♪ ♪ >> Renee: RUE FUSS FRIDAY HAS SPENT MORE THAN THREE DECADES IN THE NEWS BUSINESS AND IS NOW IN HIS SECOND ACT, AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE CENTER AND THE ONE PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSE THAT PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO THE HOMELESS AND THOSE AT RISK.

I TALKED TO HIM ABOUT HIS YEARS IN THE MEDIA AND WHAT HE HOPES TO ACCOMPLISH IN HIS NEW ROLE.

THAT'S NOW ON CONNECTIONS.

♪ ♪ THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR CONNECTIONS TODAY.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

MANY CENTRAL KENTUCKIANS FIRST CAME TO KNOW RUE FUSS FRIDAY AS RUFUS FRIDAY AS THE SEVENTH PUBLISHER AND KENTUCKY.COM WHEN HE JOINED H.L.

MEDIA IN 2011.

THAT OPPORTUNITY CAME AS THE NEWSPAPER VETERAN HAD COMMITTED MORE THAN A QUARTER OF A CENTURY IN THE BUSINESS.

HE STARTED AT THE NEWS OBSERVER IN RALEIGH NORTH CAROLINA, SERVED 11 YEARS WITH THE GANETT COMPANY IN THE CIRCULATION DIVISIONS IN THREE STATES BEFORE JOINING THE COMPANY THAT EVENTUALLY LED HIM TO LEXINGTON.

NOW HE IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE HOPE CENTER AND THE ONE-PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSE THAT GIVES A HAND UP TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.

THIS IS LONG OVER DUE ACTUAL.

>> I THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

I THINK THE LAST TIME I WAS IN FRONT OF YOU WHEN I FIRST CAME TO LEXINGTON.

>> Renee: I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT.

>> MERE WEEKS ON THE JOB WHEN YOU CALLED AND WE CONNECTED WITH ONE ANOTHER.

SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

>> Renee: IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW ROLE WITH THE HOPE CENTER.

I DO WANT TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT SOME MEDIA STUFF.

AND IT'S INTERESTING TODAY, AT THE TIME WE RECORDED OUR INTERVIEW, I HAD A PHONE CALL WITH MIKE RULING ABOUT-- AND I KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO DO THAT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE LECTURE SERIES AND VOTING RIGHTS, ET CETERA, AND I SAID I'M TALKING TO RUFUS FRIDAY TODAY AND HE SAID YOU TELL RUFUS HELLO AND HE WAS ON THE MUHAMMED ALI BOARD WHICH YOU SERVED ON AND HE HAS GIVEN YOU 30 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED MAGAZINES HE COLLECTED OVER THE DECADES BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A MUHAMMAD ALI ALI FAN.

>> VINTAGE COLLECTION.

AND I WAS CHARGED WITH BEING THE CURE WHY YOU ARE COURIER TO GET THE MAGAZINES OVER TO THE ALI CENTER.

I WAS GRATEFUL FOR WHAT MIKE DID AND MY ROLE, I'M THE CHAIR FOR THE COLLECTIONS COMMITTEE.

I GET TO SEE ALL OF THE ARTIFACTS THAT COME IN FROM ALL OVER THE WORLDS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD SOME KIND OF CONNECTION OR AN ENCOUNTER WITH MUHAMMAD ALI AND THEY HAVE, IN TURN, WANTED TO DONATE THEIR ARTIFACT OR THEIR PHOTO OR SOME KIND OF ITEM THAT HE HAS EITHER SIGNED OR BEEN A PART OF, TO THE ALI CENTER.

IT'S INCREDIBLE.

>> Renee: THAT'S AWESOME TO BE IN THAT ROLE AND TO SEE ALL OF THAT MEMORABILIA AND THAT PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO PART WITH IT.

>> AMAZING SOME OF THE THINGS THEY ACTUALLY COLLECT.

THERE IS-- MUHAMMAD ALI WAS IN A MOVIE AND THERE WAS A MOTOR SCOOTER THAT HE UTILIZED IN THE MOVIE AND ONE OF THE FORMER INDIVIDUALS THAT WAS TIED TO THE MOVIE ACTUALLY KEPT THAT MOTOR SCOOTER AND WANTED TO DONATE IT BACK TO THE ALI CENTER.

>> Renee: PHENOMENAL.

>> SOME OF THE STUFF WE SEE IS ABSOLUTELY FASCINATING.

