The Scoop with Tanya Flanagan

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Good morning, and thank you for joining me for the scoop with Tanya Flanagan. I'm so happy you decided to wake up and start your day with me. Here on the scoop, where we talk about life, joy, funny moments, trending topics, and so much more. We promise to keep you in the know and find out what you know. So let's get started.

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Good morning, Las Vegas, and welcome to the show this final Sunday in the month of February. It's leap year, we really get to have a leap year every four years, but it's Black History Month as well. And I'm hoping that we send the month out what a bank. February is, in addition, American Heart Month and also National Cancer Prevention Month monk, a couple of other things. But those are three things that really stood out to me. I think you will find my guest this morning delightful. We're going to have a great conversation. I'd like to go ahead and welcome to the show. Tina Lewis. Good morning.

Unknown Speaker 1:22
Good morning.

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Thank you,

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Martin, your audience. Good morning, Tanya. And thank you for having me.

Unknown Speaker 1:28
Thank you for getting up to spend some time with me this morning. I wanted to I've spent most of the month of February focusing on black history topics. And I thought you would just be a wonderful way to round things out your life story has been a testament, it's inspirational. And so you've done some trailblazing things, you and your husband, Harold, and I just thought you would be a wonderful person to shine the spotlight on. And thank you and you and I share we are cancer survivors together. We share cancer month birthdays. You're born at the end of June I'm born at near the end of July. So we have a lot of things in common. And we share a wonderful organization together. So I'm also very proud to share that you my girlfriend in the girlfriend's organization nationally. But as we talk this this morning, both of us being cancer survivors, and it being National Cancer Prevention Month. I want to touch on that a little bit as we get into our conversation. And also I know you have heart awareness, heart health awareness is big for you. And we're gonna get into why that is a passion for you. But in the spirit of continuing paying homage to Black History Month, you and your husband more than oh gosh, I don't even know how many years ago now. But back in 1987, you opened you were running McDonald's franchises, and you have more than 20 locations. So tell me and the audience a little bit about your career journey. Because you've you've run McDonald's, you started in a printing business, you've written books, and now you have a new venture going on and you've received a number. If I run down your resume, I would be tired. Just listing all of the amazing accomplishments. You have served on the Susan G. Komen national board as an ambassador, you have done so many things. But, um, how did it all get started? I mean, like, how does one find themselves in the space that you ended up evolving to?

Unknown Speaker 3:42
Okay, so I come from very humble beginnings. I was born in the segregated south. I recall very vividly riding in the back of the bus and drinking from the colored water fountain. This is Black History Month. That's my history. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 4:01
So on the south, where in the south, where are you? Louisiana? Louisiana. Okay, because I want to paint, see, and feel it.

Unknown Speaker 4:14
Yeah, they, you know, the segregated south. You know, kind of what they're trying to bring back today. But we won't even get into that discussion. That's

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the conversation.

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That's a whole nother conversation. But my father was part of the great migration. And he moved us to California. Back in the 60s, so I went to school in California. I was very active in the Black Student Union. I was president of the Black Student Union. I've always been very active in the community. But when I met Harold I was looking for Have airlines and so was he. And we wanted to control our own destiny. So we started looking at opportunities. And we started out in a printing business. And in 1982, we opened a printing business, sir speedy printing, and it's different from what it is today. Because today we have so much in terms of Kinkos. And there's a lot of different businesses that are doing. I wouldn't call it printing anymore, but that's where we were at. But in 1982, I realized that there was an opportunity coming around the corner. And that was the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. And that's where we lived. So I pursued in 1982, I started pursuing an Olympic contract. And guess what I landed one. I was one of the very few African Americans that had a contract with the Olympic organizing committee. Wow. So we did the printing business for several years, we ended up selling that we grew it to the point where we could flip it, sell it and go into McDonald's, because it took a few pennies to put together to do that. So basically, we sold everything, we sold the business, we sold our home, we sold like cars, we sold everything to open and build the first restaurant in San Diego. But I love that 1987

