my name is Rasheeda Kamaria Williams and I am a mentor it’s a title that excites
I am a mentor it’s a title that excites
I am a mentor it’s a title that excites me more than college graduate social
me more than college graduate social
me more than college graduate social entrepreneur and as a recent published
entrepreneur and as a recent published
entrepreneur and as a recent published author not that I am NOT proud of those
author not that I am NOT proud of those
author not that I am NOT proud of those other accomplishments but I’m truly
other accomplishments but I’m truly
other accomplishments but I’m truly inspired by being a mentor
inspired by being a mentor
inspired by being a mentor why because mentoring makes a difference
why because mentoring makes a difference
why because mentoring makes a difference our young people not only need positive
our young people not only need positive
our young people not only need positive role models and someone to show them the
role models and someone to show them the
role models and someone to show them the way they also want and desire that in
way they also want and desire that in
way they also want and desire that in their lives 21st century tweens and
their lives 21st century tweens and
their lives 21st century tweens and teens face unprecedented challenges but
teens face unprecedented challenges but
teens face unprecedented challenges but many of us from generations before them
many of us from generations before them
many of us from generations before them could never imagine from cyber bullying
could never imagine from cyber bullying
could never imagine from cyber bullying to societal pressure they face enormous
to societal pressure they face enormous
to societal pressure they face enormous odds yet incredible opportunities and
odds yet incredible opportunities and
odds yet incredible opportunities and while teen pregnancy and dropout rates
while teen pregnancy and dropout rates
while teen pregnancy and dropout rates have decreased there has been an uptick
have decreased there has been an uptick
have decreased there has been an uptick in risky behaviors like drug abuse as
in risky behaviors like drug abuse as
in risky behaviors like drug abuse as well as suicide especially among teens
well as suicide especially among teens
well as suicide especially among teens and young adults they need someone who
and young adults they need someone who
and young adults they need someone who is going to step up and be there for
is going to step up and be there for
is going to step up and be there for them oftentimes our young people crave
them oftentimes our young people crave
them oftentimes our young people crave attention and desire it there’s a
attention and desire it there’s a
attention and desire it there’s a difference that we can make just by
difference that we can make just by
difference that we can make just by simply being there sharing our expertise
simply being there sharing our expertise
simply being there sharing our expertise as well as our experiences and the best
as well as our experiences and the best
as well as our experiences and the best thing that we can do is share ourselves
thing that we can do is share ourselves
thing that we can do is share ourselves another a number of organizations and
another a number of organizations and
another a number of organizations and individuals out there who are having a
individuals out there who are having a
individuals out there who are having a significant impact and making a
significant impact and making a
significant impact and making a difference in the lives of young people
difference in the lives of young people
difference in the lives of young people as I’m delivering this talk some of you
as I’m delivering this talk some of you
as I’m delivering this talk some of you may be thinking of some of those
may be thinking of some of those
may be thinking of some of those organizations and groups that are having
organizations and groups that are having
organizations and groups that are having an impact some familiar ones that come
an impact some familiar ones that come
an impact some familiar ones that come to mind when I ask this question when
to mind when I ask this question when
to mind when I ask this question when I’m in smaller group settings are
I’m in smaller group settings are
I’m in smaller group settings are national organizations like Big Brothers
national organizations like Big Brothers
national organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
Big Sisters Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
Big Sisters Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts and often people will rattle off a
and often people will rattle off a
and often people will rattle off a number of local nonprofits who are truly
number of local nonprofits who are truly
number of local nonprofits who are truly making a difference and I want to
making a difference and I want to
making a difference and I want to definitely applaud the work that they’re
definitely applaud the work that they’re
definitely applaud the work that they’re doing because the work that they’re
doing because the work that they’re
doing because the work that they’re doing is changing lives but there are
doing is changing lives but there are
doing is changing lives but there are some other groups out there that are
some other groups out there that are
some other groups out there that are having an impact that maybe you may not
having an impact that maybe you may not
having an impact that maybe you may not have thought of and in my research and
have thought of and in my research and
have thought of and in my research and my own personal experience I know that
my own personal experience I know that
my own personal experience I know that these groups are stepping up
they are truly committed to our young
they are truly committed to our young people and that first group terrorist
surprisingly Isis is having a
surprisingly Isis is having a significant impact in the lives of young
significant impact in the lives of young
significant impact in the lives of young people now some of you may not have
people now some of you may not have
people now some of you may not have thought about terrorists as groups that
thought about terrorists as groups that
thought about terrorists as groups that are reaching out and connecting with our
are reaching out and connecting with our
are reaching out and connecting with our young people but they are and they’re
young people but they are and they’re
young people but they are and they’re becoming very tech savvy meeting teens
becoming very tech savvy meeting teens
