December 8, 2025 • 19 mins
Nicole McKinney-Johnson is President & CEO of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (CRCC), a role she has held since September 2024 after previously serving as interim CEO and as a member of the Board of Directors. With more than 25 years of experience in leadership, business development, and human resources, she has guided CRCC with strength, vision, and stability during a pivotal time in the agency’s history. McKinney-Johnson is also deeply engaged in the community, serving on the University Hospital’s Rainbow & Babies Foundation Board, the Leadership Council for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, and the Foundation Board at Lakeland Community College.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is Bill Wells with an iHeart. CEO you should know.
Nicole mckinniy Johnson is President and CEO of the Cleveland
Rape Crisis Center CRCC, a role she has held since
September of twenty twenty four after previously serving as the
Interim CEO, and is a member of the Board of Directors.
With more than twenty five years of experience in leadership,
(00:22):
business development, and human resources, she has guided CRCC with strength, vision,
and stability during a pivotal time in the agency's history.
McKinney Johnson is also deeply engaged in the community, serving
on the University Hospitals Rainbow and Baby's Foundation Board, the
Leadership Council for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, and
(00:45):
the Foundation Board at Lakeland Community College. Nicole McKinney Johnson,
President CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. First of all,
it's nice to meet you. Thank you for your time
for coming in. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Let's talk about your role and a belated congratus. First
year a CEO of the organization. But you're not a
newcomer to this. You were on the board for a
while and served as an interim I think right, yes, okay,
talk about that transition someing, talk about that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Sure. So I served for three and a half years
almost four as a board member, and now I'm literally
on the other side of the table. The experience has
been exactly what it needed to be, was preparation for
where I am now. It is a joy and an
honor to lead this organization, being the first black woman
in fifty year history to do so as well, it
(01:31):
lends for a lot of areas of untouched areas of concern.
So I am really pleased and honor to be in
this world.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
It's the first black CEO. Man, ask you this personally
and professional. My daughter always reminds me Dad, where they're
still first for women, there's still and I generally right now,
I'm like, you're right, She'll point this out to me
all the time. So let's let's talk about that. For you.
It's a first for you career wise, personally and professionally.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Right, yes, So you know, being the first and a
lot of ear especially being a woman of color, is
not new.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It's not uncharted territory.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
However, with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, it avails the opportunity
to provide a space, a safe space for black and
brown people that have been sexually assaulted, that are in
this unfortunate circumstance human trafficking. It gives them a space
(02:27):
to identify. I am also a survivor of rape, not once,
but twice, and so it's a lot of areas that
I touch, maybe not with the intent to do so,
but here I am.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
So I'm ready to lead fifty years.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yes, I did not know fifty years that is, that's tremendous, tremendous. Sadly,
it's tremendous right to say it that way.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yes, started with one telephone and for women who rally
together to understand that we needed to have a voice
in our neighborhoods as it relates to what we're doing
and why it is so important to advocate on behalf
(03:14):
of those who feel like they are not believed and
they don't have a voice, and we've provided that voice
over fifty years.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
You touched on trafficking just a minute. For years, I
was on the board of the Salvation Army and it
was something that the Army got into a bit and
I'd sit in meetings and I'm like, really, we've got that,
We've got something like that here. I mean, so many
of these things we don't talk about in the community,
but we've got to be aware of, right.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yes, and human trafficking, especially in the city of Cleveland.
We are surrounded by several highways, so we are like
the third city to have this huge impact of human
trafficking and a lot of people unfortunately equate that to
sex and it's not.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's work for hire.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
They intentionally target vulnerable communities and vulnerable people who need
and we are one of the first to have a
freestanding human trafficking center in the Glenville in the Glenville
area one hundred and eighth and Superior, where you can
come and feel okay and feel like you're being heard.
