Up next in 10
The legendary Faith Evans joins Sway in the Morning for a powerful conversation that spans from her iconic music career to her most important mission yet. As a mother and advocate, Faith shares the reality of raising a son on the autism spectrum and how she is using her platform to support other families through her foundation, Ryders Room. This episode is a beautiful blend of hip hop history and heartfelt advocacy that you do not want to miss.
In this deep dive, Faith reflects on the making of her classic debut album and the creative vision of Puff Daddy that helped define her image in the nineties. She also highlights the incredible talents of her children, including CJ Wallace and China, while opening up about the unique challenges and blessings of parenting her son, Ryder.
Joined by Sherry Alvarez and Minister Hanaan, the group discusses the critical need for early intervention, the transition into adulthood for neurodivergent individuals, and the legal steps parents should take as their children grow. Whether you are a fan of R&B history or a parent looking for resources and community, this episode offers inspiration, practical advice, and a call to action for better support systems nationwide.
Chapters
0:00 Intro and Faith Evans Legacy
3:20 The Mystique of Faiths First Album Cover
6:45 Faiths Children and Their Artistic Talents
11:15 Parenting Adult Children and Gaining Independence
14:50 Ryders Autism Diagnosis and Early Intervention
19:30 The Importance of Being Your Childs Advocate
24:00 Understanding Autism History and Terms
28:15 Minister Hanaan and Fathers of the Community
32:40 Transitioning to Adulthood with Neurodivergence
37:15 Navigating Legal Supports and Conservatorship
41:50 Resources for Parents and State Services
45:30 Callers Share Their Personal Autism Journeys
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:02
That's how they try to encourage you in
0:03
the church.
0:03
>> I just like the fact that he was so
0:05
intently
0:06
on the fact that he knows the song. So,
0:09
for knowing the song, you get a
0:10
>> He requested it, Faith. Do you
0:12
understand? He told us
0:14
>> him turn it down
0:15
>> Yep, turn it down for you to hear it.
0:17
>> wanted you to hear this, Faith. Faith,
0:19
you are an icon.
0:20
>> she is.
0:21
>> Faith, you are an icon.
0:23
>> Thank you.
0:23
>> That song came out in '95.
0:26
>> gosh.
0:27
>> It's 2026.
0:28
>> And we're still bumping it.
0:29
>> And we're still bumping that first
0:31
album.
0:32
>> You did it, Faith.
0:33
>> Thank you.
0:34
>> You created classics
0:36
that stood the test of time.
0:38
>> That is a blessing.
0:39
>> And in '95, I wasn't even trying to sing
0:41
that song. But now that I'm older, I
0:42
don't care what people think.
0:44
Soon as I get home.
0:48
>> Okay.
0:49
>> Oh, [ __ ] I lost my breath up there.
0:52
>> It don't matter what's GOING TO HAPPEN.
0:54
USE your imagination. You have to be
0:56
>> Uh-uh.
0:57
>> You know
0:58
>> Absolutely not.
0:59
>> of noise. There's a lot of noises going
1:01
to happen.
1:01
>> That's the answer lies in whoever's at
1:03
home.
1:04
>> Whoever's at home.
1:05
Come on, Faith. You know who's at home.
1:08
I love Faith Evans for so for a number
1:10
of reasons you don't even know.
1:12
Um but as I look at her um accolades and
1:16
some of the things that she's done. This
1:17
album we're talking about, Faith, came
1:19
out in 1995.
1:20
>> Crazy.
1:21
>> Platinum album.
1:23
Um probably multi-platinum album. Um
1:26
she's a best-selling author. Give her a
1:28
round of applause for that. Okay. Uh she
1:31
has her own autism awareness foundation
1:34
writers room. Give her a round of
1:35
applause for that. She has penned some
1:38
of the biggest hits
1:39
um that this culture in in this genre
1:42
has ever seen. And I'll never forget
1:44
taking a picture with her. She She'll
1:46
forget it. Um but me and my partner King
1:49
Tech and my partner Big Paul saw her and
1:51
Biggie in downtown somewhere, Manhattan,
1:56
um in in in in that time and that glory
1:58
that glorious time and you didn't
2:00
hesitate to take a picture with us and
2:03
that made
2:04
us
2:04
>> I know but
2:05
>> we don't know who knew at that time. We
2:07
didn't know who knew who we were. We was
2:09
from the west. We didn't know what
2:11
people knew
2:12
and not everybody was so kind. You know
2:14
what I mean? Like about you know sharing
2:16
their time.
2:18
I think that's indicative of the person
2:20
you were then and the person you are
2:22
today.
2:23
I want to welcome you back to the show.
2:25
Welcome back the legendary the iconic
2:27
one Faith Evans is in the building
2:29
Grammy award-winning R&B singer
2:32
songwriter producer.
2:35
That album cover Faith
2:38
Are we standing ovation standing ovation
2:39
standing ovation standing ovation?
2:45
Faith Evans is here.
2:46
>> Absolutely.
2:49
>> Hey hey Faith when you put that that
2:51
album cover to for that album I know we
2:53
here to talk about other things but I
2:55
never got to ask you about that cuz that
2:57
that was a iconic picture right? And it
3:00
didn't cover it didn't show your entire
3:03
face. That was was that
3:05
Was there something symbolic behind that
3:07
picture or is just the one y'all chose?
3:09
>> I think that was well I know that was
3:11
all Puff's vision.
3:13
>> Oh really?
3:14
>> I mean he he from the beginning like he
3:16
didn't want he wanted this mystique this
3:20
uh
3:20
uh air of mystique and like even in
3:23
Biggie's um I think it was Big Poppa
3:25
video that um
3:26
I'm sitting at the table and I came all
3:28
with my cute outfit thinking I'mma be in
3:30
my husband video.
3:32
And he was like I don't want nobody to
3:33
see you yet. I'm like they don't know
3:35
who I am. So all you see is the back of
3:37
my head and some blonde hair but he that
3:39
was his thing. He wanted to kind of keep
3:42
the the um level of a certain level of
3:44
mystique to it on the rollout you know.
3:46
>> You must have been very emotionally
3:48
mature to allow that to happen.
3:50
>> I this whole game was new to me so I
3:51
didn't you know I'm like, he must know
3:53
what he's doing.
3:53
>> Uh-huh.
3:54
>> I mean, I didn't like some of the
3:55
hairstyles and stuff, but I mean, other
3:57
than that, I was just like, hey,
3:58
whatever. He must know what he's doing.
4:00
>> He must know what he's doing. He knew
4:01
[ __ ] He knew what he was doing cuz
4:02
>> As far as that part.
4:03
>> As far as that part, musically, yeah.
4:05
>> That was me.
4:05
>> That was Oh, okay.
4:06
>> Okay.
4:07
>> So, you paying you was like even this
4:09
song you listening to Soon As I Get Home
4:12
and I noticed you like, damn it, this
4:13
song is too long.
4:16
You know, what what what changed like in
4:18
song structure from then to now or did
4:21
you just become just a better writer
4:23
like
4:24
>> Oh, when I said that, I I was thinking
4:26
about how I felt back then. Like I I
4:28
always felt like sometimes there'll be a
4:31
extra bridge or three different
4:34
uh
4:35
turnarounds in the song and I'm like, is
4:37
that really necessary? So, in general, I
4:39
thought our songs were pretty long. Now,
4:41
that's not in comparison to the I don't
4:43
even know what you what you call them
4:45
today, songlets.
4:50
They're very short now. It's like very
4:52
to the point. I don't I wouldn't even
4:53
know. I think even my daughter, who's a
4:55
great writer, producer, stuff, she'd be
4:58
like, Mom, I just feel like you do too
5:00
many stacks. Like when This is some
5:01
years ago when I was trying to like put
5:03
some vocals on the song
5:05
she was producing. She's like, you do
5:06
not need all of those stacks and
5:08
harmonies. I'm like, well, that's that's
5:10
what that's me. That's what I
5:12
That's what I do.
