Stay Modern With Murray
Welcome to the Stay Modern with Murray Podcast, your go-to source for the latest trends and insider tips in the homebuilding industry. Each episode, we delve into the dynamic realms of design and construction, providing valuable insights that can elevate your understanding and approach to building and renovating homes.
But we don’t stop there! We go beyond mere construction topics to engage with influential figures such as business owners, CEOs, entrepreneurs, and community leaders. These conversations highlight the experiences and expertise of those who are making significant impacts in their respective fields. Here, you will discover not only innovative ideas and practices within homebuilding but also inspirational stories that showcase leadership and creativity in action.
Whether you're a homeowner, a potential builder, or simply interested in the housing industry, our podcast will offer a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Join us as we explore the intersection of home construction and the vibrant discussions that can help shape the future of your projects. Tune in to enrich your understanding and spark new ideas in homebuilding, design, and business leadership!
Please tune in to hear from industry experts, non-profits, and local business leaders shaping our world. Visit our website at www.murraycustomhomes.com/podcast for more information and to catch the latest episodes. Subscribe today and stay modern with Murray!
Stay Modern With Murray
Stories of Hope: Advocating for a Brighter Future with Natalie Roberts-Day
Natalie Roberts Day, the Executive Director of Voices of Hope in Lincoln, joins us to share her inspiring journey in victim advocacy and her fervor for empowering youth. Discover how her personal experiences and professional background have shaped her path and learn why equipping young people with the tools to become future community leaders is so crucial. We also celebrate the community's commitment, highlighted by a successful benefit golf tournament hosted by Murray Custom Homes, as Voices of Hope nears its 50th year of service.
Our conversation explores the critical need for community involvement to support violence survivors. We explore the impactful partnership between Voices of Hope and Murray Custom Homes and initiatives like the Healthy Relationships program with Lincoln Public Schools. We hear personal stories of overcoming trauma and discuss the vital role education plays in breaking cycles of abuse. Advocacy is not just about immediate support; it's about creating lasting, positive change for future generations.
Welcome to another episode of Stay Modern with Murray, brought to you by Murray Custom Homes, where we build your dream home together. Now sit back, buckle up and enjoy the ride with your host, matt Murray.
Speaker 2:What up, what up, everybody. Thank you for joining us on another episode of Stay Modern with Murray. I am your host, matthew Taylor pinch, hitting for the day for Matt Murray. Today we are in the Murray studio speaking with the executive director of Voices of Hope here in Lincoln, natalie Roberts Day. Natalie, thank you for joining us today. I can't thank you enough for everything you guys do in our community. I personally know a lot about you, but could you please tell our listeners a little bit about yourself personally and professionally, please?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I guess, personally and professionally, I grew up in Lincoln, primarily graduated from Northeast High School, and then I went to college at Hamlin University up in St Paul, minnesota, and while I was there I took a class called Living in a Rape Culture what Are we Doing About it? And I really had a chance to start to understand a little bit more about the impact and just the scope of the problem of intimate partner and sexual violence in our country and also learn that these forms of violence are not fixed or culturally, historically, something that has to be the way it is and can be changed. And so part of that class was answering the question what are we doing about it? And through that I got to get involved in an agency, much like Voices of Hope up in St Paul, that provided direct service via a crisis line and via hospital advocacy to victims of sexual violence, and that really sparked a passion for me.
Speaker 3:When I graduated, I went and worked at Friendship Home and was the children's advocate there they're a domestic violence program here in Nebraska or here in Lincoln, excuse me and really kind of fell in love with doing this sort of victim advocacy work.
Speaker 3:But alongside that I had also been working as a camp counselor at YMCA Camp Kataki and really found a passion for working with youth and supporting them and connecting them with the outdoors, and so I actually sidestepped my career in victim services for a little bit. I meant to just do that for a year or two. When a full-time position opened up at Kentucky, I thought, oh, I'll do that while I'm young, I'll go and be the program director there, ended up staying there 14 years and really loved the work. Loved the chance to bring that passion for teaching youth in age-appropriate ways about things like consent and healthy relationships through those programs, but really missed that direct service work and so in 2017, I started volunteering on the crisis line of Voices of Hope. Executive Director of Voices retired at the end of 2022. It was the perfect alignment of where I was at in my career path and my passion and what the agency needed at the time, and so I was very excited to step into the professional role of Executive Director.
