Let's Talk UNLV

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You're listening to locally produced programming created in KUNV Studios on public radio. KUNV 91.5

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Alright, welcome to another segment of Let's Talk UNRV on KUNV. You're with co-hosts Tanya and Keith.

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Tanya, how was your weekend?

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It was pretty good. I discovered a couple new shows that I really like. One's called The Recruit. It's about a lawyer who joins the CIA and is doing unlawyerly things. And the other one's called Kings of Joburg, which takes place in South Africa of all places. And it's about two brothers. And there's a little bit of mysticism in there. They may be like a crazy mermaid situation happening.

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But it's the plot and the dialogue is really good. And you get to see South Africa which I really like. So what did you do? Well you know I didn't do much but speaking of shows you know Snowfall is back. Oh. So the final season so I I'm ready to dive into Snowfall this coming weekend but I didn't get to do it this weekend but I tried to find some time just couldn't make it happen but I did go to a car show I'm big into like fixing up cars and so that was like a the first meetup of 2023. So it's about a hundred cars out there. So it was nice to just be out. Wasn't windy. Just really nice. So I was able to let the top down on the car. So it was good event. Met some great people. Nice and on a related note,

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Grogu's back. Or as we know him, Baby Yoda. So time for the Mandalorian.

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Oh yeah, Mandalorian. The Mandalorian is back.

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Yes, yes, a lot of good stuff is happening. Absolutely. So, today we're here with Elgin Loftin, Program Coordinator of Rebel Rebound. Thank you so very much for joining us. This is the part of the show where we ask you your origin story. How did you come to this work? Or UNLV, or both?

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Well, actually, I, first, thank you for having me. And so I met Ms. Sunny Giddens, who's the Director of Student Engagement, and I came across her because I once had lived a life that wasn't well, that wasn't productive for me. And, you know, in life you reap what you sow. And in my case, it was 16 years in federal penitentiary. I came to a point where I regretted and made a change and wanted to go to school and do better for myself. And through this, I ended up meeting Miss Remy Mara, who helped me tremendously when I decided to come back to school. I was in tenantry from 2002-16, so therefore I had no, didn't know how to use any electronics. Miss Remy, bless her heart, told me if I would get a laptop, she would show me how to enroll in class. And she did it the first semester for me, and the second semester I did it on my own. And so I end up meeting, and I learned to buy Rebel Rebound through this, and I was able to want to help, because I'm an open book at this point. A lot of those in Rebel Rebound, they're still dealing with the stigma. I'm of age, as you can see, and so therefore, I'm at the point where what God has for me is going to happen. Can't nobody block it. And so that's kind of like where I'm at with that. That's phenomenal, Elgin. Could you share for our listeners who aren't familiar with Rebel Rebound, could you share

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like what Rebel Rebound is?

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Rebel Rebound are students that have been through the justice system. The majority of those in Rebel Rebound have been incarcerated, or if they have not been incarcerated, they have been labeled as being a felon. These are students who were trying to kind of like, what's the word, to let the past go and try to improve on their life, looking for the second chance in life, in a sense. And so that's what that is. And we have over, I don't know how many total students in that position, because we're dealing with the stigmas, but over 50 of them have kind of like announced it and say and kind of have asked for some type of help and

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wanting to be a part of a community. So Rebel Rebound helps provide like guidance and support for students who have been justice impacted as they sort of re-acclimate into the university education system to be able to access resources and just answer whatever questions they might have just to enroll in class, to access resources that are available to students all the way through graduation. Exactly, exactly.

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So my main objective is to help students navigate through their years while they're here as far as a job, maybe trying to help them know about how to fill out an application in a sense where with some things that come out, you don't have to admit that you're a felon anymore. And so, and moving forward as far as mental health also, a lot of, a majority of us are still dealing with a lot of mental things from enduring the system. And I have learned from you, Dr. Crabb, and others that, you know, we have places that we can go and we can talk and let things out. And so I try to do my best how I came, how I met with you and was like, I just need some help in these areas. But Red River Rebound has been a blessing for so many students because they need that safe place.

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Yeah.

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You know, as I listen to you talk, your story is really powerful. And I'm so, I don't even know the word, my heart's too full to talk, but I listen to you as the voice, you know, the visible voice of the population that you serve. What are some things that you think that your population wants to have said or understood

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that they may not be as vocal about? I believe the stigma is the main thing. A lot of those, even with myself, I will meet a lot of those in authority. Once I open up and tell them kind of like who I am, no, they have a great poker face, but the eyes don't lie. And I get it. I get it 100% get it though. So, but I think that more so that people deserve a second chance and that we should be looked upon as like, okay, you've done that, but I'm going to judge you from today moving forward. So it's what you've done, but not who you are. Right.

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Doesn't define me.

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Yeah, it doesn't define you.

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Correct. Yeah, that's a wonderful message. Can you share some success stories or some experiences that have really resonated with you working in this role? Because success is an interesting thing to define,

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isn't it? I believe a person, first of all, this is my strength. My strength is in advocacy. And so when a person works in their strength, that's their gift. And they're able to do their job even when times are down. And so that's what I realize. Now, when you're not working in your strength or your power, you're not able to function well when things are down. And so even on my down days and downest days, the power still lies within because of what I've been through and the miles that I walked. So therefore, just being able to be a blessing to the to the students who come in, who I see, and they use this time as a time to like just let go because they can't be that way where they'll be looked at for me or someone may not just understand and I get it from the outside perspective I get it how why should I feel sorry for you look what you've done I understand that thinking not that I agree with it and so and so I understand that and so my thing is is that when they come in my job is just to love on them you know guy or girl just love on them. A guy or a girl, just love on them and let them know they're not in this by themselves. I'm always around. Like I previously said, I'm open. I don't hide nothing. What's some of the feedback that you hear from some of the students that you work with

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through the program?

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Well, a lot of it is just, I'm glad you're here. You know, we have undergraduates, we have graduates, and we have doctorial students. A couple of them are getting their PhDs this semester. And so it's just big where they know they can just walk right in and just empty feeling or say do you feel this way or do you have these anxieties are you still going and I say yeah I still have these things you know I have a therapist I used to see my therapist every week now I see my therapist every other week but I'm gonna see my therapist to the day that I die and I need that it's just things that I have to do to be me and a lot of it was a lot of that is mainly what the system did and and and what it takes to survive in the system. And then you come out and get thrown out of the system. And then they say, you can't act that way anymore. You have to act this way. And it's not an overnight thing. And so I'm continually growing and learning. And we're able to just be honest with each other. And then when we say something to each other, no one's going to look at me and say, did you really say that? I can't believe you said that. So we have one another. That's what we offer. You know, it sounds like part of what you do is you give people back their humanity. It sounds like that's one of the gifts you offer, is you get to be fully human in that space. You're not what they call you. You're not what they say you are. You're not the thing that you've done. You get to be a fully seen human being, and that is remarkable and magical. Can you share some of the challenges that you're facing or some of the barriers to this work? I guess some of the main barriers would be some of the undergraduates, they'll say, I'm majoring in this, I'm majoring in that. And so I have to help them, and I'll say, well, that's not necessarily true, because I do my homework with Search Google. And they say, no, no, no, we got some lawyers that are felons. Oh, no, no, no, we have some nurses who work right here, and they're felons. So when it comes down to this, you can't say all felons are the same. And so there's two things. There's a regular background check and there's the FBI check. The regular background check where you just give your Social Security. And as long as it didn't happen in seven years, it won't show. Now the FBI check, that's the fingerprint, that gives everything. But the majority of companies that are for the FBI check, they're only searching for two things. And they're searching for those who've been very abusive, aggressive, and those who have been the pedophiles. And so those, unfortunately, those, or fortunately, however you may feel about it, those are the two that you're pretty much, whatever major it is, you could be kind of messed up on. But other than those two, actually, the door is actually open, so my job is also to give them the wealth and the knowledge, and so you can move forward in something. Or if I know something that's not right, no, leave that one alone, let's find something else. So I have to continue to do my homework and continue to do my searching so I'm able to give them what they need.

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And then for our students who fit the criteria to receive support through the Rebel Rebound Program, how do they find you?

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Well, a lot of us, it's by word. A lot of us, you know, someone, and they will come up and they'll meet us, they'll meet Ms. Sonny, or they'll meet myself, and we will just, I will share, because I have to open up first. There's no such thing as those opening up because they're dealing with this now. And then once I open up, then they have the attitude like, you know, okay, I'm not the only one that's thinking like this or acting like this. But then we will let them know what Rebound offers, Rebel Rebound offers. And so not just that, but financially, we have scholarships and scholarships for the graduates and for the undergraduates. And, you know, UNLV has played a solid role when it comes to this. And this is and I want to say actually another thank you, Dr. Rogers, because this is this is something that's under you. And so it's important for me to say these things. You know, I spoke and I told the president, thank you. And I said it to you, but I can never say it enough because I need you. I need you to know that it's working and it helps. And thank you.

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Well, I appreciate that. And, you know, I didn't expect that. But, you know, we're as university administrators, you know, we want to make sure that we are responsive to the needs of all of our students. And, you know, our students come here with different needs. And we want to make sure if we are aware of those unique needs, how do we mobilize and bring people who have experienced it or experts in those spaces to be able to help those students succeed?

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Excellent. Thank you. Thank you.

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Now, I know you mentioned scholarships. Right.

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And so could you talk a little bit about, a little bit more about the types of benefits that students can receive through coming to CU and?

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with scholarships for books or just being able to put some money in your pocket. They're not going to pay for your whole schooling, but a lot of us, we're getting grants and we're getting loans and so if someone can give you $1,000, that's $1,000 you didn't have and that can go towards the books or maybe it can just go towards rent or whatever it may be. However, you may want to allocate it. So not just being able to have that mentorship and that one-on-one, but also being able to financially get some assistance. And all of these things come together. So it's a beautiful thing. And I think we're only growing. If we needed anything, it'd be more finances, because more and more people are starting to come and be like, well, I've had this story too, I had this story too. And you would be surprised of it's not just a black and brown thing. You know, it's everyone. It's everyone, though it may be more so black and brown, but it's everyone that comes to that office and that we're able to help and bless. And could you maybe speak to some of the departments or units across campus

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who you interact with regularly to sort of do this work?

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As far as, well, I'm in the Student Engagement Building, right, and so, and I've just reached out to you, Dr. Crabb, and so I'm in the process where I'm learning of everyone who can assist or help. And so I've been searching. I just spoke to someone else as far as taking a class, a trauma class also, because I just want to be able to better assist my students. I'm sure there's a bunch of people that are out there that are for us, and there's no doubt about that. I'm getting a little freeze right now, brain freezing right now.

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Well hey, we're here just to showcase the amazing work that you're doing. So just, you know, relax and you know, that's

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this is just a conversation. You know, um, I have a t-shirt in my house that says Hope Dealer. I love it. Yeah, that's, and that's, I feel like you're a hope dealer. I feel like that's, that's what you, hope dealer, I feel like that's what you have to offer in addition to your lived experience, in addition to your compassion, in addition to your empathy, in addition to your transparency, in addition to your authenticity, in addition to the love that you feel in your heart that is so evident with every word that you speak. So what are your hopes for a rebel rebound? What do you, what does the future look like? What's, what would, yeah, tell me about that.

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Well, you know, Nevada follows a lot of California rules when it comes to the politics, but we also follow a lot of, we're right behind California when it comes to this also. California is huge when it comes to students who've been incarcerated, coming back to school and graduating, getting degrees and going on and being big in society and helping others. And so my thing is that I would love for us to get to the point where those don't feel so stigmatized, where they're able to, you know, not shout it out, but if the situation was like, you know, that's the life that he lives, he doesn't live it anymore and he's moving on. And so I would love for our brothers to continue just to grow and brothers and sisters where we can just, Rebel Rebound can grow and be big. And just be big. And not be signalized.

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It's like a movement.

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A movement of people who are just trying for the betterment of their life, an opportunity to rebuild. Yeah, I really, that's truly powerful. What's the best way to reach out? I know you talked about word of mouth, but let's say, for example, some wonderful company out there is listening and wants somewhere to donate their charitable funds to. What's the best way for someone who's interested in supporting Rebel Rebound to connect with you?

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Probably be online. Those on the outside. Once you go to UNLV, hit Rebel Rebound, and it'll tell the story. And it will also tell possibility numbers who you can get in contact with if you would like to assist. If you'd like to be a part of the movement, if you feel compelled. I understand not everyone feels that way, and I respect that also, but for those who feel that calling on their heart, this is a way of how you can get in contact with us. I also want to say we do have a number, 702-895-0156. Or you can email me at rubberrebound.unlv.edu.

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You know, part of why this speaks to me is that we may not be a justice impacted student, but I feel like a lot of people have justice impacted people in their lives, you know, who they love and support. So this is an opportunity to sort of expand that love and expand that to support into a community that needs it.

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I agree. I agree. One thing about it, particularly when it comes to the black and to the brown, all of them, for the most part, have someone, if it's not directly, indirectly, that they know that are in the system. And so, and by this being a multicultural campus, a lot of those, though they may not say it, have family and close ones and friends that they know who's been through the system that is in the system.

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And I know you mentioned about financial investments to help grow the program. Are there other resources that can be brought to bear to help with the work that you're doing?

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So we can have, I'm trying to think of the name. So what is it called when you have these to raise money?

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Fundraisers?

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Fundraisers.

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You know, we can do fundraisers. I've always seen that fundraisers does well if you're 100% committed to it. And so we, you know, I guess I can put that, something I will have to put on myself. This is my first semester under this leadership capacity where I can find the right fundraiser and I can play a part in directly helping. I mean, you love for others to help, but also you have to look in the mirror and be like, well, where can you help also? And so that would be my part where I can where I can start to find a better part where I can do this.

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And then, Elgin, I want to sort of go back to your origin story a little bit in terms of you know you talked a little bit about your your history and how you got on campus but could and how you connected with Sonny and Remy could you talk a little bit about how you got into the current position as program coordinator within the Rebel Ready Rebel

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Rebound program? Okay well one day I got a call and so it was like can you come to the office and and I was just wondering what could it be? And all of a sudden, the previous person, Jason, who did a solid job, who I have a lot of compassion and respect for, has said that this will be my last semester. And we would like to have someone in this position that we think that cares. And you were the person. And I'm saying to myself, I'm saying to myself without saying to them, I don't have that time. I don't have that time. But then after going home and praying over it, I felt that I was led to be that person. So if it's going to be a season, however it's a season, a season can be a semester or it can be two years, however it be, I'm the person for the moment and I say yes. And I've been running since.

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Yeah, and we should say Dr. Jason Scott, who was very instrumental in sort of the early conversations when we were talking about this population and what could be done, and sort of standing up a Rebel Rebound program. And so now he has his doctorate degree now, so he's very instrumental in this and you know he has strong passion for this work.

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Correct. If you listen to this, my bad Dr. Jason. Well you know you when you cross that threshold we have to give everyone their

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their you know give them their props. No doubt no doubt and I and I tried my best too

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and I don't know why it didn't I guess I was going back to the conversation where he wasn't quite a doctor yet.

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It's hard to walk away from a calling. Many have tried to run away from a calling. So I'm glad that you got the call and you didn't just say, wrong number and hang up. Because there's always that possibility. So I have another question in regards to your origin story. Like, you know, there are a lot of things that you took away from your experience that could have been something that derailed your life versus empowered you. How did you, what did you take away that allowed you to use that experience for growth instead of, you know, betterment instead of bitterness?

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Well, first of all, it comes with being able to look in the mirror and be like, I messed up. A lot of us want to blame others for maybe their situation. And I agree, sometimes others can play a part. But ultimately, you have to be able to look in the mirror and be like, you know what, this is me. Now, I knew once I left the penitentiary, I knew I needed to get help. So I'm able to function. And so, once I got a therapist, and once I learned how to walk this walk, because my walk is different, I might explain with you, it's not just getting up in the morning, and it's so unfortunate, because I have to get up at 3.30 every morning, and I have to go to the gym and do some cardio. Then I have to come home and do my AA, and then my NA, and then my spiritual reading. Just so I'm able to be the person I am, to love my wife, and to be the student and be there for those who I deal with. So I have to do all these things every day, opposed to my wife who gets up at 6 and out the house at 7. I'm like, damn. But these are the things I have to do. And so you get up and you see this, but this is not really this. I'm a mess I'm really a mess, but it's things that I have to do, you know again my My vulnerability is is my strength Just being able to let it out I'd like people to understand you can be a mess and a masterpiece, right?

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Like you can be both a mess and a masterpiece. I'm right that down So, yeah.

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And then, Elgin, we always end our shows with giving our guests the last word. So, is there anything that you wish we had asked that we did not ask or anything that you would like to share with our listeners? At the end of the day, we have a population of students that want to do better, that are making the efforts and are doing the things that are necessarily to walk this walk and run this race. And so we understand that others may not understand because we have others that come from backgrounds where they just don't know, how could that have happened to you? Why did you make those mistakes? Just want to be able to just have that second chance.

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Thank you. Thank you for coming through and thank you for sharing

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with us. Thank you. Thank you for the invitation. I also want to give a shout out to our president also who I think also for allowing this to continue to grow along with you Dr. Rogers and Dr. Craig.

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Transcribed with Cockatoo