Celebrating 13 Years of the PNC Fairfax Connection

DJ Black Unicorn & Daniel Roberson, Executive Director of the PNC Fairfax Connection, highlights the center’s role as a free community hub for economic empowerment, financial education, workforce development, and small business support. He shares its 13-year history, diverse programs from technology classes to line dancing, and partnerships that strengthen Fairfax’s rich community network. Roberson emphasizes accessibility, collaboration, and participation as keys to sustaining programs, while noting challenges like time and attendance. He also announces an upcoming 13th anniversary celebration and a job opening, underscoring the Connection’s ongoing impact.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
This is WOVU Studios.

Speaker 2 (00:06):
A welcome, welcome, welcome to our voices today right here
on WOVU ninety five point nine FM with your belove
Unicorn of the Land DJ Black Unicorn aka UNI.

Speaker 1 (00:16):
How you're doing, how you're living, how you're feeling.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Let's go ahead and check in with ourselves as we
do at the top of the ten o'clock hour.

Speaker 1 (00:22):
Here on WOVU, Cleveland's urban alternative.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
And look, let's do those breathing because the kids say
life be lifeing, and sometimes I tend to agree. I'm
okay this morning. I'm actually really joyful. But again I'm
here to remind you to just pause for the cause.
And the cause is yourself, the causes your mental health,
the causes you being able to.

Speaker 1 (00:40):
Handle the things that you need to handle.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
But how you're gonna do that if you're razzled and
dazzled in all the wrong ways. So let's breathe together,
really quickly, deep in hell through the nose, poss slow
extail through the mouth, because again life and UNI right here, Yeah, yeah,

(01:03):
I'm good now, but not all the time. So I
have to breathe, and I have to remind you all
to breathe as well, and I have a lovely guest
live in the studio with me. We talked about a
year ago right before his first annual P and C
fairfaxt Connection celebration that he was a part of. But
now he is part of his second one coming up

(01:24):
here in October, and we're gonna talk all about it.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
But before we get into it, I would allowed.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
Befo I really introduce himself to our listening audience here
at w OB You are voice is today. How you doing, Ray,
I'm super happy and excited to have you with me.
If you can't tell I. First of all, I've been
watching from a distance. I've been watching for as I mentioned,
sometimes I even like participate in some of the programs

(01:50):
DOT come just to kind of see, like an example
would be hard headed women. I was not interested in construction,
and let's be clear, like construction doesn't mean you know,
picking up cinder blocks all day long. There's many many
avenue and pathways in construction career. But I was just
curious because it was just a lot of things I

(02:12):
didn't know about male dominated industries.

Speaker 1 (02:15):
So I wanted to learn.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
So I got a part of I embarked on being
a part of the program, and I loved it. And
I say that to say I've been watching from Afar
and I really like what you have been doing so far,
and I really like the sustainability of the programs as well.

Speaker 1 (02:34):
We're going to talk all about it. We're going to
talk all about it.

Speaker 3 (02:36):
But hello, hello, Hello, I'm so happy to be back.
I'm so happpy to have you.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
And we're going to talk like we never talked before
for because we have a lot of new listeners. We're
on iHeart now, so hang on all right, So again,
lots of new listeners. So though we have our r
you know, our ogs, I call y'all my OG's right,
the ones that was in here from the beginning because
we've been WU has been around for seven years, right,

(03:02):
and so I got my grassroot ogs right. And then
when we have our new listeners that I want to
make sure have a full understanding of not only P
and C fairfact connections, but you yourself and the role
that you play.

Speaker 3 (03:17):
Okay, okay, I'm happy to start it right for the
for the ogs and for the new people too as well.
So I'm Dan Roberson. I like to go by Daniel
but Daniel Roberson, I am the executive director of the
p and C Fairfax Connection and Union. I don't want
to take anything away from you, but we are truly
a unicorn at PNC, actually because we are the one

(03:37):
and only financial community center that's all about economic empowerment, right,
So we provide so much across the board. You already
hit about the hard hat women and of that programming
about empowering, but we're about career mobility, We're about financial
education and empowerment. We are about personal development too, like
how can we how can we build the skills to

(03:57):
pay the bills right? How can we do that the
exact actly right? So it's not only just the financial literacy,
but we do house a fantastic program, a curriculum that
we call the Center for Financial Education or CFE. So
just saying that you feel a little empowered to seeing
that CFE a little bit there, but honestly, seriously, it
is a structured program of financial empowerment that goes across

(04:18):
the board from youth to all the way to adults,
so anyone can partake it to have that mobility that
they need, economic mobility, right, And that's just one strong
core piece of what we do right as you hit
it on the head. We're all about career mobility, we're
all about workforce development. We're all about small business. Right.
It's business, I have to say business, right, but we're
all about small business right right, So just for people

(04:40):
who really want to transform that. You know, I have
a hobby that I'm doing, but how can I turn
it to a true legit hustle. How can I make
this legitimate? How can I get this to be a
business so I can not only just you know, just survive,
but to strive. So the PNC Fairfax Connection we provide
all of that, all those cool resources, and I wouldn't
be remiss if I didn't mention we do a little

(05:01):
bit of fun too as well. So I don't know
if you you said you've been watching from afar right, yes, okay, okay,
So we have to throw in a little bit because
we are truly a community resource center. So we got
a little bit of line dancing going on from time
to time. Yeah, yeah, a line dance classes. Yes, And
if I think if I tried to take that away,
I think the community would ostracize me. So it is

(05:23):
well attended, well loved.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
They'll come up and jump you.

Speaker 3 (05:26):
They might do that, they might do that, but again
it's about the whole person.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
Right.

Speaker 3 (05:30):
The core is economic empowerment, but it is what else
can we do to provide And it's not only adults.
We also make sure we have programs for our kids.
So obviously you got to create those financial foundations, right,
how can kids really start saving for you, for me,
for later. Right, there's those aspects to spin into save.
But then we have other cool programs that we just
launched recently was a drone program alongside one of our partners,

(05:52):
Digital CE. So didn't know learned us from Digital C
that you know, even to have a drone and the
fly drone around you need a recor license actually, and
even if you're flying around in your backyard you need
this license. So we brought that actually to the program
the kids are brought it to the connection. Kids loved it,
adults loved it. It was well attended across the board.

(06:12):
So and everybody walked away with a certification to be
able to fly that drone and talk about the next
level for ffa pilot license and stuff too. So it
just again we do so many fun programs, but it
all goes towards how can we empower you, How can
we give you some resources? How can we make sure
when you walk in the Fairfax Connection that you walk

(06:34):
out a little bit better?

Speaker 1 (06:36):
I love that, I love it. I love it.

