Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Breaking Barriers: Dr. Avice Reid's Journey in Leadership & Service
Dr. Avice Reid, brings a lifetime of wisdom to this captivating conversation about breaking barriers and building bridges in Knoxville. After 34 years at TVA—where she started as a co-op student from Knoxville College and rose through the ranks despite facing discrimination as the only Black female at the engineering lab—Dr. Reid now serves as the interim President and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League.
She works dilligently to create opportunities for everyone, especially those facing disadvantages. Through the Urban League, she helps people develop skills, build credit, find housing, and establish generational wealth through homeownership. She is a true trailblazer!
You all will enjoy this conversation!
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Check us out to hear the latest on life in the volunteer state. Yvonca and her guests discuss everything from life, love and business with a Tennessee flair. It's a Tennessee thing, always relatable, always relevant and always a good time. This is Talkin' Tennessee, and now your host, yvonca.
Speaker 2:This episode is brought to you by the Landis team, your go-to real estate family in East Tennessee. If you are looking to buy or sell, we are the ones you should call. Give us a call at 865-660-1186 or check out our website at yvoncasellsrealestatecom. That's YvoncaSellsRealEstatecom. That's Yvonca, Y-V-O-N-N-C-A SellsRealEstatecom.
Speaker 3:Welcome back to Talk in Tennessee with Yvonca, and I am your host and I am here with such inspiration. This woman is a person that I need to know more. It's Dr Avis Reed. Welcome to Talkin' Tennessee. How are you? I?
Speaker 4:am fine. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I don't really like talking about myself, but you've convinced me to do so. Yes, so let's see where it goes.
Speaker 3:So let's tell our viewers exactly your title. What is your title right now?
Speaker 4:The interim and I emphasize interim. I am the interim president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League.
Speaker 3:Now, that is a mouthful, but you'll understand why when we get into this conversation. Thank you so much for coming, and I just want to talk about who is the woman.
Speaker 4:Who is Avis Reed, that's a good question how long do we have? No, seriously, I like to think that I am number one, a child of God. Yes, I think that that drives everything that I do. I am someone who is, first of all, a native Knoxvillian, and I say that a lot because I want this city to be so inviting that people who aren't from here want to rush and be a part of here. I want people who drive by to stop and say, oh, why am I going anywhere else? And so I strive to make Knoxville an inviting city, a place where people want to be.
Speaker 4:I'm a native Knoxvillian. As I said earlier, when I graduated from college, I had offers other places, but I wanted to stay here, and so it's important to me that it's a wholesome place, that it's a place where people can thrive, where people can enjoy all the amenities that everyone else can have. I don't want it to be a place for the haves and the have-nots and people looking through a fence hole trying to say, boy, I wish I could have a part of that. So that's who I am. I love my family. I'm a family person. I have four wonderful, awesome grandchildren.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, they don't live here.
Speaker 4:Oh my gosh. Unfortunately, they don't live here, and part of the reason they don't live here is because I have two daughters, okay, and they both did not see Knoxville as an inviting place for young adults, and so they moved to other cities. My oldest daughter moved to Nashville, okay, because she saw that more inviting, more inclusive. My youngest daughter moved to the Atlanta area in Lawrenceville, georgia, because of that. So that's another reason why I'm driven to make Knoxville a welcoming place. I don't want people who were fortunate enough to be born here to not see Knoxville as the place to continue to live here to continue to live here.
Speaker 3:I think that you, of what I've heard off camera and on camera, you are dedicated to this community. You're dedicated to build up this community, you're open to have the conversation with people about what Knoxville is, what you see of Knoxville, and you're willing to tell people to do the work. You know we live in a world now that everybody thinks it's success is overnight and they think light's camera action, and so I'm of the belief hard work will pay off. I do feel like that. You have to have a relationship with God and let him guide your steps. Would you agree with that?
Speaker 4:Wholeheartedly. I wouldn't do anything without God's guidance. I did in my younger days and I made some mistakes. Yes, he laughed at us while we were making them, so I'm glad he's forgiving and doesn't hold any of those against me. But, as you were saying, it is important to have relationships.
Speaker 4:Yes, I'm fortunate that I've been able to work in many different areas as a volunteer. Yes, because being a volunteer the time commitment works, the way your time works. Yes, and so because of that, I got to have up close and personal relationships with a lot of people, a lot of nonprofits, to see what their niche is, how they can make a difference in the community. And it's also it's sort of like a bridge from one to the other. Yes, because once you work in one area and see what they have, then that sort of propels you to another area. Yes, ma'am, and it also propels you to be able to help people as you come through life and see the issues they have. You can make those referrals, say, come on with me, you don't have to stay where you are. I know an organization that can help you address whatever the issue is that's awesome and so you know I have worked in I don't even know how many non-profits.
Speaker 4:Yes, I can't, I don't, I don't know. People ask me how many boys are you on? I said I don't know. She said I don't know.
Speaker 3:People ask me how many boys are you on? I say I don't know. She said I don't know. I just show up, that's right, I don't know I just show up.
Speaker 3:I live by my calendar. Yes, and that's a community-involved leader. But I do think in leadership you have to. People ask my family all the time how do y'all do so much? And I'm like, we just don't think about it. We just do it Because I think you slow your brain down by thinking about everything you need to do. You just need to do it. And when I was researching you and I asked around in the community, you know, because I always ask you know who would y'all like to hear next? You know whose story is compelling to you. You know I mentioned your name and I said I don't know everything she's done, but I've respect to her from afar. So what do you? What is your opinion? And not one person not one person said that you're a bad pick for the podcast. Every one of them said Yvonca, you pick for the podcast.
Speaker 3:Every one of them said Yvonca, you're on the right track. Yvonca, you need to get her. And shout out to Tammy White because Tammy stayed on me because she was like Yvonca, her story is amazing and she needs your platform needs her. That's exactly what she said. Your platform needs her, poor Tammy. But I agree because you've done so much in your life, not just in business but in your community service and everything. She worked at TVA. Let's talk about TVA. So you started at TVA. How many years were you at TVA and what was your position and what did you end out at?
Speaker 4:if you don't mind me asking, Well, no, I was at TVA for 34 years 34 years. And the interesting thing is, I went to Knoxville College I'm a graduate of Knoxville College and while I was at Knoxville College, tva came over to the college and said they wanted a co-op student. They wanted a co-op student and back in those days you actually left school for a term and worked full time in the corporation. You didn't do both, so that meant that I would physically leave college and go to Chattanooga because it was in.
