March 23, 2025 • 35 mins
The El Paso Community Foundation and UTEP present the El Paso Science Festival! Amber Banda interviews Enrique Gomez, co-founder, and Jay Flores, host of "It's Not Magic It's Science." April 5-6 from 10-5 at the El Paso Convention Center.
Habitat for Humanity
Amber Banda interviews Taylor Moreno, Philanthropy and Engagement Consultant, and Peter Moody, Executive Director about HfH locally, their Re-store, how it works to apply for assistance and their upcoming Top Golf Fundraiser
Habitat for Humanity
Amber Banda interviews Taylor Moreno, Philanthropy and Engagement Consultant, and Peter Moody, Executive Director about HfH locally, their Re-store, how it works to apply for assistance and their upcoming Top Golf Fundraiser
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to ol Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I am your host, Amberbanda,
and today we talk science. We're going to be talking
about the al Paso Science Festival. It's back, it's better,
it's bigger than ever. And today we have Endrique Gomez.
He is one of the co founders of the al
Paso Science Festival. Endrique, thank you for being here with
me today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well, my pleasure of being here and thank you for
the opportunity definitely.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
And we also have one of the hosts, one of
the performers, if you will, Jay Flores. He is going
to be the host of It's Not Magic, It's Science.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Jay. Thank you for being here with us today as well.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
I can't wait to bring this to the community and
it's going to be a whole.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Lot of science can be a whole lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I know science and fund don't normally go in the
same sentence, but trust me, especially this year, you have
some surprises, you have some changes.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
It's going to be a great event.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
A lot of people don't know before radio I have
a degree in biology, so I'm kind of like the
science I didn't do.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
You know what I thought i'd do with it, But
I still love science.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And so we're going to be talking today about the
al Paso Science Festival. It's brought to you by the
al Paso Community Foundation and YOUTIP. So Enrika, can you
tell the audience first, when will this event be and where.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Will it be?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, the event will be at the Alpasco Convision Center
on April five and six. It's just just a few
weeks from now, and it's going to be free to
the entire family. It will start at ten in the
morning and it will go on until five thirty on
both days. On the second day, we're going to have
a little surprise. I'll tell you what the surprise is
(01:52):
here where you have an astronaut who saying done this,
who's going to be popping to us, and we had
him last year and was wonderful. Now we're complimenting the
program with Jay, who is fantastic. I mean, it's gonna
like a magician on stage performing real science, and so
that's gonna be very, very exciting to the kids. We
want the entire family, So this is not just kids,
(02:14):
not just it's not just parents. Is the entire family.
We want everyone there. So when the kids say, hey,
that's what I want to do when I grew up,
the parents can see that and can take it home
and continue the conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Exactly fun for the entire family. And again, it's free.
That's important to mention. And you know, there's so many
stories that I've heard. You know, I work right now
with country music, but just in everything that I've done
where they're like, I just saw this one person, I
just experienced this one thing. It was just my grandma
was just this man, whoever it was, and it sparked
it and that continued into their adult life and that's
what they became as adults.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
So Jay, let's build some hype around.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
This, not that I mean it really needs, you know,
to be built, because I'm already excited, but let's get
the listening audience into it. You are going to be performing.
It's not magic, it's science. Can you give us a
little bit of what that's going to be like?
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Absolutely, this is going to be the most fun you've
ever had with science. This is not your typical classroom,
This is not worksheets. This is more like a hype show, right,
So it's a performance, it's not a presentation. Just like
you and I might go to Vegas and go to
a magic show. The kids will get to be able
to go up on stage and be part of the
experiments as well. So it'll be hands on, it'll be engaging,
(03:27):
we'll laugh, and we'll learn a lot in the same process.
And so I hope, just as you said, I hope
that I can be that spark for the students that
come in that day and feel like, hey, this is
something that I can do. Someone that looks like me,
that came from similar background to me can do this,
and you know, hopefully I can now too. And since
(03:47):
I'm a scientist and not a magician, I can teach
them how the tricks work because it's actually science that
makes all of these mind blowing experiences happen. So they'll
be able to go home and do it themselves as well,
and that creates a ripple effect in our community of
inspiration around science. That happens to also just be a
lot of fun and very magical.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Exactly, And the audience can't see it, but I can
see the twinkle in your eye.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
You're really excited about this. I know it's going to
be a great show. So let me ask you what
got you into science?
Speaker 6 (04:15):
So?
Speaker 5 (04:16):
I was very curious as a child, and I was
lucky to have parents that allowed me to explore an experiment.
So when I pulled out all the pots and pants,
instead of yelling at me and my mom realized that's
just me exploring and she let me do it.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
I have a really cool home video.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
That I got to see recently when my parents retired
that I was designing my first airplane when I was
three years old, and it makes it seem like I'm
this super genius, But it was just me rearranging the
couch cushions to make the couch into an airplane. And
instead of yelling at me and telling me to put
everything back where it's supposed to be, my father actually
grabbed the camcorder and started recording me and asking me
(04:53):
questions about my airplane. So that's why I think this
hands on experience like the Lpasco Science Festival is so
important because it provides a fun and safe space for
kids to explore, to experiment, to try things get a
little bit messy without getting in trouble. And I feel
like parents will also be able to go back and say, like, man,
I wish I could have explored like this too and experimented.
(05:15):
So it's really going to be fun for everyone, and
I hope it will help them have that safe place
to become an engineer that day.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Oh and the parents don't have to clean it up,
that's one of the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now, Enrique, you were one of the co founders of
this event. Why did you feel the need to create
an event like this? Why is it important for the community.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
That's a great question, you know, because I've been very,
very lucky in my entire life. I'm one of five
kids and the only one that went to college. My
parents are from Mexico, from Jalisco. No education. They could
not They could read and write, but nothing else, And
so I was lucky that, you know, when I was
(05:55):
very young, I was ten years old, I went to
something that I called the Sciencia the Technologia no Science,
Science and Technology Fair in what is this? This was
in what is I was ten years old and there
were all these fascinating things happening there. They were fascinating
(06:16):
to me, and that's where I decided, Hey, I want
to be a scientist when I grew up. So I
grew up to be a mathematician. I got a master's degree,
I started my PhD, and I got the opportunity to
work at NASA. I was in charge of programming the
spaceships that the special.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Psycle like that.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, so it was a set of lucky events that
can happen in just one moment. And so so our
goal is to create that environment with that spark of
inspiration for the kids will happen. And I don't think
the Passo has so many opportunities like this. There's only
fifty places in the United States that have festivals like ours.
(06:57):
And this is going to be our second year. Last
year we have ten thousand people coming. We expect to
hopefully double that. I know Robelia is going to hate
me for trying to or so many people, but I mean,
we have space for everyone. We have really space for everyone, and.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
The more people attend, the more you know, the more
minds that you're going to spark. Like it says, catch
the spark a lat of Lachispa. And the sciences that
are going to be covered, it's not just one. It's
going to be astronomy, chemistry, geology, robotics, artificial intelligence and more.
I mean, so anything that you're interested in, any kind
of science that you're interested in, is going to be here,
(07:32):
and a big I think of course, living in Alpasso.
An important part of it is there's a lot of
Hispanic you know, you have astronauts, you have physicists, you
have Jay coming in. He's going to you know, combining
magic in science. And that's important to see in the
border city because there's a lot of people like, well,
we see these scientists and none of them look like me.
But like you had said earlier, Jay, they look like me.
(07:54):
And that when you're a child, you know, that does
account for something. And so I think that that's a
really important and so again, this event is going to
be April fifth through the sixth fifth and six ten
am the five thirty pm the al Paso Convention Center.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It's free to enter.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
We are talking about the al Paso Science Festival, presented
by the al Paso Community Foundation and UTEB. I have
here Endrikuae Gomez, co founder of the al Paso Science Festival,
and Jay Floties, host of It's not Magic, It's science.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
So I want to go back to the ages.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
You know, you think science festival, you think five, you know,
little kids. But can you, Endrika, can you talk about
how this is actually going to be a good thing
for the whole family.
