Village Talks Ep. 10 — Alicia D. Crudup on Kinship, Calling, and Community

Village Talks Ep. 10 - Alicia D. Crudup on Kinship, Calling, and Community

Hitting double digits feels like a milestone.

Episode 10 of Village Talks isn’t just another conversation—it’s a reminder that when you follow calling instead of comfort, the work has a way of finding you exactly where you’re needed.

In this episode, I sat down with Alicia D. Crudup, a Chicago South Side native now leading powerful youth work in the Twin Cities through Kids and Kinship. From the moment Alicia began sharing her story, it was clear: this is someone who doesn’t just talk about village—she lives it.

From Chicago’s South Side to Community Leadership

Alicia’s story begins where so many powerful narratives do—on the South Side of Chicago. She speaks candidly about growing up surrounded by poverty, violence, and systems that often limit imagination before it has a chance to grow.

For years, Alicia believed her path was law school. From the age of five through college graduation, becoming an attorney felt like the plan. Until it wasn’t.

In a moment of deep clarity, she felt God redirect her—away from courtrooms and toward community. The call was unmistakable: go back to young people, change the narrative, and show them there is more than the narrow paths they’re often shown.

That obedience didn’t come with a paycheck. Alicia volunteered full-time. She showed up. She listened. She built relationships. And eventually, doors opened—not because she chased them, but because she was already doing the work.

Showing Up When Systems Fall Short

Alicia cut her teeth in youth development at the YMCA in North Minneapolis, breaking rules—not recklessly, but relationally. She challenged rigid systems by doing what communities often need most: showing up without judgment, paperwork, or performance.

That philosophy now shapes her leadership at Kids and Kinship, where the focus isn’t just matching mentors with youth—but embedding the organization into the fabric of the community.

For Alicia, village means feet on pavement. It means knowing families by name. It means relationships that don’t disappear when funding cycles end.

She offered one of the most vivid examples of village activation in the series so far: when a family quietly admits they’re running low on food. Not referring them to a hotline. Not handing them a number. But calling a trusted partner, picking up groceries, and dropping them off discreetly—protecting dignity while meeting need.

That’s village.

Everything We Need Is Already in the House

Throughout the conversation, Alicia returned to one core belief: resources exist—but silos block access.

When organizations collaborate instead of compete, communities thrive. When leaders stop sensationalizing struggle and start honoring trust, families lean in. When we stop making people relive trauma just to receive help, healing can begin.

Alicia challenges the sector to rethink how we define impact—not as organizational growth, but as collective well-being.

The Reality Youth Are Facing Right Now

The conversation also didn’t shy away from hard truths.

Alicia spoke honestly about today’s realities:
– food insecurity
– housing instability
– opioid exposure
– underfunded youth services
– and the heartbreak of teaching kindergartners how to use Narcan

These aren’t abstract issues. They are daily experiences for families across cities and suburbs alike—often hidden behind convenience stores, Starbucks, and Target parking lots.

And yet, Alicia remains hopeful—not naïve, but grounded in action.

A Call to the Village

As the episode closed, Alicia shared what excites her most right now: closing the gap in male mentorship and activating young adults—especially those in their 20s—to realize the power they already hold.

Her parting words were simple and profound:

“Just do it. The power of relationship is unmatched. Everyone has something to give.”

You don’t need a title.
You don’t need a grant.
You don’t need permission.

You just need to show up.

Final Reflection

Episode 10 is a reminder that village isn’t an idea—it’s a practice.

It’s built through trust, proximity, humility, and action. And leaders like Alicia D. Crudup show us that when the village shows up with integrity, young people don’t just survive—they see what’s possible.