COMMUNITY FIRST_ THE LIA WHITE STORY

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Host Kim Jacobs, better known as the Balance Doctor, and
all of our guests that come on there either people
that have overcome some tremendous odds in their own lives
as they balance these things all life, or they're experts
and they're here to share tips and strategies that will
help you better balance and manage your life. Grab your
virtual seats, and let's get ready for some real, relevant

(00:22):
and relatable content on today's episode of The Kim Jacob Show.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
That Jacob.

Speaker 1 (00:36):
Hello, everyone, and welcome to this episode of The Kim
Jacob Show, where we are bringing balance to the world,
one household at a time. Thank you for come allowing
us to come into your household today and today we
are coming to you with Leah White. How are you, Leah?

Speaker 2 (00:53):
Hi, I'm day. Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:56):
Thank you so much for being here. I just feel
uplifted with you being president today. And because I know
your mama too. I ain't even gonna even lot of
people around here. I notice a girl mama, y'all, and
so I'm so excited an honor to have you Leah
here with us today. And listen all of you that
are tuning in, I see y'all hopping into the studio

(01:18):
as well from various places. Let us know where you're
visiting in from as well. We'd be honored to put
your comments up throughout today's broadcast, and if you have questions,
just celebratory comments, anything, please make sure you don't hesitate
to drop them in the comment section and we will
acknowledge them. Leah Leah Leah Leah White is my special

(01:40):
guest today and she is a proud product of the
Queen's City as a graduate of Brisbane Academy. She has
always believed in the power of community and the village mindset.
She is a principal that drives that's the principle that
drives her passion. I need to put my glasses here.
We're gonna get this right here, okay. Leah White a

(02:02):
proud product of the Queen City. She's a graduate of
Brisbane Academy and she is always believed in the power
of the village mindset. We're going to talk a lot
about that today. A principle that has really driven her
passion for service and leadership. And she's followed in someone's
specials footsteps. I'm not going to tell you who. I'll
let her tell you. And she is also the founder

(02:24):
of I VOW, which is a nonprofit or organization that's
dedicated to helping character education, financial literacy, and life skill development.
Now I'm not going to read everything because then other
than that, I'm telling you her whole story. But she
does hold a bachelor's degree in international public relations from
UNC Charlotte, right here in the Queen City of Charlotte,

(02:46):
North Carolina. Now, I know this show airs in one
hundred and forty countries, but she is a product right
here where I am, located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and
her journey and her degree has helped her advance really
with extensive study abroad, even in all different areas Milan, Italy, London, England,
you name it, she's been. I'll let you her tell

(03:06):
you how many countries she's been around to. But I'm
so glad to have you here today here, So we're
gonna go ahead and get started. And I don't want
us to miss a moment because there's so many thoughts
that are running through my head. Whenever I thought about
the fact that you would be here today, I immediately
wanted to just say thank you to this lady. Jerry Crooks.

(03:31):
You all, if you've never encountered Jerry, no matter what,
you could have the worst bad day and if you
are in the presence of this woman, she's gonna give
you this hug that makes you feel like all walls
are torn down, all barriers are gone, and she connects

(03:52):
her heart to your heart. And it's something about the
way she hugged you, right.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
Leah, Yes, definitely, My mom is definitely top ten, Like
you can't beat that.

Speaker 1 (04:04):
Everybody. Everybody needs to benefit from a hug from from Jerry.

Speaker 2 (04:09):
I have a friend, I'm like, I just need a
hug from your mom.

Speaker 4 (04:12):
Right.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
I was wondering if it was just me because I
brought some people to an event one time, Leah, and
at the event, she just walked up to them and
not invaded their space or anything. She asked, can I
can I give you a hug? And okay, fine, Like
that's weird to I want to hug right per se,
But to me, it's not weird. I hug everybody. But
when I hug everybody, it does not break the barrier

(04:35):
down like when she hugged So she's like, no, no, no,
We're not gonna hug on that side, we're hard to heart,
So I was like, what is this about? So we
hug hard to heart and all of a sudden, there's
this this synergy that happens that I feel like we're
like so connected some kind of way. And I'm like,
I don't even notice lady like this, but we become

(04:57):
best like best of friends type of thing, the result
of the love from my heart.

Speaker 2 (05:02):
To her heart connecting. Anyway, I could do a whole
show on just the heart connection, the heart show.

Speaker 1 (05:10):
The joy of many people's lives, Jerry Crooks, and share
your story too, because we'd love to have you.

Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yes, she could definitely come on the show.

Speaker 3 (05:18):
She loves to talk, she's great at fat so and
I love her and sharing her word because a lot
of people don't have that joy. And something she really
instilled in me was the unconditional love. And I think
that's what really drove me to be such a community
person is that I realized there's so many people in
our community that lack unconditional love.

Speaker 1 (05:37):
That's good to know that that driving force really helps
shape who you are today. So even being born and
raised in the Charlotte, North Carolina area and being a
proud product of the Queens City. What are some of
the things in your upbringing that really helped shape your
passion that you have for serving other people.

Speaker 3 (05:58):
I would have to take it back to my great
grandmother there. She raised me probably so I was like
five or six and then yeah, she passed away. She
was one o seven, but she was a firecracker up
until her last day.

Speaker 1 (06:13):
You know, I don't have a picture of your grandma.
I wish I had a picture.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
But yeah, she she she was my heart. And then
my grandma Nana, she took over. They both really took
a lot of time in stealing wisdom in me. My
mother had Brisbane Academy, so that was her first baby
that took a lot of attention. So the village really
came in and raised me. So I think seeing my

(06:37):
mom have that unconditional love in the community and then
having my elders pour into me really made me who
I am. And that's why I think, you know, for me,
I'm like, I want to engage the youth, but I
also want to engage the elders because not to make
it a racial thing, but really in the black community,
I've seen that we have lost respect for our elders.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
That's so unfortunate. I've witten as people just rushing to
a door and then let the door close behind him,
and i can see a struggling elderly person. But I'm like,
you know what, I'll run and open the door. But
I'm thinking, what is our society coming to that that
would be the case. But let me provide some fair balance,
because I've seen situations where I literally pulled my phone

(07:19):
out and recorded it because I'm seeing a young man
that's lifting a lady that can't get out of her chair,
and he's lifting with all his body weight to make
sure that she has.

Speaker 2 (07:29):
An easier situation.

Speaker 1 (07:30):
So there are some that are out here that are
all about themselves, and then there are some that are like, no,
I'm going to stop life and help you. You know.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
Well, it's like we have to really highlight those stories.
I remember I took a calm theory class at CPCC,
and my press are talked about the agenda setting theory
and how there's so much promotion on negative things. I
just have a conversation about police officers. I'm like, there's
a lot of good police officers out there, but that's
not what gets highlighted, so we automatically think, oh, you know,

(08:00):
or enraged. But it's like, let's start highlighting the good
police officers and then maybe it will urge more people
to be like, wow, there are good police officers, and
it will encourage police officers to know like it's an
honor to carry a badge. So just just really highlighting
positive things, I think is something I really want to do.
That's why I admire your show so much, because you're
always speaking about positive things.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
I'm like, yes, we need more of this.

Speaker 1 (08:22):
That's a thank you for that. But you know what's
funny because now if I was talking about some raunchy
stuff and who did what to whom and all of that,
the ratings will be whipped right out. You be on Hulu,
Netflix and everywhere. But you're talking about this Betty Crocker stuff.
It's like, what, like what we're doing to make a
difference in the world or.

Speaker 3 (08:43):
Road well, even like nationally people talk about Charlotte because
of the crime.

Speaker 2 (08:47):
I'm like, there's a lot of good things happening in Charlotte.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Guys.

Speaker 2 (08:52):
That's interesting.

Speaker 1 (08:52):
I'm glad you said that because there are so many
good things happening. But figuring out a way to be
able to highlight those like You're a good thing in
my opinion. So that's why I'm bringing Eleiah White on
because this whole thing about putting community first and not
worrying about any particular political stance is really a big

(09:13):
to do in what you're doing. I wanted to find
out from you that, with your mom being with Brisbane
Academy for over a decade, what lessons have her leadership
played in really having sticking power in your life.

Speaker 2 (09:31):
I think so.

Speaker 3 (09:32):
My mother always said, like when people would come to school,
they would say, we want to speak to the owner,
we want to speak to the founder, and she would
point to a staff member.