(04:20):
We offer advocacy services and come get.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A hot shower, some food, some clothes.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
We've partnered with the centers so now we have a
medical suite. And you know, even in this seat of
being a new CEO, I'm learning so much about CRCC
from those who do the work every single day, and
they are educating me. I'm a forever student that you know, Nicole,
if you're in human trafficking and you get hurt, you
(04:46):
don't feel well, and you want to go to a
local hospital to get treatment.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You don't have ID. You feel embarrassed. So a lot
of those.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Beautiful human beings that have this unfortunate experience, now they
can come to the Human Trafficking drop in Center and
feel like family. When you walk in our wonderful team,
they embrace.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
You, they hear you.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
They provide you with services that you wouldn't even think about.
You know that we take for granted every single day,
and they leave empowered, and they come back and they
tell others. You know, so we don't We don't ask
for ID, we don't ask for your name. We just
want you to come in and get hold.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Let me, let me, let me follow up on that.
This will be a little bit touchy, but we always
hear about to see something, say something. Yes, you've probably
got story after story, and I appreciate privacy. But in
situations people are in they may be serving you in
some way, yes, in a store, and you just don't
feel right. You see them over and over again, something's
(05:46):
a little odd. You start a conversation, what do you
put me in that place for a minute?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So you know, I'm a woman of faith.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So some people call it discernment and then some people
call it your gut. When you find yourself in a
situation where something, to your point, just doesn't feel right,
you start asking, you know, just minimal questions.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You know, do you feel safe? Are you okay?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Eye contact is very important, you know, I've known some
people to even have those conversations in restrooms because you're
away from said persons.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Persons right.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
And you know, our team is phenomenal at hitting target
areas with our text to chat with our marketing where
see something, say something. We've had billboards all over the
city where people have literally taken a photo of our
billboard or text someone and says, you know, I need help.
(06:44):
We work closely with the Cleveland Task Force. As soon
as we find out any information, we are there. So
having these conversations, I say all the time, uncomfortable conversations
and comfortable rooms allows us to give specifics and what
to you. I was at a library a few weeks
ago and Ashibulah, where one of our offices is at,
and they had a poster in the ladies' room in
(07:07):
the stall and said, do you feel safe?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And it was one of our posters. That's great and
it just warmed my heart.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I was coming from a trip from a conference in
Atlanta and through the airport it was a human trafficking
commercial that you know, if you feel unsafe, go talk
to a local restaurant here and let them know and
just stay there and we'll help you through it.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
So we're gonna touch on several different areas with you,
and I do appreciate your time. As you've begun your
journey as CEO. You've also talked about marking the fifty
years of service and in a year of discovery, if
you're well talking.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
About that stuff every single day, I am learning more,
not just about the agency, but the impact it has
on our city. I've also said the first year sitting
in this seat, I wanted to assure that everyone knew
about Cleveland ripe crisis. We have been an Evergreen for
fifty one years, and I'm secure and confident in knowing that, yes,
(08:07):
we have a benchmark. Now the next year for me
is to go in I want to raise awareness and
support of those who are supporting our clients.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
So internally, how are you doing? This is heavy work.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Statistics shows that the average therapist advocate.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You know, maybe five years.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
We have our tenured therapists going into thirteen fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I mean, amazing, heavy work, every harday, work, every.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Day, and this misnomer that you leave your problems at
the door is no longer anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
You'd bring your entire self into the room.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And it is so important, yes for us to take
care of our clients, but who's taking care of us?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So that's what I'm using this next.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Year to full you transition from boarding the CEO, which
I think is fast standing. And I'll this tongue in cheek.
