E47 - Community Warehouse and Partner's in Hope - Special Event Leap of Faith
Community Warehouse and Partners in Hope host special skydiving event - Leap of Faith
Saturday, August 19, 2023, Noon to 6:00 pm
Wisconsin Skydiving Center
N3407 County Road K, Jefferson, WI 53549
Show your support and DONATE:
Warehouse and Partners In Hope- Milwaukee WI
What's so special? 10 Milwaukee Police Officers and 10 previously incarcerated take a leap of faith together out of a plane. The first-ever event of its kind where two culturally divided groups come together and prove they can form bonds of friendship.
Guest: Nancy Aliota a representative from Partners in Hope talks about the organization and the event.
Show Highlights:
- Community Warehouse and Partners in Hope - Who they are?
- What's the mission and purpose?
- Locations
- Services offered
- Who is involved and how to get involved?
- How did the event Leap of Faith start and what's it all about?
- Why people are passionate about PIH?
Community Warehouse Locations
- 521 S. 9th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204
- 4110 W. Green Tree Road Milwaukee, WI 53209.
Community Warehouse Social Media Links:
Website
Warehouse and Partners In Hope- Milwaukee WI
https://www.facebook.com/thecommunitywarehouse.org
Community Warehouse (@the.community.warehouse) • Instagram photos and videos
Community Warehouse : Overview | LinkedIn
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Transcript
Leap of Faith It's all about relationships.
Speaker:this Saturday, which is August 19th.
Speaker:At the Wisconsin Skydiving Center.
Speaker:Partner in Hope Is holding an event called Leap of Faith, we are bringing 10 formerly
Speaker:incarcerated along with 10 Milwaukee police officers to the skydiving center,
Speaker:and these people are going to pair up.
Speaker:And
Speaker:Tandem skydive together.
Speaker:it's in Jefferson, You take 94 West Highway 26 South, it turns into
Speaker:Highway K and , it's right there.
Speaker:. We have asked people to register in advance, but we
Speaker:will not turn anybody away.
Speaker:Partner in Hope
Speaker:Leap of Faith It's all about relationships.
Speaker:Hello everyone.
Speaker:This is Mechi Jay, and welcome to a Prisoner's.
Speaker:Pardon
- AT:Podcast.
- AT:Today I'm excited to talk about a special
- AT:community organization called Partners in Hope and their special event that's
- AT:happening this Saturday Leap of Faith.
- AT:My guest here is Nancy Aliota.
- AT:She represents Partners in Hope.
- AT:Microphone (2- AT2005USB)-2: Now let's jump into the show.
- AT:Hi Nancy.
- AT:Hey Michi.
- AT:Thanks for having me.
- AT:Thank you and welcome to the show.
- AT:Why don't you tell us what you do at Partners in Hope?
- AT:, I'm just simply a volunteer.
- AT:There's a pretty long story about how I got associated with partners in Hope, but
- AT:I think, people probably need to know.
- AT:Where even partners at Hope got started.
- AT:Back in, , 2005, a gentleman along with a group of people decided to open
- AT:up a store that would provide home building products at affordable prices.
- AT:So that, , people, all kinds of levels could afford these nice new products.
- AT:In addition to that, they wanted to provide employment to those that might
- AT:be challenged in getting work and finding work like the formerly incarcerated.
- AT:Hmm.
- AT:So Community Warehouse, , is the name of that, obviously.
- AT:And.
- AT:They now have two locations , in addition to Community Warehouse, what
- AT:they do is the funds from Community Warehouse supports partners in Hope,
- AT:and Partners in Hope is a nonprofit, faith-based organization that helps
- AT:men and women who are willing, , that come out of incarceration.
- AT:Reintegrate into society.
- AT:So that's their goal and their purpose, their mission is, , to transform
- AT:the lives of those impacted by incarceration through the Lord of Christ.
- AT:I just love this whole concept to, have it almost self-supporting , along
- AT:with also having it be a 5 0 1 C three.
- AT:, I didn't know it started that long ago.
- AT:2005.
- AT:Yeah, yep.
- AT:So pretty successful and obviously doing really great things, , to
- AT:now expand to , two locations.
- AT:For sure.
- AT:So is it only in the Milwaukee area?
- AT:Correct.
- AT:Um, there's one up on the north side off of Greentree, and then
- AT:there's one on the south side.
- AT:And I have to admit, I don't exactly know where it isn't on the south side.
- AT:The partners in Hope is actually located on Third and North
- AT:Avenue, right there in Milwaukee.
- AT:Okay.
- AT:All right.
- AT:Yeah, I do.
- AT:The other location I see here is on 5 21 South ninth Street.
- AT:Is this okay?
- AT:That's it.
- AT:So this is good.
- AT:This is , a good.
- AT:I think organization.
- AT:I've been there, , a few times and I just fell in love with it and I've now
- AT:joined and partner with them somewhat because of , what you all do there.
