Everyday Heroes Spotlight w/Khadijah Butler, Founder of the Craig D Butler Scholarship Foundation

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Hey podcast nation, it is your girl Kandidly Kristin and this is the Kandid Shop. Your number one destination for kandid conversations. If you're a new listener, welcome. If you're a returning listener, Welcome back and thank you so much for your support and tuning in. So on this Everyday Hero Spotlight Chat, Everyday Hero Chats are my fave, I have the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Khadijah Butler, founder and president of the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation and author of Laying the Foundation Brick by Brick and the CDB Scholarship Monthly Planner. So it is my absolute and distinct pleasure to welcome, welcome, welcome Khadijah to the Kandid Shop.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, thank you so much, Kristin. I am so excited to be here. I will say on your other podcast, this is how you know you're from the hood. You're just like listening to the 50 Cent. I'm not supposed to be enjoying myself. I'm like, oh, okay.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Girl, I'm actually going to do a, I do an everyday hero spotlight, an off the spotlight. and an artist spotlight. So the kid that made that intro for me is like a bonus son to me. He's one of my biological son's best friends. And I was like, boss, can you do something for me with this track? And that's what came out of it. And when he sent it to me, I was like, oh my God, that's fire.

Oh my God.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: So I'm going to be interviewing him in the next few weeks, because I haven't had him on for Artist Spotlight. He really is a talented young man. So Khadijah, you know, I mentioned to you already that I am originally from Camden, which is just over the bridge from Philly. So I am so, so excited to be chatting with a neighbor, a sister neighbor doing such amazing work, really.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, thank you so much. I mean, yeah, it's always good, especially it's crazy. I don't really, I get some recognition from like local, like Jersey, but for the most part, it's normally like Midwest or down South. So I'm always happy, as you said, like, yeah, it's really, it's strange, especially like to be serving the regional area. So I'm always excited. Yeah.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Oh, so let's get into it. So if you could share just, you know, however much you're comfortable with sharing of your personal story and the inspiration behind Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Wow yeah so as far as so my trade by day I am actually a project manager but I pretty much manage all databases and I create databases for pharmaceutical companies so it's funny how we were kind of talking about the whole COVID thing. And it wasn't until people, until COVID came out that people was like, you know, because now it's on the news and it's like, Oh, the FDA said the data says, and I'm like, I've been trying to tell you all this is what I've been doing for 17 years now. So that's where my personal story is. But as far as the transition with me starting the foundation, I knew at some point I wanted to start a business. But I knew it had to be meaningful. I knew I needed a passion, aka pain point. And I feel like between the love of my city, the love of my father, and the love of education, I just kind of merged all those three. And it started out with, I felt like at that moment, mentally, I was ready to really start something in my father's name. And that's kind of how it started as far as also knowing that the city of Philadelphia needed a scholarship that was just specifically for them. So that's kind of how we got started with the foundation.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Okay, now, are you full time with the foundation now? Are you still doing project management?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Um, I feel like I got two full-time jobs to be honest. So, you know, during the day it's, it's funny because they both are in tandem me finding ways to get back. So like, I feel like even when I'm gone, these medications, medical devices are want to be here. And I had a part of that and I'm hoping the same with the foundation.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: So I hope so too. So tell me a little bit about the foundation's mission and how it seeks to support the community and young scholars.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yep. So our mission at the Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation really is to redirect the youth's focus from gun violence to education. And that means, you know, number one, African American excellence just being highlighted not just the fact that it's bad things in Philadelphia right like it's like for me and my family we look at how can a scholar embody what the Craig D. Butler scholarship means. Our biggest thing is not just redirecting the use, but also providing an avenue outside of student loans, outside of, you know, if you are a first generation college student and saying, if you and I, meaning you and I as a African-American versus any other race are on the same playing field financially, that you can still get an education regardless of your circumstances. Right.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: I love it, love it, love it. So talk to me about the foundation's core programs, initiatives, and how they support the educational goals of the people that receive your scholarships.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yeah. So our core programs is the inaugural scholarship, and we provide two $1,000 scholarships to African-American high school seniors. we are trying to expand to the regional areas of the jerseys, of like the Camden's, Trenton's, you know, areas in Delaware. If, you know, fingers crossed we begin to get grants. But that's our core program as far as the inaugural scholarship. But now we're actually doing scholarship workshops. So I've partnered with the 100 Black Men of Philly, where every, not every Saturday, but every couple of months, We'll go to, it's more of the for the parents so as they're mentoring the young boys. I provide scholarship workshops to the parents and that for some reason has been very overwhelming. So that's one program. And then the other piece is we do go to the schools like I also partner with. Ben Franklin High School, it's a subsidiary of Ben Franklin High School where it's like the safe center so for those who, you know, may be struggling or have an area where, you know, they're not getting certain things at home like we do provide scholarships for them. So that's kind of where it stops for now like I. Someone was asking me the other day, like what might be another pillar for me? And I mean, we also go to, you know, we do attend like some of the community events and a lot of the anti-gun violence events as well, like MLK coming up. But I think the next thing that's probably going to come is trying to walk people through what it's going to be like to deal with the defendant that you've, you know, as far as the violence victim, like how you're going to go through that process.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: okay well then how old is the foundation like when did you found it