5:14
I mean, it's it's a lot different now.
5:16
>> I love your kids, man.
5:17
>> I was going to say that, too. Yeah,
5:19
because we here obviously Sway in the
5:21
Morning is all about celebration. We
5:23
want folks here to celebrate you all,
5:25
everybody, but your children are artists
5:29
in their own right. You know, um shout
5:31
out to CJ who's been on the show. Um
5:33
shout out to your daughter China. Shout
5:35
out uh to to Josh. Can you talk about
5:38
like the the beauty and the artistic
5:40
creation that your children have been
5:42
blessed with?
5:43
>> Uh it is a blessing and it's some uh
5:46
refreshing to see them grow into their
5:50
you know like China has always she's
5:52
been you know playing keyboards and
5:54
writing and producing since she was
5:56
little even before it she was like
5:58
confident enough to let us hear what she
5:59
was doing.
6:00
>> Wow.
6:02
>> Joshua's the same. I mean he been
6:04
singing since he was a little boy but
6:05
for him to now go into producing with
6:08
China I think really helped him get his
6:10
production game going. He produced a
6:13
song on the Grammy winning album by
6:15
Dorinda Bernard.
6:17
>> Congratulations.
6:18
>> Yeah yeah shout out to Josh and CJ I
6:20
mean you know he's just kind of doing
6:22
his own thing with the business the art
6:24
the photographs. He's trying to dabble
6:27
back in acting too so
6:28
>> Dope okay.
6:30
>> You know hopefully we'll see him on the
6:31
screen.
6:31
>> Amazing that's dope.
6:33
>> Even Rider can sing though.
6:35
>> Really?
6:35
>> Yeah Rider isn't even is very
6:38
verbally limited. Okay. But he will I'll
6:40
hear him he's just in the back he'll be
6:42
just singing all the songs and I if it's
6:44
a song that has just a a music bed like
6:46
you know some of the intros on the radio
6:49
he'll just start humming ad-libs. I'm
6:50
like where was you at when I was in the
6:52
studio?
6:53
He'll be just having ad-libs and melody
6:56
ideas. I'm like did you just hear what
6:57
he
6:58
>> Wow.
6:58
>> Like yeah.
6:59
>> That's incredible.
7:00
>> So I got to honest I guess.
7:01
>> Yeah yeah yeah.
7:03
>> Yeah man you got to build I have hung
7:04
out with CJ which was uh
7:07
kind of surreal you know in a in a
7:09
beautiful way cuz you know I
7:12
I would want to talk to him about his
7:13
dad at least the experiences I've had
7:15
with his dad and I'll go
7:17
and then I realize he don't know he
7:19
didn't know me you know what I mean so
7:20
it might sound strange so I what I
7:22
decided to do is just hang out I hung
7:24
out with him and Cee Lo and just hang
7:26
out.
7:26
>> Mhm.
7:27
>> You know and just see what kind of young
7:28
man he is and he's been on the show
7:31
before and I I just want to commend you
7:33
you know you done an excellent job with
7:35
your kids you
7:37
I've seen China when she was
7:39
an infant out here you know and and to
7:41
see she got a book coming too, right?
7:43
>> Mhm.
7:43
>> Yeah, what's her book about?
7:45
>> Well, this was a surprise to me. She
7:47
told me maybe in the 6 months ago that
7:49
she was working on a book. I guess it's
7:51
about her
7:51
>> Mhm.
7:52
>> her life thus far.
7:59
I mean, I'm I'm sure it is about
8:02
aspects of her life. I mean, you know.
8:04
>> Mhm.
8:05
>> I don't I don't get in my kids'
8:07
business. Just if you need some advice,
8:08
I'm here, you know. If I see you kind of
8:11
making the wrong decision, I'll try and
8:13
but I try and let them live.
8:15
>> At what age
8:16
>> a hovering mother.
8:16
>> You're not one of those. At what age did
8:18
you
8:19
let go and let them, you know, when you
8:22
said, "Okay,
8:23
whatever decisions you're going to
8:24
make." Like, what's that age? Is it 21?
8:26
Is it
8:28
>> I don't cuz I find myself still having
8:30
to think, "Hey, do I need to say
8:32
something?" You know, a lot of times I
8:34
don't know. I mean, CJ and and Josh,
8:37
they moved out
8:38
probably when they were like 20, around
8:41
19, 20, 21.
8:42
>> Mhm.
8:43
>> So, I mean,
8:44
I'm always going to I've always kind of
8:46
been that way. I'm not, you know, like,
8:48
"Hey, what are you doing? Who you"
8:49
I like to believe that the way that I've
8:53
raised them and by example that, you
8:54
know, they kind of got
8:56
their heads on right. I'm pretty
8:59
confident of that.
9:00
>> Yeah. Yeah.
9:00
>> You know, but I just kind of like to let
9:03
them live and learn, you know, like I
9:05
said, unless it's something I see that
9:07
could be detrimental
9:08
>> Mhm.
9:08
>> that I need to be like, "Come here. I
9:10
need to talk to you." But I don't I
9:11
don't like to
9:12
I like to let them experience things
9:14
and, you know,
9:15
>> Yeah. Faith Evans, we're talking
9:16
mothering right now,
9:18
I love it, man. And we're also talking
9:20
about a big event that's taking place
9:22
April 12th
9:23
>> Yes.
9:24
>> right here in Los Angeles, California at
9:27
the Michelle and Barack Obama Sports
9:29
Complex. The address is 5001 Obama
9:32
Boulevard, which isn't too far from
9:34
here.
9:35
Um, can you talk to us, you know, I want
9:37
to commend you cuz, you know, and people
9:40
like Tisha Campbell and and folks who
9:42
have had um, kids who have autism, you
9:46
know, um, it's it's not everybody would
9:48
be so vocal and open about it, but you
9:50
always have been that. I want you to
9:53
tell us about
9:54
uh, just really what was it like for you
9:57
for those who may be experiencing that
9:59
now, discovering that your child was
10:01
autistic?
10:03
>> Uh, for me,
10:05
by the time Ryder was diagnosed, I was
10:07
already aware something was wrong. So,
10:09
it was more like me begging for a
10:11
written diagnosis in order for me to
10:14
access a lot of the early intervention
10:16
stuff. Um, but initially
10:20
>> beg for a written diagnosis?
10:21
>> because at he was um, he was a you know,
10:24
by the time he was two, I'm like, my son
10:27
should be talking, you know, my had
10:28
three more three other kids before him.
10:30
And you know, his doctor was like, you
10:32
just wait it out, every kid is
10:33
different, da da da da. But I still felt
10:36
something wasn't right. So, I started
10:38
just on my own putting him in a speech
10:40
therapy and
10:41
things that I would look up to see what
10:43
if if that is what's wrong with my son,
10:45
what should I do? So, you know, I went
10:47
to speech therapy, occupational therapy.
10:50
But in that time I
10:52
was told about the regional center,
10:53
which is where we in California go to
10:56
access supports and services outside of
10:58
the school district for our um, children
11:01
and young adults that are on the
11:02
spectrum and with disabilities. And in
11:04
order to access the early intervention,
11:07
I needed to have a diagnosis before he
11:08
was 3 years old. So, I pretty much just
11:10
begged the doctor. There was no test or
11:12
anything that I knew about at that time,
11:14
but you know, that was pretty much how
11:16
it happened. I can't say that I didn't
11:18
even in me knowing something was wrong
11:20
without a diagnosis. I mean, of course
11:22
there was a fear of the unknown or, you
11:25
know, I wouldn't say uh, uh,
11:28
fear of of of a stigma stigmatism or how
11:31
people going to It was more so fear of
11:33
Oh my god, what what can I do? How how
11:35
am I What do I do? But then What's my
11:37
name, fool? Faith. Hello.
