An Hawaiian Teen Who Stutters Starts A Nonprofit To Take Care Of His Community

Transcript

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I'm Maya Chupkov and I'm a woman who stutters. Welcome to Proud Stutter, a show about stuttering and embracing verbal diversity in an effort to change how we talk about it. One conversation at a time.

Hey everyone. Welcome back to Proud Stutter. Today we have Raphael Stark, a person who stutters. He is the founder [00:02:00] and president of the Nonprofit Chats. Welcome, Raphael. Yeah, thank you. Before we get into your Nonprofit Chats, tell us about your stutter. What, what has it been like having a stutter and growing up with a stutter?

So, I've had a stutter. Um, since I was very young, um, and I know my parents, uh, noticed it pretty early on. Um, and then they obviously like, um, asked my pediatrician about it. Um, and The thing is, a lot of people, and even doctors, um, they don't really know much about speech challenges in general. Um, so obviously she couldn't really give them all of the information.

[00:03:00] Um, but actually, um, a good family friend of ours, um, It is a speech and language. So we were able to talk to her, um, more about it. Um, but I know for me, um, it didn't really, I'd say, impact my life in a negative way. And even when I founded chats, a lot of people. We're like, Oh, I didn't realize you had a speech challenge that I'm like, Oh, yeah, I do.

So, um, I think that, uh, really, uh, solidified how normalized it can be. Um, and I know, I know for, for, for me, um, I have [00:04:00] been bullied and teased because of it. Um, but it honestly kind just took like growing up and being The, um, bigger person in that situation. Um, and rather than, than showing that same hate back towards that person, I would ra rather, I guess take the, the, the, um, hit, um.

I, I would rather, um, educate that person on why I talk the way that I do, um, and that my hope is that they will be able to learn something and that they will won't, um, do it again. My, my, um, stutter has, um, [00:05:00] Kind of I wouldn't say yeah, maybe maybe change the way I even look at Other people as well. And can you tell us a bit more about why you started chats?

Like what made you? I really want to be like, okay, I really want to start a non profit and do this. I was looking for groups in Hawaii where I live, um, for, um, youth such as myself who had speech challenges and there actually weren't any. Um, so in seeing a need, I decided to start my own. Um, so with the help from fr fr fr fr from friends, [00:06:00] family, and local organizations, um, I was able to create CHATS.

And, um, actually, CHATS is the first organization in Ha Hawaii, um, to do this. targeted, uh, towards youth who have, um, speech challenges. Um, and this year, uh, 2024 is actually our second year of being a 501c3. Um, so it's definitely been a lot, a lot of work. Um, but, but all of it is, is definitely worth it. Yeah.

And how do you balance Running a non profit with like being a teenager and school and like all of that stuff. So definitely not many teenagers are founders and presidents of their own non profit org organizations. [00:07:00] Um, but luckily for me, um, I, I am, um, home schooled. Um, so that helps in being able, um, to do that.

to take breaks from school work, um, and work on chats, um, kind of whenever I need to. Home schooling has helped, um, as far as the, the, um, scheduling aspect, um, but honestly, um, the president, uh, of a nonprofit. It takes a lot of work. Um, and with, with that comes sacrificing other things that you would like to do, um, but that you aren't able able [00:08:00] to because you have the, the responsibility, um, of kind of running.

And organization. Um, so it definitely takes a lot of time management, um, and just a lot of, um, deep thought, um, in kind of level of like, well, what things, um, You can kind of leave out of your, um, schedule. Um, but the other thing is, um, it has, uh, really, um, grown me as a person and as a leader. Um, and so even though it has been tough, um, the, the, the reward of being able to help [00:09:00] others, um, It really makes all, all, all of it worth all of the hard work.

I was looking at your website and, um, noticed that you guys had hosted a school dance. I think that is so cool. Such a great idea. Um, can you tell, can you talk more about like the different programs that CHATS offers? So CHATS mission is to break the walls of misconception through education while providing support and resources For youth with speech cha cha challenges.

