+You: A safe, decent home put us in the game July 30, 2020, 2 p.m. ET

[1:48] Jonathan Reckford: Welcome, everyone. I’m Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International. Thank you for joining us today.

I have been so looking forward to this conversation, which is one of many we’ve been having about the importance of housing, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I’m a huge sports fan. In fact, when I’ve spoken to student groups about following your passion, I’ve had to qualify that popular advice. Had I followed my personal passion, I would’ve attempted a career. We won’t talk about all the reasons why that didn’t happen, but I’m grateful that I can pursue another passion, which is to serve.

Our guest athletes grew up in Habitat homes and will share their stories of what stable housing meant in their lives.

First, I’d like to introduce A.D Franch, a member of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, which won the 2019 World Cup. She’s played with the Portland Thorns since 2016, setting a league record for shutouts in 2017 with 11. Franch earned the honor of NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year for 2017 and 2018, the only player to ever win it twice. A.D was supposed to be in Japan with the national team competing on behalf of the United States at the Olympics right now, but with … the Summer Games having been delayed for a year.

In talking about the Habitat home she purchased, A.D’s mother Raqual recalled how important it was to own a home where children can have their own yard to play in and feel safe. The yard is where A.D could be outside and play soccer every day, and on her bedroom wall, she hung pictures of soccer greats Mia Hamm and Briana Scurry. A.D is recovering from surgery. We wish her the best in her rehab.

We are also honored to have with us today forward Isaiah Roby. Growing up in a small town in Illinois required dedication for Isaiah to pursue basketball dreams. He recalls driving 90 minutes round trip both ways just for practice, and that was to AAU practice. But that dedication paid off.

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Three weeks after moving to Texas upon being drafted by the , Roby joined others from the team to work on a Habitat home in West Dallas. He said, “For a family to have a home of their own is huge. It’s just a totally different situation and environment to come home to your own house.”

When asked what his mom thought about his working on the Dallas home, Isaiah responded that it’s something she expects him to do. We are delighted that he continues to support Habitat’s work. Isaiah also underwent recent surgery and is recuperating.

And from the gridiron we want to welcome Malcolm Mitchell, former wide receiver of the New England Patriots. In Super Bowl LI, he grabbed five catches in the second half and collected a championship ring in the victory over our Falcons. I’m an Atlantan. We are still trying to get over that one here in Atlanta, but we are thrilled, Malcolm, that you could join us.

Malcolm tells of sleeping on couches and air mattresses during some difficult years of his childhood before his family moved into their Habitat home, a white house with blue shutters and a front door. That door, along with their own mailbox, was very symbolic for Malcolm because it marked a new beginning. He credits his mom and her deep faith for encouraging him. A strong advocate for youth literacy, his book The Magician’s Hat helps children discover the magic of reading. Malcolm is the founder and CEO of Share the Magic Foundation.

And moderating our discussion today is Maria Taylor, analyst, host and reporter for ESPN. A native of Alpharetta, Georgia, which is a suburb of Atlanta, Maria played volleyball and basketball for the Bulldogs at the University of Georgia. She was named to the All-SEC Volleyball Team three times and was also a member of the USA A2 National Volleyball Team. She has an undergraduate degree in broadcast news and received her MBA from Georgia. Thank you, Maria, for joining us.

Thank you all for joining us today.

[5:57] Maria Taylor: Thank you, Jonathan.

[5:59] Jonathan Reckford: Just one plug. We’re going to have an opportunity at the end of this program for you to ask your own questions, so feel free to put your questions in the chat box. And with that, I’m going to hand it to Maria.

[6:09] Maria Taylor: Thank you so much for the introduction, and it’s good to see someone down in Atlanta still hanging in there. I just got to New York, and I already miss those southern ties that we have.

But that brings up why Habitat for Humanity is so close to my heart. Obviously it’s based in Atlanta, and I’ve always known the great work that Habitat for Humanity does. Again, over 29 million have been helped to find shelter and build that foundation that we’re going to talk about

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right here today. And everyone who’s sitting here on this call I’m a personal fan of. As someone who covers sports, they are brilliant, excellent and have achieved things that I could never dream of in sports, and so I’m just happy to be a part of the conversation.

And, A.D, I really want to start with you. And as we talk about sports, obviously there’s something that happens when you’re younger, in your youth, that inspires you to work as hard as it takes to even be considered making a national team, let alone being prepared to go and play in an Olympics. But what do you remember about the foundation that was set for you when you found out that your mother had secured a Habitat for Humanity home and what that security meant for you moving forward?

[7:17] A.D Franch: You know, as a kid you don’t really realize … Well, some do, some don’t. They don’t realize that there is more until it’s been … you’ve been told there’s more or shown that there’s more.

And, you know, we bounced around from house to house, and when you have a home that you’re able to stay in and constantly be in, you don’t worry about where you’re going next. You don’t worry about the … changing potential schools or meeting new friends and having to start over. You find security within that, and that lack of … or not lack of, but without that worry, it gives you time and less stress and things that you can really focus on, whether that’s school, sports, whatever your skill set is, whatever your hobby may be.

It allows you to be a kid and allows you to be you without worrying about if I’m going to be staying on … sleeping on a floor or having to go somewhere to do my laundry or, you know, these different things that the luxuries of having a home bring. And it’s just, it’s so impactful because those little details make a massive difference.