Speaker 4:Chattanooga and work full time, 40 hours a week in the corporate world and then returned the next quarter to school. And so they were doing that. The interesting thing is TVA had done its homework. They were working at HBCUs. They wanted to increase the pool of African Americans who were actually in application development because they were creating computer applications. They had done the homework they wanted. Because TVA is in the seven state areas, they went to all the HBCUs in the seven state areas. Fort Valley State had the best score. They had all these scores of what they were looking for in schools. You know the test results, the number of graduates, what they were doing post-graduation, all of this. Tva had done all this research and Fort Valley scored the highest of all of the HBCUs in the seven-state area. Knoxville College scored second. Okay.
Speaker 4:So, they had gone to Fort Valley and gotten a couple of— my grandfather graduated from Knoxville College.
Speaker 3:Oh awesome, it's so great to hear this story.
Speaker 4:Yes, so they went to Fort Valley and got a couple of co-op students and then they needed another one. So they came to Knoxville College and several of us applied. I was selected, didn't know what I was doing. It was just like you are walking away from the known to go to the unknown. But it opened up all kinds of doors for me. I was extremely nervous. I had never been away from home. So here I'm, going down to Chattanooga, don't know where I'm going to live, what I'm going to do, don't know anybody, I'm just going to go to work. The thing about it is what really propelled me to do that is the summers between high school and college freshman, the summer between freshman and sophomore. I worked for the city of Knoxville as a playground leader. Really, I was a playground leader. I had the key to the toy box and so I would show up every day to the playground and get the toys out and make sure.
Speaker 3:Unlock it, lock it back up, lock it back up.
Speaker 4:Make sure all the toys stay, that's right Make sure all the children were safe, and so when they came and asked us to apply for this job as a co-op student, it included a summer job and I would make twice as much as I had made on the playground.
Speaker 4:Okay, so I was like, okay, even though this is taking a risk, I won't have to go sit out in the sun anymore on the playground, I can be inside and get paid twice as much. So that was my drive to take the job. But I learned so much about writing computer programs and how that worked. And so even when I would go back to college because I alternated doing that, I was actually able to teach one of the classes for my grade Fortran programming, because I had learned Fortran programming at work. So when I had to sign up for the class it was like, okay, we're going to let you teach the class. The teacher was in the class, obviously Right, but to monitor see how it goes. And so I ended up getting that A because of what I had learned on in the job and translated it to the classroom and able to teach my others you know, my fellow students how to write for four term programs.
Speaker 4:So anyway, I ended up doing that working at TVA. And so at TVA, when I came back as a graduate, I was hired as a mathematician. Yes, because I was a math major, by the way, I was hired as a mathematician. I was a programmer analyst, program development. I ended up supervising a group of IT developers. I was a project manager certified, got the credentials to be a project manager, so I had lots of different hats at TVA. But then Out of your 34 years yes, and it was great. I thought why would anybody work anywhere else when you have?
Speaker 3:TVA. Let me ask you this Building up your career at TVA back in the times that you started, tell me was there a pushback. Being a black woman, oh my gosh. Yes, okay, no, there were times my gosh, yes, okay.
Speaker 4:There were times. Yes, ma'am. First of all, I worked out after post-graduation when I worked at TVA. I worked at TVA and Norris at the engineering lab. That in itself was different. I was the only black female out to the engineering lab and there was. Itself was different. I was the only black female out to the engineering lab and there was one black male, and there was. If you know anything about the city of Norris, especially back in the 70s, no black people lived in Norris.
Speaker 3:Not many do now.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and they had one real restaurant in town, and so we would go down there for lunch. Yeah, and they had one real restaurant in town, and so we would go down there for lunch, et cetera. And I'll never forget one day I walked in there and somebody just looked over and said where do you live? It was just like surely you can't live in.
Speaker 4:North we get ready to tear up the city if you live here. So it was very welcoming during the day, but it was clear that you needed to leave as soon as you left your employment at TVA and get out of the city. But anyway, I ended up working in Norris and then I went downtown to work. But there were several instances where I had to fight for promotion. I had to speak on it. Yes, I had to. Actually one day, you know, went and actually went to file an EEO complaint and I had all everything lined up.
Speaker 4:I had one supervisor. I know you had all your documents. Yes, I did, but you know, the thing about it is, I had one supervisor who kept saying you needed to do this and we would outline what I needed to do to go to the next level.
Speaker 3:And you do.
Speaker 4:And we would do that. And then it was like, well, let's add one more thing and you need to do this, and that's the one that I went to say we don't have to file a complaint because the measurement keeps moving, Because the measurement keeps moving. But, you know, I say look at God over time, because what happened is, you know, I got other positions, he got other positions, we reorganized, and so I was, as I said, I supervised a group of application developers.
Speaker 4:He was among the people that I supervised, really, and so when he retired because he was older than me, he retired before I did. When he retired, I was his supervisor's supervisor, really, so I went to his retirement party. I went to his retirement party.
Speaker 3:Oh, I hope you enjoy your retirement. Are you hearing this? She said, basically the person that was trying to hold her back, god stepped in and before lot of times when you are in a situation that it doesn't feel like you are being treated fair, one thing about God that God does not discriminate and God will step in on your behalf and give you favor and so. But you had to do the work and look what you did. You you did in the 70s. That's not the easiest thing, okay, so while you were at TVA, is that where you got the love for nonprofits? Is that where you started?
Speaker 4:My first, I'll never forget my first time serving on any nonprofit was France Crittenton Agency. It was the first one and someone else who worked at TVA had served on that board and when his term was up he asked me if I would represent TVA on this board. And I was like, what is a board and what did they do? And so you know, of course, I went on to learn to serve. You know from that, I was on the United Way Allocation Committee, chaired one of those committees, and it just seemed natural, as things progressed to YWCA and you just name it, you were drawn to it.
Speaker 4:I was drawn to it and you would learn about one and then serve on another one. And it's funny because I made a career change by leaving the city and going to the police advisory review committee chairing that, but when I was in leadership not still Back up, back up.
Speaker 3:Yeah, when I was in Now, what did you do? You went to go work. Where?
Speaker 4:Oh well, what I said was one of the volunteer positions that I had at TVA when I was working at TVA.