Speaker 6 (08:35):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We we have the sign the exhibits to be interactive
and this is just like fun for everyone. We're trying
to The target audience is the elementary school kids from
kinder to eight, but we have a ton of high schoolers.
We have real scientists, a bunch of real scientists coming
to enjoy. I had last year, I had a PhD
(08:59):
from from UTEB who walked out of one of the
presentations and it said, and I want to be a
physicist again. So it's really inspiring. It's really it's really
for everyone, and so everyone is really welcome. This year,
we're going to have for video and everyone loves for videos,
(09:19):
a life sized uh robot that you can talk to.
They can shake hands with and they don't be spending
till like six 'y five talking to our Audienky. So
it's really for everyone. It's really for everyone.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
That is everyone that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So, you know a thing that I think is important
maybe for parents that are taking their kids, or maybe
for older kids.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Careers in science.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You know, you think I gotta work at NASA to
make a good living, or I gotta you know, be
really really you know, off the wall charts intelligent to
make a living with science.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
But first I'm going to ask you.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I'm gonna ask you as well, Jay, what careers can
this possibly launch for for people, you know, if they
want to further a career in science.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well, in my case it was I got to love
the scientists and I was attracted to mathematics from the beginning.
I love biology, but I couldn't handle the names. As
I mentioned before, it was there too too complicated for me.
So numbers were easy, there's.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Cheat sheets, Okay, once they started adding letters into the math,
I was like, I'm out, I'm out.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So yeah, I mean the careers in science and technology
are everywhere. Civil engineers, mechanical engineer, electrical engineers, neuroscientists, doctors,
see all of the professions that that are well paid
and in scientifying in life, I mean, are are really
as a result of science, technology and mathematics and.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Can be a scientist.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You know, it's not just I'm not born, I'm not
made this way like you can become a scientist and Jay,
you know, same question as far as careers in the
scientific field, what do you have to say about people
that are interested about the possibilities.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Yeah, and this is a science festival, But if I
was a parent or a grandparent or some guardian that
wants to potentially bring their kids here, I would just
think about this as an opportunity to open doors for
your child or the person that you care about, because
it's going to show them the way to a successful
career in any path that they choose. So, of course,
bring the kids that are excited about science, but I
(11:25):
actually want to see the ones in my show, the
ones that say why would I ever use this again
in my life when they're in their math class, right,
I want to be able to put the connection for
them to hey, science is behind everything that we do,
and whether you become an engineer or not being more
science literate is going to allow you to be very
successful in whatever career you choose, whether that's you know, sports,
(11:48):
or sending people to space, or creating cookies that give
you abs.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
There's so many different.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Ways that we can explore how science can connect to
what you love. My show is going to be a
great way for them to do that in a fun way.
At the beginning, you'll see some of the kids that
are really into science raise their hand right away to
be volunteers. Once we've gone through our first or second experiment,
then everyone is chasing to the front to be picked
for it. So this is going to be an opportunity
(12:15):
to open doors and to spark a lot of inspiration.
And we don't know exactly where that's going to go,
but it can help them start to understand why these
skill sets and tools are important for whatever they want
to do in the future.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
And that's so you know it's going to be a
good show.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
When you're inviting the people who are going to you
think not going to like it, you'd be like, you
know what, come out here, you are going to like
this show. I'm so excited to see it for the
Lpacove community again. I want to reiterate that it's free.
What do you think that this is going to do
for the community.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I think we have very high expectations. You know, there's
only about twenty five percent of the people have decrease
in anything, and of those only about thirty percent have
decrease in technologies. And these are jobs that are highly,
very well paid and a high demand, and not just
in the past but anywhere in the United States. So
(13:05):
I see that our kids are going to be more
involved in making the difference in our community, more involved
in making the difference in our country, solving the big
problems that we got, like our environment, like energy, and
big things that are that we're facing in the future.
So we expect our kids will grow up thinking in
(13:25):
those terms and and help us make our community in
our world a better world. So that's my expectations, very
high expectations we have and.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
And one thing I want to touch on too is
this year you're going to be partnering with La Nube.
What what what differences can we expect this year versus
last year with Lube?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
What are they bringing to the table?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Well, they bring a lot to the table, because now
the NUBI is opened the entire year, and we do
this once a year. There's differences because we are very handsome.
We have these scientists sitting there with you and talking
to you, telling you about opportunities to go to college
and how to get scholarships and all of that. But
then you can follow up at len Ube. You can
(14:07):
go there any time of the year and enjoy the
pleasure of doing science and doing technology.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
So that's that's the difference.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
So with this collaboration is kind of a match made
in heaven.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's I'm excited and I have one
more question for each of you.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Jay, I'll start with you first.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Basically, is there anything else that you would like to
tell the listening audience about this event, about your show,
you know, about science, anything that you would like to
tell them.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
I just really want this event to make a big
difference in the community. I know it has the resources
to do, so we just need to make sure the
whole community comes out because it's going to be fun,
it's free, You're going to learn a lot, and you're
going to be able to take home some things that
are going to allow you to continue to grow. And
our community is at a point where We have a
(14:56):
lot of young ones that can make a significant difference
in not only this community, but in the country and
the future. So we prepare them properly. In this young
age group from kDa eighth grade, where we're becoming a
large portion of the country, we can have a very
lasting impact. And again we're just going to have a
whole lot of fun doing it. There's going to be
(15:17):
all kinds of things that you thought were impossible then
now will be possible with science, and I hope the
same thing will happen for how they look at their future,
things that they thought may not have been capable of.
They're going to be able to leave this event feeling
like I can do pretty much anything because I just
did something that is totally magic and now I know
how to do it and share it with everyone else.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And like you said, you're going to have these resources
and these things that aren't normally open to them, you know,
and you're imagine taking your child and then they're coming
back like I want.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
To do that, I want to do this now, I
want to learn about this.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And as a parent, you're like, because I've taken my daughter.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
To museums and this and that and She's like, I
want to learn this. I'm like, really, okay, let's do it.
I mean, you.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Know, iPads are always on their iPad, so they find something,
they learned something there, they can even look it up
on their iPad and start fostering it that way.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
And Rika, I have the same question. Is there anything
else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Well, I just want to repeat the invitation. And I
think this is a very unique event that we cannot
miss and so we want everyone everyone there. And like
you said, when the kids go home, they want to
know more, and the parents can see how they can
help their kids to foster that curiosity, to feed their
(16:33):
desire to become something and something else. I've seen it.
I've seen not just in myself, but not a lot
of people that are involved. We are all volunteers, so
we welcome people to sign up to be about volunteers
as well. And it's going to be exciting. And it's
really this is El Passos Festival. It's not the pastor
community foundations that you tip. It's really El Passos Festivals,
(16:55):
the people's festival.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Thank you of course.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
El Paso Science Festival April fifth and sixth ten am
to five thirty pm the al Paso Convention Center, free entry.
It's going to be a fantastic event, one of a kind.
You can find them on Instagram at al Paso Science Festival,
on Facebook al Paso Science Festival, Twitter at ep Science Fest,
or go to Elpasoscience dot org. They're looking for volunteers,
but more importantly, come and show up and make that
(17:21):
love of science. See if your child is going to
fall in love with science. I'm sure half the people
that go their kids are going to have doors open
for them that they would have never thought possible.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
And Enrique and j thank you so much for being
here with me today.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Well, thank you very much, and don't forget to google
l pasta Science Festival.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda, and today we have Peter Moody, executive director
for Habitat for Humanity.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Peter, thank you for being here with me today.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Thank you, Amber, appreciate it that Bettie.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
And we also have Taylor Moreno, philanthropy and engagement consultant
for Habitat for Humanity. Taylor, thank you for being here
with me today thanks for having us of course. So
today obviously we're going to be talking about Habitat for Humanity.
And again, Taylor, I was referred to by a mutual
friend Jennifer, and she would talk about the amazing fundraising
(18:16):
and work that you've done specifically for Habitat for Humanity.
