they’re morning Rucker’s crap it’s great to be back at the high school of this
to be back at the high school of this
to be back at the high school of this building certainly didn’t exist when I
building certainly didn’t exist when I
building certainly didn’t exist when I first started to learn what it meant to
first started to learn what it meant to
first started to learn what it meant to embrace people’s differences it was my
embrace people’s differences it was my
embrace people’s differences it was my time here and then I’m college campuses
time here and then I’m college campuses
time here and then I’m college campuses at the University of Vermont and a Case
at the University of Vermont and a Case
at the University of Vermont and a Case Western Reserve University well I
Western Reserve University well I
Western Reserve University well I started to understand what it meant to
started to understand what it meant to
started to understand what it meant to view life through other people’s lens to
view life through other people’s lens to
view life through other people’s lens to get their point of view and though
get their point of view and though
get their point of view and though that’s that education started in the
that’s that education started in the
that’s that education started in the classroom
classroom
classroom it wasn’t until 2013 when I walked into
it wasn’t until 2013 when I walked into
it wasn’t until 2013 when I walked into the board of elections in Cuyahoga
the board of elections in Cuyahoga
the board of elections in Cuyahoga County Ohio and pulled a petition to run
County Ohio and pulled a petition to run
County Ohio and pulled a petition to run for local office that I truly went on a
for local office that I truly went on a
for local office that I truly went on a journey of what it was like to see the
journey of what it was like to see the
journey of what it was like to see the world from others and their point of
world from others and their point of
world from others and their point of view I spent the better part of that
view I spent the better part of that
view I spent the better part of that next year 9 months knocking on every
next year 9 months knocking on every
next year 9 months knocking on every single door in the city and the friends
single door in the city and the friends
single door in the city and the friends that you meet the stories that you hear
that you meet the stories that you hear
that you meet the stories that you hear alter the way that you view the world
alter the way that you view the world
alter the way that you view the world but I’ll take a step back because how
but I’ll take a step back because how
but I’ll take a step back because how did I get to the point where I decided
did I get to the point where I decided
did I get to the point where I decided that I was going to pull that petition
that I was going to pull that petition
that I was going to pull that petition that I was going to run for office and
that I was going to run for office and
that I was going to run for office and put my name on the ballot and that was a
put my name on the ballot and that was a
put my name on the ballot and that was a decision that I made when I was a high
decision that I made when I was a high
decision that I made when I was a high school student here it was my junior
school student here it was my junior
school student here it was my junior year of high school I was on my way to
year of high school I was on my way to
year of high school I was on my way to school in the morning and as some of you
school in the morning and as some of you
school in the morning and as some of you in the audience might know our school
in the audience might know our school
in the audience might know our school bus flipped over on the way to school
bus flipped over on the way to school
bus flipped over on the way to school and and I broke my neck and my back
and and I broke my neck and my back
and and I broke my neck and my back fractured c5 and c6 which controls your
fractured c5 and c6 which controls your
fractured c5 and c6 which controls your movement your ability to move I spent
movement your ability to move I spent
movement your ability to move I spent the better part of the next year
the better part of the next year
the better part of the next year recovering and Rehab in a surgical
recovering and Rehab in a surgical
recovering and Rehab in a surgical procedure at John Hopkins in Baltimore
procedure at John Hopkins in Baltimore
procedure at John Hopkins in Baltimore Maryland where they fused my vertebrae
Maryland where they fused my vertebrae
Maryland where they fused my vertebrae together and allowed me to be here today
together and allowed me to be here today
together and allowed me to be here today moving walking talking running and I’m
moving walking talking running and I’m
moving walking talking running and I’m thankful every day for it but when I was
thankful every day for it but when I was
thankful every day for it but when I was in that bed recovering you have a lot of
in that bed recovering you have a lot of
in that bed recovering you have a lot of time to watch TV and the news was on and
time to watch TV and the news was on and
time to watch TV and the news was on and George W Bush
George W Bush
George W Bush just signed a few months earlier an
just signed a few months earlier an
just signed a few months earlier an executive order to ban all stem-cell
executive order to ban all stem-cell