Speaker 3:One of the places I volunteered for was the Knoxville City of Knoxville Police Advisory and Review Committee now keep in mind, she was in a career that basically, you earned that career and you were doing fine, but you still felt like you wanted to do for your city. You wanted to do for your city, right, you wanted to do for your community. Keep going.
Speaker 4:Yeah. So see, the thing about it is, I was volunteering in that capacity because it was important. I mean, here we have issues with the police and the community, and there was, you know, let's be real, it was not good relationships. You know, when the Police Advisory Review Committee was formed it was after four men, three of whom were black, in a seven-month period were killed, either being pursued by a police officer or in custody of a not-so a police officer or in custody of a Knoxville police officer, and those kind of conditions raise communities. You know the community was in outrage and so Mayor Victor S was the mayor at the time and he formed this committee to provide that oversight, which means you review all cases of discrimination or any complaints against the police department. And so that was one of my volunteer opportunities.
Speaker 4:But how that came about was when I went through Leadership Knoxville. I went through at TVA. My roommate and I don't know if you've ever been through Leadership Knoxville the first time you gather you are thrown in with a roommate situation with somebody you don't know, and you wonder why in the world am I going to be with this person? But my roommate ended up being Robin Askew.
Speaker 3:Okay. So let me ask you this Back then was it like now? You can't, when you first get there, you could not tell your title or you couldn't say your last name.
Speaker 4:No, Because ours, we couldn't for the first, yeah, the first day and a half. You're just the first name, so imagine that you go you go on a trip with people you don't know.
Speaker 3:All you know is their first name. You don't have enough time to even look up to try to find out who the person is right, and then she was thrown into that yeah, so that so.
Speaker 4:So robinkew ended up being my roommate and again, I didn't know her, never seen her at all, but we spent the night talking. Yes, that was the thing you found out that there is more in common than there's not alike.
Speaker 3:And I think a lot of people need to hear that that's not a light, and I think a lot of people need to hear that. A lot of people need to understand if you just humble yourself and not go into situations defensive, a lot of times you may disagree on some things, but you're going to agree on a lot of things, but you have to open your heart up to even let that come in.
Speaker 4:Let that come in. I mean here this woman I've never seen before, don't know who she is and why she's here, and she had the same concerns about me, but we talked.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And we talked and you share who you are and it's amazing that by doing that, you learn I have a lot in common with this person. Yes, by doing that, you learn I have a lot in common with this person.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And even those things that we didn't have in common. It was an opportunity to learn about something I didn't know anything about, so you win-win, you find out. Okay, here are things we can laugh and share about because they're common. I don't know about this world but this is your world.
Speaker 3:So let's what I can say that with Leadership Knoxville is when I, the first day that I went in that room, it was like there were a few people thought that I would know more people. I only knew three people and we have 61 people in the room. And is it intimidating? I'm not going to lie, it was intimidating, but, yeah, it was challenging me to get to know people that I didn't know, didn't look like me, you know, didn't have the same backgrounds, did not have the same journey as me. But I had to open my heart up to learn, you know, and let people see me, see who I am, and I allow them to see me to see them and I allow them to see.
Speaker 3:I mean to see them and I think, in your position being at TVA at such a young age, you know, I guarantee you, you felt the days of God. Why did you put me here? Oh, yeah, Many times.
Speaker 4:Many times, but you know what I was saying, though, about Robin is she was involved with the Police Advising Review Committee and told Victor Ash that I was someone who should be on the committee, so that's how those relationships started. So I ended up volunteering on that committee, because the person who I met as my roommate in leadership Knoxville years later I mean it wasn't even.
Speaker 4:I mean it was several- years later you know, probably 20 years later, that the connection was made, but you never know how one connection is going to lead to another and at what point were relationships you came up. Oh yeah, that would be a good person based on that.
Speaker 3:So let's talk about that. I think we're in a world now that people do not realize that everybody can eat. We're in a world now that people do not realize that everybody can eat Everybody. You know, I think that there's two types of people. There's people that realize, okay, we can all eat, we can all help each other, whatever goals that each other have, to get there. And then there's another set of people that believe, you know, that they're the only one to shine, or they're the only one. Their insecurities will not allow them to help someone else achieve their goals. And I think you are truly a leader. And I think you are truly a leader and you have shown throughout your career, throughout your work in the community, that you want everybody to find their place and find their way in the community, to build up the community. Can you speak on that? Sure?
Speaker 4:The community is better when all of us bring to the table what we have. We all have been given skills, we all have been given abilities, and sometimes we need those tweets. And that's when the Urban League comes in, because sometimes you may need more education, you may need more training, and so we at the Urban League can help people do that. Sometimes you have the training and the skills, but you need the opportunity so to be able to open up doors and marry, so to speak, people who have positions with people who can do the work.
Speaker 3:Yes, but you just need that interest and sometimes people just need to know that there is somebody that believes in them and that they can. They may not be there right now, but if you give them the tools or you give them the support you know that type thing or you can do it that it pushes them to bring out their talents. I think a lot of times that people are scared to show their talents because, for whatever trauma or whatever they went through, that they thought that they weren't good enough. They're scared to show their talents because they think it's going to be looked as you're failing, you're not worthy, that type thing. And I think that's one thing about the Urban League that y'all build up those people to say, ok, you can do this and we're willing to allow you to show your talent, do you?
Speaker 4:agree with that. That's exactly right. Walk through these doors. They walk through because they want something that's going to make them feel better, that's going to make them be able to help, support their families and support them, and so it's a variety of what they need. Like I said, they may need skills, they may need training, but they also need confidence. Because it's amazing and I mean, I myself lack confidence. You know I was not. You know I was thrown into some positions sometimes where it was like I don't know what to do. Why am I here? But to have somebody beside you who number one, say you can.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And number two, to say don't worry if you mess up, because I'm right here with you, and so Because they may not have heard that at home.
Speaker 3:And that's what people don't get. You know, if you don't hear, you know, especially at a young age, that you can do this, that type thing. And let me say this for the parents Parents.
Speaker 4:Sometimes you know whatever they've been taught. You know they can't teach you always something that they don't even know.
Speaker 3:You can't teach what you don't know, what you don't know, and so you have to get out in the community and find mentors and coaches and different organizations that really will build you up. And I think that you, at a young age, got into a position at TVA that you knew you had to do more. It was like more I have to give because God blessed me with this great job. You know I can't just let it be all about me. Am I wrong about that?
