.
We always tell them thesimplest one is dial 2-1-1.
2-1-1 is an international,across the entire United States
number.
It goes by the tower.
So if you're in Michigan, youknow whatever dial 2-1-1, you're
going to get the 2-1-1 helplineand that's what they are.
(20:25):
They're a resource provider.
Now we work very closely withthem that if you call them, say
hey, I'm a veteran, I need help,they're going to make sure that
they'll start the intakeprocess before you even step in
the door.
What is it you need?
They're going to try to smoothall that paperwork right up
front, answer all your questionsand then direct you either
(20:46):
directly to us or directly tothe community partner.
Now, I don't know about theother, Miss United, but here in
Broward, Mondays and Thursdays,we have what they call we bring
in all our community partners sothey can see all of them in one
building.
You don't have to go A, B, theycan come see us any time of the
day of the week and we can setthem up Monday through Friday
(21:06):
and but if they come on Mondaysor Thursdays.
I mean, sometimes the VA willeven bring one of those mobile
medical buses to us so they canget their shots, they can get
their examinations, whateverthey need, right then and there,
whatever happens, that's stoodin a VA.
So we try to minimize theiramount of moving around, but we
do most of the work to preventthem.
(21:26):
So we will always advocate forthem first, what is it you need,
Okay, so so tell us what's neat, let's talk before we put you
on the road.
We're not going to send youanywhere, traveling anywhere
until we make sure that we'reminimizing the amount of time
that you're spending in travel.
Scott McLean (21:40):
so mondays and thursdays, say I don't need to
call 9-1-1.
I'm just curious.
I want to go find out about2-1-1.
What did I say?
9-1-1.
Yeah, oh, okay, I won't evenedit that.
Yeah, so I don't need to call2-1-1,.
And now I just heard what youhad to say.
So I go down to where.
Sean MacFee (22:00):
We're just down the street from the courthouse.
You can actually find theaddress In Fort Lauderdale.
In Fort Lauderdale yeah, we'reliterally just down the street
from the courthouse.
I don't have the addressmemorized off the top of my head
.
Scott McLean (22:10):
It's around Andrews right.
Sean MacFee (22:16):
Yeah, it's Andrews.
Yeah, you can look it up on ourwebsite.
You can go to Mission Unitedand look up the address or call
us.
Our phone number is on there.
You can always call us.
Scott McLean (22:21):
Yeah.
Sean MacFee (22:22):
I mean, even though I don't work in what they call
our veteran resource centers,people call me all the time.
Somehow they just punch numbersand they end up with me and I'm
like I got no problem.
They ask me all kinds ofquestions, like I don't have the
answers.
But let me tell you who can andI'll give them and let's make
sure, let me call and make surethey're in the office before I
transfer you and I always givethem, like here's my number,
here's my extension, just incase you didn't get it.
Scott McLean (22:51):
If you call me back, because I'm going to track
it down and find out why theyhaven't called you back.
And that's one of the beautifulthings of Mission United in
general, you do not get dustedoff.
You do not.
If you're a veteran, trust me,they will not dust you off and
be like, yeah, we'll get back toyou.
I know that it's action, it'slike we're going to help you.
I know that it's action.
It's like we're going to helpyou and as quick as a time as
(23:12):
they can, considering thesituation, like, yeah, they'll
handle you.
They will not blow you off.
Sean MacFee (23:18):
That's because a lot of us who work in a Miss
United department not all of us,but quite a few of us are
veterans and we're disabledveterans.
We've all been in differentsituations.
It's a long story for anotherpodcast.
But I was a kid.
I was homeless.
I remember being homeless.
I lived in a tent.
I used to do my homework byfirelight, you know, because my
parents didn't have enough moneyfor a place to live it's like.
(23:40):
So I understand that.
You know what it was kind oflike to be homeless.
You know scraping bottles.
You know, for five cents of,you know, pop, so that we can,
you know, have enough money forgas, yeah know.
So we've all been through theprocess at one point or another.
Some of us have, you know, PTSD.
Some of us have other issues.
So we can relate.
The last thing we're ever goingto do is leave a brother and
sister and their family, youknow, hanging dry.
(24:01):
We're going to make sure andthat's one thing I like about
this organization, the people Iwork with, you know we all have
that.
