HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE FOURTH SEASON OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN" I'M YOUR HOST, DOCTOR JUHANNA ROGER.

THIS SEASON WE WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME AMAZING WOMEN WHO ARE ELEVATING THE CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION.

THESE WOMEN ARE ARTISTS, EDUCATORS, PHILANTHROPISTS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO ARE UPLIFTING THE REGION.

TONIGHT, I WOULD LIKE TO START THE SEASON OFF BY INTRODUCING ONE OF MY FAVORITE PEOPLE, KRISTIN THOMPSON HENRY.

KRISTIN IS THE DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, AN AVID PROMOTER OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND DANCER ENRICHING THE COMMUNITY.

SO GATHER YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS EPISODE OF BEHIND THE WOMAN.

WELCOME.

I'M SO EXCITED TO BE KICKING THIS SEASON OFF WITH YOU.

>> I FEEL SO HONORED TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[LAUGHTER] >> YOU ARE SETTING THE BAR HIGH.

I'M THE FIRST EPISODE.

>> LISTEN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW, RIGHT?

>> LET'S SET THE STANDARD.

>> RIGHT, SO, I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU HERE BECAUSE WE CONNECTED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AT, MAYBE IT WAS THE UNITED WAY WOMEN'S NETWORKING EVENT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND AT THAT TIME, I THINK YOU WERE AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION AND I WAS JUST FASCINATED BY YOUR ENERGY AND I'M LIKE, SHE'S A DANCER.

WE NEED TO BE PEOPLES.

AND THEN I THINK A COUPLE OF YEARS WENT BY AND THE TIMES WERIC, WE ARE GOING TO MEET, WE ARE GOING TO MEET.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THEN THE PANDEMIC CAME.

AND YOU HAD TWINS.

>> I DID.

[LAUGHTER] I DID.

>> TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BRING TWINS INTO THE WORLD DURING COVID.

>> IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE LIKE NO OTHER, OKAY?

NOT ONLY DID COVID HIT BUT IT WAS IN THE MIDST OF GEORGE FLOYD, BREONNA TAYLOR, AHMAUD AUBRY.

IT WAS A MENTAL HURDLE THAT I SAY DEFINITELY TOOK MEE TO STRENGTHS AND CORNERS AND DEPTHS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE IN BECAUSE IT TOOK THAT MENTAL TOLL, YOU KNOW, WHEN PLAQUE LIVES WERE BEING SEEN AS DISPOSABLE, YET I WAS BRINGING BLACK LIFE INTO THE WORLD AND HOW THAT KIND OF COUNTERACTED EACH OTHER.

SO IT WAS THIS PUSH AND PULL OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT TO DO AS A BLACK WOMAN AND AS A MOTHER AND HOW CAN I PROTECT MY KIDS FROM THIS, YOU KNOW.

THAT WAS A MENTAL, YOU KNOW, EVALUATION THAT I HAD TO DO INTERNALLY TO PREPARE MYSELF AND THE REALIZATION THAT I HAD TO PREPARE MY KIDS SOONER THAN I WOULD LIKE TO ON THE REALITIES OF BEING BLACK IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW.

SO 2020, I MEAN ROCKED US ALL TO LENGTHS THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT WOE WE WOULD GO TO.

IT WAS A PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT ONE FOR ME.

>> HOW IS THAT PLAYING OUT NOW THREE YEARS LATER?

THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING AROUND HOPEFULLY.

>> OH MY GOODNESS.

THEY'RE BAD.

BUT I LIKE TO SAY I'M RAISING LEADERS.

THEY WILL TELL ME HANDS DOWN WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH ME.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE NO QUALMS ABOUT THEM STICKING UP FOR THEMSELVES.

I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THAT FIGHT IN THEM.

AND AS A MOM, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO SIT BACK AND MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS HAVE EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED AND THAT THEY'RE VOICING THEIR OPINION.

I JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO VOICE IT TO ME ALL THE TIME.

BUT I KNOW THAT THEY'RE GROUNDED IN SOME REALLY VALUABLE MORALS THAT I LIKE TO UNSTILL IN THEM DEFINITELY.

>> SO YOU ARE DOING THAT, BEING A MOM, RAISING FUTURE LEADERS, AND ALSO HELPING DO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND WORKING SPECIFICALLY IN DEVELOPMENT.