Speaker 2 (06:38):
And let's you describe yourself like neighborhood connection itself, that is,
as a resource building with in for Cleveland's Fairfax community.
Can you talk about the founding story and how this
all got started?

Speaker 3 (06:51):
Oh yeah, yeah, thirteen years ago, thirteen years ago. You know, honestly,
you know, when it first was started, it was it
was a dream. It was a dream to change the
relationship between a bank and the community.

Speaker 2 (07:04):
Right.

Speaker 3 (07:04):
We didn't want to put another branch out there. And
there's nothing wrong with branch, there's nothing wrong with the
financial tools and resources we provide. But how can we
change the paradigm. How can we change that shift to
build further trust and to make sure that people are
really impacted for the better. So they came up with
that ideal, and you know, thirteen years ago to create
a community center work. We worked with multiple partners in

(07:26):
the community, the stakeholders right to say, hey, this is
what we need. You know, we basically listened to say, Okay,
hold up, wait a minute, we're going to listen, right,
We're going to listen. And that's what it was born
out of.

Speaker 2 (07:36):
That.

Speaker 3 (07:37):
It was born out of true community partnership, which I love.
And we targeted the Fairfax Connection because of this rich,
rich history. Right, the Fairfax neighborhood is amazing, Right, there's
a lot of landmarks, there's a lot of history behind it.
We have Caramu House, which is the oldest black theater
in the United States right there, and then there's so
much over the rich history from Lnston, Hughes and so forth.

(07:59):
So it was a prime I believe it was a
prime spot way before my time. But it was a
well designed spot. But when we came there, the big
cool thing I have to say is it was the
community that really got us launched. So I make sure
I think my community every single day, all our members,
because they're not clients when they walk into P ANDC
Fairfax Connection. And I forgot to mention this. All our

(08:19):
programs are free, free, free, free, and fr that's right,
one more again free free, but no, and it proved,
it proved to be a unique, just wonderful opportunity that
we can empower the community right and and members were involved.

(08:39):
They had a place in space that they could be
in and they felt like this is another home, a
home that they can defend, a home that they can
come to, a home that it can help lift up
to as well and bring people. I can't tell you
how many times I have members that come in and go,
I'm going to bring my aunt, I'm going to bring
my nephew, cousin, sister, brother, whoever it is, because they
need to come here. And they stopped me and go, Dan,

(09:00):
you should do this program, in this program. But guess what,
I'm going to bring them in even they're kicking and
screaming and I'm like, I ain't see nothing. I'm just
But the most important cool thing is I like is
throughout throughout the time here, you know it was projected
at you know, after five years, we didn't know, we
didn't know what was going to happen. We are thirteen
years in, thirteen years in, and it just proves that

(09:22):
the community really was hungry for this and really needed
this too as well. And then that we are also
showing up. So when people come in there, we have
to show up. And I'm always and I'm excited to
be the director here as we continue for this thirteen
years and hopefully another thirteen years, yes, and.

Speaker 2 (09:38):
Another and another and another and another, serving the community
that is so awesome in Fairfax, like it truly truly
is where are you from, Daniel?

Speaker 3 (09:46):
Oh, I am from the ak Ron So I'm from Akron, Yes,
so you know, I gotta I gotta represent, I gotta represent.
But Cleveland is my home too. I've been working through
Cleveland for the past oh gosh, six years, so it
is my other home too. And you know how it is.
We come up to act, we come up to Cleveland,
have fun, right, you know how it is, and vice

(10:06):
versa and advice versa. But what I love about Cleveland is,
and especially the fair Facts community again, is that rich
history and those connections that's I know, as a lack
of a better term, the PNC Fairfax Connection, but it
really is about connections, connections with people, networking, your time,
your talent, your treasures, your ties, right, all of the above.
I get to see that every day at the Fairfax Connection.

(10:28):
I get to see it working with our partners, bringing
in you know, programming, bringing in workshops, bringing in financial empowerment,
bringing in career, mobility, small business, and even just fun
activities for that are STEM related or just something just
to empower. You get to see that here in Cleveland.
I get to see it in Fairfacts and it's really
really cool.

Speaker 2 (10:46):
So I came not too recently, but it was within
the year with my little one and her her group
from school.

Speaker 1 (10:55):
Okay, I'm not going to see the school name. I
almost did, but I was like, that's so much.

Speaker 2 (11:00):
But we came because I always shot for around there guys,
so I was like, oh, we going to VNCA. Yes,
So we came and I forgot his name, but he
did story time and he had Elma and then another
young lady we did craft time with her and it
was just a really fun time and the kids really
really enjoyed.

Speaker 1 (11:16):
I said, I've been watching for you know, I meant it.
I meant it.

Speaker 2 (11:20):
I mean when I say always always, But we operating
transparency here at ww right, So I was like, hmm,
this really is what they say.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
It is a hub of connection. And I adored it.
The kids adored it.

Speaker 2 (11:36):
Like I feel like everyone I really walked through the
P and C Fairfax Connection space understands that this is
a true hub of connectivity and whatever it is that
you're trying to do or work on, or improve or
just have some fun you can do. I truly appreciate it.
I truly appreciate it. I know the community appreciated. But

(11:57):
I want to know what is like the real difference
with in the Fairfax community that you notice or is
it like where you're from or where you've been.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
That's such a good question because I've been a lot
of places throughout northeast Ohio, so I get to see
every community is different, right, everybody has a drive, everybody
has something that you know we're reaching for or that
we need as an area of opportunity, or you know,
something that we all can come together on. Right. What
I what I see that's a little bit different in
the Fairfax community is it's such a close connected network

(12:28):
and again of partnerships and let me tell you what.
Let me tell you what I mean. For example, some
of our strong partners that we work with is the
fairfaxt and SOIUNCE Development Corporation, very strong partner organization. Development Corporation.
Is you know, their hands isn't housing their hands is
in support? Guess what that's one of our strong partners
and a lot of times there's this wonderful collaboration where

(12:49):
we have members you know that tend the Fairfax Connection
and also utilize the services of FRDC, and we're bouncing
back and forth and partnering back and forth. That's just one.
We've had a new program that we established a few
months ago with with the Fairfax Market Meyer where we
did a financial education Yeah, financial education inside uh insider Meyer.
So you see people grocery shopping and there we are

(13:11):
right P and C right smack, and they're talking about,
you know, how can we budget you know, while we're shopping,
you know, balling on a budget.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
Right, make sure y'all have people like literally putting their
cards on the side of the owl to join you all,
because literally, that is the dilemma we face in the
grocery market because look, I.

Speaker 1 (13:26):
Have expensive taste of food.

Speaker 3 (13:28):
We talked about that, Yeah, we did. We did talk
about it.

