Curtis was raised in the metro Atlanta area by his mother where the family eventually made DeKalb County their home. Raised from modest beginnings as the youngest of two brothers, Curtis was taught core values of hard work, treating people fairly, and giving back to the community. His parents fought in the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery Alabama, and he comes from a long family history of military service, law enforcement, and strong Christian values. It was no surprise that Curtis enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served his country for six (6) years and received an Honorable Discharge.

In 1989, Curtis chose to serve his local community and became a Gwinnett County Deputy Sheriff. After five years at the Sheriff’s Office, Curtis left as a Sergeant, having served as a jailer, Inmate Transportation Supervisor, and a Warrants/Civil process server to become a Gwinnett Police Officer. In 1994, Curtis went to the Gwinnett Police Department where he completed GCPD 32nd Academy and served at all five police precincts.

Curtis holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and a master’s in Professional Business Leadership from Shorter University. Curtis is a graduate of Gwinnett County’s L.E.A.D. program (Leadership/Education and Development), and the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Leadership program. Curtis has served several years as a mentor through the Gwinnett County Schools program and also as a mentor in the L.E.A.A.D.S. (Law Enforcement Agencies Assisting in the Development of Students) program in Snellville.  

Curtis has been the recipient of the Most Distinguished Alumni Award from Shorter University for his work in the community, the Diversity Achievement Award, from Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Community Service Forum Award in 2016, 2017, and 2018. Curtis currently serves on the Board of Directors for the L.E.A.A.D.S. program in Snellville. 

In this episode of Good Morning Gwinnett I'm joined by Vivien Rayam who recently opened a Code Ninja franchise at the Shoppes in Snellville.  Vivien shares with us why she wanted to start this type of franchise and why our kids need the skills that are taught there.  She also shares some of her pain points as a franchise owner as well as some of the things to think about if you want to start a company that is a franchise. Sit back and enjoy!

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!
Audrey Bell-Kearney

My guest today on the Good Morning Gwinnett show is Attorney Patsy Austin-Gatson is running for Gwinnett County District Attorney Seat in the 2020 Election.  Patsy who has been a part of the just system for 30 years said that she feels like we could do things better and that we can not only reduce the number of people going to jail, but we can also reduce the number of offenders who return to jail for a second or third time.  Listen to the full episode here.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day!​
Audrey Bell-Kearney

In this episode I interview Derrick J. Wilson of Snellville, GA.  Derrick is running for Gwinnett County Commissioner for District 3.  Derrick shares with us how he feel that he can make District 3 better by improving on the things that have been ignored by others.  Check out this episode.

Until Next Time
Make It A Great Day
Audrey Bell-Kearney

If you are a business owner I hope by now you have discovered that social media is a huge part of helping you grow your business.  If not, then you may want to listen to the episode of Good Morning Gwinnett all the way to the end.  Today I sit down with Social Media Boss Quiana Butler who walks us through some steps you can take to make social media a tool in your marketing toolbox.

In this episode of Good Morning Gwinnett financial advisor Chris Cooke shares some of the things you need to do to create your own financial destiny.  Chris went from being a homeless vet sleeping in his car to being a financial advisor helping others secure their future by understanding how money works and how to make it work for you. 

Nicole Hendrickson joins me at the table to talk about all of the great community programs that are offered in Gwinnett County.  I had the opportunity to go through the Gwinnett Citizen's Academy 101 and it was great.  I learned a lot about my community and got a chance to meet some of the amazing people that work daily to make sure that our community is beautiful and safe.  

Ara Ko is a leadership coach who overcame some crazy things in her life.  She was abused to the point she could not sleep in her own house even after she had grown up and moved on with her life.  She is now married and lives in a new home where there was no abuse, but because of the thoughts she held subconsciously she still had trouble sleeping until she was hypnotized and finally got to the root of her problem.  Now Ara helps her clients do the same.  Listen to this episode to find out more

In this episode I talk to therapist Monica Douglas Davis as she shares some of the things we can do to recognize someone who maybe going through a mental crisis.  Sometimes we get so used to the people we love and live with, that we miss the signs that something maybe going on mentally.  Monica talk to us about to be aware if something is going on with someone near and dear to you.  Just knowing these signs could possibly save lives.

​Gwinnett a division of a BK media group
00:07
hosted by Audrey Bell Kearney sharing
00:10
stories about people in places around
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beautiful Gwinnett County every day at 9
00:15
a.m.
