I want to start off tonight with a little bit of a loaded question so I
little bit of a loaded question so I
little bit of a loaded question so I apologize in advance but really quickly
apologize in advance but really quickly
apologize in advance but really quickly show of hands how many of you believe
show of hands how many of you believe
show of hands how many of you believe that our country is headed in a negative
that our country is headed in a negative
that our country is headed in a negative direction
direction
direction generally speaking show of hands one or
generally speaking show of hands one or
generally speaking show of hands one or two of you okay
two of you okay
two of you okay 2/3 to 3/4 well congratulations I want
2/3 to 3/4 well congratulations I want
2/3 to 3/4 well congratulations I want you to know as an audience you’re very
you to know as an audience you’re very
you to know as an audience you’re very average nationally speaking roughly 2/3
average nationally speaking roughly 2/3
average nationally speaking roughly 2/3 to 3/4 of Americans believe just like
to 3/4 of Americans believe just like
to 3/4 of Americans believe just like you that our country’s headed in
you that our country’s headed in
you that our country’s headed in negative direction what’s more
negative direction what’s more
negative direction what’s more interesting is that actually your very
interesting is that actually your very
interesting is that actually your very average historically speaking and in the
average historically speaking and in the
average historically speaking and in the 40 years that Gallup has been
40 years that Gallup has been
40 years that Gallup has been administering this survey almost the
administering this survey almost the
administering this survey almost the entire time roughly 2/3 of Americans
entire time roughly 2/3 of Americans
entire time roughly 2/3 of Americans have believed that our country has been
have believed that our country has been
have believed that our country has been heading in a negative direction
heading in a negative direction
heading in a negative direction congratulations now there’s been some
congratulations now there’s been some
congratulations now there’s been some blips on the radar there’s been a few
blips on the radar there’s been a few
blips on the radar there’s been a few moments of joy and good times but what’s
moments of joy and good times but what’s
moments of joy and good times but what’s really really fascinating is in that
really really fascinating is in that
really really fascinating is in that 40-year period can you guess the time
40-year period can you guess the time
40-year period can you guess the time and period where we as a people the vast
and period where we as a people the vast
and period where we as a people the vast majority of us said that our country was
majority of us said that our country was
majority of us said that our country was headed in a positive direction it was
headed in a positive direction it was
headed in a positive direction it was the four months following 9/11 now at
the four months following 9/11 now at
the four months following 9/11 now at first this doesn’t make a lot of sense
first this doesn’t make a lot of sense
first this doesn’t make a lot of sense right this was a period of great tragedy
right this was a period of great tragedy
right this was a period of great tragedy of great loss but yet when we look
of great loss but yet when we look
of great loss but yet when we look through history we see time and time
through history we see time and time
through history we see time and time again that tragedy often brings out the
again that tragedy often brings out the
again that tragedy often brings out the best in us and it unifies us together as
best in us and it unifies us together as
best in us and it unifies us together as a people that we come together and we
a people that we come together and we
a people that we come together and we say you know what there’s bigger things
say you know what there’s bigger things
say you know what there’s bigger things at hand that we really need to take care
at hand that we really need to take care
at hand that we really need to take care of and Sebastian Junger has coined this
of and Sebastian Junger has coined this
of and Sebastian Junger has coined this phrase the upside of disaster in his
phrase the upside of disaster in his
phrase the upside of disaster in his book he talks about just periods in
book he talks about just periods in
book he talks about just periods in history where you see this phenomenon
history where you see this phenomenon
history where you see this phenomenon over and over again and he refers to one
over and over again and he refers to one
over and over again and he refers to one moment in a Savano
moment in a Savano
moment in a Savano Italy where an earthquake killed 95% of
Italy where an earthquake killed 95% of
Italy where an earthquake killed 95% of the citizens and he quotes one of those
the citizens and he quotes one of those
the citizens and he quotes one of those survivors who says the earthquake gave
survivors who says the earthquake gave
survivors who says the earthquake gave us what the law promises but does not in