- AT:So, , what kind of things do they offer the people there at Partners in Hope.
- AT:So, um, basically what happens, the men and women coming
- AT:out of incarceration mm-hmm.
- AT:Are, um, invited to attend what they call a cohort.
- AT:And that is, um, where participants part participate in a one
- AT:week soft skills workshop.
- AT:, it helps equip them for the transition that they're facing ahead of them.
- AT:They do things like, , helping with writing a resume as well
- AT:as, , interviewing skills, they help with time management.
- AT:They help with goal setting.
- AT:They might help with financial literacy.
- AT:There's all different things that take place during this week.
- AT:It really kind of helps them also identify their negative influences.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, and you know what, it even goes so far, mechi as.
- AT:Teaching them traffic stop etiquette, you know, it seems like that.
- AT:What is that?
- AT:Well, you know, I guess the goal is, , to build trust and a mutual
- AT:understanding between the law enforcement as well as the former
- AT:incarcerated, so that should they have an encounter, it will end peacefully.
- AT:Oh, okay.
- AT:I get you.
- AT:Now, you know what, at first I thought you were talking about like
- AT:every time they stop at a stoplight, they're supposed to do something, but
- AT:you Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
- AT:Should they unfortunately get pulled over or I bus, you know, stuff like that.
- AT:It's pretty cool.
- AT:, Once they go through the cohort, which is like Monday through Thursday mm-hmm.
- AT:On Friday, they actually, we hold a graduation, and I'll tell you, last
- AT:Friday was the biggest class ever.
- AT:16 people graduated from the cohort.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:So, mm-hmm.
- AT:It just keeps getting bigger and bigger and better and better.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:So once they graduate mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, partners in Hope then kind of helps them work on their individual success.
- AT:And one of the cool things that they offer is to provide these people with a mentor.
- AT:So there's mentors and there's mentees, and.
- AT:The mentors are people of, , a very diverse background.
- AT:We've got actually law enforcement, we have police officers
- AT:that are serving as mentors.
- AT:We've got faith and business leaders in our communities.
- AT:I mean, just anybody.
- AT:And I like to kind of say godly people.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:You know, just really, , coming together , it's really neat when we see.
- AT:The mentees accepting a mentor and, that building of trust that allows them
- AT:to simply walk alongside one another.
- AT:And these mentors could help these guys, these men and women, , when they
- AT:transition, you know, to back to the journey home and helps them, , develop.
- AT:Skills to overcome obstacles that they might face.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, so many different things that, that relationship, it's
- AT:all about relationships, right?
- AT:So it's, mm-hmm.
- AT:It's a neat thing when we see.
- AT:The mentor and the mentee relationship building and growing
- AT:and really coming together.
- AT:So that's one thing that, comes out of p i h.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:That they're given.
- AT:And then, you know, the coolest part about it is, is as you have said
- AT:yourself, on Wednesday nights we gather together and we have what we call huddle.
- AT:So what huddle is, is we come together, and this is, these are the mentees,
- AT:these are the formerly incarcerated, these are mentors, these are
- AT:volunteers, these are police officers.
- AT:These are all kinds of people.
- AT:People like me that just simply have come and now want to be in the room.
- AT:And what we do is we share, we open with a prayer, we read a devotional.
- AT:And then we share a meal together and that meal is provided to
- AT:anyone attending for free.
- AT:And then the best part about it is after about a 15 minute toolbox
- AT:talk, , it's another informational talk where they can, again, I.
- AT:Put more tools in the toolbox, they gain skills , in something else.
- AT:Say it's, renter's assistance or fraud or again, just we're
- AT:talking about relationships.
- AT:, but the coolest part is, , everyone in the room is given the microphone and
- AT:we go around the room and you get the mic for a minute and a half, and during
- AT:that minute and a half, you are to talk about the highs and lows of your week.
- AT:And you can only imagine.
- AT:The things that we're hearing, you know, the things that people are
- AT:facing, the things that people are going through, and it's, it's people like
- AT:you and me along with those that are formerly incarcerated, just basically
- AT:getting that minute and a half to talk where somebody will simply listen.
- AT:And it's kind of that safe space for a lot of these people.
- AT:Um, you know, they know that this is a place where they feel loved and cared for.
- AT:Um, it's just, it's, it's, I can't explain it to people and, and you
- AT:asked me, you know, what is my role there and my husband, um, we actually
- AT:learned about partners and hope through our pastor at our church.
- AT:Hmm.
- AT:And I love to talk about my husband Dean because I believe he's a godly man and
- AT:he has been blessed with spiritual gifts.
- AT:And, you know, I think those are like, um, word of wisdom, word of knowledge.
- AT:Discernment, you know, and I believe that's discernment
- AT:is one of my spiritual gifts.