Speaker 2 (09:39):
She's like, Okay, talk to him.

Speaker 3 (09:42):
You know, she never took credit for anything that she did,
and I think that really showed me because humility is
a big thing, especially in politics. You know, we have
a lot of accolades and I'm a chair member of this,
and I'm a board member of this, and this is this.
I'm like, okay, but did you go to the community
event last night? Did you talk to these group of
young kids who need encouragement? Like I think we have

(10:03):
to really start thinking like that village like she always
she used to quote by Nelson Mandela, you leave from
the you leave from behind, so you never know who
the real leader is.

Speaker 1 (10:16):
Wait, somebody type that, because I mean, we're gonna be
dropping some nuggets this woman wife.

Speaker 2 (10:21):
Listen, she I just every time around here. I'm like, Okay,
what do you want to say?

Speaker 1 (10:26):
You lead from behind?

Speaker 2 (10:28):
Yes? And what did that mean to you when she
said that?

Speaker 3 (10:31):
So what that meant is you are supposed to encourage
other people, so that way you don't always have to lead, right, Okay.

Speaker 1 (10:41):
So rubbing off on other people and letting other people
have the heart that you project and that you intend
to have towards people, but it shouldn't have to always
come from you, even behind your back. I actually had
a conversation with one of our church administrators just yesterday
and I was saying, you know, I really want to
make sure that the heart that I have towards people,

(11:03):
that it happens regardless of whether I'm present or not.
I want it to be something that shows up behind
my back, in front of me, beside me, or whatever.
And I really do feel like I have people that's
surrounding me that are doing that. So shout out to you,
Kim Addacks, because she is doing some great things from
our church with promised fellowship and leading in that capacity

(11:26):
as an administrator.

Speaker 2 (11:27):
Well, that's what it's about. Like we have to encourage
each other.

Speaker 3 (11:30):
We have to One of my favorite artists, Nipsey Hustle,
he always said, inspiring is the greatest act that you
can do. You think about like everyone's like money, money, money,
but it's like I would rather inspire somebody than give
them ten dollars because the wisdom that I can give
them is going to take them way farther. I mean,
you know, they say, give a man of fish, give
a man a fishing ride, So which one's going to

(11:53):
be more valuable?

Speaker 1 (11:54):
That's right. I'm glad. I'm glad that you're saying that.
And so your mom inspired you by leading by example.
So she's building her own legacy right while she's alive.
A lot of times people when they talk about legacy
is after the person is gone. In this case, your
mom is a person in my opinion, that is leading
and rising up and building legacy right now while she's

(12:17):
on this earth passing the baton to you.

Speaker 3 (12:20):
Yes, so she can still instill that wisdom in me
while she's here. So I think that's a big thing.
And I always try to encourage the kids i'm with.
I'm like, I want to tell you these things now,
like you need to know this now because I.

Speaker 1 (12:32):
Didn't know this was your age. And so yeah, that's
so good, Leah. I think that every young person needs
to know you. I think every older person needs to
know you because we can learn a lot from people
that are younger than us as well. And I've learned
quite a bit just being in your presence already today.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
Well that's like a big thing I really wanted to do.
And I know, like for me, being in the community
means we have our elders, we have our youth. Like
there's things that I can learn from a five year old, right,
there are things that a fifty year old can learn
from a ten year old. There's things that a ninety
year old can learn from a seventeen year old. And
when we stop thinking like that is when it's detrimental
to a human race.

Speaker 2 (13:12):
I'm glad.

Speaker 1 (13:13):
See, that's why God is our I believe that God
gives all of us gifts and talents, and I talked
about that if you all didn't watch the program the
last two days where I've talked about how to start
your own show from scratch and really broadcasting your own business.
And in that conversation, I was telling people how important
it is to all use all of our gifts in
our talents, because all of us have a different gift

(13:36):
than our next person that's near us. But the whole
world is missing out if we don't use the gifts
and the talents that we are gifted to salt the earth.

Speaker 3 (13:45):
With exactly Well, we're all put here with a purpose.
So and I think part of my purpose is helping
people identify their purpose.

Speaker 2 (13:54):
Good.

Speaker 1 (13:54):
I can tell that's part of your purpose. Sometimes it's
funny you don't even have to say what your purpose is.
You can other people know how to fill in the
blanks of your purpose because it just pours and seeps
from your pores. Like we know, your mom is love
and the heart connection and everything she does it supports that.
So everything you're doing is supporting. I believe in the

(14:17):
village concept. I believe in people globally speaking of which
you've traveled to thirty six countries, right, yes, Oh, I
didn't know if it increased since then. It's been thirty
Oh I'm trying.

Speaker 2 (14:29):
To think now. I think I've only done repeats since then. Yeah, okay,
but hello, thirty six. I don't think that's.

Speaker 1 (14:35):
For the pain.

Speaker 2 (14:35):
I'll go back and visit something sack. Well, okay, tell
us what's your favorite country that you've been to.

Speaker 3 (14:42):
Oh, so it's hard to say, but I think Slovenia
was a really nice place for me, just because they
don't get a lot of African Americans or Black Americans
come there, and even having like people of color travel
there's very scarce. So when they saw me it was like, oh, oh,
you know.

Speaker 1 (15:01):
I was like, hi, I'm trying to type out a
specia okay.

Speaker 3 (15:10):
And the the city I went to was Loubi, Jiana,
so my first name, and they pronounced it.

Speaker 2 (15:16):
I was like, oh my goodness. So but it just
it was just such a feeling of love.

Speaker 3 (15:21):
I really felt like everyone there was just it felt
so authentic.

Speaker 2 (15:26):
And I was coming from the pictures of it.

Speaker 3 (15:28):
Okay, yeah, I was coming from Bulgaria, which is where
I had I won't say a bad experience, but because
it is so close to Russia, and once they saw
that American passport, they were like, ooh, girl, okay, take
me to the first close country.

Speaker 1 (15:51):
Tell me like, I'm out of here. I don't know.

Speaker 3 (15:54):
As soon as they were like you can't be here,
I was like, okay, sorry, I'm just I'm just traveling along.
But yeah, I think just traveling in general. I just
loved you. It was like an addiction. I got to
Milan and I was so scared. I was so, so,
so scared because I had been in Charlotte my whole life.

Speaker 2 (16:13):
I had been an.

Speaker 3 (16:14):
Academy, graduated with seven other students, so I'm used to
these small class sizes. And I got through two weeks
earlier than school had started. So I was in a hostel.
I don't know if you know what that is, but
it's like a hotel for young, well people at all ages,
mostly young kids, and it's probably like you're in a

(16:36):
room and there's like six seven other people in there
with you, and I was just like.

Speaker 2 (16:42):
Okay, I'm going to get through this. I'm gonna get
through this. And I call my mom and I was like,
I want to come home. I need to get out
of here.

Speaker 1 (16:48):
What did your mom say?

Speaker 2 (16:49):
She was like, are you sure? Pray about it? And
I was like, okay.

Speaker 3 (16:54):
That's when I called my dad and he was like,
we said you all the way out there, he's staying.

Speaker 1 (17:00):
So Dad was not as, uh, you know you're gonna
be there. So when you so when you when you
had these experiences and so you clearly ended up staying
in that particular instance.

Speaker 3 (17:13):
So I think, like I said, what I call my
dad and I was like, okay, well I called with
my parents.

Speaker 2 (17:18):
Let me pray about it.

Speaker 3 (17:19):
And when I prayed about it, I had took a
nap and I had woke up and this guy I
thought he was speaking Russian. I was so disoriented because
I was just still so scared. He was actually speaking Spanish, and.

Speaker 2 (17:30):
So I'm like, oh my god, this is angry Russian.
It must be time for me to go. And then
he said hi, my name is Martina. I was like,
you speak English. He was like yeah, I from Argantina.

Speaker 3 (17:38):
So we and then we started talking and we become
best friends.

Speaker 2 (17:42):
Like just like that.

Speaker 3 (17:43):
And I just had to shout him out because if
it wasn't for him, I would not have been it.

Speaker 2 (17:48):
And so he took me on my first train ride.
We went to.

Speaker 3 (17:53):
Oh my goodness, it was uh. I came around the
name It'll come back to me. But it was like
maybe forty five minutes away. It wasn't far at all.
But I had never been on a train. Charlotte doesn't
have well, Charlotte didn't have trains at the time, so
that was just such an interesting experience. I was just
so scared. I was like, oh my gosh. And then
I once I got into college, I met the other

(18:14):
foreign students. I met some other American students, Australian students.

