July 31, 2025 • 30 mins
“Inspiring the next generation of leaders to make a positive difference in the world, the World Affairs Council provides them with a plethora of education and expertise that supports their goals.”
https://wacharrisburg.org/
https://wacharrisburg.org/
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss, and this is Insight, a presentation
of iHeartMedia, where we really do care about our local
communities and all our listeners who live here. I can
tell you how worried, I can't, excuse me, tell you
how worried I am about the kind of world that
we're leaving to our kids and our grandkids. Oh, guards,
I hear that all the time. If you haven't sent
(00:20):
it or I haven't said it, there's a pretty good change.
We heard somebody else say it. You know, as baby boomers,
a lot of us who who have made this remark
are comparing today's world to the perception of the way
things were when we.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Were growing up.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I use the word perception because, as they say, our
perception is our reality. For most kids growing up in
the fifties and sixties, our reality was that compassion, understanding,
and empathy for others were catalysts that would leave the
world as we were taught better.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Than we found it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The thing is a half a century ago, the world
as we knew it was not much further than our
own backyards. Then it happened the advent of this thing
called the Internet. This new technology fundamentally changed all of
our lives. It opened up for us a plethora for
a plethora of information about anything and anybody, anybody, whenever
we want it, and it happened that we could get
(01:12):
this information twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
In essence, the Internet connected all the backyards around the
world and made us global citizens. While the Internet changed
the way and the speed at which we communicate with
each other, it's also brought about the spread of misinformation,
privacy concerns, cyberbullying, online scams, and health wise, the potential
(01:34):
for addiction and social isolation. My guest today fully appreciates
this technology and certainly doesn't dismiss it. However, what she
does believe is that when local communities develop a deeper
understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives, it empowers us to
make informed decisions and contribute to positive change. Equally important
(01:56):
to my guests is that we provide opportunities and tools
for the next generation, so it'll equip them with what
they need to become leaders of this increasingly interconnected world.
As I introduce you to my guests, I ask you
to please understand that we're not talking about an organization
impacts just a few. It affects members of our local
communities as well as communities around the world. From the
(02:20):
World Affairs Council of Harrisburg is CEO and President Doctor
Joyce Davis currently Doctor Davis. In addition to President CEO
World Affairs, she's also the Outreach and Opinion editor for
pen Live and The Patriot News. Oh boy, doctor Davis,
you blow me? Will you'll hear this? Are my listeners
(02:41):
to this? In attention to or excuse me? In addition
to currently being the president and CEO, she is UH
and working for PEN Live. I think it's important to
let you guys know how what her experience that I'm
going to talk about now, how it's equipped her to
be the President and CEO for the World Affairs Council
of Harrisburg. As an award winning international journalist WOW, Doctor
(03:06):
Joyce Davis has worked for CNN, Radio Free Europe, Radio
Liberty and Prague and Night Writer newspapers. An expert on
international affairs, Doctor Davis has appeared on many national and
international news programs and was frequently called upon to speak
at the US Naval Academy, the Military Academy, the United Nations,
(03:29):
the Department of State, the Kennedy School of Government at Georgetown,
and American University. This woman is the recipient of four
honorary doctor degrees from respected colleges in the United States
and abroad. She also served as the chair of the
National Press Club Speakers Bureau in Washington, looking over producer
(03:49):
extoring their art and thinking he's.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Probably what's this woman doing here? Luckily?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
She was the vice president of Content for WYTF and
the Director of Community for the City of Harrisburg. She's
a member and sits on the board of the Pennsylvania
Press Club, Elizabethtown College, the Civic Club of Harrisburg, the
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and Hospice of
Central Pennsylvania. Doctor Davis has written two books, Speaks four
(04:16):
Language and Last, but certainly not least, Doctor Davis as
a wife and a mother. For you, I don't know
about you, but I'm tired. But you know it's I
can't believe it. It's such an honor to have you here.
What I didn't mention is that you co founded the
World Affairs Council here in Harrisburg. Could you please tell
(04:36):
us what it is what the focus is and why
you have felt there was a need for that here
in central Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Well, first of all, you are so kind, No, and
so I appreciated you of court me at ease right
away than you. But no, we found it that I
came to Harrisburg. I actually flew into Harrisburg leaving what
was a truly fabulous job in Prague based in progcheck
with Public and I was the associate director of broadcasting
(05:04):
for radio for Europe Radio Liberty, and I supervised broadcast
services to Iran, to Iraq, Afghanistan and all the countries
of Central Asia. It was quite an experience and I
met some of the most honorable and dedicated people journalists
anywhere you can find anywhere in the world. But here
I find myself in Harrisburg right coming actually during the
(05:25):
Christmas holidays.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
But you grew up down south.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And talk that way, can you do?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think that's enough, that's wild, But no, so so
again I want I reached out just naturally to who
are the other internationalists who are there? And I immediately
met a man named Melax Too Brad Jones, who's a developer,
you know, and Brad really likes to travel and he
likes books, right, but he introduced me to doctor Maddy Norbash,
who is another fun nominal person. We don't know how
(06:01):
many world famous people are in our region. And Meddie
and I, because I knew a lot about Iran, would
just hit it off talking about Iranian politics. We just
boom boom boom. And we had so many meetings that
led you know, we have to bring other people into
this conversation. So that's really how it began. I sent
out a call if anyone in this region interested in
(06:23):
starting a World Affairs Council in Harrisburg, and I was
shocked that fifty people showed up for the meeting, mostly
academics and you know, but they showed up and they
were ready to go.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Well, when it first started, it wasn't really started that way.
The original chapter, I mean, the what do they call it,
the not the main one in the ed.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Well, we're part of a national network which has more
almost one hundred chapters around the country, the World Affairs
Councils of America, and I actually sit on the board
yes of the world and we're getting ready to have
our major conference in November, which I love this organization,
but it does connect us to people around the country.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
And it probably provides you with some of like you
have speakers.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Absolutely, we are all connected with speakers. And the truth
is I can because we're so close to Washington, we
can get any speakers we want to drive to. Yeah,
it's just making sure that we can get an audience
for them and that they would be you know, would
feel like they're really speaking to a good group of people.