executive order to ban all stem-cell research using embryonic stem cells and
research using embryonic stem cells and
research using embryonic stem cells and there was a debate going on on live
there was a debate going on on live
there was a debate going on on live television with scientists and doctors
television with scientists and doctors
television with scientists and doctors who were using those embryonic stem
who were using those embryonic stem
who were using those embryonic stem cells to potentially cure paralysis
cells to potentially cure paralysis
cells to potentially cure paralysis among many other things
among many other things
among many other things and that was my lightbulb moment of
and that was my lightbulb moment of
and that was my lightbulb moment of decisions that are being made in
decisions that are being made in
decisions that are being made in Washington or in state houses or in City
Washington or in state houses or in City
Washington or in state houses or in City Council’s
Council’s
Council’s or school board’s across this country
or school board’s across this country
or school board’s across this country have massive real-life impact from both
have massive real-life impact from both
have massive real-life impact from both positive and negative in people’s lives
positive and negative in people’s lives
positive and negative in people’s lives and and though it was a journey between
and and though it was a journey between
and and though it was a journey between that moment and when I walked into the
that moment and when I walked into the
that moment and when I walked into the Board of Elections to get to that point
Board of Elections to get to that point
Board of Elections to get to that point the thought process started back when I
the thought process started back when I
the thought process started back when I was in high school so after I pulled
was in high school so after I pulled
was in high school so after I pulled that petition and I started knocking on
that petition and I started knocking on
that petition and I started knocking on doors you wind up meeting people who
doors you wind up meeting people who
doors you wind up meeting people who become great friends close allies who
become great friends close allies who
become great friends close allies who were strangers just a few minutes before
were strangers just a few minutes before
were strangers just a few minutes before that one of the first stories that I
that one of the first stories that I
that one of the first stories that I knocked on was a couple named Roman and
knocked on was a couple named Roman and
knocked on was a couple named Roman and Elaine Freeman and I got to their door
Elaine Freeman and I got to their door
Elaine Freeman and I got to their door and you could tell Roman was so
and you could tell Roman was so
and you could tell Roman was so disappointed that his his blinds were
disappointed that his his blinds were
disappointed that his his blinds were open and he made eye contact with me so
open and he made eye contact with me so
open and he made eye contact with me so he he he felt he felt obligated to come
he he he felt he felt obligated to come
he he he felt he felt obligated to come to the door at that point so so he did
to the door at that point so so he did
to the door at that point so so he did and he opened the door and they were
and he opened the door and they were
and he opened the door and they were clearly about to go off to the pool and
clearly about to go off to the pool and
clearly about to go off to the pool and and I said to them let me just talk to
and I said to them let me just talk to
and I said to them let me just talk to you for a few minutes
you for a few minutes
you for a few minutes about my vision for the city and what I
about my vision for the city and what I
about my vision for the city and what I would like to do we spent the next 30 40
would like to do we spent the next 30 40
would like to do we spent the next 30 40 minutes in their kitchen talking about
minutes in their kitchen talking about
minutes in their kitchen talking about his journey to America Roman was a
his journey to America Roman was a
his journey to America Roman was a Holocaust survivor he was 16 months old
Holocaust survivor he was 16 months old
Holocaust survivor he was 16 months old when the Nazis invaded his town in
when the Nazis invaded his town in
when the Nazis invaded his town in Poland Germany they were moved first
Poland Germany they were moved first
Poland Germany they were moved first into a ghetto and then he was smuggled
into a ghetto and then he was smuggled
into a ghetto and then he was smuggled into a work camp with with his with his
into a work camp with with his with his
into a work camp with with his with his mother his baby brother who was born in
mother his baby brother who was born in
mother his baby brother who was born in the ghetto was murdered by the Nazis and
the ghetto was murdered by the Nazis and
the ghetto was murdered by the Nazis and in the middle of the night when he was
in the middle of the night when he was
in the middle of the night when he was an infant he was smuggled out in a
an infant he was smuggled out in a
an infant he was smuggled out in a suitcase
suitcase
suitcase and taken to the home of a a Catholic
and taken to the home of a a Catholic
and taken to the home of a a Catholic polish woman named Maria Belle go via
polish woman named Maria Belle go via
