December 18, 2024 • 31 mins
Stormy chats with Barbara Nesbit and Pastor Key
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
All right, everybody, we are here. It is the Pulse.
I am stormy with you, and I want to say
thank you to you for being here for this amazing
show today. And it's going to be amazing because I
have a special guest on the show. So thank you
guys for joining us, and a big thank you to
the people that helped me put this together today to
get this amazing woman in the studio. So I am
(00:21):
going to let her tell you who she is. How
are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great? How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
I'm good? Tell everybody who you are and what it
is that you do.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hi. My name is Barbara Nisbitt. I'm the founder of
Vance Avenue Youth Development Center. We're located six seventy Vance Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee,
three eight one two six. And what we do we
do it all, Okay. We provide free tutoring, it's number one.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, that's good stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We provide a safe haven for children. We feed the children. Yeah,
we play games. We have a music program for the children, well,
guitar lessons.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Now, is this like an after school kind of a
program or is this a program that operates throughout the
day as well.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's an after school program. Okay, almost seven days a week.
I have been there seven days a week and everything
is free. We charge no child, no parents, no money.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Wow. So you're doing really doing the work.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Well.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
The volunteers are helping me do the work.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Okay. And you brought mister a Pastor Key. Here is
he one of the volunce. Pastor Key one of the volunteers.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah we are, we are. Yeah, we in Saint John
Baptist churchyard.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Okay, okay, so next door neighbors, oh, next door neighbors.
So how does that work? Your relationship with Pastor Key
and his church and with Vance Avenue, how does that
relationship work?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well? Pastor Key is a jewel in our community. He's
well known in the community. He works with our children
as far as small engines, should I say, he give
them a job. He helps the young men's they come
over to the church sometime, they pick up paper, they
(02:22):
may move help him move furniture. That's given them something
to do to keep them out of trouble.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yes, I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
And he have come over to mentor the children. He's
just like Grandpa uh huh, pastor the king in the neighborhood.
As for as the children because they look up to him.
He's a two dollars pastor.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What do you mean by two dollars posts?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Well, you know he may see a child sitting there
with the head with their heads down. Yeah, he would
get of them a two dollar bill. And then you
should see the smile on the face. You got two
dollar bills like that? Should I tell it?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yes, yes you do.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's a ministry.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Okay, tell me about it if you don't mind, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We've all been children and grew up wanting this or
wanting that, not having this or that, and it was
always someone in the neighborhood that just showed us favor.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
And over time, and the Lord has just given me
this ministry where two dollars is in your hand, make
a decision. I gotta save it, gotta spend it. How
you're gonna use it, And if you get more than one,
then it becomes a habit. And my sense of it
is we want to be a spiritual habit that they
(03:52):
develop over time and they're saving they're saving it. So
so we'll have prayer on the church ground. Yeah, and
they'll tell me what they did. And I asked, what'd
you do? With it, how you spend it. And the
adage that goes with it is think twice before you
spend it. And I feel it catching Yeah, I feel it.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I like that, you know because so many times I've
talked to people on this show about, you know, teaching
children in the school how to handle money, and often
we don't realize that there are people like you and
organizations like Van Savenue that's doing the work. You know
what I'm saying, That to me is important work. And
(04:38):
the fact that you don't just give them the money,
you follow it up with questions, you know, and concerns
about what they did with it, because I feel like
that's something that a lot of children don't get and
it leads to, in my opinion, you growing up and
becoming somewhat of an irresponsible adult where you concerns money.
(05:01):
Sometimes not everybody, but most of us don't have a
foundation of you know what we're doing with it? You know,
nobody it keeps us accountable like that we just spend money,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, So I like that.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I think that's important. So what do you find from
the kids when you do ask them those questions?
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Well, it breaks down the inability to communicate. They express themselves. Yeah,
they tell the truth and and also they share and
they stick together. So they'll come over as a group
and I know what they're coming forward. That's fine. Their
motive can be the two dollars, that's that's just fine,
because if they come to the church house, the Lord's house,
(05:42):
and they get some kind of relief, and in that form,
it's a ministry and it takes care of itself and
it develops his own life, his own nature. And I'm
out there doing holy habits. They grew up saving money,
(06:03):
that's a holy habit. Yeah, so over time, it takes
care of yourself and the Lord gives me more, you know,
so I have more to give.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Wow, That's that's God's work right there. And I know
that's what you're doing over at then too, missus Nesabelle. Yes,
you're really doing God's work. I hear that you cook
for the kids every day.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yes, a full balanced meal.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
That's what I hear.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
But before they get a meal, they still have to
have to have encouragement. Yeah, they have to do homework.
There are knees before they sit down and eat that meal.
There's tremendous needs. Some children walk in no clothing. They
(06:49):
may have clothes that are worn or torn up, anything,
shoes holes in them. Yeah, they come to me and
ask me for help. But then you look at the children,
and you can look and see exactly what's going on
(07:11):
with them just by their reaction. And their reaction is
a lot of those children, I say they're my mischildren.