- AT:But, um, Dean was approached to, to just come check out Partners in Hope
- AT:and he attended his first huddle and came home and was telling me about it.
- AT:And I could tell that, you know, it really impacted him and it really
- AT:got him thinking and feeling and, you know, probably in a different way.
- AT:And he started attending the huddles.
- AT:Pretty much on a regular basis.
- AT:And then we went to the fundraiser.
- AT:Um, they, they hold an annual fundraiser typically in the fall.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:And, uh, you know, he asked, do you wanna come along?
- AT:I'm like, absolutely.
- AT:Based on the things that you're telling me, I would love to
- AT:see what this is all about.
- AT:So we are, you know, in this room with it's, you know, all kinds of people and.
- AT:They did a program where, you know, the c e O got up and talked and a
- AT:couple other people got up and talked.
- AT:There was a lovely woman who sang and, but the, the best part was one of the formerly
- AT:incarcerated, his name was Fernando.
- AT:He gave his testimony and Michi, there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
- AT:Oh, wow.
- AT:It was, it was really, really, really interesting and really
- AT:neat to hear his story.
- AT:This is someone who served, I believe, 43 years in prison.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:And , he dropped to his knees in prison and said, God, I can't, I don't like me.
- AT:I can't be this way anymore.
- AT:, if you're the God you say you are, help me change me.
- AT:And it was in prison where he found Christ.
- AT:And that's what changed Fernando and um, , it was just, like I said, he,
- AT:he obtained, um, I believe his M B A through Marquette while in prison.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:I think he actually has another degree, , and I, I, it was just
- AT:amazing to me to hear the story.
- AT:So when we left, Dean and I were walking through the parking lot and
- AT:I'm like, so and so, what do you think?
- AT:Because, , they were encouraging Dean to become a mentor.
- AT:He is like, oh, I don't know.
- AT:I think I really need to pray about it.
- AT:He's like, what do you think?
- AT:And I'm like, are kidding me?
- AT:Fantastic in this role.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:, I'm like, I believe you have so much to offer, and just think of what it
- AT:will do for you yourself as well.
- AT:, the relationships that you can gain from it, , in addition to maybe making
- AT:a, , a change in somebody else's life to give, be given that opportunity.
- AT:Why wouldn't you, ? So we, , talked about it obviously, and this was a Thursday.
- AT:That Saturday, we went downtown to a Christian concert.
- AT:We went to see Mercy me and downtown was a blurry of people.
- AT:It was the bucks opener, it was the admirals opener.
- AT:There was all kinds of things happening downtown in addition to this concert.
- AT:So we park in the parking structure, we walk out and as we are crossing
- AT:the street, who do we see?
- AT:Who Fernando.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:And it's like Fernando, , and, um, we hug each other, we get off the
- AT:side, , the middle of the road and walk over to the, curb and sidewalk
- AT:and we end up talking for 10 minutes.
- AT:And it's , we've been friends forever.
- AT:And here we just met at.
- AT:, the fundraiser.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:So it was just really, I'm like, okay, God, look at you.
- AT:? So he does answer does he does answer.
- AT:Absolutely.
- AT:, so we, so then, now Dean and I walk away.
- AT:I'm like, okay, so now what do you think?
- AT:He's like, well, I don't know.
- AT:I really don't know who that was for, or what that was all about.
- AT:I'm like, I, you kidding me?
- AT:You know, again, I was just like, wow.
- AT:Um, and I was like, You know, I really think this is supposed to happen, Dean.
- AT:, we're supposed to get involved with partners in Hope so.
- AT:, Dean went and sure enough, he became a mentor, and I attended my first huddle
- AT:on December 21st of last year, which happened to be my mom's birthday.
- AT:And I had lost my mom that last February.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:So for me it was like, Yeah, let's go do this.
- AT:This is something I wanna do tonight.
- AT:And I can say that when I walked down the stairs and what I
- AT:witnessed that night, like so many other people say, I never left.
- AT:I wanna keep coming back.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, you walk down the stairs at Partners in Hope, Ji and I, I
- AT:hope you have felt this as well.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:But it's totally come as you are.
- AT:There is no, nobody caress what you're wearing.
- AT:Nobody caress where you come from.
- AT:Nobody cares what you've done.
- AT:Nobody cares how much money you make.
- AT:Nobody cares how much wake up you're wearing that none of that matters.
- AT:You know, it's just, it's real.
- AT:It's raw, it's vulnerable, it's authentic.
- AT:And again, it's just, it's that Matt Mars song in the room.
- AT:I just wanna be in the room.
- AT:I love to hear the people talk.
- AT:Everybody's got their story.
- AT:I.
- AT:You know, but the coolest thing that I'm finding about Partners at Hope is that
- AT:everybody there is simply there to, like I said before, walk alongside one another.
- AT:Simply listen, we are there in the struggles.