Speaker 4:No, that is so true because I looked at it, is I have opportunities that my peers didn't have. Yes, I had opportunities that my parents didn't have.
Speaker 3:I agree.
Speaker 4:And so I have to walk in a way that lets everyone know you were a good hire. Yes, it was good to take the chance on you Because, like I said, when I went to Norris there was one black male there and I was the first black female there, so everyone was looking like why are you?
Speaker 3:here. Why are you there? Yeah, why are you here?
Speaker 4:What are you bringing to the table? So I had to really go in and show that I'm bringing value to the table, that I can develop these applications as well as the next person, if not better.
Speaker 3:And I can build up people in the organization in the job that will serve whatever they need served at in their job performance. A lot of times people don't realize is, even if you have a talent and you're so good at it in a job you know, you still need to have somebody, your supervisor or somebody that will every so often tell you thank you so much for what you've done. Of course you know, thank you so much for building up this department. Thank you for showing up to work on time. You know and I think we're in a world that a lot of people do not get to hear- well done.
Speaker 4:That is so important because the reality is we all take a job because we need a paycheck.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:But the paycheck is not the reason you stay on the job, correct? You stay on the job because, number one, you feel like you're making a difference.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And you feel like your difference is appreciated. So one of the things that I strive always as a manager is to catch people doing something right and let them know that they're doing it right.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Because that to me for me personally it got me excited about showing up to work every day, and I want everybody that I work with to be excited about showing up every day. So it is important that you tell people you're doing well at this Correct, because you're right. A lot of times we don't hear it and a lot of times it's sort of like you hear the complaints but you don't hear well done.
Speaker 3:You don't hear. You know, thank you for being a part of this. You made it better or you've helped. You know a lot of employers. I try my best with all the businesses we have. I try my best to make sure that my employees know that I'll get my hands dirty just like they're getting theirs dirty. I am a team member, just like they are. They don't work for me, they work with me, and I always want them to feel like okay, I'm giving them an experience that they can't get anywhere else. And I think that's the biggest thing is that employers need to understand. Everybody needs to feel worthy.
Speaker 3:They feel worthy. They need to feel that worthy.
Speaker 4:They feel worthy. They need to feel that. I promise you, in situations where I know I was wanted and was glad to be there, there was no amount of time that I could give.
Speaker 3:If we had to be there around the clock Because you knew you were worthy and you knew that they respected your craft.
Speaker 4:I mean there were times we would work around the clock because it was like we have to get this done. We need to get this done.
Speaker 3:The deadlines the deadlines.
Speaker 4:And you didn't mind doing it because you knew that it was appreciated.
Speaker 3:So let's shift it a little bit about women. Okay, what would you tell a young woman that is trying to come up or maybe on their come up is trying to come up or maybe on their come up but it feels like it's never going to come, what would you tell?
Speaker 4:a young woman in these days and times. First of all, I think it's important to have patience, because we are living in an instant society. I mean, if we push a button and something doesn't happen right, then it's like throw it away.
Speaker 3:I agree.
Speaker 4:So, number one, I would say have patience. Number two, I would say know who you are and know what you bring to the table. And number three, do not be ashamed to boast what you're bringing to the table, because a lot of times and I was that way, I'm afraid well, I don't want to say what they should know. No, people don't always know what you think they know. So don't be ashamed, don't be bashful to say I can do this. Yes, I see a need over here and no one is doing it. Would you like for me to do it?
Speaker 3:Because nobody can speak for you better than you.
Speaker 4:No one can speak for you better than you. And don't give people an opportunity to say, oh, I didn't know she could do that.
Speaker 3:That's a good point, that's a real good point. And I think another thing is no matter what, don't compare yourself to anybody. Don't feel like you don't know what dues that they had to pay to get where they're at and they don't know yours. And when you start comparing yourself, that's where I think insecurities come, because you feel like you're less than.
Speaker 3:But if you focus I've been on this journey for the last three years God has told me to focus on me, improving me spiritually, everything, everything about me. And the one thing I had to learn was because I've always been a giver, okay, and so I had to learn. There's times that you have to give to yourself, you have to pour into you and you can't pour into anybody else. And it's okay because I felt like that and society makes you feel this way is that if you are focused on you, that's being selfish. But if you take it back to the Bible and where God said, put him first, then yourself, that's what God intended for you to do anyway, because you can't be all you can be for your community, your job, family whatever if you're lacking.
Speaker 4:That's exactly right, and I've stretched myself. I've been there, I'm going to be honest with you, I've stretched myself, where I had young daughters, I was a wife, I was a worker, I was a volunteer here and there, and it can drive you crazy. It can. So you have to put some balance and I learned earlier about prioritizing everything. I sit down with a piece of paper, one a pencil, and wrote down everything that I was doing, and sit down and said what's really important.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Were, if I died today, would I be concerned that it didn't happen.
Speaker 3:Exactly.
Speaker 4:And what?
Speaker 3:is true happiness. I think people will sit and say, oh, I'm happy. But then you say, well, what makes you happy?
Speaker 3:They can't tell you they can't describe it and you should be able to describe what happiness looks like for you. But I think a lot of people get so caught up into what society tells you happiness is. I tell my daughter all the time and viewers, adrian is in the room and I wanted you to speak on this is that I think you know young women nowadays, society says you're supposed to go get married and go have kids and and all that. And I said, adrian, take your time.
Speaker 4:Right, take your time, cause this the thing about it is you need to be a whole person before you try to blend with another. Hopefully whole person, correct Because a lot of times you're so quick to say, oh, I need to do this and do this and do that, and you haven't even defined who you are. And that evolves.
Speaker 3:And then when you get in marriage, you know that no matter how much you're in love, okay both sides brings baggage in some kind of way, and you have to deal with that and you have to realize okay, then when, when society says you need to have kids, so you go out here and you go get married, and okay, cause society told me I was supposed to get married and I'm supposed to go have kids.
Speaker 3:But if you haven't, prepared yourself and you don't know who you are, and you have not stopped that fulfillment will not be there.
Speaker 4:It will not be there. And then you end up with a situation where you're not happy, yes, your spouse is not happy, the children are not happy, and no one wants to be in that situation. No, I don't want to say that there will never be hiccups in any kind of relationship. Yes, but if you are comfortable with who you are and your spouse is comfortable with who he is, it's a totally different thing, and when you got God in the center of all of it, then it works out.
