Sunny Reddy champions affordable education and student success at Wayne State University,

Foreign. Good evening and welcome to Spotlight. With me tonight, one of them is my dear friend, dear friend of the whole Middle Eastern community, Dr. Kumar. And we have Sonny Reddy. Sonny, he's been with the community. He's attending a lot of events in the community. So welcome both of you to mea.

Thank you.

Thank you, Wally.

Sure. Sonny, tell me about yourself. Where do you grow up? What school do you want?

First of all, Marhaba. So I came from India. I grown up in India. My life, my parents were farmers. During school, I'm the first person from my family to graduate from the college.

Great.

More than my dad, My mother's dream is succeed. And she said she worked so hard. She said this hard work has to stop with us.

You go educate the people who came to United States is for a better future for their children. That's why we all came here.

So as a 20 year old kid, I. I came to this country as a student and first I came to New York, was there for about a semester. And then I ended up meeting Dr. Ralph Kumler. He was the chairman of the engineering department. And I was struggling. My student life was very hard financially. I gone through so many troubles. And then within one year I. I lost my mom. That was my God bless her soul, she was the biggest inspiration. She was my role model. And I lost her within one year. So what she used to tell me is, you know what? Don't ever give up. I don't care what you do. I want you to see succeeding. So I'm sure she might be in a heaven absolutely watching me today. So with the community help I overcome and graduated in 1994. I worked everywhere, you name it, I worked in places.

So which school you graduate from?

Engineering masters in. I have a master's in chemical engineering.

From where?

Wayne State University.

Wayne state university. Dr. Kumar, we know a lot about you. You sit on the board of many hospitals, many schools, so. And I know a lot of people know you. But let me know a little bit about yourself. You know what do you grow up? Dr. Kumar.

So Ali, thank you again for having me back in this program. I love this program. I love your show, I love talking to you.

We love you.

Thank you.

I grew up in Mumbai, which was Bombay, India. And I went to Catholic school there.

Yes.

So my education has been pretty westernized right through. And then I went to medical school, following which I decided I need to come to America.

Okay.

The reason being that initially I thought I will stay in India and make India the education center of the world. But as you know, in Middle east and in India, things are different.

Yes.

And when you look at America, the US and then Wayne State University was the first to offer me a research position because I had no visa, I did not have green card, I did not have any family members here.

I see.

And Wayne State offered me the green card. So they offered me a citizenship, they offered me a research position. Then they offered me urology residency. Because I needed training.

Yes.

And then as I was a urology resident, I met this wonderful person from West Branch, Michigan. Yes, she was fourth year student. And so I met her in April and married her in September of the same year. So in short, Wayne State also gave me a wife.

Great, great life and wife. What hospital you work now, Dr. Kumar?

Two hospitals. One is Ascension, Rochester, which used to be Crittenden Hospital. And now Henry Ford.

Is Henry Ford. Both a lot. Yeah.

And the other is Trinity, Pontiac or Oakland, which used to be St. Joseph Pontiac.

I see.

So these are the main two hospitals that work now. Before COVID I was at Tribormont, the Beaumont system, then North Oak, Brooklyn, the POH system. Bmc.

Absolutely.

But I have now crystallized to these two hospitals.

I see. Sonny, tell me more about yourself. You're running for one state board of governors. Okay. You ever been involved in politics? Because to run for something, you should start with like in committees, small committees. And you know, from there you understand the system and all that and then you're on. So tell me about your experience.

So, not directly. This is the first time I'm running for a position in America, but I've been active in politics.

But do you work in committees? Small committees.

I am a board of trustee in one of the organization, cultural organization. It's with 60,000 members on it, a nationwide organization called American Telugu Association. I'm right now sitting on the board right now with that.

Okay. And what's your ambition if you went to that seat?

