okay you know I mean like you really can swim raise hands okay that’s definitely
swim raise hands okay that’s definitely
swim raise hands okay that’s definitely not my reality but let me paint the
not my reality but let me paint the
not my reality but let me paint the scene on one side you had all of the
scene on one side you had all of the
scene on one side you had all of the swimmers they had their wristbands they
swimmers they had their wristbands they
swimmers they had their wristbands they were jumping and diving inside of the
were jumping and diving inside of the
were jumping and diving inside of the water basketball court was over here
water basketball court was over here
water basketball court was over here having a great time this particular day
having a great time this particular day
having a great time this particular day as I went swimming with my cousin I’m
as I went swimming with my cousin I’m
as I went swimming with my cousin I’m here in the shallow end with the non
here in the shallow end with the non
here in the shallow end with the non swimmers they tried to give me this
swimmers they tried to give me this
swimmers they tried to give me this floaty device but I felt like I was a
floaty device but I felt like I was a
floaty device but I felt like I was a little too cool for that so you know I
little too cool for that so you know I
little too cool for that so you know I said I got this as time went on I found
said I got this as time went on I found
said I got this as time went on I found myself starting to get a little more
myself starting to get a little more
myself starting to get a little more confident a little more comfortable I’m
confident a little more comfortable I’m
confident a little more comfortable I’m like swim walking you know I said
like swim walking you know I said
like swim walking you know I said something happened worse somehow I lost
something happened worse somehow I lost
something happened worse somehow I lost track of where I was the water started
track of where I was the water started
track of where I was the water started to become really really really tall and
to become really really really tall and
to become really really really tall and I started to panic and the words that I
I started to panic and the words that I
I started to panic and the words that I panicked I started to sink and I find
panicked I started to sink and I find
panicked I started to sink and I find myself screaming for help but they
myself screaming for help but they
myself screaming for help but they jumping in the water diving playing
jumping in the water diving playing
jumping in the water diving playing basketball over here over here that with
basketball over here over here that with
basketball over here over here that with the little floaty devices and the
the little floaty devices and the
the little floaty devices and the singing of this no one can see me or
singing of this no one can see me or
singing of this no one can see me or hear me and there’s no lifeguard on duty
hear me and there’s no lifeguard on duty
hear me and there’s no lifeguard on duty screaming for help
screaming for help
screaming for help my cousin he ends up seeing me and he
my cousin he ends up seeing me and he
my cousin he ends up seeing me and he makes a very big sacrifice and he jumps
makes a very big sacrifice and he jumps
makes a very big sacrifice and he jumps in the water and he saves my life he’s
in the water and he saves my life he’s
in the water and he saves my life he’s hot
hot
hot I mean he was like fully dressed French
I mean he was like fully dressed French
I mean he was like fully dressed French shoes pager on his uh his waist watch on
shoes pager on his uh his waist watch on
shoes pager on his uh his waist watch on his wrist but I think he made the right
his wrist but I think he made the right
his wrist but I think he made the right decision and jump in in save my life in
decision and jump in in save my life in
decision and jump in in save my life in our communities there are young people
our communities there are young people
our communities there are young people who
who
who found themselves in situations where all
found themselves in situations where all
found themselves in situations where all hail has started to break loose what
hail has started to break loose what
hail has started to break loose what used to be safe isn’t safe anymore and
used to be safe isn’t safe anymore and
used to be safe isn’t safe anymore and sometimes the water of life can seem so
sometimes the water of life can seem so
sometimes the water of life can seem so much that they find themselves in a
much that they find themselves in a
much that they find themselves in a situation where they’re drowning and
situation where they’re drowning and
situation where they’re drowning and they’re silently screaming but it seems
they’re silently screaming but it seems
they’re silently screaming but it seems as if no one can hear them see them or
as if no one can hear them see them or
as if no one can hear them see them or sometimes even care
repeat after me say where are the
repeat after me say where are the lifeguards fast for elementary school I
lifeguards fast for elementary school I
lifeguards fast for elementary school I was a terror you know Mom just got laid
was a terror you know Mom just got laid
was a terror you know Mom just got laid off so we had to wear pay less for a
off so we had to wear pay less for a
off so we had to wear pay less for a little bit I have a list and a little
little bit I have a list and a little
little bit I have a list and a little socially introverted so to get in
socially introverted so to get in
socially introverted so to get in trouble was my way to fit in got kicked
trouble was my way to fit in got kicked
trouble was my way to fit in got kicked out of one school gave another teacher a
out of one school gave another teacher a
out of one school gave another teacher a nervous breakdown
nervous breakdown
nervous breakdown then fourth grade Miss Kono’s class she
then fourth grade Miss Kono’s class she
then fourth grade Miss Kono’s class she gave us this writing assignment to
gave us this writing assignment to
gave us this writing assignment to create a story and share it with the
create a story and share it with the
create a story and share it with the class typically did my work so I did it
class typically did my work so I did it
class typically did my work so I did it and that’s when she realized that I had
and that’s when she realized that I had
and that’s when she realized that I had a gift for writing from then on instead
a gift for writing from then on instead
a gift for writing from then on instead of kicking me out of the class instead
of kicking me out of the class instead
of kicking me out of the class instead of sending me home so it forced me
of sending me home so it forced me
of sending me home so it forced me literally forced me to sit inside of the
literally forced me to sit inside of the
literally forced me to sit inside of the corner in the right stories and at the
corner in the right stories and at the
corner in the right stories and at the end I would have to share it to the
end I would have to share it to the
end I would have to share it to the class by the end of the school year I
class by the end of the school year I
class by the end of the school year I found myself begging her to write more
found myself begging her to write more
found myself begging her to write more and to share my stories with the rest of
and to share my stories with the rest of
and to share my stories with the rest of the class she ended up opening the doors
the class she ended up opening the doors
the class she ended up opening the doors that others would soon water that
that others would soon water that
that others would soon water that ingrained a statement that’s more than a
ingrained a statement that’s more than a
ingrained a statement that’s more than a cliche to me
cliche to me
cliche to me but it’s my reality that the arts saved
but it’s my reality that the arts saved
but it’s my reality that the arts saved my life Here I am typical young man
my life Here I am typical young man
my life Here I am typical young man single parent home amazing mother well
single parent home amazing mother well
single parent home amazing mother well friend system never met my dad I have
friend system never met my dad I have
friend system never met my dad I have this gift and I have this talent inside
this gift and I have this talent inside
this gift and I have this talent inside of me but I find myself afraid
of me but I find myself afraid
of me but I find myself afraid find myself insecure find myself going
find myself insecure find myself going
find myself insecure find myself going through certain moments of drowning and
through certain moments of drowning and
through certain moments of drowning and I needed something fast for 2007 21 year
I needed something fast for 2007 21 year
I needed something fast for 2007 21 year old teacher and out of all of the
old teacher and out of all of the
old teacher and out of all of the amazing students that I met along the
amazing students that I met along the
amazing students that I met along the journey one particular student comes to
journey one particular student comes to
journey one particular student comes to mind Kimberly I was introduced to her as
mind Kimberly I was introduced to her as
mind Kimberly I was introduced to her as a student who will wear all black she
a student who will wear all black she
a student who will wear all black she wasn’t eating and had cuts on our arms I
wasn’t eating and had cuts on our arms I
wasn’t eating and had cuts on our arms I really got to know her when hiding her
really got to know her when hiding her
really got to know her when hiding her in the auditorium from her abusive
in the auditorium from her abusive
in the auditorium from her abusive boyfriend because she refused to put out
boyfriend because she refused to put out
boyfriend because she refused to put out taking her home one day I met her mom
taking her home one day I met her mom
taking her home one day I met her mom because she pointed outside to her on
because she pointed outside to her on
because she pointed outside to her on the streets from there I learned her
the streets from there I learned her
the streets from there I learned her story of being a drug baby to group home
story of being a drug baby to group home
story of being a drug baby to group home to being adopted by her grandmother to
to being adopted by her grandmother to
to being adopted by her grandmother to her abusive boyfriend to being raped all
her abusive boyfriend to being raped all
