"Blazing Trails and Breaking Norms: African American Women's Legacy in the Fire Service.

[00:00:00] Karen & Alexis
[00:00:30] ​
[00:01:00] ​[00:00:00]
[00:01:30] Karen: Welcome to the podcast, Blazing Trails and Breaking Norms, African American Women's Legacy in the Fire Service, presented by the African American Firefighters Museum In Los Angeles California I'm your host Karen Slider a retired Los Angeles City Fire Department firefighter paramedic. Join us for candid interviews with outstanding black women shaping the fire service legacy. Please note that the opinions of our guests are their own and do not reflect those of the African American Firefighting Museum.
[00:02:00] Alexis: hello
[00:02:30] Karen: everyone. This is African American Firefighter Museums podcast,
[00:03:00] and today our our pioneering women who are breaking
[00:03:30] Alexis: norms and blazing trails has the
[00:04:00] Karen: opportunity to.
[00:04:30] Alexis: [00:01:00] Interview
[00:05:00] Karen: Alexis Kendricks.
[00:05:30] Alexis: She's a specialist for the county of Los Angeles.
[00:06:00] Karen: Hello, Alexis.
[00:06:30] Alexis: Hi. How are you?
[00:07:00] I'm well, and
[00:07:30] you? Good, good.
[00:08:00] Thank you so much
[00:08:30] Karen: for doing this interview. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
[00:09:00] Alexis: Okay. Well, uh, I was born and raised in Inglewood, california. Um, I where still reside. Single parent home
[00:09:30] Karen: period v
[00:10:00] Alexis: Uh, grew up
[00:10:30] playing sports. Basketball was my main sport,
[00:11:00] And, uh, was able to earn a scholarship, uh, to go to University of Georgia.
[00:11:30] Karen: Wow.
[00:12:00] Alexis: So,
[00:12:30] um, it was a huge culture
[00:13:00] shock. Coming from Los Angeles to kind of a, like a small town, you know, in Georgia, Athens, Georgia. But, uh, I was able to play all four years. Started off four years. It was a top 10 school. Um, I almost made it to the final four of my sophomore year, lost by four to LSU. So I had a lot of great
[00:13:30] experiences, um, after college. Uh, didn't make it to, didn't make it into the WNBA, but I did play overseas [00:02:00] in Serbia, so I
[00:14:00] was there for about six months and that was an experience because I didn't know much about just, uh, global politics and history. So they have their own history as a re as their, with their relations with America.
[00:14:30] So when I got there, it was kinda, um, unfavorable. I was there when, um, you know, I don't know if you know much about like Yugoslavia, the countries Eastern Europe anyway, um,
[00:15:00] Karen: so there was a bunch of countries that were all connected with, um, yugoslavia, yeah. Serbia, Romania, um. Croatia.
[00:15:30] Alexis: So I believe it the like each of country kind of broke off. So when I got there, cosovo was the last country
[00:16:00] to become independent. So basically they were all separate. And so in the reaction in Serbia, they were upset. They bombed the American Embassy, they bomb any kind of American restaurant at the McDonald's. So my coach was telling me, don't tell anybody you're an [00:03:00] American.
[00:16:30] Karen: So what did you tell 'em you were
[00:17:00] Alexis: So, I just told myself I'm gonna have a fake Jamaican accent, because that was the only thing. Thing that I thought, okay, a black person, you know, you can either be from England or Right. You know, I couldn't tell 'em I was from Africa because you know, would've either
[00:17:30] Karen: Right. What if the tribe asked
[00:18:00] Alexis: yeah, Exactly. Exactly. I'm just, you know, just you know what I'm gonna him I'm from Jamaica.
[00:18:30] I could fake a Caribbean accent. So one time we were to Croatia by bus and
[00:19:00] we had to have a police escort because there were bad relations between Serbia
[00:19:30] Croatia. So I'm, all, I was already on their on edge. We get to the hotel and I see a
[00:20:00] priest approach me and he says, um, are you from? And I took like maybe five seconds. I'm like,
[00:20:30] Karen: oh, you can't lie to the priest, right.
[00:21:00] Alexis: just like, America. And he was like, oh, okay. So I, I heard his, you know, American, I was, he was like, yeah, I'm, I'm from Georgia. And I was like, I went to college Georgia he was like, my nephew played for football. I was like, I played for the basketball. It was
[00:21:30] Karen: Right. It was like going home, huh?[00:04:00]
[00:22:00] Alexis: It was like going home. But it was a small world in that instance. So.
[00:22:30] um, I, I had some high moments also some, know, kind of below moment out
[00:23:00] there. 'cause there's a whole aspect of sometimes you just don't get paid. You
[00:23:30] know, you can sign a contract overseas, but they don't, sometimes they can just stop paying
[00:24:00] you. But I ended up getting all my money in the end. They were just like, we want you back. And I was like, all right. I got on that plane so fast and
[00:24:30] Karen: You're like, I'm not coming back. Right.
[00:25:00] Alexis: heard from you since.
[00:25:30] Karen: So how did, how did that correlate with the fire department?
[00:26:00] Alexis: Well, you know, uh. Communication. I, would, I would take away this. I couldn't understand a word they were saying. None of them have never seen a black
[00:26:30] person before in per, in person. So to really communicate with my face. Smile a lot, give a thumbs up, like them, universal,
[00:27:00] you
[00:27:30] Karen: know? Mm-hmm.
[00:28:00] Alexis: so when you're
[00:28:30] Karen: language, more body
[00:29:00] Alexis: language makes a huge difference. So when you are responding going [00:05:00] in someone's house, you, you know, when somebody calls 9 1 1 is they're not calling 9 1 1 to say, Hey, I
[00:29:30] got a apple pie for you. know, it's just, you know, it's a bad day for 'em. So you show a body
[00:30:00] language communication to where you're there to support, you're there to help.
[00:30:30] So that was of the huge aspects I learned, you know, is just, you don't have to
[00:31:00] know how to communicate word for word, but your definitely says a lot. So,
[00:31:30] Karen: Yeah, I know
[00:32:00] Alexis: kind of
[00:32:30] Karen: lonely when you're in a country and you don't speak the language, though.
[00:33:00] Alexis: Yeah, it was a lot of, I re-watched a lot of movies, but there were a few friends that, uh, you know, there was a DVD man, they used to, uh, sell DVDs, American movies.
[00:33:30] Karen: You could, the The Bootleg.