>> Renee: WE'LL PUT A PLUG IN FOR THE EIGHT-HOUR DOCUMENTARY SERIES APPROPRIATELY CALLED MUHAMMAD ALI.

YOU DON'T TRY TO ADD ON TO THAT.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

AND IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY AND WE HAD A CHANCE TO SIT DOWN WITH SARAH BURNS, KEN BURNS' DAUGHTER AND TALK TO HER ABOUT THE FILM, A LOT OF THAT ARCHIVE FOOTAGE CAME FROM LOUISVILLE, ONE OF THE TV STATIONS, THE ONLY ONES THAT HAD SOME OF THE EARLY FOOTAGE OF CASSIUS CLAY, AND TO SEE ALL OF THAT, I MEAN, IT MADE HIM FEEL ALIVE IN A WAY THAT IT WAS GOOD TO SEE.

>> YEAH, I HAD MY MENTOR IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS, I HAD HIM OUT FOR KENTUCKY DERBY ONE YEAR AND HE HAPPENED TO SEE SARAH BURNS' DOCUMENTARY ON MUHAMMAD ALI AND HE CALLS ME UP AND SAYS, YOU KNOW, ME AND MY WIFE WERE THERE WITH YOU AND YOUR WIFE, WHY IN THE WORLD DID YOU NOT TAKE US TO THE ALI CENTER TO SHOW US WHAT WAS GOING ON.

I'M FASCINATED BY IT.

I SAID YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK TO LEXINGTON.

>> Renee: THAT'S RIGHT.

AND TO PUT A PLUG IN FOR THE ALI CENTER, IT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN SOMETIME TO SEE THE FULL EXHIBIT BUT IT'S GROWN AND IT'S AN-- INS IETION INSPIRATION SEPARATIONAL AND ASPIRATIONAL, YOU FEEL GOOD.

WE COULD USE SOME UPLIFTING OF HUMANITY AND UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER AND IT DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF BRINGING THE TIES TOGETHER.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT YOU AND THE MEDIA.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU FOR BEING ANNOUNCED AS THE 2021 SERVICE AWARD WINNER FOR BEREA COLLEGE AND MY HOME COUNTY, MADISON COUNTY WHERE I'M FROM, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> Renee: IT WAS GREAT.

>> AND YOUR WORK IN SOCIETY, FANTASTIC.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

PEOPLE ARE SO VERY KIND AND YOU THINK YOU ARE NOT DESERVING AND I GAVE THE CONVOCATION ADDRESS AND I THINK IT RESONATED SOME SOME STUDENTS AND I'M KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THEM.

SOME OF THEM WE HOPE TO SEE ON THIS STAGE AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT, RIGHT?

THEY ARE OUR WHY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT'S THE CHILDREN WHO ARE AND THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY ANSWERS A LOT OF WHYS AND WHERES AND WHATS AND WHOS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS AND YOU SPENT SO MUCH OF YOUR CAREER DEDICATED TO THIS INDUSTRY.

>> 33 YEARS.

>> ALMOST 34 YEARS.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU TAKE STOCK OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THING ABOUT IT, I WAS INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE AND BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN IN AN INDUSTRY FOR SO LONG THAT SEEN A LOT OF TRANSFORMATION.

I GOT INTO IT WHETHER WHEN THERE WERE RELATIVELY NO COMPUTERS WHATSOEVER.

THEY WERE COMING OUT OF THE CUSP OF DEALING WITH MAKING PLATES BY THIS HOT MOLTEN LEAD KENNELING THAT WAS TECHNOLOGY THAT WAS SO DANGEROUS BACK IN THE DAYS TO MOVING INTO THE EARLY STAGES OF THE COMPUTER STAGE AND THEN OF COURSE FROM THERE, JUST REALLY TOOK OFF TO THE POINT TO WHERE TECHNOLOGY JUST REALLY CHANGED THE WAY, YOU KNOW, A NEWS ORGANIZATION PRESENTED ITSELF EACH AND EVERY DAY AND IT'S GREAT TO BE-- IT WAS ALWAYS GREAT TO BE A PART OF AN INDUSTRY WHERE YOU START WITH A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER EVERY DAY.

>> Renee: THAT'S RIGHT.

LITERALLY.

AND I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK, YOU THINK ABOUT THE EVOLUTION OF THE TECHNOLOGY AND EVEN THE DELIVERY OF CONTENT.

