Southern California Business Report Oct 21 25 Guest JANICE RUTHERFORD LIM, PARTNER, CALIFORNIA STRATEGIES

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to k MET fourteen ninety am, ABC News Radio
and the Southern California Business Report with Evett Walker, a
show dedicated to highlighting successful Southern California businesses and the
people behind them.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Welcome and thank you for joining Southern California Business Report
on ABC News and talks k MET fourteen ninety AM,
ninety eight point one FM and k m E t TV.
I'm e Vettwalker Live bosting our signal from the center
of Southern California, serving a population of over twenty five million.
Get us crystal clear and on demand by downloading the
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(00:41):
lap Store.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
As always a huge shout out to the team.

Speaker 2 (00:45):
Mitch Bill and Sean I love you guys, and to
our special advisory committee that can be found at www
dot scbr talk dot com. Forward Slage Advisory Committee. Click
on the and learn about the remarkable people doing the
work and of course speaking about remarkable people. I am

(01:06):
absolutely thrilled and honored to introduce Miss Janice Rutherford Limb
from Girl Scout Service Projects to shaping public policy. Janet
Janice Limb's devotion to her community defines her legacy. A
Summa cum laud graduate of UC Riverside and Institute Fellow
of the California State Association of Counties, Jennis began her

(01:29):
career championing alternative fuel and transportation initiatives for Inman Empire leaders.
As Fontana's three term city council member and Mayor pro tem,
she pioneered the community Assistance program and steered the city
through a period of record growth. Elected to the San
Bernandino County Board of Supervisors, Janis chaired the board and

(01:51):
numerous regional authorities, earning a reputation for physical stewardship regional authorities.
A collaborative leader, and now a partner at California Strategies,
she continues to advocate for her region while serving on
educational and healthcare boards. Janie is enduring commitment to service
is matched only by her love for family, faith, and

(02:15):
lifelong learning. You are an absolute inspiration, Janis, thank you
so much for being with us today.

Speaker 3 (02:21):
Well, thank you very much for that in action. Very humbling.
It's wonderful to be here.

Speaker 4 (02:25):
It's interesting when you hear everything that can be consolidated,
and it's very hard to consolidate such an impressive bio
for Jannis.

Speaker 2 (02:32):
So we did our best, but as you can see,
it's absolutely brilliant. So Janice, let's start by talking about
your civic journey, which started in Girl Scouts. How did
those early experiences shape your philosophy and community leadership.

Speaker 5 (02:49):
I think starting out as a Brownie Girl Scout and
going all over EU juniors, there was always community service
and we were always doing it together with the girls
with their moms, and that gave me a sense of
joy with other people doing good and doing things like
beach cleanups, and that you just you see the fruits
in your labor at the end of the day, and
that's nice.

Speaker 3 (03:07):
I carried that.

Speaker 5 (03:09):
Desire to serve with me into high school, and then
in high school I got more politically active. I became
concerned about the legislature fund legislature's funding or threats to
defund some education programs, and so at the end of
my freshman year and over that summer going into my
sophomore year, I organized local parents and students who lobbied
the legislature. We held a five K run to raise
funds to back for the program if the state did

(03:32):
cut the funding.

Speaker 3 (03:33):
That got me involved in debate.

Speaker 5 (03:35):
An organization called Junior Statesmen of America that taught me
about government organization and had summer programs to learn local, state, federal,
international government relations, and honed public speaking skills and introduced
me to a group of friends who had similar ideas
and love.

Speaker 3 (03:52):
Spending their time doing that. By the end of high school,
I've had the bug.

Speaker 5 (03:55):
I knew I wanted to study political science.

Speaker 3 (03:58):
I knew I wanted to be involved in government.

Speaker 5 (04:00):
Never imagine becoming like official. But that's when the seeds
hurt planted.

Speaker 4 (04:04):
Well, it's so interesting how when you pursue those things
that drive you and that are passionate, you find your
tribe right and you find those that were like minded,
that want to advocate for their school and champion these
policies that are going to represent their communities and make
sure that you know, like you said, that funding was

(04:24):
brought back and backfield. So what occurred as a result
of your efforts, of your collective efforts.

Speaker 5 (04:30):
Well, what I didn't I was a high school freshmen
as that the state plays a lot of budget gangs
every single year.

Speaker 3 (04:35):
That what I've been hearing about, the.

Speaker 5 (04:37):
Threat was never likely to come to pass, but was
part of those legislative and university but it was enough
to raise awareness locally to make sure that our local
legislators understood the priority of having education funding that served
local students and families. And it taught all of us
of students how to be effective advocates.

Speaker 2 (04:55):
So with that said, can you recall a moment when
your voice and your collective voice that Fellows do, is
made or changed of policy related to education or your school.

Speaker 5 (05:08):
Well, there were certainly that, but later on in high
school I became the student representative on the Chafe Joint
Union High School District, a void of trustees and that board,
and some of them are still serving today. We're very
encouraging of the students really following our interest in our policy.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
This is the mid eighties now, not to date myself
but today myself and.

Speaker 5 (05:28):
What the what the student council is that the various
high schools wanted was clarity on smoking policies on campus.
And now that sounds crazy to students today, I'm sure,
but those of us who were in high school then
you remember there was the smoker's wall or the smoker's.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
Corner, an area where people.

Speaker 5 (05:44):
Who smoked hung out.

Speaker 3 (05:46):
Students who smoked.

