hi everyone first I just want to say thank you all for coming out and sharing
thank you all for coming out and sharing
thank you all for coming out and sharing your Sunday with us it means a lot and
your Sunday with us it means a lot and
your Sunday with us it means a lot and we really appreciate it
we really appreciate it
we really appreciate it so we know that being involved in your
so we know that being involved in your
so we know that being involved in your community is pretty important and it can
community is pretty important and it can
community is pretty important and it can have a significant impact in the world
have a significant impact in the world
have a significant impact in the world around you we know that small businesses
around you we know that small businesses
around you we know that small businesses help to support economic growth and we
help to support economic growth and we
help to support economic growth and we know that including adults into youth
know that including adults into youth
know that including adults into youth programs helps to have better adolescent
programs helps to have better adolescent
programs helps to have better adolescent outcomes and we know that incorporating
outcomes and we know that incorporating
outcomes and we know that incorporating accessible Fitness leads to better so
accessible Fitness leads to better so
accessible Fitness leads to better so I’m sorry more access to physical
I’m sorry more access to physical
I’m sorry more access to physical activity promotes physical activity and
activity promotes physical activity and
activity promotes physical activity and leads to healthier lifestyles but what I
leads to healthier lifestyles but what I
leads to healthier lifestyles but what I think we often forget when we talk about
think we often forget when we talk about
think we often forget when we talk about being involved in in a community is the
being involved in in a community is the
being involved in in a community is the are the experiences of the individual
are the experiences of the individual
are the experiences of the individual person and that make up the group in the
person and that make up the group in the
person and that make up the group in the community so what I want to talk about
community so what I want to talk about
community so what I want to talk about today are some of my individual
today are some of my individual
today are some of my individual experiences and how I kind of use some
experiences and how I kind of use some
experiences and how I kind of use some of those to get involved in the
of those to get involved in the
of those to get involved in the community that I live in so as I thought
community that I live in so as I thought
community that I live in so as I thought about what I wanted to talk about today
about what I wanted to talk about today
about what I wanted to talk about today I was pretty uncomfortable sometimes
I was pretty uncomfortable sometimes
I was pretty uncomfortable sometimes doing an event like this can be a little
doing an event like this can be a little
doing an event like this can be a little nerve-racking because there’s lots of
nerve-racking because there’s lots of
nerve-racking because there’s lots of you and we want to make sure that our
you and we want to make sure that our
you and we want to make sure that our voices are heard and heard well but as I
voices are heard and heard well but as I
voices are heard and heard well but as I thought about when I wanted to talk
thought about when I wanted to talk
thought about when I wanted to talk about today it kept returning to this
about today it kept returning to this
about today it kept returning to this one idea and I didn’t want this to be
one idea and I didn’t want this to be
one idea and I didn’t want this to be one talk about one thing and I kept
one talk about one thing and I kept
one talk about one thing and I kept meeting roadblock after roadblock after
meeting roadblock after roadblock after
meeting roadblock after roadblock after roadblock and I realized I just needed
roadblock and I realized I just needed
roadblock and I realized I just needed to call it what it was I needed to tell
to call it what it was I needed to tell
to call it what it was I needed to tell myself and be okay with the fact that
myself and be okay with the fact that
myself and be okay with the fact that this is a talk about race and this is
this is a talk about race and this is
this is a talk about race and this is going to be a talk about how the issues
going to be a talk about how the issues
going to be a talk about how the issues that we have in America impede
that we have in America impede
that we have in America impede individuals ability to get involved with
individuals ability to get involved with
individuals ability to get involved with their own community and I understand
their own community and I understand
their own community and I understand there’s a lot of angst about this topic
there’s a lot of angst about this topic
there’s a lot of angst about this topic it’s pretty uncomfortable to talk about
it’s pretty uncomfortable to talk about
it’s pretty uncomfortable to talk about it was uncomfortable for me to think
it was uncomfortable for me to think
it was uncomfortable for me to think about
about
about because I grew up in the world where
because I grew up in the world where
because I grew up in the world where this really didn’t matter but I’m shown
this really didn’t matter but I’m shown
this really didn’t matter but I’m shown day after day that it still continues to
day after day that it still continues to
day after day that it still continues to matter and but I know that even if this
matter and but I know that even if this
matter and but I know that even if this issue doesn’t affect you guys the same
issue doesn’t affect you guys the same
issue doesn’t affect you guys the same way that it affects me maybe this isn’t