But yeah, so that's how it started then, and that
was in twenty ten and it's been going since then.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Holy donator.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's talk about some of the ways that this organization
impacts the people who are a member of it.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yes, yeah, well, first of all, I have to focus
on our board of directors. Our board of directors is
truly a diverse group of people in all ways. I
mean from different parts of the world that they've come here.
But they are also different professions. We have a doctor
Renew Joshi, who is of course a healthcare profet, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
And he had that job, and doctor.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Nirmal Joshi is her husband, yeah, yes, And doctor Shirley Warshaw,
who's this Presidential Scholar from Georgetown. And we have actually
at least Nestrov who works with Midpen Legal Services. She's
our treasurer. We just lost one member, just not it's
a happy law she's gone to work in Tampa. But
(08:17):
Lindsay Bowman, who was the head of the Middle and
Upper School of Harrisburg Academy. So I could go on
and on with the people that we have on that board.
The Reverend Missus, Nathaniel gatst and are really great social
workers and counselors through our region. So I mean and
and basically each one of them brings an incredible amount
(08:40):
of knowledge and passion for what they are doing. So
and the idea is really to just better help better
inform our region about not only the world, because that's
what some of our councils do. They just get together
and have dinners with ambassadors, but we don't. We will
do that dinner with ambassador, but we will have everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Anybody listens to this show for almost year, and everybody
here knows who I've got, you know, a real issue,
not I don't say issue, but you know, a jump
on Joey do yeah, just kidding, just give me, but
put me in touch with him, but.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
No, so we do local as well. And not only that,
we do interfaith because we've done a lot and there's
a reason to pray for our nation or for we
pull in people together and we do. We did that
during COVID and during other times we pull in a
faith leadership. So we're across the board a unifier bringing
people together.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
When these people get together and they open it up
to members and everything else, you have certain things that
you want to help them develop, right like awareness, Talk
to me about that.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
That's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
What really the bottom line is people need to realize
they are part of a world that whatever you are
about in Harrisburg, Oran, you know, Mechanicsburg or whatever that
ripples out into the universe. It really does. And you
may never know how. But now, as you pointed out
with the opening, what's the Internet and what you're posting
(10:04):
on Facebook and what you're tweeting and all, all of
that stuff is going everywhere too Islamabad. It's going to Cairo,
It's going everywhere, and people are able to dialogue and
to understand. But our mission is to help them understand.
It matters what happens overseas and what you do here
matters to overseas.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
And you know what else I recognized about this, and
I'm sure you have to, is the fact that it
seems like we can't count you can't count on the
internet because people say, don't believe what you're They used
to say in the paper, but there's so much misinformation there.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
And I know you will agree with me.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
As a journalist, you and I probably were both taught
that you don't have an opinion and you better get
your facts straight and the way things are right now,
that's why to tell so many people watch your local
news when they say you hate the media. But as
far as that, we can't count on that information. So
this makes your organization because you have experts.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
That kind of have you done it? Yeah, yeah, to
tell you what the truth is.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Well, and here's the thing. The truth is, people do
have opinions, and one of the wonderful things about this
time in my career is that I'm supposed to have one.
I'm supposed to take a stand on things. So but
you're right, as a journalist, I was not supposed to
be known. You know, here's what it's just straight. Now
you step back and you can offer a perspective. But
(11:26):
when we bring people together, it is to bring divergent viewpoints.
So that and one of the things we as you know,
we have a summer internship program. One of the things
we're trying to teach the young people how to discuss,
debate agreeably. And even I told him, you've heard of
these hard nos journalists, you know, as to talk. Well,
I learned that when I am I'm going into a
(11:47):
refugee camp and talking to terrorists as I've done, I
better be nice.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
When I asked the question because I might not leave. Absolutely,
I totally agree with that.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
My thing has always been to listen to people and
to find out what the common denominator is between is
and that opens things up.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I feel comfortable, they feel comfortable. You do not.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There's only been one time in my life, and I'll
tell you about that off their when I was a
little bit nasty to somebody.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But well, never mind, that's a story. I'm sure. How
to you foster empathy with these people?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Well, you know I was sharing this too. I said, look,
even when you're about to hit them with a zinger
that you know is going to make them comfortable. One
of the things that I have found is to let
people just apologize. You know, sure, I'm really sorry I
have to ask this, but I have to Yeah, so understand.
So again, it's the connection. It is the sharing. It's
(12:45):
not a one way street. I share my stories with
that person and they let them share. But you know,
the bottom line is you step back and you're able
to kind of analyze what someone is telling you apart
from what the message they're trying to get, but what's
the context with every thing else around?
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Because we don't we're so quickly when we hear something
that we automatically going to defensive mode, defending ourselves.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And I think that's pretty common.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
With a lot of people. I will tell you this
is one of the lessons I have found. You can
get into defensive mode. As you know, as the pen
Live's opinion editor, I probably get a lot of people
writing or calling it. But I have found if I
respond kindly, either in writing or just in this is
understand and not let me say I'm sorry right off
the bat. Let's let's fine that people generally respond nicely.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It would you ever say I'm sorry, You're so stupid,
you know, I think?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
But the point is if you if you really resist
the put up the dukes. They just say, let's talk,
let's figure this out.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
That's right, And you're never going to get a chance
to further understand then, nor they you. That's the whole
point with this is why love love love what you're doing?
Let me ask you this what type of first thing
I wanted to know is? I'm sure you don't I
want to talk about topics and issues? You would you?
I'm afraid to ask. Do you discuss ever? Religion and politics?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Off the jail if politics?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Religion is is you have to discuss religion because it's
a motivator for so many people?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, it is?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
What is it that feels you?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Right?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
What is it that gives you meaning in life? You
got to talk about religio?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And politics too?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Oh boy?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Well, how do you decide what issues need to be addressed?
