[Music] hello in my part of the world
hello in my part of the world
hello in my part of the world I run a Youth Center in Oakland
I run a Youth Center in Oakland
I run a Youth Center in Oakland California it’s a city block long beacon
California it’s a city block long beacon
California it’s a city block long beacon of hope located in the midst of a
of hope located in the midst of a
of hope located in the midst of a challenging urban environment by urban
challenging urban environment by urban
challenging urban environment by urban environment I mean high rate of homicide
environment I mean high rate of homicide
environment I mean high rate of homicide sexual trafficking gang violence in the
sexual trafficking gang violence in the
sexual trafficking gang violence in the midst of a food desert yet alcohol can
midst of a food desert yet alcohol can
midst of a food desert yet alcohol can be found on almost every corner our
be found on almost every corner our
be found on almost every corner our Center is a hub of artistic educational
Center is a hub of artistic educational
Center is a hub of artistic educational career and wellness success and it has
career and wellness success and it has
career and wellness success and it has been for almost four decades we serve
been for almost four decades we serve
been for almost four decades we serve youth at all ages and stages of life our
youth at all ages and stages of life our
youth at all ages and stages of life our secret sauce wave for it is getting kids
secret sauce wave for it is getting kids
secret sauce wave for it is getting kids to take risks to connect now while
to take risks to connect now while
to take risks to connect now while connection is an equal-opportunity
connection is an equal-opportunity
connection is an equal-opportunity challenge because it requires risk
challenge because it requires risk
challenge because it requires risk compassion an investment of time the
compassion an investment of time the
compassion an investment of time the rewards are typically great many of my
rewards are typically great many of my
rewards are typically great many of my families live in poverty and that makes
families live in poverty and that makes
families live in poverty and that makes their young people some of the hardest
their young people some of the hardest
their young people some of the hardest to connect with because they don’t have
to connect with because they don’t have
to connect with because they don’t have a lot of relationships with trusted
a lot of relationships with trusted
a lot of relationships with trusted adults and not much exposure outside of
adults and not much exposure outside of
adults and not much exposure outside of their zip code also my young people are
their zip code also my young people are
their zip code also my young people are afflicted with complex post-traumatic
afflicted with complex post-traumatic
afflicted with complex post-traumatic stress disorder see PTSD affects the
stress disorder see PTSD affects the
stress disorder see PTSD affects the poor twice as much because of the
poor twice as much because of the
poor twice as much because of the violence they see in here in their
violence they see in here in their
violence they see in here in their environment which can be compared to a
environment which can be compared to a
environment which can be compared to a battlefield our Center is the safehouse
battlefield our Center is the safehouse
battlefield our Center is the safehouse inside that battlefield our young people
inside that battlefield our young people
inside that battlefield our young people are unfortunately stuck there and like
are unfortunately stuck there and like
are unfortunately stuck there and like soldiers across seas our kids never
soldiers across seas our kids never
soldiers across seas our kids never leave their battlefield
leave their battlefield
leave their battlefield and as a result must remain in that
and as a result must remain in that
and as a result must remain in that trauma when young people come into our
trauma when young people come into our
trauma when young people come into our center
center
center they are bracing for disappointment
they are bracing for disappointment
they are bracing for disappointment they’re watching everything to see how
they’re watching everything to see how
they’re watching everything to see how it feels I mean can they really believe
it feels I mean can they really believe
it feels I mean can they really believe that people are genuinely there to
that people are genuinely there to
that people are genuinely there to educate support and love them one of my
educate support and love them one of my
educate support and love them one of my youth was particularly skeptical about
youth was particularly skeptical about
youth was particularly skeptical about her ability to find hope within our
her ability to find hope within our
her ability to find hope within our walls or anywhere for that matter her
walls or anywhere for that matter her
walls or anywhere for that matter her transformation was particularly extreme
transformation was particularly extreme
transformation was particularly extreme meet you Mika jamika
meet you Mika jamika
meet you Mika jamika was selected to go on an international
was selected to go on an international
was selected to go on an international delegation of China that I led several
delegation of China that I led several
delegation of China that I led several years ago why China
years ago why China
years ago why China well China is competing with the US for
well China is competing with the US for
well China is competing with the US for superpower status and so President Obama
superpower status and so President Obama
superpower status and so President Obama created the hundred thousand strong in
