One, two, three, four.

Get my shoes in at the door.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Feels great.

I've got a in Africa.

I'll do it.

I am gonna do a lot to take a look at this guy with the beautiful column about more than just for me.

I got to share it with another.

I got to show you give let out a long singing show.

I'll take a look at a beautiful morning that turns to a beautiful evening and look at the big, beautiful light.

And if you want to see that, come along with me best.

Right.

Hello and welcome to Experience, Michigan.

My name is Irish Dave.

I'm here in beautiful downtown Elkhart.

Why am I here, though?

Well, I'm going to share that with you on next week's show.

But first, tonight, I'm really excited about it.

We're going to meet some furry friends from the St Joseph in Elkhart County Humane Society who are looking for a forever home.

Also, we're going to be chatting about a show called Be Spoken that is happening on the campus of Notre Dame.

But first, and I can't believe they didn't send me out to do this.

Kelly is going to get her style on at night.

Of style.

One of the reasons why we love highlighting local businesses in our community is because it's not just about the perfect outfit.

Even though I love a perfect outfit, or maybe that great cup of coffee or meal.

It's more about the connections, the community and the conversations that happen, which is exactly why we're here.

It's Lorella Boutique in Granger with Jill and with Mickey and Jill.

You can attest that I come in here quite often, right?

Yes.

And you had no idea that I hosted the show until we talked about that.

But it was this great conversation that we had about an event coming up called Night of Style, which we'll find out about in just a moment.

But I really want you to just share with us about what inspired you to open up Sarala Boutique.

Well, I used to be a therapist, and I thought it would be a great opportunity to open up a space that provides women and increases women's self-esteem through fashion and faith.

And you really have the adorable clothing here, Angela, and many items, but it's more about the clothes.

It's also about connecting with women.

And sometimes it's a very challenging times in their lives.

Yes.

Women come in, sarala, for all different occasions, different events, funerals, different reasons.

And so, you know, it's just a wonderful experience being able to talk with them about that and helps build a special connection.

Now, when I came in, we were talking, and that's how we found out that all three of us have sons that are in the military.

Yes.

Right.

So, you know, also because of that, you're doing this wonderful event called Night of Style.

Yes.

Tell us all about it.

So, Night of Styles, April 20, first the Doors open at 6:00.

We will have a live music raffles and 11 other businesses will be there.

And we will also have a fashion show.

And it is that chicory event center in Mishawaka that was this to support the military.

Yes, it's to support the Blue Star Mothers Group, which we support.

She'll talk about in a little bit.

The veterans are active soldiers and veterans and their families.

Now, Mikki, tell us a little bit more about Blue Star Mothers Group of America.

And this is you are the president of the Saint Joe County, part vice president.

Vice president.

So what made you decide to begin this organization?

So I my son went to basic training and he was my baby and made me an empty nester.

So I received the information packet that we all get when they go to basic training and at the bottom of the information, I just said, you know, other organizations and it mentioned Blue Star Mothers of America.

So I looked it up and found my local group or closest group, and it was Central Valley.

And so I connected with Sandy, who is the president, and asked more asked for more information.

And I just felt the need to serve since he was serving.

Also, I just needed to get involved somehow.

So I joined the organization.

We're such a group good group just because it gives us something to do and it makes us feel like we're giving back as well.

And so what we do, we just we raise money we ask for donations to give back to the community and nationally as well.

So what we do in our community, for example, the Saturday after her event, we have a paddle action, which is well known throughout the community.

We have people that follow us every year.

They're waiting for our paddle action paddle auction paddle auction.

What's a paddle?

Because I'm thinking like, you know, the time in the old days, oh, so we have these paddles that are numbered each paddle is associated with a ping pong ball with the same number goes in a barrel and it spends you you have quarters that are associated with a number of quarters or associated with a basket or an item that's up for auction.

And so you have to put so many quarters in the basket.

And if they pull your Ping-Pong that is associated with your paddle, then you win that item.

Oh, nice.

We're sold out every year.

Oh, that's great.

We have to turn people away because we are sold.

Hundreds of people come to this and we have a golden paddle that you can buy that gets you automatically entered in every single drawing so you have ads at every single package, there will be 120 baskets, and then there will be two huge raffle items and then cash items as well.

But all those proceeds go towards buying things throughout the year to give to back to our veterans locally.

And then one event that we do typically every year is that we go to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

Oh, which is the long term hospital for those patients who have have to have a long term recoup or long term therapy.

So for example, there were a handful of military personnel who came back from Afghanistan from the most recent action that was seen overseas.