Speaker 3:There are so many marriages out here that I would say that and I can say this. I've been married before and when I got married, I got married. You know what I'm saying. I had a wedding. I never thought about growing old with him. I never thought about sitting on the porch laughing older. I never thought about that. That was my sign, but I didn't take that sign Is that you know marriage. When you get married, you have no clue what you're signing on for. But you know when you're young.
Speaker 4:You look at the life that you're living day to day and it's exciting. You go in places, you do things, you know that's what young people do, right. But you have to realize one day you're not going to be young one day the only person going to be in the room with you is just me exactly, and you got to make sure that you're right.
Speaker 4:But you gotta make sure that person's somebody that you're okay being in the room with yeah when there's nobody else but you, when you're out to dinner and it's just the two of you at the table yeah it's not a whole room full of people, everybody laughing and talking and can you have a conversation and be enjoyed and fulfilled in that?
Speaker 3:And I think a lot of times that young women nowadays and that's where I wanted to speak on it, because you know you're married I mean you've got kids and grandkids and you had a career and I know there was things that you had to sacrifice to have all of that and you had some days of God. What am I doing? You know that type of thing. What would you say to women about getting a balance?
Speaker 4:It's impossible to be successful without balance. True, I mean, because without balance you're tilting one way or the other and when you're tilting, something is not getting fed Something is falling off.
Speaker 4:And so what I did personally and I think is important if you are that whole person that you want to be, you are who you are. You have a spouse, you have children trying to get them through school and fed. Every day, you're working. You know all of that. I think it's important to have girlfriends, I agree, who are similar to you. You don't want a bunch of girlfriends who can't identify with what you're going through. But girlfriends I had to learn that. Yes, because sometimes you know you're trying to get your family together, your career together, you forget that sometimes you need to step away and breathe and just be you, and just be you To breathe. And so one of the things that helped for me was to have that little circle, small circle.
Speaker 4:Not big, small circle of girlfriends who know you, who have similar situations. Take a weekend and just hang out. It could be, you know, going to a hotel room and going out to dinner and laughing and talking and getting re-energized and realize I'm not the only one dealing with this, yes, and then you can go back and deal with it, because you need to be you, but you need to be you in an environment that's wholesome.
Speaker 3:I agree. I think a lot of times you know, because people will say, oh, you and David have a great marriage. And I tell people we do have a great marriage, but we do have days that we don't like each other. We do have days that it's like he's getting on my nerves and I'm getting on his nerves. You know what I'm saying and I think that if more people would just be honest, especially people that's been married a long time, y'all need to speak up and you don't have to tell your business. But you need to speak up and you don't have to tell your business, but you need to speak up and say you know what. You're not going to like each other every day, you're not going to get along every day and you're not going to agree every day, but you have to. I believe you have to be equally yoked.
Speaker 4:You have to be equally yoked and you have to love and respect each other.
Speaker 3:You do, because that's the thing Respect to me is better than love.
Speaker 4:It is, it is. Respect is better than love.
Speaker 3:It is.
Speaker 4:And if you respect the person, then, number one, you're going to trust what they say and do Correct. And that's so important because sometimes you don't agree with what they're saying and doing.
Speaker 3:Correct.
Speaker 4:But if you trust them, then you can say I don't agree with what they're saying and doing, Correct. But if you trust them, then you can say I don't understand, it's not what I would do, but I'm okay with it if that's what you want to do.
Speaker 3:I'll tell you this. You know my company Turner Knox. We wanted to get a box truck and I wanted it now and my husband kept saying your mom is going to come and we're a praying family. Me and David pray every night together and that is sacred to me and David, because you can't have a household running if the husband and wife is not praying. That's just my opinion. But, david, you have to trust, and the reason why I'm bringing this up is what you're saying about respect and trust.
Speaker 3:David kept saying to me Yvonne, it'll come, we're praying, we're praying and I'm like, okay, god, I want it right now, whatever, when I tell you, the husband I have was so patient with it, and the days I would go to Adrian to get Adrian, I'm like Adrian, don't we do that? And Adrian would be like Mom, it's going to come, it's going to come.
Speaker 3:Because I thought that she would say what I was wanting to hear at that time. But Adrian was like Mom, it's going to come. And literally it came. God, I literally put a post on my social media that I was looking for one. A lady that I've known for 20 some years, that I trust wholeheartedly, reached out to me and said Yvonne, I saw that you were looking for a box truck and I'm about to sell mine. Yvonne, let's make a deal. But if I wouldn't have listened to my husband and just stayed still, you know I could have made a bad mistake in going and getting in debt. This just happened and that type of thing. So I agree with you when you say you've got to trust the person that you're married to or you're in a relationship with and you've got to respect them. And you know, I thought love would. When I got married, I thought love would conquer all.
Speaker 4:Love does not conquer all Too many people have been divorced and still love each other Exactly.
Speaker 3:And so it's like I learned, like in the last 10 years I learned respect is so much greater than love. Love will come, but respect if you respect somebody and trust them, you can build anything. So I would say to all women out there you know, take your time, take your time and understand. If you're in the career part of it that even takes time. You're not going to be the boss today, but if you keep working. But if you keep working, maybe later on you will be the boss and you keep going. And she is prime example of being a boss. So let's talk about the phone call of Will you become an interim?
Speaker 4:CEO. Yeah, that was a phone call.
Speaker 3:Yes, let's talk about it.
Speaker 4:Unbelievable, because I had retired once before and went back to work, so I was not ever thinking about going back to work again Now.
Speaker 3:Keep in mind she has the kids, the grandkids, and she does all the things in the community volunteering, and she got the phone call that there was a position that needed to be filled and it was a call that I think you're perfect for. She is the interim CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League and when she got that call it was shoes that needed to be filled and conquered till the next one comes in. But I know that you probably were like what Me come out of retirement. Take us back to that and your thoughts that day.
Speaker 4:Well, my first thought, of course, was no, because I'm retired and I've worked my. I mean, I've worked a long time, yes, ma'am, when you consider, I started working when I finished high school and, you know, worked forever. I was like I will never work full-time anywhere and it's just never right.
Speaker 4:So my first thought was no, and. But then I thought about the organization. Ok, most organizations that know would have stayed no, but the Urban League is so important to this community. I myself benefited from the Urban League years ago when I was starting out, trying to find a position to use my skills in Knoxville.
