Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the Startup of Human Potential. We're your co-hosts, I'm Clifton And I'm Victoria, And together we're Faces of the Future, which is a venture studio focused on consciousness, identity expansion and personal well-being. And this podcast, The Startup of Human Potential, is all around activating your human potential, And today we have the pleasure of being joined by Frank Waters. Frank Waters is an incredible community organizer, activist and proud resident of Kingston, New York. It's in Ulster County And a lot of the work that he's been doing is to improve human connection for the populace of Kingston, And he's co-founded and is the executive director of My Kingston Kids, a nonprofit that puts on activities for kids. He's put on over 300 events and have won seven awards from the city. He's got a radio show called My Kingston Kids that's been around for around six years 500 episodes And most recently he's a mayoral candidate for the Democratic Party. Frank, it is so exciting to have you on the show today. Such an honor to speak with you Welcome.

Speaker 2: 1:16

Thank you so much. It's great to be here, victoria and Clifton, and congratulations on your new show.

Speaker 1: 1:22

Yes, thank you, thank you. So I clued our audience a little bit into who you are now right, and I wanted for them to get to know a little bit where you came from, who you were, how we met, how you and Clifton met right, because that's an interesting story.

Speaker 2: 1:44

Right.

Speaker 1: 1:45

So yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:47

Yeah, yeah, well, hi everyone of Frank Waters. Yeah, you know I was born and raised in the Bronx in New York City and kind of lived there pretty much most of my life until I moved to Kingston just 10 years ago. But growing up in the Bronx, you know, i was born and raised in the South Bronx, the Challenge and Neighborhood there in Kingston and the housing projects called Playamont Housing, with my father. Yeah, in the 70s and 80s the Bronx was known as the burnt down Bronx because 80% of the Bronx was being burned down by landlords that were seeking to get insurance money because they felt they were receiving enough profit from the attendance. So people were burning those houses down. 40 to 50 buildings a day was being burnt down.

Speaker 2: 2:43

At that time I was maybe three, four years old And you know people were homeless and poverty community and a lot of crime and drugs were happening in that community And my parents were part of that unfortunate situation of the drugs. My mom, you know she was. She was addicted, you know, and my father was, but at that time I almost wasn't even able to be born because of the challenges that she was going through with a body. You know, my father always called me a miracle baby, you know be able to, as you guys know, you know you're like, yeah, from a spiritual perspective. Yeah, yeah, I had a older brother who passed away maybe two years before I was born Because of the challenges of his health from the addiction. But I do have an older sister who was who's fine, you know, who's nine years older than me And I was kind of raised with her But, yeah, but you know, with those challenges, my mom left my dad when I was three and to get herself clean and taken care of, she moved from the city to Albany And I stayed with my dad and my dad did the best that he could to take care of me. Regardless of his addiction. He was still able to get me through it, you know, and give me all the resources necessary to be who I am today. So I'm so grateful to him and everything that he, that he did.

Speaker 2: 4:21

We live with my grandmother for, you know, a chunk of my childhood and went to public school and, you know, did the best that we could and till I was able to kind of get out on my own, you know, as a teenager and finish high school, go to college, start a family and start doing the things that I wanted to do in life. I always felt like as a kid I was always, as they say, the ringleader. But I wasn't the ringleader necessarily all bad things. I did go with graffiti on the wall here and there. Uh oh, i was the ringleader in that.

Speaker 2: 4:57

You know, that's where the art started in the Bronx. You know the Bronx is where hip hop started. Yeah, graffiti started. So it was, um, i was right there, i was young, but I was learning as it was evolving. I was evolving with it And my son. I kind of found my talents in art and then connecting with people and bringing people together. Until I became older. I was an art major in high school and used to, you know, just draw and do a lot of lettering. From the graffiti turn to commercial art And then I went to college and became a graphic designer and web designer and specialized in digital media, became an employee of the Bronx Times newspaper And the New York Post for 10 years, became an award winning graphic designer from the New York Press Association and wind up just kind of designing flyers for people in my community and started my own graphic company And that's kind of how I started down that road of being an entrepreneur.

Speaker 2: 6:06

You know, who was a hip hop artist for a chunk of my life, from probably nine years old to writing songs, um, until about 24, tried to get the record deal, just didn't work out. I was trying.

Speaker 1: 6:24

I've tuned into my Kingston kids. I got that vibe from you on that show. Yeah, that's another side of Frank, that's cool.

Speaker 2: 6:31

It's enemy, still is enemy. Every time I get a microphone, my wife asks me. She's like he always needs some crowd participation. You know, i ask people to say oh and scream, but I do need feedback, i need the energy, the human connection. But, yeah, but you know. So that journey, though, with the music, has helped me be able to connect to people and not be afraid to speak in public and be afraid to hear responses will be, you know, um, or be denied or something will turn down and continue to be resilient and keep moving forward.

Speaker 2: 7:09

I remember my first show at 15, me and my partner, my best friend, carlos the name is Carlos Santana. I was beating this is a real name, no, but we were doing, we were scheduled to do this talent show in junior high school Actually, i was, i was searching in junior high school and we did the whole chain ready and then he bells out on me and leaves me by myself And I had two choices I could just quit, not do it, or I could just do it and make up his part. And that's what I did, you know, and I didn't win, but just the idea that I wanted it so badly because it was my first live show that I still have the confidence and the ambition and excitement to do it. And I did it, you know, and from there that kind of led me to continue, you know, to do things that were a little risky but also exciting, and they were a part of who I am, you know. So I just kind of continued that path, you know, and did a lot of music, a lot of tours, a lot of performances, met a lot of people. That was kind of the beginning of how I became an entrepreneur. And then I kind of mixed that with art, you know, wind up getting my degree and saw a few other business ventures until I, you know, became a parent.

Speaker 2: 8:31

When I became a parent, at 22. That's when it's like, all right, what are we going to do here? You know, this music thing may not feed your child, you know, and that's what we want. And that is like, son, i know this is what you want to do, but you're going to have to get a job and pay bills. You know you need to have a place, a home, you know, place to live. And I did that, you know, and I went to college And that's how that kind of started And just really met some really great people and that led me to continuing to look at different ways to to not just be successful, in my own words, but to enjoy myself. You know, i remember I had a job at any television, which is the network, any TV, and my son was about two And at that time I never use a computer.

Speaker 2: 9:31

This was like 90. Why I use a computer when I was in grade school, like a Commodore 64 or something like the old computer. But at this time the PCs just came out, so this was like 98. And I never use the PC. And I use it at work, but only for like, like admin, work for the, for the company, and one of the my coworkers was using it for like Photoshop and and and corral drawback and really cool things, and even Microsoft Word, which was like a big deal because you get like lettering with gradient. Oh man, i want to. You know, i had to do all my lettering by hand, you know, because I'm a graffiti artist. So my friend taught me how to do that. He taught me how to use Microsoft Word And I thought I was in heaven And I remember that income tax. You have bought a compact for stereo. They have four gigabytes of space And I thought I was on top of the world.

Speaker 2: 10:31

And you know what I did when I, when I, when I first got that computer, i started a magazine. If Microsoft Word, that's what I did. I started a magazine for unsigned artists called Stepping Magazine And the idea was I said to myself, well, you know what? I have a son, that I want to be a rapper anymore. What I'm going to do is I'm going to help other artists. So this magazine was the way that artists can put their bios in it and their photos. And then I created a CD of their music and put it in the magazine for free And was able to share that with record companies and help them.

Speaker 2: 11:09

And one of the artists actually became famous And he was on um. He was picked up by Puff Daddy and he was on making a band. He was on Dylon. He's the reggae artist named Dylon. They always Dave Chappelle did a whole skit on the Chappelle show about him because he was so funny. But, yeah, but he was in my magazine first. Wow, who making a band? Um, yeah, you know. So I had a nice, a nice journey of just trying different things out. We were doing talent shows before American Idol. You know helping people get record deals and it was really cool. You know so that you know. So that's kind of like the origin of my path until I really was able to learn more skills. You know from the Brock Times newspaper and then you have polls. Being in that professional environment, i kind of utilize those skills to move to the next level. You know my business career.

