Growth & Grace

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we back and we back and we back and we back.

Leaha Crawford 0:42
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, good morning. Las Vegas. It is March. We are really in the month of March, as I can like I said last week, y'all Happy Birthday to me. Yes, I am celebrating the whole month. You are listening to growth and grace. I am Leah Crawford and Julian is not here with us this week, so we are not going to get to do the lovely sports update that we normally do every week, but it is March Madness y'all. So next week I'm gonna see what he says about the team that he wants to pick. But today, I have some very, very special guests in the studio with me and on the telephone, I'd like to introduce you to two very good friends of mine. One, Miss Christy. Means, hi, Christy, hey, and we'll talk about her event. And Mr. Lamont Harris, hey, Lamont,

Lamont Harris 1:30
Hey, good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Vegas.

Leaha Crawford 1:33
Hey, hey. All right, so Lamont, first we're gonna hear about this event that's coming up, because I know you are a member. Christy, you're a member of the links incorporated the Las Vegas chapter, right? Yes, ma'am. And you one of your programs that you do. Well, tell us about the program that's coming up.

Christie Means 1:49
Okay, well, good morning. Good morning, Las Vegas. Thank you, Leah, for having me. I'm Dr Christie means I'm a member of the links incorporated Las Vegas.

Leaha Crawford 1:58
Dr Christie means I forgot, I always forget the doctor. Yeah, I forget the doctor, Chris,

Christie Means 2:04
only because, you know, it's the health based thing, because our so I'm here to to speak about our third annual Black Family Wellness Expo. So I'm speaking on behalf of my chapter and my chapter president. So this year is our third annual Black Family Wellness Expo. So first, I want to say that wellness is not just a fancy word for a health fair, right? Wellness has components to it. So yes, your physical health, health, your mental health, your financial health, your occupational health, intellectual health, and so in this fair we try, or we are, excuse me, addressing those components of wellness. There are a few more. So every year we add another component. So this year we've added more to the intellectual component of wellness.

Leaha Crawford 2:58
So what is that? Describe what that is, what you throwing out terms because we know, we know, we know physical health and mental health has been thrown around, right? And lately, talks about financial health, yes, okay, but what is intellectual so?

Christie Means 3:14
Intellectual health is it's covering your educational opportunities. How to fulfill your your brain, your brain power. So many people are they don't have the resources, or they don't know that their resources out there for them to I don't want to say increase, increase isn't the word, but to be able to tap into what else is there for you to continue to let your mind grow as well, right? Not just reading, not just watching, you know, some documentaries or things, but actual intellectual growth for yourself. Wow. So, all right, so, yeah,

Leaha Crawford 4:02
okay, that, so there's a vendor that is going to speak to that

Christie Means 4:07
so, well, let me not say that there's a vendor that's going to speak to that. So for the, for the for the purposes of the expo, we have Nevada, Nevada State University, CSN, is going to be there as well. We're hoping. I still haven't heard from my technical institute, the Career Technical Institute, but the idea is that there are programs that are out there for people, for I mean, people tend to think that you come out of high school, you go to college, and that's it, right? And if you missed the opportunity, then you missed the opportunity. And so the representation is going to have the resources there to say, hey, if this is what you want to pursue, we. Have an avenue for you to do that. So that's the that's the intellectual part at this particular moment.

Leaha Crawford 5:07
Okay, I love it. I love it. Lamont, you have any questions about that? I love it?

Lamont Harris 5:13
No, it sounds really interesting. I really want to get more information. What are the dates or for the event?

Christie Means 5:20
Yes, of course. So our event is Saturday March 14. It's from 11 to four, and it's going to be held at West Prep Academy. So again, Saturday March 14, from 11 to four at West Prep Academy.

