Paul Bass Photo
Kasheem “Kash” Knight returned to Dwight from the overnight shift to throw in a load of laundry, and keep working.
Knight took a seat at a table by the front window of the Super Saver laundromat at Kensington and Elm Streets Thursday at 9:25 a.m. after starting that load. He had just finished his nightly 11 p.m.- 7 a.m. shift walking the floors (“getting my cardio”) and monitoring screens at Milford Mall.
You’d never know he’d been up all night: Smiling, energetic, eager to meet strangers, he looked like he had just woken up to start the day refreshed.
“I get up motivated” and stay motivated, Knight said during a conversation on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program. “Mentally, I’m not tired.”
He had a screen open to play Call of Duty. Next to it were his last two boxes of “Sky Devices” tablets. Knight kept an eye out for customers coming in to see if any are on food stamps or Medicaid. If so, they qualify for the free government-issued tablets with five years of free internet (similar to the “Obamaphones” program).
That’s a second job for Knight. A private company contracting with the government pays him $10 for every qualified person who takes a tablet and signs up.
Until two weeks ago, Knight, who’s 29, was working a second more physically taxing full-time job “doing inventory” for $17.50 an hour at Walmart.
He said he learned endurance, body and mind, playing middle linebacker, outside linebacker, safety, and kickoff return on the Wilbur Cross High School football team. The coach “told me I’m never getting off the field, playing four, five positions. It built me to work two 9 – 5s, being a part-time dad, and still mind my own business. … Mentally I had to tell myself, if you get hit, you got to get back up. There was some big people that knocked the wind out of me!”
Growing up in New Haven, he developed another form of endurance losing friends, beginning with his first best friend, Sean Reeves, who was killed by a stray bullet at 16 during a 2011 brawl at George and Day Streets.
“I found out on the news that morning. I was kind of heartbroken. I still dream about him, still think about him, lot of good memories,” Knight said.
“Seeing my friends die at a young age, it taught me how to be around a stronger circle, people that’s motivated, people that have goals. … I really had to separate myself to make it out. I was lucky to make it out alive. It keeps me motivated to motivate other kids, to stay away from drugs, to chase your dream.”
Two weeks ago he left the Walmart gig; he found he was in fact worn out from both gigs on top of his other responsibilities. He decided to stick with the Milford Mall job even though it pays $2 an hour less.
“The work is not slavery” at the mall, he said. “I’m not hurting my back. I’m not loading the truck. I don’t have customers asking 24 – 7, ‘Where do things go?’” He also finds moments to meditate and read the Bible during the quieter overnight.
“What drives me is my son,” 10-year-old Alejandro, Knight said. “If I don’t go to work, my son doesn’t have a roof over his head. Mentally, I’m not tired. Mentally, I’m focused on my son. I tell him, ‘Go to school, get good grades. I can go to my jobs and get my work done.’”
After finishing his laundry, Knight planned to head home a few blocks away for a “big egg and cheese” breakfast. The highlight of the day: Picking up his son when school gets out at Amistad Academy Middle School on Edgewood Avenue. ”I’m excited for him to get out of school, give me a hug. We’ve got a special handshake that we do.”
You can watch Kasheem Knight demonstrate that special handshake at the 8:30 point of the above video. You can watch the full conversation with Knight on the “Word on the Street” segment of WNHH FM’s “LoveBabz LoveTalk” program from the beginning of the video.
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Click here and see below for previous “Word on the Street” episodes and write-ups.
Word On The Street: The Gig Cycle Spins
Word On The Street: Dumped Trash Disappears
Word On The Street: Job Interview Awaits
Word On The Street: Callaghan Suits Up
Officer McKernan Refuels For Double Duty
Word On The Street: Fred Keeps Moving
Word On The Street: Mimosa Mania
Word On The Street: Terry Hands Over The Brakes
Safety Hunter Keeps Eye On The Rising Tiers
Leather’s Grandson Returns To The Soil
Jorge Opens A Door
Word On The Street: Dad Awaits The Call
Word On The Street: Bridgette Beats The Sun
Word On The Street:“Blessed,” & Ready For Busy Barber Season
The Word On Brownell Street: Call Luciano
Nana Readies Leaf Bag #32
Word On The Street: Groom Plans Hectic Holiday, Needs Car Back
The Word On Garden Street: Turkey Times Two
Dr. J Clears The Way
Estelita Makes The Journey Back Home
Butts, Burger King Wrappers Vanish At Wendy’s Drive-Thru
Skateboard J Does A 360
Word On The Street: The Banana Vote Emerges
Word On The Street: Sprinkler Heads
Word On Orchard Street: Cheap Gas
Word On The Street: Keep On Truckin’
Martin Readies 1 Last Bridge To Nature
Word on the Street: Call Her“Queen”
Word on the Street: Coach Lance Called It
Word On Dixwell: Scooter Saves Gas
Budding Architect’s Word On The Street: New Haven’s More Laid Back Than Hong Kong
Word On Street:“Smell Good In Your Hood”
Blood (Pressure) Talk Comes To Barber’s Chair
Word On Street: Rizzo Can Stand The Heat
The Tomato Plot Thickens
Without Illusions, Lamont Stewart Makes The Most Of His Morning Walk
Pro-Punk Poet Prof Starts Summer Stretch
Barista Soaks Up New Hometown Flavor
Word On The Street: Park Pre-Work Workout Sets The Tone Homeless, & Working Exit 5
Aldo Salazar Does The Circuit
Brisa Mendoza STEMs The Graduation Tide
Timmy Turner Takes The Long View
Bike To Work Week Pulls Up To State Street Station
He’s Making Sure Soldiers Won’t Be Forgotten
Legion Ave. Rite Aid Closing; Actor Bummed
Word On Church St.: Drugs Are Everywhere
Indoor“Sunrise” Breakfasts Resume For The Hungry & The Homeless
“VillaFame” Has Designs On The World
Cherry Trees & NFTs Blossom In Wooster Square
9th Square Grows On New New Havener
Warbler Watcher Waits In The Woods
Reggie Gibson Makes A Clean Sweep
Sorry, Wooster Street: This New New Havener Has His Eye On Whalley Pie
Demons Stalk Methadone Run
Surveyor Bundles Up
Grandpa Boyd’s Toes Froze
Jay Jordan Shows Up Early For First Day At Mickey D’s
Track Champ Sets Sights On Firehouse
Can Collector Seeks Redemption
Reborn Stetson Library Opens Its Doors
Mom Prays To Pause Violence
Commuter Rolls With Switch To Train
Word on the Street: Math
Word At The Barber Shop: Ukraine Needs Our Help
Word On The Street: Pain At The Pump
Hamden’s Female Leadership Team Marks International Women’s Day
Taylor Picks Up Her Step
Wednesday’s Word on Grand:“Survival”
Turbocharged Community Soup Kitchen Plans Return To Indoor Dining
Prof On Track To Put Pain Behind Him
Word on The Street: New Beginnings
Lyric Hall Goes With The Flow
1 Valentine’s Day Later, Love Survives
Budget Airline Celebrates 100 Days At Tweed
Bobby’s Not Snitching »Grill Goes Cold After Inspector’s Visit
(Waste)Water St. Report: Omicron Still Fading
Word On The Street: Love Rides On Metro-North
Strolls Keep Soulmates On Life’s Path »Word on the Street: Where’s There’s Smoke …
Dude, Where’s His Car?
Word On The Street:“Level Up”
Word On The Street: Paying Rent, Staying Safe
Word On The Street: Brrrr!
Word On The Street: Caffeine
Word On The Street: 10 AM Georgia Hots