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Southern Living at its best
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[Music]
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good morning good morning good morning
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good morning it's another great day Hank
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we met y'all happy happy Thursday
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peg relations I think we're net landing
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all new around the world listening to
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the show I'm so happy to be with the day
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it's a beautiful day here in Gwinnett
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it's about 75 degrees going up until
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about 97
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it was hot yesterday when I tell you hi
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it was hot and the ragweed is killing me
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and my guests they know not killing us
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it's really hindering us a little bit
00:52
we're still living but I got a guest
00:54
today in the studio y'all so you know
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today we know what today is
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today is a seat at the table day and I
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have a guest today who's gonna be
01:01
talking about some very good things but
01:03
it's a it's a great day hearing within
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beautiful weather listen today its
01:07
horoscope time we're gonna do the
01:09
harvest girls brought to you by noted
01:10
astrologer Micah thousand and we're
01:12
gonna kick it off today for August 215
01:14
do you realize we are in the middle of
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this month like literally we are so
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close to fall it is unbelievable we are
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where we 3/4 through the year we are 3/4
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through the year I mean time is flying
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it's not waiting for anybody and it's
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not waiting for us but listen let's go
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ahead and see what the Stars got for you
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today we're gonna kick it off with Aries
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you'll be drawn to individuals who
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provide you with both intellectual
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conversation and physical passion go out
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shopping today I like that whoo Aries
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take me with you
01:46
difficulty difficulties will result if
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you have to deal with controversial
01:50
controversial goose okay listen so y'all
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know I went to dinner yesterday to get
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my braces off right guess what I didn't
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get them off two more weeks so yes I'm
01:59
still someone yes I am Taurus you should
02:02
put your efforts into creative projects
02:04
throw yourself into your work throw
02:05
yourself into your work I like creative
02:08
projects I'm not that creative when it
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comes to like making things but actually
02:12
how to write a book and I could tell you
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Jim and I ferret ferret out information
02:16
that will hold them responsible avoid
02:18
disputes with family their complaints
02:21
can't change anything anyway it may not
02:23
be the best day to confront your
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employer's not if you want your job be
02:28
careful about that
02:29
Jim nah don't go trying to talk to the
02:31
employees they would some crap could
02:33
cost you your job can't sir you're
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passionate mood will be well received by
02:38
your mate hmm
02:40
nice you can do well on stage or behind
02:43
the scenes the choice is yours you may
02:44
have difficulties with someone close to
02:47
you all right watch out for that person
02:49
close to you be careful with that cancer
02:51
Leo you could meet an interesting
02:54
individual who want to get to know you
02:56
better
02:57
it could be love you never know could be
02:59
money you never know
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don't push limitations on yourself don't
03:03
put limitations on yourself if you
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address those in a position to grant you
03:06
favors you should get the support you
03:08
require you got a X though that's the
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one thing we don't do if you don't act
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somebody knows you need it
03:13
Virgo residential moves are evident your
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words will be taken out of context if
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you eat if you're evasive with
03:20
co-workers or employers home-improvement
03:22
project could run smoothly all right go
03:25
ahead do something for the home fix it
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up today they gonna run smoothly today
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is your day so have you been thinking
03:30
about doing some good stuff it's your
03:31
time all right I'm going to the song and
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I bring you the rest of the harvest
03:34
girls brought you by astrologer
03:35
microfiber like on a good morning with
03:37
next show stay tuned y'all
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[Music]
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[Music]
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[Music]
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[Applause]
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[Music]
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[Applause]
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[Music]
05:08
[Music]
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Lupe's shaken but not stirred table soon