IS THERE ANY PARTICULAR DECADE YOU THINK DURING YOUR TIME THAT WAS, THAT HAD THE MOST CHANGE OR WAS IT THE LATTER PART OF YOUR CAREER WHEN DIGITAL MEDIA BECAME SUCH A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH?

>> IT WAS TOWARD THE LATTER PART OF THE KIND OF THE AGE WHEN I WAS THERE.

I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I REALLY STARTED SEEING, THE TRANSFORMATION AND EVOLUTION WAS BACK IN THE MID 80s WHEN CNN FIRST CAME ON THE SCENE AND I REMEMBER BACK THEN IN THE EARLIATION, TED TURNER MADE THIS BOLD PREDICTION.

HE SAID 24-HOUR NEWS SERVICE, WE ARE GOING TO PUT THE NEWSPAPERS OUT OF BUSINESS IN FIVE YEARS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, HE'S BRASH BUT HIS PREDICTION WAS TOTALLY OFF.

BUT WHAT IT DID DO WAS, IT DID HELP US TO UP OUR GAME WHEN IT CAME DUNE TO HOW WE PRODUCE AND PROVIDE NEWS.

THE AFTERNOON PAPERS WERE THE FIRST TO FEEL THE EFFECT OF A 24/7 NEWS CYCLE.

>> Renee: AND THE "HERALD-LEADER" AND "COURIER JOURNAL," THE STATEWIDE NEWSPAPERS IN THE STATE HAVE UNDERGONE A LOT OF TRANSFORMATION.

ONE FAMILY OWNED AND NOW NOT.

SO HOW DO YOU TAKE STOCK OF THE JOURNALISM PART, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTING COMMUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, PERHAPS WE'VE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BECAUSE THE BUSINESS MODEL HAS CHANGED SOME?

>> I THINK SO.

FOR ME, I CAME UP ON THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY ON THE CIRCULATION SIDE BUT BEING IN THE LATER ROLES, EXECUTIVE ROLES THAT I HELD WAS ABLE TO SEE FROM A GREATER SCALE WHAT WAS BEGINNING TO HAPPEN AND ONE OF THE THINGS I FELT LIKE WE HELD ON TO WAS THE FULLY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS ALL ABOUT LOCAL NEWS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE LOCAL, LOCAL FRANCHISE THAT WE HAVE AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE CERTAIN MARKETS THAT I WORKED IN AND I HAVE BEEN AROUND FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO TENNESSEE TO ILLINOIS TO ALABAMA, WASHINGTON STATE AND COMING BACK TO KENTUCKY.

WHAT I WOULD SAY THAT WE, AND OUR INDUSTRY, HELD ON TO MORE THAN ANYTHING IN ALL OF THOSE MARKETS WAS THE LOCAL UNDERSTANDING OUR PLAY AS FAR AS BEING THE PURVEYOR OF LOCAL NEWS.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK NOW IN THE AGE OF SO MUCH DIS AND MISINFORMATION THAT NEWSPAPERS PARTICULARLY HAVE A SOLID PLACE OR SHOULD HAVE A MORE SOLID PLACE IN OUR INFORMATION DISTRIBUTION.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE SOCIAL MEDIA PART OF THE NEWS IS WHAT REALLY TOTALLY DISRUPTED US MORE SO-- DISRUPTED THE FLOW OF INFORMATION.

I THINK IT CAME DOWN TO WE WERE SO USED TO MAKING SURE THAT BEFORE A STORY WAS EVER FILED BY A REPORTER, IT WAS GOING TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF FILTERS FROM AN EDITOR TO A COPY EDITOR AND BACK AGAIN TO THE COPY EDITOR BEFORE IT WAS ACTUALLY PRINTED OR EVEN PUT UP ONLINE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU GOT SOME OF THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT THERE, WE PUT IT OUT THERE AND THERE IS JUST NO FILTER AS TO WHAT IS FACTUAL AND WHAT IS NOT.

THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT THE FOURTH ESTATE HAD IN BEING ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT AND THEN ALSO UNDERSTANDING THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT BEING FIRST.

IT'S ABOUT BEING FACTUAL FIRST MORE THAN ANYTHING.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I ALWAYS TRY TO INSTILL IN THE TEAMS THAT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ONCE YOU GET IT WRONG, THAT IS NO NOT GOOD FOR THE BUSINESS.

