The Elijah Winfrey Show

Elijah gets you caught up on his past week, & answers questions about his organization, & the book writing proccess.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show. Each week, Elijah gets
you caught up on his work in the community, talks
with guests about issues and causes that are important to them,
while also answering your email questions. So sit back, relax,
and enjoy the show. Here's your host, Elijah Winfrey.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Hello, folks, and welcome to the Elijah Winfrey Show. I
am indeed your host, Elijah Winfrey, and I am excited
to be with you today. We have a great show
lined up for you today, great list of questions this week.
I can't wait to get to those questions. First and foremost,
I hope that your weekend has gone really well. Whether

(00:49):
it was running errands or working on the weekend, which
is what I do quite a bit, or it's a
self care kind of weekend. I hope that you were
able to you know, reflect, rest, reset, and refocus as
we get ready for the week ahead. My past week
was what did I do this past week? It was

(01:17):
it was business as usual. Nonprofit is doing well. It's
basically running itself, which is good. You know. We we
helped a few families this week with with bills and
grocery items, which is always fun. I also posted a

(01:43):
couple of announcements on my social media pages. If you
follow me on Instagram at Eli O six two six,
you saw that I am going to be doing a
reading on August fifteenth. I'm trying to remember day. If
I went on my side, I would see it, but
it's there. I'm doing a very special reading event at

(02:07):
the tuck Willers Center, collaborating with Restoration of the Arts.
Miss Deborah is the founder of Restoration of the Arts.
She does an amazing job and we collaborated over the
holidays to adopt families and you know, buy toys and
items for them, and it was a huge success. So

(02:31):
we're going to collaborate once again. That won't be our
only collaboration this year. We're going to collaborate again over
the holidays and we're going to try to adopt more families,
which makes my heart sing. I really love doing, you know,
this kind of community work. I really do it. It

(02:53):
means so much to me and it means so much
to the team. So be on the lookout for more
information regards that. It's always fun to interact with Debrah
and to you know, follow her journey as she builds
her organization. Up and gives back to the community. I

(03:13):
had a great Zoom meeting with two amazing ladies that
have been on the show multiple times, Zaya and Jamelia Jones.
We talked about a golf charity clinic that we are
putting together for African American women, and we're still working

(03:34):
through some of the logistics on that, but we are
progressing well and we're moving forward, and I'm super excited
about it, super excited. From a health standpoint, I'm doing

(03:57):
all right. I guess I'm just gonna leave it at that.
I'm doing okay. I'm working out, meditating, and I'm looking
forward to building his body back up at some point.

(04:19):
But all in all, I really can't complain. I'm happy
to be in the seat every week talking to you
about my community work and and talking about others that
are doing, you know, service to their community. So we
will leave it at that. Family is doing well. My

(04:39):
son's last basketball game is coming up here this upcoming week.
I won't be able to attend that game. He was
sick his last game, but they have a winning record.
I think he's enjoyed, you know, organized basketball. This is
his first time doing it. He's an eighth grader, So

(05:01):
I think he learned a tremendous amount about the game
of basketball when it's played with officials and not played
at the park. So I'm really proud of him too,
because I was able to see a few of his
games and and his effort, his determination, his growth was incredible,

(05:26):
and you know, I I relayed that to him, and
to see him interact with his teammates, it was was
really really cool to say. He's kind of a he's
quietly one of the one of the leaders on the team,
and you can tell because a lot of the players
go to him and and they talk to him and
and I'm so proud of the kid, so all as well.

(05:49):
On the on the home front, para educator wise, I'm
I'm you know, it's it's about the same as it
always is. I'm progressing to get better every day. And
you know, I enjoy my time with the teachers and
staff and the students at Sunset Elementary and shout out

(06:13):
to all the amazing teachers there. And I'm specifically talking
about the women. You know, it's it's Women's History Month,
and you know, I think it's important that we not
only praise the efforts of these teachers and these staff members.
But you know, we we also have to do a

(06:35):
better job of reminding them of their worth and why
it's important for them to continue to do what they do.
So I thank all of you from the bottom of
my heart for your continued effort, your grace, your perseverance,
your sacrifice that you've You've made you know, not just

(07:01):
in the school, but at home with your families, with
your spouses. So I see you all and I try
to acknowledge you every day or every chance I get,
so shout out to you, and you continue to blaze
your trails and open doors for the next generation of
teachers that are coming behind you. Okay, let's pivot into

(07:26):
the show today, folks. You send in some amazing questions.
My shout out to my amazing producer, Greg Nice. By
the way, I try to give him a shout out
at the top of the show, but sometimes I get
gone and I don't forget, but I try to fit
him in at some point, so I'm gonna do it here.