created the hundred thousand strong in
created the hundred thousand strong in the Americas initiative to ensure that a
the Americas initiative to ensure that a
the Americas initiative to ensure that a hundred thousand of us could get to
hundred thousand of us could get to
hundred thousand of us could get to China create relationships and work
China create relationships and work
China create relationships and work together the Congressional Black Caucus
together the Congressional Black Caucus
together the Congressional Black Caucus decided to focus on African Americans
decided to focus on African Americans
decided to focus on African Americans because of all the ethnicities we travel
because of all the ethnicities we travel
because of all the ethnicities we travel the least we also have some
the least we also have some
the least we also have some diametrically different experiences the
diametrically different experiences the
diametrically different experiences the Chinese have a plethora of institutional
Chinese have a plethora of institutional
Chinese have a plethora of institutional history whereas we can barely trace back
history whereas we can barely trace back
history whereas we can barely trace back two or three generations which if you’re
two or three generations which if you’re
two or three generations which if you’re paying attention is a great example of
paying attention is a great example of
paying attention is a great example of no connection jamika came with high
no connection jamika came with high
no connection jamika came with high praise as a youth with great potential
praise as a youth with great potential
praise as a youth with great potential she was bright beautiful well-spoken a
she was bright beautiful well-spoken a
she was bright beautiful well-spoken a cheerleader member of the track team a
cheerleader member of the track team a
cheerleader member of the track team a real social butterfly sounds like the
real social butterfly sounds like the
real social butterfly sounds like the perfect team right well not quite
perfect team right well not quite
perfect team right well not quite you see it’d be easy to make assumptions
you see it’d be easy to make assumptions
you see it’d be easy to make assumptions based upon what I told you but beneath
based upon what I told you but beneath
based upon what I told you but beneath the surface of a seemingly perfect team
the surface of a seemingly perfect team
the surface of a seemingly perfect team was a fearful vulnerable young woman
was a fearful vulnerable young woman
was a fearful vulnerable young woman with no confidence no family stability
with no confidence no family stability
with no confidence no family stability no direction and no exposure outside the
no direction and no exposure outside the
no direction and no exposure outside the 20-block radius of her zip code you Myka
20-block radius of her zip code you Myka
20-block radius of her zip code you Myka agreed right from the start that she
agreed right from the start that she
agreed right from the start that she would go to China yet when the
would go to China yet when the
would go to China yet when the orientations came she was nowhere to be
orientations came she was nowhere to be
orientations came she was nowhere to be found
found
found she missed the first and second
she missed the first and second
she missed the first and second orientation most people at this time
orientation most people at this time
orientation most people at this time would be like cutter let’s get on to the
would be like cutter let’s get on to the
would be like cutter let’s get on to the next one but we know our young people so
next one but we know our young people so
next one but we know our young people so we took a risk we leaned in I made a
we took a risk we leaned in I made a
we took a risk we leaned in I made a beeline up to the school to talk to her
beeline up to the school to talk to her
beeline up to the school to talk to her to try and encourage her to participate
to try and encourage her to participate
to try and encourage her to participate and it seemed like my conversation was
and it seemed like my conversation was
and it seemed like my conversation was falling on deaf ears when in frustration
falling on deaf ears when in frustration
falling on deaf ears when in frustration I said come on tell me what’s going on
I said come on tell me what’s going on
I said come on tell me what’s going on and her reaction surprised me she
and her reaction surprised me she
and her reaction surprised me she actually opened up she said that she was
actually opened up she said that she was
actually opened up she said that she was not worthy to take this opportunity Wow
not worthy to take this opportunity Wow
not worthy to take this opportunity Wow you Meeka didn’t see her potential as we
you Meeka didn’t see her potential as we
you Meeka didn’t see her potential as we did unfortunately a lot of our kids
did unfortunately a lot of our kids
did unfortunately a lot of our kids don’t see their potential as soon as we
don’t see their potential as soon as we
don’t see their potential as soon as we do it’s our experience in youth
do it’s our experience in youth
do it’s our experience in youth development and while there’s no
development and while there’s no
development and while there’s no playbook to ensure outcomes taking risks
playbook to ensure outcomes taking risks
playbook to ensure outcomes taking risks is what we do you Micha was afraid we
is what we do you Micha was afraid we
is what we do you Micha was afraid we understood that so we needed to build
understood that so we needed to build
understood that so we needed to build her up affirm her worth we didn’t focus
her up affirm her worth we didn’t focus
her up affirm her worth we didn’t focus on the 4.0 student but rather the middle