One of the easiest jobs is running nonprofit of course, right,
I mean there's just no hardly a challenge, there's no
to do list.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Where's that nonprofit A I.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Said, tongue and cheek, So let's start about that. So
let's talk about some challenges for almost any organization organization,
as you say, people finding the right people, keeping them
in those roles, and funding, obviously.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Right funding is the number one challenge that we are
having at every level. Yes, we have support and we
have allies and advocates who are on both sides of
the aisle that know the importance of this work. But
grants are exactly that. There's for specific and they're targeted
for areas. But I want to ensure that every person,
(09:43):
everyone that needs our help receives it. So unrestricted funds
is what I need. The bigger the check, the bigger
the help that I can do. So if anyone's asking,
you know, Nicole, what can we do we need your money,
I can't be any more blank and specific than that
because every dime goes towards programming to healing. We also
(10:06):
in this, you know, we just finished a strategic plan.
We want to make sure we have our blueprint for
the next three to five years, right, and what does
that mean. Yes, we handle you know, those that are
in real time with assault, but I want us to
lean towards prevention, you know, education and outreach. We have
(10:26):
an amazing department that meets the audience where they're at.
We have curriculum from three years old to ninety three.
So we'll come to your business, will come to your school,
will come to your boys and girls club to show
you what to do to prevent these occurrences from happening.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
A part of the strategic plan I think was also listening.
I think you did that a lot with assessment too,
and that that's kind of what you're getting at.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Right, Yes, So when I agreed to take on this role,
one of the non negotiables for me was to establish
a strategic plan.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
There had not been one done in a few years.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And as much as we are all busy, we need
to have some blueprint and marching orders.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
And everyone in.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
The agency that availed themselves did the interviews, they did the.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Polls, they did the surveys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Because I can't go out here with my marching orders
to bring money in and I don't hear from the
staff that's doing it every single day.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So what do you need for me to do for you?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And they're saying, Nicole, we need to make sure that
our doors stay open. We don't have the luxury of
closing unfortunately. I remember one of my marching orders for
myself is to sit down with every employee advocate who
would allow themselves to find out their why why are
you here? And I remember at the end of one
(11:49):
of the conversations I had with a therapist, I thanked her.
And I've been in HR for thirty years and so
I could tell her body language change and her eyes
went down and I asked her. I said, tell me
what I did it wrong? And she said, Nicole, I
wish you wouldn't have thanked me. And I said, I'm
a forever student. Tell me what I should have said.
(12:10):
She said, just say you appreciate the work. She says,
I wish I didn't have to talk to young people
and kids and kiddos about sexual assault. And it was
like a light for me. And this work is not that,
it's a mission. We know that we wake up every
single day with the mission to ensure that everyone knows
(12:33):
that they are believed the first time that CRCC is here.
We are not going anywhere, but we do need we
do need help to keep these doors open.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
It's easy to make that support known to the crisis
center because through the website you make a donation. It's
really easy. So you've had some events and you did
the thing at Top Golf as well. It was a
lot of fun and success.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Yes, it was very successful.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
We had some bitch benchmark we met them. I am
moving away from you know, one hundred dollars plates with
chicken breasts. I want us to have some fun because
we know this work is heavy and our board support
was one hundred percent. The community came out, we exceeded
our goal and we've already set twenty twenty six in motion.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You I want to ask you about sexual assault. It
is a I don't want to say gray area. So
that's my ignorance, but I'll ask it. Maybe in this way,
we're becoming numb to so many things in society. Yes, media,
television know what I'm talking about. Absolutely, kids see things
that that's not right. Right, And I mention that because
(13:41):
is that a part of what you get into if
a parent or someone close. Yes, here's a story that's
not right, that shouldn't have happened. You right, that's an assault?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is it is an assault? However, you are spot.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
On as it relates to the being uncomfortable talking about it.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
It's not easy.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
And so at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, we'll work
with parents. We have group therapy. We'll give you the
words and things to.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Say so cool that you need as a parent, as
a loved one, a caregiver.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
So, one of the one of the best examples is
the holidays are coming up. You have young people and
I remember when I was younger, you know, I was
instructed to go give uncle or auntie a hug. And
as beautiful as that is, this little person still may
feel uncomfortable and they want to own their space and
we should allow them. So as opposed to a hug,
(14:36):
give them a fist bump, give them a high five,
because you're still honoring the parents ask, but you're allowing
the young person to own their space.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
And those small.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Little tools will allow a family to start having these
conversations and bringing up things.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And I'll tell you another thing. It's triggering for someone
who has not.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Dealt with that, that has personally dealt with something. And
so the average caller that we get these occurrences happen
between ten and twenty years ago. So social media is
very you know, I tell people all the time you
can use it for.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Good or evil. iHeart is very good in we try
to promote and do things in the right order.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But you know cases that have come up recently with
entertainers that's triggering. So we've had men and women call
and say, you know what, I didn't realize I was
sexually assaulted. Yeah, so we say, we understand, we believe you,
and here are the tools and things that you can
do to get to your road to hell.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
And you mentioned the holidays. Sadly you're going to be
read family members that may trigger something from twenty years ago.