SO TALKING ABOUT REPRESENTATION AND SHOWING UP IN A WAY THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER.

I HAVE NEVER MET A WOMAN OF COLOR, I THINK, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THAT.

HOW DID YOU GET THERE AND WHAT HAS YOUR CAREER TRAJECTORY-- WHAT HAS THAT LOOKED LIKE OVER THE COURSE OF YOUR CAREER SPAN?

>> STOW HOW DID I GET THERE?

I WAS A VOLUNTEER FOR THE ORGANIZATION, FOR WORKING AT ANOTHER HOSPITAL IN THE AREA.

AND YOU KNOW, I WAS THEIR VOLUNTEER CONNECTOR TO BE INVOLVED WITH THE HEART WALK AND ALL OF THE THINGS THAT THE A.H.A.

IS INVOLVED IN AND IT WASN'T UNTIL THE CURRENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REACHED OUT AND SAID, YOU KNOW, CAN I HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE WITH YOU?

I SAID SURE.

LET'S HAVE A CUP OF COFFEE.

THE REASONING BEHIND THE CUP OF COFFEE WAS THAT HE WANTED TO SIT DOWN WITH ME AND TELL ME WHY I WOULD BE PERFECT FOR THIS DEVELOPMENT ROLE.

NOW, IF I DATE BACK, THIS JOB POSTING HAD PROBABLY BEEN UP FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS.

I HAD SEEN IT EVERY DAY IN MY JOB SEARCH.

LOOKED AT IT, FLICKED THROUGH IT.

SAID THIS AIN'T FOR ME.

I'M POT THIS.

I DON'T LIKE TO RAISE MONEY.

I DON'T DO ANY OF THIS.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I KNOW WHAT THE JOB POSTING SAYS.

AND IT IS PARTS OF THIS.

BUT I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHAT THE REAL DAY TO DAY LOOKS LIKE AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY I THINK I SEE YOU AS BEING THE PERFECT FIT.

AND IF AFTER THIS MEETING NOTHING COMES OF IT, THAT'S FINE, BUT I SEE A GEM IN YOU AND I'M GOING TO TELL YOU WHY.

SO I LISTENED TO HIM.

I DRANK THE KOOL-AID AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

AND IT WAS INSPIRING TO, YOU KNOW, SEE THESE ASSETS IN MYSELF THAT SOMEBODY ELSE WAS PULLING OUT OF ME.

>> THAT'S A PROFOUND MOMENT, ISN'T IT, RIGHT?

WHEN SOMEONE SAYS HEY, LET'S HAVE THIS MOMENT TOGETHER AND THEN LET ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT I SEE IN YOU, RIGHT?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SO AS YOU ARE DESCRIBING THIS MOMENT, I'M JUST LIKE, YES, WE NEED MORE OF THAT.

>> WE FEED MORE OF THAT, ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE IT COMES FEW AND FAR BETWEEN AND WE KNOW THAT WE STRUGGLE WITH THIS IMPOSTER SYNDROME AS WELL.

I'M THE QUEEN OF IMPOSTER SYNDROME.

>> OH NO!

>> I AM!

I'M MY WORST CRITIC.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I CAN DO THIS JOB, I'M ALWAYS THINKING, IS IT RIGHT?

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TAKE THIS ON?

I DON'T KNOW.

ALL THIS MENTAL BACK AND FORTH.

>> SO HERE YOU ARE, HAVING THIS CUP OF COFFEE, RIGHT, WITH YOUR POTENTIAL FUTURE SUPERVISOR WHO IS TALKING TO YOU ABOUT WHAT HE SEES IN YOU.

WHEN DID THE MOMENT HAPPEN WHERE YOU WERE LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT?

I COULD ACTUALLY SEE MYSELF HERE?

>> IT CAME DOWN TO HIM EXPLAINING THAT IT'S NOT-- IT'S IN DEVELOPMENT.

IT'S BASICALLY A FUNDRAISING POSITION.

YOU ARE TRYING TO FIND FUNDS TO FUND A MISSION OF AN ORGANIZATION.

SO YOU ARE TRYING TO-- YOU ARE REALLY HEAVILY TRYING TO FIND PEOPLE TO SUPPORT ON A CORPORATE LEVEL BUT FINANCIAL DOLLARS.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH I'M A FUNDRAISER, BUT I'M A STORY STORYTELLER, YOU KNOW.