- AT:We celebrate the victories.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:But we as Christians, you know, we are called to come with compassion and out
- AT:of love and respect to serve one another.
- AT:And that's why I wanna be there.
- AT:I just absolutely love.
- AT:Everything about partners and Hope I'm their biggest cheerleader.
- AT:I love any chance I get to talk about it.
- AT:And what's cool is I get to talk about it because people are
- AT:like, so whatcha up to Nancy?
- AT:And I'm like, well, lemme tell you.
- AT:You know?
- AT:And, and it's because I see the successes.
- AT:Yes.
- AT:And that, you know, even going back to Fernando, he still struggles.
- AT:He definitely still struggles, but yet he knows now that he has this.
- AT:Family, you know, and for a lot of them, they've had to realize coming out
- AT:of prison, sometimes you've gotta walk away from family because that negative
- AT:environment that you think , you might go back to, that's not a good choice.
- AT:And sometimes that's a difficult choice.
- AT:And we all, you know, anybody sometimes has to make that choice.
- AT:But we recognize that, you know what?
- AT:Those Wednesday night huddles, those people, they're now your family.
- AT:They're your family.
- AT:And we are there for one another.
- AT:And that's, I just, I love, that's what I love about it, mm-hmm.
- AT:I think, , like, , Nancy was just mentioning these huddles.
- AT:It kind of reminds me of like when Jesus was in the upper room Yeah.
- AT:With his disciples and it's.
- AT:It's that type of a feeling, not that I was in that room with Jesus Black.
- AT:I've been there and it's the same thing, but I, you know what I can really imagine
- AT:that is similar to , the atmosphere there.
- AT:And you're right, it's no.
- AT:Kind of competitiveness or, , trying to be proud or
- AT:anything like that in this place.
- AT:, it's like you said, it's a safe place.
- AT:You don't know who's who.
- AT:It doesn't matter.
- AT:No, no.
- AT:You just, how are you doing?
- AT:, everyone just welcomes you and , when you see a new face and then people walk
- AT:up to you and say hi, , and it's, , just that going around the room and people
- AT:just, Talking about they're weak.
- AT:It's like you get to know them and you look forward to hearing
- AT:from them and, praying for them.
- AT:Right.
- AT:And it's just incredible.
- AT:I, I have never experienced anything like it, so that's why I'm still hooked.
- AT:You know, there, 'cause I went there, I was like, oh, I'll check it out.
- AT:And, , maybe, I'll do some speaking stuff there, but I'm like, I'm learning so much.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:I, I, mm-hmm.
- AT:It's like gold.
- AT:Um, yeah.
- AT:Being in that room because you get more than you ever give out.
- AT:I feel like I'm just being greedy here.
- AT:And just you, and you meet so many like nifty people.
- AT:And you're able to, , talk about things even, show your
- AT:vulnerability and everybody has stuff.
- AT:Absolutely.
- AT:It's so wonderful that we can share it and people just give you the encouraging
- AT:words and just let you know that you're just not alone in that situation.
- AT:That it really speaks to your whole name, calling it Partners
- AT:in Hope, because that's exactly what happens during this huddle.
- AT:It is, , it's providing that path to hope and redemption.
- AT:I wanna add too that, , although we are faith-based mm-hmm.
- AT:We are not to push our faith.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Because we have people, all kinds of people in the room.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:, we have nonbelievers, we have Muslims, we have.
- AT:Christians, we have Catholics.
- AT:There are all kinds of people, so we don't push our faith on anybody, but
- AT:we're given an opportunity to talk about our faith and how it impacts us, and
- AT:hopefully that is, , planting that seed.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Perhaps somebody is hearing that and they may then realize, wow,
- AT:maybe that relationship with God is something I need and.
- AT:You know that, that's bonus, right?
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:It's, and yeah, it really is.
- AT:And I really love that approach and of not pushing the faith,
- AT:and I don't like that myself.
- AT:When people push the faith, because it should be something that they're
- AT:attracted to and they want to come to, , themselves, it's no,
- AT:you're not gonna just bombard them.
- AT:You know, this is what you gotta do, and things like that.
- AT:It's definitely not.
- AT:The place.
- AT:If you, if you're thinking that that happens, it definitely does not
- AT:happen at Partners and hope for sure.
- AT:So, and again.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:I, I, I don't mean to interrupt you, but it's no go.
- AT:It's, there's that saying, , be the only Jesus someone may see and display
- AT:his character through your character, , and people , will figure that out,
- AT:mm-hmm.
- AT:So again, it's just, It's that openness, that honesty, that communication.
- AT:And it's just, , fostering the relationships that are, , rooted in faith.
- AT:You know, we, we build community.
- AT:We're providing opportunities.
- AT:, we're empowering people to make good decisions, supporting them in their
- AT:choices, and really, really trying to, to help foster good choices.
- AT:, I heard, I think I've heard this right?