Speaker 2:So where are you originally from?
Speaker 3:So born here in Lincoln, lived in Omaha for a little bit and, like I said, moved to St Paul for a bit of time and then primarily have been Lincolnite the whole of my life.
Speaker 2:It's the biggest smallest town I've ever been a part of.
Speaker 3:Oh, genuinely, the amount of times where I will realize that I am connecting with someone who I know because I worked with their camper at Kentucky, or because they graduated from Northeast the year before or after me. Whatever it might be, it really is just a wealth of different connections.
Speaker 2:A side note on Camp Kentucky, so we were talking before we went live. I coach baseball, soccer, football, everything. My biggest thing is growing up. I heard so much about oh, it's your generation, it's your generation. You guys are ruining everything and nobody would ever do anything to help us and not saying you know that we needed help or anything. But the one thing that always drove me crazy is everybody talks about the youth these days, the kids these days, but nobody's willing to go out of their way to step in and help those kids.
Speaker 3:Oh man, you're keying me up for something that we can definitely talk about a little bit later when we get into a little bit more of what Voices is doing in our community with prevention work. But I'm very excited because that is a huge passion of mine is saying, yes, these youth are struggling and there is so much opportunity for growth and support and if we can just get the right pieces into place then they can thrive and they can help change the world for the better.
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, you're speaking my language. I say all the time these are the people that are going to be leading our community. These are the next generation of leaders in our community. We have to do what we can to put them on the right path Absolutely. Let's talk a little bit about the golf tournament. For those of you that don't know Murray Custom Homes, murray Enterprises. We hosted a benefit golf tournament for Voices of Hope to help raise money in our community for your guys' establishment. I felt like it was an incredible day. We had so many people that came and went. Throughout the entire day I was posted up on a whole helping collect people's money for donations and everything for Voices of Hope. I had a blast. I know everybody around here did. What was the biggest surprise, I would say for you about the golf tournament?
Speaker 3:I think the biggest surprise for me is just seeing how enthusiastic everyone was for the day and how much people were really fired up to be able to give back to an important cause like Voices in Our Community.
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, and it was great seeing you two at the end of it. That was an incredible experience for all of us here at Murray Custom Homes. Give us a bullet point breakdown what Voices of Hope does in the community, how long they've been around we know how long you've been a part of it now, but kind of what do they do and how would you explain it to somebody that has no idea what Voices of Hope is?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so I'll start with just how long we've been around. So we're coming into our 50th year here in our community and Voices has had a couple of different iterations over the years, but has been doing this work in our community for that amount of time, has been doing this work in our community for that amount of time and we work with individuals and families who've experienced domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, intimate partner violence in its many different forms, and we do that through a range of services. So I mentioned the crisis line. We offer a 24-7 phone support for anyone who might need help with processing. You know, something that maybe happened 20 years ago and for some reason, something has reminded them of it at 2 am and they just need someone to remind them. You're not going crazy. This is a normal part of the healing process.
Speaker 3:Sometimes someone might be calling our crisis line because they are actively in a violent or threatening situation and they are needing help to create steps toward safety for themselves and their family.
Speaker 3:So we might help with relocation assistance or with getting a protection order. We offer walk-in hours Monday through Friday to be able to connect with people face-to-face, as well as support groups. We do hospital advocacy. So whenever someone presents for a forensic exam, either for a sexual assault or for a domestic assault, one of our advocates is called out to connect with that victim to make sure that they know that they're not alone, to know that they have rights, to know that they are able to have voice and choice in a process that is often scary and confusing, at a time when power and control have been taken away from them. Our advocates are there to help give them that power back and remind them that they are strong and that they're courageous for coming and seeking help and we also, through that range of 24 that there are resources out there, and get them connected through the warmest handoff possible with whatever needs they might have in our community.
Speaker 2:Yeah, how does someone get involved? If somebody wanted to help, I mean, how would somebody go about? You know, not stepping into an executive director role, but maybe a crisis hotline help or anything like that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, you know. So there's a wide range of ways that you can get involved. You know, if you are looking for that sort of direct service, you want to be the person who answers that phone line. We do have volunteers that help support that. They're always backed up by staff. So if you're nervous, like what if I get into a situation that I don't know what to do, our staff are there to help support you.
