All right. So my friend, Kevin, introduce yourself. Okay. My name is Kevin Carrington. I I always think about this joke from living color back in the day. You know, it's like I got five job I am a hospital executive at a global health system. And also I'm the founder of the nonprofit, the C3 Initiative, Inc. Where we teach and what we unlock the STEM potential inside of black kids all over the world. so let's get into it. When did you fall in love with GIS Ooh, movie reference.. I love it. I love it. The Brown Sugar movie reference.. I love it. You know, I think I've always been in love with gis. Oh no. The first time I fell in love with it was, I was that kid. My parents had the Encyclopedia Britannica. the blue hard book. You know, it's the blue hardback cover. Books. Books, , and, and that was my biggest connection. And I know, I know, encyclopedia and maps don't always correlate, but for me, I saw a connection between knowledge and wherever it can be found in those books. And so I spent a lot of time in those, not knowing that later that, you know The Geographical Information System concept be brought about where we can learn from data geographically. And I've always been a big fan of people, culture, how they live, and so it just made sense that it would navigate, it would grow from, you know, what I can learn about people around the world in these, you know, blue hardback books to traveling and then also to be able to use data to, to learn and and grow. So, before we get into more of your story, what drew you to today's homecoming? Oh, so, you know, outside of, you know, having the opportunity to speak and share a little bit about my non profit I'd really say that the team at NorthStar has just been so supportive to me and my organization for a very long time. And when you are connected to like minded people and surrounding people who have similar skills and similar passions and want to see the world do better and be better it's easy to hop on a plane and come hang out, as I would say. We definitely appreciate it. Okay. So. Doing this work, some people will look at the work that you do and say it's a hopeless endeavor. Where do you find the fortitude and the energy to keep going? Where did you find the wherewithal to even get started? Wow, that's a good question. You know, my dad used to always say this to me, there's always a way. And it was a way It was in his way of teaching me that excuses are things, are barriers that we build towards accomplishing or getting something done. And so for me, I would say, I pulled a lot of that from my dad in just when you see something that needs to be done, it's your obligation to figure it out. Not just do it because then sometimes when you try to do something, you'll always run into a barrier. But it's your, it's your job to. And so I think a lot of that I got from my father to your comment about the hopeless endeavor. Yeah, sometimes it does feel like it, it, it is hopeless. But I think that there is a difference between a situation that appears hopeless and the responsibility that we have to Get it done. I feel like, you know, when it comes to tangible things like building a road that stretches from one end of the country to the next, it seems intangible, but we need transportation, so it's easy to do it that way. Well, how more important are our children? How more important are our future? And so for us, you know, especially at C3, We've contextualized it down to one of one million, is a phrase that we have all the time. We're trying to get to fill a pipeline, the tech pipeline with a million African American kids who have learned this skill set and make sure the workforce doesn't have an excuse to say that that these skilled individuals aren't available. But the reason we say one of one million is because our hope doesn't necessarily lie in the million. Our hope lies in the one. If we can get that one kid to be confident, realize their ability be their authentic self and grow from their authentic self and then solve problems from that space, we've done, we've done our job. So one, one makes you know, at least taking that approach has truly made, you know, has given us all the hope in the world. All right. So let's talk about how. Let's frame this a little bit. So, Kevin and I exist in a society that it's framing tells us all the things we can't do, we're not allowed to do, all the things that we're barred from doing. Wow, yeah. In the C3 initiative, how do you reframe that and how do you create the space that as soon as a student walks in the door, they see and they feel the potential. Yeah. They feel That we trust them to succeed. Yeah, you know, I'm going to use your words you know, from the, one of the sessions that you were moderating when you were saying that the biggest lie, you know, is that is the biggest lie the devil told is to get people to think that he doesn't exist. Right. I think that is really where our responsibility and activities lie. Unfortunately, with. Black kids, you know, there's something we have to introduce them to before we, well, as well as the skills that we give them. What we found out is that they have these skills like the, you, I've met some of the most brilliant young people you will ever see who the reality is. They don't even, they have never even seen the possibility of them being into those spaces. I'll give you one quick example. One of the C3s that we did, actually C3 we did with you guys. There were kids in, at a school in Las Vegas. One of my buddies is a teacher, was a teacher at a school in Las Vegas. And he wrote me a letter. He said, Kevin, I have a few kids in my class. As a matter of fact, a majority of the kids in my class. They've never even seen the ocean. I was flabbergasted by that. They weren't thrown in at all. They didn't even see it. They didn't even see it. And so we sent a charter bus to the school in Las Vegas to pick those kids up, drive them down the coast and bring them to the expo. And for me, that's kind of where we start. We start with exposure, right? We expose them and having. Amazing technicians and, and computer science and GIS