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[Music]
06:17
[Applause]
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[Music]
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[Music]
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[Applause]
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[Music]
07:08
hey hey hey welcome back to the morning
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when that shows a girl are you Brenda
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give me the daily horoscopes brought to
07:13
you by astrology or microfiber that's a
07:15
great song I know you know I got so many
07:17
songs in my in my playlists that I play
07:19
I've never even played that one before
07:21
I'm like that so really my song I'm
07:23
saying about my hair my guests can hear
07:24
it if you listen in live you could have
07:26
heard it but you have to leave hear it
07:27
later
07:27
eisah listen gonna pick up with Libra so
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we're gonna stop it pick it up right
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here trips educational pursuits or
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projects that could lead to new outlooks
07:36
should be on your agenda expect to pay
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more than you anticipated for
07:41
entertainment or other purchases okay so
07:43
listen expect to spend some money today
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cuz that's what's gonna happen
07:47
Libra just expect it if you can include
07:49
them and your plans do so I don't know
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who they are but if you can include them
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go ahead and include them Scorpio
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some important someone important maybe
07:58
watching you from afar hmm people are
08:00
always watching trust me when I tell you
08:02
that you don't even know it's so funny
08:05
I'm gonna tell you a quick story so I
08:06
was on his girl's show last year she had
08:08
a podcast too and um and I I'm not a big
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Facebook person like I'm not a big
08:13
Facebook person cuz I feel like people
08:15
are stalking you and I was like okay I'm
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gonna go her show and she said to me I
08:20
gotta be honest I was stalking you and I
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was like I knew it
08:23
so people are watching you you just
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don't know and I was freaking out like
08:26
see that's what I don't like Facebook
08:28
people are stalking you anyway discover
08:33
you someone important may be watching
08:34
from afar you may have difficulties
08:36
while traveling or problems deal with
08:37
close friends or relatives your flair
08:40
for dramatic appeal will unleash itself
08:42
at social functions listen don't let it
08:45
listen it's a social function don't let
08:47
too much get unleashed
08:48
remember people are watching you
08:50
Sagittarius on handiness will affect
08:53
your reputation okay underhandedness try
08:56
to stay calm and do the best you can
08:58
don't be too eager to start your debates
09:01
watch out now you care for their and
09:04
don't be underhanded you're right later
09:06
your rep is all you got
09:08
I tell you a lot of time my story about
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Greece - I love grease to grease - and
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Saturday Night Fever or the two movies I
09:15
watch over and over but when Johnny and
09:17
gluten are lows
09:18
I was gonna say hey they go to Michael
09:20
to do their paper they like don't tell
09:22
anybody we got a rep to protect
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that's my one of my favorite lines so
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listen you got a rep to protect
09:26
secretary so watch it Capricorn you can
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expect to feel confused about your
09:31
personal prospects you may not make
09:33
unnecessary changes today perhaps due to
09:36
preoccupy preoccupation will be upset
09:40
mishaps I'm just messin up mishaps do
09:43
the preoccupation will be upsetting be
09:45
careful be careful loading this haps
09:47
today
09:48
Aquarius romantic opportunities are
09:50
evident if you get involved in large
09:52
group or organization so you looking for
09:55
love romance you got to get out of
09:56
network today think about starting your
09:58
own small business think about it but
10:00
think real hard it's a lot of fun it's a
10:02
lot of work there might be a problem
10:04
with a will or with an insurance policy
10:07
get your papers in order
10:09
get your assets in order to protect your
10:11
stuff watch out now my fellow fish
10:14
Pisces you will be unusual charming
10:18
you'll be your unusual charming self
10:19
today really okay and the partners you
10:22
attract may be the adventurous type
10:24
that's what I am I asked my husband last
10:27
night I said why did you marry me he
10:28
said because you were adventurous oh
10:30
really is that why does the only reason
10:33
that's what he says obviously he think
10:36
I'm adventurous someone you care about
10:38
um may not be too well they've dealt in
10:42
two worthwhile causes that would show
10:44
results if he put in the effort listen
10:47
that's all I got for you today for my
10:48
advice and I noticed I strive to here on
10:50
the good morning with national I'll be
10:51
back on Thursday with more to tell you
10:53
what your stars have in store for you
10:54
but now we're gonna start the interview
10:56
process nope I got one last thing we're
10:59
not gonna start just yet almost
11:05
so Primerica those of you who don't know
11:10
what Primerica is Primerica is a
11:11
financial services company I'm actually
11:13
I am actually a Primerica rep that's on
11:17
my that's on my second third fourth been
11:20
my seventh business learning businesses
11:22
anyway they have done something really
11:24
cool they have donated advance to the
11:26
Red Cross
11:27
I'm the American Red Cross and that is a
11:29
wonderful
11:30
wonderful thing and you got to think
11:32
about this for a second the American Red
11:33
Cross does a great job of providing us
11:36
with blood so those in and and and and
11:40
also when there is a problem when is
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Katrina hits and floods and you know
11:45
they're first responders whenever there
11:46
is a disaster so not only do they do
11:48
blood but they are there to help out
11:50
when there's a disaster and so because
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of the work that they do Primerica which
