- This show is about connection.
And that's one thing that's really helped me too
is being a part of this show,
seeing all these amazing stories
of people doing really good things for other people.
So I wanna share a story perfect for 2020.
It proves that in spite of our differences
we're more united than divided.
This is Good Neighbor.
(upbeat music) ♪ Good good so good ♪
♪ Good neighbor ♪
Good.
So good.
(Kelly laughs) That's why I love you Jessica.
My next guest is the owner of a martial arts academy
here in Southern California.
During the summer she was horrified
to watch her business go up in flames on live TV.
But then an amazing thing happened.
Strangers from all over the country,
all over the world, united to help her rebuild.
Here to share that story,
please welcome Zahalea y'all.
Come on. (everyone clapping)
All right and so first of all, meet Cheryl Hines.
- Hi.
So nice to meet you. - Nice to meet you.
- And sorry we're so far apart.
We're just gonna ignore the awkward--
- Yes. - Okay.
But before we get to what happened,
please tell us about your business.
(Zahalea sighs)
- So my business is the Urban School of Self-Defense,
which was established in 1995.
I express the teachings of Sanuces Ryu Jiu Jitsu.
And--
It's a raw life, defense.
Long Beach California, and all over the world.
- Man that's so cool.
So take us back to the day of the fire.
- It was a terrible day.
You know being there for 25 years,
and being the leading female black practitioner
for this system to have a small business
watch go up in flames was just,
in disbelief, heart breaking.
All these emotions that your body can think of,
I did at one time.
And to see the dojo that I have been with
with my instructor, my father,
and talked to him that night.
And confirming to him that, it's happening,
was very heartbreaking.
Him and I had this very strong,
still do have this strong connection with this system.
You know martial arts brings other things to life for you.
It's not just about fighting,
it's about how to create respect and love for others,
and family you know.
So my father and I have still that strong connection.
So it was very heartbreaking.
But, good things don't come easy, growth is not easy,
discomfort means that you're on the right path to something.
Maybe don't know what it is,
but the unknown is always intriguing and exciting.
So--
Just go with the flow and just breathe through the process
to maintain the balance.
So that's what I'm trying to do.
- Well and speaking of not knowing what's coming,
so you end up getting this random call right?
(Zahalea laughs)
- Random.
Like random.
(laughing)
This lady from Michigan,
who I now I know someone in Michigan,
I didn't even know anybody in Michigan.
And she reached out
because she saw through the beauty of social media
how things come together,
she saw through someone who followed me,
that the post that I put up
of me standing in front of the dojo.
And all I did was just say "25 years", you know.
And with that,
she thought that she could put something to it
to help and support me.
So, selflessness.
Selflessness from her
and from the others of the whole community,
the whole world that came to reach out to help me.
At that time I didn't believe it,
I wasn't in that right mindset.
So when I got that call I hung up.
I hung up.
(Zahalea laughs) - 'Cause you're like,
crazy okay, yeah. - I wasn't in
that mindset, so, when she called back again,
it was more of okay let self,
I know a lot is going on, take a seat and listen.
Listening does a lot.
Listening goes a long way. - Amen.
Yeah. - So I took myself a seat,
in the burning chair, (Zahalea laughs) and listened to her.
And come to find out, she did a beautiful GoFundMe.
It was like at 10,000 dollars I believe.
And now it's currently like at, 160,000 dollars, which is--
- That's crazy.
- I couldn't be-- - From strangers.
- Perfect strangers.
Strangers of the community.
- [Kelly] Yeah.
- Showing how the community just can come together.
- What's your reaction?
It's pretty cool right?
- It's amazing.
It's interesting that you said perfect stranger.
Because that's the first time I've heard somebody say it
where it has a new meaning.
It is a perfect stranger.
- It is, I didn't even know what Michigan was doing,
I really didn't.
But I'm grateful for her in Michigan,
because without her and the others who had helped chime in
and did all this community support,
I am so grateful.
I get a second chance to build a community again.
You know we get a second chance
to have a place you know? - Yeah.
So I mean Zahalea you're telling us
that this woman who started the fundraisers,
what do you know about her?
Do you know anything about her?
- I know that she is a woman in Michigan,
who I believe is a student.
And who I believe is trying to get married,
so you know-- - Oh wow.
- Positive vibes to her and her fiance.
And I hope that they pull off and be happily married.
- Yeah, I hope COVID doesn't ruin that too.
Well we have a little surprise.
Marie's actually joining us from her home in Michigan.
- What?
- Hi Marie! (Zahalea laughs)
How you doing?
- Hi I'm good Kelly, how are you?
