Streetlight Angels Podcast
Creating safety awareness and mindfulness to the nation to help our children take back the ability to play outside "until the street lights come on".
Streetlight Angels Podcast
Confronting Financial Stigmas and Embracing Inclusivity for a Compassionate Tomorrow!
What if the divisions created by tax brackets and job types are silently shaping our communities, affecting everything from family dynamics to children's self-esteem? Join Kasey Yungandreas and me, Josh Yirkovsky, on the SAP Streetlight Angels Podcast as we unpack these societal structures and their profound impacts. We share candid stories of financial struggles, particularly through the lens of single parents and the fluctuation of income during the pandemic. Our discussion tackles the stigma of government assistance and how kids pick up on financial cues at school, which can subtly mold their self-identity and peer interactions. Together, we aim to shed light on these pressing issues to inspire a more supportive and inclusive community, unafraid to confront the complexities of class and money.
Shifting our focus, we dive into a world where disabilities are not just seen but truly understood. We explore the daily social challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, from feeling alienated in public spaces to the importance of fostering inclusive environments. With personal anecdotes, we highlight transformative experiences like volunteering at Special Olympics and how schools can normalize disabilities to create a more compassionate atmosphere. We emphasize the critical role of education and awareness, urging everyone to set aside biases and teach children about inclusivity. Our conversation draws a line between ignorance and malice, encouraging an open-hearted approach to learning from and standing alongside individuals with disabilities.
Welcome back to Episode 2 of SAP Streetlight Angels Podcast. I'm Josh Rutkowski and I have here with me Casey Young-Andreas. All right, we're here and we're back live in action, unscripted, talking about things that nobody wants to talk about around here. So that's pretty much what we're doing, right Case?
Speaker 2:Yeah, all the good stuff.
Speaker 1:All the good juicy stuff no one wants to talk about, with the objective of getting us familiar with each other again and getting the children back on the streets until the streetlights come on, with pure safety and comfortable feelings. For that, all right. So we're back. Last episode, we just gave kind of a quick description about what we were going to be talking about in this podcast. Now we're going to start actually elaborating a little bit more. So we're going to come up with a couple of topics this time, one of them being the topic of actual sensitive subjects. You know, kind of play a little bit of devil's advocate, talk to each other about our personal feelings, a little bit about it and what we've heard, you know, from people who usually don't like to speak or talk much about it. So, case, what's our first topic we want to talk about today?
Speaker 2:So the first topic that we had on our list was going to be class and money.
Speaker 1:First topic is class and money. I mean class and money is not really sensitive. You know, it may be to somebody of a higher stature that doesn't want to talk about it anymore, or maybe at the very, very low it could be. But honestly I think that the way that it should be is we're all humans right, so we all shouldn't be so sensitive about that. But I guess I mean it could be.
Speaker 2:Well, I think that society has really put in those brackets I mean even in our tax brackets we have different classes in our tax brackets right now. We have different classes in our tax brackets right now. So even society has put those constraints on who makes what money. If we're blue collar, if we're hard labor jobs, we've got the white collar. We have so many different ways to look at this and then how it affects our children too.
Speaker 1:Well, ok, yeah, you're right. It may not be a sensitive subject to talk about, but it's definitely something that everybody wants or would like to talk about a little bit more, so that they maybe aren't segregated in a sense.
Speaker 2:I think it could be a sensitive subject to talk about as well. I mean, even for myself, with being a single parent and trying to work and trying to make ends meet at certain points of my life, there have been periods where my business was doing really well and then there was a period when my business was not doing very well. There were scary times, especially during COVID. And then you have the topic of okay, well, now that I'm not pulling in this kind of money any longer, then what are we going to do? How am I going to pay these bills? How am I going to get food for my kids? Government assistance comes into play. There are some people that would even qualify for that today, that don't even feel comfortable enough to apply. You have Medicaid I'm not really sure what Florida calls it. You have food stamps, you have free lunch for kids. Then you go up another bracket and you have where you're considered middle class, where they barely can scrape by and don't qualify for any help. You've got so many different levels that you can talk about.
Speaker 1:So I mean a lot of the questions I have is, you know my boys will be like, hey, how much money do you make, dad, you know? Or I'll be asking you know mom, how much she makes? Or then Larissa and I will have a discussion about you know our, our bills for that day or that month or whatever. And the boys listen to that and they hear, you know, like in our head we're like, oh my gosh, we're broke. But you know what I mean. But then we're not really. But my kids could hear that and assume that you know we actually are broke. Oh, absolutely, you know. And it sucks. And then what would happen is is if you come from a family that's never had that and they've never, they're never in a million years assumed that you know they go into the school and they're at a class on the lower side, so to speak, financially, I wonder if that changes the dynamic of how they are within that school and I'm sure it does, as far as like being comfortable, being treated differently and things like that.