>> Renee: GETTING IT RIGHT IS DOING IT BEST.

>> I THINK ABOUT HOW A NEWSPAPER MAN IS ABLE TO PARLEY ALL OF THOSE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS WHICH I KNOW THERE ARE MANY, IN THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING NOW AND REALLY TANGIBLE SUBSTANTIVE SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO OFTEN FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NO HOPE AND HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN TO.

>> YOU KNOW, I LIKEN IT NOW, RENEE TO MISSION WORK MORE THAN ANYTHING.

WHEN I WAS IN THE NEWSPAPER BUSINESS, THE AUDIENCE WAS A BROADER AUDIENCE THAT WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING NEWS, INFORMATION, ADVERTISING TO.

WHEREAS HE TOAP CENTER, THE AUDIENCE IS MORE-- AT THE HOPE CENTER, IT'S CLEARLY DEFINED.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS FOR ASSISTING THOSE THAT ARE HOMELESS, ASSISTING THOSE THAT ARE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE AND DRUG ADDICTION AS WELL AS, YOU KNOW, THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT HAVE JUST CONTINUED TO-- THAT'S NOW BEGINNING TO EXPLODE.

AND I THINK FOR THE MOST PART, ON THE MENTAL ILLNESS SIDE, IT'S NOW NOT SEEN AS TABOO THAT YOU CAN'T TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE, SPECIFICALLY WHEN SOME OF THESE, I WOULD SAY THE STARS OR ACTORS AND ACTRESSES HAVE COME OUT AND TALKED ABOUT MENTAL ISSUES THEY'RE OR DEALING WITH NOW.

SO IT'S NOW ACCEPTABLE THAT YOU CAN HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.

>> Renee: MAYBE SIMONE BILES DID A LOT DURING THE OLYMPICS TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND WE HAVE SEEN TENNIS STARS DO THE SAME, TO SAY I'M GOING TO TAKE A BREAK, EVEN THOUGH I'M AT THE PINNACLE OF MY CAREER.

SPORTS IS NOT MY LIFE.

MY LIFE IS MY LIFE AND CLAIMING THAT.

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE DUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF SOMEONE DEALING WITH SUBSTANCE USE AND ALSO DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THEN HAVING DIFFICULTY IN GETTING HOUSING.

I MEAN JUST BASIC NEEDS.

LIKE THE WHOLE DISRUPTION OF THAT PERSON'S ABILITY TO MOVE AND BE IN SOCIETY, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, HOW THEY COPE, RIGHT?

AND WHAT THE HOPE CENTER DOES TO GET THEM IN A RIGHT PLACE OF MIND FIRST.

>> YOU KNOW, I'M 13 WEEKS IN ON THE JOB NOW AND I CAN EASILY SAY THAT I AM THRILLED TO BE DOING WHAT I'M DOING AND HOW I SEE THIS MODEL WORKING AT THE HOPE CENTER MORE SO THAN ANYTHING IS THAT OVER 50% OF OUR EMPLOYEES, THEY'VE COME THROUGH THE RECOVERY PROGRAM BEFORE AND SO IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL BUT PEER MENTORED DRIVEN TYPE OF MODEL THAT WORKS WHEN YOU HAVE AN EMPLOYEE OR A PEER MENTOR THAT IS IN THOSE CLASSROOMS, TALKING TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE SITTING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT, YOU CAN EASILY SPEAK FROM A LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE.

I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT REALLY MAKES THE HOPE CENTER'S MODEL WORK AND ACHIEVE THE SUCCESSES THAT IT HAS.

>> Renee: THE EMPATHETIC COMMUNICATION, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT LIKE, I SUPPOSE YOU FEEL LIKE OR I CAN IMAGINE.

I KNOW YOU FEEL THIS WAY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S WHAT I HEAR WHEN I'M WALKING UP AND DOWN LOUDOUN AVENUE.

I'M THE TYPE OF PERSON, I DON'T LIKE TO SIT BEHIND THE DESK.

I LIKE TO GET OUT AND WALK.

I GO UP AND DOWN THE SIDEWALKS TALKING TO THE YOUNG MEN AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE SAME MESSAGE COMES OUT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE HOPE CENTER, IT SAVED MY LIFE AND I I AM DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR WHAT THE HOPE CENTER PROVIDES ME.