Because like here, I ask my guests what impacts them,
and uh people, I ask other people and then I
put it all together and I try to address the
falling quarter. But being in this business so long, I
pretty have have a pretty good hand like you doing
what's going on?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Well, that's just it. You've been in the business so
long you kind of you, You've got your ear tuned
to your communities and to your society. But I have
an extra help in that I'm getting people writing to
me all the time. I could get twelve letters to
the editor or I mean, I'm reading, I'm reading, I'm reading,
(15:12):
so I'm getting a sense of what is important to people.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Right, So let me ask you this.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
First of all, when you get these letters, how do
you know how to respond? I mean, and what can
you give me an idea of what people are most
I don't want to say offended by, but upset about.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Well, first of all, I try to have a liberal
attitude toward what I'm getting, meaning I don't want to
cut off anybody's voice unless you're being vulgar, you're being offensive,
like you're it's just name calling. No, I mean, we
don't really need that. But how you know, when people
(15:51):
are writing, they really they are motivated to write because
they really care about this. It's it's passionate for them,
and you know, and they don't want to be told
it won't be pup right. I have an automatic response
that goes just to let people know that we've received it,
and it's in the queue to be considered. But after that,
each letter I really try to get it in, or
each o ED I try to get in unless it's
(16:14):
going to take so much back and forth because misinformation
is there, or they have not got their facts straight.
Now we've got a fact check all of this. We
can't put out misinformation, so you know, and again I
do have to tell some people sorry, We thank you,
we thank you respectfully, but we have to decline publication.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Do you ever go home worrying about these things?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Well, first of all, I'm at home most of the
time these days I'm working for I do worry. Sometimes
I worry, not humanously worry, but I step back and
I pause, and I think that person, like there's a deacon,
for example, who writes me, and the last time he
wrote me he said he's terminally ill and so, and
(16:56):
he wants to get out a lot of messages before
he dies. So I think about him, and I think,
you know, I want to run his letters. It means
so I wanted. And yet a lot of them are
religiously oriented. They're telling you what Jesus said.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
But you know why some people are turned off about that.
If they if there wasn't all that flowery stuff. And
this is my opinion the way it is, and it
means to get the message out that we bought, we
not we both we all need and want. That would
be fantastic. Yeah, but a lot of times people are
turned off about it when some.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Meeting well you know what again, my foundation is that
people care about everything, and they also care about religion. Now,
I'm not going to have someone just you know, not
just to proselytize. You must become this or you must
be But if you're discussing an issue that is of
importance to people, and you see this is why I'm
doing this in society, then it makes sense.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, the world of faris council, how do you decide
what issues because like for me, I told you how
I do it, and I have found like it went
in spurts, like ten years ago, was drug and alcohol abuse.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It still is now.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It's the number one thing these days is people are
second tired of politics. This is not my country, this
is you know, blah blah blah blah. Having done programs
with Franchardo, the DEA and other organizations child sexual abuse,
this thing, I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
There's there's certain things.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
But the number one thing is they're second tired of
the people that lead this country.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well I can't fix that.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, you know, I think a lot of people are
yearning for the way you st your leadership, ethical leadership exactly,
leadership that is true, right. But to get back to
your question of how we decide, Basically, I have a
board of directors and they let me know what they think.
But we have several basic themes. We're always hitting on
(18:52):
healthcare as well.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I mean every year we do State of Black Health
for a Black History Month, and we do State of
Women's Health for and we're pulled just to think. In
October coming up, I'm partnering with high Mark. We're just
going to do a health conference to looking at what
advances in cancer, what the advances are in Alzheimer's, I mean,
just to help people better understand where things are AI
and medicine is another one where. But but also we
(19:17):
focus on the arts. We love to feature artists and
novelists and poets, and we do several several cultural kind
of events a year and youth cultivating youth. Yeah, that's
a super And I have to tell you I'm bragging
every time I get the chance. Every year we do
Academic World Quest competition, which where students come together, they
(19:40):
bring teams together and they compete one hundred international affairs questions.
The team that won the local one was Cedar Cliff.
They went on to the national one and they won
that one too. They beat out the best schools all
of it. So we are really pretty So yeah, we
cultivate our young people. We really want to nurture the
next generation.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Leaders, and we you know, I want to make it's
a two part program because we do have so much
to talk about. You're jumping ahead the mean kid off, Okay,
but anyway I want I'd like to get back to,
first of all, who is for adults?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Let's start with adult. Who is your organization open to everybody?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Okay, absolutely everybody, but I'll tell you who we normally get. Okay,
and this we normally get, of course, academics, people, professors
and that kind. But you know, it depends upon the topic.
Because if I get a topic that we're talking about healthcare,
it could it's a general public. They may want to
know about that, right if I get if I bring in,
like we just did an evening with the authors, and
(20:36):
I had four authors, local authors who are pretty renowned already,
and I brought them together for just a conversation about
their work. And that brings in my artists, my artist
community and people who care about that kind of poetry
and that kind of thing. And you know, when we
look at we do do a lot on world affairs,
(20:56):
on things like what's going on in the Middle East,
And every from February until April we do a weekly
Great Decisions Discussion.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
What is that about?
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And that is the top eight topics in the world
as determined by the Foreign Policy Association. They do a
mini video, we put it out there, let you watch
the video, and then we discuss it right and we
generally bring in a local expert to help us talk
about it. We've normally we were doing them initially at
the Frederickson Library. After COVID we went online and now
(21:27):
we're starting to come back. The first and the last
one are in person. The rest are online to.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Allow people what is the status of the world right now?
I mean, we hear maybe that's unfair to ask you,
but let me ask it this way. Are you encouraged
when you hear what these experts have to say, and
you know what the issues are.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
No, I'm not encouraged. To be honest, I am not encouraged.
I am there's no leadership in the world. We went
through a period where the United States was the soul
super I remember that, and we were in charge and
we were able. But we've retreated. We don't want to
be we don't want we don't want to do it.
Somebody else has to do it, like we'll exert when
(22:09):
we want, but it's us first, and we want right.
But there's nobody else there. There's nobody else capable of
stepping in to have that kind of control. And Sylvia,
there should never be another war. We should not ever
resolve our differences by war. But nobody can stop it,
(22:30):
not even this grand idea we had of a United
Nations that would be able to keep the peace and
trade when people are business oriented in that that would
stop us from fighting. No, and nobody seems to be
able to exert the kind of control and influence to
stop people from killing each other.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
You know, you and I had talked a little bit
before you came in, and I guess I want to
get an idea of you and you and I both
agreed that we do our whole lives and close to
the same age. We do what we do not to
get rich. It's so deeply ingrained in it. It's not
that our parents say you're going to do this. You
don't know where it's coming from. And we I think
(23:12):
I see that a lot with world leaders too. It's
not it's not the reason we did it, to make
it a better world. It's they're motivated by a lot
of other things that aren't so good.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
That that's the problem. And unfortunately they're succeeding. I mean,
the people who step up all over the world are
the seem to be those who are the most ruthless,
those who were really and it's hard to turn to
your you know, the next generation and give them the
values and the compassion and on say this is what
(23:46):
you need to succeed when they see something else.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Well, how do you measure your success? I mean, you've
been in business or was it two thousand and oh?
