if you could all do me a favor and close your eyes for a second that would be
your eyes for a second that would be
your eyes for a second that would be amazing I want you to imagine that
amazing I want you to imagine that
amazing I want you to imagine that you’re a 22 year old woman you got
you’re a 22 year old woman you got
you’re a 22 year old woman you got married a few years ago and you have two
married a few years ago and you have two
married a few years ago and you have two kids I want you to imagine that you have
kids I want you to imagine that you have
kids I want you to imagine that you have to walk about one mile a day to get
to walk about one mile a day to get
to walk about one mile a day to get fresh water I want you to imagine having
fresh water I want you to imagine having
fresh water I want you to imagine having to hold off going to the bathroom until
to hold off going to the bathroom until
to hold off going to the bathroom until late at night because you’re afraid of
late at night because you’re afraid of
late at night because you’re afraid of the men lurking in the area that might
the men lurking in the area that might
the men lurking in the area that might do something to you I want you to
do something to you I want you to
do something to you I want you to imagine just just take a moment to
imagine just just take a moment to
imagine just just take a moment to imagine having to support a house of
imagine having to support a house of
imagine having to support a house of four people that could only really
four people that could only really
four people that could only really support two guys can open your eyes now
support two guys can open your eyes now
support two guys can open your eyes now these are actual conditions that many
these are actual conditions that many
these are actual conditions that many people face in India and not many people
people face in India and not many people
people face in India and not many people realize it but this is the reality for a
realize it but this is the reality for a
realize it but this is the reality for a lot of rural areas these are the
lot of rural areas these are the
lot of rural areas these are the conditions that I fight for these are
conditions that I fight for these are
conditions that I fight for these are the people that I fight for imagine
the people that I fight for imagine
the people that I fight for imagine having to walk with that on your head
having to walk with that on your head
having to walk with that on your head for ten miles a day imagine having to
for ten miles a day imagine having to
for ten miles a day imagine having to live in that with a family of five to
live in that with a family of five to
live in that with a family of five to seven people when you only have food for
seven people when you only have food for
seven people when you only have food for about two to three I want to talk to you
about two to three I want to talk to you
about two to three I want to talk to you about the chinmaya Organization for
about the chinmaya Organization for
about the chinmaya Organization for Rural Development also known as Court
Rural Development also known as Court
Rural Development also known as Court this organization is what allows people
this organization is what allows people
this organization is what allows people to help people like what I just
to help people like what I just
to help people like what I just described in India it’s an organization
described in India it’s an organization
described in India it’s an organization that facilitates for self sustainability
that facilitates for self sustainability
that facilitates for self sustainability for empowerment and enrichment these are
for empowerment and enrichment these are
for empowerment and enrichment these are the conditions that I fight for since
the conditions that I fight for since
the conditions that I fight for since inception in 1985 cord started off from
inception in 1985 cord started off from
inception in 1985 cord started off from the chinmaya mission by a man named chin
the chinmaya mission by a man named chin
the chinmaya mission by a man named chin my ananda Saraswathy the chin my mission
my ananda Saraswathy the chin my mission
my ananda Saraswathy the chin my mission is an organization that aims to teach
is an organization that aims to teach
is an organization that aims to teach children about the hindu culture since
children about the hindu culture since
children about the hindu culture since inception cord has had seven centers in
inception cord has had seven centers in
inception cord has had seven centers in India cord Sabari doula dijah Casa la
India cord Sabari doula dijah Casa la
India cord Sabari doula dijah Casa la Takata si revani thumber Ibaka and Sri
Takata si revani thumber Ibaka and Sri
Takata si revani thumber Ibaka and Sri Lanka along with seven centers in the
Lanka along with seven centers in the
Lanka along with seven centers in the United States cord USA is not only an
United States cord USA is not only an
United States cord USA is not only an organization that aims to help people in
organization that aims to help people in
organization that aims to help people in India but also to raise awareness about
India but also to raise awareness about
India but also to raise awareness about what people go through every single day
now beginning from the inception of cord
now beginning from the inception of cord cord first started off as an isolated
cord first started off as an isolated
cord first started off as an isolated health program it started off with just
health program it started off with just
health program it started off with just people talking about caring for mothers
people talking about caring for mothers
people talking about caring for mothers and and children but we started
and and children but we started