way that it affects me maybe this isn’t
way that it affects me maybe this isn’t a cause that you have to champion
a cause that you have to champion
a cause that you have to champion because it is too painful or it’s pretty
because it is too painful or it’s pretty
because it is too painful or it’s pretty uncomfortable but I hope that you’ll
uncomfortable but I hope that you’ll
uncomfortable but I hope that you’ll find what I have to say helpful in your
find what I have to say helpful in your
find what I have to say helpful in your own face-to-face confrontation and the
own face-to-face confrontation and the
own face-to-face confrontation and the adversity that you faced in your life
adversity that you faced in your life
adversity that you faced in your life because we’ve all had our own so a
because we’ve all had our own so a
because we’ve all had our own so a couple of weeks ago I was traveling and
couple of weeks ago I was traveling and
couple of weeks ago I was traveling and when I got off the plane I my phone was
when I got off the plane I my phone was
when I got off the plane I my phone was like blowing up with notifications and I
like blowing up with notifications and I
like blowing up with notifications and I wasn’t quite sure what this you know you
wasn’t quite sure what this you know you
wasn’t quite sure what this you know you kind of think you know these people are
kind of think you know these people are
kind of think you know these people are texting me I just got off of a flight
texting me I just got off of a flight
texting me I just got off of a flight and everyone wants to see how it was it
and everyone wants to see how it was it
and everyone wants to see how it was it was mostly news notifications and this
was mostly news notifications and this
was mostly news notifications and this was unfortunately about the event that
was unfortunately about the event that
was unfortunately about the event that occurred in Charlottesville and as I let
occurred in Charlottesville and as I let
occurred in Charlottesville and as I let it sink in and as I settled where I was
it sink in and as I settled where I was
it sink in and as I settled where I was going
going
going it kind of really hit me that when some
it kind of really hit me that when some
it kind of really hit me that when some of a man drove his car into a crowd of
of a man drove his car into a crowd of
of a man drove his car into a crowd of people who were protesting peacefully
people who were protesting peacefully
people who were protesting peacefully the mistreatment of of other people in
the mistreatment of of other people in
the mistreatment of of other people in their community that was really hard to
their community that was really hard to
their community that was really hard to let sink in and so as I thought about it
let sink in and so as I thought about it
let sink in and so as I thought about it I thought about how my life was affected
I thought about how my life was affected
I thought about how my life was affected by this and how the life of the people
by this and how the life of the people
by this and how the life of the people in my family is affected by this but
in my family is affected by this but
in my family is affected by this but also how my community is affected by
also how my community is affected by
also how my community is affected by this and even though we know it’s pretty
this and even though we know it’s pretty
this and even though we know it’s pretty difficult to talk about I do know that
difficult to talk about I do know that
difficult to talk about I do know that for me when certain events like this
for me when certain events like this
for me when certain events like this occur I start to think about what I can
occur I start to think about what I can
occur I start to think about what I can do to steward change and so I have these
do to steward change and so I have these
do to steward change and so I have these ideas of you know just like setting up
ideas of you know just like setting up
ideas of you know just like setting up these plans of action of how I’m gonna
these plans of action of how I’m gonna
these plans of action of how I’m gonna shift and change the world around me and
shift and change the world around me and
shift and change the world around me and by the end of these thoughts I have a
by the end of these thoughts I have a
by the end of these thoughts I have a whole plan of world peace you know and
whole plan of world peace you know and
whole plan of world peace you know and then
then
then I come back to reality and it’s like
I come back to reality and it’s like
I come back to reality and it’s like wait here we are we’re still in this
wait here we are we’re still in this
wait here we are we’re still in this place and it’s really painful to be in
place and it’s really painful to be in
place and it’s really painful to be in this place and react so I started to
this place and react so I started to
this place and react so I started to think about how do I create a world
think about how do I create a world
think about how do I create a world where the generations after me and our
where the generations after me and our
where the generations after me and our current generation can create a culture
current generation can create a culture
current generation can create a culture that responds with compassion respects
that responds with compassion respects
that responds with compassion respects diversity and honors individuality and
diversity and honors individuality and
diversity and honors individuality and so I started to think about this and as
so I started to think about this and as
so I started to think about this and as I thought you know I still had some more
I thought you know I still had some more
I thought you know I still had some more of those thoughts you know like I’m
of those thoughts you know like I’m
of those thoughts you know like I’m gonna finish this thought and have a