Speaker 3:But we have our next training coming up in January. It's a 36-hour training. So it is a big commitment, but we want to make sure that the individuals who are answering that line are trauma-informed, domestic violence informed and well-prepared to help meet the needs in our community, and so that's a great way to get involved. If you are not looking for kind of that big of a commitment.
Speaker 3:There's so many different ways to help support survivors in our community. You know, whether that is financially, through something like the golf tournament that Murray Custom Homes has helped generously support, or whether that is, you know, donating to causes like Voices, whether that is just spreading awareness in our community, you know, and just reaching out when you see something that gives you pause or makes you worry and saying like, hey, are you okay, I know this place Voices of Hope. Let me give you their number, if it's safe to do so Just doing whatever you can do to let the people in our community who might be experiencing violence know that they have someone in their corner and that they don't have to keep experiencing what they're experiencing alone.
Speaker 2:So we're going to get personal real quick on my on my end. When I was raised by all women in my, in my family, I was raised by my mother, my grandmother, my sister, um, and I come from, you know, let's just be honest, a trauma filled background, right, my, my mother did everything she could to protect my sister and myself. She worked countless jobs hours on end. That being said, you know, when my sister started dating, you could see a cycle I call it the vicious cycle, and we have to break this vicious cycle. So that's when, you know, when I heard about Voices of Hope and Murray partnering, I jumped all over the opportunity to be a part of it. Anything I could do to help, I want to help, but, all that being said, you have to I don't know how to put this, but not repeat, that's not the word I'm looking for but you have to kind of see. You know, whole families that are involved with this Is that, is that? Would that be true?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so unfortunately, we do see. You do see someone who maybe we worked with 10, 20 years ago who maybe was experiencing intimate partner violence and maybe their child came to our child care for support group or things like that. Unfortunately, the reality is we do see some of those folks come back needing services themselves when they're an adult and that's why we are really committed to intervening where we can. We started a pilot program with Lincoln Public Schools, a healthy relationships for adolescents group, where we are working to provide support groups during the school day, because we recognize there's a lot of barriers to getting to some place after school or on the weekend or things like that. So during the school day, the opportunity for social workers who have identified students who maybe are at risk of experiencing an unhealthy relationship or currently exhibiting patterns of unhealthy relationships, having them have a chance and a space to process, to share and to learn about other ways of experiencing relationships more healthy, more equitable, more respectful ways that a partner might treat you and we've been seeing some really great results from that. We're continuing to try and expand that work. We started with two high schools, we're in three now and we're working on expanding to a fourth, hoping to be in all high schools here in the coming years and really looking at what are more ways that we connect with youth through peer education and peer support models, what are other ways that we can create champions in our community.
Speaker 3:To say enough is enough, and we know that everyone deserves to live in a world free from violence in all its forms and we know that youth can help.
Speaker 3:But also we know that they're at a really volatile time.
Speaker 3:You know, some of the most at-risk time periods are in that period where they're establishing these patterns of behavior, these norms of what to expect in a relationship.
Speaker 3:And we want to teach them and help them understand that, even if they have been in an experience where they, you know, have been in an unhealthy or abusive you know have been in an unhealthy or abusive relationship or they've witnessed abuse in the home that there are other ways that those interactions can feel. And if you've never seen that before, if no one's ever told you that that is an option, then how are you going to know and how are you going to strive for that? And so trying to do everything we can to just build positive relationships with youth, and one of the cool things is so. We have an advocate from Voices going into those school programs alongside a social worker from the school building, and so it's not just someone comes in, pops in and then bounces at the end of the time. It's building stronger relationships and a wider circle of support with more caring adults, in the hopes that that trickles down to their intimate partner relationships as well.
Speaker 2:And I think you nailed it. The education piece is huge. So I'm recently nine years sober, you know, and part of the sobriety journey was getting counseling and I never thought you know, I don't have a problem, any of that, that was me right, I'm awesome, I'm perfect, I don't have any issues. No, dude, you couldn't have been further from the truth. So it was something that my counselor had pointed out For me. My upbringing was my upbringing and that's all I knew, and that kind of ties back to the vicious cycle that we were talking about, the circle. I kept telling him you know, that's just how my dad and I bonded, you know, we would go out and I was 12. We would go fishing and we would drink together, and anytime he would pick me up from my mom, we would drink on the way there and my counselor was like stop there, dude, like that's abuse. He's like that's not normal. I'm like, no, that's that's how everybody hung out with their dad, right, like he's like no man, you've got this so backwards. I say all that to say I think the education piece is huge because, again, you only know what you know in your upbringing is your upbringing. Your story is your story. So if, if I didn't know that that wasn't normal, that you know you're not supposed to go drink with dad, you're not supposed to be drinking at 10, 11, 12 years old, once that kind of opened my eyes to you know, I do have a story to tell and I do think I could help people.
