>> COMING UP ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN"?

>> TONIGHT I'M THRILLED TO INTRODUCE ONE OF THESE WOMEN, TAMICA BARNETT.

>> THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LIEUTENANT.

>> RUN IT DOWN.

>> TODAY WE ARE DOWNTOWN IN ARMORY SQUARE AT BENJAMIN'S ON FRANKLIN.

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHO WANT BARBECUE.

>> MY LOVE LANGUAGE IS FOOD.

MY ADVICE TO AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR IS DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

AS I LEARNED, I'M POURING IT INTO OUR YOUTH SO THEY CAN BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

♪ I GOT, A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEELING ♪ ♪ YEAH I'M UP ON A CLOUD, AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ ♪ I GOT, A GOOD, GOOD, GOOD FEELING...

I'M UP ON A CLOUD AIN'T COMING BACK DOWN ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

I'M YOUR HOST Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS.

WE ARE HERE TO APPRECIATE AND GET TO KNOW THE DIVERSE WOMEN CHANGING CENTRAL NEW YORK.

TONIGHT I'M THRILLED TO INTRODUCE ONE OF THESE WOMEN, TAMICA BARNETT, FIRST RESPONDER, FOOD ENTREPRENEUR, WHO IS MAKING HISTORY IN SYRACUSE.

I WANT YOU TO GATHER YOUR FAMILY AROUND THE TELEVISION, SEND A TEXT TO YOUR KID IF THEY'RE NOT THERE.

THEY WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

WELCOME TAMICA.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TALKING TO YOU.

I GET EXCITED TALKING TO EVERYBODY BUT SPECIFICALLY I THINK YOU ARE SUCH A DYNAMIC WOMAN WITH ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE DOING, AND WE ARE GOING TO BREAK DOWN EACH THING.

>> OKAY.

>> BUT CAN WE TALK ABOUT YOU BEING A BLACK FEMALE FIREFIGHTER IN THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT?

>> I'M THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LIEUTENANT OF THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> RUN IT DOWN.

>> AND I MEAN IT'S AMAZING.

I HAVE 11 YEARS ON THE JOB.

WHEN I JOINED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THERE WAS ONLY ONE OTHER BLACK GIRL CURRENTLY ON THE JOB AND I WAS THE THIRD IN THE HISTORY OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SO DANITA WAS THE FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTER IN GENERAL, SO SHE DEALT WITH A LOT AND TOOK A LOT OF HITS FOR US TO MAKE OUR PATHS A LOT EASIER.

WHEN I JOINED, IT WAS ONLY ONE FEMALE NAMED ASHLEY.

AND I ACTUALLY KNEW HER.

SHE WENT TO NOTING NOTTINGHAM AND I WENT TO HENNINGER.

WE WERE NEIGHBORS.

I SAW HER GET IN HER CAR.

I SAID YOU ARE A FIREFIGHTER?

THAT IS WHAT LED ME TO BELIEVE I COULD DO IT.

SHOEY WAS A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR ME WHEN I WENT THROUGH THE ACADEMY AND MOVING FORWARD.

>> I LOVED HOW YOU ROLLED THROUGH THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO BACK IT ON UP BECAUSE FIRST OF ALL, YOU WERE LIKE LISTEN, I'M NOT JUST A FEMALE FIREFIGHTER, LET'S BE CLEAR.

GIVE ME MY TITLE.

YOU ARE A LIEUTENANT.

>> YES.

>> AND SIMILAR TO YOU, I THINK WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

I GREW UP NEXT TO A HOUSE FULL OF BLACK MALE FIREFIGHTERS, HAITIAN SPECIFICALLY.

AND SO THEY KIND OF COLORED MY WORLD IN REGARDS TO LIKE WHO IS A PART OF THAT PROFESSION.

AS I GOT OLDER, I BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE HOW MUCH OF AN ANOMALY AND PRIVILEGE THAT WAS BECAUSE THAT'S NOT THE NORM, RIGHT?

BUT YOU HERE SAID A NEIGHBOR OF YOURS WAS ON THE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AND THAT INSPIRED YOU.