Speaker 2 (13:31):
And I love to eat, so I feel like I'm
always making dire life decisions in the grocery store.

Speaker 1 (13:37):
So that was brilliant, brilliant.

Speaker 3 (13:40):
Ye, well, thank you. But again there's that another connection,
right that that collaboration for people who are shopping at Myers,
they're also coming to the Fairfax Connection, and we make
sure we have that continued connection right that that continue working.
Langston Hughes Center another you know the Cleveland Clinic center
that they bring you know, uh, health and wellness right, Well,
how can I in there and pull in some financial wellness?

Speaker 2 (14:02):
Right?

Speaker 3 (14:02):
How you like that health and financial wellness? So I've
been working with them for a long time in partnership
and make sure that we visit that facility and also
the members there also attend the Fairfax Connection. So what
I'm trying to hopefully illustrate is there's this bline going
back the pipeline. It goes back and forth between you
know what we're trying to do as another partner, as
another constellation. Right when you think of constellation of support

(14:26):
there we go yes, yes, yes, it's you to see
a constellation. So that is what I'm seeing in a
Fairfax Connection. And I love that and what I see
in the Fairfax neighborhood. And I would love to see
that and see that spark new constellations across the board.

Speaker 1 (14:40):
I would love to see more of it as well.
And your programs.

Speaker 2 (14:44):
They span from arts and culture to technology and STEM
like you mentioned. Can we talk a little bit more
in depth about all those program we have yoga. Look,
the calender is stacked and if you're curious, which I'm
sure you you should be at this point, p and
C Fairfaxconnection dot com. That's PNC Fairfax Connection dot com.
I'm saying one more time for the person in the

(15:04):
back that I missed it, PNC Fairfax Connection dot com.
But yes, let's talk to some one of those programs.
It's so so many financial education. Like we've been talking
about arts and culture, career advancement. You guys offer like
if you don't know much, if especially if you're an
elder in the community and you're just like, oh, this
technology is moving so fast, I don't even know what

(15:26):
the email is anymore. Look, you can find yourself at
the PNC Fairfax Connection because they have evening classes that
will teach you all of those things.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
Technology help and Look, I'm sorry, I'm gonna let you
go down.

Speaker 3 (15:37):
No, no, I'm sitting back, going go ahead. Hell, I'm
loving this. Now let me break it down. So we
have an adult program or adult program manager who handles
all of our adult programs that we have in workforce
development and small business. So one of my favorite classes
that he was able to come up with was our
Lean six segment classes where teaches the White Belt certification
for process im provement. And it's something that you can act,

(16:00):
a certification you can put on your resume.

Speaker 1 (16:02):
Right, that's like logistics correct Yes.

Speaker 3 (16:04):
The logistics process improving. But it's something applicable that it
is not only to yourself, but you can apply it
to a business. You can apply it to your place
of work. It's a skill again to equip you and
empower you. You know, I think of that utility belt
that Batman has, right, it's a yet another one you
can put in that utility belt. So it's a phenomenal
class that we've started there and we've even built it
now into a Yellow Belt Tools class so to prepare

(16:27):
people for that Yellow Belt certification, which jobs love to see,
by the way, jobs love to see that. So that's
a phenomenal class that we got started. Our Career Music class.
I would be super remiss if I did not talk
about our career our music Career Exploration class where we
have a gentleman who actually facilitates and teaches both sides
of the fence. Whether you're looking about maybe I want

(16:48):
to be an artist, maybe I want to be you know,
singing in maybe I might go by Danzel and start singing, right,
I don't know. But there's also the other side of
the fence about the production, about you know, that whole process,
those jobs and so forth. That he educates on the whole,
the whole spectrum, so I can have a job in
a music career, which is amazing to me. And that
program has been long standing. We have our small business classes.

(17:11):
I already talked about that where we bring in some
heavy hitters, rebringing the Danielle Sendor's which I don't know
if you're familiar, she is the new president of the
President's Council. Actually, in addition of that, we bring in
other strong partners who are certified strong when it comes
to small business to teach those classes, and they empower
people so they're walking away with you know what, not

(17:31):
just from somebody telling me, you know, this is how
I did it, but this is someone who can tell
me this is how you do it. It's a very
big difference.

Speaker 2 (17:39):
It is a very big difference in PA especially when
you have people that will say, oh, yeah, I hope
you do that, and then they don't even show up
and you could have just told me how to do it.

Speaker 1 (17:48):
You don't exactly like they do all that exactly exactly.

Speaker 3 (17:52):
And again, we tie this all together by having that CFE,
that Center for Financial Education component where we have workshops
and classes that break it down from budgeting, savings, retirement, credit,
and beyond. So you know, we need those foundations, right
because when I was growing up, we really didn't kind
of talk about financial literacy and stuff at home. It
was more or less that you pay your bills, yeah,

(18:14):
just pay save some money. But but how do I
know these things? What's a checkings account? Now? That doesn't exist.
There's no s on the end of checkings.

Speaker 1 (18:22):
Right.

Speaker 3 (18:22):
It happens, right, it happens. But you know, we tie
that all together on the adult side, right, but then
on the youth side, we also have programs for our
young adults and families too. And for our youth. I
got to say, we have a class that actually a
workshop that's coming up right now is the Lego Air
Sensor Workshop, which is really really cool. They actually will
come in. This is for a partnership with the City

(18:43):
of Cleveland. I had to see this myself. They come
in and actually use Legos to build a air sensor
to test the quality of the air we've had. And again,
this is an intergenerational class we have. It's targeted towards
our youth. But I can't tell you how many people
I've seen in there that are grown. It's a grown
grown in there, and they're they're building with the Legos
and building these air sensors. It's really cool.

Speaker 1 (19:05):
As a parent, I would definitely stay.

Speaker 2 (19:08):
Like we're playing with Legos and we're figuring out the
quality of our air, like how healthy we're being currently
right now with.

Speaker 3 (19:15):
Sign me up, Sign you up?

Speaker 2 (19:16):
Right?

Speaker 3 (19:16):
So this is STEM right. This is STEM all day
long science, technology, engineering, math brought in through our programming,
but made fun too. These are these are things that
we're setting down that maybe we have some future scientists
in here, maybe we have some future engineers in here, right,
some mathematicians, and maybe we could pull out some bankers too,
But it was still right. These are some wonderful programs.
So for our for our youth, we have that building

(19:37):
Blocks class that you came to that we're reading to kids.
We bring Elmo, we bring all these fun things too
as well. So across yeah, across the board. So it's
really about again I said, economic mobility, economic empowerment. Fancy words,
nice words, right, empowerment, But empowerment starts with what resources
do you have for me? And how can I take
advantage of it? That's really what it is. Empowered. It

(19:59):
sounds nice, but that's what it breaks down to.