THE IMPACT THAT, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU ARE TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE MISSION AND VISION AND VALUES OF AN ORGANIZATION, YOU TRY TO SET THE STAGE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHY THEIR HELP IS IMPORTANT, THE NEED THAT IS IMMEDIATELY NEEDED.

>> LIKE BUILDING A CASE.

>> BUILDING A CASE FOR IT.

AND AT THE END, IF I DO MY JOB RIGHT, THE PERSON I'M SPEAKING TO IS GOING TO SAY WELL, HOW CAN I HELP?

THAT'S THE CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE.

SO MY SUCCESS IN DEVELOPMENT IS STRICTLY BECAUSE I TELL A STORY.

I TELL THE STORY.

I TELL THE NEED.

AND ALL OF THIS NEED IS BACKED BY STATS AND SCIENCE AND IT PERTAINS TO PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

REAL LIFE HURDLES THAT PEOPLE HAVE, THAT SHOULDN'T BE HURDLES TO BE HEALTHY.

AND IF YOU ARE A TRUE COLLABORATOR AND A TRUE, YOU KNOW, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ENTHUSIAST, YOU WOULD SEE YOUR ROLE IN PLAYING IN THIS.

SO THAT'S WHERE I'VE HAD THE MOST SUCCESS, IS JUST, YOU KNOW, PAINTING THAT STORY AND SEEING HOW THEY CAN FIT IN THIS PICTURE.

JUST LIKE MY SUPERVISOR DID ME.

>> I'M A GOOD STORYTELLER.

>> YOU ARE.

>> I MIGHT BE GOOD AT DEVELOPMENT.

>> YOU COULD.

THAT'S ALL IT IS.

>> OKAY I'M LIKE NOW, I WAS ALMOST LIKE, WELL HOW CAN I HELP.

GOD, YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT YOU ARE HELPING.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT HOW KRISTIN IS WORKING TO GET THE COMMUNITY UP AND MOVING THROUGH HER WORK AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

>> SO TODAY WE ARE CELEBRATING THE 2023 SYRACUSE HEART CHALLENGE.

IT IS A WALK THAT WE DRAW THE COMMUNITY TO TO JUST PARTICIPATE AS A COMMUNITY, WALK.

OUR MOTTO IS TO WALK ONE MORE STEP THAT DAY THAN YOU DID THE THE DAY BEFORE.

IT IS A FULL MORNING FULL OF HEART HEALTHY ACTIVITIES FOR THE WHOLE ENTIRE FAMILY.

WE HAVE OVER 1500 REGISTERED WALKERS TODAY AND WE GOT THE SKIES AND THE SUN WORKING IN OUR FAVOR TODAY.

THIS IS A YEAR'S WORTH OF PLANNING INTO THE MIX.

SO IT IS A LOT OF EXCITEMENT, A LOT OF THRILL TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUR COMMUNITY COME OUT TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE AND COME TOGETHER FOR A COMMON CAUSE.

WE KNOW THAT WE ALL CAN BENEFIT FROM LIVING A LITTLE BIT MORE HEART HEALTHY TODAY.

SO WE ASK THAT GRANDPARENTS COME, YOUNG CHILDREN COME, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO BE HEART HEALTHY, WE HAVE TO DO SO AS A FAMILY.

AND WE KNOW THAT CAN KIND OF TRICKLE UP AND TRICKLE DOWN AT THE SAME TIME.

WE CAN PREVENT HEART DISEASE UP TO 80%.

THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN EAT A LITTLE BETTER, WE CAN MOVE A LITTLE MORE.

WE CAN MANAGE OUR STRESS.

WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT OURSELVES ON A PATH TO BE HEALTHY FOR GOOD.

SO WHEN I SEE OUR COMMUNITY AND WE SEE THIS AWARENESS THAT'S COMING OUT THERE AND SEEING EVERYBODY COME IN FOR THE SAME COMMON CAUSE, THAT'S WHAT GETS ME JAZZED ABOUT MY JOB AND WHY WE DO THIS.

SO WE KNOW THAT MIND BODY SPIRIT IS ONE THING THAT WILL DRIVE YOUR HEALTH.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT GOING TO DO YOU WELL IF YOU ARE EATING HEALTHY AND EXERCISING BUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH IS NOT IN A GOOD STATE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO DO YOU WELL IF YOU ARE EATING RIGHT BUT YOU ARE NOT EXERCISING, YOU KNOW.