polish woman named Maria Belle go via who took Roman in from 1941 to 1945
who took Roman in from 1941 to 1945
who took Roman in from 1941 to 1945 risked her life risked her family’s life
risked her life risked her family’s life
risked her life risked her family’s life to save his life she also took in Romans
to save his life she also took in Romans
to save his life she also took in Romans mother and Merman didn’t know that his
mother and Merman didn’t know that his
mother and Merman didn’t know that his mother was living in the basement for 4
mother was living in the basement for 4
mother was living in the basement for 4 plus years as Roman was upstairs after
plus years as Roman was upstairs after
plus years as Roman was upstairs after the liberation they were reunited and
the liberation they were reunited and
the liberation they were reunited and they came to America together Roman
they came to America together Roman
they came to America together Roman moved to Ohio and he has spent the
moved to Ohio and he has spent the
moved to Ohio and he has spent the better part of his adult life telling
better part of his adult life telling
better part of his adult life telling that story to future generations so that
that story to future generations so that
that story to future generations so that that memory those stories could always
that memory those stories could always
that memory those stories could always live on we went from a moment where he
live on we went from a moment where he
live on we went from a moment where he didn’t want to answer the door to we
didn’t want to answer the door to we
didn’t want to answer the door to we talked to each other on a regular basis
talked to each other on a regular basis
talked to each other on a regular basis and he wants to know when my baby’s
and he wants to know when my baby’s
and he wants to know when my baby’s coming over and and these are
coming over and and these are
coming over and and these are experiences that you could only get if
experiences that you could only get if
experiences that you could only get if you’re willing to put your name on a
you’re willing to put your name on a
you’re willing to put your name on a ballot and run for public office you
ballot and run for public office you
ballot and run for public office you know another couple whose door I knocked
know another couple whose door I knocked
know another couple whose door I knocked on was a Peter Smith and Lisa Gaines and
on was a Peter Smith and Lisa Gaines and
on was a Peter Smith and Lisa Gaines and they had a very open conversation with
they had a very open conversation with
they had a very open conversation with me about living in a city as black
me about living in a city as black
me about living in a city as black Americans represented by seven white
Americans represented by seven white
Americans represented by seven white members of City Council five white
members of City Council five white
members of City Council five white members of a school board a white mayor
members of a school board a white mayor
members of a school board a white mayor and the challenges that that entailed
and the challenges that that entailed
and the challenges that that entailed and I called Peter yesterday to ask if I
and I called Peter yesterday to ask if I
and I called Peter yesterday to ask if I could talk about our first conversation
could talk about our first conversation
could talk about our first conversation together here today
together here today
together here today and he was shocked that I even
and he was shocked that I even
and he was shocked that I even remembered it but these stories affect
remembered it but these stories affect
remembered it but these stories affect the way that you view the world because
the way that you view the world because
the way that you view the world because his story to me was talking about what
his story to me was talking about what
his story to me was talking about what he taught his children as they became of
he taught his children as they became of
he taught his children as they became of driving age in the state of Ohio and
driving age in the state of Ohio and
driving age in the state of Ohio and what struck me about that conversation
what struck me about that conversation
what struck me about that conversation is it was massively different than any
is it was massively different than any
is it was massively different than any conversation that my father had had with
conversation that my father had had with
conversation that my father had had with me or any conversation that I would have
me or any conversation that I would have
me or any conversation that I would have thought in my head I would have liked my
thought in my head I would have liked my
thought in my head I would have liked my daughter which was you’re going to get
daughter which was you’re going to get
daughter which was you’re going to get pulled over when you get pulled over
pulled over when you get pulled over
pulled over when you get pulled over make sure that your hands never leave
make sure that your hands never leave
make sure that your hands never leave the steering wheel wait till the officer
the steering wheel wait till the officer
the steering wheel wait till the officer approaches
approaches
approaches make sure he seized you open the window
make sure he seized you open the window
make sure he seized you open the window and then say my wallets in the glove