Leaha Crawford 5:38
All right, so then let's go over it again. So we talked about, let me try to repeat it all. Well, no, say it again. Say it again. I had to pause. I was like, okay, yeah, no, no, okay, because I'm really, really intrigued by the

Christie Means 5:51
intellectual so again, yes, we do have physical health. It is very, very much. It's heavily health based, right? So we have Southern Nevada health district that's coming out. We have five different departments that are coming out. We have can community. We have the center, which is amazing, because they are actually going to offer primary care visits. They're bringing their mobile unit, so I need to give you her phone number. I'm sorry I got caught off guard. So the center is actually going to have their mobile unit there. Okay, so you can do a walk in, but they actually prefer if you call and make an appointment so they can know how many people to prepare to come. Yeah, yeah. So you can actually do the physical. Yes, you can have a primary care visit. So we have the Southern Nevada black Nursing Association that's going to be talking about diabetes. Again, I said snhd, Southern Nevada health district. So we have the smoking cessation section, smoking cessation section department, maybe, let me say that I should say department, which is because we matter. We have immunization. They're also having. So this is something I didn't know. They have an office of preparedness. What is that good question? I'm I can't wait to go to her table to find out what That's

Leaha Crawford 7:18
right. Are all gonna

Christie Means 7:20
learn together? And so they're also doing a sexual health they also have a sexual health table. But our sexual health, in terms of HIV, rapid testing, is going to be done through the can community. So they're going to have their mobile unit there. So again, I mean, there's a whole lot American Cancer Society voices of black women, which is really strong right now, because they're trying to get black women to sign up for studies so they can do long term studies on black women and breast cancer.

Leaha Crawford 7:52
And that's important, yeah, because a lot of the drugs and stuff are based off the study. Yes. Now we don't participate in the studies. The drugs are not catered to

Christie Means 7:59
us, right, right, right, and so, and then we have other things, like we have olive crest. So our organization, my chapter of the links, Incorporated, we partner with olive crest a lot. So olive crest is an organization that they help with. They prepare families, if they're getting ready to do foster care or and or adoption, okay, but the other arm of their organization is that they help children transition from the foster care system, because once they turn 18, they're done. They receive no benefits. They they're on their own. Oh, wow, right. So this organization helps them prepare. They take donations, they help them find a place to live.

Leaha Crawford 8:45
So you have a lot of things going, Yeah, that's a lot

Christie Means 8:47
going, yes, yes, yes, yes.

Leaha Crawford 8:48
And that's, that's deeper. I would love to get olive crust on here to talk about, yeah, oh man, I absolutely, I would Yeah, because that's I never, I never really connected the dots. You turn 18, you're out the system.

Christie Means 8:59
You're out the system. All any benefits that you have are done. So if you're not prepared, you have no place to live, you have no money, unless you've had a little job along the way. But this organization helps children transition, so they start them earlier. I guess maybe as soon as they turn 17 and they start, you know, hey, you need to have a bank account. You need to start saving money. They help them try to find jobs. Then once they get closer to actual aging out, they have

Lamont Harris 9:30
so it doesn't matter if they're still in high school. No,

Christie Means 9:34
once they turn 18, it's turning 18, you're done. Yeah. So we partner with them. That's one of the one of the organizations that we partner with. So what I wanted to say again is the other extra that we're having this year, I'm really happy and excited to say that the Southern Nevada regional housing housing authority is going to be there as well this. Here, you know, having, again, a table, telling, being able to tell the community what the resources are, where you can go, who you know, if you have questions, this is who you should be talking to, because it can be overwhelming. Sorry, it can be overwhelming. So I'm trying to think of who else. Okay, and so, oh, employment we have envy employ. Or if they call career hub, MV, Nevada career hub, okay, they'll be there as well. And then, of course, there's, there's going to be some fun, right? The other two components of the expo. So we're going to have DJ in the food trucks. Nice. And our DJ is ambeez, yes, and we're there going to be four food trucks. And let me see what else we're gonna have fun. Gonna have community vendors, food trucks, DJ and a marketplace that's like quick at a marketplace. So there is an opportunity for small business vendors to sell their wares. Okay, so you know, and give out information, and give out information. All right,

Leaha Crawford 11:11
all right. So Lamont, how are you?

