When I visited Genesis, it was a nice warm day, and the boys were riding scooters and were not riding their bicycles. At the time, I had already interviewed all the residents who were present so Scott Coppenbarger, the executive director, and I, discussed who would be a viable candidate to interview that day. I have always been fascinated by the people who invest their time and effort in these boys who desperately need love and attention and provide direction in their lives. The staff goes above and beyond to make each feel wanted and a part of a “family” unit. I encourage others to visit Genesis and see for themselves.
It was during fall break and the campus school was not in session, so they had some free time on Thursday, Friday, and Monday without the usual schedule. I saw one boy who got mad and threw his helmet as hard as he could in the air and desperately wanted attention from the staff. Every staff member outside did not overreact but let the boy know that they knew he had a problem and worked diligently to redirect his attention more positively. Another set of boys took shovels and threw dirt at each other, another example of youngsters with different personalities who all wanted to be noticed. It was a constant reminder of the patience it takes to collaborate with these boys and special individuals who can influence their lives.
I ended up interviewing three employees: one newly hired, one who had been with the program for a while, and another who had been moved to a supervisory position. All three brought a unique perspective to the table.
The newest employee, Kiah Willis, had only been employed at Genesis for two and a half weeks, but she was accustomed to the behavior of these boys and had been trained to work with them as a behavior specialist and graduated from college. She was from Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and came to Oklahoma to live in a new environment and had family here. She has two sisters and two brothers but is only close to a sister and brother. She lost a 30-year-old sibling who was one of a pair of twins in a car crash and I felt her pain as she shared her story. She is the youngest of her family and carries herself with confidence and maturity. She enjoys playing with the boys and likes to interact with them. She desires to be trustworthy to each resident and understand aggressive behavior and what occurs at the facility. She was working a double shift the day I interviewed her after she came in at 7:00 a.m. and was working until 11 p.m. that night. It made for a long day, but it gave her an opportunity to see the boys in a different light. She understands what is going on and likes the staff’s support and that everyone steps in when needed. She appreciates their efforts when a problem arises. I pray she is a long-time employee and empathizes with the young men and their reactions to certain situations. She was as refreshing as a breath of fresh air.
The second person I interviewed was Mickey Davis, a woman who had been at Genesis since December of 2023. She had been with a daycare and always recognized the challenges a young man brings to the table. She enjoys working with the child. She is not scared or put off by children with behavioral problems and thinks of herself as a nurturing person. She learned about this position from a job fair but recognizes it is different than working with little ones. She likes to think that she is their “safe spot” and works hard to develop a close rapport with “each” resident (which is an admirable trait to attain). I did observe three boys who kept venturing away from the play area and Mickey had her eyes on them and signaled to them more than once, that she was watching them with a specific hand signal (by pointing to her eyes and then directing her finger toward them). They all understood. They were trying hard to get her attention (but I am not sure they realized it) but she redirected them, and they joined the rest of the group without being reprimanded. I was impressed with her ability to be quite observant in a quiet, diligent manner. We left the playground area and entered the building and immediately all the boys were preparing to eat lunch, and they all washed their hands without being prodded. I watched Mickey touch a boy’s hair lovingly and then call one “Baby” in a motherly tone that displayed to them that she cared about them and was a strong figure who invested personally in each resident. Four boys experienced some minor problems, and she directed them to a separate room with a fireplace, TV and the therapist’s office which is located upstairs. While she was tending to their needs, she missed her own lunch as they ate their meals. It was obvious that she went the extra mile to tend to their individual needs in a calm manner and recognized that all of them need individual attention. She displayed an abundance of patience.
All but a few boys left for a field trip to Stars and Stripes Park in Oklahoma City and they quietly sat and listened (and interrupted occasionally) as I talked with Kendale Brown, who goes by KB and was responsible for the time spent with the boys during this shift. KB was eating hot food which made him sweat so he stopped but I could tell he liked it. He enjoys being needed and he has moved up in his positions quickly and every day is different for him. He was brought up in Midwest City. A caseworker had recognized his personality and ability to relate to youngsters. She encouraged and referred him to apply for a job at Genesis and he left a job doing apartment maintenance and this job is a lot different than that one. Besides being a Genesis supervisor, he works for Urban League and teaches classes to 4 to 13-year-olds in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program. KB works seven days a week and has been doing this since January, which is quite impressive. He is 34 years old but has the energy of a much younger man.
He had heard me mention my association to a former death row inmate whose sentence was commuted to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and asked me several questions which told me he was a listener and had a real desire to learn. He talked lovingly of his parents and his younger sister, who is a teacher at Wheeler Elementary School in Oklahoma City. His mother is a property manager for the Towers, a place where I had delivered mobile meals, and thought I might have met her on occasion. He enjoys the different challenges each day and enjoys being an inspiration to the boys. He considers himself a truly diverse guy and does not assume anything. We had talked quite a while before he mentioned that he was raised solely by his mother until he was eight years old, and his “future” dad stepped up to the plate and adopted him before the marriage to his mom! I was impressed by his dad’s ability to recognize a loving child’s ability and encouragement before he truly became the “daddy.” It spoke volumes for the example of his dad who has been a principal and superintendent for Del Crest, Edmond’s Sante Fe High School and is now head of Harding Preparatory School to name a few of his places of employment. KB understands what it is like to be raised by a single parent and what it is like to acquire an adult who becomes a role model. His father was strict, and he came into the family with rules like a classroom teacher. It took some time for KB to adjust. He admires and loves his father who wanted KB to become a teacher and recognized that he was highly intelligent and is pleased with his son’s career choices.
I questioned KB’s interests since he is working all the time. He enjoys muscle cars, and we talked about the time I owned a ’70 SS Chevelle 454 (that I had a hard time driving) and he mentioned a ’94 Chevelle S.S. and ’72 Cutlass 442. He knew his cars and admired several of them. He also is a dog breeder who loves French bulldogs so despite his limited time off, he does manage to be involved with his own personal interests.
I recognized his drive, energy, and ability to relate to a lot of things. I am sure he is doing a fantastic job as a supervisor who relates to and understands his staff. He does not put himself on a pedestal and I can see another employee talking to him in a straightforward manner. He treats their concerns with a genuine interest and ability to assist them.
It was different interviewing personnel instead of residents but the exposure touched my heart and assured me that the staff was a combination of people who understood the different personalities assigned to Genesis and desperately needed guidance and direction in their lives. I was not disappointed and meeting the personnel revealed to me the people who truly make the highest impact on our home and especially on the boys. It was an enlightening day that exposed me to people I normally do not have time to talk yet their impact has the strongest impression on these young men. I know money has been tight and trying to get grants and donations has been limited but my time opened my eyes to the possibilities and the doors we are capable of opening. Money makes a difference in these boys’ lives and the more involved I become, the more important it is to me. We all have a stake in these boys’ lives, and I hope you can see a visible way of making a difference and changing their path to a genuinely positive one!
I recognized his drive, energy, and ability to relate to a lot of things, I am sure he is doing a fantastic job as a supervisor who relates to and understands his staff. He does not put himself on a pedestal and I can see another employee talking to him in a straightforward manner and he treats their concerns with a genuine interest and ability to assist them.