Speaker 3: 12:10

Wow, oh, that's awesome. You know it's great to learn this about you and you know I can really feel the excitement and the journey and you know you took that, that passion of graffiti artists and you turn it into. You know, your side hustle and then your main hustle and then you grew in your responsibility, but you continue to develop. You know that core essence of what lights you up and you know it's, i have to say, microsoft probably loves the fact that you got lit up about Microsoft to work with you, but earliest, you know, i, you know, moved over to the Apple world. But to hear that Microsoft word, you know, lit up your heart. I mean, it's a different generational time. You know, i think I actually had a compact for Sario as well As well, right, yeah, but wow, that's fascinating.

Speaker 3: 13:03

What was, what were some of those key moments where you're like, okay, let me get to the next level. You know I'm, you know, graffiti artist. Let me get to that next level. Let me get to that next level. What did those look like? Were you in conversations with others? Was it more of an internal dialogue? What? what kind of compelled you to make sort of that up level?

Speaker 2: 13:24

I think, yeah, i mean, it happened for me a few times, right, but music was my passion, like that was my life. I remember my dad saying alright, so you're getting out of school, what do you want to do? You know, and like I want to be a rapper. Like you know, it sounds kind of cliche, but I just had a real skill Like I was writing songs at eight years old. I was making up songs in my head without even having to write, since I was eight years old, like I was really, really, really good And I wrote for other people when I had a manager and a group and I did, wow, i remember my mom gave me money for a car and I spent all the $4,000 and went to the studio. You know, like I was really, really serious And he's like alright, that's what you want to do. You know you didn't do it. So that support was very, very important. My father was always, always supportive, regardless of what. He always gave me the understanding that there's nothing that I can't do in this world. All I have to do is put my mind to it and put the action behind it, And I literally do that. I've had a magazine, i've done movies, i've done talent showcases, fashion, design, and I mean I've done multiple things and I'm still doing it And as far as I'm concerned, i'm successful at all of them because I accomplished it.

Speaker 2: 14:49

You know so, when my son, when my son, was born, i moved. I moved down south when I was 19. And to get away from the city and try to go to Atlanta, i moved to Alabama because my mother lived in Alabama And that's only the next day over from Georgia. Georgia was the next Atlanta, georgia was the next big hip hop scene besides New York City. So I felt, well, if I go to Alabama, get my license, get myself together, then I can move right over to Atlanta, georgia And I'll be great because New York is a little faster, i can move a little quicker. But things just kind of didn't work out with my mom. We had a fallen out, my, my son's mom got pregnant And we didn't want to stay stay there. So we moved back to New York City, just skipped a whole Atlanta thing.

Speaker 2: 15:46

When I came back I was still trying to do the music, but I know that I have to do something, you know. So it's really my son. And being in the city, the rent was really high. I was paying $235 in Alabama Wow, A one bedroom with a parking space and central heating and air was beautiful. And I got back to the Bronx the rent was like $1,000 for three bedroom And this is 96. Wow.

Speaker 2: 16:18

So I had to do something, you know, and I worked security. I always had a security license, so that was my side gig to make sure I had money. But I knew I needed to do something more and I needed to do something that I enjoyed. And when I, when I, when I started that job at A&E, my brother-in-law got me that job was pulling me out of security. What happened was I was working there as a library technician for a year and a half as a freelancer And I know the job, i'm doing the work, and they hired so and they put my job up for um as an opportunity for somebody new. They put a post up for my job and they gave it to somebody else And I was doing the job already And I spoke to the manager and I'm like, why would you do that if I'm here?

Speaker 2: 17:13

And he said because he has a degree you know, and I said, wow, i'm already doing a work and just because I don't have that piece of paper, i didn't get the job. And when you're a freelancer at companies like that, you're hours run out. You can't work past X amount of hours. So I was always somebody that really wasn't interested in college. I always felt like it was a waste of my time. I'm not interested in doing all these different topics that I don't see benefit me, so I would. I vowed to never go to college unless it was directly something that I could see help me and I can use immediately.

Speaker 2: 17:51

My son's mom saw a commercial for for this school. That was digital media. It was graphic design and and web design, and that was what I enjoy doing. So I had an opportunity to go to a school, get the paperwork, the degree, do something I enjoy, start a business from it and get a career and take care of my son. Yeah, that was like a win, win, win, win, win, win, win, you know, and I did it. in two years I did it, got my associates degree While I was in school, though it was so funny because while I was in college, in class, i'm actually doing real clients work as assignments in class, you know.

Speaker 2: 18:43

So I'm now, mind you, i'm 20. I'm 27. I'm 27,. It took me a little while to get there, but I'm 27 and I'm in college with 18 year olds at my 25 years And they're like doing their work and I'm doing real work, clients work, you know, and that was just really a turning point for me to see how I could utilize this skill and better my life, better my family's life. And it took me to another level.

Speaker 1: 19:17

Wow, Yeah, I love what you said about not wanting to go to school unless you know exactly what you're going to do with that. I feel like there's a certain conditioning or programming that we have in society that school is always the next step And you know, when you don't have that clarity of what you want to do next and you, being someone who's very self-taught, very self-driven, high-performing individual, you're like okay, if I need this for a specific goal, of course it makes sense And that's such a refreshing mindset, Frank.

Speaker 2: 19:51

Thank you. Thank you, yeah, i was so serious about it because, like you said, it's a conditioning with societies like 18 go to college, 18 go to college, you know, and I just knew I didn't want to. I did try to go to vocational school for audio engineering and I did that for a few months but I had got sick and I caught like I caught pneumonia actually, and I was out for so long that they they terminated my you know, my, my admission. So that was it, you know. So that was it. So I was 19 then. So I wound up not going back, just working as delivery boys and security personnel from Canada, all these odd and then jobs, until I eventually wound up going back to school.

Speaker 2: 20:41

When I got out, i filled out this is another one I'm clipped in. I got out of school, i had the company, the company was going really well, but a few years, maybe two or three years later, you know, i was in another relationship and I needed to earn more money right, because you're getting your own clients and there's not always an easy thing. So I filled out. I remember this and this is when I really like connected to my spirituality. I said to myself I was picking up my kids from from after school and I said this is what I need to do. I am going to find me a job and I'm trying to find little graphic design jobs and they're hard to find. So I got a notebook and I said I'm going to fill out 100 applications. Wow, because you know, people usually say, oh, you're not trying hard enough, you got to fill out more, you got to do more, you got to do more. Okay, i did 100. I'm not messing around. I call people. It's about four pages because it's about 25 lines per sheet. I have four sheets, no calls back. I'm not getting any calls back. I'm serious. I got a nice resume.

Speaker 2: 22:01

I went to the job placement center. I did the whole thing. I wound up going to an after school center to pick the kids up and there was a newspaper from the Bronx Times reported us Always did. Every Friday paper comes out and the paper said looking for graphic design. I was like, oh, i know I'm going to get this, i have to get this And it's in the Bronx. Most of the jobs are in Manhattan and I live in the Bronx, so what I did was okay. So what I did was I filled it out, sent it in. I'm telling you, my spirit said this is it. And this was the last one. This is 101. Because I was still not discouraged, though I was a little discouraged, but I was like this is it.

Speaker 2: 22:53

And I did it and I got called the next day for an interview And I went on the interview in the Bronx and it was a part of the Bronx that I never even been to, with the Morris Park section. It's a little more upscale and you know in another area. And I went and did the job interview and it was perfect. The people were nice. Laura Guerriero, she was the manager at the time and they gave me a test on the computer. That's how they did the interview.

