thank you Paul well good evening everyone my name is Matthew and this is
everyone my name is Matthew and this is
everyone my name is Matthew and this is my good friend and colleague Josh our
my good friend and colleague Josh our
my good friend and colleague Josh our story really begins about six years ago
story really begins about six years ago
story really begins about six years ago with a simple but profound moment when
with a simple but profound moment when
with a simple but profound moment when we to average absolutely average guts
we to average absolutely average guts
we to average absolutely average guts from northern New Hampshire stumbled
from northern New Hampshire stumbled
from northern New Hampshire stumbled upon one of life’s classic Forks in the
upon one of life’s classic Forks in the
upon one of life’s classic Forks in the road in 2009 after about eight years of
road in 2009 after about eight years of
road in 2009 after about eight years of doing work informally in the Dominican
doing work informally in the Dominican
doing work informally in the Dominican Republic we found ourselves in the
Republic we found ourselves in the
Republic we found ourselves in the community of San Luis which is about a
community of San Luis which is about a
community of San Luis which is about a about 30 minutes outside of the capital
about 30 minutes outside of the capital
about 30 minutes outside of the capital of Santo Domingo Josh and I had been
of Santo Domingo Josh and I had been
of Santo Domingo Josh and I had been invited into the bought a and the the
invited into the bought a and the the
invited into the bought a and the the home was a very typical home dirt floor
home was a very typical home dirt floor
home was a very typical home dirt floor one room scrapped corrugated steel walls
one room scrapped corrugated steel walls
one room scrapped corrugated steel walls and roof and we had been invited in when
and roof and we had been invited in when
and roof and we had been invited in when the hopes that we could do something
the hopes that we could do something
the hopes that we could do something about a situation and what we found when
about a situation and what we found when
about a situation and what we found when we entered this home was a severely
we entered this home was a severely
we entered this home was a severely malnourished infant about three weeks
malnourished infant about three weeks
malnourished infant about three weeks old who was failing to thrive and had
old who was failing to thrive and had
old who was failing to thrive and had very little hope of survival basically
very little hope of survival basically
very little hope of survival basically what was happening was because of a
what was happening was because of a
what was happening was because of a slight change in the family’s ability to
slight change in the family’s ability to
slight change in the family’s ability to bring in income this child was dying of
bring in income this child was dying of
bring in income this child was dying of starvation as so frequently happens in
starvation as so frequently happens in
starvation as so frequently happens in communities of extreme poverty where a
communities of extreme poverty where a
communities of extreme poverty where a slight change literally means the
slight change literally means the
slight change literally means the difference between life and death this
difference between life and death this
difference between life and death this kid wasn’t going to make it so after
kid wasn’t going to make it so after
kid wasn’t going to make it so after talking to the family for a little while
talking to the family for a little while
talking to the family for a little while we left kind of shaking our heads at ear
we left kind of shaking our heads at ear
we left kind of shaking our heads at ear in RI and we later that evening went
in RI and we later that evening went
in RI and we later that evening went spent 25 years on three months worth of
spent 25 years on three months worth of
spent 25 years on three months worth of high nutrient baby formula and we left
high nutrient baby formula and we left
high nutrient baby formula and we left it anonymously out in front of the
it anonymously out in front of the
it anonymously out in front of the family’s home however we were quite
family’s home however we were quite
family’s home however we were quite doubtful that $25 was magically going to
doubtful that $25 was magically going to
doubtful that $25 was magically going to save the life of a child later that
save the life of a child later that
save the life of a child later that night Josh our Dominican friend and
night Josh our Dominican friend and
night Josh our Dominican friend and colleague Alberto and i sat on Alberto’s
colleague Alberto and i sat on Alberto’s
colleague Alberto and i sat on Alberto’s roof and we reflected upon the eight
roof and we reflected upon the eight
roof and we reflected upon the eight plus years of work that we had done in
plus years of work that we had done in
plus years of work that we had done in the
the
the in republic and what we had accomplished
in republic and what we had accomplished
in republic and what we had accomplished and we decided quite definitively that
and we decided quite definitively that
and we decided quite definitively that it wasn’t enough that we needed to do