So first I want to speak a little bit to that,
because if it weren't for that connection, you both wouldn't
be here. So how did you get involved and why
did you want to help this organization?
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Well, you know, Habitat for HU many just across the
United States has done in an incredible job and here
in our pass so I think there's so many families
that can benefit from the work that they do. And
so being a fifth generational past one, I really wanted
to connect myself and give back through this event that
we have coming up on you in the first at
Top Golf, and I thought it was a great opportunity
(18:49):
and Pete was able to bring me on board to
help make that happen.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
So how did you get connected? How do you guys
know each other?
Speaker 6 (18:55):
So we have a mutual friend, Yes, that brought us together.
Done a number of events at Top Golf, and because
of the success there, I really wanted to make sure
that Habitat could help raise a lot of money to
expand the services that they have here in the Alpaca region.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So the mutual friend was like, Taylor can fundraise a
lot of money, and Habitat for Humanity needs a lot
of money, so let's put that together and top golf.
We talked a little bit off air, how that that's
something that I would want to try. Also, I need
to pick or brain about that. So, Peter, Habitat for Humanity.
It's a very well known name, but I don't think
a lot of people know exactly what it does for
the community.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Can you explain that a little bit?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Well.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
At Habitat, we're dedicated to providing affordable housing for everyone.
I mean, that's that's really what the mission is at Habitat.
And you know the way we do this is by
engaging the community. You know, we go out and we
recruit businesses and volunteers you know that donate their time, equipment,
their materials.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Not cheap.
Speaker 7 (19:54):
It's not cheap and money and we didn't take that
in intern and we do home builds and re models
for those that need it. Here in the Apostle region.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So for Habitat for Humanity, you know what I think
is when I thought of it initially before I learn
more about it, is a home is destroyed by some
kind of natural disaster and then that's the only way
you can have it up and rebuilt.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
But you know, I've had Habitat for Humanity on before.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
What I learned is that, like you said, people that
are low income, they can't afford to do not even
just have a new house, but do repairs to an
existing house. So with people that may need those types
of services, how does that work? How do you choose
who gets the services and how do they apply?
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Well, to apply, you can go either to our website
or you can stop buy our offices over at eighty
five hundred diar here in Opasso, and you can submit
an application. Now, what we do is we take those
applications and then they are vetted through our complete system.
Of course, good stewards of everybody that's donating, we have
to be, so we go and put them through that
(20:54):
process and those that qualify then meet the need and
that's when we open up the funds and start the
process of those either critical home repairs or in the
other side of it is the home builds. We do
build homes.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Too perfect and so the website would be habitat Alpasso
dot org. If someone did want to go and try
and apply, yes, okay, and how like do you pick
someone once a year, like, how does that work?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
Well?
Speaker 7 (21:20):
Well, if the home builds, what those come up? But
we are our goal is to build a minimum one
a year. This year, we're looking at building a couple
of homes towards the end of this year, and then
the ultimate goes to get to where we're doing somewhere
between five and ten a year, all right, And that's
where the fundraising comes in, right, because of course everything
costs dollars and we have to be able to do that.
(21:40):
We do get a lot of volunteer time and a
lot of volunteer material, but it's still there's still dollars
has to be put behind that. And the one thing
too to point out is is with Habitat, what a
lot of folks probably don't realize is we're not a handout.
We're a hand up. None of the remodels and none
of the home builds that we do are completely one
(22:00):
percent free to the individual receiving it. We what we
do is we're able to build those houses at an
affordable level and get affordable financing so that the home
owner can then own that home at an affordable price.
Oh wow, and they still are they're still going to
pay back that mortgage or that remodel. What they're doing
(22:22):
it at a zero interest at a very low rate
because the cost is way down to build those properties
or remodel those properties.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And how long does it usually take from the start
to finish of building a home.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
That's it depends on the actual home and where it's
being built, but in most cases you're looking about eight weeks,
eight weeks, eight eight to twelve weeks.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Wow, that's pretty fast. I was I was thinking a
whole lot longer.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
But that's awesome. We yeah, because they need a place,
you know, right away, preferably yep.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
And one of the other things that we do require
our of our homeowners is their time too. They are
going to put an effort into help building their own
home or remodeling home, and they're going to do that
through volunteer hours and through labor on their own We're
looking for them. This becomes a partnership with the family. Yeah,
we have families that have been with us for over
thirty years and that are still with us, and even
(23:12):
though they've done more than their share of volunteering, they're
still volunteering today.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
I would imagine too, if someone was in the position
where you helped them get their house and they volunteer
with you, it's going to make them last a whole
lot longer with your organization too. Right, you help me
get my home, I'm going to help others, you know,
pay it forward. I'm still really over to twelve weeks.
It's awesome and so you know, like you said, you
need funding. That's why you're connecting here with Taylor, and
you do have an event coming up.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
But before I get to that event, I do want
to talk a little bit about another way that the
community can help. There's something called Restore al Passo. Can
you tell us a little bit more about that store?
Speaker 7 (23:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (23:48):
Can we have call it a restore Basically, this is
a thrift store, but it's a thrift store of all
things home, so anything from furniture to building materials to
kitchen set.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
And darling kids toys and clothes. Because I've been going
there to get things, and what they have is incredible
and at very affordable prices, and so people need to
go because it's all brand new, so it's not used
clothes or use things, you know, it's where you can
go and get new stuff at a very affordable rate,
and then all the money goes back to help others
(24:24):
in this community.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Definitely, at that drift store is amazing. If you haven't visited,
it's over at eighty five hundred diar. Everything in that
store is about twenty five percent of what it would
be retail in any other store. Yeah, it's all donated
to us and then when we sell those goods and
that money goes right back into the community.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
So I've been there.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
I used to work at the Child Crisis Center and
we were looking for something to rebuild the shelter and
they were very nice. They were talking how they can
actually help us and give back to us. And there's
actually if you know, if you want to go check
it out, and you need even more of a reason,
right next door, there's a place called the Spot, you know,
just to help people find is like the only roller
skating rink that I know of here.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
It I'll passle. So if you want to go find
some stuff that you need for your house, and on
that savings, you can go right next door and go
try some roller skating. That's an idea too.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So we have restore and so the items if people
wanted to donate, they have to be new.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
No, it doesn't have to be new. We have gently
used items in there. The new items we have in
there have been donated to us by other you know,
stores and companies and things, you know, because of what
they'll do is they'll discontinue something, yes, and so they'll
donate that to us, and then we will go ahead
and sell it in our store. But you can donate
your gently used furniture, home goods or any of.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
The stuff that you have.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
We do pick up too, So we will we will
go and pick up. I have a crew that will
drive out to your house and pick up that gently
used furniture or washing and dryer. They're still working. We
don't want to take anything of course if it's not usable, right,
but as long as it's still usable, we will come
and get it.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So spring cleaning is going on right now, especially as
this episode drop. So if someone was to want to
donate get rid of you know, clean their houses some
things and have you pick them up.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
How do they go about doing that.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Well they do is give give us a call over
at the restore. Actually, you can actually go online to
the website and you can actually break on the website.
Fill out the little formul's on the website. It goes
directly to our store manager and she gets you set up.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
And that's the habitat Alpasso dot org. Yes, oh perfect,
All right, there you go.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Yeah, and there's one other project that we do. We
call it Curbside Conk Kindness here in town. So it's
where we partner with hoas. And what we do is
we set up a day for that HOA. We let
the HOA advertise through all of their homeowners in that
area to let them know that on this day, our
truck will drive through your neighborhood. All you got to
(26:46):
do is put it outside and we'll pick it up.
And so we do these little little projects in each
of these hoas. The next one's coming up in the
Willows weekend after next. We'll be out of the Willows.
We just got done with the ten West a couple
of weeks ago, and so what we'll do is we'll
partner with HOA. So if there's any Hoa's out there
(27:06):
that like to set up a project like that where
they want to clean out garages and get rid of
that old furnace or that old stove, then send your garage.