So, um, how chats, um, executes our mission is we actually, um, have [00:10:00] monthly events. And those events are either larger community events, um, where kind of anyone can, can come and learn more about chats, and also learn more about speech challenges. Um, and those community events usually have. A theme. Um, and, uh, I know we've had a bunch of like, um, like, meet and greets, um, either with hot dogs or pizza.

Um, But, uh, just, just in July, Chats had one of our biggest events yet, um, and it was a formal [00:11:00] dance, um, for middle school and high school youth, um, and it took a lot of work. I believe it took around eight months of planning, um, and then like a day of, sat up at the, um, um, at the location, um, and then the, the, the entire day of.

Um, so it was a, a lot of work, um, but. I'm so, so, um, grateful to my, um, board me members, um, and volunteers, um, and everyone who's a part of the chats team, um, who, who came and helped out, uh, um, and helped out. For the, um, [00:12:00] setup during the event and, and breakdown afterwards. Um, so that event was really a, a awesome.

We have, um, so smaller support groups, um, for those youth who have speech cha challenges, um, and in those support g. groups. Um, we'll kind of be, um, covering a different topic each month. Um, so it might be like, uh, living with a, a, a stutter. And then the other one might be like, how to, um, Interact with other people who might not really get that you have [00:13:00] a speech challenge, um, and then, um, we, we are, we are also, um, going to implement some meetings with actually the parents, um, where my parents, um, can, um, I would say counsel, um, just, just kind of, um, also educate them on how they can best support their kid who has a speech challenge.

Um, but the, the cool thing is that The support groups are only for teens with speech challenges, but it's really open to any youth who [00:14:00] would like to, um, learn more, um, about what, A, a speech cha challenges, um, and how all of us as a community can better support and interact with them. And I love how you open it up to allies as well.

Is there something that you've heard through your, um, these support groups like. Um, like some, some, some, some, like something that you've, you've been hearing or is true to yourself about how to interact with, with youth, with speech challenges. So, uh, I, um, do presentations in, um, schools, so something that always shocks, uh, people [00:15:00] Um, it's about how people with a speech challenge, like, we kind of have a running thesaurus in our brains.

Um, and kind of like, a log of what sounds trigger and then we have to like know the word that we want to say and then we have to like see if there's a trigger sound in that word and then if there is like do we do we just say it or do we go into our thesaurus and see if there's another word that like means the same thing but might not have as many um, or any trigger sounds and then we like see like, oh does that word work or like Do we have to?

Add like a few words that [00:16:00] mean the same as that one word. Um, and I know like when I talk about that, that kind of like shocks people. Um, because like they don't really realize how much is going on inside our minds. Um, just to say what we want to say. Okay. And a lot of people don't know that like, it's not that there's no cure.

Um, and that is just something that you have, um, and like there can be work arounds to make you kind of have a better grasp on it, um, but it's not going to go away entirely. A big part of, of chats is education and advocacy. And so, um, are there ways [00:17:00] that chats like empowers other people to also be advocates?

And how does that, how does that work? Within chats, um, chats as the team, um, it does, it doesn't only consist of our board members, um, but actually pretty early on in chats. Um, I thought of having a group of teens and younger, um, youth or young adults, um, to be a part of chats, um, because I'm sure. all of us either when we were kids or if we're kids now, um, or even in adults, like we'll go to an event or a gathering and we show up and there's no one even remotely our [00:18:00] age and it could feel pretty awkward or intimidating or you can feel like out of place.