Lamont Harris 11:14
I'm well. I'm well, sounds like a lot of fun. I'm really intrigued, and I got to know what food trucks are gonna be there?

Christie Means 11:23
Okay, so we have Miss delicioso, which I think she does tacos and tapas. We have a soul food we in the kitchen. Is the name of their and then we have senior and put me on the spot, because I know that. I don't know how to pronounce her name. But another food truck, another food truck. So she has, so she, she's, it's interesting. I'm interested to see this. She's diverse. So on one side, she's got, like the Mexican sweet corn, okay, and corn on the cob. But she also does desserts, like I Dave ice type of thing, yeah, yeah. And then, wait, I said three. So who's the fourth one? Um, who am I missing? I don't know who you missing. Oh, edible bunch, plant based. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I was like, Oh, I can't forget them, yeah. So we're, you know, we're trying to give everybody a variety of things, a food choice, yeah, food choices. And then we also will have black box media bus, so he's bringing out his RV Okay, for people to sit in. And so I don't want to jump the gun. But I'm pretty sure he said that he's going to have the the TVs on in the bus for the younger kids to maybe play games. Oh, nice, the PlayStation games or whatever. Nice. Okay, yeah. And family event, is it? Oh, yes, from the babies all the way up to Grandma, that's what I'm saying. And everyone in between. I mean, again, some of our vendors, we have AARP, okay, we have Nami for mental health, okay, National Association of Mental Health, Mental Illness Association. Let's see. I'm trying to think of who else. I mean, there's so many. We have a plethora of community vendors. When I say a plethora, there's definitely 35 plus community vendors and all. So between health, the financial scholarship solutions going to be there, like I said, MB, employee, CSN, NSU, the southern the southern national, regional health association.

Leaha Crawford 13:39
So basically, you can come there and if you have some questions about your health, about your mental health, about wellness, yes, you should be able to get some answers. Or, if not, you can get some direction, direction. Oh, there you need to go exactly, exactly. Christy, I want to say, thank you. Oh, no, thank all the information.

Christie Means 13:57
Let me just I have to do this. I have to do this. I have to say, thank you. Thank you. Thank you to our media partner, which is live you equals you. There are, you know, we can't get this done. We can't put this, this fair Expo on without our supporters. So live, you equals you. And then our actual sponsors, which would be shooken stone anthem, Optum and astrana healthcare, Nevada. So those are where our our big sponsors, and a big, big, big thanks to them.

Leaha Crawford 14:28
I appreciate that, because they, I mean, it takes a lot to put on these expos. It does, it does

Christie Means 14:33
lots of time, lots lots of energy, lots of time. But you know what? I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm in this for the community. Okay, right? It's important, it's absolutely important to have these resources out there, especially right now, with everything that's going on, things are changing so rapidly, so this is a nice way for the people who can help you all in one place,

Leaha Crawford 14:57
there will be something there that you can benefit from Absolutely. Love it. I love it. So the mom, more, let's talk to you. Okay, what's going on? How are you?

Lamont Harris 15:06
Oh, I'm, well, I'm, well,

Leaha Crawford 15:08
okay, so how's the mortgage business?

Lamont Harris 15:10
The mortgage business is booming right now. Obviously, you know, as everyone knows, the last couple years in the mortgage space we we've we've had challenges right rates have increased over the last couple of years, but I can definitely tell you that, you know, February, going into the month of March, we've seen some of the lowest rates that we've seen in the last four years. So that's been a huge relief and and as a result, you know, we were getting more people applying for homes and more people applying to refinance, and we're able to help those families in ways that we couldn't help them before. So everything's looking up contact information. Can I have your information for me is absolutely you can have my contact information.

Lamont Harris 16:02
888-441-3930, okay, can you say that?