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Um, so we started in 2020.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: So it's, Oh, it's a baby. You're doing amazing things for a three year old.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yes, we are three years in. So again, it's interesting how the whole, how COVID played its role. Like we started, my father's birthday was January 21st. So we started January 21st, 2020, then the world shut down in March. So it was a whole, Like, God, what are you doing? Like, I'm like, what are you doing? So it just, it was an interesting like kind of change of events and how things really didn't like catapult until like the following year.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Right. Right. And I liked the, the parent workshop because a lot of times parents, all you ever see is a take a loan, take a loan, take a loan. And they want their kids to go to college and they don't want you to be hindered by financial lack. So you take out these loans and before you know it, four years later, you're graduating with a hundred K of debt, you know, and no job. So I love that piece, but say I'm a parent looking for alternative ways to fund my, um, my child's, uh, post high school education. What and they what's the criteria and the selection process for how your scholarship foundation award scholarships.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yeah, so the first thing we look at is that you have to be African-American. And I say this, you know, certain things are just like the most common thing. But I'm like wondering, why are we getting people of other races applying? You're like this, again, it's not to exclude, but this is for them, you know? So it's being an African-American descent, having a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. We do look at references as well, makes a big difference. Used to be the whole SAT, ACT scoring, but now that's like a test optional policy with a lot of colleges now. So that's not something we heavily look at. If you do volunteer, not a requirement, but for the most part, all of our scholars thus far, we've had seven to date, have all volunteer, all have worked part-time. And the essay is a really big piece, and that's a really big topic we talk about at every workshop.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Let me ask you this. Do you get any pushback because the scholarship is limited to only people of African-American descent?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I won't say pushback, but it doesn't stop people from applying. And I think because on our website, we do say, not the African-American descent piece, but we get more pushback from people just sending us things from different cities and states, I find that we get more pushback during the grant process. That has been, for me, it's strange, right? Because they want you to write your grant a specific way. But then, especially the city of Philadelphia, how their biggest initiative is, oh, we're trying to stop the gun violence epidemic. And this is a gun violence related you know, foundation, like my father was murdered. So it's like, I don't know what else you want. And so it's odd that they'll say things like, you know, it seems as if you're excluding. So it's tricky. It is.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yeah, I can imagine. But this is what, this is my foundation. And I get to determine, you know, who we award scholarships to, because not for nothing, there's plenty of scholarships out there. for other races, other ethnicities. And so what's wrong with us having one specifically for us? But I can imagine that in a grant, trying to secure grants for the foundation that that likely comes into play.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yeah, it is. It's very, you know, and I'm like, this is the reason why for me, I'm not going to break my authenticity about what it's for. Because someone who has written a planner or, you know, who has compiled scholarships for different races, different cultures, you know, backgrounds, it's out there if you want to give the money, basically. If you wanted to give it for us, you would. So yes.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yep, there you go. So right now, your scholarships are funded by donations?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: It's donations. We do have merchandise base, so anything that we receive for merchandise. We have pretty much every donation platform. I am going to probably announce some time this week as well. We just got approved for United Way. You know, that takes years. Yeah. So pretty much any Avenue and we even have like the Walmart roundup program. So like you want it to round up your change. So that's why it's been tricky because anything else just gets funded directly from us as a family.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Oh, wow. Okay. So we need to work on getting these grants together.