And they will stay maybe a year or two years, three years, and they live in a dormitory type situation.

So what we do is we buy or we have donations for daily living supplies.

Yes.

And we fill trailers and we literally like we rent a pickup truck.

I've driven the pickup truck pulling a trailer, and we fill these trailers and we drive to to wherever you need to go.

Well, to Walter Reed, to the naval base there.

We set up in the USO and basically either the military personnel themselves or their nursing staff or families will come through and basically go shopping for free and one thing that we can say is, regardless of their political persuasion, you know, the military is so needed in our country, and many times they don't get the honor that that is due to them and actually are our little organization.

And Saint Joe County is the only organization that has gone to Walter Reed Hospital every single year.

That's wonderful.

Only organization.

Thank you.

So we do that nationally.

But then, I mean, we do things all the time locally.

We will pay Nabisco bills for for families that are in need, that are veteran families or active duty or National Guard or whatever the case may be.

We have needs all the time requested of us.

And so we give to our community on a regular basis.

That's wonderful.

So your event is April 21st, and will you be highlighting your clothes as well?

Yes.

Do you need any models?

No, just joking.

Just joking.

There's 11 businesses and we will be each of us will be setting up a little booth so you can actually go shopping there as well.

That's great.

And what time is that event?

It starts doors open at 6 p.m.. And how can people connect with you to find out more and get tickets so they can buy tickets online?

Or you can come in to SARALA Boutique and get tickets.

Okay, great.

And how can people connect to this?

The organization Blue Star Mothers Group?

Well, we have a website or we have a Facebook page, Central Valley Blue Star Mothers and you know, you can Google us.

There's all kinds of social media.

If you want to come to our panel auction, we have tickets or you can buy tickets at the door of the $5, which gives you a panel, and then you can buy extra panels.

That's great.

Well, ladies, thank you so much for taking the time.

Kelsey, you I'm going to be a while because, of course, I'm going to be doing a little bit of shopping, but please come on and support the event, support your local businesses, SARALA Boutique and an event that really honest people that many times we forget about and we don't get them the honor that do them.

So come on out and go, oh, well, I I'm here once again at this beautiful venue.

And one of these shows that's coming up soon is be spoken.

And here is the man behind it and more Joe Roberson, more it's good to see you again.

Yeah, I saw you at Notre Dame Day and you performed and the Voice.

When people hear a voice talking, it's like, I don't want to sound weird, but you've got like a beautiful singing voice.

Like you've got.

Yeah, you got the greatest voice I appreciate.

I do.

I blame my grandma for because her voice is just deep and.

Oh, yeah, yeah, man.

Did she sing in the church?

Too?

Oh, still does.

Yeah, still does.

Do you ever get to sing with her?

Actually, some stuff on YouTube and also Facebook with duets of us.

Nice.

So tell us a little bit about the show and then I want to learn a little bit more about you because I think you're just as interesting.

So for people watching who want to come here to the Barlow, what is happening?

Yeah, so so the spoken is going to be my final doctors out of here at Notre Dame.

I've been here since 2015 at the master's student.

I started my doctoral degree in spring 19.

And so with this project, particularly I want it to do something that hasn't been done.

I started this project before the pandemic, so it was as if it was spring 19.

I was working with the professor and I just, I put it all worked out.

I sort of got stumped for a bit and then, you know, George Floyd happened, ahmaud Arbery happened, Breonna Taylor.

And so I picked it back up again and I said, How do I want to leave my legacy on Notre Dame?

So with that being in mind, I said, Why not create something that tells the narratives of black black folks through gospel through hip hop, through jazz, and bringing artists who do this regularly.

We're not just me doing this, but they're getting these stories told from different people, different experiences.

Well, because just because our skin color might be the same or different doesn't mean our experiences are all the same.

And so having a variety of artists from different backgrounds, they may share skin color but really their story is so different.

Exactly.

And I tell people like black people, there is no one experience for black people.

Some group up north that's a different experience.

Some grew up in the south a different experience.

Some like, some like grits, some sort of like.

So I don't do the sugar thing, but I mean, hey, it's all different now and you've done one thing that I've noticed because I'm you know, I really immersed myself in the community here.

You've done something that very few Notre Dame students do, I believe, which you've actually really immerse yourself in the community of South Bend, too.

And I've noticed you get a lot of support from people who have deep roots here in the Q and the thing with that is so wrong for the small town, the church is served as a place for everyone to come together after work for six days.

They would come on Sunday morning and they would sing.