Um, and I kind of found that early on with chats, um, because I kind of thought back like, wait, what if I was going to a chats event, and I show up, and there's only adults. And then the founder who's a kid, and then I'm like, Oh, that's kind of intimidating. Um, so yeah, so I thought of having a group of teens and young adults, um, who could really help to welcome those.

attendees in and make them feel at home. Um, but also it's just [00:19:00] a great way to kind of like, I don't want to like sound weird, but like to have like chats, eyes and ears, like everywhere. Um, to just like, kind of, kind of like checking up, um, at kids at events and things. LL like that. Um, and I know WW with my, um, group of team members, um, they're not only like there to help out at the Eve, Eve eve events, but, um.

They also help in the planning, um, and kind of just advocating themselves and inviting their friends and people that they know to the events as, as well. [00:20:00] Um, because, um, My hope is that in having team members, they can kind of grow into advocates and leaders themselves. Because I know a hope. Of mine, um, since I am a senior now, my hope is that CHATs can continue, um, to have a teen and youth aspect, um, in the, um, in the continuation of Of chats, um, and that, um, it, it can really be, be, be, be, be, um, somewhat peer led, um, because, don't get me wrong, adults are g g great.

But teens know teens. Um, [00:21:00] and I feel, um, like that's really, um, been a big help is having that group of team members, um, At chats events, just making everyone feel more welcome. And then it also shows that other youths find those with speech challenges cool. Yeah. Um, and that they see that this is something that other people their age.

Are excited about with chats. Um, my hope is that then we can get some of the attendees who have speech challenges on board. As well, [00:22:00] um, because, um, actually, since I'm going off to college, I'm actually looking for a vice president. And my hope, um, is that it can be, um, a youth who has It's a speech challenge, such as myself.

Um, but even if, if, if that, um, it isn't the, the option, my hope is that eventually, um, even further, further, further down the road that chats can continue, um, to, um, have, um, At least one of their leaders will, will, will be, um, a youth who has a speech challenge. So when putting on events, um, for, um, [00:23:00] young people with speech challenges, how do you go about, like, finding youth with speech challenges?

Um, like, what, like, yeah, what is your kind of, how method around that. In the beginnings of chats, um, my first vision was just to have support groups. Um, but, but since chats was so new, um, and since it was still around COVID times when it was like, we're, we're really, Bad in the lockdowns and all that. Um, it was difficult to get participants.

Um, and so it was pretty early, early, early on, um, that my mom and I were thinking like, okay, how do we get people excited about this? Um, and we immediately [00:24:00] thought that, okay, so, The whole thing about speech challenges, it kind of needs to be like an add on to another thing. Um, so immediately we were like, okay, let's have a hot dog meet and greet where people will come enjoy food and games and prizes.

Um, and then I, I will talk about chats. Um, and so I think the important thing is, is realizing who your target audience is, and then kind of seeing what do they like, and then implementing that into what your, um, I guess, actual, um, plan is. Um, because Um, obviously in, uh, that's another thing and why I [00:25:00] have community events, um, is that they're, they're just fun events, um, that will implement some Aspect of chats.

Um, and so, like, for example, for the formal dance, um, we had, like, a bunch of prizes, games, raffles, um, including, like, 100 gift cards to things, um, that, that were donated from those, um, businesses and, and organizations, um, but I found that, um, that the only way to eventually help those with speech challenges, you first have to get the word out about chats [00:26:00] and raise 100 Awareness in the community, but no one wants to go to a lecture where you just talk for like an hour about one thing, like people want to go to a fun social event, and then I wouldn't say like trick them but then they don't really realize like, oh, like, this is, Oh, Like a serious thing.

Um, and then it kind of opens their mind to how those with speech challenges can also be accepted into social events. Um, in the community, because my other hope with the community events is that, um, I'd say it's, it's kind of [00:27:00] like normal events that like other organizations would put on, but, but, but that, um, my goal is to show that those with speech challenges can also be implemented.

In these, um, social gatherings and I guess normal, um, social activities as well. And my, my other hope is that chats can be that safe place. space for those teens with speech challenges to really, um, experience the, the non judge, judgmental side of being able to, to, um, go to community events and not feel like [00:28:00] they, they have to hide.

