Women in the Workplace and Mental Health

[00:00:00] Speaker A: Hello, everyone. My name is Iris Douglas. And joining me is my co host, Yvette o'. Sullivan. And as you can see, our special guest today is Mrs. Sereno. Thank you so much for being here today. So grateful for this opportunity. [00:00:12] Speaker B: Thank you. Yes. Welcome, Sue. Welcome. [00:00:16] Speaker C: You're listening to the vital women of Washington Heights. [00:00:27] Speaker A: Our podcast is Divided Women of Washington Heights Living in Dutchess County. Today's episode is about women in the workplace and mental health. And that's, you know, that's the big thing right now. So we want to kind of really find out how you feel about what's going on with that and thinking about it. [00:00:46] Speaker C: Well, I always like to start with a boching ching. And I don't know if any of. [00:00:51] Speaker B: You know what a boching. I like teams. [00:00:53] Speaker C: It's like a little teaser, a little energetic Dominican energy. [00:00:58] Speaker B: I like that. [00:00:59] Speaker C: So in my research, I found out that Currently in the 21st century, there has been 19 women in politics in the Dominican Republic, which I thought was very impressed by that information. However, I feel there should be more because this is 21st century and there should be more women involved in politics. [00:01:21] Speaker B: I agree with you. I think a lot of women don't think about going into politics because so often it was a man's world. But I think we're doing a better job of it. [00:01:30] Speaker A: Oh, absolutely. But I think that's because you're a leader. You inspired me and you inspired many other women to the even honest conversations about community and women and health and mentors. And also thank you for the opportunity. [00:01:45] Speaker C: So we are very grateful that Andrew o' Grady is our sponsor, Mental Health of America. He is amazing. Very happy that when I approached him, he decided to say, hey, that's a great idea. [00:01:59] Speaker B: I'm going to sponsor you guys. I love that I have him on C dial. I can't tell you how often I've had to call him with a friend or a grandparent that's having, you know, their grandchild or daughter or son are having mental health issues. And he always. [00:02:17] Speaker C: He has a big heart. [00:02:18] Speaker B: Yes. [00:02:19] Speaker C: And a lot of interest when it comes to helping people in the community. [00:02:25] Speaker A: I was actually listening to his commercial the other day and I was telling you that I was like, he sounds amazing. And he says something that's very interesting at the end. There is no help without mental health. [00:02:38] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:02:38] Speaker A: You know, and if you're not, you're not at the right place. If you're. You're not aligned, I mean, you can make bad choices. And I think that having a facility that you can go to, like, MHA to find a counselor or facilitator that just bring the nervous system down is a big, big must. [00:02:56] Speaker B: So. [00:02:57] Speaker A: Yeah, and that's. We'll talk a little bit more about how we can. Yeah, but that's a big. That's a big thing in my agenda. [00:03:06] Speaker C: Well, Iris, I don't know if our listeners know that Susarino is our county executive and also our former New York state senator. [00:03:17] Speaker A: That's amazing. Thank you. Thank you for. I was supposed to say that the other way. So one of the things that when I met you was like, you told your story, you know, how you manifested. And I think it's important that everyone that has a similar story, even though they're not in politics yet, you know what I'm saying? But I think it's important for people to share because there's a lot of women out there. I could do this. I could do that better. I could do that. They have their opinions and they can because they don't have a voice. But when they see women like you standing strong and coming here, meeting with us, I think you're going to inspire more women to do that. [00:03:55] Speaker B: I love that. [00:03:56] Speaker A: So I'm looking forward to that. Yeah. Well, that was one of the things you inspired us. So we wanted to share that on. [00:04:01] Speaker B: And I'm the person. I hated politics. You know, I think the things that propel us all forward. Right. As something that has happened in real life. Right. I always say our personal stories propel us to what we're going to do. And for me, it was nothing about politics, but I recognized if I wanted to make change, I had to get involved. And that was, for me, that brought me into the political world. Absolutely. Found that it can help so many people that I absolutely loved it. [00:04:30] Speaker A: So with that said event, why don't you talk to her about your fundraisers? I mean, your