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is a financial need services right here
11:55
in Duluth Georgia have gifted them a
11:58
then a Dodge Ram Promaster City then and
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that's a great thing so I just wanted to
12:03
give a shout out to Primerica for doing
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such a great thing they did that on
12:07
yesterday so I'm gonna give them a round
12:08
of applause because you know I like to
12:10
show people give them a hand when they
12:12
do something wonderful
12:23
all right so listen there is a young
12:26
woman in the studio with me this morning
12:28
at the table cuz you know this is our
12:29
segment to sit at the table Thursday and
12:31
she represents an organization that
12:34
helps a group of people who are very
12:37
special and she has someone her family
12:41
who's very special that's why this is a
12:43
cause that's near and dear to her heart
12:45
so my guest today is Terry where she is
12:47
the director of y'alls group so y'all
12:50
had me said the end of show every time
12:51
bye y'all
12:52
well y'all actually means something
12:53
other than my southern drag for y'all it
12:56
means something imma let Terry tell you
12:57
what meanings in a few second but
12:59
Terry's a director she also sits on the
13:01
board of special needs schools here in
13:03
Gwinnett County and that organization
13:05
has been around for 30 years so Terry
13:07
thank you so much for being my guest
13:08
today thank you for having me Audrey
13:10
listen so they in the very show I said
13:14
make it a great day
13:15
bye y'all now today you're gonna tell us
13:18
that y'all really means something what
13:20
do you what does y'all mean okay y'all's
13:22
means the meaning of y'all's as young
13:24
adults learning life skills so you guys
13:27
see it doesn't mean just y'all cuz I'm
13:29
not I don't know how to say you all you
13:32
know what's funny is I you know I was
13:34
raised in Jersey I was I went to Jersey
13:37
when I was 12 and I spent the last
13:38
little so many years there a long time
13:41
and um even though I had spent most of
13:44
my life in Jersey people always knew I
13:46
was from somewhere else and I spent
13:48
pretty much my whole I sitting on half
13:50
my childhood mostly on my childhood and
13:52
all of my adult life pretty much
13:54
something too now injuries but any time
13:56
I open my mouth they're like where you
13:57
from and I was like my brother they
14:00
couldn't tell but me they can always
14:01
tell because I still had a sudden thing
14:03
I mean it's okay cuz I'm a southern
14:04
peach for real I'm original so it's
14:06
alright now I'm proud of that let's
14:08
shout out to my people on the bricks in
14:10
Newark
14:10
all right so Terry tell us about we're
14:13
gonna we're gonna talk about these
14:14
special needs schools first and we're
14:16
gonna talk about the yas group because I
14:17
know both of those are very important to
14:19
you tell us about the special needs
14:21
school okay so as Audrey mentioned
14:23
special needs schools of Gwinnett is a
14:25
private we are a nonprofit a 501c3
14:28
nonprofit so a private school so we
14:31
serve individuals from pre-k all the way
14:33
up to high school which
14:35
the adult basically so what what's
14:39
unique is that we are one of the only
14:41
organization that serves pre-k through
14:43
adults because now we have well we've
14:46
had the y'all's division but we've just
14:49
the past two years really really
14:50
revamped it and made it a division of
14:53
the school so as far as you know serving
14:57
someone from pre-k all the way to
14:58
adulthood that takes out a lot of
15:02
stresses a lot of darkness for the
15:04
families because right now individuals
15:08
you know with special needs age out at
15:10
22 on their 22nd birthday we have any
15:14
public school sector doesn't matter if
15:15
it's February March whenever they're
15:18
they are done right so now with the
15:20
special needs school so you said you
15:22
started pre-k all the way all the way up
15:24
to adult someone with the special needs
15:27
child what what classifiers what what
15:30
what determines of your child is special
15:32
needs learning disabilities processing
15:37
all the way you know in to autism Down
15:40
syndrome things of that nature
15:42
and so a staff that's there they're very
15:45
you know I know a couple people who have
15:47
children who are autistic and there are
15:50
different levels of participants do you
15:54
say okay any kid with autism can come in
15:56
or or they're like you know now we're
15:59
open to all over in special needs we we
16:02
have to watch obviously for aggressive
16:04
behaviors but we you know have gone
16:06
through programming and things of that
16:08
nature to be able to handle that as well
16:10
how many was the capacity for the kids
16:12
how many how many students did it does
16:14
at school we currently are capacity at
16:18
about how 55 so which brings me to the
16:22
point that we actually are finally going
16:26
to do a ground breaking where our school
16:29
building hmm so on August 27th at 1:30
16:33
we are holding the groundbreaking and
16:35
that way we can serve probably 40-plus
16:40
more additional oh yes so now when you
16:44
when you think about bringing on people
16:46
to
16:47
assist you teachers and administrators
16:49
what are you looking for because I talk
16:51
about teachers are good net has some of
16:53
the best teachers in the country right
16:55
what are you looking for what I you have
17:00
to have you have to be a special person
17:01
you do you do I know that my brother
17:04
time you should teach us like I don't
17:06
think I'd be a good teacher because you
17:08
need a lot of patience I don't have a
17:09
lot of that but what are you looking for
17:12
what are you looking for in a person
17:14
that wants to come in and help you guys
17:15
with with the kids that you serve any
17:18
young adults you know I think and I kind
17:20
of will relate it to what I look for in
17:22
a caregiver for my daughter is um you
17:25
know you want somebody that this is not
17:27
just a job this is a passion for them
17:29
because you want this to be in their
17:30
heart you have no idea what each day
17:34
each hour it's gonna be like when you
17:36
are in the special needs you know
17:38
community so you just want some money to
17:41
have you know they need to have
17:42
leadership skills they need to obviously
17:45
have a lot a lot of patience something I
17:48
don't think I could do right but just be
17:53
willing to change be willing to you know
17:54
think outside of the box and what's
17:57
gonna work for each individual because
17:59
everyone that's different
18:00
everyone let me ask you this cuz this
18:02
just came to mind I know you talked
18:03