- AT:It's not just for people that's, , been incarcerated, it's
- AT:just anybody who wants to Yeah.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:Okay.
- AT:Yeah, and I mean, there's, there's people in there that, , suffer from
- AT:addictions that found out about it and that are coming and, and you
- AT:know, I think too, other people end up inviting people despite.
- AT:They're not formally incarcerated, but they might get something out of
- AT:this, just come and sure enough, you know, they walk away forever changed.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:It's really, really neat.
- AT:For sure.
- AT:So going back to your original question, it's like mm-hmm.
- AT:How did I get involved and, you know, that's how I got involved.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:So, um, you know, just started attending huddles on a regular basis
- AT:and, um, you know, it's through our.
- AT:, c e o.
- AT:, he's, , a head of the board.
- AT:He's a member at our church too.
- AT:And when this event, they started talking about this event, it was
- AT:like, Hey, would you like to help?
- AT:And I was like, you bet.
- AT:I'm all over it.
- AT:So, and what event is this?
- AT:So this Saturday, which is August 19th.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, out at the Wisconsin Skydiving Center.
- AT:Partner in Hope is holding an event called Leap of Faith, and what we're doing is
- AT:we are bringing 10 formerly incarcerated along with 10 Milwaukee police officers
- AT:out to the skydiving center, and these people are going to pair up.
- AT:Tandem skydive together.
- AT:Isn't that incredible?
- AT:Oh, for sure.
- AT:That you got 10 people, 20 people saying, are you gonna jump?
- AT:But again, it's the formerly incarcerated with the 10 Milwaukee police officers, and
- AT:people are like, how did this even happen?
- AT:I know.
- AT:So we have, you know, Lieutenant Michael Dix, who works with the
- AT:Milwaukee Police Department.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:He serves on the board and partners in hope.
- AT:He serves as a mentor.
- AT:He attends huddles on regular basis, and he's a huge skydiving fan.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:He loves to skydive.
- AT:So this was kind of his little, you know, Um, whatever dream to do this.
- AT:And he, it's been on his heart for about two years, I think.
- AT:And he, he tells me, he's like, Nancy, I just kept praying about it and I kept
- AT:praying about it and every time God opened the doors, he just opened the
- AT:doors and he basically told Michael, We're gonna do this, and you just
- AT:watch me see what I can do through you.
- AT:And you know, it took him getting approval from the board.
- AT:It took him getting approval through the police department and he made it happen.
- AT:So, this day is obviously a very, , extraordinary day.
- AT:I mean, for these two parties to come together.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:We're gonna hopefully build some trust and show the community that two unseemingly,
- AT:you know, parties can actually, you know, like I said, come together and unite and.
- AT:Show the community that not only can we get along, but
- AT:we can have a blast doing it.
- AT:You know, so in addition to the skydiving, we're holding a day of celebration.
- AT:We are providing, um, a free lunch for those that attend along with beverages.
- AT:There's gonna be games with a chance to win prizes.
- AT:We have raffle items.
- AT:Um, a silent auction.
- AT:And the coolest thing about it all Michi is mm-hmm.
- AT:That due to the uni, the unique partnership between the police
- AT:officers and the formerly incarcerated, we are filming a documentary Wow.
- AT:On the whole thing.
- AT:Wow, this is like, this is incredible.
- AT:I was wondering how did it all get started and where is the
- AT:Wisconsin Skydiving Center at?
- AT:Where is that at?
- AT:It's, it's in Jefferson, you know, so it's a good hour from Milwaukee.
- AT:And again, these people wanna do this.
- AT:These people are so excited about doing this and the stories that
- AT:we're hearing that are coming out of all of this is just remarkable.
- AT:And I can't wait for people to.
- AT:To hear about it.
- AT:So yeah, it's Jefferson, it's um, you know, you, you help 94 West.
- AT:You take Highway 26 South, it turns into Highway K and , it's right there.
- AT:. Okay.
- AT:And even, the owner of the skydiving center has got an incredible story
- AT:and it's just all gonna come together.
- AT:And I'm just so super excited about it.
- AT:It's a lot of work.
- AT:It's a lot, a lot of work.
- AT:But I know that day is gonna come and it is gonna be, so I
- AT:know it is, it's, it sounds like.
- AT:Very awesome.
- AT:And I'm just, ooh, I'm just trying to see how I can get there.
- AT:At the same time, I have an event the same day that was already booked,
- AT:so I was like, so super like down when I heard it's the same day, like, no.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:So I would try, well, you'll get to watch the documentary and you'll
- AT:feel like you were part of it.
- AT:Same.
- AT:I wanna be there too.
- AT:I wanna do both.
- AT:, I'll check the timings on things.
- AT:Maybe I can still get a little bit, in, on a celebration.
- AT:I'll check those times.
- AT:So , what are the times again?
- AT:We have asked people to register in advance, but clearly we
- AT:will not turn anybody away.