[8:47] Maria Taylor: Yeah, and any child that has to go through that, you know, is obviously going to be concerned with just the necessities. I mean, that’s the base level of what a kid would be concerned with. And I read an article, Malcolm, about you, and you talked about sleeping on air mattresses or just not really being sure about where you were going to end up. And that all changed.

So describe where you were before Habitat for Humanity — your mom applied and it was received — and after. Like, how would you describe those two lives that you led?

[9:17] Malcolm Mitchell: They were completely different, and here’s what led up to our interaction with Habitat.

My family went through a divorce which caused a little bouncing around from house to house, from couch to couch, from floor to floor, from air mattress, and we found a temporary home at my grandmother’s house in Valdosta, Georgia. If anyone looks at my life or understands sport and how it represents persistence, relentlessness and just the ability to never give up, I would say that same drive exists within my mother.

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So even though we were in my grandmother’s house sleeping on … My brother was on the couch. I was on an air mattress. We all shared the same room. My mom applied for Habitat for Humanity and government-assisted housing. And I will never forget the night she found out she got denied government-assisted housing, public housing. She cried, and she wanted to give up, but Habitat called the next day.

And that house was much more than just a house. It was faith. It was … it showed me that relentless effort, persistence, leads to good things. Habitat provided hope. It was the first … it was the first yard, first mailbox, first front door, first bedroom. So our life went from uncertainty and dreaming of this miracle to proof that God is real.

[11:00] Maria Taylor: It’s so interesting because you … We talk about doors and just bricks and all of these materials, but you’re talking about a reality where you open a door, and you’re walking into faith, you’re walking into hope, you’re walking into a future that sometimes, as both you and A.D have described, you couldn’t have even imagined or dreamed.

And, Isaiah, I know that for you, you were the first Habitat for Humanity home in your community, so that is completely different than maybe even what individuals have found out before because they might’ve been introduced to Habitat for Humanity or they heard of someone that grew up in a Habitat for Humanity home. So describe what it was like for you when you guys were able to find out that the next phase of life for you included a solid home and shelter.

[11:44] Isaiah Roby: I mean, it was amazing. You know, my family, we also were living in public housing before we got our Habitat for Humanity home. You know, I had spent time living with my grandparents, my grandma. I spent time living with my aunts and my cousins, all in the same house.

So you know, being able to have a place where I can go and I have my own room for the first time … you know, it was just amazing being able to put up what I wanted on the wall, posters on the wall, whatnot. And also being able to just have a place that I knew was my own home. It was amazing.

You know, we were able to get … I think, like, most of my best memories are from that house, you know, my first bike, my first basketball hoop outside. So, you know, it was just a place where me and my family felt comfortable. And, you know, like everybody else said it was a place that inspired hope in everybody in our family.

[12:38] Maria Taylor: In a lot of ways, I’m curious — we can all chime in on this one, I’d love to hear all of you guys’ thoughts on this …

Where you are almost inspires where you’re going, and you guys ended up, you know, being shot out of a cannon and obviously your athletic success is completely ridiculous. But how do

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you think even having a Habitat for Humanity home has informed the athlete that you are today, the way that you appreciate things, the way that you think about things, the way that you pay things forward? Because you all do. And, Isaiah, we can start with you with that question.

[13:06] Isaiah Roby: Yeah, I would definitely say kind of, like, echoing what they were saying earlier, you never really know what’s possible until, you know, you get a little taste of it.

Like for me, growing up in a house where we have double the amount of people as we do rooms in the house, you know, that was normal. You know, I never really … until I got it, I never realized, like, man, having my own space is pretty cool. It’s pretty … you know, it makes it easier for me to go through day-to-day life.

But also it makes you very, like, grateful. I think the biggest thing that came out of that for me was just being more grateful for what I did have and grateful for the sacrifices people made around me to get me to where I was at and where I;ve been able to go in life. So, you know, without that, I wouldn’t be here.

[13:52] Maria Taylor: A.D?

[13:56] A.D Franch: You know, my mom likes to talk about the yard, especially me being a soccer player, being able to take a ball out there and just kick around, where before right outside the house would be the street. So … and it would be, like, a busy street that I wouldn’t be able to go kick a ball around.

But those … those moments are so impactful because I was just able to be a kid. I was able to play with my brother and sister in a space that was safe and that my mom didn’t have to continually worry, and me being the oldest, I had that as well with my younger brother and sister, definitely wanting to protect them. And it allowed for us to recognize that time together can be so much more when you have space to appreciate one another.

And then understanding how Habitat works. As a kid, I saw so many different people come and help and support and build my home, that almost subconsciously taught me that the people that you surround yourself with help guide you. I truly believe that. I believe that to my core. And without them I wouldn’t have had that stability to be able to focus as much on my sport without worry. And that allows it to be easier.

[15:34] Maria Taylor: I love that. Malcolm?

[15:37] Malcolm Mitchell: I’m going to piggyback off of Isaiah and A.D. I think one of the major things is gratitude and also appreciation for the hard work that took place to have that home. I think from my personal situation it was an opportunity for clarity.