That's what I call them. They're been misleded, misunderstood, mistreated, misguided,
and just missed out on a lot of things that
(07:32):
they should have as children, should be doing as children
instead of as adults. Yeah, and like I tell them,
their food is good, but you have to be taught
things in life. If the parents are out there to
teach their children, somebody need to step into the plate
(07:56):
to teach them, show them the way to go. Now
past the key just mentioned his two dollars. Two dollars
he give the children, but he didn't tell you all
of it because he don't just he will give them
two dollars, but they have to give something back in return,
if it's nothing but a thank you, because they think
(08:16):
you can go a long way. There's work that they
can do for that two dollars. And at the center.
I try to impose or increment them saving some of
that money. That's the financial part for those children at
(08:37):
their Vans Avenue Use Development Center. But then a lot
of them getting back to the food. You have to
feed that child because you know at school they eat food.
I guess, but they come there like, no, what did
you eat? And then they go, oh, I don't, I
(08:58):
didn't eat that food. They need that nutritions, They need
that full meal to function every day. Not every child
has tons of food in the household. But food is
not the great issue. The great issue of the whole
matter is them going to school, getting the education, being
(09:20):
a productive citizen. That's the most important thing in life.
We have a high turnout of graduation of graduates from
high school. We service three A one two six three
A one one sixty three one one five all the
zip codes. We go from Fraser to South Haven, Mississippi
(09:43):
to seven two three zero one is in West Memphis, Arkansas.
We have graduates every year our center. Along with a
few volunteers, we make sure these graduates get what they need.
As far as graduation, of course, you know you have
pay a graduation fee for those that don't know there's
a graduation fee to walk across the stage. Some children
(10:06):
just don't have that, and somebody got to step up
to the plate. Parents may not have because we're in
a three A one two six zip code and that's
one of the poverty poorest of poverty areas, and Memph
is one of them, not the main one. But they
need that extra help. Parents need that extra help. It
(10:28):
doesn't matter what kind of parents you have. Your parents
could have a million dollars or zero dollars. It doesn't matter.
If that child come to that center to Advance Avenue
and ask for help and say I need somebody or
myself will make sure they get the things that they need.
But the most important thing is that the undivided attention.
(10:54):
Some don't get it at home, but they know if
they come over to Advance Avenue, which a lot of
them say, we going to Miss Barbers, but it's not
Miss Barber's, it's Van's Avenue, and they look up to
Miss Barber, which is me. But I try to tell them,
in order to look up to me, you have to
(11:15):
look up to yourself. In order to get respect, you
have to give respect. And a lot of them don't
get that at home. So we are like a wrap
around service from beds. Their children that don't have a
bed to sleep in, so the center make sure they
get a bed to sleep in. Wow, because you need
(11:36):
that bed because you got to get up and go
to school in them. Absolutely, you want to be fresh
and ready you go to school. You may not have
a proper clothes of course, children other children are kind
of mean and they talk about your clothes you got on.
But look at them. Maybe their parents can't afford and
spend all their money on a pair of two hundred
(11:59):
dollars shoes.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Miss Barbara, it sounds like you were doing a big work, y'all.
I'm talking to miss Barbara and Nesbit with Vance Avenue
Youth Development Center. I am Stormy. Thank you for joining
us on the show. If you're just joining us. How
long has Vance Avenue been in.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Existence since nineteen ninety one?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
We was formed in nineighteen ninety one October. We was
chartered by the State of Tennessee in nineteen ninety four.
We got our five oh one c three in eighteen
ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Okay, So who did Was it just on your heart
to are you the founder? Was it on your heart
to do this or were you always the place that
people just you know, I'm going to miss nesbit. Were
you always that person maybe in the community or how
did this come about?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Well? It come about. First of all, I am now
the founder of Vance Avenue. Back in ninety one, there
were two of us, so I didn't start. I refused
to take all the credit credit as far as me
starting this organization, I would buy myself because I did not.
(13:12):
I was a juvenile court, a zilarprobation officer with juvenor
court here in Memphis, and I saw a need and
the need was you know, you get up three o'clock
in the morning, you get a phone call because a
child and a parent is into it, are having a problem,
and I have to go there and see what the
problem is. But I found out children are not always
(13:34):
right and parents are not right. Sometimes if you let
your child talk and talk and talk, they will tell
off phone themselves. If they said my friend did this,
my friend did that, then you know it's a problem.
And more than likely fifty percent of the time they
(13:54):
are talking about themselves, but they're trying to get that attention.
And like I said, parents are not always right. And
the children are not always right. You know, you have
to come together and sit there and talk about problems
that you are having. Some children have problems where they
can't get what the other child can get. Some children
(14:14):
can get anything and everything they want except their attention
from their parents. So that made me to sit down,
just sit down and start thinking what can we do
to help these children?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
They're your job kind of became a ministry, Yes, yeah,
it did.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And these children they just want some attention.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, and you brought a child with you today. I
did tell me about little miss Emily. I want you
to tell me miss Barbara a little bit about her
and Emily. I can have her, let her talk.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Okay, she's a Clue student. Okay, she's at Germantown.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Tell me about Clue. What's up with Clue?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Okay, she's a candidate for Clue. Oh she's not being
inducted into Clue. Uh huh, Emily Taylor, Uh, when I go,
we gotta take the test a taste to go to Clue.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Okay, So that is that something you want to do?
Be a part of Clue. Yes, tell me about what
it's like to be over at Vance Avenue.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Good.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
How's the food. Let me ask you that. No at
Vance with miss Barbara Nesbe, how's her food?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I never ate her food before?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
You haven't, so you've you're just it is she just
a part of the your program over there, Advance.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
She's a part of the program. She is eating it.