Fair speech cha challenge or have a fear of being judged, bullied, or teased. So I know that chats, um, right now is mostly focusing on Hawaii, which is incredible. Um. You told me about an exciting project that you're working on, um, beyond Hawaii. So can you, um, you mentioned that before we hit record. Can you talk about that with us?

We actually have. a project, um, actually in the works now where we're actually helping kids over 10, 000 miles away in Kenya. Um, because, uh, CHATS is actually partnered with, um, a non profit there called Ohana. Um, and they, [00:29:00] they, um, teach, um, just community, um, to the kids in Kenya. Um, and they're all, um, re circled around music.

Um, that, that, that's a big, um, uh, thing with, with camp. Ohana. Um, so the project is called Bridge of Aloha, empowering Africa's youth through compassion and community. Um, and basically how we're gonna be doing that, um, is we're going to be meeting monthly with the kids there, um, of virtually. Um, and first we're just going to be, um, just building a bridge of friendship, um, [00:30:00] because a number of the kids in Camp Ohana actually have speech challenges, um, but they go undiagnosed, and the community in Kenya unfortunately really doesn't know how to support those, um, not only who have speech challenges, but who might have, um, physical differences also.

Um, and a big thing there is unfortunately, um, super Um, so the thing is actually like if a kid is born with a speech challenge or something physical, then they are seeing that their bloodline is cursed. Um, And that, like, either their parents or someone, [00:31:00] um, down the line did something bad and that's why they're now paying for it.

Um, and, like, bullying isn't really taught as a bad thing. Um, and so, um, again, um, Since it's a very remote village, there's actually no internet, um, so we're, we're, we're, we're, we're working now with, with, um,

Starlink, um, to get Wi Fi to them, um, and I believe it's Peace. It's like pretty much in the end works now. Um, and then chat has actually already sent over an update. Um, that that was received by [00:32:00] the kids there. Um, and that's how we will, will be, uh, uh, interacting with them. Um, and then obviously first I'm just going to be, um, be building in, um, a, a friendship with the kids there.

But my hope, um, is that we, we will actually bring on Hawai'i based speech and language pathologists, um, that will help diagnose, um, and teach The kids and community there on how they can, um, better support those who have speech challenges. Um, and obviously it's gonna take a lot of work and a and a lot of time.

Um, [00:33:00] but I know that this is something, um, that is going to be really. impactful. Um, and I know I'm, I'm really excited about getting this, this, um, um, past the, um, the, the, the, the, the, um, planning works, um, because a hope of ours is to send over more, more and I'm really iPads there, um, and to actually, uh, uh, uh, eventually fly there and be, be, be able to meet all of the kids.

in person. Um, so it's been a lot of work and it's still going to be a lot, a lot of work. Um, but it, it's, it's definitely, um, something that will, will, will be worth, um, [00:34:00] all, all of the hard, hard work. Um, and since of the time It's going to be like really late in Hawaii for us to meet on Zoom with them in Kenya.

Um, so I know that's something we have to work on. Um, but. Yeah, so that's just another thing that, um, Chatz is doing. So that was actually part one of our conversation with Raphael. Um, expect part two in two weeks. Um, it was such a great conversation that it was really hard to cut it down. So yeah, we're doing a part two.

So stay tuned for that. And thanks for listening.

And that's it for this episode of Proud Stutter. This episode of Proud Stutter was produced and edited by me, Maya [00:35:00] Chupkov. Our music was composed by Augusto Diniz. And our artwork By Mara Ezekiel and Noah Chupkov. If you have an idea or want to be part of a future episode, visit us at www. proudstutter.

com. And if you liked the show, you can leave us a review wherever you are listening to this podcast. Want to leave us a voicemail? Check out our show notes for the number to call in. More importantly, tell your friends to listen too. Until we meet again, thanks for listening. Be proud and be you.