Speaker 3 (23:54):
The world's fairs counts started in twenty ten?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Okay, twenty ten, okay, so fourteen fifteen years. There's got
to be a way that you register, not register, you
evaluate your effectiveness.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Well, of course we evaluate can can we have a staff,
and so we do have. I'm working and Mary Gabrielle
is also where we've been able to hire her. We
have loads of volunteers. But it's also by the quality
of our programs and who were were. We have a
great number of universities that consider themselves partners and that
(24:27):
allow us to have events there. So our office is
at Temple Temple University Harrisburg, but Harrisburg University itself that's
where we initially started and they're a partner. Elizabethtown College,
of course, Millersville has come in and what Lebanon Dalley
College was a strong So we have a good network
of colleges that want to support us, and we reach
out to organizations like high Mark that want to better
(24:50):
inform people yet yeah about health, so we said, yeah,
we can do that. We can do forums with you.
So the success is really and also also that's says
of the young people whose lives we were impacting. We
have fourteen interns high school and college is that right
are working with us, and they are they are truly
absolute sensational thinkers. They really are, and.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Freak out sometimes when you're thinking, yeah, you know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
You have to say that these are smarter kids, maybe
because they have more access than from this, but they
are smarter than.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yes, but they also have those opinions sometimes, yes they do. Yeah,
and I okay, well it's okay. But sometimes I think
to myself, you're so positive about that. Get some wisdom,
get some you know, aging into you the other.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
We were that way.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Life will do that to them.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
You mentioned the kids, and I would like to We're
going to talk way more about that in the next program,
but you had talked about I'd like to continue this
conversation about kids. You know, I've mentioned this several times
on the era of the last couple of years that
I've had people come in here maybe ten fifteen years ago,
gentlemen from their own manufacturing places on the I think
in pitts Burg area, and they came in and they
(26:01):
said to me, we desperately need will pay for their
training while they're still in high school. We definitely need
a skilled workforce. Okay, and that crosses many many industries.
Number One, what I'd like to ask you is do
you ever is that part of what you're talking about
the colleges. Do you ever find that somewhere in between.
(26:24):
Kids are getting this message because I remember talking to
I think it was a superintendent of was a Cumberland
valley and he said to me, it's not the kids,
it's the parents. Parents want there to be doctors and lawyers.
Kids are thrilled with I'll be a plumber and I'll
be start out making sixty eighty grand a year. That's
fine with me. What I mean are these colleges. Is
(26:47):
there a disconnect there somewhere?
Speaker 3 (26:49):
You know that we were at the point of the
disc We're at the point now of colleges having to
rethink what they're doing and what they're offering. I'm also
on the you know, on the board of the Etown
Elizabethtown coll there's a surprise and they are having the rething.
What is it? Is it nursing? Maybe we should focus
more on that.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I had Dave Smith, a dear friend of this program
from the Pennsylvania Dairy Association. Just so many things out there,
and he was telling me the same thing. He said, Still,
you wouldn't believe the way farming has changed, you know,
all that stuff, But people aren't leting this and kids
can make money. It's not standing out on milk and
the cow. We have machines that do it. Technology For
(27:28):
as much as our generation thinks it's a pain, and
some other issues has caused it's changed.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Everything's and AI is changing. Oh, that's change absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Well, what can parents do? I mean, I want to
talk more, as I said, about your programs, but you're
a mom, I'm a mom. We both have boys, mind's
a little bit older than yours. And what do you
think parents can do to direct them? Because you don't
want you don't want to. You don't want to force
me into something. They don't want to do it.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
That's fun.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Because my grandson's start in college this fall, and I
said to him, Joshi, listen if you want to listen
to me. Okay, not, you know, you have to preface
everything with that. He's eighteen, And I said, find a
career that you can support yourself. Yes, but find yourself
a career that you're going to want to go to
every day because you're spending most of your life doing it.
(28:23):
And if you pick the wrong thing, it's hell, that's right, right,
You're well, you've got it, that's exactly right. I do
think I understand the motivation, especially many of our immigrant families,
they had it so hard, right, they want to make
sure their kids have a career that's going to pay,
and that's going to Oh yes, that's just and but
but you're right.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
You just hit the nail of the head. Find what
makes you happy, find that inner motivation, what compels you
to do it exactly, and you will be happy. You'll
never work a day in your life.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
That's true, doctor Davis.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
As I said, we haven't begun to touch upon all
I want to talk about, but I want you to
come back if you can next week, because this is
good stuff. And for our listeners, don't forget. If you
can't catch Insight on one of our ten iHeart stations
every weekend, catch it on your favorite podcast stapp. I'm
Sylvia Moss. This has been Insight. Thanks so much for listening.
See you next week. Hi, this is iHeart, Public Affairs
(29:41):
director and host of Insight, Sylvia Moss. Each week on Insight,
we address and try to provide the best local resources
for issues that you tell me are the most important
to you, the ones that have the biggest impact on
your everyday lives.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Insights also a place.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Where we can let you know about exciting community events
and introduce you to many of the incredible people who
work hard every single just to make all of our
lives better. If you're not able to listen to Insight
when it airs on this station each week, then catch
it on your favorite podcast app.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Thank you for listening.
Hi, I'm Sylvia Moss, and this is Insight, a presentation
of iHeartMedia, where we really do care about our local
communities and all our listeners who live here. I can
tell you how worried, I can't, excuse me, tell you
how worried I am about the kind of world that
we're leaving to our kids and our grandkids. Oh, guards,
I hear that all the time. If you haven't sent
(00:20):
it or I haven't said it, there's a pretty good change.
