Can Purpose Go From Personal Story to Public Impact? My Guest: Lakesha Burton

Purpose
is a feeling on the inside
that throbs.

Someone can
pick, plan, program, participate, protest, protect, patronize, philosophize, philanthropy any
Purpose.

The throb can be
Activated.

But

When you’re born INTO
Purpose
YOU grow around IT
Like scar tissue.

The throb comes
before you can even pick yourself apart from the
Purpose.

And

Plenty of people
dull, dilute, diminish, discourage, derail, deny, defame, disconnect, deactivate 
Purpose
That overpowers them.

Yet

I have never been more determined to
Display MY
Purpose

Because

I’m not scar tissue.
The throb since birth is a weight to
Empower MY
Purpose

And

I am determined to
Expose MY
Purpose
To the world.

So

They can SEE I’ve been
Muscle
growing ON my
Purpose
All this time.

How does your personal story shape your purpose? And what happens when your personal purpose fuels your public impact?
And that's what we're going to tackle today...

My guest, Lakesha Burton, is a woman of courage, conviction and character.
Her courage comes from her deep faith in God.
Her conviction is reflected in her determination to consistently do the next right thing.
And her character... Well, that has been built by a lifetime of facing insurmountable challenges and overcoming them.  

In this episode, we find out how having institutional knowledge, then combining it with compassion for community, can reframe the game for someone who developed a playbook at the Police Athletic League.

#BorrowMyBinoculars #ViewswithSuze   
#LakeshaBurton #Jacksonville #Compassion 

Lakesha's heart is in helping others in need, especially children, which is the basis for her work in establishing “Tesha’s Hands,” a 501C(3) nonprofit that she created in memory of her deceased twin sister. You can find out more at www.teshashands.org .

Do you have some feedback, thoughts or questions?

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Subscribe to the Schmooze with Suze Podcast for your dose of #Culture, #Values and #GlobalCitizenship... with a side of #chutzpah...

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Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Purpose is a feeling on the inside that throbs Someone can pick plan, program, participate, protest, protect, patronize, philosophize, philanthropy, any purpose the throb can be activated. But when you're born into purpose you grow around it like scar tissue. The throb comes before you can even pick yourself apart from the purpose and plenty of people dull, dilute, diminish, discourage, derail, deny, defame, disconnect, deactivate purpose that overpowers them. Yet I have never been more determined to display my purpose because I'm not scar tissue. The throb since birth is a way to empower my purpose and I am determined to expose my purpose to the world so they can see I've been muscle growing on my purpose all this time.

Speaker 1: 1:10

I wrote that this is the first time I have shared my spoken word because it makes me vulnerable to share my personal story. But I hope it connects me too and I often ask myself how does sharing your personal story shape your purpose and what happens when your personal purpose fuels your public impact? And that's what we're gonna tackle today. Hi, I'm Sue's here with your weekly dose of culture, values and identity and where we tackle those topics others may consider off limits. A little about me I'm a busy Gen X mom who, quite frankly, wanted to grow up like the Brady Bunch. But how could I, being raised in the shadow of Schindler's list? So this means I've spent a lifetime navigating these mixed messages we get hit with daily. You know those conversations where we wonder if it's safe to speak our minds. Can we share our experiences, voice our fears and concerns, or should we just keep our mouths shut? Well, too bad. I need to know, but I'm no expert, so I'm going to schmooze the experts and get their thoughts. Why so? When we engage with our kids, colleagues or the countless committees we interact with, we can do it with competence, kindness, confidence and maybe a bit of humor. If this sounds like your cup of coffee, welcome to Schmooze with Sue's.

Speaker 1: 2:34

When the first woman mayor of Jacksonville was elected, Mazaltov and Mabruk to Donna Deegan. She did what every great leader does. She surrounded herself with an exceptional transition team of valued members of the community from both sides of the aisle, including my guest today. Lakeisha Burton is a woman of courage, conviction and character. Her courage comes from her deep faith in God. Her conviction is reflected in her determination to consistently do the next right thing, including a car chase, when she witnesses a hit and run on her way to tape this episode. Well, that has been built by a lifetime of facing insurmountable challenges. In overcoming them, an extraordinary leader, lakeisha, is a 20 year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, retiring as assistant chief of GISO.