SPEAKER_00: And let me tell you something I have

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: attempted to do a grant application, that's a whole specific niche skill set to do those. Them things are crazy. It just makes you want to throw it across the room like, oh my God.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I quit. I'm done.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Seriously, they really need to streamline that. It's bad and some worse than others. It's like, oh my God, you want my left arm? Oh my gosh. Oh, so listen, I know you talked a little bit about the future for the foundation, but when you when you dream like your biggest dream for the foundation, what do you see its impact in the future? And are there any thing, you know, besides securing grants that you're working on to get to that dream?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I mean, honestly, I feel like within the next three to five years, I can definitely see it being regional. You know, It can even, I can even say being national and I see like some of the bigger scholarships like you know, what is a jack can't cook and all these, you know, bigger African American foundations, I feel like we only need like one shot. And that's normally like how people expand. So I can see it being national. I feel like these other initiatives, like these little pillars, I don't know which one is going to be yet, but I feel like that's kind of like how God is transitioning me. But these little workshops and mentorship kind of programs, I feel like one of those are going to just take on a life of its own.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All it takes is the one yes to negate all the no's and collaborations, you know, with other groups and organizations is an amazingly powerful thing. The other thing I wanted to ask, and I'm not sure if you mentioned it, the criteria is African-American descent, and this is only for Philadelphia. Correct. Correct.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Okay, okay.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Right now, because it's going to be bigger than that. Yes. But right now,