I guess she thought it was her grandmother's food, her
auntie's food.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Oh she didn't know. So that's how good it is.
So these children are getting home cooked meals literally, yes,
every day? Is it? Every day?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Every day? Almost seven days a week. After church? I
head straight to fans most of the time. What's okay?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
So you've been doing this for a while, So what's
giving you the passion to keep going?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
First of all the children?
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
God, because without him, I don't know what I would do.
We started out zero and we still have zero, but
we get God provide people to give us the things
that we need and most of the things that we want.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And you told me, and because really the reason that
we met was because of Latasha Johnson and a lot
of the ladies with Jack and Jill. She was the
one that told me how amazing you are and about
the amazing work that you're doing. And I know you
are part of the breakfast that they're doing this Saturday.
(17:15):
And so how did your relationship with Jack and Jill
come about?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
It was, well, they just showed up. They I didn't
know Jack and Jill from anybody else. I got a
phone call and said, can we come over? I think
they said that was about five years ago. Can we
come over and talk to you about our organization?
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And I said yes, And they said we want to
help you.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And I said okay. She said what's a good time.
I said whatever time you have, because I can make time.
Because if you're gonna help me, you're gonna help these children.
So from that day forward, everything just bloomed. Everything was
a go. I mean they came out, Jack and Jail.
(18:13):
This organization is an organization that want to help people
that are doing great things in the community. I can
pick up the phone now and said we need this. Well,
most of the time I don't have to pick up
the phone because they would call me and say, do
(18:33):
you need this? Will it? What are you all doing
for the summertime? What are you all doing for Christmas?
What are you all doing for Thanksgiving?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
So it sounds like they've just come along kind of
been that Auntie of the program. Yes, and you know.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
A surge and parents of the program.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yes, that's awesome. So shout out to Jack and Jail
the organization here in Memphis, and again thank you to
Latasha and Tracy and Marcia for putting us together.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yes, Marcy's daughter huh, she's she's in college huh, first year,
but she has her own little foundation. Oh wow, and
she donates to us to the children.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
It may be chips food. Also, there's another Jack and
Jill mom child which is in college. Her name is
Jazz when it's Jazz from foundation. They also help donate
to vance Avenue Youth Development. What is that?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
How does that make you feel when you see young
people coming together to help you help other young people?
How does that make you feel wonderful? I know it does.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I mean like I'm their parents. Well really mostly I am,
but not biological biological. But it makes me feel good
to see other young people reaching out helping other young people,
because nowadays it's not like that. Most of them they
(20:16):
would say I got minds, now you have to get yours.
But these young ladies they reach out and help hundreds
of children. That comes through those doors every day.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
And you've been in existence, you told me, since nineteen
ninety one. So how many children have you seen, I
guess graduate from being a part of Vance Avenue Youth
Development Center.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
How many thousands? I have four generations thousands, Yep, I
have four generations of children. I'm working up. My fourth
generation child is there at the center. Wow, Advance Avenue.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
And I think that child is about five years old.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
But we only take the children. We're not a daycare center.
So let me explain that we are at risk safe
haven program. We're there to help keep the children off
of the streets.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
I love that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
And of course homework and tutoring. We make them do
homework in our music class. We did have Spanish classes.
But first of all, we're a non profit organization. I
don't get paid. Our volunteers are not compensated. I'm not compensated.
(21:39):
So when we have volunteers to come in, that's what
it's exactly what it is, strictly volunteer.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
That's rare that you hear an organization, somebody over an
organization say that nobody gets paid, even the founder.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Correct, that's rare. And every donation when we get it
goes one hundred percent back into that organization, not me,
not in my pocket, but to those children and their
and their families.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
So if people, if somebody is listening now and they
want to give back to your organization, how do they
do that?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Well, we have a website. We really have two, but
the newest one is not completely up. If they want
to donate, they can go to Youth Depth Center dot
org and that's y OEU t H D as in
(22:40):
David E v as in Victor Center c E n
t e r dot org.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
So Youth said again, youth d d e V c
e n t e r dot org. I was typing
it in as we were talking.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Youth Depth Center. I see it. You can click on
the box. That's how we in the process of putting
up a new website, updated one. But if they go there,
it may looks like it's not that much. It's click
the little box and you will see galleries pictures.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
But where do you go to donate? I see where
you go to volunteer.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
You click the donate button. I think it's the blue button.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay, I'm looking to see that.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I didn't set up the website. Miss one of our
other volunteers set it up. Jurea sharky.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I see it, I see it. The donate got it, okay,
and then you click donate again and you just tell
them how much you want to pay or what you
want to donate. That's awesome. So you made it easy
for people to help out your organization. Yes, and not
only can they donate that way, but you take what
(24:05):
other donations do you take for your organization?
