The 480 Club: A Conversation with Joseph Hooks

Speaker A: Welcome to the RPP Exchange justice in

Speaker B: Practice, the podcast from the Racial and

Speaker A: Social Justice Collaborative where we bring researchers and practitioners together in equity based projects to advance justice and public education. I'm, um, your host, VIP Vaughn Parham. And today we're honored to welcome Joseph Hooks, an emerging leader, small business owner, program specialist, community advocate and coach. Joseph is the director of the 480 Club, a youth development organization that partners with schools in Montgomery county to provide safe spaces, mentorship and positive role models for young people. Through programs like Excel. Beyond the Bell, his team of coaches uses sports and recreation as a vehicle to help youth build self confidence, healthy relationships and lifelong skills. His career has spanned roles as a recreation specialist, educator and school liaison, um, as well as work with the Montgomery County State's Attorney's office as a truancy prevention coordinator. Across all of these spaces, Joseph has been a consistent advocate for young people, bringing deep expertise in counseling, trauma informed care, mentoring and positive youth development. Today we'll talk with Joseph about community partnerships, coaching and culturally responsive youth development and how it can help black boys and other people not only stay engaged in school, but truly thrive. In part two of this episode, we'll

Speaker B: hear directly from both a, uh, former member of the 480 Club and a current staff member offering even more insight into the impact of this amazing work. I wanted to get started today with, uh, some introduction and some personal journey questions.

Speaker C: Joel, we'll start with you and I

Speaker B: know you wear many hats. From director. Uh, can you walk us through your journey into youth development and what inspired your commitment to this work?

Speaker D: Sure. I'm glad to be here today. Thank you for the invitation, opportunity. So reflecting back, you know, youth development has grown and been infused more into our community school system. But I believe I'm a product of it. You know, using sports and education, mentorship, positive role models that have inspired me and helped me, um, through my journey. Playing, um, sports and playing in college. Graduated with a degree in leisure studies and graduated during a recession and didn't have a lot of opportunities. Not only one because of a recession, but two, um, because of my lack of experience and um, even pride of kind of having, I would say, part time, you know, jobs. I honestly graduated thinking that the world would be calling me instead of me having to call for opportunity. So after working through the system, um, going back to my roots being a substitute teacher working in a rec department nonprofit, um, one day I saw the other side and was motivated to create a company that helped fill the access gap and really to give what I had growing up and create things that I felt like that was needed, um, for my community, specifically Montgomery Village. And so for the last 12 years, uh, been honored to have founded and directed and led and worked with many to make impact through sports and positive development. Sports being the hook, positive development being the root, the core value that comes from the programs and services that we've been able to accomplish.

Speaker B: Please tell us the vision behind the 480 Club, which is what you're a director of, uh, where that started and where you plan for it to go.

Speaker D: One of my friends, and we all grew up playing sports and it was an off season and I knew down south, out west there was a lot of ongoing training to year round to be as equipped and prepared to compete at a high level. And so I had an opportunity where I actually, um, was at a podcast, ah, you know, radio show upstairs at a space. And I went downstairs and they said, have you seen this space before? And I was like, no. And it was like a multipurpose fitness gym. And I saw some turf in space and I went and I got introduced to the owner and he was like, you know, do we know each other? And I was like, yeah. Ah, ironically I was like, you didn't give me a job. He was a manager at a gym. And he said, well, how can I help you now? And I was like, well, this space right here could be used. We have a youth team that just came back from Florida, finished third or fourth place. And we want to keep them engaged and locked in mentally, physically, to be prepared for the next season. And so we started off with one day. It can do a lot. Um, we started off with eight hours, uh, two hours a week for four weeks was the amount of minutes. 480. And I didn't have a name. And I thought that was really strong, right? Like 480 clubs, it sounded like really like a muscle. And not only for the physical training that we gave them to get faster, stronger, tougher together, more connected together, but also the last 15 minutes was to inspire them. A motivational guest speakers from the NFL college alumni that can inspire them to be locked in not only for 480 minutes, but, um, together for their common goal. And so that was the core of the creation of 480Club. And I kept the name just to stay grounded and remember where we came from. And many of those kids today from that program, I'll start with success, are either in the NFL, have played college football, division one, two or three, um, who've graduated. And there's also those who are incarcerated, and there's also those who are passed on. Very humbling beginnings. And I, I was able to be the trainer all in. And 480 minutes was spent on exactly trying to fill the access gap, opportunity gap, because we didn't have a lot of spaces in our community to keep them engaged during those winter months. So we did that for about six years. First, um, year. Just kind of divide and conquer since then, free of charge. Um, and wanted to keep money in my community, not take money out.