The environments that we were in prior to Habitat were kind of chaotic, so really didn’t give my mother an opportunity to let her voice reign supreme. But once we got into Habitat, a Habitat

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home, she was able to instill accountability, responsibility, taking out the trash, cleaning up your room, all of those intangibles that we don’t think of much in our day-to-day life but play a tremendous role in how we operate. Saying thank you, turning off the TV, going to get your sister for dinner, it’s all those little things that we didn’t partake in when we didn't have a home.

We didn’t sit down and have a Sunday dinner. Why? Because we didn’t have a table to call our own. We didn’t sit down and watch TV because we didn’t have a couch to call our own. It’s all those opportunities that afforded my family an opportunity to mesh, evolve, grow closer, and I think that plays a tremendous role in the life that I’m living today.

[17:02] Maria Taylor: And what’s crazy is that opportunity starts with building the home. Like, a lot of kids, they move into a home, but you guys get to sit up there and say, “But no, like, I was a part of putting that roof on or this brick here. Or we chose a color together.” Not a lot of people have that.

And you mentioned it, Malcolm, before we all went live, that you felt like that was one of the best parts of the experience. So describe that and tell us why you feel that way.

[17:25] Malcolm Mitchell: I was the biggest fan of going to the Habitat site and helping put the house together. That was my favorite part.

As an athlete, hard work and doing your part is something I’ve always believed, and that was an opportunity for me to buy in — not just emotionally but physically — and help put together the thing that I would be calling home. It was an extraordinary experience. To me, I know for my mom having a home, just to pay rent, worry about all those things, but being able to say, “I helped put that wall up” made that house mean that much more to me. Yeah.

[18:05] Maria Taylor: A.D, I see you smiling so I know you have something to add about the build, the working hours.

[18:12] A.D Franch: I was, like … I was 10, if I remember correctly, when we got the house, and you know, I like to say … I would like to say I helped put that wall up, but I maybe only put one nail in. But I can say that I helped build my house. [Laughter]

But that’s what makes me laugh. As Malcolm was saying that, like, I remember doing a couple little things, but those little things are just so … they just mean so much to my core, and it makes me smile, kind of going down memory lane as we talk about this. And, you know, that’s what’s so impactful about all of this is it creates memories and … like, I can’t stop smiling because it makes me feel good. It makes me feel so good and just the impact that it has. It’s … there’s no really words to describe that.

[19:05] Maria Taylor: Isaiah, what do you remember about the construction of your home, being prepared to move into it?

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[19:12] Isaiah Roby: Yeah, I remember just the feeling of … it was kind of just … it didn’t seem real almost. Like, having the whole community come together and work on something that my family would be living in was just amazing. Like, you know, we had local churches. We had people in my family, outside of my family, coming together.

And I remember … I mean, kind of … you know, obviously I was … I think I was about 10 years old at the time, so you know, I wasn’t doing too much as far as hammering nails in or anything like that. But, you know, I would be helping out by handing out doughnuts to the workers, you know, pouring people coffee and whatnot, whatever I could do, picking up nails. And it was just … it felt like we were all there for one purpose and one mission, and it was, you know, it was a very special experience. And that’s why, you know, I’m looking forward to doing even more of that, helping out with other families.

[20:02] Maria Taylor: So Isaiah and A.D, they put one nail in. We got Malcolm maybe put up a wall. [Laughter] We have different levels of construction from our adolescent Habitat for Humanity builders here.

Isaiah, we … as mentioned, Jonathan mentioned that when you were originally drafted one of the first service projects that you did was in Dallas, and it was building a Habitat for Humanity home. And you and your brothers worked to raise money and everything, so how was that full circle? Like, how would you describe being a part of the community that’s helping to build something for someone else, knowing you had been through that yourself?

[20:37] Isaiah Roby: Yeah, it was awesome. I remember the first thing I noticed, like, going to the construction site was that in Dallas they had, like, probably three times as many people as I did in my hometown. And I was, like, “Man, I wish we would’ve had this many hands. We could’ve got it done a few months early.”

But, you know, it was an amazing thing. I got to go to actually three different houses in one day. They had three different construction sites going all in one day, so I was able to, you know, put some nails in in one house. Another house was almost finished; I was able to paint at another house. So … and meet a bunch of people in the community. And, you know, it was great to be able to see them and leave a message with the family that, you know, this is a great. You know, you guys … you guys, this is a great stepping stone for you guys in your life, and I hope it brings you guys all types of opportunity and just, you know, a great time.

[21:28] Maria Taylor: And that’s a great message to have. I’d love to hear, A.D, Malcolm, the message that you have for the kid that’s moving into a house or the family that’s getting prepared to do that or the community that’s helping to build a home, because these are all things … they could be encouraged by your message. I mean, obviously you guys taking part in it, taking advantage of the opportunity, you’re the outcome. You’re what everyone is donating money for because you guys are just great, great, great examples of what can happen. So what would be your message to those individuals?

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[21:59] Malcolm Mitchell: I would encourage anyone who gets into the process to enjoy it, appreciate it and just take full advantage of the opportunity that’s presented.

I think something that my mom let me know immediately when we got into the house is just that this is a great opportunity, this is a blessing, this is a miracle, but we have to understand that our work ethic and our pursuit for excellence does not stop here. This is a sign that God is telling us he is here with us. I truly believe that.

