MISSION READY WITH UNITED WAY'S RICHARD WILLIAMS JR 7/6/26

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Mission Ready with United Way's early education program is on now with Richard Williams Jr. And only on the Liz Callaway show with Nick Summers talk ninety-four point five.

SPEAKER_02 0:11

All right, I haven't seen you in so long. Look at this.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:15

So the education director of United Way, here he is. Very exciting.

SPEAKER_00 0:21

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 0:21

So we're trying to work out a thing with Conway Ford. Did you?

SPEAKER_00 0:25

I heard this, and this is very exciting. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_02 0:28

I am so excited that it's going to work out.

SPEAKER_00 0:30

I I knew you could do it. If anybody could do it, I knew it would be good to use.

SPEAKER_02 0:34

Well, uh, so April, uh Carmichael over at Conway Ford said, We're looking for a really good charity that does this kind of stuff. We usually give to this one other charity that, but it's a national charity. So they wanted to do something local that focuses on things like education. And I was like, I know the perfect fit.

SPEAKER_00 0:55

I love it. And I love Conway Ford. You know, I rent my car, my truck last year. And so I just bought a new one from Conway Ford. Look at that. Visit Mackie Campbell at uh Conway Ford. They sold me a new Silveron.

SPEAKER_02 1:10

That's so awesome. Okay. Well, there you go. All right. So uh welcome uh to this uh new July. It's unbelievable.

SPEAKER_00 1:18

And we haven't talked since our community baby shower, which I've been dying to tell you all about how that went. How'd it go? We had uh 216 families that we reached. A hundred of those families actually showed up, but we were able to connect 216 families to the basics. So 216 families are now getting that text message every week, getting uh uh those families to know exactly what they need for kindergarten readiness, that free text message that you get on Mondays and Wednesdays that is uh that grows with a child and gets that child ready.

SPEAKER_02 1:53

So how do people sign up for that?

SPEAKER_00 1:55

Uh so they can go to our website, uh basicswalk them all.org. And if you're a parent, you go to the parent link and you sign up and it's like in five different languages. So uh we it's free to you. United Way pays for it. It's our way to make sure that kids are ready for kindergarten. As you know, uh right now uh kindergarten readiness in Orie County is at twenty-seven percent. Yeah, and so you know they look at a third grade reading score to determine how they're gonna build prisons and stuff. And so if you can't read and write and do all those things by third grade, there's a prison pipeline.

SPEAKER_02 2:30

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 2:30

Yep.

SPEAKER_02 2:31

And what is it, the ready reading movement? It's over for me, right? Too late for me.

SPEAKER_00 2:36

But at least you got two children that you can help before it's too late.

SPEAKER_02 2:41

So, how do you know if your kit is is ready? Is there a test?

SPEAKER_00 2:46

Well, that's not a test, but we do we're doing the uh ready set kindergarten where we are we're now expanding to five elementary schools. We did the pilot at Conway Elementary last year. HTC is our sponsor, and they're willing to watch us grow and support our growth.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

HGTC?

SPEAKER_00 3:02

Sorry, HTC. Oh, HTC. Okay. Telephone company. Let's give them a shout out. Um they sponsored the first pilot, and so we're expanding to five other schools. Uh Daisy Elementary, Green Sea Elementary, Conway Elementary, Seaside Elementary, and Socasty Elementary.

SPEAKER_02 3:21

Look at how you've grown them.

SPEAKER_00 3:24

Um and so we'll have that Reddit kindergarten there, and then there's a checklist where we're asking parents to check all these things to see if your children are ready. And it's not just knowing the ABCs and one, two, threes. Can my child sit down for 10 minutes? Can they self-regulate? Can they go to the bathroom by themselves, zip their pants, and put on a coat and socialize? All of those things are what the basics text message helps a parent realize that he need to do. It is so helpful. I'm so glad we're doing the Redis at kindergarten so parents can see it months in advance.

SPEAKER_02 3:58

And grandparents. And grandparents, whoever is. A lot of times grandparents are very involved and want to be.

SPEAKER_00 4:03

Absolutely. We need our grandparents.

SPEAKER_02 4:05

A lot of families are two double working families.

