Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The views and opinians expressed in the following programmer those
of the speaker and don't necessarily represent those of the station.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It's staff management or ownership.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Good morning, you'll find me out Pete and the Poet Gold.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
I'm Peter Leonard and I'm the poet Gold, and.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
We're on the air this morning with Poughkeepsie Mayor Von
Flowers and the Director of Youth Services mis Williams, Karen Williams.
And before we get to may of flowersm As Williams,
you're going to go right to the poet Gold for
weekly prayer poem incantation.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Gold, please let it roll, Thank you, Peters.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
So this morning I'm going to do a piece called
to be of service. To inspire those who are seeking inspiration,
to transform those who choice is willful ignorance, To guide
those in their darkest moments. To hold dear those who
need to be held, To demonstrate patients when there seems
to be none, to teach those when there are lessons
(00:56):
to be learned, To listen to the voice of the unheard,
to lead in an exact manner, to be righteous with
our cause.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
To be of service, and there's plenty of service.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
In the room. I'll tell you that Mayor Flowers put
on an expression of yeah, we've been around that. But
before you were mayor, you've been serving the city of
Poughkeepsie from the time you were a very little person, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
A young age.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
My dad has taught us the importance of community service.
So he did a lot of community events and also
taught us, you know, why it's important that we get
involved in our community.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And you sort of gravitated towards very easily.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
I enjoy helping people and doing the different events that
we were having, But when it got down to the politics,
that's when he kind of pushed me in that direction,
even though he didn't want to get involved in politics.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
But let's tell us listeners who your father was, John Flowers.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, I mean it's famous as you are. You're not
ever going.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
To be famous as your father.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
John Flowers as famous for generations exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And and and and his shoes, I should say, yeah,
it's a black and white and white shoes.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, yeah, the black and white.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And they even more realized it the base of Main
Street that John Flowers Circle at Main Street in the River. Yes,
and there's a picture of Blaque with John black and
white shoes there.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Yeah. He always like wearing black and white. That was
his way of feeling like it symbolizes unity.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah and uh and boy he could create unity and
Miss William your job as director of Youth Services, what
does that involved?
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Well, it involves me working with the youth usualising government
group as well as overseeing the youth grand funds that
are awarded to the programs that offer extracurricular activities that
were as well as work experience typing for the youth.
So anything that's you related, you know, I overs see
the grand funds in that term.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And what brought you to this field that you always
been working with youth or how did you land here?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You know what I started out?
Speaker 6 (03:10):
My degree is in Gudenson consting at secondary school secondary
students and it's full circle. So I was going to
college to become a teacher slash guidence concert and then
it brought me back.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
To the kids.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Okay, all right, wonderful. So let's talk about the Mayor's ball. Okay,
let's let's let's get right right there. That's it's coming up.
You know, talk talk to us about that. What was
what's the vision behind the Mayor's Ball. How did it
come about?
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Well, the first Mayor's Ball was in twenty twenty four,
and I have attended previous mayor balls. When really was
John Tyaac, I went to his Mayor Ball for many years.
My dad liked to go there dancing and enjoying itself.
And what the previous mayor balls, what they've done is
use the proceeds to fund their campaigns.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So when I came in.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Was it was brought to my attention what I want
to do a Mayor's Ball, and I said, you know, sure,
but I would like to use it for a program
that I like to implement in the City of Ekkeepsie,
and that's having some type of program where we can
bring youth to learn about government and how they can
get involved. So there was a committee that came together
(04:22):
that was led by Stacy McDonald, which was Stacy Bobbabs
at the time, along with a committee and Community Matters too,
and it was a few other volunteers and they actually
helped create and coordinate at this event and it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We raised enough funds.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
That we were able to create the program, which is
called Youth Leadership and Government and we were able to
work with our kids in the next year twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So it's a beautiful event. It's you know, people come.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
We're about almost close to three hundred people last year,
and it was great because we all came together. Base
Camp was the musical performance, and then I also kind
of honored a few people as well on that night,
which they didn't know because my dad always liked to
surprise people.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I thought that was great. But it was a good
way for all of us to come together.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Community leaders that do they work so hard in the community,
and it was a way that we can come together
just enjoy each other's company and then be able to
have fun, let your hair down, you know, eat some
good food, you know, and then also too raise funds
for a good cause. So it was very successful in
twenty twenty four. So we moved forward to do the
(05:37):
second Mayor's Ball, which is on April twenty fourth.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And see, I just learned something today. I didn't know
that there was previous Mayor's Ball. It was the first
time in twenty twenty four when we attended Peter, I
think that was the first time I ever heard of it.
I didn't even know it existed in them, in the government,
you know, in the local government Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But let me under behind what a difference it is
between having a maya's ball that's going to fund your
own camp pain and the maya's ball is going to
fund a youth program that introduces young people to government.
I mean, I think it is the first real mayor's ball.
The other thing was just a fundraiser for the mayor.
(06:15):
But maybe I'm.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Getting the yeah, I don't know, because I don't know
what other balls were before that, because I really, excuse me,
didn't really get involved in politics like that, so I
don't know who else what other mayors have balls. But
I know throughout the state and even through the country,
people have mayor's balls and they use it for different initiatives.
And that's how I was able to find out how
(06:36):
to fund this, because you know, you can't receive the
funds directly, so you have to go through a non
for profit. So we were able to work that out
to make sure that we did everything in compliance.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Let me just take a bit of a diversion on this.
When you say throughout the country mayors do different things
with the mayor's ball, You've had a lot of experience
with other mayors throughout New York State in the country.
Can you tell us a little bit about that, because
you seem to really get around nationally.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
So I tend the US Conference of Mayors, and that
brings mayors from across the country to come together in Washington,
and we have a conference about two and a half
days to talk about initiatives that we can work on
together and also to advocate for our cities and then
learn about different initiatives that were successful in other cities.
Like we're all dealing with a housing shortage, so we
(07:28):
find we can converse with other mayors about how they're
dealing with that particular shortage and then things that they
have pushed forward to help increase their housing units in
their cities. And then also everyone is dealing with homelessness,
you know, some on different scales, so we also discussed
that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And then also.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Finding out funding that will come down to a lot
of mandates that are impacting our cities, like the lead
online replacement all across the country, you have to replace
these leadlines, and so a lot of fun thing is
coming from the federal government and also from our state
so we also find out how we can utilize those funds,
you know, to our advantage. And then also for me
(08:09):
being a new mayor, when I first went to this conference,
I was able to talk with other mayors have been
in the position for a while to see how they
deal with police relations. You know, there's a lot of
different things because once you get in here as mayor,
you got so many things that are coming at you.