We heard somebody else say it. You know, as baby boomers,
a lot of us who who have made this remark
are comparing today's world to the perception of the way
things were when we.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Were growing up.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
I use the word perception because, as they say, our
perception is our reality. For most kids growing up in
the fifties and sixties, our reality was that compassion, understanding,
and empathy for others were catalysts that would leave the
world as we were taught better.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Than we found it.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
The thing is a half a century ago, the world
as we knew it was not much further than our
own backyards. Then it happened the advent of this thing
called the Internet. This new technology fundamentally changed all of
our lives. It opened up for us a plethora for
a plethora of information about anything and anybody, anybody, whenever
we want it, and it happened that we could get
(01:12):
this information twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.
In essence, the Internet connected all the backyards around the
world and made us global citizens. While the Internet changed
the way and the speed at which we communicate with
each other, it's also brought about the spread of misinformation,
privacy concerns, cyberbullying, online scams, and health wise, the potential
(01:34):
for addiction and social isolation. My guest today fully appreciates
this technology and certainly doesn't dismiss it. However, what she
does believe is that when local communities develop a deeper
understanding of diverse cultures and perspectives, it empowers us to
make informed decisions and contribute to positive change. Equally important
(01:56):
to my guests is that we provide opportunities and tools
for the next generation, so it'll equip them with what
they need to become leaders of this increasingly interconnected world.
As I introduce you to my guests, I ask you
to please understand that we're not talking about an organization
impacts just a few. It affects members of our local
communities as well as communities around the world. From the
(02:20):
World Affairs Council of Harrisburg is CEO and President Doctor
Joyce Davis currently Doctor Davis. In addition to President CEO
World Affairs, she's also the Outreach and Opinion editor for
pen Live and The Patriot News. Oh boy, doctor Davis,
you blow me? Will you'll hear this? Are my listeners
(02:41):
to this? In attention to or excuse me? In addition
to currently being the president and CEO, she is UH
and working for PEN Live. I think it's important to
let you guys know how what her experience that I'm
going to talk about now, how it's equipped her to
be the President and CEO for the World Affairs Council
of Harrisburg. As an award winning international journalist WOW, Doctor
(03:06):
Joyce Davis has worked for CNN, Radio Free Europe, Radio
Liberty and Prague and Night Writer newspapers. An expert on
international affairs, Doctor Davis has appeared on many national and
international news programs and was frequently called upon to speak
at the US Naval Academy, the Military Academy, the United Nations,
(03:29):
the Department of State, the Kennedy School of Government at Georgetown,
and American University. This woman is the recipient of four
honorary doctor degrees from respected colleges in the United States
and abroad. She also served as the chair of the
National Press Club Speakers Bureau in Washington, looking over producer
(03:49):
extoring their art and thinking he's.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
Probably what's this woman doing here? Luckily?
Speaker 1 (03:56):
She was the vice president of Content for WYTF and
the Director of Community for the City of Harrisburg. She's
a member and sits on the board of the Pennsylvania
Press Club, Elizabethtown College, the Civic Club of Harrisburg, the
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, Pennsylvania Council of Churches, and Hospice of
Central Pennsylvania. Doctor Davis has written two books, Speaks four
(04:16):
Language and Last, but certainly not least, Doctor Davis as
a wife and a mother. For you, I don't know
about you, but I'm tired. But you know it's I
can't believe it. It's such an honor to have you here.
What I didn't mention is that you co founded the
World Affairs Council here in Harrisburg. Could you please tell
(04:36):
us what it is what the focus is and why
you have felt there was a need for that here
in central Pennsylvania.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Well, first of all, you are so kind, No, and
so I appreciated you of court me at ease right
away than you. But no, we found it that I
came to Harrisburg. I actually flew into Harrisburg leaving what
was a truly fabulous job in Prague based in progcheck
with Public and I was the associate director of broadcasting
(05:04):
for radio for Europe Radio Liberty, and I supervised broadcast
services to Iran, to Iraq, Afghanistan and all the countries
of Central Asia. It was quite an experience and I
met some of the most honorable and dedicated people journalists
anywhere you can find anywhere in the world. But here
I find myself in Harrisburg right coming actually during the
(05:25):
Christmas holidays.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
But you grew up down south.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
I grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Speaker 2 (05:32):
And talk that way, can you do?
Speaker 3 (05:39):
I think that's enough, that's wild, But no, so so
again I want I reached out just naturally to who
are the other internationalists who are there? And I immediately
met a man named Melax Too Brad Jones, who's a developer,
you know, and Brad really likes to travel and he
likes books, right, but he introduced me to doctor Maddy Norbash,
who is another fun nominal person. We don't know how
(06:01):
many world famous people are in our region. And Meddie
and I, because I knew a lot about Iran, would
just hit it off talking about Iranian politics. We just
boom boom boom. And we had so many meetings that
led you know, we have to bring other people into
this conversation. So that's really how it began. I sent
out a call if anyone in this region interested in
(06:23):
starting a World Affairs Council in Harrisburg, and I was
shocked that fifty people showed up for the meeting, mostly
academics and you know, but they showed up and they
were ready to go.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Well, when it first started, it wasn't really started that way.
The original chapter, I mean, the what do they call it,
the not the main one in the ed.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Well, we're part of a national network which has more
almost one hundred chapters around the country, the World Affairs
Councils of America, and I actually sit on the board
yes of the world and we're getting ready to have
our major conference in November, which I love this organization,
but it does connect us to people around the country.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
And it probably provides you with some of like you
have speakers.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
Absolutely, we are all connected with speakers. And the truth
is I can because we're so close to Washington, we
can get any speakers we want to drive to. Yeah,
it's just making sure that we can get an audience
for them and that they would be you know, would
feel like they're really speaking to a good group of people.
But yeah, so that's how it started then, and that
was in twenty ten and it's been going since then.
Speaker 2 (07:28):
Holy donator.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
Let's talk about some of the ways that this organization
impacts the people who are a member of it.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Yes, yeah, well, first of all, I have to focus
on our board of directors. Our board of directors is
truly a diverse group of people in all ways. I
mean from different parts of the world that they've come here.
But they are also different professions. We have a doctor
Renew Joshi, who is of course a healthcare profet, yes.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
And he had that job, and doctor.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
Nirmal Joshi is her husband, yeah, yes, And doctor Shirley Warshaw,
who's this Presidential Scholar from Georgetown. And we have actually
at least Nestrov who works with Midpen Legal Services. She's
our treasurer. We just lost one member, just not it's
a happy law she's gone to work in Tampa. But
(08:17):
Lindsay Bowman, who was the head of the Middle and
Upper School of Harrisburg Academy. So I could go on
and on with the people that we have on that board.