- AT:, so registration and check-in starts at noon.
- AT:, the jumpers will actually start.
- AT:We're gonna have two different classes.
- AT:One starting at one and one starting at three.
- AT:We've got the lunch being provided at one o'clock.
- AT:The silent auction and the raffle and the games are probably from
- AT:like about one to three 30.
- AT:We'll announce winners at four o'clock, so it's all day, you know.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:It's, oh wow.
- AT:It's gonna be an all day event.
- AT:I would say approximately 12 to five.
- AT:12 to six.
- AT:Oh, I can come.
- AT:I can come.
- AT:Then I'll, oh, there you go.
- AT:You know, I didn't know it was gonna be run that later.
- AT:So I'll, I'll do my other thing and come and make sure I, I'm there as well, so.
- AT:Fantastic.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:So this is wonderful.
- AT:So I saw, so what is.
- AT:With them jumping, do you know the process, what you know of them jumping?
- AT:What do they have to do?
- AT:, I believe well, they're all gonna meet, early in the morning and, um, pray.
- AT:No, go ahead.
- AT:Yeah, exactly.
- AT:We actually we're, we're kicking off the day with a prayer, that's for sure.
- AT:They are gonna go through like a little workshop again.
- AT:They'll be.
- AT:They'll, I, I believe it's some sort of class that shows them
- AT:exactly what to expect and what to happen and what transpires.
- AT:, and again, only five people can go up at a time.
- AT:So it's one police officer, one formerly incarcerated along with
- AT:their, , tandem professional and then the videographer, , so they're
- AT:gonna really be able to capture.
- AT:Just everything that's taking place throughout the day.
- AT:Well, that's good because I wanna hear everything.
- AT:I wanna hear all the sounds.
- AT:I wanna hear somebody scream.
- AT:I mean, these people are, I, I'm like, talk about, be bold and be courageous.
- AT:The Lord is, Lord, our God is with you wherever you go.
- AT:I mean, it's.
- AT:This is really, really neat.
- AT:A lot of these people have never even been in a plane before.
- AT:I mean, some of these people have never even been outside of
- AT:Milwaukee and they're jumping.
- AT:So come out to Jefferson and they wanna come.
- AT:We've actually got over 150 people registered to attend.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:So it's, it's really neat.
- AT:And again, it's just to show the community that, you know, anybody
- AT:in this world can come together and make our community a safer place.
- AT:I just really love this.
- AT:, , I could just imagine this is gonna be an annual event.
- AT:I can't imagine it stopping.
- AT:I bet you it's gonna take off everywhere We sure are hoping.
- AT:So, and you know, , it's not about the money that we're raising,
- AT:it's more about our mission.
- AT:And it's, again, it's that, it's the, the relationships that
- AT:are being built , and helping.
- AT:Change the stigmas.
- AT:I mean, there's so much out there that is pushing that these people can't get along
- AT:and we prove it every Wednesday night.
- AT:You know, in addition to the police officers that serve as mentors, we
- AT:typically have anywhere between, I'd say five and 10 individuals that are
- AT:currently in the police academy that are coming to our huddles as well.
- AT:You know, God bless these people for wanting to do this job, wanting to serve
- AT:and protect our communities despite what is happening in our world today.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:I, we're hoping we can make it an annual event, but we're really hoping
- AT:that this documentary is shown, you know, across the country and perhaps
- AT:other cities will adopt this program.
- AT:I know they will.
- AT:Their communities.
- AT:Yeah, I know they will.
- AT:, I just can't see how it's not just gonna travel like wildfire through
- AT:the country because I just know God is gonna bless this event and
- AT:'cause it's like a leap of faith.
- AT:This is literally a leap of faith.
- AT:Yep.
- AT:So I, I, I just, I, I gotta see that documentary.
- AT:I wanna see everything.
- AT:Like what do you know them going through the class, what, you know, asking
- AT:questions, their eyes getting big and Yep.
- AT:You know, I wanna see all that.
- AT:So how do, how do people donate, um, if they go to the community warehouse.org?
- AT:I'll have it, I'll have it in a show notes.
- AT:Sorry to interrupt, but go ahead.
- AT:Okay.
- AT:We are actually going through the We Raise Foundation.
- AT:Okay.
- AT:Um, but if they go to the community warehouse.org,
- AT:that's kind of the easiest way.
- AT:Um, they can click, you know, donate and that'll take 'em right
- AT:to the We raise site as well.
- AT:And, um, that's where they can donate and every little bit helps.
- AT:I can guarantee you it'll make a difference.
- AT:They're making a difference.
- AT:Every little bit helps for sure, because, you know, some people think
- AT:it's, you know, gifts are too small.
- AT:Don't think that, just go ahead and give so that we just show
- AT:that support and just show that.
- AT:This is real, you know?
- AT:Right.