So you try to find out you know, well, I
know you're dealing with similar situations, like how do you
deal with that? Which was also nice too is that
(08:32):
I had an opportunity to meet with other black mayors
which had their own challenges, you know, and how we
actually navigate through certain things. And I actually met afford
a few of them where now they're like mentors to me,
which is great. So because the thing is, sometimes you know,
you don't know who to talk to because you know,
people can't relate to what you're going through in this position.
(08:54):
But it's nice that you can talk with other mayors
who understand your challenges, understand what you're going through, and
that can really empower you and uplift you.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So it's been great, you know, as a I mean,
I know, you're not the first of women mayor in significancy,
but you are the first women mayor, a black woman mayor,
you know, And and there's probably a larger expectation from
the community, you know, as well as some real some
unrealistic you know, based upon a lack of knowledge, you know.
(09:24):
And so I'm sure that that was hard and challenging
for you coming into the position.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
It was very challenging because there were issues that came
forward that Okay, now that you're in there and now
you can solve this. And I'm like, well, what do
you think was different between the mayor that was before me?
You know, I said, we'll have different perspectives in different
ways of how we're going to tackle that. But there's
some challenges that are out there that we need to
just get out and need to start praying, because you know,
(09:48):
I don't have a magic wand just because my skin
color is different, you know, or because I'm a different
gender that now I have the answers to it all.
But I do say that, you know, my approach with
maybe some of the previous mayors is a little different,
you know, of how because of my perspective and my experiences,
So there's certain things that maybe they didn't know how
to tackle because of the fact that a lot of
(10:11):
you know, some of the challenges were geared towards more
certain cultural and so so.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I just said things are a little different.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I tell people to be patient, but maybecause these problems
that we're dealing with the City of Kipsie didn't happen overnight. Absolutely,
and then those resolutions to the problems are not going
to happen overnight. So we are actually working the best
that we can with a climate that we're in right
now where it seems like a lot of times we're
having opposition or sometimes we're fighting for funding. And so
(10:39):
I think the team that I'm working with, we're working
really hard to ensure that we're building a better future
for Beekipsie and trying to create better housing opportunities and
also opportunities for our kids, educational and employment opportunities for
our kids, because there's another generation that's coming up that
need to sustain this city, and so we need to
make sure we prepare them for that and prepare our
(11:00):
city for when they're ready to live here and work
here and you.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Know, and just stay and stay.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You know, and I just want to be able to
give my contribution to help the city thrive, because then
also leave the city in a better position than it
was when I got here. So when the next mayor
comes in, they continue with that momentum and keep progressing
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
So so how long is the is the Let me
let me do this first, and then I'm going to
come back to my question. All right, if you're just
tuning in, you're listening to finding out with Pete and
the poet Gold and I'm the poet Gold and we're
here with Yvonne Flowers, chief City of Poughkeepsie Mayor, and
Karen Williams, Director of Youth Services for the City of Poughkeepsie.
My question he was, how long is the term for
(11:44):
mayor in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's four years.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
It's four years, and so this is your second year now, Chris,
this is my third year. Two years.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I know.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Wow, time goes time.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
When I was asked and.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Said, would you think about running again? And I'm like, well,
I said, I got time, Like no, no, no, You're in
your third year.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Wow, So you got to start preparing that next year.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
So it's like Okay, Well, we got a lot of
projects out there, so I'm gonna you know, I want
to move forward with that, okay. So yeah, I'm planning
on going for another term okay, and you can only
do two terms, so the maximum is eight years you
can serve.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
And so you heard it here, you heard it here first?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Have you heard it here first? You heard it here
first on Pete and the poet gold.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
That's absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I'm great, go pick that up because the standard political
response as well. I'm concentrating on the moment and we're
going to all decide in the future. Amen. No, I'm
in you. I finished two, I want to do away.
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Yeah, I already made a decision and talked to a group,
so I just said, you know what, you know, definitely,
I'm just going to move forward with it and hopefully
the residents will bring me back.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah. Yeah, there's always a choice. And you know you
had a question, You're going to ask you for that. No,
that was okay, but you know, so, uh, your direction
youth services give made a sense of how the Mayor's
ball is successful in terms of fundraising. How that might
(13:13):
affect your programs.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Well, I can say for the youth leadership in government
and the youth, there has been a massive growth. With
the kids that started, they were very quiet. People are
shy to stand them in front of an audience. Now
you cannot get these kids to stop talking. And not
only that, they're very expressive. We had one youth when
she came in, I told the mom, I said, she's
(13:35):
going to change, and she's like, what I said, she,
I'm telling you she's going to change, And within I
think four months, she's a totally different purchasing her mom
is like, I can't get her to shut up.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But that's a good thing.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
The money, Like her mom was like, but I love
it though, And she's like, Karen, thank you so much.
I don't know what you and the mayor did. I
don't know what, but keep doing what you guys are doing.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Yeah, it was nice to see them engaging in community service,
you know, where they're very quiet, they're not sure what
to say or what to do, and then next to
meeting they know, you see them working, you know, out
into a park or an event. And in this case
when we did the Thanksgiving food drive, when individuals were
impacted by the interruptions with the snap benefits. I mean,
(14:22):
these kids, they jumped right in and we had to
make up like three hundred baskets, and they were involved
and they were really really feeling, you know, happy the
fact that they were able to help their community. And
so just try to show them that there's many ways
that you can impact your community and that even from
small things are from large tasks. And so they realized that,
(14:43):
you know, just working together and how people come together
to do that, that it is possible for them.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
And then they enjoyed it and they're like, we want
to do more.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
So we're settling them up for different activities throughout, especially
throughout the spring.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
And I know at one point one of the kids
she had said to me, she said to me, Karen,
I don't know what I would do after school because
every even I would just go home. And she's like,
but this coming to this program and knowing that I'm
actually doing stuff and learning about government, She's like, it's
a game changer for me.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
We had a young man who went to went to Washington,
d C. We took a group there and they met
with Congressman Pat Ryan and so he when he was
sitting down talking with him and then started to understand
what the congressman does. So he said, you know, there's
an initiative he would like to work on and want
to know if the congressman would help him. And so now,
and he told him that his office is in the
(15:37):
Family Partnership. So he told him where it is, and
so he says, when you're ready, I want you to
come to the office and I'll show you how we
can do that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So and this is a young man that was kind.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Of quiet, wouldn't say too much, but it got really
motivated when he realized that, wow, you know, this is
something that's been on my mind for a while, but
I didn't know how to go about it, to advocate
for that kind of change or to make things happen.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
One of the things that occurs to me that just
thinks about your program is the emphasis on government. I mean,
having there's lots of ways to serve a community, but
you know, doing you know, different human service projects is
one thing. You know, becoming a human service worker or
(16:20):
a human service administrator is great, but the way you're
going to have the most effect on the most number
of people is through government. And so, at fifteen years old,
somebody says you know, government's a possibility for you that's
to me will be like an eye opening or a
(16:40):
freeing thing. And so the the emphasis on community dedication
with government as the pitch is really great, even if
that's government contribution comes in the form of very active citizenship.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yeah, we had a conversation with them and what they did,
and when we went to the state capital, we introduced
them to individuals that worked in Governor Hocal's office. So
not only you know, you can serve in these political positions,
but you also can work for a political you know,
agency as well. And so we did internships as well
last summer, so they worked in the different departments at
(17:21):
city Hall so they can understand how it all operates.