and and children but we started realizing that health is not a
realizing that health is not a
realizing that health is not a standalone factor when you think about
standalone factor when you think about
standalone factor when you think about health you think about medicine you
health you think about medicine you
health you think about medicine you think about physical and poverty but
think about physical and poverty but
think about physical and poverty but it’s so much more than that it’s all
it’s so much more than that it’s all
it’s so much more than that it’s all about discrimination poverty illness and
about discrimination poverty illness and
about discrimination poverty illness and social injustice so when we think about
social injustice so when we think about
social injustice so when we think about these different factors what exactly is
these different factors what exactly is
these different factors what exactly is the vision of court it’s to harness
the vision of court it’s to harness
the vision of court it’s to harness human resources and enable the poor to
human resources and enable the poor to
human resources and enable the poor to transform their lives through programs
transform their lives through programs
transform their lives through programs driven by themselves to facilitate
driven by themselves to facilitate
driven by themselves to facilitate through active participation court is a
through active participation court is a
through active participation court is a little different from other nonprofit
little different from other nonprofit
little different from other nonprofit organizations in the sense that we don’t
organizations in the sense that we don’t
organizations in the sense that we don’t just focus on raising money or raising
just focus on raising money or raising
just focus on raising money or raising funds but we focus on self empowerment
funds but we focus on self empowerment
funds but we focus on self empowerment we focus on being able to go out to
we focus on being able to go out to
we focus on being able to go out to places in India being able to work with
places in India being able to work with
places in India being able to work with people face to
people face to
people face to and being able to tell them look them
and being able to tell them look them
and being able to tell them look them right in the eye and say it will be okay
right in the eye and say it will be okay
right in the eye and say it will be okay when you know full well in your heart
when you know full well in your heart
when you know full well in your heart that it will be okay here’s a picture of
that it will be okay here’s a picture of
that it will be okay here’s a picture of me I started the chinmaya mission from a
me I started the chinmaya mission from a
me I started the chinmaya mission from a very young age of six I was very eager
very young age of six I was very eager
very young age of six I was very eager and I would just go to class and just
and I would just go to class and just
and I would just go to class and just learn about the Hindu culture because
learn about the Hindu culture because
learn about the Hindu culture because that’s what I was brought up with I
that’s what I was brought up with I
that’s what I was brought up with I would go make new friends learn some
would go make new friends learn some
would go make new friends learn some cool new ideas and never really thought
cool new ideas and never really thought
cool new ideas and never really thought that I’d be getting into an organization
that I’d be getting into an organization
that I’d be getting into an organization like this I got introduced accord my
like this I got introduced accord my
like this I got introduced accord my freshman year of high school I remember
freshman year of high school I remember
freshman year of high school I remember just walking into class one day and just
just walking into class one day and just
just walking into class one day and just thinking that it would be a regular
thinking that it would be a regular
thinking that it would be a regular class and I’m sure that many people that
class and I’m sure that many people that
class and I’m sure that many people that were in there with me brush off that day
were in there with me brush off that day
were in there with me brush off that day today but it’s one that I hold really
today but it’s one that I hold really
today but it’s one that I hold really close to my heart I remember sitting
close to my heart I remember sitting
close to my heart I remember sitting down and watching a video of this very
down and watching a video of this very
down and watching a video of this very young mother and her child who was about
young mother and her child who was about
young mother and her child who was about 1 or 2 years old and the video started
1 or 2 years old and the video started
1 or 2 years old and the video started off with her looking into the camera and
off with her looking into the camera and
off with her looking into the camera and saying in Hindi I don’t know what to do
saying in Hindi I don’t know what to do
saying in Hindi I don’t know what to do and I knew that video would be very
and I knew that video would be very
and I knew that video would be very impactful but I didn’t know how you know
impactful but I didn’t know how you know
impactful but I didn’t know how you know like you see all these videos of in
like you see all these videos of in
like you see all these videos of in poverty of illness here in the United
poverty of illness here in the United
poverty of illness here in the United States in places like Africa in places
States in places like Africa in places
States in places like Africa in places like India but so I just brushed it off
like India but so I just brushed it off
like India but so I just brushed it off you know I didn’t really know what to