But it still works. All you got to do is
set it outside. We'll come get it.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There you go again Habitat Alpasso dot org if you
want to set that up and find more information, and
if you're just tuning in, I have Peter Moody, executive
director for Habitat for Humanity, as well as A Taylor Moreno,
Philanthropy and Engagement consultant for Habitat for Humanity. So right now,
you know, we talked about the restore, we talked about
the curbside kindness. Now we're going to talk about an
(27:39):
event that you have coming up on June first at
Top Golf, Taylor.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
What is this event, Well, we're calling it Swing Big,
Build Bigger, and it's an opportunity for community members, business
folks to come over and help us raise money to
expand services here in the Olpassa region. We are taking
over two full floors of golf on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
(28:03):
So families can come out, bring your friends, you know,
come have some great faheatas and just relax and enjoy.
We've got to have a great silent auction and things
of that nature to help us. Hopefully our goals to
raise a quarter of a million dollars for both home
builds and the emergency construction that needs to be done
for families in this community.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So if people wanted to partake in this, is it
one cost and then they get like everything included?
Speaker 4 (28:31):
How does that work?
Speaker 6 (28:32):
Yeah, So we're looking for sponsorships. There's different levels depending
on the floor that people are interested in participating on.
But it's eight people, it's twenty five hundred dollars. It
can be paid in payments, so that breaks down to
six hundred and twenty five dollars a month, you know,
a little over one hundred and fifty dollars per week.
(28:53):
So make it real easy for people to be able
to come. And of course this is tax deductible because
it is a donation habitat for youity is a five
oh one C three. So we're hoping that people in
this community see the importance and all that you know,
Pete talked about for the great work that Habitat for
Humanity does. But to be able to have a fun opportunity.
(29:15):
We even have a mentalist coming in from Phoenix to
really engage with the attendees and have.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
What is a mentalist so.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
You can read your mind and does much.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
I thought that was it.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I mean, I just interviewed the Long Island Medium, so
you know, I'm like, I think I've heard of that too.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
He's incredible and so he's you know, goes and does
Google and very you know, other big corporations throughout the
United States and travels.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
So we're thrilled to be able.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
To have him come to Alpaso and to be a
part of our event and you know, engage with everybody
that's there.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
So I'll have my husband get a group out there
and be like, did you take the trash out like
you said? And he'll be able to read his mind.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
Yeah, and he'll be guilty probably, but maybe he'll say yes.
So no, we're just you know, it's not just golf.
It's a great opportunity for families to come out and
a Sunday afternoon, you know, giving back. You know, growing
up I gave back through Habitat for humanity with my mom.
She was part of the Junior League and it was
one of their projects when I was little. So i've
(30:18):
you know, personally been a volunteer, and I think it's
very important not just to you know, get back to
this community through your volunteer side, but if you know,
if you have the dollars to be able to give financially,
that will help us be able to recruit more volunteers
and help more homes and build more homes. So, as
Pete said, you know, there's a goal to increase from
(30:40):
one home to five to ten homes a year, and
so we can't do that without the support of this community.
And just really looking forward to this, this chance to
you know, raise awareness about the work that they do
while having a great time.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, and like you said, it's tax deductible. And then
before the inner, you had talked a little bit about
networking with a certain group of people.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Can you explain going to that a little bit?
Speaker 6 (31:06):
Sure, So, of course, you know, we're we're bringing in
different contractors, home builders, things of that nature, and so
you know, if people in the community want to have
access to those folks, you know, it's a great opportunity
you're not just stuck in your bay. You get to
go all over the facility and be able to you know,
(31:27):
connect with with different companies. So we're really excited about
this opportunity to connect al Paso community members and folks
of that nature. What I believe is a very inexpensive cost,
not only just you know, from you know, if you
go to top Golf, but the fact that it's tax deductible
to be able to do that and bring you know,
(31:48):
you and seven other people so eat total to have
a great time one afternoon.
Speaker 7 (31:52):
Yeah, come out and eat and drink and all afternoon
and you know, all the food and drinks are going
to be provided, and just have a have a great time.
I'm interacting and having.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Fun well that and you know, like traditional golf tournaments,
they both have their pros and cons. But I'm thinking
here you're limited usually to forward a team, and then
you're kind of rushed because you got someone behind you
or someone ahead of you, and you can't really interact
with the other teams while you're on.
Speaker 4 (32:12):
The course, you know, rate of play.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
And then here you're getting to practice, you're swing, you're
getting to break in your new clubs.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
In my husband's case.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
You know, I got them some new clubs, so you
can do that. And then like you said you can.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Well then we're going to have everyone and we're gonna
have a whole in one competition. So if you make
a hard one, you win ten thousand dollars. So you
know we'll have two of those throughout the venue. So
not only you know the silent auction, the networking opportunity,
the hole in one, having a great time, bringing your
family great food. Top coff Is has amazing food. They do,
(32:44):
you know, some nice cold drinks on a Sunday afternoon.
We're just you know, we've already had an incredible number
of people who have already, so we already have about
a third of the base are already sold. So you know,
if people are interested there, they can reach out through
the phone number, they can reach out to me directly,
and I'd be happy to help connect them to be
(33:07):
a part of this amazing opportunity.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
And you know, June first, so you don't have to
worry too much about the weather, about the heat. And
that's close enough to Father's Day where if you wanted
to make it like a special outing for the dads
in your life.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
You can do that too.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
I mean, yeah, absolutely, nice job, Amber, I got you girl.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
So, Peter, is there anything else that you would like
to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Well, I'd just like.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
To say that we'd love to see everyone out at
Top Golf on June first. It's going to be the
place to be, especially if you're in the home services industry,
anything to do with any home services, whether you're buying, selling, remodeling,
whatever you're doing, this is going to be the place
to be on.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
That Sunday exactly. And again, Habitat for Humanity.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
People have heard of it, I don't think a lot
of the listening audience may realize that it's actually happening
here in all pass so that you all are actually
building and repairing homes for people that are.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
In need of it.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Taylor, is there anything else that you would like to
tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (34:03):
You know, we're just hope to have everyone call in
and help us make this, you know, the biggest and
largest that Habitat's ever had. And also you know from
a Top Golf side, you know it's a great place
to come and enjoy and a family auting on Gene
the first for everybody right after the holiday, and like
you said, right before Father's Day, it's a great opportunity
(34:25):
to bring everybody to the table and to take a swing.
So you know, swing big, big, build bigger. They go,
swing big, build bigger. I love that title.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
So if you want more information, Instagram, Facebook, habitat el
Paso or go to habitat Alpasso dot org.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
And again, thank you both for being here with me today.
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Thank you thanks for having us amber.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Of course you've been listening to El Paso Public Forum,
a weekly public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio l Passo. If you,
your organization or event would like to be featured on
an upcoming program, please email to ep Forum at iHeartMedia
dot com or call us at nine one five three
five one five four zero zero. Tune in again next
week for another additional of El Paso Public Forum. The
(35:09):
preceding program was recorded at the studios of iHeartRadio El
Paso
Welcome to ol Paso Public Forum, a weekly half hour
public affairs presentation of iHeartRadio El Paso for over twenty years,
featuring local news and interviews of interest to our listeners
in West Texas and southern New Mexico. All views and
opinions expressed on this program are those of the host
and guest, and not necessarily those of iHeartRadio Management and
now El Paso Public Forum.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Welcome to the al Paso Public Forum. I am your host, Amberbanda,
and today we talk science. We're going to be talking
about the al Paso Science Festival. It's back, it's better,
it's bigger than ever. And today we have Endrique Gomez.
He is one of the co founders of the al
Paso Science Festival. Endrique, thank you for being here with
me today.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Well, my pleasure of being here and thank you for
the opportunity definitely.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
And we also have one of the hosts, one of
the performers, if you will, Jay Flores. He is going
to be the host of It's Not Magic, It's Science.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
Jay. Thank you for being here with us today as well.
Thank you so much.