SAME WITH THE WOMEN AT THE WOMEN'S RECOVERY CENTER ON VERSAILLES ROAD, THE SAME MESSAGE I GET FROM THE YOUNG LADIES OVER THERE, THAT THEY'RE REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF HAVING AN ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ME WITH LIFE SUSTAINING AND LIFE REBUILDING SERVICES.

>> Renee: WHAT DREW YOU TO THIS POSITION?

I'M CURIOUS.

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD TO GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO IT AND THEN I WAS THINKING, YOU KNOW, I GO BACK TO MY DAD, I WATCHED MY DAD GROWING UP AND HE WORKED IN THE COTTON MILL OVERSEER AND WHEN I TURNED 18 I WAS ABLE TO GO TO WORK WITH HIM.

HE GOT UP 4:00 IN THE MORNING, WORKED FIRST SHIFT, WE WOULD DRIVE AROUND TO INDIVIDUALS HOMES THAT HE-- THAT WORKED FOR HIM AND HE WOULD PICK THE GUYS UP OR KNOCK ON THE DOORS OF THE ONES THAT HAVE CARS TO WAKE THEM UP TO GET THEM UP TO COME TO WORK.

AND I GOT TO THINKING, YOU KNOW, MY DAD IS AN OVERSEER.

WHY IS HE DOING THIS?

IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE MISSION TO MAKE SURE HE TOOK CARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT SOME WERE MARGINALIZED AND I THOUGHT, I THINK THAT'S WHERE I GOT IT FROM.

BUT YOU KNOW, WITH THE HOPE CENTER, I HAVE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE BOARD SINCE 2014.

SO I KNEW THE GREAT WORK THAT THE HOPE CENTER DID, HAD A GREAT TEAM AND HAD AN I AM PEMMABLE-- IMPECCABLE REP-- IMPECCABLE RELATIONSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY AND INITIALLY THOUGHT ABOUT IT AND HAD A COUPLE OF CONVERSATIONS WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT I VALUE THEIR FEEDBACK IMMENSELY, AND SAID I AM PRAYING ABOUT THIS BUT I'M GETTING A CALLING THAT THIS IS WHERE I NEED TO BE.

I'LL TELL YOU THERE WAS TIMES I WAS DRIVING INTO LEXINGTON AND I WOULD END UP ON LOUDOUN.

I DON'T KNOW-- >> Renee: IT WAS CALLING YOU.

>> I'M THINKING WHY AM I ON LOUDOUN AVENUE FOR WHATEVER?

I HAD NOT HAD THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY AS FAR AS GOING UP AND DOWN LOUDOUN, BUT THE LAST, RIGHT BETWEEN MAY AND JUNE, I KEPT ENDING UP ON LOUDOUN AVENUE FOR WHATEVER REASON.

>> Renee: IT WAS MEANT TO BE.

>> YEAH, IT REALLY WAS.

>> Renee: AND FOR YOUR FATHER, YOU KNOW, TO KNOW THAT THIS IS THE KIND OF WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, THAT CONTINUES THE LEGACY, RIGHT?

>> YEAH,.

>> Renee: IT IS PUBLIC SERVICE, WHICH IS NOT DIFFERENT FROM WHAT THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY IS.

>> TRUE.

EXACTLY.

LIKE I SAID BEFORE, MY ROLE, WE WERE A NEWS AND INFORMATION ORGANIZATION THAT WAS RESPONSE RESPONSIBLE FOR HOLDING THOSE IN POWER ACCOUNTABLE AND ALSO SHEDDING LIGHT ON THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE, WHO DON'T HAVE THE INFLUENCE THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN POWER HAVE.

SO I SAW THE SKILL SETS THAT I HAD DEVELOPED AS FAR AS ON THE EXECUTIVE SIDE ON THE LEADERSHIP SIDE, AND SAID THESE COULD EASILY PARLEY AND WORK AT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THE HOPE CENTER.

>> Renee: IS THERE ONE PARTICULAR LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM YOUR 33 YEARS THAT REALLY FITS WITH THE HOPE CENTER, LIKE AH, THE LIGHT BULB MOMENT WHERE THE DOTS SEEM TO CONNECT, RIGHT?

>> I DON'T HAVE A PSYCHOLOGY OR SOCIOLOGY DEGREE, BUT I GUESS IN MY WORLD OF SO MANY YEARS IN THE NEWS BUSINESS, ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD TO LEARN AND APPRECIATE WAS THE SKILL SETS OF LISTENING AND HAVING THIS LEVEL OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION.

