Interview with Rudolph Johnson (Neighborhood House Association)
Well, who I am is a long story, but I can give you the basics. I’ve spent most of my life-almost all of it, in fact-here in San Diego, though…
Interview Transcript
So, tell me a little about yourself, and what it is exactly that you do.
Well, who I am is a long story, but I can give you the basics. I’ve spent most of my life-almost all of it, in fact-here in San Diego, though I spent a few years down in Texas finishing my education. And now, I use that education to head the Neighborhood House Association-where we provide services to the community. Heh. I even made use of those services myself, when I was young.
Could you elaborate on that a little more?
Of course. NHA operates a variety of services, ranging from education to mental support, to convict re-insertion, and, y’know, many other things. It’s all available on our website. We do a little bit of everything, to help make our communities stronger and help people uplift themselves. For me, as a child, it was our Head Start program that got me to where I needed to be. Gave me a solid direction and the skills I needed to make use of it.
Oh, wow. And what exactly did you with it?
Exactly what you’re interviewing me for-went to work helping others. Started at the bottom of the service, right here in San Diego. Assistant Engineer for the city, then I started working my way up. the ladder. Worked for the city for years, then switched over to the Convention Centre.-stayed there for about 8 years, and then, back to where it all began-NHA.
A roundabout journey. So what is it you all do, exactly?
In simple words? We help people. People who’ve slipped through the cracks, people who need a hand getting back up, people who want their kids to have good lives. We do all that. Help old folks too, ones who can’t care of themselves. It’s our calling, our service. I was helped-and so I help in turn.
Big job, that. What kind of obstacles do you face?
Oh, all kinds. When I came in, the whole organization was struggling. Lack of funds, inefficiencies everywhere, disagreements between employees. And we’ve fixed that. Took time, and effort from lots of great people, but we’ve turned around. We’re hoping to build a school in a few years now- and that’s a kind of dream that I would have thought pure fantasy when I started up.
Alright, then. Last question. Would you have any advice, for young people?
Hmmm… “Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” And that applies everywhere-in your personal life, in your academic life-even in your work environments. ‘Cause the last thing you want-is to miss out on an opportunity because you didn’t ask about anything.
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