us what the law promises but does not in
us what the law promises but does not in fact deliver which is the Equality of
fact deliver which is the Equality of
fact deliver which is the Equality of all men
all men
all men and I was having this conversation with
and I was having this conversation with
and I was having this conversation with with Fletch RMC a few weeks ago and he
with Fletch RMC a few weeks ago and he
with Fletch RMC a few weeks ago and he had this great comment he said what
had this great comment he said what
had this great comment he said what we’re really looking for what you really
we’re really looking for what you really
we’re really looking for what you really want is unity without tragedy if we
want is unity without tragedy if we
want is unity without tragedy if we could only find something to unify us
could only find something to unify us
could only find something to unify us with that that wasn’t a tragic event
with that that wasn’t a tragic event
with that that wasn’t a tragic event that would really be the ideal and what
that would really be the ideal and what
that would really be the ideal and what I’ve seen in my context is city
I’ve seen in my context is city
I’ve seen in my context is city engagement director for love our cities
engagement director for love our cities
engagement director for love our cities and working with over 60 cities across
and working with over 60 cities across
and working with over 60 cities across the nation is time and time again we
the nation is time and time again we
the nation is time and time again we found that people love where they live
found that people love where they live
found that people love where they live right we care about our city we care
right we care about our city we care
right we care about our city we care about the place that we live and it can
about the place that we live and it can
about the place that we live and it can be this unifying force that draws people
be this unifying force that draws people
be this unifying force that draws people together and the idea that I want to
together and the idea that I want to
together and the idea that I want to really express and talk about tonight is
really express and talk about tonight is
really express and talk about tonight is if we’re all unhappy with the narrative
if we’re all unhappy with the narrative
if we’re all unhappy with the narrative of our nation at the end of the day
of our nation at the end of the day
of our nation at the end of the day we’ve got to recognize that we is its
we’ve got to recognize that we is its
we’ve got to recognize that we is its citizens or the narrator’s and then if
citizens or the narrator’s and then if
citizens or the narrator’s and then if we’re upset with the narrative and we’ve
we’re upset with the narrative and we’ve
we’re upset with the narrative and we’ve really got to start thinking about what
really got to start thinking about what
really got to start thinking about what our role is in changing that narrative
our role is in changing that narrative
our role is in changing that narrative and I’d like to share a little bit about
and I’d like to share a little bit about
and I’d like to share a little bit about the love our city’s story where it
the love our city’s story where it
the love our city’s story where it started and some of the principles that
started and some of the principles that
started and some of the principles that we’ve been learning that we think are
we’ve been learning that we think are
we’ve been learning that we think are critical for changing the narrative of a
critical for changing the narrative of a
critical for changing the narrative of a city and a nation so in 2008 we had a
city and a nation so in 2008 we had a
city and a nation so in 2008 we had a pastor here locally in Modesto and he
pastor here locally in Modesto and he
pastor here locally in Modesto and he was he was looking at the narrative of
was he was looking at the narrative of
was he was looking at the narrative of Modesto right at that time
Modesto right at that time
Modesto right at that time Modesto was height of the recession kind
Modesto was height of the recession kind
Modesto was height of the recession kind of Eric was talking about it was ranked
of Eric was talking about it was ranked
of Eric was talking about it was ranked one of the worst places in America to
one of the worst places in America to
one of the worst places in America to live and we had high unemployment high
live and we had high unemployment high
live and we had high unemployment high foreclosure rate right students were
foreclosure rate right students were
foreclosure rate right students were showing up to church literally with
showing up to church literally with
showing up to church literally with shirts that say Modesto sucks on him
shirts that say Modesto sucks on him
shirts that say Modesto sucks on him hopefully none of you here were doing
hopefully none of you here were doing
hopefully none of you here were doing that and he said we’ve got to address
that and he said we’ve got to address
that and he said we’ve got to address this right and he started looking at the
this right and he started looking at the
this right and he started looking at the church and in his church and he asked