Speaker 2: 23:25

They're like I make an ad for me on the Mac Cliff, just for you on the Mac, but in school I use Mac's and PC. So I was okay, did the ad. The ad was so good that they said we're going to use this ad in the paper next week. So they got their feet and I got the job right away And they were just amazing. It was the best job I ever had. My kids, my stepkids and my son wind up going to school down the block from the job, you know, which was also a good neighborhood. I was able to bring, pick them up from school, bring them to work with me from three o'clock to five o'clock And it was a beautiful beautiful Orchestration of the universe.

Speaker 1: 24:09

It sounds like it was.

Speaker 2: 24:11

It was And um, and when that happened, and I tell us you know, i used to tell it a lot. It was many years ago, but the story was important because it shows resilience and it shows doesn't matter how many do is what you really want. And because I really wanted that one and I know it was for me, that's what I was going to do One application out of 100. The last one, because by that time I realized that it's not how many you do. which one do you really want? Yes, and that was it, absolutely My life.

Speaker 1: 24:55

Yeah, my life, and that's a great segue and opportunity to to bring up the, the work that that Clifton and I do this, what we teach and to teach our clients about that. It's not like how many times you do a specific action, it's which time you're most lit up by it, because when your heart's in it, that's the time that it'll work out for you, you know.

Speaker 3: 25:19

And, um, it also includes other ways of making decisions, or, yes, whether that's intuition, or you said yeah, like this is the one And it can tell you that for any reason. But ultimately, as you started to to share, there is multiple reasons. It's not just have a good job, it's the fact that your kids are going to go to school right there and it works beautifully, far greater than what you could have, you know, imagined when you first saw that ad.

Speaker 1: 25:50

Right, right. The emotional connection to it was really strong, versus like that hundred on the list where you're just checking the boxes going through the motions.

Speaker 2: 26:00

Yes, yes, that's right, so right.

Speaker 1: 26:05

Wow, so. So after that experience, did you believe about, like, how did that shift your decision-making? I'm curious, or was your decision-making always like that? You know you're an entrepreneur following your heart from a very young age and, um, you know, very, very savvy with your decision-making. What?

Speaker 2: 26:27

I think I was just going to say I think it, um, i think it made. I think that moment made it intentional for me. You know, i believe I was. I always knew there was something more to life than what I was taught from a spiritual perspective. My uncle was a minister. My family went to church, baptist, you know. So I used to. So I grew up in that space, seeing that we would go on Easter and Christmas and New Year's and things like that. But I just felt it was more to it, like somebody's not telling me everything, like what else are we going on? I'm going to find out one day, you know.

Speaker 2: 27:13

And I wind up, my father always believed in God. You know he always taught me that. So you know that was a key piece for me. So he always inspired me do what you enjoy, do what you enjoy. So it was like he's like. Now I know what it really means and I can break it down in more detail. But he was telling me he was giving me the blueprint back then. Yeah, i just didn't realize it, but I still listen and it worked. So I just did what I enjoyed the whole time, without even thinking twice about it, you know, and since no one else was really following that mindset, i would bring everybody along with me. So I seem to kind of be a leader.

Speaker 1: 27:56

The ringleader Yeah.

Speaker 2: 27:58

And you know, and people came with me, you know, i remember just saying to my cousin like I want to do a movie. He's like how are you going to do a movie? Like it takes like a thousand people to do a movie. He's like now what does it? We got a computer, we know somebody that has a camera Me and my sister, we can write a script. I'll find somebody to be director, photography, this and that And we want to actually shoot in the movie. Because I wanted to do it and I was excited to do it, you know, and love and passion was there and I just started to do that over and over. By the time I got to that job. It was so intentional, because it was such a tedious task of like calling a hundred places and sending out a hundred resumes and calls and all of that and having my ex in my ear, and did you get a job? yet I was like, come on. But when I got that one that I really, really wanted, i was really excited about, i said I can control this, i can manage this. This is not a coincidence. I'm going to do this again, you know, and I did it again. I'm going to do it again and again, and again And I started realizing, hey, i got our here, yeah, yeah, and. And I started another business while I was at that job. And the job was amazing It was, it was so powerful.

Speaker 2: 29:31

I remember I remember being at that job for a few years in and I was frustrated because I wasn't getting paid enough And I was running my business. But you know, you're on your side business, you got to keep your main career so you don't lose everything. And I was, and I was with my wife at this time. We were getting, we were together And I said to her I said you know what they were paying me like $12 an hour, $13 an hour. And I'm being like all night because with newspapers you have deadlines, you have to work to two in the morning. Just the business for weeks, for years. And I'm like I'm done, i'm quit it, i don't want to be anymore, it's time to do the business. I'm here all these hours And I just knew I had that power And I told and I wrote my letter of resignation, i gave it in and they couldn't believe it.

Speaker 2: 30:26

I thought they were going to be like all right, you know, nice, nice working with you. You know what they did. They called me back and said Frank, you can't leave, we need you Like, we really need you. I'm like, yeah, but I need to run my business. I'm excited. I want to do it Now. Mind you, i'm going to get unemployment, but it's still not enough to manage everything. But I got faith is going to work out. They want to get $20 an hour. Wow, two days for two days a week. Two days a week and $20 an hour. I wanted to make it almost double the money that I was making for more than less than half the time of work.

Speaker 3: 31:08

Wow, and that's a strategy that we've actually seen be very successful with clients who are wanting to pursue their passion is, you know, instead of just completely leaving, like you said, that main job that's foremost stability foundation. You know, we've seen that kind of fact pattern of, well, actually we need you. You're so good at what you're doing and let's have you work less, give you a little more and keep you, and that opens up the time and the energy to create the next thing And you're really advocating for your dreams and your passion and what you believe in. And by taking that step, you're announcing to the universe that you're valuable, you're worthy and you're pursuing your dreams. And it supports you. And it supports you in unique ways that you might not realize.

Speaker 2: 32:00

Exactly, exactly, and that's exactly what happened. I was supported in a way that I couldn't even have imagined And it helped me because that company wind up being another award-winning organization or business. That was a business, a world-winning business, for 10 years. I met my best friend with that venture and met thousands and thousands of people who help thousands of people you know, build relationships, help their businesses. It was an incredible opportunity and it gave me, you know, it continued to give me more of the knowledge and skill set and expertise to be where I am today.

Speaker 1: 32:51

Yeah, exactly Yeah. I mean the mindset and your upbringing and all those empowering beliefs you had from your father to pursue your passion and everything working out for you and the energetics with which you do everything is exactly what we call being a quantumpreneur. It's a quantum entrepreneur. It's, for you know, it's high performing individuals who are here to steward the evolution of consciousness from a place of joy, with their being a space business. So it's like the business that's a natural byproduct of who they are when they're in their lane and zone of genius, just being themselves, attracting the right opportunities, the right collaborators, the right colleagues, coworkers, and it's a divine orchestration how things unfold and open up for you. When you're tapping into that, you know the quantum field, right, the field of all possibilities, all opportunities, and things kind of sync up in a way that's even more magical than we ever would have even imagined. Because if you would have like, tried to forecast how the opportunity would go or that this thing would come out of nowhere, rarely we could say I saw this coming.

Speaker 2: 34:04

Yeah, very rarely. I'm telling you. I have an example of that. I won't take up too much time, but this is exactly what you're talking about. That business was called 12 or nine enterprise the partnership with my partner, henry, and I'm doing this business while I'm at the job And now I have more freedom. So we're really doing an abyss help connect entrepreneurs in New York City, primarily in Harlem, to bring them education and enlightenment on how they can run their business. That's what we were doing. We're doing these events bringing out the Italian speakers like Les Brown and all these people. But before we got to Les Brown, we had local folks. Right, we had local folks that were really powerful and they needed a place to speak. We had the crowd. I moved out of market and we did it. So I'm saying to my partner we need to grow this business type. We knew we need to grow this business. So I'm like we need to model us.