you know I didn’t really know what to
you know I didn’t really know what to think about it it wasn’t the fact that
think about it it wasn’t the fact that
think about it it wasn’t the fact that she was a single mother raising a kid
she was a single mother raising a kid
she was a single mother raising a kid that got me it wasn’t even the fact that
that got me it wasn’t even the fact that
that got me it wasn’t even the fact that she was suffering that got me what
she was suffering that got me what
she was suffering that got me what really impacted me from that video was
really impacted me from that video was
really impacted me from that video was her looking at her child and looking at
her looking at her child and looking at
her looking at her child and looking at the camera and tears falling down her
the camera and tears falling down her
the camera and tears falling down her face because she didn’t know what to do
face because she didn’t know what to do
face because she didn’t know what to do she didn’t know what her child was going
she didn’t know what her child was going
she didn’t know what her child was going to grow up to be she didn’t even know if
to grow up to be she didn’t even know if
to grow up to be she didn’t even know if she could support that child to be
she could support that child to be
she could support that child to be anything I like to laugh to myself a
anything I like to laugh to myself a
anything I like to laugh to myself a little bit because
little bit because
little bit because I go about on my day-to-day life just
I go about on my day-to-day life just
I go about on my day-to-day life just taking everything for granted
taking everything for granted
taking everything for granted waking up taking a shower eating food
waking up taking a shower eating food
waking up taking a shower eating food but when I watched that video I realized
but when I watched that video I realized
but when I watched that video I realized that something had to be done I didn’t
that something had to be done I didn’t
that something had to be done I didn’t really know what but I realized that
really know what but I realized that
really know what but I realized that something had to be done I remember
something had to be done I remember
something had to be done I remember going to my teacher at the end of the
going to my teacher at the end of the
going to my teacher at the end of the class along with a few other people in
class along with a few other people in
class along with a few other people in my class that were you know a little
my class that were you know a little
my class that were you know a little teary we walked up to her and she had a
teary we walked up to her and she had a
teary we walked up to her and she had a big smile on her face I was really
big smile on her face I was really
big smile on her face I was really confused because why would you be
confused because why would you be
confused because why would you be smiling after watching a video like that
smiling after watching a video like that
smiling after watching a video like that she said that was the goal of the video
she said that was the goal of the video
she said that was the goal of the video she wanted someone to see that change
she wanted someone to see that change
she wanted someone to see that change she started talking about the different
she started talking about the different
she started talking about the different centres of chord the chord india centres
centres of chord the chord india centres
centres of chord the chord india centres the cord USA centres talking about how
the cord USA centres talking about how
the cord USA centres talking about how people small motivated people had
people small motivated people had
people small motivated people had started chapters a long cord USA so
started chapters a long cord USA so
started chapters a long cord USA so although these funds and everything go
although these funds and everything go
although these funds and everything go towards India chord USA is what I’m here
towards India chord USA is what I’m here
towards India chord USA is what I’m here to represent and chord USA’s main goal
to represent and chord USA’s main goal
to represent and chord USA’s main goal is to bring awareness the work that
is to bring awareness the work that
is to bring awareness the work that chord does through creating chord
chord does through creating chord
chord does through creating chord ambassadors across America
ambassadors across America
ambassadors across America to raise funds and coordinate programs
to raise funds and coordinate programs
to raise funds and coordinate programs intended for social welfare both in the
intended for social welfare both in the
intended for social welfare both in the Americas and the Indian subcontinent so
Americas and the Indian subcontinent so
Americas and the Indian subcontinent so from that point on there is just a small
from that point on there is just a small
from that point on there is just a small group of us and we were like so let’s do
group of us and we were like so let’s do
group of us and we were like so let’s do something about this we got a small
something about this we got a small
something about this we got a small group of people together started
group of people together started
group of people together started throwing out ideas you know talking
throwing out ideas you know talking
throwing out ideas you know talking about hey like maybe we can go talk to
about hey like maybe we can go talk to
about hey like maybe we can go talk to this person for a sponsorship maybe we
this person for a sponsorship maybe we
this person for a sponsorship maybe we can just you know talk about chord and
can just you know talk about chord and
can just you know talk about chord and what it does and let’s see where it gets
what it does and let’s see where it gets
