A discussion with Washington Mystics Player, Alysha Clark about her love for reading, National Library week, and her appreciation for library staff.
Labs DCPL 0:00
DC Public Library podcast is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and is a production of the labs at DC Public Library.
Tora 0:10
Hi, you're listening to the DC Public Library podcast recorded from the labs recording studio in the historic modernize Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown Washington DC. My name is Dr. Burns, and I'm a reading programs coordinator at DC Public Library. All of our listeners are in for a special treat. Today. Library Week is coming up. And we have a really special guest. Alysha Clark is here with us from the Washington mystics. She's a small forward, so I want to brag about her a little bit. First of all, she's very down to earth. She's not I'm not nervous right now. But she is a two time WNBA champion and avid reader if you follow her on Twitter, the picture above is of her working with a young child. I'm very nosy sorry about that. She's an activist and last but not least a dog mom to her Petula last line. Now that I said enough, I let Alysha share a little bit more about herself. I mean, I think you've covered all the major points.
Alysha 1:17
All the things that matter. The only thing I will add is that I am a foodie.
Tora 1:21
Ah, okay, so what kind of food I love all kinds of, I travel the world as part of my job. So I get to experience all different types of cuisines. And, yeah, so um, if it's good, put it in front of me. All right, so what kind of cuisine has just been like, this is the best thing I've ever had, man. I mean, one of my favorites is like Mexican, the Spanish cuisine I love. Like right now I'm on a mission in DC to find the best via tacos. And so far, I found a good couple of good spots, and I just got put on to one more. So like, we're making our way around. We're trying to figure it out. Yeah, I'm gonna have to plug a little minor taco. Have you had a little minor taco? I have. Okay, okay, that those are my favorite. Okay. With the free advertisements. Um, so, one he played for the WNBA. I love the WNBA. But I know that your reader? Yeah, my first question is going to be what was your favorite book to read as a child? Oh, man. There's so many good ones.
Alysha 2:28
When I was I loved the Goosebumps series growing up. Yeah, that's for all my 90s baby. Shout out to all the 90s kids who grew up in the 90s. I love the Goosebumps series that was like that. And I think it was called scary stories to tell in the dark. I don't know if you
Tora 2:48
So you're a horror fan.
Alysha 2:49
I do. I enjoy like as a kid. I loved it. Because I hate to be scared. And so that was my way to like ease into that genre. But it was just they were just so exciting. And like kept me on my toes at all times. So I loved love those those series.
Tora 3:08
Yeah, R. L. Stein. I would read those stories and then have to take a break. You know, go outside and see some sunshine. But yeah, he kept us on our toes. He did. Awesome. I love to hear about childhood books. Because it's really important. We're celebrating National Library Week. It was started in 1958 as a way for Americans to celebrate the joy of reading. The American Library Association and another national book committee wanted to make sure that Americans are just as invested in books as they weren't like radio, television and things of that nature. This year's theme is connect with your library. Why do you think libraries are important?
Alysha 3:54
Oh, man. I mean, libraries are important just because it's like, the one space for imagination. You know, you can come to a library and learn all the things that you may not get in school or get at home. And it just gives you a chance to escape. And I think, you know, having libraries and even I'll even say like bookstores, right that are far and few between now but having these spaces that cultivates those ideas and cultivates the imagination for everyone all walks of life I think is so important. You know, you can come to a library you walk in and there's just this instant connection with everyone that you either walk by or come in contact with or searching you know, the the bookshelves next to it's like there's this automatic connection of love of reading and learning. And I think that's so cool,
Tora 4:47
right? I 100% agree. I know that sometimes when I feel the way or I think way, you know you're very isolated sometimes. And so I didn't realize that When I open up a book, and there's someone who can write how I'm feeling, I'm like, one, I'm not alone in this world. And then I also like the fact that the library is free.
Alysha 5:12
Can we talk about it?
Tora 5:15
I often tell my friends that the library is the one place where I feel that I can go, and I don't feel any pressure to purchase anything. So do you have a memory about a special library visit maybe you did as a child.
