Scott Schimmel 0:20
Well, hey, welcome back to another episode of The YouSchool Podcast. I am Scott Schimmel, your one and only host and I'm here with a pretty new friend Justin Lipford and Justin, one- welcome to the show. Two- thanks for being a new friends, which I think that's okay to say. Then three, would you would you please kind of introduce yourself professionally, personally, like, Who the heck are you?
Justin Lipford 0:40
Yeah, I love that man. Well, hey, Scott, I appreciate you having me on here. Thank you so much. My name is Justin Lipford. I am the director of community engagement here with the YMCA have actually been a YMCA employee for the past eight and a half years, but really been engaged in community work, community development work for that for the entirety my career, which has been over 25 years. So I just love the work. I'm a San Diego local. I'm a father of two beautiful children, husband, with with my wife, who I consider my best friend. And I'm just excited to have conversations with all those that like to talk man.
Scott Schimmel 1:14
What I don't know this yet, this is a good chance for me to get to know you. I don't know really what drove you into community engagement work? Was there, was that modeled for you? Was that a career path that you were aware of? Like, how did that happen?
Justin Lipford 1:26
Never knew of it as a career path. Basically, through through my years in, in working for community based organizations, which which I started off when I was 20. And I'm going to be 45. So, you know, when I got into the line of work, there, what I saw is that there's great ways to engage and work with clientele, or participants of programs. And for myself, it was just about engaging in an authentic conversation, creating authentic space and sharing moments in time with people. And what I found was that was always very, very beneficial to whatever kind of service I was a practitioner of. And I felt that that same approach was applicable to engaging in the community. And now working for the YMCA, we have a big enough of the audience that just gives me a chance to just go on to have conversations and a dialogue like we did the other day.
Scott Schimmel 2:13
Yeah. Well, I, my experience with the Y until recently is has been pretty limited, I guess. I mean, I went to camp in seventh grade for five days with an, apparently it was through the YMCA and that was basically it except that I know of the song I know about it. And I my guess though is most people aren't really familiar, especially with the side of work that you do. If you know about the Y you know about camps, you know about gyms, you know about summer camps, like but what do you do?
Justin Lipford 2:42
Yeah, I agree. I was right there with you, man. The song is what I knew. And I knew there was a YMCA camp. I mean that that was my experience as well, man. And and it wasn't until I actually came to work for the Y that I knew the fullness of what we have to offer our community. So yes, we have our our gyms and swims, you know, with our traditional impactful services, but the YMCA for over 50 years here in San Diego has been serving the homeless youth or youngsters experiencing homelessness, working with foster care youth and those getting out of the foster care system, supporting families and mental health services and one on one and group counseling, and really helping the next generation get meaningful employment and, and get a kind of get on some kind of path for their own prosperity. Though when I came to work at the Y I was asked to be a program director of what was referred to as a transitional living program, the program is called Turning Point. And here we have youngsters ages 18 to 21, with or without children, who are experiencing homelessness. The YMCA actually owns an apartment where we provide the service so the youngsters can live with us two years at a time, get off the streets. And while in the program, experience a whole host of enrichment, case management, therapy, counseling, all those kinds of services. So it's really really cool stuff now.
Scott Schimmel 3:55
My wife just today, well, I should say this week found out about in our kids school district, there's more than a few apparently she heard today 600 kids that are affected by homelessness in the district and we're in Poway Unified, which is this kind of almost nationally known high achieving district in the suburbs. And I wasn't maybe as shocked as she was because I've talked to you and I've talked to other folks but but still that's that's that is pretty shocking. If you just let that sit in for a second. I guess one I'm I want to tease out some of that, from your perspective having you've worked in that world for a long time. And homelessness, especially in San Diego and all of California has become at least a bigger problem way more on the consciousness level. What's what is going on, like, can you kind of help us unpack? My real question to get to is what do we do about it? How do someone like us like respond?
Justin Lipford 4:51
Yeah, I can't... It's shocking for me to hear those numbers in that school district as well. But it's also reiterates that right now we, there's a housing crisis, that there's just not enough affordable housing, to support families and individuals who rank on all levels of the economic chain. They're just not enough. And, and so what we've seen through our eyes is a lot of the families that we tend to serve, usually live paycheck to paycheck, are not necessarily able to, to be able to take care of themselves through economic strain or hardship. So if there's a need to be in an emergency, or something may happen, that can become very, very impactful on on the family's ability to sustain themselves, right. And then when we think of young young people, young people in general, you know, those that have come from marginalized communities and those that really have been maybe, in the cycles of poverty for generations, right? These these families, these youngsters, they just do not have enough of a social network to be able to help them when they're encountering hardship. So an example being if, if there's a youngster who, you know, for whatever reason not able to live in their home, whether it's they're leaving because of fear of fear of family. So what we see is, there's a lot of family rejection, specifically, as youngsters are self identifying within the LGBTQ communities, right, there's family rejection, you got to go, that's an issue. Another issue being is that some families just cannot afford to keep an adult, a young adult in their homes for another variety of reasons. So what happens with those kids is when they're on the streets, they don't have a network that they can call upon, that could provide long term consistent housing, now, they're resilient, they may have the ability to grab a couch for a couple days here, or stay, you know, guestroom here a couple of days, or maybe park their car in someone's driveway for a couple of days, but nothing consistent. And as a consequence, that strain really, really stops anyone's ability to be fully productive, you know, just to be able to engage and all the daily responsibilities, so it just makes it hard. And on top of that, if you're a student, I mean, that's even that much more difficult.
