Claudette Milner

I Was Driving to the Radio Station...

I was driving to the radio station to participate in the teen segment of my show when I unexpectedly encountered traffic caused by a local marathon. Although I wasn't the host that day, I knew I needed to make sure everything was in place.

Ten minutes before the show was scheduled to air, I called the station, only to discover that my host had not arrived. I immediately called her home. She had forgotten about the show and was watching television with her father. She promised she was on her way.

With no time to spare, I spotted a police officer and explained that I needed to park along the side of the road so I could host the show remotely. He agreed, as long as I didn't block the bus route.

Thanks to my producer, who connected me to the broadcast, we avoided a disaster.

That day reinforced one important lesson:

Always have a Plan B.

A Matter of Interpretation

In 2015, I hosted a radio show titled A Matter of Interpretation.

God placed it on my heart to hire a teen host. Once a month, I featured young people from the community to discuss issues affecting their generation. After announcing my search, it took six months to find the right person.

What began with one teen host eventually expanded into a team of young journalists, including a male host and student camera operators. Together, we produced documentaries under the title Americans in Crisis, addressing issues such as homelessness, mental health, education, and the Black Lives Matter movement.

Accountability and Responsibility

The most important lessons I taught my team were accountability and responsibility.

The young host who forgot about the radio show was suspended for one month. Although the consequence was difficult, it became a valuable lesson.

During her absence, a young man who had been waiting for an opportunity stepped in, proved himself, and earned a permanent place on the team.

Every host was responsible for identifying guests, researching topics, and preparing thoughtful interviews. I wanted each student to understand that success requires preparation, commitment, and reliability.

At the same time, I was tutoring students at my church, where I gained firsthand insight into the academic challenges many children faced. I also taught at a career center, where I learned the importance of preparing students for the careers they hoped to pursue.

I tutored before and after class because I believed every student deserved the opportunity to succeed.

Initially, I required members of my media team to maintain a 3.5 GPA. However, I soon realized that grades alone could not measure determination or potential.

If a student's GPA fell below the requirement, they were given one semester to improve while remaining on the team. The most important qualification became showing up, putting forth effort, and demonstrating a willingness to grow.

After graduating from high school, one of my male hosts earned a college scholarship. Several months later, he called to tell me he needed to resign. He admitted that he had become distracted by partying and was failing his classes. He knew he needed to focus on his education.

He learned accountability.

I learned something equally important.

My students needed more than occasional encouragement. They needed someone who would remain present in their lives. I realized that mentoring meant becoming part of their village—offering guidance long after the cameras stopped rolling.

My Own Mentor

My own mentor was Isaac Lawrence, producer of A Matter of Interpretation on WIGN-TV in Detroit, Michigan. It was through his guidance that my journey as a television host truly began.

When I decided to expand into documentary filmmaking, I asked Isaac to mentor and train my team.

By then, we had two hosts and two camera operators. We traveled to Detroit for professional training, and Isaac later sent one of his interns to Kentucky to help us with our first documentary project.

Filming During the Pandemic

We began filming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As someone living with diabetes, I was considered high-risk.

When Breonna Taylor was murdered, my team wanted to create a documentary addressing the Black Lives Matter movement. Despite my concerns about my health, I knew their voices deserved to be heard.

My greatest lesson during that project was learning to listen—to acknowledge their fears, validate their concerns, and trust them to tell an important story.

Being Gay in America

Later, we decided to produce Being Gay in America.

Some questioned how we would approach such a sensitive topic.

My response was simple:

We would treat every guest with dignity and respect.

Years earlier, while writing my children's book series, I had prayed about how I would write characters from backgrounds different from my own. I decided that every character—regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation—deserved compassion and humanity.

That commitment eventually influenced Forgiven of Our Transgressions and Book 9 of the Children of Plains Estates series.

During production of the documentary, I also discovered that one member of my team struggled with homophobia. Rather than ignore the issue, I recognized it as another opportunity for growth and learning.

Mentoring Extends Beyond the Student

One day, after interviewing an exceptional young guest, I realized she would be an outstanding addition to our team.

Her father accompanied her to the interview, so I spoke with him about the travel requirements and time commitment.

He explained that he had been raised by a single mother and had recently reached a point in his career where he could finally devote more time to his daughter.

As a single parent of twin daughters, I understood both the guilt of missing important moments and the joy of finally being able to celebrate a child's accomplishments.

His daughter became the first Caucasian member of my team.

That experience reminded me that successful mentoring extends beyond the student. It also includes recognizing the importance of family support and involvement.

The Foundation of Every Academic Subject

While tutoring another student who struggled with reading, I knew traditional methods alone would not inspire him.

Reading is the foundation of every academic subject, but students engage more deeply when they are interested in what they read.

Because basketball was his passion, I purchased books about the sport. As his interest grew, so did his reading ability.

Before long, those skills transferred to every area of his schoolwork.

I will never forget the pride on his face when he made the honor roll for the first time.

Moments like that are why I continue to mentor.

My Legacy

Awards fade.

Recognition comes and goes.

Social media likes disappear as quickly as they appear.

My legacy will not be measured by trophies or applause.

It will be measured by the young people whose lives were strengthened because someone believed in them, invested in them, and walked beside them.

Mentorship is not simply about teaching lessons.

It is also about learning them.

Every young person I have mentored has shaped me into a better leader, a better listener, and a better person.

Those are the lessons I will carry with me.

And those are the lessons I hope my mentees will one day pass on to others.