about your daughter who's 24 24 24 when
18:07
you have a young baby how do is there a
18:10
way to is there something that a parent
18:12
can look out for to see if there could
18:14
possibly something going on there like
18:16
are there like identifiers so that is
18:20
something I do not know it's an organ is
18:22
actually my stepdaughter okay so I'm her
18:24
legal guardian so um you know I know
18:27
from listening to my husband I think it
18:29
was just the slower developing you know
18:31
she wasn't crawling she wasn't making
18:33
the sounds you know that he had seen you
18:36
know with his previous children right um
18:38
so that I really can't answer well that
18:41
was a good there's a lot of people may
18:42
not know that like I know that and some
18:45
people aren't some parents aren't denial
18:46
yeah I know someone very close to me who
18:49
has a I think he's five now but we knew
18:53
like when you know we were seeing like
18:55
hey he's three he's not talking right
18:57
and they're like all he's just you know
18:58
it's gonna take a minute but I think a
19:00
lot of parents deal with denial because
19:02
of course we all want perfect children
19:04
and not saying that a child with special
19:06
needs is not perfect they're perfect in
19:08
your own way but I think for parents a
19:10
lot of times we look at perfect as being
19:12
you know they can do everything that the
19:14
next screen do it and realistically even
19:16
if they don't have a specialty chances
19:18
already won't do everything the nickel
19:19
can do right so how do you when you're
19:22
talking to parents how do you kind of
19:24
get them to be comfortable knowing that
19:25
when they bring their child to special
19:27
needs or to y'all's to special needs
19:29
school y'alls that they're in good hands
19:31
and that the people they're
19:32
understanding because how do you talk to
19:34
like how do you get them to like
19:36
understand that this we're here for you
19:38
we're here for you we have services for
19:40
you you can relax a second how do you
19:43
get them to that point it's real hard I
19:46
mean because the you know to trust your
19:48
children but when you have someone that
19:50
has special needs and on the adult side
19:53
of it kind of what we see as to where
19:55
the parents have done everything for
19:57
years or they've been in a very isolated
19:59
classroom situation in private school to
20:02
where your teachers and peer pros we're
20:04
doing everything for them as well so we
20:06
like to you know just we have a very
20:08
open door you know come in talk to us
20:11
communicate with us you know we're gonna
20:14
do all that we can to get them to their
20:16
full level of Independence that's not in
20:20
a harsh way at all it's miraculous - you
20:24
know day to day see individuals how much
20:27
they change from when they've started
20:29
coming to now they're speaking you know
20:32
they're reaching out to other
20:34
individuals and they're you know they're
20:36
telling us what their needs are so it's
20:38
it's just it's that comfort level and
20:40
it's that structure for them I'm sure
20:42
you got do you guys have a waiting list
20:43
because I could believe that the school
20:47
has a waiting list for school aides
20:49
everything we have the hardest part of
20:53
my job with the y'alls is we right now
20:57
do not have transportation as far as you
21:00
know picking up like a bus route
21:01
Primerica American we're calling you
21:04
Primerica we saw what you did yesterday
21:08
sorry that's okay we need so it's hard
21:14
you know it kind of my thing I have been
21:16
thinking lately and it's you know these
21:18
special needs children turn into special
21:20
needs adults they don't grow out of
21:23
their disability they don't grow out of
21:26
those special needs you know they don't
21:28
have the same liberties the same choices
21:31
as you or I do right it is um you know
21:38
it's it's hard to get the community to
21:41
kind of see that really um yes it is
21:45
because and I say that because there is
21:48
a lack of programming once they age out
21:51
okay of that you know school system
21:54
right
21:55
there's there is a lack of programming
21:57
there's a lack of support for that and
22:00
there is no telling how many individuals
22:02
are just left to sit at home because
22:04
their parents have to work their parents
22:06
are also aging right all right so you
22:08
know our our goal and our mission is to
22:11
provide resources to families whether
22:12
they come to us or not so but you know
22:16
what as I sit here and listen to that
22:18
you said there is not a lot of
22:19
programming and not a lot of help but I
22:22
think that may be because I know we live
22:25
in a really great community and they're
22:27
always doing something
22:29
um and I hope hopefully this show in
22:31
this episode will let people know listen
22:33
they need your help you know that's why
22:36
I do these shoutouts they need your help
22:37
because there are people out there who
22:40
are aging out they are young adults
22:42
listen we have young adults who don't
22:44
have special needs that need your help
22:46
but Terri is talking about those who do
22:48
and I think one of the things that we
22:52
have to be open to is lending a hand and
22:55
I think we live in a great community
22:56
where that so that's that we get a lot
22:58
of that but if someone does want to lend
23:03
a hand what are you looking for what are
23:05
you looking what type of help are you
23:06
looking for I know money is always a
23:07
great thing right yes financial support
23:11
is always great and that you know what I
23:12
mentioned to you and in the email is
23:14
that you know outside of providing
23:17
scholarships you know because we don't
23:19
well
23:21
do get government funding by way of each
23:23
individual okay but most of our
23:26
individuals do not know that path
23:28
tonight one one of the things that we're
23:30
doing is trying to provide that resource
23:32
to them so we need volunteers we're out
23:35
currently in the community five days a
23:37
week I will say we have some amazing
23:39
community partners that we go and do
23:43
jobs for them okay I'm which in turn
23:45
they get back to us whether they do you
23:47
know Taekwondo with us Venis lunch
23:49
okay whatever so that's been amazing so
23:52
you know we don't have a waiting list
23:54
but it's kind of because we haven't
23:58
really been like pushing hey we need
24:00
more individuals we currently have 17 16
24:04
or full-time with three facilitators
24:07
okay we really need more responsible
24:13
adults hmm on hand when we're out in the
24:15
community just to keep them safe okay um
24:17
and it's a day a day that you won't
24:20
forget I mean it's to be around them
24:22
it's just heartwarming so what does the
24:25
scholarship and tell so if someone wants
24:26