SPEAKER_00 4:08

Like us. Like if we didn't have my in-laws and my parents, we would not be able to survive. So thank you to all the grandparents who are stepping in. Uh, but they need to know that they can get the basics too. And while they are sitting there um with their grandchildren over the summer, they can be going over all these things every day that's free, uh, free to get and also free to do. These things are things that you can do with your everyday life.

SPEAKER_02 4:31

And makes it fun for sure. Absolutely. All right, you brought a lovely lady with you today.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

I did, and that's why I brought up that kindergarten readiness and prison pipeline. We've United Way is expanding all over, and so I don't know if you know that we have a United Way person in J. Rubin Long.

SPEAKER_02 4:48

No, I'm not sure.

SPEAKER_00 4:49

And we've had her almost two years, I think, now. About two years. She's the first one, Nelvina Jones. Okay. And she's done so well that she's she's expanded that program, and she'll I'll let her tell you all about what she's doing.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

Well, welcome to the show, Nelvina Jones. You are the SMART re-entry coordinator, and that's all capitalized. So, what does it stand for?

SPEAKER_01 5:13

SMART. I have no idea.

SPEAKER_02 5:14

Oh, it doesn't matter. Sounds like it might be an acronym. I thought it was an acronym because it was all capitalist. All right, so Nelvina, you are here. So tell us about what you do.

SPEAKER_01 5:25

So I am the bridge for the incarcerated individuals being released from J. Rubin Detention Center. Um they go to the transitional housing. We have a we have two houses. One is in Conway, one is in Myrtle Beach, one is for female, one is for male. And these individuals have completed the jail diversion program at J. Rubin's Detention Center under the next step program that's directed by Miss Adriana Um Knight. And also with um the justice um sorry, treatment court also uh brings individuals to uh the transition houses as well.

SPEAKER_02 6:00

So do these people go to jail at all?

SPEAKER_01 6:04

Yes, okay that is correct. So it is a jail diversion program, so they are sentenced to the jail diversion program, which is called next step.

SPEAKER_02 6:13

Okay. But so are they spending the whole time do they spend any time in jail or do they go right and then they do.

SPEAKER_01 6:20

Okay. So whatever their sentence is, so they can spend up to 13 months or 14, whatever their sentence is, yeah, that is what they will complete, and then they will transition to plan uh part B, which is a transitional housing and reunification with their families, getting employment, and just being part of the community.

SPEAKER_02 6:38

So what is the nature usually that of the crime that allows you to participate in this type of program?

SPEAKER_01 6:45

As long as it is not a severe crime, meaning murder, uh trafficking, um, individuals, um, sexual exploitation of of minors, okay, things like that. But if you have minor offenses, then you and you have mental health issues or you are at risk for being homeless, then you would be accepted into the program.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Okay. So what has been your experience now as a re-entry coordinator? What exactly is it that you do?

SPEAKER_01 7:14

So day to day, I um provide resources for the individuals that are coming out from day one. Um we provide them with identification, social security car replacement, and all this is in partner with uh the use of the SC Thrive to screen them for SNAP benefits if they are eligible.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

So you're setting them the foundation for success.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

That's correct. So um because a person that has um is homeless, it's very hard for them to find um or even concentrate on employment or getting their identifications because they're concentrating so much on where am I gonna sleep. Right. If they don't have a home, then it's hard for them to deal with their mental health. If they are not dealing with their mental health, then they're gonna resort to what they're used to, which is crime.

SPEAKER_02 7:59

Yeah. So this is a a program that really um helps all of society. Yes. Because we know recidivism is a major issue. And um this helps kind of uh save that issue, right? To kind of um not let the whole community go through there.

SPEAKER_01 8:17

That is correct.

SPEAKER_02 8:18

So what have you what have you noticed about the people that come across your office? Like what how are they coming on day one out of jail? Because that's not that's gotta be a hard thing to survive.

SPEAKER_01 8:31

They are overwhelmed because they have never received the support ever. So it's a cycle of being homeless, a cycle of uh mental health. It is a cycle of doing crime, being being prostituted, uh, using drugs. It's a cycle. So now that we're providing them with the resources, they have a end game. They they can see the end of the tunnel, they have that drive to complete the program, they have the drive to, you know, do better so that they can be better citizens, so that they can make themselves proud. And it has really been a huge success.