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yes, right now it's either you go to a Philadelphia school or you are from Philadelphia. So on your application, either one.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All right, all right. So in reading your bio when we first started connecting, it was evident that your father was a significant part of your life. So if you could just share a memory or life lesson that you carry with you from his direct influence and legacy?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: You know, I am definitely my father's child as far as the resilience, as far as the not letting, like you dictating your life. Like his biggest thing, especially like for my sister and I, he was very, very tough on us about you know making sure you always had your own especially like when it comes to like marriage and all these different things you know this thing has always been you do not want to be in a position where you have to wait on a man to function and i'm talking about he pays for everything you're like okay so i gotta go see for the tampon like You know, Kristin, he was like, at any given time, that's why he was so tough. You know, like, you do not want to give that much power to a man so that if you want to get up and leave, for whatever reason, you can. And so that's why it's been, you know, a struggle on my end, because that's just something I don't forget as far as the work ethic piece. you know, that's just in me. And so, yeah, it's stuck with me, but it's been a great lesson.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: That's a great lesson. My grandmother always said, God bless the child. God is on. Listen. No matter where I am, my aunties is always like, here, take this titty money. Everybody know you got it. I'm like, Lord. And I take it. This is for you. I'm like, okay, got it.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: It's so real though.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All right. So listen, I want to segue a little bit and I want to talk about your book, which I have in my Amazon cart, by the way. Cause I'm a support, you know, sometimes support a little. Laying the foundation brick by brick. What motivated you to write that book?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh man, so I fought tooth and nail with like writing it. First of all, I'm like, it's an, it's the very first page. I'm like, I did not want to be an ulcer point blank. I mean, listen, when I saw you, it's, it's, uh, the around the way Philly type you're going to hear me in that book. It's like, I didn't want to do it, but it was part of like the forward and I was just saying, but like, what happened was I was in a magazine and the guy that was interviewing me, you know, he had just wrote a book and was like, I think you should make this a book. I'm like, why? Like, why would I do that? And so, you know, it wasn't until I had spoke with his publisher that she was making the point that while you're marketing the foundation, there's going to be such an untapped market for people who just genuinely don't know how to start a scholarship foundation. Cause there isn't a book out there like that, like where you know how to start a foundation and, or the differences between the different nonprofits. But I think more than anything, It was definitely a cathartic tool because as I'm writing. I'm like getting up either late, or I'm sorry staying up late or getting up early, and there were moments when I would just be crying thinking of him so it was really a healing tool and I think my publisher was like. this is going to be someone's source of survival. And I've had so much outreach of people who have lost parents or siblings or whoever, like really take to the book for that reason. So. Okay.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Okay. I love it. So what was the most rewarding part about the book and did it It came after the foundation, right?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Correct.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Correct. Okay. So how did that, how did the process of writing it help you when you went back to the work, the foundation work?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I think writing it and like really writing the steps out was really one of those things that as you're doing something, I'm sure like when you started, you know, anytime you start a business, you're not thinking about like the step by step, your day to day, you're like, how did I even make all of this stuff work? And then you're like, Oh wait, I got a book to like write this down, but you're not thinking about it. You're just kind of like going after this goal. And it's like, it is what it is. I'm in it. Now I will say it has definitely, um, as far as the impact made me look at, here you are thinking, I got a whole master's degree. So it's like, you know, my grammar can't possibly be bad. Right. So you like, Oh, wait, look, Carson Adams said the in there about 200,000. Oh my God. So, It was a, it was a life lesson as far as patience as learning what that process was like. And that impact actually is what made me self-publish the planner.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: I love it. Oh, and so it was self-published. That's always my question when people write, because I think I have maybe two books in me and I'm just unsure about self-publish, take it to a publisher. You know what I mean?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Well, the first book was I do have a publisher for the first book. Okay. The planner was self published.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Okay. Okay. And what is that? And that's the CDB scholarship monthly planner. Is that for students or students and parents? And what does that look like that planner?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yep. So it's for students and parents. It actually was birthed out of a workshop. And again, a workshops was something I didn't want to do. People were like, Hey, can you give workshops? And I'm like, you know, I'm like, because Kristin, honestly, I think When you think about the everyday, you're kind of like, people have to know where to find scholarships. They have to know how to write an essay and topics, but you really don't realize how underestimated that really is. And so I happened to be doing a workshop. This young man came up to me. He was He didn't qualify for the scholarship, but he was like, Hey, you know, my, my dad knows that there are scholarships out there, but he physically wants something in his hand, like a copy of something. And that's how it started. Like it's really, so it's a scholarship. It's 150 nationwide scholarships from students from kindergarten to the 12th grade. But overall it's an organizational tool. Like it's really. to prepare these students to say, when you get in college, your mom is not going to be there. Your dad is not going to be there to remind you to get up, to write an essay, or to put an application packet.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Get to class.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: That's what I'm saying. So it's really a two-fold planner.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: I love that because sometimes you know the things that you might be aware of the steps, but putting them down and setting times and short-term goals and checking it off so you don't miss anything. Because the difference between getting something and not could be missing one community service certificate or something like that. But if you have something you can, you know, tangible, you can hold and touch and highlight and check off, that's important. I'm a journalist, so I love writing stuff down. I love writing stuff down. Writing it helps to I can go over it again in my head, you know what I mean? And I can refer back to it, so. Yep. So lastly, ma'am, what advice do you have for the students, the parents who will hear this podcast, who want to go to college, want to make a difference in their communities and take charge of their education and future? What's your best piece of advice to them?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Man, I say just do it. I know it's one of those like Nike things. I know it is. It's really like, but it's interesting because when I look back at like a non-profit me running like I it's it's one of the hardest things I've ever done like it's not something you ever think about like I'm gonna run a non-profit and so if it's something you really want to do you will you just want to find a way to be philanthropic outside of you just donating money to a cause like just some you know, cause that isn't of, not that it's not of importance, but I say like really just do it. Like you have the tools that are there. This book will help you. Like there's so many resources now that will help you if you really want to make a difference in your community and you're realizing your community that there are people, you know, or organizations, there's podcasts like yours or other organizations that want to help propel you to get that out. So,