Speaker 2 (24:08):
We take monetary donations, We take clothes, We take food, clothes,
not torn up clothes, not.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Gently used or new us.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Or new clothes because the children need them.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
We even take appliances if somebody's changing their appliances or
furnituring their homes. We take that too, because we have
children that don't have anything. We have children at our
center that are homeless. They're homeless. Most of them are
(24:42):
living in shelters or hotels for a little while.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
If I had a place to put them, I would, right,
but unfortunately I don't. But that I center have helped
with rent, utilities, food thanks to Pastor Key Saint John
Baptist Church. If we don't have enough food to give,
(25:07):
you know, extra food. Yeah, then I would send them
over or ask Saint John's Church or Pastor Key, can
you help this family out? Yeah, and they have been
so grateful as far as helping them out.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Pastor Key, I know you see all of that come
back to you because you mentioned that when you were
talking about the children.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And it's again one of the adages I have at
Saint John Vance is if it's not a ministry, you
shouldn't be doing it. So I will make sure that
whatever whatever we're able to do outlest me. Yeah, and
the ministries are growing. We are a member of Saint
John Vance as a member of the Mid South Food Bank, okay,
(25:49):
and we feed every other Friday from ten to twelve,
and in between times if we get other allotments from
the food bank, we certainly look to our neighbor because
there feeding the young and so forth. And yeah, it's
always the need, and the need is, as you all know,
it's getting larger and burgeoning over times.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna ask. How how how
much bigger has the need gotten today than it was
maybe five ten years ago.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I'd say it's quadruple at least, you know, pre COVID
times things looked at a lot different. Yeah, but now
there have been other avenues that have opened up with
food supplies Feeding America. Yeah, and a lot of the large,
larger organizations Saint John fees through the food Bank as
a part of that that mechanism, so we're able to
(26:38):
do more and we thank God for that for the ministry.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, And I do still think it's
amazing too that people can go to the website and give,
because often we hear of I don't know an organization
that I've talked to that has shared with me some
of the things that you've shared, Miss Nesbitt, and even
(27:04):
you passed the key. There are plenty out there that
are doing amazing work. But to hear that all of
the donations go towards the kids and is powerful, I think.
And it's a testament too of your passion for the
work that you do.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
So thank you, well, thank you. But also we've had
people to come I don't they've said, well, this is
for you for your work. My work is done when
every child has a meal to eat, clothes on their backs,
a bid to lie in and sleep and get up
(27:48):
in the morning, say thank you Jesus. Wow, that's it.
But we also have other volunteers, responsors or volunteers like
for instance, Cromp Station Police Department, Miss Melanie Dorsey. They
also have helped with sheets and towels and blankets. Germantown
(28:15):
Athletic Club. As far as tennis shoes, sneakers, they have helped.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Do you take gently worn tennis shoes and things like
that as well?
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, you would be surprised when we get those items.
We put them there the children's shop. Now, these are
children that don't go ten miles, ten blocks out of
their radius, but they get out there. They ask for
a shopping bag and said, Miss Barber, you got a bag,
and they shop for the whole family, believe it or not,
and these clothes are like treasures to them.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Wow. Wow.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
In our neighborhood, we partner with other people, other organizations
like the Crenshaw Library, Mr. Ernest Miss Little reading them
down there. They may bring us books because they, believe
it or not, children like to read. Yeah, they love
to read.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Like teaching them how to fish, put a book in
front of them.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
But a book in front of them there can read
for a lifetime. We also promise I mean partner with
Promised Development, which they help with housing, the hospitality Hub
we help, well, we send people to them, so we
(29:32):
partner with them. Also. Anybody that can help somebody we
will help.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
We try our best. Now getting back to our graduate graduates.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Well, we were running out of town, so I did
want to get back to how people can give to
the organization before we go. Okay, because we got about
a minute. So people can come to Van Avenue Youth
Development Center. And what is the address again?
Speaker 2 (30:03):
The address is six seven zero Vance Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
three eight one two six.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Okay, And what is your phone numbers?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Oh, I want to reach you nine O one five
two seven one one four five. Give me that again
nine O one nine O one five two seven one
one four five. And the website is Youth d e
V Center dot org. Correct, And we have an email address, okay,
(30:37):
and that's Vance app one the number one at A
T T dot net. And that's V as in Victor
as an apple ends it is and nazis cis and
Charles is an Edward as an Apple again, V as
in Victor E is an Edward. The number one at
a t T dot net.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Wonderful. Thanks, thank you guys again for coming to be
a part of the shank You appreciate you and it's
so great to hear about the work that you're doing.
You're doing God's work, and thank you for being a
light in the city that maybe a lot of people
don't see, but the kids see it and God sees
it and that's what matters the most. Thank you, so
thank you again, Pastor and Mana. Thank you again. Miss Nesbit,
(31:21):
You're welcome, and thank you Emily. Okay, that's the pulse.
I'm stormy. We keep our fingertips on the pulse of
our community. We'll see you next week, same time, same station.
God bless you have a great week.
All right, everybody, we are here. It is the Pulse.
I am stormy with you, and I want to say
thank you to you for being here for this amazing
show today. And it's going to be amazing because I
have a special guest on the show. So thank you
guys for joining us, and a big thank you to
the people that helped me put this together today to
get this amazing woman in the studio. So I am
(00:21):
going to let her tell you who she is. How
are you today?
Speaker 2 (00:26):
I'm great? How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:28):
I'm good? Tell everybody who you are and what it
is that you do.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Hi. My name is Barbara Nisbitt. I'm the founder of
Vance Avenue Youth Development Center. We're located six seventy Vance Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee,
three eight one two six. And what we do we
do it all, Okay. We provide free tutoring, it's number one.