Unknown Speaker 6:34
I love that piece. Because Tina, today we look at you know, business opportunities. And there's a different type of wiring that goes on your team. This also is being February, we've celebrated Valentine's Day. And so I know you and Howell had been married for a lot of years. And that's a testament to love. How many 50 See that? The golden anniversary, but to pull everything to pull all of it together and say, Hey, we're going to take this chance we're going to sell it all. And we're going to put everything on this and to be unified in your decision and your determination to succeed. That alone is a testament to what it takes to be successful and to not be afraid to try. That's you know, you

Unknown Speaker 7:27
have to be willing to step out and take a risk. no risk, no reward. Okay.

Unknown Speaker 7:34
I like that. Because it's so what happens so and so it's 1987. And you, you sell everything and you go all in and you guys open the first McDonald's that you have.

Unknown Speaker 7:46
Yeah, so we we opened the first restaurant, we grew in San Diego, to the point where we weren't growing. We kept getting passed over for opportunities. So we went to John Thompson, who at that time, was the thing. He was president at that time of McDonald's USA, and told them, we want it and he was the first and only African American president of United, I mean of McDonald's. So we told him, we wanted to take a look at Las Vegas, and he opened up the doors for us to relocate here. So we basically had restaurants in San Diego, we sold those we had 10 there. And when we moved here, I think we had seven and we go to Kent. So that's where the 20 came from. Okay. And the McDonald's offered a lot of opportunities for us. We served on so many boards and had so many opportunities and doors open. But then again, we open doors for other people as well.

Unknown Speaker 8:54
That's what it's really meant.

Unknown Speaker 8:58
Yes, my mentoring started a scholarship program. Back in I think it was 92. We've awarded over a million dollars in scholarships to African American students. We continue that here. We've given away scholarships, as well. The current scholarship program that's run through Ronald McDonald's children's charity, that's part of what I started. Wow,

Unknown Speaker 9:31
that is a legacy to what a legacy I think I read somewhere that you guys gave away, over like a half a million dollars in scholarships to graduating high school students.

Unknown Speaker 9:47
Well, it's up to a million now. Oh, wow.

Unknown Speaker 9:49
That's impact. See, that is what we call impact. That's, that's what I call black history and living color. You know, when the person is still alive to talk with about what they've done. How I impacted the community and gave back remembering your roots and paying it forward. Because we talked about the humble beginnings, my parents, too, were from the south. And so they were from Mississippi, and they migrated west to Arizona and met in northern Arizona. And so when you look back over the night made many trips down south, and you see, and you feel what they call the sweltering heat of oppression. And you really get a perspective on what it was like. And my father has talked about those stories of what it was like to not be able to walk on the sidewalk, to need to get off the sidewalk, to look down, don't make eye contact, just the memories in the things that shaped his life. And it shapes the determination that you have to push forward and to keep trying. And so I just think all the things that you've done, and the awards that you've gotten in the way it's changing families in America for the better, I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my home

Unknown Speaker 11:03
do so very well. I'd like to mention this really quickly. Our daughter graduated from UNLV with honors online, and because she graduated without a student loan, we decided to take what we would have possibly had to pay off in a student loan and start a scholarship at UNLV and her name. So there is a Lewis Family Scholarship. It's actually I believe that in Jennifer Lewis's name, and the scholarship program has perpetuity. So there will always be a Lewis scholar on UNLV. Campus. Can

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anyone apply? Or does it? Can anyone apply teen or is in any no particular major? Doesn't matter?

Unknown Speaker 11:52
No one can apply. Okay, just need to know what exists? Yes.

Unknown Speaker 11:57
So it's the Lewis Family Scholarship. So when they're looking through UNLV, and this is super good information for people to know, anyone out there, looking to go to school and applying for assistance and support through UNLV can look for that scholarship. And you can apply whatever the criteria are that have been set. You meet those criteria, and you can be

Unknown Speaker 12:16
considered what are you existing students? Okay, so

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it's open to anyone in college now. So it's continuing. Alright, that is awesome.