Speaker 5 (05:47):
And I don't remember the policy that we enacted. Now,
I couldn't tell you the details of it, but I
remember that that is what the students wanted. That's what
we worked for staff to put together bring to the
board that enacted on the student's behalf right.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
And so fast forward to another pivotal moment in your life,
which is motherhood.

Speaker 3 (06:04):
Right, let's talk.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
About motherhood and you know how that reshaped or how
that shaped your approach to public service and leadership, because
we're going to do like full circle moments here. You
have so much that you've done.

Speaker 4 (06:17):
But I know motherhood is such an impactful part of
a woman's life and it really transforms our perspectives and
our approach, especially in the public.

Speaker 2 (06:26):
But talk about how that reshaped or shaped your approach.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
I became a mother rather late in life, right around
my fortieth birthday, just before and then just after it
was when I had my two boys. So I'd already
been serving on the city cancel for quite some time.
But having I think serving in public office prepared me
for motherhood in terms of patients, in terms of the
ability frankly to listen to people throwing a tantrum because

(06:52):
sometimes managed that the public do that after elected officials,
just like toddlers didn't. And at the same time, having
the boys gave me a softer edge, a more compassionate
way of looking at the world and dealing with the people,
as well as of course that commitment to I want
to make the future better for them. It's not just

(07:12):
about me serving an office now. It's not even just
about the community right now. It's about what foundation do
we need to build so that the community can grow.

Speaker 3 (07:21):
And be prosperous and thrive when they're adults.

Speaker 2 (07:24):
Right, absolutely, And so what had been some of the
most surprising growing pains, of course, of balancing motherhood and
a demanding civic career, because as you said, you were
already entrenched in your civic service. So how did that
work out when you started, you know, balancing a whole
new aspect the world done to its own.

Speaker 5 (07:45):
I always say that it's never balanced. And when you
go to the circus, if you watch the high wire
act balancingness, your heart is in your throat.

Speaker 3 (07:53):
You're nervous.

Speaker 5 (07:54):
If they fall, it's doom. Even if the net catches them,
there's probably some sort of injury. I prefer to think
of the cloud.

Speaker 3 (08:00):
Who's doing the juggling. There's no heart in your.

Speaker 5 (08:03):
Throat in that you're laughing, and you're entertained and mother
full time working motherhood much less in the public spotlight
during motherhood is that juggle. And some days you're juggling
a couple of oranges and it's going great. And some
days you're juggling bowling balls and it's a little tougher.
Some days they're blaming torches and it's a disaster. But

(08:26):
if you drop something, and you will drop something, you
will drop somebody. But when you're juggling, all have to
do is pick it back up and start over again.
So some days the balance tilts toward family life, some
days it tilted toward the career. Most days you're able
to be right in the middle and find that balance.

Speaker 4 (08:45):
And so talk about the importance of having a supportive partner,
because as you mentioned, you know, finding that balance requires,
you know, juggling multiple things, and as you're leaning one
way or the next based on the demands of the moment,
how important is it to have a partner that is supportive, encouraging,
and can be there when you have to lean into

(09:05):
your career in public service.

Speaker 5 (09:08):
It's certainly huge to have a supportive partner, and my
husband has been great through all of that, but it's
not sufficient, and he would tell you that too, because
he's not his own career that he has to manage
as well, So it takes more than just the couple.
I'm wriateful that my mom was close by and able
to be with the kids.

Speaker 3 (09:24):
I'm grateful for friends.

Speaker 5 (09:26):
From church who when the kids who were stuck at
school because now of us could get there, could.

Speaker 3 (09:31):
Give them a ride and take them home.

Speaker 5 (09:32):
And I remember one time on one of my son's birthdays,
a huge fire broke out in my community.

Speaker 3 (09:38):
I had to be there.

Speaker 5 (09:39):
I had to do the elected official thing, and my
best friend scooped up my kids and took them out
to a birthday lunch better than I would have taken
them to Frankly, and took the shopping and bought the toys.
And so you have to have a whole group of
people around you who love those kids and are invested
in helping them.

Speaker 3 (09:55):
I think you succeed disappearent. Oh that is remarkable.

Speaker 6 (09:57):
I love that.

Speaker 4 (09:58):
And as we know, when women are underrepresented in elected roles,
What barriers, if any, did you face and how did
you overcome them as you found your path.

Speaker 3 (10:10):
Into public service.

Speaker 5 (10:12):
There are huge barriers for anybody who wants to step
into the public arena. Women do face a bit more
because traditionally fundraising is a male dominated arena, and you
have to fundraise to be able to get elected to
public office, and that tends to be the most intimidating
for a woman who hasn't necessarily been in politics.

Speaker 3 (10:30):
If you're just a.

Speaker 5 (10:31):
Community member or a mom who wants to advocate for
a stop sign or a park or against a particular
kind of development, you don't have any training, you don't
have the network that it takes to do that fundraising.
So that's one of the first steps is you have
to ask everyone you know, everyone from your next door
neighbor to everyone on your Christmas card list to people

(10:52):
you meet when you're on your evening the walks. You
have to be ambitious on their behalf for what you
have in common for them.

Speaker 3 (11:00):
In the community.

Speaker 5 (11:01):
Most people are so grateful that someone else is stepping
forward to do it so that they don't have to
that they are happy to give you twenty five dollars
or fifty dollars to get you started. But that fundraising
and having access to the network of people in the
community who give is huge for anyone running for office
the first time.

Speaker 3 (11:18):
That is that is very remarkable.

Speaker 2 (11:19):
So what was it within the community that prompted you
to jump into that arena?