Speaker 2:I started going out to high schools and I started with, like, wahoo High School. A couple of years back I went to the Lincoln Treatment Center up here and gave you know speeches and talked about my journey and my story. I think the more we get your guys's story out there and the options that people do have available to them in our community, the better, so that this podcast is huge. I want to reach as many people as we possibly can to let them know you know you are not alone.
Speaker 2:You do have help and that was a lot of the campaign that I did with the health department when all the overdoses started happening. They said you need to get your story out there because if you can help one person, you know that's a win in our community. I say all that to get to the point. You're, your job has to be a 24-7 thing. It has to be all in all the time you can't shut off, and I know that probably takes a toll on you, but at the same time that's got to be the most rewarding feeling, right?
Speaker 3:Oh, it's definitely some of the most rewarding work possible, and I will say that a lot of my job is to come to spaces like this and share about the amazing work that our frontline advocates are doing and share about the amazing work that our frontline advocates are doing, and so I do just want to name that that. Well, yes, there's people who maybe give me a call at 2 am because we need to maybe find a solution that's beyond our normal day-to-day operating. I definitely get some of that, but our frontline advocates are the ones who really bear the brunt of the vicarious trauma of this work and who take on the bulk of that 24-7 responsibility. So quick shout out to our direct service advocates, because they are really, really amazing. But, yeah, this work is heavy, it is stressful, and so needing to put good boundaries of self-care in place to be able to show up well in the work is really really important, and so, while in some ways like yes, you can't shut it off like that work is always there, there is always someone who is needing us at the hospital, or law enforcement calling, or someone calling the crisis line, or someone walking through our doors in active crisis.
Speaker 3:We also know that people deserve to show up well in all spaces, and so trying to find ways for me, as a leader, to model that and try to figure out how to say like, yes, I will always be able to answer your call when you need me, but I'm not going to check my emails today, so call if you need me, or whatever it might be, finding those tiny ways to put those boundaries in place not only is important from a wellness standpoint, but it's also what we want our clients that we're working with to be able to do, to be able to say you know, this is where I hold space for myself and my needs and I need everyone in my life to respect that. And so really trying to model through our work and show up as advocates in the ways that we hope will inspire the individuals that we're working with to realize that they are deserving of those same needs being met.
Speaker 2:You got to take care number one yourself to be able to help take care of other people and your self-worth, even your confidence, right? That'll show when you're having these conversations, when you're meeting with people and you're talking to families Like, if you're not taking care of your number one, then how can you help other people? Exactly, what does a day-to-day for Natalie look like?
Speaker 3:One of the things that I love most about my job is there is no predictable day-to-day. Like I said, sometimes it's a lot of meetings, either dreaming big kind of balcony level Like I said, sometimes it's a lot of meetings, either dreaming big kind of balcony level. What are we going to do to, you know, really collaborate and create cross trainings to change systems? You know, really look at how can we make sure that every place that a domestic violence survivor or sexual assault survivor might be interacting with whether that's the criminal justice system, school systems, whatever it might be, because this touches every walk of life we want to make sure that every space is ready and informed to provide as much support as possible. So that's a lot of. What I get to do is that sort of high level work, but sometimes I do get to do the direct service work.
Speaker 3:You know, we are a small staff team and we're a really grassroots driven sort of started with advocates just coming together and figuring out. You know how do we create out of nothing a response for individuals experiencing violence in our community, and so it's scrappy. Sometimes it's scrappy where it's just like, ok, who's jumping in here, we've got to have somebody accompany this person to court. But we also need somebody to go to the hospital, and every room is full in our office right now and all advocates are all hands on deck. So number one in that moment jumping in, helping, you know, answer the phones, get people seated to a room, whatever it might be, and then also doing the back end work of wow, that was a really intense day team.
