>> HELLO AND WELCOME BACK TO BEHIND THE WOMAN.

I'M YOUR HOST, DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND TONIGHT I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME A FAMILIAR FACE FROM SYRACUSE AREA, LAURA SERWAY.

LAURA IS THE FORMER OWNER OF LACIA'S TAPAS BAR IN SYRACUSE.

BUT NOW IS TAKING HERE KNOWLEDGE FROM THE RESTAURANT AND HER 35 YEARS IN SALES AND MANAGEMENT TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO GATHER YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THEY WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE WOMAN.

>> GREAT TO HAVE YOU HERE.

I OFTEN THINK ABOUT WAYS IN WHICH YOU ARE REMINDED FROM WHICH YOU CAME.

BUT HAVING YOU HERE REMINDS ME OF JUHANNA WIN.

>> AND I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME THAT I MET YOU AND YOU SAID, YEAH, I'M JUHANNA ROGERS AND I SAID THAT'S AWE SUP.

I SAID WHAT DO YOU DO.

YOU SAID I HAVE A Ph.D. AND I SAID IT SHOULD BE Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

I SAID MAKE SURE PEOPLE ADDRESS YOU THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU DESERVE IT AND YOU WORKED HARD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I DID.

>> AND YOU AND A COMMUNITY OF WOMEN, LEADERS THAT WERE DYNAMIC , SAT AROUND THE TABLE ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF YEARS AGO WHERE I PRESENTED THIS IDEA ABOUT HOW FASCINATING I WAS COMING OUT OF HIGHER EDUCATION BY THE NUMBER OF DIVERSE WOMEN LEADING IN SUCH AN UNAPOLOGETIC WAY.

AND I SAID THESE WOMEN NEED TO BE LIKE TALKED ABOUT.

AND I WAS LIKE, I THINK I HAVE THIS IDEA.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

YOU SAID COME OVER HERE AND HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT AND HAVE A COUPLE OF TAPAS.

>> AND A COUPLE OF BOURBONS.

>> AND TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.

AND IN THAT MOMENT, YOU AND A PLETHORA OF OTHER WOMEN HAS REALLY MADE THIS SET AND ALL OF THIS REALLY POSSIBLE.

>> WELL, LISTEN.

IT'S ALL WE DO IS WE INSERT A FEW KEY WORDS TO GET YOUR MIND GOING, RIGHT?

I REMEMBER THAT DAY VERY WELL.

AND WE WERE SITTING THERE AND YOU WERE EXPLAINING TO ALL OF US WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO AND WE WERE ALL LIKE THIS, UH-HUH, UH-HUH.

AND WE WERE LIKE, OKAY, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO START.

FOUR YEARS LATER.

>> FOUR YEARS LATERRED I STARTED.

THAT MOMENT WHEN YOU INVITE THE FOLKS BACK IN.

WELL TELL ME WHAT I NEED TO UPDATE NOW.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHAT I REALIZE ALSO IS THAT YOU DIDN'T JUST DO THAT WITH Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

YOU ARE DOING THAT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS, LAURA.

>> WELL, IT'S, LISTEN, I TRY TO LOOK AT MY LIFE AS WHEREVER I AM TODAY, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE THIS PLATFORM OF TODAY AND ENGAGE OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHAT IS IT I CAN DO?

I CAN GO BACK TO, YOU KNOW, LACEY'S TAPAS BAR DAYS AND HAVE ALL THESE LITTLE KIDS COME BY AND LACEY'S WAS IN THE HOLLY GREEN DISTRICT.

IT'S NOT A BOOMING ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT AT ALL AND THE KIDS WOULD COME OVER AND I WOULD SAY LISTEN, EVERYBODY WHO HAS AN A ON YOUR REPORT CARD GETS A DOLLAR.

NOW, WHAT DOES THAT DO FOR THOSE CHILDREN?

IT GIVES THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

I DON'T KNOW THOSE CHILDREN.

I DON'T KNOW THEIR PARENTS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR GRADE WAS.

THERE WERE TIMES I WAS GIVING AWAY $600 AND THEN-- >> I SHOULD HAVE WALKED BY.