church and in his church and he asked
church and in his church and he asked this question that I think is is it’s
this question that I think is is it’s
this question that I think is is it’s kind of a question of futility but I
kind of a question of futility but I
kind of a question of futility but I think we all need to ask from time to
think we all need to ask from time to
think we all need to ask from time to time is if the church were to disappear
time is if the church were to disappear
time is if the church were to disappear tomorrow if we were to go away would
tomorrow if we were to go away would
tomorrow if we were to go away would anyone notice or care and it wasn’t that
anyone notice or care and it wasn’t that
anyone notice or care and it wasn’t that the church wasn’t doing good things it
the church wasn’t doing good things it
the church wasn’t doing good things it was but there seemingly was this
was but there seemingly was this
was but there seemingly was this disconnect between what was happening in
disconnect between what was happening in
disconnect between what was happening in the church and then what was happening
the church and then what was happening
the church and then what was happening in the rest of the community so the
in the rest of the community so the
in the rest of the community so the pastor said we need to change this
pastor said we need to change this
pastor said we need to change this narrative so the first thing he did
narrative so the first thing he did
narrative so the first thing he did almost mockingly to the minutes Modesto
almost mockingly to the minutes Modesto
almost mockingly to the minutes Modesto sucks people
sucks people
sucks people he said let’s make sure it’s that say I
he said let’s make sure it’s that say I
he said let’s make sure it’s that say I love Modesto great starting point then
love Modesto great starting point then
love Modesto great starting point then he turned around and said okay you know
he turned around and said okay you know
he turned around and said okay you know let’s go to all the people all the
let’s go to all the people all the
let’s go to all the people all the stakeholders in the community let’s go
stakeholders in the community let’s go
stakeholders in the community let’s go to the city manager’s office to
to the city manager’s office to
to the city manager’s office to nonprofits to schools and say hey if we
nonprofits to schools and say hey if we
nonprofits to schools and say hey if we already get a bunch of people together
already get a bunch of people together
already get a bunch of people together to volunteer what could we do and they
to volunteer what could we do and they
to volunteer what could we do and they came up with eight or nine projects they
came up with eight or nine projects they
came up with eight or nine projects they expected about a hundred people and over
expected about a hundred people and over
expected about a hundred people and over eleven hundred people showed up at the
eleven hundred people showed up at the
eleven hundred people showed up at the event and from that experience a lot
event and from that experience a lot
event and from that experience a lot Modesto was born and as it grew over the
Modesto was born and as it grew over the
Modesto was born and as it grew over the years and more people started to show up
years and more people started to show up
years and more people started to show up they said you know what we know we need
they said you know what we know we need
they said you know what we know we need to do is we need to have this rally and
to do is we need to have this rally and
to do is we need to have this rally and we need to have it at a neutral equation
we need to have it at a neutral equation
we need to have it at a neutral equation actually it’s right outside this
actually it’s right outside this
actually it’s right outside this building right we shut down two city
building right we shut down two city
building right we shut down two city blocks this year we had over 3,500
blocks this year we had over 3,500
blocks this year we had over 3,500 people and we said let’s have an hour
people and we said let’s have an hour
people and we said let’s have an hour that just shows people you know what
that just shows people you know what
that just shows people you know what there’s others out here who think like
there’s others out here who think like
there’s others out here who think like we do that care about our city I might
we do that care about our city I might
we do that care about our city I might not know them they might look a little
not know them they might look a little
not know them they might look a little bit different with me but that’s okay
bit different with me but that’s okay
bit different with me but that’s okay the one unifying thing we have going for
the one unifying thing we have going for
the one unifying thing we have going for us is that we care about where we live
us is that we care about where we live
us is that we care about where we live and then after that we push them out the
and then after that we push them out the
and then after that we push them out the door and we send them to different
door and we send them to different
door and we send them to different places around town and we have them work
places around town and we have them work
places around town and we have them work on volunteer projects from fixing up
on volunteer projects from fixing up
on volunteer projects from fixing up homes to working on parks to painting
homes to working on parks to painting
homes to working on parks to painting schools and as we did this over time
schools and as we did this over time
schools and as we did this over time more and more cities began to say we
more and more cities began to say we
more and more cities began to say we like what you’re doing can you help us
like what you’re doing can you help us
like what you’re doing can you help us so we started providing services for
so we started providing services for
so we started providing services for other cities like I said today we now
other cities like I said today we now
other cities like I said today we now work with over 60 cities nationwide that
work with over 60 cities nationwide that
work with over 60 cities nationwide that number continues to grow almost every
number continues to grow almost every
number continues to grow almost every month
this year this year we’ve had over
this year this year we’ve had over 20,000 volunteers go through our program
20,000 volunteers go through our program
20,000 volunteers go through our program we’ve had over a hundred eleven thousand
we’ve had over a hundred eleven thousand
we’ve had over a hundred eleven thousand since our inception and the thing that’s
since our inception and the thing that’s
since our inception and the thing that’s really cool that we get to see is this
really cool that we get to see is this
really cool that we get to see is this beautiful collaboration between the
beautiful collaboration between the
beautiful collaboration between the faith-based sector city government
faith-based sector city government
faith-based sector city government nonprofits businesses all rallying
nonprofits businesses all rallying
nonprofits businesses all rallying around this one unifying idea that’s
around this one unifying idea that’s
around this one unifying idea that’s changing the narrative of our cities and
changing the narrative of our cities and
changing the narrative of our cities and I think underlying that there’s there’s
I think underlying that there’s there’s
I think underlying that there’s there’s probably three principles that I would
probably three principles that I would
probably three principles that I would pull out that I would say are really
pull out that I would say are really
pull out that I would say are really important if we’re going to think about
important if we’re going to think about
important if we’re going to think about changing a narrative the first one is
changing a narrative the first one is
changing a narrative the first one is that we have to demonstrate civility and
that we have to demonstrate civility and
that we have to demonstrate civility and by civility that this is a term that’s
by civility that this is a term that’s
by civility that this is a term that’s almost become outdated in our age sadly
almost become outdated in our age sadly
almost become outdated in our age sadly when we talk about civility it’s really
when we talk about civility it’s really
when we talk about civility it’s really looking at someone not as a bunch of
looking at someone not as a bunch of
looking at someone not as a bunch of ideals but seeing them in all of their
ideals but seeing them in all of their
ideals but seeing them in all of their humanity and as I love to use our
humanity and as I love to use our
humanity and as I love to use our definition of love our cities to
definition of love our cities to
definition of love our cities to demonstrate civility because I think
demonstrate civility because I think
demonstrate civility because I think it’s packed with some some interesting
it’s packed with some some interesting
it’s packed with some some interesting nuggets and I’ll start with love if I’m
nuggets and I’ll start with love if I’m
nuggets and I’ll start with love if I’m going to use a definition of the word
going to use a definition of the word
going to use a definition of the word love I’ll use a psychology term or
love I’ll use a psychology term or
love I’ll use a psychology term or definition that states that love is a
definition that states that love is a
definition that states that love is a sacrifice of oneself for the spiritual
sacrifice of oneself for the spiritual
sacrifice of oneself for the spiritual growth of another to sacrifice of one’s
growth of another to sacrifice of one’s
growth of another to sacrifice of one’s self for the growth of another which
self for the growth of another which
self for the growth of another which means at the end of the day that love
means at the end of the day that love
means at the end of the day that love has a cost whether it’s emotional
has a cost whether it’s emotional
has a cost whether it’s emotional physical spiritual whether that’s time
physical spiritual whether that’s time
physical spiritual whether that’s time or money there’s something that we
or money there’s something that we