AND SO WE KNOW THAT ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMBINED MAKE A GOOD HEART HEALTHY LIVING.

WE LOOK FOR A HOLISTIC APPROACH WHEN WE LOOK FOR WELLNESS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAPPING ON ALL OF THE ASPECTS TO DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

MY GOAL IS NOT ONLY OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW TAKES A HEALTHIER PATH FOR GOOD BUT WE START TO IMPLEMENT THE BEHAVIORS TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

IT'S NOW THE GENERATION THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS NOW THAT WE ARE AFRAID WILL NOT OUTLIVE THEIR PARENTS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT OUTSIDE PLAYING UNTIL THE STREET LIGHTS COME ON ANYMORE.

MY GOAL IS THAT THIS ONE-DAY EVENT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE END DATING THEM WITH A HEALTH FAIR ALL AT ONCE, THAT THEY TAKE THESE TIDBITS BACK TO THEIR LIVES AND TAKE THEM BACK TO THEIR DAILY LIVES AS THEY GET SHUFFLED AROUND EVERY DAY.

I DON'T WORK IN THIS LINE OF WORK FOR NOTHING.

YOU KNOW, I WANT A JOB THAT I CAN HAVE THAT IS GOING TO FEED MY SOUL AT THE END OF THE DAY.

SO I DO WAKE UP TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, DETERMINE HOW I'M GOING TO LEAVE MY FOOT FRINGERPRINT.

IF I'M GOING TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR MY KIDS FOR THE NEXT GENERATION, WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

AND OBVIOUSLY IF YOU CAN'T LIVE THAT LONG, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE A LEGACY TO LEAVE.

(BELL RINGING) >> I LOVE MY COMMUNITY.

I'M HOMEGROWN SYRACUSE.

AND SO WHEN I SEE THAT MY CITY IS HURTING IN THE ASPECT OF HEALTH, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M DOING MY PART.

LONGER HEALTHIER LIVES IS ON THE PATH FOR EVERYONE.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF WHERE YOU LIVE, WHERE YOU WORK, WHERE YOU PLAY, PRAY, LEARN, GROW, THAT ASPECT OF JUST LIVING HEART HEALTHY IS EQUITABLE AND ACHIEVABLE TO ANYBODY WHO WANTS IT.

>> WHOA.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE STORY, RIGHT?

AND THEN THE WORK THAT LOOKING AT THE WORK THAT YOU ARE LEADING AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BUYING FOO THAT STORY IS A POWERFUL IDEA.

I'M CURIOUS THOUGH, WHEN YOU SAY I'M A STORYTELLER, THAT DOESN'T START AT A JOB.

>> NO.

>> NO.

SO WHERE IS IT THAT THIS PASSION FOR STORY TELLING BEGAN FOR YOU?

>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING WITH IT, BUT I HADN'T PIECED TOGETHER THAT PART OF IT.

BUT IT ABSOLUTELY FALLS INTO MY DESIRE, MY PASSION AND MY, YOU KNOW, JUST INNATE HAPPINESS AROUND DANCE.

I'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO IT SINCE I WAS A KID.

AND TAKING PEOPLE THROUGH EMOTIONS AND STORY TELLING AND UTILIZING BODY AND MUSIC AND MUSE CASUALTY MUSICALITY AND HOW THE BODY FEELS AND PLAYS INTO THAT.

>> I SEE YOU MOVING... >> THAT'S HOW YOU ARE GOOD AT YOUR JOB BECAUSE I SAW HOW YOU WERE TRYING TO WEAVE THAT IN.

BUT IT ABSOLUTELY, 1,000% I ATTRIBUTE THAT AND MY SUCCESS BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> WHEN AND WHERE DID YOU START DANCING?

>> SO I START DANCING AT FORBES ACADEMY OF DANCE.

IT WAS RIGHT IN SYRACUSE.

IF YOU KNOW SEALY ROAD... >> FORBES ACADEMY OF DANCE.

IS IT STILL THERE?

>> IT'S NOT.

AND THEN I TRANSFERRED TO ONONDAGA DANCE INSTITUTE WHO WAS HEADED UP BY THE ICONIC CHERYL WILKINS WHO, YOU KNOW, KIND OF TOOK US THROUGH, YOU KNOW, JUST TECHNIQUE AND BALLET AND, YOU KNOW, AFRO CENTRIC JUST ROOTED IN DANCE AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.