I feel like Habitat infused more energy, more hope, more relentlessness into my pursuit of life. And I think it is the starting point to my belief that all things are possible, just because of where we are and where that put us. So to sum it up, I would say understand, take full advantage, be grateful, take pride in the house, take care of it, but understand that your pursuit does not stop there.

[23:09] Maria Taylor: Love it.

[23:11] A.D Franch: I think for me, too, the community and the volunteers and everybody who works within Habitat … thank you. Thank you for understanding that people need homes. Kids need homes. And some people don’t understand the luxuries that they do have are essentials that some don’t have. And when you put the time in to help other people, it makes a difference. And, you know, it has made a difference in all of our lives because individuals and groups and communities came together to help us have a home and stability, and our families are appreciative.

And for the people who are about to have the home or move into their home, congratulations. You deserve this. I think that’s a big one … is it’s not just charity. It’s you put the work in, and that’s what people I don’t think understand sometimes with Habitat. They see it as “we just got a home, and I had to work and buy it for my home.” But for people who get Habitat houses, like, they actually put the hours, the work to help build it, to get to the point where they can then be stable within this home. And if they don’t make the hours that are required, then unfortunately they don’t receive the home if I understand it correctly. That’s what I thought as a kid, right? But it’s so important when you receive the keys that you understand that you deserve it and that you are worthy and that your kids are worthy.

I would say … I like to tell my mom, “We made it.” That was a moment, because as a kid, you know, my goal was to go to a World Cup. And I called my mom like, “Hey, we made it.” But I also had a moment when we were in front of everybody, walking into the home and receiving our keys that … “Mom, you made it.” I would agree with Malcolm. You still pursue and keep going, but just enjoy that moment and recognize that that is a very important moment and you deserve it, and you made it.

[25:55] Maria Taylor: I love the fact that you guys, like, the moment for you, A.D, that you decided, “You know what? I want to go to a World Cup.” Like, you were probably living in your home then, and you were able to, like, believe that. You mentioned you were playing outside in

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your backyard. You know, Malcolm goes on to win a Super Bowl, and that’s probably he was dreaming up while he was in that Habitat for Humanity home. Or getting drafted for you, Isaiah.

So I’m actually curious. Like, when you guys were kids — and we’ll do a little bit of sports as well — like, when did you realize all of this was possible? You have your security. You have your home. When did you realize that athletically the things that you were going to accomplish were also possible?

[26:32] A.D Franch: I didn’t.

I … at that time, I didn’t know. And the more that opportunities opened up for me, as I continued to work hard and have that work ethic and that drive and determination which allowed and opened opportunities for me, the more opportunities grew I almost started going on a path, and then I started to see that things became closer and more achievable and more reality.

So you almost put that goal to where it’s so far out of reality, but you hold onto it for yourself, and then these goals continue to bring you closer to that furthest goal or dream. That’s why people say, “Dream big.” Because you never know. Dream big. It may not feel possible now when you’re 10 years, but I’m … at 28 years old, I was, “Oh, it’s possible.” I’m 29 years old. I’m here. [Laughter]

[27:38] Maria Taylor: We made it!

Malcolm, Isaiah, what about you guys?

[27:46] Malcolm Mitchell: I would say my vision and dreams for being an athlete started when I was in the Habitat home. I moved in at the beginning of high school, and I became a national recruit, a part of the Under Armour All-American. I was recruited by every school in the SEC. Nick Saban sat in our Habitat home.

[28:11] Maria Taylor: There you go.

[28:12] Malcolm Mitchell: Mark Richt came and ate dinner in our Habitat home. And so there were a lot of dreams that became reality in that house.

And I’ll never forget — I took a sheet of paper out of a notebook, and on the back of my door, I nailed the SAT scores that I needed to get into college on that … I wish I still had that door, which my mom probably does. But that house played a tremendous role in where I built confidence, where I established my goals and dreams.

Now in that moment did I realize that I’d become a Super Bowl champion? No way. But I was hopeful that I’d make something of my life.

[29:00] Maria Taylor: Isaiah? I think you might be muted, Isaiah.

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[29:09] Isaiah Roby: Hello? Can you guys hear me?

[29:10] Maria Taylor: Yep, we got you.

[29:11] Isaiah Roby: OK, sorry about that. I was just saying my path was probably more similar to A.D’s.

You know, I kind of just grew up and, like, I always had a support system behind me, whether it was my mom, my dad or my grandma. Or anybody in my family really. Like, I never really thought, you know, NBA as what I’m going to do.

Like, I grew up, I played football, basketball, soccer, baseball, like, everything. I just was an active kid. And I was always pushed to be great, greater than I even thought I could be. So, you know, growing up when I moved into my Habitat home, actually I wanted to play football in college. That was my dream. And then, you know, a couple growth spurts later I’m getting, you know, Division I basketball letters in the mail, and I started thinking like, “Maybe basketball. I can do basketball.”

And then I didn’t even believe really that NBA was a realistic thing for me, one, just because where I’m from, I think there’s maybe … I think I’m one of three Division I players from my town for basketball ever. So NBA seemed, you know, way out of the picture.

It wasn’t even until I was at Nebraska in maybe my second year one of my teammates said, like, “You know, you can be an NBA player. Like, you don’t realize it, but you could be that.” And for me, I think my success has just come from me always keeping my head down and just working, and you know, I think that with hard work and dedication anything is possible, you know. So that’s kind of how I've always looked at it.