Speaker 1 (20:01):
Yes, that is exactly what it breaks down to. Empowerment
is wonderful. But how that how word is very that's
the word of the day. How how how are we
going to do this?

Speaker 2 (20:12):
And I want to know how are you all doing
all of this intricate programming? It sounds like you all
have a great constellation of amazing people and a.

Speaker 3 (20:21):
Team that love how you use that word?

Speaker 1 (20:22):
Yeah, yeah, I'm like, gosh, that's a great word to
use on a daily basis.

Speaker 3 (20:29):
I love that.

Speaker 1 (20:29):
But I want to know a little bit more about
your team.

Speaker 2 (20:32):
You mentioned some of the team members, but it must
take a very much level of dedication for all of
you all to make sure that this all not only runs,
but ones smoothly.

Speaker 1 (20:44):
The how is getting done smoothly? Tell me how.

Speaker 3 (20:50):
Wow. I absolutely love this because I get a chance
to talk about my team because I get all this
shine all the time. But really, honestly, they are hunkering
it down, they are powering it through. Right We're working
on this together as a unit. So I'm gonna give
some love love to him. So I have a front
dusk team that literally they're that front line. When people
walk in, they're greeting them, they're helping them. You know, hey,

(21:10):
where do you need to go? Where can I help
you out with? You need to use our computer? Bar,
go right ahead, let's help you out. You need to
open up your email. You don't know how to do that.
Let's do that right from start to finish. Like you said,
you know, we have classes again that computer one on
one and things of the things of that nature, but
we need people to help direct them to it. So
I got to give love to fred Ford, who is

(21:30):
he's literally a day one. I think he came with
the building actually when they built it, like he was
a part of it. So he's one of my front
desk representatives who is amazing. And then Jala Jala Frank
she's actually on maternity leave right now, but they are
the two. Yes, yes, but they are the two power Team,
the Powerhouse, the Powerhouse team. I often come up to

(21:51):
them and say, yes, boss lady, and yes, mister Fred.
What do you guys need? You know, they're like stop,
They're like stop. But they literally meet and greet our
members where they're at, and that's important. Where they're at.
That might be, you know, having a hard day, right,
so you need to be met with a little grace.
Right you may be having a fantastic day and you
just want to Hey, I want somebody to just come
along to Kowala with me on it right now, piggyback,

(22:12):
but Kowala and hang on tight right. So there's so
many good things that they do every day. I want
to talk to the members. Then I actually have a
executive administrative assistant who is actually transitioning right now to
be my new Youth and Family program manager. And yes
she is Amanda Taunton. So she does a phenomenal job
as being the everything with the executive administrator, everything that

(22:35):
falls her way, setting up my calendar, tearing telling me
where I need to be and it's like Dan, you
need to be here, Okay, I'm going I'm going there.
But also to guess what, she's helping our members too.
She's also setting up rooms. She's also making sure they're
okay too as well. And as she transitions to her
new the new Youth and Family Program manager, some of
those programs I told you about from the LEGO, she's
going to make sure those are facilitated. She's going to

(22:56):
connect with those partners. When we have Studio go from
you know, Cleveland Metroparks come in right, when we have
them coming in to do that fantastic program, when we
have other partners like the Great Lake Science Center that
comes and does workshops, right, She's going to continue to
build those relationships and make sure we have those workshops.
I got to give love though to also to my
adult program manager, and I mentioned him really briefly earlier,

(23:19):
Emo Emo Motson. He actually delivers small business education every
single day, if I could say every single day, so
when it comes to that, but he also excels at
HR when what I mean is when it comes to interviews,
when it comes to resume writing, he facilitates that class.
So we've had people come in work with him, get

(23:41):
their resumes rebuilt, practice interviewing, and they've come back. Hey,
I was able to get that job. I was, Yes,
there's nothing a better feeling in the world, right And
I literally just high five. I'm like, you go, you go,
you keep doing it, you keep doing so. He's passionate
about that, he's excited about that. And I think that's
what I love about my team because me as a me,
as a person, I get moved. I get the chills

(24:02):
and feels when I know I'm empowering somebody, when somebody
I'm helping them, even if it's a small little bit.
And I knew I was one little cog and that
all those different wheels and all that big, huge consolation
of support, I was just one little, tiny smart I'm empowered,
I'm recharge I'm ready to go again for another day.
My team resonates that. They resonate that completely.

Speaker 1 (24:21):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (24:22):
And you can feel the love in the building from
the team, like when you walk in, like you said,
the two at the front, they were so kind, it's
so nice.

Speaker 1 (24:30):
It's so just whatever you need, what do you need?
I was just like, this is so cool. Are so nice.

Speaker 2 (24:36):
I was not expecting it, just simply because usually you
know the executive is nice.

Speaker 1 (24:46):
But then that front person. It's a gamble. It's always
a gamble. What do you want which who do you
need to talk to here?

Speaker 2 (24:56):
For?

Speaker 1 (24:57):
It was none of that nastiness.

Speaker 3 (25:00):
I'm glad to hear that. And yeah, I would be
remiss if I am missing one more person. I have
a technology person, technology project administrator who handles kind of
behind the scenes. His name is Parker. So while Parker
is not often out in the community doing things, he's
behind the scenes on the computer making sure that we
have our technology piece on point and we're okay with that.
So I'm always asking them, Hey, Sometimes I think I

(25:21):
ask him mundane questions too. I'm like, hey, Parker, how
do you plug up this TV? But it's regardless, it's okay,
it's all right. He's always there to help out when
it comes to those things.

Speaker 2 (25:29):
So mentioning those community members, can you tell me a
little bit. You've been here a year, what have you
heard thus far from the community of Fairfax, what they
want to see at P ANDC, and what it is
that they love about Fairfax's connection.

Speaker 3 (25:40):
Oh man, I had so many there's so many stories
and so many things. Well, I can tell you one
of the big things they love is our speaker series.
They've I had someone actually pulled me aside and thank
me for the speaker series that we had. Very recently.
I had just last month, Danita Harris Dneda Harris actually was.
It was phenomenal. Literally, she took us to church. It

(26:01):
was phenomenal. How she talked about her full journey and
you know who she was, how she overcame, you know,
certain things in her life and who was her source right,
who was our source to go to, and where she's
at now, where her legacy will be. She laid it
out really, really good, and the members pulled me aside.
I got jumped a little bit. They pulled me aside
and they told me, they said, keep doing stuff like this.