Speaker 3 (11:24):
Was it you know? Was it a stop sign? Was
it the school zone?

Speaker 2 (11:27):
What was it that made you say, you know what
I know that what I know about public leadership or
public policy is going to contribute.

Speaker 3 (11:35):
What was it that initiated that first step for you?

Speaker 5 (11:39):
So I was serving on the Fontana Parks and Recreation Commission.
The mayor asked me with the Planning Commission, So I
moved over to Planning Commission and starting to see really
how Fontana was developing and some of the arguments between
the different types of developments and proposals, as well as
how the council was functioning together, looking at the city's

(11:59):
potential seat some of those arguments and how they conducted business.
I just thought we need some different people up here.

Speaker 3 (12:04):
At the DAIS.

Speaker 5 (12:05):
We had a member of the councilors running for mayor,
so there were going to be two open council seats,
and I went searching everywhere. Talk to everybody at Rotary,
everybody running and grade, everybody at church. We need somebody
to run for office. You need to run from city council.
And every single one of them looked at me and said.

Speaker 7 (12:20):
You knew it.

Speaker 3 (12:21):
This is you, study this, You're a political person. You
knew it.

Speaker 5 (12:25):
And that ultimately led to me praying and asking Heavenly
Father if this was my path, and he was very
clear in his.

Speaker 3 (12:32):
Answer that I was supposed to run for office. And
I don't know that I ever had a prayer answer
that clearly either.

Speaker 5 (12:37):
So that was revelatory, and so I took a step
forward to put my name on the ballot. So it
wasn't a specific issue so much as it was if
we need someone who's willing to do the work of
reading agenda's, studying issues, listen to constituents. And I didn't
feel that that was happening with some of the existing
council owners.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
That's remarkable, And what I especially like is that you
had that faith to call on our Father and say,
you know, is this the path for me? And if so,
guide me or show me the way. How did that
look for you in terms of your faith and reinforcing
that you were going down the right path.

Speaker 3 (13:12):
It was huge.

Speaker 5 (13:13):
Couldn't do any of this without having a faith, mostly
because it reminds you that you are accountable to a
higher power. It keeps you from getting your ego to bing,
It keeps you from making decisions about what's best for you.
Not to say I was perfect at any of this,
Absolutely not. But that simple act of getting on my

(13:34):
knees every night and knowing that I had to talk
about what I'd done, what I'd said, how I behaved,
and measure myself up against what I understand through scripture
his standards to be and trying to live up to those,
always trying to be a little bit better.

Speaker 3 (13:50):
It was just invaluable I think. I mean, that's a
beautiful way to place that.

Speaker 4 (13:57):
But for those that are not age true women that
are not in elected roles, How can women leverage non
elected roles to drive meaningful change within their communities.

Speaker 5 (14:09):
It is just as important to have active, good hearted
community members be involved as it is to have good
people serving in public office. We need to have members
of the public who will give us honest feedback to
whom we can go with ideas or thoughts and have
them evaluate those and tell us what works what doesn't work.

(14:32):
That communication between the elected official and the residents needs
to be a two way straight And you've also got
to have people who are going to hold you accountable
to the reasons you ran and the standards that you
set and say, hey, you're getting too big for your bridges.
So hey, that's not why we put you in this office.
We wanted to be go in this direction. And so

(14:54):
to have women, family members, community leaders who are willing
to watch the meetings, come to the meetings, give you
feedback after the meetings. A lot of these proposals are
lengthly or legalistic, and any elected official is not an
expert in anything. So some people run for the city
council because they wanted to advocate for that stop sign

(15:14):
or that park, and then you get there and you discover, oh,
you also have to negotiate a one hundred million dollars
development deal, or you have to be dealed at this
public safety issue or this regional transportation issue that you
know nothing about. So to be able to have people
in the community who are experts in a subject area
who will say I'll read that.

Speaker 3 (15:31):
For you and give him my opinion.

Speaker 5 (15:33):
Or I have some friends who know about this, let
me connect you with those absolutely.

Speaker 4 (15:36):
Critic And so, what are some other ways, aside from
direct civic engagement as an elected that women or others
can engage to have some feedback across various facets of
their community.

Speaker 3 (15:49):
That they live in.

Speaker 5 (15:51):
Most of our local cities have regular community meetings, not
the city council meetings with the cameras on, but neighborhood meetings,
community meetings. Perhaps these are neighborhood why meetings organized by
someone you live.

Speaker 3 (16:02):
Next door to, but they could be more regional.

Speaker 5 (16:04):
Or if you're in an hia or your city council
has divided your community into districts, perhaps there are meetings
within those to be able to go and listen and
give honest feedback. And I want to use the term
give cover too, but that's not quite accurate. There are
some people who stand up at meetings like that and
are very forceful, sometimes mean inappropriate, getting courser and grosser

(16:29):
as our society goes that way. And to have people
who will stand up and say that's not what everyone believes.
Let's try to hear the other side. Let's listen to
the other side, or what if we consider this, what
if you're wrong, what if you're wrong? To just make
sure that there is a room for the elected official
to consider all sides and to not feel locked into

(16:51):
a position because they're being intimidated by a member of
the public.

Speaker 3 (16:55):
So that brings me to the next point.

Speaker 4 (16:57):
How important is it for those states for those sentiments,
for those viewpoints to be put on the record by
the community. Right because you mentioned the environments becoming courser
and a courser and some people shy away, But is
that mean or an indicator that it's time to kind
of lean in and make time to voice your opinion
and place it.

Speaker 3 (17:16):
On the record. It's huge.