and then say my wallets in the glove
and then say my wallets in the glove compartment or my wallets into my right
compartment or my wallets into my right
compartment or my wallets into my right pocket I’m just gonna reach in and get
pocket I’m just gonna reach in and get
pocket I’m just gonna reach in and get my driver’s license for you it’s just
my driver’s license for you it’s just
my driver’s license for you it’s just not something that was ever part of my
not something that was ever part of my
not something that was ever part of my American experience but very much a part
American experience but very much a part
American experience but very much a part of his and theirs and those stories
of his and theirs and those stories
of his and theirs and those stories change your point of view and after I
change your point of view and after I
change your point of view and after I was fortunate enough to get elected in
was fortunate enough to get elected in
was fortunate enough to get elected in my first run for office you take those
my first run for office you take those
my first run for office you take those stories with you every day that you walk
stories with you every day that you walk
stories with you every day that you walk into City Hall and you consider
into City Hall and you consider
into City Hall and you consider legislation I think back to the stories
legislation I think back to the stories
legislation I think back to the stories from senior citizens I talk to you or
from senior citizens I talk to you or
from senior citizens I talk to you or from people from different backgrounds
from people from different backgrounds
from people from different backgrounds and walks of life that I’ve met and
and walks of life that I’ve met and
and walks of life that I’ve met and ultimately that affects my
ultimately that affects my
ultimately that affects my decision-making and what I want to tell
decision-making and what I want to tell
decision-making and what I want to tell everyone here today is everyone here has
everyone here today is everyone here has
everyone here today is everyone here has the ability to make that difference in
the ability to make that difference in
the ability to make that difference in your local communities so often when we
your local communities so often when we
your local communities so often when we talk about running for office people
talk about running for office people
talk about running for office people concentrate on your US Senators your
concentrate on your US Senators your
concentrate on your US Senators your governor’s the President of the United
governor’s the President of the United
governor’s the President of the United States but in school boards and in city
States but in school boards and in city
States but in school boards and in city chambers and in state houses across this
chambers and in state houses across this
chambers and in state houses across this country there are really important
country there are really important
country there are really important decisions that are being made and you
decisions that are being made and you
decisions that are being made and you could get involved in that
could get involved in that
could get involved in that decision-making immediately you don’t
decision-making immediately you don’t
decision-making immediately you don’t need a large sum of money
need a large sum of money
need a large sum of money you don’t need endorsements I certainly
you don’t need endorsements I certainly
you don’t need endorsements I certainly didn’t have any of those I had no
didn’t have any of those I had no
didn’t have any of those I had no support from city city council members
support from city city council members
support from city city council members or the mayor’s office all you need is
or the mayor’s office all you need is
or the mayor’s office all you need is the grit and determination and the
the grit and determination and the
the grit and determination and the willingness to put the time in and to go
willingness to put the time in and to go
willingness to put the time in and to go meet and listen to the people in your
meet and listen to the people in your
meet and listen to the people in your community and when you do that you will
community and when you do that you will
community and when you do that you will inevitably learn so much that you didn’t
inevitably learn so much that you didn’t
inevitably learn so much that you didn’t already know you know it came full
already know you know it came full
already know you know it came full circle to me one of the pieces of
circle to me one of the pieces of
circle to me one of the pieces of legislation that I’m proud of is right
legislation that I’m proud of is right
legislation that I’m proud of is right after our new president passed his
after our new president passed his
after our new president passed his executive signed his executive order
executive signed his executive order
executive signed his executive order creating a Muslim ban from from
creating a Muslim ban from from
creating a Muslim ban from from host seven different Muslim countries I
host seven different Muslim countries I
host seven different Muslim countries I got the council president on the phone
got the council president on the phone
got the council president on the phone and I said you know what are we gonna do
and I said you know what are we gonna do
and I said you know what are we gonna do I would like to craft some legislation