- Well I've been better, I'm wearing a patch,
but it could be worse.
So Marie, what inspired you to help?
- Well I saw the post on Twitter,
and it was that photo of her standing in the doorway
that said "25 years."
And it just really like touched my heart
and resonated with me.
I saw in the comments a whole bunch of people
were like "have you made the GoFundMe?
"Has anybody made a GoFundMe?"
And I knew she wouldn't have time,
because she was you know going over the ruins
of her like work.
So I made one, and I pitched in
essentially the last 15 dollars
I had to my name as the first donation.
To start it off so that when it got tweeted out
that it wouldn't be at zero.
To encourage other people to donate.
And it picked up super fast.
We were at like 20,000 dollars in a couple of hours.
- Wow. - And I think, yeah,
I think that the part that like really resonated with me,
was that like all of this work
and all of this like time and energy
was just like taken away.
And I related to that because my fiance and I
had a whole bunch of savings set aside for our wedding,
it was gonna be this coming summer.
And when COVID hit we both got laid off from our jobs.
- Oh man! - And so we basically
had to live off of our wedding savings.
So, I just kind of really felt that like,
just things being taken away from you.
And you know I chipped in 15 dollars
and most of the donations out of this,
165,000 dollars, most of them are five, 10, 20 dollars.
And I just want like the message to be taken away
that you know everybody chips in a little
for your fellow man.
Like the world will be a much better place.
- Yeah.
We always think like it has to be some giant check,
but if everybody gave a little bit, you're right.
Of course of course. - Yeah.
- Well we actually have another surprise.
This one's for both of you.
As Marie said,
she was just one person who made a difference.
More than 7,000 people from all over the country,
all over the world,
donated to rebuild Zahalea's business.
We've reached out to some of them
and they had a special message.
So take a look.
- Hi Zahalea, my name is Andre.
- My name is Fred.
- My name's Mary Steinhoff.
- My name is Kache Manais.
- I know you don't know me, but I feel like I know you.
- I came across your story on Instagram.
- When I read that your dojo was burnt down in the riots,
I just broke down into tears.
- As a woman myself I know how much harder it is
to put everything into what you do.
So I decided to donate to the GoFundMe be--
- I feel like as black women we're already disadvantaged
in this society.
- I felt compelled to take action.
- I was compelled to donate because I connected with you.
- I'm not part of any group or organization.
I'm just a person who cares.
- Even though we've never met,
you're part of my family you're part of my community.
- I just wanted to do anything that I could
to help out.
- Right now, that's what we need.
We need to take action.
- Stay strong and keep fighting, because guess what?
We're all fighting with you.
(audience clapping)
- [Kelly] Oh god.
I tried so hard
to keep it in. - That was beautiful.
- How does seeing those are perfect strangers like you said.
- Yeah. - And they're all
relating to you in their own ways
and they all wanted to help you.
How does that make you feel?
- It feels so beautiful.
That was such a majestic moment.
It was just, putting names,
seeing faces to the names to the numbers.
The support I mean,
Marie that was dope right?
(Zahalea laughs)
Like--
I was like, it's just--
It took my breath away.
Sometimes you just can't find the word,
but the feeling is just burning inside.
- And it's so big, yeah. - I'm so grateful.
I really, everybody out there, if you can hear me,
I'm so grateful for all of you.
I'm so grateful.
Gratitude, I give thanks.
And I--
(Zahalea sighs)
The future.
(Zahalea laughs)
- [Kelly] It's gonna be beautiful.
- It's gonna be. - 'Cause you're no longer
that girl just standing with the sign
you're no longer the woman standing there with a sign.
Now you can stand there for 25 more years.
- Yeah it's helpful-- - And do something amazing
because people you know, they care,
they give you a hand when we needed a hand.
Everybody needs it sometimes.
- Yes.
- Well Marie, you have been so selfless.
And you deserve something special too.
So we've reached out to Edible
which is all about offering gifts
that help you celebrate moments that matter.
So not only do they want to gift you
with their new fruit flowers bundle
with real chocolate dipped strawberries,
they also want to help you celebrate your wedding
with 5,000 dollars.
So they're gonna give you 5,000 dollars.
(everyone cheering)
Yeah! - Oh!
- Yes.
Well you are a good soul
and you have done such a beautiful thing.
And look at that 15 dollars you think didn't matter,
look what it just set off.
This whole domino affect, that's what you did.
- Yeah. - That was a powerful thought
and a powerful heart and a powerful 15 dollars.
So thank you so much.
- Yeah thank you, so much.
Wow. - Yeah.