SPEAKER_02 9:11

Yeah, that sounds uh amazing. And the reason why I'm um asking is because our society sometimes has this um I guess this mentality of let's like throw away society for everything. Clothes, you know. I mean like we're just consuming and throwing things away. Um and a lot of times when we have um we know, you know, there's a jail, we know there are people in it that do bad things that make our lives miserable, that make us feel unsafe, that we, you know, that couldn't harm us or chill you know what I mean? We have we have a sense of, you know, just lock them up and throw away the key, but that's not how things work. Right. Eventually people go through this horrific experience of being in jail. I'm sure it's not a pleasant experience at all. Right. Um, and then if you already have uh a mental crisis going on, then it most likely gets worsened. I mean, I don't know how much care they get while they're in there or if anybody is talking to them nicely at all.

SPEAKER_01 10:12

That is correct.

SPEAKER_02 10:12

And then they come out worse, you know.

SPEAKER_01 10:15

And the cycle continues. The cycle continues because no one is helping them. And mental health is J. Rubin Long is getting ready to start, you know, doing a a big release on mental health. They're trying to trans do a new um pilot program for the mental health because the need is there. There's so many individuals that are at J. Rubin Detention Center that has mental health issues.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

What is the nature of it? Like, do you feel? I mean, I know you're not a psychiatrist or psychologist, but I I couldn't even they get some help, but it's not the help that they really need to do. Are they depressed? I mean, are they having a depression of some kind?

SPEAKER_01 10:56

It's depression, they're hearing voices, they are it's it's it's a little bit of everything. You know, and it's not one pill that's that can cure it. And unfortunately, you you're not gonna receive uh 100% of the care inside of the jail. They can only do but so much.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

Is there a um a spirituality part to this? We do have um if someone wants to reconnect with that part?

SPEAKER_01 11:22

There are chaplains in the jail that they you know that visits them on a day to and they come weekly.

SPEAKER_02 11:29

Because it's like a mind, body, soul, like putting your your essence of who you are back together. You still have to do that.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

And all of that, all of that is available to them. You know, if they want to see a uh, you know, uh a chaplain, they can. All they have to do is put it on the kiosk request, and a chaplain will come and visit them. Um if they want to have prayer, they have church every Sunday. So all of these resources are available to them. It's uh they just have to access it, they have to request it.

SPEAKER_02 11:56

I just feel like there's a a fragmentation of uh the person, the essence of who that person is. That person is broken.

SPEAKER_01 12:04

They are broken, and they're just asking for help. They're reaching out for help. And until we you know provide the resources and give them that help that they need, this cycle is gonna continue.

SPEAKER_02 12:17

And have uh we're speaking with Nelvina Jones and she is uh the coordinator for the SMART reentry program at J. Rubin Long under the auspices of United Way of Ori County. Um you've been doing this for two years. When you first started this, had have you ever worked with the prison population before? Never I mean that must have been a difficult first few days. Were you afraid at all or uncomfortable at all?

SPEAKER_01 12:42

No, I was never uncomfortable. My husband's a former SWAT officer.

SPEAKER_02 12:45

Oh. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

I've always been trained to um watch your surroundings, um, walk with a purpose, have an out. Yeah. So you you know you have that space, that four foot space in between you and someone else, but know your surroundings. I was never afraid. Um I think that what helped me was that I looked at the person, not at their crime.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

And that's interesting, coming from that experience of being, you know, a cop's wife, essentially. Um, and not pr probably not having a very favorable opinion of criminals in general, just because I always look at a different side of it because everyone has a choice, but you have to look and say what caused them to do this. If you want to solve the problem.

SPEAKER_01 13:36

If you want to solve the problem, you have to look at you have to look past that. You have to look at the person because everyone isn't born evil, everyone isn't born a criminal. Something changed. So we have to figure out what changed, what caused this person to go down this path. So if we can if we can curve that and divert that, then they can do better.

SPEAKER_02 13:58

So where do you draw from? Because there are a lot of people that don't have any empathy for people that might have been misguided in their youth or had a real hard time growing up, you know, maybe not loving parents, not people who a good or no good-willed people around them.

SPEAKER_01 14:16

I think what what what drove me was the simple fact that I had a family member that was heavily on drugs during the crack pandemic. So my parents, my grandparents, everyone was spiritual. I grew up in the church. That was all we knew. However, she slipped. You know, she slipped through the cracks and was was on this drug. And but if it had not been for the power of prayer and just being guided through prayer, that's what gave me that that melting heart.