Speaker 1: 3:30

Her full circle moment came when she was named the first female executive director of the police athletic league of Jacksonville. As a troubled 15 year old mother, lakeisha had attended the PAL with her one year old by her side, playing basketball there, which she still plays which led to her receiving a full college scholarship from the University of Central Florida where she graduated. Later she'd got her master's in criminology. Burton has served in almost every aspect of police work. During her career, lakeisha ran a very close race for sheriff that didn't pan out. But when one door closes, another one opens. Currently LaKeisha serves as the city's first ever chief of public safety. Hi, lakeisha, hello, how are you, suzy? God's blessings, thank you for asking. How are you today?

Speaker 2: 4:25

I'm wonderful. First of all, I just want to say thank you, but your spoken word spoke so deeply to me, so thank you for sharing that. Thank you, I'm going to read that again.

Speaker 1: 4:36

Yeah, I appreciate you being here because, as someone who uses her powerful voice to advocate for good on local, national and international platforms, let's start with how we are propelled to the next step, because, no matter where you're from, what city or country, what culture, what background or language, we have all experienced disappointment. Some of us have even experienced trauma and tragedy and that can be fault anyone and it's in the next steps, one at a time, that we choose to take that next step. Again and again. How does your life story, including its tragedy and trauma, be used, not for comparison, but to provide hope and inspire and connect?

Speaker 2: 5:28

Well, I would just say what I always tell people that when people see me and they see my life and they see the success I've had, I tell people it's just an example that no matter what your past is, it doesn't define who you are or dictate your future. So you talk a lot about that scar tissue. You know I have lots of scar tissue, but it is just when I think about it. It is a reminder of there's still work for me to do.

Speaker 1: 6:03

Yeah, I find that a lot of what I thought of a scar tissue years ago opened me up to empathy that I otherwise might not have had and, like I described later, it built into a muscle to fight, not just for myself but for other people who are marginalized or feel fractured and disenfranchised. Is it the same for you?

Speaker 2: 6:26

It is the exact same and I think that's why I was able to be such a great police officer, because I could relate to all types of hurts and pains and trauma, and I was always able to enable to relate to people on such a deeper level. And, you know, when you meet people like that, it gives you permission to be vulnerable and open up, and I believe that is where healing takes place.

Speaker 1: 6:59

I agree. I couldn't agree with you more. So let's talk about the decision when you're facing those next steps in whether you choose to be a victim or a survivor.

Speaker 2: 7:14

Right. So for me, over time you develop that muscle, right, yeah. And, to be honest, you know, for a split second you have a split second of fear, but it's overcome with. You know, triumph, right, you think about all of the things that you've been able to do when you reject it fear. So, for me, once I make my mind up to do something, I'm, all you know, full force ahead.

Speaker 1: 7:45

You know there's no stopping you now. No stopping, you know that's interesting, okay. So the truth is there in all of our stories, and I want to touch on something that's a little bit sensitive. I want to talk about context, because to me, context is crucial. I like to believe that I am fierce in spite of what has happened to me or the experiences of my generational trauma, not because of it. I don't, god forbid, owe anyone a thank you. So I'm listening to things that are being spoken out loud in this state that I choose to live in. Are you from here? Originally? I'm Miami. I was born in Miami.

Speaker 2: 8:29

Okay, so Florida.

Speaker 1: 8:30

Well, okay, I'm a native New Yorker From one of the five boroughs and we always thought of Miami as the sixth borough. So, being from Miami, you remember how many New Yorkers infiltrate and the accent becomes sort of annoying to you guys. Yes, you're welcome. So I didn't know that North Florida was different from South Florida, where I had always visited, and when my husband got a job offer and he said I'm taking you to Jacksonville, I famously said I don't do bills or birds. Eight years later, here you are. Here I am planting roots and forging wings, and so every time I hear something that's a trigger for me, I feel compelled to stand up and speak out. Is that how you got into the line of work that you're in? Absolutely, 100%.