Scott Schimmel 6:57
One thing you didn't mention there, which I think you and I talked about the other day, a little bit, you didn't mention drugs there, you know, the idea, conceptually that a lot of people have that kids are on the street because of drugs. What do we do about the drug problem? So yeah, why didn't you mention that?
Justin Lipford 7:12
Yeah, you know, it's, it's, as we talked about, it's one of the questions I get asked the most, or not necessarily question, but one of the bigger assumptions that I hear the most is that youngsters are on the streets because of, of drug use, and it's their drug use that is their number one barrier for them reaching stability. And, and and I'm not going to say that that dynamic does not exist, because I've encountered it, but by the ones that I encountered the most do not have a drug issue. They might be a traditional young person going experimenting, but nothing that would be a diagnose as a full on problem. So that actually turns out to be one of the fewer causes of why youngsters are on the streets. And I just think it's important for the community to know that because what ends up happening is an immediate bias kicks in, and the brain tells an individual if they're on the streets because of drug use, then they're on the streets because of their own accord, which means they can get off the streets as soon as they quit the drugs, right? So just some inaccuracies.
Scott Schimmel 8:09
Yeah, that that sounds very self-soothing, in some ways, like I can release myself of any obligation or even feeling if it's just well, it's just their problem. It's their fault. And or they came from bad homes, like it's just, you know, what am I going to do about it? Yes, you obviously have a different perspective. And something that I'd love for you to talk about is what you see in those kids. You mentioned resilience. And what is it that you see in them that you would say, is an asset or strength?
Justin Lipford 8:35
Well, I've stayed in this line of work as long as I had, just because there's nothing better than then seeing the young person tap into their own resilience and really, and really have this unwavering hope that they are going to become successful, they are going to find their path. They're just a few barriers away from getting there, but they're just focused on the they will be successful. And I love that I absolutely love that. Because I always feel that, you know, it's that that grit and that resilience that really makes all of us who we are, and in our stories about how we've, you know, the things we've overcame, you know, and when I talk to these youngsters, it's specifically man, when I think of even young parents that are experiencing homelessness, young moms, young single moms, that are that are put in positions where they have to wake up super early in the morning to take their kids on the bus to the babysitter, then jump back on the bus to go to City College and then jump on the bus to go to the part time job, jump back on the bus to pick up the kids and jump on the bus to come home like that. That is a scenario that many many young young moms are experiencing yet they continue to do it yet they continue to find a way to be great and bring opportunity to their kids. Right. So it's that energy that I get really excited about and and want to get the community at large to match and to appreciate. Because I mean, you know, at the end of the day, how many how many great CEOs are on the streets right now that have the ability to fully you know fully become their who they are and it's not even just as like how many of the great the next great artists and the next great, you know, people that could have the impact on the community that are out there. It's just like a lot of potential.
Scott Schimmel 10:12
Let's let's there's something ironic there. The last couple weeks with YouSchool I've been focusing on the idea of building resilience in kids something that's lacking in a lot of kids, maybe my own, at least in the community that I spend time in Poway Unified. And that's, that's probably the number one, as you talked about, for me, the number one question I get from parents is like, how do I help a kid who seems to get overwhelmed by nothing, you know, the idea that they don't really have much grit, or persistence? And you know, the teachers mad at them, so they crumble. They didn't make the team the first time, so they quit. Like, and so we're actually spent a lot of time cultivating that. How do you actually, you know, intentionally design experiences for your own children, where they toughen up. And you're talking about someone that's their same age that has has no problem toughening up.
Justin Lipford 10:59
Right, right. Right. Yeah. Well, and it's, it's taking that and applying it the right taking that strength, and, you know, for the youngsters I've come to know, it's, it's reaffirming to them that look, you, you look how much you've gone through, and look, you're still waking up with a smile, you're still waking up joking, you're still waking up hopeful. Understand that what that is, is that you've determined internally, that you're going to find a way to keep moving forward, and letting them know that that's a strength and validating that. And I'll tell you, when I think I've even been my own kids. Yeah, you know, my kids are soft, they are suffering. But they go and encounter it within their own reality. They're encountering their own difficulties, their own pressures, it's going to happen no matter where you go. And so for me, it's just just trying to get my kids to understand that there's strength in what you do just know it.