it wasn’t enough that we needed to do
it wasn’t enough that we needed to do more and in that moment we gave life to
more and in that moment we gave life to
more and in that moment we gave life to the bought a foundation which would
the bought a foundation which would
the bought a foundation which would become a vehicle for addressing some of
become a vehicle for addressing some of
become a vehicle for addressing some of the serious human rights abuses on the
the serious human rights abuses on the
the serious human rights abuses on the potatoes of the dominican republic
potatoes of the dominican republic
potatoes of the dominican republic bringing mines and money and expertise
bringing mines and money and expertise
bringing mines and money and expertise in empathy from New Hampshire to serve
in empathy from New Hampshire to serve
in empathy from New Hampshire to serve in some of the most destitute
in some of the most destitute
in some of the most destitute communities in the world what we did not
communities in the world what we did not
communities in the world what we did not expect at the time was the profound
expect at the time was the profound
expect at the time was the profound impact that this little endeavor would
impact that this little endeavor would
impact that this little endeavor would have on the lives of people especially
have on the lives of people especially
have on the lives of people especially students living in the north country of
students living in the north country of
students living in the north country of New Hampshire this is a story about us
New Hampshire this is a story about us
New Hampshire this is a story about us though this is a story about people and
though this is a story about people and
though this is a story about people and cultures I’m gonna bring you back to
cultures I’m gonna bring you back to
cultures I’m gonna bring you back to nineteen ninety-six Bill Clinton was
nineteen ninety-six Bill Clinton was
nineteen ninety-six Bill Clinton was president I think I was a junior and he
president I think I was a junior and he
president I think I was a junior and he was already old and the macarena was
was already old and the macarena was
was already old and the macarena was number one on the pop charts right over
number one on the pop charts right over
number one on the pop charts right over here at the hospital kayla martin was
here at the hospital kayla martin was
here at the hospital kayla martin was born about 1,700 miles away in one of
born about 1,700 miles away in one of
born about 1,700 miles away in one of those bought a home’s a girl that we’re
those bought a home’s a girl that we’re
those bought a home’s a girl that we’re going to call Heidi was born now Heidi’s
going to call Heidi was born now Heidi’s
going to call Heidi was born now Heidi’s going to represent hundreds and hundreds
going to represent hundreds and hundreds
going to represent hundreds and hundreds of girls born in the bat a every single
of girls born in the bat a every single
of girls born in the bat a every single year you see kayla was born white and a
year you see kayla was born white and a
year you see kayla was born white and a US citizen that citizenship guarantees
US citizen that citizenship guarantees
US citizen that citizenship guarantees her access to public education access to
her access to public education access to
her access to public education access to healthcare access to equal access under
healthcare access to equal access under
healthcare access to equal access under the law or equal protection under the
the law or equal protection under the
the law or equal protection under the law and if she absolutely needs it when
law and if she absolutely needs it when
law and if she absolutely needs it when she’s older or any point in her life a
she’s older or any point in her life a
she’s older or any point in her life a safety net Heidi on the other hand was
safety net Heidi on the other hand was
safety net Heidi on the other hand was born poor and black now being black in
born poor and black now being black in
born poor and black now being black in the Dominican Republic especially
the Dominican Republic especially
the Dominican Republic especially Heidi’s dark skin tone means being
Heidi’s dark skin tone means being
Heidi’s dark skin tone means being vulnerable and marginalized Haitian
vulnerable and marginalized Haitian
vulnerable and marginalized Haitian origin and descent is often assumed an
origin and descent is often assumed an
origin and descent is often assumed an anti Haitian sentiment is palpable at
anti Haitian sentiment is palpable at
anti Haitian sentiment is palpable at all levels of Dominican life in addition
all levels of Dominican life in addition
all levels of Dominican life in addition Heidi was born without citizenship
Heidi was born without citizenship
Heidi was born without citizenship anywhere she is neither Dominican or is
anywhere she is neither Dominican or is
anywhere she is neither Dominican or is she haitian she has denied citizenship
she haitian she has denied citizenship
she haitian she has denied citizenship by the Dominican government because of
by the Dominican government because of
by the Dominican government because of her Haitian roots however she’s never
her Haitian roots however she’s never
her Haitian roots however she’s never been to Haiti she doesn’t speak haitian