One employee You're like why areyou here?
I mean, we all have that.
We look at them like why I'vebeen with this group.
You know, like I said, I'veworked side by side with them
for the last six years.
I've been working for them foralmost a year now and I have yet
(24:22):
to meet that one employee, Imean even our front desk guy.
As soon as you walk into UnitedWay, he's like what can I do?
How fast?
What can I get you?
Can you get a drink of water?
Everybody, right up to our CEO.
I have never worked for a CEOthat has more energy, passion
than Kathleen.
I mean, she's just wonderful towork for.
Scott McLean (24:43):
Yeah, james is an okay guy too.
Yeah, james Eaton's an okay guy.
Sean MacFee (24:47):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, you know you just.
Scott McLean (24:50):
No, he's a really good guy.
I was being facetious.
Sean MacFee (24:53):
But you know, I tell vets, like you know, one of
the things that James isphenomenal about, as well as the
CEO, is they're open to.
Hey, have you ever thoughtabout doing this?
Yeah, and one of the things we,james and I, created was a
survey what services do you notget enough of?
James and I created was asurvey what services do you not
(25:13):
get enough of?
So we sent it out to all thecommunity partners trying to get
back like tell us, tell us whatwe're doing wrong and what
would you like to see more of,or what are we doing right, so
that we can do a better job atwhat we're doing.
And that's what I really likeabout this.
I like I said I have yet to meetthat one coworker going why are
you here?
I mean, everybody I work withis super passionate about
everything we do.
(25:34):
I mean you walk into some placeand somebody's just like you
were like how are you incustomer service with that
attitude?
I have yet to see that inMission United or United Way,
even when I go over to theVeteran Resource Center to talk
and visit, they make sure thatevery.
Are you okay?
Do you need some coffee youneed?
Are you okay, are youcomfortable?
I mean, they constantly werelike, hey, listen, you know.
(25:54):
Like, if you're, hey, you knowwhat's taking so long.
Hey, they need a couple more.
They make sure that when thevets come in there they're not a
number very welcoming.
Scott McLean (26:02):
Yeah, yeah, how many veterans do you know or do
you think get served a month ora year through Mission United
Broward County?
Sean MacFee (26:13):
I don't see the end numbers Right, but I believe
somebody told me last year wewere able to support 4,000
veterans and their families.
I think I'll have to doublecheck that number.
I apologize if I'm wrong, but Iknow that we are constantly
helping vets every day and thenumbers grow.
Sometimes they're a little lesson some months, but I believe,
(26:35):
if I remember, when we weretalking about numbers about a
month or two back, somebody saidwe had helped 4,000 veterans
last year.
Scott McLean (26:41):
Wow, Wow, and there's a lot of veterans in the
South Florida area, that's forsure.
Sean MacFee (26:46):
A lot of it is just people constantly ask well, if
veterans have all these benefitsand these resources, then why
are they on the streets?
Because it's all aboutcommunications.
It's because you got toremember.
A lot of them, prior to 2011,weren't told what their benefits
were.
They didn't know.
I always tell people there'sabout 150,000 service members
(27:07):
who leave service every year forwhatever reason, whether
they're kicked out theircontract's up or they retire.
You think about that is 150,000members leave service before
2011,.
Were given no information aboutit.
I know I didn't, yep.
Scott McLean (27:22):
I didn't get anything, and that's another
thing that a lot of veteransdon't know about nonprofits and
this is my listeners hear thisall the time but I'm still
frustrated and fascinated at thesame time at the lack of
publicity that nonprofits forveterans and I can only be
(27:44):
specific to veterans becausethat's the world I'm in but
nonprofits in general.
But in our world, the lack ofknowledge that these things
exist, mission United, browardCounty exists.
I lived in Hollywood for 20years, 15 years.
I didn't know you guys.
(28:04):
I probably could have used youguys.
Sean MacFee (28:07):
Yeah, I even had that when I was working for
CareerSource Broward.
I mean, a common thing we usedto hear all the time I worked
out of their Coconut Creekoffice for a while.
And the most common thing weused to hear I've lived here for
X number of years.
I didn't know you guys existeduntil unemployment sent me here.