Speaker B: Thank you. Thank you so much for that. It sounds like we have a lot in common. Working in schools. I've done some work in juvenile centers, community centers, and trying to bridge the gap between athletics and academics. What consistent needs have you noticed across these spaces when it comes to supporting young people, especially, uh, black and brown

Speaker D: boys, as a need? I mean, thank God and thankful for you pursuing the education and pathways to get to the platform so that we can lead us. I think what's missing is the representation of more males in the field, African American males. You know, I grew up in a very diverse community, more diverse than it is now. But I would say, you know, some of my favorite teachers and coaches have not been African American. But to see African Americans in the space, in that room made me feel more safer seen and heard. And so I think the training in not even being culturally competent, which I don't think you can be, is culturally humble. Um, being a black man, being a black father, all right, uh, being a student at a big university, it just isn't something that happens every day. So you're representing a pathway of success that man need to see, to pursue that and be motivated. And so the commonality is just that. You know, I grew up, my mom hired the medicine applesauce. And I think enrichment is very key. You know, taking them out of their normal community, getting them out of state, out of the county. You know, these field trips go a long way. So one day could do a lot is one of my philosophies, and could be a conversation, it could be an event. Um, but I think just the overall need is that breaking the stigma, having tough conversations and having representation so that we can infuse ourself to make the change that we need for ourself compared to someone else telling us what we need to help us out. And so we're all here today because of, uh, some roadblocks and successes. And we are here, I'll say, um, through God's work, to be able to impact others. To have a different pathway in success. And I think really I had to learn to turn my pain into purpose. So if things didn't work out, instead of being mad about it and not doing something about it, it was like do something about it and help others be happy about it.

Speaker B: So a little bit about me right now. I'm a doctoral student at the University of Maryland, and one of my research interests is athletic identity foreclosure. For the listeners, I can just give uh, a very brief overview of that. But it's when athletes, you know, this can happen at any level, they pour into their athletic identity and foreclose on some of the other identities, whether that be who they are, uh, academically or who they are as ah, just a person, members, uh, of their community. And a lot of times we see this because their athletic abilities are what are most recognized and what are most affirmed. So next question deals, uh, with some of that. How do you navigate the tension between helping young people pursue athletics while also ensuring they don't over identify with sports alone?

Speaker D: For me it's uh, tough love, you know, tough realities. The realities I think we need the transparency that I think they need to hear. Not caught off guard. You know, I think like I said, when I stuck came out of college, I didn't understand another my identity enough to pursue like the world opportunities. So there was a saying I said, and it was an acronym, right? And it was idc. So when someone texts you idc, what does that mean? I don't care.

Speaker B: I don't care.