They would have those moments that they would share together so because I came to South Bend and I didn't really see much of my experience on campus, I went to the community, I went to the place, I knew I could count on where I could see people who understood what it was like to be black in a, you know, a very different kind of world.

And so with this project, I did the same thing.

I went out to the community and brought them in because people need this experience And plus the way for people, it's also a way for people who live in South Bend and Notre Dame to bridge that gap.

Because what I've heard when I first moved here is that there are a lot of white people on campus.

And the Notre Dame relationship with South Bend at large was not always the best.

Well, and you have done a lot, even through podcasts and different endeavors that you've done here.

Because and you've been pretty outspoken about it and I think in a very positive way.

And I think the university has embraced it to about diversity and Notre Dame.

Like you've actually you've brought a lot of perspective that wasn't really here before.

Yeah.

And I think, you know, so funny my my grandmother saying one always said you dream so big.

I said, I do, but I never know how difficult those dreams can be to accomplish until I actually start doing the work.

And when I got up here after, you know, George, when everyone's nose was open, everyone was paying attention.

But there were students on campus who wanted to have a space where they could talk.

So I said, well, why not create something where we can be ourselves?

The real conversations, nothing that is filtered per se, but it's very truth.

It's all truth.

So.

So, yeah, I mean, I just had to do what my heart told me to do.

And I know myself, though, as a white person and someone who moved here.

So I didn't grow up with the kind of diversity and those challenges.

But I often find myself I really want to learn stuff, and I really was.

So for anyone watching who may not be familiar with African-American culture or black culture, what can they learn?

Like, would you encourage the whole community to come to be spoken?

Of course.

Listen.

And it's not just also this.

Yes, it is primarily for black people.

It's primarily for people here on campus who so they can sing our music, understand our stories, but it's open for the community to come in and learn Mm hmm.

Yeah.

I spend every morning with a very diverse group of people working out.

And the one thing I realize is that the more you spend with people the more you realize that our differences are so small.

And what actually binds us together is so great.

And that's not to say that it's not important to know our differences and respect our differences.

But really, the longer we spend together, the more I realize that a lot of the a lot of the divide is not necessarily it goes away when you get to know each other.

Yeah.

And that's because sometimes people are afraid to get to know people outside their community, because once you get into a new community, you are forced to be in a space where you no longer are the primary resource you have to learn and absorb.

So sometimes good to get in those spaces, be uncomfortable for a little bit.

But listen, more than you talk, you don't learn anything when you're talking so when is being spoken going to be on for folks who want to come along?

It is April 30th at 7:30 p.m.. You're in this space.

Seven 30 on the dot and you want to get your tickets now because we're almost sold out.

All right.

So people want to get tickets and know we're going to put the information on screen as well.

So who are some of the people that are going to be performing?

Because you said it's not just you, although to be honest with you, you know, I would actually come just to watch you after seeing your Notre Dame day, but who's going to be performing you?

My God, man, you pulled out some big ones for this.

Yeah, I did.

So I have had my my brother put same fraternity, Chavis Gill, who's also King Chub, Horo Dee Williams based out of Birmingham that I have done is a barber out of Chicago, Anthony Walker of the DMV.

And I also have a Grammy Award winning artist.

Let us see.

Yeah, he kind of saved a real good one for that.

Now, that is so cool.

So are you friends or how did you sort that out?

I have friends who play with her before we.

No, Anthony Walker.

He used to play with her that I have my friend now who plays with her.

Then one of my good friends talks are almost like maybe once a month, every couple of weeks.

So she's she's not far from me.

No conversation.

You just, like, showed her your smile and you're like, hey, we can do this.

And she will do it.

Yeah, well, if it was that easy, that would be a long time ago.

Listen, you're just like, you've got so much time, but, you know, you got so much talent, and you're also humble.

And I know that, like, God and Jesus just such a big part of everything that you do and your upbringing.

So I think this community is better for having you.

I'll be sad to see you go when you finally do graduate.

I know you're ready, though.

You've been here since 20.

15.

I am ready.

All right, well, make sure that you come along.

It's a beautiful venue.

It's going to be a great night.

Be a little bit uncomfortable.

Become and learn and you'll leave having lots of new friends.

So, yeah, check it out.

Yes, sir.

All right.

All right.

My brother here.

Oh, yeah.

Let go.

Go.

Yeah.

Before you go with a breath, you go one to.

Already had some furry friends in our community are looking for their forever home.

And your home could be the perfect place for them.

Joining us today from Saint Joseph County Humane Society, it's Tucker and, of course, executive director Jenny Brown.

But you know, Tucker gets the spotlight today, Jenny.