- AT:That you are actually are participating and not just talking
- AT:that you actually participate.
- AT:Right.
- AT:And that's, you know, we have Adam Purcell, who his, he's kind of our
- AT:director at Partners in Hope I.
- AT:He, um, his saying is, nothing changes.
- AT:If nothing changes.
- AT:How simple is that?
- AT:Right.
- AT:That's how you know what, it's just humans.
- AT:We don't wanna complicate stuff.
- AT:It's not that complicated.
- AT:It may be hard, but not complicated.
- AT:So, and you know, and we as Christians know, it's not always
- AT:easy to do the right thing.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:But another simple thing to say is, love God.
- AT:Love people.
- AT:It's that easy.
- AT:That's true.
- AT:And it's, it's really happening at Partners and Hope.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:I just know it's going to take off.
- AT:I love partners and hope I talk about it, , talk about the organization all the time.
- AT:I love the analogies of, about building up relationships and people using.
- AT:You have building materials, you have building warehouses, you have,
- AT:right, talking about building trust.
- AT:I like how you have the toolbox, , and just giving people tools.
- AT:It's all relating and it helps people to understand what's going on there.
- AT:It's about restoration, restoring people and bringing them up to,
- AT:you know what they were created.
- AT:To be.
- AT:So this is, so we are gonna have a documentary coming out from this.
- AT:Do you have any idea when it will be available?
- AT:, it's gonna take some time, obviously.
- AT:Um, they'll do some post-event stuff as well, , some post-event interviews.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Um, for sure.
- AT:And then, , with the editing , and all of that, Eric is doing the documentary
- AT:for us, and I asked him that question.
- AT:I said, where do you hope to show this?
- AT:Yeah, well, you know, it'll, and I'm like, okay.
- AT:What about like, Milwaukee Film festival or you know, whatever.
- AT:He is like, yeah, I definitely really need to explore my
- AT:options once it's said and done.
- AT:You know, where can we take this?
- AT:And again, we all know God will provide, he will provide and mm-hmm.
- AT:You know, sometimes we, we just don't know.
- AT:Where, what God is doing at that particular time.
- AT:But just to even get this far and you, like you said, get these approvals,
- AT:going through the red tape I call it.
- AT:And making sure, , you get all the approvals and you have 'em all.
- AT:And just, I think it's awesome, , growing up in the community myself
- AT:we didn't have this when I was growing up where you had, the police
- AT:working with the community and other leadership, and this is what it's going
- AT:to take to make our neighborhoods safe and for people to get involved.
- AT:And, I talked soon, , a couple of episodes away, if you
- AT:didn't hear that with Eddie.
- AT:Yeah, , Eddie Moore talking about.
- AT:Community service is very important that we understand how important community
- AT:service is, , for our community.
- AT:Right, right.
- AT:And you know, I'm, I'm gonna go on and, and say my husband Dean mm-hmm.
- AT:Is Eddie's mentor.
- AT:Yes, Eddie.
- AT:Eddie was Dean's first mentee.
- AT:Dean now has three mentees, but Eddie , was Dean's first mentee.
- AT:Wow.
- AT:And you know, Eddie unfortunately went through a lot this past year.
- AT:He lost his daughter.
- AT:Hmm.
- AT:And you know, having been in prison, in and out of prison his entire life, he
- AT:didn't know how to plan a funeral and.
- AT:By the grace of God, Dean was able to walk alongside him, and
- AT:together he and I made it happen.
- AT:We explained the importance of honoring your daughter and
- AT:we really need to do this.
- AT:Let's do this.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:You know, we have Reverend Ana, um, Who serves at our graduations.
- AT:He's got a church, um, Bethany Luther, I believe it's um, right
- AT:there, right around partners in hope.
- AT:He was kind enough to hold the service, you know, for Eddie.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:And you know, this just goes back to what I was talking about
- AT:before, you know who attended who.
- AT:About 10 people from Partners in Hope.
- AT:See, that's Eddie's family now, that's Eddie's family.
- AT:And what a blessing it was that we could all come together and do this for him
- AT:and his daughter and his other daughter,
- AT:again, it's all about relationships.
- AT:And I think another thing to point out that I am recognizing
- AT:through partners in Hope.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:And I should point out the success of Partners in Hope in the last
- AT:five years, um, usually men and women coming out of incarceration,
- AT:only 37% do not return to prison.
- AT:This is a, this is a fact.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:Through the success of the cohort, those that attend the cohort at Partners
- AT:in Hope, we have a 94% success rate.
- AT:That's awesome.
- AT:And you know, I think it just goes to show too, that by attending these
- AT:huddles, what a lot of people are hearing and seeing is resonating.
- AT:And for a lot of.
- AT:Those that dropped to their knees in prison, they recognized what was more
- AT:important was a spiritual transformation rather than just behavior modification.
- AT:That's what makes the difference.