Speaker D: Okay? But guess what? I do care. IDC means I do care. I don't care. Because we do care. And that was the philosophy that we were teaching Daryl and other chiefs because we try to prepare them that the world kind of doesn't care, but we care. And we want you to care about yourself beyond this result of this game, this season, this journey, so we can stay family, which the chief's brotherhood was. And um, you know, we're big on breaking statement mental health. But also at the same time, no one's gonna care about your excuses. No one's gonna care that much about how much you're having issues with tech on this, on this podcast. You gotta get it done, you gotta, you gotta get a result. And so infusing that into the young people in a way that they know I'm gonna be tough on them, but I'm gonna love them even harder. And so there's two type of athletes that I would always say, and respectfully, it's like either a Lab or you're a pit bull. Some people wanted to be just patted and loved. Like I had both dogs. I have, I have a dog now. My first dog for 17 years was a German shepherd. Lab. He'll do anything for me. Just pet him, love him, hug him, he's there for you. My other dog is a Rottweiler pit bull mix. You give him a stick, a challenge, he's ready to ride. And so you just gotta find out what uh, you know, feeds everybody. You're serving and everyone's different. But I think for me, you know, I, I had that tough love and transparency so that when you graduate college, I got two young men who just graduated. I'm like having those tough conversations early when I was graduating my last semester, I panic. I'm like, what am I graduating in? What am I doing? Because I was starting, because I was winning championships, because I had a trial with the Redskins. No one ever told me or had a tough conversation of, okay, what are you about to do after this? Um, so I want to make sure that I started off early on and educate them on how you can make other money, other things so that they're just not that one outlet. Because the guys that we saw, I mean I lost a couple players in suicide in the last year or two because. And uh, for me before 480 Club, I'll just say I wasn't making a lot of positive decisions either. And when I came back to volunteer at mv, it helped traject me away from some negativities that kept me accountable. So you got to get in these environments where you can feel safe to reidentify or accept that there's other things that you can or can that you want to be and be open about it and share about it so that uh, we're not scared. I used to hate the word no growing up, but I think these things happen for a reason. So we get to the right yeses and the right opportunities. So it's an ongoing thing but uh, especially now with technology and social media. So we got to be more forward facing in front of them, um, more so than ever.

Speaker B: So now I'm going to move into some of our work, uh, with research based partnerships and collaboration, um, which is the focus the RSJC and ah, a focus on this podcast. Um, we try to center these conversations around research practice partnerships where researchers like myself from the University of Maryland, um, and practitioners, people in the community on the ground doing the work like yourself, Joe, um, collaborate to address issues of equity. Uh, what does healthy collaboration look like for you? Whether that be in schools, uh, partnership with coaches, community stakeholders, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, um, how do you assess the effectiveness of those partnerships?

Speaker D: Yeah, um, so not all partnerships are good. Go good, um, we're good. And so I've had a lot of partnerships in my work. Can't do it alone. It takes a village. And I assess it with uh, equality being an equal partner at the table, but also um, being able to allow those to lead. So I think it's just um, pride, not ego is very key. Um, transparency, um, equitable funding or allocation is very important in collaboration. But having more so going back to the shared vision and mission and without that from a coaching standpoint, from a service standpoint, um, when you don't have everybody on the same page, when there's a lot of um, you know, uh, ego involved or power dynamics, it doesn't make a partnership successful because to the core of it, we gotta remember the young person that we're serving. And so in my work of collaborations like for us, we collaborated with coaches and we integrated evidence based curriculums and done some life skills and workforce development. And it isn't always easy, it's always been show improved. But I think we got to uh, educate and infuse ourself. Um, you know, return of investment. I think the best partnerships is when everyone has a return of investment and an investment in it. So it's not a one way uh, for somebody. Um, and so we would dive deep, have tough conversations and um, you know, show improved so that it was spread. And so we've been able to partner with a lot of different coaches, different schools, from elementary, middle school and high school to fill that need. And you know, I've turned down partnerships. I've walked away, departed from four of our school based centers in high school because I felt like the partnership was um, the mission, the mission of the services was fine. But the, but the, the vision didn't align. The equality, the equity, the transparency, the toxicity. And you know, I did that move in an awareness for not only me and my team, which was a team decision, so that we can be where we're supposed to be, where God wants us to be to do this work. And so standing on that business is very important, um, with principle because there are so many people who rely on us and I can't um, allow need to serve someone the best when we don't have the things that we need to, to do the best that we can. And so um, yeah, but you know, I love collaborations. I have a lot of great partnerships that allow uh, us to do the great work and, and support others workers as well.

Speaker B: What advice would you give to academics or institutions who, who want to partner with community rooted programs like yours in a way that's ethical and equitable? Joe, I heard you speak on it about sometimes partnerships, um, having hidden motives or, uh, Joe, you saying not having maybe common goals, um, how would you, what advice would you give to these big institutions that uh, are looking to reach the guys and the guys on the ground and the students who uh, are the center of some of these conversations?