Speaker 5 (17:18):
It's huge for the elected official to know that there's
more than one viewpoint out there, or more than two
viewpoints out there. It tends to be us versus them
knocking heads and then things get very personal. And so
to have people who can take a more dispassionate view
and say, here's the results of the policy, or here's
what we need from this budget, and to be able

(17:40):
to give you a different perspective as well as to
be able to communicate to others in the community who
don't take the time to watch. Hey, that council person,
that supervisor really did study this issue, really did consider
all points of view. Here's the conversation I had with
him or her, And I think it's important for people
to know too. They think of elected officials as something

(18:02):
apart in the element fire. All of your elected representatives
are really accessible, usually by phone, but they'll get together
with you and have a sauta or a cup of coffee.
You can email, you can engage in social media, and
but you'll also see them at the grocery store, or
at church, or at their kids' school, and so you
have the opportunity to build a relationship and to become

(18:24):
a credible source of information as well as a source
of encouragement and a source of accountability. So don't think
that they're so far away or they're so important that
you can engage.

Speaker 3 (18:36):
That engagement is vital.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Absolutely, And so you've led during times of tremendous municipal growth.
What lessons stand out about guiding a city through change?

Speaker 5 (18:50):
In California, it's very very difficult because state puts so
many constraints on local government, and so you have residents
who come to meetings who think you have the power
to do anything and everything, and to elected officials have
to often teach those residents we don't have any discretion

(19:12):
in this matter.

Speaker 3 (19:12):
The state has dictated this, so if.

Speaker 5 (19:14):
You have a problem with the policy, you really need
to go talk to your state legislators. That's frustrating as
a local elected official, the voice of your community when
you can't vote or implement what you want because the
state has put.

Speaker 3 (19:25):
Restrictions on.

Speaker 5 (19:27):
But that is something the elected officials have to help
the community engage in. How do you take that advocacy
to the next highest level. Of course, governing in times
of budget crises is very difficult because people still want services,
They never want to pay higher taxes, and so having
to prioritize how the funds are spent is a very

(19:49):
challenging role as well.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
So in the past talking about spending and budgets, how
have you approached that prioritizing some of the greatest needs
with that about having you know, redundancy without making well
with making sure that the budgets that have to be
cut in certain aspects are not going to terribly impact
your community.

Speaker 5 (20:11):
It right, the cities and counties are very different and
very different in.

Speaker 3 (20:16):
What they're prioritized are.

Speaker 5 (20:17):
What I always looked at is what is the function
of this level of government With both of them, the
highest priority is public safety.

Speaker 3 (20:25):
An emergency response, and.

Speaker 5 (20:27):
Not just emergency in terms of someone dialing nine one
one about planning for what happens after an earthquake or
a huge rainstorm that brings mun flow or fires in
California or they get that a lot. So making sure
there are planes in place and the resources to implement
those planes is the highest in both places. When you

(20:48):
get to a city level, then there's other priorities. Most
people in the city, after they're safe, they prioritize how
the community looks and feels and what there is to do.
They want recreation, they want parks, they want activities. At
a county level, there's a responsibility for the courts and
for the jails, and for flood control systems, and for

(21:09):
tax collectors and registrars and voters to operate. And so
having to look at really the core functions of government
and then don't waste money on the things that aren't
that core function.

Speaker 3 (21:22):
Well that I mean it boils down.

Speaker 4 (21:24):
It sounds pretty simple, right, but when you're talking and
including the voices of other people that you're sitting alongside,
along with members of the community.

Speaker 3 (21:34):
How challenged can it be to get to a consensus.

Speaker 5 (21:39):
Oh, it's hugely challenging because there are so many people
out there who come to you with good programs, good ideas,
good causes. I remember right after I got elected in
twenty ten, I had pastors calling saying, where's our Thanksgiving turkeys?
We usually get turkeys or money from you to be
able to buy turkeys for people's Thanksgiving dinners. It's not

(22:00):
the role of county government. We don't fund people's Thanksgiving dinners.
It's a good cause. I appreciate your heart, pastor. I
can help you out personally, or I can get some nonprofits,
but that's not a government function. It's hard to make
that case, and especially when elected officials disagree about those things,
then they say, yeah, but so and so is giving
me money for turkeys. To stand up and say, well,

(22:23):
that's not something I'm going to do with taxpayer money.
That can be challenging and difficult in the face, especially now,
when people will threaten to go on social media and
expose you or take something out of context. Very difficult
to get people to take the time to understand well, you.

Speaker 3 (22:40):
Know, and you mentioned social media, right.

Speaker 4 (22:44):
Social media has made it basically a free for all
with zero accountability.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
People basically go.

Speaker 2 (22:49):
On say what they feel they want to say, or
misconstrue or just flat out lie about certain things.

Speaker 3 (22:56):
How have you been able to navigate that or have
you faced that during your tenure? Sure?

Speaker 5 (23:02):
Sometimes well and sometimes horribly. My philosophy was that everybody
gets one polite response, even if they were rude and obnoxious.
They're going to get one polite response from me. But
I'm not going to engage in a back and forth
that detracts from me doing the job that I've been
elected to do, or that detracts from my ability to
engage with other people who are being polite and civil

(23:23):
and bringing ideas.

Speaker 3 (23:23):
To the table instead of just criticisms.

Speaker 5 (23:27):
I am glad that I'm not in office now and
having to deal with deep fakes and the challenges that
are going to come from artificial intelligence. It was hard
enough to deal with the lives that we're told about
me during campaigns, so it's just going.