been to Haiti she doesn’t speak haitian
been to Haiti she doesn’t speak haitian creole and she is now
creole and she is now
creole and she is now Haitian Heidi does not have a passport
Haitian Heidi does not have a passport
Haitian Heidi does not have a passport she does not have a birth certificate
she does not have a birth certificate
she does not have a birth certificate Heidi was born a stateless child I’m
Heidi was born a stateless child I’m
Heidi was born a stateless child I’m going to focus on those incredibly
going to focus on those incredibly
going to focus on those incredibly important first five years for a minute
important first five years for a minute
important first five years for a minute Kayla’s first five years were far from
Kayla’s first five years were far from
Kayla’s first five years were far from easy born to a single mom in northern
easy born to a single mom in northern
easy born to a single mom in northern New Hampshire that situation is not
New Hampshire that situation is not
New Hampshire that situation is not particularly easy one to get through
particularly easy one to get through
particularly easy one to get through however with hard work Kayla may not
however with hard work Kayla may not
however with hard work Kayla may not have had everything she wanted but she
have had everything she wanted but she
have had everything she wanted but she certainly had everything that she needed
certainly had everything that she needed
certainly had everything that she needed she had clothes on her back she had food
she had clothes on her back she had food
she had clothes on her back she had food on the table access to early childhood
on the table access to early childhood
on the table access to early childhood education Heidi situation those first
education Heidi situation those first
education Heidi situation those first five years was different in her first
five years was different in her first
five years was different in her first five years Heidi slept every single
five years Heidi slept every single
five years Heidi slept every single night on an old mattress on the dirt
night on an old mattress on the dirt
night on an old mattress on the dirt floor of her family’s home with her five
floor of her family’s home with her five
floor of her family’s home with her five brothers and sisters and her two parents
brothers and sisters and her two parents
brothers and sisters and her two parents she went many days without food and when
she went many days without food and when
she went many days without food and when she did have food it was often two to
she did have food it was often two to
she did have food it was often two to three meals of plain white rice at age
three meals of plain white rice at age
three meals of plain white rice at age five Kayla enrolled at Bethlehem
five Kayla enrolled at Bethlehem
five Kayla enrolled at Bethlehem elementary school the same place that
elementary school the same place that
elementary school the same place that Matthew nice children started there they
Matthew nice children started there they
Matthew nice children started there they have small classrooms with small classes
have small classrooms with small classes
have small classrooms with small classes dedicated teachers a school lunch
dedicated teachers a school lunch
dedicated teachers a school lunch program a full library technology it was
program a full library technology it was
program a full library technology it was really there at Bethlehem that Kayla’s
really there at Bethlehem that Kayla’s
really there at Bethlehem that Kayla’s love for learning flourished in Heidi’s
love for learning flourished in Heidi’s
love for learning flourished in Heidi’s elementary school years she often had to
elementary school years she often had to
elementary school years she often had to make the decision about whether to go to
make the decision about whether to go to
make the decision about whether to go to school or whether go to the local street
school or whether go to the local street
school or whether go to the local street corner or stoplight to pedal or beg to
corner or stoplight to pedal or beg to
corner or stoplight to pedal or beg to help put food on the family’s table when
help put food on the family’s table when
help put food on the family’s table when she could go to school she was crammed
she could go to school she was crammed
she could go to school she was crammed into two classrooms with a hundred and
into two classrooms with a hundred and
into two classrooms with a hundred and fifty other students the rooms were
fifty other students the rooms were
fifty other students the rooms were sweltering the roof leaked and when a
sweltering the roof leaked and when a
sweltering the roof leaked and when a trained school was canceled there were
trained school was canceled there were
trained school was canceled there were very few chairs and desks and most of
very few chairs and desks and most of
very few chairs and desks and most of the kids sat on the dirt floor to do
the kids sat on the dirt floor to do
the kids sat on the dirt floor to do their work there was a one-out house for
their work there was a one-out house for
their work there was a one-out house for all of these children needless to say
all of these children needless to say
all of these children needless to say this was not an environment that was
this was not an environment that was