Speaker D: I will say humility, uh, humility is very key. It's not about them, it's not about us, it's about them, the students. It's not about the school, it's about students, about the community. And so we're already outnumbered and less thereof in regards to representation. But regardless of who it is, everyone can serve everyone. We all love our moms who've been our best life coaches. If you have your mom in your life and, but I look back at it is that we all get this tough stuff, but then a lot of us go back to our mom, love our mom, tough love, right. But to answer your question too, is like the work that we do and the work that I've done and the people that I brought on my team. You can read a book, you can memorize a formula, with all due respect, but can you walk the walk? Can you talk the talk? Can you come into our neighborhood, into our schools? And so I think the combination of education and allowing less of those stigmas or barriers to be infused. Right, let's partner being our biggest state college. I think it would be great to see University of Maryland to create and fund, you know, district wide countywide success. Coaches, youth development specialists, so we can get more of our students, more of our minority students to apply to University of Maryland to be, to be on campus, to be, you know, we have six people in a row who've been a college student athlete at University of Maryland. Iverson Howard's a running back in Maryland right now, today as a freshman. We've had Adam, Adam McLean, we've had Keandre Jones, we've had Caden Prather, who all come through where we grew up, who play for the Terps. But there's other ways to go through Maryland, Study biology, engineering, social work, education. Um, but I would say it doesn't seem as accessible if you don't have certain things in place, if you don't go to a certain high school, if you don't take certain IB classes if you don't dress a certain way, if you don't talk a certain way. And I know Maryland History, University of Maryland, um, is okay now, but it isn't honestly the greatest. And it comes down to how we integrated us into the school. But I think today's a new day. We have a lot of great people, a lot of great professors I've gone to meet along the way from doing some focus groups. And I just think the more we create pathways and partnerships to be equal partner instead of being kind of told and tailored, that I think there could be a lot of great work. And I do a lot of that work locally with University at shady groves. Um, Dr. Ann Koonin is very. She comes from a sports background, and she makes me feel always at space and at ease on. We've done trainings there, we've brought students there, and so it's just working together because we all need somebody. Nobody needs nobody. And I think, um, you know, I'm not telling University of Maryland what to do, but I think they could ask, what can we do? And that right there, just being asked, not being a expert, not being reading a book, not having a certification, because I got a certification on Guyana Village. I got a certification in being a black man. I got a certification on, um, success and struggles. And I think that's just as valid as a degree or something that I don't have. But we can do something like that together. Um, the combination can really be powerful impact.

Speaker B: Great answer, Joe.

Speaker C: And it sounds like what you're speaking

Speaker B: to is what we call, um, in academia, qualitative data. I think data sometimes when it's quantitative, it speaks to the numbers in the statistics, and qualitative data speaks more to the lived experience and empowering voices. I think that's a good segue. We talk about centering the voices of, uh, young people of color. Um, what advice would you give to researchers seeking to do that? In my research, I'm actually planning through my dissertation, uh, to write an autoethnography, um, where I'll be telling my story. And then I hope to empower, using participatory action research, the voices of other students to try to bring together one body of work where we have multiple experiences. Um, how would you advise researchers who are looking to empower voices or center the voice of young people?

Speaker D: I'll go back to the humility, you know, so I saw a posting from, uh, MCPS, Dr. Howard, who runs MC on the team on MCPS Equity, and I got a Late email but I saw a posting where University of Maryland and I guess in partnership with MCPS was looking for 10 graduates, African American males to do a focus group. It saddens me and but it's a reality that they had a hard time finding 10. Do you know how many black males graduated in the last 10 years from MCPS? We can ask Jack CBT, it's going to tell you ten hundred thousand plus had graduated. Right. And so I'm like you know uh, wasn't conversated. I felt like step in and I reached out to my network and I found 10 black graduates to do a focus group with the University of Maryland and talk about their experiences. And I also humbly connected them to college tracks which worked for two year and four year students um, that are non athletes to connect with them at high level schools. And I also connecting them with someone to go to the Clarksberg jail because my student athletes were there which we have a different qualitative and quantitative data but I wanted all spectrum to have a voice. I don't want just to talk through how it all worked out but we need to go to the jails and say what happened to your experience? But it scared me that they had a hard time finding 10 former alumni to come to this. And so with the compensation, with the food, it all comes down to relationships. People trust with each other. If I want to talk to a 6 year old I might talk to somebody else. So just researchers find people who already have the trust, the rapport, the relationships to humbly have yourself be a part of that. And I didn't stay in the focus group even though I was approved by um, the uh, rb whatever you call it, the, the review board because I did a surfing, I did a city training um but I would say I found the passion to bring it forward but without relationships, whatever I'm trying to do, it don't, it don't get happened without that. So researcher need a researcher build relationships and it might not be you and you got to accept that.