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Continuing. Yes. So that was something that we did when she graduated, I think it was about five years ago. You know, we, I don't know. You'd have to help me. Remember, everything that I've done.

Unknown Speaker 12:44
I'm going to help you remember everything that you've done, because I want to ask you, I know you wrote a book, you and Hiro penned a book together. You co authored a book. So after you did McDonald's, you did the book a few years ago, I want to say about three years ago, it came out almost four now,

Unknown Speaker 12:59
two years ago. It was a journey by faith, no risk, no reward. Remember that?

Unknown Speaker 13:08
I remember that. I have my I have several signed copies. I shared those copies with my nieces deliberately because I said, I want you to read the story of Tina and Harold Lewis, beautiful couple who have been married for at that point. I didn't know how long so I just said forever. Because I remember seeing pictures of you when you were young. And I met you, you were you know, you had lived some life. So I said they've been together forever. But they've done some amazing things. What was the inspiration behind writing a book and what did you do? So you run McDonald's for 2020 Different McDonald's franchises. You've been in the links. You served on the Coleman's National Speakers Bureau and advocacy Alliance because you're a breast cancer survivor. You survived three different types of cancer, not just I'm a three time breast cancer survivor, but you have had three separate distinct cancers that you have beat.

Unknown Speaker 14:06
Yeah, so I may in 2024, this year, I will celebrate 25 years surviving colorectal cancer 24 years surviving breast cancer and 23 years skin cancer. What I have to say to anyone out there that is facing cancer of the possibilities of getting screened. Early detection is the key to surviving. That is why I am here today between that and my faith. I agree. And just believing just believing that he is still on when I say he I'm gonna say his name. Jesus is still in the healing business. Yes, it's true and I am proof of that. And February It is also related, not just Valentine's Day, it relates to the heart of a 15 year, massive heart attack survivor, I survived the Widowmaker. Wow. So all I can say is the reason that I am still here is to do things like this.

Unknown Speaker 15:23
Yeah, you have purple purposes, you did all all of the accolades that I am talking about that are attributed to your life. You've done these things through your medical journey. I mean, sometimes I look and I hope I grow, to be as great as you are. Because I started my breast cancer journey in 2003. I was 32. At the time, and through all of it, you have to continue to weave the tapestry of life, you can't let it stop you. But there you are battling these major illnesses, these huge setbacks, but through it all, you open the McDonald's, you write a book. You sell the stores, you serve on national boards, you create scholarships, you receive the United Negro College Fund federal, D. Patterson award award from the Urban League for equal opportunity. The California legislature recognized you as the entrepreneurial with with their entrepreneurial spirit of what I mean, you have this list of lifetime achievement awards and Women of Distinction award, you have done so many fabulous things. I guess I'm saying the energy to to ever just feel like I'm tired or I don't want to or where does the motivation continue to come from? Because you're doing something new now?

Unknown Speaker 16:54
Of doing something new now? Yes. But the motivation comes from I guess it I'm a bootstrapper. I heard that from someone, a friend of mine called himself that. And so you just pull your bootstraps up and you just keep on moving. No matter what the issue is. You just pull those bootstraps up and you keep stepping. And to me, there's always something new and adventurous keeps you alive, keeps you motivated, keeps you energized. In fact, Carol calls me the Energizer Bunny,

Unknown Speaker 17:35
because you are the Energizer Bunny. You are when I see you moving around. I'm like, how did she do it all. But I have to ask you a really personal question in the course of your journey, having gone through the medical scares, which one was the which one was the scariest? Was there one that made you feel like you were afraid?