11:41
>> Did you just throw up a gang sign?
11:44
>> No, no, no, no.
11:46
>> I'm sorry, Faith.
11:47
>> Or maybe the way I put it down
11:48
>> No, don't put it up. No, don't put it
11:50
down. Don't put it up like that, Faith.
11:52
>> I'm left-handed, so don't you know,
11:53
sometimes my hand just be doing this.
11:55
>> Okay. Okay.
11:56
>> I meant to do like that.
11:57
>> Okay. So,
11:58
so where we at, Faith?
12:07
But But I'm glad you said that because
12:11
the a lot of folks I have I have kids in
12:14
my family I have who are autistic and a
12:16
and a lot of folks I think be concerned
12:19
about the wrong things, like the stigma
12:22
and
12:23
how that might make you look or, you
12:25
know, or how it might make your kid
12:27
look, you know, and and there's a lot of
12:30
parents out there that probably dealing
12:32
with that. Now, what what would you say
12:33
to them as far as your personal journey
12:37
in not allowing those things to affect
12:39
you getting the biz getting busy?
12:41
>> Well, I am his number one advocate.
12:44
And if if I don't get in there and try
12:47
and figure out what to do. And not that
12:49
I have have it all figured out. I'm
12:51
always learning, but especially in the
12:53
beginning of of this
12:55
walk as a autism mom um you know, I who
12:59
else is going to do it with the same
13:01
passion, you know? Who else is going to
13:03
be like, "Hey." And it was because of
13:05
other parents that I learned most of the
13:07
things that I learned in in order to
13:08
really feel a little more confident
13:10
like, "Okay." You know, "Okay, I found
13:12
out this is That's just a such a huge
13:14
relief to even just have a question or
13:16
two answered. And and like I said, most
13:19
of the insight I gained was from other
13:21
parents. Like Sherry right here. Shout
13:23
out to Sherry.
13:23
>> Let's shout her out. Who we got in the
13:24
room? The writers room was founded
13:26
Sherry Alvarez. What's up, Sherry?
13:28
>> She's the vice president of Writers'
13:29
Room, representing Oaktown.
13:31
>> Town business.
13:32
>> Um Minister Hanan, who is the
13:36
right, the general. Um his organization,
13:39
we're actually partnering with his
13:40
organization, Fathers of the Community,
13:42
on this April event.
13:44
So yeah, those I mean, the all of the
13:46
things all of the things that I've had
13:49
to experience, that I've learned, and
13:50
that I'm still learning, is what
13:52
inspired me to hey, I got to do
13:54
something. Like when I pulled right out
13:56
of school, I'm like, okay, I'mma be at
13:57
home. I ain't about to be on the road. I
13:58
ain't about to be in the studio. I
14:00
really want to start
14:01
>> your career on hold.
14:02
>> Well, I mean
14:04
I wouldn't say I put it on hold, God God
14:06
gave me a different assignment right
14:07
now, you know?
14:10
Yeah, that's facts.
14:11
>> Yeah.
14:12
>> I mean, I don't look at it like that.
14:13
I'm very blessed and thankful that I
14:15
have you know, records that you still
14:18
play and enjoy, and that I when I get in
14:19
the car, I I hear my songs.
14:21
But um yeah, Ryder needs me more than
14:23
anybody, and being having to be there to
14:27
cuz things change all the time, you
14:28
know? I might have figured out one
14:30
thing, and then oh, this changed. This
14:32
this therapist changed, or you need to
14:33
find a new place to take him for that,
14:35
or he's at this age, so now he needs a
14:37
whole new set of supports, you know, and
14:40
services. So um knowing that, I have to
14:43
be present all the time. It's like it's
14:44
not realistic for me to tell nobody I'm
14:46
about to be in the studio.
14:48
>> Yeah, yeah, that's not It don't even
14:49
sound right. Even when you just said it
14:51
right there, it didn't even sound right,
14:52
huh?
14:52
>> It's not
14:54
So I mean, you know,
14:55
even my fans and and people who've been
14:58
wanting to work with me on the music
15:00
business side, it's like I'll be like, I
15:02
got to tell you the truth, but I don't
15:04
know when I can
15:05
I don't know if I can do it.
15:08
But I'm not mad at that, you know? I'm
15:10
not. I don't feel a way. I'm I got to do
15:13
what I got to do. And not only
15:15
is my being able to to take a step back
15:18
from that and focus on my son and
15:20
Writers' Room helping my son. But it's
15:23
also, you know, helping me to be able to
15:25
touch other families and other children
15:27
and and adults that are affected in
15:29
whatever way I can.
15:30
>> Faith Evans is here. We're talking about
15:32
the big event taking place April 12th.
15:35
You don't even have to be
15:37
have a kid or member of your family
15:39
that's autistic to come. You should just
15:41
come and support it. But if you do or if
15:44
you know someone, definitely make them
15:46
aware April 12th at the Michelle and
15:47
Barack Obama Sports Complex here in Los
15:50
Angeles.
15:51
>> 5001 Obama Boulevard.
15:53
>> Faith, this is for you and Sherry. Is
15:54
there something that you learned in all
15:56
of your research and as being moms, is
15:58
there something that you've learned
16:00
where does this come from? Because
16:02
growing up we really didn't hear about
16:05
autism. Like I don't remember going to
16:07
school and saying or hearing even my
16:10
aunts talk about, "Oh, my cousin is
16:12
autistic." It seems like it's something
16:14
that's happened maybe in the past 30
16:16
years or 25, I'm not sure. But is there
16:18
something that we you all have learned?
16:21
Is it genetics? Is it something that
16:23
we're eating or doing? I don't know. Do
16:25
you feel any kind of guilt as moms? Like
16:27
what have you learned that you can share
16:29
with people listening?
16:30
>> I'mma let her answer that, but but I
16:32
want to just say this. I would learn
16:33
recently that the first
16:35
diagnosed case of autism or the first
16:38
reported case was supposedly like in the
16:40
'50s, right? I saw something like that
16:42
and I was so shocked. Like, really? I
16:43
didn't
16:44
>> Yeah, me either.
16:45
>> We didn't I didn't know it either.
16:46
>> Where it went from there, I have no
16:47
idea, but
16:48
cuz I didn't really hear about it until
16:50
maybe 15 No, maybe 20 years ago.
16:53
>> 20 years ago, yeah. Yeah.
16:55
>> That's that's very true and
16:57
before it was intellectual disabilities,
17:00
you know, another
17:02
kind of foul term people would use also
17:04
mental retardation. So, it was
17:07
definitely known back in the '50s. You
17:10
know, our children were
17:11
institutionalized.
17:13
They were not allowed to have access to
17:15
general education. You know, they you
17:18
you didn't see them on campus.
17:19
>> Right.
17:20
>> You know, you might remember even if you
17:22
grew up, you know, you might have seen
17:24
children with disabilities on at school,
17:26
but they were segregated. You know, they
17:28
were off to the side. They were on the
17:29
back back of you know, in the back of
17:31
the campus.
17:31
>> Mhm.
17:32
>> They weren't they weren't inclusion. It
17:34
was no inclusion.
17:36
>> a different It was even a different bus.
17:37
>> It was even a different bus. They went
17:39
in through a different gate. They left
17:41
early. They were definitely segregated.
17:43
They were not included.
17:45
So, that's one thing we can say with the
17:47
new term you know, with autism.
17:50
You can call it intellectual disability,
17:52
developmentally delayed.
17:54
>> Okay.
17:54
>> It's a It's a lot of different terms,
17:56
but it's been around like Faith says
17:58
since the '50s.