on the 4.0 student but rather the middle
on the 4.0 student but rather the middle of the road great getter and they had a
of the road great getter and they had a
of the road great getter and they had a lot of hidden promise since we didn’t
lot of hidden promise since we didn’t
lot of hidden promise since we didn’t have a great grades to focus on
have a great grades to focus on
have a great grades to focus on we turn to her remarkable attributes
we turn to her remarkable attributes
we turn to her remarkable attributes jamika was honest sometimes brutally
jamika was honest sometimes brutally
jamika was honest sometimes brutally jamika was charismatic and most
jamika was charismatic and most
jamika was charismatic and most importantly you mica was a survivor it
importantly you mica was a survivor it
importantly you mica was a survivor it took some extra conversations to dig
took some extra conversations to dig
took some extra conversations to dig deeper into her background and what we
deeper into her background and what we
deeper into her background and what we uncovered was layers of trauma knew mica
uncovered was layers of trauma knew mica
uncovered was layers of trauma knew mica was estranged from her family which
was estranged from her family which
was estranged from her family which included a mom who cycled in and out of
included a mom who cycled in and out of
included a mom who cycled in and out of jail she was obviously struggling with
jail she was obviously struggling with
jail she was obviously struggling with skeletons in her closet and this
skeletons in her closet and this
skeletons in her closet and this manifested by the way in which she
manifested by the way in which she
manifested by the way in which she resisted taking risks now some of the
resisted taking risks now some of the
resisted taking risks now some of the situations we saw with you mica might
situations we saw with you mica might
situations we saw with you mica might sound familiar to you our high schoolers
sound familiar to you our high schoolers
sound familiar to you our high schoolers a lot of them have superficial
a lot of them have superficial
a lot of them have superficial friendships most have no idea what it
friendships most have no idea what it
friendships most have no idea what it takes to create a healthy relationship
takes to create a healthy relationship
takes to create a healthy relationship they’d rather stand next to each other
they’d rather stand next to each other
they’d rather stand next to each other in text rather than really connect
investing a little bit more time in you
investing a little bit more time in you mica we were able to get her to a couple
mica we were able to get her to a couple
mica we were able to get her to a couple of the bonding trips the Port of Oakland
of the bonding trips the Port of Oakland
of the bonding trips the Port of Oakland for an educational briefing and the
for an educational briefing and the
for an educational briefing and the Asian Art Museum for a cultural
Asian Art Museum for a cultural
Asian Art Museum for a cultural experience the opportunity to get to
experience the opportunity to get to
experience the opportunity to get to know more delegates was very important
know more delegates was very important
know more delegates was very important because prior to this she didn’t know
because prior to this she didn’t know
because prior to this she didn’t know most of the young people that she would
most of the young people that she would
most of the young people that she would travel with when we got close to getting
travel with when we got close to getting
travel with when we got close to getting on that 12-hour flight we were reminded
on that 12-hour flight we were reminded
on that 12-hour flight we were reminded that you mica was one of several
that you mica was one of several
that you mica was one of several delegates who had never flown before you
delegates who had never flown before you
delegates who had never flown before you mica was afraid and she walked up and
mica was afraid and she walked up and
mica was afraid and she walked up and down that plane because her track legs
down that plane because her track legs
down that plane because her track legs cramped but in between the movies and
cramped but in between the movies and
cramped but in between the movies and sleeping she had some great
sleeping she had some great
sleeping she had some great conversations with her fellow delegates
conversations with her fellow delegates
conversations with her fellow delegates these deeper connections sustained her
these deeper connections sustained her
these deeper connections sustained her through the fear of another country a
through the fear of another country a
through the fear of another country a different language and a busy academic
different language and a busy academic
different language and a busy academic schedule she championed through and when
schedule she championed through and when
schedule she championed through and when she landed in this new and foreign place
she landed in this new and foreign place
she landed in this new and foreign place she was already part of a tight-knit
she was already part of a tight-knit
she was already part of a tight-knit group nine days into nine days into our
group nine days into nine days into our
group nine days into nine days into our trip after demanding history and
trip after demanding history and
trip after demanding history and Mandarin classes all inspiring field
Mandarin classes all inspiring field
Mandarin classes all inspiring field trips to landmarks and a few priceless
trips to landmarks and a few priceless
trips to landmarks and a few priceless bonding sessions we headed to a youth
bonding sessions we headed to a youth
bonding sessions we headed to a youth center in Lesch Wan the thing that’s