Speaker 2: 35:06

I was listening to a lot of Tony Robbins at that time. Being a character, be it an actor, model yourself after the best. So I asked my partner who's the best networking organizer in the country, who is the master of networking events? And there was a gentleman African American gentleman named George C Frazier And my partner knew who he was but I never heard. He does these major conferences with the elite speakers Les Brown, these nickels, all these people, tony Robbins, all these people. So he gives me, so he tells me the name.

Speaker 2: 35:45

I go, i find the book. He bars and knows I get the book. I read the book. The book is called Click. The book is talking about how to network, literally, how you network, how you build relationships with people, right? So I'm reading the book excited. I get a call. I'm like I gotta, i gotta meet this guy. Guy, he doesn't even live in New York, he lives in Ohio. I get a call from a friend named Deborah. Deborah calls me. Deborah is also in the networking business. She does our events called Light of Gold. She says Frank, george C Frazier is coming to Kingston. I mean, he's coming to New York City and I need you to help me get people there.

Speaker 2: 36:27

Now, mind you, this is how serious it is, because this happened probably in like two weeks time. This wasn't a long time span, this was so quick. So you know I'm losing it. I'm like, oh my God, this is the same person that I'm studying. I get to Wow. So now I'm reading his book, because his book is telling you how to network with people, how do you connect to people. And one of the things the book said is you bring value. You bring value to people, right? That's one of the key pieces not asking to take, but to offer. So I'm saying to myself how can I bring value to this guy? This guy's like a million. Yeah, you know what am I going to do? What can I do? So I came up with an idea for this, this, this TV show. I wanted to turn his book into a reality show for a click. I'm like this is it.

Speaker 2: 37:26

I get to the event, meet him. He's really nice, really amazing. I'm in like the VIP room. I'm meeting him. This other guy's there named Dallas Lee Bell. I love he's from all of him. He's there And I'm like how am I going to talk to him?

Speaker 2: 37:43

This is all spiritual. How am I going to talk to him? I'm going to talk to him about my idea, you know. So I go to him and I'm talking to him about the idea and he's not paying me any attention. He's like not paying me any mind, but my friend Dallas, he's, he's talking about me for me, you know, he's frank and he does this, he's amazing and that, and he's getting so excited for what he's saying He's not paying attention to what I'm saying.

Speaker 2: 38:17

And then it clicked to me that what he was there for was to promote his conference And all he needed to do was get people to the conference to teach them more, to educate them. And that's what I did in a sense. Oh, wow, it wasn't necessarily what I wanted, you know, it was kind of what was needed from the universe And that's what I had to. Just stop forcing it with my own ideas and just kind of let it be natural. And when I did that, we built the best relationship. He wound up becoming my mentor. We set up theories across the country together for the next eight years. We had less grounds on the bomb At least the nickels, all of these celebrities. Wow, we became so popular in New York City. We had 10,000 business owners in our network before I left the city.

Speaker 2: 39:09

Because of that opportunity And to be able to one, just let the universe do what it does and not force. You know, i could have been like no, well, here I want to hear my idea, i want to talk there, you know, and left, but I didn't, and it really, really, you know, it really worked out. We had to go to his first conference in Atlanta. We drove there, we had like no money, we slept in the same room, you know, and we just did everything we could just to be in the right space with the right people, but it worked out perfectly.

Speaker 2: 39:54

You talk about having faith and allowing things to happen. I mean, we got invited to special parties. You're talking about, like you know, people, like they think, like we're like we're part of the crowd, and he's like no, i don't even know how we got here, but we just going to keep playing and go up, we just going to enjoy it. You know, and it really worked out until we, you know, until we wanted to build in that relationship and get into where we are. So, wow, yeah, you know.

Speaker 3: 40:24

Thank you for letting me share that, of course, yeah, and this is the power of your tribe, right, and as people go through an elevation of their consciousness or just continue to pursue joy, their tribe, the people they surround themselves, just continue to up, level and improve as well. You know, considering where. You know where you started, you know as a child, to now you're. You know you're, you're hobnobbing with the greatest you know people out there at least the Nichols, tony Robbins, george Fraser is there, you know, and what you're doing is you're allowing it to happen, right, yeah, and you're sharing some very powerful stories that represent you surrendering, thinking you, you know, egoically, you have, this is going to work. But actually what worked was you just being you. Yes, it was like, hey, i want, i want that. You know, i don't need you to change, i want you exactly as you are.

Speaker 3: 41:22

Yeah, and another theme that has come up consistently is this perpetual personal development. Angles, you know, building skills and and and abilities from a place of of joy, rather than you kind of have to, right, like not just going to school or getting your associates degree because you have to. But you're actually seeing why it's exciting. You went to Barnes Noble and read a book. You know how many people these days go and read books. You know. But you did because there was that direct reason. So you're motivated to do it and you can just see how it unfolded. Right, you took a little bit of action out of joy and it just unfolded into this incredible journey.

Speaker 1: 42:06

Yeah, Yeah, I would say that's an incredible, unique gift or superhero ability. You have, Frank, The trust, the surrendering, allowing things to to show up in the belief. You know you walk around with that hat that says imagination And every time I see you you're like a poster child for possibility, An opportunity and and belief.

Speaker 2: 42:31

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 42:32

What And so and so tell us a bit about you. Know how you're taking all of this life lessons, all of these philosophies and and upgrading it up, leveling, by stepping into running for mayor. You kind of share with us. You know how you you went from the Bronx to to Kingston, to my Kingston kids and now just continuing to up level and and provide support and joy to, to those you care about.

Speaker 2: 42:59

Yeah, i mean, you know, after after I, after that business venture, you know, while I was doing that, i met my wife, Shiniqua, and she had her own company And together we just started getting more spiritually educated, Started. She was actually doing what you just did, victoria she was reading meditations For for a lady named Barbara Dominic who's amazing, and she's a Reiki, a Reiki healer and Shiniqua rep meditation. So I used to go with her from time to time And just being a part of that energy was like, wow, this is incredible. You know, we just started learning more, we became vegan, we just did a whole bunch of different things. Yeah, yeah, the traveling And we wanted to get out the city and she wanted to go somewhere. We looked in Pennsylvania. That didn't work out, so we didn't want to go too far. We wound up moving to Kingston. She wanted trees, i wanted buildings. This was a two hours away from the city And we came here and we enjoyed it. You know, we really love the community. It was a lot slower pace than the city And we were here for about three years until we just decided we can't keep running back and forth to the city. We have to find a way to stay here. We got to get embedded in the community And doing that with just the way that we both are.

Speaker 2: 44:31

Me starting first was I just wanted to contribute And I realized that there was things missing for children here in the city Active programming, engaging opportunities, more diverse options for kids of color, and wanting to be able to bring something special. And we created MyKinx and Kids And that organization became a nonprofit Also another award winning organization and really was taken on, you know, by some incredible people in the community under their wing to help me, as I didn't know anyone when I came here for my landlord, literally, who were amazing Because that was our family. I don't know how many people can say that, but my landlord, linda, karzy and Dave they were the people that we knew. We went to their house for cookouts and with their kids and grandkids, And that was our family. You know, until we started going out and meeting other people And, as we can start it to contribute, we started realizing, hey, we could really lend a hand here. You know, there's people that are already doing great work, but there's a few spaces that can use some assistance. And doing that, we just started getting offered more opportunities. I got offered to be on other boards.

Speaker 2: 45:57

I met a good friend of mine, tyrone Wilson, who is also from the city, from Harlem. He was here a few years before me, but I am what he was waiting for, you know, and he was what I was kind of looking for. He replaced my partner, henry from the city, so I had my own Henry here. So together we created another organization called Harambe. We just started doing work. You know, we became Batman and Robin, the Kingston, but he still had his own identity and had his strengths and I had mine, and then we would compliment each other And, as I did my work over seven years. Community has just been so supportive. It's been an incredible blessing. I remember I was able to get my mom to move here a few years ago and she was in Alabama and she hates New York. It's cold, it's far, it's all of those things. You guys probably feel the same way.