nonprofit organizations that you have. Yes, Jeremy. [00:04:40] Speaker C: Well, I don't know if you remember that I used to have Abridos Huertas opening doors, and Davis made huge donations for us to bring school supplies to the students of impoverished families. And that was like back in 2019. [00:05:03] Speaker B: Yes. It's a long time ago. [00:05:06] Speaker C: So you have been very involved with not just the county, but also very locally within the village of Wappingers and the town of Wappingers, because I believe. [00:05:16] Speaker B: That'S where you grew up. I grew up in Walkingrews. Yeah. [00:05:18] Speaker A: My husband and I live there in Walking's. So I want to share that. One of the reasons that we're here at this wellness center is because I am, you know, from Washington Heights, as Yvette is as well. But I had. My mom had mental illness. She had depression, she had premenopausal depression. My father was an alcoholic. So I wanted to create a space where people can come and understand that there's a way for you to heal. Meditation, yoga, breath work, Reiki, and there's so much many other things going on that I also wanted to, you know, kind of share that, that mental illness, if we get it, if we prevent it with certain tools from the very beginning and we start showing people how to bring it down and just soothe your spirit, I think we're going to help better, how can I say better people growing mothers better with their children because they feel better about themselves. Children feel better about themselves because they can go to school and they're more confident because mommy is not well in her head. How am I going to say the right. How am I going to do this? How am I going to do that? That creates a lot of tension and pressure because I was part of that. [00:06:35] Speaker B: So that. So you looked at firsthand and look at what you're doing now. [00:06:39] Speaker A: See, exactly. But that's your story. Exactly. So that's why it's important that we all can share our stories. [00:06:47] Speaker B: Because. [00:06:47] Speaker A: Because there's some mom or maybe dad, it's like, how can I get out of this rut? They have to start believing themselves and listening to the right people. So that's why we're here. That's why Hudson Valley Holistic Healing center was created for people to call and just kind of figure out what it is that you need in order for you to figure. Get back to realign yourself. So Andrew being the sponsor, it's a good, you know, it's a good, like marriage, you know, because it kind of all goes in together and we're seeing. [00:07:21] Speaker B: More and more, you know, children kind of mental health episodes. I was in Northern Duchess and the superintendent told me at the schools that they had five year olds, five and six year olds that were like throwing chairs because they didn't know how to. For their worships. And you have to remember them lived through Covid, right? So when we managed prior to Covid, and then we went right into Covid, and that is the year I've had breast cancer during COVID too. And so it's all these things, you know, I feel like the personal life experience helped me speak to people to let them know, you know, what this happens and to help them and when we talk about mental health, I think it's important that we talk about it again, get rid of the stigma, which I've been talking about for years, having lost my brother to suicide, and before that I lost a nephew to suicide. [00:08:16] Speaker C: Well, as adults, you know, we may have the tools to deal with life stressors, the breast cancer Covid, but children do not have those tools or skills, especially if they don't have the verbal skills to express that confused skill and feeling anxious and it comes out in the form of anger. [00:08:35] Speaker B: Yes. [00:08:36] Speaker C: Many years ago, I used to work for a local organization and we dealt with children with anger even younger than five years old. [00:08:46] Speaker B: That's rigorous. [00:08:47] Speaker C: It is very heartbreaking. Throwing chairs because that's what they know or a way to express and show instead of verbalizing because they can't name their feelings. They don't have the skills to say, I'm feeling angry, I'm feeling sad, I'm feeling anxious. [00:09:04] Speaker B: But I think about the parents, and parents don't know what to do, where to go. So those are some of the conversations, because we're doing that. We don't have children mental health beds, they say, because there's no money in it, which is terrible. So we are trying to work with the Pierci children's to create some of those children's pets, but also make sure that there's places where family can come and the parents get a little respite and have other people that they can talk to about their experiences and, you know, kind of share