Speaker 2 (18:18):
It was a lot of.

Speaker 3 (18:19):
Germans, and I started connecting and I was like, Okay,
I can do this, I can do this.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
And I realized, you're over there by yourself. You're over
there by myself.

Speaker 3 (18:28):
My mom had a friend and his friend's nephews were
in Milan, so they kind of helped me a little bit.
But they have their own lives, like we're eighteen, nineteen
years old. They don't want a babysit an American girl.

Speaker 1 (18:41):
Like okay, so wait, what advice would you give people that,
because I'm even talking about advice for me that want
to travel to other countries but really are leary out
of all of the horror stories that you hear, what
advice could you give us.

Speaker 3 (19:00):
Say that wherever you go, you're going to have to
be conscious, Like you can go out in Charlotte, like
there's places in Charlotte. I'm like, you know, looking over
you know, so it's I always tried to stay away
because even I think when I was over there, people
would try to send meself. I'm like, oh, because you

(19:21):
can't be fearful when you travel, and I think that
thing for me, like being a young girl looking back. Okay,
there were some things I wish I would have done
some more research or kind of took in consideration. You
have some stories, but I'm not going to share them.

Speaker 1 (19:34):
Okay, I wasn't sure. I was like, are you gonna
want to tell us about these things?

Speaker 3 (19:39):
I don't want to scare anybody, but just being conscious
of your surroundings.

Speaker 2 (19:43):
I think that's anywhere you go.

Speaker 3 (19:44):
You can be in target or food line and still
be worried about someone mugging you, or you just have
to be conscious of your surroundings, like never be airheaded.

Speaker 2 (19:55):
It's what I would tell people. And learn how to
read the map if you try. I was to Europe.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
It is a very walkable city. They have their transportation
is ten out of ten. I mean, I haven't been
spent a lot of time in the major cities here,
but Europe, wherever I went, I never felt like I
had to call it uber get a taxi, like it
was either walkable or their transportation was there.

Speaker 1 (20:20):
So well, that's good to know. That's inspiring. And so
the information and experiences that you had around all of
the countries that you've experienced to date, what have you
been able to do to make that bring it back
home to show the potential of what kid it's.

Speaker 2 (20:38):
Like about traveling.

Speaker 3 (20:40):
Like two years ago, I took three of my students
to South Africa and Cape Town and it was such
a great experience. The youngest one was six, so it
was just such a great experience because I want them
to know that you can travel, like it's something we
can do and it's doable, especially with people my age,

(21:00):
Like it costs a thousand dollars to rent a section
that's a plane ticket, Like we really take this traveling
to a different country, like it's unaccessible to us. And
I think that is one of my biggest passions that
I really want to take young people and children to
other countries so they can be exposed to different lifestyles
because how we live in the United States it's very

(21:21):
different from how you live in Johannesburg, South Africa, or
how you live in Perlin, Germany, or how you live
in Milan, Italy. Like, there's just so many factors, and
I think it's good to be exposed to those because
they're those to American TV, so all they see is
with that raw on TV. So having especially black people

(21:42):
go to these countries and show them, like, because I'll
never forget when this Italian guy, he was like, he
was talking to me at a Dico teka and he
was like, oh, he got into a argument. He's like,
are you gonna throw a drink in my face?

Speaker 2 (21:53):
And I was like, why would you think God was
gonna throw a drink in your face? But it's a perception.

Speaker 4 (21:59):
Wow.

Speaker 3 (22:00):
And you know, my mom always says, change the way
you change the way you look at things, things you
look at will change.

Speaker 1 (22:05):
And so somebody type that, wait, somebody, y'all, I'm telling
you change.

Speaker 2 (22:12):
I've always I have to have.

Speaker 3 (22:13):
I have a whole book I'm trying to write of
just the things what change the way you look at
things and things you look at will change.

Speaker 2 (22:20):
She didn't come up with that. Somebody else said it,
but she always would.

Speaker 3 (22:23):
Say that to me as a child, and the older
I got, I'm like, wow.

Speaker 2 (22:27):
This this makes sense.

Speaker 3 (22:28):
So when I was in Morocco and people were like, oh,
you got to do this, you gotta be sick, I'm like, well,
if I look at this as an experience and exposure,
while I'm still being conscious, I'm not fearful. And I
think that's what drives a lot of people not to
travel or go think outside the box or do things differently.
It is because they always they have this perception of

(22:48):
it's too hard, or it's.

Speaker 2 (22:50):
Not safe or things you like, Okay, you take it.

Speaker 1 (22:55):
Thank you for being the administrative assistant over here. On
the Kim Jacob Show today, I was trying to type.
I'm like, I need somebody be typing this stuff. So
let's see change the way you look at things and
things you look at will change.

Speaker 2 (23:08):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (23:09):
I agree with that wholeheartedly. All right, all right, let's
keep going. Let's keep going. This is some good this
is some good stuff. So what inspired you to start
I vow and what gap do you see that's in
the community that you are helping to feel as a
result of being with ivaw Well.

Speaker 3 (23:26):
I think traveling like that is my biggest passion and
I really want kids to travel like I think it
is so important. The first time I went out of
the country, I was nine years old. Yeah it's Pride
Village and I went to South Africa and it completely
changed my outlook on life. There's so many things that

(23:47):
American children, whether you're poor, rich, middle class, whatever, that
we have access to that these a lot of children
in South Africa do not have access to, right, And
it really made me grateful.

Speaker 2 (24:00):
Everything that I have.

Speaker 3 (24:02):
And so coming back here it was like wow, like
and these kids have no idea.

Speaker 1 (24:06):
Right, but by you, by you exposing them first of all,
when you say taking three kids or however many children
out of the country, how are their parents.

Speaker 2 (24:16):
With The parents came to. Okay, I'm gonna say effort.
It was a group effort. Yes, okay, okay.

Speaker 1 (24:24):
I was like, I can't get off the show without
hearing yes.

Speaker 2 (24:27):
Yeah, the parents are sitting there six year old children. No, no, no,
the parents came to. So it was like an experience
for everybody.

Speaker 3 (24:33):
And I think that was so big because the parents
too got to see their children up close and personal,
like wow, they're really considerate. They're really they're saying please
and thank you, they're asking questions. We went to Robin
Island and my fifteen year old nephew went. He was
four tenth of time, and he was really engaged with
these prisoners, like he was talking to them. Because Robin

(24:56):
Island that's where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned, and the prisoners
the last prisoners, they stayed there, and so they do tours.
So it's really heavy the fact that they say, but
because they know their purpose was to educate people on
this place and to do such a great job storytelling
about every I mean, it is it's so many people

(25:17):
that we don't even know that happened at Robin Island.
I mean, it's just it's it's mind blowing, it really is.
And to see these kids really indulge and want to
know more about history, it was it's just was like, oh,
my heart, because really when I was when I was
in Milan, Italy, my first semester, I was having a
really hard time. I was the only black American and

(25:41):
it just it was hard. And my uh, I think
he was my literacy teacher.

Speaker 2 (25:47):
I can't remember.

Speaker 3 (25:49):
This is a long time ago, but one of my
professors he gave me sol on Ice. He gave me
he said, read this book and so on Ice Ice,
sol on Ice by Eldrich Kleaver. And he was part
of the Black Panther Party, and it just I knew
about the Black Panthers, but.

Speaker 2 (26:06):
I wasn't you know.

Speaker 3 (26:07):
I knew Bobby Sell, knew who we knew in that
was it, Like I just I didn't know the start time,
how it was dismantled, any of that. And I read
this book and it just put me in a hole
of like just it changed my whole perspective of what
being black meant to me. And it made me want
to advocate to more people about how important it is

(26:30):
to know your history because no one talks about the
black history. No one talks about you know, we talked
about Martins Uther King, which is great. I applaud him.
I'm grateful for him.

Speaker 2 (26:41):
Malcolm X.

Speaker 3 (26:42):
Rose Apart, we close the book, that's it to you
next February, I vow to me I really.

Speaker 2 (26:48):
Wanted us to.

Speaker 3 (26:49):
I really wanted children to know how important it is
to understand black history, to know where we came from.
It's not just we're yes, since sixteen nineteen we came
over here from slaves. But from that, so much has
happened in so many people. Because even Frederick Douglas, people
know what he looks like, but do you really know
what he did? He did?