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yeah. And you are a nonprofit, which means that any donations that people make are tax deductible.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I mean, listen, that's the one thing I tell people, like people spend their money where they want to spend it. You're getting all the money back. So I'm trying to understand what's the problem.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yes. I love this. And that's my favorite part of doing my return. Charities. Oh, here we go. Yep. And not that I do it just for that, but knowing that it is tax deductible is an important piece for some people. So that is like the end of our formal, formal chat. And I thank you so much for sharing all of that information. But now we get to do the fun part. We get to play 10 candy questions. No heavy lifting, I promise just 10 random questions. You just have to answer them kandidly. So you ready?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I'm ready.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Okay. Question number one. What is your biggest pet peeve?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Ooh, all right, this is gonna like sound weird. My biggest pet peeve is when people spell my name wrong and it's in an email signature. It is the big, I don't know, it bothers me because I took a management course and somewhere in a management course, it pretty much was like when people don't make the effort to spell your name and it's physically there, it just leaves like a lack of respect. So it's really, especially people who, oh, I sit on the board of oncology, you know, these people that are nose all the way up. So like, it burns my blood. I don't know why. It just, it's so annoying.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: And listen, my name is Kristin, right? In my signature blocks, in everything, it's got an I at the end, but invariably people always want to make it an E. That's not, it's still Kristin, but that's not my That's not on my birth certificate. Okay. Take a minute to like seriously just it doesn't it's not that hard to find the correct spelling or pronunciation too. I hate that like if I had if it's a name that I, I know I'm going to, you know, just butcher, I will spell it out phonetically, like in a podcast. So I don't mess it up. Cause that's, nobody wants to hear their name on a podcast. It's going to be around forever and it's, you know, pronounced wrong.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Or at least like you said, it's the respect piece, like take the time and ask like, Hey, how do I pronounce your name? Absolutely.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Absolutely. Yes, ma'am. So question number two, introvert or extrovert?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, introvert. All day long. Look, I'm a whole… People say, you're only an extrovert, like, when you like people. And I'm like, what does that supposed to mean?

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: No, I'm only an extrovert when I have to be, like, when I do this show. Like, people are like, you do a podcast, you must be an extrovert. I'm like, no, y'all don't understand. The prep, the prep that goes… And I'm not even video. Right. They don't understand the introversion. Yes, ma'am. Question number three and one of my favorite questions. What's your favorite cuss word?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, can I say it on?

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yes, ma'am. This is the “kandid” shop.. People always say that, yeah.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Look, I think shit is probably what it is. And once I heard my nephew repeat it when he was like four and blame me, he was like, wait, you didn't hear that from me? Wait a minute.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Look. All right, that's okay listen most people say the f-bomb is their favorite but shit is right up there Question number four cats or dogs

KHADIJAH BUTLER: dogs same it's something about cats that  symbolize single women that you're going to be single forever. I don't know. Kristin, I don't know. Like I'm like, no, you're not going to put that on me with the hair roll.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Here go the funny thing. I'm a Leo and I'm a dog person all day. Cats get on my nerves. They not no fun.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All right. Question number five. What's one piece of advice you would give to your 18 year old self?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, Um, you know, I don't want to say just like lean into who you are because I feel like my mom used to say I knew who I was at that time. But I would say don't plan. Because I was, I am still a planner. I am very much a planner. I'm a project manager. I'm just who I am, organized. But don't plan because like the not planning part of my life, I'm not mad at. I'm not mad at, you know, I didn't because I wanted to be an OBGYN just like Bill Cosby. We're not going to talk about that when we do. Listen, I don't know if it's safe, but that's the one thing I wanted to do. And then, you know, plans change. I wanted to be an athletic trainer for the Eagles. Plans change. So, like, thinking about 18-year-old to now, like, not the worst thing in the world when your plans change.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: It surely isn't. Sometimes it's the best thing that can happen to you. All right, question six, morning person or night owl?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, morning. Night, listen, by like, first of all, by the afternoon, my brain, don't even ask me a question. Don't ask me my name. I'm like, I don't, what are you doing? Like my everyday job is so heavily based on just being on.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yeah, yeah.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: reading and creating FDA documents and then now this with the nonprofit, with the government. I can't think straight at night. Forget it.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Right. Right. Got it. Same. Question seven. If you had the attention of the whole world for five minutes, what would you say? The undivided attention. They listen just to you. What would you say?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: You know, Let me think on this one, because I feel like for me, I would have to say something that applies to everybody. So if I'm thinking of that, I would say like love, live and forgive. Because I feel like everyone is going through something with a relationship, a coworker. And like we spend so much time being like caught up in our ego. that we don't take the moment to just live in that moment. Because I'm a person who knows full well what it's like to lose someone and not to get that time back. And I feel like everybody in this world is dealing with some form of that in some capacity. So I would just probably say just those three things. I love that. You know what I mean? To push you to do it.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: I absolutely love that. Love, live, forgive. Oh, yeah. You sure? I'll tag you when I use it, but I'm going to use it. Oh gosh, I love it. Question eight, coffee or tea?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, coffee.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All day. All day.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: I like tea, but I do. I'm thinking about when I'm sick or when I need to be.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yes, yes, yes. Yeah. Or when I'm at a tea party. Yeah. Or something, you know, but otherwise I'm getting my cup of joe. All right. Question nine. What's one question you wish that I had asked you during our chat and what would your answer have been?