Speaker 5 (00:56):
I can't wait to bring this to the community and
it's going to be a whole.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Lot of science can be a whole lot of fun.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
I know science and fund don't normally go in the
same sentence, but trust me, especially this year, you have
some surprises, you have some changes.
Speaker 4 (01:08):
It's going to be a great event.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
A lot of people don't know before radio I have
a degree in biology, so I'm kind of like the
science I didn't do.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
You know what I thought i'd do with it, But
I still love science.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
And so we're going to be talking today about the
al Paso Science Festival. It's brought to you by the
al Paso Community Foundation and YOUTIP. So Enrika, can you
tell the audience first, when will this event be and where.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Will it be?
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Yeah, the event will be at the Alpasco Convision Center
on April five and six. It's just just a few
weeks from now, and it's going to be free to
the entire family. It will start at ten in the
morning and it will go on until five thirty on
both days. On the second day, we're going to have
a little surprise. I'll tell you what the surprise is
(01:52):
here where you have an astronaut who saying done this,
who's going to be popping to us, and we had
him last year and was wonderful. Now we're complimenting the
program with Jay, who is fantastic. I mean, it's gonna
like a magician on stage performing real science, and so
that's gonna be very, very exciting to the kids. We
want the entire family, So this is not just kids,
(02:14):
not just it's not just parents. Is the entire family.
We want everyone there. So when the kids say, hey,
that's what I want to do when I grew up,
the parents can see that and can take it home
and continue the conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Exactly fun for the entire family. And again, it's free.
That's important to mention. And you know, there's so many
stories that I've heard. You know, I work right now
with country music, but just in everything that I've done
where they're like, I just saw this one person, I
just experienced this one thing. It was just my grandma
was just this man, whoever it was, and it sparked
it and that continued into their adult life and that's
what they became as adults.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
So Jay, let's build some hype around.
Speaker 2 (02:51):
This, not that I mean it really needs, you know,
to be built, because I'm already excited, but let's get
the listening audience into it. You are going to be performing.
It's not magic, it's science. Can you give us a
little bit of what that's going to be like?
Speaker 5 (03:05):
Absolutely, this is going to be the most fun you've
ever had with science. This is not your typical classroom,
This is not worksheets. This is more like a hype show, right,
So it's a performance, it's not a presentation. Just like
you and I might go to Vegas and go to
a magic show. The kids will get to be able
to go up on stage and be part of the
experiments as well. So it'll be hands on, it'll be engaging,
(03:27):
we'll laugh, and we'll learn a lot in the same process.
And so I hope, just as you said, I hope
that I can be that spark for the students that
come in that day and feel like, hey, this is
something that I can do. Someone that looks like me,
that came from similar background to me can do this,
and you know, hopefully I can now too. And since
(03:47):
I'm a scientist and not a magician, I can teach
them how the tricks work because it's actually science that
makes all of these mind blowing experiences happen. So they'll
be able to go home and do it themselves as well,
and that creates a ripple effect in our community of
inspiration around science. That happens to also just be a
lot of fun and very magical.
Speaker 2 (04:08):
Exactly, And the audience can't see it, but I can
see the twinkle in your eye.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
You're really excited about this. I know it's going to
be a great show. So let me ask you what
got you into science?
Speaker 6 (04:15):
So?
Speaker 5 (04:16):
I was very curious as a child, and I was
lucky to have parents that allowed me to explore an experiment.
So when I pulled out all the pots and pants,
instead of yelling at me and my mom realized that's
just me exploring and she let me do it.
Speaker 4 (04:30):
I have a really cool home video.
Speaker 5 (04:32):
That I got to see recently when my parents retired
that I was designing my first airplane when I was
three years old, and it makes it seem like I'm
this super genius, But it was just me rearranging the
couch cushions to make the couch into an airplane. And
instead of yelling at me and telling me to put
everything back where it's supposed to be, my father actually
grabbed the camcorder and started recording me and asking me
(04:53):
questions about my airplane. So that's why I think this
hands on experience like the Lpasco Science Festival is so
important because it provides a fun and safe space for
kids to explore, to experiment, to try things get a
little bit messy without getting in trouble. And I feel
like parents will also be able to go back and say, like, man,
I wish I could have explored like this too and experimented.
(05:15):
So it's really going to be fun for everyone, and
I hope it will help them have that safe place
to become an engineer that day.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Oh and the parents don't have to clean it up,
that's one of the Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Now, Enrique, you were one of the co founders of
this event. Why did you feel the need to create
an event like this? Why is it important for the community.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
That's a great question, you know, because I've been very,
very lucky in my entire life. I'm one of five
kids and the only one that went to college. My
parents are from Mexico, from Jalisco. No education. They could
not They could read and write, but nothing else, And
so I was lucky that, you know, when I was
(05:55):
very young, I was ten years old, I went to
something that I called the Sciencia the Technologia no Science,
Science and Technology Fair in what is this? This was
in what is I was ten years old and there
were all these fascinating things happening there. They were fascinating
(06:16):
to me, and that's where I decided, Hey, I want
to be a scientist when I grew up. So I
grew up to be a mathematician. I got a master's degree,
I started my PhD, and I got the opportunity to
work at NASA. I was in charge of programming the
spaceships that the special.
Speaker 4 (06:33):
Psycle like that.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
Yeah, so it was a set of lucky events that
can happen in just one moment. And so so our
goal is to create that environment with that spark of
inspiration for the kids will happen. And I don't think
the Passo has so many opportunities like this. There's only
fifty places in the United States that have festivals like ours.
(06:57):
And this is going to be our second year. Last
year we have ten thousand people coming. We expect to
hopefully double that. I know Robelia is going to hate
me for trying to or so many people, but I mean,
we have space for everyone. We have really space for everyone, and.
Speaker 2 (07:12):
The more people attend, the more you know, the more
minds that you're going to spark. Like it says, catch
the spark a lat of Lachispa. And the sciences that
are going to be covered, it's not just one. It's
going to be astronomy, chemistry, geology, robotics, artificial intelligence and more.
I mean, so anything that you're interested in, any kind
of science that you're interested in, is going to be here,
(07:32):
and a big I think of course, living in Alpasso.
An important part of it is there's a lot of
Hispanic you know, you have astronauts, you have physicists, you
have Jay coming in. He's going to you know, combining
magic in science. And that's important to see in the
border city because there's a lot of people like, well,
we see these scientists and none of them look like me.
But like you had said earlier, Jay, they look like me.
(07:54):
And that when you're a child, you know, that does
account for something. And so I think that that's a
really important and so again, this event is going to
be April fifth through the sixth fifth and six ten
am the five thirty pm the al Paso Convention Center.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It's free to enter.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
We are talking about the al Paso Science Festival, presented
by the al Paso Community Foundation and UTEB. I have
here Endrikuae Gomez, co founder of the al Paso Science Festival,
and Jay Floties, host of It's not Magic, It's science.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
So I want to go back to the ages.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
You know, you think science festival, you think five, you know,
little kids. But can you, Endrika, can you talk about
how this is actually going to be a good thing
for the whole family.
Speaker 6 (08:35):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
We we have the sign the exhibits to be interactive
and this is just like fun for everyone. We're trying
to The target audience is the elementary school kids from
kinder to eight, but we have a ton of high schoolers.
We have real scientists, a bunch of real scientists coming
to enjoy. I had last year, I had a PhD
(08:59):
from from UTEB who walked out of one of the
presentations and it said, and I want to be a
physicist again. So it's really inspiring. It's really it's really
for everyone, and so everyone is really welcome. This year,
we're going to have for video and everyone loves for videos,
(09:19):
a life sized uh robot that you can talk to.
They can shake hands with and they don't be spending
till like six 'y five talking to our Audienky. So
it's really for everyone. It's really for everyone.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
That is everyone that is so cool.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
So, you know a thing that I think is important
maybe for parents that are taking their kids, or maybe
for older kids.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
Careers in science.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
You know, you think I gotta work at NASA to
make a good living, or I gotta you know, be
really really you know, off the wall charts intelligent to
make a living with science.