Speaker 3:Let me ask you this and then we can go back to that. Please tell us what does the Urban League do? Tell my viewers, for the ones that don't know what the Knoxville Area Urban League does. I know it's a lot of stuff, but if you can shorten it, what is the mission?
Speaker 4:Yeah, to shorten what we do, the Urban League basically removes barriers for people who are disadvantaged to be able to realize the things that all Americans should be able to do, which is have a house to live in, a job to take care of them and their family, equal access to anything that the community offers, and so we at the Urban League believe that everyone should have those things if they want them, and so we do have programs that help.
Speaker 4:if someone, for instance, wants a house but their credit scores are not good, well, we work with them, we have classes on finances and how to build it up, to change that.
Speaker 3:Let me say this viewers, a lot of people you know with your parents. I can say I come from an educated family, but I can literally say I wasn't taught credit. You know, yes, my grandfather always said pay on time. He always told me don't have a lot of debt. I heard my dad say it, that type thing. But I had two different parents. I had one parent that loved to spend. That was my mother. Okay, rest in peace. I love my mother. Somebody say something about her, we have a problem. But my mother was a spender. My father was very frugal and he did not believe in having credit cards. Okay, he did not believe. He said if you don't have the money right then to pay for whatever you want, then that means no, okay.
Speaker 4:And both of those messages are not the clear message Exactly. They're extreme.
Speaker 3:Okay, they're both extreme, and what I had to learn is that, okay, you've got to have credit. Okay, but you don't need to go haywire with your credit either. But you don't need to go haywire with your credit either and you don't need to manage credit and you don't need to live off credit and you don't need to live off credit.
Speaker 4:Credit is good because it allows you to take advantage of things that you couldn't without it, but it shouldn't drive you. You should always be the driver and unfortunately, that's what we find A lot of people who have let the credit drive them, the credit scores are lowered. Drive them crazy, they're not able to, you know, take care of the obligations they've already gotten. So how can they ever get clear to start new obligations like housing and those kind?
Speaker 3:of things and the hard part, like these days and times, housing is a big deal.
Speaker 4:It is a big deal.
Speaker 3:You know, because it's so expensive.
Speaker 4:Housing is expensive. Plus, it's the one thing in America that has created generational wealth. Correct If homeownership allows you to build so that the next generation has something and you can that you can hand down as my grandfather says and so by not participating in that and becoming a permanent renter, then you never get over that hump. That one day I will be able to Number one. If you live long enough, you can stop paying your mortgage, Correct? You pay it off and.
Speaker 3:I think some people they get insecure about. You know well my mom, my dad, you know I've had clients like this. That has never, like nobody in their family has ever, owned a home. So why should I want to own a home? Nobody else did and grandma didn't do it and this or whatever. But just because your grandmother or your mother or your father, whoever, did not have it, that does not mean that you cannot achieve homeownership.
Speaker 4:I mean, when you look at this country back, you know when the GI Bill, you know you go back that far. When the GI Bill, you go back that far. Soldiers came home from fighting the war and they could get low-cost loans to get a home, to buy a home, and then their children after that inherited more. And it continues.
Speaker 3:Renting should be temporary, not forever.
Speaker 4:Yes, I think renting is awesome and we help people with renting. We help people here at the Urban League, we help people get into housing, we help people with down payments to first month rent, so renting is an option and we do help people do that you have to start somewhere, but that should not be your end all, especially for young people. Yes, you know older people at this point, we want them comfortable.
Speaker 3:Correct.
Speaker 4:And so we help. You know people get into stable housing. Because that's so important to get into a place that is clean, that is free from crime, you know that you don't have to worry about illicit things going on outside of your door. You know you're an older person. You shouldn't have to live like that.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 4:So we try to help with. You know deposits on rental places and things to help people get in a comfortable, safe environment, but when you're young and just starting off in your career, housing should be a primary. It should. It should be Before you start filling your closet full of clothes that's going to wear out the next day or be out of style the next week.
Speaker 3:Yes, A home. My grandfather used to say that's the one thing. As long as you pay your mortgage and your taxes, nobody can take it away from you. And so, but it comes with sacrifice, and she's right, clothes and shoes will go out of style, but your home, a roof over your head, brings a security that is unmatched. Right. And so at the Urban League, y'all teach people how to gain generational wealth, how even in jobs, how to, I know. Y'all teach people how to fill out applications and the resume and all that kind of stuff. But those are really important things to know, because everybody is not taught that at home. And so the Urban League teaches a lot of things that you didn't learn at home. Right, you know? Do you agree with that?
Speaker 4:But there are skills that are needed to be successful in this world.
Speaker 3:I agree.
Speaker 4:So we teach them. We even have entrepreneur classes for people who have a great idea and the community could benefit from the great idea, yes, but they need a business plan to make it work. They may need financial backing, all of those kind of things. So we teach classes and we have community and how to connect right. We have corporations that help teach the classes, so it's not all us, and that's another thing that the urban league does depend on, and that is corporations lending their assets anytime to make us help if you ever need us, we will come teach a class, most definitely because somebody had to pave the way.
Speaker 1:I said to you today.
Speaker 3:I thank you for paving the way because I had to see somebody that looked like me. I had to see that you know she's been in corporate America, she's been a nonprofit, she's done all these things and when she got the call she accepted the call. You know very easily and not saying that it would have been a bad thing, but very easy. When you got the call you could have said you know what I'm done, let someone else do it. But you still saw a need and you filled it.
Speaker 3:And let's talk about that need.
Speaker 4:Well, again, it was funny when you said that a couple of people called me and was like I can't believe you're going back to work, but it's the Urban League.
Speaker 3:And they said that makes sense. Yes.
Speaker 4:That is the one organization that you could utilize your skills. She's still paving the way for people you can utilize your skills. And then it was an interim position, so I knew that I only had a few months to come in see what was necessary to stabilize the organization, if it needed that, to make sure that the community understood we're still here, we're still providing services and we still need your support and you wanted the Urban League to be that connect and not.
Speaker 3:You didn't want what happened to be a shadow over the Urban League.
Speaker 4:The Urban League is the doors are still open, we're still providing services, we're still needed in the community. That's the thing and that's why I said yes, because the Urban League, after you, said yes, did you hang up the phone and say what did I just say? No, it was so funny. I did for a second, but I didn't have much time because I had to go to work. So I didn't have a lot of time to reflect on it, although I must admit that first day it was a long drive home.