Speaker B: That's a great response John. You know, leave the clipboard at home, build a relationship first and don't just look at the, the participants in the said study like subjects but as people um, who have a, who have a valuable experience and have a valuable voice can help us impact and change lives in the future. So for the next segment of this podcast episode we're going to talk about thriving black boys in youth wellness at the Racial and Social Justice Collaborative were focused on black boys and how they think about m Their experiences and what thriving in schools and community spaces looks like to them. What has thriving looked like for you in your own life, and what do you think it looks like in the lives of, um, the young black men that you serve?

Speaker D: Thriving is, um, is individualized in a way where they have space, where they don't feel like the door is closing, where they're not in the corner, where they have options, where they have opportunity, where they have a voice, where they're. Where it's not a, uh, it's not. It's okay to trip or to fall, take a step back or sit down. Thriving. You know, we're so used to making a dollar 15 cents would be to have the capacity and space. Like, for me, I grew up. I can't afford to mess up. I can't afford to fail. And I'm also feeling that way for my community. Right? So I take a lot of pride. But thriving would be able to have space and grace, to try new things, to explore, to. To. To be at an equal table and opportunity and to really have and get what we need. We've made a lot work. Um, we've hustled hard, but what could we do if we had everything we need? Is that the way society is set up? Right. And so a lot of our people in this field, in our community, are trying to figure it out every day. And so if we can get our basic needs and have the space and space to be seen, heard, and respected and equal, I think a lot of great work can be done. And so, I mean, um, I'm thankful to continue to keep that fight, um, because those doors can close and close in on me every day if I don't fight for those thriving opportunities. Because no one's coming to save me. I got to fight to try to save others. And that's the unfortunate reality. But those who came before me went through even worse, so how could I complain?

Speaker B: That was a great response. And it actually leads into the question, um, the next question I had, which was, what does thriving actually look like for the youth in your program?

Speaker D: So, like I kind of said, thriving is between you and you. And that's for them to decide and have that space. And so really proud that a lot of people that I've supported before, even someone like, uh, to say his name, Brian McNary, who was a participant in programs that I did, now he does the work. Thriving is leaders becoming leaders, creating other leaders, others that want to come to you and say, I want to run my own club. I want to work for You, I want to give back. Um, thriving is seeing them become, you know, many of them are in fathers or in college now, playing professionally or just out of trouble. Um, some of them are just, you know, trying to be alive tomorrow. But you know, I try not to get lost in the numbers, so to say. But I would say the connection, relationship that you still have for years afterwards, just know that you're somebody they can reach out to, ask a question, ask for advice. Um, you know, um, but thriving is an individual plan. Um, that's like I said for them and I think like when you can give them some options, some space, I think that's what's needed. Through being trauma informed, that they have a part of it. And not defining thriving for them, allowing them to decide that I just, you know, but with some context and tough love and reality so they know what they're about to, you know, go into. So, um, but I think the best thing in regards to thriving, you know, is, um, is seeing them fulfill their individual goals. Um, you know, having them tell you and show in the survey results that they learned something, they got better. They've been places they've never been. You know, we took Kennedy basketball to the opening night Wizards versus Celtics, $10,000 space. And you know, I don't, I don't think I'd be able to go back in there again. But they'll remember that day. And so when they have opportunity to give back to somebody else. So they were thriving at that moment. And a lot of times, like planting a seed, they're gonna, it's gonna grow later, it's gonna hit them later. The supports that we had, that they had to help them thrive and uh, but at the end of the day, our DMs are always open and we're with them along the way. No one's gonna be perfect. Uh, we try to come from a, we come from a no judgment, um, you know, mentality. Stages of change is very key. You know, we all had it, we lived it. You know, I would say that it was thriving would have to be individualized. But as a, as a community, I would just say the fact that they had, had and have options and so they know that they had other ways to succeed their, their goals and dreams.