Speaker 4 (09:52):
But first I'm going to ask you.
Speaker 2 (09:53):
I'm gonna ask you as well, Jay, what careers can
this possibly launch for for people, you know, if they
want to further a career in science.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:01):
Well, in my case it was I got to love
the scientists and I was attracted to mathematics from the beginning.
I love biology, but I couldn't handle the names. As
I mentioned before, it was there too too complicated for me.
So numbers were easy, there's.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Cheat sheets, Okay, once they started adding letters into the math,
I was like, I'm out, I'm out.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
So yeah, I mean the careers in science and technology
are everywhere. Civil engineers, mechanical engineer, electrical engineers, neuroscientists, doctors,
see all of the professions that that are well paid
and in scientifying in life, I mean, are are really
as a result of science, technology and mathematics and.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
Can be a scientist.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
You know, it's not just I'm not born, I'm not
made this way like you can become a scientist and Jay,
you know, same question as far as careers in the
scientific field, what do you have to say about people
that are interested about the possibilities.
Speaker 5 (11:04):
Yeah, and this is a science festival, But if I
was a parent or a grandparent or some guardian that
wants to potentially bring their kids here, I would just
think about this as an opportunity to open doors for
your child or the person that you care about, because
it's going to show them the way to a successful
career in any path that they choose. So, of course,
bring the kids that are excited about science, but I
(11:25):
actually want to see the ones in my show, the
ones that say why would I ever use this again
in my life when they're in their math class, right,
I want to be able to put the connection for
them to hey, science is behind everything that we do,
and whether you become an engineer or not being more
science literate is going to allow you to be very
successful in whatever career you choose, whether that's you know, sports,
(11:48):
or sending people to space, or creating cookies that give
you abs.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
There's so many different.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
Ways that we can explore how science can connect to
what you love. My show is going to be a
great way for them to do that in a fun way.
At the beginning, you'll see some of the kids that
are really into science raise their hand right away to
be volunteers. Once we've gone through our first or second experiment,
then everyone is chasing to the front to be picked
for it. So this is going to be an opportunity
(12:15):
to open doors and to spark a lot of inspiration.
And we don't know exactly where that's going to go,
but it can help them start to understand why these
skill sets and tools are important for whatever they want
to do in the future.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
And that's so you know it's going to be a
good show.
Speaker 2 (12:30):
When you're inviting the people who are going to you
think not going to like it, you'd be like, you
know what, come out here, you are going to like
this show. I'm so excited to see it for the
Lpacove community again. I want to reiterate that it's free.
What do you think that this is going to do
for the community.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I think we have very high expectations. You know, there's
only about twenty five percent of the people have decrease
in anything, and of those only about thirty percent have
decrease in technologies. And these are jobs that are highly,
very well paid and a high demand, and not just
in the past but anywhere in the United States. So
(13:05):
I see that our kids are going to be more
involved in making the difference in our community, more involved
in making the difference in our country, solving the big
problems that we got, like our environment, like energy, and
big things that are that we're facing in the future.
So we expect our kids will grow up thinking in
(13:25):
those terms and and help us make our community in
our world a better world. So that's my expectations, very
high expectations we have and.
Speaker 4 (13:35):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
And one thing I want to touch on too is
this year you're going to be partnering with La Nube.
What what what differences can we expect this year versus
last year with Lube?
Speaker 4 (13:44):
What are they bringing to the table?
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Well, they bring a lot to the table, because now
the NUBI is opened the entire year, and we do
this once a year. There's differences because we are very handsome.
We have these scientists sitting there with you and talking
to you, telling you about opportunities to go to college
and how to get scholarships and all of that. But
then you can follow up at len Ube. You can
(14:07):
go there any time of the year and enjoy the
pleasure of doing science and doing technology.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
So that's that's the difference.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
So with this collaboration is kind of a match made
in heaven.
Speaker 2 (14:18):
Yeah, oh yeah, it's I'm excited and I have one
more question for each of you.
Speaker 4 (14:22):
Jay, I'll start with you first.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Basically, is there anything else that you would like to
tell the listening audience about this event, about your show,
you know, about science, anything that you would like to
tell them.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (14:34):
I just really want this event to make a big
difference in the community. I know it has the resources
to do, so we just need to make sure the
whole community comes out because it's going to be fun,
it's free, You're going to learn a lot, and you're
going to be able to take home some things that
are going to allow you to continue to grow. And
our community is at a point where We have a
(14:56):
lot of young ones that can make a significant difference
in not only this community, but in the country and
the future. So we prepare them properly. In this young
age group from kDa eighth grade, where we're becoming a
large portion of the country, we can have a very
lasting impact. And again we're just going to have a
whole lot of fun doing it. There's going to be
(15:17):
all kinds of things that you thought were impossible then
now will be possible with science, and I hope the
same thing will happen for how they look at their future,
things that they thought may not have been capable of.
They're going to be able to leave this event feeling
like I can do pretty much anything because I just
did something that is totally magic and now I know
how to do it and share it with everyone else.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
And like you said, you're going to have these resources
and these things that aren't normally open to them, you know,
and you're imagine taking your child and then they're coming
back like I want.
Speaker 4 (15:47):
To do that, I want to do this now, I
want to learn about this.
Speaker 2 (15:49):
And as a parent, you're like, because I've taken my daughter.
Speaker 4 (15:51):
To museums and this and that and She's like, I
want to learn this. I'm like, really, okay, let's do it.
I mean, you.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
Know, iPads are always on their iPad, so they find something,
they learned something there, they can even look it up
on their iPad and start fostering it that way.
Speaker 4 (16:04):
And Rika, I have the same question. Is there anything
else that you would like to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Well, I just want to repeat the invitation. And I
think this is a very unique event that we cannot
miss and so we want everyone everyone there. And like
you said, when the kids go home, they want to
know more, and the parents can see how they can
help their kids to foster that curiosity, to feed their
(16:33):
desire to become something and something else. I've seen it.
I've seen not just in myself, but not a lot
of people that are involved. We are all volunteers, so
we welcome people to sign up to be about volunteers
as well. And it's going to be exciting. And it's
really this is El Passos Festival. It's not the pastor
community foundations that you tip. It's really El Passos Festivals,
(16:55):
the people's festival.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Thank you of course.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
El Paso Science Festival April fifth and sixth ten am
to five thirty pm the al Paso Convention Center, free entry.
It's going to be a fantastic event, one of a kind.
You can find them on Instagram at al Paso Science Festival,
on Facebook al Paso Science Festival, Twitter at ep Science Fest,
or go to Elpasoscience dot org. They're looking for volunteers,
but more importantly, come and show up and make that
(17:21):
love of science. See if your child is going to
fall in love with science. I'm sure half the people
that go their kids are going to have doors open
for them that they would have never thought possible.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
And Enrique and j thank you so much for being
here with me today.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Well, thank you very much, and don't forget to google
l pasta Science Festival.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
There you go.
Speaker 5 (17:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Welcome back to the al Paso Public Forum. I'm your host,
Amber Banda, and today we have Peter Moody, executive director
for Habitat for Humanity.
Speaker 4 (17:52):
Peter, thank you for being here with me today.
Speaker 7 (17:53):
Thank you, Amber, appreciate it that Bettie.
Speaker 2 (17:55):
And we also have Taylor Moreno, philanthropy and engagement consultant
for Habitat for Humanity. Taylor, thank you for being here
with me today thanks for having us of course. So
today obviously we're going to be talking about Habitat for Humanity.
And again, Taylor, I was referred to by a mutual
friend Jennifer, and she would talk about the amazing fundraising
(18:16):
and work that you've done specifically for Habitat for Humanity.
So first I want to speak a little bit to that,
because if it weren't for that connection, you both wouldn't
be here. So how did you get involved and why
did you want to help this organization?