Speaker 2 (27:07):
You know w the voice, you know what he looks like.
Do you know what he did?

Speaker 1 (27:11):
You hear the names, but.

Speaker 3 (27:13):
We know these names, we don't know what they did,
their impact and how they really shaped black culture and
how Now I'm looking at these young kids, I'm like,
so they need all of this, So you want to
do this.

Speaker 1 (27:25):
And it's like, no, no, we're gonna change this thing.
You're not about to misrepresent our ancestors under any circumstances,
under anyone too are like Harriet Tubmans said you gonna
you was gonna be free or you're gonna die you But.

Speaker 3 (27:41):
Then Harry also said everybody can go, and I'm realizing
that unfortunately.

Speaker 1 (27:46):
So it's right. It's like a contraindicate, and not contra
indication that's medica medical, but a contradiction because it's like
dog gone it. As much as I want everybody to
be free, and I'm demanding you you better listen, because
we only got a limited amount of time for you
to get cross to safety using all of our codes
and singing wad and water all of the things that
we have to do to be able to be on

(28:06):
one accord and nowhere.

Speaker 2 (28:08):
Here so we can know which way to go right.

Speaker 1 (28:11):
But then there are some no matter what you do.

Speaker 2 (28:13):
Leah, it doesn't they're content.

Speaker 1 (28:17):
Yeah, they're okay. They're like Moses was like, Lord, have
mercy the people when he's trying to get them across
the sea, and they like, look here, you could have
just left us in Egypt to die, have some food
and water. Really you'd rather die.

Speaker 3 (28:31):
It's slave to see like people are okay with complacency,
and we look at it now, I'm like, think about,
like I said, the agenda setting theory. They're saying these things,
you're believing these things, and now you're just sitting out
home watching the news, scared to leave your house. So's
eyebow really sim for me seeing how much change there

(28:52):
is to be in the world. I really feel, like
I said, I vow. I named it because it's the
five Bowels.

Speaker 2 (28:58):
Oh yes, it's Robin Island.

Speaker 1 (29:00):
Wanted to put that out because for those people to
stay back knowing that they were able to be free
to go yeah, and to stay and make that their
life's mission.

Speaker 2 (29:09):
To educate people.

Speaker 1 (29:10):
I just find that to be just most mesmerizing in it.

Speaker 3 (29:13):
It's really intern. Like I said, I think it just
makes the visit so much because I've been to South
Africa a few times now, and every time I'm like,
I gotta go back to Robin Island.

Speaker 1 (29:24):
Your mom always invites me, so I guess one time
I have to go.

Speaker 3 (29:29):
Yeah. It just uplifts you, like it really makes you
feel like wow, Like I like this. This is just
such an amazing part of life. And the fact that
these people are staying on this island after being beaten, tortured,
I mean, horrible things, just.

Speaker 2 (29:46):
To say this was my story.

Speaker 3 (29:48):
I don't want it to happen again, and just educating
like they it's phenomenal. Like I can't talk enough about
these men. They really like every time I go there,
I have a notebook, I'm like okay, and then.

Speaker 2 (30:00):
And after that, how did this make you feel? Like?

Speaker 3 (30:01):
It just it really it inspires me so much to
see people go through all that trauma and heartbreak and
just to say, well, now this is my story and
I want to tell it because I want to educate
the world. Because you think about it, there's not a
lot of books about Robin Island or I know. Yeah,
so it's just part of that history that we don't
know about.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
And what impact did it have on your students that
did participate as far as especially comparing it to the
community that we live in and then being there in
South Africa and having a visual, hands on experience, that's
got to be life altering.

Speaker 2 (30:37):
Yes, for sure.

Speaker 3 (30:38):
Like I said, the oldest he was fourteen, thinking yeah,
I don't think he turned fifteen yet. And he just
like I said, he really took an interest, like he
was so engaged, Like he was asking the prisoners questions.

Speaker 2 (30:48):
I was like, Dan, I never thought about that question.

Speaker 3 (30:50):
But because he could not understand why they would not
leave this island and it just don't treat him so much.
But then he the more questions he asked, the more
gay she was. He was like, wow, like I understand
they have to be here to tell this story. No
one else can tell this story or it's not gonna resonate.

Speaker 2 (31:07):
I was like, you really didn't it, Like yeah, a
six year old. I think it did.

Speaker 3 (31:13):
It might have went above her head a little bit,
but because we did go around the whole island, so
it's a little bit of you know, she fell asleep
a little bit, but I think it still showed her
how important it is just to know history, because she
was still fascinated.

Speaker 1 (31:29):
But you gotta go, Kim, you gotta go.

Speaker 3 (31:34):
Okay, okay, okay okay.

Speaker 2 (31:37):
Definitely the ten year old.

Speaker 3 (31:39):
We actually have four students. I apologize a ten year
old in the eight year old. They really I think
it impacted them a lot because they were able to
I mean, they were looking at Nelson Mandela cell they
were like, can we go in here?

Speaker 2 (31:49):
I'm like, no, I can't.

Speaker 3 (31:53):
But just them seeing that, like being seeing it in
their face and knowing this is where people were sent
for doing the right thing, I think really kind of
shifted their mindset to know, well, wow, now I have
the opportunity to do the right thing and I'm not
going to get put away.

Speaker 2 (32:07):
Like freedom of speech.

Speaker 3 (32:09):
They you know, understanding like where's a power fum, you
can say a lot, you have a purpose, You're meant
to do something.

Speaker 2 (32:16):
So I kind of gave them that, like like.

Speaker 3 (32:18):
I said, a little bit like of excitement, like wow,
like you know, well, if they went to prison for
speaking their mind and trying to get people free and
ended apart time, what can I do?

Speaker 2 (32:28):
Like it kind of made yeah.

Speaker 3 (32:29):
So it's like, yeah, like what can you do because
now you're free, you have the right to do all
you have the resources. That's amazing, like empowered And I
think that's the biggest thing.

Speaker 2 (32:38):
Like I love empowering the youth.

Speaker 3 (32:41):
I think is one of my biggest callings. I always
want them to feel like you can do whatever you
put your mind to. I have an eight year old
she tells me all the time, I'm gonna be present
in the United States.

Speaker 2 (32:49):
I'm like, yes, girl, you are.

Speaker 3 (32:51):
Like we have to start really like telling our children
what they can do, because on another side of the
world they're telling them, yeah, you can do that, Yes,
you can do that.

Speaker 2 (33:01):
All things.

Speaker 1 (33:02):
Christ and I believe wholeheartedly that we can do anything
that we believe. We think it up, we can dream
it up, we can believe it, we can achieve it. It
is possible. The only roadblock, in my opinion, many times
is ourselves.

Speaker 3 (33:14):
Yeah, so oh it's us, And sometimes it is the
people around you.

Speaker 1 (33:19):
Yeah, sometimes it's the people around you that's not willing
to encourage you and to say, you know what, I
believe in this piece of a gift that I see
in you, because we can see gifts and talents and children,
but and even in young adults like yourself. When I
talk with your mom about it, I was like, Leah,
I don't even do stuff pertaining to political related topics period.

(33:40):
I just don't pretty much stay away from it, right. Well,
I was like, well, Leah White is different, baby, she is.

Speaker 3 (33:46):
For the people that a campaign like we have to
stop thinking like I'm seeing Paul. I grew up in
a very political household on my father's side, and I
always wanted to be like, why is it like this,
Like why is it always people arguing why they like
the governments will before the people by the people, Like

(34:08):
it's not making sense to me, Like we spend tax
dollars to let people, are you right?

Speaker 1 (34:12):
I mean lose friendships, lose I mean.

Speaker 2 (34:15):
You name it. It goes.

Speaker 1 (34:17):
I mean speaking to each other over some political issues.

Speaker 3 (34:20):
You know, and like you even said you don't get
into politics, and that's why I was like, I want
to be non affiliated. If I have to get fifteen
hundred signatures knocking on doors and only getting four hours
to sleep a day, whatever.

Speaker 2 (34:30):
Right, because it's important, I don't.

Speaker 3 (34:32):
I want people to know that we have to put
people before politics, before a party, before whatever, because at
the end of the day, we all want the same thing.
We want to go home and feel safe. We want
to be able to retire and have some type of
financial freedom, and we want to be able to send
our school our kids to school and them come back
and feel safe.