So even if you wanted to get in, like I said,
into government, not just the community service part of it
or public service, but you can also work you know,
it could be employment opportunities and that entity as well.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So how do you get involved with this leadership program
that you have.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
I mean normally we would start reaching out our recruiting kids,
but they would have to fill out an application, which
were really is probably in June our July we start
recruiting for the next.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Next herd or start in September and September okay, all right,
and how how long is the program itself?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Wow, that's fantastic.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
So in the summer they'll sign up for their internship programs.
So go find places for them to work. We try
to find places within city Hall. So if we don't
have enough slots, then we'll they'll work with a community organization.
So we're setting that up now so that they'll start
in July. Oh, that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I like the fact that it's a year, you know,
because a lot of programs are shorter and sometimes the
kids are not properly immersed in the outcome that you
want to achieve. And so that's a nice chunk of
length of time to mentor a child. It's fantastic. So
let's go back to the Mayor's bull again. How can
people get their tickets? How can they support you?
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, where they go? Tell the public where they go.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Where they can go to community matters, to website and
then there's a link there for the Mayor's Ball.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
It explains everything there. You can become a sponsor or,
you can.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Purchase tickets also too, we have a Mayor's Ball Facebook page,
so we have information there as well. And then I've
also been posting things on my personal Facebook page under
Yvonne Flowers, all right, so that's that's kind of where
you get all the information from. It also explains the
program as well, and you know, you used to see
(19:09):
I think there's a few photos too of the kids
that are in the program.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And then at the Mayor's.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Ball, the students that are involved in the program are
going to be there, so not only would they speak
about their experience, but also this is an opportunity for
them to network with people in the community as well.
So it's really nice because up to this time, they're
going through workshops, so they're doing social etiquette, they're doing
dining etiquette, but they're doing all these things that you
(19:33):
know when you're in this field that you know how
you're going to interact with people throughout the community on
different in different settings. So they're excited because they got
fitted for their their dresses and theirs and so and
you know, I'm also never been to an event like
this before, so they're excited about it. So I'm enjoying it.
I'm glad that the program is working out pretty well
(19:55):
and I do. I thank Mss Williams for all the
work that she's putting in because she meets with the
kids every week, so every week every Wednesday, So we
have a schedule that we put together so that way
every Wednesday they're doing something and so sometimes I pop
in on with them and sometimes I'm in you know,
inter sessions with them. But this is something. This is
the first chord, so we're seeing, you know, how this
(20:17):
all works out. And then get all the kings out
and we get the second core her coming in. You know,
I think we'll have a down pack. So and then
I also think, like I said also to Stacey and McDonald,
so she worked with the kids as well in the
beginning and helping structure the program together. So with the
three of us, I think we do pretty well because
(20:37):
like kids are enjoying it, you know. So I'm looking
forward to making sure that we're raised enough fund so
that way the kids can have this experience of going
to Washington meeting with their representatives, also going to the
state capitol because some of these trips, you know, we
you know, so you know, you lodging and food. So
so like I said, we we raised pretty good amount
(21:00):
of money the first time, and so we're hoping they
do the same this time.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Right, I'm sure you will once again, if you're just
tuning in, you're listening to finding out. We're Pete in
the poet Gold and I'm the Power Gold and we're
here with Ivonne Flowers, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor, and Karen Williams,
the Director.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Of Youth Services for the City of Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Yvonne had mentioned Mayor Flowers had mentioned that that you
meet with them every Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
What are some of the type of things that you
go through with them on Wednesdays.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
We discuss plans, initiatives that they want to work on't okay,
and you know they're going to be meeting with the
council members towards well, so those things we discuss as
well as we have I have most of the kids,
like one each week, one kid has to actually run
the actual meeting for five to ten minutes because that's
teaching them leadership skills as well as public speaking. So
(21:48):
that's what we're doing. And we talk about you know, events,
things that are going on, volunteering stuff. Because they went
to the pines as well as they did the harvest fast,
so things that are going on as well as this
cost the different levels of government. We discussed that to
us well. And then more oftentimes I hear the kids
say to me, oh, you know, I'm getting this in class,
so this is like me studying. So it's mostly volunteering
(22:12):
them learning leadership skills as well as learning about government.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
And then they also there are visiting some of the
sites also, so they go to the water plan, the
police department, the fire department, and DPW sites so they'll
know how that all interacts as far as.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
How government works in the operation.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
So you know, you can't make decisions about it if
you don't know the different entities that help make things work.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
So we also there would be touring what's the next one?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
They went to the police department, they're going to the
water plan, the water plan and.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
You know you mentioned when you first became mayor it
was sort of overwhelming you how many issues were available
to you were being forced on you. Because we think
of being a political leader an elected official as sort
of a symbolic and moral thing. You know, you're going
(23:03):
to lead the city and all, but you also just
have to know an enormous amount of details. You know,
so I didn't want the police department in the fire department,
but you mentioned the water plans, and you know, the
electrical grid picking up the garbage and the snow. There's
an enormous amount of just very ordinary administrative things that
(23:26):
are difficult. And the kids that you're working with them,
if they become mayor, they're going to be a little
less surprised than you were, exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
But I was a council member, so.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
You know, I would think I knew a little bit
more than I thought, But once you get there as
a mayor, it's like, oh, you didn't know about this.