(07:48):
He does a great job of grabbing a bunch of
email questions that are sent in from the show, and
by the way, you all are sitting in tons and
tons of questions, so please bear with us. We're going
to try to get your questions on an answered, you know,
as we continue to do these shows, but we really

(08:08):
appreciate it. This week, it seems like the questions were
centered again around my nonprofit and around my book writing
children's book writing. So without further ado, let's get into
the first question is first question is from Siena in Seattle.

(08:29):
Siana writes, Hi, Elijah, I really love the show. I've
been listening for a long time, and my question to
you is this, how do you balance running Team Winfree
with your other commitments. You seem to be so busy
and have very little time for family. Is this true?

(08:49):
It is true that I'm very busy. I always have
time for family. Family comes first everything kind of they
all kind of run together. You know, my wife is
one of the directors of Team win Free, and I

(09:11):
get to see, you know, my wife a lot. You know,
sometimes she'll work from home if she's not in the
office at Microsoft. But I I think I I balanced
them pretty easily. There hasn't been much of a of

(09:40):
an issue. Now I've burned out towards the end of
the year because I do so much and then I
start traveling and I'm traveling again. You know, I tend
to I used to burn out pretty quickly in November
early December. But I've done a better job of, you know,
putting myself in busines where it doesn't happen as frequently

(10:04):
as it did. But I think, you know, I'm able
to balance things because I I really love what I do,
and I'm able to set aside time for all of
my work. You know, in the beginning, when I started

(10:28):
working as a pair of professional, I didn't think, in
all honesty, it was going to be a fit like
it was going to work, because I'm so used to,
you know, having my own schedule and doing things, you know,
my way to a degree, and I really want to

(10:49):
build my nonprofit, like I really want to focus on
my company. So I didn't think that. I thought that
I was going to have a hard time balancing my
work as a parent professional and how was I going
to integrate that into my community work, family life. And

(11:09):
in the beginning it was. It was difficult. In the beginning,
I did have a hard time, but I think I
was able to settle in because I started to enjoy
the process of being a para professional, and I was
able to take bits and pieces of that and you know,

(11:32):
kind of make it work regarding other things. So it
I'm able to set aside time for everything that I do,
and you know, they're not big chunks of time. So
when I'm done with my work at the school, I'm
able to transition right away into my role as the

(11:57):
president and founder of my nonprofit and you know, answer
emails or return calls or visit families. You know, I'm
able to do that. So it takes them getting used to,
but I think because I love what I do, the
balance for me is much easier to find. Great question though,

(12:21):
great question. Next question is from Summer in California, Summer
Rights ELI. Where do you see Team Win Free in
the next five years? That's a great question. In the
next five years, I hope that I hope that I'm

(12:45):
able to pass the company off to someone else who
has a deeper vision for it. That's been the goal
from day one. It's like I want to create it,
build it, and you know, eventually hand it off to

(13:12):
someone starting as a collaboration, and then have them take
it and then build it. The way they see it.
You know, maybe they see it in a different light
than I do, and they have more resources. So I
see that for myself in the next five years. Now,
whether we get there or not still remains to be seen.

(13:35):
But I think I think right now we're on pace
to do the things that I want to do with
the nonprofit and to eventually hand it over to someone.

(13:56):
You know, this has been this has been one of
the best experiences of my life having my own company.
And you know, I worked really, really hard to maintain it,
and I wouldn't be successful without my team, right, So

(14:23):
they put me in positions to succeed, right. They see,
they see my vision and they help me tweak it.
And you know, I'm really proud of that. So in
twenty thirty, you never know, we'll see. Next question is

(14:43):
from Peyton. That's a very good name, Peyton in Dallas, Texas.
Peyton Rights, Elijah. What kind of events or programs does
Team Win reorganize throughout the year. So we've hosted golf
tournaments sometimes, you know, we used to do a clothing drive.