I HAD A COUPLE OF AS.

>> THEN THEY WANTED LISTEN, THE CUSTOMERS OF THAT RESTAURANT, 90% OF THEM DIDN'T COME FROM THAT COMMUNITY.

NEW YORK.

AND LIKE I SAID, THAT WAS A PLATFORM FOR ME.

AS WAS MY JOB WHEN I WAS IN THE MEDIA BUSINESS MANY YEARS AGO.

AS WHEN I RAN A BUNCH OF WENDY'S RESTAURANTS MANY YEARS AGO.

SO, YOU KNOW, LISTEN.

IF YOU CAN'T WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND THINK ABOUT WHAT IT IS I CAN DO TODAY TO GIVE BACK, THEY BE YOU HAVEN'T REALLY LIVED YOUR LIFE; IN MY OPINION.

AND THAT'S WAY WANT TO DO, CONTINUE TO GIVE BACK.

THAT'S WHY WE CREATED LAURA'S SUPPER CLUB.

WHAT IS IT?

I STILL DON'T KNOW.

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT.

>> HOW CAN I GET INVITED TO THE SUPPER CLUB.

>> WE'RE BUSY... [LAUGHTER] SO, YOU KNOW, AFTER THE RESTAURANT CLOSED, I THOUGHT, MY GOODNESS, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?

I HAVE ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE OF BOURBON.

I HAVE ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE OF WINE.

NOW GRANTED I MAY HAVE HAD A COUPLE TWO OR THREE TOO MANY SO I DIDN'T NEED TO TAKE THAT PART WITH ME.

BUT I NEEDED TO TAKE MY KNOWLEDGE AND THINK WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP OTHERS.

WE STARTED WITH PARTIES AT DIFFERENT PLACES WITH MY FREIGHT GRINDZ IN THE INDUSTRY AND THEN THE NON-PROFIT IS I WORK FOR, I DO SOME EMCEE WORK AND HELP WITH VARIOUS EVENTS, WAIT A MINUTE, WE WANT TO YOU GO TO SOMEONE'S HOUSE.

GOODNESS, THEY WANT ME IN THEIR HOUSE.

SO HERE WE G. SO I GRABBED HOLD OF CHEF BILLY GINTI.

THAT'S MY BOY.

>> HE IS FANTASTIC.

>> YES, HE IS.

>> IF YOU DON'T KNOW HIM.

YOU SHOULD KNOW HIM.

I HAD HIM DO A COUPLE OF EVENTS THIS SUMMER.

>> I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH HIM YESTERDAY.

SO I SAID LISTEN, CHEF, YOU ARE WITH ME.

OKAY, WHAT ARE WE DOING.

GO TO PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

AND WE STAND AT THESE DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT EVENTS AND DOING THESE LIVE AUCTIONS AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, THEY KNOW THAT WE ARE THE REAL DEAL.

SO I GRABBED HIM AND I GRABBED MICHAEL SPEECH.

MIKEY IS LIKE MY SIDE KICK, ALTHOUGH ASK HIM AND PEOPLE ASK ME OFTEN, ARE YOU LAURA'S ASSISTANT?

HE'S LIKE NO, I OWN MY OWN COMPANY.

THE THREE OF US WALK INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE AND WE GO AHEAD AND WE PREPARE.

HE PREPARES THE FOOD.

I ACT LIKE I WORK HARD.

I REALLY DON'T.

I BRING ALONG SOME BOURBON AND STORIES AND MIKEY BRINGS SOME CHOCOLATE AND THE THREE OF US HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH THE GUESTS IN THEIR HOME, IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT.

SO WE ARE GIVING THEM THAT SPACE TO SAY BE YOU.

DO WAS YOU WANT TO DO AND HAVE FUN.

AND YOU KNOW, WE ARE JUST MAKING IT HAPPEN.

AND I'M TAKING THAT CHEF BILLY BUDDY OF MINE WHO I ADORE AND TRYING TO BRING HIM UP WITH ME.

>> SO THERE IS INTENTIONALITY BEHIND IT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT HOW LAURA IS PROVIDING A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHILE HELPING OTHER RESTAURANT OWNERS SHOWCASE THEIR DISHES AND HELP GROW THEIR BUSINESSES.