Speaker B: How does the team or the 480 Club intentionally create culturally responsive, trauma informed environments for black boys to feel seen, safe and successful?

Speaker D: Being a black man, having the right food, having the right environment, I create a safe space, you know, being uh, real, right, uh, staying on business, um, giving them Safety and space creates that, you know, So I think it's just creating that environment. And so 40 Club has always try to give them a high life, uh, as best, high quality, so that, um, they understand that we value them as much as high as possible. Um, but I've always done great at the team members I've selected, because they're gonna read the room right away. Is this a phony? Is he here for a paycheck or a purpose? And that's why I had people like Darrell Brown, Nigel Dewberry, uh, Ryan McNary, King Molana, the list goes on. Quinton Cosby to really be who they needed, not for the business, for them. And I was really strategic on, you know, like I told Darrell, hey, I nearly need you at this school. Hey, Brian, I need you at this school. Cause we could have stayed comfortable, but I needed them to be uncomfortable for those who had uncomfortable situations. So, you know, it's all a combination. It's like a formula. It's kind of like recruiting in sports. You got to find. You got to hide, uh, the medicine, applesauce, and kind of give them all those things to create the opportunity.

Speaker B: And from my perspective, it sounds like what you guys have created with the 480 Club. It's like a lifetime membership where you guys are, um, you have young men in the program, but it sounds like those young men turn into the youth development directors, and they turn into the future leaders, and they turn into the, uh, the future Joe Hooks, which I think is an amazing thing that you guys are doing. So I just want to. Frankly, you guys, the next section that we'll be moving to is more reflection and vision for where. Where you guys see the 480 Club moving to the future. What's one myth or misconception people have about youth growing up in Montgomery County? How do you think that your work works to actively change some of those misconceptions that people may have about the youth in those in the area that you.

Speaker D: Well, the myth of Montgomery county is that there's a lot of rich resources, you know, equity, which is true, but there's also a gap. Um, and we lived in that gap. Montgomery Village is in the middle of between those two. Um, 40 Club has been in the forefront of advocating, speaking up, testifying, knocking down doors, uh, joining forces, walking, marching, creating spaces and places to speak on that behalf, you know? Um, and, you know, I thought you were going to ask the question, what's the. What's the

Speaker B: misconception?

Speaker D: Uh, or maybe about 40 club, because a lot of times, people either think we work for somebody else, not ourselves, but also they think all we do is sports. But like I said, we're really passionate about youth development. We're really passionate about getting to the core of the youth to work on and support them as a whole person. And then that will surround their education, their sports and their care management could be their families, their mental health, those type of things. So, you know, we've been an interrupter, as I would call us, um, because, you know, I definitely have and I've had a support in my team to speak on that. I have no problem going on Fox 5 News, showing up to town hall, emailing the county council member, speaking to a principal and telling them what either is going on, what we need and what's not going on. So that has given a lot of power and strength to the young people to say that, hey, yo, they got our back. Like you said, lifetime membership. Um, you know, we had one of our other young men that was on our team, I met Harris, shout out to him, I forgot, is applying, um, for University of Maryland. Um, I know he's gonna, uh, take a year at MC and try to get in. The transaction isn't financial, it's personal. And we take it personal to, to kind of like make those type of changes and advocate and speak, uh, for them. So that's just from my lens, could be from my director role. But, um, you know, I try to really do that even for my team. Um, you know, we huddled up the other day and text message about one of our colleagues and what she was going through. So, you know, the fight continues. I mean, we've come a long way, but, you know, I'm all about 40, is all about rest in peace. Um, rep. Uh, John Lewis. Good trouble. So 40 Club is always going to be good trouble. Heart's in the right place. It might not be in the space and place how they want to do it, but the end goal is for the right reasons, for those who need it.

Speaker B: Okay, very good. Um, so I know we're closing our time. This was a great, uh, uh, episode of, uh, the RPP podcast. And I wanted to close with. As you look ahead, what's your vision for the 480 Club and the youth that you serve?