And it's right, okay, all right, that's right. But you
know there's some help you got to reach out Cleveland
Rape Crisis Center. All right, Well, I got you a
couple other bigger just questions here before we wrap up.
As you look ahead, you've you've got their strategic plan,
You've been listening. You're talking about supporting, talk about twenty
twenty six something, what your to do listing goals if
(15:56):
you will.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Twenty twenty six looks amazing for our organization. Are rolling
out our state of CRCC, so we're inviting the community
to come out and learn more about what we do
and who we.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Are, what the future looks like.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Of course, fundraising at every level. We're also planning to
have our Human Trafficking Awareness Month is in January.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
So we'll have a huge rollout.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
As far as social social media is concerned, because again,
as much as we're doing a lot of people still
don't know. We want to also ensure that we get
back into the school systems. We want to get into
the colleges. We want to get into all of the
different school districts because if you're educated at every level.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The occurrences will come down.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I want to empower our black and brown communities to
start calling us and talking about it.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Unfortunately, in our communities.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
We've been told to pray it away, or what's done
in this house stays in this house, and we have
to up that nonsense. I fortunately have a family and
a tribe that walked along with me during my experience
of being raped, and I want to ensure that someone
who does not have what I had will have that
(17:17):
through the rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
You and I are both believers. You know the Lord.
The Lord provides us with many tools. The Lord provides
the rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Listen, that's reached out right, they try to reach out.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I firmly believe that God has me in this place,
not just for what this organization is, but what I
had to do personally to align and understand so that
I can speak on behalf of those who are voiceless.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Get you out of here on this. You've touched about
why and your crisis if you will, that you went
through sandly twice. What are you most proud of as
you work at as you think about yourself right now.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
That God kept me for such a time as this,
because when it happened, I question him, and as believers,
he knows because he created us, that we would do that.
But if I don't believe anything else, I know that
He had my steps ordered so that I could be
literally in this seat today talking.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
With you all back to being knitted in the womb.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Absolutely, yes, yes, And everyone that wants help, needs help,
deserves help, will find it at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Let's end on that point. Nicole McKenny Johnson, President CEO
of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, We thank you for your
time and for you listening this morning. If you've been
touched in some way, if you've been touched to donate,
please do that. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center their website. It's
real easy to do. You can volunteer, you can learn
about different opportunities if he'd like to through the website,
visit ask questions. And then on the other hand, if
(18:56):
you're listening and we have touched on something that has
churned up something, please reach out.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Right two one six sixty one nine six one nine
two We are also looking for volunteers. We're well, you know,
if if you call us and you are received with
a beautiful voice on the other side that guide you
through it, you know we're asking that our survivors become
our advocates because no one can relate to someone who
(19:21):
hasn't been through the same thing, and we know that
help and change begins here.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Nicole McKinney Johnson, President CEO of at Cleveland Rape Crisis
Center obviously is CEO. You should know. Thank you, Thank you.
This is Bill Wells with an iHeart. CEO you should know.
Nicole mckinniy Johnson is President and CEO of the Cleveland
Rape Crisis Center CRCC, a role she has held since
September of twenty twenty four after previously serving as the
Interim CEO, and is a member of the Board of Directors.