Speaker 3:I was so exhausted Because you hadn't done it in a long time.
Speaker 4:I was exhausted. I was driving home saying what have I done?
Speaker 3:dear Lord.
Speaker 4:She was like I could have stayed at home. I could have stayed at home. I put all this energy because it was a lot of energy that first day and I promise you, I thought for a minute maybe I don't want to do this, but I said no, dear God, god, I prayed and you said you're gonna be with me.
Speaker 3:So he's been with me the whole time.
Speaker 4:You know they're. They're like I said I'm not in the best physical health, but through god's grace and mercy I'm able to put one foot in front of the other. I come in each day with the intention of making this the best organization, so whomever comes in after me just has to hit the ground running.
Speaker 3:They don't have to build up anything.
Speaker 4:That's what I'm trying to do.
Speaker 3:So you being the interim, so what all do you do as an interim?
Speaker 4:Everything she said everything. No, seriously, I'm taking this job as though it's mine. Okay, I still meet with external corporations to try to, you know, get them involved in the Urban League.
Speaker 1:Manage the staff yeah manage the staff.
Speaker 4:Make sure that they have the skills that are needed for the position. Make sure that we have funding, because funding is so important. Okay, I mean, I'm constantly looking at the budget. Ask the staff, I'm like, when they want to spend something what line of them does that fall under? Because it's important that we're good stewards of the funds.
Speaker 4:We're asking the community to pour into us through grants and donations, and right now we are starting our annual membership drive. Okay, as you well know, february, the 20th 2025, was to be our annual meeting luncheon, and that was the day we got snow.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And so we had to scurry around real quick and figure out how can we do this. And so we gathered at the convention center on February, the 19th, at 4 o'clock and presented and recorded the program that we had planned to present and had it aired on the 20th. We notified everybody the snow was coming. We can't have it, but we want you to know what the Urban League is doing.
Speaker 3:So you want people to become members of the Urban League and tell us more about you know. What does the Urban League need Besides membership? Do they need volunteers? What do y'all need from the community to make Urban League need Besides membership do?
Speaker 4:they need volunteers. What do y'all need from the community to make Urban League grow? Well, we do need the funding, which is why we're asking people this time to go to our website, which is D-T-H-E. Call K-A-U-L dot org. Say it one more time, please. The call dot org. Say it one more time, please. The call dot org that's D-T-H-E, k-a-u-l, which stands for the Knoxville Area Urban League. Yes, dot org. And seriously. Go to the website and where it says you can become a member. Seriously, look at the options you know we have for individuals. You can be a member of the Urban League for just $25 a year, so it's not a major investment for an individual.
Speaker 3:You spend more than $25 when you go to Chophouse? Tell me about it, let's be clear.
Speaker 4:So just $25. And what that says is we believe in what you're doing. Now you can give more and we hope people give more, but you can be a member for $25.
Speaker 3:And you'll be a part of something you know you have to think about. You know I tell people careers are great, but you got to do more than that. Careers are great, but you got to do more than that. To me, when it comes to God, God is going to ask our works. God's going to want to know that we made a difference. That's my opinion. And so, sitting on the couch, doing nothing for your community and I'm not throwing off on people sitting on the couch, because I sit on the couch sometimes too- but I'm just saying, and I can't wait to get back on my couch, yes, I can't wait to get back on again.
Speaker 3:But I'm saying but you earned that right to be on that couch. And I'm saying to younger people you know, pay your dues, build up your community. If you see there's things that your community is lacking, be the person that says, hey, let me introduce this to my community. You know, start you a business, start. You know, go do some things at your community. And everything cannot be about money. You know money's going to come to us. You know if you work hard, it's going to come. You know, if you love the Lord and you know that type of thing. But when you get that money, give back to different organizations that you believe in, and Urban League is one of those organizations that you need to believe in and invest in.
Speaker 4:Invest in, because when you invest in organizations like the Urban League, you're investing in your community, and we all know that a community that's well invested provides the environment so that everyone can succeed.
Speaker 3:Everyone can succeed and see corporations.
Speaker 4:You can become a corporate member of the Urban League for only $3,500 a year and that includes a table at the annual luncheon for 10 people, the annual gala, the big gala that we have in October. Yes, and you remember when I took a turn and Knox was there for the past two years.
Speaker 1:And.
Speaker 3:I thank God for y'all because you know, y'all made sure to bring us back and everybody loved the 360 and that's where I first met you. It was a day, and hear me when I tell you, when I met her, her staff was there and everything, but she was in there working just as much like I didn't even know you, and it took one of your employees, was like that's our CEO, and I was like, huh, yeah, she greeted me with a smile. You thanked me. I remember you walking up and said, yeah, I did such a professional job, you know, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 3:And I was like, oh wow, you were just so humble that day, you know, and I didn't even know who you were at the time. You know because I never saw you before. But I just have to say is you want to come behind an organization that someone will smile at you and be kind to you, and I will tell you this interim CEO is that person. So I have to ask this question because everybody's going to say, yvonne, why didn't you ask the question? So I know you won't be the CEO forever.
Speaker 4:No.
Speaker 3:What's the plan for the new CEO?
Speaker 4:Well, the board will make that decision and the board has contracted with a search firm and that search firm has worked with several other urban leagues, so it's very familiar with the needs of an urban league ceo. Okay, they have actually received applications and are going through them and doing interviews. So within a couple of months I I should be the former interim CEO.
Speaker 3:Yes, and she will be able to go back to her couch and enjoy retirement there you go you know. So she's telling you that get excited, there's going to be a new CEO. Come and get in this position and hit the ground running that type thing. And get in this position and hit the ground running that type thing. So what do you teach your grandchildren about building up their community?
Speaker 4:Well, first of all, it's funny my daughters I have two daughters, okay, and they saw me being involved when they were little, and it's so funny. My oldest daughter is a replica of me.
Speaker 1:She's in.
Speaker 4:Chattanooga and she's on every board and doing everything. Her husband says well, you know, I married a little Abbess Because she is involved. Yes, and my younger daughter is as well outside of Atlanta, and so my grandchildren see what they saw. If you are making a difference in the community and involved, then they will too, because I remember it was so funny when I was at TVA.
Speaker 3:Daughters have to see their mothers.