SO I HAD A VERY MIXED BUT GREAT EXPOSURE TO DANCE BECAUSE I USED TO COMPETE IN TAP, JAZZ, BALLET, YOU KNOW, GOING TO COMPETITIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND IT JUST-- I RELISHED IN IT.

IT WAS GREAT.

>> SO AS A SHARED ENTHUSIAST AND TRAINED DANCER, I'M ALWAYS SO ADMIRABLE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE TO CREATE ROOM FOR DANCE IN YOUR LIFE.

AND FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING US TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY TO YOUR TIKTOK SENSATIONAL PRESENCE THAT HAS GONE VIRAL.

YOU HAVE FOLLOWERS FROM ALL OVER.

AND WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THIS, BUT I THINK IT WAS EVEN IN THE MIDST OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> SURE WAS... >> WHEN YOU STARTED TO PUT UP THESE DANCE VIDEOS AFTER YOU GAVE BIRTH TO THE LITTLE ONES.

>> AND EVEN DURING, YOU KNOW.

IT WAS BEING AT THE HEART ASSOCIATION, YOU TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL EXERCISE AND I WAS BIG PREGNANT, YOU KNOW, AND I COULDN'T EVEN WALK, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?

I COULD DANCE.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY GO TO ABOUT TRYING TO INCORPORATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE EXERCISE.

DANCE IS... >> THAT'S WHEN I LIKE IT THE BEST HONESTLY.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S ABOUT FUN.

IT'S ABOUT JUST MOVING AND SO WHEN I FELT DOWN IN THE DUMPS, ESPECIALLY WHEN MY MENTAL HEALTH WAS NOT WHAT I WANTED IT TO BE PREGNANT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT ISN'T CONNECTED AND YOU ARE GROWING LIFE, YOU KNOW,... >> THAT HAS AN IMPACT.

>> IT ABSOLUTELY CAN.

I KNEW IF I WAS IN THOSE DEEP DEPRESSION STATES, TURN ON MUSIC AND THAT WAS ALWAYS GOING TO BRING ME UP.

>> SO IF FOLKS HAVEN'T SEEN YOU, THEY NEED TO LOOK YOU UP.

YOUR MOVEMENT IS JUST WONDERFUL.

BUT HOW MUCH JOY YOU EXUDE, RIGHT?

>> IT'S EASY, YOU KNOW.

LIKE YOU ARE SEEING ME IN MY VERY PUREST FORM.

IT BRINGS ME TO LEVELS-- IT BRINGS DOWN MY DEPRESSION AND EXCUEDS MY HAPPINESS.

WHEN YOU HAVE ELEMENTS AND THE SPACE TO JUST BE YOURSELF.

>> AND YOU ARE NOT DOING IT-- YOU ARE BEING YOURSELF BUT YOU ARE NOT DOING IT BY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU BRU YOUR HUSBAND IN.

I'VE SEEN SISTERS... >> YEP, ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO TIKTOK WITH ME, LET'S DO IT, LET'S BRING HAPPINESS.

>> IT BRINGS HAPPINESS BUT I THINK THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WEAVE THAT TYPE OF JOY, YOUR PASSION FOR MOVEMENT, INTO THE STORY TELLING FOR YOUR CAREER, IS QUITE PHENOMENAL.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY FOR SOMEONE THAT HAS GONE TO WORK EVERY DAY AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND THAT TIE AND THE CONNECTION TO THE THINGS THAT BRING THEM JOY.

>> I TELL THEM TO THINK ABOUT EXACTLY WHAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND SOMETIMES THAT IS A CONVOLUTED QUESTION.

AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS AN EASY OUTCOME TO COME TO.

BUT START TO EXPOSURES TO DIFFERENT THINGS SO THAT YOU CAN WEED OUT, THAT'S NOT FOR ME BUT I REALLY ENJOYED BIKING OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

EXPOSURES TO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF LIFE, LIVING, YOU KNOW, ARTS, AND, YOU KNOW, START TO TAKE ON SOME OF THAT.

THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT YOU CAN SEE WHAT YOU REALLY, REALLY ENJOY AND REALLY-- AND THINGS THAT JUST TURN YOU OFF AND SAY THAT'S FOLT FOR ME.