what it does and let’s see where it gets us so what started off with a small
us so what started off with a small
us so what started off with a small group of people eventually
group of people eventually
group of people eventually came an official chapter of cord USA I
came an official chapter of cord USA I
came an official chapter of cord USA I stand here to talk about the cord
stand here to talk about the cord
stand here to talk about the cord Raleigh chapter one that was started my
Raleigh chapter one that was started my
Raleigh chapter one that was started my sophomore year of high school so about
sophomore year of high school so about
sophomore year of high school so about four years in the making now this was
four years in the making now this was
four years in the making now this was our first run it was called the miles
our first run it was called the miles
our first run it was called the miles for humanity run a 5k run that we got
for humanity run a 5k run that we got
for humanity run a 5k run that we got about a hundred people raised about five
about a hundred people raised about five
about a hundred people raised about five thousand dollars not if not too big of a
thousand dollars not if not too big of a
thousand dollars not if not too big of a deal right it rained that day put a
deal right it rained that day put a
deal right it rained that day put a year’s work in into Worth and we it
year’s work in into Worth and we it
year’s work in into Worth and we it rained but it’s fine I started to
rained but it’s fine I started to
rained but it’s fine I started to realize that after that first 5k run
realize that after that first 5k run
realize that after that first 5k run that things could actually be done it
that things could actually be done it
that things could actually be done it first started off as an idea and when we
first started off as an idea and when we
first started off as an idea and when we actually started splitting up into teams
actually started splitting up into teams
actually started splitting up into teams and you know actually talking to
and you know actually talking to
and you know actually talking to sponsors and getting donations and
sponsors and getting donations and
sponsors and getting donations and spreading the word we realized that
spreading the word we realized that
spreading the word we realized that maybe we could actually make this a
maybe we could actually make this a
maybe we could actually make this a bigger chapter so the next year we had
bigger chapter so the next year we had
bigger chapter so the next year we had our next run and we decided to make it a
our next run and we decided to make it a
our next run and we decided to make it a Color Run
Color Run
Color Run I’m going to tell you guys a little
I’m going to tell you guys a little
I’m going to tell you guys a little story about one of the problems that I
story about one of the problems that I
story about one of the problems that I faced with this so when you think of a
faced with this so when you think of a
faced with this so when you think of a normal color run you think of like the
normal color run you think of like the
normal color run you think of like the big machines that spurt color out at you
big machines that spurt color out at you
big machines that spurt color out at you right yeah we didn’t have that so if you
right yeah we didn’t have that so if you
right yeah we didn’t have that so if you don’t have those big machines spurting
don’t have those big machines spurting
don’t have those big machines spurting color at you how do you have a color run
color at you how do you have a color run
color at you how do you have a color run I remember is me and about ten other
I remember is me and about ten other
I remember is me and about ten other people in a garage one day we were like
people in a garage one day we were like
people in a garage one day we were like hmm what should we do and someone was
hmm what should we do and someone was
hmm what should we do and someone was like let’s do water color and I was like
like let’s do water color and I was like
like let’s do water color and I was like that’s brilliant
that’s brilliant
that’s brilliant so what we did is we drank a whole lot
so what we did is we drank a whole lot
so what we did is we drank a whole lot of milk and we got a whole lot of milk
of milk and we got a whole lot of milk
of milk and we got a whole lot of milk gallons and we put water in there and we
gallons and we put water in there and we
gallons and we put water in there and we put paint in there and we mixed it up
put paint in there and we mixed it up
put paint in there and we mixed it up and we tried for about three months to
and we tried for about three months to
and we tried for about three months to see what kind of consistency we would
see what kind of consistency we would
see what kind of consistency we would get so that we can shoot color at people
get so that we can shoot color at people
get so that we can shoot color at people that was the day of the run mian mid
that was the day of the run mian mid
that was the day of the run mian mid dance move but we raised about 13,000
dance move but we raised about 13,000
dance move but we raised about 13,000 dollars that one day for that 5k run and
dollars that one day for that 5k run and
dollars that one day for that 5k run and going from $5,000 to 13,000 is is
going from $5,000 to 13,000 is is
going from $5,000 to 13,000 is is something I can’t even describe and then
something I can’t even describe and then
something I can’t even describe and then there was last year our whole chord
there was last year our whole chord
there was last year our whole chord Raleigh team we raised about $17,000
Raleigh team we raised about $17,000
Raleigh team we raised about $17,000 that year now you guys are probably like