Speaker 1: 47:01

I mean I moved out to California from New York.

Speaker 2: 47:08

Oh man, but I begged that she wanted to come and be with her family and have grandkids as she came and she was here for about two years and she wound up having a sudden heart attack and she passed away here in Kingston.

Speaker 2: 47:21

But what was incredible about it is I received so much community support you know from folks that's not my blood relatives, you know and it was like, wow, i really have an impact, you know, here on people and you know people like, oh, you're a nice person and you're cool, but when you see people really come out, you know for something so serious and challenging as deaf, so challenging such as deaf, it really shows the connection that you have with people. And that's when I really said you know what I'm here And it inspired me just to do more and I got on more boards and I did initiatives with the city and the county and I became like a spokesperson for Sojourner Truth and her legacy to where they even have a state park named Sojourner Truth. We even have a day after Sojourner Truth because of a lot of work that I did from that inspiration. So the next level you know from what the community feels is Well, hold on, hold on, before you wind up on that.

Speaker 3: 48:34

Before you wind up on that, yeah, how you know you're, how do you have time for all this? I mean, you know you've got, you know a wife, children, you've got companies, a radio show. You know you stack it up. It sounds like 10 people's jobs you're doing. How do you do it?

Speaker 2: 48:55

Let me tell you I'm on the right show because you're listening, as understand. This person has no idea. People think I, you know what people say to me more than anything, more than they say hello. They say when do you sleep? That's what people say to me, frank when do you sleep? How are you at this event? How are you at that event? And I just said this yesterday and then I'll tell you how.

Speaker 2: 49:23

What people used to say to me in the city because the city is the city that never sleeps And that's how you're raised. In the city, the trains run all night, the bus runs all night, the business is open all night And the city. The myth is you're not successful unless you're always busy. Like it's a myth, right, we know spiritually that that's not true. Then I went to a business class and a management facilitator. You know what she said. She said the people, the most successful people, because I also read a book, thinking Grow Rich. But also there was another Thinking Grow Rich by another gentleman, with all of the African-American millionaires and billionaires as well. I can't think of his name right now, but what he said was successful people know how to manage their time properly And they get the proper rest. That's what you need to do to be successful.

Speaker 2: 50:25

And, mind you, anybody in my family would tell you Frank goes to sleep at eight, nine o'clock. I don't like to be up late, I can't. My whole life my cousin used to leave me while he. He can't laugh, he can't hang, he's going to be asleep. That's who I've always been, so I've always had to get my work done. Now I do get up at five, six o'clock, but I have to go to sleep like eight, nine o'clock, maybe 10 o'clock if I'm really happy and fun. So that's just who I am. That's spiritually. That's who I am. Even if I go to sleep at four in the morning, i'm getting up at seven. I just can't help it.

Speaker 2: 51:00

So what I've been able to do is only do what I enjoy the most. I do what I enjoy the most, i do what I want to do, i do what I'm excited about, i do what gets me in that, in that, in that really loving and passionate feeling, and it's enough. Believe it or not, it balances itself out. I couldn't, i can't explain it any other way. It balances itself out by eight, nine o'clock. I'm in the house usually at six o'clock, unless I have an event to go to. It just works itself out. Sometimes I need to stay out late up, sometimes I need to get up earlier, but I'm not. You would think I'm exhausted and I'm always running, and it just doesn't work like that. Universe doesn't work like that. I'm able to just do what I need to do and it's enough. Wow.

Speaker 3: 52:01

That's beautiful And, yeah, that's exactly what we tell our clients. Right is to ride your wave of joy, because it's the organizing principle, combining a lot of Abraham Hicks' intelligence with Bashar's intelligence, of following your highest excitement to the best of your ability, without a attachment to the outcome. It really is. You're living proof and a lot of what you've created were things that weren't there. It's not like you're working five different jobs.

Speaker 1: 52:32

You're creating things and you're seeing what's happening, creating opportunities, seeing the needs and following your heart, leading with your heart. Kingston has a big place in your heart. It showed up for you as a community and I see you doing that service back for Kingston.

Speaker 3: 52:49

Yes. And so, as if that wasn't enough, now you decided to take it to the next level, the next level of this journey.

Speaker 1: 53:00

Expansion and identity shifting. What excites you the most about running for mayor Frank?

Speaker 2: 53:06

You know, what excites me the most. What excites me the most really is genuinely feeling with everything in my body that I can really shift the consciousness of a community. I really feel that. I feel that And, as I've been campaigning and speaking to people, i feel like I'm starting to see that happen. I'm giving people I don't like to say, oh, you know, but I'm like I'm giving people another perspective. I'm giving people, you know, some excitement. I'm giving people ideas and a feeling of real change.

Speaker 2: 53:48

You know, i would be the first African-American mayor of Kingston. Kingston is New York State's first capital. Wow, wow, it's 2023 right now, you know. So a lot of people, you know, are blown away just by me taking the chance and running in the first place, because no one has even ran before, you know. So that gives us all the amount of hope, you know, and excitement, and people are ready for something different. I think people are really looking at a different type of leadership, especially in this day and age, as our consciousness shifts and our vibrations are rising, with everything happening in a community. Mental wellness is starting to be a normal thing, you know, to look at spirituality outside of church. It's starting to be a normal thing to look at. You know, i really feel like I was put here for this position. You know like I am here for this position, to be a partner in the guidance of this shift.

Speaker 3: 55:07

Wow, what does that look like when you say you're here to help, you know, increase the level of consciousness? What does that look like on a day to day or like specific basis? Because I know when people think about you know governments or you know politics, there's a lot of negativity or apathy, or you know they don't care, you know kind of mentality. What does it look like to go into that, put on your suit or your jacket, or even just your hat, that says imagine on it? How do you do that? You know, because it's a very macro concept, like, oh, i'm going to increase the level of consciousness of a community. What does that look like?

Speaker 2: 55:51

And it's the same thing when people say we need to bring community together, we need to represent the community Like it's. Like you said, it's a very macro idea to mention it and saying people say it all the time. Sometimes people have no idea what they've been saying. They say it because of how it's going to be, but it's much more than that And it's not that difficult. Most of it It is what it is And governments don't, don't, don't, don't exercise the real idea of community because of agendas and who would benefit And just the way colonialism works. It doesn't really allow it.

Speaker 2: 56:32

What I want to do, i have nothing to lose. Not a politician. I'm not from a political family. I don't have a political background. I'm from the community. I'm a worker, job, i have a family, i pay taxes just like everybody else, and I'm talking to people on the grassroot level. So, as I'm speaking to families and kids and grandparents and seniors and vets regularly, before I bring them, i'm already hearing the issues and the challenges that I'm saying the same thing with them. So, doing all of that, what I'm hearing is people are not included. People are not a part of the conversation. The government was created to represent the people, but the people are not part of the conversation with the people that's representing them.

Speaker 2: 57:24

I've heard all the men who are the common council members, which is the legislative branch of the government, say to their residents. I heard them say to them I hear what you're saying, but I'm not going to do that. I need to do what's best for the city. I heard them say that. So to say that to people that voted you in, what are you saying to them? You're not the city. I know what you need more than you know what you need, and I'm bringing the options, real options with things like a citizen assembly where people are coming together in a more structured manner to make decisions to help the government. That's real. That's a real structure where people will be accountable and will be able to participate. Something like that they're doing now in Europe, and other countries are starting to pick up more. You don't hear much about them in the US. So this is something that I'm bringing to Kingston, because once you start showing people that, hey, i do want you to be a part of this decision, what's your ideas? I'm listening. Tell me. You know, let's build, let's co-create. They're going to trust you because you're allowing them to co-create with you, and then that's going to inspire them, that's going to excite them. That alone is shifting their consciousness, because normally it's hey, i sent out an email, you didn't see it. Yeah, we need.