becoming very tech savvy meeting teens where they are online using social media
where they are online using social media
where they are online using social media and social networking it’s quite
and social networking it’s quite
and social networking it’s quite interesting that from 2014 to 2015 they
interesting that from 2014 to 2015 they
interesting that from 2014 to 2015 they recruited 100 American teens and young
recruited 100 American teens and young
recruited 100 American teens and young people now for some of you you may say
people now for some of you you may say
people now for some of you you may say well 100 teens that’s not really
well 100 teens that’s not really
well 100 teens that’s not really impressive but for those of us who work
impressive but for those of us who work
impressive but for those of us who work on the grassroots level who may be
on the grassroots level who may be
on the grassroots level who may be educators or after-school program
educators or after-school program
educators or after-school program providers getting a hundred kids
providers getting a hundred kids
providers getting a hundred kids involved in your program is significant
involved in your program is significant
involved in your program is significant right I just think about the amount of
right I just think about the amount of
right I just think about the amount of work that it takes to recruit even a
work that it takes to recruit even a
work that it takes to recruit even a dozen kids to come to an after-school
dozen kids to come to an after-school
dozen kids to come to an after-school program but 100
program but 100
program but 100 teens and young adults to join the
teens and young adults to join the
teens and young adults to join the terrorist organization who would do that
terrorist organization who would do that
terrorist organization who would do that you’d be surprised like I was when in
you’d be surprised like I was when in
you’d be surprised like I was when in 2014 I heard a report and many of you
2014 I heard a report and many of you
2014 I heard a report and many of you may have heard about this story as well
may have heard about this story as well
may have heard about this story as well three young girls from Denver teenage
three young girls from Denver teenage
three young girls from Denver teenage girls wanted to join Isis they took a
girls wanted to join Isis they took a
girls wanted to join Isis they took a trek across the world to Turkey in fact
trek across the world to Turkey in fact
trek across the world to Turkey in fact well their plans were thwarted when
well their plans were thwarted when
well their plans were thwarted when actually they were derailed in Germany
actually they were derailed in Germany
actually they were derailed in Germany when FBI agents recognized them and sent
when FBI agents recognized them and sent
when FBI agents recognized them and sent them back home three teenage girls who
them back home three teenage girls who
them back home three teenage girls who felt so unaccepted in their homes and in
felt so unaccepted in their homes and in
felt so unaccepted in their homes and in their communities that they were willing
their communities that they were willing
their communities that they were willing to take a journey into the unknown and
to take a journey into the unknown and
to take a journey into the unknown and to the hands of terrorists I don’t know
to the hands of terrorists I don’t know
to the hands of terrorists I don’t know what was in these young ladies mine to
what was in these young ladies mine to
what was in these young ladies mine to make them go there but I do know that
make them go there but I do know that
make them go there but I do know that many of our young people have the same
many of our young people have the same
many of our young people have the same challenge of finding acceptance and
challenge of finding acceptance and
challenge of finding acceptance and understanding another organization that
understanding another organization that
understanding another organization that is definitely impacting young people and
is definitely impacting young people and
is definitely impacting young people and has been has stood the test of time and
has been has stood the test of time and
has been has stood the test of time and doing so gangs
I unfortunately am all too familiar with
I unfortunately am all too familiar with gangs I have a young relative who joined
gangs I have a young relative who joined
gangs I have a young relative who joined a gang he wanted to receive acceptance
a gang he wanted to receive acceptance
a gang he wanted to receive acceptance from his father who rejected him so he
from his father who rejected him so he
from his father who rejected him so he found that the gang was there for him it
found that the gang was there for him it
found that the gang was there for him it provide resources even perhaps job
provide resources even perhaps job
provide resources even perhaps job opportunities and most of all family
opportunities and most of all family
opportunities and most of all family connection that he was missing so groups
connection that he was missing so groups
connection that he was missing so groups like the Bloods and Crips and Aryan
like the Bloods and Crips and Aryan
like the Bloods and Crips and Aryan Brotherhood they provide a safe space or
Brotherhood they provide a safe space or
Brotherhood they provide a safe space or at least that’s what young people think
at least that’s what young people think
at least that’s what young people think when they first joined them for our
when they first joined them for our
when they first joined them for our children to be themselves right young
children to be themselves right young
children to be themselves right young people join gangs because they want to
people join gangs because they want to
people join gangs because they want to be a part of something they want to
be a part of something they want to
be a part of something they want to belong they just want to be accepted and
belong they just want to be accepted and
belong they just want to be accepted and gangs also they’re becoming very tech
gangs also they’re becoming very tech
gangs also they’re becoming very tech savvy as well taking to social media
savvy as well taking to social media
savvy as well taking to social media interacting with them in chat rooms even
interacting with them in chat rooms even
interacting with them in chat rooms even an online gaming but gangs also have a
an online gaming but gangs also have a
an online gaming but gangs also have a very old-school tactic they’ll meet you
very old-school tactic they’ll meet you