17:59
>> Wow. Do you Do you think the our
18:01
question about like do you have you
18:03
settled on I know I haven't, but
18:05
something that you think could be uh
18:08
the true focus or cause? I don't I don't
18:10
I know I haven't.
18:11
>> You know,
18:12
>> I got to worry about that.
18:13
>> parent, I try not to go down that rabbit
18:15
hole. At first, when his first initial
18:18
diagnosis I was a adult. He's 23 years
18:20
He's 23, so I've been in this for a
18:22
while.
18:24
It could be anything, right? I I don't
18:27
know. You know, you hear people saying a
18:29
lot of different things. Immunizations,
18:31
certain medications.
18:34
Who knows? You know,
18:36
as a parent, I try not to
18:39
allow that to even cloud me or take a
18:41
part of me. And I tell other parents
18:43
that, too.
18:44
It's It's here now, you know? We We have
18:46
this individual that needs us. We have
18:48
to care give most for the most most
18:50
likely for the rest of their lives.
18:52
So, don't
18:55
don't engage that, you know? I This is
18:57
what I tell other parents. Try not to
18:58
engage that.
18:59
>> Mhm.
18:59
>> You know, hopefully if science and and
19:02
they say, "Yeah, it's genetic. It's the
19:04
chromosome. It's a We know it's a
19:07
neurological disorder." We do know that.
19:09
>> Okay.
19:09
>> We We it's a neurological disorder. We
19:11
know that, you know, individual autism
19:14
have different brain waves, you know,
19:17
some misfire, some are not firing
19:19
properly, you know, speaking to each
19:22
other. So, we know it is something.
19:25
Where it stems from, is it genetics?
19:27
It's a lot of research out there.
19:29
>> They're still trying
19:30
>> they still don't know.
19:31
>> But we got to deal with the results of
19:33
whatever it is, you know.
19:34
>> Right. So.
19:35
>> You got to live your live your life.
19:38
Minister Hanan, welcome to the show. Um
19:42
Good to have you here, brother. Good to
19:44
have good to have you here, and got to
19:47
have you more. I got to find a way to be
19:48
a part of Fathers of the Community
19:50
Ministries.
19:51
>> Man, listen, you already are.
19:53
>> Okay.
19:53
>> You already are. You know, the ministry
19:55
is about people that do. We doers. You
19:58
know, not so much title holders.
20:00
You know how it is.
20:01
>> I know how that is.
20:02
>> You already know what we talking about,
20:03
you know. But you one of the ones that's
20:05
actually out there doing it.
20:07
Like you said, when you were sharing
20:08
about you being in Manhattan, you
20:10
running into the like it's when you a
20:11
doer,
20:13
it shows that you a doer.
20:14
So, you know what I'm saying? I
20:16
The ministry is about the verb form of
20:18
the word minister.
20:20
It's two. It's a noun and a verb. We're
20:23
the verb form. So, so are you, King. So
20:25
is everyone in this room. We doers.
20:28
>> Faith, you got to come by more often.
20:30
You got the you got a great group of
20:31
friends.
20:32
>> And I left y'all kids. I had to hide a
20:33
couple I'mma just drop them off one day
20:35
this week
20:37
this week, maybe. Maybe this week. But I
20:39
brought y'all a couple of dollars. I was
20:40
campaigning stuff. I just left them at
20:42
on the counter at home.
20:43
>> Well, we not far from your home, either.
20:45
>> That's right. I said I'd just drop them
20:47
off one day.
20:48
>> You know, for a good meal or two,
20:49
>> Come on, Faith.
20:50
>> You know, we got two chefs right here.
20:53
Can if people How did you guys connect
20:56
and and decide to partner up with this
20:58
event, too?
20:59
>> Well, I've known Minister for many
21:01
years. He he's the head of security,
21:04
anyway.
21:07
But um he wanted to do a he does this
21:09
event um every year on Global Day of
21:11
Compassion and he wanted to partner with
21:13
Writers Room last year, but we were
21:15
planning our gala. And I was like,
21:17
"Let's do something next year so it's
21:18
not rushed and maybe we can do it in
21:20
April for Autism Acceptance Month." And
21:22
so this has been like a year in in the
21:24
making in terms of us planning this
21:26
event together. So hopefully it's not
21:28
going to be the only one. This is just
21:30
the first. But um oh, I didn't let me
21:33
give some more details about it. But
21:34
that's how we know each other. We we've
21:36
always wanted to
21:37
do something with both of our
21:38
organizations. Um you know.
21:40
>> Yo-Yo's going to be there, right?
21:42
>> Yes.
21:42
>> Jon B is going to be there, right?
21:43
>> Yes, Little Ceaser.
21:44
>> Little Ceaser.
21:45
>> Um my homies from um
21:48
Silent Success Entertainment, my boy
21:50
Rufus Black, his artist, um a couple of
21:52
local artists out here. Oh, Rose Gold is
21:54
performing.
21:56
Kiafa with the Golden Frog. You know,
21:58
it's going to be nice. DJ Jihad, my son,
22:00
he's on the ones and twos.
22:01
>> DJ Jihad?
22:03
Jihad, that's a ill name. That's like my
22:05
name.
22:07
My name
22:07
>> I know. Oh gosh.
22:09
>> He has an alias. If you ever join a
22:11
bowling team Jahmad.
22:13
>> Oh.
22:14
>> Yeah, when you join If you join a
22:15
bowling team and you see Jahmad, that's
22:18
him.
22:18
>> Oh, you bowl?
22:19
>> Jahmad.
22:20
>> Oh, now it's Jahmad.
22:23
Oh gosh.
22:24
>> It was He's such a op, yo. It was
22:26
Jahmad.
22:27
>> Maybe it should be Jahmad when you had
22:28
the dreads.
22:28
>> When I had THE LOCS?
22:32
MAYBE IT SHOULD JUST BE MOD.
22:34
>> Just Mod.
22:36
Yeah, Mod.
22:37
>> The the covenant that's in the heart,
22:39
not the hair, faith.
22:41
>> Oh. Oh, okay. Okay.
22:44
>> Not every Ross
22:46
will will wear locs, but that I I like
22:48
his name. We got Tracy and Mike Muse in
22:50
New York right now. Y'all want to jump
22:52
in this conversation?
22:53
>> Yeah, no, absolutely. This is such an
22:55
important conversation, especially
22:56
because unfortunately, you know, black
22:59
families have had this deep
23:01
long-standing um culture around silence
23:05
as it pertains to mental health, as it
23:07
pertains to something like
23:09
neurodivergence and the whole spectrum,
23:11
no pun. And I loved when you were
23:13
sharing earlier, Faith,
23:16
that you didn't look at it as putting
23:17
your career on hold. You looked at it as
23:21
God putting me on a new assignment, and
23:23
I thought that was such a powerful
23:25
reframe. And I thought it was also a
23:27
reminder for all of us, me included,
23:29
that um ultimately we experience our
23:31
life through our perspective. So thank
23:34
you, thank you very much for saying
23:35
that. What I'm curious um for you to
23:38
also share, and Sherry, definitely jump
23:40
on this as well. I know Ryder's 18
23:44
currently, right?
23:45
>> He just turned 19.
23:46
>> He just turned 19. Okay, happy birthday,
23:48
Ryder. Um and those are pivotal ages,
23:51
18, 19. Um you know, that's when we
23:54
think about transitioning into
23:56
adulthood. We gain a lot of
23:58
independence. You're talking about with
24:00
your three other children, how you've
24:01
taken the approach of being more
24:03
hands-off and you really want them to
24:05
just have their own autonomy. Can you
24:07
talk about how
24:09
parenting Ryder at 18 is different from
24:14
say when he was eight. And I know,
24:16
Sherry, you have a 23-year-old.
24:18
Just for any parents who are maybe
24:20
preparing for that next stage, what are
24:23
some of those key differences when your
24:25
child does have autism?