The Reverend Missus, Nathaniel gatst and are really great social
workers and counselors through our region. So I mean and
and basically each one of them brings an incredible amount
(08:40):
of knowledge and passion for what they are doing. So
and the idea is really to just better help better
inform our region about not only the world, because that's
what some of our councils do. They just get together
and have dinners with ambassadors, but we don't. We will
do that dinner with ambassador, but we will have everybody.
Speaker 1 (09:00):
Anybody listens to this show for almost year, and everybody
here knows who I've got, you know, a real issue,
not I don't say issue, but you know, a jump
on Joey do yeah, just kidding, just give me, but
put me in touch with him, but.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
No, so we do local as well. And not only that,
we do interfaith because we've done a lot and there's
a reason to pray for our nation or for we
pull in people together and we do. We did that
during COVID and during other times we pull in a
faith leadership. So we're across the board a unifier bringing
people together.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
When these people get together and they open it up
to members and everything else, you have certain things that
you want to help them develop, right like awareness, Talk
to me about that.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
That's very interesting.
Speaker 3 (09:43):
What really the bottom line is people need to realize
they are part of a world that whatever you are
about in Harrisburg, Oran, you know, Mechanicsburg or whatever that
ripples out into the universe. It really does. And you
may never know how. But now, as you pointed out
with the opening, what's the Internet and what you're posting
(10:04):
on Facebook and what you're tweeting and all, all of
that stuff is going everywhere too Islamabad. It's going to Cairo,
It's going everywhere, and people are able to dialogue and
to understand. But our mission is to help them understand.
It matters what happens overseas and what you do here
matters to overseas.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
And you know what else I recognized about this, and
I'm sure you have to, is the fact that it
seems like we can't count you can't count on the
internet because people say, don't believe what you're They used
to say in the paper, but there's so much misinformation there.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
And I know you will agree with me.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
As a journalist, you and I probably were both taught
that you don't have an opinion and you better get
your facts straight and the way things are right now,
that's why to tell so many people watch your local
news when they say you hate the media. But as
far as that, we can't count on that information. So
this makes your organization because you have experts.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
That kind of have you done it? Yeah, yeah, to
tell you what the truth is.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
Well, and here's the thing. The truth is, people do
have opinions, and one of the wonderful things about this
time in my career is that I'm supposed to have one.
I'm supposed to take a stand on things. So but
you're right, as a journalist, I was not supposed to
be known. You know, here's what it's just straight. Now
you step back and you can offer a perspective. But
(11:26):
when we bring people together, it is to bring divergent viewpoints.
So that and one of the things we as you know,
we have a summer internship program. One of the things
we're trying to teach the young people how to discuss,
debate agreeably. And even I told him, you've heard of
these hard nos journalists, you know, as to talk. Well,
I learned that when I am I'm going into a
(11:47):
refugee camp and talking to terrorists as I've done, I
better be nice.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
When I asked the question because I might not leave. Absolutely,
I totally agree with that.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
My thing has always been to listen to people and
to find out what the common denominator is between is
and that opens things up.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
I feel comfortable, they feel comfortable. You do not.
Speaker 1 (12:08):
There's only been one time in my life, and I'll
tell you about that off their when I was a
little bit nasty to somebody.
Speaker 2 (12:13):
But well, never mind, that's a story. I'm sure. How
to you foster empathy with these people?
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Well, you know I was sharing this too. I said, look,
even when you're about to hit them with a zinger
that you know is going to make them comfortable. One
of the things that I have found is to let
people just apologize. You know, sure, I'm really sorry I
have to ask this, but I have to Yeah, so understand.
So again, it's the connection. It is the sharing. It's
(12:45):
not a one way street. I share my stories with
that person and they let them share. But you know,
the bottom line is you step back and you're able
to kind of analyze what someone is telling you apart
from what the message they're trying to get, but what's
the context with every thing else around?
Speaker 1 (13:01):
Because we don't we're so quickly when we hear something
that we automatically going to defensive mode, defending ourselves.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
And I think that's pretty common.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
With a lot of people. I will tell you this
is one of the lessons I have found. You can
get into defensive mode. As you know, as the pen
Live's opinion editor, I probably get a lot of people
writing or calling it. But I have found if I
respond kindly, either in writing or just in this is
understand and not let me say I'm sorry right off
the bat. Let's let's fine that people generally respond nicely.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
It would you ever say I'm sorry, You're so stupid,
you know, I think?
Speaker 3 (13:40):
But the point is if you if you really resist
the put up the dukes. They just say, let's talk,
let's figure this out.
Speaker 1 (13:52):
That's right, And you're never going to get a chance
to further understand then, nor they you. That's the whole
point with this is why love love love what you're doing?
Let me ask you this what type of first thing
I wanted to know is? I'm sure you don't I
want to talk about topics and issues? You would you?
I'm afraid to ask. Do you discuss ever? Religion and politics?
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Sure?
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Off the jail if politics?
Speaker 1 (14:21):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Religion is is you have to discuss religion because it's
a motivator for so many people?
Speaker 2 (14:25):
Yeah, it is?
Speaker 3 (14:26):
What is it that feels you?
Speaker 2 (14:28):
Right?
Speaker 3 (14:28):
What is it that gives you meaning in life? You
got to talk about religio?
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Wow?
Speaker 3 (14:32):
And politics too?
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (14:34):
Unfortunately?
Speaker 2 (14:35):
Oh boy?
Speaker 1 (14:35):
Well, how do you decide what issues need to be addressed?
Because like here, I ask my guests what impacts them,
and uh people, I ask other people and then I
put it all together and I try to address the
falling quarter. But being in this business so long, I
pretty have have a pretty good hand like you doing
what's going on?
Speaker 3 (14:51):
Well, that's just it. You've been in the business so
long you kind of you, You've got your ear tuned
to your communities and to your society. But I have
an extra help in that I'm getting people writing to
me all the time. I could get twelve letters to
the editor or I mean, I'm reading, I'm reading, I'm reading,
(15:12):
so I'm getting a sense of what is important to people.