gonna finish this thought and have a
gonna finish this thought and have a whole plan of how I can change
whole plan of how I can change
whole plan of how I can change everything and then it really hit me I
everything and then it really hit me I
everything and then it really hit me I wasn’t quite comfortable with myself and
wasn’t quite comfortable with myself and
wasn’t quite comfortable with myself and I couldn’t really move out of this place
I couldn’t really move out of this place
I couldn’t really move out of this place because I wasn’t comfortable with who I
because I wasn’t comfortable with who I
because I wasn’t comfortable with who I was because I have been held back a lot
was because I have been held back a lot
was because I have been held back a lot by plenty of adversities which life is
by plenty of adversities which life is
by plenty of adversities which life is about overcoming them but also because
about overcoming them but also because
about overcoming them but also because we live in a world in a culture that
we live in a world in a culture that
we live in a world in a culture that does not allow us to connect with one
does not allow us to connect with one
does not allow us to connect with one another because of the barriers that we
another because of the barriers that we
another because of the barriers that we allow to socially and culturally
allow to socially and culturally
allow to socially and culturally influenced our lives so my mother is
influenced our lives so my mother is
influenced our lives so my mother is Puerto Rican my dad is black and white
Puerto Rican my dad is black and white
Puerto Rican my dad is black and white and my whole life growing up I remember
and my whole life growing up I remember
and my whole life growing up I remember filling out standardized forms and
filling out standardized forms and
filling out standardized forms and having to choose one race and that was
having to choose one race and that was
having to choose one race and that was really hard for me because I grew up
really hard for me because I grew up
really hard for me because I grew up where it was okay to be three different
where it was okay to be three different
where it was okay to be three different races and it was okay to express
races and it was okay to express
races and it was okay to express yourself in three different ways but on
yourself in three different ways but on
yourself in three different ways but on paper I had to choose one and I was
paper I had to choose one and I was
paper I had to choose one and I was never really capable of doing that
never really capable of doing that
never really capable of doing that because it’s not who I am and I often
because it’s not who I am and I often
because it’s not who I am and I often wonder did other kids have to do this
wonder did other kids have to do this
wonder did other kids have to do this were they just as frustrated as I was
were they just as frustrated as I was
were they just as frustrated as I was did they come home and tell their moms
did they come home and tell their moms
did they come home and tell their moms that they had to do this and they didn’t
that they had to do this and they didn’t
that they had to do this and they didn’t know what to do and I kind of still
know what to do and I kind of still
know what to do and I kind of still faced some of those assumptions as an
faced some of those assumptions as an
faced some of those assumptions as an adult today if my hair my hair is really
adult today if my hair my hair is really
adult today if my hair my hair is really curly naturally and so I’ll hear if when
curly naturally and so I’ll hear if when
curly naturally and so I’ll hear if when my hair is really curly oh my goodness
my hair is really curly oh my goodness
my hair is really curly oh my goodness you really are part black or if I’m
you really are part black or if I’m
you really are part black or if I’m wearing hoop earrings
wearing hoop earrings
wearing hoop earrings you do look Porto Rican today or then
you do look Porto Rican today or then
you do look Porto Rican today or then when I speak you sound really white as
when I speak you sound really white as
when I speak you sound really white as if somehow we’ve learned
if somehow we’ve learned
if somehow we’ve learned to attribute these characteristics to
to attribute these characteristics to
to attribute these characteristics to someone’s sole identity and this is an
someone’s sole identity and this is an
someone’s sole identity and this is an uncomfortable conversation it’s an
uncomfortable conversation it’s an
uncomfortable conversation it’s an uncomfortable talk but what makes me
uncomfortable talk but what makes me
uncomfortable talk but what makes me even more uncomfortable is that this is
even more uncomfortable is that this is
even more uncomfortable is that this is 2017 and just two weeks ago I was asked
2017 and just two weeks ago I was asked
2017 and just two weeks ago I was asked what my ethnic background was before I
what my ethnic background was before I
what my ethnic background was before I was asked my name and I answered the
was asked my name and I answered the
was asked my name and I answered the question with a smile because I’m used
question with a smile because I’m used
question with a smile because I’m used to answering the question as if it’s
to answering the question as if it’s
to answering the question as if it’s just as important as the name my parents
just as important as the name my parents
just as important as the name my parents gave me when I was born and so going
gave me when I was born and so going
gave me when I was born and so going back to thinking about some of these
back to thinking about some of these
back to thinking about some of these things I consider the generations that
things I consider the generations that
things I consider the generations that come after us there is no child in my
come after us there is no child in my