SPEAKER_02 14:48

And did she find a way she did?

SPEAKER_01 14:50

She did. She went to jail. She went to jail for some years and has been clean for over 25 years.

SPEAKER_02 14:56

Wow, amen to that. And so she had a support network around her that's true. She did, but she didn't see it at the time. No, but she still was one of the lucky ones.

SPEAKER_01 15:06

She was one of the lucky ones. She was very lucky because during that time of her life of being addicted, she didn't see it.

SPEAKER_02 15:16

And the drug problem and the mental health problem, do you see a major crossover intersection on that?

SPEAKER_01 15:20

It is. It is.

SPEAKER_02 15:22

Yeah. And so your experience in knowing what that family network provided this family member, you're trying to recreate that?

SPEAKER_01 15:33

That is correct. If we can all just turn the other cheek, give them the opportunity to show that they can do better. They will do better.

SPEAKER_02 15:43

Have you seen it come full circle in two years?

SPEAKER_01 15:46

I have. I have some great stories. I have a few guys and young ladies that have truly uh done me proud.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Well, Nelvita, that your program now is new. How new is it? And then tell us about really quickly about the guy who's already transitioned to his own place.

SPEAKER_01 16:03

Yes, uh I can't say the name because he hasn't given me a permission, but he spent over 13 months at J. Rubin Detention Center. He uh graduated from the Next Step program. He was part of one of the first ones to be in this smart transition house. Uh just two weeks ago he signed his lease for his own home, and he is gamefully employed. He has he is continuing with his mental health counseling, and he is doing a phenomenal job.

SPEAKER_02 16:25

Well, Nelvina, I'm going to make you an offer.

SPEAKER_01 16:28

All right.

SPEAKER_02 16:28

Okay. Um, I would love if someone that's gone through your program full circle, maybe this person or someone else, would like to come on and share their story, give testimony. Oh, okay. They don't have to give their name, they could be anonymous, um, but they can join us here, and I can I I think you would help so many people and really drill that message even deeper. That sounds like a plan. The story that you told your own, you know, family story and in your why as to why you do this every day.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

That is correct. Yeah. That's a plan. Yeah. That's a bet.

SPEAKER_02 17:01

All right, all right, you got it. She's taking me up on my offer. Nelvina Jones, it's so great to meet you.

SPEAKER_01 17:05

Same here. It's good to have you.

SPEAKER_02 17:06

I love what you're doing. Smart re-entry coordinator. I think it's amazing for the whole community. And God bless you going to J. Rubin Long every day willingly.

SPEAKER_01 17:15

Thank you so much for having me. I'll see you soon.

SPEAKER_02 17:17

All right, good job, Richard Williams.

SPEAKER_00 17:18

I tried to you.

SPEAKER_02 17:21

Good job.

SPEAKER_00 17:21

And then Nelvina would do great. Does she have a good radio voice, too?

SPEAKER_02 17:24

She's amazing.

SPEAKER_00 17:25

She's a natural.

SPEAKER_02 17:27

But you know, that's how I met you.

SPEAKER_00 17:28

That's right. I was interviewed by the new directions. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 17:32

And there we go, and we have a whole relationship.

SPEAKER_00 17:34

But I love stuck with you. You were stuck together like blue. I love it.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

You bring a lot of great people through, and um, thank you for that. Thank you, Liz.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

But I you know what drives that? Because I know you get excited about it. I do get excited. When I meet people, I'm like, oh God, you need to meet Liz.

SPEAKER_02 17:50

I'm so glad you think that about me. Because um I do get excited and I get the buy-in, you know, and I love it.

SPEAKER_00 17:58

You get to see all what we're doing here in Ori County and promote it. And thank you so much. And I can't wait to see what happens with Ford. That's really big news. I know I'm excited. Thank you so much for the video.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Yeah, maybe we can bring you a few thousand dollars. I love it. I love it. All right. Well, thank you so much. You can go to Unitedwayori.org.

SPEAKER_00 18:14

That's it.

SPEAKER_01 18:18

Four years later.

SPEAKER_02 18:19

Four years later. All right. Well, thank you so much, Nelvina. It's such an honor to meet you. Thank you so much.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

Good, glad to be here.