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James is the oldest. So, me and James, probably the closest between us two; we are 10 months
apart. We did a lot of things together as kids. I guess a little as teenagers, but again
he has his own agenda and I had my agenda. And we didn’t really connect as we got later
in teen years and after he moved out to the group home and I moved into my own apartment.
And I couldn’t figure out, since I was the middle child why am I moving into my own apartment,
and he’s living in a group, and he is the oldest. So, I couldn't understand that for
a while –and I still don't understand it. When he moved into the group home, we started
talking. He was down the street from where I was working, at the day program. I used
to try to go visit him at least once or twice a week or visit him at the group home to let
him know I am there –even before we joined the advocacy group. I think I got involved
in the early 90's because my brother was in the group. He asked me why don't I start a
local group in my community. At first, I had mixed emotions because I was working overnights
and meetings would be during the days. So, I told him I was working overnights and it
was time consuming. He told me, “That's okay, just fine, from 7:00 to 9:00, that’s
okay.” I had to be at work at 9:30, so it was just fine. So, slowly but surely, I got
involved with the local group and then he asked me, “Why don’t you get involved
with the state group?” I said, “This is only temporary, this is six months. You won't
see me in this group anymore. He said, “Well, just try and see what happens.” I said,
“Well, it will only be six months.” He said, “Okay, six months, I'll give you six
months.” And almost fifteen years later, I'm still in it. And it is very rewarding.
I got involved and seen more and more people speaking up, people like myself, and people
like others who are making a difference in the community and giving back to the community
–giving them the tools they need to be successful and look at their gifts. So it is interesting.
From a local chapter, as an officer; I started as a secretary, and then the vice president
and president both stepped down, so that moved me up to the president on top. So I was president
of my local chapter for a while, and then I decided to try on and state. At the top,
I ran for the state vice president as well. Okay, we will see. Because he was running
for president and we knew that we both wouldn’t be presidents. So we both agreed and he went
for president, and I went for vice, and we both won. And so we achieved together. We
traveled around the state of Oklahoma to help start up new local chapters. We didn't know
much about People First, but we had a good advisor who supported us through that and
knew how it worked. So, we agreed that he takes half of the chapters now and I will
take the other half of the state, and then we would visit all the local chapters and
start new chapters throughout the state. And so it got me thinking, well, someone who’s
been in the group for six months, now it's almost four, five years later, and so I mean
it is just amazing. The connections I made and the people I met in that little short
time, for somebody who was only going to be in it for six months. I was still working
at Wal-Mart full time and so I was juggling with my full-time job at the same time volunteering
as President of Oklahoma People First, visiting different local chapters –giving up a lot
of my weekends. Instead I could have gone out with my friends to a ball game, but I
knew my members selected me to do a job. I need to go visit them or host a meeting to
give them the tools so that they can be successful. I am thankful for the People First movement
and the Arc movement, because I think if it wasn't for the Arc or the People First movement
–who has given me the tools and looking at my abilities –I probably would not be
sitting here today.