their stories because that helps tremendously. [00:09:39] Speaker A: That's very important. Trust me. I would love to see that because I'm also part of Poughkeepsie schools. I go in, I help interpret with the interpretation Latinos. And I see it so I see where the mother's challenge with two or three jobs, the kid is all discombobulated because of different communication with the mother, because the mother has the hustle. I'm just talking from what I see, my personal experience when I lived in the Bronx, that the mother has to hustle and then the kid doesn't get that undivided attention from the mother, and now he's seeking somewhere else. And now we get into like bad habits with found friends and bad things happen, you know what I'm saying? Because if a kid is not happy at home, he is not happy in school. [00:10:23] Speaker B: No. [00:10:23] Speaker A: And you, you know, well, if there. [00:10:27] Speaker C: Isn'T that strong foundation in the home environment and the parents is feeling unbalanced, the child is not going to receive that Balance, because they're going to pick up those feelings and emotion that the mother receiving when the father is seeing feeling. And years ago, you know, there were a lot of single mothers, but I believe now there's even more. Something change is happening. So like Iris mentioned, mothers go through a lot of pressure and stress and trying to figure out how do I catalog these responsibilities, how do I wear all these hats. Being a single mother at that point, I'm sure you experienced a lot of different stressors in your life, but somehow you were resilient and now you're here. [00:11:13] Speaker B: I was lucky. I had family support too though. So my mom was able to take my son when I was working two and three jobs, which was really important. Not everybody has that opportunity. And you know, for a point of time, I had Anthony in childcare because my mom worked during the day too. And that's what made me come up with the idea of opening up my own childcare business through Dutchess County. And so that's why now we're going to be offering grants to women that want to stay home and do an in home childcare business because it's difficult. You know, I loved it. I knew all my kids and it was great because I had this young girl come up to me, I don't know, four years ago and she said, aunt Allie, you used to take care of me right when I knew who she was. And she was like a year and a half, two years old. And I had her, I think till she was about three. But isn't that amazing? Like it just, it was great to see her being successful and she was going into nursing and it was really. [00:12:16] Speaker A: Nice and you were there to support that. [00:12:17] Speaker B: It was great. [00:12:18] Speaker A: So that's what my mom did that was inside herself. She took care of kids. So the next three. Thanks for sharing. You see how we all start trying to put community. We're in community. [00:12:41] Speaker B: Absolutely. And I'd love to know like you were going to talk about people over 40 because so many women as they get older think, oh, what am I I gonna do? But for myself, I didn't even get involved in politics till I was 40. So there's so many opportunities because if you're children are typically, you know, could be grown by then, you know, you have more, more time to get involved. And I think it's really important because we all have life experience that creates the person that we are and how we help people because of those life experiences. [00:13:13] Speaker A: Exactly. I knew because of my life experience, I go here because of real life experience. I'm so grateful we are talking the same language. [00:13:24] Speaker C: But that's a great opening because for me as a mother, I have a daughter and she's in her 30s and she is struggling to make a name for herself in her career as an entrepreneur. And I feel that sometimes, you know, there isn't enough support out there, not just for the more mature woman in her 40s to start over in life, but also for these young ladies that want to start a career or start their own business. And, you know, statistics indicate that there is. I'm going to look at my notes here. Let's see the percentage of females that are in college, it's like 39% that are earning their college degree. And that brings up to a 57.5, you know, nationwide. And it's opening up the labor force for more and more women to enter different industries. But I still feel that isn't enough. Those numbers are not high enough or big enough for me to say, you know, there are opportunities. [00:14:33] Speaker B: Yes. And I think, you know, the networking groups are so important because, you know, women empower other women and young girls. My greatest stories are when young girls come up and talk to me, as I was telling you before, the three girls from