Speaker 2:Well and that also brings up another topic with the kids in the school, because this is the very reason that many schools have enforced uniforms. Even in our own county here, our middle schools have enforced, not technically a uniform, but a specific color of shirt or that school name shirt for kids to wear, and then they pick a different day of the week where they can wear something from their own closets. That's not school related, but kids do go through that. The type of shoes they have, whether they're wearing Nikes or they've got the latest and greatest name brand shoe on or if mom could only afford to go to Walmart to get those shoes, I mean, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. However, the different narratives that the kids have created in their own minds, based off of what they've learned from us at home, that's what they carry with them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure. You know, I've had some people come into the neighborhood and see my house and friends come over and stuff like that and they're like man, you must be rich. You know, even little kids must be rich. No, not at all. I have the oldest house, the oldest built house and the cheapest house in this entire neighborhood that I live in and it's sad that people would come and say or assume that and it kind of makes me wonder like if they're already putting that as a priority in their lives.
Speaker 1:You know what I mean. At such a young age to say, look, they're rich, they must be rich if they got I don't know whatever we have that may look like it, or whatever we have that some others don't. And I mean I can tell you I'm richly in debt. You know what I mean and that's what I am. You know to try to make the best of our living. Obviously we do what we can and we keep pushing, but I don't want that to be something that should be on the child's mind. If anything, it should be coming over and saying you know, I love this backyard you know what I mean Because there's enough space for us to play in and the trampoline and stuff, but not so much. You know the focus on the class. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Well with that, I think that it's important for us, as the adults and parents, to remember and be very mindful of our responses to them. I know for one that I've been extremely guilty of this before, where I'll be in a store with my children and they'll say hey, mom, can I have this? I really want to get this today. Or I really want to get that, and my first response is I don't have money for that today. And it's I'm showing them what it's like to not have. Hey, I can't afford this today. Or I don't have money for this.
Speaker 1:Sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I could have a different response for them. Hey, kiddo, I would love to be able to get that for you, but I want to teach you to be savvy with your money too. Why don't we sit down and talk about how you can work and maybe put some money away and save for this? And make sure that this is something that you really want.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:But my first instinct as a parent with anxiety in a store is I can't get this for you today. I don't have that money.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's a terrible response.
Speaker 1:Right, it is Well, I mean, it's a necessary, but you turn it into a learning experience, absolutely Right. So we're looking at the solution piece for that right. Yes, money and some parents at home from the listeners may be struggling with that. So, you know, utilize that ability to educate the child's mind, you know, and just say you know, sometimes we don't have the ability to have anything and everything we want, and sometimes we do have the ability to splurge a little bit more and then make sure it's appreciated Like.
Speaker 1:That's the biggest struggle I have right now with my boys. You know, I want them to appreciate the things that they have, that we are providing to them more because, again, we come from a timeframe you and I come from a timeframe where we appreciated playing outside with sticks and rocks you know what I mean. Or even just regular cars yeah, exactly, mud pies, eating them, building forts out of who knows what, however, we can get our hands on. We appreciated that because that's all we had. No, they have the access to all of this stuff. So I think that if we drive that home to them a little bit more feelings of appreciation and then convert it into an educational piece, I think that's going to help significantly, especially if, for example, my boys have, you know, a bike that's old and it's all rusted up and just crepid, and then the next door neighbors have a kid that has a bike that's brand new, and just remember that feeling that it was appreciated when that bike was brand new.
Speaker 1:You have what you have and you try to drive and go further than what you have. I don't believe that you ever want to just be satisfied than what you have. You never want to. I don't believe that you ever want to just be satisfied with what you have. I think that you should always want to push and strive a little bit harder, and that's what I mean for the kids as well. Let them have the ability to say okay, well, you know, another educational piece. What would I need to do to get myself a brand new bike? You know what I mean. And if my kids came to me and said I have a plan, you know what I mean, or I've got an idea or something that I want to pitch to you and mom about trying to get me a better bike, as just example Obviously hypothetically speaking if they came to me with that, I'd be like let's go. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:Let's do it. But then, even looking at it from a different angle, to just like you spoke about your home earlier, how you have the oldest home on the block but walking into your home you would never know that because you upgrade and you make changes and a fresh coat of paint can make a room beautiful.
Speaker 1:We painted the whole house when we moved in here and I'm gonna tell you I'm never doing that.
Speaker 2:There you go a fresh coat of paint on a bike, like sanding it, fresh coat of paint. It's not always about newest is better and it's about holding that value for the things that we do have and and maybe we can. Yeah, appreciation, appreciation. Maybe we can fix up or add more value and give a little tlc to the things that we do have, instead of always wanting bigger and better and newer.