capable individuals like yourself and Clinton and others for them to see you. I believe personally that it was the exact same as them seeing the ocean. They, it's almost like, you know, you see the ocean. It was like, not only does it exist, it's beautiful. And I believe those kids have the same experience when they see, you know, individuals like yourself and individuals like Northstar team members and that represent these big corporations. And you guys are navigating in that space. I believe it's the same thing. It's like, not only do you guys exist, not only do we exist, but we're beautiful. And and so just to kind of tie, you know, finally tie back to your question, we are exposing them to individuals and skill sets that actually exist. Like these are things that are happening. This is someone who has broken through those barriers that are preventing us from growing. And then we do have some real world conversations with them about what they would potentially face. And I would say one of the biggest things for me. is, you know, you know, no one really wants to be surprised by our barrier. And so if we can at least tell them some of the things, and be honest with them, with some of the things they may face, whether it's opposition, whether it's systemic suppression, you know. And when I say systemic, I mean no one is saying it, but the system is set up that is there. And that's the box that you're talking about framing. So let me ask you this question then. It's a balancing act, right? So we're both parents of black. I'm gonna get a little bit personal black children. How do you maintain that balance with how do you maintain that balance of telling your children about the systems and also keeping them confident? So that is, you, you almost pulled on the heartstring just a little bit. I'm not going to do it. I'm not going to do it. But I, you know, black sons and daughters have unique experiences, you know unique experiences and me, I'm a girl dad, so, you know, I'm, I'm a father of two black women. And I hate the way the world treats them. I hate it. And so for me. I do everything in my power to remind them of who they are. Remind them of why they are important. And I think, this is kind of my cocktail for them. Remind them of who they are. Remind them of why they're important. They're little things that I have instilled in my daughters. Like, in our house, you're not allowed to call someone out of their name. Right. Like, they're, like that's, that is, the reason I pick something like that is because they're It will happen to you. It's the first start of dehumanizing. That is, oh my gosh, that is so true. And so there are these moments that I want them to say, it's like, Hey, there are things I'm teaching you in the way that you treat yourself and the way you treat each other, that. When you come into contact with it out there in the world, I, I, it's my, yeah, I tell them I'm, I'm raising decision makers. The decisions will be yours to make right now. I get to protect you. So there's some decisions I get to make for you, but soon you'll be making those decisions on your own. But I have conversations with them specifically around the one of not. Calling each other, you know, something out of their name is because when you experience it in the outside, there is a response for it. I have one daughter who's very outspoken. She's my, she's kind of that resistance with me. And then my, my oldest daughter is very quiet, internalizes everything. I'm like, and for both of them, it's extremely important for them to live in place, like, and I tell them all the time, you're beautiful, you're amazing. You're wonderful. All those things are great. But how do you stand up for yourself? And I'll even go as far as to say this. I've never been taught coping, appropriate coping mechanisms, right? And so one of the things that I do for them is in, you know, affirmations, really pouring into them, letting them know who they are. And because they're kids, you also have to let them know who they are not, because they are still trying to kind of define and figure out who they are. So letting them know who they're not, who they're not, letting them know who they are. But then there's this kind of other side of it. It's like, I want you to know what you would experience. And as we go through life. I point those things out, not that, not, not that the oppression or systemic barriers are applied towards them, but I want them to see them out in the public as they apply to anyone. So when, you know, you see a situation you know, we're talking about water fountains in the South, taking them back to Atlanta in my office once, and I explain them, it's like, once upon a time, you could not drink out of that water fountain. I let them know about that truth, because then they get to say, you know, you know, at the end of that, you know, that story, You gotta also tell the other part of it, the soul of thought, to make sure that that water fountain is available for everyone. So now they know the struggle, but they also know the overcoming. And I just tell them all the time, there is going to come a time where your fight is going to happen. So prepare for it and just know how to do it with grace. And so it's long answer, but it touches me because I really do hate the way the world treats them. So two things, two things in the time that I've known you, two things stick out to me. One is. Founder to founder, you have a full time job and you believe in entrepreneurship. Absolutely. What are some pieces of advice that you would give to young professionals who have a fire in their belly to start something like a non profit like North Star C3, right? What piece of advice would you give to them? To get started or, to take this passion, this, faith of a mustard seed and how do you grow that? Yeah. Yeah. So we get, we get similar questions like this from kids that we work with all the time. And, everybody's experience is different. So I always tell people, don't, don't try to connect yourself to what someone else is doing. First off, like. I have a full time job, a non profit, and a