24:27
>> Good question.
24:28
There are definitely, excuse me, um
24:30
transitional things like you mentioned
24:32
and and what I was saying earlier, like
24:33
at this certain age you have to
24:35
basically kind of start from scratch
24:37
with with
24:38
uh you know, like this is a age of of
24:40
independent living as opposed to your
24:43
uh um
24:45
alternative uh curriculum stuff. It's
24:47
like more about teaching them how to
24:49
be independent, whether they're going to
24:51
be fully independent or not, you know.
24:53
But it's you have to still try try and
24:55
coach those things in them and work on
24:58
certain things.
24:59
You can probably speak more on the
25:01
bigger picture cuz I'm
25:05
>> Yeah, yeah,
25:07
that adult transition age is you know,
25:10
it can be rough. So I always like to
25:12
tell our writer room's parents, you
25:13
know, be prepared because it is a cliff.
25:16
You know,
25:17
different the school district,
25:19
hospitals, they'll see the individual
25:21
the child as an adult.
25:23
And we know that the child has limited
25:26
have some limited capabilities, but once
25:29
that 18 hit, they're like, oh, they have
25:32
to give consent. You know, the child has
25:33
to give consent to even making a
25:36
doctor's appointments. So I would tell
25:39
yes, doctor appointment attending um
25:42
school
25:44
all everything shifts to this adult.
25:47
Even though all the different entities,
25:48
they know that this child definitely
25:50
needs some sort of support.
25:52
But it can be difficult. So I always
25:54
tell our writer room parents and any
25:56
parent I come across get ready. You
25:58
know, at 17 start looking into different
26:01
aspects of
26:02
things like conservatorship, durable
26:05
power of attorney, advanced medical
26:07
directives. You know, look at it as
26:09
you're a caregiver. If you're caregiving
26:10
for elderly parent or caregiving for if
26:13
you're a caregiver period, it's a sacred
26:16
it's a sacred space. And you want to
26:18
make sure that you still have um
26:21
you you you you make sure you have that
26:23
person's covered. So you're going to
26:25
start when they're 17, you're going to
26:27
start looking into how can I remain my
26:29
child's voice because it is a cliff.
26:31
It's a cliff and no one really prepares
26:35
you or guides you.
26:37
>> That's what you were saying Faith what
26:39
you were just saying under your breath.
26:41
Um
26:41
I'm still figuring it out.
26:44
>> I mean I I was I did you know, finally
26:47
did conservatorship for for Ryder
26:48
because you know, he's after he turned
26:50
18. But um, you know, so many things
26:53
like that. Even in say example for
26:55
example if if if you know, a lot of our
26:57
population they they may have behaviors,
27:00
you know? Some may be bigger than
27:01
others, but when your child is of a
27:03
certain age and and like for me Ryder's
27:05
a big big boy. He's a big teddy bear,
27:07
but he's still big and he moves big and
27:10
that that people that don't understand
27:13
that are not in the community our
27:14
community neurodivergent community that
27:17
can be off-putting, it can be scary. And
27:20
just say if something were to happen
27:22
with my child or anyone else, you know,
27:24
where someone's safety
27:26
maybe may may not even have been in uh,
27:29
they may not have been in danger, but
27:31
you know, someone may have taken it that
27:32
way. But, at a certain age things like
27:34
that if they're over 18, it goes kind of
27:37
straight to the
27:38
>> Uh.
27:39
>> police and to the to the to the folks,
27:41
you know what I'm saying?
27:42
So, it's like you there's a lot of
27:44
things
27:45
um, whether it be things that are
27:46
pertaining to to uh, conservatorship,
27:49
whether it be
27:50
pertaining to supports and services, but
27:52
even just other little things in real
27:55
life that it's like uh,
27:56
you got to really think about it. Like
27:58
I've I've had situations where Ryder may
28:00
have been in public with a a group or
28:03
um, someone that that was looking after
28:05
him. And say if he ran across the street
28:07
and or bumped into someone or I've seen
28:10
it happen with other kids and they're
28:11
over 18, that person that kept them
28:13
would say that, you know, they're
28:15
younger because they didn't want the
28:16
other people to call the cops and then
28:18
immediately they would be dealt with in
28:20
that way. Yeah.
28:22
>> Wow.
28:23
>> Uh, we got Mike Newsome here, that's
28:24
powerful. Thank you for sharing, Mike.
28:26
>> Yeah, thank you for sharing. Uh, two
28:28
questions. Um,
28:29
one for Faith and one for Sherry, but
28:31
but Faith, I found something really
28:32
interesting that you said and and now
28:33
I'm realizing that Ryder's 18 years old.
28:35
You said when you received the
28:36
diagnosis, you didn't go into stigma,
28:39
but you went into action immediately.
28:41
And 18 years ago there wasn't that much
28:43
information about um, autism and the
28:46
different types of spectrum. and so what
28:48
were you hearing that allowed you to be
28:50
so comfortable with the diagnosis and
28:52
then going to action? And then the
28:53
second question for Sherry is
28:56
what advice and and this is a big
28:58
question uh understanding that, but what
29:00
advice would you give parents once they
29:02
receive the diagnosis that Faith
29:03
received in terms of how to be
29:05
to begin finding the resources in
29:07
particular for school and education and
29:10
finding out what your different state
29:12
allows and will underwrite and undercut
29:14
to supplement the type of education that
29:16
different children on the spectrum um
29:19
could use.
29:22
>> Um well, for me when I started just
29:25
Googling autism or you know, what do I
29:28
do if my child has autism? And it's of
29:31
course a rabbit hole, but I mean one of
29:33
the main things I was seeing more and
29:35
more was more than anything else was oh,
29:38
speech therapy, occupational therapy.
29:39
Like what services would a a young child
29:42
or toddler that's um diagnosed, you
29:44
know, what would they need? And I was
29:46
seeing those two more than anything, so
29:49
I just went and put them in speech
29:50
therapy and OT therapy on my own. And
29:54
while there, I met a parent who became
29:56
my friend whose son was diagnosed at
29:58
birth, and he's the same age as Rider,
30:00
but she was still a little bit, you
30:02
know, deeper in her walk than mine than
30:05
I was. And so she kind of helped to
30:07
guide me with certain things I should do
30:09
next steps. And then I met another
30:11
parent, same thing. And then I met
30:13
Sherry, you know, so we all would kind
30:14
of confirm and meet with each other,
30:16
which was the original people in Rider's
30:18
Room before we had a board. So Rider's
30:20
Room was really just a few parents that
30:23
wanted to give gift cards and stuff to
30:25
other parents, you know, until I was
30:27
able to get a board with my friends and
30:29
and professionals that I'm cool with
30:30
that really um wanted to be a part of
30:32
supporting the cause, so
30:34
I rambled a little bit. Go ahead,
30:36
Sherry.
30:36
>> No, that was good. Thank you. Thank you.
30:37
Thank you, Faith.
30:40
>> So, if I'm um speaking to a parent
30:42
that's um, either seeking a diagnosis or
30:45
newly diagnosed,
30:47
I would definitely say, first thing I
30:49
would tell them is um,
30:51
pause and remember
30:54
yourself. Put self-care first.
30:57
That's the first thing. Now, next thing,
31:00
of course, you would think you would go
31:01
to your primary care physician with your
31:03
concerns.
31:05
Depending on what state you're in, like
31:07
you said, each state has such a vast
31:09
different um, um,
31:11
amount of services and what they allow.
31:13
If I'm speaking to um, our California's
31:15
our people in California, I would
31:17
definitely tell them to first
31:20
do your primary care physician, reach
31:22
out to regional center. California,
31:25
we're lucky that we have um, a law
31:27
that's called the Lanterman Act that it
31:29
was put in place in the 1960s.