come after us there is no child in my family that’s ever going to be one race
family that’s ever going to be one race
family that’s ever going to be one race so this is really important to me and
so this is really important to me and
so this is really important to me and the Pew Research Center did a study well
the Pew Research Center did a study well
the Pew Research Center did a study well not really a study they just collected
not really a study they just collected
not really a study they just collected some demographic information and they
some demographic information and they
some demographic information and they realized they found that about seven
realized they found that about seven
realized they found that about seven percent of adults identify as being
percent of adults identify as being
percent of adults identify as being multiracial the percentage of children
multiracial the percentage of children
multiracial the percentage of children multiracial children has grown from 8%
multiracial children has grown from 8%
multiracial children has grown from 8% since the 1970s and then even more
since the 1970s and then even more
since the 1970s and then even more importantly the amount of multiracial
importantly the amount of multiracial
importantly the amount of multiracial children or I’m sorry the amount of
children or I’m sorry the amount of
children or I’m sorry the amount of multiracial Americans under 18 is about
multiracial Americans under 18 is about
multiracial Americans under 18 is about 46% so children under 18 make up about
46% so children under 18 make up about
46% so children under 18 make up about 46% of the multiracial people group in
46% of the multiracial people group in
46% of the multiracial people group in our country and so for me this is really
our country and so for me this is really
our country and so for me this is really important that we work hard to create a
important that we work hard to create a
important that we work hard to create a world in a culture that kind of fosters
world in a culture that kind of fosters
world in a culture that kind of fosters some of these aspects of individuality
some of these aspects of individuality
some of these aspects of individuality and acceptance because without doing
and acceptance because without doing
and acceptance because without doing that we really hinder everyone’s
that we really hinder everyone’s
that we really hinder everyone’s individual ability to be involved and to
individual ability to be involved and to
individual ability to be involved and to make movements to change their own
make movements to change their own
make movements to change their own community and so I’m not really here to
community and so I’m not really here to
community and so I’m not really here to tell you what to do or tell you what to
tell you what to do or tell you what to
tell you what to do or tell you what to think but I hope that some of these
think but I hope that some of these
think but I hope that some of these things the way that I’ve handled this
things the way that I’ve handled this
things the way that I’ve handled this can help you confront some of the
can help you confront some of the
can help you confront some of the adversity that you’ve faced so one of
adversity that you’ve faced so one of
adversity that you’ve faced so one of the ways that I really do this is I dig
the ways that I really do this is I dig
the ways that I really do this is I dig deep into some of these issues so if I
deep into some of these issues so if I
deep into some of these issues so if I find that I really want you know I’m in
find that I really want you know I’m in
find that I really want you know I’m in my head I’m thinking of this world peace
my head I’m thinking of this world peace
my head I’m thinking of this world peace cure that I can have for why we
cure that I can have for why we
cure that I can have for why we really except everyone and when I
really except everyone and when I
really except everyone and when I realized that I had a hard time doing
realized that I had a hard time doing
realized that I had a hard time doing this because I couldn’t accept my own
this because I couldn’t accept my own
this because I couldn’t accept my own self or I had a hard time with the
self or I had a hard time with the
self or I had a hard time with the expectations for myself I took a step
expectations for myself I took a step
expectations for myself I took a step back and I think that’s the best thing
back and I think that’s the best thing
back and I think that’s the best thing that we can really do is take a step
that we can really do is take a step
that we can really do is take a step back and understand why is this
back and understand why is this
back and understand why is this bothering you and why is it painful
bothering you and why is it painful
bothering you and why is it painful usually if something’s pretty painful
usually if something’s pretty painful
usually if something’s pretty painful that’s where you really need to start I
that’s where you really need to start I
that’s where you really need to start I found and you begin to navigate your
found and you begin to navigate your
found and you begin to navigate your story and navigate the story of other
story and navigate the story of other
story and navigate the story of other peoples with empathy and looking in and
peoples with empathy and looking in and
peoples with empathy and looking in and with that you’re able to tell your story
with that you’re able to tell your story
with that you’re able to tell your story in a different way so you’re able to
in a different way so you’re able to
in a different way so you’re able to tell these stories of adversity that
tell these stories of adversity that
tell these stories of adversity that you’ve faced in a different way so
you’ve faced in a different way so
you’ve faced in a different way so instead of allowing this to be a story