With more than twenty five years of experience in leadership,
(00:22):
business development, and human resources, she has guided CRCC with strength, vision,
and stability during a pivotal time in the agency's history.
McKinney Johnson is also deeply engaged in the community, serving
on the University Hospitals Rainbow and Baby's Foundation Board, the
Leadership Council for the Collaborative to End Human Trafficking, and
(00:45):
the Foundation Board at Lakeland Community College. Nicole McKinney Johnson,
President CEO of the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. First of all,
it's nice to meet you. Thank you for your time
for coming in. I really appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
Let's talk about your role and a belated congratus. First
year a CEO of the organization. But you're not a
newcomer to this. You were on the board for a
while and served as an interim I think right, yes, okay,
talk about that transition someing, talk about that a little bit.
Speaker 3 (01:09):
Sure. So I served for three and a half years
almost four as a board member, and now I'm literally
on the other side of the table. The experience has
been exactly what it needed to be, was preparation for
where I am now. It is a joy and an
honor to lead this organization, being the first black woman
in fifty year history to do so as well, it
(01:31):
lends for a lot of areas of untouched areas of concern.
So I am really pleased and honor to be in
this world.
Speaker 1 (01:41):
It's the first black CEO. Man, ask you this personally
and professional. My daughter always reminds me Dad, where they're
still first for women, there's still and I generally right now,
I'm like, you're right, She'll point this out to me
all the time. So let's let's talk about that. For you.
It's a first for you career wise, personally and professionally.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Right, yes, So you know, being the first and a
lot of ear especially being a woman of color, is
not new.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
It's not uncharted territory.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
However, with Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, it avails the opportunity
to provide a space, a safe space for black and
brown people that have been sexually assaulted, that are in
this unfortunate circumstance human trafficking. It gives them a space
(02:27):
to identify. I am also a survivor of rape, not once,
but twice, and so it's a lot of areas that
I touch, maybe not with the intent to do so,
but here I am.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
So I'm ready to lead fifty years.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Yes, I did not know fifty years that is, that's tremendous, tremendous. Sadly,
it's tremendous right to say it that way.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Yes, started with one telephone and for women who rally
together to understand that we needed to have a voice
in our neighborhoods as it relates to what we're doing
and why it is so important to advocate on behalf
(03:14):
of those who feel like they are not believed and
they don't have a voice, and we've provided that voice
over fifty years.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
You touched on trafficking just a minute. For years, I
was on the board of the Salvation Army and it
was something that the Army got into a bit and
I'd sit in meetings and I'm like, really, we've got that,
We've got something like that here. I mean, so many
of these things we don't talk about in the community,
but we've got to be aware of, right.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yes, and human trafficking, especially in the city of Cleveland.
We are surrounded by several highways, so we are like
the third city to have this huge impact of human
trafficking and a lot of people unfortunately equate that to
sex and it's not.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
It's work for hire.
Speaker 3 (03:57):
They intentionally target vulnerable communities and vulnerable people who need
and we are one of the first to have a
freestanding human trafficking center in the Glenville in the Glenville
area one hundred and eighth and Superior, where you can
come and feel okay and feel like you're being heard.
(04:20):
We offer advocacy services and come get.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
A hot shower, some food, some clothes.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
We've partnered with the centers so now we have a
medical suite. And you know, even in this seat of
being a new CEO, I'm learning so much about CRCC
from those who do the work every single day, and
they are educating me. I'm a forever student that you know, Nicole,
if you're in human trafficking and you get hurt, you
(04:46):
don't feel well, and you want to go to a
local hospital to get treatment.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
You don't have ID. You feel embarrassed. So a lot
of those.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Beautiful human beings that have this unfortunate experience, now they
can come to the Human Trafficking drop in Center and
feel like family. When you walk in our wonderful team,
they embrace.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
You, they hear you.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
They provide you with services that you wouldn't even think about.