Speaker 1 (00:52):
Okay, that's good stuff.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
We provide a safe haven for children. We feed the children. Yeah,
we play games. We have a music program for the children, well,
guitar lessons.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Now, is this like an after school kind of a
program or is this a program that operates throughout the
day as well.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
It's an after school program. Okay, almost seven days a week.
I have been there seven days a week and everything
is free. We charge no child, no parents, no money.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Wow. So you're doing really doing the work.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
Well.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
The volunteers are helping me do the work.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
Okay. And you brought mister a Pastor Key. Here is
he one of the volunce. Pastor Key one of the volunteers.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Yeah we are, we are. Yeah, we in Saint John
Baptist churchyard.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Okay, okay, so next door neighbors, oh, next door neighbors.
So how does that work? Your relationship with Pastor Key
and his church and with Vance Avenue, how does that
relationship work?
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Well? Pastor Key is a jewel in our community. He's
well known in the community. He works with our children
as far as small engines, should I say, he give
them a job. He helps the young men's they come
over to the church sometime, they pick up paper, they
(02:22):
may move help him move furniture. That's given them something
to do to keep them out of trouble.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yes, I love that.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
And he have come over to mentor the children. He's
just like Grandpa uh huh, pastor the king in the neighborhood.
As for as the children because they look up to him.
He's a two dollars pastor.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
What do you mean by two dollars posts?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Well, you know he may see a child sitting there
with the head with their heads down. Yeah, he would
get of them a two dollar bill. And then you
should see the smile on the face. You got two
dollar bills like that? Should I tell it?
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yes, yes you do.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
It's a ministry.
Speaker 1 (03:11):
Okay, tell me about it if you don't mind, go ahead.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
We've all been children and grew up wanting this or
wanting that, not having this or that, and it was
always someone in the neighborhood that just showed us favor.
Speaker 1 (03:29):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 3 (03:30):
And over time, and the Lord has just given me
this ministry where two dollars is in your hand, make
a decision. I gotta save it, gotta spend it. How
you're gonna use it, And if you get more than one,
then it becomes a habit. And my sense of it
is we want to be a spiritual habit that they
(03:52):
develop over time and they're saving they're saving it. So
so we'll have prayer on the church ground. Yeah, and
they'll tell me what they did. And I asked, what'd
you do? With it, how you spend it. And the
adage that goes with it is think twice before you
spend it. And I feel it catching Yeah, I feel it.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
I like that, you know because so many times I've
talked to people on this show about, you know, teaching
children in the school how to handle money, and often
we don't realize that there are people like you and
organizations like Van Savenue that's doing the work. You know
what I'm saying, That to me is important work. And
(04:38):
the fact that you don't just give them the money,
you follow it up with questions, you know, and concerns
about what they did with it, because I feel like
that's something that a lot of children don't get and
it leads to, in my opinion, you growing up and
becoming somewhat of an irresponsible adult where you concerns money.
(05:01):
Sometimes not everybody, but most of us don't have a
foundation of you know what we're doing with it? You know,
nobody it keeps us accountable like that we just spend money,
you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Yes, So I like that.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I think that's important. So what do you find from
the kids when you do ask them those questions?
Speaker 3 (05:20):
Well, it breaks down the inability to communicate. They express themselves. Yeah,
they tell the truth and and also they share and
they stick together. So they'll come over as a group
and I know what they're coming forward. That's fine. Their
motive can be the two dollars, that's that's just fine,
because if they come to the church house, the Lord's house,
(05:42):
and they get some kind of relief, and in that form,
it's a ministry and it takes care of itself and
it develops his own life, his own nature. And I'm
out there doing holy habits. They grew up saving money,
(06:03):
that's a holy habit. Yeah, so over time, it takes
care of yourself and the Lord gives me more, you know,
so I have more to give.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Wow, That's that's God's work right there. And I know
that's what you're doing over at then too, missus Nesabelle. Yes,
you're really doing God's work. I hear that you cook
for the kids every day.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yes, a full balanced meal.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
That's what I hear.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
But before they get a meal, they still have to
have to have encouragement. Yeah, they have to do homework.
There are knees before they sit down and eat that meal.
There's tremendous needs. Some children walk in no clothing. They
(06:49):
may have clothes that are worn or torn up, anything,
shoes holes in them. Yeah, they come to me and
ask me for help. But then you look at the children,
and you can look and see exactly what's going on
(07:11):
with them just by their reaction. And their reaction is
a lot of those children, I say they're my mischildren.
That's what I call them. They're been misleded, misunderstood, mistreated, misguided,
and just missed out on a lot of things that
(07:32):
they should have as children, should be doing as children
instead of as adults. Yeah, and like I tell them,
their food is good, but you have to be taught
things in life. If the parents are out there to
teach their children, somebody need to step into the plate
(07:56):
to teach them, show them the way to go. Now
past the key just mentioned his two dollars. Two dollars
he give the children, but he didn't tell you all
of it because he don't just he will give them
two dollars, but they have to give something back in return,
if it's nothing but a thank you, because they think
(08:16):
you can go a long way. There's work that they
can do for that two dollars. And at the center.
I try to impose or increment them saving some of
that money. That's the financial part for those children at
(08:37):
their Vans Avenue Use Development Center. But then a lot
of them getting back to the food. You have to
feed that child because you know at school they eat food.