her abusive boyfriend to being raped all before high school she had a gift she
before high school she had a gift she
before high school she had a gift she had a talent she took to the stage like
had a talent she took to the stage like
had a talent she took to the stage like fish to water
fish to water
fish to water and she didn’t perform to entertain but
and she didn’t perform to entertain but
and she didn’t perform to entertain but it was survival for her so here we are
it was survival for her so here we are
it was survival for her so here we are 2017 I ponder these questions in my mind
2017 I ponder these questions in my mind
2017 I ponder these questions in my mind as I think of all the businesses and
as I think of all the businesses and
as I think of all the businesses and corporations looking at the Millennials
corporations looking at the Millennials
corporations looking at the Millennials we’re studying how they would they eat
we’re studying how they would they eat
we’re studying how they would they eat we study how they dress we study what it
we study how they dress we study what it
we study how they dress we study what it is that they like and we’re building our
is that they like and we’re building our
is that they like and we’re building our brands on these young people but we’re
brands on these young people but we’re
brands on these young people but we’re not taking the time to notice that this
not taking the time to notice that this
not taking the time to notice that this fatherless generation is hurting in a
fatherless generation is hurting in a
fatherless generation is hurting in a time when our educational system is
time when our educational system is
time when our educational system is under attack when budgets are being
under attack when budgets are being
under attack when budgets are being ments when administrators teachers and
ments when administrators teachers and
ments when administrators teachers and programs are being eliminated to
programs are being eliminated to
programs are being eliminated to mitigate financial shortfalls thriving
mitigate financial shortfalls thriving
mitigate financial shortfalls thriving educational program that after-school
educational program that after-school
educational program that after-school programs barely exists these days and
programs barely exists these days and
programs barely exists these days and the ones that do typically cater to
the ones that do typically cater to
the ones that do typically cater to elementary and sometimes middle school
elementary and sometimes middle school
elementary and sometimes middle school but a lot of our high school and
but a lot of our high school and
but a lot of our high school and wandering young adults find themselves
wandering young adults find themselves
wandering young adults find themselves with no mentors no lifeguards
with no mentors no lifeguards
with no mentors no lifeguards after graduating from Morehouse College
after graduating from Morehouse College
after graduating from Morehouse College I made a commitment when I came back
I made a commitment when I came back
I made a commitment when I came back home that I would answer that call and
home that I would answer that call and
home that I would answer that call and be able to be sensitive enough to care
be able to be sensitive enough to care
be able to be sensitive enough to care but just like my teacher did just like
but just like my teacher did just like
but just like my teacher did just like my cousin when he jumped in the water to
my cousin when he jumped in the water to
my cousin when he jumped in the water to reach out and help with literally no
reach out and help with literally no
reach out and help with literally no money in my pocket I started a
money in my pocket I started a
money in my pocket I started a non-profit CBG arts our goal was to use
non-profit CBG arts our goal was to use
non-profit CBG arts our goal was to use the arts to change young people’s lives
the arts to change young people’s lives
the arts to change young people’s lives we stand on our commitment to use the
we stand on our commitment to use the
we stand on our commitment to use the arts to give them enriching and engaging
arts to give them enriching and engaging
arts to give them enriching and engaging experiences in the arts we believe that
experiences in the arts we believe that
experiences in the arts we believe that the arts serve as a mirror to society
the arts serve as a mirror to society
the arts serve as a mirror to society but also should serve as is conscience
but also should serve as is conscience
but also should serve as is conscience and we wanted to foster a community in a
and we wanted to foster a community in a
and we wanted to foster a community in a world where they could grow to be the
world where they could grow to be the
world where they could grow to be the Giants that they have been called to be
Giants that they have been called to be
Giants that they have been called to be currently serving over 200 young people
currently serving over 200 young people
currently serving over 200 young people we’ve been able to see them grow but
we’ve been able to see them grow but
we’ve been able to see them grow but then also not only graduate from high
then also not only graduate from high
then also not only graduate from high school college and go on to do stuff in