to give the scholarship to a student a
24:29
young adult what does that mean so right
24:33
now we are current these are there are
24:36
20 it's $25 a day mm-hmm yeah as a we we
24:44
want to be able just reach and support
24:45
you know as many individuals that we can
24:47
okay um so that's $500 a month okay so
24:51
if somebody you know any any little bit
24:53
helps
24:53
um you know a lot of these families like
24:55
I said their parents are aging they're
24:57
kidding retirement age you know so their
25:00
funds are not there as they used to be
25:03
oh wow so that's that's pretty doable
25:06
twenty-five dollars listen you can give
25:08
$25 a day it takes take a young adult to
25:11
do some great things so now I know that
25:14
the special needs school has been around
25:15
for thirty thirty something I years and
25:18
y'all's is a new program how did you
25:20
guys decided to spin-off that program
25:23
the young girl's group so the the Oscar
25:27
it was actually established probably
25:28
fifteen years ago
25:30
okay and it was established because we
25:33
had an individual that went through
25:35
to be at pre-k to high school and the
25:39
family had no outlet had nowhere for
25:41
that individual to go at that time so
25:45
the director at the time you know just
25:48
said well we'll just start an adult
25:50
program hmm so the last two or three
25:53
years we've really worked hard to make
25:55
it a division and to make it a true
25:58
adult program to where they have
26:01
community inclusion
26:02
okay I'm to where they're learning
26:03
skills you know to where they have a
26:07
program that supports them as an adult
26:09
okay so now you talked about Morgan how
26:13
long have had how can I say this so
26:17
don't sound crazy how long have you been
26:19
Morgan stepmother I know you're gonna
26:22
get me in trouble so I've been Morgan
26:23
stepmom for seven years my husband and I
26:27
dated we have a little little chuckle
26:31
about that so we dated for quite a while
26:32
okay so now you came into a marriage
26:35
with the with the daughter with special
26:37
needs how was that when you were not
26:40
that used to handling a situation like
26:43
that our parenting it was tough at times
26:46
it was tough at times but um you know
26:49
we've we've we've learned to deal with
26:51
each other you know the the hard thing
26:53
is you know she's 24 mm-hmm she she has
27:00
the feelings that we do as adults and
27:03
doesn't want to be told what to do
27:05
doesn't you know doesn't want to be
27:07
complete you know nag that all the time
27:08
don't want to be told no hmm
27:11
so that's why programs like this are
27:14
great for these individuals because it
27:16
gets them away from their parents that
27:17
are next
27:19
you know that division during the day
27:22
gives them an outlet but also gives
27:24
their parents that respect and that's
27:26
that's nice because I you know I don't
27:28
have a special needs child at home but I
27:31
have two seniors my mom and my uncle and
27:35
it's so funny because I'm running two
27:37
doctors you know they go into their
27:40
moods where they want to argue with each
27:41
other they're brother and sister
27:43
right and they want to argue with each
27:45
other and so my my daughter says maybe
27:46
you should put cameras in the house and
27:48
stand your own reality TV show because
27:50
they are hilarious and so I get it but I
27:53
sometimes I just need to you know yep
27:55
just take a break take a break and you
27:58
know and I'll go to Barnes & Noble which
28:00
is one of my favorite places and oh I
28:03
just my husband I go to Lake Oconee and
28:05
just relax
28:05
right and but you need that sometimes
28:07
and so I know for we have a special
28:10
needs child they you have to have a lot
28:12
of patience and it's a lot of work
28:14
sometimes it's depending on the level of
28:16
you know need your child has I know I
28:19
had my cousin she had a special-needs
28:21
child but she gave him up she gave him
28:24
to another cousin she couldn't do it
28:25
right and my that cousin she was a lot
28:27
like older never had children he's very
28:30
loving she even took care of me my mom
28:32
was working two or three jobs much
28:34
because she was a single parent and she
28:36
passed away in November we love her and
28:37
miss her so much
28:38
but she had my cousin since he was a
28:41
baby and I knew when I when I saw him he
28:45
was calling it but he was he was
28:47
crawling and then he was walking like
28:49
the next year I saw but he was reading
28:51
and I said she didn't know cuz she was a
28:55
lot older she was in her in her 60s and
28:59
she didn't know and so I was playing
29:01
that baby's reading and she's like yeah
29:04
he does it all the time and I was like
29:06
there's something special about this kid
29:08
right and as he got older we realized
29:10
okay he is a special-needs child but
29:12
he's a hot he's on the high intelligent
29:14
in right but you could tell there's a
29:16
little something different yeah right he
29:18
reads very well he's very helpful with
29:20
very loving but he's very hyper
29:21
sometimes he has a hyper thing going on
29:24
but when it comes to like I was like oh
29:26
my god so I said to her you have to
29:27
really watch him and nurture that
29:30
because he is very special he has a
29:34
little bit of something going on there
29:35
but he's very smart and so she started
29:38
to watch it they got him test he does
29:39
amazing in school right but you can tell
29:42
us a little bit something different and
29:43
I think what made me pay attention to
29:45
that a lot my daughter went to college
29:47
and she said to me and she called me
29:49
when I said oh my god you have got to
29:51
watch the Temple Grandin story she said
29:53
you will love it and I did and if any of
29:56
you have never watched a Temple Grandin
29:58
story you got to watch it it's gonna
30:00
change your if you've never been around
30:03
anyone with special needs and you want
30:05
to kind of understand it just a little
30:07
bit she was extremely smart but she had
30:11
special needs she didn't like walking
30:13
through doors like that was a thing for
30:15
her like she would freak out yet that
30:17
she didn't want you to touch her but she
30:19
liked being hugged you gotta watch it
30:21
it's a great movie it's called a temper
30:22
Temple Grandin story and it's a great
30:25
movie she had special needs but she was
30:26
so smart and when I saw she's still
30:29
living by the way but you can if you
30:31
watch that story you're gonna understand
30:32
how she changed the cattle the cattle um
30:36
what do you call a branding system it
30:39
was a great story but anyway so tell us
30:42
about some of the programs that if I had
30:44
a special-needs child and I wanted to
30:46
put an enroll them in a special needs
30:47