Speaker D: Uh, it looks like potentially, um, passing the torch. You know, as I'm getting older, I think sometimes leaders and organizations, you gotta learn how to pass the torch, really embrace the next generation of leaders and young people that you've impacted or coming up to take on those challenges.

Speaker B: All Right.

Speaker D: Don't want to be a barrier. I want to be an access builder. You know, in a dream world. We love to have the space we've had to navigate and do a lot of things through other people in other spaces. So if we had our own space in place to do the services, I think it could be more impactful. Um, so trying to connect and learn more about some of the grants and funding that are available, start small and build. Um, but I'm also in a space that you know, God will let us know where we're supposed to be. So if it's downsizing and doing impact, if it's growing, whatever fits. And I know we're um, looking to take a different challenge working with some of our uh, justice impacted youth who've done some um, auto theft and give them a comprehensive ah, program to kind of rehabilitate and intervene and support them. So we'll see or how that goes. Um, that'll bring us back into the work that we do. Um, but it is what it is. Uh, you know, I don't like celebrating too much, but the things that have gone for 12 years has been uh, impactful. Could be always better. Um, but I think like I said, leaders created other leaders. So if I can support the next generation and taking this, you know, as a father of two young daughters, you know, um, I want to play my part but I don't want to, I don't want to block anyone's path of uh, what could be next and ready. So I had a lot of that energy when I was coming out and um, I just want to be a beacon of life and light to support uh, whoever's coming and or collaborate. So I'm always down for that. And um, been an example of bringing a lot of people together for a common goal, which I said earlier was very key to get good things done.

Speaker B: I hear a lot us talking about uh, programming and a walk that is faith centered, ah, community centered. One, uh, that looks to empower voices. Um, when you speak about larger community, community wellness, what does that mean to you and what does that look like to you as we close,

Speaker D: um, community wellness is. But I think it's missing in our community is having the resources that you need to have a, uh, healthy wellness life. I mean, um, from mental health, physical health, financial health, uh, spaces, uh, recreational. So um, you know, we're always fighting and advocating on having the spaces and places that we need to thrive and to be served. You know, I thought about Montgomery Village the other day D. I was texting My boy. And you can't think of anything that's physically healthy that you can do in Montgomery Village. Like there's no. I mean they do have the outdoor park now on Club Hill, but I'm saying like in the rec, in the center, the shopping center, there's nothing that resembles health and wellness in that, right? There's no spa. There's no, like they took all the doctor's office away. So ain't no mental health. There's no gym like it says. Oh, fast food, 24 hour, like beer and wine storage, dispensaries. And so we need to have the spaces in places so that we can make positive decisions. Just have the options. No one's gonna be perfect. Um, but I think that's what's needed to have community wellness is just like having uh, spaces and places to help us with the positives. Just not for the profits, for the, for the others and other things that are going on in our society.

Speaker B: Mhm, mhm, mhm. All right, so I know this is a great conversation. I know we could probably talk for another hour, but I want to thank 480 Club Director, uh, Joseph Hooks for the time. I know I leave this conversation feeling very, uh, motivated, feeling very charged up for the work that I do. And I know that there will be some listeners who gain a lot from this conversation. If anybody's looking to get involved, uh, reach out to the 480 Club, um, see what work they're doing in Montgomery county, in Montgomery Village. See how you can get involved to try to push this mission of uh, community wellness, uh, and youth empowerment and development. Thanks so much.

Speaker D: Thank you. Foreign.

Speaker C: Thanks so much for Mr. Joe hooks for joining us today and a big thanks to Dr. Christine Nemorski for hosting. If you want to learn about our guest and their work, please visit the link in the Episode Notes, Part 2 of this episode. I will talk to 480 staff member mentioned throughout this episode, Mr. Darrell Brown, about his experiences with the 480 Club and his views on research practice partnership, how he thinks community based partnerships can improve the lives and outcomes of urban youth. The RPP Exchange is brought to you by the Racial and Social Justice Collaborative and the center for Educational Innovation and Improvement at the University of Maryland, College Park. If you know someone who might be interested in creating more equitable learning environments and experiences through research practice partnerships, please consider sharing this podcast. I'm, um, your host, VIP Vaughn Parham. Until next time, take care.