When it comes to community development and caring for at-risk children, everyone has something to offer. Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent who can volunteer locally, an artist who can use their platform for the good of others, or a business-person with unique skills and perspectives, you are needed. We are so thankful and blown away by the community that has gathered to protect at-risk children. A long time SOS friend, James Garcia, is part of this community.
James Garcia is a six-sigma black belt. Having a natural bend towards processes, James honed his skills through years of training and working with major corporations all over the state. Finding solutions to problems through process is James’ expertise.
3.1 million children die every year from malnutrition. Where hunger is an easy answer – malnutrition is more complicated. These are children that have access to some food, but it’s not providing their little bodies with what they need. How do you solve the problem of malnutrition? Asking someone with a six-sigma black belt is a good place to start.
In 2011, James began helping us develop a solution for malnutrition in at-risk children. This process eventually led us to the Bickie bar. A formulated custom food that is addressing malnutrition in children – and it’s working!
We recently sat down with James to ask him about his involvement in helping fight malnutrition in at-risk children:
Q: How did you first connect the dots between your six-sigma training and this malnutrition project?
A: Well, I think partly because my brain just operates in a very process minded way. Everything is a process. Whether it’s the sales process, a manufacturing process, a “getting to work” process, or “putting on your clothes” process. Everything is a process. So whenever you’re looking at trying to develop something new, say “okay, well what’s our end goal? What are we trying to get accomplished? And what are the steps we need to take?” You ask questions. You get people smarter than you involved and say “hey, can you meet these needs based on the customer expectation or the market demand and you determine feasibility”. And then from that feasibility you determine manufacturability and then from that manufacturability you develop product launch. I don’t think what we did was incredibly different than a new product launch.
Q: Why did you say “yes” to help solve this problem?
A: That’s an easy answer. I mean, think of the impact. The ability to feed kids. The ability to take kids that don’t have the ability to help themselves and get to help them. It’s pretty simple. It’s pretty easy. I mean, why would I say no?
Q: Have you seen any personal impact from saying yes?
A: I think I just stay more committed to being plugged in. Personally, it just reminds me every day, like one of my close friends says, “we got Cadillac problems.” Around my house and in my office, I have SOS stuff, like cards you send out. I have them in my home and in my office and they are great reminders every day that we have it good.
Q: What would you say to people that are stuck in the place of – I have skills that I am good at in the work place, but I don’t know how to bridge the gap to make them impact those around me?
A: I’m going to be really direct on this one. I’m going to say, hey suck it up and take the steps. I mean again, Jesus told the guys with the leprosy, “As you go you will be cleansed, go to the priest and tell him that you are healed.” As you go. You’ve got to take the steps. Take the steps and He’ll do it for you.
Because of James’ willingness to use his skills and talents to help at-risk children, thousands of young lives are being saved every day. He is just one of the many members in this community that have made a massive, positive impact in the lives of at-risk children. You are a part of this community, too. Thank you!