So but the thing is the biggest part of the
biggest thing about the program too, is because I didn't
get introduced to governments.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I was an adult.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
So it's when things were going wrong and I realized, okay,
this is an avenue to help me change.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
So the thing is we want to start teaching.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
Our kids at a younger age how to get more involved,
even to the point of learning you know that you
have to vote. You know, some kids didn't even realize
that and realize they're close to a age or didn't
know that at eighteen you can run for city council,
you know. So this is just educating our kids at
a younger age to get them more involved in their community,
so they'll understand not only how to advocate for themselves within,
(24:21):
you know, their community, but if it comes down to
even in school, We're like, right now, we're teaching them
to advocate for themselves in school when they notice it
that some things they are not right or some things
that they want to change, that they have a voice,
and so that's what we're teaching them as well, and
not be afraid to use that voice.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Are they still teaching civics in school.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
I don't really know at this point because I remember
at one point the kids used to go to a
council meetings and they used to come in and you know,
had to get their paper signed that they came to
a council meeting. I haven't seen that in a while,
so I'm not really sure if they're doing the civics
and how before it used to be too that they
would have to go out and do community service to
show that.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
What I know there's other schools that are doing it,
but Biughkeepsie, I'm not really sure if that's kind of
like a requirement of the school, which should be you know,
but I don't think it's a requirement at this point.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
But what's interesting to me is, you know, you were
certainly introduced to community service early in your life, but
when it's community service through government, it's a very different pitch.
It definitely is, and it's a powerful pitch, you know.
I mean one of the things you know, we don't
(25:34):
want to keep preferring to. Your father is such a
dominant figure in Poughkeepsie. He was somebody who was able
to wield what I would call he would not call,
but I would call political power, but remaining independent. But
his idea, Okay, who has the money for the hot
dogs for the Easter?
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Yeah, and he's saying right there in that room, okay,
you have his hand out.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Listen, I gotta buy a thousand hot dogs.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
But you know, basic it's about people just just doing
the right thing right.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
I think that we that there's sort of like a
common thread that within no matter what we may stay
to say externally, within us, all we know what's the
right thing, right, and that the money for the thousand
hot dogs is the right thing.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Right, right?
Speaker 5 (26:25):
And you got a lot of kids too, and even
people that they really want to do the right thing
and they're really compassionate to help others, and they have
that passion, but they just don't know how what direction
to go with it, you know. So sometimes just showing
that avenue and saying that, you know, there's many different
avenues you can take in order to feel that passion.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So this is one way that we're showing them.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
And one other thing I would say as comparing you know,
John was John Fowers had a was a specific I've
used a phrase before, an American genius. I mean like
he reason he's were genius is I worked alone signing
for a lot, and I could never figure out how
(27:09):
he made things happen. I mean so I mean also
happened like if you get five thousand people from he
strike on it, I'm used to sunny event. If I
get twelve people, hey man, it's I got twelve. So
and I was trying to learn how he did it.
But it was all a genius kift. It was non
rational and essentially it's magic. And so he would get
(27:34):
the hount dogs for this year is he's strike on
but government is more long range in its mission so
that you know, John would just throw his magic around
every year where his government creates structures to make that happen.
And that's something for young people to learn.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
And I think my father he was successful in what
he was doing too, because people trusted him. They knew
that what he was doing came from the heart, and
he was genuine about really helping people, you know. And
when people realize that your working hardy are genuine about it,
they you know, you have a lot of people who
want to support you, right, And and that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
My dad.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
He had a lot of support out there. He worked
hard to build that trust and to build you know,
that in the community. But before he passed, you really
saw the impact that he had on the.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Community, right because it wasn't a racial line, it wasn't
a party line. It was we just need to be
of service, right, you know. And yeah, yeah, yeah. One
of the last conversations I have with your dad was
in the partnership and he pulled me into the hallway
and he and he said, gold, you have something you
want to help PI Keepsie go national mm and and
(28:42):
he said, don't get stuck in an office.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, And That's exactly what he said to me, and
I said, okay, John, I'll work hard at doing that.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Yeah, And that's that's kind of what we're doing too,
even in government. It's like going outside of that box
and reading with people on other platforms that you know,
have these creative ideas because sometimes we get stuck on
our ways and you know, and sometimes we have to
go beyond our own community to find the answers. So,
you know, so I do whatever I can to network
and talk with others. And we've brought some money into
(29:11):
the city of Poughkeepsie that are not that's not from here,
you know. So the thing is is that more people realize,
look what Pughkeepsie's doing, and they want to invest and
they want to help, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
That's what we need, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
So absolutely, how much time do we have left?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
We have a minute?
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Wow, the time goes by, it does, all right, all right,
So give us a details one more time about the
Mayor's Ball.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So the Mayor's Ball is on April twenty fourth.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
If it's a Friday, it's from six to eleven and
you can get the tickets at Community Matters Too dot
org their website under the Mayor's ball page.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It would give you the.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Rundown of the program of why we're raising the funds,
which is for the Youth Leadership and Government program.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
And you can become a sponsor or purchase tickets.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
So come out and support us, support our it's support
empowering our youth.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Through government. I love the idea that ITA a youth
program with an emphasis on government because government is what
changes the world.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Absolutely so, so get your tickets to the Mayor Bold
Yvonne Mayor Flowers, Karen Williams, thank you so much for
being here finding out with.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Pete and Poell Golden. To our listeners, we appreciate you.
Thank you for listening to us.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Thank you
The views and opinians expressed in the following programmer those
of the speaker and don't necessarily represent those of the station.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It's staff management or ownership.
Speaker 3 (00:11):
Good morning, you'll find me out Pete and the Poet Gold.
Speaker 4 (00:13):
I'm Peter Leonard and I'm the poet Gold, and.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
We're on the air this morning with Poughkeepsie Mayor Von
Flowers and the Director of Youth Services mis Williams, Karen Williams.
And before we get to may of flowersm As Williams,
you're going to go right to the poet Gold for
weekly prayer poem incantation.
Speaker 4 (00:33):
Gold, please let it roll, Thank you, Peters.
Speaker 1 (00:35):
So this morning I'm going to do a piece called
to be of service. To inspire those who are seeking inspiration,
to transform those who choice is willful ignorance, To guide
those in their darkest moments. To hold dear those who
need to be held, To demonstrate patients when there seems
to be none, to teach those when there are lessons
(00:56):
to be learned, To listen to the voice of the unheard,
to lead in an exact manner, to be righteous with
our cause.
Speaker 4 (01:05):
To be of service, and there's plenty of service.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
In the room. I'll tell you that Mayor Flowers put
on an expression of yeah, we've been around that. But
before you were mayor, you've been serving the city of
Poughkeepsie from the time you were a very little person, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
A young age.