BUT EVEN HAVING THE PROXIMITY, I NEVER THOUGHT THAT I, MYSELF, COULD POTENTIALLY GO INTO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

AND SO CAN YOU TALK ABOUT MAKING THAT DECISION AND THEN HOW, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR YEARS OF SERVICE, HOW DID YOU BECOME AND WHAT DOES THAT PROCESS LOOK LIKE, A LIEUTENANT WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT?

>> IT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS.

SO I DECIDED TO JOIN THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I ALWAYS ENJOYED HELPING PEOPLE.

SO FROM THE TIME I GRADUATED FROM SCHOOL, I WENT TO ST. BONVENTURE UNIVERSITY.

I HAVE A BACHELOR'S IN BUSINESS.

I ALWAYS WORKED FOR NOT-FOR-PROFITS.

I WENT BACK AND WORKED FOR ORGANIZATIONS, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WAS MY FIRST JOB.

I HELPED WRITE GRANTS AND I LIKE HELPING PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU WORK FOR THOSE INSTITUTION TUITION, YOUR SALARY IS DEPENDENT ON GRANT MONEY.

FOR ME, I WANTED TO FIND SOMETHING TO HELP PEOPLE AND BE FINANCIALLY STABLE BECAUSE THAT WAS A PRIORITY FOR ME BECAUSE GLOWING UP, WE WERE NEVER FINANCIALLY STABLE.

THAT WAS ONE OF MY MAIN THINGS.

I NEED TO SECURE INCOME.

I NEED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT MYSELF.

LIKE I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY TO FALL BACK ON.

NOBODY IS GOING TO FEED ME SO BEING FINANCIAL STABLE WAS A PRIORITY AND ALSO I JUST GENUINELY ENJOYED HELPING PEOPLE SO THAT WAS MY DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

BUT LIVING IN THE CITY, YOU ARE AT A HUGE DISADVANTAGE WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT POLICE AND FIRE SERVICE BECAUSE IN THE SURROUNDING COUNTIES, LIKE PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO VOLUNTEER AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT THE PROFESSION BEFORE YOU JUMP ALL THE WAY IN.

IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE YOU CANNOT DO THAT.

SO YOU CREATE A CULTURE IN THE ACADEMY, I'M GOING INTO THE ACADEMY WITH A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW A LOT ABOUT FIRE SERVICE.

WHEREAS FOR ME IT'S LIKE LEARNING HOW TO RIDE A BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME.

IT'S A DISADVANTAGE.

>> YOU YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, I HAVE AN IMAGE THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND.

WHERE I'M LIVING IS OUTSIDE OF THE CITY.

AND ONE MORNING OVER THE SUMMER I WAS DRIVING IN AND I BELIEVE IT WAS THE MANLIUS FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR MAYBE FAYETTEVILLE, HAVE A BEAUTIFUL STATION OUT THERE AND IT WAS LIKE A GROUP OF KIDS THEY CLEARLY HAD A STRUCTURED SUMMER PROGRAM GOING ON WHERE THEY WERE LEARNING DIFFERENT THINGS AND I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT IN THAT WAY.

WHERE I AM THERE WAS A FLYER ABOUT HEY, COME LEARN ABOUT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

NOW I HAD LIVED NEXT TO FIREFIGHTERS BUT NEVER NECESSARILY SEEN WHAT THE WORK LOOKS LIKE SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DISADVANTAGED, I WAS LIKE WAIT, HOW COME IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, THERE ARE DIFFERENT AK SET POINTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROFESSION BUT NOT IN OURS.

>> IN THE CITY BECAUSE IT'S CAREER FIREFIGHTERS VERSUS VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS.

AND THEY HAVE MORE LEEWAY TO DO MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND BRING PEOPLE IN AND HAVE PEOPLE IN THE FIRE HOUSE AND RIDE ON THE FIRE TRUCKS.