Leaha Crawford 16:06
Wait, wait, wait, wait, okay,

Leaha Crawford 16:08
so me like you're talking to a two year old. Say that again.

Lamont Harris 16:13
I'm gonna break it down for you. 888-441-3930,

Leaha Crawford 16:20
all right, so let's talk about the home buying process, because sometimes that's a mystery to a lot of people. Where do you start in the home buying process?

Lamont Harris 16:28
So so first step in the home buying process, a lot of people assume that the first step is to contact a real estate agent, and really the first step in the home buying process is really for you to contact a licensed loan officer and actually get pre approved for a home right now, why be your first

Leaha Crawford 16:48
step now? Why is that important? Let's, let's talk about the why.

Lamont Harris 16:51
So, yeah, so the why behind it is at the end of the day, right? You know you want to know what you may or may not be eligible for before you start talking to an agent, because an agent's ultimate job is to help you find your home, right? And they won't really know where to start with you until we first find out how much home you actually may qualify for, right? And so that's why you need to actually get that pre approval done first, and then you can talk to the agent about where you're pre approved, and then where to go from

Leaha Crawford 17:29
there and where to go from there. Now, the pre now, the pre approval process, is it, is it hard, or is it? I mean, you just have

Lamont Harris 17:37
to be willing. You know what? Leah, Leah, it is so simple and easy, and, you know, a lot of times getting pre approved can be in as little as 10 to 15 minutes. You can have an individual pre approved. So it's not a very tedious process. The thing that I tell a lot of folks is, you know, this process, in some cases, it's actually easier than buying an actual car, right? So, you know, people, people are fearful about applying because they don't know what to expect. So it's the fear of the unknown, right? But it's a very simplistic process.

Leaha Crawford 18:14
Very simplistic process. Again, give us your contact information. Say it slow. Absolutely.

Lamont Harris 18:21
888-441-3930, again, that's 888-441-3930,

Leaha Crawford 18:30
yeah, in this economy, because, you know, when you listen to the news and and all the pundits, they, you know, sometimes they have you scared to buy a house. Is it a good time to buy a house? That's the question that I get asked a lot. Leah, you know, is it a good time to buy a house? I know, I know what my response is, but what do you say?

Lamont Harris 18:46
I say the best time to buy a house is when you're ready to buy a house. And so, you know, when we look for perfect opportunity, interest rates are are at the lowest they've been in the last four years. But, you know, the one thing that I also want to remind folks, we're in a buyer's market right now, right? So this is an opportunity to get in, potentially get some seller concessions from those that are trying to sell their home, and even builders are giving out seller concession right now, which is typically, you know, you would get closing help from a builder when you're using their lender. And one of the things that I've seen happen here, more and more over the last six months or so, more builders are allowing buyers to use the lender of their choice and still giving them seller concessions. So that just speaks volumes to the kind of market that we're in right now. So ultimately, what ends up happening as the rates dip and they continue to drop, the one thing that you're going to see is you're going to see an uptick in the market. You're going to have more people that are buying, so it's going to be more competitive. And as it gets more competitive, the. Price is going to drive

Leaha Crawford 20:01
again, give your contact information, because, you know, I love telling the phone, I guess one more time.

Lamont Harris 20:06
Absolutely, absolutely, 888-441-3930, again, that number is 888-441-3930,

Leaha Crawford 20:17
all right, so I appreciate that. I mean, it's like you say, the best time to buy is when you are ready, but how do

Lamont Harris 20:24
you when you're ready? So you get ready by making sure you have your affairs in order, right? So when I say affairs in order, one of the one of the big misconceptions about buying a home is a lot of people think that you need this huge down payment. And that's not always true, right? So one of the things that I really appreciate about what we do is there's so many unique products now that we utilize to help qualify people into getting into homes. We've got 100% financing available through FHA loans, and those that 100% finance option is available in the form of a down payment assistance grant. So, you know, we assist with the down payment and in no more of the ways of yesterday, of only first time homebuyers having this privilege to be eligible for 100% financing. But we offer it now, whether you're a first time homebuyer or repeat home buyer. And this is, this is something that we haven't had years ago, right? And so it makes for really, really exciting times, because it really levels the playing field for those that want to take advantage and become a homeowner.