(26:24):
We need this inspirational, we need this motivational. We need
these type of people to really speak into our lives
and maybe it'll get through some knuckleheads lives too as well.
So that really empowered me. I keep talking about empowerment.
That really gave me the okay to go, okay, all right,
we're doing all right, We're doing good. We're on the
right track. Just last night, I had Meltree Sharp from

(26:46):
Clee Consulting and also from Women Creating Wealth Institute talk
about her journey, and she has a big conference coming
on this weekend too as well, so it's kind of
perfect for her to show up there to for the
community and then lead to her conference coming up. And
I got pulled to the side, Dan, we need more
of this, We need opportunities to learn that, and we
need opportunities to see more people like this. Another program

(27:09):
that I was told about is a program on how
to better connect and network with one another.

Speaker 1 (27:15):
I would love that program.

Speaker 2 (27:16):
I'm not the best networker, and I realized that this
past weekend at the Black National.

Speaker 1 (27:24):
Journalists Association conference, and I was just.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
Like, it's different with community members versus like being in
a room full of like execs and you gotta like
goup and talk to people and you're like, hey, I
just feel so and it just does not feel organic,
and I do yes, please.

Speaker 3 (27:45):
Do that, Okay, we would do that.

Speaker 2 (27:49):
I'll show up and bring people because I know some
other girlies that have anxieties like me that.

Speaker 3 (27:58):
I love that. But then you're co signing on. I
love that your co signed on because they told me
it's you know, it's not always what we what we know, right,
the skills that we have. The skills they offer the opportunity, right,
the door doesn't always get opened until you know some
until you it's somebody you know right that can help
you open that door. The skills bring you there, but
to get across that threshold sometimes it is who you know.

(28:20):
So having that ability the network and knowing how the network,
it was a skill that I had to learn myself.
I was in the same the same way as you.
I was placing these rooms and they're like, okay, go
with network. That's almost like it pushed out the nest
and go fly Like what how do you do this?
How do you do this? So you just lay down
on the ground and hope people you know, to step
on You say, oh, you know, I feel flat? You said, you.

Speaker 2 (28:41):
Feel flat on the ground, honey. I just was like,
you know what, just give me a glass of wine,
because there you go.

Speaker 1 (28:47):
This is just yes, I will please let me know.

Speaker 3 (28:55):
But you are so right. So that's another program that
they're telling me that they would love to see for
the community. And I see a big benefit, you know,
for that retirement and estate planning. I can't tell you
how many times I've heard that too. As well, too
many times people have had in a situation where a
loved one has passed away and we have to handle
their estate, we have to handle their affairs, and we
have no plan of action. There is no money set aside,

(29:17):
there is nothing, no type of plan, no life insurance,
no life insurance, no anything. And there's so many simple
Oh my goodness, there's so many simple solutions that you
can set up in advance to make sure that you're okay.
I can tell you personally, even with my own mother.
My mom used to always say, I don't I don't
need no life insurance. You're trying to kill me, You're
trying to kill them. I'm like, no, No, don't need that, right,

(29:40):
I don't need that, Like no, But just having those
things set up it makes sense to me. So I've
been asked about estate planning. So I'm hearing these things
and I'm thinking about who's the right partner and how
can we get that started for them? Because again, the
community are asking for this, and I can tie it
again to again economic empowerment, right, because it's putting you
in the right space where you need to be financially.

Speaker 2 (30:01):
Yeah, because too many times, too many of us have
been in a position where we have lost a loved
one and we had no money to bury them. Embarrassing
to post your go fund, but you do it because
you have to, not realizing, like mister Daniel just mentioned,
there's so many simple things and actions you can do
and take before this occurs. I know it's uncomfortable to

(30:24):
face our own mortality and realizing one day we will
not be walking this earth, but that is the reality
of this realm.

Speaker 1 (30:31):
We one day we gonna be gone just as we came.

Speaker 2 (30:34):
And it is what it is.

Speaker 1 (30:35):
Okay, it is what it is.

Speaker 2 (30:36):
You rather face that fact head on and prepare your
family for that situation and not just have them out
here is just scrambled and frazzled while they're already mourning.

Speaker 1 (30:50):
Come on, y'all, we gotta do better. As I'm talking
to all of us, we gotta do better.

Speaker 2 (30:54):
I'm just saying, and I'm so I'll be there too,
and I'm gonna force my parents to come the com
I want to parents that I'm gonna tell my own
family because that is something that we desperately need in
the black community. And I'm just don't beat me up
when y'all see me, Okay, we.

Speaker 3 (31:09):
Ain't gonna beat you. I love y'all, We're not gonna
beat you.

Speaker 1 (31:12):
Probably doing this. We have an annual celebration coming up.

Speaker 2 (31:15):
Yes, that's their teeth annual. That's right, that's right in October.
I would love to have you back so we could
talk about it a little bit closer to October as well.

Speaker 1 (31:25):
But we got to talk about it and shutting down
the whole block. It's basically a.

Speaker 3 (31:32):
Block party for intents and purposes. Yeah, yes, it's basically a.

Speaker 2 (31:38):
Block party, and we're gonna have a great, great time.
Can we talk about the annual celebration coming up in
October this year for twenty twenty five thirteen.

Speaker 3 (31:48):
Oh, I'm so happy you said that. Yeah, you know what,
it is a black party, but guess what, it's also
a love letter. It's a love letter back to the
community of who supported us, who was there from day
one and keeping us there from thirty teen years later,
right to show our love to also reinvest back into
our community, because that's what it's all about, right, reinvesting.
It's partying with a purpose, right, partying with the purpose.

Speaker 1 (32:09):
That's so favorite. I've got a lot of That's why
I'm here.

Speaker 3 (32:16):
I can't give you all the secrets. I can't give
you all the secrets today, but when it gets a
little closer, our will. But we are going to have
a strong community theme and the theme of like basketball,
coming together as one team. That I that was something
we had to do. So you might see some jerseys
just letting you know. You may see some jerseys coming
up with the thirteen on them for thirteen years. But

(32:37):
it's all about coming together as one team, one community,
and coming together that work towards a goal.

Speaker 1 (32:41):
Right.

Speaker 3 (32:42):
So I was something I thought about last year, right
after ours, and I'm like, okay, let me start planning
that now. At the big annual celebration last year, we
had over four hundred and fifty people easily easily. We
have free food, free food, free food. We have games,
we have inflatables, we have activity. We also bringing partners
to the talk about you know what programs they have.

(33:04):
We have some live music that's going on to as well,
so people can enjoy a good time in a show.
So I'm gonna try to do a little bit better
though this year. Just let that was my first year
last year, right have.

Speaker 1 (33:14):
WWU there, we got you yeah, we got it.

Speaker 3 (33:18):
We gotta work on that.

Speaker 1 (33:19):
We gotta work on that.