Alysha 5:34
I actually loved going to the library as a child what because like you said, it's free. And growing up my you know, my family there is my parents had four kids. So it's, you know, expenses are very tight. Yes. And so I remember like, that was one of the first things we always used to do, when we would move to a new state it was, we would find the library and go get a library card and like, go there. So for me, it was like, even in high school, after school, sometimes I would just go to the library, and I would just grab a book, and I would read or going to the library and checking out, you know, five different books and being so excited to bring these home and not, for me, I never want to feel like a burden. So I was like, Oh, I got to do all, like, get these books that I want to read without being a burden to my parents without having to pay for them. And so that was like that special connection to the library growing up. For me, it was, it was my, it was my space of comfort. And it was my space of like, my own because like my siblings weren't really going to the library like that. So it was like, it's my place. I don't have to share that with anyone. And so that was, that was my connection growing up with a library.
Tora 6:47
One is so cool that your child in a family of four on this saying, Oh, I don't know how my parents did it. God bless them. And in so it's good to hear that after you went after high school when I was in high school, I used to actually this is so bad. And I have my mom does not listen to this actually used to skip school and go down to Detroit's Main Library. I'm from Detroit, okay. And there's like this hidden section where you could like study musical scores. And so I would go, and I don't know how I found this area, the library it was so well hidden. But I would go in I would read musical scores. But then I would like listen to records by like, Ella Fitzgerald. Wow, Duke Ellington. And so the library for me was, I should not have been escaping it behind that I was escaping. But the library was an escape for me in one, I think it opened up my eyes to the fact that the library has more than like books, like there are other ways for you to read things like I was reading music. But you know, here at DCPL, we have like right now we're in our makers lab area. You know, there's a 3d printer. So I just feel like the library provides people with access to so so much.
Alysha 8:06
Yeah, that was something that I was so impressed by when she said a 3d printer when she was introducing all what was in here. I was like talking about library upgrades since I've been to one. Yeah, that's amazing. Yeah.
Tora 8:18
And the great thing about it is that it promotes the concept that everyone should have access to these kinds of machines. Because the 3d printer, I'm assuming is extremely expensive. Yeah. But it is great that affect the teenager, hopefully, they're not skipping like, but they can come in and I figured out a way to use a 3d printer. I think that's really great. It opens up people's eyes to different skills that they want to use. So I feel like we've talked about like the importance of reading and literacy and like the joy that it brings us. And I think sometimes that gets lost in the library world when all of the work that librarians that librarians and staff had to do to meet the different demands of the public. You know, people use the library in different ways for so many different resources. What would be an encouraging message that you'd have for library staff,
Alysha 9:17
man? It's so funny that this is one of the questions that you bring up because I just had a call today with a librarian from Pennsylvania school district. She had an article and just obviously the stuff that's going on with books being banned, and you know, school libraries and across the nation. And you know, she's speaking out and speaking up about like, how important reading is and having diversity in libraries. For that specific reason what you're just saying, you have to meet the demand of the public. And there's so many different kids from all different backgrounds that go to these schools. And so in having the conversation with her today, it just, you know, it can't like how we've gone After the pandemic, and we, it showed us who is like, who really are the essential worker workers in essential staff in our society that are often overlooked. You know, it's kind of just a reminder of how important library staff and librarians are. I told her today like, I learned something new, as I've been researching through this, the last two months is like, I didn't even know librarians had to have a master's degree. Yeah, they do. Do you know how many like other professions out there don't even require that? Yeah. And think of all the librarians you've ever come across in your life from school to growing up as an adult. And it's like, they put they have such a, an important job in continuing to cultivate this space of inclusivity of diversity for everyone. And our, like, people don't even know their names. Yeah, you know, so my message to library staff would just be keep being amazing. Keep standing on the grounds of truth on the grounds of inclusion and diversity and progress, right, you know, the way that we move forward is to learn, and you learn through reading, you can empathize through reading, and those are such important traits. And so I'm, listen, I'm honored. And I'm like, I need to help out in any way that I can to continue to amplify the work that library staff does, because it is so crucial like to have an amazing library like this in the middle of downtown DC. Imagine if there were no staff here, right? Then where would everybody in the city and around be able to come to be able to further educate themselves that they can have access or pay for classes or whatever it is, without you all being here? Right? So yeah, y'all are y'all are the real MVPs? Yeah,