You know that we take for granted every single day,
and they leave empowered, and they come back and they
tell others. You know, so we don't We don't ask
for ID, we don't ask for your name. We just
want you to come in and get hold.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Let me, let me, let me follow up on that.
This will be a little bit touchy, but we always
hear about to see something, say something. Yes, you've probably
got story after story, and I appreciate privacy. But in
situations people are in they may be serving you in
some way, yes, in a store, and you just don't
feel right. You see them over and over again, something's
(05:46):
a little odd. You start a conversation, what do you
put me in that place for a minute?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
So you know, I'm a woman of faith.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
So some people call it discernment and then some people
call it your gut. When you find yourself in a
situation where something, to your point, just doesn't feel right,
you start asking, you know, just minimal questions.
Speaker 2 (06:06):
You know, do you feel safe? Are you okay?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Eye contact is very important, you know, I've known some
people to even have those conversations in restrooms because you're
away from said persons.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
Persons right.
Speaker 3 (06:23):
And you know, our team is phenomenal at hitting target
areas with our text to chat with our marketing where
see something, say something. We've had billboards all over the
city where people have literally taken a photo of our
billboard or text someone and says, you know, I need help.
(06:44):
We work closely with the Cleveland Task Force. As soon
as we find out any information, we are there. So
having these conversations, I say all the time, uncomfortable conversations
and comfortable rooms allows us to give specifics and what
to you. I was at a library a few weeks
ago and Ashibulah, where one of our offices is at,
and they had a poster in the ladies' room in
(07:07):
the stall and said, do you feel safe?
Speaker 2 (07:09):
And it was one of our posters. That's great and
it just warmed my heart.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
I was coming from a trip from a conference in
Atlanta and through the airport it was a human trafficking
commercial that you know, if you feel unsafe, go talk
to a local restaurant here and let them know and
just stay there and we'll help you through it.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
So we're gonna touch on several different areas with you,
and I do appreciate your time. As you've begun your
journey as CEO. You've also talked about marking the fifty
years of service and in a year of discovery, if
you're well talking.
Speaker 3 (07:44):
About that stuff every single day, I am learning more,
not just about the agency, but the impact it has
on our city. I've also said the first year sitting
in this seat, I wanted to assure that everyone knew
about Cleveland ripe crisis. We have been an Evergreen for
fifty one years, and I'm secure and confident in knowing that, yes,
(08:07):
we have a benchmark. Now the next year for me
is to go in I want to raise awareness and
support of those who are supporting our clients.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
So internally, how are you doing? This is heavy work.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Statistics shows that the average therapist advocate.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
You know, maybe five years.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
We have our tenured therapists going into thirteen fifteen years.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I mean, amazing, heavy work, every harday, work, every.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
Day, and this misnomer that you leave your problems at
the door is no longer anymore.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
You'd bring your entire self into the room.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
And it is so important, yes for us to take
care of our clients, but who's taking care of us?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
So that's what I'm using this next.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Year to full you transition from boarding the CEO, which
I think is fast standing. And I'll this tongue in cheek.
One of the easiest jobs is running nonprofit of course, right,
I mean there's just no hardly a challenge, there's no
to do list.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Where's that nonprofit A I.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
Said, tongue and cheek, So let's start about that. So
let's talk about some challenges for almost any organization organization,
as you say, people finding the right people, keeping them
in those roles, and funding, obviously.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
Right funding is the number one challenge that we are
having at every level. Yes, we have support and we
have allies and advocates who are on both sides of
the aisle that know the importance of this work. But
grants are exactly that. There's for specific and they're targeted
for areas. But I want to ensure that every person,
(09:43):
everyone that needs our help receives it. So unrestricted funds
is what I need. The bigger the check, the bigger
the help that I can do. So if anyone's asking,
you know, Nicole, what can we do we need your money,
I can't be any more blank and specific than that
because every dime goes towards programming to healing. We also
(10:06):
in this, you know, we just finished a strategic plan.
