ONE ON ONE | Josephine Hulett 'Who's Who' director knows how to make a difference

What programs does Who's Who of Youngstown operate?
We started this to help the senior citizens. There are too many senior citizens who have no help. A lot of our senior citizens have no families. They don't have anyone to go to the store for them. Many of them have had strokes. We provide food for them. We raise the money by selling nuts. We took on reading their gas meters and making sure that they get their absentee ballots to vote. We've even put on roofs for them.
Tell me about the Who's Who of Youngstown direct rent program.
It works to stop homelessness. If someone is on welfare and they don't pay their rent, the children suffer because the children get moved out. I've got people calling constantly. They need housing. A lot of them have bad credit. A lot of them have moved out and left the landlord. We act as a volunteer program payee. If the landlord is going to rent to them, they know they will be able to get their money. If they have Social Security or welfare, we're legally bonded to receive their checks. We pay their rent and their water bill.
What's the most important advice you give low-income people about managing their money?
Check out your priorities. Take a look at what you have to live on. Check and make sure that you pay your bills. Priorities are your rent, your water, utilities. Take care of those first. Whatever you have left, then that's what you live on. There's nothing any sadder than to see a family evicted. Air Jordans and Adidas are not priorities.
How did the name Who's Who come about?
I had been in my East Side neighborhood for many years and we knew everybody. As the neighborhood residents became more transient, I asked, 'Who are these folks? Where are they coming from?' They were everywhere. That's because they were moving constantly. When my son graduated from East High School, he grew up with all the kids there on the East Side. And now, the children don't do that. Some move six, seven or eight times a year.
What is your vision for the revitalization of Youngstown and how would you fulfill that vision?
People should stop running to the suburbs. We should annex the suburbs. We should have done it a long time ago. Look at what happened downtown. Is there any excuse for that?
Who are your political heroes?
Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm of New York was one of my political heroes. I worked with her on the minimum wage. She was a leader for the minimum wage for domestic workers. I'd say Congressman Traficant was a hero. I saw what he did and what he said. He didn't care how many hours it took me to do the job. He said just take care of the people. That was a philosophy that he instilled in all of us.
Who has most influenced your life?
I would say my father. My father brought me up to be very independent, and, to this day, I don't believe in a handout. I believe in a hand up. And I don't want anyone to give me anything. Just open the door. I'll do it myself.
When you're not working, what would people find you doing?
Probably cutting the lawn or gardening. I do a lot of flower gardening. Or else I'm out playing tennis.
What will it take to successfully fight neighborhood blight in Youngstown?
If we all would just pick up the trash in front of our own houses, and help that neighbor down the street who can't, that would make all the difference in the world. There's a law on the books that says 'no littering.' But do they enforce it? How many laws are on the books that Youngstown doesn't enforce?
When Mahoning Valley residents look back 20 years from now, how do you think they will view Traficant's congressional career?
I think a lot are going to look back and say, "Well, he got what he deserved." A lot are going to look back, and they'll say, "We didn't know what we had -- a person that would stand up and fight for us." He did make a difference. I would look back and say it's sad that we lost someone like that.