For the university especially, I'll tell you, I gone through the hardship of. Especially with the tuition. Tuition is one way skyrocketing. In fact, actually a couple of weeks actually I went to school and just like that, I sit down randomly, I pick the student and I wanted to talk to them. I said, what do you think is the issues? Yeah, they told me two issues. Mainly one is tuition. Of course that's a number one priority. The schools are going up and not many kids can afford. Their parents cannot afford. And the second one is once they graduate, they're looking for advisory. They're not getting help. You know, I graduated 30 years ago from Wayne State as an alumni. Nobody approached me. I want to work with Dr. Kumar. I want to bring majority of the alumni, the successful alumni. There are so many of them doing a great business, involved. Doctors are there, attorneys are there. There is a successful business. People are there.

I want to bring them.

I want to make them a partner in helping the students either financially or being an advisor, being a mentor. There are many things we can do. That's my goal.

Yeah. Honestly, a lot of universities and colleges like Lawrence Tech University, you know, the sooner, even before they graduate, they guarantee a job. They guarantee a job because the thing they teach in the school.

Right. Okay.

With one state first how is the scholarship? And then I'll come to. To what they studied there.

The scholarship.

Scholarship. What's the possibility of person like you with hardship and all that to get a scholarship?

I was probably, I can say, lucky enough to have a $10 job at that time. Dr. Ralph Kumler put me in a city of Detroit water treatment plant.

Okay.

So they were doing a pilot training for the tasting water. So my job was collect the samples, take it to the lab every day. From Jefferson plant to the Livonia, there is a testing lab every day and then analyze the results in that.

But did they have good scholarship program?

I think Wayne State, especially being an automotive industry, being in downtown, that's the only university right in the center of downtown. It has a lot of focus, especially industrial and mechanical engineering side. I think they do.

Go ahead.

If I may just chime in. Wayne State actually has what is called as the Michigan Promise and which means that parents who earn less than $70,000 if their kids want to go to Wayne State, their education is for free.

Great.

So it is a very, very.

Absolutely, yeah, it is thing to do for Wayne State. I see.

But going a little back to Sonny. Sonny's whole life has been dedicated to education. Okay. It was just a few information about him. He's a very modest person. So I will take the opportunity. During the COVID he has adopted 25 families of orphans, people that have died.

Of COVID Oh, that's a great point.

He's taking them from kindergarten to high school and private education and he's paying the funds.

That's a great. That's a Noble.

For $25,000, he just gave a check to one of the places that was needing hurricane, etc.

American red cars.

That's great.

And so just to get a little on that at Wayne State, we need him because he's so educated. He's a Wayne State alumna. And his heart is to get our minority students with African American.

That's how I'm gonna come to that.

I don't mean to thank you.

But we have six university advertisers. We have ltu, we have Wayne Community College District, we have Madonna, we have Detroit Mercy, we have a lot. And we invite all the president and I invite them and we talk and they talk about what they the students study in that university. If you could meet and if you could help Dr. Kumar win state. What they are famous for when state.

Is actually in engineering is pretty good.

That's great.

Of course automotive. We are automotive. City Engineering is very strong. And also the law school and the med school. Med school is one of the top school if I can say. And the largest class size in the country too.

That's the medical. Okay. Is that for nursing or for the physician?

Nursing is excellent too. It's one of the foremost nursing schools in the state.

I see.

And also the Allied like PA school is one of the finest.

That's right.

And the pharmacy too, actually.

School of pharmacy too. So they have so many things.

Yeah, so many things.

And honestly, when you meant the Met and all that people, they get the job before even graduates.

That's right.

It's the same like, you know. Yeah, one state and the location too. And I know a lot of people go to Winter State and all that and Michigan and that area, Detroit, suburbs of Detroit are multi ethnic minorities.

That's right.

You're going to see the Indian, the Middle Eastern, the African American, the Asian, the Latino and all that. And I see one state is the same as reflecting the community.

That's right.

So tell me more about one state and that diversity and that school.