[30:50] Maria Taylor: Yeah. That’s an important message for anyone, whether you’re getting a Habitat for Humanity home or, you know, you’re just working towards the “dream big” goals that A.D was talking about.

We’re going to talk to Jonathan because I want to eventually get, you know, like … Saban, Mark Richt — maybe we can get everyone to come into a Habitat for Humanity home and like shoot a little commercial. I’m envisioning a recruiting visit in a Habitat for Humanity home at some point.

But I also think that, you know, we’re all affected by COVID. Obviously nonprofits play an even bigger role in making sure that people make it out of this season of life on a stable path, I would say. But how has it affected each and every one of you guys? How are you guys handling just the current climate socially, the pandemic globally? How are you guys staying mentally safe, physically safe right now?

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[31:40] Malcolm Mitchell: So one of the things that I fell in love with while I was in college was reading, and I think self-exploration is one of the most valuable things we could do for ourselves. So COVID has given all of us an opportunity to pause, think, recalibrate to, say, find new passions, intensify passions for things that we already enjoy.

And for me I have a nonprofit that focuses on youth literacy and introducing books into the homes of children who grew up similar to the way all of us did. So we’ve taken that virtually and been able to get more kids participating and getting them to understand the importance of literacy. Along with the Habitat house, I think having the ability to read is quite essential to long- term success. So that’s what I've been doing.

[32:35] Maria Taylor: Awesome. What about you, A.D?

[32:39] A.D Franch: Well, for the first three months of this year … I got married in December, and then I was basically gone for three months with the national team, with everything going on with qualifying for the Olympics and our own SheBelieves tournament. And so when I got home it was … it was weird to be home for a long time. At first it felt … I felt a little guilty because it felt good to be home, with everyone dying and just everything that it has … the impact on people.

So I felt a little guilty feeling good about being home. But it was a time that my wife and I, we spent a lot of time together. I got back on the bike. And we were able to do yard work, and that’s one of my favorite things. Again, like from the Habitat house, once we got the yard, like, I’m all about green, nice, beautiful grass out front, and then we have a garden in the back, and was really able to put my time and passion into that as we waited for us to be able to start playing again.

[33:52] Isaiah Roby: Personally I’ve been able to … you know, this is the most I’ve been able to see my family and friends, like, since high school probably. You know, as athletes, college and professional both, you know, we have very, very hard schedules when it comes to family, and sometimes it can feel like, you know, we kind of lose touch with our friends and family.

So for me, having surgery and then also with COVID, it was kind of a blessing in disguise for me to be able to go home, see my family, see my friends, just work on myself as far as, like Malcolm was saying, reading more, trying to get into new things because you know, like, this shows us that anything can happen at any time.

You know, our jobs, our lives can be disrupted. So being able to battle that … I know a lot of people have been going through some sorts of … whether it be … some sort of hardship, you know, whether it’s not knowing where money’s coming in now because their job is not paying them right now, whatever it might be. You know, I’ve been just trying to work on my mental health and then also to spend time with people I love.

[35:00] Maria Taylor: It’s almost like this pandemic or this time has reminded us all of how important home is. Like, you guys are all individuals that are … we’re all used to traveling. I’m

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the same way. You’re used to being on a plane and gone, and there’s been something almost refreshing about having to hit pause and reevaluate where you are.

But the entire point of Habitat for Humanity is building homes, so I’m curious what home means to you. Like, right now how would you describe it? What does it mean to you, Isaiah?

[35:32] Isaiah Roby: Home to me? It means … it means somewhere that you feel safe, somewhere that you know that, like, no matter how bad a day you’re having, you can come home and you can … whatever you need to unwind, whether it’s take a long shower or just talk to your family or your friends, like, you have that safe place.

And being able to be comfortable in your safe place is a huge thing, too. You know, now that … you know, growing up how … I did and, you know, sharing rooms, sharing beds sometimes even, you know, now that I’ve had that taste of my own space and my own comfortability, you know, that’s something that I wish everybody could have, everybody could experience. It’s a great feeling, and not to say that, you know, growing up how I did was bad because I think it made me who I am today, and that’s why I'm so grateful for it now. But, you know, it definitely is … it’s a special thing.

[36:29] Malcolm Mitchell: I will … I must admit I haven’t felt a sense of home since we moved out of that Habitat home. I moved out of the house when I went to college. That was almost 10 years ago. [Laughter]

[36:48] Maria Taylor: You’re making me feel old.

[36:50] Malcolm Mitchell: And since … I mean, since that time, you know, I went to the University of Georgia. I was going home periodically. Then my mother moved out of the Habitat home into another home. And, you know, my life, kind of like Isaiah was saying, has been this constant movement over a course of time. And I think, you know, I’m a new father, so I just got into a place so I’m trying to reestablish what it feels like to have a home.

[37:23] A.D Franch: Yeah, Malcolm, to piggyback off that, like, that’s what we do as athletes, especially in the business of being a professional. You can be traded or, you know, let go at any point. But with constantly … especially with the NWSL, we’re … for like six months, seven months of playing, we move into market; you move out of market. You move into market; you move out of market. And so from basically 2013 until 2017, I was just moving all over the place, that same kind of feeling as a kid. So almost that adaptability … you kind of forget kind of what home feels like in a way.