>> Renee: AND NOT JUDGMENT.

>> AND NOT JUDGMENT, RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

>> Renee: IF YOU ARE JUST DELIVERING THE NEWS, SOMETIMES YOU ARE IN TOUGH SITUATIONS WHERE YOU ARE HEARING SOMETHING THAT IS CONTRARY TO WHAT YOU'VE BEEN TAUGHT OR YOU BELIEVE BUT YOU STILL ARE OBLIGATED TO SHARE THAT.

>> YES.

>> Renee: AND EVEN IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE MAY HAVE , THEIR CHOICES MAY HAVE LANDED IN A POSITION, NOT TO JUDGE.

BUT THAT CAN BE DIFFICULT IN PRACTICE.

>> IT IS.

SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

ALWAYS HAD TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SAY THAT'S WHAT I'M HERE FOR AND THERE ARE UNFORTUNATE TIMES.

WHEN I WAS IN THE NEWS BUSINESS THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING HOME AND I'M THINKING HALF THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HAPPY AND HALF ARE GOING TO BE MAD THE NEXT DAY WHEN EITHER THIS HITS OR WHEN WE GOT INTO THE DIGITAL SPACE, AS SOON AS THE BUTTON WAS PUSHED, THE PHONES STARTED OR THE EMAILS CAME FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE NOT HAPPY AT ALL WHAT WHAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BUT I ALWAYS GO BY THE MANTRA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IS-- YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE STORY, YOU MAY NOT LIKE HOW IT IS PORTRAYED BUT IF THERE IS SOMETHING FACTUALLY WRONG WITH IT, THAT'S WHAT I START WITH.

>> Renee: DID YOU OFTEN GET PEOPLE ON THAT WHEN YOU WOULD ASK THAT QUESTION?

I MEAN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, READING STORIES AND PARTICULARLY THE EDITORIAL PAGES WHICH WE OFTEN CONFLATE WITH BEING A STORY BY A REPORTER, A JOURNALIST, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE REMOTE TYPE THINGS, ESPECIALLY THE ISSUES WE ARE DEALING WITH TODAY.

SO HOW DID YOU HANDLE SOME OF THOSE TOUGH SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAD EYE RATE PEOPLE.

>> I HAD THIS SAYING THAT I CARRY THIS AROUND FROM MYRA LEE DAYS TO WHEN I WAS OUT IN WASHINGTON STATE TO WHEN I CAME HERE.

IT WAS A SAYING I PUT ON MY PHONE AND IT WAS NEVER FEAR CRITICISM WHEN YOU ARE WRONG AND NEVER IGNORE IT WHEN YOU ARE WRONG.

WHEN WE ARE RIGHT, NEVER FEAR THE CRITICISM AND WHEN YOU ARE WRONG, YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT.

>> Renee: NOW THAT NEWER THIS NEW ROLE AND I KNOW YOU PROBABLY IN THESE 13 WEEKS OR SO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN STRATEGIC PLANNING AND I HAVE A GOOD FRIEND WHO ALWAYS SAYS ON DAY ONE OR WEEK ONE, YOU SHOULD PLAN YOUR EXIT STRATEGY AS WELL, RIGHT?

WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE MARK OF YOUR LEADERSHIP WILL BE WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHERE YOU ARE NOW, WHERE DO YOU SEE THE HOPE CENTER GOING AND EXPANDING UNDER YOUR LEADERSHIP?

>> WELL, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE FULLY UNDERSTAND, AND I KNOW SOME PEOPLE MAY THINK THAT, SOME HAVE SAID IT'S JUST A PIPE DREAM BUT ANY CLIENT THAT COMES TO THE HOPE CENTER, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY MOVE TO A LEVEL OF SELF SUFFICIENCY.

I MEAN SOMETIMES I LOOK AT IT-- I COULD BE NAIVE WHEN I THINK ABOUT THIS BUT I ALWAYS BRING IT UP.

WE LIVE IN THE MOST PROSPEROUS COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

AND WE HAVE HOMELESSNESS HOW CAN THAT BE?

WHAT CAN I DO TO LOOK AT SOME KIND OF INNOVATIVE UNIQUE WAY IN ADDRESSING THAT?