Scott McLean (28:21):
It's unbelievable why this isn't a thing Like.
Veterans don't know about thesethings.
There's so many of them.
Sean MacFee (28:32):
Well, it's because a lot of the grants that a
non-profits receive, there'sonly certain things you can do
with the money, and marketing isusually the smallest part of
that.
Yeah, so it's very difficult tomarket it, because that's the
question we're talking about,like how can we don't have tv
commercials, yeah, you know.
So that's why I'm trying to getout there on the podcast you
know circuit, because a lot ofpeople seem to be listening to
those versus radio nowadays andtry to get an understanding is,
(28:52):
there is a ton of services outthere.
I mean even the va has a ton ofservices, but they don't talk
about them.
I mean, I found out rightbefore I retired that the, the
va, offers a reimbursement fortravel.
A lot of vets are not aware ofthat.
I tell them all the time whetheryou drive five miles or you
drive 50 miles, you getreimbursement for your travel
(29:14):
yeah yeah, you know that therewas all kinds of stuff like that
and like they give like a Ican't remember how much there
was, like I think it was thelast time I looked it was like
22 000 to remodel or purchase anew vehicle if your disability
has an issue with your driving.
Nobody knows these things theyactually do.
(29:34):
Where they have a clothingallowance, reimbursement.
Scott McLean (29:36):
Wow.
Sean MacFee (29:37):
That if you, like you have a medical device that
ruins your clothes Like you'reone of those guys that have, or
gals that have one of those likeyou got to wear the injector
for your back yeah, it ruinsyour clothes you can submit a
travel.
You can submit a reimbursementclaim to be reimbursed because
the medical devices that areservice-connected are destroying
your clothes.
Yeah, the vets don't know that.
Scott McLean (29:57):
So what's an average day for Sean McPhee?
Sean MacFee (30:02):
You know, that's one thing about it.
Scott McLean (30:03):
Or there's no such thing as an average day.
There's no such thing for men.
Sean MacFee (30:07):
When I meet with people all the time, like you
know, like I go out to a lot ofchamber and community events and
they're like, oh hey, have youever thought about being a
chamber meeting?
I mean member, and I'm like,well, it's very difficult for me
because no day is the same forme.
I mean, there was a time I waslaughing.
I went in at 8, 30, 10 minutesafter I got there I got a phone
call saying we needed somebodyto be representing event and
(30:30):
plantation and since I was inthe office, could I grab a bunch
of stuff and go?
Oh sure, when does it start?
15 minutes, and you want me toget from fort lauderdale to
plantation?
All right, I'll do my best.
Yeah, and I drove down there.
There are some days where, fromthe minute I get up till the
minute I get home, I'm goingfrom one event to another or
i'm'm meeting with one of ourpoliticians or, you know, you
(30:52):
know a few people don't know, acouple of our politicians are
veterans themselves, which makesmy life much easier to converse
with them and advocate, youknow.
And they're more open,receptive.
And there's quite a few other.
You know our community partners, you know, especially, like I
said, those in the politicianrealm that are open to helping
vets.
Scott McLean (31:08):
So and Mission United, broward County takes
donations.
Sean MacFee (31:12):
Yes, we actually.
Even on our website you can dodonations.
Like you know, everybody getsthe typical donations for
holidays but we still getdonations for all kinds of stuff
.
You know, I even had acommunity partner ask me like,
hey, we're always looking forvolunteer events.
We have on our webpageunitedwaybrowardorg.
(31:33):
You can look at it.
We have a volunteer slot Ifyou're open and you want to do
some volunteer stuff with us.
Great and hint hint for any ofthose out there looking for work
.
Some of the best people to meetis at a volunteer event,
because not everybody is anemployee or a volunteer.
Some of them are CEOs, some ofthem are politicians.
Can't tell you the number ofvets that have helped find work
that went out to a volunteerevent and met somebody and got a
(31:53):
job.
So throwing that out there.
Scott McLean (31:56):
There you go.
Good information, alright.
Is there anything else you wantto tell us about the website
address, anything like that?
Sean MacFee (32:03):
Unitedway Brouwerorg is the website and
Mission United is a backslashmission.