My home was always … in between was always to go home to the Habitat house in Kansas. And that’s what my mom always wanted for us, was for her family to be able to have a home to come back to at any point in their life.

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And then I bought a home two years ago with my wife, and it almost like reestablishes that feeling of having a home and what it means to, you know, go with the national team and then, OK, I get to go home. And then it’s like, well, what is the difference between the home in Kansas and the home in Portland? Is one more of a home? And for me, they’re both my homes because it’s where my heart is, it’s where my family is, and that’s what's important.

[39:01] Maria Taylor: Well, Jonathan, I know we’re going to bring you back in to open questions, but how extraordinary is it that even now where they are now, these Super Bowl champions, Olympians, you know, NFL draftee or NBA draftees, and they’re still saying that home to them means the Habitat for Humanity homes that you take leadership over or, you know, that you’re designing, the programs that you’re designing. That’s pretty cool.

[39:23] Jonathan Reckford: You know, this is the fun part for me. There’s so much we deal with, challenges and the barriers and the things we’re trying to break down so that more people can have the opportunity. You know, you three are all such inspiring examples of why we build. And not every child in a Habitat home gets to reach the pinnacle of athletic success, but our hope is that every child in a Habitat home gets to grow into all that God intended for her or for him and have those opportunities and have that stability.

And so it’s … you know, I’ve been reflecting a lot personally in this time of COVID where, you know, I have a job that I can do from home. I have a safe place to live. I have an internet connection. And, you know, to think that a quarter of the world lives in slums or in inadequate or unsafe shelter, and so being told to shelter in place, one, if you have no place to go shelter, and two, if sheltering in place means you can’t feed your family, that just doesn’t work. And so I feel this impatience and urgency but also a great sense of gratitude in this.

But thank you all for inspiring.

[40:32] Malcolm Mitchell: Well, I think we all owe you a huge thank you because it’s your program and Habitat for Humanity that afforded us the opportunities to, as A.D said, dream big. And I think that was a beginning step into what we began to perceive as a huge opportunity that we can continue to go on and live, so …

[40:58] Jonathan Reckford: Well, thanks, Malcolm. And I’m curious, from your perspectives, it’s so interesting to me that when you ask people — and maybe that’s starting to change with COVID — but historically when we’ve asked people what matters most, you rarely heard housing. And … in terms of priority for people who are the donors. And my hypothesis — and I’d be interested in your feedback on it — is that so often the decision makers in life are people who all grew up in good housing, which is sort of self-fulfilling. And yet when you talk to somebody who doesn’t have adequate housing, there’s almost … you know, once you have food and water, it is such a basic need. And I think it’s where the storytelling’s so important, but it is … I’d be interested in your perspectives on how to kind of raise the visibility of what it means and how critical it is for children to have a safe and stable place to live.

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[41:49] Malcolm Mitchell: Well, one of the major things for me, and I’m piggybacking off of maybe all of you in our conversation before we went live, is exposure. I had no idea the relevance of being a homeowner. I had no idea what that meant. I had no idea what it meant to have your own yard, your own mailbox. None of those things really existed within my scope of reality[inaudible]. That’s when I began to understand and learn a lot more that took place from being a homeowner. So all to say is exposure … the exposure to the reality of having a home in itself allowed me to educate myself more on something that plays a tremendous role in our society.

[42:42] Jonathan Reckford: That’s great. Please jump in … and I have to ask a sports question, too, because I;m a sports fan. How is it as a pro athlete dealing with COVID, separate from the logistics, just how are you thinking, Isaiah and A.D, about this sort of new strange normal of how to have the leagues operate in our COVID world? What’s it like, the idea of playing without fans? How do you think about some of these challenges?

[43:12] Isaiah Roby: I think for me personally our league, the NBA, has been doing a great job, I think. I think they said they have zero positive cases down there in the bubble. They’re letting me … I’m actually staying back in Oklahoma City right now because of my injury and because of rehab. Just facility-wise and time-wise, it makes more sense for me to be here.

But you know, I’m really grateful that sports are back, and you know, it kind of makes everything feel a little bit more normal that sports are back. I know the MLB is kind of struggling right now as far as canceling games and whatnot. But I think that it’s important to make sure that safety is the number one priority right now. If leagues are able to do it safely, I’m totally for sports coming back. And, you know, it definitely is going to take some time to get used to.

Like, when I first came back from surgery and I was working out here in the facility, you know, I was working out with a mask on, and it was hard to breathe. You know, you’ve got to take your temperature before you come into the building. We’re doing COVID testing weekly. And these are all things that are kind of … you know, they’re obstacles, but, I mean, when it comes to safety they’re all important. And so, you know, it’s definitely going to take a little bit of time to get used to, but I think that people are doing a great job of taking the necessary precautions.

[44:33] A.D Franch: Yeah. I mean, we’re … you know, the Portland Thorns, they’re in Utah with the NWSL, have the first sports team back, you know, in the U.S., so have to represent there.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to go with the team because I had surgery. But, you know, everything like Isaiah was talking about, with our training sessions we would do our whereabouts, our COVID testing once a week, temperature before we even drove to the stadium. You know, we go through … we have apps that we go through all of our wellness questions. And, you know, like you said, health is the priority.