school college and go on to do stuff in
school college and go on to do stuff in TV Broadway and in educational world but
TV Broadway and in educational world but
TV Broadway and in educational world but to also give back one of the most
to also give back one of the most
to also give back one of the most humbling and most rewarding parts of the
humbling and most rewarding parts of the
humbling and most rewarding parts of the job is that 90% of our staff are former
job is that 90% of our staff are former
job is that 90% of our staff are former students who’ve now grown to be
students who’ve now grown to be
students who’ve now grown to be exceptional leaders and are giving back
exceptional leaders and are giving back
exceptional leaders and are giving back in our program and of course we’re not
in our program and of course we’re not
in our program and of course we’re not the only ones doing it on the community
the only ones doing it on the community
the only ones doing it on the community there are many nonprofits such as
there are many nonprofits such as
there are many nonprofits such as Brotherhood crusade young black scholars
Brotherhood crusade young black scholars
Brotherhood crusade young black scholars Pullum center all types of people who
Pullum center all types of people who
Pullum center all types of people who are giving back but what is more would
are giving back but what is more would
are giving back but what is more would have more leaders what if more
have more leaders what if more
have more leaders what if more politicians what if more church leaders
politicians what if more church leaders
politicians what if more church leaders made the decision to be sensitive enough
made the decision to be sensitive enough
made the decision to be sensitive enough to care and wanted to reach back and
to care and wanted to reach back and
to care and wanted to reach back and give but finally be patient enough for
give but finally be patient enough for
give but finally be patient enough for the harvest and oh boy is it a harvest I
the harvest and oh boy is it a harvest I
the harvest and oh boy is it a harvest I ended up adopting Kimberly as the
ended up adopting Kimberly as the
ended up adopting Kimberly as the daughter that I never had she graduated
daughter that I never had she graduated
daughter that I never had she graduated from college she’s currently on a
from college she’s currently on a
from college she’s currently on a full-ride scholarship in graduate school
she’s teaching undergrad writing and
she’s teaching undergrad writing and directing her own plays and traveling
directing her own plays and traveling
directing her own plays and traveling speaking to foster youth telling them a
speaking to foster youth telling them a
speaking to foster youth telling them a very familiar and story old story that I
very familiar and story old story that I
very familiar and story old story that I once shared with her then I was drowning
once shared with her then I was drowning
once shared with her then I was drowning but someone saw me and the arts
but someone saw me and the arts
but someone saw me and the arts saved my life she’s now able to tell
saved my life she’s now able to tell
saved my life she’s now able to tell them tell them those things she’s able
them tell them those things she’s able
them tell them those things she’s able to be able to spit those quotes like
to be able to spit those quotes like
to be able to spit those quotes like failure is not sin low aim is she’s able
failure is not sin low aim is she’s able
failure is not sin low aim is she’s able to tell those things like in what so
to tell those things like in what so
to tell those things like in what so everything you do strive to do it so
everything you do strive to do it so
everything you do strive to do it so well that no man living no man dead no
well that no man living no man dead no
well that no man living no man dead no man yet to be born can do it better and
man yet to be born can do it better and
man yet to be born can do it better and she and many other young people in our
she and many other young people in our
she and many other young people in our program will be able to reach far more
program will be able to reach far more
program will be able to reach far more people than I ever will but isn’t that
people than I ever will but isn’t that
people than I ever will but isn’t that isn’t that’s how supposed to be my
isn’t that’s how supposed to be my
isn’t that’s how supposed to be my ceiling should be their floor ladies and
ceiling should be their floor ladies and
ceiling should be their floor ladies and gentlemen boys and girls seething and
gentlemen boys and girls seething and
gentlemen boys and girls seething and the young I am begging you I am pleading
the young I am begging you I am pleading
the young I am begging you I am pleading to you today to be the lifeguards and
to you today to be the lifeguards and
to you today to be the lifeguards and other young people’s lives
other young people’s lives
other young people’s lives repeat after me if not me then who it’s
repeat after me if not me then who it’s
repeat after me if not me then who it’s not now then when I take the pledge to
not now then when I take the pledge to
not now then when I take the pledge to be the lifeguard on duty thank you
”
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