Habilitat’s Life-Changing Impact with Donovan Noble

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Interview Transcription

ADRIENNE:
Welcome back, and thanks for listening to the Team Lally Real Estate show home of the guaranteed sold program. We’ll buy it. I’m Adrienne and I’m Attilio. And if you have any questions, just give us a call at 7999596 or check us out online at Teamlally.com.

ATTILIO: 
Our guest today is 20 year old who triumph over adversity transforming a path of self destruction into one of empowerment. He is honing his skills in sales, marketing, public relations, entertainment event, coordination and fundraising. He

ADRIENNE:
has spent two and a half years at Habitat and is now currently serving as Habilitat’s public relations representative a beacon of resilience and success. Please welcome today’s guest, Donovan Noble.

ATTILIO: 
Hey, Donovan.

DONOVAN: 
Hey Attilio This is Donovan. Thank you so much for inviting me here.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah. All right. So we got some questions for you. We have some questions for you. And just keep repeating that over and over. Why don’t we? Adrienne, why don’t you just ask the first question.

ADRIENNE: 
We’ve had Habilitat on our show over the years, several times but we may have a listener to that may not be familiar so

ATTILIO:
Donovan, could you tell us what is Habilitat?

DONOVAN: 
Absolutely. I’d love to be able to tell you just in case there are a few that have not heard about it, but it’s yeah, it is, first off, it’s an amazing organization, nonprofit organization as well as the Treatment programs, we are known to be the toughest but also most successful program in the nation. We do provide vocational training within it, which is what I’m doing right now I’m in the sales and marketing department. Some other other vocational training that we have is a services where we practice a lot of construction, fencing, yard maintenance, residential maintenance, and all that. And we also even have a culinary arts department where we serve and prepare food for about over 1000 meals a day alone, wow, for a lot of different organizations. So other than that, we do a lot of basic things, learning about our core values, but the program itself is really focused in on the individual themself, and helping them to become the best version of themselves, including with the vocational training. Yeah.

ATTILIO: 
I think if I were to, you know, there’s a book book called Atomic Habits by James Clear, we actually got to see him speak and had him sign our book. And he’s been doing pretty good. I hear him on podcasts and stuff like that. But his big takeaway, or my big takeaway from that book, is that if you want to have positive habits, you got to have a positive environment. And Adrienne, I have been down there to teach classes and visit and you guys are really extremely positive environment. And a beautiful environment. Yeah, right. On Kaneohe Bay.

ADRIENNE: 
That’s so nice. Yeah. And

ATTILIO: 
so with that in mind, talk about this environment that people are in and what’s

ADRIENNE: 
an average day like? Yeah, habilitat,

ATTILIO: 
exactly.

DONOVAN: 
That honestly is a great question. But I do want to refresh refer back to that book that you’re talking about. I hear around here someone is reading it. And I’ve been trying to get that book for so long.

ATTILIO: 
No worries. We’ll bring you guys extra copies because I know we dropped off about 10 different books. I know that was one of them, but we’re gonna bring extra copies. Boom. I’ll make sure hey, I love that for extra copies. First of all, Donovan gotta have one of the copies when we bring them off, because he brought it to our attention and this is why you guys Okay, keep going. Done already.

DONOVAN: 
Hey, yeah, sorry. About that. We are on the we’re on the Bay Area of Kaneohe, we we literally have a beachfront property with a beautiful pier that is right now under construction. We were able to get some of the materials donated from HPM building supply so thank you to them for helping us supply that material. But yeah, we’re located right across the bay for the Marine Corps Base which is a beautiful spot. We do sometimes are able to go swimming in that little barrier. It’s not the best spot to go assuming I tell you but it is the best spot for a military resident to do so because we go swimming and we clean up at the same time.

ATTILIO: 
Nice can you guys do cannonballs?

DONOVAN: 
Not yet. Deep we got to keep cleaning it up.

ATTILIO: 
Okay we don’t want to we don’t want to get the coral in your call in your head jumping in for cannonball. So but you know what I like about you guys. You said it best no matter where you guys go you leaving it better than you found it right? That’s what you guys teach. Yeah. Okay, so

ADRIENNE: 
an average day what’s an average day look like? Tell us

ATTILIO: 
what’s that look like? What’s the first thing you guys do when you get up in the morning?

DONOVAN: 
Sample the first thing that I do personally when I wake up is oh gosh, I’m waking up is so early Oh no. But once I do get up the first thing I do is I nearly make my bed and when I mean neatly, I fold my blankets everything at the foot of my bed. Both sides have to have a 45 degree angle and like a military cut. That’s the very first thing I do. And every single day I do make my making my bed I also brush my teeth and shave that’s a mandatory I have to do those things. And then on to breakfast, you know, have breakfast, get with the founder relate on talk story and kind of plan each other’s day and see what we’re going to do for the day. Yeah. A lot of times during the daytime we while we have we run meetings kind of relate with each other teach each other what we should focus on creating goals setting these goals and accomplishing those goals. Yes, and of course like we said earlier that we leave things cleaner than the way we found it. Every day here is we leave everything clearer than the day before we clean it multiple times a day. By gently we clean the day clean a facility up bathrooms, ground seat, the leaves the dining room area, the kitchen area. We have multiple bathrooms so we do clean all bathrooms we have an upper rec area where we practice our aerobics, which is just Before breakfast time, we have two classes of that starting at 530. In the morning, I myself run the 6:30am aerobics class as an instructor. Currently, though I’ve been out of commission due to the fact that I smashed my finger. But hey, I still get to practice what I’ve learned. And if you plan out my day for when I do go back. And after doing all the cleaning, we go into some, like fun activities. Because one of our itineraries is where we work hard, learn hard and play hard, or work hard is cleaning up the what we learn is when we run the meetings, talk with each other and setting these goals and something new to learn every day. Yeah. And then the play hard part is when we go into playing volleyball, dodgeball, baseball, watching a movie, if anything, for some of us, we, we don’t really watch TV. So when we do it, we absolutely love it. We cherish it, we value the fact of being able to watch a movie and be able to sit back and know that we’re doing it with our founding members, you know, yes,

ATTILIO: 
I have no digital distractions, like, no cell phones, no

ADRIENNE:
social media, no social media.

ATTILIO: 
I think people will relate to that. Yeah,

DONOVAN: 
we have. We have a monitor screen for our vocational training. And we have a giant there’s like 82 inch TV inside of our dining room. Yeah, that’s never turned on unless it’s those special things, right? It’s a movie

ADRIENNE: 
night or something.

ATTILIO: 
On presentations or training? Yeah.

DONOVAN: 
Yeah. And so are generally our day starts around from majority of us from 5am. And we go to sleep from anytime between 10pm to 12am. Because we have a lot of meetings in between times. And we have, well, we clean up in between those times as well. And then we also are at the same time learning and kind of just, we really, really get close to each other by learning about each other and noticing flaws within each other and like, hey, this way you could do better. And we learn that from each other. So no matter what, throughout the day, we’re learning something. Yeah.

ADRIENNE: 
give each other feedback. Yeah, it’s important.

ATTILIO: 
How long harder that? Yeah. How long is Habilitat have been around?

DONOVAN: 
Habilitat has been around for over 52 years, actually, on the 27th of this month, we will be making 53 years.

ATTILIO: 
Nice. Wow. That’s a long time. And again,

ADRIENNE: 
how many people do you think that have come through the program in the 53 years? Successfully?

ATTILIO: 
Yeah, if you had to guess.