AND-- THAT'S NOT FOR ME.

AND WHEN YOU OFFSET THAT SO THAT YOUR WORK AND LIFE HAVE A SORT OF BALANCE, WHEN WORK IS NOT GOING SO GOOD, YOU GOT THIS 9 TO 5 BUT AT 7 O'CLOCK IS MY DANCE CLASS AND I CAN BE ENERGIZED AND MY CUP IS FULL AFTER THAT.

>> HAVE YOU SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO.

WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT TO ONE OF THESE DANCE CLASSES.

>> I'M GOING TO DRAG YOU.

>> BECAUSE IT IS ABOUT THAT COUNTERBALANCE.

LIKE I HAVE TO DO MY 9 TO 5 AND THEN I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO "BEHIND THE WOMAN," RIGHT, BUT IT'S LIKE I'M HERE AND I GET ENERGIZED, I GET TO SITED AND TALK WITH YOU AND THE SET AND THE COLORS, IT BRINGS AN ENERGY, RIGHT?

IT FEEDS YOUR SOUL.

>> IT DOES.

>> AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

>> IT IS.

>> WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IN THE GREEN ROOM, IT'S HARD NOW.

YOU ARE MOTHERING, LEADING... >> IT'S A LOT.

IT'S NOT ANYTHING DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER WOMAN HAS DONE, YOU KNOW,.

>> FOR SURE.

>> SO I FEED OFF OF MY KIDS AND THE ENERGY AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE.

BUT I ALSO JUST, IN THE LINE OF WORK THAT YOU AM IN, I TAKE SELF CARE TO THE UTMOST DEGREE AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN'T BE MY BEST SELF IF I AM NOT MY BEST SELF SO I HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CARING FOR MYSELF IN ORDER FOR ME TO, YOU KNOW, CARE FOR OTHERS.

AND SO IF DANCE FULFILLS MY CUP OR IF I TAKE UNAPOLOGETIC P.T.O.

DAYS IF I NEED IT, MENTAL HEALTH DAYS, I'LL DO IT.

AND DO THINGS THAT BRING ME JOY.

BECAUSE THAT'S EQUALLY AS IMPORTANT TO SHOWING UP AND DOING THINGS FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> WHAT DO YOU SEE NEXT FOR KRISTIN THOMPSON HENRY?

>> THAT'S THE MASTER QUESTION.

I JUST SEE-- I ALWAYS WAKE UP AND SAY WHERE AM I GOING TO MAKE THE MOST IMPACT TODAY?

IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE WITHIN MY WORK, BUT DEFINITELY I'M BORN AND RAISED IN SYRACUSE.

I HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR MY COMMUNITY.

I HAVE A DEEP PASSION FOR LEAVING A LEGACY THAT IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN TRYING TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND IF I'M NOT DOING THAT OR IF I FEEL LIKE I'M OFF COURSE, I JUST HAVE TO PIVOT, YOU KNOW.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO LEAVE A LEGACY.

THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS TO IMPACT SOMEONE'S LIFE.

AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU ARE IMPACTFUL THAT DAY, YOU KILL THEM WITH KINDNESS.

>> RIGHT.

I THINK PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE SOMETIMES THE POWER OF JUST THE ABILITY TO CONNECT.

AND I THINK IT'S BEEN THAT HUMAN CONNECTION THAT COVID TOOK AWAY AND I'M WONDERING HAS THAT IMPACTED YOUR ABILITY TO TELL THE STORIES THAT YOU NEED TO TELL AND GET THE SAME LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC.

>> I WOULD SAY IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF ENGAGING FOLKS, YOU KNOW.

LIKE WHERE I WOULD DEFINITELY BE IN IN-PERSON MEETINGS AND SITTING DOWN AND TALKING TO PEOPLE, NOW IT'S MORE PROBABLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS OR, YOU KNOW, LEVELING UP WITH PEOPLE'S COMFORTABILITY OF BEING IN PERSON.

I WANT TO-- I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S MORE DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE MISSION IS STILL THERE.

THE NEED IS STILL THERE, IF NOT MORE.

AND I THINK EVERYONE CAN REALLY -- EVERYONE CAN REALIZE AND RELATE THAT COVID, HEART DISEASE, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, CHOLESTEROL ISSUES, STROKE ISSUES, EVERYONE CAN BE IMPACTED BY THAT.