Speaker 3:What do we need to create support for each other? You know we've been slammed kind of over and over and over again. How do we debrief and how do we make sure that we're not just like compartmentalizing and putting that away into a box and not processing the impact that this is having on us? Because a lot of times, the nature of our work is we are meeting people at their moment of most extreme crisis. Maybe they were just beaten up by their partner and so they're at the hospital and that's really heavy, heavy work.
Speaker 3:And so what can we do to show up in the ways that people need us and how do we move forward with that is a lot of my job is just figuring out. How do we get the resources that we need when we identify? Oh, you know we are really seeing a huge uptick in the number of Spanish-speaking clients that we have. How do we get more Spanish-speaking advocates? That's kind of my job is to figure out. How do we get the resources that we need so that the people who have this passion and this knowledge can keep on providing this essential, life-saving work in our community.
Speaker 2:I think you nailed it a couple different times there. What I hear you talk about and what I hear you saying is team Lots about you guys working together, collaborating, communication and teamwork. What is the? I guess how many employees are employed with Voices of Hope, or a roundabout number there?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so roundabout 20 full time staff and then we have, like I said, some part time staff and volunteers and on calls that help us do this work as well. But it can be a lot. Last year we served almost 2,700 individuals and families, and so when you're doing the math of what that means per advocate, we have a very small administrative team. It's a lot of folks doing that direct service work, and so it creates a lot of gaps, it creates a lot of spaces where we need help and support, and so having partners like Murray who are willing to say like we know that the need is there and we know you're meeting the need, how can we help you is incredibly valuable for us.
Speaker 2:It's probably one of my most proud you know moments of being a part of this the last two years or year and a half, or however long I've been here at this point, but this, these past couple of weeks, have been my proudest moments working alongside you guys. And you know it's um. You're, you're benefiting or you're helping for generations to come. It's not just mom, dad or, you know, mom, sister. It's again creating that healthy lifestyle for the kids that are watching, the youth that are watching. So you know, hats off to you that I love helping you tell your story. I think the more we can do this, the better. Let's talk about the age range. It's got to be. You know what are the typical ages that come in and see you guys.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so we primarily work with adults. So there are other agencies that are more focused on kind of youth who've experienced abuse, things like that. However, like I said, we recognize that to be able to be serving adults most effectively, if we want to get into the work of preventing adults needing our services, that starts with youth. And so I mentioned that we have support groups. We do child care in those support groups and those those like youth specific group opportunities are great ways to be teaching small little interventions you know hands are not for hitting ask before you touch. All of those little things make a bigger difference than we realize.
Speaker 3:And so, while our programs might be adult focused, we're trying to do everything we can at every contact point that we have with the youth, because a lot of times mom might come in and bring kids with or whatever. It might be where we have that opportunity, trying to maximize that to really give that vision for what a respectful interaction with youth and child or youth and adult looks like. And then I mentioned that partnership with Lincoln Public Schools. We do a lot of different education and awareness opportunities and so really, again, while adults might be our primary focus and kind of you know a lot of our services. We do have lots of different ways that we are connecting with youth and connecting with families in our community.
Speaker 2:I'm going to, after this next week sometime, I'm going to shoot you an email and see how I can kind of get involved. I know we're involved but I want to, you know, volunteer and see what kind of stuff I can help out with with the youth-specific stuff there. All that being said, I know, because I used to work for the government, that this line of work comes with its hoops, its challenges. I can't imagine you guys can just operate on just a couple grants that you were given. So what does it look like to fund a program for you guys? I know that's getting into the weeds of it and it wasn't on the notes, but it's something that interests me. I want to know what goes all into that.
Speaker 3:I'm really glad you asked because actually, at a time when the needs have never been higher, you know, post-covid, where people were isolated in their homes, where someone is already purposefully isolating someone from friends and family the knock-on effects of that are things that we are still seeing today in increase in requests for services. At the same time, we've experienced some significant funding cuts. So Voices historically had a very large portion of our program funded through the Victims of Crime Act or VOCA, and in 2023, they announced a 40% cut, which 40%, 40% which amounted to almost $200,000 for Voices. That was funding our core services, like our direct walk-ins hospital response, our 24-7 response services, and the need for those 24-7 services has only increased, and so we've been desperately trying to plug gaps, you know, through every opportunity possible. But the need is too great and unfortunately, they've announced the expectation of another 40% cut to that fund. So I've been, you know, doing everything I can to let people know about this and luckily, it's not just Vo voices in this. You know, reach out to lawmakers if you're interested in learning more.
Speaker 3:The Nebraska Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence has some great resources available to learn more about kind of how to take action, but it is a time when we need help. Being completely honest, you know we have always had to weather different. You know funding cuts or different things. You know some donor doesn't have the ability to donate this year that's expected but this is a massive cut that, unless something is done, is going to impact our ability to provide those core direct services. And if we can't provide those direct services, then there's no way that we can have the resources to be dreaming big toward those next step, future interventions to create the systems and to create the healthy futures that we are wanting for our youth. And so, yeah, any help that is able to be provided not just to Voices but, like I said, to any cause that you are passionate about that works with victims is in need right now, in desperate need.
Speaker 2:So how can people help? I mean, we've talked a lot about volunteering and volunteering time. How can somebody get a hold of you guys? What can we, what can be done, what can we do? How do they, how do people help?
Speaker 3:Yeah. So ways, big and small, you know, if you have an extra $50 laying around that you are like, yeah, I could donate that somewhere, this is a great time to donate that to a victim services agency. Most places will be running an end of year campaign. Voices of Hope will be one of them. So if you wanted to support Voices directly, you can watch our social media or sign up for our newsletter and we can let you know how you can connect with us directly. Other ways that you can support Voices if you have a workplace that might be interested in doing something like a hygiene drive.
Speaker 3:We give a lot of basic needs to people because maybe you've left home with just the clothes on your back and you're fleeing for safety and you have nothing, and so if we can just get a few of those basic needs met for you, then that's just one less stress at a time when everything is already chaos.
Speaker 3:Similarly, gift card drives Sometimes we're trying to help someone relocate out of state or to another community and having you know gas gift cards or grocery gift cards can help make sure that they can get from point A to point B. There are so many different ways. Like I said, you know, sometimes it's just letting someone know. Maybe you don't have the resources, but maybe you can let someone know hey, did you know that there are a lot of great agencies doing this work in our community and they really need our help right now? Yeah, so just lots of different ways that you can get involved, whether it's spreading the word, donating personally or, like I said, encouraging lawmakers to create sustainable funding sources, Because, as much as I love that Marie is willing to stand up and do a golf tournament for us, what we need is for these state-mandated services to be appropriately funded, and I get that it's a really hard time for everybody in so many ways, but the need is not going anywhere, unfortunately, and we want to be able to meet that need.
Speaker 2:No, it's never going to get to a point where it's completely obsolete and everything's just perfect because we're all living in a human world. But a hygiene drive, a coat drive I'm assuming clothing drive, gift card drive, like you said, if you're listening and it never fails, you know somebody will be listening that's going through it right now. That needs somebody, like you, natalie. If that person is listening, how do they go about it, getting services and finding help through you guys?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so there's a range of ways that you can connect with us.
Speaker 3:So if you have the ability and it's safe to do so, you can call our crisis line at 402-475-7273.
Speaker 3:That's a 24 hour line and we're always ready to reach out and connect you with support. Next steps, just be a listening ear to help. We also have walk-in hours, so we have 9 to 4 on Monday, tuesday and Thursday, 1230 to 4 on Wednesday and 9 to 1230 on Friday, and so you can stop by, walk, walk in if you are needing support, like I said, getting a protection order, talking through next steps, just needing someone to process with. And we also recognize that you know sometimes it's not safe for someone to call, not safe for someone to could just come to our office, and so we also have things like a crisis email and things like that. So if you visit our website, which is VoicesOfHopeLincolnorg, then there are different opportunities to connect and it can kind of explain in a little bit more detail all of the different ways that you are able to reach out for help and support. And just want to let anyone who might be listening know that you are not alone and that we are here for you if you ever need anything and yeah.
Speaker 2:You were talking about what's coming, what's next, you know, and if money was no object and you had all the grants and funding that you needed, what is next? Steps for Voices of Hope and for Natalie here.