this was not an environment that was conducive to academic or personal growth
conducive to academic or personal growth
conducive to academic or personal growth for Heidi or any other student at that
for Heidi or any other student at that
for Heidi or any other student at that school after Bethlehem elementary school
school after Bethlehem elementary school
school after Bethlehem elementary school kayla came over to profile and that’s
kayla came over to profile and that’s
kayla came over to profile and that’s where i met her profile is consistently
where i met her profile is consistently
where i met her profile is consistently one of the best school in the state and
one of the best school in the state and
one of the best school in the state and it’s filled with opportunities and kayla
it’s filled with opportunities and kayla
it’s filled with opportunities and kayla took them all she acted in a play she
took them all she acted in a play she
took them all she acted in a play she played three seasons of sports for four
played three seasons of sports for four
played three seasons of sports for four years she took AP courses got into the
years she took AP courses got into the
years she took AP courses got into the National Honor Society she took every
National Honor Society she took every
National Honor Society she took every opportunity that the school provided her
opportunity that the school provided her
opportunity that the school provided her and because of that combined with her
and because of that combined with her
and because of that combined with her self determination and that hard work
self determination and that hard work
self determination and that hard work that her mom had instilled at a young
that her mom had instilled at a young
that her mom had instilled at a young age she was incredibly successful for
age she was incredibly successful for
age she was incredibly successful for hiding though she was a committed
hiding though she was a committed
hiding though she was a committed student strong and intelligent and
student strong and intelligent and
student strong and intelligent and though she wanted desperately to
though she wanted desperately to
though she wanted desperately to continue her studies because she knew it
continue her studies because she knew it
continue her studies because she knew it was the only way to defend herself
was the only way to defend herself
was the only way to defend herself because she did not have citizenship she
because she did not have citizenship she
because she did not have citizenship she could not study beyond the seventh grade
could not study beyond the seventh grade
could not study beyond the seventh grade so she left school she went found odd
so she left school she went found odd
so she left school she went found odd jobs to help out with the family’s
jobs to help out with the family’s
jobs to help out with the family’s income and she cared for her little
income and she cared for her little
income and she cared for her little brothers and sisters she resisted the
brothers and sisters she resisted the
brothers and sisters she resisted the path that so many of her young female
path that so many of her young female
path that so many of her young female peers took to get married and begin
peers took to get married and begin
peers took to get married and begin having children at a very young age
having children at a very young age
having children at a very young age Heidi had effectively fallen into the
Heidi had effectively fallen into the
Heidi had effectively fallen into the cycle of poverty as so many had done
cycle of poverty as so many had done
cycle of poverty as so many had done before her that would prohibit her from
before her that would prohibit her from
before her that would prohibit her from ever leaving the but a in 2010 these
ever leaving the but a in 2010 these
ever leaving the but a in 2010 these stories start to converge a little bit I
stories start to converge a little bit I
stories start to converge a little bit I had Kayla in class with me when we
had Kayla in class with me when we
had Kayla in class with me when we showed up to school and learned about
showed up to school and learned about
showed up to school and learned about the devastating earthquake in Haiti I
the devastating earthquake in Haiti I
the devastating earthquake in Haiti I remember we were able to watch the thing
remember we were able to watch the thing
remember we were able to watch the thing unfold right on my smart board but the
unfold right on my smart board but the
unfold right on my smart board but the experience was completely academic I
experience was completely academic I
experience was completely academic I mean I did my best I stood up on desks
mean I did my best I stood up on desks
mean I did my best I stood up on desks and ranted and raved about how an event
and ranted and raved about how an event
and ranted and raved about how an event like this could hurt the extremely poor
like this could hurt the extremely poor
like this could hurt the extremely poor but the bell rang and eventually the
but the bell rang and eventually the
but the bell rang and eventually the kids just left Heidi’s experience with
kids just left Heidi’s experience with
kids just left Heidi’s experience with that earthquake was incredibly done
that earthquake was incredibly done