Absolutely.

Absolutely.

He can have all the camera time.

I'm totally fine with that.

Well, Jenny, first of all, seriously, we just want to thank you for all that you do in our community.

Taking care of our furry friends is a very important job.

We appreciate that.

Thank you so much.

Now, I know during the pandemic, I heard that a lot of people were adopting pets at that time.

Has that slowed down now?

Absolutely.

It's almost reversed.

And we're now seeing a lot of people having to give up their pets because their housing situations have changed or their employment has changed.

Or, you know, all of our lives have changed dramatically over the last few years.

And sometimes that no longer allows for a pet in their home.

So we are seeing an increase of intakes and the adoptions have slowed down.

And, you know, a lot of times we understand that from a human perspective, but we don't understand it, how it affects the animals and the pets as well.

Sure.

Absolutely.

Now, I know that Tucker here is looking for his forever home and he is a cute Can you tell us a little bit about him?

Yeah.

So Tucker is one of our senior cats here at the shelter.

When he was found by a Good Samaritan, he had actually been hit by a car and he only had three legs.

It's kind of hard to see because he's sitting here in my lap, but he's missing one of his back legs.

It was a surgically amputated by Evan Marion.

And, you know, they try to make it work in their household, but their other cat was a bully to him.

And with him being a senior they decided to bring him here to the shelter.

And hopefully we can find him a good home so he can live out his golden years.

Janie, can you share with us because a lot of times we think, okay, well, I'm taking a pet in and I'm going to do this and love the pet.

But I mean, they give us so much more back.

I mean, they just give us so much love.

Absolutely.

You know, I am an owner of a senior cat and a kitten.

And, you know, the whole stage of their life is so exciting.

You know, there people and they never really ask for anything except for love.

That is so true.

Now, what does the adoption process look like right now?

You know, our adoptions are still different than they were in the past.

So we are asking people to get preapproved by applying online on our website.

And then we'll call you.

We'll do some pre adoption counseling and then we'll schedule you in to come and meet all the animals, you know, whether you're looking for a cat or dog.

Sometimes we have rabbits and guinea pigs and hamsters.

We had a turkey here last week.

Now, you did not someone about the turkey.

Yeah, we did.

We found him a loving farm to go live out his turkey life.

So you never know who we're going to have here at the shelter available for adoption, just like Tucker here.

So you definitely need to go there and see because like you said, so many animals, so many pets that are available.

Absolutely.

So, yeah, the way to get an appointment to see the pets is to get pre-approved.

The website is really easy to submit your application and you can do it from your phone.

You can do it from a laptop or computer.

And if you don't have a computer, if you're not, you know, tech savvy, we do have paper copies here at the shelter.

You are welcome to fill them out, but you won't be able to walk through the kennels unless you have an appointment.

Okay.

All right.

Now, I know that staff is very important there, but so are volunteers.

How can people get involved?

We are definitely looking for a few staff members to add to our team.

People can again apply online or apply here at the shelter.

Volunteer mean, we are looking to add a outreach coordinator to our team who's going to be responsible for our volunteers.

So right now our volunteer program is on course but we are looking to add new volunteers here shortly.

So there is a sign up sheet on our website so you can get your name on the list.

So when we do resume volunteer service we'll definitely get in touch with you.

Jenny, you had mentioned that there are a lot of people out there that have to rehome their pets or would love to keep them, but they are struggling.

What is some resources out there that can help them?

Absolutely.

So there are several different resources to help keep pets in their home.

One is our free food bank.

If you're needing dog or cat food, just reach out to us.

We can definitely arrange for you to pick up food here at the shelter if you're needing help with dog training.

You know, a lot of the dogs, a lot of people got puppies or younger dogs during the pandemic.

And now they've gone two years without really being socialized and they haven't gone to dog training.

There's a really great app called Good PUP that does virtual dog training in your home.

You get the first week free.

So that's a resource.

And then we have a button Aryans in our area that are, you know, willing to help folks with maybe some lower income budgeting options for you.

So, you know, there there definitely resources out there to help folks and sometimes they really do have to rehome their pets.

On our website, we do have a surrender form that folks can fill out.

But we also have a website called Rehome.

It's powered by adoptive pet dot com where folks can place their pets up for adoption themselves and keep them out of the shelter system.

So they're being placed on the same platform we use to showcase our animals online so owners can utilize that and the link up for that rehome website is on our website as well.

Okay.

All right.

Well, Jenny, you know, I have I had two dogs.

My one little dog passed away last week.

It was so sad.