(15:09):
Right now, I'm in collaborations with I'm hoping to collaborate
with a very special organization, my fingers across. I have
a call with this individual this morning, and I'm hoping
that this call goes well. I'm not gonna hope this
call is going to go really well, and I'm going

(15:30):
to have an announcement about that. If not next week,
definitely the following week. But we we we we are
trying to collaborate more with with organizations to create events
that will best serve the community, whether it be a
clothing drive or a food drive, or something to do

(15:58):
with mentorship. You know, we we try to we try
to host events like that. I'm going to be doing
one of those in April for the youth. We we
always are talking about ideas and ways we can support
the community through our events or programs. So the golf

(16:22):
events were really huge in the beginning. It kind of
got us off and running and into the community, and
you know, we kind of scaled back a little bit
because sponsorships were hard, and you know, it became very
exhausting for me to reach out, email call, you know,
different organizations of golf organizations looking for sponsorships. So I

(16:48):
decided to kind of break it down and play in
more one on one events, which was very successful. I
felt like I could have a serious conversation with each
individual that was donating, reading about ideas that I was
having and and and and ways I was giving back
to the community and how they could be involved and
how they could impact, you know, these families. So paydon

(17:15):
There are a lot of There are a lot of
things that I'm currently working on. So but that's just
a few that we've done. And I think starting to
collaborate with others is a big deal for me, So
I hope to do that more. Next question is from

(17:36):
Valerie in Nebraska. Valerie Rights High, Elijah love your show.
What role do you books and education play and helping
children from low income families. I think they're I think
they're the vital part of of you know, kids and

(17:57):
families and and helping them succeed. A lot of the stories,
but I mean, you know, the the really good stories,
uh in children's books pertaining to education, it's necessary. I
think it plays a role in creating a foundation of

(18:22):
core values and life skills. I think sometimes we we
we can skip this step and I think we have
to find our way back here or we're reading more
and you know, we are not so dependent on the

(18:46):
computer for work. I think sometimes some of the things
I see sometimes with writing among children worries me a
little bit. Uh. And you know, I think I don't

(19:06):
think computers bad, you know, I don't. I think there's
a way to use it in education, and I think
a lot of teachers are doing that. I've seen that.
But I also think reading is very, very fundamental. And
you know, I think the more you can put a

(19:27):
book in a kid's hand and have them read and
imagine and then possibly, you know, write about their experiences
in life, I think it's it's it's vital, very vital.
And you know, it's something that I've talked about with

(19:48):
adults that I mentor and with students. Great question. Next
question is from Mark go in Mississippi, Margo Rights. What
are some misconceptions people have about poverty and struggling families.

(20:11):
One of the misconceptions, I think is they they don't
want to grow or prosper. They're okay where they are,
they don't mind getting food stamps or assistance. They're not

(20:32):
working hard to get out of their situations. I think
that's one of the biggest misconceptions that I've I've I've
come across. Even in my childhood, we would hear that
a lot, so and so once it just settle, they
don't care as long as they get their food stamps
in there. You know, what is it? The wherefare of check?

(20:53):
Wherefore welfare check at the beginning of the month. You know,
I used to hear that as a kid, and I
didn't really pay it any attention because I didn't really
understand and nobody. I don't think I was old enough

(21:13):
at that time to really understand it. But now I do,
and I think that is one of the biggest misconceptions
because there are a lot of families who are working hard,
but the cost of living goes up every year, and
you know, a lot of these jobs aren't paying a
livable way. So you're seeing a lot of these families

(21:34):
who are living in their cars, are on the street
with their kids, or in the shelter with their kids.
It's it's a it's it's a it's a tragic thing
to see. But I can tell you firsthand there are
families who are really trying and they are overwhelmed about

(22:00):
not making a bill payment, or being laid on rent,
or not having food or you know, feeling like they're
trading water. There's not anywhere to go. They're never going
to leave, you know, a certain neighborhood, you know, after
years and years of trying. So I think those of

(22:22):
us who are able to help and are able to
be a voice to those families, we have to continue
to advocate for them so that they're not isolated or
they or they feel alone. And you know, that's something
that we've tried to do. I've seen other organizations try

(22:44):
to do it as well. We just have to continue
to do a better job of yelling it from the rooftops,
so to speak. And I think we were on the
right path of doing that. Next question is from Brianna
Brianna and Fort Myers, Florida. Brianna Brianna writes, what inspired