Speaker 5 (01:27):
My dad has taught us the importance of community service.
So he did a lot of community events and also
taught us, you know, why it's important that we get
involved in our community.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
And you sort of gravitated towards very easily.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, I did.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
I enjoy helping people and doing the different events that
we were having, But when it got down to the politics,
that's when he kind of pushed me in that direction,
even though he didn't want to get involved in politics.
Speaker 1 (01:53):
But let's tell us listeners who your father was, John Flowers.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
Yeah, I mean it's famous as you are. You're not
ever going.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
To be famous as your father.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
John Flowers as famous for generations exactly.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
And and and and his shoes, I should say, yeah,
it's a black and white and white shoes.
Speaker 2 (02:12):
Yes, yeah, the black and white.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
And they even more realized it the base of Main
Street that John Flowers Circle at Main Street in the River. Yes,
and there's a picture of Blaque with John black and
white shoes there.
Speaker 5 (02:27):
Yeah. He always like wearing black and white. That was
his way of feeling like it symbolizes unity.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Yeah and uh and boy he could create unity and
Miss William your job as director of Youth Services, what
does that involved?
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Well, it involves me working with the youth usualising government
group as well as overseeing the youth grand funds that
are awarded to the programs that offer extracurricular activities that
were as well as work experience typing for the youth.
So anything that's you related, you know, I overs see
the grand funds in that term.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
And what brought you to this field that you always
been working with youth or how did you land here?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
You know what I started out?
Speaker 6 (03:10):
My degree is in Gudenson consting at secondary school secondary
students and it's full circle. So I was going to
college to become a teacher slash guidence concert and then
it brought me back.
Speaker 2 (03:22):
To the kids.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Okay, all right, wonderful. So let's talk about the Mayor's ball. Okay,
let's let's let's get right right there. That's it's coming up.
You know, talk talk to us about that. What was
what's the vision behind the Mayor's Ball. How did it
come about?
Speaker 5 (03:36):
Well, the first Mayor's Ball was in twenty twenty four,
and I have attended previous mayor balls. When really was
John Tyaac, I went to his Mayor Ball for many years.
My dad liked to go there dancing and enjoying itself.
And what the previous mayor balls, what they've done is
use the proceeds to fund their campaigns.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
So when I came in.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Was it was brought to my attention what I want
to do a Mayor's Ball, and I said, you know, sure,
but I would like to use it for a program
that I like to implement in the City of Ekkeepsie,
and that's having some type of program where we can
bring youth to learn about government and how they can
get involved. So there was a committee that came together
(04:22):
that was led by Stacy McDonald, which was Stacy Bobbabs
at the time, along with a committee and Community Matters too,
and it was a few other volunteers and they actually
helped create and coordinate at this event and it was beautiful.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We raised enough funds.
Speaker 5 (04:40):
That we were able to create the program, which is
called Youth Leadership and Government and we were able to
work with our kids in the next year twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
So it's a beautiful event. It's you know, people come.
Speaker 5 (04:54):
We're about almost close to three hundred people last year,
and it was great because we all came together. Base
Camp was the musical performance, and then I also kind
of honored a few people as well on that night,
which they didn't know because my dad always liked to
surprise people.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
I thought that was great. But it was a good
way for all of us to come together.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Community leaders that do they work so hard in the community,
and it was a way that we can come together
just enjoy each other's company and then be able to
have fun, let your hair down, you know, eat some
good food, you know, and then also too raise funds
for a good cause. So it was very successful in
twenty twenty four. So we moved forward to do the
(05:37):
second Mayor's Ball, which is on April twenty fourth.
Speaker 1 (05:40):
And see, I just learned something today. I didn't know
that there was previous Mayor's Ball. It was the first
time in twenty twenty four when we attended Peter, I
think that was the first time I ever heard of it.
I didn't even know it existed in them, in the government,
you know, in the local government Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But let me under behind what a difference it is
between having a maya's ball that's going to fund your
own camp pain and the maya's ball is going to
fund a youth program that introduces young people to government.
I mean, I think it is the first real mayor's ball.
The other thing was just a fundraiser for the mayor.
(06:15):
But maybe I'm.
Speaker 5 (06:16):
Getting the yeah, I don't know, because I don't know
what other balls were before that, because I really, excuse me,
didn't really get involved in politics like that, so I
don't know who else what other mayors have balls. But
I know throughout the state and even through the country,
people have mayor's balls and they use it for different initiatives.
And that's how I was able to find out how
(06:36):
to fund this, because you know, you can't receive the
funds directly, so you have to go through a non
for profit. So we were able to work that out
to make sure that we did everything in compliance.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
Let me just take a bit of a diversion on this.
When you say throughout the country mayors do different things
with the mayor's ball, You've had a lot of experience
with other mayors throughout New York State in the country.
Can you tell us a little bit about that, because
you seem to really get around nationally.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
So I tend the US Conference of Mayors, and that
brings mayors from across the country to come together in Washington,
and we have a conference about two and a half
days to talk about initiatives that we can work on
together and also to advocate for our cities and then
learn about different initiatives that were successful in other cities.
Like we're all dealing with a housing shortage, so we
(07:28):
find we can converse with other mayors about how they're
dealing with that particular shortage and then things that they
have pushed forward to help increase their housing units in
their cities. And then also everyone is dealing with homelessness,
you know, some on different scales, so we also discussed
that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
And then also.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Finding out funding that will come down to a lot
of mandates that are impacting our cities, like the lead
online replacement all across the country, you have to replace
these leadlines, and so a lot of fun thing is
coming from the federal government and also from our state
so we also find out how we can utilize those funds,
you know, to our advantage. And then also for me
(08:09):
being a new mayor, when I first went to this conference,
I was able to talk with other mayors have been
in the position for a while to see how they
deal with police relations. You know, there's a lot of
different things because once you get in here as mayor,
you got so many things that are coming at you.
So you try to find out you know, well, I
know you're dealing with similar situations, like how do you
deal with that? Which was also nice too is that
(08:32):
I had an opportunity to meet with other black mayors
which had their own challenges, you know, and how we
actually navigate through certain things. And I actually met afford
a few of them where now they're like mentors to me,
which is great. So because the thing is, sometimes you know,
you don't know who to talk to because you know,
people can't relate to what you're going through in this position.