But they were both rescue dogs and they brought so much joy and so much laughter and love to my family.

Can you share a story with this of someone that came there to adopt a pet?

Not quite sure if this was the right thing for them, but then ended up just having just a phenomenal story of love and laughter.

Yeah, one of the stories that comes to mind right now is a recent adoption for a dog named Tiger.

Tiger had been with us for 369 days, and we finally had an application come across the front desk, and as soon as she met him, she they were connected.

She started crying.

And, you know, they were so made, you know, love at first sight, those kind of things had all of us crying here at the shelter.

We're like stopping messages that day.

So, you know, that was really exciting, you know, after a year in the shelter.

Tiger finally met his match, and he's living his best life now.

Oh, that's so wonderful.

I'm so happy to hear that.

Well, Jenny, thank you so much for joining us.

And if you're out there watching and you're considering having your home a forever home, go ahead and do it, you and your family will be so happy that you did.

Thank you for having us.

And, Tucker, appreciate your time.

Hi.

You Well, again, we are hoping to bring you opportunities to see some furry friends that need a forever home.

And joining me right now is Rob Leroy, who is the executive director for the Elkhart County Humane Society.

Rob, thank you so much for being with us.

Thank you.

We're so glad to be here.

Now, you guys do a tremendous service for our animal friends who are in need of a home for one reason or another.

And today, you've got one that you're going to introduce us to.

Who is it?

Right.

So we got with us today, Xena.

She is a seven year old mastiff.

She's a very good girl.

She actually came to us as a stray and we were able to locate her owner.

However, her owner mentioned that she was having too much trouble affording that care for Xena.

So she's actually a free adoption.

She's one of our Regal residents, which, when they're of a more mature age, they they start reducing the costs on them.

So she's a good girl and loves lots of pets.

Oh, yeah.

Bring a lot of smiles to somebody out there, I'm sure.

So can you tell me things have changed a little bit because of COVID?

What are the process right now?

If somebody is interested in giving Xena at home, how do they go about doing that?

So we've tried to make the process just as easy as possible.

All of our applications and everything are online.

She's going to get right in the camera.

I guess our application is right online and you can apply online.

It'll come to us and we'll call you.

It usually takes about 24 hours or so to approve the application.

You would then let us know that you're interested in Xena and you could come in and visit with her.

We would bring her up to a meet and greet room, and you can spend some time with her just playing a little bit and getting to know her.

And from that you would be able to take her home.

So I know some dogs are better with kids, other dogs, cats.

Do you have any idea what Xena would be like in those situations?

So Xena is real gentle with everyone.

We actually we brought her today really to kind of show how gentle she is.

She is big as she is.

She would actually be good with an older person, however.

I mean, she's good with kids.

She's good with other animals.

And she doesn't really seem to be interested in other dogs or cats much at all.

If you can see from what Mitch is doing, it looks like if you give her a treat, she's pretty much happy with anything.

Well, that is very good.

Well, hopefully somebody out there is making a connection here over the air with Xena and will soon come in and hopefully give Xena a new home.

So what kind of animals do you guys have?

I know cats and dogs are the main thing, but you guys sometimes have some other animals as well.

Yeah, we frequently have small animals as well.

Rabbits, mice, guinea pigs.

We occasionally get snakes.

You know, we about a week ago, we had a pony here.

So, you know, we get a little bit of everything here.

We are able to work with a lot of different rescues.

So we work with about 30 different rescues in our community and we will transport animals out to them after they've gotten that care from us here and have been spayed or neutered.

Then we get them out to someone else.

So a loving home Well, Rob, thank you so much for what you guys are doing there to care for our furry friends and also for introducing us designer Hopefully we can help find a forever home for Xena as well.

Thank you so much.

We appreciate what you do for our community.

Thanks, Rob.

So that is it for this week's episode of Experience Mission.

We'll be back next week.

I'm here in Elkhart, and I can't wait to share with you because our walk is coming back bigger than ever before.

And I want you to get involved, so make sure you tune in for that.

And, you know, we've had kind of a quiet inside winter, as always.

We're ready to get out, do fun things, get dirty, go do some adventurous things.

So you've got some ideas for us.

Don't forget to use the hashtag experience mission.

You can also follow us on Instagram and Facebook and send us a direct message with your ideas.

Until next week.

We'll talk to you then.

Experience.

michiana is made possible in part by the Community Foundation of Saint Joseph County and the Indiana Arts Commission, which received support from the state of Indiana and the National Endowment for the Arts This WNIT local production has been made possible in part by viewers like you.

Thank you.