Dutchess Community College together. And I think Alan want to sit down and have a conversation with me and I'm going to try to help them, you know, empower them and talk about my life story and you know, what they can do. But it frustrating because I remember even when I opened up my real estate business and it's women, women would come up to my husband and say, oh, and you own a real estate company too. And I would get so angry at first because it was my company. And then when I was in the state senate, I was one of only five females in our.32 of us in our house. And I would go to the city or whatever we have to other places and I'd go with the guys and people would think I was like the assistant or they would never think that I was the senator. And. But the guys always straighten that out. But it's. A lot of times it's. Other women do that. Right. And I think people are afraid to talk about that, but I think it's such an important part of the conversation. [00:15:42] Speaker A: Because women supporting women is. Is a very. It's like literally up opposed to men's for a woman. Trust me, when a woman feels that another woman. I support each other. We feel more, you know, we feel very balanced and grateful that we have each other. So that's what it is when women support women, it's like Loriana, you know, I support her. She's got her dreams, whatever. She, you know, we talk about it all the time. We talk about ideas. So it is important that women leaders support young girls because they're our future. You know, they are our future. I'm going to be 62 years old next week, so thank you. So this is something that I want to grandfather to someone that can really hold the space. She's got to be younger than me. It's a lot of work here, you know what I'm saying? It's a lot of work. So I want women, young girls to be supported. And that's a good conversation. How can these persons supporting our youth, especially women. Because some of these girls don't want to go into corporate. You know why? Because they get hit on too much, because it's uncomfortable for them. I can, I can understand that. We can all understand that. So they feel safer when they see a woman leader. They want to work with women leader. So I think it's important that we have these conversations. [00:17:02] Speaker B: Yeah, I love the thing you're doing this. [00:17:04] Speaker A: I think it's. [00:17:06] Speaker C: So with that being said, sue, how many women that you know of or research are county executives in the nearby counties? [00:17:18] Speaker B: So we have 62 counties in New York state, 18 county executives. So the others are administrators, managers, and county executives. There's only two. Myself and Jen Metzger in Oster county, who we both served in the state senate at the same time. So it's really nice. You know, we work together and I've known Jen for years. So there's other women, but not many. I don't have to count on how many administrators. But as far as county executives, it's two. [00:17:49] Speaker C: We need more women. We need more women to enter politics and represent not just the county, but also represent women. [00:17:56] Speaker B: Yes, absolutely. [00:17:57] Speaker A: And the. I think it's important because it's like, Mr. Me, like we have what we just said. When young women see women in power, they're the one problem, that leadership engages them. So that's very important. [00:18:11] Speaker B: And I think for women, too, it's not about. I never tapped myself on the back that I did this. It's a bit of helping people. It's a popularity contest because you have to have thick skin to be able to. To get go out there and have those tough conversations. Because, you know, like I always say, people are like, why are you involved in politics? And they said, I help people. And while the good outweighs the Bad I'm going to continue to do because I absolutely love that part. You know, my team used to say I give my cell phone over at so. And they would be like, no, you can't do that. [00:18:44] Speaker A: You gave me a card and I met you saying it's a card. Like you gave me a card and you said something also. You said it's not about the money and it really isn't about the money because this is not about. This is. This is not going to make a switch, but this is going to bring something to the community that's going to help them understand that there are tools. [00:19:02] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely. [00:19:03] Speaker A: So it is really. It's not about the money sometimes. [00:19:06] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:19:06] Speaker C: And young ladies need role models. And you are a world model definitely for accounting also New York State, when. So it's all important for us to be the leaders so that they can come in Hudson Valley. [00:19:26] Speaker