>> SO TONIGHT, THIS IS A DINNER THAT WE'VE PUT TOGETHER, THROUGH A FOUNDATION THAT WE WERE AT, WE DID AN AUCTION AND A GIVEAWAY AND I BELIEVE, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY THAT NIGHT WE RAISED $8,000, TWO SEPARATE MEALS 4,000 TO HAVE MYSELF, MICHAEL SPEECH WAS DOING THE CANDY AND CHEF BILLY GINTE IN THE HOME PREPARING THE MEAL AND OF COURSE TALKING ABOUT THE BOURBON AND THE PAIRING OF THE SPIRIT WITH THE FOOD BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO DRINK BOURBON, RIGHT?

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE OLD SCHOOL TAKE A COUPLE SHOTS AND WALK OUT AND I'M GOOD TO GO.

IT'S NOT THAT AT ALL.

UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SMELL IT, HOW TO LOOK AT THE COLOR, HOW TO DRINK IT, IS IT WITH ICE, IS IT WITH WATER, A COCKTAIL?

HOW DO YOU LIKE IT THE BEST WAY?

I WANT THEM TO HAVE A REALLY GOOD TIME AND THE REALIZE THAT THE MONEY THEY HAVE GIVEN TO THE FOUNDATION IS GOING TO GO TO VERY GOOD USE.

YOU KNOW, ONLYING LACEY'S TAPAS BAR WAS LIKE HAVING EVERYONE COME TO YOUR HOUSE EVERY NIGHT, EVERYTHING HAD TO BE PICKED UP AND PUT AWAY SO PEOPLE DON'T JUDGE YOU BECAUSE PEOPLE JUDGE WHEN THEY GO INTO A RESTAURANT.

WHEN I DECIDED TO CLOSE THE RESTAURANT, I THOUGHT WHAT IS NEXT?

IT WAS AFTER THE PANDEMIC.

WE WERE DOING DIFFERENT TAKEAWAY DINNERS.

WE WERE DOING DINNERS AT OTHER RESTAURANTS, LIKE AT DANIELAS AND OTELLIOS TO BRING MY GROUP OF FOLKS THAT FOLLOW ME THROUGH THE RESTAURANT AND PERSONALLY BECAUSE OF MY BOURBON EXPERIENCE, TO BRING THEM OUT TO OTHER RESTAURANTS AND GET THEM TO EXPERIENCE THEIR PRODUCT AS WELL.

CHEF BILLY GINTI IS AN EXPERT, REALLY GOOD AT THIS CATERING IN PEOPLE'S HOMES AND MAKING AMAZING FOOD.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE HIM AS WELL.

JUST THE OTHER DAY, THERE WAS ANOTHER BOURBON THAT MICHAEL SPEECH WAS THE OWNER OF SPEECH FAMILY, A 110-YEAR-OLD COMPANY AND JUST THE OTHER DAY, I MADE A POST ONLINE WITH ONE OF THE BOURBONS AND SOME OF HIS CHOCOLATE COVERED POTATO CHIPS AND DON'T YOU KNOW, A COUPLE-OF-THE-FOLKS THAT BELONG TO ONE BOURBON CLUB ON FACEBOOK REACHED OUT AND SAID SEND ME THIS POTATO CHIP.

THIS WORKS.

PEOPLE SEE US, THEY LIKE US.

THEY KNOW WE ARE A LOT OF FUN.

MICHAEL IS AMAZING WITH THE CHOCOLATE AND BILLY IS OUTSTANDING PAIRING FOOD AND THE DIFFERENT INGREDIENTS TO PUT THE PRODUCT ON THE TABLE AND GIVE THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT.

PEOPLE ALWAYS WANT KNOW WHAT AM I DOING NOW.

WHAT AM I DOING?

I'M RETIRED.

I'M JUST HAVING FUN AND GIVING BACK IS MY PRIORITY.

EVERY MORNING I GET UP, I WANT TO SAY TO MYSELF, AND I DO.