very old-school tactic they’ll meet you at the schoolyard they recruit young
at the schoolyard they recruit young
at the schoolyard they recruit young people as young as elementary in middle
people as young as elementary in middle
people as young as elementary in middle school day after day returning to the
school day after day returning to the
school day after day returning to the playground asking for the young
playground asking for the young
playground asking for the young impressionable person to join them in
impressionable person to join them in
impressionable person to join them in fact there’s a gang out of La that has
fact there’s a gang out of La that has
fact there’s a gang out of La that has chapters across the country and even in
chapters across the country and even in
chapters across the country and even in Canada and in New York they’re known for
Canada and in New York they’re known for
Canada and in New York they’re known for their notorious tactics and recruitment
their notorious tactics and recruitment
their notorious tactics and recruitment of immigrant children so new Americans
of immigrant children so new Americans
of immigrant children so new Americans who want to feel welcome
who want to feel welcome
who want to feel welcome well ms-13 is there for them they
well ms-13 is there for them they
well ms-13 is there for them they provide them with promises of new
provide them with promises of new
provide them with promises of new opportunities
opportunities
opportunities family connection what many of our young
family connection what many of our young
family connection what many of our young people are missing from some of us think
people are missing from some of us think
people are missing from some of us think about young relatives that you may have
about young relatives that you may have
about young relatives that you may have children in your community who are they
children in your community who are they
children in your community who are they turning to they’re turning to gangs and
turning to they’re turning to gangs and
turning to they’re turning to gangs and also one of the most loathsome of the
also one of the most loathsome of the
also one of the most loathsome of the groups that is connecting with our
groups that is connecting with our
groups that is connecting with our children and having an impact in their
children and having an impact in their
children and having an impact in their lives sex traffickers pimps are
lives sex traffickers pimps are
lives sex traffickers pimps are everywhere not just internationally and
everywhere not just internationally and
everywhere not just internationally and overseas they’re in our communities they
overseas they’re in our communities they
overseas they’re in our communities they may be your neighbors or your coworkers
many of our children who come out as gay
many of our children who come out as gay lesbian or bisexual are thrown out
lesbian or bisexual are thrown out
lesbian or bisexual are thrown out teens who announce that they are
teens who announce that they are
teens who announce that they are pregnant or that they’re dropping out of
pregnant or that they’re dropping out of
pregnant or that they’re dropping out of school are thrown out by their parents
school are thrown out by their parents
school are thrown out by their parents at a time when they need their parents
at a time when they need their parents
at a time when they need their parents most but pimps and traffickers they
most but pimps and traffickers they
most but pimps and traffickers they accept our throwaway babies with open
accept our throwaway babies with open
accept our throwaway babies with open arms they are dedicated to our young
arms they are dedicated to our young
arms they are dedicated to our young people and that leads me to the question
people and that leads me to the question
people and that leads me to the question how dedicated are we you see there’s
how dedicated are we you see there’s
how dedicated are we you see there’s been times when I have hosted events and
been times when I have hosted events and
been times when I have hosted events and thoughts of myself okay
thoughts of myself okay
thoughts of myself okay people are gonna come and show up doing
people are gonna come and show up doing
people are gonna come and show up doing something great in the community right
something great in the community right
something great in the community right those of you who also work with youth
those of you who also work with youth
those of you who also work with youth and work in the community
and work in the community
and work in the community you may have had this experience you
you may have had this experience you
you may have had this experience you invite 50 people and six show up anyone
invite 50 people and six show up anyone
invite 50 people and six show up anyone ever have that experience right
ever have that experience right
ever have that experience right okay and you feel discouraged you feel
okay and you feel discouraged you feel
okay and you feel discouraged you feel like what’s my purpose why am I doing
like what’s my purpose why am I doing
like what’s my purpose why am I doing this I’m not going to make a difference
this I’m not going to make a difference
this I’m not going to make a difference do you think that pimps think that when
do you think that pimps think that when
do you think that pimps think that when they reach out to young people and
they reach out to young people and
they reach out to young people and they’re rejected do you think they give
they’re rejected do you think they give
they’re rejected do you think they give up no they keep at it do you think that
up no they keep at it do you think that
up no they keep at it do you think that those gang members who go to the schools
those gang members who go to the schools
those gang members who go to the schools the day after day do you think they
the day after day do you think they
the day after day do you think they really care that yeah most of these kids
really care that yeah most of these kids
really care that yeah most of these kids are gonna turn us down but guess what
are gonna turn us down but guess what
are gonna turn us down but guess what there will be a few like my cousin who
there will be a few like my cousin who
there will be a few like my cousin who give in because they want to be accepted
some of you out there today may be
some of you out there today may be wondering what you can do well I would
wondering what you can do well I would
wondering what you can do well I would suggest that we be as committed to our
suggest that we be as committed to our
suggest that we be as committed to our young people as a terrorist games and
young people as a terrorist games and
young people as a terrorist games and traffickers are to them we have to be
traffickers are to them we have to be
traffickers are to them we have to be more committed to the young people in
more committed to the young people in
more committed to the young people in our lives than our fear of rejection we
our lives than our fear of rejection we
our lives than our fear of rejection we have to be more committed to them than
have to be more committed to them than
have to be more committed to them than our anger and frustration with them when
our anger and frustration with them when
our anger and frustration with them when they get out of line or when we disagree
they get out of line or when we disagree
they get out of line or when we disagree with them we shouldn’t just say you know
with them we shouldn’t just say you know
with them we shouldn’t just say you know what I’m out of here I’m done turning
what I’m out of here I’m done turning
what I’m out of here I’m done turning our backs on them is not an option
our backs on them is not an option
our backs on them is not an option because guess who will be there when we
because guess who will be there when we
because guess who will be there when we turn our backs on that these folks and
turn our backs on that these folks and
turn our backs on that these folks and they’ll be there day after they so there
they’ll be there day after they so there
they’ll be there day after they so there are a number of things that we can learn
are a number of things that we can learn
are a number of things that we can learn from them one is patience
from them one is patience
from them one is patience we must listen to our young people and
we must listen to our young people and
we must listen to our young people and listen without judgment I know you want
listen without judgment I know you want
listen without judgment I know you want to give them advice and we want to
to give them advice and we want to
to give them advice and we want to always project our expertise which is
always project our expertise which is
always project our expertise which is great as a mentor but sometimes just
great as a mentor but sometimes just
great as a mentor but sometimes just listening can make a world of difference
listening can make a world of difference
listening can make a world of difference persistence even when we’re not seeing
persistence even when we’re not seeing
persistence even when we’re not seeing eye to eye we need to be there for them
eye to eye we need to be there for them
eye to eye we need to be there for them when your children get home from school
when your children get home from school
when your children get home from school and you ask them how was your day that
and you ask them how was your day that
and you ask them how was your day that was all right or they may not answer you
was all right or they may not answer you
was all right or they may not answer you at all probe a little more be persistent
at all probe a little more be persistent
at all probe a little more be persistent in your ask
consistency just like the gang shows up
consistency just like the gang shows up to the schoolyard daily we need to show
to the schoolyard daily we need to show
to the schoolyard daily we need to show up for the young people we love and care
up for the young people we love and care
up for the young people we love and care for and most importantly commitment we
for and most importantly commitment we
for and most importantly commitment we have to be committed to their success
have to be committed to their success
have to be committed to their success committed to their growth and committed
committed to their growth and committed
committed to their growth and committed to being a positive role model for them
to being a positive role model for them
to being a positive role model for them now you may be thinking mentoring yeah
now you may be thinking mentoring yeah
now you may be thinking mentoring yeah it’s probably not for me don’t you have
it’s probably not for me don’t you have
it’s probably not for me don’t you have to you know have some amazing career or
to you know have some amazing career or
to you know have some amazing career or some amazing story look you don’t even
some amazing story look you don’t even
some amazing story look you don’t even have to be employed you don’t have to be
have to be employed you don’t have to be
have to be employed you don’t have to be a superhero actually kids don’t even
a superhero actually kids don’t even
a superhero actually kids don’t even care they don’t care about any of that
care they don’t care about any of that
care they don’t care about any of that they just want someone who listens to
they just want someone who listens to
they just want someone who listens to them they just want someone present in
them they just want someone present in
them they just want someone present in their lives so if you have a big heart
their lives so if you have a big heart
their lives so if you have a big heart and a little time please consider
and a little time please consider
and a little time please consider becoming a mentor it was one of the best
becoming a mentor it was one of the best
becoming a mentor it was one of the best decisions that I made 15 years ago when
decisions that I made 15 years ago when
decisions that I made 15 years ago when I became a mentor
I became a mentor
I became a mentor and I’m proud to say that I’ve been a
and I’m proud to say that I’ve been a
and I’m proud to say that I’ve been a mentor to this young woman for the past
mentor to this young woman for the past
mentor to this young woman for the past eight years no achievement in my life
eight years no achievement in my life
eight years no achievement in my life compares to that achievement of having a
compares to that achievement of having a
compares to that achievement of having a young person say you’re the one who
young person say you’re the one who
young person say you’re the one who inspired me you’re the one who caused me
inspired me you’re the one who caused me
inspired me you’re the one who caused me to transform my life so I challenged you
to transform my life so I challenged you
to transform my life so I challenged you to be that person for those young people
to be that person for those young people
to be that person for those young people and your families
and your families
and your families and in your communities thank you
and in your communities thank you
and in your communities thank you [Applause]
”
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