Speaker 3 (33:22):
I love how you said that, So we gotta work
on that, right, we gotta work on that.

Speaker 1 (33:26):
But I'm super excited.

Speaker 2 (33:27):
I'm super excited because look, this is gonna be again
not just a black party, a love letter to the community,
a celebration of appreciation, not just for P and C.
Fairfax connation it self before the community, all parties involved,
and look, it's gonna be a fun top party and
with the purpose and understanding this emvironment is for each
of one of us.

Speaker 1 (33:48):
Okay, I love it.

Speaker 2 (33:49):
I love it. Can I ask you a very intimate question,
you go right ahead, with everything going down in DC
right now, how is that affecting you all?

Speaker 1 (34:00):
Is it even affecting you all?

Speaker 3 (34:01):
I feel like it means that we even have to
work harder to just make sure that people have skills,
that they have resources that are available to them, and
ensuring that we have free resources, and ensuring that we
have empowerment that you know, you don't have to worry
about fearing what's going on there. If I set myself
up right, if I have the right certifications, if I

(34:22):
have the right skills, if I know how to manage
myself financially. If I have the opportunity for career mobility,
let me power you up, let me give you some resources.
And you know what, it's not only just about like
I said, the Fairfax Connection, We're part of a constellation, right,
So what partners can I bring in? What workshops can
we How can we come together in a collaborative way

(34:43):
so that you are so insulated and so protected that
you can survive anything. Right, That's what it means. It
means right now, what's going on is like we just
have to work harder on building the right resources for
people and continuing to do that.

Speaker 1 (34:56):
Wow, that just gave me choos. That just give me chills.

Speaker 2 (35:01):
I appreciate that response sincerely, and just the passion that
you have for community and what it is that you
have been doing at the Fairfax Connection. What have been
your challenges so far?

Speaker 3 (35:13):
Ooh my challenge is time. I was just talking earlier, Yeah,
never enough time, speaking earlier to my media rep and
saying that you know, it's nice to see your family
and your kids and wife some type. We were talking
about that earlier too. There's sometimes there's some late nights,
there's some late nights and you get home and you
know you might be home, but the laptop still goes

(35:36):
open and you're working into the late hours. Right, there's
a time that you just have to capacity, time and capacity.
If I could have a cloning machine, I'd probably be
a little bit easier because I can clone an extra
Dan and he could go out and do some other stuff. Right,
But I wouldn't be authentically Dan, right, it wouldn't be unique. Right,
I'd say that's the biggest capacity. I mean, the biggest

(35:56):
issue right now is just having time, being able to
make sure that we're continuing those programs, making sure that
we can continue to you know, connect with our partners,
even make new relationships. Right, And then how can we
create some impactful and meaningful programs?

Speaker 1 (36:11):
Right?

Speaker 3 (36:12):
It's nice to have a nice program that's for fun,
But is there a takeaway? Is there a tangible takeaway
that I can pull back and I can say, hey,
we were able to cause a direction of positivity for
that person, Right, So it's really trying to figure that
all out and go through the daily, to go through
the daily, right, Yes, and remember that we're all human too.

Speaker 2 (36:33):
Yes, absolutely, so we all need a little bit of grace,
right and take those breaths and speaking speaking of that
can or be hiring speaking of new connected.

Speaker 3 (36:43):
Ooh, thank you for asking. So, as I mentioned earlier,
my Youth and Family program manager used to be my
executive administrative assistant. So currently right now I do there
will be a requisition going out soon. It's not out
there yet, but keep an eye eye out because yeah,
somebody who's very detail oriented, very good with their task,

(37:05):
but also who's a people person. They got to be
able to work with people, because that's the most important thing.
Because again at the Connection, we all work together for
the members. So you know, I have my own office,
but I come out and people come in, so it
doesn't matter. I can't, I can hide away or anything.
But it's all that we work together to power the community.

Speaker 1 (37:21):
I love it.

Speaker 2 (37:22):
You know, you're a little Irony tower looking down saying
good God, good job, good job. What is your thoughts
on Fairfax community in general and the connection that has
been made through Fairfax Connection.

Speaker 3 (37:38):
P and c M. That's a really good question, how
I feel, is is there a way that we can
reproduce that reproduce that that not only in that program, right,
because it's more than just a space. It's more than
just a space in a place you can there's a
lot of partners and a lot of organizations that have
a community resource center that provide programs, but how can

(38:01):
you effectively connect those to the community. What I mean
is connecting not only to the members, to the residents,
to the people that live there, but to the partners
and making sure everybody has that buy in. We got
to work on that. It goes back to that networking again, right,
But how could you how can you replicate that and
put it in different areas. That's something I would like

(38:21):
to do. If someone wants to do a case study
on that, please let me know. But no, seriously, would
love to see how you can do that. I don't
know right right, That's what I've learned, and that's what
I think is really interesting about the Fairfact neighborhood and
in a relationship to not only us but our partners,

(38:42):
how can we create that ecosystem? Right? How can we
reproduce that in other markets and make it effective? I
think that's the big piece and that's what's different about
the Fairfact.

Speaker 1 (38:52):
Neighborhood is that something that P and C as an
established company.

Speaker 2 (38:59):
Is that something that you all are thinking about doing,
like as a corporation going into other neighborhoods other than Fairfax,
going into East Cleveland, going into Euclid, going into other
parts of Ohio in general.

Speaker 3 (39:12):
What I can tell you is we always have a
directive to make sure we're in the spaces and places
in those different neighborhoods effectively supporting our underserved and underbanked communities.
We already have that initiative already through our Community Development Banking.
That is their whole goal. That is, we have actually
a dedicated team that does that, and a lot of
times they'll work with different partners and we try to

(39:35):
again recreate that opportunity bringing in resources from PMC to
empower that specific organization, to say, hey, you may need
some financial literacy, We got your back right, you might
need some resources connections back to the financial solutions. We
got your back right. We might need some support of
maybe a some type of fiscal support whatever for that

(39:55):
organization through a grant or something of that nature. We
got your back on that. We also tie up things
a little bit differently. Cool which is cool in P
and C is not only in Cleveland. We having some
other markets too as well. But we have a really
unique tool and she's been here before too as well,
Erica from our mobile branch unit, which is a you
unique delivery program where we bring a branch on wheels,

(40:19):
roll up, We roll up in the neighborhood, right and
we show up, we're there and it's actually a full
functioning branch. I'm not talking about something that just rolls
in and passes out some literature. There's nothing wrong with that, right,
but something where you have a full team of people
who can deliver financial education and at the same time
open accounts, who can talk about and financially cult you
and at the same time they can see what financial