WHAT AM I GOING TO DO TODAY FOR SOMEBODY.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER EXTENSION OF THAT AND IT'S THE OPPORTUNITY THAT I HAVE, AND USING MY TALENTS AND MY TIME TO SAY, LET ME TEACH YOU ABOUT THIS SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO DRINK WHISKEY THE RIGHT WAY BECAUSE YOU NEED TO RESPECT THE SPIRIT, RIGHT?

IF YOU ARE GOING TO DRINK A COCKTAIL, I DON'T CARE WHAT COCKTAIL IT IS, DRINK A GLASS OF WATER AFTERWARDS.

DON'T DRINK TO BE INTOXICATED.

THAT'S NOT THE IDEA.

DRINK TO ENJOY THE FLAVORS BECAUSE HAVE YOU OVER 10,000 TASTE BUDS IN YOUR MOUTH.

LET IT ABSORB.

BELIEVE HOW TO DRINK IT AND YOU ARE GOING TO APPRECIATE IT MORE.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT WILL CONTINUE AT THIS PACE TO GO TO PEOPLE'S HOUSES AND GIVE THESE LITTLE PARTIES AWAY, IF WILL YOU, AT DIFFERENT NON-PROFIT FUNCTIONS.

I THINK WE ARE GOING TO START DOING SOME AT MY HOUSE AS WELL BECAUSE I THINK IT WILL BE FUN TO SHOW MY FULL BOURBON COLLECTION.

I JUST KNOW THAT WHETHER I THINK ABOUT THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF MY CAREER AND THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE, I BEGIN AND END, LIKE I SAID, MY DAY WITH HOW I'M GOING TO GIVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.

MAKING SURE THAT ANY OF THESE NON-PROFITS THAT COME TO US AND SAY LISTEN, WHEN YOU GUYS GIVE AWAY A DINNER, WE HAVE OUR GUIDELINES WE ARE GOING TO SHARE WITH THE NON-PROFIT BUT WE ARE LIKE THIS ABSOLUTELY, WE DO A LIVE AUCTION, WE HAVE FUN, WE PICK ON EACH OTHER.

SO THAT'S THE IMPACT I WANT TO MAKE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED OUR HELP.

>> THAT LOOKS FANTASTIC.

AND THE INTERESTING THING IS, AND YOUR STRATEGIES FOR GIVING BACK, IS HELPING ME THINK ABOUT YOU ARE A PHILANTHROPIST BUT IN MANY, MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.

YOU HAVE THE EXAMPLE OF THE DOLLARS FOR THE As, FOR THE KIDS IN THE HAWLEY GREEN COMMUNITY, TO NOW, BRINGING THIS UP AND COMING, HE IS MORE OF AN UPAND COMING CHEF WITH YOU, RIGHT AND FINDING WAYS TO GIVE BACK AND I THINK THAT-- SOMETIMES WE THINK OF PHILANTHROPY AS STEVE JOBS OR THE GEATS WHERE YOU HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, HEAD C.E.O.

OF SOME GLOBAL CONGLOMERATE.

>> I'VE DEFINITELY MADE SOME MONEY.

DON'T TELL ANYBODY.

>> I'M NOT TRYING TO SAY.

>> THANK YOU Dr. ROGERS.

NO, IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IS HAVE A PASSION TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT YOU CAN DO THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW, LISTEN, I'M NOT AN EXPERT BY ALL MEANS BUT WHAT I DO KNOW IS SOMEONE LIKE MICHAEL SPEECH, AND I TOLD HIM AND CHEF, I THINK IT WAS LAST YEAR AND I TOLD I HAVE BEEN EMCEEING YOUR EVENT FOR FIVE OR SIX YEARS NOW.

AT SOME POINT I'M GOING TO STEP OUT OF THE PICTURES I WANT THE BOYS DOING MORE AND PEE DOING LESS.

I'M TRYING TO BRING THEM UP THAT WAY SO THOSE TWO WILL BE THE FAMILIAR FACE WITH THAT PARTICULAR AGENCY.

SO NOW PEOPLE AREN'T EXPECTING TO SEE LAURA SERWAY.

THEY'RE EXPECTING TO SEE MICHAEL AND CHEF.

>> YOU ARE BRINGING PEOPLE WITH YOU.