Scott Schimmel 11:45
Yeah, how do you how do you do that? Because even as you and I talk as dads, I'm tempted to maybe criticize my kids for what they're not yet yeah, rather than look for what they already are, and have, how have you kind of navigated that?
Justin Lipford 12:02
Well, when I'm, when I'm at my best as a parent, and there's the there's the whole, you know, sometimes I'm great, sometimes I'm not but but when I'm fully aware and accessing my you know, my full emotional intelligence with my kids, it really is that I want to understand life through their experience. Tell me your experience, tell me what you're doing. And even though some of my own biases will come up as being like, oh, that's silly, or that's nothing or like, why was that even a big deal, knowing to them, that's not the case, their reality is completely different. And I just try my best, I try my best to be able to sustain that perspective and work with them. So like my son, who is seven playing baseball, terrified of people super shy ultra bashful. And knowing that the first game, he cried, because he didn't want to go. The second game, he actually went, but he cried on the bench, because he didn't want to play. The third game, he went out there. And then the by the fourth game, he was he found his groove, right. And just just being engaged in those victories, is what I'm hoping is going to allow them to see that they do have grit, they all do. It's tough. Being a kid, they all got grit.
Scott Schimmel 13:03
Yeah. And I think that also speaks to just in that dynamic, which kind of circles back to the why the opportunity for a coach, a volunteer coach, another parent, another dad and their mom, to be able to help that kid navigate that and maybe affirm a kid in a way that their parents maybe can't see it sometimes. You know, it's really hard to see your kids here, they are, when they're annoying all the time.
Justin Lipford 13:28
You're so right. You know, and I, I believe this is true for for all sections of our society, you know, it's our network that determines our ability to be successful. It has a hand in and influence in that, you know, and, and yes, even for our kids, when when me and you are off as dads, I hope that there's a coach or a teacher or an older brother or older sister that can say like, wow, what you did was great. And I see you and I hear you, you know, I do my best to keep that filter going. But again, yeah, my kids can be annoying, bro. And it gets in the way. And, you know, it turns me into a caveman instead of the father I wanted to be, you know.
Scott Schimmel 14:08
Well, you you took a long walk recently. I'd love for you to talk about that. Share what the walk was.
Justin Lipford 14:13
Yeah, you know, it's funny, my for my Forrest Gump adventure. You know, the past two years. Myself, my colleague have participated in what was called the solidarity journey. And this is something we made up as a bit of a gimmick and a way of expanding some awareness in the San Diego community's eyes about about the high rates of youngsters experiencing homelessness. So you know, last year when we first did it, it was a three day journey where we started in Oceanside, the most northern part of the San Diego County and made our way to the southern part, the international border. And along the way, we had a chance to have some media ops and and I wrote some great community conversations. Well, this year we replicated it, but we wanted to go a little bit bigger to have a little more impact. So we started off in Long Beach, and we made... And over a series of five days, we made our way down from Long Beach right back down to the border, and it was cool as along the way, we would sleep at different YMCAs, so our YMCA and Encinitas Y allowed us to sleep there one night and then you know the Point Loma Y then the Copley Y. So it was really a great way of, of, of weaving together, within internally within the organization, this deeper sense of what we do from our impacts lens. But on the community's eyes, the external community, man, we were on so many different media channels and great radio interviews and, and stopping in each town and having like gatherings where community members can come up and talk, even like, even in Point Loma, when we're walking through the ocean beach area those should be cheering into Point Loma, you know, there's a few few adults experiencing homelessness, that kind of joined in the walk, and we're asking questions, and we're having dialogue. And what was really great to hear is how they understand as well, these adults that, you know, for them, their homeless journey started when they were young, they've been experiencing housing instability their whole life. And it really, it really then kind of circles back to the point of it all, of what we do at the Y is prevention, you know, we believe you invest in these youngsters, you're preventing chronic homelessness, and you're really finding a way to get people excited. So that the solidarity journey did just that man, it's just got people in all corners to be like, Aha, I see what's happening. And I can help.
Scott Schimmel 16:19
What's next? What's the next journey?
Justin Lipford 16:21
Well, it was a three year campaign when we came up with the idea. And so next year, the idea is to start in San Diego and make our way up to Sacramento to the to the Capitol building. And you know, along the way, engage in other organizations and some of the major major cities and really have a bit of a proclamation and having people sign this proclamation saying that we absolutely see and love our youngsters experiencing homelessness, and as a community, we're willing to rally. But on top of that, we all have we all have a responsibility. And from the government standpoint, you know, they have influence on dollars programs like ours that the Y can receive.