I guess, but they come there like, no, what did
you eat? And then they go, oh, I don't, I
(08:58):
didn't eat that food. They need that nutritions, They need
that full meal to function every day. Not every child
has tons of food in the household. But food is
not the great issue. The great issue of the whole
matter is them going to school, getting the education, being
(09:20):
a productive citizen. That's the most important thing in life.
We have a high turnout of graduation of graduates from
high school. We service three A one two six three
A one one sixty three one one five all the
zip codes. We go from Fraser to South Haven, Mississippi
(09:43):
to seven two three zero one is in West Memphis, Arkansas.
We have graduates every year our center. Along with a
few volunteers, we make sure these graduates get what they need.
As far as graduation, of course, you know you have
pay a graduation fee for those that don't know there's
a graduation fee to walk across the stage. Some children
(10:06):
just don't have that, and somebody got to step up
to the plate. Parents may not have because we're in
a three A one two six zip code and that's
one of the poverty poorest of poverty areas, and Memph
is one of them, not the main one. But they
need that extra help. Parents need that extra help. It
(10:28):
doesn't matter what kind of parents you have. Your parents
could have a million dollars or zero dollars. It doesn't matter.
If that child come to that center to Advance Avenue
and ask for help and say I need somebody or
myself will make sure they get the things that they need.
But the most important thing is that the undivided attention.
(10:54):
Some don't get it at home, but they know if
they come over to Advance Avenue, which a lot of
them say, we going to Miss Barbers, but it's not
Miss Barber's, it's Van's Avenue, and they look up to
Miss Barber, which is me. But I try to tell them,
in order to look up to me, you have to
(11:15):
look up to yourself. In order to get respect, you
have to give respect. And a lot of them don't
get that at home. So we are like a wrap
around service from beds. Their children that don't have a
bed to sleep in, so the center make sure they
get a bed to sleep in. Wow, because you need
(11:36):
that bed because you got to get up and go
to school in them. Absolutely, you want to be fresh
and ready you go to school. You may not have
a proper clothes of course, children other children are kind
of mean and they talk about your clothes you got on.
But look at them. Maybe their parents can't afford and
spend all their money on a pair of two hundred
(11:59):
dollars shoes.
Speaker 1 (12:00):
Miss Barbara, it sounds like you were doing a big work, y'all.
I'm talking to miss Barbara and Nesbit with Vance Avenue
Youth Development Center. I am Stormy. Thank you for joining
us on the show. If you're just joining us. How
long has Vance Avenue been in.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Existence since nineteen ninety one?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Wow?
Speaker 2 (12:20):
We was formed in nineighteen ninety one October. We was
chartered by the State of Tennessee in nineteen ninety four.
We got our five oh one c three in eighteen
ninety eight.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
Okay, So who did Was it just on your heart
to are you the founder? Was it on your heart
to do this or were you always the place that
people just you know, I'm going to miss nesbit. Were
you always that person maybe in the community or how
did this come about?
Speaker 2 (12:52):
Well? It come about. First of all, I am now
the founder of Vance Avenue. Back in ninety one, there
were two of us, so I didn't start. I refused
to take all the credit credit as far as me
starting this organization, I would buy myself because I did not.
(13:12):
I was a juvenile court, a zilarprobation officer with juvenor
court here in Memphis, and I saw a need and
the need was you know, you get up three o'clock
in the morning, you get a phone call because a
child and a parent is into it, are having a problem,
and I have to go there and see what the
problem is. But I found out children are not always
(13:34):
right and parents are not right. Sometimes if you let
your child talk and talk and talk, they will tell
off phone themselves. If they said my friend did this,
my friend did that, then you know it's a problem.
And more than likely fifty percent of the time they
(13:54):
are talking about themselves, but they're trying to get that attention.
And like I said, parents are not always right. And
the children are not always right. You know, you have
to come together and sit there and talk about problems
that you are having. Some children have problems where they
can't get what the other child can get. Some children
(14:14):
can get anything and everything they want except their attention
from their parents. So that made me to sit down,
just sit down and start thinking what can we do
to help these children?
Speaker 1 (14:28):
They're your job kind of became a ministry, Yes, yeah,
it did.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
And these children they just want some attention.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yeah, and you brought a child with you today. I
did tell me about little miss Emily. I want you
to tell me miss Barbara a little bit about her
and Emily. I can have her, let her talk.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Okay, she's a Clue student. Okay, she's at Germantown.
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Tell me about Clue. What's up with Clue?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
Okay, she's a candidate for Clue. Oh she's not being
inducted into Clue. Uh huh, Emily Taylor, Uh, when I go,
we gotta take the test a taste to go to Clue.
Speaker 1 (15:17):
Okay, So that is that something you want to do?
Be a part of Clue. Yes, tell me about what
it's like to be over at Vance Avenue.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Good.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
How's the food. Let me ask you that. No at
Vance with miss Barbara Nesbe, how's her food?
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I never ate her food before?
Speaker 1 (15:45):
You haven't, so you've you're just it is she just
a part of the your program over there, Advance.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
She's a part of the program. She is eating it.
I guess she thought it was her grandmother's food, her
auntie's food.
Speaker 1 (16:01):
Oh she didn't know. So that's how good it is.
So these children are getting home cooked meals literally, yes,
every day? Is it? Every day?
Speaker 2 (16:12):
Every day? Almost seven days a week. After church? I
head straight to fans most of the time. What's okay?
Speaker 1 (16:20):
So you've been doing this for a while, So what's
giving you the passion to keep going?
Speaker 2 (16:25):
First of all the children?
Speaker 1 (16:27):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (16:28):
God, because without him, I don't know what I would do.
We started out zero and we still have zero, but
we get God provide people to give us the things
that we need and most of the things that we want.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
And you told me, and because really the reason that
we met was because of Latasha Johnson and a lot
of the ladies with Jack and Jill. She was the
one that told me how amazing you are and about
the amazing work that you're doing. And I know you
are part of the breakfast that they're doing this Saturday.
(17:15):
And so how did your relationship with Jack and Jill
come about?
Speaker 2 (17:22):
It was, well, they just showed up. They I didn't
know Jack and Jill from anybody else. I got a
phone call and said, can we come over? I think
they said that was about five years ago. Can we
come over and talk to you about our organization?
Speaker 1 (17:45):
Okay?
Speaker 2 (17:45):
And I said yes, And they said we want to
help you.
Speaker 1 (17:49):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
And I said okay. She said what's a good time.
I said whatever time you have, because I can make time.
Because if you're gonna help me, you're gonna help these children.
So from that day forward, everything just bloomed. Everything was
a go. I mean they came out, Jack and Jail.
(18:13):
This organization is an organization that want to help people
that are doing great things in the community. I can
pick up the phone now and said we need this. Well,
most of the time I don't have to pick up
the phone because they would call me and say, do
(18:33):
you need this? Will it? What are you all doing
for the summertime? What are you all doing for Christmas?
What are you all doing for Thanksgiving?
Speaker 1 (18:45):
So it sounds like they've just come along kind of
been that Auntie of the program. Yes, and you know.
Speaker 2 (18:51):
A surge and parents of the program.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
Yes, that's awesome. So shout out to Jack and Jail
the organization here in Memphis, and again thank you to
Latasha and Tracy and Marcia for putting us together.
Speaker 2 (19:09):
Yes, Marcy's daughter huh, she's she's in college huh, first year,
but she has her own little foundation. Oh wow, and
she donates to us to the children.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Huh.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
It may be chips food. Also, there's another Jack and
Jill mom child which is in college. Her name is
Jazz when it's Jazz from foundation. They also help donate
to vance Avenue Youth Development. What is that?
Speaker 1 (19:46):
How does that make you feel when you see young
people coming together to help you help other young people?
How does that make you feel wonderful? I know it does.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
I mean like I'm their parents. Well really mostly I am,
but not biological biological. But it makes me feel good
to see other young people reaching out helping other young people,
because nowadays it's not like that. Most of them they
(20:16):
would say I got minds, now you have to get yours.
But these young ladies they reach out and help hundreds
of children. That comes through those doors every day.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
And you've been in existence, you told me, since nineteen
ninety one. So how many children have you seen, I
guess graduate from being a part of Vance Avenue Youth
Development Center.
Speaker 2 (20:39):
How many thousands? I have four generations thousands, Yep, I
have four generations of children. I'm working up. My fourth
generation child is there at the center. Wow, Advance Avenue.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
And I think that child is about five years old.
Speaker 1 (21:00):
That's awesome.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
But we only take the children. We're not a daycare center.
So let me explain that we are at risk safe
haven program. We're there to help keep the children off
of the streets.
Speaker 1 (21:14):
I love that. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (21:15):
And of course homework and tutoring. We make them do
homework in our music class. We did have Spanish classes.
But first of all, we're a non profit organization. I
don't get paid. Our volunteers are not compensated. I'm not compensated.
(21:39):
So when we have volunteers to come in, that's what
it's exactly what it is, strictly volunteer.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
That's rare that you hear an organization, somebody over an
organization say that nobody gets paid, even the founder.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Correct, that's rare. And every donation when we get it
goes one hundred percent back into that organization, not me,
not in my pocket, but to those children and their
and their families.
Speaker 1 (22:11):
So if people, if somebody is listening now and they
want to give back to your organization, how do they
do that?
Speaker 2 (22:19):
Well, we have a website. We really have two, but
the newest one is not completely up. If they want
to donate, they can go to Youth Depth Center dot
org and that's y OEU t H D as in
(22:40):
David E v as in Victor Center c E n
t e r dot org.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
So Youth said again, youth d d e V c
e n t e r dot org. I was typing
it in as we were talking.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Youth Depth Center. I see it. You can click on
the box. That's how we in the process of putting
up a new website, updated one. But if they go there,
it may looks like it's not that much. It's click
the little box and you will see galleries pictures.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
But where do you go to donate? I see where
you go to volunteer.
Speaker 2 (23:26):
You click the donate button. I think it's the blue button.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Okay, I'm looking to see that.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I didn't set up the website. Miss one of our
other volunteers set it up. Jurea sharky.
Speaker 1 (23:42):
I see it, I see it. The donate got it, okay,
and then you click donate again and you just tell
them how much you want to pay or what you
want to donate. That's awesome. So you made it easy
for people to help out your organization. Yes, and not
only can they donate that way, but you take what
(24:05):
other donations do you take for your organization?
Speaker 2 (24:08):
We take monetary donations, We take clothes, We take food, clothes,
not torn up clothes, not.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Gently used or new us.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Or new clothes because the children need them.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:21):
We even take appliances if somebody's changing their appliances or
furnituring their homes. We take that too, because we have
children that don't have anything. We have children at our
center that are homeless. They're homeless. Most of them are
(24:42):
living in shelters or hotels for a little while.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
If I had a place to put them, I would, right,
but unfortunately I don't. But that I center have helped
with rent, utilities, food thanks to Pastor Key Saint John
Baptist Church. If we don't have enough food to give,
(25:07):
you know, extra food. Yeah, then I would send them
over or ask Saint John's Church or Pastor Key, can
you help this family out? Yeah, and they have been
so grateful as far as helping them out.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Pastor Key, I know you see all of that come
back to you because you mentioned that when you were
talking about the children.
Speaker 3 (25:27):
And it's again one of the adages I have at
Saint John Vance is if it's not a ministry, you
shouldn't be doing it. So I will make sure that
whatever whatever we're able to do outlest me. Yeah, and
the ministries are growing. We are a member of Saint
John Vance as a member of the Mid South Food Bank, okay,
(25:49):
and we feed every other Friday from ten to twelve,
and in between times if we get other allotments from
the food bank, we certainly look to our neighbor because
there feeding the young and so forth. And yeah, it's
always the need, and the need is, as you all know,
it's getting larger and burgeoning over times.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, that's what I was gonna ask. How how how
much bigger has the need gotten today than it was
maybe five ten years ago.
Speaker 3 (26:17):
I'd say it's quadruple at least, you know, pre COVID
times things looked at a lot different. Yeah, but now
there have been other avenues that have opened up with
food supplies Feeding America. Yeah, and a lot of the large,
larger organizations Saint John fees through the food Bank as
a part of that that mechanism, so we're able to
(26:38):
do more and we thank God for that for the ministry.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah, And I do still think it's
amazing too that people can go to the website and give,
because often we hear of I don't know an organization
that I've talked to that has shared with me some
of the things that you've shared, Miss Nesbitt, and even
(27:04):
you passed the key. There are plenty out there that
are doing amazing work. But to hear that all of
the donations go towards the kids and is powerful, I think.
And it's a testament too of your passion for the
work that you do.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
So thank you, well, thank you. But also we've had
people to come I don't they've said, well, this is
for you for your work. My work is done when
every child has a meal to eat, clothes on their backs,
a bid to lie in and sleep and get up
(27:48):
in the morning, say thank you Jesus. Wow, that's it.
But we also have other volunteers, responsors or volunteers like
for instance, Cromp Station Police Department, Miss Melanie Dorsey. They
also have helped with sheets and towels and blankets. Germantown
(28:15):
Athletic Club. As far as tennis shoes, sneakers, they have helped.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Do you take gently worn tennis shoes and things like
that as well?
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Yes, you would be surprised when we get those items.
We put them there the children's shop. Now, these are
children that don't go ten miles, ten blocks out of
their radius, but they get out there. They ask for
a shopping bag and said, Miss Barber, you got a bag,
and they shop for the whole family, believe it or not,
and these clothes are like treasures to them.
Speaker 1 (28:47):
Wow. Wow.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
In our neighborhood, we partner with other people, other organizations
like the Crenshaw Library, Mr. Ernest Miss Little reading them
down there. They may bring us books because they, believe
it or not, children like to read. Yeah, they love
to read.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Like teaching them how to fish, put a book in
front of them.
Speaker 2 (29:10):
But a book in front of them there can read
for a lifetime. We also promise I mean partner with
Promised Development, which they help with housing, the hospitality Hub
we help, well, we send people to them, so we
(29:32):
partner with them. Also. Anybody that can help somebody we
will help.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
That's wonderful.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
We try our best. Now getting back to our graduate graduates.
Speaker 1 (29:44):
Well, we were running out of town, so I did
want to get back to how people can give to
the organization before we go. Okay, because we got about
a minute. So people can come to Van Avenue Youth
Development Center. And what is the address again?
Speaker 2 (30:03):
The address is six seven zero Vance Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
three eight one two six.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Okay, And what is your phone numbers?
Speaker 2 (30:14):
Oh, I want to reach you nine O one five
two seven one one four five. Give me that again
nine O one nine O one five two seven one
one four five. And the website is Youth d e
V Center dot org. Correct, And we have an email address, okay,
(30:37):
and that's Vance app one the number one at A
T T dot net. And that's V as in Victor
as an apple ends it is and nazis cis and
Charles is an Edward as an Apple again, V as
in Victor E is an Edward. The number one at
a t T dot net.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Wonderful. Thanks, thank you guys again for coming to be
a part of the shank You appreciate you and it's
so great to hear about the work that you're doing.
You're doing God's work, and thank you for being a
light in the city that maybe a lot of people
don't see, but the kids see it and God sees
it and that's what matters the most. Thank you, so
thank you again, Pastor and Mana. Thank you again. Miss Nesbit,
(31:21):
You're welcome, and thank you Emily. Okay, that's the pulse.
I'm stormy. We keep our fingertips on the pulse of
our community. We'll see you next week, same time, same station.
God bless you have a great week.
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