that earthquake was incredibly done following the earthquake people flooded
following the earthquake people flooded
following the earthquake people flooded into Heidi’s community fleeing the
into Heidi’s community fleeing the
into Heidi’s community fleeing the devastation in Haiti the already minimal
devastation in Haiti the already minimal
devastation in Haiti the already minimal resources in Heidi’s community were
resources in Heidi’s community were
resources in Heidi’s community were stretched incredibly thin in her
stretched incredibly thin in her
stretched incredibly thin in her household alone the number of residents
household alone the number of residents
household alone the number of residents increased from 8 to 13 and Josh and I
increased from 8 to 13 and Josh and I
increased from 8 to 13 and Josh and I remember very clearly being in San Luis
remember very clearly being in San Luis
remember very clearly being in San Luis at that time the people coming from
at that time the people coming from
at that time the people coming from Haiti especially the ones that landed in
Haiti especially the ones that landed in
Haiti especially the ones that landed in Heidi’s home were severely injured or
Heidi’s home were severely injured or
Heidi’s home were severely injured or burned from the earthquake these were
burned from the earthquake these were
burned from the earthquake these were difficult times in San Luis and hunger
difficult times in San Luis and hunger
difficult times in San Luis and hunger was rampant in 2003 the stories actually
was rampant in 2003 the stories actually
was rampant in 2003 the stories actually collide Kayla traveled with the bought a
collide Kayla traveled with the bought a
collide Kayla traveled with the bought a foundation down to San Luis but they in
foundation down to San Luis but they in
foundation down to San Luis but they in Santo Domingo and she worked for a week
Santo Domingo and she worked for a week
Santo Domingo and she worked for a week side-by-side with girls just like Heidi
side-by-side with girls just like Heidi
side-by-side with girls just like Heidi it was there that they realized that
it was there that they realized that
it was there that they realized that those 1700 miles the color of their skin
those 1700 miles the color of their skin
those 1700 miles the color of their skin and their language didn’t actually
and their language didn’t actually
and their language didn’t actually separate them as much as they thought
separate them as much as they thought
separate them as much as they thought they love to play
they love to play
they love to play they played some of the same games they
they played some of the same games they
they played some of the same games they learned to laugh they had a lot of the
learned to laugh they had a lot of the
learned to laugh they had a lot of the same ideas about their future they
same ideas about their future they
same ideas about their future they wanted to be successful they wanted an
wanted to be successful they wanted an
wanted to be successful they wanted an education and at some point when they
education and at some point when they
education and at some point when they were older they wanted to be able to
were older they wanted to be able to
were older they wanted to be able to provide for their own families when
provide for their own families when
provide for their own families when these two worlds collided centuries of
these two worlds collided centuries of
these two worlds collided centuries of misunderstanding of cultural difference
misunderstanding of cultural difference
misunderstanding of cultural difference of contrived political borders and
of contrived political borders and
of contrived political borders and boundaries melted away and they were
boundaries melted away and they were
boundaries melted away and they were replaced with lasting friendship and
replaced with lasting friendship and
replaced with lasting friendship and understanding Heidi had found in in this
understanding Heidi had found in in this
understanding Heidi had found in in this collision a voice and when these two
collision a voice and when these two
collision a voice and when these two worlds collided all that had been before
worlds collided all that had been before
worlds collided all that had been before and disappeared was now palpable in
and disappeared was now palpable in
and disappeared was now palpable in their future you see at that point or up
their future you see at that point or up
their future you see at that point or up to that point kayla’s understanding of
to that point kayla’s understanding of
to that point kayla’s understanding of extreme poverty was simply intellectual
extreme poverty was simply intellectual
extreme poverty was simply intellectual but to be able to actually spend a week
but to be able to actually spend a week
but to be able to actually spend a week side-by-side tasting it smelling a
side-by-side tasting it smelling a
side-by-side tasting it smelling a feeling poverty in her hand it
feeling poverty in her hand it
feeling poverty in her hand it absolutely changed her life I remember
absolutely changed her life I remember
absolutely changed her life I remember she was sick as a dog getting on the
she was sick as a dog getting on the
she was sick as a dog getting on the plane to come back and what she was
plane to come back and what she was