[00:34:00] Alexis: bootlegs. He had bootlegs. He had bootleg, but, um. but It was a culture shock because
[00:34:30] people take for granted all the diversity that we have here. You know,
[00:35:00] Karen: And they're that they've never seen a black person
[00:35:30] Alexis: never seen, I, I mean, I remember my teammate was saying, you know, 'cause we
[00:36:00] went to a small village to, to play. My teammate said, oh, they, they [00:06:00] want to meet you, these little kids. So naturally you reach out, you know, to
[00:36:30] shake their hand. A little girl snatched her hand back because she's never.
[00:37:00] Karen: she's touched a black person, person.
[00:37:30] Alexis: Yeah. So was scared and I was just like, wow. And not to say anything negative,
[00:38:00] Karen: No, she just, it was just new to her.
[00:38:30] Alexis: was just new. But then you also gotta think the only black people they see is through media.
[00:39:00] Karen: Mm-hmm. So how we portray
[00:39:30] Alexis: media-wise to the rest of the world? So that made me kind of think about that, like, wow, you know, this is, 'cause I've heard a few jokes out there and it's just like, what?
[00:40:00] Karen: Right. Where'd you get that from? Right,
[00:40:30] Alexis: exactly. But. Um, it was an experience I appreciate, I mean, it was like going back. 50 years,
[00:41:00] you know,
[00:41:30] because just, you know, they're, the toilets are, it's just a ground that you,
[00:42:00] Karen: a hole in the ground,
[00:42:30] Alexis: in the ground is, is totally different, but their life is a whole lot simpler, a whole lot simpler, versus here is so much of a hustle and bustle. So there's positive and negative [00:07:00] aspects in both. Societies. So, but i, I would never, I never took for granted, you know, the experiences that I had out there.
[00:43:00] Karen: What
[00:43:30] Alexis: do you think, how
[00:44:00] Karen: that compare with America? If you had to,
[00:44:30] Alexis: you've traveled, so where would
[00:45:00] Karen: live if you had a choice?
[00:45:30] Alexis: You know what, the only country That able to kind of travel to and stay there for an
[00:46:00] period of time. Mm-hmm. Uh, I would have to travel to other countries just
[00:46:30] to see what it's like. But for my lifestyle now, since I work so much, it'll kind of be nice to,
[00:47:00] you you know, live, I don't know, in
[00:47:30] Serbia, just,
[00:48:00] Karen: You know. Simple.
[00:48:30] Alexis: You know, you, you eat, you have a three course milk. It's simple. You with your family and. You're not so focused on Ugh.
[00:49:00] Karen: on the grind.
[00:49:30] Alexis: Of the grind. Ugh, I gotta go to work. Ugh, I got this light bill due. You know,
[00:50:00] Karen: Right, right.
[00:50:30] Alexis: So at least it seems that way. There's other aspects in their country
[00:51:00] Karen: of course the corrupt governments and all of
[00:51:30] Alexis: and War.
[00:52:00] you [00:08:00] know, uh, but
[00:52:30] Karen: But you educated them, you showed them what black people really are
[00:53:00] Alexis: try to, well, you know, there's,
[00:53:30] and that's the thing, they have the media side, but then they're also experiencing me.
[00:54:00] So I have a responsibility to show them. I'm not like, you know, they, they may listen to NWA and think, you know, this is where, this is what it's All black people are like that.
[00:54:30] right, right. And it's just like, no,
[00:55:00] Karen: no, actually I would meet people and they would be like, um, so do you do this? And I'm like, no. Do
[00:55:30] Alexis: do
[00:56:00] Karen: No. No. Mm-hmm. Why not? Because I don't do that. You know?
[00:56:30] Alexis: No. Or here's a big one. I'm
[00:57:00] Karen: like, well, my friends do that. I said, well, how
[00:57:30] Alexis: many friends you got one. Well, that
[00:58:00] Karen: doesn't.
[00:58:30] Equate
[00:59:00] Alexis: everybody
[00:59:30] Karen: in my circle, none of my people do that, you know?
[01:00:00] Alexis: Or here's a big one, which I feel like, dang, I think I just got my black car snatched. So when I just got on the team, I had girls ask me, can I braid their hair? And I was like, dang, I could barely braid my own hair. Like I can't.
[01:00:30] Karen: So just your
[01:01:00] Alexis: looking at me like, you don't braid [00:09:00] hair. And they looking at all my, and I'm like, no, my cousin, you know, I had twists at the time. I'm like, my cousin did this for me. I dunno how to braid.
[01:01:30] Karen: my cousin. Right,
[01:02:00] Alexis: Right.
[01:02:30] Karen: So when you came back, how did you get on the fire department?
[01:03:00] Alexis: So, when I came back, um, I was in the midst of a couple of contracts that I had with different countries and it was like a waiting period. So my sister. She had
[01:03:30] just came back from living in Georgia. And so, uh, she saw that there was a career fair happening at USC. So she's, she was telling me, let's just go, let's just see what's there. And I'm just like, all right. know? So I get there and LA City, uh, firefighter, you know, said, Hey, he stopped me and he said, hey, are you an athlete? And I said, yeah. And he just like, you ever thought about a career in the fire department? And I was like, no, not really. He was like,
[01:04:00] you can make this much money working only. This amount of days a month, like 10 month.
[01:04:30] And that, you know, I perked up and I was like, 10 days making this much. Tell me more. You know? So the more talked the career, it just reminded me [00:10:00] I'll still kind of be like an athlete, still be physical. I've always wanted to help people. I've always wanted to, you know, not necessarily be in an office, but just your outdoors. Just working with people. That was my main aspect. I wanted to help people, but I want to still work with people almost like, you know, like a team. So at the time, I had a cousin now as a firefighter for a Miami-Dade fire department. He's currently a lieutenant that's about to retire. I asked him a lot of questions and he loved his job. I had cousin
[01:05:00] here that was dating, now married to a firefighter for Compton Fire Department. He's now a captain for Pasadena Fire Department. And, um, I asked him a lot questions and
[01:05:30] then I met, uh, captain Burton for Los Angeles county Fire Department. He's now retired
[01:06:00] and I started to go on a lot of
[01:06:30] ride ride alongs and I thought, okay, I can really do this. I really, I really it. So
[01:07:00] that's when I said, you know what, I'm just gonna retire early. 'cause I feel like I still have more years to go as a player,
[01:07:30] Karen: but
[01:08:00] Alexis: I thought, you know what? I
[01:08:30] didn't wanna go through what I went through Serbia to if I'm playing
[01:09:00] [00:11:00] and they're not paying me, you know, be here. You know, I I'm gonna get paid. I
[01:09:30] know I'm gonna have benefits and i'm gonna make a difference. Well, that was in 2008.