And the NWSL did a good job with the whole month that they had for the tournament, and I think it allowed for the NWSL itself to recognize that potentially we could add this tournament. There’s

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talk about adding a tournament within the season like they do on the men’s side. So it’s good to see, I think, and have that kind of production with also keeping everyone safe.

And, you know, they’ll continue to look throughout the rest of the season. If there’s anything that they can continue to do, more games and what that looks like, but you know, with this COVID world recognizing that we are being forced to think differently and think creatively, which allows for more opportunity.

[46:02] Jonathan Reckford: That’s great.

Hey, we promised the audience we would ask some of their questions. There are a lot of questions. I wanted to make just a couple quick observations from your wonderful feedback.

One, I’m wondering if you actually planted the seed, because I am a … Malcolm, I’m a Tarheel, not an Alabama fan, but Nick Saban actually personally sponsors a whole bunch of Habitat houses. And so maybe you were the spark there that … even if he didn’t get you to play, he got you to think more about it. But I love that challenge. I think every coach ought to help with that.

The other I just wanted to reinforce because often this is one of the biggest misconceptions, and you all certainly hinted at it. But the biggest misconception of Habitat — other than President Carter starting and running it, which is not true though he is our most famous volunteer by far — is the idea that we give away houses. And I just want to reinforce that sense of partnership.

So to purchase a Habitat home, families have to first be low enough income not to be able to qualify for a traditional bank mortgage, but then they have to partner, and that means they and their families put in hundreds of hours of what we call sweat equity, helping literally build their home and their neighbors’ homes and taking classes in financial management and home maintenance. So they’re really well-prepared, and that’s why our Habitat homeowners have been so successful in their homes.

And then the critical other piece is demonstrating the ability to pay back a very affordable mortgage, and our local chapters then revolve those funds in the same community. So each family, as they’re making their payments, helps the next family have their opportunity as well.

We are actually being joined by people from all across the United States including … and the world including Romania and India, and a lot of hometown fans, so you three … including Portland, Oklahoma City and Atlanta are here with us as well.

Just a comment first from Milwaukee Habitat. “A.D’s statement ‘Many kids don’t know there’s more,’ referring to kids without permanent homes, really hit me. Thank you for sharing.”

And first question for Malcolm, “Couldn’t you let Atlanta get their first championship?” [Laughter]

[48:11] Malcolm Mitchell: We tried. We gave them a 24-point lead. [Laughter]

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[48:16] Jonathan Reckford: Ouch. That really didn’t make anyone feel better I don’t think. We’d better move on.

[48:23] Malcolm Mitchell: No, my brother’s a huge Falcons fan, and everyone asked when the game came up, would I find any discrepancy in doing my job, and I didn’t find any problems whatsoever.

[48:39] Jonathan Reckford: Evidently not. Merciless!

Question for any of you: “Did your family build relationships with staff, volunteers, other Habitat families within the Habitat program that still exist? Have some of those relationships endured?”

[48:58] Malcolm Mitchell: I know my mom has a friend who, when she went to go pay the mortgage every month, developed a friendship with the lady, one of the female workers that worked at the front desk. They became good friends, started going to church together and fueling each other’s faith.

[49:17] Isaiah Roby: I know for me there’s a bunch of people … my mom actually just sent me a … I kind of was going down memory lane, looking at a bunch of old pictures from the construction. And there’s a bunch of people from my community that I honestly didn’t even know worked on my house, but now that I, like, I know them now, and it’s like, “Oh, that person helped build the home that my family grew up in.”

So, you know, for me it was really cool to see that. And then also there was … I forget his name, but he was really helpful and really instrumental in building the house. He just passed this year, and I wish I knew his name so I could, you know, so I could honor him for that.

But there definitely is. Just looking back on it there are so many people that helped, and it kind of just gave me another new perspective on my community.

[50:07] A.D Franch: Yeah. I know my mom definitely made some friends. Like, I believe the main contractor there for a while. I don’t know if they’re still in touch today, but some of the volunteers.

And the biggest for me was my first-grade teacher was actually a volunteer, and you know, I think she did it a couple times. But the first time, she ended up coming on a Saturday. I was kind of thrown back a little bit and so excited to see her and gave her a big hug. And she brought her two boys and her husband, and she put them all to work. And we probably chatted more than she did some work, but she had them go, and you know, it’s just … how small the community is but how big the impact it.

[50:53] Jonathan Reckford: That’s beautiful. Thank you.

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How, for you, did your experience with Habitat influence your thoughts about philanthropy and giving back as you’'ve now established yourselves?

[51:08] Isaiah Roby: I think that was for me … you know, I always knew if I ever got to a platform like this where people look up to me, it’s kind of … it’s kind of surreal to me still.

Like, even at a college level, I would have … you know, I’d be out at dinner with my teammates and have a little kid come up and say that, you know, I was their favorite athlete or I was a role model for them. So, you know, that was always a dream of mine, to be able to have this platform to make changes in other people’s lives in whatever way I could.

And I think that … I think programs like Habitat for Humanity, even things like Shop With a Cop around Christmastime … my family was involved with that when I was a kid. You know, we would get … the local police department would send my family a turkey for Thanksgiving. So, you know, my family’s always gotten help, and I’ve always looked forward to helping other families.

[51:59] Malcolm Mitchell: I think Isaiah and A.D have said it, and I guess I’ll reiterate it, but it takes a village. And … no one ever accomplishes anything on their own.