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh, let me think? I don't think it's anything you asked that wasn't, you know, it could just be more just about maybe my father, but I think you did. I think you asked about him though, pretty much. I know. Yeah. Like you did ask about, you know, the impact that he had, but then sometimes, um, I don't know. I feel like you asked me so many, so many questions.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Well, listen, in all fairness, that question is designed for me to learn better interview on techniques. I, my, the best answers I ever heard it at it. Nah, you, you nailed it, you did a pretty good job. You know what I mean? So that really is a way for me to tweak and hone my interviewing skills and make sure that I'm asking the questions that need to be asked and we're talking about the things you want to talk about. And I almost didn't ask the piece about your dad because not Everybody does grief the same. And I didn't know if that was something and we didn't have any previous discussion. So I wasn't sure if that was something you wanted to talk about.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: And Kristin, you're right, because in the one sense, I'm happy about it, especially at the beginning. But then I'm learning as far as the grief piece that I'm still dealing with that I think people don't realize is that I want to be asked those questions so that I know how to get over them. Like that first year was with the foundation was it was so tough. Like, it was really hard mentally. And I'm like, I thought I was done with this. I thought I was done grieving this. So it's more of a challenge for me. But like I said, overall, look, I'm laughing the whole time. So I mean, you know what I mean?

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Listen, I am always happy to entertain while I'm informing, elevating, and empowering folk. That's the goal.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Yes.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: All right. Question number 10. For folks out there who will hear this, who are interested in getting involved with or supporting the Greg, not Greg, Craig D. Butler Scholarship Foundation, how can they connect with you and the foundation? And if they want to maybe if they're from Philly, if they have a kid that's high school age and they might want to apply for a scholarship.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Oh yes, most definitely. So definitely visit our website www.craigdbutlerscholarship.com. We have our merchandise there. We have our scholarship applications there for students to download. We have our donation page where you can donate as little as just your change through, you know, our different programs that we have. Or you can make a donation directly through the website. We can be found at local events as well, which we post very often on our social medias, which is CDB Scholarship. And then Twitter, we have CDB Foundation. And then, you know, you can find us or find me in a book, but I'm always tying it to the foundation as well on Amazon. So, yeah, that's it.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Okay, awesome, awesome, awesome. I'm gonna read a quote to you by Jackie Robinson he once said, “a life isn't significant, except for its impact on others lives.”  And if that is so, then you ma'am. your life is beyond significant. So thank you. Thank you for the work you do. Not everybody can be a frontline boots on the ground kind of person. My lane is kind of putting those people out in front of the people that listen to my show for exposure and awareness. So really, thank you. And thank you for sitting down with me today. You could have been doing anything else because it's beautiful. I appreciate you. And this has been my absolute pleasure.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Well, thank you, Kristin, for all the work you're doing to amplify these voices, because I know it's not as easy, and I'm just as grateful for the opportunity to be able to talk to you and to, as you said before, I know you connect with people, but the fact that you're out here amplifying for us, for the culture, I'm so grateful.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Yes, yes. So listen, guys. I know you probably didn't write down all the websites and social and all that, because y'all don't never do. But Khadijah and the Foundation's contact information with clickable links to the Foundation website and her books is going to be in the show notes. And remember, any donation you make is tax deductible.

KHADIJAH BUTLER: Right.

KANDIDLY KRISTIN: Go ahead on and round up. You ain't going to notice that $0.50. Trust me. And listen, guys, do not forget to visit my website at www.thekandidshop.com. That's Kandid with a K. Listen to an episode or five, drop me a review, sign up for the mailing list, like, follow, share, tell your friends. And until the next time we meet, I want you all to keep it safe, keep it healthy, and keep it kandid.