plane to come back and what she was worried about was forgetting the
worried about was forgetting the
worried about was forgetting the experience and she told me I can’t let
experience and she told me I can’t let
experience and she told me I can’t let this stay like this there has to be
this stay like this there has to be
this stay like this there has to be something that I can do for Heidi he
something that I can do for Heidi he
something that I can do for Heidi he gained an ally someone who could share
gained an ally someone who could share
gained an ally someone who could share her story with all its ugly poverty and
her story with all its ugly poverty and
her story with all its ugly poverty and oppression with the rest of the world
oppression with the rest of the world
oppression with the rest of the world something that she had never been able
something that she had never been able
something that she had never been able to do because she does not have the
to do because she does not have the
to do because she does not have the power or privilege to do so for the
power or privilege to do so for the
power or privilege to do so for the first time she felt hope for a better
first time she felt hope for a better
first time she felt hope for a better future because she had found that voice
future because she had found that voice
future because she had found that voice and as Kevin mentioned before we cannot
and as Kevin mentioned before we cannot
and as Kevin mentioned before we cannot underestimate the power of that hope so
underestimate the power of that hope so
underestimate the power of that hope so where are these ladies now kayla was
where are these ladies now kayla was
where are these ladies now kayla was invited to be here tonight but she
invited to be here tonight but she
invited to be here tonight but she couldn’t make it she’s at Georgetown
couldn’t make it she’s at Georgetown
couldn’t make it she’s at Georgetown University getting her degree in
University getting her degree in
University getting her degree in international health with a minor in
international health with a minor in
international health with a minor in Spanish she helped us a ton with this
Spanish she helped us a ton with this
Spanish she helped us a ton with this slideshow and she told me truly not a
slideshow and she told me truly not a
slideshow and she told me truly not a day goes by where she doesn’t think
day goes by where she doesn’t think
day goes by where she doesn’t think about that experience she did leave me
about that experience she did leave me
about that experience she did leave me with this quote though it was my first
with this quote though it was my first
with this quote though it was my first experience with poverty at the level and
experience with poverty at the level and
experience with poverty at the level and it was eye-opening and how much
it was eye-opening and how much
it was eye-opening and how much disparity exists in our world the
disparity exists in our world the
disparity exists in our world the experience forced me to take a step back
experience forced me to take a step back
experience forced me to take a step back and analyze my own values and what I
and analyze my own values and what I
and analyze my own values and what I want to do with my life I want to do my
want to do with my life I want to do my
want to do with my life I want to do my part to eradicate extreme poverty and to
part to eradicate extreme poverty and to
part to eradicate extreme poverty and to abolish serious human rights of
abolish serious human rights of
abolish serious human rights of uses around the world Heidi is now back
uses around the world Heidi is now back
uses around the world Heidi is now back in school through the help of Abbott a
in school through the help of Abbott a
in school through the help of Abbott a foundation scholarship she is studying
foundation scholarship she is studying
foundation scholarship she is studying to become a lawyer to serve hopefully in
to become a lawyer to serve hopefully in
to become a lawyer to serve hopefully in the future the vulnerable people in her
the future the vulnerable people in her
the future the vulnerable people in her community through a partnership in a
community through a partnership in a
community through a partnership in a collaboration between people from here
collaboration between people from here
collaboration between people from here and people in the Dominican Republic the
and people in the Dominican Republic the
and people in the Dominican Republic the children in Heidi’s community now have a
children in Heidi’s community now have a
children in Heidi’s community now have a brand new school that serves 900
brand new school that serves 900
brand new school that serves 900 students who before did not have had not
students who before did not have had not
students who before did not have had not ever gone to school because they
ever gone to school because they
ever gone to school because they effectively didn’t have one the school
effectively didn’t have one the school
effectively didn’t have one the school has 10 classrooms it has a basketball
has 10 classrooms it has a basketball
has 10 classrooms it has a basketball court it has functioning bathrooms and
court it has functioning bathrooms and
court it has functioning bathrooms and toilets it has a strong and dedicated
toilets it has a strong and dedicated