Speaker 2: 9:21

That's exactly why, and when you live your authentic self and truth, you know you're living out your purpose. And I know 100%. I live out my prayer. I tell people every day I live a life of liberation every day because of that I love that.

Speaker 1: 9:42

It's true and in fact, just the other day this is what I got purpose, which was right after my spoken word piece, and I went right before. I went to see Hope McMath's Yellow Heart, Yellow House Art exhibit and I felt this because our communities are not the same, but we share some kind of informed history that compels me to look at what's happening to other people and say, hey, I got your back. I don't. I don't know all the details, but if you can share with me, can I get some context? Is that how you've navigated your way about Jacksonville the last 20 years?

Speaker 2: 10:24

It really has. I, you know it's very rare that I've spoken to someone who really understands it like you do. Honestly, I'm very, you know, when you meet people like you and begin to to speak on these things in this space, um, you recognize who really understands, right, and it is. It just feels so good. So I'm just, I'm sitting here blown away, you know, because usually I'm the one trying to explain and get people to understand, right On the simplest level and, um, just listening to you, you get it.

Speaker 1: 11:10

Lady, you are inspired and inspiring. I am inspired by you and I want to talk about just something that's really important to me, because I'm a mom, like you're a mom, and I want to move on to public safety, okay, okay. So, as a mom, I think, in this order, you ready this community city, which means what are they up to, who is around them, what do we have for them to do and what can they aspire to getting involved with? Like Whitney said, I believe the children are our future. So, as someone with a background in community engagement which, by the way, I found amazing when it looks at the arc of your career, that you touch on so many different avenues and a veteran of patrol and enforcement, how far off or spot on am I? You are spot on. Call my husband and write again.

Speaker 2: 12:08

Yeah, so community definitely. I think that when you look at community, I just I have a focus on children, you know. So, like you said, whitney said they are the future. So you know, the more that we invest in our community and we begin to work together, listen to each other, respect one another, that's what builds community and our kids. They are dependent on us adults to do that.

Speaker 1: 12:38

Are there any particular areas that you have looked at and said? I'm gonna highlight that because I find that if we expand public safety in the realm of X, this will immediately make an impact.

Speaker 2: 12:53

Yes, definitely. You know programs that deal with prevention and intervention and it's so important. So when you think about public safety, people automatically think about police, then they automatically think about enforcement. But public safety is, you know, it's huge right, you have the enforcement piece, but a lot of times what's missing is the emphasis on the education and the prevention and the intervention you know. So I think that the sooner that we, you know, get involved in young people's lives early on, sometimes that stops the cycle, yeah, that become involved in, you know, crime.

Speaker 1: 13:35

That's exactly it. That's what it seems like. It seems like and this is what I feel about Jacksonville, because I am a native New Yorker. I like to throw that all the time. Why? Because when I got here and I saw three bridges in a row and I saw the river that reminded me on one side of the East River and the other side of the Hudson, and now I live in the suburbs of Juulington Creek, the Tama Bridge and Tunnel. I take the bridges to go downtown. For me, everything that I came to discover, I feel like Jacksonville is that 30 year overnight success story that we're at the precipice of watching it happen.

Speaker 2: 14:11

So every move we make now to impact our children, to impact our communities, to impact safety on a macro level, what you're describing So- and you read a little bit in my bio when you talked about my life coming full circle when I became the ED of the police. That's prevention and intervention. Those are programs that we need more of for kids, because that literally was the pipeline for me to get my life on track. I was a single mom, 16 years old, had experienced homelessness, you know, drugs, alcohol and really was on a verge of suicide, you know, until some police officer invited me to the police athletic league. So that really was a catalyst to get my life on track and I ended up getting a full basketball scholarship to college. So that's the whole idea of intervention, prevention programs to give young people an opportunity to be successful.

Speaker 1: 15:11

I completely agree with you. Growing up in Brooklyn on the corner of East Fifth Street in 18th Avenue, there was a police athletic league and I remember that.

Speaker 2: 15:20

What I've been there. I'm busy, it's still there.