Speaker 2 (34:51):
But if we all want the same thing, how is
it all these.

Speaker 3 (34:54):
Little you know, all these little calculations like oh, I
want this too, and I want this too, and I
want Like if we just got the big picture.

Speaker 1 (35:02):
We all want the same thing, and we all want
the same thing no matter what our race, religion, political stance,
we all just want to love, peace and happiness.

Speaker 3 (35:11):
In my opinion, listen, love happiness. That's all, that's all
we need.

Speaker 1 (35:16):
I often tell people that's.

Speaker 4 (35:17):
Of God, and I'm not God's junior, so I don't
know whatever God decides to allow to happen, that's between
him and But but anyway, okay, let's see here, I
see somebody saying.

Speaker 1 (35:28):
Adolphus says, hey, you are truly amazing.

Speaker 2 (35:31):
Leah White.

Speaker 1 (35:31):
Y'all keep in comments coming. Y'all are very inspiring out
here today. Deborah says, I'm so proud of you, Leah
for being a great representative for our culture and thank you.
I see somebody saying, oh, we love Jerry. He says, yeah,
we love Jerry. Let's see lots lots of comments. If
I don't get to your comment, please know that we

(35:52):
definitely will get to it on social media some kind
of way. But I just want to acknowledge South Africa
as a life changing experience for so many for sure.
And you have to go okay. I saw that, okay,
and their experiences significantly changed their mentality. The changes they're
talking about regarding the youth that attended chances you physically witnessed.

Speaker 2 (36:13):
That's beautiful.

Speaker 3 (36:14):
Yeah, even like watching them like now, I'm like wow,
Like that one trip that ten days really shifted how
you think it's such you apart from your peers. And
that was part of the mission with Eyebow, like how
can we raise money, how can we make sure these
kids get their passports and are able to travel. When
I came back and at the time, I think I
had maybe like thirty two countries, and it was so

(36:37):
many adults saying, I ain't never been out this country.
I ain't never been out, and I'm just.

Speaker 2 (36:40):
Like, why, there's no reason you can You have a car.

Speaker 3 (36:46):
You know at some point you had enough money to
say I can spend. Because it's always a financial thing.
That's always what I'm just like. And that's also why
I try to teach financial literacy to the kids, because
that is so important, especially in these urban communities. We
do not prioritize where our money goes. My mom never
bought us name brand ever, and if it's funny now

(37:10):
people are like, oh, you're in politics, you gotta put
some tough skia and I'm like, man, listen. Growing up
and not ever wearing name brand, and my brother were
eighteen months apart, so I always got his hand me.

Speaker 2 (37:21):
Down, so.

Speaker 3 (37:23):
I'm wearing like hand me down shacks and Dickies, and
that was pretty much the only name brand because they
sold that City Chains.

Speaker 2 (37:30):
I was like, please, please.

Speaker 1 (37:31):
Let City Tracks have something that you want.

Speaker 2 (37:33):
He Lord, please come through City Triple Queer, the Rock
Aware Please.

Speaker 3 (37:40):
I'tak back, but you know it really shifted because my
mom would always say, what is that?

Speaker 2 (37:46):
What have they done for you?

Speaker 3 (37:48):
And I'm like, well, they sell a lot of you know,
it's it's always they do this and they do that,
but they're.

Speaker 2 (37:55):
Not doing anything for the community.

Speaker 3 (37:58):
And that's what really made me start really advocating because
I'm like, well, now athletes are starting to do more,
which I really appreciate. It was a Carolina Panthers. I
think he just donated like almost thirteen million dollars to
the homeless. But yeah, that's really great, but we as
a community have to do better pouring back into ourselves.
We look at a lot of other communities that have

(38:19):
no problem. I mean, if you go to a hairstore,
it's not owned by a black woman or a black man.
So it's like certain things we have to be like, well,
how can we pour back into us because the people
that we pour into they don't support us.

Speaker 2 (38:33):
Fency or not fency. I love Rihanna, but a lot.

Speaker 3 (38:36):
Of these other name brands they don't pour into the community.
But we're spending thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands
of dollars. Louis Vuitton, I think just got their first
black model, first black designer in the early twenty tens.
I believe I might just be miss speaking, but I
don't think we prioritize where our money goes. And that's

(38:57):
why with IVAO, I really want to concentrate on financial literacy,
like what's really important to us and for me traveling
like I will take a plane ticket to Bora, Bora
over a bag any day.

Speaker 2 (39:09):
Like that's good.

Speaker 1 (39:12):
Wow, you saying so much. I'm like over here taking
notes myself. I'm like, I don't know what y'all doing,
but I'm over here taking some notes because this young lady,
Leah White is really dropping some significant knowledge the importance
of having our young people have international travel experiences, not
being limited just to a city. And she is willing

(39:33):
obviously to travel abroad with these children and their parents
and to give them exposure and it's life altering change,
life altering experiences, especially like the Robin Island experience in
South Africa. So listen, what we're gonna do is we're
gonna just take a quick commercial break. Well, before I
go to the break, I needed to also just acknowledge
because we're gonna transition to but this talked us about

(39:54):
this picture here, it's beautiful.

Speaker 2 (39:56):
Is my family or part of my family.

Speaker 3 (39:59):
All of them are not paid, but it's my dad
and then me and my brother, and then my nephew
and then my sister in law and then my mom
and my phoneis dad and my grandmother.

Speaker 2 (40:13):
So that was us. We had a Father's Day gathering.
So it was my brother's first Father's Day. We have
to celebrate. Yeah, Easton was tired out. He sleep.

Speaker 1 (40:24):
Oh that's awesome. This is awesome, and you can see
the closeness. And I really would even like for you
to speak for a brief moment about this picture because
you have you see there you're with your dad and
then you see your mom and your stepdad as well,
but they're all in the same picture. Talk to us
about that for a minute, because that's important. A lot
of times when people are divorced, then they've gone their

(40:45):
separate ways. You will never see this picture again.

Speaker 2 (40:48):
Never. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (40:50):
And everyone like in my family, well and my friend family,
because I have a friend family, they always said they're like, oh,
you're so lucky or do I'm just like, I'm blessed.
I'm really blessed. My parents when they decided to part ways,
it wasn't like they always made sure like I'm not
gonna speak negative about you, you don't speak negative about me.

Speaker 2 (41:08):
That was the biggest thing.

Speaker 3 (41:10):
And being a teacher, I really try to put emphasis
on kids whose parents are not together. I'm like, please
don't speak negative, and you know, because it affects them.
And when it affects the kids, and you know, it's
almost like you got to pick a.

Speaker 1 (41:23):
Side, right Unfortunately.

Speaker 3 (41:25):
Yeah, Well, and that's the whole point of like how
we live in human nature.

Speaker 2 (41:29):
They want to divide you, so you think this or
you're this.

Speaker 3 (41:33):
It's like, no, why can't we all just be together?
Like that's that aspect of unconditional love. My mother has
always loved my father unconditionally, right, So I think that
brought us to be a nice, blendid family.

Speaker 2 (41:45):
So we don't have to be like, Okay, well this.

Speaker 3 (41:47):
Christmas from one to four, we're gonna be here this
Christmas from five.

Speaker 2 (41:51):
You know, we don't have to do that because we
can all.

Speaker 3 (41:53):
Like I said, my mom really stressed unconditional love, so
we always had that in our family. We just really
want to emphasize that. And so once we feel like, oh,
this loves a little conditional what we'll.

Speaker 2 (42:06):
Put you over here for a second.

Speaker 3 (42:08):
But I think we in our family we really trying
to stress like just loving unconditionally.

Speaker 1 (42:12):
So I love your family and the dynamics of your family.
And then I also put this picture up and people
may not have known, but this talked to everyone about
this image as well.

Speaker 2 (42:23):
So this is This has.

Speaker 3 (42:24):
Been my life for the last thirty years. This this
is Brisbane Academy. So my mother is a founding director.
She bought this property from an elderly white couple who would.

Speaker 2 (42:36):
Not sell to her.

Speaker 3 (42:38):
And hearing the story of how she bought the property,
I found out I think I was in my early teens,
and she talked about how she had to get one
of her friends to buy the property and he sold
it to her for a penny.

Speaker 2 (42:49):
So just even getting the property.

Speaker 3 (42:51):
Was an obstacle, but she turned it into just something
so beautiful. Shout out to the city of Charlotte. They
have a landscaping program, so they donated the gardening beds.
And then we have a wonderful master gardener. She's awesome.
She's from New York and you hear her accent iss
so thick. You would never think she was a master gardener.

(43:13):
But this lady can literally turn dirt into a tree.
Like she's amazing, Like she has the biggest green thumb
in the world.

Speaker 2 (43:23):
She's so great.

Speaker 3 (43:24):
But she's really been so helpful with the garden and
the cucumbers, and my stepdad as well. They work really
hard in my garden to make sure we have our
harvest and giving it.

Speaker 2 (43:33):
To the community.

Speaker 3 (43:34):
It's so cool because the kids, they love to garden now.
So we have like the pressiest little girl that girls like, oh,
I don't want to get my nails dirty, but I'm like, well,
I want to get a cucumber. So you'll see them
shoveling in the dirt and putting the plants in.

Speaker 2 (43:47):
It was so cool.

Speaker 3 (43:47):
We actually have a gardening day on in April and
my eighteen month old little cousin was out there and
it was so cute.

Speaker 2 (43:53):
I was like, yeah, my daughter loves gardening.

Speaker 1 (43:56):
She grew some of the best zucchini and the weed
is tasting watermelon. I was like, oh, I love it.
So she has this great gardening.

Speaker 2 (44:05):
I guess I need help. I need help.

Speaker 1 (44:07):
I'm whatever she grows whatever she plans, except for broccoli
because the rabbits eat the broccoli.

Speaker 2 (44:15):
You see, we have liberry trees, and those rabbits just
had a feel.

Speaker 1 (44:18):
They were like, okay, so listen, y'all, make sure you're
staying connected. We're gonna ready to transition and talk about
something that's very near and dear to this woman's heart,
Leah White, and making sure that we all participate. If
you're especially in the Charlotte and surrounding areas, how we
can get involved in making a situation pop off, as

(44:38):
people say, a situation pop off for her, But make
sure you stay connected with her right on at the
Brisbane Legacy. In the AX, it's Leah White, the number
four piece. Oh I'm glad you said that. Okay, we'll
go ahead and say something while I correct that.

Speaker 3 (44:53):
Right.

Speaker 2 (44:54):
I was like, wait, let me.

Speaker 1 (44:55):
See see you see those older people we just we
you talk them all of that Twitter, they don't.

Speaker 2 (45:01):
It's like so many letters you can have in the thing.

Speaker 1 (45:05):
So yes, Leo, Leo White, four the number four piece,
four piece.

Speaker 2 (45:09):
All right, all right, so make sure.

Speaker 1 (45:11):
Y'all stay connected with her on the ex Twitter is
Leah White four piece and on Instagram at the Brisbane Legacy.
And so I do want to make sure while I
have you all here today, that you know that our
ten year five K walk for Gabe's Hart Foundation is
coming up on October eighteenth at eight o'clock am. Make

(45:34):
sure you bring students.

Speaker 2 (45:35):
Leah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 3 (45:37):
It may be heard at eight am, Willie. They may
be dragging her hour, but they'd be okay.

Speaker 1 (45:42):
But we're gonna be doing our five k walk. And
we raise funds every year for defibrillators to be put
in public spaces, and it's in honor of my twelve
year old son, Gabriel Michael Jacobs, that transition from this
earth with sudden cardiac arrest, and so we really always
go to great measures to get these defibrillators put in
public spaces where you congregate. If you have not already

(46:06):
registered for the five k walk, or you'd like to donate,
just let us know. Go and donate. You'll be able
to get a T shirt if you do it for
I think it's twenty dollars or whatever. But if you
donate twenty dollars, your information will come up and we'll
make sure you get a T shirt for the five
K walk. Gabesheart Foundation dot org and every Heartbeat does count.

(46:26):
So please make sure that you allow Gabes Hard to
just keep beating by being a part of the Gabes
Heart Foundation.

Speaker 2 (46:33):
Five K walk all right, and if you.

Speaker 1 (46:36):
Want to serve as a sponsor as well, let us
know that we are going to transition right now to
something that I think is important that we talk about
getting these petitions signed. Leah White is doing something in
district too, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Now again, this show
is in one hundred and forty countries. It's on Roku.

(46:56):
You may be like, we don't even know where Charlotte
is what district, but we're going to represent today and
I can wear am I I live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
So we're representing today. Leah White here with city council
district too. Talk to us about people over politics and
what that means.

Speaker 2 (47:13):
Yes, So I.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
Think the biggest thing for me, especially in politics is
being transparent. I think if we look at national local
news when it comes to politics, there's no transparency. There's
always some type of doing some deal behind the back,
or doing some of this. And now we have new roles,
new construction, new budgets, all this stuff.

Speaker 2 (47:35):
When I say putting people over politics.

Speaker 3 (47:37):
I think we need to have more community involvement in politics.
The government was supposed to be for the people, by
the people, and right now, especially in Charlotte, North Carolina,
if you guys keep up with local politics, there's just
a lot of I don't want to say scandal, but
there's a lot of things happening in the local politician
world that it makes me feel like we need more

(48:00):
unity advocates. We need more people to say, Okay, this
money needs to be allocated towards having defibulators in public
school systems. This budget needs to be allocated toward more
youth programs. And the youth programs that we are having,
they're not working. Our crime rate is up. So what
can we do to make sure that we are giving

(48:20):
the money to the right program so we know that
it's working.

Speaker 2 (48:23):
So, like I said, for.

Speaker 3 (48:24):
Me, I want the youth to flourish, and we are
not doing that right now. I had my friend her
four year old son, he's going to kindergarten, and she
was like, are you excited about kindergarten? He was like,
kind of, but I don't want to get bullied. Why
does a four year old even know what that word need.

Speaker 1 (48:42):
Right, He's already thinking that even before he enters.

Speaker 3 (48:44):
School, exactly before he even goes to school. In his mind,
he's like, I don't want to get bullied. Why is
he thinking like that? What are we teaching?

Speaker 2 (48:53):
What is going on?

Speaker 3 (48:55):
You know in our characters that we're not educating ourselves.
We're this little boy feels like he doesn't want to
get bullied going to kindergarten.

Speaker 2 (49:04):
Right, that's very concerning, you know.

Speaker 3 (49:07):
And it's things and then the elders. Like I said,
I was raised by my great grandmother and now I
watch people, especially kids, they have no respect for the elders.
I think we really have to figure out a way
to connect everybody. Again, politics is very I don't want
to say scary, but it can be very intimidating to

(49:27):
the youth, like they don't want to get involved and
people don't want to talk about it.

Speaker 2 (49:30):
But I'm like, these are our tax dollars. This is we're.

Speaker 3 (49:33):
Paying these people to do these things. We need to
advocate for these certain things. So I think the biggest
thing that's why I'm doing non affiliated. I don't want
to be tied to a party. I want to be
tied to the people. I want to know how can
we because who I just got on Twitter and I
see people go.

Speaker 2 (49:51):
Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, back
and forth.

Speaker 3 (49:53):
But I'm like, so one of the solutions, because all
y'all are doing is this problem causes and this problem causes.

Speaker 2 (49:59):
But it's like, okay, so what's the solution?

Speaker 3 (50:01):
Because when I throwing up money and I always said,
I'll give you two times to complain about it.

Speaker 1 (50:06):
After that, how we right?

Speaker 3 (50:09):
So and I feel like that's what we need, Like Okay,
I'll give y'all two comments to be like, Okay, this sucks.

Speaker 2 (50:15):
After that, how can we fix it?

Speaker 1 (50:18):
So you're gonna be like a solutions provider.

Speaker 3 (50:21):
That is the goal, I think, you know, because everyone
right now is all talk and I'm like, so, let's
have action. Let's talk about what we can do to
solve gun violence. What can we do to help these
elders get their groceries, what can we do to educate
people on eating healthy. We have to come together and
figure out these solutions because us going back and forth
on Twitter and social media and bashing people on internet

(50:43):
that does nothing for anybody.

Speaker 1 (50:45):
It doesn't And you're so well spoken, and I'm so,
you know what, I went through a whole training with
Les Brown and it's a huge thing with him when
he talks about he's one of the top international motivational speakers,
and he often says, you know, Kim, make sure you
do not say on and h and so I don't.
You didn't even go through that training. And here you are.
You you went you know who's training you went through? Ja,

(51:06):
my mama, we went to the Jerry Jerry Crooks training
to teach you how to speak hell with me. She
did a great job.