31:32
A lot of parents advocated for it and we
31:35
have a law that protects our children.
31:37
And we have a law that
31:39
provides them rights to access, you
31:42
know, rights to services. And they
31:44
receive those services through
31:45
organization called the regional center.
31:48
We have 21 regional centers in the in
31:50
California across the states. I would
31:52
tell you to start there.
31:55
Um, start
31:57
request an intake, you know,
32:00
request um, assistance with one of the
32:02
social workers there. That's going to be
32:04
your first step is
32:06
definitely your local regional center
32:08
when I'm speaking to California. Other
32:10
states, I know New Jersey, they have a
32:13
developmental um,
32:15
department also that's really strong and
32:17
New York, you guys have um,
32:20
great services there. You guys also have
32:22
a state-funded department. Start there.
32:25
Start Googling. 23 22 years ago, there
32:29
was very limited information on the
32:31
internet for me. So, I was like really
32:33
in the grassroots. I I in the thick of
32:35
it. I was like out there trying to find
32:38
different organizations, like knocking
32:40
them down, like what what can I do to
32:42
help this this young man.
32:45
So, it's going to take I'm not even
32:47
going to sugarcoat it. It's going to
32:48
take work, you know, you got to really
32:50
pull your boots up and just
32:52
just be grinding. You have to just keep
32:55
going.
32:56
Keep asking questions. Don't take
32:58
Don't take
32:59
um
33:00
Oh, it's too early. It's not too early.
33:02
Push hard. So, it's more about
33:06
it's more about being proactive and
33:08
being persistent, you know.
33:10
Don't get caught up in the
33:12
um
33:13
the
33:17
It it gets rough. Don't try not to lay
33:19
in that area too long.
33:21
>> Oh, okay.
33:22
>> Yeah.
33:22
>> Don't get frustrated. Don't get right.
33:24
>> frustrated.
33:25
>> Yeah.
33:25
>> And it's crazy because I mean sorry, but
33:28
what to add to what Sherry was saying,
33:29
like we we in California, we have a law.
33:32
I would love to one day Is anybody out
33:35
there that's listening that can want to
33:37
join I want to figure out why why why
33:39
every state can't have a
33:41
act a similar act, if not that same one.
33:44
That every state can have the equal
33:47
access to the things. And don't get me
33:49
wrong, even in California,
33:51
we have friends that live in different
33:53
areas that there's still certain
33:54
disparities, you know, even though we
33:56
still get
33:58
have these better services and force and
34:00
supports than most states. But, um I
34:03
want to figure that out. I would love to
34:05
be a part of like helping that you know,
34:07
come to be.
34:08
>> Mike you want to chime in?
34:09
>> Yeah, yeah, if I can jump in just two
34:11
things. Faith, I'm going to give you a
34:12
solution for that one, but to Sherry's
34:14
point, again, every state is different,
34:16
but for those who live in New York, I'm
34:18
not an expert, so just double check
34:19
this. Thank you for sharing the regional
34:21
centers in California, but in New York
34:22
parents, if your child is on the
34:24
spectrum, the state does provide you
34:27
supplemental
34:28
income and opportunities for your child
34:30
to go into these elite private schools
34:33
so that there could be a place there
34:34
that you don't have to pay for that. So,
34:36
Google it, do a little bit more. Not an
34:38
expert, but just there are things out
34:40
there.
34:41
Uh Sherry, I just want to Sorry, sorry,
34:43
Sherry. Faith. Um for you, I love that
34:46
solution. What you What you start with
34:49
is your two senators um in California.
34:53
Um Find a way to meet with them. It's
34:54
easy. You can contact them at their
34:56
their district office. Every The two
34:58
senators have district and regional
34:59
offices. I don't know if the house
35:00
California is so big, so maybe regional
35:02
versus district, but they should have a
35:03
district and a regional office.
35:05
Find a way to meet with your senator, um
35:07
one of the two senators, and then from
35:08
there, talk to them about you want to
35:10
put forward legislation to make this to
35:12
federalize autistic services for
35:15
children so that children and parents
35:17
don't have to go through the system of
35:19
state-by-state play. It just starts with
35:21
a parent talking and advocating. It It's
35:23
I don't want to It's I don't want to
35:24
simplify it, but it does just start
35:26
there. Put it on their radar. And then
35:28
through Writers Room,
35:30
I can talk to you on this on the side,
35:32
but then you can guys You guys are a
35:33
501c3. You can then convert it over to
35:36
uh a 501c4.
35:38
Um and then that way you can turn it to
35:40
a lobbying arm, Writers Room, to then
35:42
advocate on the hill and your state
35:44
capitals in order to make this a
35:45
national legislative branch. So, it just
35:48
These laws get passed by people putting
35:50
momentum and showing interest. Lawmakers
35:53
don't do things just on their own. Not
35:54
because they're bad people, but they
35:56
react to pressure from their
35:58
constituents and what their constituents
35:59
want.
36:01
>> I'll get you guys Mike News' direct
36:03
number, okay? You know, he just might
36:05
insist you treat him to a meal. That's
36:06
it.
36:08
That's it. I'm going to take one call,
36:10
man. We got Sherry Alvarez is here. Uh
36:13
Minister Hannah is here. The iconic
36:15
Faith Evans is here. Taz is on the line
36:17
from Phoenix. Taz.
36:18
>> Hey Taz. What's up, Taz?
36:21
>> Hey, what's going on, fam? Can you hear
36:24
me?
36:24
>> What's happening?
36:25
>> Yeah, we hear you loud and clear. What
36:27
you want to add to the conversation,
36:28
Taz?
36:32
Taz?
36:35
>> He might have put us on mute by mistake.
36:36
>> Taz, you got us on mute?
36:40
Okay, he might have us on mute. I wanted
36:42
to take him cuz he works at a job that
36:44
help teach people about how to handle
36:46
people with autism. So,
36:48
but that didn't work out.
36:50
Yeah, something like that. Al in Texas,
36:52
we got Faith in here.
36:55
>> Hey, how you doing, Miss Faith?
36:58
>> Hey, how are you?
37:00
>> All right.
37:01
I know that man. I only want to talk
37:03
about my story. You all was talking
37:05
about
37:06
you know, the autism, but I was just
37:08
wanted to say my story how
37:11
I met you. I would do my first cooking
37:13
job in Chicago back in
37:16
03 or 04 and
37:20
I cooked for you some chicken, greens,
37:24
and salad and you you requested me to
37:27
come upstairs. He was like, "Who cooked
37:29
that?" I guess you told whoever and
37:32
they brought me upstairs and everything
37:34
and I met you and everything. You was
37:35
like, "You're a baby." I was like, "No,
37:38
I'm grown."
37:40
But yeah, I just wanted to remember that
37:43
time I had cooked for you and I always
37:46
tell people about it. You too. Take
37:48
care.
37:50
>> Have a good one.
37:51
>> All right, Al.
37:52
Hey, wait, hold up Al before you hang
37:54
up.
37:55
Faith, can you say have a good one, Al?
37:57
Say his name that way he could say you
37:58
said his name.
37:59
>> Have a good one, Al.
38:01
>> You too, Faith. Take care.
38:04
>> Yes.
38:04
>> Are you a chef?
38:06
>> I'm I'm still
38:08
doing my cooking thing, you know. I'm
38:10
I'm doing landscaping right now, but uh
38:12
>> I said Al Al is over.
38:14
>> You know what?
38:14
>> All right. All right, Al. Appreciate
38:16
you, man.
38:16
>> Al, it's way to more than
38:19
>> Al took it. He made He gave you the club
38:21
mix. You know what? You put me on radio.
38:24
He gave you the club mix.
38:25
>> Before we wrap up really quickly, I
38:27
don't know if it's coincidental or maybe
38:29
there's something to it, but both of
38:31
y'all said sons. And then when you were
38:33
telling a story, you mentioned two other
38:34
people with sons. Is it something that
38:36
happens mostly with boys?
38:39
>> There are definitely statistically more
38:41
males
38:42
>> Okay.
38:43
>> diagnosed.
38:43
>> It's something I noticed while y'all
38:45
were talking. You kept saying sons,
38:46
sons, sons.
38:47
>> very Even within the group of like kids
38:50
that go to the social group and on their
38:52
camps, there's
38:53
probably 25 boys and three girls. I
38:56
mean, not that that's a representation,
38:58
but that is
39:00
it's typically like that. It's what We
39:01
don't have a lot of females that, you
39:04
know, we We even just recently did a
39:05
dance. We were like, we got to get some
39:07
girls in here, but there are definitely
39:09
more
39:10
>> boys
39:10
>> more males diagnosed.
39:12
>> Wow. Okay.
39:13
>> Wow, that's interesting. Man, I want to
39:14
thank you, Faith, for coming by. Faith
39:16
Evans,
39:17
uh April 12th, 2026, go to at the
39:20
Michelle and Barack Obama Sports
39:21
Complex, Obama Boulevard.
39:24
Uh autism awareness community event that
39:26
they're here to promote a celebrate a
39:28
celebration of awareness, acceptance,
39:30
and inclusion.
39:32
Um
39:33
Minister Hanan, it's it's a pleasure to
39:35
be in your presence, my brother.
39:37
>> And then the pleasure is all mine, King.
39:39
You know, we go a long ways back. So,
39:41
I'm I'm definitely excited to be here
39:43
for this event.
39:44
>> Absolutely, man. You looking great, man.
39:46
You looking strong, clear. Come on, man.
39:49
I see you. I see history.
39:50
>> I'm trying to stay focused, you know
39:52
what I mean? Trying to Trying to just do
39:54
the work.
39:54
>> Absolutely.
39:55
>> I just want to give a shout-out to these
39:57
women. They These are This is why I'm
39:58
inspired to do
40:00
was
40:01
you know, me and Faith go back. But when
40:03
Rider was born, what she said earlier
40:05
said something that I want to
40:07
like reiterate, which is
40:10
be the doer. Like don't get caught up in
40:12
your the the not just the frustration or
40:15
the part of could it be my fault or
40:18
anything like that. Like these women
40:20
here
40:21
since I've known them to be in this
40:23
field are just like doers. Like what I'm
40:26
going to do? I'm going to do it. Like no
40:28
matter whatever it is, they just know
40:30
they're going to be there and love their
40:32
child and do whatever it takes. So
40:35
that's the encouragement that I want,
40:37
you know what I'm saying? And and
40:38
reiterate to them like
40:39
like she said, like I'm not going to
40:41
studio. I'm I'm doing this.
40:42
>> Yeah.
40:43
>> Like when certain things weren't just
40:44
clicking and that is a priority. It
40:47
helps and that should be all of our
40:48
priorities for this event is come out
40:50
and support because
40:51
the biggest thing that I have seen is
40:53
that
40:54
you get help by other people that's
40:57
going through it.
40:58
>> Yeah.
40:58
>> And you learn more about what's
41:00
happening when you're around other
41:01
people that are going through it. And
41:03
like you said, what I've seen is that
41:05
the diversity could be
41:07
someone that's
41:09
highly unfunctional to highly
41:11
functional.
41:12
>> Mhm.
41:13
>> Like the range is so where in between
41:15
there that one person could be this way
41:17
and another person can be. But you need
41:18
to learn from each person and especially
41:21
the parent that's with them every day,
41:24
you know, and be in someone who will
41:26
encourage them.
41:28
You know, in that thing. Just showing up
41:30
is an encouragement. Like other people
41:31
are caring. And the caring part is the
41:34
part that
41:35
it doesn't take much for anybody to do.
41:37
Just show up.
41:38
And you know what I mean? Just be there.
41:40
So that's what
41:40
>> to add one thing before we go, too. Um
41:43
she was talking about caring for the
41:45
caring, you know, taking care of
41:46
yourself as a caregiver. I would be mad
41:49
as heck if I forgot. We're having an
41:50
event on May 30th as well. Writers Room
41:53
is partnering with um the Los Angeles
41:55
County Department of Mental Health,
41:57
correct? And May 30th is a day for it's
42:00
a caring for the caregiver, like a
42:01
little day of wellness for parents and
42:03
caregivers. May 30th is um in West LA.
42:06
It's free to the public, free
42:08
transportation, free food, but you you
42:10
have to um register for this one. So,
42:12
for any information on everything
42:13
Writers Room is doing,
42:15
just go to our website
42:16
www.writersroom.com
42:19
r y d r s and we are planning for our
42:22
next gala in Newark cuz I know we ain't
42:24
we on all the airwaves right now. All
42:26
right? At the Newark Museum, September
42:29
26th. So,
42:31
y'all check us out.
42:32
>> And we'll continue to promote it like we
42:34
do Celebrity Wire. We'll add those
42:36
things.
42:36
>> Definitely.
42:37
>> So, our our daily reports, yes.
42:39
>> Thank you. And our May 30th event will
42:41
be hosted by Gary G Thing Johnson and we
42:43
will have a wellness
42:45
panel moderated by Shalonda Dr. Sunshine
42:48
Crawford.
42:48
>> Okay.
42:49
>> I got it all in. Amen.
42:51
>> I'm going to give a shout-out to our
42:52
Baldwin Village community who does a
42:54
great job on trying to make sure every
42:56
we facilitate the
42:58
situation for in many different types of
43:01
fields out here to try and lead by
43:02
example, but I want to give our Baldwin
43:04
Baldwin Hills
43:05
village community a a shout-out while we
43:07
on the air, too.
43:08
>> Absolutely. And And Shari, you want to
43:10
shout-out Oakland?
43:11
>> I want to shout-out Oakland. I want to
43:13
shout-out I want to shout-out South LA.
43:16
I want to shout-out all our caregivers.
43:18
It's your duty to share information.
43:20
It's your duty to share information. No
43:23
gatekeeping here. No gatekeeping.
43:26
>> Share it.
43:27
>> Share it. Share it.
43:28
>> Let me tell you how that works. So, a
43:30
direct a direct effect of you guys
43:32
showing up as the minister said, we got
43:35
Precious on the line. Precious has two
43:37
children on the spectrum.
43:40
Precious, welcome to the show.
43:41
>> Hey, Precious.
43:43
>> Hi, you guys. How are y'all?
43:46
>> Doing good.
43:46
>> Hey.
43:47
>> What made you call, Precious?
43:50
>> So, I always listen to The Shade Room
43:51
every morning I go take my kids to
43:53
school
43:54
and then I saw Faith Evans' name on
43:56
there and I've I've been knowing like
43:58
through all her music and my mom
44:00
listening to her music. So, growing up I
44:02
knew that her son was autistic and on
44:05
the spectrum. So, when I was
44:07
I'm sitting here in the car, I'm crying.
44:10
Like, forgive me all because she was
44:11
like beginning of like her journey and
44:13
everything and when she was speaking,
44:15
all like, how did she What did she do?
44:18
Like, I tried to maintain like my mental
44:20
health to be stable because I really
44:22
didn't know what autism was and I didn't
44:24
have no support. And um my son's primary
44:28
doctor, he he didn't want to give a
44:30
diagnosis just like they said like I was
44:33
like a chicken with my head when they
44:35
cut off like trying to like force her to
44:37
give my son a diagnosis. He was three.