Scott Schimmel 16:54
Are their way, I guess I've my last question in terms of involvement. How? How can I how can somebody get involved kind of on two levels? One would be are there practical things like a website? Give. But maybe in a less more informal way? You know, how do I move towards young people that are experiencing homelessness? Like what? What can I do besides think that's a shame? Or even just given a dollar? Yeah,
Justin Lipford 17:23
I love that man. And, and, you know, I don't, I think there's a lot of people that are apathetic to any youngster experiencing homelessness, mainly just because we were just inundated with images of homelessness, and we just feel so helpless, and what we can do, right, and all kinds of other things. But I have seen the dial move from apathy to empathy. I've seen it happen. And what happens one is this basic kind of like aha moment, like there are young people experiencing this, it means something to me, I want to help out, I want to teach my kids, I want to make sure my communities do everything we can like all of those dialogues are, are going on all throughout the community. I love it. Yes, there is opportunities to invest. So I say number one is, as as we as a community, educate yourself on any of the social issues. Let's look at the experts that have been doing the work and learning from that work for you know, for a trusted period of time. YMCA has been doing the work for 50 years, we are invested. We've purchased apartments, we purchase programs to help these youngsters. We're not the only ones in San Diego, there are others, right? But I say it's how can you best partner with those groups that are putting in the work. But also let me talk to you as from a father standpoint, because I do this with my kids as well. It's being able to have these tough conversations with our kids about these issues, and be able to talk about these issues in a dignified way. And I think that's what we start off by saying is, you know, when we pull up, my kid asked me that day when we're going to the zoo, we pulled up right there about Balboa Park. He said, There's a young there's someone experiencing homelessness, you know, why do you think they're out there? You know, he's asked me this before, right? But I said, I don't know. I don't know why they're out there. But the bottom line is that are out there. You know, and then we can model behaviors and whatever it might be, but I think it's just saying how, how dignified do we talk about people experiencing homelessness with their family, and that translates later into action?
Scott Schimmel 19:03
Yeah, I'll never forget, I was on a family trip with a good friend when I was in high school, college age and the dad, we are driving to the hotel. This is like in Nevada, and the dad saw guy experiencing homelessness and did a U turn. I mean, I didn't, I had no clue. I'm just along literally along for the ride. And he pulls up gets out of the car, and we're in the car for good 45 minutes or an hour while this my friend's dad was talking to him. And the impression that that gave and has left on me 25-30 years later. That's how you that's how you respond. There's something there and every time I don't I think of him and I think there's there's more to do so I love that the how do we talk about them with dignity and and empathy and how we model that that's awesome.
Justin Lipford 19:49
It's such a powerful thing, man and I know you know I try to do that with my kids as much as possible. We pull up like smile, say hello, engage in a conversation. If I got a couple of dollars to kick down, I'll kick them down. If I don't, I'll say like, pal, I'm sorry, I don't. But I wish you a good day real practical things. You know, that goes a long way, especially in someone's who's having a very difficult time in life. That goes along with.
Scott Schimmel 20:12
Yeah. Now my wife and I are thinking, how do we help our kids who are going to school with kids who are experiencing some version of homelessness affected by it, just to have maybe a more sensitive radar to what kids are going through? Yeah, every kid goes through tough stuff, but some are more extraordinary than others,
Justin Lipford 20:28
it definitely broadens their interpretation of the world. Right. And and I think that's important so that they just don't see themselves as the sole character in this whole thing we call life. But you know, what I would say to even like, real practical speaking is every school has a homeless youth liaison. So someone within the schools district, or multiple people within the district that are aware of our homeless students that are aware of the kids in the foster care system, and that are doing things to support them. I always think it's a nice call to action to be able to find out who that is send a lovely email saying, hey, whatever we can do, let us know what and start the dialogue from there.
Scott Schimmel 21:04
That's awesome. super practical. Justin. Thank you. And thanks for your time here. What you're doing obviously, you don't need to thanks because it's, it's what you do and who you are. But I'm impressed. And I can't wait to kind of cook up some more schemes together.
Justin Lipford 21:17
I love it, brother. I love it. Thank you so much, man. Good to see you again. And have a great day.
Scott Schimmel 21:22
Thanks. Hey, thanks for joining in on the YouSchool podcast, we'd love to share with you the resources available on our website at the U school.com. Not just articles, ebooks, worksheets and other podcast episodes. But specifically, you should know about a free course we have available called The Real Me course. It's digital, it's interactive, and it'll guide you to get clear about who you are in the great story you can tell with your life. So go register for free account and get started on the real new course today at theyouschool.com. That's the you school dot com.