Speaker 4 (23:42):
To be getting worse and worse, absolutely well, you know,
with that said, we're coming up on a break, so
you've at Locker with ABC News and Talks. Southern California
Business Report here today with Janice Rutherford limb Assuma cum
loud UC riverside graduate shaped policy from girls Scout projects
to leading fontown As City Council and the Sanmarandino County

(24:04):
Board of Supervisors. Known for collaborative leadership fiscal stewardship, she
now advocates regionally as a California Strategies Partner and active
Community board member.

Speaker 3 (24:14):
We will see you after the break one return.

Speaker 8 (24:26):
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Speaker 13 (27:00):
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Speaker 3 (27:27):
Welcome back everyone, Eve that Walk.

Speaker 2 (27:29):
We're ABC News and Talks Southern California Business Report here
today with Janice Rutherford, limb Asuma culaud UC riverside Graduate
shaped policy from Girl Scout projects to leading Fontana City
Council and the San Juanino County Board of Supervisors, known
for collaborative leadership and fiscal stewardship. She now advocates regionally

(27:51):
as a California Strategies partner and active Community board member.
Thank you again for being here with us, Jennis, my pleasure.

Speaker 3 (27:58):
Thanks for having me.

Speaker 4 (27:59):
So prior to the break, we were touching on various
aspects of your civic engagement and service throughout the community.

Speaker 3 (28:06):
So I just want to pick up.

Speaker 2 (28:07):
With the role of mentorship and sponsorship and cultivating the
next generation of leaders and women leaders as well, because
you did.

Speaker 3 (28:16):
Mention that as being one of the.

Speaker 2 (28:18):
More difficult aspects of running for office, and that was
the fundraising aspect.

Speaker 3 (28:24):
So what role does mentorship play that? Well, it's huge.

Speaker 11 (28:28):
I know.

Speaker 5 (28:28):
There were so many people who inspired and encouraged me.
My boss at the time gave me so many tips
and ideas as well as just being the person after
whom I patterned the way that I wanted to be
an elected official. But I also had those friends who
I would call and say, tell me again why I did.

Speaker 3 (28:46):
This, Remind me why this was so important.

Speaker 5 (28:49):
And I find myself now in this second half of
my life or a second career, if you will, now
mentoring younger people coming up in public service, whether it's
publicloyees or future elected officials themselves, and the ability for
them to have someone that they can just sound off
to that they can ask those crazy questions to where

(29:10):
they don't feel like they're being judged or they're not
being told it's a stupid question. To be able to
support and encourage them, I'm finding very satisfying. It is
very weird to make that transition from being the youngest
person in the room and being the decision maker to
being the older states woman, if you will, But I'm
finding great enjoyment and satisfaction in that and helping and

(29:31):
encouraging others.

Speaker 4 (29:33):
That's a wonderful way of looking at it because you
have the full range of experience that really speaks to the.

Speaker 3 (29:41):
Wisdom that you've accumulated along the way.

Speaker 4 (29:44):
So, when someone is seeking a mentor sponsorship of their
journey or their ideas to join or jump into the
civic arena, what are some key points that you are
willing to share as your initial rols of wisdom.

Speaker 5 (30:01):
Well, the one I mentioned earlier that you really have
to be able to ask everyone in your life for
a donation. You also really have to examine yourself very deeply,
because it's perhaps the most important skill to develop is
the ability to later on say no to the very
people who wrote those checks, to the very people who
supported you at the beginning, because it's possible that they're
going to ask you for something that you don't feel

(30:22):
is appropriate, or that you can't do within your authority,
or that you've changed your mind on. We don't give
elected officials enough room to learn new information and change
their minds. We call them flip floppers instead of recognizing
that as human beings, when we get new information or
our information, we should be applying that, not just setting

(30:42):
it aside. So we have to have that ability to
cultivate that critical thinking skill and allow our elected officials
the room to apply it and use it.

Speaker 4 (30:55):
Wow, I've never heard a better response to that side
of question.

Speaker 3 (31:00):
I really appreciate that.

Speaker 4 (31:01):
And you know, in the midst of everything that you're doing,
including a partner of California Strategies, a mother to amazing voys,
I just love watching them grow.

Speaker 3 (31:10):
But as a cancer survivor, you've recently.

Speaker 4 (31:13):
Experienced cancer, and I know that was a path onto
its own and a journey that can really transform our
lives in our perspective in the world. Talk about your
initial diagnosis and you know what were your first thoughts

(31:34):
when that occurred.

Speaker 5 (31:36):
Sorry, I was diagnosed with breast cancer in June of
twenty twenty four.

Speaker 3 (31:39):
It came as quite a shock.

Speaker 5 (31:40):
I was one of those people who thought that breast
cancer runs in families, and that because it had never
been in my family before, it wasn't something I needed
to worry about.

Speaker 3 (31:48):
I would get my Mary and magrams, but I never
got concerned about it.

Speaker 5 (31:52):
This was diagnosed actually incidental to thatck cough that I had,
so a very strange way to find out you have
breast cancer.

Speaker 3 (32:00):
Told me at the time.

Speaker 5 (32:00):
Eighty percent of breast cancer diagnoses there's no family history.

Speaker 3 (32:05):
Eight and one in seven.

Speaker 5 (32:08):
One in eight women is going to have a breast
cancer diagnosis during their lifetime. Huge number of women, men too,
but predominantly women. And I was very surprised going through
the first couple of weeks as I was reaching out
and letting certain people know and trying to build my
support new work, of how many women in my friendship
circle already had been through this so many years ago

(32:29):
that I didn't even know. And not only were they
instrumentally giving me great advice, but they continue to be
just key in saying, thirteen years own, twenty years out,
twenty seven years out, cancer isn't a death sentence. And
to be able to see who handled it well or
in the way that I would want to, and others
who it seems to be a great burden and source

(32:50):
of suffering for.

Speaker 3 (32:52):
And to have those who.

Speaker 5 (32:54):
Dealt with it well, to be able to follow their
path and their journey and take their advice and surround
myself with that positivity was very, very important. So I
had surgery, was cancer free after that, but had to
do a jet event, chemotherapy and radio therapy as well,
and as well as some targeted almost immunotherapy, And now

(33:15):
I'm on a four months or present for several years,
and anybody who has been through this journey will tell
you it's not over.

Speaker 3 (33:22):
When you're declared cancer free.

Speaker 5 (33:24):
Recurrence is always a possibility, and so you're always always
nervous about that, but also recovery itself or living with
metastases if you have.

Speaker 3 (33:35):
That.

Speaker 5 (33:35):
Not my case, but I've been around a lot of
people who have. It just changes everything in your life
and the way you approach everything, and so it's not like, oh,
my last day of therapy, I rang the bell, We're
back to normal.

Speaker 3 (33:47):
Now. Your life is different and change forever.

Speaker 5 (33:50):
And there are good aspects of that and they.

Speaker 3 (33:52):
Are bad aspects of that.

Speaker 4 (33:54):
So with that said, you mentioned eighty percent of women
that develop breast cancer doesn't run in the family, so
it's not historical within their family. Talk about early detection
and the pivotal role that played in your treatment.

Speaker 5 (34:09):
So I was very fortunate to have found us, as
I said, incidental to something else. So my tumor was
small and it had not spread to any lymphodes. Net
it still took testing and surgeries to find all that out.
So you still go through quite a lot even if
they find it early. But in talking to most of
the women who were getting treatment, their cancers were found
through their regular mamogrants that they had on a regular basis.

(34:32):
So I can't stress the importance enough of yeah, they're uncomfortable,
They're nowhere years uncomfortable as getting treated for cancer is.

Speaker 3 (34:41):
So your mamograms are regularly.

Speaker 5 (34:43):
If you have dense breasts, don't be afraid about asking
for additional screening and work closely with your doctor to
understand what your risks are, even if it doesn't run
in your family.

Speaker 2 (34:53):
Early detection and your regular mamograms. Thank you so much
so as a counter survivor, what's supporting now works or
resources proved more most vital during your cancer journey.

Speaker 5 (35:08):
I have an incredible team at Kaiser, just uplifting nurses,
a wonderful oncologist, insurgent and so be able to really
give you accurate information and we're able to have very
real discussions to let me and my family make good decisions.
Obviously a church family that was just invaluable. I remember
actually my last day of chemotherapy when people brought the

(35:29):
meal that night, and they brought meals for weeks around
my surgeries, and then every day I went to Quemo
there were meals brought in and my son on that list.
There was like, this is the last time someone's making
dinner for us. Yes, then unfortunately we're going to go
back to mall making dinner. As I start to feel better,
just to have their love, to know that there were
people praying for you and people who would do whatever

(35:51):
needed you know, they would ask can we come clean
your house or do your Laundroy No, I got a
husband and boys and they're taking care of that stuff.
But to have that encouragement was wonderful as I'm in
my recovery journey. Now, there is a program at the
Claim Up Club that I just have to shout out.
It's called Living Well after Cancer. It is a free program.
You have to apply, You have to have your doctor's

(36:12):
consent that you're okay to being aged in physical activity
and their trainers work with cancer survivors on how to
do cardio exercise, how to do resistance training, put you
through a lot of their group exercise classes, provide a
support network with counselors to talk with nutritionists. It's a
fantastic program and you end up with this cohort in

(36:34):
my case of all women, not all breast cancer survivors,
lots of different types of cancer, where we really get
to have the conversations that you only have as somebody
who's been through this, and that encouragement and love for
one another is fantastic. And really every single hospital, every
single health planning should have something like this. But we're
so fortunate to have the Climat Club in our area

(36:55):
and the folks they're affiliated with at Pomona Valley who
make this possible, and there should be a lot more
of them. But if you've been through cancer, you want
to look into that program. So how can people reach
that program? Is there a website?

Speaker 3 (37:08):
Is there is?

Speaker 5 (37:09):
If you go on the Climate Club site and then
search living Well after Cancer? I think that'll hook you up.
There's a woman right now named Joy Powell who coordinates
that program, and I'm sure she would love to give
people that information.

Speaker 3 (37:19):
Well, that is remarkable.

Speaker 2 (37:20):
So how did overcome and cancer influence your perspective on
public health advocacy and how do you implement that in
your public policy approach.

Speaker 5 (37:31):
I don't know that I've gotten there yet. I'm still
getting with how do I eat now? And how do
I deal with some of the physical limitations that I
have now? And when is my hair going to grow
and maybe be straight again? So I'm not through the
public policy implications yet, except to say that there needs
to be room to talk about the screenings, the early detection,

(37:53):
the treatment needs to be a regular topic of conversation,
and to know that as the science and medical research
for dresses as cancer becomes more and more treatable and
more and more personalized and treatable. We're going to have
more and more people walking around as cancer survivors, and
we've got to be able to have those conversations.

Speaker 3 (38:12):
Absolutely, And I think the more we have these conversations
and the more.

Speaker 4 (38:15):
We eliminate the stigma of making sure that we get
the regular mammograms or speaking out about our journeys through
this diagnosis, you know, it creates an open conversation of
more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere to continue and strengthen you
as you move forward in your journey.

Speaker 5 (38:37):
There's one woman in the Living Well, one woman in
the Living Well After Cancer program who when she got
her diagnosis, when she talked to her family about it
and discovered that her grandparents are both her grandmothers have
had the same sort of cancer, but that no one
in the family ever talked about it. And if she
had known, she could have done some screening that may
or may not have found hers earlier.

Speaker 3 (38:57):
But she was angry.

Speaker 5 (38:58):
But in her family there was such a stigma against
those conversations, and in that her grandparents' generation, you just
didn't talk about it because people viewed it so negatively,
so We need to make it comfortable for people to
have those conversations share that information because something that you
say your experience might help someone else say, oh I
should I should get this checked out and see if

(39:19):
this is a skain cancer or I shouldn't delay getting
my screening right.

Speaker 2 (39:23):
Absolutely, and so now we're switching gears to California's strategies.
So you're a partner in Californa's strategies and in your
consulting work. How do you balance being both a facilitator
and a concierge with very specific services to navigate that
municipal environment, the environment of the civic systems, and how

(39:47):
do you help clients navigate it.

Speaker 5 (39:50):
I think one of the things that makes me particularly
good at this is that I've been on the other
side of the table. I've sat at the dayas I've
made those votes. I've worked with staff at all levels
of government. So I can help the client see this
government is not being unreasonable or they're not out to
get you.

Speaker 3 (40:06):
Here's what they need from you to make the system work.

Speaker 5 (40:10):
But I can also evaluate, yeah, there's something hinky with
that process. We get to figure out what's going on
there and get the other side of the story and
to help anticipate roadblocks from both the staff and the
client side of things and prepare everyone for that public
hearing where a good decision can be reached. So I'm
having a great deal of fun with it. I like
it a great deal. Had a client get a five

(40:32):
to zo vote before a body today and that was
that was very, very, very satisfying.

Speaker 3 (40:38):
I'm very satisfied. So can we talk a little bit
about that.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
You know, a case study, a successful case study like
you just mentioned where a client got a five to
zero vote to advance their efforts through civic engagement.

Speaker 5 (40:52):
So it is educating the elected officials and their staff
people and stepping in early. I have learned from my
partner is that a lot of clients don't call until
it's too late, or until Okay, there's a vote next
week and we don't think it's going our way. That's
usually too late. You need to be stepping in and
engaging very early and recognize that while you may not

(41:14):
live in the community, most of our clients are from
out of the area. They don't know who the people
are here or what the neighborhood sentiments are, so they
need to learn that, and the elected officials probably don't
know much about their particular business or what they're trying
to do here, So it is getting them together and
facilitating the conversation so they can get to know each
other and I understand what do you need, what do

(41:35):
we need, and how do we make the law.

Speaker 3 (41:39):
And the system work to get everybody what they need
out of a situation.

Speaker 2 (41:44):
Right, So, aside from getting the eleventh hour call about
a vote coming in, you know, a week ahead or
a week away, what is the most challenging aspect of
facilitating a consensus between stakeholders and municipal leaders.

Speaker 5 (41:58):
Well, sometimes you really just run into an elected official
that they are dead set or they got elected because
they took this position, and they are not even willing
to consider what you have to say. So that's frustrating
when you don't even get the chance to present your case.
But also exceeding the rare, almost everybody is willing to
have the conversation and to be honest with you about
what their concerns are or what their needs are out

(42:21):
of situation, and so it ends up being it can
be drawn out, it can add time to the process.
But if you get to a solution that meets the
community's needs and the property owners needs that's worth the time.

Speaker 3 (42:34):
And so with that said, you know you're a woman
leader in the community. You've been a leader for gosh
quite a while now.

Speaker 4 (42:42):
As you mentioned, you're the states woman now in the
room and the mentor that we all can look up to.

Speaker 3 (42:48):
But how can communities.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
Better support women stepping into visible leadership rules including being
a partner of the concierge service like californ.

Speaker 3 (42:58):
Strategies Well Rategies.

Speaker 5 (43:00):
Many years ago, the partners made a conscious decision that
they needed the firm to be more diverse and more
representative of California. So if you look at our partners now,
I think almost a third of us are women and
several working moms actively doing the work.

Speaker 3 (43:14):
So we need to be like that as a community.

Speaker 5 (43:16):
I remember when I was running for office, I went
to a community event and I heard a man say,
I don't know how she could do this job.

Speaker 3 (43:24):
She's carrying a diver bag.

Speaker 5 (43:27):
And that that reaction that you just had as someone
who's carry a diver bag, do you understand that moms
can actually probably get more done in a day than
most people can. I look back now on the schedule
that I kept in the things that I did in
my younger years, and I don't know how it happened,
but it did. And so to be supportive of those

(43:49):
younger people who had that energy and that enthusiasm and
the ability to organize a multitask fantastic.

Speaker 3 (43:55):
They deserve our support.

Speaker 5 (43:56):
So we have to lift up those people who are
willing to step forward and do it. We have to
be very careful as we critique them that if we
have criticisms, maybe we do that one on one and
in vibe it with them and give them that feedback
in a constructive way rather than the kind of negativity
or what can you do with a diver bag?

Speaker 4 (44:11):
Right, So, in addition to working moms, in your view,
what is the greatest untapped resource in local government?

Speaker 5 (44:18):
Oh, my goodness, that's a great question. I would say
it's very important to have input. You can't necessarily have
representation with a five person council of an entire community,
but to have mechanisms and the attitude in the city
that we want to hear from the young people. We
want to have a youth council or similar for the
young people to engage both to learn and to share

(44:40):
their generations views and needs, and a way for seniors
with experience, with wisdom, with the kind of insight that
comes only from having been around the block a bunch
of times. We need to invite and encourage that and
everything in between. Business owners, nonprofit representatives, stay at home parents,

(45:02):
everybody needs to have a say because our communities exist
to be great places for all of them, and you
can't have any one thing and expect that the community
is going to thrive.

Speaker 2 (45:12):
Absolutely So, what advice would you give to women hesitant
to pursue civic engagement or public office.

Speaker 5 (45:20):
You know you're stronger than you think you are, You're
tougher than you think you are, and you can do it.
You can put yourself in a position where you don't
let anyone's criticisms go to your heart, but you also
can't let their compliments go to your head. You've got
to be able to be well rounded, to know what
you're there to do and what it requires, and as

(45:41):
I've mentioned many times before, to have that group of
people around you who are going to support you and
lift you up and give you the feedback you need
to be successful. No one who gets elected is an
expert on anything on day one, So don't be intimidated
by well, I don't know how to read a budget,
I don't know how a public meeting runs.

Speaker 3 (45:58):
Those are all things that.

Speaker 5 (45:59):
You can learn, and if you're humble enough, once you
get elected, there are lots of people who are willing
to teach you. The mistake people mag is thinking, well,
I got elected and that.

Speaker 3 (46:08):
Makes me great at everything. No it doesn't.

Speaker 5 (46:11):
No, it doesn't, and everybody can see that. But there
are people who will teach you if you're willing to learn.
Never stop learning, never stop doing your homework.

Speaker 3 (46:17):
I love that, and I love that you are a
lifelong learner. Right.

Speaker 4 (46:21):
I always grew up with the philosophy is every day
learn something new.

Speaker 3 (46:25):
Very at least that's the hope, right. You want to
learn something new.

Speaker 5 (46:28):
And everyone you meet has something to teach you.

Speaker 3 (46:31):
Everyone absolutely.

Speaker 4 (46:33):
So with that said, Jenna, is what legacy do you
hope to leave for the next generation of women leaders
or leaders in general.

Speaker 5 (46:42):
I don't know that I believe in the legacies, so
it's a little bit of a tough question to answer.
I think I would simply want to inspire people that
you can make a difference whether you choose to run
for office, whether you choose to support someone running for office,
advocate for developed measure, just encourage people to get out
and vote. Whatever you do to make your community stronger

(47:05):
is worthy, in is valuable, and everybody should be doing that.
If everybody did a little bit, we would all be
better off and our communities.

Speaker 3 (47:12):
Would be stronger. Absolutely.

Speaker 2 (47:14):
So with that, I'm going to ask you to share
your call to action for women to safeguard their health
and their communities.

Speaker 3 (47:21):
Today.

Speaker 5 (47:24):
You have the opportunity to advocate for yourself and for
those around you, to be an example to the generation
coming up to learn from the example of those who's
gone before. Don't be afraid to speak up for yourself,
to speak up for those who don't have a voice
or the time or ability to use their voice. When

(47:44):
you're in a position where you've got the time and resources,
use them.

Speaker 3 (47:47):
To help someone.

Speaker 5 (47:50):
Put out that helping hand and ask your elected officials
for what your community needs and tell them what your
community needs. You engage in that as you start going
to public meetings, as you start being an advocate, You're
going to see other needs. You're going to see other
ways that you can be a contributor and you will

(48:11):
be inspired to do that work as you see the
needs and see them being met.

Speaker 3 (48:15):
Oh my goodness, Jennis.

Speaker 2 (48:16):
Thank you so much for your time, for your passion,
for your heart, and especially for your service to transforming
the region that we all enjoyed today.

Speaker 5 (48:24):
It's been my pleasure talking with you about it. Thank
you for the opportunity to reflect.

Speaker 3 (48:27):
All right, Thank you so much, Sannis. All Right.

Speaker 4 (48:30):
For everybody that's listening to today, don't forget to find
us on Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

Speaker 3 (48:36):
Check us out on.

Speaker 2 (48:38):
SCBR talk dot com. Don't miss my conversation with John T. Chapman,
President and CEO, and doctor Terry Jako, a Vice president
of Chief human Resources Officer of San Antonio Regional Hospital,
who have played pivotal roles and transformed San Antonio Regional
Hospital into a nationally recognized leader.

Speaker 3 (49:00):
Their visionary work.

Speaker 2 (49:01):
Has driven financial strength, clinical innovation, and workforce excellence, making
San Antonio Regional Hospital a model of compassionate care achievement
and healthcare leadership. Next week we will have jo C.
Gonzalez San Barnandino County Assessor, Recorder and County Clerk who
has spent her career championing public service, modernization and fairness.

(49:24):
The first Ladina elected to the Fontana City Council and
Board of Supervisors, she is known for ending veteran homelessness,
expanding community outreach, and protecting homeowners.

Speaker 3 (49:36):
Is right to serve with integrity.

Speaker 4 (49:39):
She serves with integrity, compassion, and on wavering dedication to
her community.

Speaker 3 (49:45):
You do not want to miss it. We will see
you all next week.

Speaker 1 (50:01):
The su