(08:54):
But it's nice that you can talk with other mayors
who understand your challenges, understand what you're going through, and
that can really empower you and uplift you.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
So it's been great, you know, as a I mean,
I know, you're not the first of women mayor in significancy,
but you are the first women mayor, a black woman mayor,
you know, And and there's probably a larger expectation from
the community, you know, as well as some real some
unrealistic you know, based upon a lack of knowledge, you know.
(09:24):
And so I'm sure that that was hard and challenging
for you coming into the position.
Speaker 5 (09:28):
It was very challenging because there were issues that came
forward that Okay, now that you're in there and now
you can solve this. And I'm like, well, what do
you think was different between the mayor that was before me?
You know, I said, we'll have different perspectives in different
ways of how we're going to tackle that. But there's
some challenges that are out there that we need to
just get out and need to start praying, because you know,
(09:48):
I don't have a magic wand just because my skin
color is different, you know, or because I'm a different
gender that now I have the answers to it all.
But I do say that, you know, my approach with
maybe some of the previous mayors is a little different,
you know, of how because of my perspective and my experiences,
So there's certain things that maybe they didn't know how
to tackle because of the fact that a lot of
(10:11):
you know, some of the challenges were geared towards more
certain cultural and so so.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
I just said things are a little different.
Speaker 5 (10:18):
I tell people to be patient, but maybecause these problems
that we're dealing with the City of Kipsie didn't happen overnight. Absolutely,
and then those resolutions to the problems are not going
to happen overnight. So we are actually working the best
that we can with a climate that we're in right
now where it seems like a lot of times we're
having opposition or sometimes we're fighting for funding. And so
(10:39):
I think the team that I'm working with, we're working
really hard to ensure that we're building a better future
for Beekipsie and trying to create better housing opportunities and
also opportunities for our kids, educational and employment opportunities for
our kids, because there's another generation that's coming up that
need to sustain this city, and so we need to
make sure we prepare them for that and prepare our
(11:00):
city for when they're ready to live here and work
here and you.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Know, and just stay and stay.
Speaker 5 (11:07):
You know, and I just want to be able to
give my contribution to help the city thrive, because then
also leave the city in a better position than it
was when I got here. So when the next mayor
comes in, they continue with that momentum and keep progressing
in the right direction.
Speaker 1 (11:22):
So so how long is the is the Let me
let me do this first, and then I'm going to
come back to my question. All right, if you're just
tuning in, you're listening to finding out with Pete and
the poet Gold and I'm the poet Gold and we're
here with Yvonne Flowers, chief City of Poughkeepsie Mayor, and
Karen Williams, Director of Youth Services for the City of Poughkeepsie.
My question he was, how long is the term for
(11:44):
mayor in the City of Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
It's four years.
Speaker 1 (11:46):
It's four years, and so this is your second year now, Chris,
this is my third year. Two years.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
I know.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Wow, time goes time.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
When I was asked and.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Said, would you think about running again? And I'm like, well,
I said, I got time, Like no, no, no, You're in
your third year.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Wow, So you got to start preparing that next year.
Speaker 5 (12:04):
So it's like Okay, Well, we got a lot of
projects out there, so I'm gonna you know, I want
to move forward with that, okay. So yeah, I'm planning
on going for another term okay, and you can only
do two terms, so the maximum is eight years you
can serve.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
And so you heard it here, you heard it here first?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Have you heard it here first? You heard it here
first on Pete and the poet gold.
Speaker 4 (12:24):
That's absolutely.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I'm great, go pick that up because the standard political
response as well. I'm concentrating on the moment and we're
going to all decide in the future. Amen. No, I'm
in you. I finished two, I want to do away.
Let's go.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:40):
Yeah, I already made a decision and talked to a group,
so I just said, you know what, you know, definitely,
I'm just going to move forward with it and hopefully
the residents will bring me back.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
Yeah. Yeah, there's always a choice. And you know you
had a question, You're going to ask you for that. No,
that was okay, but you know, so, uh, your direction
youth services give made a sense of how the Mayor's
ball is successful in terms of fundraising. How that might
(13:13):
affect your programs.
Speaker 6 (13:14):
Well, I can say for the youth leadership in government
and the youth, there has been a massive growth. With
the kids that started, they were very quiet. People are
shy to stand them in front of an audience. Now
you cannot get these kids to stop talking. And not
only that, they're very expressive. We had one youth when
she came in, I told the mom, I said, she's
(13:35):
going to change, and she's like, what I said, she,
I'm telling you she's going to change, And within I
think four months, she's a totally different purchasing her mom
is like, I can't get her to shut up.
Speaker 2 (13:47):
But that's a good thing.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
The money, Like her mom was like, but I love
it though, And she's like, Karen, thank you so much.
I don't know what you and the mayor did. I
don't know what, but keep doing what you guys are doing.
Speaker 5 (14:00):
Yeah, it was nice to see them engaging in community service,
you know, where they're very quiet, they're not sure what
to say or what to do, and then next to
meeting they know, you see them working, you know, out
into a park or an event. And in this case
when we did the Thanksgiving food drive, when individuals were
impacted by the interruptions with the snap benefits. I mean,
(14:22):
these kids, they jumped right in and we had to
make up like three hundred baskets, and they were involved
and they were really really feeling, you know, happy the
fact that they were able to help their community. And
so just try to show them that there's many ways
that you can impact your community and that even from
small things are from large tasks. And so they realized that,
(14:43):
you know, just working together and how people come together
to do that, that it is possible for them.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
And then they enjoyed it and they're like, we want
to do more.
Speaker 5 (14:51):
So we're settling them up for different activities throughout, especially
throughout the spring.
Speaker 6 (14:57):
And I know at one point one of the kids
she had said to me, she said to me, Karen,
I don't know what I would do after school because
every even I would just go home. And she's like,
but this coming to this program and knowing that I'm
actually doing stuff and learning about government, She's like, it's
a game changer for me.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
We had a young man who went to went to Washington,
d C. We took a group there and they met
with Congressman Pat Ryan and so he when he was
sitting down talking with him and then started to understand
what the congressman does. So he said, you know, there's
an initiative he would like to work on and want
to know if the congressman would help him. And so now,
and he told him that his office is in the
(15:37):
Family Partnership. So he told him where it is, and
so he says, when you're ready, I want you to
come to the office and I'll show you how we
can do that.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
So and this is a young man that was kind.
Speaker 5 (15:46):
Of quiet, wouldn't say too much, but it got really
motivated when he realized that, wow, you know, this is
something that's been on my mind for a while, but
I didn't know how to go about it, to advocate
for that kind of change or to make things happen.