>> I GOT TO RETIRE.

HANG ON, I AM RETIRED.

>> YOU ARE RETIRED.

AND SPEAKING OF THAT, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THIS BECAUSE YOU COULD DO THIS ANYWHERE.

YOU ARE RETIRED.

YOU COULD BE LIKE, LISTEN, ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE WITH THE SNOW.

>> GIRL, I'M ALREADY DOING IT ANYWHERE.

YOU DIDN'T-- I FORGOT TO TELL YOU WAY WAS IN FLORIDA THE WHOLE WINTER.

I DID TWO DINNERS THIS YEAR.

JUST FOR SOME FRIENDS THAT THEY SAID LAURA, CAN YOU DO A DINNER?

THERE WAS NO PHILANTHROPY TIED TO THAT.

IT WAS JUST MORE LET'S DO SOME ALCOHOL AND EAT A LOT OF FOOD.

>> GOT IT.

>> BUT TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO DRINK BOURBON THE RYE WAY IS AN EXAMPLE.

YOU DON'T JUST SHOOT IT, YOU KNOW.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS-- AND AS CRAZY AS IT SOUNDS, THERE IS A METHOD TO MY MADNESS.

THERE IS A RESPECT FOR THAT PARTICULAR SPIRIT.

THERE IS A RESPECT FOR AT THE KIA AT THE TEQUILLA.

IF YOU DON'T RESPECT THE ALCOHOL YOU ARE DRINKING, YOU ARE GOING TO BE A DRUNK.

I HATE TO BE THAT PERSON THAT SAYS THAT BUT YOU NEED TO.

MORE THAN ANYTHING, LISTEN, WE ALL KNOW HOW TO COOK AND PUT OUT A GOOD MEAL.

HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH OUR FRIENDS.

BUT DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND HOW TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER?

>> HELPING PEOPLE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER.

>> AND I'M HAPPY THAT YOU ARE COMING BACK BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR, I THINK, THOSE OF US THAT ARE COMING BEHIND YOU, THE FOLKS YOU HAVE BROUGHT WITH YOU, SO TO SPEAK, TO THINK ABOUT WAYS, NOW I'M LIKE, WELL MAYBE I COULD HAVE A SUPPER CLUB.

MAYBE I MIGHT BE A GOOD HOST BECAUSE YOU ARE SHOWING UP WITH PERSONALITY, RIGHT?

>> EXACTLY.

>> THEY ALL WANT STORIES.

THAT WAS THE BEST PART ABOUT LACEY'S THAT WAS A GREAT PLATFORM FOR ME BECAUSE I COULD STAND BEHIND THE BAR, THEN BE LIKE THIS.

I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO THEM ANYMORE.

GOI TO GO AND I GOT TO WALK OUT THE DOOR.

IT WAS PERFECT FOR ME.

I HAD A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE I COULD MAKE THE COCKTAIL FOR SOMEBODY, I COULD GO TO A TABLE AND VISIT WITH SOMEBODY AND THEN STILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE WHEN I WANTED TO.

AND I MISS THAT PART OF THE GIG, BUT I DON'T MISS THE 24/7 OF OWNING A BUSINESS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S THE HARD PART.

BUT YOU ARE COMING BACK AND YOU ARE DOING THAT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> YOU ARE BEING A MODEL FOR HOW OTHERS CAN GIVE AND SERVE A COMMUNITY.

WHERE DOES THAT SPIRIT COME FROM?

>> MY FATHER WAS ALWAYS THAT PERSON.

WE HAD, AS A CHILD GROWING UP, WE HAD THREE MANUFACTURING FACILITIES, ABOUT 200,000, 300,000 SQUARE FEET, EACH FACTORY WAS.

AND HE WOULD WALK THROUGH AND TALKING TO EACH PERSON AT EACH MACHINE EVERY DAY.

AND WHEN HE WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, I WOULD WHEEL HIM THROUGH AND I THOUGHT OH MY GOD, BUT WHAT AM I LEARNING HERE?

HERE IS A MAN THAT GAVE HIS LIFE TO THESE PEOPLE IN THESE PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, WAREHOUSES AND WOW.