Tora 11:55
um, what is a perfect answer. Just being very frank, I am not a librarian. By trade, I'm probably the only person on my team that's not trained as a librarian. And so I always try to, they probably I like to, or we don't want to hear this from you. But I always commend them because working for the library, I haven't been at the library longer than a year. But working at the library, I just see kind of like, how the library interacts with all intersections of things that are happening in the city, and how they really do their best to meet the needs of the entire city. So I agree with everything. He said, I could not have said it better. Now we're going to shift a little bit more because I'm in my field. And I hope that all of the DC Public Library staff and librarians around the world heard what you said they really need to hear that didn't sound like this. Letter, let's shift to children, right. We've kind of talked about librarians and appreciating libraries. What do you think can be done to encourage youth to read?
Alysha 13:15
I know it's hard in today's society where technology is just rampant. But for me, I think the the way that I always encouraged because I, I love kids, I have a passion with working for kids and allowing them helping them just be kids, right? Like in today with everything, all the information at the tip of your fingers like trying to protect that innocence and being able to allow the the dreaming and the imagining and those types of things. So I always just, you know, starting with my niece, you talked about the picture on my Twitter, that's my niece and I K. And you know, with her it started, like when she would come spend the night with me because I read at night before bed. So I would get in bed and I'd have my book and I'd read and I got her I'm like, Oh, well, you know, asking her like what do you like what subjects do you like? And you know, when she told me I was like, Okay, I got her a book. And so in bed I'm like just read, you know, 10 minutes a day, you know, starting out really small and especially with today, the attention attention span of children is a lot shorter than what we had, right? Because we grew up playing outside, like didn't have technology like that. So and now everything is shorter, and you have to appeal to them quicker. So I would say you know, start small, yeah, find a subject that you like, go to your library. You know, ask your librarian say, Hey, Mrs. or Mr. So and So. I have an interest in sports. Can you show me some really good sports books to go read and then they can show you where that is. You can pick one and then start even if it's five minutes, start five minutes a day, sit down and read for five minutes. And then you know set that as a goal and then continue just to grow that but I think starting small helps Build that consistency. And then once you get to longer it'll it'll just keep growing from there.
Tora 15:06
Right? Okay, that makes that makes a lot of sense in it. I was, honestly my niece is eight years old will turning eight this year. And I can I get a thing on my phone whenever she logs on to her game. It's called PK XD. And I told her because it was like 2am. I shouldn't have been up and she should know. But it pinged on my phone. I was like, Why didn't she online? And then I said, Okay, I will pay you for every book that you read. She read so much. I was like, Okay, I need to figure out a different way to encourage Henry. She's always been a great reader. But she read so much, she could have took my entire chair. Yes, I'm on a payment plan right now. But I liked the way that you said start slob because that's being realistic. It's important to meet children, any honestly any adults too, because our attention spans are changing all of the information that comes at us, as well. So start small and meet people where they are. I think that's really great. Has there ever been an instance in your life where story helped you process something? Ooh.
Alysha 16:25
Um, yeah. So some of the books like growing up and reading and the reason why I love reading is because children's books are often you know, they have storylines that are applicable to different situations for different children like they are, I mean, some of them are crude, but it's just like, they're not created from nothing, right. And so as a kid, like, we moved around a lot, almost essentially, like every four years. And so it was like, I was always the new kid. And so reading was a way for me to connect with people who felt like the outcasts or people that had a hard time meeting friends, or, you know, talking to other students, and we're really shy. And it just, I just remembered like the Judy Blume books back in the day, right? Like, those one, I can't remember the name of it. But like, those series, like, they had a book about that about how she had a hard time meeting new friends in her class and talking to other classmates. And so reading that as a child, and seeing how she navigated that, it was like, oh, okay, I see what she did there. Right. And so it helped me to be able to process what I'm going through, and be able to, like, apply that in my new classroom when I was around my new classmates. Okay. So that's like, I mean, just one of the many examples of like, as a kid, how reading impacted me and allowed me to connect.
Tora 17:53
That's really dope. Yeah,
Alysha 17:55
it's pretty cool.
Tora 17:56
Yeah, really cool. Um, so how do you balance like you said, you read before you go to sleep? How do you balance being such an avid reader and traveling for games?
Alysha 18:06
Oh, that's like, it's the perfect, like, it's like a perfect marriage. Because we travel and like, our flights are so long, or we have, you know, so much time in between travels, like, that's where I do most of my reading during the summer, because we might have a two and a half, three and a half hour flight, you know, or four hour flight to the west coast and I can just sit on there and no interruptions and just read right. So that for me, and especially overseas, so playing in the offseason overseas, you know, a lot of times the travel days can be like nine hour travel days. And so when you're sitting on a layover, that's a four hour layover in the middle of an airport. You know, I just pulled my book out of my bag and I'm reading so I like I can finish books in like two three days, like three 400 page books in like two three days because of that.
Tora 18:52
I'm jealous. I was just how many books do you read? Because you travel? Yeah, match. Yeah. Wow.
Alysha 19:02
It's honestly like it's it's a lifesaver because it's like I don't want to be glued to watching my iPad the whole time or being on social media. It's like I want to disconnect and and I'm also like, I can't do the the Kindle like the online reading stuff. I need like eight pages, I need to feel it and it'd be able to pin my you know, my page and like close it. Okay, so when I travel like here in DC right now, I think I have how many books do I have? I have like 12 books I'm trying to get through in I mean, honestly, like in the next few months. Yeah. So I'm like I need to like yeah, I love to read it's just a great like, pastime for me. Okay,
Tora 19:43
what is a book that you've recently read or that you're about to read that well, that you just want people to read? Well, oh suggestion, I may have to check the system myself.
Alysha 19:58
What I just finished with Reading a book called closer knit, it's different. This is gonna, hold on, I'm gonna have to look this up, this is gonna kill me. What did that what was the name of it? So I went to it's called mahogany books, okay, and I got to meet the owners. And so they, they are amazing. And so I was asking them which books I should read, and all the in between. So it's a novel, but it was such a page turner. And like, because again, because I like the kind of suspense and horror it was kind of along those lines not as gruesome, but it was this like, just like such a patient of in between and it was like this guy who was like trying to navigate between like real life and the spiritual world and like, how he was like, trying to figure out what was what, and they told me they're like, listen to this is gonna be the you're not gonna be able to put it down. So I was like, Okay, let me add this to the list. Okay, locked down in there with eight books. That's how it was like, but it was it was really, really good. And then I read like, I've recently I read RPGs book, okay, her autobiography, which is a great read, just to learn. The next one. There's one if you want, like a good good one to read, one of my favorites, is called the monk who sold his Ferrari. And it's a fable, but it's about realizing your dreams and how to kind of bring those to fruition and like living a meaningful life. Okay.
Tora 21:47
And I just want to let you know, I'm gonna be making a list. You're gonna listen to this? Yeah, I'm gonna make a list of books. The monk who sold his Ferrari?