- AT:Yes.
- AT:That's what makes the difference.
- AT:It's an that's an incredible difference.
- AT:And it's, , one of the things I like to talk about too is just like, and
- AT:what I do here with, , prison's.
- AT:Pardon?
- AT:Because it's about a reconciliation with God, which is, it's not just a legal
- AT:issue, it's a spiritual issue, and those things need to be, Taken care of with
- AT:it, which is an inner transformation.
- AT:And it's not a reform, it's a transformation.
- AT:. Yes.
- AT:When you have a transformation, the, , success rate is a hundred percent.
- AT:You're wasting right your time and resources , when there's no interchange,
- AT:don't waste your time and money because if that doesn't change, you can't
- AT:do anything with those resources.
- AT:, it's not gonna stick.
- AT:Right.
- AT:Yeah, I love this event.
- AT:Leap of Faith.
- AT:I'm love that I can go now for sure.
- AT:I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna talk about it, so I'm like, I can't go.
- AT:I don't wanna hear about this.
- AT:And then you go and it's getting better and better.
- AT:You having documentaries, I'm like, oh yeah, they're having a documentary now.
- AT:I can't even go.
- AT:So yeah.
- AT:That'll make the documentary that much more impactful.
- AT:You know, look at all the people that are here.
- AT:Look at the people that wanna come, that wanna be involved.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:That are definitely a part of this.
- AT:And it's just, again, it's, it's so meaningful.
- AT:It's, it's, it's just a really beautiful thing that's happening.
- AT:And I.
- AT:Again, we give God the glory.
- AT:We're doing it for him, we're doing it for him.
- AT:I'm gonna have to pick up some balloons or something and, , just be able to let go of
- AT:some balloons out there as they, because I'm like, you jump for me because, , I
- AT:don't do heights, like, wow, I cannot believe that you guys are doing that.
- AT:But that leap of faith, I love how it says leap of faith and you're
- AT:actually leaping out on a plane.
- AT:When you go by faith, it does feel like that, I would think.
- AT:Mm-hmm.
- AT:You know, because you're not in control anymore.
- AT:Nope.
- AT:Right.
- AT:And, and you fail and you have to trust.
- AT:Trust God and we have to, allow yourself to trust other people because
- AT:it's not, you can't do it alone.
- AT:That's why I love partners.
- AT:Hope Who picked this name right?
- AT:This, that was, uh, this, that's an awesome name.
- AT:Every, everything that you're doing is catchy Phrases.
- AT:Somebody is like Leap of faith partners in hope, , toolbox.
- AT:You know, huddles a love, all of it.
- AT:It is just really talking about.
- AT:, everyone coming together and sharing burdens and because, it's so easy
- AT:just to think that you're alone.
- AT:Yeah.
- AT:And that's just it.
- AT:I mean, that's, that's like I said, and, and there's no judgment.
- AT:There's no, there's none of that.
- AT:It's just come as you are and you know, again, we are there to just
- AT:love one another, serve one another.
- AT:It's just, it's just a, it's a really neat thing and that's why
- AT:I just love being a part of it.
- AT:I'm, it's a privilege to be a part of it.
- AT:Oh, is there anything else you wanna add that people should know about
- AT:Partners and Hope leap of Faith yourself and, uh, what you, uh,
- AT:do there for as community service?
- AT:I think we, we about said it all and it's a.
- AT:It's a diamond.
- AT:I think this is a diamond here in the city of Milwaukee.
- AT:I'm grateful for the opportunity.
- AT:Like I said, I love to talk about partners in hope and just to spread
- AT:the word and it's, it's the good word.
- AT:And you know it's truth.
- AT:That's what, that's what we follow and.
- AT:It's just, thank you so much for this opportunity and I really hope
- AT:that people are excited and, you know, wanna know more about it.
- AT:And if they can't come, you know, we'll maybe we can, I can come back and we
- AT:can talk about when the documentary's gonna take place, or Oh, for sure
- AT:where they can find it or what actually happened or somebody else from the
- AT:event can talk and, and again, just.
- AT:Thank you so much for the opportunity, Michi.
- AT:Yeah, it's, it really means thank you.
- AT:Thank you.
- AT:And yeah, maybe I could have a few of them on to talk about their
- AT:experience, like, did you cry?
- AT:Did your life change?
- AT:Did you, did you walk differently once you got back on the ground?
- AT:You know, things like that.
- AT:So That's awesome.
- AT:Thank you for coming so well, that's all we are gonna be doing today.
- AT:Everything that we did talk about, I will have it in the show notes, for instance.
- AT:Um, the time, the place where the leap of faith event will be, um, how to donate.
- AT:So I have the website and a lot of your other social
- AT:media links in the show notes.
- AT:Well, that's it for today folks.
- AT:Thank you for listening.
- AT:Anyway, you have a week filled with blessings.