toilets it has a strong and dedicated faculty and a committed administrative
faculty and a committed administrative
faculty and a committed administrative team it has desks and chairs and
team it has desks and chairs and
team it has desks and chairs and materials the people in Heidi’s
materials the people in Heidi’s
materials the people in Heidi’s community now have a two-story 2500
community now have a two-story 2500
community now have a two-story 2500 square-foot community center where for
square-foot community center where for
square-foot community center where for the first time the entire community can
the first time the entire community can
the first time the entire community can come together and begin building and
come together and begin building and
come together and begin building and planning for a better future they have a
planning for a better future they have a
planning for a better future they have a small clinic they have access to public
small clinic they have access to public
small clinic they have access to public health initiatives things are looking up
health initiatives things are looking up
health initiatives things are looking up in that community though there’s still
in that community though there’s still
in that community though there’s still lots of work to do you see the world
lots of work to do you see the world
lots of work to do you see the world isn’t as big as it used to be northern
isn’t as big as it used to be northern
isn’t as big as it used to be northern New Hampshire and Santo Domingo are not
New Hampshire and Santo Domingo are not
New Hampshire and Santo Domingo are not as far as part as they once were we
as far as part as they once were we
as far as part as they once were we believe that it is our responsibility to
believe that it is our responsibility to
believe that it is our responsibility to foster the connections that aid the most
foster the connections that aid the most
foster the connections that aid the most vulnerable amongst us we believe that it
vulnerable amongst us we believe that it
vulnerable amongst us we believe that it is our responsibility to inspire both
is our responsibility to inspire both
is our responsibility to inspire both individual and collective action for
individual and collective action for
individual and collective action for good we think that bringing the kayla’s
good we think that bringing the kayla’s
good we think that bringing the kayla’s and the Heidi’s of the world together is
and the Heidi’s of the world together is
and the Heidi’s of the world together is just one of the ways that we can be the
just one of the ways that we can be the
just one of the ways that we can be the change that we hope to see in the world
change that we hope to see in the world
change that we hope to see in the world so to circle back around and kind of
so to circle back around and kind of
so to circle back around and kind of wrap things up a little bit two years
wrap things up a little bit two years
wrap things up a little bit two years after Josh and I found ourselves
after Josh and I found ourselves
after Josh and I found ourselves standing over this dying infant I was
standing over this dying infant I was
standing over this dying infant I was leading a group around the community of
leading a group around the community of
leading a group around the community of San Luis and this woman comes running up
San Luis and this woman comes running up
San Luis and this woman comes running up to me she’s all excited she’s like mateo
to me she’s all excited she’s like mateo
to me she’s all excited she’s like mateo my town she comes up and she gives me a
my town she comes up and she gives me a
my town she comes up and she gives me a giant hug and she says i need you to
giant hug and she says i need you to
giant hug and she says i need you to meet somebody I was like okay she
meet somebody I was like okay she
meet somebody I was like okay she disappears around the corner and comes
disappears around the corner and comes
disappears around the corner and comes back a couple minutes later and I
back a couple minutes later and I
back a couple minutes later and I remember it like it was yesterday
remember it like it was yesterday
remember it like it was yesterday running behind her was the most
running behind her was the most
running behind her was the most beautiful vibrant healthy little
beautiful vibrant healthy little
beautiful vibrant healthy little two-year-old boy
two-year-old boy
two-year-old boy $25 they have the life of this kid Josh
$25 they have the life of this kid Josh
$25 they have the life of this kid Josh and I and every single one of our
and I and every single one of our
and I and every single one of our programs with a simple but profound
programs with a simple but profound
programs with a simple but profound quote by Margaret Mead never doubt that
quote by Margaret Mead never doubt that
quote by Margaret Mead never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed
a small group of thoughtful committed
a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed it
citizens can change the world indeed it
citizens can change the world indeed it is the only thing that ever has thank
is the only thing that ever has thank
is the only thing that ever has thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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