A: Hudson Valley has a lot of women in business now. Yes, a lot of women in business. [00:19:32] Speaker C: And not only women, but also a lot of Latino women are entering the, you know, the becoming entrepreneurship. So that's big. And it's growing every year more and more. [00:19:47] Speaker B: Yeah, it gets you more. Yeah. As much as owning your own business, as you know, you're very busy, you're working all the time. But it does offer you the flexibility too. Right. You have families. Right. And I think that's so important. I think that's the message because it's one thing being, you know, you're in corporate, you know, those typically nine to five or longer jobs. And granted if you have a business, you could be working at night too, but you have the flexibility to be with your children, get them off the bus and you know, that's what I found. [00:20:20] Speaker A: That is cold because even with my daughter, I have a 27 year old daughter and she was here for a few. Couldn't handle it, to be honest with you. It was too much. But anywho, because it was a lot of pressure. She teacher for special needs. She can handle all that. [00:20:34] Speaker B: Oh, that's a lot. That's. That's hard. [00:20:37] Speaker A: That's big. That's big. So I understand now why she couldn't handle everything that was going on here. But when women are there to support young women, it's no doubt it's going to be. We're trying to build better communities, right? [00:20:50] Speaker B: Yes. [00:20:50] Speaker A: Got to start with our mamas. Good husband is happy, we're happy, everybody's happy. So I'm really excited about women in business and starting, you know, I, I like coaching women Because I can share my experiences, especially with this is challenging this. Our business is not a tangible business. It's a business that people have to, when they walk through, they have to believe in some spiritualities. They have to believe. So it's a hard sell distance. But if you keep going and keep going and keep going, eventually people will feel it. [00:21:30] Speaker C: But it's also an investment irc. I see it as an investment to yourself because mothers are always handling so many different responsibilities and taking the time to come into a healing center and giving yourself that hour or two hours. You're investing in not only your body, but your mental health. And it's very well needed because it's the fuel that's going to carry you to the next day. [00:21:55] Speaker A: Absolutely. I have clients that come once a week. The older ladies come once a week because they need to b. You know, they need that. That vitality. Back then I had mothers to come once a month just to get recharged. You know, either be sound healing or just crystal or just a maximum conversation. Reiki is not all about hands on or hands off. It's also having a conversation, what do you feel? What's, what are your fears? What's their energy like? And if I can handle something like that, I would refer them to the mha, you know, or a counselor or a coach that can handle that. Yes, that's, you know, I want to make sure that, you know, they have what they need. [00:22:37] Speaker C: So this podcast is about empowering the name. So sue, how can we implement or improve equality for women in the county? [00:22:49] Speaker B: Well, I can tell you we have a lot of female employees in Dutch county government, which is great. And there's a large amount of our department heads that are women and they are amazing and they do such a great job. And I think that all of them are role models. And I think it's like doing this today, having these conversations is really important because it does empower women to do things and maybe think outside of the box. You know, for me, I didn't take the traditional path, so I started doing the trades events and they have been such a success. In fact, I was in not only trades events, but I do for the seniors, the elderly. Once Theo would do the we have a thousand seniors come. We do it in Arlington High School. A young girl, Mia was her name, she came up to me at that event and said, oh, we'd like to do your trades event too, because they had never done it. So we just did the first one there. But it was good. She asserted herself and she was so organized with her whole team. They were amazing. So I'm so impressed by young girls of today. They are amazing. And, you know, I think that it's just watching them, I think we're really headed, you know, towards more women getting involved, more women being in leadership because they see us doing the things that we do. [00:24:12] Speaker A: Yeah, they inspire me. Inspires me and all the other young women that I know inspire me because I see their passion. [00:24:19] Speaker B: Yes, I see that. [00:24:21] Speaker A: I feel their passion and. And see their drive. And I'm