I'M NOT WHAT THE AGE IS BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WE KNOW, THEY CAN START BEING A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER AT THE AGE OF 14 AND 15 AND 16 AND THEN WHEN THEY GET OLD ENOUGH, THEY APPLY AND THEY TRY TO BECOME A CAREER FIREFIGHTER IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

AND BEFORE WE GOT THE THING IN OUR CONTRACT WHERE FIREFIGHTERS HAD TO LIVE IN THE CITY, LIKE IT WAS A HUGE DISCONNECT IN THE ACADEMY WITH PEOPLE HIRED FROM THE INNER CITY VERSUS PEOPLE HIRED FROM THE COUNTY WITH THEM COMING IN BEING SO FAR AHEAD OF THE INNER CITY CANDIDATES.

SO IT WAS A PERCEPTION LIKE, AND I ACTUALLY EVEN LIKE THERE WERE CONVERSATIONS IN THE FIRE HOUSE WHERE THE PERCEPTION WAS WHY CAN'T THE BLACK RECRUITS LEARN.

AND I'M LIKE WELL YOU GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE.

AND SO FOR ME, BEING SOLUTION BASED, I'M NOT JUST GOING TO HEAR THAT SO I BECAME AN INSTRUCTOR SO COULD I TEACH FROM A WAY OF I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE NEVER HEARD ANY OF THIS INFORMATION BEFORE.

VERSUS TEACHING SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN DOING THIS IN A VOLUNTEER WORLD FOR AT LAST FIVE, SIX YEARS.

>> LET'S BACK THIS UP BECAUSE YOU CASUALLY ROLL THROUGH THINGS.

YOU ARE TEACHING LAB?

WHAT IS THAT EXACTLY?

>> WE ARE CERTIFIED FIRST RESPONDERS.

IN ORDER TO BE ON THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT AT THE BEAR MINIMUM YOU HAVE TO BE A CFR.

WHENEVER SOMEONE CALLS 911, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES THERE WHETHER IT'S SHOOTING, STABBING, HEART ATTACK, FALL DOWN THE STAIRS, CAR ACCIDENT, WE ARE THE FIRST ONES TO GET THERE SO YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE STATE LEVEL CLASS THAT MAKES YOU A CERTIFIED FIRST RESPONDER.

AND WITH THAT, I WENT TO BECOME AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN AND AFTER THAT, I WENT BACK AND BECAME A CERTIFIED LAB INSTRUCTOR SO COULD I GO BACK OVER TO THE ACADEMY AND TEACH THE NEW CANDIDATES HOW TO PERFORM THESE SKILLS.

AND SIGN OFF ON THEIR STATE CERTIFICATION.

>> IS THAT DIFFERENT FROM BEING A LIEUTENANT?

>> YEAH, IT'S IN ADDITION.

>> SO YOU ARE A BAD SISTER.

SO WHAT-- OKAY, I'M PROCESSING ALL OF THIS IN MY MIND BECAUSE THEN YOU DID ALL THESE THINGS ALONG THE WAY IN YOUR CAREER.

DID THAT SET YOU UP OR DID YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN ORDER TO BECOME A LIEUTENANT ALSO?

>> SO THE LIEUTENANT POSITION, THE RANKS WITHIN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE ALSO CIVIL SERVICE SO IT'S SIMILAR TO THE PROCESS THAT YOU GO THROUGH ON THE JOB, AN OBSTACLE FOR PEOPLE IN THE INNER CITY CULTURALLY BECAUSE IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE DO EVERY DAY.

WE DON'T HAVE A HUGE EXPERIENCE WITH THE PROCESS OF TAKING A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM.

WAITING OVER A YEAR TO BE HIRED THEN GOING TO THE CANVASSING PROCESS AND IT'S A VERY LONG PROCESS THAT, IF YOU WEREN'T INVOLVED OR KNOW SOMEBODY DIRECTLY ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIKE YOU WOULDN'T KNOW,000 NAVIGATE IT.

SO-- KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE IT.

SO TO BECOME A LIEUTENANT YOU HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST FOUR YEARS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND FIVE TO BE PROMOTED.

IT'S A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM SO HAVE YOU TO SCORE HIGH.