[01:10:00] and little did I know, and a lot of people in that timeframe, little did they know that a lot of departments weren't hiring.
[01:10:30] Karen: Why was that? Well,
[01:11:00] Alexis: that was, uh, that was after around Bush and Obama where the whole financial, you know, world collapsed. So, you know, the housing market collapsed. So a lot of foreclosures,
[01:11:30] a lot of, you know, a of weren't, hiring. A lot of people out of and the department wasn't, wasn't hiring. So I did everything that they told me to do. I got my EMT. I Got
[01:12:00] my CPAT If you don't know what a CPAT is, stands for Candidate Physical Agility Test. So
[01:12:30] I got that and I started working as an EMT and I thought, okay, within a year or two, i'll, i'll be hired. Well, it took me six to seven years. Wow. So I stayed
[01:13:00] with it. But trust me, in that time I was [00:12:00] thinking, you know, this is probably not gonna happen. Maybe I can become a nurse, maybe I can do something else.
[01:13:30] Karen: You know, I thought about becoming a police officer, but You know, I
[01:14:00] Alexis: just, me carrying a gun, I was just like, nah,
[01:14:30] Karen: you might have to shoot somebody, huh?
[01:15:00] Alexis: I was like, the public does not want me to. Be carrying no gun around. So luckily it happened and I got on an The department in 2014.
[01:15:30] Karen: Okay, cool.
[01:16:00] Alexis: Yeah. Mm-hmm. So
[01:16:30] tell me
[01:17:00] Karen: about your journey on the fire department when you came. You became a firefighter first, EMT, then what?
[01:17:30] Alexis: So, uh, became a firefighter. Uh, 2014. I was extremely green, meaning I didn't know anything. I was strong. can throw the ladder. You know, but I didn't know anything, so it was literally starting from square one. So. I I mean, i'm gonna be honest, it was overwhelming just
[01:18:00] the amount of information, not just on the EMS side. Yes, the majority of the calls you do go on are, are medical, but there's a lot of. Construction. There's a lot of fire behavior, [00:13:00] weather. Um,
[01:18:30] Karen: and equipment.
[01:19:00] Tools
[01:19:30] Alexis: equipment.
[01:20:00] You know how to use it. You know how to take, how to maintain it,
[01:20:30] you know, how
[01:21:00] Karen: safety. Precautions,
[01:21:30] Alexis: precautions, a lot of
[01:22:00] things I didn't know. So when you take all that information and then the expectation of coming in that you're supposed to know it, you know, was overwhelming. also, you know, kind of disappointing because you wanna excel and do well with your peers, but you know, you're just, you're kind of like lagging behind
[01:22:30] information wise. So it was a lot of up I I to still, so
[01:23:00] even after 11 years, you know, I'm still relearning and reteaching myself some things. So in that aspect, it was tough. Schedule, so it's not like regular to five. course you're working, you know, a hour, you know, shift. And you sometimes may to work a 48 or a 72, and during that time it was rare that I worked four days in a row. But it, it, happens. And do
[01:23:30] Karen: they have a maximum days?
[01:24:00] You can work overtime before you have to take a break.
[01:24:30] Alexis: Usually six days, but some days,
[01:25:00] Karen: days,
[01:25:30] Alexis: but some days, [00:14:00] sometimes, you know, they'll lift that, you know, if it's under extreme. Oh.
[01:26:00] Karen: you can work, you, you won't get a
[01:26:30] Alexis: can work like 10, 12.
[01:27:00] Karen: Wow.
[01:27:30] Alexis: But, uh, but yeah, you know, especially with
[01:28:00] these fires that we just had, like I was, I think I was on for like nine days straight. But, uh, but yeah,
[01:28:30] Karen: that's an emergency situation though, you know, but just regular month to month
[01:29:00] Alexis: to month. Mm-hmm. Why,
[01:29:30] Karen: why working so much overtime?
[01:30:00] Alexis: You know, some people love it. Some people they live at the station. Uh, but i'm. am, I
[01:30:30] don't know how their family life is, because that's a tough work life balance when you know you have a family at home.
[01:31:00] For me, I didn't have a family, like, you know, I don't have a husband or kids, but I, I, I did at the time, I had a lot of young nieces and nephews, one in particular that I'm pretty close to. So I wanted to make sure that I spent enough time,
[01:31:30] Karen: with your family? With
[01:32:00] Alexis: my family as well. So the, the work hours of our course different, [00:15:00] so.
[01:32:30] Karen: You said
[01:33:00] Alexis: you were
[01:33:30] Karen: green. How
[01:34:00] Alexis: did the
[01:34:30] Karen: guys treat you?
[01:35:00] Alexis: I'm trying to remember. You know, I've never really had a really bad experience and I
[01:35:30] think that's because they were aware that I was green.
[01:36:00] so they certain stations that are probably a little bit more friendly. So
[01:36:30] I did have one guy, and I wish I could remember his name. I don't even know if he's still working, but he did tell me, he was like, Hey, you know, You're You're coming in there and, you know, you're obviously different, but just give me some words of encouragement. You know, just don't worry about what people are gonna say, know? Um,
[01:37:00] you, you do have people that will support you. So I was like, oh, okay. But it was kind of a blessing that I went into it a bit, a oblivious, because all I focused on was, all right, I'm just gonna go in and just try to outwork or just do my best. I may not know it, you know, but I'm gonna try to. You know. So, [00:16:00] you know, of course a few comments here and there.
[01:37:30] Sometimes political wise, you walk in and watching, you know, Fox News and they may say certain stuff and, you know, different events that, that may come up. For me, I just try to stray away from. Certain or sometimes at night all the guys will watch
[01:38:00] movies and, you know, I'm just like, I'm just gonna let their have their,
[01:38:30] Karen: yeah, let them have their time,
[01:39:00] Alexis: their time, their boy moment, moment. Um, so that's, that was kind of like my
[01:39:30] game plan of, of just work hard after dinner, kind of separate myself, not, you know, that I didn't like them, but I just like my time alone, you know? Yeah.
[01:40:00] Karen: had a little patch of grass that I used to always water when I wanted to get away from, I like,
[01:40:30] Alexis: and
[01:41:00] Karen: I don't
[01:41:30] Alexis: know, I think the grass died after I left because there was just more water
[01:42:00] Karen: than they were giving.
[01:42:30] Alexis: Mm-hmm. Yeah, there was,
[01:43:00] Karen: I understand that sometimes you just need to be a. Alone.
[01:43:30] Alexis: Yeah. And
[01:44:00] Karen: from negative energy.
[01:44:30] Alexis: Yeah. Um,
[01:45:00] you know, [00:17:00] there, there
[01:45:30] are a few, you know, my second spot, you know, was tough.
[01:46:00] You know, I had this, uh, I had this guy, he was like, what can you do? You know? 'cause I, I didn't, I didn't know much and I was just
[01:46:30] Karen: Oh, wow. I was like, what do you know? Huh?
[01:47:00] Alexis: I was like, ah, you know? But that just only made me just try to
[01:47:30] Karen: be more determined.
[01:48:00] Alexis: more determined. Be more determined. So. Um, you know, you're gonna have things like that, but, um, I just always tried to, you
[01:48:30] know, just work. That's the only
[01:49:00] thing that I knew
[01:49:30] is just, I'm just gonna try to outwork everybody.
[01:50:00] Karen: what
[01:50:30] Alexis: you think about the
[01:51:00] Karen: little black girls that are coming on
[01:51:30] Alexis: now? All the
[01:52:00] Karen: little girls that see you on the engine, how
[01:52:30] Alexis: do you think you inspired?
[01:53:00] Karen: them?
[01:53:30] Alexis: You know what, I get this all the time. I, matter of fact, I got it. It.
[01:54:00] A couple of days ago, uh, sometimes, you know, the neighborhood may have
[01:54:30] like a little birthday party and you know, they want an engine to drive up. And,
[01:55:00] and it's not so much the kids, it's the adults that come. I've never seen a black female fire, you know, and their eyes light up and I'm like, yeah, it's not too many, but
[01:55:30] we're here. [00:18:00] So, um, that's, you know, that's great. I've, I've had, you know. kids come up to me and parents like, can you take a picture with my daughter? She's, you
[01:56:00] know, I. And, uh, the impact of that is just like, wow, they see it. So now something is planted,
[01:56:30] Karen: right? A seed is planted.
[01:57:00] Alexis: A seed is planted.
[01:57:30] So, Yeah. So, you know, that's great. Even if they don't become firefighters, at least they know that they have an option. That's the thing where you want that next generation to have
[01:58:00] as many options and opportunities as as possible. So, just
[01:58:30] Karen: can encourage 'em on two sides.
[01:59:00] You can say you can play basketball. Mm-hmm. You know? Or you could be a firefighter
[01:59:30] also too.
[02:00:00] Alexis: Exactly.
[02:00:30] Karen: NBA really taking off right now. You know, the opportunities have opened
[02:01:00] up for
[02:01:30] women's basketball as well as men's
[02:02:00] basketball.
[02:02:30] Alexis: Oh yeah. It's a lot of attention, which is, which is great that people are. Paying more attention to it because, and not to kind of segue, you know, NBA, of course
[02:03:00] men, you know, they're more athletic. They [00:19:00] play above the rim. But women play below and it's a little bit more strategic, a lot more fundamental. So A lot of, I've seen a lot of, you know. NBA former NBA players saying they love watching the game 'cause it's
[02:03:30] a lot more fundamental. You learn a little bit more strategic of how to play the is a beautiful thing to, to see. So as long as we next next generation with options
[02:04:00] and opportunities of things that they, they can be, you know, when they become of age is, is just a beautiful thing because it's just, you you never wanna just be pigeonholed. Into something. 'cause when I was coming up, you know, my mom and uncles
[02:04:30] and aunts was like, all right, you gonna graduate from high school? You gonna get education
[02:05:00] and hope find a good job for the county or
[02:05:30] city. You
[02:06:00] Karen: know?
[02:06:30] Right. Become a postal worker or something. Right?
[02:07:00] Alexis: yeah, exactly, exactly. Because that's,
[02:07:30] Karen: those
[02:08:00] were the good jobs,
[02:08:30] Alexis: those were the good jobs. So for them
[02:09:00] to a firefighter, it's
[02:09:30] just like, okay. You know?
[02:10:00] Karen: Right. How do they feel about you being a firefighter?
[02:10:30] Alexis: You know, my, my mom was a little nervous about it. Um. I remember she was telling me, yeah, I tried out for the job, but my mom is [00:20:00] like. Prissy, like
[02:11:00] really? But
[02:11:30] Karen: of
[02:12:00] Alexis: course, you know, the job is so physical and you know, I'm a former athlete. That didn't bother me. But
[02:12:30] I think
[02:13:00] she thought about the physicality, the danger of it. It is a dangerous job, especially if you don't train, and you don't know what you're doing. But still, even with
[02:13:30] all
[02:14:00] the training
[02:14:30] things happen.
[02:15:00] Then, you know, being a woman and being,
[02:15:30] it's a male dominated field.
[02:16:00] Karen: So of
[02:16:30] Alexis: course she was nervous, but I think over time she saw how much resilience. I mean, me six or seven years
[02:17:00] to get on a job,
[02:17:30] and I'm still here 11 years, you know, later, you know, I think she's proud of the that I didn't give up
[02:18:00] Karen: not only didn't give up, but you excelled. tell about the positions you've held.
[02:18:30] Alexis: So came in as a firefighter, probationary firefighter, then firefighter. Um, I medic
[02:19:00] school right right after, um, uh, probation.
[02:19:30] Karen: I
[02:20:00] Alexis: actually was forced into me, medic school.
[02:20:30] Karen: I'm glad we need more medics.
[02:21:00] Alexis: Yes, yes. [00:21:00] So I was a medic for about four years, four or five years.
[02:21:30] And then, uh, um, uh, became, uh, an an engineer. And so I've been an engineer for the last, uh, year and a
[02:22:00] a half. So very fortunate.
[02:22:30] Karen: A specialist, that's what they call
[02:23:00] Alexis: right? Mm-hmm.
[02:23:30] Karen: Tell me what you do with little girls. 'cause you, what, what job you hold right now.
[02:24:00] Alexis: So, right now, now uh, I've been detailed back into recruitment, so I've, um.
[02:24:30] I've,
[02:25:00] I've always been in recruitment here Um, I've had a
[02:25:30] couple of injuries. I've tore
[02:26:00] my achilles
[02:26:30] off
[02:27:00] Karen: duty,
[02:27:30] Oh no.
[02:28:00] Alexis: So,
[02:28:30] you
[02:29:00] know, they like to, you know, to keep
[02:29:30] us
[02:30:00] working. So i've been in recruitment, throughout
[02:30:30] a
[02:31:00] couple of times throughout my career. they detailed me back
[02:31:30] because, you know, I've, I've had experience. So
[02:32:00] right now what
[02:32:30] we're
[02:33:00] doing, we, we just had Women's Fire
[02:33:30] Prep Academy,
[02:34:00] um, in April. April and March. So
[02:34:30] now we have, um, on June 7th called the Girls Fire. Camp. So it's uh, little girls and boys can, can participate
[02:35:00] from ages nine to
[02:35:30] 18.[00:22:00]
[02:36:00] Karen: Uh,
[02:36:30] Alexis: break 'em up into two groups. Uh, the first younger group is from nine to 12. The second group is from 13 to 18, and it's day. Day they get
[02:37:00] to touch all the tools and
[02:37:30] equipment they get to, you know, I have a
[02:38:00] close encounter
[02:38:30] with all the
[02:39:00] firefighters, you
[02:39:30] know, so just so they can see it, different aspect of the job and just to,
[02:40:00] you know,
[02:40:30] Karen: spark the, get a taste of it, huh?
[02:41:00] Alexis: Yeah, the curiosity
[02:41:30] Karen: and, and like
[02:42:00] Alexis: you said, it's just
[02:42:30] implanting that seed of what they could possibly be like
[02:43:00] Karen: an
[02:43:30] option.
[02:44:00] right? So
[02:44:30] Alexis: it's a great day every year the, the program has
[02:45:00] grown. Um, you know, we've had
[02:45:30] to
[02:46:00] turn away, uh, some kids,
[02:46:30] but we're
[02:47:00] gonna have another one in october. So if
[02:47:30] you're interested in bringing
[02:48:00] your kids,
[02:48:30] doesn't
[02:49:00] matter. They don't it.
[02:49:30] I mean, it's not
[02:50:00] all girls. There's boys, it's there as well.
[02:50:30] Um, just
[02:51:00] go to
[02:51:30] Karen: do they get on?
[02:52:00] Alexis: So go
[02:52:30] Karen: there a number to call or a website they could go to?
[02:53:00] Alexis: Yeah, just go to our website, uh, or just Google la uh, Los Angeles
[02:53:30] County Fire Department. Uh, click on Join us. Um, we'll, we'll, have all of our, uh, uh, uh, advertisements for
[02:54:00] Girls Fire Camp on there. [00:23:00] And we should have
[02:54:30] the next
[02:55:00] one in October updated on our website probably sometime after June.
[02:55:30] Um,
[02:56:00] but it's a great day
[02:56:30] Karen: for
[02:57:00] Alexis: people and even parents because after the camp we even had parents come up say, can I try on the turnout jacket?
[02:57:30] you're like, sure. You know, so it's
[02:58:00] a
[02:58:30] great day and a learning experience for them as well.
[02:59:00] Karen: Do you feel like you had any mentors coming on the department that helped you to not give up?
[02:59:30] Alexis: I did did. Um. In the beginning starting
[03:00:00] to pursue the job, I had, had Captain Burton, you know, he was a huge.
[03:00:30] uh, Mentor for me for a lot of people. Um, he helped a lot
[03:01:00] of people get on the job, um, mentoring us and just
[03:01:30] preparing us. He pointed to, uh, Leanne Orr time she was a medic, she's now currently a captain. Uh, Leanne was a huge influence because, you know, we were around the same age and I wanted
[03:02:00] to do
[03:02:30] what she was doing. I
[03:03:00] got,
[03:03:30] Karen: yeah, Delisa was that for me? Yes.
[03:04:00] Alexis: So,
[03:04:30] and I still look up to [00:24:00] Leanne,
[03:05:00] I think, I think Leanne is
[03:05:30] one of the
[03:06:00] smartest, just most gifted,
[03:06:30] you know, firefighters. And, um,
[03:07:00] you know, still call her, you know, for everything. She's, she's more than a mentor. She really is like my big sister
[03:07:30] Karen: because mm-hmm.
[03:08:00] Alexis: we
[03:08:30] kind of grew up in the same circumstances and we have so much in common. But gosh, man, she's just so smart, and she'll just tell me, okay, you
[03:09:00] need
[03:09:30] to know your
[03:10:00] policies.
[03:10:30] You need
[03:11:00] to do
[03:11:30] x, Y, and Z. This is how you prepare yourself. So if there's any kind of questions or just
[03:12:00] any kind of doubt, I always go to her. So rather good or bad, she tells me the
[03:12:30] Karen: truth,
[03:13:00] That's what you want.
[03:13:30] Alexis: That's what, what need, so, um, yeah, Leanne,
[03:14:00] Orr, and, um,
[03:14:30] and thankful
[03:15:00] that Captain Burton introduced me to her Captain Burton as well.
[03:15:30] Oh, I'm
[03:16:00] Karen: glad. If you had to say
[03:16:30] something to a young woman that wanted to come on this job, what would you say to her?
[03:17:00] Alexis: I
[03:17:30] would say definitely, uh, do your research.
[03:18:00] This is not a
[03:18:30] nine to five. Um.
[03:19:00] Karen: And just make
[03:19:30] Alexis: you talk to as many [00:25:00] people as possible. Make sure go as many ride alongs as possible, um,
[03:20:00] and make sure you, you you an idea of what your life,
[03:20:30] Karen: of
[03:21:00] what
[03:21:30] you,
[03:22:00] Alexis: what your life wants.
[03:22:30] Make sure you have
[03:23:00] an idea of what you want your life to be. I say that because, this is not a job where you can just say, okay, I'm going home. You know, I'm gonna, I'm, I, I
[03:23:30] plan, or I so I'm gonna go out of town and,
[03:24:00] you know, enjoy time with my family.
[03:24:30] Karen: No, not
[03:25:00] gonna happen. You might have to work overtime, huh?
[03:25:30] Alexis: Exactly. That, that. That that
[03:26:00] Karen: the
[03:26:30] Alexis: my life is now. That may not happen.
[03:27:00] You know, like for example, week, uh, my nephew was gonna play a tournament in Memphis and I had plane tickets and Oh no. And they,
[03:27:30] they said, Kendricks, we have to recall you to, you know, fire Station 58. So.
[03:28:00] It's
[03:28:30] just you have to really, uh, know
[03:29:00] what you're getting into because this serious job.
[03:29:30] It can be dangerous. You
[03:30:00] Have to really train.
[03:30:30] This is something that is [00:26:00] going to be a
[03:31:00] part of your life. You're gonna spend one third of your life at the station.
[03:31:30] Karen: So
[03:32:00] Alexis: know this is
[03:32:30] what you wanna do. You really to dive head first because if you don't,
[03:33:00] you know, your
[03:33:30] weaknesses are really
[03:34:00] gonna
[03:34:30] be and you know you're gonna have some people that's just gonna
[03:35:00] see
[03:35:30] weakness in you and they're gonna attack
[03:36:00] in various
[03:36:30] forms. Not just, you
[03:37:00] know, not physically, but just,
[03:37:30] you know, mentally it's a mental, actually, those microaggressions are real. So just, you know, just make sure you do your research and just know that. There are there that's really willing to help you through this journey. Not just
[03:38:00] you getting on
[03:38:30] the but actually advancing and promoting through the, through the department as well.
[03:39:00] Karen: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
[03:39:30] Alexis: Well,
[03:40:00] honestly, I think,
[03:40:30] Karen: honestly
[03:41:00] Alexis: this is probably the last position
[03:41:30] Karen: really as a specialist. I like saying
[03:42:00] Alexis: I like saying
[03:42:30] Karen: because you know, engineers gotta know math. They
[03:43:00] gotta know water pressure. They gotta know
[03:43:30] Alexis: buildings, constructions, They got [00:27:00] no standpipes
[03:44:00] where
[03:44:30] Karen: to
[03:45:00] connect. They gotta make sure somebody's
[03:45:30] coming
[03:46:00] Alexis: behind, to give '
[03:46:30] em some more water. 'cause the fires bigger
[03:47:00] than
[03:47:30] Karen: one
[03:48:00] little engine can
[03:48:30] Alexis: handle.
[03:49:00] Mm-hmm. You
[03:49:30] know,
[03:50:00] that's a,
[03:50:30] Karen: the specialist is really a better name than engineer.
[03:51:00] Alexis: Yeah. You know, I, I like to say that the engineers like the point guard. You know, your captain is your
[03:51:30] cap.
[03:52:00] I mean, your captain
[03:52:30] is, um, is your coach. Your engineer's, your point guard, because you're the straw boss. You're in charge of the station. You're
[03:53:00] telling everybody what to
[03:53:30] do to make sure everything
[03:54:00] is done
[03:54:30] so your
[03:55:00] captain can do
[03:55:30] his, you know, admin
[03:56:00] Karen: paperwork. Right. Just supervise, right? Mm-hmm.
[03:56:30] Alexis: So
[03:57:00] that's what I do. Or at least I'm trying to,
[03:57:30] you know. Get into that role. I, I like it for now. I think it's,
[03:58:00] it's more so, perfect for right now for my lifestyle.
[03:58:30] And then you gotta think, to
[03:59:00] be honest, I'm a I'm getting older, you know, I'm not
[03:59:30] Karen: that
[04:00:00] how old are
[04:00:30] Alexis: I'm 41.
[04:01:00] I'm
[04:01:30] not,
[04:02:00] Karen: the truth. You're not like shaving off New Year.
[04:02:30] 'cause you know, black don't crack. So I don't know.
[04:03:00] Alexis: Well, the secret is black soap and you know, you got that good [00:28:00] moisturizer,
[04:03:30] Karen: Yeah, that, that baby oil, oh wait, he giving baby, nevermind. But
[04:04:00] Alexis: you
[04:04:30] know, eating, cleaning water. And
[04:05:00] the thing is
[04:05:30] just, you limit your stress. This is a stressful job, but you have to also be
[04:06:00] Karen: able
[04:06:30] Alexis: help know and then manage your home life. Too. So, um.
[04:07:00] Yeah, you
[04:07:30] know, a lot of people tell me, you gotta promote, you gotta promote. And maybe, you know, I'll, I'll say, okay, I'll promote
[04:08:00] the
[04:08:30] Karen: captain,
[04:09:00] But you're happy right
[04:09:30] Alexis: I'm, yeah, I'm happy right now. I'm not
[04:10:00] thinking
[04:10:30] about promoting the captain or chief
[04:11:00] So
[04:11:30] engineer. Is,
[04:12:00] Karen: would you do it all over again?
[04:12:30] Alexis: You
[04:13:00] know what? I would,
[04:13:30] I would, uh,
[04:14:00] the only
[04:14:30] changes, I wish I would've taken more classes,
[04:15:00] um, prior. 'cause
[04:15:30] I had eight years. I was just strictly EMT.
[04:16:00] And there's a
[04:16:30] whole
[04:17:00] Karen: different world, not
[04:17:30] just
[04:18:00] Alexis: There's, USAR there's hazmat,
[04:18:30] Karen: there's prevention,
[04:19:00] there's other specialists,
[04:19:30] Alexis: other specialties that you can get into.
[04:20:00] Karen: So
[04:20:30] Alexis: I wish I would've
[04:21:00] taken more classes to just to [00:29:00] of prepare myself. However, I'm very, very fortunate. I'm
[04:21:30] very fortunate that I was able to,
[04:22:00] just
[04:22:30] pass, get through
[04:23:00] the academy. 'cause that's very, you
[04:23:30] know, that's difficult and, you know, become a firefighter. And, uh, it's not only been a huge blessing to me, it has been a huge blessing to, you know, my family. I think
[04:24:00] my nephew he sees work that I've
[04:24:30] had to go
[04:25:00] through. I think that kind
[04:25:30] of inspires him to work hard and anything he wants to do is just all about making sure that you're
[04:26:00] Karen: yeah. Monte's a firefighter.
[04:26:30] Mm-hmm. My
[04:27:00] auntie's a specialist.
[04:27:30] Alexis: You know, you
[04:28:00] know, he's a good
[04:28:30] kid and it's
[04:29:00] just, you
[04:29:30] have
[04:30:00] to make
[04:30:30] sure that next generation, that
[04:31:00] you
[04:31:30] Karen: set
[04:32:00] Alexis: examples
[04:32:30] for them. And, uh, I'm just fortunate that he's able to
[04:33:00] see positive
[04:33:30] examples,
[04:34:00] not just me, but just, you know, when he, you know, seeing people that I work with.
[04:34:30] you know, Thein, this in Torrance, it's just like, okay, you know, he's, he's
[04:35:00] seen
[04:35:30] Karen: an
[04:36:00] Alexis: example. The exactly.
[04:36:30] Karen: brotherhood sisterhood. Exactly. Right.
[04:37:00] Alexis: [00:30:00] Exactly. So that's important to me that he sees that.
[04:37:30] Well, I'm
[04:38:00] Karen: so proud of you and I'm so glad that you gave us this opportunity to, you know, get to know you better in this interview. Is there anything you'd like to
[04:38:30] Alexis: add?
[04:39:00] Ooh Well,
[04:39:30] you
[04:40:00] know,
[04:40:30] hopefully we're
[04:41:00] gonna be hiring sometime
[04:41:30] next year,
[04:42:00] so
[04:42:30] Karen: I hope so too.
[04:43:00] So you can, you don't have to work as much. You can spend more time with family.
[04:43:30] Alexis: Yeah, we're gonna be hiring,
[04:44:00] so
[04:44:30] Karen: can't spend your money if you work all the time.
[04:45:00] Alexis: we, we were just talking about that the other day. Like, you know, I wanna
[04:45:30] Karen: go
[04:46:00] to
[04:46:30] Alexis: the
[04:47:00] Karen: you wanna buy an RV so you can, you know, tour around.
[04:47:30] Alexis: go to the beach. But,
[04:48:00] Karen: Right.
[04:48:30] Alexis: uh, But, yeah. You know,
[04:49:00] this
[04:49:30] Karen: this
[04:50:00] Alexis: a great career
[04:50:30] with
[04:51:00] a
[04:51:30] lot of
[04:52:00] opportunity.
[04:52:30] If you're about becoming a firefighter,
[04:53:00] you know,
[04:53:30] just go to a fire station.
[04:54:00] Um, ask as many questions as possible
[04:54:30] Karen: if you're
[04:55:00] Alexis: serious about this job,
[04:55:30] you
[04:56:00] know, enroll in an EMT class.
[04:56:30] There's
[04:57:00] different courses
[04:57:30] throughout
[04:58:00] LA County,
[04:58:30] Karen: County,
[04:59:00] Alexis: um, and get your CPAT. And also we
[04:59:30] [00:31:00] have,
[05:00:00] Karen: uh,
[05:00:30] Alexis: uh, a
[05:01:00] different form of testing.
[05:01:30] So FCTC.
[05:02:00] Is where you can take your written test, um,
[05:02:30] instead of us
[05:03:00] giving
[05:03:30] out our test. So,
[05:04:00] um,
[05:04:30] Karen: is this all online?
[05:05:00] Alexis: Yes, this is all online, um,
[05:05:30] to,
[05:06:00] uh, to sign up to take a test.
[05:06:30] So start working
[05:07:00] on those three, three
[05:07:30] things. F-C-T-C-C-P-A
[05:08:00] and
[05:08:30] also
[05:09:00] EMT and just.
[05:09:30] Stay
[05:10:00] in shape, stay outta
[05:10:30] trouble, you
[05:11:00] know, just adopt a healthy lifestyle. If you know this is, you know exactly what
[05:11:30] you
[05:12:00] Karen: do
[05:12:30] and the sooner you start the better.
[05:13:00] Alexis: the sooner
[05:13:30] the
[05:14:00] Karen: take time to get
[05:14:30] Alexis: Yes. And apply
[05:15:00] everywhere, not just
[05:15:30] LA County or LA City. Apply everywhere.
[05:16:00] Karen: Wow. Thank you so much, Alexis.
[05:16:30] Alexis: you. Thank you.
[05:17:00] Karen: So,
[05:17:30] Alexis,
[05:18:00] Alexis: one more question,
[05:18:30] Karen: or maybe more
[05:19:00] than one
[05:19:30] Alexis: more
[05:20:00] question.
[05:20:30] I don't know.
[05:21:00] But, uh,
[05:21:30] what
[05:22:00] was the
[05:22:30] Karen: question?
[05:23:00] Alexis: How
[05:23:30] would
[05:24:00] Karen: you recruit more black females to get on the job? How would you inspire them?
[05:24:30] Alexis: What, well, you know, one aspect I think about
[05:25:00] the physicality of the [00:32:00] job. So
[05:25:30] I, as a former student athlete, I'm gonna go to other student
[05:26:00] athletes because
[05:26:30] I know for me, I didn't think about
[05:27:00] becoming
[05:27:30] a
[05:28:00] firefighter.
[05:28:30] Karen: And you know, they're already physically fit,
[05:29:00] Alexis: already physically fit.
[05:29:30] They're able to
[05:30:00] adapt.
[05:30:30] adjust in different situations. They're able to, uh,
[05:31:00] take instruction, you
[05:31:30] know, they're able to,
[05:32:00] um, execute their roles
[05:32:30] and
[05:33:00] whatever
[05:33:30] sport,
[05:34:00] you know, that they participate in. Uh, I
[05:34:30] will
[05:35:00] go and also military as well.
[05:35:30] So
[05:36:00] that's what we're
[05:36:30] actively doing. Um,
[05:37:00] you know, matter fact, I just had, um, a conversation, uh, with a
[05:37:30] friend today.
[05:38:00] Uh,
[05:38:30] we used to
[05:39:00] play,
[05:39:30] uh, basketball
[05:40:00] when we
[05:40:30] were kids, so she's now the,
[05:41:00] uh, one
[05:41:30] of
[05:42:00] Karen: the counselors
[05:42:30] Alexis: for the men's
[05:43:00] basketball team
[05:43:30] Karen: UCLA.
[05:44:00] Oh, wow.
[05:44:30] Alexis: I
[05:45:00] just hit her up and I said, Hey,
[05:45:30] like, don't
[05:46:00] y'all
[05:46:30] have
[05:47:00] a career fair for athletes? She was
[05:47:30] like, oh, you missed it, you know, but we're gonna have another one
[05:48:00] Karen: in the
[05:48:30] Alexis: fall. Okay
[05:49:00] you know,
[05:49:30] Karen: so you got connections too.
[05:50:00] Alexis: Getting
[05:50:30] connections and
[05:51:00] just knowing
[05:51:30] where your target, you know, audience is.
[05:52:00] You're
[05:52:30] gonna have
[05:53:00] a few
[05:53:30] people that
[05:54:00] you
[05:54:30] know may have worked
[05:55:00] in
[05:55:30] a different industry, but
[05:56:00] if
[05:56:30] they're
[05:57:00] physically active, meaning they like to work out, they like to run, [00:33:00] they like
[05:57:30] to
[05:58:00] help
[05:58:30] people,
[05:59:00] that they're able to stay calm and cool in stressful situations.
[05:59:30] Karen: Those
[06:00:00] Alexis: are the young
[06:00:30] women i'm going after. Those
[06:01:00] who do CrossFit,
[06:01:30] you know, who are extremely a a active,
[06:02:00] Karen: uh, those
[06:02:30] Alexis: who I'm but you for, for Yeah. Athletes
[06:03:00] and
[06:03:30] military, those who I'm looking at.
[06:04:00] Karen: Okay. Thank you for that
[06:04:30] Alexis: Thank you for that info. No problem. I would like to add something.
[06:05:00] Karen: Okay.
[06:05:30] Alexis: You know,
[06:06:00] in the
[06:06:30] last maybe
[06:07:00] Karen: six
[06:07:30] seven
[06:08:00] Alexis: years,
[06:08:30] we,
[06:09:00] you, you see more programs like 9 1 1, uh, Chicago Fire.
[06:09:30] And they have, you
[06:10:00] know, um, you know, they have Female Fires Inc. you know, like diversity on the show. And I think, they're so absurd. Mm-hmm. And I,
[06:10:30] I I can't stand the
[06:11:00] show.
[06:11:30] Karen: Me either. I don't even watch because they piss me off.
[06:12:00] Alexis: I I I I don't watch it either. But absolutely can't stand it. However, I do get lot of
[06:12:30] young women come up to me and say,
[06:13:00] is that how it [00:34:00] actually is?
[06:13:30] But the curiosity that they're seeing someone reflecting mm-hmm. And they
[06:14:00] come up to you
[06:14:30] and it's
[06:15:00] just like, okay. Maybe there is something there.
[06:15:30] You know, if there was,
[06:16:00] and have talk my chief about this, and course budget always comes into play.
[06:16:30] If there was an infomercial
[06:17:00] or something,
[06:17:30] even
[06:18:00] in a movie
[06:18:30] theater,
[06:19:00] you know, um,
[06:19:30] Karen: a,
[06:20:00] Alexis: you know, a skit, something
[06:20:30] Karen: to
[06:21:00] Alexis: show the diversity
[06:21:30] of a firefighter,
[06:22:00] black female firefighter. You
[06:22:30] know, you never
[06:23:00] know who's gonna be
[06:23:30] watching that.
[06:24:00] It could
[06:24:30] be
[06:25:00] a little
[06:25:30] girl watching that.
[06:26:00] It's like, oh, I you know, I never thought about doing that.
[06:26:30] So
[06:27:00] it's just, to me, I is going
[06:27:30] to
[06:28:00] digital and media.
[06:28:30] So we need play more into that
[06:29:00] Karen: Right.
[06:29:30] Alexis: um, you know, as a department
[06:30:00] Karen: because
[06:30:30] as a recruitment tool, as a
[06:31:00] Alexis: exactly as as recruitment tool. Yeah. Thank you. Media space, especially as,
[06:31:30] as black women we're seen as more, uh, masculine, right?
[06:32:00] Karen: right.
[06:32:30] Alexis: And
[06:33:00] I
[06:33:30] think there's, [00:35:00] yes,
[06:34:00] we are strong and that shouldn't be seen as a negative, but I think for a lot of
[06:34:30] black women, we're trying to
[06:35:00] be feminine
[06:35:30] and soft
[06:36:00] as well.
[06:36:30] Karen: We're trying to be beautiful and strong.
[06:37:00] Alexis: Beautiful and strong.
[06:37:30] Karen: And
[06:38:00] Alexis: think that's
[06:38:30] difficult for
[06:39:00] a
[06:39:30] lot of black women to grasp
[06:40:00] to be.
[06:40:30] To be
[06:41:00] strong, not necessarily
[06:41:30] Karen: masculine,
[06:42:00] Mm-hmm.
[06:42:30] Alexis: But to
[06:43:00] be beautiful and feminine at the same time.
[06:43:30] So if they
[06:44:00] see a job like a firefighter, you're getting your hands dirty, you're helping people.
[06:44:30] I don't know if they're able to connect the two. So that may be, uh, difficult. Um.
[06:45:00] Um. To black women, you know? And then you think, this is Los
[06:45:30] Angeles,
[06:46:00] this is the land
[06:46:30] of Hollywood. You know, this is, know, it's everybody comes here to get of industry. Mm-hmm. So it's, difficult
[06:47:00] in finding black women who are ready
[06:47:30] to, that [00:36:00] wanna get their hands dirty.
[06:48:00] I
[06:48:30] remember I was in Oakland, I saw a few black women, you know.
[06:49:00] Uh,
[06:49:30] firefighters in, in Oakland, and it's just a different
[06:50:00] Karen: culture.
[06:50:30] Mm-hmm. It's a different mindset. Right.
[06:51:00] Alexis: So
[06:51:30] you
[06:52:00] have so many things playing into that, just Okay. Am I, am I physically but am I seen too masculine? But
[06:52:30] then I wanna see
[06:53:00] feminine and, and, and
[06:53:30] beautiful
[06:54:00] as well. be in type of career.
[06:54:30] So
[06:55:00] I think that makes it sometimes difficult.
[06:55:30] Karen: Well, that could be a commercial too. You could
[06:56:00] Alexis: a woman, that
[06:56:30] Karen: you could show a woman working all day and then getting off, taking shower. and Coming out, looking like
[06:57:00] Alexis: woman, Mm-hmm. Or going
[06:57:30] home. Mm-hmm. Exactly.
[06:58:00] Karen: So
[06:58:30] let's, let's
[06:59:00] try
[06:59:30] Alexis: get this. in
[07:00:00] Karen: The works. Done. All right,
[07:00:30] Alexis: so in closing, I
[07:01:00] Karen: just wanna say
[07:01:30] Alexis: thanks, Alexis.
[07:02:00] Thank you. Thank you
[07:02:30] so much
[07:03:00] for this
[07:03:30] interview,
[07:04:00] and
[07:04:30] we'll be looking
[07:05:00] for you
[07:05:30] on that fire
[07:06:00] Karen: you know, pumping water at those fires.
[07:06:30] [00:37:00] All right, you have a blessed day
[07:07:00] Alexis: Thank you.
[07:07:30] You too.
[07:08:00] Karen: Bye-bye.
[07:08:30] Alexis: Bye.
[07:09:00] Karen: Hello I just want you to know this was a live broadcast at the beach because we interview our firefighters everywhere. Thank you.
[07:09:30] Remember to visit the African-American Firefighter Museum at 1401 Central Avenue in Los Angeles, situated at the corner of 14th and Central, just across the street from the Coca-Cola bottling plant. The museum warmly welcomes visitors every Sunday from one to 4:00 PM. For more information, you can reach us at 2 1 3. 7 4 4 1 7 3 0. Thank you for tuning in and being a part of our journey, celebrating African American women in Fire service. [00:38:00] Stay tuned for more remarkable stories and experiences.