Speaker 2 (15:16):
Right, So let me ask you this.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
First of all, when you get these letters, how do
you know how to respond? I mean, and what can
you give me an idea of what people are most
I don't want to say offended by, but upset about.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Well, first of all, I try to have a liberal
attitude toward what I'm getting, meaning I don't want to
cut off anybody's voice unless you're being vulgar, you're being offensive,
like you're it's just name calling. No, I mean, we
don't really need that. But how you know, when people
(15:51):
are writing, they really they are motivated to write because
they really care about this. It's it's passionate for them,
and you know, and they don't want to be told
it won't be pup right. I have an automatic response
that goes just to let people know that we've received it,
and it's in the queue to be considered. But after that,
each letter I really try to get it in, or
each o ED I try to get in unless it's
(16:14):
going to take so much back and forth because misinformation
is there, or they have not got their facts straight.
Now we've got a fact check all of this. We
can't put out misinformation, so you know, and again I
do have to tell some people sorry, We thank you,
we thank you respectfully, but we have to decline publication.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Do you ever go home worrying about these things?
Speaker 3 (16:34):
Well, first of all, I'm at home most of the
time these days I'm working for I do worry. Sometimes
I worry, not humanously worry, but I step back and
I pause, and I think that person, like there's a deacon,
for example, who writes me, and the last time he
wrote me he said he's terminally ill and so, and
(16:56):
he wants to get out a lot of messages before
he dies. So I think about him, and I think,
you know, I want to run his letters. It means
so I wanted. And yet a lot of them are
religiously oriented. They're telling you what Jesus said.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
But you know why some people are turned off about that.
If they if there wasn't all that flowery stuff. And
this is my opinion the way it is, and it
means to get the message out that we bought, we
not we both we all need and want. That would
be fantastic. Yeah, but a lot of times people are
turned off about it when some.
Speaker 3 (17:31):
Meeting well you know what again, my foundation is that
people care about everything, and they also care about religion. Now,
I'm not going to have someone just you know, not
just to proselytize. You must become this or you must
be But if you're discussing an issue that is of
importance to people, and you see this is why I'm
doing this in society, then it makes sense.
Speaker 1 (17:51):
Well, the world of faris council, how do you decide
what issues because like for me, I told you how
I do it, and I have found like it went
in spurts, like ten years ago, was drug and alcohol abuse.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
It still is now.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
It's the number one thing these days is people are
second tired of politics. This is not my country, this
is you know, blah blah blah blah. Having done programs
with Franchardo, the DEA and other organizations child sexual abuse,
this thing, I mean.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
There's there's certain things.
Speaker 1 (18:26):
But the number one thing is they're second tired of
the people that lead this country.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
Well I can't fix that.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, you know, I think a lot of people are
yearning for the way you st your leadership, ethical leadership exactly,
leadership that is true, right. But to get back to
your question of how we decide, Basically, I have a
board of directors and they let me know what they think.
But we have several basic themes. We're always hitting on
(18:52):
healthcare as well.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (18:53):
I mean every year we do State of Black Health
for a Black History Month, and we do State of
Women's Health for and we're pulled just to think. In
October coming up, I'm partnering with high Mark. We're just
going to do a health conference to looking at what
advances in cancer, what the advances are in Alzheimer's, I mean,
just to help people better understand where things are AI
and medicine is another one where. But but also we
(19:17):
focus on the arts. We love to feature artists and
novelists and poets, and we do several several cultural kind
of events a year and youth cultivating youth. Yeah, that's
a super And I have to tell you I'm bragging
every time I get the chance. Every year we do
Academic World Quest competition, which where students come together, they
(19:40):
bring teams together and they compete one hundred international affairs questions.
The team that won the local one was Cedar Cliff.
They went on to the national one and they won
that one too. They beat out the best schools all
of it. So we are really pretty So yeah, we
cultivate our young people. We really want to nurture the
next generation.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
Leaders, and we you know, I want to make it's
a two part program because we do have so much
to talk about. You're jumping ahead the mean kid off, Okay,
but anyway I want I'd like to get back to,
first of all, who is for adults?
Speaker 2 (20:09):
Let's start with adult. Who is your organization open to everybody?
Speaker 3 (20:14):
Okay, absolutely everybody, but I'll tell you who we normally get. Okay,
and this we normally get, of course, academics, people, professors
and that kind. But you know, it depends upon the topic.
Because if I get a topic that we're talking about healthcare,
it could it's a general public. They may want to
know about that, right if I get if I bring in,
like we just did an evening with the authors, and
(20:36):
I had four authors, local authors who are pretty renowned already,
and I brought them together for just a conversation about
their work. And that brings in my artists, my artist
community and people who care about that kind of poetry
and that kind of thing. And you know, when we
look at we do do a lot on world affairs,
(20:56):
on things like what's going on in the Middle East,
And every from February until April we do a weekly
Great Decisions Discussion.
Speaker 2 (21:05):
What is that about?
Speaker 3 (21:06):
And that is the top eight topics in the world
as determined by the Foreign Policy Association. They do a
mini video, we put it out there, let you watch
the video, and then we discuss it right and we
generally bring in a local expert to help us talk
about it. We've normally we were doing them initially at
the Frederickson Library. After COVID we went online and now
(21:27):
we're starting to come back. The first and the last
one are in person. The rest are online to.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Allow people what is the status of the world right now?
I mean, we hear maybe that's unfair to ask you,
but let me ask it this way. Are you encouraged
when you hear what these experts have to say, and
you know what the issues are.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
No, I'm not encouraged. To be honest, I am not encouraged.
I am there's no leadership in the world. We went
through a period where the United States was the soul
super I remember that, and we were in charge and
we were able. But we've retreated. We don't want to
be we don't want we don't want to do it.
Somebody else has to do it, like we'll exert when
(22:09):
we want, but it's us first, and we want right.