(40:41):
solution might work best for you. So it's amazing that
you have a branch that rolls up to you. It's
a bank that comes to you. So that's one of
the unique solution that we do as well. When P
and C is going out to these different markets, we
have a community Development Officer who actually goes out too
as well, and they speak to these different organizations and
this is across the United States and they really maintain

(41:04):
and create new relationships on how we can empower people,
how we can provide the economic mobility, how we can
see about what can we do about affordable housing, what
can we do about economic development, what can we do
about community services, and what can we do about revitalization.
So that's our job. That is literally our job, and
that's P and c's job as a whole. But we

(41:25):
got to dedicate a crew that pulls that in and then,
last but not least, we remiss not to say this
another partnership that we have, for lack of a better term,
we have a P and C the P and C
Partner Up Program, which is a tremendous program that is
very very unique to just only a select markets, where
P and C will partner with your local school districts
and for young adults who are crossing that threshold right

(41:48):
from going to school, from leaving school and graduating and
going to the workforce to prepare them with skills that
they need and to build them up financially, you know, motionally, personally,
and also provide a pipeline into working at entry levels
at P and C and some of our other partners
too as well. So yeah, it's pretty it's pretty really unique.
That's amazing, And I've seen these kids I've seen these

(42:09):
kids go through this program, and I've got to see
a lot of them graduate the program and work for
P and C. I've seen them actually grow and they go, hey,
mister Dan, how you doing. I'm like, hey, what's going
on here? You're doing phenomenon. Now you're a teller, or
maybe you're in info services, or maybe you're in data
or whatever. But I get to see them grow into that,
or they might wait with another partner, but they went
through this phenomenal program, and this is yet another way

(42:32):
that P and C can make sure that we're reproducing
that same activity without building a Fairfax connection everywhere, because
you know we are unique.

Speaker 2 (42:39):
Yes, yea Fairfax in general is so unique, which is
why I ask is very very unique neighborhood and it's
so much love and history in that neighborhood.

Speaker 1 (42:49):
So I love to see it. I love to see it.
Can you tell me?

Speaker 2 (42:54):
Because you know they've they've beat me up a little
bit across the street and so forth about the PNC
truck and miss Erica moving to Buckeye, and I'm like, look, man,
y'all had to take advantage of it. Y'all wasn't didn't
want to come out in to the heat and they
just they had to move like they had to move
where the traffic is. And I can't you know, we

(43:16):
can't be mad about that, But can't we talk about
that and what it means to utilize programs before they disappear.

Speaker 3 (43:23):
Ooh ooh, hit you hit the hot button, because that's
the same thing I have too at the PNC Fairfax Connection.
If I don't have cheeks to fill the seats, right,
if I don't have that, I can't advocate for those programs.
It's the reason why the community when they show up,
it again empowers me to go, Yes, I can keep
providing this program. I can keep this workshop going. I

(43:45):
can keep paying for this to be done. I have
to have people there to show it so I can
have those tangible takeaways to report back and say, yes,
this is impactful. It's not going anywhere. But if I
don't have people who can show up, if I don't
have people who are taking advantage of the resource and
they're just sitting there unfortunately, then you know, I'm not
able to continue that. And that's the same thing you
know when it comes to any resource, our mobile unit

(44:08):
or anything of that nature. We need people to take
advantage of the resource. And when you have free resources
like that, oh my goodness, it's it's so wonderful to
have those opportunities. And I understand sometimes people are like,
it's free. I don't know why is it's such a
great resources free? What's the catch? What's the catch? Right?
But no, in this situation, when it comes about financial

(44:29):
and economic empowerment, take advantage of those all day long,
because it's someone else. If you're not going to take
advantage of it, I can bet you somebody else will.

Speaker 2 (44:39):
Yes, has there been any programs that you could again,
you've been oh, yeah, the executive director for a year now, Daniel,
Has there been any programs that you were kind of
disappointed with that no one took advantage.

Speaker 3 (44:50):
Of m oh Man. That's a good question. So yeah, yeah,
I will say there's some programs that I was probably like, really,
you're ready to go, like, yay, I really want to
do some more programs such as our Workforce Wednesday program
where I brought in a different partner. I was able
to connect with a different partner who had opportunities for credentialing,

(45:13):
certification or maybe a career pathway and it may have
been one of those things that on my side, maybe
the timing may have been bad. Maybe it was just
finding the right timing, but it wasn't very well attended unfortunately.
But I know the need is there. I know workforce
development is a core need, is a core component and
having that career mobility and bringing these different partners in

(45:35):
and making sure they have an audience. So I'm going
to do what I can to try to, you know,
change the time, to change what it is, because I
know that's it. I know that's something that can support
and help people. So it's going to be more about
me not so much being disappointed about the attendance, more
so than I need to find the right time so
I can meet people where they're at. Right.

Speaker 2 (45:55):
Is that something that you are asking the community. Are
we taking like quarterly survey of what Fairfax wants to see?

Speaker 1 (46:02):
Or you just wait until they jump you at the event.

Speaker 3 (46:07):
So it's not always when I get jumped, but when
I get jumped, they tell me. But we do have
also suggestions. We asked for suggestions from the community all
the time, and I do have a monthly forum. So
I'm glad you brought this up here too. I did
not come up with the name. I promise you I
did not come up with the name. I'm just gonna say, yeah,
I'm gonna preface it real quick here because our previous director,

(46:27):
who who did this monthly forums, was called he called
it Breaface with Brian. Then the next director called it
tea Time with Tracy. So mine is called diitioning it
with Dan. So yeah, it's auditioning it with Dan.

Speaker 1 (46:40):
Do all of your names to be a part of it.

Speaker 3 (46:48):
I didn't come up with it. I'm just telling you,
you know, I was. I was thinking, well, maybe I
should have a date with Dan, but then I thought
maybe roses might be coming out. I don't know, I
didn't want to do that, right, I have.

Speaker 1 (46:57):
Some undercover question in them. You don't care about that
ring hunting.