Alysha 21:57
Yes, it's one of my all time favorites. Anytime someone asked me for a good book. I always that's one of the first ones I
Tora 22:03
was given me. Like, it's similar to the alchemist. Yeah,
Alysha 22:07
love that one, too. So it's, like, it's along those same lines in terms of like, how it's the storyline of it. Like, it's about encouraging you how to figure like, realize your dreams and going after them and like understanding what's important. And what's maybe not as important that we prioritize, but it's literally it was he was a lawyer, lived a lavish lifestyle, had a Ferrari, expensive lifestyle, etc. And decided his life was meaningless. And so he sold his Ferrari and went to become a monk. And like, hence the story. Wow. So
Tora 22:41
okay. I'm going to read that. Okay. I'm gonna read that and the in between. I'm so excited. Yeah. So I think the WNBA is awesome. I remember when my mom actually got free tickets to the championship game. I don't know what year it was. But this is when the Detroit Shock was still around. Okay. And we weren't, we weren't expecting. Well, we were in nosebleeds. But everyone was so happy that we won the championship that people were like hugging, I just remembered the players being so assessable on that day, the day of the game, they were so they seem to be like so accessible to the crowd. Which is crazy, because it was a championship game. And I think the WNBA does a great job of being in tune with the community being the first to say the things that marginalized communities want to hear from people that they admire. Yeah. We are getting closer to national mental health month in May. And over the course of these years, I guess, is it three years now?
Alysha 23:48
This is 2022. Yeah. Almost a year. Yeah.
Tora 23:53
Would you like to share more about your work to advocate for mental health? Yeah.
Alysha 23:59
I mean, you know, this is a space that I think is a personal journey for everyone. You know, you have players in our league that are far, far long enough in their journey where they can share, you know, their struggles that they're going to have gone through and where they are now. Right. And then you have players that maybe are still in the midst of their struggle and trying to navigate, how to heal from that and how to grow out of that. And so for me something I always, I mean, I wouldn't necessarily call myself an advocate, I feel like, you know, that I'm like, I just am encouraging people to really, like, take care of themselves in love on themselves a little more. And that's something that I am learning to do. And especially in the world of sport, right, like you've seen so many more athletes stint taking using their platform and speaking out just about the struggles that they deal with. And I think in a way it's helping humanize Athletes Yeah, because, you know, it's only natural, right? The human thing to do is when you see someone doing something you admire, or that obviously has a lot of fame and money tied to it, it's like you're put on a pedestal, right. And I think at times, that's dangerous, because people forget that as professional athletes as, you know, movie as actors and actresses that at the end of the day, people are human right? And no amount of money, no amount of fame is going to change that, like they're still everyone has their own struggles. And so, for me, you know, it's, it's nice that these conversations are happening, it's nice that the world of sports is starting to, I'm not gonna say toxic, but it's a little toxic. The culture in sports is a little toxic, in the sense of it's pushed to where, oh, that's just that you're just being weak. You know, it's not like, No, I'm actually really struggling with something. It's like, oh, you know, if you're not bleeding, you're fine. Right? If it's not broken, you're okay. And I think being able to change that, change that atmosphere, that narrative within sports, is super, super important, because we have young players and stuff coming up now that you see, you know, these college athletes are prioritizing their mental health, because I said it, you know, forever ago, I'm always like, yeah, you know, sports is physical, but like 90% of it is mental, right. And, you know, if you aren't in a space where you can enjoy what you're doing that you can be present in what you're doing and, and realize, like the magnitude of what it is you get to do, right? It's like it's counterproductive. You know, you're not now you're not going to be able to shoot and play and play in a space where you're playing freely and using the gifts that you've been given at the highest level. So I think it's, you know, super important just to like, sometimes take a step back and take a mental note,
Tora 27:03
I saw you do a video, and you were saying Your first step is to take a deep breath. Yeah. And to like, be mindful. And I think that everything that you said, kind of leads into this concept that, you know, even if whatever job that you're doing, if your mental health isn't, you know, secure, then it affects performance. And paying attention to mental health lets us know that humans aren't just here to perform. But we're here to you know, collaborate together and that everyone should be treated as such. So it was really nice to hear you. Yeah. And anyone who I feel like anyone. I know, you said you don't call yourself an advocate. But I feel like anyone who opens up their mouth and is vulnerable enough to say that this is a process that I use, like, you don't even have to say like, I am having the worst week of my life. Anytime that you open up your mouth when you say this is you know, what I do to protect my mental health to be vulnerable, especially with the public. I think that makes you an advocate. Thank you. I have two really great questions from Teen Council members. So this is like the teen question. They asked some great questions. I was like I was I like this when I was that age. And the first question is, what problems in your profession encourage you to set boundaries and this is my my word 810. Councilmember? Wow, yeah, Destiny. Okay, Destiny?