Unknown Speaker 17:56
Okay, so the first cancer, I had radiation and chemo got through that. Then a year later, and by the way, all three of my cancers were in June, consecutive years, June, June, June. So went through breast cancer, I triple negative breast cancer, which is the hardest, and the most difficult and sometimes impossible to survive for. And it's the one that affects most black, African American women is detected late, usually. And if chemo doesn't work, there's really nothing else out there at least 24 years ago. Now, there's immune therapy and there's other options. But triple negative is a very difficult breast cancer to survive. So it was actually the third cancer and I fell apart. And the reason why I say that is because I really said to my oncologist that he had to prove to me that cancer wasn't in every cell of my body. When you think about it three years in a row in the month of June, you've sat across from me and said, you have cancer wasn't easy. I have to say it. I mean, you know, I had really rough days and I had a few days of pity party but somehow I just managed to get through it. And my faith I fall back on that a lot. You know, I walked I read healing Scriptures. I just believe that I was going to survive it and here I am today. So it was the third cancer that really just threw me for a loop you

Unknown Speaker 19:39
know I can relate to all I really can I can I can completely relate because the third one for me. I got all in right I went all in the second one honestly I was angry. The first one I wasn't. I was I wasn't even surprised by it. I had had a moment with my brother. We lost my mother to Breast cancer when I was 29. And four years later, I was diagnosed four years after my mother passed from it. And when we were laying my mom to rest my brother asked me was I scared that I was going to get cancer. And I just didn't think he could handle the truth because it was the strangest moment, but like it washed over me, Tina, like, a moment of revelation. And I was like, oh, and it said to me, like a voice that you're gonna have cancer. And I was like, Oh, my gosh. And I looked at my brother's face, and I said, he can't handle the truth. I told him no, four years later, there was I was like, wanting to just get in, doctors get in, figured out, deal with it. I'm young, let me keep moving. I was working at the casino at the time, I was having a great time at work. It was exciting. Let me keep moving. The second time was four years later, after the first diagnosis. And like you I had like these recurring same time of the year. The first one was like a February but the second and the third, were both like, the same time of year, one year later, right. And the second time, I was just angry, like, what is going on? Dear God, why are we back here? The third time, I realized the importance of checking in and being mindful of my health, reading everything about every treatment course, the medications, the side effects. I, I got into everything, making sure you have a voice and you're advocating for yourself, you're asking questions, I got second opinions, third opinions. I really did. And that's when I started doing work with Coleman as well, I decided I wanted to have a give back component to this. And I kind of became the poster child in some ways. I did any talk and the interviewer, everything to make sure I was doing my due diligence to raise awareness among women of the importance of like you said, early detection, and being in tune to yourself and having a voice to advocate for your health and what you need. And making sure you're engaged in the process your healing process. So I get that, but it was it was my second one that I was angry. My third one was like this enormous wake up call to speak to others about it.

Unknown Speaker 22:21
Very important, especially in our community, that we share our stories. I think it was 1998 I'm not sure. TV one did breast cancer in the African American community. It aired on TV One, Diane Carroll was a part of that. I was in it. So was Richard Roundtree. There were several survivors that were not known figures that were going through treatment, completed treatment, telling our stories. But we have to tell our stories. And the issue that we have in our community is that oftentimes, especially in our history, Aunt Susie and Aunt Betty never told anyone that they had breast cancer or they had any type of cancer. It was all swept under the rug, it was never shared. So we don't know we have the history. So it's very important. But it's also important to realize that history has to start somewhere. I was the beginning of my family history. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer six months after me. Wow. So you, you can't rely on history, no being the reason why you're going to get breast cancer or any kind of cancer. True. So if being an advocate for yourself, and when you go to the doctor, he you know, this body that we live in is very complicated and very intricate. The doctor cannot know what's going on unless you talk and tell them what you feeling and what's going on with you so that it can be checked. I

Unknown Speaker 24:12
agree. And it goes back to my point you have to advocate. And through that are because we're coming to the last few minutes of the show. We're getting into the homestretch. And I want to touch on the fact that through all of this, we've talked about how resilient you are and how amazing you are. And we mentioned that there's a new venture going on in your life. You have a new energy company, you're CEO, and it's a minority woman owned business. It's certified in 50 states and you're currently doing some work here to create more energy efficiency for schools here in Clark County.