Speaker 1: 15:25

I grew up down the block from there, oh my goodness. So I remember how integral that community system of support was for the greater good, absolutely. There were so many mothers who knew that their children would get off at the bus stop on the corner of East Fifth and Avenue F and they were going to a place where they saw the police and the law enforcement as mentors, as a partnership. They were learning from a young age how we can see each other Again, the empathy that's right.

Speaker 2: 16:01

Absolutely. You've been there, I've been there. I have chills. Yes, I have chills. Right now, actually, they have one of the best police athletic leagues in the country.

Speaker 1: 16:12

So I think a lot of what shaped my values was actually the involvement with that. You don't know that about me, but I grew up in a very close knit, very Jewish community where we didn't go to public school at the time. My parents are immigrants. They didn't speak English at the time and so it was safer they felt for me to be in an environment that they knew those other people. I was on a block of first generation immigrants Germany, italy, spain, romania, russia, dominican Republic, puerto Rico. They were coming from everywhere and we all congregated at the PAL.

Speaker 2: 16:51

That's the synergy right there.

Speaker 1: 16:52

That's the synergy. I didn't know that till I read your bio, so we share a lot of the same passion and purpose. So let's talk about God. I am not shy about sharing my deep love and faith in God, and I know two things for sure in life One there is a God, and two I am not God.

Speaker 2: 17:13

That's right, those are the two things.

Speaker 1: 17:15

Yes, yes, so I know we're in the South and it's popular in general to have religion, but faith and spirituality to me is something that's much more intrinsic and personal.

Speaker 1: 17:33

I agree too. So how is it that you, who I follow on social media, who is as real in person as you are everywhere else that I've seen you, and I've seen you over the years so many times? You're the real deal. Tell me your blessings, tell me God's grace and how you see it in your every day, how, through the microaggressions, you find the micro joy and the micro hope.

Speaker 2: 18:00

Well, it took years, years and years of God working on me. You know, it was back in 1992 when I was contemplating suicide. I felt like my life had no value, I wanted to end it and God sent an angel to invite me to a church revival. And I remember going and I thought to myself, I'm going to go, I have nothing else to lose. And I tell you, I tell people all the time, I walked in that church revival, a victim, and I walked out of Victor and from that moment, just God started working on me, you know, and took years for me to get to where I am now.

Speaker 2: 18:39

Probably it's been, probably I think it was about 2009, where I really found myself and I've been living in this space where I just told you like I live a life of liberation, and I share five things that I had to do to get to this point. One is I had to face my trauma, you know, and really get to the point where I understood that it was not my fault, because a lot of times when things happen to us, we blame ourselves. So I had to, you know, face it. You can heal what you don't feel. That's right, that's right.

Speaker 2: 19:17

So, and then, number two I had to learn how to forgive. Forgive those who you really did some really bad things to me, you know, and I feel like, had I not began that healing, forgiving process, I wouldn't have been able to accomplish all of I've been able to accomplish. And three, I share how I, you, have to forego all these masks. I wore so many different masks. I was, you know, this mom, a cop, a church girl, this, that and the other, and I, I lost myself and that's exhausting. It is so exhausting.

Speaker 1: 19:52

And it's heavy carrying all those masks. It's like I have shoulder ache.

Speaker 2: 19:56

Yes, yes. But let me tell you the moment I said no more. Do you remember that moment? I do remember. I remember because I was sitting at the state attorney's office asking for an injunction for protection because I was in a domestic violence relationship and not my current husband. But yes, and in that moment I was like no more mass Cause, I was hiding my victimization. You know, trying to be strong here on this front, showing up as a PTA mom, I just, I was just exhausted, like you said. And then, when I made a decision, no more, and I was going to be authentically me, no matter what man, my life changed from that point A hundred percent.

Speaker 2: 20:43

And then I talk about how you have to fight for your freedom, like every day, like I am able to live this life of liberation because I fight for peace. I fight for joy, meaning, like those small negative thoughts, you know overcoming with positive thoughts. You know overcoming with positivity. Right, if I'm asked to speak somewhere, the little boys say don't do it, but you do it anyway. So that's how you fight for it. Physically, you work out, you know. So I learned to fight for my freedom. This peace is love and joy that I have that I carry with me every day.