I would like to craft some legislation
I would like to craft some legislation and we we created our own legislation
and we we created our own legislation
and we we created our own legislation opposing the president’s executive order
opposing the president’s executive order
opposing the president’s executive order and declaring our city of Beachwood Ohio
and declaring our city of Beachwood Ohio
and declaring our city of Beachwood Ohio to be a welcoming city to all immigrants
to be a welcoming city to all immigrants
to be a welcoming city to all immigrants and it was a big moment for me when I
and it was a big moment for me when I
and it was a big moment for me when I went to City Hall that night for that
went to City Hall that night for that
went to City Hall that night for that boat and I looked into the City Council
boat and I looked into the City Council
boat and I looked into the City Council audience the first person that I saw was
audience the first person that I saw was
audience the first person that I saw was Roman and he was sitting there because
Roman and he was sitting there because
Roman and he was sitting there because he too was once a stranger in a strange
he too was once a stranger in a strange
he too was once a stranger in a strange land and he was going to lend his voice
land and he was going to lend his voice
land and he was going to lend his voice his support for everybody in the
his support for everybody in the
his support for everybody in the community no matter where they were from
community no matter where they were from
community no matter where they were from no matter what their race was or what
no matter what their race was or what
no matter what their race was or what their religion was they too deserved an
their religion was they too deserved an
their religion was they too deserved an opportunity to be a part of our American
opportunity to be a part of our American
opportunity to be a part of our American experience and those moments are are
experience and those moments are are
experience and those moments are are invaluable and and you learn from them
invaluable and and you learn from them
invaluable and and you learn from them and whether it was the introduction of
and whether it was the introduction of
and whether it was the introduction of legislation to make meetings more
legislation to make meetings more
legislation to make meetings more accessible by broadcasting them on TV
accessible by broadcasting them on TV
accessible by broadcasting them on TV and the Internet to people whether it
and the Internet to people whether it
and the Internet to people whether it was trying to talk about an increase of
was trying to talk about an increase of
was trying to talk about an increase of senior services because Detroit Ohio has
senior services because Detroit Ohio has
senior services because Detroit Ohio has the second highest median age range of
the second highest median age range of
the second highest median age range of any city in Cuyahoga County in Northeast
any city in Cuyahoga County in Northeast
any city in Cuyahoga County in Northeast Ohio and so that comes with its own set
Ohio and so that comes with its own set
Ohio and so that comes with its own set of challenges and and so every piece of
of challenges and and so every piece of
of challenges and and so every piece of legislation though that comes in front
legislation though that comes in front
legislation though that comes in front of me I often relate to a moment when I
of me I often relate to a moment when I
of me I often relate to a moment when I was at somebody’s front door or in their
was at somebody’s front door or in their
was at somebody’s front door or in their driveway or in their kitchen having
driveway or in their kitchen having
driveway or in their kitchen having those conversations because it all
those conversations because it all
those conversations because it all relates back to actual legislation
relates back to actual legislation
relates back to actual legislation that’s being passed at city levels and
that’s being passed at city levels and
that’s being passed at city levels and and so I would like to urge everybody to
and so I would like to urge everybody to
and so I would like to urge everybody to get involved you can get involved at a
get involved you can get involved at a
get involved you can get involved at a young age you know when I watched my
young age you know when I watched my
young age you know when I watched my campaign I sent out a press release and
campaign I sent out a press release and
campaign I sent out a press release and it was in the Cleveland Plain Dealer I
it was in the Cleveland Plain Dealer I
it was in the Cleveland Plain Dealer I got an email the next day from a 15 year
got an email the next day from a 15 year
got an email the next day from a 15 year old high school student named grant he
old high school student named grant he
old high school student named grant he said I would like to volunteer your
said I would like to volunteer your
said I would like to volunteer your campaign your message really connect
campaign your message really connect
campaign your message really connect with me I don’t have a car yet would you
with me I don’t have a car yet would you
with me I don’t have a car yet would you meet me for lunch at the Beachwood mall
meet me for lunch at the Beachwood mall
meet me for lunch at the Beachwood mall and and I did the next day and he