AND SO THE STORY OF, YOU KNOW, JUST FINDING THEIR ROLE WITHIN ERADICATING, YOU KNOW, TERMINAL AND DISEASES THAT TAKE LOVED ONES FROM OUR LIVES WAY TOO SOON.

ANYONE CAN RELATE WITH THAT.

ANYBODY WOULD WANT LONGER HEALTHIER LIVES.

SO IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I REALLY HAVE TO SELL FOR PEOPLE.

IT'S LET'S FIND A WAY TO GET YOU INVOLVED.

>> OFTEN TIMES IN DEVELOPMENT WORK, YOU KNOW, THE PERSPECTIVE CAN BE YOU ALL JUST WANT MONEY, RIGHT?

LIKE YOU ARE GOOD AT JUST RAISING MONEY.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT I THINK WHAT YOU ARE REALLY HITTING ON IS THAT YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT STORY TELLING.

IT'S ABOUT HAVING GOOD ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES.

BEING ABLE TO CONNECT WHETHER IT'S IN PERSON ON A HYBRID LEVEL OR WHATEVER WITH THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

AND AS YOU WERE SAYING THAT, I THOUGHT BACK TO THE EVENT YOU ALL HOSTED IN FEBRUARY 2023 IN HONOR OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN CONCERT WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION.

>> YEP.

>> AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THAT WITH BUFFALO BILLS PLAYER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE GOOD AND BAD THING ABOUT THE DAMAR HAMLIN SITUATION, OBVIOUSLY, HE HAD THE BEST OUTCOMES BECAUSE HE HAD A CARDIAC RESPONSE PLAN THAT WAS JUST SEAMLESS.

HE HAD, YOU KNOW, EMERGENCY PERSONNEL THAT WERE THERE.

THEY HAD ADMINISTERED CPR.

HE HAD 911 AMBULANCE ON THE SCENE.

THEY RUSHED HIM TO THE HOSPITAL AND THAT'S WHAT WE CALL A CARDIAC RESPONSE PLAN.

AND WHEN A RESPONSE PLAN IS ENACTED AND PUSHED THROUGH THE WAY THAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE, THE OUTCOME OF A CARDIAC ARREST, THE OUTCOMES OF IT IS WAY MORE POSITIVE THAN THE ALTERNATIVE.

THE STORY BEHIND THAT THOUGH IS THAT THAT IS NOT A GIVEN PRIVILEGE TO EVERYONE.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT PEOPLE WHO HAVE CARDIAC ARRESTS OR CARDIAC EVENTS, THAT PARTICULARLY WOMEN, WE ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE BY STANDARD CPR.

PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE BY STANDARD CPR.

YOU AND ME BEING BOTH WOMEN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN, THAT DOUBLES OUR LESS LIKELY CHANCES OF RECEIVING BY STANDARD CPR.

IF WE GO INTO A CARDIAC ARREST AND NO ONE IS HELPING US, OUR SURVIVAL RATE WILL PLUMMET.

THAT'S THE MESSAGING I WANT TO CONVEY.

DAMAR HAMLIN WAS A SPECIFIC INSTANCE, BUT THE OUTCOMES WERE GREAT.

EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE THAT OUTCOME.

>> SO WE ALL, BASED ON WHAT YOU SAT HERE AND TOLD US TODAY ABOUT YOU, ABOUT BEING A MOM, BEING, YOU KNOW, RAISING YOUNG FIGHTERS, WHAT I'M WALKING AWAY WITH IS WHAT IS OUR EMERGENCY PLAN?

WHAT IS OUR IMPACT PLAN, RIGHT?

>> WE NEED A RESPONSE PLAN FOR ALL OF OUR LIVES.

>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME TONIGHT ON THIS EVENING'S EPISODE OF "BEHIND THE WOMAN."

AND ALLOWING US TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OURSELVES AND HOPEFULLY HOW WE ARE WORKING ON OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS IN ORDER TO CREATE A MORE HEART HEALTHY COMMUNITY.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VIEW TONIGHT'S EPISODE AGAIN, OR WATCH PAST SEASONS OF THE SHOW, GO TO WCNY.ORG/BEHINDTHEWOMAN.

MY NAME IS DR. JUHANNA ROGERS, AND ON BEHALF OF THE BEHIND THE WOMAN TEAM THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.