Speaker 2 (51:14):
Great job, y'all.

Speaker 1 (51:16):
Please keep your comments coming when when we're talking about
community first, because people say that, but what does that really.

Speaker 2 (51:23):
Mean to you and your own words?

Speaker 3 (51:26):
So to me, that means connecting generations. I think we
have to put a huge emphasis on working with these
children and working with these elders. And so because my
dad always said you have to respect your elders, and
my brother I remember one time he said, well, what
if they don't respect me? And I was like wow,

(51:49):
then he got popping them out. But but he spoke
some truth to that because it was like, well, you
know what, what if they kind of gave us some
grace because they do a lot of complaining the elders
in the community. But it's like, what if we were like, hey,
what do you think if we did this?

Speaker 2 (52:09):
Or what do you like? It brings me back to
fighting solutions.

Speaker 3 (52:12):
I think putting the community first means being a solution
based person. We have to get more into how can
we solve a problem instead of adding to it?

Speaker 1 (52:21):
Right, that's good, that's good. So if you had to
because I put this people over politics, Leah White District
to City Council in Charlotte, North Carolina. But there are
some things that have to happen in order for this
to become a reality for you.

Speaker 3 (52:36):
Right, yeah, So my journey to the ballot, I'll be
posting about that very soon. I have to have one
four hundred and thirty seven signatures to be on the
ballot from residents of district too.

Speaker 2 (52:47):
So but say that again because I want to add
that to this thing that I'm putting.

Speaker 1 (52:51):
So you need how.

Speaker 3 (52:52):
Many one thousand, four hundred thirty seven signatures to be
on the ballot?

Speaker 2 (52:58):
Solures needed?

Speaker 3 (53:00):
And where can they go to sign So you can
go to right now Brisbane Academy from if you call.

Speaker 2 (53:09):
Because we may not always be there.

Speaker 3 (53:12):
But Original Chicking and Ribs they have their business hours
Tuesday through Sunday, and then the residents of Brookline Apartment
Complex they have regular business hours Monday through Sunday, brisdaye acudety,
I want to say ten to two right now, Monday
through Friday.

Speaker 1 (53:27):
Okay, okay. So I'm just trying to make sure because
I want to make sure that people, you know, exactly
with a call to action what needs to happen. This
young lady is putting community first. Her agenda is making
sure that it's people over politics. Her district is district
too in Charlotte, North Carolina, and she's running for city council.

(53:49):
But the thing is she needs fourteen, one hundred and
thirty seven signatures in order to even be listed on
the ballot. Why is that the case? Somebody tell us about.

Speaker 3 (53:57):
That because I'm running as a non affiliate candidate. So,
as we know, an American politics, you are either a
Republican or you are a Democrat. You can be an
independent party, a Green Party, but you're a Republican or
a Democrat. So when you go against the status quo,
you are punished. I don't want to say, punished you.

Speaker 2 (54:16):
You are put to a task.

Speaker 3 (54:18):
So I have to get one point five percent of
the district. So the district's about eighty nine thousand people,
so one point five percent of that is one thy
four hundred and thirty seven. That's how they came up
with that number. But yeah, this is national anywhere any
state you go to. I know they just lowered it.
In Washington State, it was they needed ten percent. Now

(54:40):
I think they will now they need four percent, I believe.
But yeah, every state's a little different with how they
treat non affiliated candidates. But moral of the story is
they want you to be one or the other, and
I'm choosing to be neither.

Speaker 1 (54:50):
So and so what is the because a lot of
times people want to have an understanding of why is
it important as far as regarding democracy anyway? And I
I already know the answer, but I want to hear
you say it as to why you think this unaffiliated
unaffiliated candidacy is important and fair from your perspective.

Speaker 3 (55:11):
So I think it's important because I think that titles
divide us. Like we always said, well we talked about
this whole show one or this or that, but it's
like saying I'm non affiliated, I am standing with the people.
I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican. I'm someone
who wants to I want to have the people's voice.
I don't want to say well, because this is what
my party thinks, this is what I have to say.

(55:31):
I want to say well in my community in district too,
this is what we think. So this is what I
want to say. And this is a whole dramatic I
can't speak, but it's a whole democratic process. Having to
get these signatures, knocking on doors, talking to people, that's
true democracy.

Speaker 2 (55:48):
So having to.

Speaker 3 (55:49):
Go through this is really it's so educational and it's
so rewarding because I'm getting in the community and I'm
talking to these people and really finding out what they
need and what's working and what's not bo that's good.

Speaker 1 (56:02):
This is good. So the message that you have for
people that are going to be signing the petition and
hopefully voting for you, what is the message that you
want them to have from you?

Speaker 2 (56:16):
To be a community advocate. I'm not a politician.

Speaker 3 (56:19):
I'm a community advocate, and I want to work with
other community advocates to have a better, safer healthier Charlotte.

Speaker 1 (56:27):
I'm gonna put you over here, and I want you
to say it one more time because I just love that.
So I want to move me and put you over here.
Say it. Say it one more again, as my grandpa say,
say it one more time.

Speaker 3 (56:36):
So to the district, to residents, I am running as
an affiliated candidate because I feel that we have to
put the community first. I think that if we are
all community advocates, we can work together to make Charlotte
a healthier, safer, and better place for everybody.

Speaker 1 (56:53):
And don't you just believe her heart? And you know
why you believe her heart because her mama put that.

Speaker 3 (57:00):
I'm a product of Geraldine, Brisbane and she has been
in the private sector her whole life. So I think
now entering the public sector, I'm seeing where.

Speaker 2 (57:11):
Her light is needed. But she knows. She can tell
you firsthand. She she's not.

Speaker 3 (57:17):
Into politics at all, and I love her for it
because that's who she is. But I am ready to
jump into it and try to spread some light into
this political field because.

Speaker 2 (57:28):
I think we need it.

Speaker 1 (57:29):
That's good. I think I think the world needs you,
regardless of whether it's in District two or if it's
in u in the world needs Leah White, Okay, And
actually speaking of what you are, a servant leader. That's
what you've been coined as a servant leader. What does
that mean to you? And how do you really go

(57:51):
about doing that on a daily basis? Because you you
practice what you preach. It's a lot of adults that
are much older than you that still don't practice what
they preach, but you practice what you preach.

Speaker 2 (58:01):
I think the biggest thing is the kids.

Speaker 3 (58:03):
It's so rewarding to see when I teach them, especially
about black history or teaching them just about life skills
in general, like seeing how they really take it in
and soak it up like a sponge, And it just
makes me want to do more of that because then
it makes me think. Then I get really sad. I'm like, wow,
I think about all the kids who aren't getting what
I'm teaching them, who are getting anger, who are getting trauma,

(58:25):
who are getting emotional damage, And I'm like, that's what
they're soaking in. So when they become an adult, that's
what they're pushing out. So I think, yeah, So I
think for me being just being a servant of the community,
anyone will tell you, I'll give you.

Speaker 2 (58:42):
This shirt off my back.

Speaker 3 (58:43):
Like I want to help people because I feel like
that's why God put me here.

Speaker 2 (58:47):
And like I said, leading from the back always.

Speaker 3 (58:50):
I never want to be like, oh, she's the leader,
like because in group projects, I never chose to be
the leader.

Speaker 1 (58:56):
Wow. But now it's coming to it's coming to the
light to be able to really help shape and mold
you into really ultimately what God has for you to become.
And that's going to benefit the whole world, not just
city council district too in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Speaker 2 (59:12):
That's going to benefit everybody.

Speaker 3 (59:14):
To spread the light with everybody because we need more positive,
kind hearted and they're out there, but it's like they're
just like so scared to come out.

Speaker 2 (59:22):
They're like, oh it's you know.

Speaker 3 (59:24):
Well, I'm like, if we all spread our light, then
it's going to be a light world. But I think
if the more darkness that's inflicted, the more light is
going to hide.

Speaker 2 (59:33):
But if we gotta shine.

Speaker 1 (59:35):
So shine bright like a city sitting on a hill
so that other people want to know what must I
do to serve the God that you serve?

Speaker 2 (59:42):
Because whatever you're doing is something right you know exactly.

Speaker 3 (59:46):
So I'm hoping just to inspire people so we can
all be on the same journey. And when people, like
when people always pass, they say rest in peace, and
it's like, because they say that because people aren't peaceful.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
When they're when they pass. So it's like to go
through your whole life and not have any peace.