We want to make sure we have our blueprint for
the next three to five years, right, and what does
that mean. Yes, we handle you know, those that are
in real time with assault, but I want us to
lean towards prevention, you know, education and outreach. We have
(10:26):
an amazing department that meets the audience where they're at.
We have curriculum from three years old to ninety three.
So we'll come to your business, will come to your school,
will come to your boys and girls club to show
you what to do to prevent these occurrences from happening.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
A part of the strategic plan I think was also listening.
I think you did that a lot with assessment too,
and that that's kind of what you're getting at.
Speaker 3 (10:49):
Right, Yes, So when I agreed to take on this role,
one of the non negotiables for me was to establish
a strategic plan.
Speaker 2 (10:57):
There had not been one done in a few years.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
And as much as we are all busy, we need
to have some blueprint and marching orders.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
And everyone in.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
The agency that availed themselves did the interviews, they did the.
Speaker 2 (11:13):
Polls, they did the surveys.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
Because I can't go out here with my marching orders
to bring money in and I don't hear from the
staff that's doing it every single day.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
So what do you need for me to do for you?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
And they're saying, Nicole, we need to make sure that
our doors stay open. We don't have the luxury of
closing unfortunately. I remember one of my marching orders for
myself is to sit down with every employee advocate who
would allow themselves to find out their why why are
you here? And I remember at the end of one
(11:49):
of the conversations I had with a therapist, I thanked her.
And I've been in HR for thirty years and so
I could tell her body language change and her eyes
went down and I asked her. I said, tell me
what I did it wrong? And she said, Nicole, I
wish you wouldn't have thanked me. And I said, I'm
a forever student. Tell me what I should have said.
(12:10):
She said, just say you appreciate the work. She says,
I wish I didn't have to talk to young people
and kids and kiddos about sexual assault. And it was
like a light for me. And this work is not that,
it's a mission. We know that we wake up every
single day with the mission to ensure that everyone knows
(12:33):
that they are believed the first time that CRCC is here.
We are not going anywhere, but we do need we
do need help to keep these doors open.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
It's easy to make that support known to the crisis
center because through the website you make a donation. It's
really easy. So you've had some events and you did
the thing at Top Golf as well. It was a
lot of fun and success.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
Yes, it was very successful.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
We had some bitch benchmark we met them. I am
moving away from you know, one hundred dollars plates with
chicken breasts. I want us to have some fun because
we know this work is heavy and our board support
was one hundred percent. The community came out, we exceeded
our goal and we've already set twenty twenty six in motion.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
You I want to ask you about sexual assault. It
is a I don't want to say gray area. So
that's my ignorance, but I'll ask it. Maybe in this way,
we're becoming numb to so many things in society. Yes, media,
television know what I'm talking about. Absolutely, kids see things
that that's not right. Right, And I mention that because
(13:41):
is that a part of what you get into if
a parent or someone close. Yes, here's a story that's
not right, that shouldn't have happened. You right, that's an assault?
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yes?
Speaker 1 (13:51):
Right?
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Is it is an assault? However, you are spot.
Speaker 3 (13:54):
On as it relates to the being uncomfortable talking about it.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
It's not easy.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
And so at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, we'll work
with parents. We have group therapy. We'll give you the
words and things to.
Speaker 2 (14:09):
Say so cool that you need as a parent, as
a loved one, a caregiver.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
So, one of the one of the best examples is
the holidays are coming up. You have young people and
I remember when I was younger, you know, I was
instructed to go give uncle or auntie a hug. And
as beautiful as that is, this little person still may
feel uncomfortable and they want to own their space and
we should allow them. So as opposed to a hug,
(14:36):
give them a fist bump, give them a high five,
because you're still honoring the parents ask, but you're allowing
the young person to own their space.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
And those small.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Little tools will allow a family to start having these
conversations and bringing up things.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And I'll tell you another thing. It's triggering for someone
who has not.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
Dealt with that, that has personally dealt with something. And
so the average caller that we get these occurrences happen
between ten and twenty years ago. So social media is
very you know, I tell people all the time you
can use it for.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Good or evil. iHeart is very good in we try
to promote and do things in the right order.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
But you know cases that have come up recently with
entertainers that's triggering. So we've had men and women call
and say, you know what, I didn't realize I was
sexually assaulted. Yeah, so we say, we understand, we believe you,
and here are the tools and things that you can
do to get to your road to hell.
Speaker 1 (15:35):
And you mentioned the holidays. Sadly you're going to be
read family members that may trigger something from twenty years ago.
And it's right, okay, all right, that's right. But you
know there's some help you got to reach out Cleveland
Rape Crisis Center. All right, Well, I got you a
couple other bigger just questions here before we wrap up.
As you look ahead, you've you've got their strategic plan,
You've been listening. You're talking about supporting, talk about twenty
twenty six something, what your to do listing goals if
(15:56):
you will.
Speaker 3 (15:56):
Twenty twenty six looks amazing for our organization. Are rolling
out our state of CRCC, so we're inviting the community
to come out and learn more about what we do
and who we.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Are, what the future looks like.
Speaker 3 (16:08):
Of course, fundraising at every level. We're also planning to
have our Human Trafficking Awareness Month is in January.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
So we'll have a huge rollout.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
As far as social social media is concerned, because again,
as much as we're doing a lot of people still
don't know. We want to also ensure that we get
back into the school systems. We want to get into
the colleges. We want to get into all of the
different school districts because if you're educated at every level.
Speaker 2 (16:43):
The occurrences will come down.
Speaker 3 (16:45):
I want to empower our black and brown communities to
start calling us and talking about it.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Unfortunately, in our communities.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
We've been told to pray it away, or what's done
in this house stays in this house, and we have
to up that nonsense. I fortunately have a family and
a tribe that walked along with me during my experience
of being raped, and I want to ensure that someone
who does not have what I had will have that
(17:17):
through the rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
You and I are both believers. You know the Lord.
The Lord provides us with many tools. The Lord provides
the rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 2 (17:24):
Listen, that's reached out right, they try to reach out.
Speaker 3 (17:29):
I firmly believe that God has me in this place,
not just for what this organization is, but what I
had to do personally to align and understand so that
I can speak on behalf of those who are voiceless.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
Get you out of here on this. You've touched about
why and your crisis if you will, that you went
through sandly twice. What are you most proud of as
you work at as you think about yourself right now.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
That God kept me for such a time as this,
because when it happened, I question him, and as believers,
he knows because he created us, that we would do that.
But if I don't believe anything else, I know that
He had my steps ordered so that I could be
literally in this seat today talking.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
With you all back to being knitted in the womb.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
Absolutely, yes, yes, And everyone that wants help, needs help,
deserves help, will find it at the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
Let's end on that point. Nicole McKenny Johnson, President CEO
of Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, We thank you for your
time and for you listening this morning. If you've been
touched in some way, if you've been touched to donate,
please do that. Cleveland Rape Crisis Center their website. It's
real easy to do. You can volunteer, you can learn
about different opportunities if he'd like to through the website,
visit ask questions. And then on the other hand, if
(18:56):
you're listening and we have touched on something that has
churned up something, please reach out.
Speaker 3 (19:01):
Right two one six sixty one nine six one nine
two We are also looking for volunteers. We're well, you know,
if if you call us and you are received with
a beautiful voice on the other side that guide you
through it, you know we're asking that our survivors become
our advocates because no one can relate to someone who
(19:21):
hasn't been through the same thing, and we know that
help and change begins here.
Speaker 1 (19:27):
Nicole McKinney Johnson, President CEO of at Cleveland Rape Crisis
Center obviously is CEO. You should know. Thank you, Thank you.
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