excited because they're the future. They're the future mothers, the future entrepreneurs and our future leaders. [00:24:30] Speaker C: But then there's also that group that we are representing here, the 40 and older. So what can you say to those women that after raising their families, now have time on their hands that might want to open up a business and become entrepreneurs? [00:24:47] Speaker B: Or can I think they, you know, we have. Oh, gosh, Louise McLaughlin and the workforce Investment Board. Workforce Investment Board. I'm terrible entitled to. But I know the girls, they do an amazing job. And so there are resources out there to help people who want to start a business. And that's so important. But getting involved in the community is huge. You guys come into the networking group and that's how you meet other women. And we really empower each other and say, oh, look at. She's doing this. I can do this. How does our business work together? Something I've wanted to do for years and I'm still talking about trying to find out how we can do it, is get all of our not for profits together under one roof. And because so often I could have rested. That's her aspirin. Did she have breastfed? [00:25:43] Speaker C: She had a scare, but she did have benign turmeric. [00:25:49] Speaker B: Oh, see? But she caught it, which was great. So it's about awareness and education is the key to prevention. But there are some groups in Duchess county, like sparrows nests, Angels of light, that when people have cancer, they enter the lighthouse, children and families and sparrows and delivers food to bees. So the reason I wanted to do this was to get them all under one roof so people know about the resources or where they came and volunteer and get involved. So it's still an endeavor that I want to work on. You know, we all get busy every day and send out to ask for partners. [00:26:29] Speaker A: Networking together. [00:26:33] Speaker B: Yes. [00:26:35] Speaker C: Well, I just came upon wonderful news that is happening in Manhattan with Mayor. [00:26:43] Speaker A: Adams and now it's back on. I just want to make sure that I say that date on March 19, that there are going to be some new mental health clinics provided for the schools in the South Bronx, in Brooklyn. [00:26:55] Speaker B: I love that. [00:26:55] Speaker A: That's amazing. Let me tell you. That's hardcore people where people really need those services. [00:27:01] Speaker B: Oh, yeah. [00:27:01] Speaker A: You know, so I was just wondering, how can we bring something like that into our. Into Duchess? How can we bring, like, little places, like, for instance, our center here? I would love for our center to be something like that, because that's what we do. We have 13 different providers, grief counselors, meditators, people that can help our community. Community. So how can we also be part of that? Because if that's a great idea, people could just go and figure out. And they're doing it in the schools too soon, which is very important because they provide counselors in the school to pick up when the children are not doing that. Great. To figure out this mental illness at home, which is a very good thing, because that's where. That's where it starts. [00:27:45] Speaker B: Yes. And it's interesting because I had. I have a couple of Marist interns right now, girls, and we were talking about mental health, and they said that they're at Marist College and that they don't let. There's mental health services there, but nobody seeks out the services there. Because I said, oh, well, we have, like a mobile unit that's for health, but we use it for mental health too. I said, maybe that's something too. But too. Because we didn't travel around the. But I didn't think about the college. And I think we're doing it at the schools. But it's still. We have to stop that stigma. So that's a huge problem. And I know, because I have some notes here, too, about, you know, what we're doing with the Empowerment center, which offers the recovery service to our crisis team. We really need people where they are, and that's so important. And when I first came last year, our health and mental health were together as one. And like, we consider that health and mental health, it makes sense. But they weren't like, they were not separate where they would get, like, you know, all the resources that they could. And to say this, we have a mental health director, we have mental health staff, and it's amazing. Jean Marie is doing such a great job. And they just opened up all Access supports. Access supports is like an emergency mental health clinic where you can go in and they have a room that is just amazing where it's like a relaxation room and it's very comfortable. I also had somebody from one of the, you Know, you see all the emergency clinics opening up, you