Speaker 2 (47:02):
You and we'll show with those roses and some good
food for you. Oh very like, Hey, Daniel, I just
wanted to come by. I thought it was date night.
I'm so excited.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
Oh my goodness, but no, you're fine. You're fine. So
auditioning with Dan that is our monthly forum. So not
only do I talk about upcoming programs that we're doing,
but we have a segment where we give the community
a chance like, Hey, what would you like to see?
Tell me what it is? And right there live action,
they're saying, Dan, this is what we like to see, Dan,
why don't we have this? Or hey, Dan, these programs

(47:37):
are coming up outside any other places in the community.
Can we share you sure can? You sure can. So
we also give them a voice to share with others
what other programs going. So it really is a meeting
spot for the community. I love every single month we
do this, So it's a way that I can, you know,
secretly find out, Okay, these are the things that are
important to our community. I can also at the very

(47:58):
end of the segment bring in a community partner right
that they may have had an opportunity to have an
intimate conversation with. So I'll bring in a community partner
where they'll talk about what programs they have and a
little bit more detail and they can have that one
on one session with them. And I've had nothing but
favorable responses from that. For such when I brought in HFLA,
which is the Hebrew Free Loan Association. They provide zero

(48:21):
percent interest loans. They've been a strong partner with p
and C For some years, a lot of my members
didn't know about that. They were like zero interest loans,
Like they're not a bank, but they provide those resources
of that. And they can be student loans, they can
be business loans, they can be personal loans. They're like,
how come we do dan? How come you didn't tell us?
I'm like, that's why I brought them, you know, so

(48:42):
like so you can say, they can tell you. But
it's those type of situations that allows me to see
what is it that they need. They can always bring suggestions,
they can always you know, jump me. But there's also
that community forum too that we have an opportunity to talk.
And then we also meet not only what my members,
but I also meet with the other community partners. So
we have like a community impact beating, So the fr DC,

(49:06):
the Cleveland Clinic, the Lanston Hughes and so forth. We'll
try to meet together too from time to time to say, hey,
what are you seeing? What are you seeing in a neighborhood.
Everybody's not on in their own silo, right, We're all
part of that same constellation.

Speaker 1 (49:17):
Yes, not anymore.

Speaker 2 (49:18):
And I love to see Cleveland and organizations in Cleveland
come out of these silos and work together collaboratively.

Speaker 3 (49:26):
I love it.

Speaker 1 (49:26):
I love it. And it was a word you throughout
there earlier that I'm trying to remember.

Speaker 3 (49:32):
What was it?

Speaker 1 (49:35):
Oh, financialation, financial.

Speaker 3 (49:40):
Solution, financial solutions. Yes, okay, okay, you just.

Speaker 1 (49:44):
Merged it together. Yes, you were talking so fast. I
just buzzwords.

Speaker 3 (49:50):
No, that's all Dan, right now. I didn't even know
I amd it. I don't even know what I said it.
I said. I don't even know financial solutions. I love that.

Speaker 1 (49:59):
You see fors solutions solutions.

Speaker 3 (50:02):
Can we can we coin that? Can we coin that? Yes?

Speaker 1 (50:04):
Can we do a program for solutions solutions? Finance solutions?
All you got to say? You just got to say
it a few times? Yes, final solutions.

Speaker 2 (50:14):
See finance solutions is just rolling off the tongue finance
solutions because you need solutions for your finances.

Speaker 3 (50:19):
There you go, there you go, there we go. Program.
I love it.

Speaker 1 (50:23):
Is there anything else.

Speaker 2 (50:24):
You want to make sure you leave with our listening
audience here at WOVU.

Speaker 3 (50:27):
Today, Oh, I would love love just mentioned that. You
know again, all of our programs are one hundred percent
free and so and you and we obviously have a membership.
I keep talking about members members, members. Guess what membership
is free too? All right? I just want to make
sure and track and show P and C that we
have people there who are taking advantage of their resources

(50:49):
so that resource does not go away. So that's the
big piece. I'll say it every day. The more people
I have in there, the more people who are taking
advantage of the resources, the more people who are you know,
in the program, bringing people into the programs, or taking
advantage of the workshops, getting the skills to pay the bills,
doing all of the above, you know, Mark d all
of the above. That's what I want to advocate for.

(51:10):
It's a free resource to empower people all day long.

Speaker 1 (51:13):
So with that being said, that is it only open
to Fairfax community members?

Speaker 3 (51:18):
Ooh, good question, good question. No it is not. As
I said, I'm an Akron boy, right, and I was
a member first before before I was that's right, ak Roy.
But before I became the executive director here, I was
a member of the Fairfax Connection, that's right. I signed up.
I came to events, I came to the annual celebrations
all the time. So anyone while we're while we're situated

(51:40):
in the Fairfax neighborhood. And while we serve the surrounding
neighborhoods to as well, Glennville, Huff and so forth, we're
here for greater Cleveland and beyond. I can tell you
our footprint right now from people visiting. Please, We've had
students obviously visit from you know Case and you know,
from Trice and so forth, and we've had people come
in from out of town. We have a footprint where

(52:03):
actually people are from across the country, even if they
only visit a few times, guess what, they're a member
for life, So they've been We've had people. I looked
at one of our heat maps. I saw people in Florida, Alabama, California, Washington.
I'm like, wait what, we have membership all across the board.
But it just speaks again to the connection and the powers,
the power that we have. And and again all our

(52:25):
programs that we have. We have a lot of in
person programs, but we got some virtual programs too, so
you can still take advantage of that no matter where.

Speaker 1 (52:33):
You are, yes, no matter where you are.

Speaker 2 (52:35):
And since we're here in Cleveland, and I heard from
a little bird that's so I know, I know you
came in here talking all about P and C Fairfax connection,
and that's with the objective is okay, okay, But Daniel,
you've been recognized.

Speaker 3 (52:51):
Oh man, and we got to talk about it. I
feel like somebody put you up to this.

Speaker 1 (52:57):
Let's talk about it.

Speaker 3 (52:58):
Congratulation, Thank you, thank you. I'm I'm super honored and
super excited that I get to be honored. Right, it's
one of the and they put me for most Influential too,
for twenty twenty five. Like just to be with those
other you know, honorees, just to be in the same
room in them, I'm blown away. I am so blong away.
So and being that who's Who for Black Cleveland and

(53:20):
you know, one of the twenty twenty five most influential,
I'm just humbled. I'm just humbled because I see so
many great people on that list who are just doing
everything every day to empower people that I'm just like, man,
I want to be like them. I want to be
like them. And here they are saying that, you know, hey, Dan,
you're also somebody who you know is a who's who,

(53:41):
who's influential, So I like them. So, you know what
it's all about being in the rooms with the right people.
And you know, if you want to be somebody said
something to me yesterday. If you have a mindset and
around like six other people who have a mindset of
being like you know, maybe broke or maybe being not
success full, and more than likely you're the seventh person. Right.

(54:02):
But if you're in a mindset of people who are
looking to strive to be better, to work better, to
work harder, to lift each other up, and you're around
a group of six people, guess what, you're that seventh
person that's also going to be striving to uplift people
too as well.

Speaker 2 (54:14):
Thank you so much, mister Daniel, for joining me here
on our voices today. WOVU ninety five point nine f
M Cleveland's urban alternative Fairfax Connection.

Speaker 1 (54:26):
I appreciate you. Thank you so much.

Speaker 3 (54:28):
Thank you.

Speaker 1 (54:33):
This is WOVU Studios,