Speaker 1:Yeah you're right're right. You're right. Appreciate what you have, you know. But there's nothing wrong with working for more. You know, I've always been told you know again, appreciate what you got. But you know this is what you get. Life hands you a bag of a doo-doo and you're going to have to figure out how to make it pretty.
Speaker 2:Mulch that and grow some good vegetables.
Speaker 1:Corn on the cob.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Something You're right.
Speaker 2:It's all in how you are able to perceive things and flip that narrative. That's right.
Speaker 1:So I think that you know, without beating the dead dog, class and money. The good thing is is I think we can get away from it now, because it doesn't matter how good you're doing at home financially or vice versa. The idea is getting that child to understand the value and appreciation of what they do currently have and that it doesn't necessarily have to be the end of that.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Mindset can change anything.
Speaker 1:That's right. So take anything and everything. You guys have listeners with a sense of an educational turnaround. Take anything and everything. You guys have listeners with a sense of an educational turnaround. So if there is issues financially in your house, you know what I mean. Use that ability to educate, because we all want the best for our kids. After you know, after we're long gone, and if we put that stress on them and that carries over to them, then that's going to be an issue in the next generation. So get rid of it, you know. But we'll touch on class and money again in the future. I'm sure Hopefully the listeners will reply and get us some good things, some good feedback on this. But let's transition into a different sensitive subject, a little bit more aggressive, and I mean I think that you could start us out on disabilities. So that's a very sensitive subject these days.
Speaker 1:Absolutely I mean, it has been for a long time. But what do you think about disabilities?
Speaker 2:So I have a different view with disabilities, because my youngest daughter technically has a disability. She has a rare genetic syndrome and she is also high functioning autistic, with a few other things that we deal with. My biggest takeaway on a person with a disability is that they're human too. Their heartbeat's the same, the blood flow is the same. We're no better than any person walking on the face of this earth. Something that used to really bother me and it sounds so cliche is when we would go into a store and someone would look at us and we would know that everyone was looking, and then we would walk by and store and someone would look at us and we would know that everyone was looking, and then we would walk by and people would want to turn or look away really quickly.
Speaker 2:I think that bringing awareness to now this is just personally me speaking. I cannot speak for anyone else, but personally for me, I don't mind educating people to be looked at and for people to have that awkward body movement or to be cold and try to turn around so that you they feel that you don't see that when you do, makes everything awkward and it makes that person feel alienated. I'm fine with walking up and saying, shaking a hand If you want to ask me questions, ask us questions in a polite and mannerful way. We'll educate you. We'll educate you on her syndrome. I'm happy to connect with people because you never know what other people are struggling with or dealing with. I would also like to see people be more mindful with their words when we are talking about disabilities or we're speaking to an individual with a disability. Part of my child's disability is very short in stature and she gets so many comments about oh you don't look your age, you're so small. That really makes that person kind of flip inward and really start questioning themselves what are your thoughts?
Speaker 1:No, no, no. I agree. One of my biggest pet peeves is if you can't stick up for yourself, if you know somebody who doesn't have the ability to stick up for themselves, anybody who is around a bystander should correct that deficiency right, and so that happens a lot with disabilities. There's a lot of people out there that can't with a disability, that can't stick up for themselves, whether it's, you know, mentally or physically. But if you're just going to stand around and be a bystander or you're going to be somebody that be, you know, as a part of that, that's different than bully Having a disability and then you taking advantage of someone with a disability, that's totally different than just being a bully. Right, then you're just a big piece of trash. You know what I mean. And so if nobody calls you out, and that's just the way it is, you got to stay something, you know. You got to stand up to those dirtbags.
Speaker 1:Now, when I was a kid, I remember I was a teenager and I volunteered for Special Olympics and it was probably one of the better memories of my life, just because of how beautiful it was when I was there, from someone with a disability to me or vice versa. You know it would. Just, it was just a good environment, right, and my boys go to a school where, you know, disabilities are there. It's cool because I get to go into the school and, with angel force protection, with one of my companies and, and I get to go in there and see the interactions of the kids and I get to see that there is not even a second look at the children with a disability in my kid's school. Now, this is a private school and I'm pretty sure it's a little bit different than public schools, but it doesn't have to be. You know what I mean. And if it is, there's a problem.
Speaker 1:And so now let's go back to another educational piece. If you're a listener and you promote degrading a disability within your household, you're trash and you need to fix yourself. You need to fix yourself, period. So if you're listening to this podcast and you're like man, that's me a little bit All right, fine, so be it. It's you. That doesn't mean you can't change that. And if you've got a problem with it, you can complain to me on a comment for this podcast. I don't care, but I'm going to tell you right now if I see you out there and you're promoting it or enabling it, or your child is. Don't think I'm not going to say something to you about it, you know, because that's what needs to happen, or else we're not going to make that change.