Speaker 3 (16:00):
One of the things that occurs to me that just
thinks about your program is the emphasis on government. I mean,
having there's lots of ways to serve a community, but
you know, doing you know, different human service projects is
one thing. You know, becoming a human service worker or
(16:20):
a human service administrator is great, but the way you're
going to have the most effect on the most number
of people is through government. And so, at fifteen years old,
somebody says you know, government's a possibility for you that's
to me will be like an eye opening or a
(16:40):
freeing thing. And so the the emphasis on community dedication
with government as the pitch is really great, even if
that's government contribution comes in the form of very active citizenship.
Speaker 5 (16:58):
Yeah, we had a conversation with them and what they did,
and when we went to the state capital, we introduced
them to individuals that worked in Governor Hocal's office. So
not only you know, you can serve in these political positions,
but you also can work for a political you know,
agency as well. And so we did internships as well
last summer, so they worked in the different departments at
(17:21):
city Hall so they can understand how it all operates.
So even if you wanted to get in, like I said,
into government, not just the community service part of it
or public service, but you can also work you know,
it could be employment opportunities and that entity as well.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
So how do you get involved with this leadership program
that you have.
Speaker 6 (17:41):
I mean normally we would start reaching out our recruiting kids,
but they would have to fill out an application, which
were really is probably in June our July we start
recruiting for the next.
Speaker 1 (17:53):
Next herd or start in September and September okay, all right,
and how how long is the program itself?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
Wow, that's fantastic.
Speaker 5 (18:01):
So in the summer they'll sign up for their internship programs.
So go find places for them to work. We try
to find places within city Hall. So if we don't
have enough slots, then we'll they'll work with a community organization.
So we're setting that up now so that they'll start
in July. Oh, that's fantastic.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
I like the fact that it's a year, you know,
because a lot of programs are shorter and sometimes the
kids are not properly immersed in the outcome that you
want to achieve. And so that's a nice chunk of
length of time to mentor a child. It's fantastic. So
let's go back to the Mayor's bull again. How can
people get their tickets? How can they support you?
Speaker 4 (18:37):
You know, where they go? Tell the public where they go.
Speaker 5 (18:40):
Where they can go to community matters, to website and
then there's a link there for the Mayor's Ball.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
It explains everything there. You can become a sponsor or,
you can.
Speaker 5 (18:48):
Purchase tickets also too, we have a Mayor's Ball Facebook page,
so we have information there as well. And then I've
also been posting things on my personal Facebook page under
Yvonne Flowers, all right, so that's that's kind of where
you get all the information from. It also explains the
program as well, and you know, you used to see
(19:09):
I think there's a few photos too of the kids
that are in the program.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
And then at the Mayor's.
Speaker 5 (19:13):
Ball, the students that are involved in the program are
going to be there, so not only would they speak
about their experience, but also this is an opportunity for
them to network with people in the community as well.
So it's really nice because up to this time, they're
going through workshops, so they're doing social etiquette, they're doing
dining etiquette, but they're doing all these things that you
(19:33):
know when you're in this field that you know how
you're going to interact with people throughout the community on
different in different settings. So they're excited because they got
fitted for their their dresses and theirs and so and
you know, I'm also never been to an event like
this before, so they're excited about it. So I'm enjoying it.
I'm glad that the program is working out pretty well
(19:55):
and I do. I thank Mss Williams for all the
work that she's putting in because she meets with the
kids every week, so every week every Wednesday, So we
have a schedule that we put together so that way
every Wednesday they're doing something and so sometimes I pop
in on with them and sometimes I'm in you know,
inter sessions with them. But this is something. This is
the first chord, so we're seeing, you know, how this
(20:17):
all works out. And then get all the kings out
and we get the second core her coming in. You know,
I think we'll have a down pack. So and then
I also think, like I said also to Stacey and McDonald,
so she worked with the kids as well in the
beginning and helping structure the program together. So with the
three of us, I think we do pretty well because
(20:37):
like kids are enjoying it, you know. So I'm looking
forward to making sure that we're raised enough fund so
that way the kids can have this experience of going
to Washington meeting with their representatives, also going to the
state capitol because some of these trips, you know, we
you know, so you know, you lodging and food. So
so like I said, we we raised pretty good amount
(21:00):
of money the first time, and so we're hoping they
do the same this time.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Right, I'm sure you will once again, if you're just
tuning in, you're listening to finding out. We're Pete in
the poet Gold and I'm the Power Gold and we're
here with Ivonne Flowers, City of Poughkeepsie Mayor, and Karen Williams,
the Director.
Speaker 4 (21:14):
Of Youth Services for the City of Poughkeepsie.
Speaker 1 (21:17):
Yvonne had mentioned Mayor Flowers had mentioned that that you
meet with them every Wednesday.
Speaker 4 (21:22):
What are some of the type of things that you
go through with them on Wednesdays.
Speaker 6 (21:25):
We discuss plans, initiatives that they want to work on't okay,
and you know they're going to be meeting with the
council members towards well, so those things we discuss as
well as we have I have most of the kids,
like one each week, one kid has to actually run
the actual meeting for five to ten minutes because that's
teaching them leadership skills as well as public speaking. So
(21:48):
that's what we're doing. And we talk about you know, events,
things that are going on, volunteering stuff. Because they went
to the pines as well as they did the harvest fast,
so things that are going on as well as this
cost the different levels of government. We discussed that to
us well. And then more oftentimes I hear the kids
say to me, oh, you know, I'm getting this in class,
so this is like me studying. So it's mostly volunteering
(22:12):
them learning leadership skills as well as learning about government.
Speaker 5 (22:16):
And then they also there are visiting some of the
sites also, so they go to the water plan, the
police department, the fire department, and DPW sites so they'll
know how that all interacts as far as.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
How government works in the operation.
Speaker 5 (22:30):
So you know, you can't make decisions about it if
you don't know the different entities that help make things work.
Speaker 2 (22:36):
So we also there would be touring what's the next one?
Speaker 6 (22:39):
They went to the police department, they're going to the
water plan, the water plan and.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
You know you mentioned when you first became mayor it
was sort of overwhelming you how many issues were available
to you were being forced on you. Because we think
of being a political leader an elected official as sort
of a symbolic and moral thing. You know, you're going
(23:03):
to lead the city and all, but you also just
have to know an enormous amount of details. You know,
so I didn't want the police department in the fire department,
but you mentioned the water plans, and you know, the
electrical grid picking up the garbage and the snow. There's
an enormous amount of just very ordinary administrative things that
(23:26):
are difficult. And the kids that you're working with them,
if they become mayor, they're going to be a little
less surprised than you were, exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:36):
But I was a council member, so.