company, and that is not, I would tell everyone that is the worst, that is the worst model to follow, but, but the thing that I do pour into is, one, identifying that what you create has value. You know, and if you identify that it does have value, it is okay to pour everything you have into it. I think oftentimes, especially when you're talking to young people, whether in high school or or even in college, time is on their side. So, so when you, and I wish this was kind of poured into me at their age, but the reality is you have You know, if you have something, this beautiful power, that you can start a company, start an idea, go fight after, you know, do some community organizing, or build a non profit, or you have a for profit idea, you can build it, and let's say it fails after 20 years of trying, you still got a whole half a life, you know to go. So, you know, my word to any individual, or any kid who has an idea, is go for it. There's a lot that goes into go forward, right? There's a lot that goes into go forward. I always tell people, learn your industry, really understand the industry. And the skill set is one thing, but I always tell people adding value is far more important than just doing a task. So if you would just sit in your mind and say, well, what is the value that you're adding? Understand what that value is. And if you understand what that value is, and it happens to be differentiated amongst the other people who are doing it, you might have something, go for it. You know, question, question. So I know Clinton will tell this story that when we first Northstar, he gave me a call. Tell. About the people you work with, don't do it alone, right? Sometimes because we exist in the context of American rugged individualism society, we are people of a community of village. And so when I, when I think. About Northstar and the people and the mission. I am so grateful that I get to work. I get the privilege of working with these people. So tell us about the value of not doing it alone and doing it with the right people. Absolutely. Well, I w you actually. Pointed at something that is really, that I believe in, I stand, believe in and stand on. Culturally, that's not us. That rugged, outback, like, one man, lone ranger against the world? That's not us. We are very communal people. And, and there's nothing, and I always reference back to this concept of Umbuntu. You know, this I am because you are mentality is. And I'm just speaking to black people right now. It's like we, we exist together. It's how we exist. Now, I will even tell you, even in business, they would tell you, make sure you find a good team. But when it comes to black people, we do this differently. Like this is us working together, pulling different ideas, pulling different mindsets, people who can see different things. I tell people all the time that. You know, diversity is not a, a metrics, it's a, it's a mindset. That's really what it is. Yeah. It's like, at the end of the day, it's like this idea of, of bean counting how many people from different backgrounds are in your organization. Right. That doesn't help you with anything uhhuh It's, it's the idea that the mindset is, I need to make sure I'm surrounded with diverse enough thinking that the things I don't see. We can see. All right. Now last to add a little bit of whimsy, using your vast knowledge and skills from your C3 organization, how would you approach surviving the zombie apocalypse? Now, you know, I'm a big sci fi. I don't know. I don't know if you know this, but I'm a huge sci fi fan. So the first thing, oh, guess using my C3 knowledge. Using my C3 knowledge. Okay. I know you got me. You got me. You got me. Okay. So using a C3 knowledge, I mean, there's preparation I feel like you would have to put into this, right? So the first thing I would do is we would have to divide design some type of underground structure would be my first my first mindset, and I build. Oh, yes, very much so builder We design some under underground structure and It would have to have multiple entrances and exits so that we can still traverse the land. I think that's really important. You got to make sure you have some defense and protection there. You got to make sure all your resources are accounted for. So water, we need ways to grow underground. So I personally would activate the C3 protocol, get some of the kids to start designing concepts for ecosystems that could be created underground. I'd get the C3 agents working on, how do we Access the aqueducts of water that are flowing underneath the earth and get them to flow up into our underground structure I'd also have to task some of our c3 agents on communication so that we can make sure we're communicating through the through the group Yeah, if the zombies came through I'd make sure the C3 agents were with me, so we can, we can. And here I am, I'm worried about food. Can I, can I get used to the taste of human flesh? Sliced up and mixed with veggies. We can grow potatoes, girl. You don't got to eat the people. Oh, don't get me to talking about a garden. But Kevin, THank you. Thank you, it's been great. And on that note, thank you to our listeners. I want to thank the sponsors of the 2023 Homecoming Conference event, which was held on Howard University's campus. Thank you National Geographic Society, National Academy's Gulf Research Program, Mapping Black California, Hope and Heal, and Spatial GIS. We also want to give a special thanks to our guests. Thank you. for trusting us with your stories. Shannon, Sandra, Kevin, Margo, Frank, Jen, Dr. Louberts, Karee, Dr. Graham, Gloria, Michael, Eric, Sky, Nick, Dr. Yoboa Kwakun, Veronique, and Dawn. We also want to thank Howard University for allowing us to present in the iconic browsing room and to the Northstar team. Thank you. Shakonda, Raisha, Clinton. Erica, Yolanda, and our volunteers and student ambassadors. Thank you also to KMG. Audio is produced by Cherry Blossom Production, and I'm Aisha, your host and the executive producer of the inaugural season of the North Star Gaze podcast, which is based on the 2023 Homecoming conference event.