DONOVAN: 
Well, I know for prolong I’ve been here, there’s usually over 100 residents per year. That’s just per year, and the amount that graduate per year maybe like 20 to 40 times that by 50. Something is, I don’t know 200. So it’s gotta be way more than two on job. Honestly, you have to say about a boy. Yeah, but 10,000 1000s of people have graduated are successful. And

ATTILIO: 
they’re out there giving back in their communities to

ADRIENNE: 
Or they’re coming back to Habilitat to help out. I know that a lot of the leadership that’s, that’s helping to run the the place is also graduates.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah. And then

DONOVAN: 
yeah, so all of our staff members here, almost all of our staff members here, in order to become a staff member, you have to go through the program and graduate. Yes. So like our Executive Director, our facility director, our director of operations, marketing director, and all them, they’ve gone through the program, graduated and stayed on. Some of their responses would be if you never leave, you’ll never have to come back. Yeah.

ADRIENNE: 
So Donovan, how have you changed since being through this Habilitat program?

DONOVAN: 
Well, that’s that’s an amazing question. As I was actually not prepared for this question, even though I was on actually just before you, I got on. Yeah. Always trying to plan this out. For the longest time. Yeah. The way that how do I start this off? Even I’ve, well, I never thought in my entire life that I would be nervous about doing something good for an organization or even something good for myself. coming back, coming from where my background is, you know, I’ve had my own choices. I never thought I’d be capable of doing certain things, doing good things in life. But since being in the program, I’ve accomplished so many different things, I’ve been able to help out with doing fundraisers, doing some public relations and all that but from where I came from, it’s I was on a very fast path to going nowhere extremely fast all you know, I was I was going absolutely nowhere as fast as I possibly could. Yeah, too. Now being a program, learning about my own core values, I never thought I’d be able to know what caring for someone else or even caring for myself was. And being in the program has taught me that. Well, because caring for someone else’s well being also ties into my well being.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah, and it’s hard for others when you’re when you’re salt when you’re sinking yourself, right. And so you, you got that life ring with a villa that came to the surface and you’ve been hanging out with, you know, being in that positive environment. Talk about the and then continue on and then and then. So caring about others where Yeah, so other in addition to that, what else? What else has changed in your life? Awesome.

DONOVAN: 
There’s actually some really big drastic changes in my life I went from well, let’s just keep it very simple. In the beginning, I went from being on the streets being in jail to where I am now. Ben have been a public relations representative and entertainment coordinator. I oversee the entire fundraising department our and oversee half of our sales and marketing department. I’ve spearheaded some of our largest fundraising events that we have, such as our Christmas tree project. Yep. I’ve spearheaded some of those. I’ve spearheaded our haunted house drive through our online

ADRIENNE: 
that was very scary. I went to that this year. It was scary. You guys terrified me. And all my children

ATTILIO: 
were when we were interviewing people that were leaving the haunted house. The number one thing they always kept saying is, man, that haunted house scared the cash out of me. Because they made lots of donations. They made lots of donations. So it’s a great yeah, if you can scare teenage girls and you guys must be doing it good. Because they don’t get scared of nothing. Except when the mall with no money. No. Or when you really scary threatened to take their phone away when you shut off the Wi Fi. It’s like haras you should have one section at the at the haunted house. Teenagers with no Wi Fi. That’d be a scene. That’d be pretty scary. But anyway,

ADRIENNE: 
so Donovan so you’ve gone from like, you know been on the streets in jail to now like running all of these wonderful event rounds events, fundraising in just two and a half years. Awesome. Hey, what? What a turnaround? Yeah, yeah.

DONOVAN: 
And not just that and not just in this two and a half years also i Vaughn. So I’ve let this go with this. I’ve been on the news before right before the program. All for the wrong thing. Trust me. Yeah, great for like I was being looked for. And then I think it was just last year, I was on the news twice. For presenting Christmas trees. I’m selling Christmas tree guys. Here’s your credential for your house. Yeah. And then now I’m on the radio show. Yeah. About a program that does good.

ATTILIO: 
And you know, one more thing. You’re the Jane Fonda ability that you’re even young, but you don’t even know who Jane Fonda is.

DONOVAN:
I have no idea who Jane Fonda is she was.