Speaker 3:Oh, that's big. You know, I would start and I would just make sure that we had the resources to meet the need and to meet the different culturally specific needs in our community. I think we do a really great job with that through having a diverse staff and through having a wide range of partnerships, but I would love to just expand our team a lot more. I would love to be in more schools and I would love to be starting younger. You know, my dream is that we could have a continuum, whether that's through voices or through partnering agencies, where every youth was receiving a comprehensive, healthy relationships education as a part of their, you know, just general day-to-day schooling, and we would love to be a part of developing all of that.
Speaker 3:And so, you know, those are some of our sort of big dreams. We have a lot of them. We have a lot of just facility needs, and so, you know, if I had more than a million dollars you know you're in the home industry, you know more than a million dollars, you know you're in the home industry, you know then I would love to have a purpose-built space that could just meet all of our dreams and have, you know, massive childcare spaces, outdoor spaces so that people could connect with nature and wellness while receiving healing. So you know, we've got lots and lots of big dreams, but I think we just want to start with. Just can we have the resources that we need to be able to meet the current demand? And that's, that's the hope, I guess.
Speaker 2:You know, starting to think about how diverse Lincoln and the surrounding areas are. You know, it's not just. You know Hispanic speaking people and English speaking people. You've got to run into all sorts of different cultures here in Lincoln.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, it's. One of my favorite things is that we are constantly challenged to learn about different populations and you know what are their cultural norms and things like that. And being able to find ways to meet people where they're at and walk alongside them in their journey and to learn alongside them is one of my favorite parts of the job. And, like I said, we have some really wonderful partners in the Asian Community and Cultural Center and El Centro and all of these different cultural centers here in the community that help guide our work. But you know we recognize that intimate partner violence, sexual violence, touch all different walks of life, all different demographics, but also that people who are marginalized, for whatever reason, are at higher risk of experiencing violence because they have less access to resources, less access to some of the means of power and control or just more vulnerable. And so really looking at how can we make sure that our services are responsive and adapt to the ever-changing needs in our community?
Speaker 2:Yes, ma'am, I don't want to hold you for much longer, but we're almost to my favorite part. I like going back in time. If you could have a conversation with younger Natalie, what's some advice or what would you tell your younger self to looking forward ahead in life?
Speaker 3:I guess I would tell myself that it matters. It matters that you care, it matters that you care, it matters that you're trying, it matters that you're showing up to the work. And so just you know, keep trying, keep shining, even when you are feeling doubtful, and also that the relationships that you're going to be forming all along the way of this journey are going to follow you and help you connect with resources and support in ways that you would never expect down the line. And so just invest in that and let that grow and ripple out.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, and, looking back, the relationships that you make coming up and growing up are not necessarily going to, you know, follow you for the rest of your life, but I do feel like a big part of what I was taught growing up was everybody matters. You know, I'm from a very diverse town, lexington, nebraska, way out West, and we had all walks of life out there and I wouldn't change that for anything. I love, I love where I come from, because it did make me a better person. When you, when you get up to somewhere like Lincoln or Omaha, it's not like culture shock, you know. Again, I want to. I want to give everybody the phone number that they can call and then the email and website. So, if you can go ahead, how do people reach you? One more time, natalie?
Speaker 3:So our 24 hour crisis line is 4 0 2. 4 7, 5, 7, 2 7 3. Our 802-475-7273. Our website is VoicesOfHopeLincolnorg and from that website you can connect with a range of ways to get in touch with us.
Speaker 2:Amazing, amazing, amazing. Again, I want to touch base with you guys after this weekend. I want to be able to help out with the youth in our community any way I can. Anything else that we need to hit on, Natalie, before we get you out of here.
Speaker 3:Just again want to express our gratitude for you guys' willingness to stand up and support survivors in our community and to help us do this work, and are grateful for the opportunity to share a little bit more today.
Speaker 2:You are an incredible person. There is not enough gratitude to go around for you and what you do. It's not easy. We gratitude to go around for you and what you do. It's not easy. We appreciate you. We appreciate being partners with you. Again, everybody, thank you for joining us on this Stay Modern with Murray podcast. I appreciate everybody's support. Reach out to Natalie voicesofhopelincolnorg. 402-475-7273. We look forward to seeing you on the next episode.
Speaker 1:If you have questions or topics you'd like us to discuss, you can email them to info at murraycustomhomescom. If you liked this episode, be sure to subscribe to Stay Modern with Murray on Apple and Spotify, or check back on our website and social media regularly for the latest episodes.