(23:10):
you to start writing children's books? Brianna, I my son
inspired me. Let's just cut to the chase. I journaled
a lot, I write down a lot of things, and
one day he saw it. He saw my journal, he
saw it open, and we just started talking about writing

(23:34):
books and children's books. And he just mentioned casually, like
you should write about our conversations on the way to
school when you used to take me to school. You
know when I was in elementary school and it didn't
hit me at that moment. But the more I thought

(23:54):
about it, the more I said, why not me? Why
not give it a shot? What's the word that can happen?
Nobody buys the book? Okay, well, at least it's out there.
I've done that. I can cross that off. Well it
wasn't on my bucket list, but I can cross it
off and say I've done that. But you know, my

(24:15):
son inspired me to do it, and you know it's
I think it's allowed me to really write about things,
not just from he and I's perspective, but things that
I saw as a kid. So a lot of things
come flooding back from my childhood that I write about

(24:36):
and that I saw an experienced. But he is, He's
He's my inspiration as to why I write. So all
my credit and success because of him. Let's take a
couple of more. Next question is from Kilanie. That's a

(24:57):
beautiful name, Klannie in South Carolina. Rights Elijah, what impact
do you hope your books have on young readers and
their families. I hope mhm that they so h My

(25:26):
writings are really centered around core values and life skills.
So I hope that they they get that when they're
reading the books. Uh, and you know, it gets them
thinking about I don't want to say how to raise
a kid because I don't want to, you know, I

(25:48):
don't want to. I don't want it to to be
that deep. But I hope that it causes them or
it gets them thinking about, you know, instilling more corebat values,
laying a really good foundation for your child. I'm not saying.
I'm not saying that your child is going to be perfect,

(26:08):
but if you lay these core values at an at
a very early age, you know, they tend to stick.
You know, I'm an example of that. I I I
believe my son is an example of that. I've seen
other students and I've seen kids in the community that
are examples of that. I hope, I hope it. I

(26:30):
hope my book gets families thinking about integrity, responsibility, respect, judgment, perseverance, life, love,
family like I I. You know, I hope that they
take that from my books, because that's what my books

(26:53):
are really about. It's it's about love. It's about finding
out things and learning and teaching things. It's about family
and coming together and learning different life lessons through trial
and eraors. So I hope that they take that, and
then I hope that they are sitting down reading with

(27:16):
their kids. You know, it goes back to the question
I had that I just answered moments ago about you know,
we rely so much on the technology. And again, I'm
not saying technology is bad. It's not because I use
it a lot. But I love to write. I love
to visualize. I love to imagine things. I love to

(27:37):
recall some of the things that I did as a
kid and some of the things that I see now
and write them down. So I just hope that my
books get them thinking about that. That's a great, great question.
All right, let's can we can we squeeze one more in? Okay,
let's sqeeze more in. This next question is from Evelyn

(28:02):
and Missouri. Evelyn writes, Hi, Eli, have you faced any
challenges getting your books into schools and libraries. I'm the
jury is still out on that one because I haven't
really pushed for that. That's not to say that I won't,

(28:28):
but I've been so busy writing that I haven't really
made the effort to reach out to schools in that way.
I've had friends who have mentioned it to me and
thought about putting something together for me, which it tells

(28:51):
me all I need to know about that friend, like
that's a really really good friend. But I have I
haven't really thought about it much. You know. I think
the more I write, I feel like I'll probably start
thinking about that and start reaching out to schools or libraries.

(29:15):
It would be a blessing if, if, if that did happen.
But you know, I'm taking things one step at a time,
and you know I'm not in a rush. So we'll see,
and I'll leave it at that. All right, great questions
this week, Great great questions. I hope that I answered
your questions as thoroughly and as best as as I

(29:39):
can for you, and continue to send them in and
we'll continue to get them. All all right, We have
come to the end of the show, folks. Yep, we
are at the end of the show, and I want
to thank you all as I always do, for tuning in.
I see all of the live listeners here. Thank you

(30:02):
so much. All of the folks that download the show
and listen later really appreciate it. Do me a favor
this week. Please get out in your communities and check
in on your family and friends. All right, put a
smile on someone's face. Remember it doesn't take a lot
of energy to do that at all. I want to
thank you for listening to the Elijah Winfrey Show. Please

(30:24):
be sure to download this show whatever you download your
favorite podcast. Till next week. Take care, God bless Bye
bye