ATTILIO: 
She was a famous actress back in the 60s and 70s. But then after that, she went into teaching aerobics. She had all this or aerobics tapes and the kinds of socks that leg warmers and all of that. So

ADRIENNE: 
how was he the Jane Fonda of Habilitat? Oh, wow.

ATTILIO:
I think it was better than being the Richard Simmons. That’s another person I probably don’t even know. He’s like, Hey, folks, today we’re gonna sweat.

ADRIENNE:
Oh, because he teaches part of the training in the morning.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah, it’s okay, that aerobics what you forgot that was only 12 minutes talking about that. Okay. Anywho speaking of Jane Fonda. So let’s talk about core values. Talk about the core values that you guys have over there.

DONOVAN: 
Well, those core values that we have here and abilities are quite simple. I’m pretty sure everyone I know for a fact everywhere in the world has ever heard of it. We just don’t pay too much mind to it. Here in the program is very huge to us pay a lot of attention to it. A lot of it has to do with our integrity, our accountability or responsibility. Some being honest, as well as accountant, let’s say accountability,

ATTILIO: 
honesty, accountability, integrity, responsibility. Those are all good. I mean, just stop there for people to be 100% committed to those just the core values you’ve mentioned so far. What what a difference that would be in their lives because I I can tell you right now there’s there are parents or adults that are listening to this. Maybe they need to be part of this program or they know some family or people close to them that they care about and they’re just not sure how to help them. You being on this show is communicating. Telling your story is probably resonating with these people and saying maybe I need to just take a little there or send my loved one there to to participate in this program. So

ADRIENNE: 
on that note what what percentage of residential treatment is Habilitat responsible for?

ATTILIO: 
Boy? Yeah.

DONOVAN: 
Okay, this one, this number might catch you off guard, but I can guarantee you it is 100 It’s accurate. So for residential treatment within the state of Hawaii, we provide over 52% of residential treatment.

ATTILIO:
Wow, that’s available. So 50

ADRIENNE: 
We provide Yeah, yeah, that’s amazing. We’re

ATTILIO: 
half Yeah. So that’s a that’s a big thing. I think what’s important is when people hear habila Tat, and you guys are calling for Hey, buy one Christmas tree silent auction comm

ADRIENNE: 
or, you know, come do my fencing or some construction, or like hiring hire their, their culinary division for catering. Yeah,

ATTILIO: 
you guys keep in mind that you guys, just just the fact that you’re providing that, that in home counseling for all these people. Residential Treatment, that’s a big thing. Because when we can when, you know, there’s we got to think about it as a person. You know, think about yourself, Donovan, were you out there, just only affecting yourselves or there was us probably just all the people around you. Right? Was not having a good not having a good experience with the with that old version of Donovan. Yeah.

DONOVAN: 
Yes, absolutely. I completely agree. I can see myself before and I look at it now. I’m like, Okay, I kind of almost forgot who that person was. Because I’m so fixated and focused on where I where I am today. And what like, I always ask myself every day, what can I do to do better? How do I do better, keeping myself open to providing better for myself, but also providing that better for someone else and helping them Possibly, yeah. So

ADRIENNE: 
we’ve got a couple more questions before we wrap up the show. So how does Habilitat save taxpayers money? Yeah, Donovan? Yes.

DONOVAN: 
I’m honestly super happy. You asked me this question, because I’m sure a lot of listeners are wondering about this, too. Especially after I give the number. Yeah, how much is saved? I’m pretty sure everyone would be absolutely amazed by was so we save set over? We save $75 million of taxpayer monies in just the past 10 years. Nice. Wow. And it sounds it may sound like a very large number. But yeah, it’s that large for a reason. Because if you think about it, we do, we did run some numbers. For any for one inmate being in jail in prison for one year, it cost that one inmate around $79,000. And that $79,000 is coming out of taxpayer money. That’s only for one person. We how’s about over 100 per year. That’s 79,000 times 100 per year being saved.