You know, it's always been like that. Even when we were in school in the Masters actually back in. I'm talking about 30 years ago, we used to be about 600 kids from the India. Just from India. When you go out, we used to see people used to joke about it in dry apartments. Oh yeah, that's no longer there. So every floor, if you go in the lift, you see the different curry smell. So because it's apartment complex, used to be apartment complex. So it's based. It always been multi ethnic and you.

Know it's comfortable when you see multi ethnic minority. If Middle Eastern or Indian go to that school, he doesn't see any different because he knows other culture too.

That's right.

So they could work with each other. And that mosaic of the culture, it helped a lot of Students and it helped a lot of parents to send their kids to this kind of school. Dr. Kumar, you know, a lot of you have a lot of experience and within one state university you've been a trustee, you know, there and all that. Tell me more. The trustee is that election every year. And I'm going to come to sunny with that.

So there are eight trustees who we call the board of Governors.

I see. Okay.

And Michigan. The state of Michigan has three schools that have elected members. University of Michigan, Michigan State and Wayne State.

I see.

So these are also funded by the state. Now Wayne State University. Out of the eight that are there, board of members. Every two years, two get elected.

I see.

So it's an eight year term.

Wow. Long term.

Long term. Which gives us the ability to understand and do the right things we need to do do for the, for the university.

I see. Sonny, how's. How's the campaign going? You have, you have two people, right? You another person?

Yeah.

Okay.

Actually it's a. Two positions, four people.

Oh, two positions, four people. I see.

Actually total, nine people running. So two Democrats, two Republicans. Then you have a Green party and other candidates also there total.

But how many seats?

Two seats.

Two seats. So four people or six people running for the Two seats.

Two seats.

So how's the election? How's the campaign going?

You know, I believe in God, but I want to put 100% of my effort.

Yes.

And that's what I'm doing right now.

Every day.

I'm putting 100% effort. I want to. I'm enjoying actually going out. Made so many friends, so many friends like yourself, great people. And I'm enjoying, I'm meeting people. I want to see, you know, talk to the people, see what I can do. What are their concerns? That's what I've been doing.

I see. Are you reaching, as we said, one state as mosaic of many other ethnic minority. Are you reaching to other ethnic minorities so they could know about you, about your mission and to work with your campaign?

I'm trying actually wherever I can get a connections. I was last week. In fact, actually I was in, I.

Met you in Advent and you were all over the people.

I didn't stop at that event. I was going around and talking to the people, which is what I do.

Excellent.

That's what I do. You know what, it's been about 14 months since I launched my campaign. Everybody says, you know what, I'm the most hard working person and that's what I do in my life. That's what I do. I'M doing in the politics too. So I don't believe in getting something for free. I want to earn it. And that's what I'm doing. I want to make sure the person other side know who I am. And then I want them to vote for the person rather than looking at the party or looking at the other side. So I've been doing it. I think I'm confident that it's going to work.

Dr. Kumar, can you add a little bit to more. I know you know Sonny very well what he's doing. What's his mission of running for the board?

He's one of the finest person who deserves to be on the board of governors. He's the most hardworking candidate that I have seen so far apart from me.

Maybe.

That'S the true statement.

And the thing that he brings to the board is the ethnicity, the ability to recognize that people who have come from beginnings that were harder have the potential to rise to the extreme of what he is. Is a very, very successful business person, but his heart is there to give to people.

Great, great.

And he, like me, we come from India and the Middle Eastern community is. It's like our brethren.

Absolutely. Yeah.

We, you know, they. The Middle Eastern, like you said, you know, you love Indian food.

Absolutely.

The same thing with us. We love the Middle Eastern culture.

A lot of culture. With their sex change. Yes.

He would empathize with every person in the school because being Indian, the Indian community is well known Middle Eastern. He has experience with them. His partner is Middle Eastern. So there is that connection that our students and our community needs with the board of governors for the universities. Because guess what? There are limited positions that are available. Medical school, law school and others.

Yes.

And our minority kids need that.

You need to get involved role model.

Who is there to help them understand how best to come up in their lives and reach their dreams. He is the epitome of that.

You know, I want to add a little bit to that one. With my experience, I didn't have that. So my policy is, you know what? I missed that one. But I built myself so the next generation doesn't have to do that.

Great, great.

Something is there.

Is that statewide lecture.

It is a statewide.

So everywhere. And we broadcast not just to the whole state of Michigan. We broadcast in every state in the nation. And a lot of the people, they watch us majority, they are Middle Eastern. If it's in Michigan or from Alaska to Hawaii, broadcast in every state. But what's your message especially to the Middle Eastern community?

Why they should portfolio so, as I.

Said again, I am running for next generation kids. I want, you know what? I've been in this country for last 20 years. I have an American dream and I'm successful having that. I want to keep that American dream for the next generation. So I want to make sure that especially the Middle Eastern kids, Indian kids, everybody, I want to make sure that they have a support they need at the campus.

Yes.

I'm sure the schools can be affordable for them. I want to make sure the schools are affordable for them. And my goal is, you know what? I don't want to limit myself just to the Wayne State. I want to work across the board within Michigan, other schools also. I want to make sure that these kids have some help.

Yes.

And I want to jump in. I've been doing it without the position also. I've been doing it. If anybody help like Dr. Kumar, I jump on it. If somebody needs help, Let me see what I can do, how I can reach, what can we do? So I've been always doing it and I want to make sure that I can continue to do that.

And Sonny, having Dr. Kumar next to you, it makes a huge difference. The community love Dr. Kumar because Dr. Kumar contributes so much to the Middle Eastern community. He's one of us.

Absolutely.

With his support, I think it's more than 70% of your winning coming from Dr. Kumar.

So just want to let you know my experience. I've been traveling, Doc. I didn't tell you, but I've been traveling. I said, are you running against Dr. Kumar? I said no. Dr. Kumar has two more years. I will be working with Dr. Kumar. I want to join Dr. Kumar. Okay. Then you got my vote. Then you got my vote. So I have that experience in the public.

Well, good luck in your campaign. Thank you. And Dr. Kumar, thanks again for coming. You make me always happy when I see you.

The mutual feeling. Wally, you are one of the greatest person I know, honestly, from my heart.

Thank you.

The Middle Eastern community really is part and parcel of our genetic makeup.

And I love you. And whenever I go, when I say Dr. Kumar. Oh, yeah, of course, Dr. Kumar.

And you know, Wally.

Yes.

If we minorities get together, we are a majority.

Absolutely.

We have to remember that, support each other. Because America is the only country that gives us that opportunity to be who we are. And so we can bring back what America needs for us to work and make it a great nation.

Absolutely.

Absolutely. Because a country is who the people are.

Yes. I'm with you 100%.

As I always tell people, we came Here to be Americans. Yes.

And for better future for our children. Well, Sonny, good luck in your campaign.

Thank you.

And I said with Dr. Kumar, you have a great chance to win.

Thank you, Wally. We have a great chance.

Yeah, exactly, Wally. And I want you to know that you have a second friend now too.

Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Dear viewer. That was my interview with, of course, Dr. Kumar, my friend, Dr. Kumar, and with Sonny. Sonny Reddy. When you go and vote and please go and vote. No matter who you vote, go and vote. That's most important things. The message that mea and. And their friend that they're gonna give you that to go and vote and. And please go and vote for the. But again, when you go and vote, you have to remember who you're voting for. Sonny, he is an ethnic person. Sonny. He's been with the Middle Eastern community. I see him in event and all that. He understand our culture. He understand. He like our food, of course, and he like the custom and all that. So that's what you need. You need in school, somebody to understand this culture. Because each culture act different. And us as a Middle Eastern community, just like the Indian, our brother in India, we have our culture, we have our custom, we know the thing we wear, then all that. So please, when you go and vote for. For somebody that understand you, understand your culture, understand your family and how the family work. So please vote and vote for sunny on November 5th. There's about six, seven of them. So make sure that you vote for Sonny. Sunny ready? Sunny Ready on November 5th. Thanks for watching and good night.