instead of allowing this to be a story
instead of allowing this to be a story of disaster where I walk down the street
of disaster where I walk down the street
of disaster where I walk down the street and all people care about is what my
and all people care about is what my
and all people care about is what my ethnic background is I don’t believe
ethnic background is I don’t believe
ethnic background is I don’t believe that I think in context you people
that I think in context you people
that I think in context you people usually have a pretty good intention but
usually have a pretty good intention but
usually have a pretty good intention but I do know that I could choose to tell
I do know that I could choose to tell
I do know that I could choose to tell this story in two ways one that is a
this story in two ways one that is a
this story in two ways one that is a complete disaster and another that
complete disaster and another that
complete disaster and another that creates an absolute masterpiece and it’s
creates an absolute masterpiece and it’s
creates an absolute masterpiece and it’s all in the story that you choose to tell
all in the story that you choose to tell
all in the story that you choose to tell we all have some pretty defining moments
we all have some pretty defining moments
we all have some pretty defining moments of adversity and I think the best way to
of adversity and I think the best way to
of adversity and I think the best way to get through these are to build pretty
get through these are to build pretty
get through these are to build pretty positive relationships with people so I
positive relationships with people so I
positive relationships with people so I make it a point to develop and foster
make it a point to develop and foster
make it a point to develop and foster important relationships in my life with
important relationships in my life with
important relationships in my life with my family with the people that I work
my family with the people that I work
my family with the people that I work with and in in plenty of areas so I
with and in in plenty of areas so I
with and in in plenty of areas so I encourage you guys if to face your
encourage you guys if to face your
encourage you guys if to face your adversity through that way and then
adversity through that way and then
adversity through that way and then secondly I encourage you to get involved
secondly I encourage you to get involved
secondly I encourage you to get involved you don’t have to really be at a certain
you don’t have to really be at a certain
you don’t have to really be at a certain place in your life or be in a certain
place in your life or be in a certain
place in your life or be in a certain state or really you know because I still
state or really you know because I still
state or really you know because I still struggle with some of these boxes that I
struggle with some of these boxes that I
struggle with some of these boxes that I meant to fit in and I think I might for
meant to fit in and I think I might for
meant to fit in and I think I might for the rest of my life it might just meet
the rest of my life it might just meet
the rest of my life it might just meet me at different levels and that’s okay
me at different levels and that’s okay
me at different levels and that’s okay I’m up for the challenge but I think
I’m up for the challenge but I think
I’m up for the challenge but I think that one of the most important things we
that one of the most important things we
that one of the most important things we can do is to still while we’re working
can do is to still while we’re working
can do is to still while we’re working in that use use some of these aspects as
in that use use some of these aspects as
in that use use some of these aspects as muscle to build into what we’re doing in
muscle to build into what we’re doing in
muscle to build into what we’re doing in our lives and when
our lives and when
our lives and when with people so I really have the
with people so I really have the
with people so I really have the privilege of being able to do that in
privilege of being able to do that in
privilege of being able to do that in the area by working with Ashley who’s
the area by working with Ashley who’s
the area by working with Ashley who’s here who runs a fitness company and we
here who runs a fitness company and we
here who runs a fitness company and we work to promote exercise and physical
work to promote exercise and physical
work to promote exercise and physical activity and have accessible fitness
activity and have accessible fitness
activity and have accessible fitness programs for the community and whatever
programs for the community and whatever
programs for the community and whatever that you choose to do whatever way that
that you choose to do whatever way that
that you choose to do whatever way that this fits in your life whatever
this fits in your life whatever
this fits in your life whatever adversities you have faced I hope that
adversities you have faced I hope that
adversities you have faced I hope that you’re able to turn them around and use
you’re able to turn them around and use
you’re able to turn them around and use them as a story that builds to create a
them as a story that builds to create a
them as a story that builds to create a positive community and a positive
positive community and a positive
positive community and a positive culture that not only embraces your
culture that not only embraces your
culture that not only embraces your adversity but also the questioning and
adversity but also the questioning and
adversity but also the questioning and experiences of other people so that you
experiences of other people so that you
experiences of other people so that you can do what you can with what you have
can do what you can with what you have
can do what you can with what you have where you are thank you
”
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