school or the arts program what are some
30:49
of the programs that you guys offer
30:50
there on a daily basis program its
30:53
meaning and services well I mean the the
30:57
y'alls group believe the young adults is
30:59
that is the day program so it's a
31:01
community access group as far as you
31:04
know the pre-k through high school and
31:07
they are scho at a school they are
31:10
learning they have a curriculum okay
31:12
okay
31:13
so I cuz you know I'm thinking they're
31:15
like you're not I'm thinking about like
31:16
a adult daycare kind of situation is it
31:19
not like that or is it you're not a take
31:21
care okay no they care yeah okay no they
31:27
they are you know it like I said it's
31:29
amazing to see you know we we are kind
31:32
of refusing to split up into more
31:35
independent less independent you know
31:36
when we go out onto jobs because and I
31:39
just read a study about this the other
31:40
day it's you know when you play someone
31:44
that is less independent with someone
31:46
that's higher independent they kind of
31:48
feed off of each other and so we have
31:51
seen growth in individuals that you know
31:54
again we're nonverbal you know wouldn't
31:58
do anything would just sit in the chair
31:59
but with us taking them out you know
32:03
they're now starting to take part in
32:06
activities so you know one of the great
32:10
things I think I'm into more working
32:11
with dog with assisted living and
32:13
Grayson right two days a week and just
32:16
you know we're working in their dining
32:17
hall rolling silverware and that's great
32:20
for them you know it's um fine motor
32:22
skills as well as just you know learning
32:24
tasks and helping out right but also you
32:27
know talking to residents playing games
32:29
with the residents I'm just kind of
32:30
filling that void for them as well see
32:32
that's nice and I think that's really
32:34
important because like you said like if
32:35
they're sitting home with their parents
32:36
parents don't really have a lot of time
32:38
to pay attention so they kind of just
32:39
let them do put them there and kind of
32:42
said you kind of look like anything with
32:43
any child yet parent is busy the parent
32:45
is busy the kid is sitting in front of
32:47
television and they're learning from the
32:48
TV so the fact that they're out there
32:51
and what's interesting about what you
32:52
said in that study we put them with
32:54
people that a little bit different or
32:56
higher at a higher level in there and
32:58
they kind of start to mimic that that's
33:00
what anybody yes
33:02
that's what anybody that's what I that's
33:09
right right so that's that's amazing I
33:13
never thought about that so now I know
33:16
you guys have some events coming up we
33:19
do let's talk about them again special
33:22
needs schools of Gwinnett our
33:23
groundbreaking is on August 27th at 1:30
33:26
we invite anyone in the community to
33:28
come we'd be excited to see you it's a
33:30
great monument is day for us and then
33:33
for the yas group we are actually
33:35
partnering with two other Adult Day
33:37
programs that are phenomenal
33:39
organizations about the same size as us
33:41
the exceptional foundation of Atlanta
33:44
and friends you need are also known as
33:46
the fun Club I think I talked about them
33:50
one color yes I have bring you neat I
33:52
did talk about okay great individuals so
33:55
we you know I kind of thought
33:57
you know it's not a competition right
34:00
now we all have the same mission we all
34:02
have the same focus we you know if if I
34:05
can't help an individual they don't fit
34:07
in with our group then I'm gonna pass
34:08
them on to these guys you know and I
34:11
feel like we need more of that you know
34:12
we need we want to reach as many
34:14
individuals that we possibly can support
34:16
mm-hmm all three of our organizations
34:19
you know depend heavily on community
34:23
support financial support you know to
34:25
continue to grow so our 5k charity run
34:29
walk or roll probably roll or you can
34:34
just you can virtually ghost walk what
34:39
is that that's not why I just get a
34:41
t-shirt and you pay the entry fee okay
34:43
so how much is the entry fee $30 $30 yes
34:46
so you can ghosts walk which means you
34:48
could pay the $30 for the entry fee oh
34:50
you can come out and run I'll play a
34:52
walk yeah I don't know about running I
34:53
have these really bad knees so I don't
34:56
know about that you know you said
34:57
something very interesting you said we
35:00
work together we're not it's not a
35:01
competition for us and that's what I
35:04
think a lot of businesses only need to
35:06
start to look at like strategic
35:07
partnerships and collaborations because
35:09
if you're strong in one area and you
35:12
have a you have a part in they're strong
35:13
in another area you guys can help each
35:14
other out so now what do you look are
35:16
you looking for more collaborative
35:17
partners in this in this space we are
35:20
yes so when you look for a clowder
35:22
partner what exactly are you looking for
35:24
in a partnership your time out for the
35:26
all yes so we you know any anything that
35:31
we can do that teaches them a skill that
35:34
gives them something different to do
35:35
during the day from paper shredding you
35:38
know we we go and we clean all of the
35:41
windows at Rose Jordan Park you know we
35:44
work with Dacula family sports just you
35:49
know we just we just want to be able to
35:50
help we just want to feel welcome you
35:54
know we would you know love you know to
35:57
build volunteers from that as well in
36:01
which you know our partners have been
36:02
great to where we can send a group with
36:04
you know one individual that works there
36:06
and they they're fine you know they do
36:09
great with them
36:10
there's an organization and I talk about
36:12
them way early on I must have been
36:15
episode 2 it was way early on boat she
36:18
had an organization and she did these
36:20
paintings sips mobile parties and you
36:23
could you could actually pay for her to
36:27
go out and do a paint and sip mobile
36:32
party and I thought that was really cool
36:35
and but it was it had a non-profit piece
36:37
too and I can't remember I want I think
36:40
I think what it was if if you held a
36:43
party the paintings were donated it
36:46
canvases for a cause yes Melissa yeah
36:51
Melissa and I talked about Melissa I
36:53
can't remember that's what it was
36:54
canvases for calls so I'm I think that's
36:58
a nicely done and that's what that was
37:01
like that was my question like had
37:03
you've done something like that okay oh
37:06
my light actually used to work with
37:08
Melissa and stopping oh nice guys okay I
37:12
didn't know that yeah yeah and being in
37:14
this you know being the director and
37:17
just kind of you know reaching out the