Speaker 5 (23:38):
You know, I would think I knew a little bit
more than I thought, But once you get there as
a mayor, it's like, oh, you didn't know about this.
So but the thing is the biggest part of the
biggest thing about the program too, is because I didn't
get introduced to governments.
Speaker 2 (23:52):
I was an adult.
Speaker 5 (23:53):
So it's when things were going wrong and I realized, okay,
this is an avenue to help me change.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
So the thing is we want to start teaching.
Speaker 5 (23:59):
Our kids at a younger age how to get more involved,
even to the point of learning you know that you
have to vote. You know, some kids didn't even realize
that and realize they're close to a age or didn't
know that at eighteen you can run for city council,
you know. So this is just educating our kids at
a younger age to get them more involved in their community,
so they'll understand not only how to advocate for themselves within,
(24:21):
you know, their community, but if it comes down to
even in school, We're like, right now, we're teaching them
to advocate for themselves in school when they notice it
that some things they are not right or some things
that they want to change, that they have a voice,
and so that's what we're teaching them as well, and
not be afraid to use that voice.
Speaker 4 (24:37):
Are they still teaching civics in school.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
I don't really know at this point because I remember
at one point the kids used to go to a
council meetings and they used to come in and you know,
had to get their paper signed that they came to
a council meeting. I haven't seen that in a while,
so I'm not really sure if they're doing the civics
and how before it used to be too that they
would have to go out and do community service to
show that.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 5 (25:02):
What I know there's other schools that are doing it,
but Biughkeepsie, I'm not really sure if that's kind of
like a requirement of the school, which should be you know,
but I don't think it's a requirement at this point.
Speaker 3 (25:13):
But what's interesting to me is, you know, you were
certainly introduced to community service early in your life, but
when it's community service through government, it's a very different pitch.
It definitely is, and it's a powerful pitch, you know.
I mean one of the things you know, we don't
(25:34):
want to keep preferring to. Your father is such a
dominant figure in Poughkeepsie. He was somebody who was able
to wield what I would call he would not call,
but I would call political power, but remaining independent. But
his idea, Okay, who has the money for the hot
dogs for the Easter?
Speaker 5 (26:00):
Yeah, and he's saying right there in that room, okay,
you have his hand out.
Speaker 2 (26:04):
Listen, I gotta buy a thousand hot dogs.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
But you know, basic it's about people just just doing
the right thing right.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
You know.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
I think that we that there's sort of like a
common thread that within no matter what we may stay
to say externally, within us, all we know what's the
right thing, right, and that the money for the thousand
hot dogs is the right thing.
Speaker 3 (26:24):
Right, right?
Speaker 5 (26:25):
And you got a lot of kids too, and even
people that they really want to do the right thing
and they're really compassionate to help others, and they have
that passion, but they just don't know how what direction
to go with it, you know. So sometimes just showing
that avenue and saying that, you know, there's many different
avenues you can take in order to feel that passion.
Speaker 2 (26:44):
So this is one way that we're showing them.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
And one other thing I would say as comparing you know,
John was John Fowers had a was a specific I've
used a phrase before, an American genius. I mean like
he reason he's were genius is I worked alone signing
for a lot, and I could never figure out how
(27:09):
he made things happen. I mean so I mean also
happened like if you get five thousand people from he
strike on it, I'm used to sunny event. If I
get twelve people, hey man, it's I got twelve. So
and I was trying to learn how he did it.
But it was all a genius kift. It was non
rational and essentially it's magic. And so he would get
(27:34):
the hount dogs for this year is he's strike on
but government is more long range in its mission so
that you know, John would just throw his magic around
every year where his government creates structures to make that happen.
And that's something for young people to learn.
Speaker 5 (27:51):
And I think my father he was successful in what
he was doing too, because people trusted him. They knew
that what he was doing came from the heart, and
he was genuine about really helping people, you know. And
when people realize that your working hardy are genuine about it,
they you know, you have a lot of people who
want to support you, right, And and that's what it was.
Speaker 2 (28:09):
My dad.
Speaker 5 (28:10):
He had a lot of support out there. He worked
hard to build that trust and to build you know,
that in the community. But before he passed, you really
saw the impact that he had on the.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Community, right because it wasn't a racial line, it wasn't
a party line. It was we just need to be
of service, right, you know. And yeah, yeah, yeah. One
of the last conversations I have with your dad was
in the partnership and he pulled me into the hallway
and he and he said, gold, you have something you
want to help PI Keepsie go national mm and and
(28:42):
he said, don't get stuck in an office.
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
Yeah, And That's exactly what he said to me, and
I said, okay, John, I'll work hard at doing that.
Speaker 5 (28:49):
Yeah, And that's that's kind of what we're doing too,
even in government. It's like going outside of that box
and reading with people on other platforms that you know,
have these creative ideas because sometimes we get stuck on
our ways and you know, and sometimes we have to
go beyond our own community to find the answers. So,
you know, so I do whatever I can to network
and talk with others. And we've brought some money into
(29:11):
the city of Poughkeepsie that are not that's not from here,
you know. So the thing is is that more people realize,
look what Pughkeepsie's doing, and they want to invest and
they want to help, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:21):
That's what we need, you know.
Speaker 1 (29:22):
So absolutely, how much time do we have left?
Speaker 4 (29:26):
We have a minute?
Speaker 1 (29:28):
Wow, the time goes by, it does, all right, all right,
So give us a details one more time about the
Mayor's Ball.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
So the Mayor's Ball is on April twenty fourth.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
If it's a Friday, it's from six to eleven and
you can get the tickets at Community Matters Too dot
org their website under the Mayor's ball page.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
It would give you the.
Speaker 5 (29:48):
Rundown of the program of why we're raising the funds,
which is for the Youth Leadership and Government program.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
And you can become a sponsor or purchase tickets.
Speaker 5 (29:58):
So come out and support us, support our it's support
empowering our youth.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
Through government. I love the idea that ITA a youth
program with an emphasis on government because government is what
changes the world.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Absolutely so, so get your tickets to the Mayor Bold
Yvonne Mayor Flowers, Karen Williams, thank you so much for
being here finding out with.
Speaker 4 (30:20):
Pete and Poell Golden. To our listeners, we appreciate you.
Thank you for listening to us.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Thank you
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