Speaker 6 (18:27):
Well, you know, Habitat for HU many just across the
United States has done in an incredible job and here
in our pass so I think there's so many families
that can benefit from the work that they do. And
so being a fifth generational past one, I really wanted
to connect myself and give back through this event that
we have coming up on you in the first at
Top Golf, and I thought it was a great opportunity
(18:49):
and Pete was able to bring me on board to
help make that happen.
Speaker 4 (18:52):
So how did you get connected? How do you guys
know each other?
Speaker 6 (18:55):
So we have a mutual friend, Yes, that brought us together.
Done a number of events at Top Golf, and because
of the success there, I really wanted to make sure
that Habitat could help raise a lot of money to
expand the services that they have here in the Alpaca region.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
Amazing.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
So the mutual friend was like, Taylor can fundraise a
lot of money, and Habitat for Humanity needs a lot
of money, so let's put that together and top golf.
We talked a little bit off air, how that that's
something that I would want to try. Also, I need
to pick or brain about that. So, Peter, Habitat for Humanity.
It's a very well known name, but I don't think
a lot of people know exactly what it does for
the community.
Speaker 4 (19:32):
Can you explain that a little bit?
Speaker 2 (19:33):
Well.
Speaker 7 (19:34):
At Habitat, we're dedicated to providing affordable housing for everyone.
I mean, that's that's really what the mission is at Habitat.
And you know the way we do this is by
engaging the community. You know, we go out and we
recruit businesses and volunteers you know that donate their time, equipment,
their materials.
Speaker 4 (19:53):
Not cheap.
Speaker 7 (19:54):
It's not cheap and money and we didn't take that
in intern and we do home builds and re models
for those that need it. Here in the Apostle region.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
So for Habitat for Humanity, you know what I think
is when I thought of it initially before I learn
more about it, is a home is destroyed by some
kind of natural disaster and then that's the only way
you can have it up and rebuilt.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
But you know, I've had Habitat for Humanity on before.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
What I learned is that, like you said, people that
are low income, they can't afford to do not even
just have a new house, but do repairs to an
existing house. So with people that may need those types
of services, how does that work? How do you choose
who gets the services and how do they apply?
Speaker 7 (20:33):
Well, to apply, you can go either to our website
or you can stop buy our offices over at eighty
five hundred diar here in Opasso, and you can submit
an application. Now, what we do is we take those
applications and then they are vetted through our complete system.
Of course, good stewards of everybody that's donating, we have
to be, so we go and put them through that
(20:54):
process and those that qualify then meet the need and
that's when we open up the funds and start the
process of those either critical home repairs or in the
other side of it is the home builds. We do
build homes.
Speaker 2 (21:08):
Too perfect and so the website would be habitat Alpasso
dot org. If someone did want to go and try
and apply, yes, okay, and how like do you pick
someone once a year, like, how does that work?
Speaker 6 (21:20):
Well?
Speaker 7 (21:20):
Well, if the home builds, what those come up? But
we are our goal is to build a minimum one
a year. This year, we're looking at building a couple
of homes towards the end of this year, and then
the ultimate goes to get to where we're doing somewhere
between five and ten a year, all right, And that's
where the fundraising comes in, right, because of course everything
costs dollars and we have to be able to do that.
(21:40):
We do get a lot of volunteer time and a
lot of volunteer material, but it's still there's still dollars
has to be put behind that. And the one thing
too to point out is is with Habitat, what a
lot of folks probably don't realize is we're not a handout.
We're a hand up. None of the remodels and none
of the home builds that we do are completely one
(22:00):
percent free to the individual receiving it. We what we
do is we're able to build those houses at an
affordable level and get affordable financing so that the home
owner can then own that home at an affordable price.
Oh wow, and they still are they're still going to
pay back that mortgage or that remodel. What they're doing
(22:22):
it at a zero interest at a very low rate
because the cost is way down to build those properties
or remodel those properties.
Speaker 2 (22:29):
And how long does it usually take from the start
to finish of building a home.
Speaker 7 (22:34):
That's it depends on the actual home and where it's
being built, but in most cases you're looking about eight weeks,
eight weeks, eight eight to twelve weeks.
Speaker 2 (22:44):
Wow, that's pretty fast. I was I was thinking a
whole lot longer.
Speaker 4 (22:46):
But that's awesome. We yeah, because they need a place,
you know, right away, preferably yep.
Speaker 7 (22:50):
And one of the other things that we do require
our of our homeowners is their time too. They are
going to put an effort into help building their own
home or remodeling home, and they're going to do that
through volunteer hours and through labor on their own We're
looking for them. This becomes a partnership with the family. Yeah,
we have families that have been with us for over
thirty years and that are still with us, and even
(23:12):
though they've done more than their share of volunteering, they're
still volunteering today.
Speaker 2 (23:16):
I would imagine too, if someone was in the position
where you helped them get their house and they volunteer
with you, it's going to make them last a whole
lot longer with your organization too. Right, you help me
get my home, I'm going to help others, you know,
pay it forward. I'm still really over to twelve weeks.
It's awesome and so you know, like you said, you
need funding. That's why you're connecting here with Taylor, and
you do have an event coming up.
Speaker 4 (23:37):
But before I get to that event, I do want
to talk a little bit about another way that the
community can help. There's something called Restore al Passo. Can
you tell us a little bit more about that store?
Speaker 7 (23:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (23:48):
Sure?
Speaker 7 (23:48):
Can we have call it a restore Basically, this is
a thrift store, but it's a thrift store of all
things home, so anything from furniture to building materials to
kitchen set.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
And darling kids toys and clothes. Because I've been going
there to get things, and what they have is incredible
and at very affordable prices, and so people need to
go because it's all brand new, so it's not used
clothes or use things, you know, it's where you can
go and get new stuff at a very affordable rate,
and then all the money goes back to help others
(24:24):
in this community.
Speaker 7 (24:25):
Definitely, at that drift store is amazing. If you haven't visited,
it's over at eighty five hundred diar. Everything in that
store is about twenty five percent of what it would
be retail in any other store. Yeah, it's all donated
to us and then when we sell those goods and
that money goes right back into the community.
Speaker 4 (24:44):
So I've been there.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
I used to work at the Child Crisis Center and
we were looking for something to rebuild the shelter and
they were very nice. They were talking how they can
actually help us and give back to us. And there's
actually if you know, if you want to go check
it out, and you need even more of a reason,
right next door, there's a place called the Spot, you know,
just to help people find is like the only roller
skating rink that I know of here.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
It I'll passle. So if you want to go find
some stuff that you need for your house, and on
that savings, you can go right next door and go
try some roller skating. That's an idea too.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
So we have restore and so the items if people
wanted to donate, they have to be new.
Speaker 7 (25:15):
No, it doesn't have to be new. We have gently
used items in there. The new items we have in
there have been donated to us by other you know,
stores and companies and things, you know, because of what
they'll do is they'll discontinue something, yes, and so they'll
donate that to us, and then we will go ahead
and sell it in our store. But you can donate
your gently used furniture, home goods or any of.
Speaker 4 (25:38):
The stuff that you have.
Speaker 7 (25:39):
We do pick up too, So we will we will
go and pick up. I have a crew that will
drive out to your house and pick up that gently
used furniture or washing and dryer. They're still working. We
don't want to take anything of course if it's not usable, right,
but as long as it's still usable, we will come
and get it.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
So spring cleaning is going on right now, especially as
this episode drop. So if someone was to want to
donate get rid of you know, clean their houses some
things and have you pick them up.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
How do they go about doing that.
Speaker 7 (26:07):
Well they do is give give us a call over
at the restore. Actually, you can actually go online to
the website and you can actually break on the website.
Fill out the little formul's on the website. It goes
directly to our store manager and she gets you set up.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
And that's the habitat Alpasso dot org. Yes, oh perfect,
All right, there you go.
Speaker 7 (26:24):
Yeah, and there's one other project that we do. We
call it Curbside Conk Kindness here in town. So it's
where we partner with hoas. And what we do is
we set up a day for that HOA. We let
the HOA advertise through all of their homeowners in that
area to let them know that on this day, our
truck will drive through your neighborhood. All you got to
(26:46):
do is put it outside and we'll pick it up.