37:18
individuals and showing me that there
37:21
are still good people out yes there are
37:22
so people that would give their time and
37:24
their resources yeah to where day to day
37:27
you really could kind of not think that
37:30
yeah there are I talk to a lot of them
37:32
and some people they just don't know
37:35
where to give and how to give that's why
37:37
I'm always when I do the shout out sorry
37:39
I give the website there's a telephone
37:40
number I get back like listen if you
37:42
can't get on the internet call them
37:44
right here's a telephone number you know
37:46
here's an email for somebody because I
37:48
know that there are people who are
37:49
listening who want to give they just
37:51
don't know how to give right I don't
37:53
know if they can't give I think the more
37:54
I expand this show especially when it
37:57
comes to putting mobile apps on people
37:58
phone and I said hey listen today my
38:00
guest is gonna be that goes directly to
38:02
somebody's phone they're listening to
38:04
the show and they'll be able to say you
38:05
know what I want to give and hopefully
38:07
what I could probably do nothing I'm
38:08
thinking about it is included giving
38:10
link inside that episode right when I
38:13
doin every you know when I started to
38:14
get more people to download the apps not
38:16
this is me thinking right now like I'm
38:18
just thinking how can I be of more help
38:20
to organizations like by y'all's and
38:22
special needs schools and canvasses for
38:24
purpose and all these grateful calls and
38:27
all these great organizations that I
38:28
shout out so that's something I'm gonna
38:30
have to think about right I can add a
38:32
link to that episode inside the episode
38:34
inside the app okay all right the bridge
38:38
the gap I'm sorry is October 19th at
38:41
swanee Town Center now what is that the
38:44
bridge get bridge the gap is the 5k run
38:46
okay okay that's with the three
38:48
organizations and it's October October
38:50
19th okay October the 19th so they got a
38:53
lot of lot of events that that are going
38:55
on if you want to know more about those
38:57
event they can contact you Harrell okay
39:01
they can't okay so my email address is
39:04
yall's y al LS at special needs schools
39:08
org all right there's y'all's listen not
39:12
my y'all so if you want to go out of
39:15
support Terry and yaws and special needs
39:17
school please do they got great events
39:19
coming up so make sure if you want to
39:21
come out and support them with the
39:22
groundbreaking that's gonna be September
39:24
I mean August 1 7:30 august 27 at 1:30
39:28
and where's it gonna be located 660
39:31
Davis Road in Lawrenceville go out show
39:33
some support and if you want to support
39:36
the organization by making a donation
39:37
being a volunteer or if you have an
39:40
organization you want to bring doing the
39:42
young adults over to help you do some
39:44
things go to y'all's group org and and
39:47
fill out the information there or send
39:49
their email they're always loved to be
39:52
able to shout out and spotlight
39:54
organization if you know of any more
39:55
back you know that in Winnetka county
39:58
please let them know that to contact me
39:59
and i'll do the same things that i'm a
40:02
shadow and let people know what they're
40:04
doing the great work listen these people
40:05
giver themselves this is it's not easy
40:08
work all the time but it's rewarding and
40:11
they need your support you can do a
40:12
scholarship $500 a month or just $25 for
40:16
a day I'm gonna do mine so you should do
40:18
yours too
40:19
listen it's Thursday you know what it is
40:21
it's all I got play today I'll be back
40:23
again on Monday God willing but before I
40:26
go I'm gonna play one last song
40:29
come back and give you the inspiration
40:30
of the day and then I'm gonna go alright
40:33
stay tuned y'all hi sound like I'm bite
40:38
[Music]
40:46
[Music]
40:54
everybody seems to know that I I'm the
40:58
one who wants the light and it got me
41:01
lost everybody says the same
41:06
search for a way to find
41:10
back to self-control but he got me lost
41:14
everybody click the same
41:17
[Music]
41:20
sweat
41:22
hi
41:24
not to be fine
41:28
one like you would get
41:30
[Music]
41:32
this lack of self-control I am
41:36
thoughts of mine
41:39
really got the one today
41:42
[Music]
41:56
[Music]
42:08
[Music]
42:17
[Music]
42:23
[Music]
42:25
I can do
42:29
[Music]
42:45
from you forget
42:49
[Music]
42:56
[Applause]
42:59
[Music]
43:10
[Music]
43:24
[Music]
43:35
[Music]
43:52
[Music]
44:11
[Music]
44:20
[Music]
44:42
[Music]
44:48
hey welcome back to the good morning
44:50
good night show listen that's all I got
44:52
for you today but before I go I want to
44:54
give you a little bit of inspiration
44:55
this Thursday I know for some of you
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it's the end of the week for some of you
44:58
got one more day but I want to help you
45:01
get through the rest of the day and feel
45:02
inspired so my inspiration of the day is
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when you doubt why doubt when you can
45:09
dream if you're gonna waste any time
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thinking about something how about dream
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about it don't doubt it don't doubt
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yourself I know a lot of times we doubt
45:16
ourselves we've got our abilities we got
45:19
the people around us you doubt that it
45:20
can happen for you it can happen for you
45:22
so if you're gonna waste time doubting I
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say take the time to dream it's all I
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got for you today listen if you missed
45:28
any episode of the show go back over to
45:30
good morning with Netcom and listen to
45:31
it remember yesterday was winning
45:33
Wednesday I gave away movie passes so
45:35
make sure you tune in next Wednesday
45:37
because I'll be giving away something
45:38
else I don't know what it's gonna be yet
45:40
you have to tune in to the show to find
45:41
out I'll be back again tomorrow not
45:44
tomorrow tomorrow's Friday I'll be back
45:45
on Monday God willing yeah I'll be safe
45:47
out there this weekend until next time
45:49
make it a great day bye y'all you've
45:52
been listening to
45:53
good morning Gwinnett make sure to tune
45:55
in daily at 9 a.m. eastern time to find
45:58
out what's happening around Gwinnett if
46:00
you miss an episode go to WWE Quinette
46:04
com2 catch up if you liked this episode
46:07
go ahead and subscribe to the show now
46:09
and share it with your friends
46:11
[Music]
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you
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[Music]