TO BE A LIEUTENANT, CAPTAIN, DISTRICT CHIEF AND DEPUTY CHIEF, THEY'RE ALL CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONS.

EVERY TIME THERE IS A STATE EXAM, YOU HAVE TO SCORE HIGH IN ORDER TO BE PROMOTED AND LIKEWISE TO COME ON THE JOB, HAVE YOU TO SCORE HIGH ON THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM TO GET INTO THE ACADEMY.

>> WELL, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW BECAUSE I THINK LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU ARE INTERESTED AS A YOUNG PERSON OR EARLY PROFESSIONAL AND YOU REALLY WANT TO GET INTO A CAREER OF HELPING PEOPLE, RIGHT, OFTEN TIMES WE THINK OF THE PERCEPTION OF LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR A NON-PROFIT, YOU GOT TO WORK GRANT-BASED, YOU KNOW, LOW WAGE PROBABLY MORE REALISTIC RATHER THAN THINKING ABOUT HIGHER WAGE POSITIONS AND I THINK YOU TALKING ABOUT CHOOSING THIS PATH AND THEN DOING THE THINGS YOU'VE DONE TO LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

>> RIGHT, AND THEN ALSO WHEN YOU GO IT INTO THE PROFESSIONS, IT'S RESOURCEFUL.

I USE MY ROLE AS LIEUTENANT ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND I STILL VOLUNTEER AT THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB WHICH IS MY FIRST JOB AND I HAVE ACCESS TO MORE RESOURCES.

I CAN BRING MORE PEOPLE IN.

I HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNIONS SO WHEN I'M DOING THIS, WHETHER IT'S THE HALLOWEEN PARTY OR BASKETBALL LEAGUE, I'M BRINGING MORE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY, THEY'RE POURING IN RESOURCES I WOULDN'T HAVE HAD ACCESS TO IF I WASN'T ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> YOU ARE LEADING IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

>> YES.

>> HAVING SPENT SO MUCH TIME THERE AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT YOU WERE-- I DON'T THINK I REMEMBERED.

MAYBE I SAW IT ON SOME OF YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA THAT YOU HAD EARNED THE POSITION OF BEING A LIEUTENANT.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO ENAMOURED WITH YOU SITTING ON THIS COUCH AND I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS YOU DO AND A NATURALIST, TOO.

>> WITH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BEING LIKE PRIMARILY DOMINATED BY WHITE MALES, IT WAS A HARD TRANSITION.

THE COMMUNITY REALLY CELEBRATED IT, LIKE I CELEBRATED MYSELF.

BUT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I FEEL LIKE I TRIED TO DOWNPLAY IT BECAUSE I KNOW IT MADE PEOPLE AT WORK UNCOMFORTABLE BUT THEN I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I'M LIKE YEAH, I'M NOT DIMMING ANY LIGHTS BECAUSE IT MAKES PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE BUT I GOT A LOT OF MEDIA COVERAGE AND MEDIA REACHED OUT TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS NEVER OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED BY THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT MY PROMOTION CAME OUT ON MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR FOCUS FIREFIGHTERS OF COLOR UNITED IN SYRACUSE SOCIAL MEDIA.

AND I THINK, LIKE THERE WAS AN O.G.

THAT SPOKE TO ME AND REMINDED ME, BE CAREFUL BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY IS HAPPY FOR YOU.

FOR ME, THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY CAREER.

I'M FLOATING ON CLOUD NINE AND HE IS LIKE, EVERYBODY IS NOT HAPPY FOR YOU.

AND THEN YOU GET LIKE PEOPLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT THAT COULDN'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY THE COMMUNITY WAS CELEBRATING A BLACK WOMAN BEING PROMOTED OR WHY IT WAS SUCH A BIG DEAL SO WHEN THERE ARE PROMOTIONS ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY USUALLY MAKE A POST AND I WILLS EVERYBODY PROMOTED.

BUT IT WAS NEVER CONFIRMED I WAS THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LIEUTENANT EVEN TO THIS DAY.