I KNOW THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO PLAY?

BUT STILL AT THE END OF THE DAY, SHOULD WE BE LIVING IN A COUNTRY THAT IS MOST PROSPEROUS AS WE ARE AND WE HAVE PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS?

>> Renee: YOU ARE RIGHT.

THAT'S A PERFECT WAY OF LOOKING AT HOW WE SHOULD ALL VIEW IT AND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN A POSITION TO HELP THE HOPE CENTER HOPEFULLY CARRY AROUND THAT SAME PHILOSOPHY.

>> YOU AND I.

WE HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY BLESSED AND IT'S HARD.

WE CAME FROM PROBABLY SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS AND IT COMES DOWN TO THE POINT WHERE HOW CAN I HELP INDIVIDUALS HAVE THE TYPE OF FORTUNATE LIFE THAT I HAVE?

>> BY THE GRACE OF GOD.

>> , AND SOMETIMES THAT'S WHERE THE JUDGMENT PIECE COMES IN, TOO, WHEN YOU KNOW COMING FROM A HUMBLE BEGINNING IN A RURAL AREA LIKE I DID, YOU SEE WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO YOU AND INSTEAD OF BESTOWING HARSH JUDGMENT, YOU THINK HOW CAN I GO BACK AND HELP AND THESE TIMES, I'M CURE WHY US ABOUT HOW COVID HAS COMPLICATED WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO DO OR HAS IT MADE AN IMPACT AT ALL?

>> I'LL PUT A PLUG INTO THE HOPE CENTER'S EFFORTS BEFORE I GOT THERE NOT ONE DAY DID THE HOPE CENTER CLOSE ITS DOGS AND NOT ONE TIME DID THEY TURN ANYONE BACK.

THEY PIVOTED AND MADE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE TAKING CARE OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS OUT ON THE STREETS OR IN RECOVERY SITUATION NOT BEING TENDED TO AS A RESULT OF WHAT WAS GOING ON AT THE NATIONAL, IN OUR COMMUNITY ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH THE PANDEMIC AS WELL.

>> AND GETTING THIS POPULATION VACCINATED IS VERY IMPORTANT.

>> AND A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS MAY FIND SURPRISING, WHEN INDIVIDUALS COME THROUGH THE HOPE CENTER, THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S RECOVERY AREA, THEY ARE NOT FIGHTING THE NEED OF GETTING A VACCINATION.

>> Renee: THEY'RE WILLING TO DO IT.

AND THEY REALIZE HOW VULNERABLE THEY ARE.

>> EXACTLY.

>> Renee: AND THEY DON'T WANT TO COMPLICATE THINGS.

>> WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINATION WHICH WORKS, ONE SHOT TRYING TO TRACK AND KEEP UP WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED, THAT ARE TRANSIENT AND MOVE ABOUT WAS DIFFICULT BUT HAVING THE JOHNSON AND JOHNSON OPTION HAS BEEN A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS FOR THE CLIENTS THAT COME THROUGH THE HOPE CENTER.

>> Renee: A POINT I WANTED TO PICK UP ON BECAUSE OF THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SERVE, DOES IT-- HOW GREAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?

IS THAT THE GREATEST CHALLENGES OF THE HOPE CENTER AND WHAT ARE THE OTHER CHALLENGES THAT SEEM TO BE AS GREAT AS THAT?

>> THE OTHER CHALLENGE IS THAT YOU SEE THIS GROWING NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL ILLNESS, THAT'S A CHALLENGE FOR US AND ALSO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AND HAVE SUBMITTED A REQUEST FOR, WE HAVE ASKED THE CITY TO CONSIDER GIVING US THE FUNDING TO BUILD A SECOND FLOOR ON TO THE EMERGENCY SHELTER DOWNTOWN ON LOUDOUN AS WELL.

WE PUT IN OUR PROJECT AND WE, LOOKING AT THE FIRST ROUND, ONCE THEY NARROW IT DOWN TO 230 PROJECTS, THE HOPE CENTER'S PROJECT IS STILL IN THERE.

>> Renee: HOPEFUL ABOUT THAT.

AT THE SAME TIME WE HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HOMELESS POPULATIONS BEING IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS OR BEING IN CERTAIN BUSINESS DISTRICTS AND WORRIED ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT DETRACT FROM CUSTOMERS, ET CETERA.