Speaker 4:When I was at TVA, one of the things they asked me to do was they formed. Tva was responsible for forming a partnership. It was a black achiever, so the way it was set up they had adults were called adult black achievers.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 4:And then they worked with middle school young people and they were young black achievers and so it was more or less like mentoring and we would meet once a month and, you know, had different activities and stuff. So when they asked me to do that if I would be one of the black achievers, I said yes under the condition that my daughter could be one of the black achievers. I said yes under the condition that my daughter could be one of the young achievers, and so those kind of things. You know I brought her along because, again, it was like she could benefit from the program.
Speaker 4:She wasn't proud with me because that didn't make sense for her to be proud with me. But she learned so much through the program and so any kind of time that you can still give to the community, but then try to tie your family and build your family up at the same time, are y'all hearing?
Speaker 3:what she's saying. Because, adrienne, I'll say this, I'm so glad you brought that up because Adrienne came into our real estate business at 20 years old and of course it was intimidating because your clients are going to be way older than you and that type thing. But she felt like she was in the shadow of me and her dad and I said at first I felt bad for her because they would introduce her Like people would say, oh, that's your mom, because they wouldn't even say her name and I would correct them. I said she has a name. But then it got to a point that they stopped doing it.
Speaker 3:But Adrian started getting comfortable in my shadow and I was like no, she's. Like well, people have me in your shadow. I said no, you have yourself in my shadow. I said, step out. You know that type thing and I think it's great to give your children a stepping stone and teach them. Okay, here you go, because why would we go and sacrifice and do all that if we couldn't hand that down as well? So I think that is a big thing. Is don't for anybody that's out there that may have a family business or may have, you know, parents that are in great fields that their parents can open up a door. Don't look at it like you're in a shadow Excel from what they've taught you.
Speaker 1:Take that opportunity.
Speaker 3:Take that opportunity, because why would your parents do what they've done, you know, for you to say, oh well, I just want to do it all on my own If you don't have to take that opportunity and go.
Speaker 4:And really and truly, that's how so many great businesses have survived because of the generation being passed on. And think about the luxury when you were young, trying to figure out what you're going to do in life and starting from zero. You are starting with nothing.
Speaker 3:Yes, Me and David are first-generation entrepreneurs. Like all my family were educators. My husband's side of the family were educators and my grandfather, he, wanted me to be a teacher. So bad, but that wasn't the calling for me and I didn't know that I was going to be an entrepreneur for almost 27 years. But it was like I had to follow my path, you know, and be OK with it. You know, because at first I did feel like, OK, I was letting my grandfather down or let my you know, my family down, that type thing. But I realized that God's path is God's path.
Speaker 3:God's path and I'm so thankful yes, so thankful because God's path is always's path, god's path, and I'm so thankful, yes, so thankful, because God's path is always the right path to go. So, as we end this, what would you tell the community? What does this community need?
Speaker 4:This community needs more appreciation, appreciation for the fact that we live in a place that is, first of all, beautiful. It is, I mean, this area. When you look at what God created the mountains, the rivers, the greenery it's a beautiful place.
Speaker 3:It really is, and you get so much in East Tennessee.
Speaker 4:Yes, so first of all appreciate that. Second of all, appreciate what you can bring to the community, because sometimes we think, oh, I'm not so on the big name and the big title and the big whatever Everybody can contribute to our success.
Speaker 4:So don't be intimidated. Whatever you have to contribute, use it. Find a venue that will allow you to excel, whether it's another non-profit, whether it's starting your own non-profit, whether it's starting your own for-profit. Yes, you know, I think that we need to be more inviting. And then, second of all, I I think that we need to be more inviting. And then, second of all, I just think that those who have opportunities should be looking for those who don't and bring them alone, go into a cocoon at the end of the day because they've got theirs, and sit out and look out the window at those who don't have and wonder what's wrong with them. What's wrong with them is you haven't opened up and given them an opportunity.
Speaker 3:And you got to realize. You know the thing. You know they say give someone their flowers before it's too late. Tell people that paved the way for you. Humble yourself enough to say if you know somebody that's paved the way and they've helped you, tell them thank you. You know you have to stop and say thank you for paving the way, thank you for putting time in me Right, thank you for you know, mentoring me, whatever that type thing, because God is listening and he's wanting you to be thankful for everything he gives, because he sends those people as a vessel of him. You know. So that type thing I do think that this community, more people, need to say to Dr Reed thank you for paving the way for me and thank you for being that example that I can be proud of.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you for saying that. I never really thought that anybody was, you know, was paying attention, watching. I'm doing what I think God's called me to do. I'm doing what I think God's called me to do and I'm just sort of speechless that someone is noticing someone. It matters.
Speaker 3:God told me a certain part of why it was time to bring you on, and I told you off camera that three different times your name has up and it was not time. Now I know why. He wanted me to give you your flowers and he wanted me to tell you that you paved the way for so many Thank you.
Speaker 4:I don't know what to say.
Speaker 3:She's speechless, she's speechless, but you don't have what to say she's speechless. She's speechless, but you don't have to say anything. Just know that a lot of people watch you and a lot of people are growing because of you and your life is not in vain, because you work to make sure it's not in vain.
Speaker 4:Well, I thank you for saying that and you know I go back to my grandmother when I was a little girl. She was the world to me and unfortunately she died when I was 16 years old and I was just devastated. But I promised her that I would make her proud. I didn't know how that would happen, I didn't know what I was going to do, but she's been a guiding star for me Because I say, am I doing what I was going to do?
Speaker 4:but she's been a guiding star for me, because I say am I doing what you wanted me to do? And she was a community person, she was a loving person. No one came in contact with her that didn't have something positive to say. So I thank you for saying that, because it reminds me that I didn't let her down, I guess.
Speaker 3:You didn't let her down and know this is that there are so many people that maybe not thought about. Let me tell her thank you. And so let me be the one to speak up for everybody is thank you for building this community, thank you for um not tarnishing the dream. You, you're, you're living out the dream and you're living it unapologetic, so thank you, so, so, so, tune in this Friday, because we have Dr Reed on Talk in Tennessee. Bye, guys, because we have Dr Reed on Talkin' Tennessee.
Speaker 1:Bye guys. Thanks for listening to Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonca. Watch out for our weekly episodes from the First Family of Real Estate and check us out on the web wwwyvoncasalesrealestatecom. See our videos on Yvonca's YouTube channel or find us on Facebook under. Yvonca Landis and Twitter at Yvonca Landis. And don't forget to tell a friend about us. Until next time. Yvonca signing off.