Alysha 28:40
That is a wonderful question. Let's see. I think for me, in the work environment, in my profession, I'm really big on how someone speaks to me. And so that boundary I set very clearly from the beginning, is and I do it in ways where it's, I mean, it's not aggressive by any means. That's just not my nature, but I am. What's the what's a good way you set a standard? Yes, I set a standard and a direct way, where you're going to feel that I'm serious about this. And because like, for me, I try to leave just in in my position as a player like I try to lead with love and with grace and empathy and understanding and those types of qualities, right. So when I do speak on something, I do it in a very direct way that's in a in a truthful and as kind of, of a way that you're going to understand and it's not and it's like okay, once you've crossed that then it's like okay, I tried to by being kinda let me be a little more direct and help you understand. So that for me is how you speak to me because we're both professionals. We're all professionals. We're all adults. I mean, everybody to the referees, like the conversations I had with them when they started speaking, so I'm like, you can speak to me as a professional. I'm coming to you having an adult conversation. Are we not adults? Right, you know, to let them know like, that's not how this is about the word. Don't
Tora 30:17
talk to me. Yeah. So, okay, I get it. That's a note for our teens out there set expectations for how you want people to treat you
Alysha 30:28
and be clear about it. And that's something that I had to learn and navigate was being clear about the expectations and the boundaries that I have, because I allowed those lines to be blurred a little and be like, Oh, well, you okay, that's okay, that you say that, you know, but really, it's like inside. I know, that's not how I want to be spoken to, or referred to, or whatever. And so I had to learn how to say, actually, no, please don't call me that. Actually, no, please don't speak to me that way. And so like learning how to be direct is it's difficult. But once you do it, you feel really good. Because now there's there's no gray area. Yeah, that's very, very powerful. Yeah, very powerful.
Tora 31:08
Okay, what advice would you give young girls who are athletes, and this is from Tierra, our word for Teen Council member?
Alysha 31:17
Hi, Tara, great question as well. Um, I think the advice I would give young female athletes would probably be don't allow someone to put you in a box. You know, as female athletes, we are often silently told to accept what is given and not push that that boundary or or that, that standard? Right. Okay. And, you know, it's like, oh, well, at least there's a space for you to play, you should be grateful for that. Yeah. So don't allow people to put you in that box of a coach like, oh, you know, don't get too ambitious. And, you know, you may not want to try to push him, you know, run this time on the on the track. And it's like, don't tell me what I'm capable of, and don't allow them to tell you what you can or cannot do. And I think once you have that mindset, and that outlook, it'll help you navigate a lot of the barriers that you're gonna have to go through. And that's just, that's what we're trying to change, you know, as, as professional athletes is trying to change that landscape for female athletes. So it's not as hard to navigate, right? But the reality is, is it's not going to happen overnight. So it's probably going to have to continue for decades, hopefully not decades. Hopefully it changes within these next 10 years to where it's not in that way. But when you have that mindset, and you can navigate that space, that way, there's nothing that's going to deter you from your goal or deter you from the end goal that you have in mind.
Tora 33:01
I'm feeling inspired, inspired. I am feeling extreme. Yeah. That was a great answer. I could talk to you all day you have like such a great spirit about you. It's been a pleasure speaking with you. We hope everyone that's listening enjoyed our time and that you come out and celebrate National Library Week with us. Yeah, next week starting Monday, April 4, and that you visit the DC Public Library. We have 26 locations, or you can check out DC library.org to find some life changing stories and tour brands and this is Alysha Clark of the Washington mistakes. Thank you for listening.
Labs DCPL 33:52
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