Speaker 1: 21:18

You know, I love when people say it bounces off you and it sticks to me, I'm telling you, and part of it is again it shines authentically from this spark that you have on the inside. Yeah, only God, right, only God.

Speaker 2: 21:35

There was a time in my life where I couldn't mumble a word about what has happened to me. But God is so amazing Like he will restore you, he will heal you to the point where you, when you're sharing your testimony, it's like you're talking about somebody else, right? Yes, yes.

Speaker 1: 21:51

Because the first thing that you think is that you know, bad things happen to good people and everything happens for a reason. And I don't know the big picture, but I have to believe, and I do believe, that everything sent to me is built, designed to strengthen that character, to build that muscle. Maybe I forgot for a second about that, maybe I forgot to be forgiving, maybe I forgot to be accepting or gracious or silent God help me. Silence, but one of those characters needed a little reminder, that's right. So that leaves us with what? What's the last one? The fifth?

Speaker 2: 22:28

to follow your dreams. Follow your dreams, follow, listen when you do all those things. And literally I didn't just come up with that. I started thinking about, I said Lord, what is it? Because people always ask me, how did you, how did you, how did you overcome, how did you, how, how are you the person you are now? And I really had to think some deep thoughts. And the Lord said you don't have to come up with it, just tell the people what you've done. Tell them what I did for you. And those are the different things. And you know, when I started the face, you got to face your trauma. You just have to. It's difficult. Then you have to forgive, you have to be yourself, you have to be forgive those who have trespassed against you, as hard as it is. But you know, forgiveness is not for the other person, is for you. Yes and so true.

Speaker 1: 23:14

Yes, that is, I think, something that people imagine that forgiveness has to come because somebody else asked for it, and that's something that I kind of have to step back and say well, I think sometimes the greatest forgiveness that I can give is the one to myself where I am acknowledging that they didn't ask for it, because maybe they're incapable. Right, maybe I'll use my favorable judgment instead of the negative. I will assume that they have come from a hurt place, or they were incapable, or that was God's mission. Whatever the purpose is, it preexists me, mm. Hmm, so would you say that your life has been one of calling Absolutely Without a doubt. We say steps, one step in front of the other, but it sounds to me like not one bit of it is a stumble. You're not like, you're more of like a ready, I get it. The stumbles.

Speaker 2: 24:10

It's lots of stumbles. But the thing is, when you stumble, it is a matter of how long you you know if you fall, how long you know you're stumbling. You know my recovery is very quick now I talk about that Like it's the analogy I use is when you're, you're out of shape, right, when you start working out your heart, recovery is quicker. You know, and that's just how I am when I deal with trials and tribulations. It's not long, it's. My recovery is quick because I know who I belong to.

Speaker 1: 24:42

Yeah, that's such a. When my son leaves the house, I tell him remember who you are and who's you are. I didn't know you were my spirit animal First. We're running around with mutual friends. We're peripheral circles. I sit on committees of transition teams that she knows nothing about. The point is that I'm in her. She doesn't know, but I'm obsessed because you really understand that we are in this context of global citizenship. It's not just me and you, it's me and you and you and you and you and you and us and us and them. Right, and we're all in it for the elevation of each other.

Speaker 2: 25:26

That's right, that's right, I love that and that's how I, that is my, that's my goal every day, right, to embrace as many people as possible, to engage and you know, love and and spirit joy every day. That's what I want to do.

Speaker 1: 25:42

So what I find fascinating is that in the realm of public safety, that is exactly what you're doing. You're touching on different departments that typically public safety would not touch.

Speaker 2: 25:53

That's right, right, yeah, and believe it or not, how I am in my latter years was not really appreciated or, you know, allowed in this male dominant profession. You know, I started over 25 years ago and you know, if you were, if you show compassion, it was a sign of weakness. So, you know, I kind of kept it, kept guarded. You know, until really I tell people I went to India back in 2017.