Speaker 2: 59:08

We was asking people what their ideas was on this policy. Oh, you didn't see it. Well, they saw it. Sorry, and that's how it goes. It's a tremble thing, yeah, but you had to meet, and at three in the morning, yeah, well, you asleep Next time.

Speaker 2: 59:25

You know, it's typical I'm being funny, but you know, but it's kind of how it happens a lot of times. And people have been seeing this for years, you know. So now they're ready for something different, and there's not a lot of people even willing to step up. I hear people say to me, more than anything as well, they say thank you, even if I lose. They're like, thank you just for stepping up. Wow, this thank you for stepping up, for taking a chance, that's inspiring, not alone the shifting the consciousness. Yeah, because I came and, you guys know, because you helped me make the decision to run in the first place.

Speaker 2: 1:00:06

But if I well, your listeners that don't know. You know I'm doing this as we say, you know, with no attachment to the expectation. So I'm doing this in a fearless way, and if I don't win, it's all right, because if I inspire other people to feel as if they can do it, then maybe somebody else is the best person for the job And maybe four years they will step up and then it will be also great as well. Or maybe somebody becomes an Alderman or gets appointed to another committee or wants to join a board, because they're starting to see different people step up in different positions. And that's what this is really about. If I win which I think I will, honestly it will be a major shift and a major win, not just for me, but just for the whole community and for next generations to come. I think this is going to be something big, something special, which I know we're going to be.

Speaker 3: 1:01:09

You know, yeah, that's awesome, and you know kind of what you're sharing. the framework behind that is, you know, it includes two thought leaders, right? So we've got transcending the levels of consciousness by.

Speaker 1: 1:01:24

David Richard Hawkins. Yeah.

Speaker 3: 1:01:26

Hawkins, And then also this idea called the low drama triangle which we talk about quite a lot with you, Frank.

Speaker 3: 1:01:36

Yes, which is part of possibility management. And so when you combine the two, that's really the intellectual framework of what you're doing. Right, and depending on what level of consciousness you're in, it determines what story you're telling yourself. And we all have these stories about politics or government. You know it doesn't listen to me, it doesn't work. Things are wrong.

Speaker 3: 1:01:59

Well, as you know, as you know someone who's a powerful creator, if you believe something, then you're going to manifest that as well. Right, and so what you're doing is you're stepping into all of that collective energy and to get a little you know quantum for a second is you're stepping into a, the field, the morphic field, but an area where you just have a collection of negative thoughts or different energies saying, you know, it's corrupt, it doesn't work, they don't listen to me. You know why should I care? And you're, you're alchemizing, that you're actually being a beacon of light into that field to to say, hey, no, this is great, let's get everyone to courage, let's move up.

Speaker 3: 1:02:43

Whether you're an apathy, like this doesn't work, or you're in anger, like politicians are corrupt, or fear, like government's going to control me, you're stepping into those conversations and you're doing what we call joy affecting. You're bringing the narrative to a place of joy of no, this is possible. We can do this. Let's step into it. And it's a continuation of what you shared earlier of. You are here to to, to add value to, to, to provide service to a community And when, when that happens, you take away this low drama triangle which is as Victoria is so eloquent at sharing, maybe she'd like You create the empowerment dynamics.

Speaker 1: 1:03:25

So people who are in that victim consciousness, like pointing fingers that the you know, the government is doing this or whatever, they can become more empowered creators by stepping into their own deliberate, conscious creation Right. So then, once the only way out of that triangle is through to to step out of it altogether, to get out of the victim mode, the persecutor or the rescuers trying to rescue the, the victim, from the persecutor, right The, the victim, becomes the empowered creator. The persecutor can become more of a challenger, instead saying I know that we can do better, i know you can do better, I know you have what it takes right. Or being that coach versus that rescuer which is holding that space for the people to find and organize their own, their own momentum right.

Speaker 1: 1:04:14

To create their own internal drive, because something you have in you that's such a beautiful gift of yours is you're so self-driven and so inspiring And you've been this ringleader and beacon of light your whole life, and what you're doing for the people of Kingston is really beautiful And regardless of what the outcome is, you know I firmly believe that that you have what it takes and you be an excellent mayor for Kingston. But your mission is accomplished, regardless of what you do And you can, and that's how you'll sleep at night. Yeah, that's how you sleep. When do you sleep? Yeah, just with peace. That I know. I did all that I could do, that I showed up, i listened. I've been doing this all along. It's a natural byproduct of my being, as being in the community every single day, from the grass roots, boots on the ground, day to day stuff and trickling it up up that chain right?

Speaker 3: 1:05:09

Yeah, absolutely. It's similar to like your education. You know, you weren't just like, oh, let me go go to an education because that's what I'm supposed to do. You followed your path And then, when it made sense for you to get educated, to get your associate's degree, you went and did it. You know, instead of saying you know what I want power, or you know I want prestige, i think I could be a good, good mayor. You built it from the ground up, brick by brick. Yes, what do you need? Let me go do it. Okay, great, i'm doing well at that. Should I expand? Yes, okay, let me do my Kingston kids. Oh, let me do these initiatives. And then, oh well, i guess the next, the next step for me to expand into organically, following this joy, following this excitement and the capabilities and the track record, is let me go run for mayor and be mayor.

Speaker 1: 1:05:58

Right.

Speaker 3: 1:05:59

So you use an internal driver of your joy and a consistent expansion of your impact to decide to run for mayor, rather than sort of analyze, you know, external factors, And that is what creates the victory, regardless. And often when people look at politicians, I look at some as role models. Right, And it's like what, what is it about them that makes it makes it a role model? It's not the fact that they're able to get X, Y or Z done. For me, it's always why? why did they do it? And actually one of my fun questions in college was you know who's your role model? And I put Cincinnati's, and you know, Cincinnati's is, you know, Cincinnati's named after it.

Speaker 3: 1:06:52

But during the Roman times, Cincinnati's was one of the, the leaders who, who took leadership not because he wanted to, but because he was asked to. And then, when they went and accomplish what they needed, which there was some some war and strife, when, when it was accomplished, he actually went back to being just his, his land landowner, you know, and they were, they were confused. And the same story, you know, replicates with George Washington as well, after the Revolutionary War. And so, you know, tying what you're doing in the 2023 has that essence of that powerful leader and all those leaders, hold on to those core spiritual truths of do what lights you up, do what needs to be done you know, rather than what you think needs to be done or what sounds good on paper, Right, Right.

Speaker 2: 1:07:48

Yeah, and I resonate with that so much because that's what I, you know, that's how I feel as well. You know the community asked me to run. It wasn't something that I was planning on doing, and, and even as I think about it, you know our current mayor has been for eight years. He's trying to run for another four years. A lot of people feel that's too long. In New York, in New York City, there was a two term limit, and Bloomberg changed it to three terms because he wanted to stay another year, another, another term, and he did, wound up staying 12 years, but you know that's part of my vision is to come in. It should be eight. Come in.

Speaker 2: 1:08:32

I do the job that needs to be done, lay a strong foundation for the next, next person to come in. You know you want a new vision, you want new ideas, you know, and I can go back and continue doing what I was doing. You know I came in, did the work and now go back. I feel the same way. The way that I, that I feel now, though, is like just what our current mayor is? just like he just doesn't want to leave. You know it's like no, this is mine. Like, oh, keep it in this. You're not taking this from me. You know it's kind of like it's not yours. You know you don't own it, it's not. You know it's. It's a stewardship. Yeah, the stewardship that represents the community. That has changed in eight years?

Speaker 1: 1:09:18

Yeah, Yes. So what's your vision for Kingston? I guess, eight years from now, if you were to be elected and to be in there for two terms, what would you ideally want Kingston to look like?