Speaker 2:That needs to happen you know Right and I think that a lot of times, if we can open up our hearts and open up our minds and educate ourselves, there's a difference, and I have a friend that's told me many times now there's a difference between ignorance and malice ourselves. Let's ask that person if we can do something for them. Let's ask that person about themselves, Maybe ask them what's going on If it's not awkward for you, if someone's having a hard time with something. Open up your heart, open up your mind. Really try to connect with someone. Different. People with disabilities, adults or kids can teach you so many different things I know personally. I have learned to communicate differently, to love differently, to really see things from a different angle than I would have had. We have never dealt with this.
Speaker 1:Right, yeah, and again back to the derivative of it all. Regardless, if you're an adult and you're already done, but you have children, put your bias aside, or maybe your past experience, how you've been, put that aside, and just try to think about what are the better things that you can help educate your own child. You don't want anybody else doing that for you more than you should be doing that for yourself. So make sure you're helping those little ones out. If you've got the damage, you know. But we talk about, you know, disabilities, another thing that we could definitely expand on in a episode by itself, maybe with a guest speaker or something. But we encourage you as listeners to go in there and talk about some of the issues that you had, you know, maybe with somebody in your own family that's had it or some.
Speaker 1:You know, it's weird. It's actually funny. There's people out there that aren't disabled, that act like they're disabled. You know what I mean. There's adults out there that they're not disabled, but they act as if they have a disability you know, I've seen that numerous times and almost as if it's. They want to live off of that disability. Have you ever seen that?
Speaker 2:that Personally? No, I have not. I've heard about that before. However, I do try to be mindful with that too, thinking, you know, maybe not all disabilities are visible to the eye. I had a preacher when I was growing up that left a lasting imprint. That said honestly goes into mental health. But he asked if you were shot, would you stand there with a gaping wound and not go get help? Mental health is the same way. Sometimes there are things that mentally are going on with an individual. Now, probably not the same as what you're talking about, but I have seen mental health issues where the disability wasn't physically seen. But I know because the individual had shared with me struggles that were going on. But with that I am sure that people do try to play off the system.
Speaker 1:Yeah, try to take advantage of it. Yes, and that would be sad too, but that's not a disability, that's just them being absolutely stupid, you know what I mean and unnecessary and immature, and there's definitely a big difference between the two. Don't be an enabler at the house is what we can say about that. So, as a question or a request from us, you know, get on there, get in them, comments underneath there, and you know, let us know what you all think about our conversation on the disabilities. And you know, again, reverting back to the solution for it, use that as an educational piece to help better your children's thought process when it comes to that kind of stuff, the sensitive subject, like we've said, however, it's definitely something that needs to have some light shed on it so that people can be well more educated about it, versus, like you said from the very beginning, you know, shine away from from it or make it more awkward than it really needs to be, just living beings with blood and guts and big old heart like the rest of us, you know.
Speaker 2:So well. And these kids. You may not think that they're aware of what's going on, but they are. You may not think that the adult is aware of what's going on, but they are a lot of times. Is aware of what's going on, but they are a lot of times. And treating someone with the same generosity and kindness and spreading the awareness to do so is what I advocate for the most.
Speaker 1:Awesome. So spreading awareness, getting out there, sharing this podcast so we can talk about it, that's number one y'all. We got to get this stuff out there so that people can hear it, they can respond. We can get them on here to talk to us about these sensitive subjects. Get them out there so we can learn and educate ourselves on it, so that we can teach you know and help educate our children for the next generation, so that now we're not dealing with the same old shenanigans we're dealing with these days. And you know again the objective on the podcast. Get us to the point where we are a trusting community to get those kids back outside, where they're supposed to be. If you would like to email us, where are we emailing us? At Casey?
Speaker 2:Streetlightangelspodcast at gmailcom.
Speaker 1:That's right. Streetlightangelspodcast at gmailcom. Shoot us an email. We're going to read it. We're going to listen to it.
Speaker 2:Find us on.
Speaker 1:Facebook. Check us out on Facebook. If you just look up Shreedight Angels Podcast on Facebook, you'll be able to join the team, get on there, write us some messages, get some blogs going and be able to talk about this stuff. So we'll hit you guys up next week. We are definitely doing this weekly on Wednesday during wind up and wind down time.
Speaker 2:We appreciate all of our listeners. We appreciate you guys being with us, following us, giving us likes, giving us love, and we hope to connect with you again next week.
Speaker 1:Have a safe day.