Speaker 2: 26:27

I went there to trace the steps of Dr Martin Luther King, who used a lot of Gandhi's principles of non-violence, and there I met a guru. There he's like their spiritual leaders and I remember sitting in a group of 12 people and the first thing he said out his mouth was compassion. And of course, I looked up and he said compassion is the number one thing that all humans need. So he began to speak to us about it. So, after was over, he got up, he walked through the crowd to the back of the room where I was and I thought, oh, my goodness, he's coming to me. And he came to me and he says to me he said you have a tremendous amount of compassion, you use it and the light bulb came on.

Speaker 2: 27:17

And I tell you I could not. I could not wait to get back to the United States of America, because I have been on fire ever since then. I said no, no more will I dim my light, no more will I be reserved. I am going to be who I am, that's true. And show compassion, you know, wherever I feel like and when I want to, when God wants to use me. That's right, you're lighting it up.

Speaker 1: 27:43

It's more of a beacon. It's not a blinker. Alarm Guys, you haven't been looking at this the right way. Borrow my binoculars. I have a very unique way of seeing things and I love to share that perspective for that way. So I want to talk about one more thing before we leave off, because, beyond the badge, you've always been widely known for boldly sharing your life story of resilience, tenacity and determination to help empower other girls and women with hope for their future. Especially now, we need more of that bright light. So your heart, which is always helping others in need, especially children, is the basis for establishing your nonprofit. Can you tell us a little bit about Tisha's hands?

Speaker 2: 28:31

Yes, oh, my goodness. So Tisha was my twin sister. Yeah, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at the age of one and ended up being adopted by my parents, couldn't afford all the financial medical assistance that she needed and, you know, as a young child I didn't know what was wrong. I knew she was different from me and I knew people were doubting, doting all over us. And at the age of five years old, six years old, I whispered to her and I said Tisha, I promise that I will do everything that you can do, because she was bound to a wheelchair, I couldn't walk or talk. But I remember, six years old, I felt this compassion, yeah, yeah. And I said I promise you I'm going to do everything you can do and I will live my lifetimes, too, for you.

Speaker 2: 29:23

And the doctor said she went and lived through her teen years, but she survived until we were 43. So she passed away five years ago and you know, I didn't realize that I was grieving the way I was and my husband's like I felt like I'd lost you too, you know. So he had this idea. He said Tisha, all the stuff that you've been doing for years, let's put it under the underneath of a number of a nonprofit, let's call it Tisha's hands, you know, and embrace. So I absolutely I love it and I just I just get to remember her and do the work, and so we do some work here locally, nationally and internationally. So I love it.

Speaker 1: 30:08

And you really have been living your life twice as bright. Yes, and we are so lucky in Jacksonville that you never give up on us.

Speaker 2: 30:20

I believe that we are stronger together, you know.

Speaker 1: 30:24

Amen, we are together, strong, wink, wink. Well, I appreciate your taking the time to come talk to me. Thank you again. I feel like you're going to be one of my newest bestest friends. Can we do an interfaith?

Speaker 2: 30:39

group or something. I love it, we should do it.

Speaker 1: 30:42

Thank you. Thank you again, and now it's time for our honorable mention. Menge is the Yiddish word for a person of integrity and honor, with a sense of what is right and responsible, saying that Ben Frasier's heart was deeply connected to our city. Multiple Jacksonville City Council members submitted a resolution honoring his life just a month after he lost his battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Ben Frasier, who died at age 73, was a veteran TV news journalist and anchor who founded the Northside Coalition in 2016. He was a regular speaker at city council meetings outside City Hall and elsewhere in the city. He was known to stand up and speak out passionately, and he leaves a legacy of advocacy and activation here in Jacksonville. May his memory be for a blessing.

Speaker 1: 31:34

If you know of someone who is the kind of Menge who should get an honorable mention, send me a note at schmoozwithsuesorg or drop me a line on Instagram. That's going to do it for us today. Thanks for sticking around. Make sure to subscribe to Schmooz with Sues on YouTube and follow me on Instagram to get your daily dose of chutzpah. I'm Sues, your well-informed smartass who's not afraid to stand up and speak out, because what's an envelope if not for pushing? Hey, stay inspired and inspiring.