>> WE ARE GOING TO CELEBRATE IT ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

YOU ARE LEADING, DOING ALL OF THESE DYNAMIC THINGS, HELPING TO THINK MORE CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW TO ENGAGE FOLKS IN THE FIREFIGHTER CAREER.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL YOU ARE DOING.

YOU ARE ALSO A GRILL MASTER, A FOOD ENTREPRENEUR, AND I WANT TO SHOW THE COMMUNITY A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

SO BEFORE WE CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION, LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT ONE EXAMPLE, JUST ONE, OF TAMICA BRINGING THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY TOGETHER THROUGH HER WORK.

>> I BANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING OUT TO HELP ME CELEBRATE THE TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHO WANT SMOKE BARBECUE AND CATERING, A SHOUT OUT TO MY KIDS BECAUSE I COULDN'T DO THE EVENTS THAT I DO WITHOUT THEM!

>> TODAY WE ARE DOWNTOWN IN ARMORY SQUARE AT BENJAMIN'S ON FRANKLIN, TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF WHO WANT SMOKE BARBECUE ABDICATORRING.

WE HAVE A LIVE BAND, DJ AND ALL THE FAN FAVORITES OF WHO WANT SMOKE BARBECUE AND CATERING, STUFF THAT PEOPLE ORDERED A LOT.

THE TICKET SALES INCLUDED A FULL DINNER MENU AND THE PROCEEDS WERE DONATED BACK TO AN INTERN WHO JUST GRADUATED WHO PLANS TO ATTEND COLLEGE.

>> FOR THIS EVENT SO I COULD GIVE HER A SCHOLARSHIP TO BE USED HOWEVER SHE LIKES SO CONGRATULATIONS $500... [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] SHE JUST GRADUATED FROM CORCORAN.

>> I PARTNERED WITH THE FELLOW PROGRAMS FROM THE CITY OF SYRACUSE FAMILY FOUNDATION.

OVER THE SUMMER, THEY PROVIDE FUNDING FOR STUDENTS TO EARN STIPENDS DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS TO LEARN LIFE SKILLS, JOB SKILLS, FINANCIAL LITERACY AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS.

MY ADVICE TO AN AN ASPIRING ENTREPRENEUR, DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP.

YOU CAN'T FIGURE IT ALL OUT ON YOUR OWN AND THE BIGGEST RESOURCE WE HAVE IS THE PEOPLE.

SO IF THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED, I'M A HUGE FAN OF LEARNING FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S MISTAKES.

I DON'T FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO MAKE THEM MYSELF.

BE OPEN IN COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE AND ASKING QUESTIONS, EVEN IF IT SEEMS LIKE A DUMB QUESTION BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T FLOW.

IF THAT MAKES SENSE.

>> NOW THEREFORE I ON BEHALF OF BEN WALSH, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE 28th DAY OF AUGUST, 2022 TO BE WHO WANT SMOKE DAY IN THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> FOR ALL THESE PEOPLE TO SUPPORT MY SUCCESS TODAY IS VERY-- IT'S WARMING.

I FEEL LIKE I FILLED MY PURPOSE.

IT'S MACE MAZING.

I DON'T KNOW THE WORDS TO DESCRIER IT.

WE HAVE OVER 160 PEOPLE INSIDE THAT DECIDED TO SHOW UP.

IT'S 90-DEGREE AND THEY'RE SITTING ON THE PATIO OF WHO WANT SMOKE.

>> SO LIEUTENANT IN THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE JUST SAW IN YOUR PACKAGE WHERE YOU ARE ALSO A ENTREPRENEUR.

TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU GO FROM SAVING LIVES, HELPING THE COMMUNITY DURING THE THE DAY AND THEN BUILDING A THRIVING FOOD SERVICE BUSINESS AND THEN INCORPORATING THE YOUTH IN IT.

>> SO I AM THE OWNER AND GRILL MASTER OF WHO WANT SMOKE BARBECUE AND CATERING.

I'M THE ONLY GRILL MASTER IN THE AREA AND MY LOVE LANGUAGE IS FOOD.

LIKE I DID NOT REALIZE I WAS POOR UNTIL I WENT TO COLLEGE.

LIKE I JUST THOUGHT BECAUSE MY FAMILY, WE TAKE FOOD VERY SERIOUSLY.

MY GRANDMOTHER ON MY FATHER'S SIDE HAD 11 KIDS AND IT DIDN'T MATTER.

EVERY SUNDAY, EVERYBODY IN THE FAMILY KNEW THEY COULD GO TO HER HOUSE FOR FOOD.

LIKE IT WAS A THING.

SO I THINK THAT FOOD BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.

FOOD IS LOVE SO FOR ME, I'VE ALSO ALWAYS HAD A DEEP ROOTED PASSION FOR COOKING.

EVEN WHEN I HAD THE BASKETBALL LEAGUE, WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A BIG FANCY BANQUET.

I WOULD COOK THE FOOD AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT 120 KIDS PLUS ALL OF THEIR FAMILIES AND ANYBODY ELSE UP THE STREET WHO WANTED TO COME IN AND HAVE BA ARE BEE CUE.

I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO COOK A LOT OF FOOD IN I A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I'M USED TO AND THAT'S WHAT I SEEN MY GRANDMOTHER DO.

I HAVE 45 COUSINS HERE THAT ARE MY AGE.

EVERYBODY LIVE IN THE CITY.

I HAVE 10 AUNTS AND UNCLES, 11 WITH MY FATHER SO IT'S LIKE WE COULD LITERALLY ALL GO TO MY GRANDMOTHER HOUSE UNANNOUNCED ON ANY SUNDAY AND EVERYBODY CAN EAT.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER OVER FOOD AND I DO HAVE A PASSION FOR WORKING WITH YOUTH.

I FEEL LIKE MENTORS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY CAN CREATED PATHWAYS FOR KIDS THAT WOULDN'T HAVE ONE OTHERWISE.

SOMEONE DID THAT FOR ME.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO COME BACK AND WORK WITH KIDS AND SHOW THEM THE THINGS I'M LEARNING.

I'M STILL LEARN LEARNING AS AN ADULT BUT AS I LEARN, I POUR IT INTO OUR YOUTH SO THEY CAN BE AHEAD OF THE GAME.

>> WHEN I THINK-- BECAUSE I MET YOU, YOU INVITED ME TO TALK TO THE KIDS AT ONE OF THEIR BANQUETS.

YOU DIDN'T MAKE THE FOOD THAT DAY.

YOU HAD MOVED UP THE CHAIN.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT I WORKED FOR THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

I'M LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE, BUT THEN I MEAN IT'S NOT-- YOU ARE RUNNING WHO WANT SMOKE AND YOU ARE TRAVELING NOT JUST HERE IN SYRACUSE.

YOU ARE DOING IT ACROSS STATE LINES, RIGHT?

IT'S MAJOR EVENTS THAT ARE HELD IN DIFFERENT PLACES BUT YOU ARE STILL MAKING TIME TO DO OTHER ACTIVITIES AS WELL: FISHING, TAKING KIDS FISHING.

>> RIGHT.

>> TAKING KIDS AND EXPOSING THEM AND HAVING INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCES WITH THEM.

LIKE WHERE DO YOU GET THE TIME, ENERGY, LIKE GIVE US THE SECRET.

>> I PLAN AND I HONESTLY, THERE WERE CERTAIN THINGS THAT REALLY CHANGED MY VIEW ON LIFE AND IF I CAN SHOW THESE KIDS THAT WHILE THEY'RE IN THEIR TEENS VERSUS LEARNING IN THEIR 20s AND 30S, THAT'S A GOAL.

TRAVELING WAS THE BIGGEST THING.

WHEN I JOINED THE SYRACUSE FIRE DEPARTMENT THERE WAS A FOCUS, FIREFIGHTERS OF COLOR REGIONAL CONFERENCE IN NEW JERSEY IN ATLANTIC CITY AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I HAVE SEEN FEMALE CHIEFS AND LIEUTENANTS BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE.