Speaker 1 (01:00:01):
That's sad, that's very sad. That's a waste of life,
in my opinion. So please make this life on this
earth a valuable experience.

Speaker 2 (01:00:10):
A memorable experience.

Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Good, Okay, Well, I mean I've asked a whole lot
of questions. I guess the only other I had two
more things. One is how would you balance how are
you balancing being a mentor, an educator, nonprofit leader, and
now a political candidate or I shouldn't say political because
it's a non.

Speaker 2 (01:00:27):
Affiliate a community.

Speaker 1 (01:00:30):
Of politics candidate. Tell us how you balance it all
of those hats by.

Speaker 2 (01:00:34):
Having it merged together.

Speaker 3 (01:00:37):
I take the kids that I mentor, they go with
me when I canvas, and I think it's good because
it shows them like, this is what, this is something
I'm passionate about doing. So I'm out here and they're like,
damously are you getting ignored? Yeah, as some people are
going to ignore me, then some people will talk to
me for twenty minutes and thank me and say I'm
doing a great job. So I think showing them what

(01:00:57):
something that I want to do and they're like seeing it,
and then it encourages them to want to do it,
and then them seeing hearing about things in the community,
they're more passionate about it too. They're like, Wow, it's
a lot of it is really a lot of crime
in Charlotte. How can we fix the mis Leeah? What
can we do that makes me feel so good?

Speaker 2 (01:01:14):
That's good?

Speaker 1 (01:01:15):
I mean every young person, every parent watching the Kim
Jacob Show, if you can get your child connected some
kind of way to Leah White, I believe you'll have
a better outcome with your child. So please make sure
that you stay connected with her at the Brisbane Legacy
or at Twitter or x which is Leah White the

(01:01:36):
number four piece. All right, all right? And so when
you look back, when you look back many years from now,
you're going to look back over your life and you're
going to be like, what legacy did I actually leave
here in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Speaker 2 (01:01:51):
And around the world?

Speaker 1 (01:01:52):
What are you going to be? What are you going
to be? Able to really say your legacy is, like,
we know your mom's legacy heart, love, right, traveling, inspiring
the world, even creating a platform for education for people
to soar and become their best versions of themselves. And
she's poured everything into you that she's poured into you,
along with your parents, your additional parents, your dad and

(01:02:12):
your stepdad and all these other people. What is your
legacy going to be?

Speaker 3 (01:02:17):
Oh, it's so hard to say because I feel like
I'm still creating it. But I think the biggest thing
is empowering people. I love to make people feel better
about themselves. And my friends will tell you like I
am the number one hype man. I'm like, yes, girl, yes, God,
I get it. You know, like I'm the biggest cheerleader
because I think it is so important. A lot of
people they never talk about, like their insecurities, especially that

(01:02:39):
I would say, check on your strong friend, right, and
you think about It's like they're always encouraging people.

Speaker 2 (01:02:44):
Are you being encouraged? Are you being fulfilled?

Speaker 3 (01:02:46):
So I think really just empowering people to know, like
I'm proud of you, You're doing a great job, like.

Speaker 2 (01:02:52):
Some people just need to hear that. So I think, oh, hey, family.

Speaker 1 (01:02:56):
Yeah, people are like really Mario Black, he did like
the hundred young men in the Charlotte area, and so
I don't know if you know each other.

Speaker 2 (01:03:04):
That's why I tagged him. Do you know each other?

Speaker 1 (01:03:06):
I don't, but I'm gonna write your name down, so
you have to connect immediately today because Mario, just so
you know, I don't want to be acommanded.

Speaker 2 (01:03:12):
I'm having a whole separate conversation here and I'm on
a live show. But this young lady.

Speaker 1 (01:03:16):
Is doing everything she can to raise signatures to be
able to be people over politics party. So she's going
a non affiliated woman candidate in Charlotte, North Carolina, the
city council district too, and I would love for the
two of you to connect and help her get these signatures.
You know quite a few people in the Charlotte area. Yeut,

(01:03:39):
He's very impactful. So anything that Mario Black does, he
does a great job of it, and he's able to
rally the troops. And hopefully other people that I tagged
as well will be able to tune in and see
this as well, and some people will rally to help
you get those signatures. Will you do me one favor
and let me know when you have the signatures?

Speaker 2 (01:03:56):
Yes, I'll kind like girl, we gotta celebrate. Where are
you at?

Speaker 3 (01:03:59):
No?

Speaker 2 (01:04:00):
No, no, no no, It definitely gonna be a party.

Speaker 1 (01:04:04):
So well, I am so again grateful that you took
the time to be a part of The Kim Jacob
Show today and bringing balance to the world one house
old at a time. Listen, if you all have not
partnered with us, and I mean partnered by sending I
don't care what am out. Sometimes people do call athons
and phoneathons and you pray athons and all kinds of things.

(01:04:26):
What I'm doing is notifying you that we are excited
to have partners that believe that we can bring balance
to the world one house old at a time by
bringing guests like Leah and guests that we bring on
Monday through Friday at eleven o'clock am Eastern Standard time,
We're bringing them to your home as a gift. It's
a gift to you and to your household. So make

(01:04:48):
sure you take a moment and pour into the Kim
Jacob Show. By being one of our financial supporters, you
can do that through PayPal, dot Me, Forward, Slash, Kim
Jacob's Inc. Venmo at The Kim Jacob Show, Zell or
Apple Cash at seven oh four nine six two seven
one sixty one, or you can join our membership programs
as well. All right, so that is today's episode. Tell

(01:05:10):
them one more time how they can stay connected with you,
Leah White.

Speaker 3 (01:05:13):
So you can follow me on Instagram at the Brisbane
Legacy or Twitter x at Leah White the Number four Piece.

Speaker 1 (01:05:22):
Okay, And by doing that they're gonna get what.

Speaker 3 (01:05:26):
So you'll get information about where I'll be daily to
collect petitions or collect signatures for my petition, and also
information about events I'll be doing with kids.

Speaker 1 (01:05:36):
Excellent. Any closing thought, something that you wanted to say
you didn't get a chance to say.

Speaker 2 (01:05:40):
You're like, oh my gosh, I forgot to say this
say it.

Speaker 3 (01:05:44):
I think I'm just grateful that you took the opportunity
to chat with me. So I really appreciate you and
everything that you're doing. And I'll definitely be at the marathon,
so hopefully I'll have some kids with me. I know
Saturday is a little harving them get them up early,
but I'll try.

Speaker 1 (01:05:59):
My Best'll be like, oh lord, you're doing.

Speaker 2 (01:06:01):
To find her platforms?

Speaker 3 (01:06:03):
Okay, So Instagram is the Brisbane Legacy an x or
Twitter is we a White four Keys?

Speaker 1 (01:06:09):
And I just put it in the comments section as
well for you, So make sure you know that you
can go back on whatever platform you're watching The Kim
Jacob Show and know how to stay connected with Leah
White at The Brisbane Legacy is on Instagram. I have
a lot of iHeart Radio and sound, SoundCloud, Spotify, all
of those, so they're hearing it, they're not seeing the broadcast,

(01:06:30):
and that's happening right now too, and then on Roku
as well, and I see you all over there on
Instagram as well.

Speaker 2 (01:06:36):
Thank you all. I see you, Lady Jay, and I
see you.

Speaker 1 (01:06:39):
I am Hargo, all of you all that are tuning
in today from whatever platforms you're watching, We appreciate you today,
and I absolutely yes, thank you, thank you, I love
you all. I appreciate your participation, and we'll see you
again Monday through Friday right here on The Kim Jacob Show. Yeah,
let's do it.

Speaker 2 (01:06:56):
Hard to heart, yeah, hard to heart. Yeah. So anyway,
we did a heart to heart hugs Jerry and always
yes all.

Speaker 1 (01:07:03):
Right, everybody, love you all, and we'll see you again
Monday through Friday at eleven o'clock am, right here on
the Kim Jacob Show.

Speaker 2 (01:07:08):
Bye bye.

Speaker 1 (01:07:09):
Thank you for tuning in to today's episode of The
Kim Jacob Show and for being in the virtual studio audience.
Your presence truly does make a difference, and I look
forward to you bringing your friends and family to join
you in the virtual studio audience Monday through Friday at
eleven o'clock am Eastern Standard Time. I look forward to
seeing you and make it a great day.

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