ATTILIO: 
Yeah. Not to mention all the other, unfortunately, challenges that are created, right, just somebody and when you’re incarcerated, you’re not working, you’re not in the economy with a job or supporting family members, or

ADRIENNE: 
and then everyone at Habilitat is all working. Yes. And they’re helping other nonprofits and other people in the community that need these their services. Yeah,

ATTILIO:
I want to circle back to it. You guys prepare meals for veterans? Is that right? That’s,

DONOVAN: 
that is right for the US veteran Kapolei and then US Vet over at the Waianae Civic Center.

ATTILIO: 
So when you’re supporting Habilitat, not only are you supporting the residential treatment, but you’re supporting the vets that have fought for this country and allow us to have the freedoms we have today.

ADRIENNE: 
And then Donovan, what are their service organizations? Are you guys supporting besides the US bats? Yeah.

DONOVAN: 
Actually quite a few. So if you can think about every single school and sports organization on the island, we we partner up with them in the way of Christmas tree sales. It’s a fundraiser that we run with the schools and to other sports clubs on the island. By them signing up for our fundraiser, and anyone buying or purchasing a Christmas tree, they just put that school or even that organization name on there. And not only are they supporting us, but they’re supporting the school that their kid goes to or their sports club that the kid goes to. Yeah.

ATTILIO: 
I think it’s you know, we’re past that time of the year where people’s checkbooks and hearts are open. So we want to come to you know, let’s remind people, keep those hearts open. Keep those checkbook open. You guys, you guys take donations right on your website. Get one donate.

DONOVAN: 
We do. Yeah, yeah, get a donate button on kind donations. But the best way we like to do it is by verbal conversation. We like to know who we’re talking to. We like to give people who they’re talking to. Yeah. as well,

ATTILIO: 
here’s the thing i’ll put out to the business people, we talk about it all the time, but we’ve got to have that with them. What’s in it for me, if you’re a business owner out there, and your business from a consumer standpoint cannot be told apart from your competition. This has been proven, proven statistically factually, that 96% of the time when the consumer is taking a look at two different businesses that look very similar. They’re always going to want to do business with the one that’s giving back to the community. So if you want to make your company more profitable, open up your hearts and your checkbooks, and make a big check out to her ability that is going to it’s going to help you be more successful and 24. And

ADRIENNE: 
even if you’re not a business, and you need help with different services, like fencing, or any kind of like handyman cool quote from them. Yeah, get a quote from Habilitat is, you know, that work is supporting this program, you will spend

ATTILIO: 
the money anyway. Why not? Why not get get? You’re gonna get one new fence and get some good karma? That’s right. Yeah. For one.

ADRIENNE: 
Well, Donovan, was there anything else, we just have a couple minutes left. Before we wrap it up? Yeah, that we missed three that we should have touched on before letting you go.

DONOVAN: 
I may be just one little thing about how we start off our program. In our first phase that you may face we do have a very holistic approach to things like a whole oponopono type of approach Sure, each other, more of a spirit, mind and body or soul, spirit, mind and body approach to each other. Where we do the physical fitness, we have encounter groups where he points each other out and different things and how to better each other. That’s just one of the things I’d like to talk about. And another one of the last big thing I want to say is that we do have a new program that we just started called habilitated keys to recovery. And that’s basically if anyone wants to donate their car trying to get rid of a car as long as we go, they’d run as long as it has a title. It doesn’t have to run it can run either one. Doesn’t matter with the title. You can still donate and it goes to a good cause.

ATTILIO: 
All right, all you people on the west side with those ugly cars sitting on the side of the road, turn that ugly car into something beautiful. go donate it to her village that used to be covered. All right. Cancer recovery. Thank you so much. Donovan. Thank

ADRIENNE: 
you so much.

DONOVAN: 
Thank you so much, Adrienne Thank you Attilio you guys have a great one.

ATTILIO: 
Yes. And I’ll be out there again to teach another class and bring some more books, right. I love you. Guys, you guys are awesome.

DONOVAN: 
I can’t wait. Okay. Have a good one. Thanks. Donovan.

ATTILIO: 
All right. Thank you, Donovan. Bye.

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