SO THAT WAS MY MOTIVATION TO WANT TO BE IT.

LIKE IF YOU SEE IT, YOU CAN BE IT.

WITH THE YOUTH, I'M LIKE JUST TRAVELING ALONE, REALIZING THAT IT'S A BIG WORLD OUT THERE.

A LOT BIGGER THAN SYRACUSE.

LIKE WHEN I TOOK THE KIDS ON A TRIP, WE WENT TO JAMAICA, GRAND CAYMAN AND MEXICO AND THEY GOT A PRIVATE TEACHING LESSON FROM A MEXICAN CHEF.

THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME LEAVING THE CITY.

THAT WAS AHA AND I REALIZED WE FEEDED TO DO IT BECAUSE WE FUNDRAISE AND WENT TO DARIAN LAKE AND ON THE WAY BACK THEY TALKED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF TRAVELING AND SEEING THE PROJECT THROUGH.

WE RAISED THIS MONEY AND CHOSE WHERE WE WANTED TO GO.

IT WAS THEIR AHA MONEY.

IT WAS LIKE A COUSIN OF MINE IS IN EDUCATION SOME ALBANY AND SHE POSTED, YOU GOT TO DREAM BIGGER SO THAT YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE IMPACTED BY THE OUTCOME.

SO NOW IT'S LIKE, WE CAN DO MORE.

THEY WANT TO GO TO NEW YORK CITY.

NO, LET'S LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

THEIR EYES GOT BIG AND WE DID IT.

THIS YEAR WE ARE GOING DO IT AGAIN.

>> LET US KNOW HOW WE CAN SUPPORT.

AND IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE ONE OF OUR GUESTS I WAS SPEAKING TO AT ANOTHER MOMENT, TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU KNOW THE THINGS THAT CAN HELP OUR COMMUNITY OR THE COMMUNITY MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO PROVIDE.

>> RIGHT.

IT'S LIKE I KNOW THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME.

I GREW UP ON ONE OF THE POOREST STREETS IN SYRACUSE AND MY SAFE HAVEN WAS GOING ACROSS THE STREET TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB EVERY DAY AND THROUGH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB IS WHERE I MET MELANIE LITTLEJOHN THE FIRST WOMAN I EVER MET WEARING A SUIT.

I STILL REMEMBER TO THAT DAY HOLDING THE DOOR OPEN WHILE THEY HAD THE BOARD MEETING AND THINKING SHE WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I HAD EVER SEEN AND SHE STOPPED AND STOOD THERE AND TALKED TO ME.

I THINK SHE WAS LATE TO HER MEETING BECAUSE WE WERE JUST TALKING AND WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTED AND SHE HAS BEEN MY MENTOR EVER SINCE AND WITH THAT, THE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAVE.

IF I COULD POUR THEM INTO THE YOUTH NOW, THAT'S THE GOAL.

AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD SO IT WAS ME FIGURING OUT... >> IF YOU DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING ELSE TO DO.

>> IT WAS A MATTER OF FIGURING OUT I'M REAL GOOD AT TYING ALL OF THE THINGS THAT I LOVE TO DO TOGETHER FOR THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THIS IS NOT THE END.

THERE IS MORE I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH BUT IT'S GOT TO MAKE SENSE IN THE BIGGER PICTURE.

WHAT CAN I ADD TO THIS TO CREATE MORE RESOURCES AND AVENUES FOR THE INNER CITY YOUTH BECAUSE THAT'S THE PRIORITY.

>> IT'S SUCH A WONDERFUL THING.

I WAS TALKING WITH SOMEONE EARLIER ABOUT BEING AN ARTIST.

AND THE ONE THING THAT YOU SAID THAT MY MOTHER WILL SAY IS SO IMPORTANT TO FIND A CAREER THAT CAN HELP YOU AS A BLACK WOMAN, YOU KNOW, SUSTAIN YOURSELF, RIGHT BECAUSE IT PROVIDES EXACTLY LIKE WHAT YOU ARE DOING, RIGHT?

>> MY DREAM.

THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT HAPPEN AROUND TALENT IN THIS COMMUNITY AND HOW DO WE RETAIN TALENT.

AND THE DYNAMICS OF GOING OUT AND RECRUITING TALENT TO COME HERE VERSUS WORKING WITH THE TALENT THAT'S HERE.

WHEN YOU HEAR FOLKS TALK ABOUT DO WE HAVE TALENT IN SYRACUSE, BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE AND WHAT YOU ARE DOING OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WOULD YOU 15 I TO THEM.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT WE A TON OF TALENT HERE IN SYRACUSE BUT THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTRAINTS IN A LOT OF THE PROFESSIONS AND IF WE WOULD REMOVE SOME OF THE BARRIERS AND ALLOW PEOPLE TO WORK IN THEIR FIELD IN THEIR WAY AND NOT ALWAYS TRADITIONAL WAY, WE WOULD SEE THESE TALENTS MANIFEST AND SEE THE HOMEGROWNNESS OF SYRACUSE EVOLVE.

BUT IF WE KEEP CONSTRAINTS AND KEEP GOING INTO SITUATIONS WITH LIKE PREDESIRED NOTION OF WHAT WE WANT IT TO LOOK LIKE, THEN WE ARE CONSTANTLY GOING TO HAVE THE SAME RESULTS.

THAT'S ONE OF MY BIGGEST THINGS WHEN I WORK WITH THE YOUTH, EVEN WHEN I PLAN MY SUMMER INTERNSHIP, ALL I DO IS OUTLINE.

I SCHEDULE WHAT DAYS WE ARE GOING TO MEET BUT WHEN I PHYSICALLY MEET WITH THEM, I LET THEM DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.

BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW, YOU KNOW.

WE GOT ONE KID WHO NEVER WENT FISHING BEFORE AND CAUGHT AN 18-INCH WALLEYE AND WANTS TO START A FISHING CLUB IN NOTTINGHAM.

IF I WENT WITH THE PLAN WE ARE DOING A, B AND C, WE WOULD HAVE NEVER GOT THERE SO I THINK SOMETIMES WE GOT TO TAKE LIKE OUR KNOWLEDGE AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT SUBJECTS AND PUT IT BEHIND BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW GENERATION OF YOUTH AND HONESTLY, THE STUFF THAT THEY DEAL WITH, THEY HAVE ADULT PROBLEMS.

THEY'RE NOT THE SAME GENERATION OF YOUTH I HAD WHEN I WAS A CHILD.

LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY WHERE MY NEXT MEAL WAS COMING FROM.

I WASN'T RAISING YOUNGER SIBLINGS.

WE HAVE TEENAGERS THAT HAVE ADULT PROBLEMS NOW SO I RESPECT THEM AND I LISTEN A LOT AND THAT'S THE KEY.

>> THANK YOU FOR DOING WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

YOU ARE INSPIRING.

YOU ARE INSPIRING ME.

SO THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME ON THIS EVENING'S EPISODE OF AND FOR THE WORK YOU ARE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO WATCH THIS EPISODE AGAIN, WHEN YOU WATCH THIS EPISODE AGAIN, VISIT US ONLINE AT WCNY.ORG/"BEHIND THE WOMAN."

MY NAME IS Dr. JUHANNA ROGERS AND ON BEHALF OF THE "BEHIND THE WOMAN" TEAM, THANK YOU AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

NEXT WEEK ON "BEHIND THE WOMAN..." >> TONIGHT I'M HUMBLED TO INTRODUCE ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAMELA HUNTER GL.D THERE IS DEFINITELY POCKETS OF THE CITY OF SYRACUSE THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

>> I REPRESENT IN A VERY DIVERSE DISTRICT.

>> ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN THE STATE.

>> THAT WILL ALWAYS REMAIN THE SAME OF WANTING TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE HERE HAVE THE BEST THAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

WE SEE IN THE STATE ASSEMBLY WHERE THERE IS JUST A GREAT AMOUNT OF WOMEN AND WOMEN OF COLOR BUT THERE COULD BE MORE.