IF I CAN'T BE THAT PERSON BECAUSE WHEN HE PASSED, THERE WAS 50 OF THESE GUYS THAT WERE ALL THERE WITH THEIR WORK BOOTS ON AND THEIR JEANS, THE FUNERAL DIRECTOR SAID CAN WE LET THEM IN.

I SAID ARE YOU KID KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW IN THOSE PEOPLE MADE MY FATHER.

IT CAME FROM MY HEART.

IT CAME FROM WATCHING MY FATHER.

IT CAME FROM SAYING HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

MY BROTHER HAD AN ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY AT THE AGE OF 21.

SO I TOOK CARE OF HIM AT HOME FOR 25 YEARS.

YOU LEARN THAT PASSION AND THAT COMPASSION OF HOW TO CARE FOR SOMEBODY AND THEN YOU SAY WAIT A MINUTE, HOW AM I GOING TO TAKE THIS AND SPIN IT, SO NOW I STARTED A FUND WITH ACCESS CNY TO HELP INDIVIDUALS WITH BRAIN INJURIES THAT THEY DO AN ART PROGRAM OVER AT THE DAVID CLARK LEARNING CENTER.

IF SOMEONE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY, MONEY COMES OUT OF MY FUND.

>> YEAH IT'S INSPIRING AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS, AND THE COMMUNITY WILL OFTEN TALK ABOUT POVERTY, AND THE CYCLES OF IT AND THE CONDITIONS BEHIND IT AND HOW IT HAS IMPACTED SO MANY PEOPLE'S LIVES.

I THINK IT'S EQUALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE FOLKS SHOWING US AND MODELING HOW YOU STAY CENTERED WORKING TOWARDS GIVING BACK AND CENTERING THAT SENTIMENT IN A WAY THAT ISN'T ABOUT MAYBE LOOKING AT DOWN YOUR NOSE AT FOLKS, BUT GETTING OUT THERE WITH THEM AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES.

>> AND ACCESS IS REALLY EVERYTHING BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THOSE CONDITIONS DON'T HAVE THE ACCESS.

THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THEY DON'T KNOW-- I WAS TALKING TO A GAL THE OTHER DAY AND I SAID TO HER TELL ME YOUR BUSINESS MODEL AND SHE IS 24 OR 25 BRAND NEW IN WHAT SHE IS DOING.

SHE FROZE.

SHE SAID I DON'T HAVE ONE.

I SAID OKAY, LET'S WORK ON THAT.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO HELP HER?

WHY WOULDN'T I?

AS A WOMAN GROWING UP, LISTEN, IT'S BEEN A MAN'S WORLD.

IT CONTINUES TO BE A MAN'S WORLD.

IT'S UNFORTUNATE IT IS.

AND PLUS I'M GAY ON TOP OF THAT?

OH GIRL.

>> OH MY GOD.

>> DID YOU NOT KNOW THAT?

GOT AN AD IN THE PAPER FOR TOMORROW.

>> YOU MIGHT NEED AN AD.

>> THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN STRUGGLES, RIGHT?

SO IF I, THANK GOODNESS I HAD MY FATHER AS THE ROLE MODEL TO WORK HARD AND KEEP MY NOSE TO THE GRIND STONE AND BRING PEOPLE UP WITH ME.

>> BECAUSE YOU ARE ALWAYS LIKE THIS BALL OF LIGHT.

WHEN YOU WALK INTO A ROOM, YOUR HOSTING THE EVENTS, THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE LIKE, I WANT HER AT THE PARTY OR HER HOSTING THE PARTY BECAUSE SHE IS GOING TO BRING THE ENERGY.

WHAT IS IT WHEN YOU COME HOME, YOU ARE DONE.

YOU MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT TOMORROW.

AND THOSE DAYS COME.

WHAT IS IT,-- WHAT IS YOUR WAY OF GETTING BACK.

>> SO MY HOUSE HERE IN NEW YORK, I'VE GOT A POOL.

I'VE GOT A MUSIC ROOM IN THE BACK.

YOU GRAB A CIGAR IF I WANT TO HAVE A CIGAR, A BOURBON AND CHILL OUT.