or money there’s something that we actually have to invest in someone else
actually have to invest in someone else
actually have to invest in someone else if we’re really truly gonna love them
if we’re really truly gonna love them
if we’re really truly gonna love them we see this in marriages with children
we see this in marriages with children
we see this in marriages with children with friends and then we look at the
with friends and then we look at the
with friends and then we look at the word cities and sometimes when we think
word cities and sometimes when we think
word cities and sometimes when we think of cities we think of roads parks
of cities we think of roads parks
of cities we think of roads parks monuments bridges sports teams but if
monuments bridges sports teams but if
monuments bridges sports teams but if you really go back and look at the root
you really go back and look at the root
you really go back and look at the root word of cities of the Latin word means
word of cities of the Latin word means
word of cities of the Latin word means citizens so when we talk about loving
citizens so when we talk about loving
citizens so when we talk about loving our cities we’re not talking about
our cities we’re not talking about
our cities we’re not talking about loving a place but a people and so in
loving a place but a people and so in
loving a place but a people and so in that if we’re gonna change the narrative
that if we’re gonna change the narrative
that if we’re gonna change the narrative of our cities we have to ask the
of our cities we have to ask the
of our cities we have to ask the question do others know that we care
question do others know that we care
question do others know that we care really the first question we have to ask
really the first question we have to ask
really the first question we have to ask is do we care right assuming that that’s
is do we care right assuming that that’s
is do we care right assuming that that’s a good response though then then it
a good response though then then it
a good response though then then it really becomes do others know that we
really becomes do others know that we
really becomes do others know that we care and can we demonstrate civility
care and can we demonstrate civility
care and can we demonstrate civility the second thing that we need to have is
the second thing that we need to have is
the second thing that we need to have is a need for humility now a couple years
a need for humility now a couple years
a need for humility now a couple years ago a friend of mine invited me to a
ago a friend of mine invited me to a
ago a friend of mine invited me to a meeting I had faith-based leaders with
meeting I had faith-based leaders with
meeting I had faith-based leaders with city government and I promise you was
city government and I promise you was
city government and I promise you was not Modesto somewhere else promise you
not Modesto somewhere else promise you
not Modesto somewhere else promise you and so we walk into this meeting and it
and so we walk into this meeting and it
and so we walk into this meeting and it was all about homelessness and the city
was all about homelessness and the city
was all about homelessness and the city basically the conversation started like
basically the conversation started like
basically the conversation started like this faith-based sector we love the fact
this faith-based sector we love the fact
this faith-based sector we love the fact that you have a heart to help the
that you have a heart to help the
that you have a heart to help the homeless and that you come into town and
homeless and that you come into town and
homeless and that you come into town and you provide these services and you feed
you provide these services and you feed
you provide these services and you feed them and you do these things now you and
them and you do these things now you and
them and you do these things now you and I all know when someone leads in like
I all know when someone leads in like
I all know when someone leads in like that right the Hammers about to drop
that right the Hammers about to drop
that right the Hammers about to drop right it’s like this is the yeah but
right it’s like this is the yeah but
right it’s like this is the yeah but conversation right and they say however
conversation right and they say however
conversation right and they say however we need you to stop and we need you to
we need you to stop and we need you to
we need you to stop and we need you to stop because what you’re actually doing
stop because what you’re actually doing
stop because what you’re actually doing is undercutting all the services that
is undercutting all the services that
is undercutting all the services that we’re trying to provide and working with
we’re trying to provide and working with
we’re trying to provide and working with other nonprofits in the community and in
other nonprofits in the community and in
other nonprofits in the community and in this part and to be honest to say I’m
this part and to be honest to say I’m
this part and to be honest to say I’m not sure if they were joking or telling
not sure if they were joking or telling
not sure if they were joking or telling the truth but literally in this meeting