HOW DO YOU MESSAGE THAT AND MASSAGE THE ACTION ON THAT I LET THEM KNOW THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS.

WE WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM.

>> Renee: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ONE-PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSE THAT IS UNDERNEATH YOUR PURVIEW, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> Renee: HOW IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM THE HOPE CENTER?

WE'VE DONE STORIES ABOUT THE ONE PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSE.

>> IT PRIMARILY FOCUSES ON SINGLE PARENT FEMALES PRIMARILY WANTING TO GET A HIGHER EDUCATION.

SO WE COME ALONGSIDE THE INDIVIDUALS AND PROVIDE LIKE BUILDINGS SERVICES FOR THEM, PROVIDE THEM WITH ACCESS TO THAT EDUCATIONAL COMPONENT.

WE ALSO PROVIDE AN AREA FOR THEIR KIDS TO GO.

AS FAR AS, WE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT TO WORK ALONGSIDE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL WHO IS GOING TO START MANAGING THE CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT CENTER ATTACHED TO THE ONE PARENT SCHOLAR HOUSES AS WELL.

>> IS THERE ANY PERSON YOU HAVE MET IN YOUR SHORT TIME THAT CONFIRM TO YOU THAT I'VE MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE HERE?

>> YES.

I WON'T SAY THE LAST NAME BUT I'LL SAY THE FIRST NAMES.

ONE, THERE IS A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF DAVID THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM MY STORY, WHEN I TOLD HIM MY PERSONAL STORY, HE SAID I CAN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT I'M OR DEALING WITH AS WELL SO WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THERE AS WELL AND THEN OF COURSE HE HAS SHARED WITH ME HOW, WHAT KIND OF A LIFE THAT HE HAD AND THE WRONG TURNS THAT HE MADE AND HOW THE HOPE CENTER HAS, FOR THE MOST PART, IT HAS SAVED HIS LIFE AS WELL.

THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER STORIES FROM A GUY WHO WAS A POLICE OFFICER IN OHIO THAT FOUND HIS WAY TO THE HOPE CENTER AFTER FALLING ON HARD TIMES AND OR DEALING WITH SOME ISSUES IN HIS WORLD.

THERE IS, YOU KNOW, A YOUNG LADY OVER AT THE WOMEN'S RECOVERY CENTER THAT TALKED ABOUT BEING IN RECOVERY COMING OUT OF RECOVERY AND CANNOT THANK WHAT THE HOPE CENTER HAS DONE FOR THAT INDIVIDUAL.

HOW SHE WENT FROM A PEER MENTOR.

THEY TOOK A CHANCE ON ME AND WITH MY BACKGROUND GAVE ME A JOB AND I'M NOW WORKING.

AND THEY PROUDLY WEAR THE HOPE CENTER BADGE.

THAT'S A SENSE OF I'VE MADE IT AND I NEED TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GIVE BACK.

THERE IS A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF D.J.

WHO WAS TRAPPED IN A LEVEL OF ADDICTION, CAME TO THE HOPE CENTER AND HAS NOW SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED AND HE HAS A LANDSCAPING BUSINESS.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES THAT I'VE HEARD IN THE SHORT TIME I'VE BEEN THERE AND THAT'S WHY I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THIS IS THE PLACE I WANT TO BE.

>> Renee: IT'S IN THE FIELD.

IT'S THE MISSION WORK IN THE FIELD.

>> AND THE NEWSPAPER AND CAREER-- YOU KNOW, IT PREPARED ME FOR THIS.

I CAN EASILY SAY FROM DEALING WITH A LARGER AUDIENCE TO CLEARLY DEFINED AUDIENCE.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ANY PARTNER, ANY CORPORATE PARTNER, OUR GREAT FRIENDS IN THE CITY TO ASSURE THAT WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PUT THIS FRAGILE POPULATION ON THE ROAD TO SELF SUFFICIENCY.

>> Renee: AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> Renee: RUFUS FRIDAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN LEXINGTON IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY FIRST OF ALL AND THE WORK THAT YOU ARE DOING, WE ARE JUST VERY BLESSED BY HAVING YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

I APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

>> Renee: YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOPE CENTER ON THEIR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON TWITTER, FACEBOOK, MAKE SURE I YOU LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AS WELL.

WE ARE ALL THERE AND UNTIL WE SEE YOU AGAIN, TAKE REALLY GOOD