Speaker 2: 1:09:33

Yeah, i mean, you know, I see Kingston. I don't want to say a super democracy, but I guess anything better than whether this could be super democracy. You know I really want, you know I really want people. So there's a thing in Kingston right That I didn't notice because I wasn't born and raised here, but there's a few things in Kingston One. Everybody knows each other, so that's really weird by itself. And here I'm sitting and you could like see somebody one day and never see them again. Here is never happening. Oh, that's my cousin, that's my brother-in-law. It's like so weird.

Speaker 1: 1:10:05

We're into. We have that too right now We have that too in your town.

Speaker 2: 1:10:10

I'm not used to that, but I really like it. I really really enjoy that. But what's interesting is there's this thing here so unfortunate situation where for years, decades, people would graduate high school and they would move away because there weren't many things for them to do here. There wasn't much economic benefit here, there wasn't many options or resources here, and you hear so many stories of folks moved away for 10, 20 years and came back. So what I would like to do is create an atmosphere and an environment where there are things to do here And when people leave high school, they can stay right here at home and they can afford to stay here, because you can't afford to stay here either. Right now. It's one of the most challenging housing prices in the country, so challenging in Kingston, new York that they're reporting it in Europe. Wow, that's how challenging it is here.

Speaker 1: 1:11:10

The property value skyrocketed during the pandemic. Skyrocketed, yeah.

Speaker 2: 1:11:14

Kingston was noted in the New York Times as the most sought after city for property in the whole country.

Speaker 1: 1:11:23

And you guys got in there at the right time.

Speaker 2: 1:11:26

We literally my wife and I, moved into our house right after the beginning of the pandemic And we would have waited a few months. We wouldn't have been able to afford to get to move into our house. So, yeah, and I was living in affordable housing. So that just goes to show you the growth and the challenge also of the city. So I want to make sure that in that time, in eight years, you have a city that has a vast amount of opportunities and resources for the community that is born and raised here, for folks that are moving here, and there's a culture here for new people to come in that they can participate in and feel welcome and not feel that they need to strip or pull from or extract from, and that's what's been happening over the last few years. So we want to have some policies in place that protect the people that live here and create an atmosphere where people are loving and connected together, from your law enforcement to your clergy, to your nonprofits, to your businesses, to your vets, to your LGBTQ plus community, to your kids, to your seniors. We want a place where people can truly feel connected. There's only 24,000 people here.

Speaker 2: 1:12:53

Do you know that Madison Square Garden holds more seats than Kingston. Wow, is that something? I just got that the other day. I'm blown away by that. Blown away. Yeah, you take the whole city.

Speaker 1: 1:13:08

The whole city for a community event My Kingston kids event.

Speaker 2: 1:13:12

That's eight years. That's what I'm going to do. with eight years, i'm having the special event for Kingston and Madison Square Garden. You can come too, because there'll still be seats.

Speaker 1: 1:13:24

That's right. We could bring all of Topanga there too.

Speaker 3: 1:13:28

Everything that you're sharing is not just an issue of Kingston, but it's a major issue around the country as well. Especially in smaller cities. Is the brain drain to the coast, to the big cities? It's even a national problem in places like the Philippines. So that's a huge thing that you're working on at the local level. A lot of times you say think global but act local. There is a national housing crisis for the millennials and the upcoming generation.

Speaker 3: 1:14:03

Victor and I have talked to people who are actively working on lobbying for certain housing solutions. I think that Kingston is such a beautiful opportunity for you to bring that possibility mindset and that imagine energy to create those shifts and to engage the community. That's ultimately what that is right. You're stewarding the community. You can only steward it as well as the inputs, as well as your citizens are participating. I know that, with Mike and the kids and his radio show, you've put in the work and you have made those connections and you know how to do it with click that you read back in the day. But you also know how to hold the note. Hold that vibrational note of being able to stay positive, stay possibility mindset, regardless of what's going on. I'd love maybe a story or two of how you've been able to impact the community already with Mike Kingston kids, and perhaps how the same things that you'll be doing as mayor you've already accomplished with Mike Kingston kids.

Speaker 1: 1:15:20

Yeah, even with your own family, frank, it's. Harmony starts at home, and you and Shaniqua have made the decision to homeschool your girls. The ripples out from you to your partnership with Shaniqua, to the family and their legacy, and then the community of Kingston, mike, kingston kids, and then Kingston as a whole. Yeah, i'd love to hear a story or two.

Speaker 2: 1:15:47

As Clifton said, Yeah, i mean, when we came here, my son was 15 and he was going to a public school in the city, but it was still like a pretty focused school. It was a citizen assembly school. I mean citizen, yeah, i think it is called citizen assembly, which is funny A civic engagement. But it was really good school really focused on boys of color believe it or not, all boys in the Bronx and it was public as well And I loved it. I loved the school, but we left and they were closing it down.

Speaker 2: 1:16:31

We came here and when we came here we knew that Senile, who was our youngest daughter she was nine months. She would eventually go to school, so about the time she was three. We saw the research in different types of schools and Montessori was the kind of model that we thought would be great. We were able to find her. They had one public Montessori school here and she went there for six years from pre-K to fourth grade, and we knew that this was it. And when we first put it in, we're like what are we going to do? What are we going to do when she gets out? Once she hit fourth grade and at the time it was fifth grade actually And they dropped the grade and made it fourth over the last two years. So we were really nervous and not sure what to do. And we had the organization and we were kind of working with the junior high schools here and we're seeing some of the challenges and we were trying to get in My kinks and kids were trying to get in the schools and try to help develop some curriculum and it was just very hard. It's still very hard, honestly, to do that.

Speaker 2: 1:17:41

So when she graduated fourth grade, we decided to homeschool her and keep her home And we felt that we would do a much better job than the school system, than any school system, not a slight against kinks in city schools, just in general. And we don't even like to stay homeschool. We like to stay direct learning because we're able to teach them directly through skills and experiences of our lives and help them develop theirs On a daily basis and it's definitely much more intentional and focused And we're having a fantastic time with that And it's been and, as you all know, with my busy schedule, it's like how are you homeschooling? Yeah, how are you doing direct learning?

Speaker 1: 1:18:32

And those girls have a lot of energy too. They do.

Speaker 2: 1:18:35

They do. I have a younger one too, who's five, and Sunil is 11. So two girls, very active, very creative, has inspired other families to homeschool as well. Wow, and look at alternatives education models. It's open in the conversations. That's what's really amazing about it, and I mean the world is led by vibration first right. So a few years before we started homeschooling Maybe one year, third grade I was called into a meeting with other individual educators and nonprofit directors with children about a No education model, which would be something similar to a whole school concept.

Speaker 2: 1:19:32

Hmm, and we were really looking at it from the ground up and it's still in development. So long time I was hoping my kids would be the first route of children in this program, but it's still in development. And that program, though and we bought in all these experts and ex-principles and all these folks have shared ideas and The challenges and pros and cons of the school system and education and how it works. But that inspired us. It was more inspiration to just do it, mm-hmm, and we did it, and it's become the best part of my life, i have to say. We go to the mall, we have a whole lesson my mouth math, of business, of management, of customer service, of I'm telling you in the mall, life skills, right, life skills, real, you know, um, real life skills, you know, and I would trade it in, and it's not easy all the time, you know. Sometimes I have to bring me to a meeting with me And they have the books, so they have their ABC mouse or the iPads or their toys, you know, and keep themselves occupied, but Sometimes they participate in the meetings as well. Immersive learning, yeah, definitely, definitely so, yeah, so that's one, you know. One of the other things that that is really inspiring. Inspiring is when we started the organization. We've been doing this seven years.

Speaker 2: 1:21:05

So I remember giving an award to a young man, who's how old now 18, and he was probably 13, 13. We gave him an award called the Inspire Award, and we created these awards at our my kinks and kids festival To do something different in your normal academic awards not to put that down, but that's a common place to receive acknowledgement. We wanted to acknowledge the kids that were expressing themselves in different ways, be a community sort of his social engagement, art, whatever, and this young man he Listen, that wasn't an amazing artist, he's 13. He's drawing things and whatnot, and Somebody recommended them to us and we were just so blown away. We gave him the work, so we started watching him and Just kind of watching him grow and offering opportunities. So where now he's 18, graduated high school, on his way to college, and We just gave him an award.

Speaker 2: 1:22:13

My other organization gave him an award called the Ben Wigford achievement award, which is named after a gentleman who passed he a few years ago, but he was like a community legend that Created a art studio. He was the first African-American professor and New Sony new falls here in in the Hudson Valley. But he also was the director of a place called Um communication village, which was like a home, which was like a like a center for At-risk youth in the area many years ago in the 70s and gave them an outlet to where many of them are Doing their craft of art in variety ways today. So it's a very prestigious award for a very inspirational person and this young man received that award this year and 23 And his artwork is all over the country. He's huge on on social media.

Speaker 2: 1:23:20

He even did a Mount Rushmore picture that he hand you have to send it to you of myself, my partner Tyrone and two other community leaders of color here in Kingston that People are just in awe, you know, when they see it like that was his vision.

Speaker 2: 1:23:41

So, yes, he's an incredible artist, but the other part was that he, he, he looked up to me and others as An inspiration figure for him in his life, so much that he created us on a Mount Rushmore you know, type of walking well, with the heads yes, wow, which was like you know what I mean, like that was just Like that honor of Somebody even thinking to even draw me. Period is like wow, you're drawing me, like why are you drawing me? But answer, draw me, which he did. Do a personal picture for me one time, make dude, but but to also quit me, you know, and that type of landscape was really remarkable and so I'm so humbled by it. So, to be able to watch the organization be so inspiring to young, like older people, yes, we appreciate it, but to see young people who it was created for is breathtaking, and that's what it's about. He's definitely a person that I appreciate so much And it's always available to support in any way we can.

Speaker 3: 1:25:02

Wow, that's so beautiful And I just love the story arc of how we started, of you creating that first magazine, uncovering young talents, musicians and now fast forward a few years, a few decades, but you're still uncovering talent, you're bringing people into the light, you're sharing and showcasing their gifts And that's just something that you'll just continue to do because it's part of your beingness And you just haul different hats and wear different roles based on your growth and your journey, and we're so excited to be part of your journey. We're so excited to see you step into running for mayor, being mayor, embodying the mayor, And really it's a natural byproduct, as we've said, of just your evolution and growth. It's just so wonderful to have spent this time with you and really appreciate all the listeners for staying with us, and this has been engaging and incredible. Is there anything else that you think is important to share, victoria, for our listeners, or to ask?

Speaker 1: 1:26:15

Oh, i was gonna say is there anything else you would like to share, frank?

Speaker 2: 1:26:20

Yeah, the most important part of this is how we even connected.

Speaker 1: 1:26:26

Yeah, you want to tell that story. I love that story. You're a great storyteller.

Speaker 2: 1:26:33

You know, my wife and I, you know we're here, We have the organization, we have a business, we have the kids. We're doing a variety of things. We're blessed to purchase some property here, as we just purchased a home And we're kind of looking in how to enhance our financial portfolio and get some strategies and how to move forward and better our careers economically. So I go on my favorite site I don't know if you're still on there anymore Upwork.

Speaker 3: 1:27:06

I could wear them called to go. Yeah, this was an upwork.

Speaker 2: 1:27:12

But I go on the site and I'm looking for a financial expert that can kind of like a coach slash financial person that can kind of guide us through the process. And I found Clifton, you know, and we did a call. And when we did the call it was just incredible because he got like right to the root of it. Like I think he just asked like a few questions Like why do you want to do this? You know, how do you see yourself doing this? You know, what's your vision? I don't know, i'm just trying to make some money, like you know, it's like, oh man, he's like giving me all these questions And I talked to my wife about it and I was just so excited, like, like hon, like I would have never expected that. You know, usually it's like send me all your assets, let me look at all your numbers, and he was like, yeah, it's like getting into a spirit to foundation.

Speaker 1: 1:28:17

Didn't you guys talk about? Abraham Hicks and Bashar Clifton relayed the story to me.

Speaker 3: 1:28:22

We just kept going deeper. I was just, yeah, talking about, like your numbers, yeah, i'm a CP, i could do this, let's go. And then I'm like, wait, what about this?

Speaker 2: 1:28:31

Yeah, just deeper layers of resonance and connection, you know, yeah, i think I was, and it's so weird because it's unfortunate And I hope to change that paradigm here. But it's like when you talk to new people you got to hear this too, but I'm not going to digress in that But when you talk to new people, it's always just elephant in the room. As people say, don't talk about politics and don't talk about religion or spirituality, right? So I'm like I think I don't know what I said, but I said something and Clifton resonated with it and it had to do with Abraham. And then he said the channeler and I think Ryan, i was like, yeah, i was like oh man, oh, let's do it.

Speaker 1: 1:29:17

I was like you met this guy on Upwork, yeah, yes.

Speaker 2: 1:29:22

And then we just started. That was it Like. Once we opened that door a little bit, it was over, it was well, it just began. How about that? Yeah, it was beautiful, it was really, really beautiful. And I told my wife and she was so excited, you know we were like, let's do it.

Speaker 1: 1:29:41

And we got on a call with all four of us. Yeah, but I there.

Speaker 2: 1:29:45

I knew it was like wow, this is great, it was beautiful, it's a beautiful relationship.

Speaker 1: 1:29:52

Yes, we have.

Speaker 2: 1:29:54

So I think both So much You really you've really been a great blessing and support system to my family. You know, just a few months ago we were doing Frank Waters 2.0. Now we're doing 3.0. That's what's so beautiful about being in alignment. There's no I love when we say there's no time Like time doesn't really exist, it's an illusion. You know, something can happen immediately, something can happen in the month, something can happen in the year. It's all on you And that's what's so special, you know, about it.

Speaker 1: 1:30:35

Yeah, yeah. Well, this has been such a wonderful conversation with you, frank. It's such an honor to have you on our show to have a conversation how we normally have, but just for everyone else to hear. You're such an inspiration and incredible leader in your own family, you know, with your girls and with Shaniqua in your community, with my Kingston kids and your radio show and all the opportunities you bring to entrepreneurs. And now running for mayor, you know, holding out the rope for Kingston, seeing what happens and standing true, being that beacon, holding that note. So where can people find you or support you? support your campaign, donate money, what, what? where do we send people?

Speaker 2: 1:31:19

Yeah, well, if you want to support the organization, we're my Kingston kids and we do programs, events and activities with children in the Kingston area. Most of all of them are free or very, very, very low cost. If that, you can go to mykingsonkidscom to donate. You could also. If you want to donate to history in Kingston, you could do that. That's right, and learn more about the campaign at frankwatersformayorcom. Frankwatersformayorcom. You could also find me on Facebook at Frank Waters for Mayor, or just Frank Waters.

Speaker 1: 1:31:57

And you don't have to be from New York or from Kingston to donate to the campaign as well.

Speaker 2: 1:32:03

Right Open to everyone all across the world.

Speaker 1: 1:32:07

So if this message resonates with you, you can become a part of that platform and that movement.

Speaker 3: 1:32:15

Yes, thank you. Awesome. Well, it's been such an incredible pleasure spending this time, getting to know you deeper, having these deep levels of conversation, and so grateful that we've been able to share this time and explore more about you, your journey and what's to come, what basis of the future you're creating.

Speaker 2: 1:32:39

You're welcome, very, very welcome, and thank you so much. You both are incredible, love you And wish you the best. I know your podcast is going to take off, which I'm sure is already, but I'll be listening and sharing it here in Kingston as well.

Speaker 1: 1:32:58

Thank you. Thank you so much, frank. We love you as well, you and the whole family. Well, thank you all for tuning in today And we'll talk to you next time.