center in Lesch Wan the thing that’s
center in Lesch Wan the thing that’s most poignant about this trip is that
most poignant about this trip is that
most poignant about this trip is that everyone had an experience with the
everyone had an experience with the
everyone had an experience with the youth center as we entered you mica
youth center as we entered you mica
youth center as we entered you mica pointed out the glaring differences the
pointed out the glaring differences the
pointed out the glaring differences the Chinese youth center had was much
Chinese youth center had was much
Chinese youth center had was much smaller
smaller
smaller it had sparse furniture dirt floors and
it had sparse furniture dirt floors and
it had sparse furniture dirt floors and a hole for a bathroom you make a
a hole for a bathroom you make a
a hole for a bathroom you make a whispered my poor ain’t poor all right
whispered my poor ain’t poor all right
whispered my poor ain’t poor all right as she shared that observation she
as she shared that observation she
as she shared that observation she connected with what she knew about
connected with what she knew about
connected with what she knew about poverty and recognized that this this
poverty and recognized that this this
poverty and recognized that this this was poor beyond her experience her
was poor beyond her experience her
was poor beyond her experience her anticipation or her expectation right
anticipation or her expectation right
anticipation or her expectation right then and there
then and there
then and there she made a revelation that she wanted to
she made a revelation that she wanted to
she made a revelation that she wanted to engage more and give more and connect
engage more and give more and connect
engage more and give more and connect more and make sure that these young
more and make sure that these young
more and make sure that these young people had a wonderful experience
as our delegates walked through they
as our delegates walked through they decided about how would they communicate
decided about how would they communicate
decided about how would they communicate I mean they didn’t speak the same
I mean they didn’t speak the same
I mean they didn’t speak the same language we’d only had six hours of
language we’d only had six hours of
language we’d only had six hours of Mandarin not the easiest language to
Mandarin not the easiest language to
Mandarin not the easiest language to master they’d strategized and they
master they’d strategized and they
master they’d strategized and they decided that games art and dance would
decided that games art and dance would
decided that games art and dance would be the best measure to break the ice so
be the best measure to break the ice so
be the best measure to break the ice so we taught a game called zoom and we
we taught a game called zoom and we
we taught a game called zoom and we danced the cupid shuffle yeah we painted
danced the cupid shuffle yeah we painted
danced the cupid shuffle yeah we painted a mural and there was so much energy and
a mural and there was so much energy and
a mural and there was so much energy and enthusiasm we saw the universal language
enthusiasm we saw the universal language
enthusiasm we saw the universal language of laughter and excitement on both sides
of laughter and excitement on both sides
of laughter and excitement on both sides you Meeka blossom and creativity shined
you Meeka blossom and creativity shined
you Meeka blossom and creativity shined by the end of the day we had a living
by the end of the day we had a living
by the end of the day we had a living example of unity through connection and
example of unity through connection and
example of unity through connection and now this is you mica
Jamaica’s transformation happened right
Jamaica’s transformation happened right before our eyes she went from hopeless
before our eyes she went from hopeless
before our eyes she went from hopeless to hopeful she was like a rosebud in
to hopeful she was like a rosebud in
to hopeful she was like a rosebud in full bloom her transformation spanned
full bloom her transformation spanned
full bloom her transformation spanned the entire spectrum but we see
the entire spectrum but we see
the entire spectrum but we see transformations like this in our youth
transformations like this in our youth
transformations like this in our youth center each day we’ve come to call this
center each day we’ve come to call this
center each day we’ve come to call this progression the transformation process
progression the transformation process
progression the transformation process first you have survival this is a stage
first you have survival this is a stage
first you have survival this is a stage that we find most of our kids in and
that we find most of our kids in and
that we find most of our kids in and Yumiko was no different
Yumiko was no different
Yumiko was no different refusing to meet us resisting connection
refusing to meet us resisting connection
refusing to meet us resisting connection next you have well trust as I made the
next you have well trust as I made the
next you have well trust as I made the bee line up to school to try and get her
bee line up to school to try and get her
bee line up to school to try and get her to participate and we created some
to participate and we created some
to participate and we created some common common ground in affirming her
common common ground in affirming her
common common ground in affirming her worth she interned took those first
worth she interned took those first
worth she interned took those first steps to trust with us as she learned
steps to trust with us as she learned
steps to trust with us as she learned that she could trust us we went for
that she could trust us we went for