Mission-unitedorg is in thereas well, or you can just find
everything right on the UnitedWay page and we've updated it.
We have events that are goingon community events.
Scott McLean (32:23):
And anything coming up in the next couple of
months that you know offhand.
Sean MacFee (32:27):
Well, we're always having events going on.
One of the major ones thatwe're having come up we have a
mental health summit that we puton once a year is coming up in
May.
We'll be hosting that at theBroward Convention Center
Usually oh God, trying to thinkwe had like a thousand people
last year.
I think so.
It was very informative.
A lot of talk about wherethings are going with mental
health, the different thingsthat we're doing, what they call
(32:49):
it the chamber now, thedifferent things that we're
doing.
What do they call it thechamber now?
The Baramac Chamber thing.
That seems to be a good way.
Mental health of some of thecommunity.
Scott McLean (32:56):
Oh, you're talking like the 22 Project, hyperbaric
oxygen therapy, the hypergenicthing.
Yeah, that's a big deal.
Sean MacFee (33:02):
That's a big deal that's been going on and they're
striving in new ways of helpingveterans, particularly for
mental health issues.
So it's a very great you knowdifferent ways of doing it.
I met a community partner thatwhere you know, kind of like Dr
Phil's, you know doctors withoutborders.
They kind of do the same thingfor vets, you know, but it's an
online, so you know, definitelya lot of stuff.
Scott McLean (33:24):
All right.
Well, sean, thanks for comingon the podcast.
My friend Glad you liked thebig pink couch in the One man,
one Mic Foundation studio.
Here's my cheap plug for theOne man, one Mic Foundation.
Go to my website,onemanonemicfoundationorg.
See what we're doing over there.
We're helping veterans, we'reteaching them how to podcast,
because, well, there's been nopoint in the history of this
(33:45):
country where a veteran has hadmore of an opportunity to be
heard than there is right now inthis moment.
It's not TikTok or Instagram,it's podcasting, because you're
not doing a 30-second clip or aone-minute clip.
You can talk and we teachveterans from start to finish,
from concept to publication.
It's all free how to do it, andthis place is charging a lot of
(34:07):
money to do that.
Sean MacFee (34:09):
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, and a little plug for
podcasts.
You know there's quite a few.
You have one, I have one, plugit.
Yeah, so mine is fromBattlefront to Homefront.
It's on Facebook, so that'stalking about all the services
that Mission United and UnitedWay provide for services.
But you know, podcastsdefinitely come away.
We actually quite a few famouspeople on TV started out as a
podcast.
Scott McLean (34:30):
Yeah, and I will get James on here eventually.
Yep, I know, pinning him downis like trying to get a greasy
cat.
Sean MacFee (34:37):
Yeah, him and I are different because even I have
to pin down.
That's why half the time I haveto email him to let him know
what I'm doing, because him andI are in different schedules.
So, yeah, like half the timeI'm like when I went into the
office this morning I forgotwhat my password for my computer
was.
Scott McLean (34:52):
Haven't we all?
I'm going to do my outro andstick around.
Of course You're sitting infront of me, so you're not going
anywhere.
Well, once again we builtanother bridge this was a very
good bridge from county tocounty to county, mission United
.
Look them up, go to thewebsites Broward County, palm
Beach County, Dade County.
They're all doing great workfor veterans.
(35:13):
If you're not interested, butyou know a veteran or a family
member of a veteran that mightbe interested in their services,
let them know.
And again I want to thank youfor listening.
Your support has been amazing.
This podcast is it's alreadyfar exceeded my expectation.
I appreciate people like Seanreaching out and wanting to be
on the podcast and while youlisteners are the engine that
(35:36):
drives this machine.
So again, thanks for listening.
I think that's it.
Stick around for the publicservice announcement.
Yeah, the public serviceannouncement at the end.
It's a very informative one.
It actually mentions 2-1-1 andall the services that 2-1-1 has,
and 9-8-8.
And it helps veterans, familymembers of veterans, friends of
veterans or just general public.
(35:58):
Take a listen.
It's only 30 seconds long andit's my wife's voice, so it's
very nice, soft, easy going.
It's not my, my voice.
It's worth listening to aftermy voice.
So, and yeah, like I always say, you will hear me next week
with a new episode.
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