Leaha Crawford 21:35
I love it. I love it. Well, again, Lamont, like always, I always appreciate you answering the call, because I think that every once in a while we need to talk about the process of changing somebody's life. You know, because rents always go up. Rents go up absolutely, and when you have a mortgage, at least it's the same, and potentially goes down after you pay off the PMI, if you have one, right?

Lamont Harris 21:59
Absolutely, absolutely, and at least you're an opportunity where you're having something to show for that money and potentially gain equity. And that's how I look at it all the time, is you have an opportunity to gain anywhere between five to 10% annually on that investment, and that's something that you don't get with rent.

Leaha Crawford 22:14
I appreciate that. And Christy, we didn't get the website. What is the website? Give me the website? Okay?

Christie Means 22:20
I want to say the so it's on Facebook as well. So it's the links incorporated Las Vegas, Nevada. Okay, so, and I believe that's for the if you look at, if you Google it, it'll take you to our website. But we're, if you look for it on Facebook, it's there as well. The flyer is up. Our sponsors are up with hyperlinks to their information. And the phone number for for the center, for their for their mobile unit will is on there as well. Okay, so basically, the links Incorporated.

Leaha Crawford 22:53
Links incorporated Las Vegas, Nevada. So you can ask Google, like, okay, okay, Google, yeah, the links incorporated Las Vegas, Nevada, yeah, and it should come up, yes, all right, yes. Or just the links incorporated Las Vegas, Nevada, it should come up.

Christie Means 23:05
So if you're very if you're interested in just going to sign up, you can call the center and ask to speak to Marissa Dakin, Marissa daven. Marissa Dave Marissa daven, and she's the one that's signing people up for the primary visits. She's the one

Leaha Crawford 23:20
signing people up for primary visits. Okay, so it is, again, let's talk about the event. It is next Saturday. Yes, Saturday March, 14. March 14, from 11 to four. From 11 to four at West Prep Academy. At West Prep Academy, next Saturday. Now, West Prep Academy is located, I don't know the

Christie Means 23:38
late aged. It's 1950 pink Rose Street.

Leaha Crawford 23:43
1950 pink rose but it's right off of Lake me

Christie Means 23:46
before you get to MLK. Well, coming from, coming

Leaha Crawford 23:49
from the west. Yeah, right. But it's, it's so it's to give you some idea, if you see the McDonald's, you know you're in the right neighborhood, right and

Christie Means 23:58
right, you know where the new library is, is a West you're writing, and then you're, there's still my backside. You're on the backside of it's on the backside of the library.

Leaha Crawford 24:08
It's on the backside of the library. So just some landmarks, just in case you don't, you know, it's the West Prep Academy, Prep Academy. West Prep Academy. Yeah, all right. Well, that brings us to the end of our show. You know Lamont, I want to say thank thank you, Lamont, for answering

Lamont Harris 24:20
the call. Thank you absolutely. Thank you, ladies.

Leaha Crawford 24:23
I appreciate you. And Christy, as always, this is your first time.

Leaha Crawford 24:26
Thank you for coming on the show with us and share about the event. You will be back next year to talk about the event.

Christie Means 24:31
I will talk about something else. In the meantime, just give me a call. I will always answer.

Leaha Crawford 24:37
I appreciate that. I appreciate that. All right, so you are listening to Leah Crawford on growth and grace. Julian is not here next week, y'all, we're gonna be talking about March Madness. We are going to lay it out so we can figure out what team he's rooting for. I gotta find a team, though, until next week. Until next week, peace and blessings. Y'all, bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai