good morning. welcome to mosaic. i'm ron swisher. it is always a pleasure to host mosaic. we have our executive producer hubert rose and my fuss -- and my cohost. it is mother's day. we want to start there and wished all the mothers a happy mother's day. and since god could not be everywhere, he made mothers. we went our mothers to be blessed today and to be filled with love and all that they deserve. so happy mother's day. i also wanted to shout out to my friend troy belton. he is with good media entertainment. he is responsible for my guest this morning as he was back in

february with donna lacey junior. the actor and comedian. i know this guest also will be stimulating and give us a lot to learn from his great gifts. we also have -- ahmat car. one of my favorite things is autobiographies and memoirs. i love people that have -- that tell the story. let's start there before we begin with your organization. >> i have been in radio for almost 20 years. 20 years next year. >> they call you the voice? >> yes. i don't know why.

when i discovered that, i left here -- i am originally from the bay area. i left the bay area and went to los angeles to start my radio career. everybody was saying, you should do radio. i was like, okay. let's give it a try. i have been in love with radio since the old days. i took a chance. i took a risk. based on my confidence and said, i will move to la. so i went to la. i was in la maybe two months before i got my first radio job which was actually working for cbs radio. and that was the start of the wonderful radio career. >> let's back up. you grew up in alameda like i did and went to the same high school. and went to longfellow elementary. my mother -- started in oakland. east 40th and sunshine. my mother wanted to do more for us so she said, okay.

joining the military. so we moved to alameda because of the military. i was always going back and forth. going to my uncle's liquor store and sweeping. just enjoying my cousins, nephews. just really embracing my childhood in the bay area. skateboarding at the oakland coliseum. 1974 -- seeing bart develop into what it is now. just having a good experience being a bay area kid. especially east bay area kid. >> it is great to know that connection and that history. >> and you now have a family? >> i have three beautiful children. twin 6-year-old boy and girl. and a 16-year-old daughter as well. >> so you have come back from los angeles to the bay area. you are working with what radio station? >> kblx.

i returned to the bay area in 2015 and immediately said i wanted to go back to radio. i took a bit of hiatus due to the birth of my twins. a five year hiatus. when i came back to the bay, my main goal was to come back to radio. so that has been a dream of mine. >> it is jay -- it is a heritage station. and iconic station here in the bay area. so when the opportunity presented itself for me to work for kblx, i jumped right at it and i did not care about the position. i did not come in as a radio personality. meat an entry-level position, despite my success in los angeles. i had to take a step back and take a piece of the whole pie and show that i wanted to be in

radio and that my love for radio was genuine. i ended up working at kblx at an entry-level position knowing that i eventually would be on the air. >> before we get into your foundation and what you do in terms of the other work, how long have you been here? >> kblx, two and half years. >> what is your time slot? >> i host the quiet storm which is traditionally the name of -- a lot of people knew kblx for people being the quiet storm. what they did was they actually made that particular name, the name of my show. so now the quiet storm is sunday through friday starting at 7:00 p.m. >> is there any reason why the name came about? >> it is related to the type of music. you have jobs and slow jam. so nationally, it is known for slow jam. i specialize in babymaking music. >> okay. >> i play a lot of smokey

robinson, luther vandross -- new artists and that sort. i specialize in making sure folks are comfortable when they get home from work. >> great music. we are going to come back in the next segment and look at your "all tied up." >> thank you. >> we are back with ahmad car. thank you for joining us.

welcome back to mosaic. i'm ron swisher. i am with ahmad carr. he will tell us about "all tied up." >> all tied up started in august of 2016, august 11th. it was an opportunity for me to really express a part of me that has kind of developed over my manhood. over the years. the way it started, i went to a school in richmond -- actually, i was called upon by a football coach in richmond. she coached -- yes, she -- coached the richmond high football team, junior varsity, to be exact.

i was on the radio one night and she reached out to me asking me if there is anything i can do as a radio personality to help young men that are their lives -- whether it is backpacks -- whether it is school supplies -- i referred her to a couple of different organizations. she wanted me to step up personally. so i did. so i donated 50 of my personal ties to the freshman junior varsity and varsity members of the richmond high football teams. so i went to the school. i wanted to do more than just give them the ties and teach them how to tie the ties. i wanted to let them know the meaning behind the tie and the responsibility of wearing a tie, which to me, is respecting yourself, respecting your peers and respecting women because i grew up with a single mother but i don't use that as an excuse. she surrounded me with men who

will put their hands on my shoulder and say, look, young man, this is how you should do things. this is how you should represent yourself. >> you strongly believe in the clichi about clothing makes the person -- . >> reporter. >> that is correct but i believe the man makes the clothes. you can go out to a thrift store -- marshals and get a sportcoat and a tie for less than 50 bucks. but it is not the brand of the tie it is the brand of the man. >> excellent. >> it is the man that represents the clothes. i truly believe that it is your attitude. it is your confidence. not your ego. not your arrogance, but your confidence in yourself and that is where it starts. because when a young man put on a tie -- when they put on the tie, their whole demeanor changes. >> you see somewhat of a transformation. >> a huge transformation. >> a confidence. >> it is a swag.

it brings out -- not them being smart but them being intelligent and then saying, i am funny -- they now say, i have a sense of humor. so it is more than just confidence. it brings a lot more out of them. personality changes, eye contact. the handshake becomes more firm. >> what is the age group be that you start with and who do you hope to work with in terms of the age group? >> 13-21. i started 13 because eighth- grade transitioning into 9th grade -- no one speaks to us about that transition. for a young man, that is probably one of the hardest transitions for us to make. we are now going from 8th grade to 9th grade -- 8th grade, we were the king of the school.

we were the hot stuff on campus. but you come into high school and now, you are at the bottom of the barrel. now you are in school with men with beards -- it is a little different. >> so you are saying that some pride -- >> to make sure the transition is smooth. it all starts with confidence -- your appearance. with yourself and how you feel about yourself. one of the exercises i perform in one of the workshops is simply asking them -- name three good things about yourself. a lot of young men cannot do it. a lot of adults cannot do it. >> that is interesting. that is where you start. >> yes. >> i see there are 2-3 steps in your workshop. let's go through the. >> there are four. the first is the tie tying process. we go in and vsu's -- we just use a tie as a tool to tap into

their passion. i say, what would you do for free as an added incentive? that is normally what they're passionate about. i would do radio for free and i have. that is what i am passionate about -- 'all tied up' -- going to the schools and the community is what i am passionate about. >> the next workshop sheriff's oaks. >> we do the grooming workshop which are man kits. they are hygiene kits catered toward men. they come with toothpaste and hygiene products and floss and things of that sort. but these man kits were actually donated to us from united airlines. >> you have a lot of sponsors? >> yes. >> a lot of support. which we call, the village. and united airlines stepped up and donated over 4000 of these man kits which are -- they

are the hygiene kits that they give to first class passengers. these young men we are dealing with our class so we make sure they have the best of the best. >> that is fantastic. >> we have two more to do. i will come back to that in the next segment. and i want to mention that you are a jefferson award winner. i want to hear about that in the next segment also. that is a tremendous honor. last year, right? >> yes. >> thank you very much. >> please join us as we continue here on mosaic. maria, so how's work?

maria: it was 4th period biology. our students just weren't getting how easily viruses spread. so ms. bell and i had them role play a zombie virus outbreak. by the time they had all learned the lesson, all the living...were dead. hey, how's your job going? carlos: oh, that big sales meeting i planned? next year, i might get to go. kid: cool!

welcome back to mosaic. we truly are blessed to have not just a celebrity among us but one who is active and cares about the community in every aspect of it. as i mentioned before the break, he has won the jefferson award but 100 men have distinguished these. >> like enterprise every

year, what they do is choose 100 men throughout the country who are excelling in their professions. so whether it is construction or stem or engineering or whatever have you, they have the committee that chooses these men. i was nominated and ended up making list. it was not just locally but it was nationally. so black enterprise, as you know, is one of the iconic business magazines for black folks. it was an honor to be a part of that. they have so many choices. to be chosen as one of these -- >> i don't i have gotten a call. >> i will personally put you in there. and the jefferson award --

>> we here that announced on the station. >> on this very station, yes. >> that will forever have a special place in my heart because it was during the early stages of 'all tied up' -- to know that 'all tied up' made an impact -- an immediate impact, that it was noticed by the committee to be nominated. because i was told -- that actually, i was the first to be nominated with the short-term that 'all tied up' has been in existence. and i was the first to have more established organizations. >> for years. >> i was the first to be nominated with such a short term. >> to be nominated, you definitely had to have a lot of people that knew of your work. >> right. >> some of the people you

have helped -- some of the organizations -- that put your name for it, how do they do that? >> it is one of the organizations i partnered with. they decided to say, this gentleman is doing a wonderful thing. let's throw him in the hat and see what happens. so when i ended up meeting alan martin and other members of the committee i was like, wow. this is amazing. and then the award ceremony was overwhelming. i was overwhelmed with emotions. being up there with all the other jefferson award winners is just amazing to be in that company. >> congratulations. >> and my kids can see that. >> that is right. >> with go back to the workshops. we have gone through two of them. you said there are two more. >> the third one is business card and networking etiquette. what we do is we actually

donate business cards to the youth. we help them design business cards and we help them with a nice vista print account. then we cover the charges. we help them with the business card -- the way it looks and what it should say on there. we help them with the linkedin accounts. because that is your virtual business card. a lot of employers will look at your social media during the interviewing process, during the hiring process. so we want to make sure that they have a really good stable linkedin account. and a lot of youth have no idea what linkedin is. so we are trying to make sure they have the linkedin up to par. we teach them networking skills. because that is great. but what about -- you don't have your resume when you are at a networking mixer or when you meat someone in the street.

how do you pitch who you are personally. what is your elevator pitch. are you able to look someone in the eye and knowing what you want. >> you have to go online for resumes. >> exactly. >> it still helps. >> what if you meet your future employer or your future business partner at a networking mixer or just out in the streets somewhere. are you ready? >> so what do they say initially. >> there is a certain way you should give someone a card. we teach them that. we also teach them certain techniques they can use when you are speaking to someone. it is not all about business all the time. sometimes you have to talk shop. sometimes you simply give a

compliment. ron, i love that tie. where did you get the tie? >> and then the conversation starts from there. before you know it, you have broken down the walls, the barriers. the next step, you are probably sitting at the desk filling out the w nine. but ultimately, it is teaching them to believe in themselves. i usually give them the ssionate p. mine is persistence, patience and power. what describes you? i usually have them start that way and it is easy. most individuals -- like i said, they cannot describe themselves. >> how do you define power? >> power, for me it is what you do for other individuals. >> that is good. >> it is not so much about yourself. >> no. it is what you do with the path you have been given. my power is in radio. my power is invoice.

not only being a voice on the radio but being a voice in the community. that is my power. that is my superpower. >> i see. so all of these things are centered around empowering them but also empowering others? >> that is the mark of a true leader. not saying me, but we. >> who have been some of your mentors? >> i have so many mentors. a lot of them have no idea they are my mentor. because i watch from afar and i pay close attention to people's strengths and not their weaknesses. so radio wise, you have steve harvey. basketball wise, michael jordan. >> lebron james? >> i admire what he is doing currently because he has a business.

entertainment business. he has invested in a lot of different individuals. he is amazing. but it all started with michael jordan and margie johnson -- magic johnson. politically, obviously, obama. to have that obama swag is very important. >> and confidence. >> we are going to come back in the next segment as we wrap it up. i think we will look at the last workshop. >> it is a good one. >> this is very helpful. >> thank you very much. we will be right back.

i know you have been inspired if you have been with us about 'all tied up'. 'all tied up' has some needs. before we get to the last workshop, tell us what you need? >> we need quite a few things. if you go to 'all tied up'.org. click on the wish list button. obviously, we need financial donations. that is always nice. we need ties. we take those at anytime of the year. it doesn't matter.

whether it is neckties or bowties. we need volunteers -- gentleman who can step up and come to some of the workshops and express their passion, not only for looking good but being good and like i said, the wish list is on there. simply click on alltiedup.org. >> say that again. >> alltiedup.org. >> the last workshop is the network mixer. we actually sponsor a mixer for young folks to come. we put them in a room with professionals. and with the professionals they are passionate about. >> that has to be great share cap - >> how many have you done? >> we have done three. the fourth one will be in june. >> this has been a blessing. >> you need to come to my church. i hope the church supports the. >> excellent.

>> thank you ahmad. thank you for being with us. go forth and help these young men and all that they bring to this organization. thank you for joining us. i'm run swisher. see you next month.

for the public to file complaints against oakland police.. details ahead in a live report.. a new app will make it easier for the public to file complaints against oakland police. details and a live report. and b.a.r.t. writers -- riders feeling safe? >> and is a new commute worth it if it means getting to work quicker? we will look at a new ballot measure. it is 6:00 a.m. happy mother's day. >> good morning. i'm melissa caen. let's start off with a look at the forecast from a mother herself. >> good morning everyone and happy mother's day. a bit of a cool mother's day