that year now you guys are probably like
that year now you guys are probably like okay this is another nonprofit
okay this is another nonprofit
okay this is another nonprofit organization here’s another spiel why do
organization here’s another spiel why do
organization here’s another spiel why do I care I’m not here to convince you to
I care I’m not here to convince you to
I care I’m not here to convince you to become a part of the nonprofit I’m not
become a part of the nonprofit I’m not
become a part of the nonprofit I’m not here to tell you about all these other
here to tell you about all these other
here to tell you about all these other issues that are happening around the
issues that are happening around the
issues that are happening around the world because I’m sure all of you are
world because I’m sure all of you are
world because I’m sure all of you are very aware I’m here with one idea and
very aware I’m here with one idea and
very aware I’m here with one idea and that one idea is to tell you about what
that one idea is to tell you about what
that one idea is to tell you about what it’s like to be in court in simple words
it’s like to be in court in simple words
it’s like to be in court in simple words it’s a movement that empowers and
it’s a movement that empowers and
it’s a movement that empowers and enhances people’s self-reliance and
enhances people’s self-reliance and
enhances people’s self-reliance and self-respect it’s about like I said
self-respect it’s about like I said
self-respect it’s about like I said before looking into someone’s eyes and
before looking into someone’s eyes and
before looking into someone’s eyes and being able to tell them with all of your
being able to tell them with all of your
being able to tell them with all of your heart that it is going to be okay that
heart that it is going to be okay that
heart that it is going to be okay that their child will have a future that they
their child will have a future that they
their child will have a future that they will be able to fend for themselves
will be able to fend for themselves
will be able to fend for themselves without having to rely on anyone else
without having to rely on anyone else
without having to rely on anyone else because independence is the most
because independence is the most
because independence is the most important thing that we can have it’s
important thing that we can have it’s
important thing that we can have it’s being the change that you want to see in
being the change that you want to see in
being the change that you want to see in the world and I’m sure every nonprofit
the world and I’m sure every nonprofit
the world and I’m sure every nonprofit organization will tell you that but I
organization will tell you that but I
organization will tell you that but I truly believe that that’s what court is
truly believe that that’s what court is
truly believe that that’s what court is about because when you hear about other
about because when you hear about other
about because when you hear about other nonprofit organizations you’re like oh
nonprofit organizations you’re like oh
nonprofit organizations you’re like oh yeah like I’ll donate five dollars but I
yeah like I’ll donate five dollars but I
yeah like I’ll donate five dollars but I can’t really connect with it but what
can’t really connect with it but what
can’t really connect with it but what core does even encored USA even not
core does even encored USA even not
core does even encored USA even not being able to go to India it’s about
being able to go to India it’s about
being able to go to India it’s about working with a group of a group of
working with a group of a group of
working with a group of a group of people a group of people that you
people a group of people that you
people a group of people that you probably never would have worked with
probably never would have worked with
probably never would have worked with before but all have one idea in mind
it’s striving for self empowerment and
it’s striving for self empowerment and self-help with aid from those more
self-help with aid from those more
self-help with aid from those more fortunate just like ourselves I used to
fortunate just like ourselves I used to
fortunate just like ourselves I used to laugh because when I first got
laugh because when I first got
laugh because when I first got introduced a chord and started giving
introduced a chord and started giving
introduced a chord and started giving pitches to other people we use this
pitches to other people we use this
pitches to other people we use this really cliche quote but it really does
really cliche quote but it really does
really cliche quote but it really does mean something for chord if you give a
mean something for chord if you give a
mean something for chord if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day but if
man a fish you feed him for a day but if
man a fish you feed him for a day but if you teach a man how to fish you feed
you teach a man how to fish you feed
you teach a man how to fish you feed them for a lifetime
them for a lifetime
them for a lifetime that’s what chords about it’s about
that’s what chords about it’s about
that’s what chords about it’s about working with people and being able to
working with people and being able to
working with people and being able to assure them that they will have a future
assure them that they will have a future
assure them that they will have a future and that they will be able to go out and
and that they will be able to go out and
and that they will be able to go out and help others have a future that’s what I
help others have a future that’s what I
help others have a future that’s what I strive for and I hope you do too thank
strive for and I hope you do too thank
strive for and I hope you do too thank you
”
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