and and I did the next day and he
and and I did the next day and he knocked on more doors than any other
knocked on more doors than any other
knocked on more doors than any other volunteer maybe I’ve ever seen a joke is
volunteer maybe I’ve ever seen a joke is
volunteer maybe I’ve ever seen a joke is I only won by sixty votes that first
I only won by sixty votes that first
I only won by sixty votes that first election and I don’t want to give the
election and I don’t want to give the
election and I don’t want to give the impression that I’m not popular but when
impression that I’m not popular but when
impression that I’m not popular but when you run for office there’s plenty of
you run for office there’s plenty of
you run for office there’s plenty of people who also disagree with you and
people who also disagree with you and
people who also disagree with you and make that that disagreement heard but
make that that disagreement heard but
make that that disagreement heard but you know I took that I don’t know that I
you know I took that I don’t know that I
you know I took that I don’t know that I win that race without grant you know
win that race without grant you know
win that race without grant you know he’s gone on to become an honors
he’s gone on to become an honors
he’s gone on to become an honors political science student at Ohio
political science student at Ohio
political science student at Ohio University and he’s my campaign manager
University and he’s my campaign manager
University and he’s my campaign manager my reelection race so he since he’s
my reelection race so he since he’s
my reelection race so he since he’s managed statewide yeah he’s been a part
managed statewide yeah he’s been a part
managed statewide yeah he’s been a part of statewide campaigns for Attorney
of statewide campaigns for Attorney
of statewide campaigns for Attorney General he is volunteering on senator
General he is volunteering on senator
General he is volunteering on senator sherrod Brown for election campaign in
sherrod Brown for election campaign in
sherrod Brown for election campaign in the state of Ohio
the state of Ohio
the state of Ohio so you could get started right now you
so you could get started right now you
so you could get started right now you don’t have to wait and for me it’s been
don’t have to wait and for me it’s been
don’t have to wait and for me it’s been the most rewarding experience of my
the most rewarding experience of my
the most rewarding experience of my professional life and who here is
professional life and who here is
professional life and who here is thinking that they might run for public
thinking that they might run for public
thinking that they might run for public office one day all right well that’s not
office one day all right well that’s not
office one day all right well that’s not a great sign for us but we got we got I
a great sign for us but we got we got I
a great sign for us but we got we got I saw one hand in the back you know I I
saw one hand in the back you know I I
saw one hand in the back you know I I will tell you that the good experiences
will tell you that the good experiences
will tell you that the good experiences those positive conversations outweigh
those positive conversations outweigh
those positive conversations outweigh any of the negative comments or
any of the negative comments or
any of the negative comments or behaviors that are shown towards public
behaviors that are shown towards public
behaviors that are shown towards public officials you have the ability to push
officials you have the ability to push
officials you have the ability to push those aside because the majority of your
those aside because the majority of your
those aside because the majority of your communities they want to cooperate they
communities they want to cooperate they
communities they want to cooperate they want to work together we want to solve
want to work together we want to solve
want to work together we want to solve issues so I would urge everybody to get
issues so I would urge everybody to get
issues so I would urge everybody to get involved sooner rather than later
involved sooner rather than later
involved sooner rather than later and I’m going to end because my
and I’m going to end because my
and I’m going to end because my colleagues in City Council who pretty
colleagues in City Council who pretty
colleagues in City Council who pretty much tease me for being the young young
much tease me for being the young young
much tease me for being the young young guy up at the dais and as the only
guy up at the dais and as the only
guy up at the dais and as the only millennial speaker today I think I’d be
millennial speaker today I think I’d be
millennial speaker today I think I’d be doing a disservice if I did not end with
doing a disservice if I did not end with
doing a disservice if I did not end with a group selfie so
a group selfie so
a group selfie so you know I have to make my generation
you know I have to make my generation
you know I have to make my generation proud of it all right smile everyone
proud of it all right smile everyone
proud of it all right smile everyone thank you Rutgers Prep it’s great to be
thank you Rutgers Prep it’s great to be
thank you Rutgers Prep it’s great to be back home thank you for having me today
back home thank you for having me today
back home thank you for having me today [Applause]
”
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