BE WITH MY DOGS, TAKE THEM FOR A WALK.

JUST TIME ALONE.

BECAUSE TIME ALONE, FOR ME, RE-ENERGIZES WHO I AM.

AND I LIKE MY ALONE TIME.

>> AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO DESIGN THOSE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW GIVES BACK BECAUSE GIVING BACK TAKES ENERGY.

>> IT DOES.

>> AND YOU ALWAYS HAVE A BALL OF IT SO I'M ASKING, BECAUSE I'M LUKE, NEED TO FIGURE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE SOMETIMES WHEN YOU ARE CONSTANTLY IN MOTION, FOLKS ARE DEMANDING, YOU KNOW, WANTING YOU TO SHOW UP, YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WANT TO SHOW UP, RIGHT, LIKE HOW DO YOU-- HOW DO I RESTORE, PROTECT HOIF HIVE.

>> IT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

JUST, AND I'LL TELL YOU THIS STORY, JUST YESTERDAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEPLACE LAST NIGHT AND FOR ONE OF THE BOARDS THAT I'M ON AND I HAD TO BE THERE AND IT WAS 45 MINUTES AWAY AND I THOUGHT I JUST WENT THROUGH A MAJOR DEATH OF A CLOSE FRIEND.

I HAVE GOT HOIF HIVE I CAN'T DO THIS.

SO I CALLED AND IT CANCEL.

THAT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAVE DONE THAT THAT I CAN REMEMBER WHERE I HAVE IT CANCEL AND SAID LISTEN, I JUST CAN'T DO IT TONIGHT AND IT WAS A HUGE EVENT.

AND THERE IS A ROOM THAT'S DEDICATED TO MY FAMILY.

THAT CAN GO DOWN-- IT'S A HUGE DEAL.

AND I JUST KNEW THAT I COULDN'T MENTALLY BE ON POINT.

AND THAT IS THE IMPORTANT PIECE.

YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHEN YOU HAVE TO STOP.

AND IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME.

IT'S NOT EASY FOR ME BECAUSE IF SOMEONE CALLS ME TONIGHT LAURA I NEED HELP WITH, OKAY, ON MY WAY.

>> GOT IT.

>> IT'S NOT EASY.

>> YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING WE WERE PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW, TO BRING IT FULL CIRCLE, WHEN I'M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT YOU DO, WHEN YOU ARE SITTING ON MY SET, I'M GOING TO ASK, WHAT DOES "BEHIND THE WOMAN" MEAN FOR YOU?

IT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.

YOU KNOW, I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT THIS WOMAN LEFT A LEGACY, THAT I'VE HELPED PEOPLE GROW AND DEVELOP, THAT BEHIND ME ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE STRONGER, BETTER, SMARTER, MORE EDUCATED, THAT I MAY HAVE HAD A TINY BIT OF INFLUENCE ON, THAT WAS ENOUGH FOR ME BUT THOSE ARE THE WOMEN THAT ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW.

WHY DO WE CREATE WOMEN UNITED?

THAT WAS WHY BECAUSE YOU CAN TAKE THESE WOMEN THAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER YOUR ECONOMIC SITUATION, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE, IT DOESN'T MATTER ANYTHING.

LET'S GET TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE WOMEN.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

I REMEMBER THE DAY I WENT TO NAN EATON AND SAID WE ARE GOING TO DO SOMETHING FOR WOMEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

WE ARE DONE TALKING.

WE ALL GOT TOGETHER, MYSELF AND STEPH AND NAN AND EV AND WE GOT TOGETHER AND HAVE WOMEN UNITED AND THAT'S WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

WHEN YOU SAY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO ME?

WE MADE A DIFFERENCE, GIRL.

BOTTOM LINE.

>> AND THERE IS A FORCE COMING BEHIND.

THOSE ARE LIKE SEEDS PLANTED.

>> YOU BELCHA.

>> MY MOM USED TO SAY YOU COME FROM A VILLAGE.

>> YES.

>> AND YOU GOT TO FIND WAYS TO GIVE BACK, YOU KNOW, TO THAT VILLAGE I REMEMBER WHETHER YOU SAY YOU, STEPH, NAN, EVELYN, YOU CAME AND PUT THAT TOGETHER.