the truth but literally in this meeting
the truth but literally in this meeting they say you’re actually creating a
they say you’re actually creating a
they say you’re actually creating a second problem for us just homeless
second problem for us just homeless
second problem for us just homeless obesity
and so but the point is is is that
and so but the point is is is that sometimes sometimes I think we look at
sometimes sometimes I think we look at
sometimes sometimes I think we look at an issue and it’s really easy to have
an issue and it’s really easy to have
an issue and it’s really easy to have this 30,000 foot view of the problem
this 30,000 foot view of the problem
this 30,000 foot view of the problem right we look at something like
right we look at something like
right we look at something like homelessness and we say black and white
homelessness and we say black and white
homelessness and we say black and white issue homeless people must be hungry we
issue homeless people must be hungry we
issue homeless people must be hungry we have food we have people that’s rally
have food we have people that’s rally
have food we have people that’s rally the troops let’s go to go downtown let’s
the troops let’s go to go downtown let’s
the troops let’s go to go downtown let’s feed them everybody wins but yet we see
feed them everybody wins but yet we see
feed them everybody wins but yet we see time and time again and I think we all
time and time again and I think we all
time and time again and I think we all know this inherently that when you
know this inherently that when you
know this inherently that when you actually get on the frontlines when you
actually get on the frontlines when you
actually get on the frontlines when you actually get up close to what’s going on
actually get up close to what’s going on
actually get up close to what’s going on issues are never black and white
issues are never black and white
issues are never black and white they’re always shades of grey that
they’re always shades of grey that
they’re always shades of grey that solutions are complicated for excuse me
solutions are complicated for excuse me
solutions are complicated for excuse me problems are complicated solutions need
problems are complicated solutions need
problems are complicated solutions need to be holistic and oftentimes when we
to be holistic and oftentimes when we
to be holistic and oftentimes when we see a problem and this happens in
see a problem and this happens in
see a problem and this happens in Modesto too is we’ll see ten groups all
Modesto too is we’ll see ten groups all
Modesto too is we’ll see ten groups all addressing the same issue on islands
addressing the same issue on islands
addressing the same issue on islands separated from each other not talking
separated from each other not talking
separated from each other not talking and what I would suggest with with this
and what I would suggest with with this
and what I would suggest with with this idea of a need for humilities instead of
idea of a need for humilities instead of
idea of a need for humilities instead of doing that why don’t we start looking
doing that why don’t we start looking
doing that why don’t we start looking around the people in our community and
around the people in our community and
around the people in our community and saying hey who’s already working on the
saying hey who’s already working on the
saying hey who’s already working on the frontlines
frontlines
frontlines who’s doing the hard work day in and day
who’s doing the hard work day in and day
who’s doing the hard work day in and day out that have invested their whole life
out that have invested their whole life
out that have invested their whole life doing this and then ask them my favorite
doing this and then ask them my favorite
doing this and then ask them my favorite question in the job that I do how can we
question in the job that I do how can we
question in the job that I do how can we help no strings attached because if you
help no strings attached because if you
help no strings attached because if you go and you do that to someone who’s
go and you do that to someone who’s
go and you do that to someone who’s literally too invested their whole life
literally too invested their whole life
literally too invested their whole life meeting the needs of your community and
meeting the needs of your community and
meeting the needs of your community and they give you a request and you actually
they give you a request and you actually
they give you a request and you actually fulfill that nothing puts wind in their
fulfill that nothing puts wind in their
fulfill that nothing puts wind in their sails more so we need to have a need for
sails more so we need to have a need for
sails more so we need to have a need for you have a need for humility if we’re
you have a need for humility if we’re
you have a need for humility if we’re going to change the narrative of our
going to change the narrative of our
going to change the narrative of our communities and recognize that we don’t
communities and recognize that we don’t
communities and recognize that we don’t always have all the answers but that we
always have all the answers but that we