And so we do these little little projects in each
of these hoas. The next one's coming up in the
Willows weekend after next. We'll be out of the Willows.
We just got done with the ten West a couple
of weeks ago, and so what we'll do is we'll
partner with HOA. So if there's any Hoa's out there
(27:06):
that like to set up a project like that where
they want to clean out garages and get rid of
that old furnace or that old stove, then send your garage.
But it still works. All you got to do is
set it outside. We'll come get it.
Speaker 2 (27:17):
There you go again Habitat Alpasso dot org if you
want to set that up and find more information, and
if you're just tuning in, I have Peter Moody, executive
director for Habitat for Humanity, as well as A Taylor Moreno,
Philanthropy and Engagement consultant for Habitat for Humanity. So right now,
you know, we talked about the restore, we talked about
the curbside kindness. Now we're going to talk about an
(27:39):
event that you have coming up on June first at
Top Golf, Taylor.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
What is this event, Well, we're calling it Swing Big,
Build Bigger, and it's an opportunity for community members, business
folks to come over and help us raise money to
expand services here in the Olpassa region. We are taking
over two full floors of golf on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.
(28:03):
So families can come out, bring your friends, you know,
come have some great faheatas and just relax and enjoy.
We've got to have a great silent auction and things
of that nature to help us. Hopefully our goals to
raise a quarter of a million dollars for both home
builds and the emergency construction that needs to be done
for families in this community.
Speaker 4 (28:23):
Awesome.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
So if people wanted to partake in this, is it
one cost and then they get like everything included?
Speaker 4 (28:31):
How does that work?
Speaker 6 (28:32):
Yeah, So we're looking for sponsorships. There's different levels depending
on the floor that people are interested in participating on.
But it's eight people, it's twenty five hundred dollars. It
can be paid in payments, so that breaks down to
six hundred and twenty five dollars a month, you know,
a little over one hundred and fifty dollars per week.
(28:53):
So make it real easy for people to be able
to come. And of course this is tax deductible because
it is a donation habitat for youity is a five
oh one C three. So we're hoping that people in
this community see the importance and all that you know,
Pete talked about for the great work that Habitat for
Humanity does. But to be able to have a fun opportunity.
(29:15):
We even have a mentalist coming in from Phoenix to
really engage with the attendees and have.
Speaker 4 (29:21):
What is a mentalist so.
Speaker 6 (29:23):
You can read your mind and does much.
Speaker 4 (29:25):
I thought that was it.
Speaker 2 (29:26):
I mean, I just interviewed the Long Island Medium, so
you know, I'm like, I think I've heard of that too.
Speaker 6 (29:31):
He's incredible and so he's you know, goes and does
Google and very you know, other big corporations throughout the
United States and travels.
Speaker 4 (29:40):
So we're thrilled to be able.
Speaker 6 (29:41):
To have him come to Alpaso and to be a
part of our event and you know, engage with everybody
that's there.
Speaker 2 (29:47):
So I'll have my husband get a group out there
and be like, did you take the trash out like
you said? And he'll be able to read his mind.
Speaker 6 (29:54):
Yeah, and he'll be guilty probably, but maybe he'll say yes.
So no, we're just you know, it's not just golf.
It's a great opportunity for families to come out and
a Sunday afternoon, you know, giving back. You know, growing
up I gave back through Habitat for humanity with my mom.
She was part of the Junior League and it was
one of their projects when I was little. So i've
(30:18):
you know, personally been a volunteer, and I think it's
very important not just to you know, get back to
this community through your volunteer side, but if you know,
if you have the dollars to be able to give financially,
that will help us be able to recruit more volunteers
and help more homes and build more homes. So, as
Pete said, you know, there's a goal to increase from
(30:40):
one home to five to ten homes a year, and
so we can't do that without the support of this community.
And just really looking forward to this, this chance to
you know, raise awareness about the work that they do
while having a great time.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Yeah, and like you said, it's tax deductible. And then
before the inner, you had talked a little bit about
networking with a certain group of people.
Speaker 4 (31:04):
Can you explain going to that a little bit?
Speaker 6 (31:06):
Sure, So, of course, you know, we're we're bringing in
different contractors, home builders, things of that nature, and so
you know, if people in the community want to have
access to those folks, you know, it's a great opportunity
you're not just stuck in your bay. You get to
go all over the facility and be able to you know,
(31:27):
connect with with different companies. So we're really excited about
this opportunity to connect al Paso community members and folks
of that nature. What I believe is a very inexpensive cost,
not only just you know, from you know, if you
go to top Golf, but the fact that it's tax deductible
to be able to do that and bring you know,
(31:48):
you and seven other people so eat total to have
a great time one afternoon.
Speaker 7 (31:52):
Yeah, come out and eat and drink and all afternoon
and you know, all the food and drinks are going
to be provided, and just have a have a great time.
I'm interacting and having.
Speaker 2 (32:01):
Fun well that and you know, like traditional golf tournaments,
they both have their pros and cons. But I'm thinking
here you're limited usually to forward a team, and then
you're kind of rushed because you got someone behind you
or someone ahead of you, and you can't really interact
with the other teams while you're on.
Speaker 4 (32:12):
The course, you know, rate of play.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
And then here you're getting to practice, you're swing, you're
getting to break in your new clubs.
Speaker 4 (32:17):
In my husband's case.
Speaker 2 (32:18):
You know, I got them some new clubs, so you
can do that. And then like you said you can.
Speaker 6 (32:22):
Well then we're going to have everyone and we're gonna
have a whole in one competition. So if you make
a hard one, you win ten thousand dollars. So you
know we'll have two of those throughout the venue. So
not only you know the silent auction, the networking opportunity,
the hole in one, having a great time, bringing your
family great food. Top coff Is has amazing food. They do,
(32:44):
you know, some nice cold drinks on a Sunday afternoon.
We're just you know, we've already had an incredible number
of people who have already, so we already have about
a third of the base are already sold. So you know,
if people are interested there, they can reach out through
the phone number, they can reach out to me directly,
and I'd be happy to help connect them to be
(33:07):
a part of this amazing opportunity.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
And you know, June first, so you don't have to
worry too much about the weather, about the heat. And
that's close enough to Father's Day where if you wanted
to make it like a special outing for the dads
in your life.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
You can do that too.
Speaker 6 (33:18):
I mean, yeah, absolutely, nice job, Amber, I got you girl.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
So, Peter, is there anything else that you would like
to tell the listening audience.
Speaker 4 (33:27):
Well, I'd just like.
Speaker 7 (33:28):
To say that we'd love to see everyone out at
Top Golf on June first. It's going to be the
place to be, especially if you're in the home services industry,
anything to do with any home services, whether you're buying, selling, remodeling,
whatever you're doing, this is going to be the place
to be on.
Speaker 4 (33:48):
That Sunday exactly. And again, Habitat for Humanity.
Speaker 2 (33:50):
People have heard of it, I don't think a lot
of the listening audience may realize that it's actually happening
here in all pass so that you all are actually
building and repairing homes for people that are.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
In need of it.
Speaker 2 (34:00):
Taylor, is there anything else that you would like to
tell the listening audience.
Speaker 6 (34:03):
You know, we're just hope to have everyone call in
and help us make this, you know, the biggest and
largest that Habitat's ever had. And also you know from
a Top Golf side, you know it's a great place
to come and enjoy and a family auting on Gene
the first for everybody right after the holiday, and like
you said, right before Father's Day, it's a great opportunity
(34:25):
to bring everybody to the table and to take a swing.
So you know, swing big, big, build bigger. They go,
swing big, build bigger. I love that title.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
So if you want more information, Instagram, Facebook, habitat el
Paso or go to habitat Alpasso dot org.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
And again, thank you both for being here with me today.
Speaker 6 (34:44):
Thank you thanks for having us amber.
Speaker 1 (34:46):
Of course you've been listening to El Paso Public Forum,
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