So as I was able to grow and have certain accomplishments in certain areas of life, it was a necessity to reach back and help others as much as I was getting help throughout my process —which I’m still in a stage where a countless amount of people are helping me accomplish some goals now that I’m a retired athlete.

So starting my foundation was a no-brainer for me. If I found a tool that helped me become more successful in life, well, I am required based on my philosophy of life to pass it to those who also may need it.

[52:48] A.D Franch: Yeah, I think that philosophy becomes just ingrained and almost subconscious. But I think that’s … you know, when we received that help, it automatically allows us to want to pay it forward. And I think that’s what’s beautiful about community.

[53:09] Jonathan Reckford: Thank you.

We have a comment. “Isaiah, A.D, and Malcolm, thank you for taking the time to share your stories and highlighting how home helped you get where you are. You are all inspirational witnesses and advocates of what is possible.” I love that.

We have another question from Charlotte, North Carolina, a Georgia fan who would love to hear about the impact that seeing your family put in sweat equity to help build their home had on you. So maybe especially talk about your moms, seeing the work they put in, both to provide for your family and on top of that help make this all happen.

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[53:46] Malcolm Mitchell: Maria, would you like to go?

[53:48] Maria Taylor: [Laughter] I didn’t have to put in any sweat equity. My dad basically built his house by himself. [Laughter]

But I would love to hear your story, Malcolm, because you put up walls in your house.

[54:00] Malcolm Mitchell: Yeah. I grew up in a single-parent household and my leader, my provider, was my mother. So watching her go to school, work and put in the work necessary to obtain a Habitat house was inspiring. And it definitely fueled my understanding of hard work.

I remember like it was yesterday my mom getting the opportunity to apply for a Habitat home, running into the bedroom, pulling out her wallet, and cutting up all her credit cards because she said, “I have to get my credit score right because we will not be denied this home.” I remember her calling her older brother to come help her as it related to getting the necessary hours. I remember her being on to my brother and I about helping in any area that we could.

So watching my mom put in that sweat equity also transitioned to me understanding the sweat equity that would be necessary to obtain anything in life.

Yeah, my mom is definitely my champion.

[55:20] A.D Franch: Yeah, wow. Words … I mean, I don’t have the words to describe what my mom means to me honestly. She’s made me who I am today because of that sweat equity that she taught us. I mean … and, Malcolm, I loved that you used sweat equity as, like, more than just for the Habitat house. It’s what you need, period, in life. And I’m going to use that. I’m going to that the rest of my life. [Laughter]

But yeah, just that … that constant belief of never giving up because there’s definitely hard times, and you don’t have any other choice but to continue to survive and continue to work and continue to grind. And, you know, keep fighting even when you’re down because opportunities will come. And yeah, so keep that sweat equity up.

[56:24] Jonathan Reckford: That’s awesome.

[56:26] Isaiah Roby: Yeah, I would … you know, I was just going to piggyback off of both A.D and off Malcolm.

You know, my mom is probably one of the most hardworking people that I know. Actually not probably, she definitely is. She’s definitely, you know, the most hardworking person I know.

You know, my parents were married when I was younger. My dad was in the Army. We moved around from military housing to, you know, to public housing, then on to our Habitat for

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Humanity home. And, you know, like everybody else’s mother, like, my mother had to do more than, you know, as much as she could.

She would pick up side jobs for me to be able to play AAU. You know, sports and gear and all that stuff, that’s not cheap. So having a single-parent household, you know, she had to do more than the normal mom would usually have to do in order for me to do these things and for me to get to these platforms, in order to get to college and in order to be seen by these college coaches.

So, you know, I think her hard work was always instilled in me, and you know, I think that she was just a role model for me for my entire life. You know, she’s the main reason why I’m here where I’m at today.

[57:40] Jonathan Reckford: Thank you. We have a million more, and we’re running out of time, which I hate.

Lightning round, final question: If you could sum up your Habitat experience in one word, what would that be?

[57:56] Malcolm Mitchell: Transformational.

[57:59] Isaiah Roby: That’s a good one. That’s a real good one. [Laughter]

[58:05] A.D Franch: How are we supposed to follow that? [Laughter]

[58:10] Jonathan Reckford: You can have the same one.

[58:11] A.D Franch: OK.

[0:58:15] Isaiah Roby: I’ll say uplifting.

[0:58:19] A.D Franch: Inspirational.

[58:22] Jonathan Reckford: Inspirational. Fantastic.

I hate to bring this to a close because I have loved the conversation. And I want to thank each one of you. Honestly, you have lifted me up. It’s been a tough time for our country and world, and you are just such shining lights of why we do this work and more of what our world needs. Thanks to each of you for your contribution.

Habitat for Humanity has been at work to provide affordable housing solutions around the world for over 40 years now, and we’ve had the privilege of partnering with more than 29 million people to build or improve a place to call home. But we never want to forget that each person, each family who has partnered with Habitat has a story to tell about building a better life.

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Thank you so much for sharing your stories and inspiring others to take action in support of safe, decent and affordable housing. Now more than ever, we need to get people excited about helping to create strong communities in which all residents can thrive.

So thanks for being with us today. Thank you all for joining us in the conversation. We look forward to continuing it, and let’s recommit to a world where every child has a decent place in which to live.

Thanks.

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