know, for health. Now they're talking maybe bringing mental health into it, which is huge. So those conversations are happening, and they know I'm very open about talking about my brother, who was bullied in high school, in school, from the time he was in elementary school. And, you know, it wasn't until he was 47 that he took his life. You know, so you wonder, like, how your experiences with your child carried over to a near adult. Absolutely. So it's really important, and that's why having these conversations with children is so important and making them feel it. Hey, I have somebody to talk to, and I have somebody to help me. [00:30:08] Speaker C: And it's, of course, to be open and not keep secrets. It's like, you know, I remember years ago, everything was secret, whether it was breast cancer, whether it was mental health, whether it was menopause. I was sorry that. And I remember listening to my mother. [00:30:24] Speaker B: Talk to her sisters and all the. [00:30:26] Speaker C: Whispers about all the changes that they were going through. And now I realize I'm like, well, that's what they were talking about. Why keep it a secret? Why not involve your children and let them know what you're going through? And it's the same with the breast cancer. It's the same with mental illness. It's important that we support each other so that we know what's happening within our own family members. [00:30:50] Speaker B: Yeah, I agree. [00:30:52] Speaker A: Very important, because it affects all of us. My mom kept it real with me. She kept it real with me. She says, you need to stay calm, cool, and collective, because if you don't, you're going to be a mess like me. Okay. She told me. And getting back to the menopause women, also, when they start menopause, we did a podcast on this, how it affects their physical self. It's their emotions. [00:31:25] Speaker B: Yes, absolutely. [00:31:27] Speaker A: When you're not looking cutesy like you did when you were 23, now you're 67, you're like, oh, my God. It gets in your head before it's something. It gets in your head that can't. You know, that's a problem. And that also affects the life, the children, the husband, mental illness. We are very powerful, as you know, because we are the controllers of the house. [00:31:50] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, yeah. [00:31:51] Speaker A: We have to take care of it. So I would love for us to, like, keep talking about women and mental health and mental health and wellness and menopause and how we need to really hone that in. [00:32:05] Speaker B: Absolutely. And just, like, having this conversation today, think about the women that are going to see this and say, hey, look, it, you know, makes their day feel a little bit better. Maybe we put a skip in somebody's step because they say, wow, I'm not the only person that's going through this. You know, look at everybody else's experiences. So I think it's really helpful because they're not alone. They're not alone. Thank you. [00:32:32] Speaker A: Thank you. [00:32:32] Speaker C: But again, you know, it starts with the mothers. [00:32:35] Speaker B: It starts with the children. [00:32:37] Speaker C: And I just want to say that Iris is here to help them heal. Here at the center, not only are the souls doing wonderful things and also for the new unit that mental health is providing, but also they can come here at this center because, as you can see, the beautiful room that she has and all the different items for the children to provide them with healing and just here to help the community. [00:33:04] Speaker A: We have a lot of meetups. We have women who have business networking here. We have a lot. We have sound here in here. We have birthday parties for kids. We have bridal showers, you know, and everyone gets a little bit of something. We're so grateful for that. Yeah. It's a healing space. We walk in and it feels different. It smells good. You know, it's all about calming your nervous system. [00:33:27] Speaker B: Absolutely. [00:33:31] Speaker A: All the time. This is momentum. It's going to be hot mess and then stomach. So it's important that you stay from mind, body and spirit connect. [00:33:39] Speaker C: And as women, sometimes it's so difficult for us to shut down our brains. [00:33:43] Speaker A: Because we think we have to constantly go, go, go, go. [00:33:46] Speaker B: Yeah. [00:33:46] Speaker C: And that takes the talk of, I am. [00:33:48] Speaker B: Yes. [00:33:48] Speaker C: We're in charge of everything. [00:33:59] Speaker A: Yes. Support team is amazing. That's what makes the dream work, right? A good team. [00:34:09] Speaker B: Yes. [00:34:09] Speaker A: Yeah, absolutely. [00:34:12] Speaker C: Well, I think in the sue, would you like to add anything else that perhaps we haven't discussed? [00:34:21] Speaker B: I know that we're going to be doing our networking group event. I do a free networking event once a year. Been doing it since 2018. And we usually have three women speakers that come and they tell their stories and they're pretty amazing. But it's a great opportunity for women to meet each other and talk about them here. [00:34:43] Speaker A: When other women have come through two of your events. Yes, I would love. Yeah. When are you going to have the next one? [00:34:50] Speaker B: We haven't gotten a date yet, but it'll be sometime in the summertime. [00:34:54] Speaker A: Okay, good. Looking forward to that. Yeah. Because you do have inspiring speakers. I do, yes. Good stuff. [00:35:01] Speaker B: We're always trying to think of a lot to do with children, so we start started Sereno Superstars for middle school children and be a teacher or a guidance counselor. They would say, oh, yes, this child expressed, you know, his kindness and respect. Like they've taken kids under their wing. Because when I was in school, I was older than my brother. I would watch my brother, he was bullied all the time. And I would be the person that would like, try to take him under my lane. But even used to students that would come in and it was just showing kindness. So it's, oh, what can we do with children today? And now where the schools are doing, we're just sending the letters out now. [00:35:41] Speaker A: It's like an angel bloody, but someone to get and support. [00:35:45] Speaker B: You hear their stories and they just do it naturally and they're just so kind to one another. [00:35:52] Speaker C: It's really nice because sometimes I feel that in postschoolers receive a lot of love and attention, like the elementary school. [00:36:00] Speaker B: Students or the high schoolers, because by. [00:36:02] Speaker C: The time they reach high school, they're like athletes and they're into clubs and so many things. But in middle school, you're kind of like searching, trying to figure out who you want to be. [00:36:11] Speaker B: Right. [00:36:12] Speaker C: As you get older. So that's great. [00:36:15] Speaker B: That's one of my favorite things that we do. It's great. And we also have a tradesman. We did the one in Collent and school. We have one. We're working with boces to do theirs on April 30, and then we're doing the next one at Wappinger School, where I initially started on May 15th. And we do them at night so that, you know, parents and grandparents bring their kids. And it's great when I hear the stories afterwards, how somebody is getting a job because of our trades picked and has a career for something they never thought that they would do. [00:36:47] Speaker A: Well, I hope our listeners, you know, remember that and listen to what you just said, because that's important. Maybe they can resonate with it and be part of it. [00:36:55] Speaker B: Yes. Oh, I'm always looking for people that have a business that want to be there and be able to talk to the students at the same time. [00:37:02] Speaker A: I feel about that. So, yeah, we'll talk about it. I would love to probably partake in that. That sounds amazing. Yeah. Because kids, when they see other people would, you know, like, maybe from the community. They did it. [00:37:14] Speaker B: They did it. [00:37:15] Speaker A: So it inspires it. Right. [00:37:17] Speaker C: And perhaps if you send the information to us, we can post that on our website as well. [00:37:24] Speaker A: That would be awesome. So thank you. [00:37:25] Speaker B: That's great. [00:37:27] Speaker C: Well, thank you so much. Mr. Our Dutch county executive. [00:37:31] Speaker A: Thank you. [00:37:32] Speaker C: Former New York state Senator. We are so happy that you took the time to come and sit here with us and had this great discussion. [00:37:40] Speaker A: Really, really. He was so looking forward to it. [00:37:42] Speaker B: Well, I appreciate you thinking of me. [00:37:44] Speaker A: To come on and talk with that moment. You're all over the place. [00:37:52] Speaker B: I never see where are you following me on Facebook. Exactly. [00:37:57] Speaker A: Exactly. So again, thank you so much for just, you know, for listening to us and watching our podcast by the women for Washington Heights now living in Dutchess County. As you can see, we're here to grow and glow. Thank you. Amira Douglas. This is my co host Ian. And of course, Mr. Serena. Again, thank you so much for your time. Appreciate it. [00:38:18] Speaker C: And a word to our sponsor. [00:38:20] Speaker A: It's just. [00:38:22] Speaker B: Oh, sorry. [00:38:23] Speaker A: No, you go. [00:38:24] Speaker B: We love you, Andrew. Yes. [00:38:26] Speaker A: We love you, Andrew o'. Grady. [00:38:28] Speaker B: Yes. [00:38:28] Speaker A: Thank you so much for sponsoring us. Thank you. [00:38:30] Speaker B: Here.