always have all the answers but that we can look for people who do and let’s as
can look for people who do and let’s as
can look for people who do and let’s as best as we can because that will change
best as we can because that will change
best as we can because that will change the narrative our narrative of our
the narrative our narrative of our
the narrative our narrative of our cities the third thing that we need to
cities the third thing that we need to
cities the third thing that we need to have is we need to discover commonality
have is we need to discover commonality
have is we need to discover commonality and by commonality what I mean is we
and by commonality what I mean is we
and by commonality what I mean is we shouldn’t look at people for about what
shouldn’t look at people for about what
shouldn’t look at people for about what they’re against but we need to look at
they’re against but we need to look at
they’re against but we need to look at them about what they’re for which means
them about what they’re for which means
them about what they’re for which means that I can look at someone and recognize
that I can look at someone and recognize
that I can look at someone and recognize I’m not going to agree with you on
I’m not going to agree with you on
I’m not going to agree with you on everything right I don’t agree with my
everything right I don’t agree with my
everything right I don’t agree with my spouse on everything
spouse on everything
spouse on everything right I’m not gonna agree with you on
right I’m not gonna agree with you on
right I’m not gonna agree with you on everything but the question becomes what
everything but the question becomes what
everything but the question becomes what do we agree on right I might not agree
do we agree on right I might not agree
do we agree on right I might not agree with you politically but I can recognize
with you politically but I can recognize
with you politically but I can recognize that that our city has issues that we
that that our city has issues that we
that that our city has issues that we can agree need to be addressed
can agree need to be addressed
can agree need to be addressed I can I can recognize that we’re not
I can I can recognize that we’re not
I can I can recognize that we’re not always going to agree religiously but
always going to agree religiously but
always going to agree religiously but that we’re going to be able to say hey
that we’re going to be able to say hey
that we’re going to be able to say hey you know what we’re better working
you know what we’re better working
you know what we’re better working together and the sum is better than the
together and the sum is better than the
together and the sum is better than the individual parts and that the issues of
individual parts and that the issues of
individual parts and that the issues of our city need to be addressed and when
our city need to be addressed and when
our city need to be addressed and when you practice civility humility and
you practice civility humility and
you practice civility humility and commonality I can tell you countless
commonality I can tell you countless
commonality I can tell you countless stories we don’t have time tonight of
stories we don’t have time tonight of
stories we don’t have time tonight of cities who have addressed homelessness
cities who have addressed homelessness
cities who have addressed homelessness gang violence teen suicide housing
gang violence teen suicide housing
gang violence teen suicide housing across the board now some of you might
across the board now some of you might
across the board now some of you might be sitting here saying okay Eric I get
be sitting here saying okay Eric I get
be sitting here saying okay Eric I get it that sounds great awesome what about
it that sounds great awesome what about
it that sounds great awesome what about me
me
me right because let’s be honest this seems
right because let’s be honest this seems
right because let’s be honest this seems really nebulous how do I change the
really nebulous how do I change the
really nebulous how do I change the narrative you might even just look at
narrative you might even just look at
narrative you might even just look at Modesto and say how do I even do
Modesto and say how do I even do
Modesto and say how do I even do something in Modesto we live in a large
something in Modesto we live in a large
something in Modesto we live in a large cities over two hundred thousand people
cities over two hundred thousand people
cities over two hundred thousand people what can I do any idea I’d like to leave
what can I do any idea I’d like to leave
what can I do any idea I’d like to leave with you tonight as I believe there is
with you tonight as I believe there is
with you tonight as I believe there is one thing that we can all do
one thing that we can all do
one thing that we can all do independently and individually but if we
independently and individually but if we
independently and individually but if we all did this one thing I believe the
all did this one thing I believe the
all did this one thing I believe the narrative of our cities in our nation
narrative of our cities in our nation
narrative of our cities in our nation would change for the better instantly