44:39
He was He wasn't talking and and I was
44:41
like visiting revisiting this trauma
44:44
from my my siblings. They're twins and
44:46
my brother was nonverbal and my sister
44:48
was verbal, but she was more on the
44:50
behavior side where she had like
44:52
behavioral issues and my mom was like
44:55
shunning it all. Like, she didn't get
44:56
them no help. Thank God my brother is a
44:58
IT to this day. He graduated from San
45:00
Francisco State. My sister is a
45:02
phlebotomist at Kaiser um hospital.
45:05
So, with that being said,
45:07
>> Wow.
45:07
>> I reached out to the regional center
45:09
because with the regional center in
45:10
California, I live in Antioch, you don't
45:12
need a doctor referral. So, I did a
45:14
self-referral for them to give my son an
45:16
evaluation. Once I got that, I gave it
45:18
to the doctor and she was basically
45:20
forced to give me another evaluation for
45:23
Stanford Hospital. I reached out to the
45:25
care um parent network where they were
45:27
so resourceful. They came to my house,
45:30
helped me organize my son a binder for
45:32
like his IEPs. And then from that, I
45:34
just took off. I don't have a nonprofit,
45:36
but I always been inspired to start a
45:39
nonprofit and I've just been resourceful
45:42
on my own as an individual with helping
45:44
the parents around my community like
45:46
advocating for them, sitting in for IEPs
45:49
and doing whatever I can. So, I really
45:51
just want to say thank you to you and
45:53
Sherry and I'm going to try to find a
45:55
way to come down to the event in LA to
45:57
bring my kids because my kids are
46:00
inspirational to me. And like you said,
46:01
I'm my son and my daughter's advocate
46:04
because out here they really don't
46:06
care to help these kids. Like, for some
46:09
reason they they don't want to connect
46:11
them to the resources, and it's like I'm
46:13
a stay-at-home mom not by choice. It's
46:15
because ain't nobody take care of my
46:17
kids the way I take care of them. So,
46:19
they don't want to help you with like
46:20
income resources as far as in-home care.
46:23
My son don't have like no signs to
46:25
danger, so he would like start a fire
46:27
not knowing that it's putting the family
46:30
in dangerous. So, it's like
46:32
where do we look for any type of
46:33
resources for help if we need jobs or
46:36
anything? You know what I'm saying? So,
46:37
it's like the help is very limited if
46:39
you don't know nobody or you're not
46:41
connected to nobody to even help you
46:44
with these resources. So, I just really
46:46
want to say thank you because I'm
46:47
standing 10 toes, and I've been doing
46:50
this for 13 years. Today my son has made
46:53
13 years old. He's so brilliant. He know
46:55
how to draw. He have a photographic
46:57
memory. Yes, so I just want to say happy
47:00
birthday to my son, Deshawn. He's 13
47:03
years old, and I appreciate y'all.
47:07
>> Hey, I sound like we sound like we got a
47:09
new we need to recruit a new member to
47:11
the writer room.
47:12
>> Yeah.
47:12
>> Come on down to this event, and even if
47:15
you don't make it, don't I'm send us
47:16
your information somehow. You could DM
47:18
me or DM the Writers' Room um page. I'll
47:21
write your name down, so I'll make sure
47:22
I know it's you.
47:24
>> Okay.
47:24
>> Okay. Thank you.
47:27
>> Any more.
47:32
Hey, hey Precious. Thanks for your call.
47:34
You're a super citizen.
47:35
>> I swear in the morning.
47:36
>> Yo, all right. This is
47:39
Love you. Have a beautiful day. This was
47:41
a beautiful day, man. You know, I just
47:43
got back from New York, and I I want to
47:46
fly back to make sure I made this
47:48
for this show this morning to see you in
47:49
person. Faith, continue the good work,
47:52
and it's amazing how far we've all come
47:55
and and where we are and now what we
47:57
doing with our voices and platform. My
48:00
Oakland sister Sherry, I know you said
48:02
South Central. We going to give you
48:03
Oakland old town business.
48:05
Sherry Alvarez, thank you. Appreciate
48:08
you. You have an ally in me now. So
48:11
y'all use this platform to promote. You
48:13
ain't always got to come up here if you
48:14
don't feel like it. Text us or text us
48:17
or we going to be promoting. Okay?
48:19
Absolutely.
48:21
Okay, come on.
48:22
Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
48:23
>> I want to let Precious know that we have
48:25
a monthly virtual support group for our
48:27
parents on the fourth Sunday.
48:29
So I would really would like her to come
48:31
and be a part of our community. We're
48:34
just parents. We share information. You
48:36
know, we'll have experts on that also
48:38
provide guidance. So Precious, please
48:40
join us. It's the fourth Sunday. You can
48:42
go to our website writersroominc.org.
48:45
You can register. It's the fourth
48:47
Sunday, 10:00 a.m. Pacific, 1:00 p.m.
48:49
Eastern. So that's what we want. We here
48:52
for. We here to, you know, look out for
48:53
each other.
48:54
>> writersroominc.org.
48:56
Minister, thank you. It's always a
48:58
blessing to see you. Your your your your
49:00
aura, your energy radiates. It's
49:02
bouncing off the ceilings and I and I
49:04
love it. Today is the 29th anniversary
49:07
of Life After Death album, too. Ain't
49:09
that something?
49:12
Today? Today? March 25th.
49:15
>> Wow. Wow.
49:17
>> Ain't that crazy? I was playing it. I
49:19
know.
49:20
>> Be quiet, Sway.
49:25
>> I remember that. You remember that?
49:27
>> Mhm. Wow.
49:28
>> Were you at that interview?
49:29
>> No.
49:29
>> But you remember it?
49:31
>> But I remember you asked I don't know if
49:32
that was the one where somebody asked
49:34
him would we get back together or
49:35
something like that.
49:36
>> Yeah, that might have been. I was kind
49:37
of that I was a different guy.
49:40
I was like, "You and Faith going to have
49:41
a hookup or something?"
49:42
>> Being an op way back then before we
49:44
started calling people ops, you was op.
49:46
>> I was op.
49:47
I just wanted to see a happy ending,
49:49
Heather. That's all. That's all.
49:52
Do you Do you remember when he was
49:54
recording that that album though? Do you
49:56
remember any of
49:57
>> Um no.
49:58
>> No? Okay. All right. That's fair enough.
50:01
Okay. That was that time. Okay.
50:03
Okay.
50:04
Uh but but Faith it's always great to
50:07
see you. And and I smile when I see you
50:10
and you look amazing.
50:11
>> Thank you.
50:12
>> And
50:12
>> And you as well. Looking like 25 years
50:14
ago.
50:15
>> You better work.
50:15
>> Oh God. He going to He going to be
50:17
impossible to Faith, why you say that? I
50:20
told you we live across the hall from
50:22
each other. I'm never going to hear the
50:23
end of this.
50:25
Oh my gosh. My night is ruined, Faith.
50:29
>> YOU DID THE KING, RIGHT? WE SOLID. THANK
50:31
YOU, FAITH.
50:33
>> EVERYBODY heard it Sway.
50:34
>> All right. Tracy heard it, too.
50:36
>> Tracy heard it, Kalani, everybody.
50:39
>> Yo, producer Torch, make
50:41
Torch Torch, make that into a sweeper so
50:44
we could play that every day.
50:46
>> Babe was looking for you, Torch. She
50:47
said, "Where Torch at?" She came in and
50:49
asked if PB was Torch.
50:53
Torch right there.
50:55
>> All right, man. We going We going to And
50:56
thank you to the New York team for a
50:58
great show today.
50:59
Um out here John C, Horse, PB, Heavy B.
51:03
Um Faith, thank you. You guys April 12th
51:06
April 12th. Make sure you there.
51:08
Michelle and Barack Obama Sports
51:10
Complex. The address is 5001 Obama
51:13
Boulevard. You can go to the site
51:16
Writers Ink
51:18
Writers Room Ink Writers r y d e r
51:22
Writers Room Ink dot org. Make sure you
51:24
guys find out more information.
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