But there's nobody else there. There's nobody else capable of
stepping in to have that kind of control. And Sylvia,
there should never be another war. We should not ever
resolve our differences by war. But nobody can stop it,
(22:30):
not even this grand idea we had of a United
Nations that would be able to keep the peace and
trade when people are business oriented in that that would
stop us from fighting. No, and nobody seems to be
able to exert the kind of control and influence to
stop people from killing each other.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
You know, you and I had talked a little bit
before you came in, and I guess I want to
get an idea of you and you and I both
agreed that we do our whole lives and close to
the same age. We do what we do not to
get rich. It's so deeply ingrained in it. It's not
that our parents say you're going to do this. You
don't know where it's coming from. And we I think
(23:12):
I see that a lot with world leaders too. It's
not it's not the reason we did it, to make
it a better world. It's they're motivated by a lot
of other things that aren't so good.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
That that's the problem. And unfortunately they're succeeding. I mean,
the people who step up all over the world are
the seem to be those who are the most ruthless,
those who were really and it's hard to turn to
your you know, the next generation and give them the
values and the compassion and on say this is what
(23:46):
you need to succeed when they see something else.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
Well, how do you measure your success? I mean, you've
been in business or was it two thousand and oh?
Speaker 3 (23:54):
The world's fairs counts started in twenty ten?
Speaker 1 (23:56):
Okay, twenty ten, okay, so fourteen fifteen years. There's got
to be a way that you register, not register, you
evaluate your effectiveness.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
Well, of course we evaluate can can we have a staff,
and so we do have. I'm working and Mary Gabrielle
is also where we've been able to hire her. We
have loads of volunteers. But it's also by the quality
of our programs and who were were. We have a
great number of universities that consider themselves partners and that
(24:27):
allow us to have events there. So our office is
at Temple Temple University Harrisburg, but Harrisburg University itself that's
where we initially started and they're a partner. Elizabethtown College,
of course, Millersville has come in and what Lebanon Dalley
College was a strong So we have a good network
of colleges that want to support us, and we reach
out to organizations like high Mark that want to better
(24:50):
inform people yet yeah about health, so we said, yeah,
we can do that. We can do forums with you.
So the success is really and also also that's says
of the young people whose lives we were impacting. We
have fourteen interns high school and college is that right
are working with us, and they are they are truly
absolute sensational thinkers. They really are, and.
Speaker 2 (25:14):
Freak out sometimes when you're thinking, yeah, you know.
Speaker 3 (25:17):
You have to say that these are smarter kids, maybe
because they have more access than from this, but they
are smarter than.
Speaker 1 (25:22):
Yes, but they also have those opinions sometimes, yes they do. Yeah,
and I okay, well it's okay. But sometimes I think
to myself, you're so positive about that. Get some wisdom,
get some you know, aging into you the other.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
We were that way.
Speaker 3 (25:37):
Life will do that to them.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 1 (25:40):
You mentioned the kids, and I would like to We're
going to talk way more about that in the next program,
but you had talked about I'd like to continue this
conversation about kids. You know, I've mentioned this several times
on the era of the last couple of years that
I've had people come in here maybe ten fifteen years ago,
gentlemen from their own manufacturing places on the I think
in pitts Burg area, and they came in and they
(26:01):
said to me, we desperately need will pay for their
training while they're still in high school. We definitely need
a skilled workforce. Okay, and that crosses many many industries.
Number One, what I'd like to ask you is do
you ever is that part of what you're talking about
the colleges. Do you ever find that somewhere in between.
(26:24):
Kids are getting this message because I remember talking to
I think it was a superintendent of was a Cumberland
valley and he said to me, it's not the kids,
it's the parents. Parents want there to be doctors and lawyers.
Kids are thrilled with I'll be a plumber and I'll
be start out making sixty eighty grand a year. That's
fine with me. What I mean are these colleges. Is
(26:47):
there a disconnect there somewhere?
Speaker 3 (26:49):
You know that we were at the point of the
disc We're at the point now of colleges having to
rethink what they're doing and what they're offering. I'm also
on the you know, on the board of the Etown
Elizabethtown coll there's a surprise and they are having the rething.
What is it? Is it nursing? Maybe we should focus
more on that.
Speaker 1 (27:07):
I had Dave Smith, a dear friend of this program
from the Pennsylvania Dairy Association. Just so many things out there,
and he was telling me the same thing. He said, Still,
you wouldn't believe the way farming has changed, you know,
all that stuff, But people aren't leting this and kids
can make money. It's not standing out on milk and
the cow. We have machines that do it. Technology For
(27:28):
as much as our generation thinks it's a pain, and
some other issues has caused it's changed.
Speaker 3 (27:33):
Everything's and AI is changing. Oh, that's change absolutely.
Speaker 1 (27:38):
Well, what can parents do? I mean, I want to
talk more, as I said, about your programs, but you're
a mom, I'm a mom. We both have boys, mind's
a little bit older than yours. And what do you
think parents can do to direct them? Because you don't
want you don't want to. You don't want to force
me into something. They don't want to do it.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
That's fun.
Speaker 1 (28:00):
Because my grandson's start in college this fall, and I
said to him, Joshi, listen if you want to listen
to me. Okay, not, you know, you have to preface
everything with that. He's eighteen, And I said, find a
career that you can support yourself. Yes, but find yourself
a career that you're going to want to go to
every day because you're spending most of your life doing it.
(28:23):
And if you pick the wrong thing, it's hell, that's right, right,
You're well, you've got it, that's exactly right. I do
think I understand the motivation, especially many of our immigrant families,
they had it so hard, right, they want to make
sure their kids have a career that's going to pay,
and that's going to Oh yes, that's just and but
but you're right.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
You just hit the nail of the head. Find what
makes you happy, find that inner motivation, what compels you
to do it exactly, and you will be happy. You'll
never work a day in your life.
Speaker 2 (28:53):
That's true, doctor Davis.
Speaker 1 (28:55):
As I said, we haven't begun to touch upon all
I want to talk about, but I want you to
come back if you can next week, because this is
good stuff. And for our listeners, don't forget. If you
can't catch Insight on one of our ten iHeart stations
every weekend, catch it on your favorite podcast stapp. I'm
Sylvia Moss. This has been Insight. Thanks so much for listening.
See you next week. Hi, this is iHeart, Public Affairs
(29:41):
director and host of Insight, Sylvia Moss. Each week on Insight,
we address and try to provide the best local resources
for issues that you tell me are the most important
to you, the ones that have the biggest impact on
your everyday lives.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Insights also a place.
Speaker 1 (29:54):
Where we can let you know about exciting community events
and introduce you to many of the incredible people who
work hard every single just to make all of our
lives better. If you're not able to listen to Insight
when it airs on this station each week, then catch
it on your favorite podcast app.
Speaker 2 (30:08):
Thank you for listening.
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