would change for the better instantly
would change for the better instantly that’s a focus on just loving our
that’s a focus on just loving our
that’s a focus on just loving our neighbors it’s a very simple concept
neighbors it’s a very simple concept
neighbors it’s a very simple concept Sears a little bit of a pop quiz okay so
Sears a little bit of a pop quiz okay so
Sears a little bit of a pop quiz okay so that thing in the middle that’s your
that thing in the middle that’s your
that thing in the middle that’s your home okay the red box in the middle
home okay the red box in the middle
home okay the red box in the middle that’s you okay now now this box by the
that’s you okay now now this box by the
that’s you okay now now this box by the way was given to us by some friends in
way was given to us by some friends in
way was given to us by some friends in Denver a guy by name of Davy Runyon and
Denver a guy by name of Davy Runyon and
Denver a guy by name of Davy Runyon and and we’ve used it a lot around here so
and we’ve used it a lot around here so
and we’ve used it a lot around here so you might have seen this before so bear
you might have seen this before so bear
you might have seen this before so bear with me if you have but your house is
with me if you have but your house is
with me if you have but your house is the one in the middle okay so the eight
the one in the middle okay so the eight
the one in the middle okay so the eight boxes around that are your neighbors
boxes around that are your neighbors
boxes around that are your neighbors okay picture their homes you might live
okay picture their homes you might live
okay picture their homes you might live in a apartment court block whatever
in a apartment court block whatever
in a apartment court block whatever right you can envision that now here’s a
right you can envision that now here’s a
right you can envision that now here’s a million dollar question
million dollar question
million dollar question can you name all of them first and last
can you name all of them first and last
can you name all of them first and last name
now okay no hold on now I know you know
now okay no hold on now I know you know what car they drive I know you know what
what car they drive I know you know what
what car they drive I know you know what time they go to work I know you know
time they go to work I know you know
time they go to work I know you know what time they come home and how quickly
what time they come home and how quickly
what time they come home and how quickly they can get their door up dark or the
they can get their door up dark or the
they can get their door up dark or the car in the door door down without having
car in the door door down without having
car in the door door down without having to see anyone we know those things but
to see anyone we know those things but
to see anyone we know those things but do we know their first and last name
do we know their first and last name
do we know their first and last name thank you now and you’re not alone
thank you now and you’re not alone
thank you now and you’re not alone because here’s the thing this test
because here’s the thing this test
because here’s the thing this test informally has been given over 300,000
informally has been given over 300,000
informally has been given over 300,000 times and on average 95% of people can’t
times and on average 95% of people can’t
times and on average 95% of people can’t do that okay so here’s the question if
do that okay so here’s the question if
do that okay so here’s the question if we recognize that we’re unhappy with a
we recognize that we’re unhappy with a
we recognize that we’re unhappy with a narrative of our nation and that we at
narrative of our nation and that we at
narrative of our nation and that we at the end of the day are the narrator’s
the end of the day are the narrator’s
the end of the day are the narrator’s right how do we expect anything to
right how do we expect anything to
right how do we expect anything to change if we can’t provide civility
change if we can’t provide civility
change if we can’t provide civility humility and commonality to those who
humility and commonality to those who
humility and commonality to those who literally live closest to us it’s not
literally live closest to us it’s not
literally live closest to us it’s not gonna happen however I firmly believe
gonna happen however I firmly believe
gonna happen however I firmly believe that if we can learn to show humility
that if we can learn to show humility
that if we can learn to show humility civility and commonality to our
civility and commonality to our
civility and commonality to our neighbors to those who live around us
neighbors to those who live around us
neighbors to those who live around us our neighborhoods will improve our
our neighborhoods will improve our
our neighborhoods will improve our cities will strengthen and the narrative
cities will strengthen and the narrative
cities will strengthen and the narrative of our country will change for the
of our country will change for the
of our country will change for the better thank you
better thank you
better thank you [Applause]
”
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