that she could trust us we went for exploration we got her to those bonding
exploration we got her to those bonding
exploration we got her to those bonding trips for the Port of Oakland and the
trips for the Port of Oakland and the
trips for the Port of Oakland and the Asian Art Museum and actually piqued her
Asian Art Museum and actually piqued her
Asian Art Museum and actually piqued her interest in exploring she explored just
interest in exploring she explored just
interest in exploring she explored just enough to get some confidence it took a
enough to get some confidence it took a
enough to get some confidence it took a lot of confidence to just get on that
lot of confidence to just get on that
lot of confidence to just get on that plane I mean her first trip ever to
plane I mean her first trip ever to
plane I mean her first trip ever to China but the real confidence shined
China but the real confidence shined
China but the real confidence shined when she was in that youth center and
when she was in that youth center and
when she was in that youth center and she made that revelation and that
she made that revelation and that
she made that revelation and that commitment right then and there to
commitment right then and there to
commitment right then and there to engage more I guarantee you that it
engage more I guarantee you that it
engage more I guarantee you that it takes a confident person to make a
takes a confident person to make a
takes a confident person to make a declaration like that and now the final
declaration like that and now the final
declaration like that and now the final stage success and I am so proud to say
stage success and I am so proud to say
stage success and I am so proud to say that this is a stage that you mica is in
that this is a stage that you mica is in
that this is a stage that you mica is in now
now
now [Music]
she has made a transformation and she’s
she has made a transformation and she’s taking risks and she’s blossoming now
taking risks and she’s blossoming now
taking risks and she’s blossoming now the American youth Policy Forum confirms
the American youth Policy Forum confirms
the American youth Policy Forum confirms that children that go to out-of-school
that children that go to out-of-school
that children that go to out-of-school programs do so because of caring adults
programs do so because of caring adults
programs do so because of caring adults and positive mentoring relationships we
and positive mentoring relationships we
and positive mentoring relationships we know that the research confirms our work
know that the research confirms our work
know that the research confirms our work and that we want all of our young people
and that we want all of our young people
and that we want all of our young people to get to that last stage called success
to get to that last stage called success
to get to that last stage called success but what we recognize is in a reality
but what we recognize is in a reality
but what we recognize is in a reality it’s not so easy it takes us all of us
it’s not so easy it takes us all of us
it’s not so easy it takes us all of us involved to take that risk yarmulkes
involved to take that risk yarmulkes
involved to take that risk yarmulkes transformation was really amazing I mean
transformation was really amazing I mean
transformation was really amazing I mean here was a girl that wouldn’t even let
here was a girl that wouldn’t even let
here was a girl that wouldn’t even let me touch her on the shoulder in the
me touch her on the shoulder in the
me touch her on the shoulder in the beginning she grew from not hugging a
beginning she grew from not hugging a
beginning she grew from not hugging a single person to doing that pat on the
single person to doing that pat on the
single person to doing that pat on the back and you know that half hug that the
back and you know that half hug that the
back and you know that half hug that the kids do to holding a full embrace
has propelled her to take other risks
has propelled her to take other risks like go to college she is now a
like go to college she is now a
like go to college she is now a sophomore in college outside of her zip
sophomore in college outside of her zip
sophomore in college outside of her zip code outside of her city in Southern
code outside of her city in Southern
code outside of her city in Southern California and she’s not just surviving
California and she’s not just surviving
California and she’s not just surviving she’s thriving
Yumiko recently wrote in a blog that
Yumiko recently wrote in a blog that when a community serves as role models
when a community serves as role models
when a community serves as role models to share examples of excellence and
to share examples of excellence and
to share examples of excellence and success for kids that don’t see them
success for kids that don’t see them
success for kids that don’t see them that is pure gold that is love
you make us transformation rather like
you make us transformation rather like you Myka won’t you consider taking a
you Myka won’t you consider taking a
you Myka won’t you consider taking a risk to connect in order to transform
risk to connect in order to transform
risk to connect in order to transform your life or maybe someone else’s that
your life or maybe someone else’s that
your life or maybe someone else’s that bridge from hopeless to hopeful is
bridge from hopeless to hopeful is
bridge from hopeless to hopeful is realized when you take that first step
realized when you take that first step
realized when you take that first step outside of your comfort zone what are
outside of your comfort zone what are
outside of your comfort zone what are you waiting for
you waiting for
you waiting for [Applause]
”
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