ONE OF THE RECEPTIONS YOU HAD DOWNTOWN.

>> AT STEPHANIE'S OFFICE.

THAT WAS THE FIRST ONE I THINK, IT WAS OUR FIRST ONE.

AND IT WAS BUSY.

I WAS LIKE OH MY GOODNESS.

NOW WE HAVE OVER 400 PEOPLE.

TO THINK ABOUT THAT, 400 MEMBERSHIPS.

WHAT DOES THAT DO EVEN FOR UNITED WAY?

YOU FIGURE IT'S 250 A MEMBERSHIP I THINK IS WHAT IT IS AND THEN THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL SPONSOR MEMBERSHIPS AND PEOPLE GET WHATEVER, BUT DO THE MATH, THAT HELPS UNITED WAY AND HELPS WHAT THEIR MISSION IS, WHICH IS GIVING BACK AND LOOKING AT CERTAIN PROGRAMS THAT THEY CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY WITH.

SO BEING FOCUSED ON THAT REALLY, FOR ME, THAT'S MY LIFE, THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO AND CONTINUE TO DO, SO WHEN YOU SAY "BEHIND THE WOMAN," BRING IT ON, GIRL.

>> I LOVE IT.

>> PAY ATTENTION.

>> PAY ATTENTION.

>> YOU DROP THESE JEWELS.

AND YOU'RE LIKE OKAY, RUN OFF AND RUN WITH IT.

UNITED WAY IT HAS BEEN RUN OFF AND GROWN 400 LEGS.

PAIRS OF LEGS, "BEHIND THE WOMAN," WE ARE STILL GROWING AND I WAYS TO GO.

>> SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEBODY THAT'S LISTENING TONIGHT THAT IS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT'S THE SCIEND OF WOMAN I WANT TO BE-- THAT'S THE KIND OF WOMAN I WANT TO BE?

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THAT PERSON?

>> I WILL SAY THIS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO FOR A LIVING, WHAT YOUR TITLE IS, WHERE YOU WORK.

I PROMISE YOU ALL OF THAT COMBINED, I CAN SIT THERE AND LOOK AT ANYBODY IN THAT ROOM AND SAY HERE'S HOW YOU CAN GIVE BACK TODAY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE IT BEGINS.

IT BEGINS WITH YOUR HEART.

IT BEGINS WITH THE PASSION THAT YOU HAVE TO HELP OTHERS, TO LEND A HAND, TO DO THE RIGHT THING.

AND IT DOESN'T-- THAT PLATFORM OF WHERE YOU ARE, THIS MINUTE.

WHAT IS IT NAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SIT WITH US BECAUSE YOU SAID TO ME, JUHANNA, I'M NOT DOING ANYTHING ANYMORE AND I'M LIKE WHEN?

YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING EVERY DAY EVERY HOUR BUT I THINK HEARING YOUR STORY AND HEARING ABOUT HOW IT STARTED FROM FOLLOWING YOUR FATHER ON THE FLOOR AND TALKING TO EVERYONE, THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU SHOW UP, UNDERSTAND THE ENERGY THAT CAME IN WHEN YOU TALKED INTO LACEY'S OR WHEN YOU ARE HOSTING AN EVENT.

>> EVEN NOW WHEN I WALK IN, I'M LIKE OKAY, I DON'T OWN THE PLACE.

I'M GOING THERE TONIGHT WITH A GROUP OF GIRLS AND I'M THINKING HOW AM I GOING TO BEHAVE TONIGHT?

THINK ABOUT WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

HOW AM I GOING TO ACT.

IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING FOR ME.

TRUST ME.

>> IT'S INSPIRING.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US HOW TO SHOW UP UNAPOLOGETICALLY.

THANK YOU LAURA FOR JOINING ME THIS EVENING ON BEHIND THE WOMAN.

AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY, AND HOW YOU ARE SHARING THE KNOWLEDGE YOU'VE GAINED TO HELP UPLIFT THE COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW TONIGHT'S EPISODE AGAIN, OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHEWOMAN.

MY NAME IS DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.