Unknown Speaker 24:50
Exactly. Well, we partnered with a company called Willdan and I am the diversity lead. In the group we went out and responded to an RFP, and we won the bid. So, out of 378 schools in Clark County, the initial RFP was for 77. So we're getting ready to start on that shortly. And it's very exciting. The name of our company is one world energy, LLC. And again, I am the CEO. And we are women on and certified. I am certified in 50. States.

Unknown Speaker 25:31
I think it's awesome. I think a really good show just be talking a little bit about how you have an eye for progress. It takes something to have the vision and to see where the world is going to see where economy is going to see where opportunities lie. And it sounds like to me, my one of my big takeaways in our conversation this morning is that you've always had that neck for seeing things, you know, with the printing company. And then when you went into the McDonald's space, seeing the Olympics and seeing that opportunity, and then seeing where the door was closing. But being prepared to take more steps. And the next step in getting the doors opened here in Las Vegas. So you hit the stores in San Diego, and here, it takes something to see. I think we're wired a certain way, when we see opportunity, the way you have been able to do that in your career. I think that's huge.

Unknown Speaker 26:30
Yes, it is rewarding, but at the same time, you know, he has is only a number. You know, I'm 75. But I'm just having stopped. And I have no intention of stopping

Unknown Speaker 26:46
on the presidential ticket. Tina, maybe we can get you to put your name on the ballot?

Unknown Speaker 26:52
I don't know I don't want that show. Oh, my goodness, you might have I had grandbabies that are five and two, and 10. So I want to be around. In fact, when I saw my doctor a few weeks ago, I said, you know, your job was to get me to 95. He said, Why don't we have half the job? If you don't worry about my half? I got that.

Unknown Speaker 27:13
I like that. I think one of my big questions is if you were writing a letter, as we close into the last two minutes of the show this morning, if you were writing a letter to your young self or into any young person, with all of that you've done in life, what would you say to them, by the words of wisdom.

Unknown Speaker 27:33
I would say to look around in the community and see if there's some one that you would like to emulate, you'd like to be where they are. And if you do reach out to that person, talk to them. Ask them if they would mind mind mentoring you. That's what I would do. So growing up in the South, I didn't have that opportunity. There was no one that looked like me that did what I ended up doing, there was no one

Unknown Speaker 28:07
you are a trailblazer, you truly are a trailblazer you are a pioneer. And so I'm going to take your advice, because some years behind you and I want to get to where you are and I want to do what I have left to do in my life as well as I possibly can. So I feel blessed and privileged to know you. And I'm going to say to you, I'm going to occasionally call and say Hey, Tina, what about this? And what are you thinking? What should I think what am I not thinking about or considering because you have huge shoes to feel and I don't I just want to say thank you for paving the way and allowing me to stand on your shoulders because I'm about 25 years behind you. And so I just say thank you for all the doors that you've opened and examples that you have said that make it a little bit easier and make more sense as I try to navigate the world. So in this black history month, one black woman to another. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Unknown Speaker 29:07
Well, thank you for having me and I hope that we have inspired, encouraged motivate, blast, someone that's listening today.

Unknown Speaker 29:16
I do too. And I look forward to our next conversation to the listening audience. Thank you for joining us this morning on the scoop here at 91.5k u n v jazz and more. Have a great week want to thank you for tuning into the scoop with me telling you Flanagan and I want to invite you to get social with me. I'm on Facebook and Twitter. My name is my handle ta en YAFLA na GA N You can also find me on Instagram at Tanya almond eyes Flanagan and if you have a thought and opinion or a suggestion, don't hesitate to shoot me an email to tanya.flanagan@unlv.edu Thanks again for joining in. Stay safe and have a great week.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai