hello I hope you can tell by the jacket that I am a chef by trade not an
that I am a chef by trade not an
that I am a chef by trade not an attorney I’ve been cooking for about 20
attorney I’ve been cooking for about 20
attorney I’ve been cooking for about 20 years and in 2007 reached the peak of my
years and in 2007 reached the peak of my
years and in 2007 reached the peak of my career which was to own my own
career which was to own my own
career which was to own my own restaurant I bought into a restaurant in
restaurant I bought into a restaurant in
restaurant I bought into a restaurant in downtown or uptown area of Dallas and
downtown or uptown area of Dallas and
downtown or uptown area of Dallas and was the executive chef and co-owner of
was the executive chef and co-owner of
was the executive chef and co-owner of this restaurant the same year the
this restaurant the same year the
this restaurant the same year the economy in our country tanked into the
economy in our country tanked into the
economy in our country tanked into the second worst recession that the country
second worst recession that the country
second worst recession that the country has ever seen and I thought to myself
has ever seen and I thought to myself
has ever seen and I thought to myself what have I done
what have I done
what have I done I sold a house took out the equity took
I sold a house took out the equity took
I sold a house took out the equity took out a loan to pay off the rest of the
out a loan to pay off the rest of the
out a loan to pay off the rest of the debt to buy into this restaurant and
debt to buy into this restaurant and
debt to buy into this restaurant and then thought I’ve made the greatest
then thought I’ve made the greatest
then thought I’ve made the greatest mistake of my life that first year of
mistake of my life that first year of
mistake of my life that first year of owning the restaurant I grew the
owning the restaurant I grew the
owning the restaurant I grew the business 38% was nominated for Best Chef
business 38% was nominated for Best Chef
business 38% was nominated for Best Chef in Dallas and life couldn’t have been
in Dallas and life couldn’t have been
in Dallas and life couldn’t have been better in that first year I also had an
better in that first year I also had an
better in that first year I also had an opportunity to teach eight young men and
opportunity to teach eight young men and
opportunity to teach eight young men and one of the Dallas County juvenile
one of the Dallas County juvenile
one of the Dallas County juvenile detention facilities how to make ice
detention facilities how to make ice
detention facilities how to make ice cream for an ice cream competition at
cream for an ice cream competition at
cream for an ice cream competition at the Dallas farmers market the moment
the Dallas farmers market the moment
the Dallas farmers market the moment that I met these eight boys I realized
that I met these eight boys I realized
that I met these eight boys I realized something that I didn’t know before I
something that I didn’t know before I
something that I didn’t know before I had met them and that was that I had
had met them and that was that I had
had met them and that was that I had stereotyped him the way they walk the
stereotyped him the way they walk the
stereotyped him the way they walk the way they talk the way they sag their
way they talk the way they sag their
way they talk the way they sag their pants the way they’re tattooed up which
pants the way they’re tattooed up which
pants the way they’re tattooed up which if I didn’t have a chef’s coat on would
if I didn’t have a chef’s coat on would
if I didn’t have a chef’s coat on would make me a little bit of a hypocrite I
make me a little bit of a hypocrite I
make me a little bit of a hypocrite I was wrong all eight of these young men
was wrong all eight of these young men
was wrong all eight of these young men looked me in the eye when they spoke to
looked me in the eye when they spoke to
looked me in the eye when they spoke to me and every single one of them called
me and every single one of them called
me and every single one of them called me sir now as I mentioned I’ve been
me sir now as I mentioned I’ve been
me sir now as I mentioned I’ve been cooking for 20 years I’ve been called a
cooking for 20 years I’ve been called a
cooking for 20 years I’ve been called a lot of names in a lot of kitchens in a
lot of names in a lot of kitchens in a
lot of names in a lot of kitchens in a lot of languages never once in any
lot of languages never once in any
lot of languages never once in any language was that name sir these eight
language was that name sir these eight
language was that name sir these eight young men were so
young men were so
young men were so eager to learn and so enthusiastic to do
eager to learn and so enthusiastic to do
eager to learn and so enthusiastic to do something that they could be proud of
something that they could be proud of
something that they could be proud of most of which you could tell that was a
most of which you could tell that was a
most of which you could tell that was a first-time feeling at 16 17 15 years old
first-time feeling at 16 17 15 years old
first-time feeling at 16 17 15 years old first time in their lives there ever
first time in their lives there ever
first time in their lives there ever were ever able to say I did this so we
were ever able to say I did this so we
were ever able to say I did this so we made ice cream now when I tell you that
made ice cream now when I tell you that
made ice cream now when I tell you that for these eight young men raspberry was
for these eight young men raspberry was
for these eight young men raspberry was a flavor of candy they had never seen or
a flavor of candy they had never seen or
a flavor of candy they had never seen or tasted a fresh raspberry you can imagine
tasted a fresh raspberry you can imagine
tasted a fresh raspberry you can imagine how mind-blowing it was for them when I
how mind-blowing it was for them when I
how mind-blowing it was for them when I made them taste fresh tarragon I believe
made them taste fresh tarragon I believe
made them taste fresh tarragon I believe the exact quote was sir you want us to
the exact quote was sir you want us to
the exact quote was sir you want us to eat grass and I said yes delicious
eat grass and I said yes delicious
eat grass and I said yes delicious licorice flavored grass so we made ice
licorice flavored grass so we made ice
licorice flavored grass so we made ice cream in two days later we went down to
cream in two days later we went down to
cream in two days later we went down to the farmers market and these eight young
the farmers market and these eight young
the farmers market and these eight young men in their little khaki pants and
men in their little khaki pants and
men in their little khaki pants and beaten up white t-shirt jail attire
beaten up white t-shirt jail attire
beaten up white t-shirt jail attire handed out their ice cream samples
handed out their ice cream samples
handed out their ice cream samples alongside college culinary students with
alongside college culinary students with
alongside college culinary students with the biggest smiles the biggest barrel
the biggest smiles the biggest barrel
the biggest smiles the biggest barrel chests out just beaming full of pride
chests out just beaming full of pride
chests out just beaming full of pride and at the end of the competition one of
and at the end of the competition one of
and at the end of the competition one of the boys actually won the whole thing
the boys actually won the whole thing
the boys actually won the whole thing beat the college students beat everybody
beat the college students beat everybody
beat the college students beat everybody and when he won this young man tattooed
and when he won this young man tattooed
and when he won this young man tattooed up pants saggin came running up to me
up pants saggin came running up to me
up pants saggin came running up to me bent his knees and cocked his arms and
bent his knees and cocked his arms and
bent his knees and cocked his arms and at the top of his lungs screamed at me
at the top of his lungs screamed at me
at the top of his lungs screamed at me like a five-year-old that had just
like a five-year-old that had just
like a five-year-old that had just gotten the greatest video game in the
gotten the greatest video game in the
gotten the greatest video game in the history of video games for Christmas
history of video games for Christmas
history of video games for Christmas screams sir I just love to cook and I
screams sir I just love to cook and I
screams sir I just love to cook and I bent my knees and cocked my arms and
bent my knees and cocked my arms and
bent my knees and cocked my arms and screamed as loud as he didn’t said sir
screamed as loud as he didn’t said sir
screamed as loud as he didn’t said sir me too and he said I just love to make
me too and he said I just love to make
me too and he said I just love to make food and give it to people and put a
food and give it to people and put a
food and give it to people and put a smile on their face and it struck me
smile on their face and it struck me
smile on their face and it struck me number one he could have said I want to
number one he could have said I want to
number one he could have said I want to make food and make money so I can pay my
make food and make money so I can pay my
make food and make money so I can pay my bills which is why every other person I
bills which is why every other person I
bills which is why every other person I know that owns restaurants does it he
know that owns restaurants does it he
know that owns restaurants does it he could have said I want to make food make
could have said I want to make food make
could have said I want to make food make money and be famous which is why a lot
money and be famous which is why a lot
money and be famous which is why a lot of people I know own restaurants are
of people I know own restaurants are
of people I know own restaurants are but he said I want to make food and give
but he said I want to make food and give
but he said I want to make food and give it to people and put a smile on their
it to people and put a smile on their
it to people and put a smile on their face and it reminded me that the first
face and it reminded me that the first
face and it reminded me that the first time I met him I had stereotyped him it
time I met him I had stereotyped him it
time I met him I had stereotyped him it also reminded me of my childhood because
also reminded me of my childhood because
also reminded me of my childhood because I am Texas born in Texas bred
I am Texas born in Texas bred
I am Texas born in Texas bred which means that I grew up having Sunday
which means that I grew up having Sunday
which means that I grew up having Sunday supper at my grandparents house every
supper at my grandparents house every
supper at my grandparents house every Sunday so food to me meant a lot more
Sunday so food to me meant a lot more
Sunday so food to me meant a lot more than just eating it was about family it
than just eating it was about family it
than just eating it was about family it was about love it was about camaraderie
was about love it was about camaraderie
was about love it was about camaraderie and it really touched me when he said I
and it really touched me when he said I
and it really touched me when he said I just love to make food and give it to
just love to make food and give it to
just love to make food and give it to people and put a smile on their face he
people and put a smile on their face he
people and put a smile on their face he said to me when I get out I’m gonna get
said to me when I get out I’m gonna get
said to me when I get out I’m gonna get a job in a restaurant and then asked my
a job in a restaurant and then asked my
a job in a restaurant and then asked my professional opinion on whether he
professional opinion on whether he
professional opinion on whether he should work at Wendy’s or Chili’s my
should work at Wendy’s or Chili’s my
should work at Wendy’s or Chili’s my answer whoever hires you first and I
answer whoever hires you first and I
answer whoever hires you first and I drove home that day and I knew that a I
drove home that day and I knew that a I
drove home that day and I knew that a I was never going to see him again he is a
was never going to see him again he is a
was never going to see him again he is a juvenile under custody of the juvenile
juvenile under custody of the juvenile
juvenile under custody of the juvenile department they are not going to hand
department they are not going to hand
department they are not going to hand out any type of personal or private
out any type of personal or private
out any type of personal or private information of a child to a stranger I
information of a child to a stranger I
information of a child to a stranger I also knew not to the extent I do now but
also knew not to the extent I do now but
also knew not to the extent I do now but I knew that the moment that he went home
I knew that the moment that he went home
I knew that the moment that he went home the odds of him actually getting a job
the odds of him actually getting a job
the odds of him actually getting a job at a Wendy’s or Chili’s were very very
at a Wendy’s or Chili’s were very very
at a Wendy’s or Chili’s were very very slim because at the end of the day he’s
slim because at the end of the day he’s
slim because at the end of the day he’s gonna go right back to the same house
gonna go right back to the same house
gonna go right back to the same house the same street the same neighborhood
the same street the same neighborhood
the same street the same neighborhood the same school the same gangs the same
the same school the same gangs the same
the same school the same gangs the same every single thing that had led him at
every single thing that had led him at
every single thing that had led him at 15 years old straight to jail and I
15 years old straight to jail and I
15 years old straight to jail and I thought it’s not fair it’s not right
thought it’s not fair it’s not right
thought it’s not fair it’s not right somebody has got to do something about
somebody has got to do something about
somebody has got to do something about this and I blamed every one of you for
this and I blamed every one of you for
this and I blamed every one of you for not doing something how dare you and
not doing something how dare you and
not doing something how dare you and then I realized that I was being a
then I realized that I was being a
then I realized that I was being a hypocrite because by blaming you I
hypocrite because by blaming you I
hypocrite because by blaming you I wasn’t taking accountability and that’s
wasn’t taking accountability and that’s
wasn’t taking accountability and that’s I I don’t want to be a hypocrite so I
I I don’t want to be a hypocrite so I
I I don’t want to be a hypocrite so I tried to figure out something to do it
tried to figure out something to do it
tried to figure out something to do it took me about a year working with the
took me about a year working with the
took me about a year working with the juvenile Department working with another
juvenile Department working with another
juvenile Department working with another organization that did some programs and
organization that did some programs and
organization that did some programs and classes inside juvenile facilities to
classes inside juvenile facilities to
classes inside juvenile facilities to try to figure out how can I help these
try to figure out how can I help these
try to figure out how can I help these kids see
kids see
kids see how great they are how can i empower
how great they are how can i empower
how great they are how can i empower them to live to their full potential the
them to live to their full potential the
them to live to their full potential the two things that they kept telling me and
two things that they kept telling me and
two things that they kept telling me and working with the kids is you have to
working with the kids is you have to
working with the kids is you have to provide something with consistency and
provide something with consistency and
provide something with consistency and stability consistency and stability and
stability consistency and stability and
stability consistency and stability and at the end of the day the only thing
at the end of the day the only thing
at the end of the day the only thing that I knew consistently well and was a
that I knew consistently well and was a
that I knew consistently well and was a stability of my life was the restaurant
stability of my life was the restaurant
stability of my life was the restaurant once so I decided I just want to open a
once so I decided I just want to open a
once so I decided I just want to open a restaurant and let these kids run it but
restaurant and let these kids run it but
restaurant and let these kids run it but I realized that a restaurant is not
I realized that a restaurant is not
I realized that a restaurant is not enough because just giving these kids a
enough because just giving these kids a
enough because just giving these kids a job is like putting a bandaid on a
job is like putting a bandaid on a
job is like putting a bandaid on a waterfall the juvenile justice industry
waterfall the juvenile justice industry
waterfall the juvenile justice industry term to describe the population that I
term to describe the population that I
term to describe the population that I work with is throwaway
work with is throwaway
work with is throwaway these are children teenage children that
these are children teenage children that
these are children teenage children that have been discarded since the day they
have been discarded since the day they
have been discarded since the day they were born
were born
were born by their family by their streets their
by their family by their streets their
by their family by their streets their neighborhoods their communities which
neighborhoods their communities which
neighborhoods their communities which means that they have no access to
means that they have no access to
means that they have no access to housing no access to health care no
housing no access to health care no
housing no access to health care no access to food no access to education no
access to food no access to education no
access to food no access to education no access to jobs so if you really want to
access to jobs so if you really want to
access to jobs so if you really want to help these kids you really have to do
help these kids you really have to do
help these kids you really have to do something that holistically addresses
something that holistically addresses
something that holistically addresses all of these needs so I built a
all of these needs so I built a
all of these needs so I built a restaurant cafe momentum a 12-month paid
restaurant cafe momentum a 12-month paid
restaurant cafe momentum a 12-month paid post release internship for young men
post release internship for young men
post release internship for young men and young ladies coming out of juvenile
and young ladies coming out of juvenile
and young ladies coming out of juvenile detention in addition to working their
detention in addition to working their
detention in addition to working their way through every station in the
way through every station in the
way through every station in the restaurant washing dishes bussing tables
restaurant washing dishes bussing tables
restaurant washing dishes bussing tables prep cook line cook server host hostess
prep cook line cook server host hostess
prep cook line cook server host hostess we also focus on life skill and social
we also focus on life skill and social
we also focus on life skill and social skill training and we have a case
skill training and we have a case
skill training and we have a case management team that works to build an
management team that works to build an
management team that works to build an ecosystem of support around the kids
ecosystem of support around the kids
ecosystem of support around the kids addressing issues like homelessness
addressing issues like homelessness
addressing issues like homelessness addressing issues like hunger addressing
addressing issues like hunger addressing
addressing issues like hunger addressing issues like health care I think this
issues like health care I think this
issues like health care I think this sounds like a great idea I did then I
sounds like a great idea I did then I
sounds like a great idea I did then I still do now but back then when I would
still do now but back then when I would
still do now but back then when I would tell people I’m gonna open up a
tell people I’m gonna open up a
tell people I’m gonna open up a restaurant I’m gonna take kids out of
restaurant I’m gonna take kids out of
restaurant I’m gonna take kids out of jail and teach them to play with knives
jail and teach them to play with knives
jail and teach them to play with knives and fire and I need your money I was
and fire and I need your money I was
and fire and I need your money I was laughed out of every room that I went
laughed out of every room that I went
laughed out of every room that I went into and I was presented with a myriad
into and I was presented with a myriad
into and I was presented with a myriad of stereo
of stereo
of stereo types that were far greater than even
types that were far greater than even
types that were far greater than even what I had had surmised on my own things
what I had had surmised on my own things
what I had had surmised on my own things like what are you gonna do when those
like what are you gonna do when those
like what are you gonna do when those kids stab each other in the kitchen
kids stab each other in the kitchen
kids stab each other in the kitchen those kids they don’t want a job they
those kids they don’t want a job they
those kids they don’t want a job they just want to collect a check those kids
just want to collect a check those kids
just want to collect a check those kids have never been to a nice restaurant
have never been to a nice restaurant
have never been to a nice restaurant those kids don’t know good food those
those kids don’t know good food those
those kids don’t know good food those kids can’t do that those kids aren’t
kids can’t do that those kids aren’t
kids can’t do that those kids aren’t smart and I knew that I had to figure
smart and I knew that I had to figure
smart and I knew that I had to figure out a way to break through that
out a way to break through that
out a way to break through that stereotype so in in June of 2011 we
stereotype so in in June of 2011 we
stereotype so in in June of 2011 we launched a very first pop-up dinner and
launched a very first pop-up dinner and
launched a very first pop-up dinner and the idea was really simple go into one
the idea was really simple go into one
the idea was really simple go into one of the top restaurants in Dallas on a
of the top restaurants in Dallas on a
of the top restaurants in Dallas on a Sunday night when they’re closed sell
Sunday night when they’re closed sell
Sunday night when they’re closed sell tickets to a private dinner had the chef
tickets to a private dinner had the chef
tickets to a private dinner had the chef write a four-course menu but his or her
write a four-course menu but his or her
write a four-course menu but his or her staff to execute the food in the kitchen
staff to execute the food in the kitchen
staff to execute the food in the kitchen and serve it to the level and quality of
and serve it to the level and quality of
and serve it to the level and quality of service of that restaurant were eight
service of that restaurant were eight
service of that restaurant were eight kids that we would bust in from juvenile
kids that we would bust in from juvenile
kids that we would bust in from juvenile detention now full disclosure that very
detention now full disclosure that very
detention now full disclosure that very first dinner I had no idea if anybody
first dinner I had no idea if anybody
first dinner I had no idea if anybody would show up I had a plan to call my
would show up I had a plan to call my
would show up I had a plan to call my mom and have her guilt the ladies in her
mom and have her guilt the ladies in her
mom and have her guilt the ladies in her Bible study class into buying tickets to
Bible study class into buying tickets to
Bible study class into buying tickets to go to the dinner but in 24 hours with
go to the dinner but in 24 hours with
go to the dinner but in 24 hours with only two people posting a link to the to
only two people posting a link to the to
only two people posting a link to the to the dinner to buy tickets we exceeded
the dinner to buy tickets we exceeded
the dinner to buy tickets we exceeded our goal of 50 by almost 50% before we
our goal of 50 by almost 50% before we
our goal of 50 by almost 50% before we could shut the PayPal down that very
could shut the PayPal down that very
could shut the PayPal down that very first dinner 68 people showed up at the
first dinner 68 people showed up at the
first dinner 68 people showed up at the dinner and before they left every single
dinner and before they left every single
dinner and before they left every single one of them either shook my hand or gave
one of them either shook my hand or gave
one of them either shook my hand or gave me a hug and said you know this could be
me a hug and said you know this could be
me a hug and said you know this could be my son and that told me immediately that
my son and that told me immediately that
my son and that told me immediately that all stereotypes had been broken we did
all stereotypes had been broken we did
all stereotypes had been broken we did 41 of those dinners over three and a
41 of those dinners over three and a
41 of those dinners over three and a half years ramping up to the restaurant
half years ramping up to the restaurant
half years ramping up to the restaurant opening the restaurant opened in the for
opening the restaurant opened in the for
opening the restaurant opened in the for the first three months I developed a
the first three months I developed a
the first three months I developed a severe psychological complex because for
severe psychological complex because for
severe psychological complex because for three straight months every person that
three straight months every person that
three straight months every person that would come in the restaurant would stop
would come in the restaurant would stop
would come in the restaurant would stop me and go you know the food’s really
me and go you know the food’s really
me and go you know the food’s really good they were shocked and I thought
good they were shocked and I thought
good they were shocked and I thought what the hell like I’ve won awards
what the hell like I’ve won awards
what the hell like I’ve won awards I ran a successful restaurant why are
I ran a successful restaurant why are
I ran a successful restaurant why are you surprised what’s wrong with my
you surprised what’s wrong with my
you surprised what’s wrong with my cooking ability is that people would be
cooking ability is that people would be
cooking ability is that people would be so surprised and I real
so surprised and I real
so surprised and I real even through three and a half years of
even through three and a half years of
even through three and a half years of dinners opening up this restaurant
dinners opening up this restaurant
dinners opening up this restaurant people still didn’t think that the kids
people still didn’t think that the kids
people still didn’t think that the kids could do it so in in March of 2015
could do it so in in March of 2015
could do it so in in March of 2015 Leslie Brenner of the Dallas Morning
Leslie Brenner of the Dallas Morning
Leslie Brenner of the Dallas Morning News showed up for her first of three
News showed up for her first of three
News showed up for her first of three visits and if you don’t know anything
visits and if you don’t know anything
visits and if you don’t know anything about Leslie know that she has a
about Leslie know that she has a
about Leslie know that she has a reputation nationally to be hyper
reputation nationally to be hyper
reputation nationally to be hyper critical of every restaurant that she
critical of every restaurant that she
critical of every restaurant that she reviews in typically she’s known to to
reviews in typically she’s known to to
reviews in typically she’s known to to be very harsh so you can imagine how
be very harsh so you can imagine how
be very harsh so you can imagine how nervous I was when she showed up and at
nervous I was when she showed up and at
nervous I was when she showed up and at the end of the evening when she said you
the end of the evening when she said you
the end of the evening when she said you know I wasn’t expecting this and I just
know I wasn’t expecting this and I just
know I wasn’t expecting this and I just looked at her and said well with all due
looked at her and said well with all due
looked at her and said well with all due respect coming from you that’s the
respect coming from you that’s the
respect coming from you that’s the scariest thing I’ve ever heard in my
scariest thing I’ve ever heard in my
scariest thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life
entire life
entire life she wrote of our restaurant that on any
she wrote of our restaurant that on any
she wrote of our restaurant that on any given night we can go toe-to-toe with
given night we can go toe-to-toe with
given night we can go toe-to-toe with the best restaurants in the city and
the best restaurants in the city and
the best restaurants in the city and subsequently in the fall of 2015
subsequently in the fall of 2015
subsequently in the fall of 2015 eater Dallas named us restaurant of the
eater Dallas named us restaurant of the
eater Dallas named us restaurant of the year in the Dallas of an observer named
year in the Dallas of an observer named
year in the Dallas of an observer named us the best new restaurant of 2015 all
us the best new restaurant of 2015 all
us the best new restaurant of 2015 all accolades that we’re very proud of
accolades that we’re very proud of
accolades that we’re very proud of because it proves that these kids can
because it proves that these kids can
because it proves that these kids can rise to whatever level of expectation
rise to whatever level of expectation
rise to whatever level of expectation you set for them as long as you give
you set for them as long as you give
you set for them as long as you give them the tools the resources the
them the tools the resources the
them the tools the resources the guidance and the love to get there now
guidance and the love to get there now
guidance and the love to get there now over the course of three and a half
over the course of three and a half
over the course of three and a half years of pop-up dinners in a little over
years of pop-up dinners in a little over
years of pop-up dinners in a little over two years of being open we’ve now worked
two years of being open we’ve now worked
two years of being open we’ve now worked with almost 450 kids
with almost 450 kids
with almost 450 kids I know those 450 kids we’ve actually
I know those 450 kids we’ve actually
I know those 450 kids we’ve actually studied outcomes to know if what we’re
studied outcomes to know if what we’re
studied outcomes to know if what we’re doing is really effective above and
doing is really effective above and
doing is really effective above and beyond just teaching them how to cook of
beyond just teaching them how to cook of
beyond just teaching them how to cook of those 450 kids statistically speaking
those 450 kids statistically speaking
those 450 kids statistically speaking forty-seven percent of them are roughly
forty-seven percent of them are roughly
forty-seven percent of them are roughly half should have gone back to jail
half should have gone back to jail
half should have gone back to jail within 12 months that is the recidivism
within 12 months that is the recidivism
within 12 months that is the recidivism rate or reincarnation rate for juvenile
rate or reincarnation rate for juvenile
rate or reincarnation rate for juvenile offenders in the state of Texas at Cafe
offenders in the state of Texas at Cafe
offenders in the state of Texas at Cafe momentum 15.2% have ever gone back to
momentum 15.2% have ever gone back to
momentum 15.2% have ever gone back to jail at all which means as I like to say
jail at all which means as I like to say
jail at all which means as I like to say Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings owes me a
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings owes me a
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings owes me a check for about fourteen million dollars
check for about fourteen million dollars
check for about fourteen million dollars because that’s how much money we’ve
because that’s how much money we’ve
because that’s how much money we’ve saved taxpayers since we first started
saved taxpayers since we first started
saved taxpayers since we first started working
working
working with these young men and young ladies
out of 450 kids on average there are two
out of 450 kids on average there are two grade levels behind 62% of them are
grade levels behind 62% of them are
grade levels behind 62% of them are homeless when they come to us if you’re
homeless when they come to us if you’re
homeless when they come to us if you’re 15 16 years old and you’re homeless
15 16 years old and you’re homeless
15 16 years old and you’re homeless that typically also means you’ve been
that typically also means you’ve been
that typically also means you’ve been abandoned which comes with its own set
abandoned which comes with its own set
abandoned which comes with its own set of trauma related issues our kids come
of trauma related issues our kids come
of trauma related issues our kids come to work every day and what they eat at
to work every day and what they eat at
to work every day and what they eat at the restaurant is typically all they get
the restaurant is typically all they get
the restaurant is typically all they get to eat from the time they get there
to eat from the time they get there
to eat from the time they get there we’ve said from the time they leave
we’ve said from the time they leave
we’ve said from the time they leave until the time they come back the very
until the time they come back the very
until the time they come back the very next day all of these issues all of
next day all of these issues all of
next day all of these issues all of these obstacles and yet when you give
these obstacles and yet when you give
these obstacles and yet when you give them a little bit of confidence and tell
them a little bit of confidence and tell
them a little bit of confidence and tell them they’re good they begin to believe
them they’re good they begin to believe
them they’re good they begin to believe in themselves they stop doing things
in themselves they stop doing things
in themselves they stop doing things like criminal acts and going back to
like criminal acts and going back to
like criminal acts and going back to jail and they start doing things like
jail and they start doing things like
jail and they start doing things like becoming contributing productive members
becoming contributing productive members
becoming contributing productive members of their community they start doing
of their community they start doing
of their community they start doing things like achieving their own
things like achieving their own
things like achieving their own potential I’ll give you one example of a
potential I’ll give you one example of a
potential I’ll give you one example of a young man that graduated from our
young man that graduated from our
young man that graduated from our program last April about a year ago
program last April about a year ago
program last April about a year ago his name is Abbas ie a novice ie is a
his name is Abbas ie a novice ie is a
his name is Abbas ie a novice ie is a second-generation Mexican immigrant that
second-generation Mexican immigrant that
second-generation Mexican immigrant that means his parents crossed the border
means his parents crossed the border
means his parents crossed the border illegally and worked jobs that illegal
illegally and worked jobs that illegal
illegally and worked jobs that illegal immigrants worked and in the meantime
immigrants worked and in the meantime
immigrants worked and in the meantime they got married and started a family
they got married and started a family
they got married and started a family and they ended up getting divorced when
and they ended up getting divorced when
and they ended up getting divorced when they got divorced they took a household
they got divorced they took a household
they got divorced they took a household of poverty and divided it into two
of poverty and divided it into two
of poverty and divided it into two households of higher poverty and yes
households of higher poverty and yes
households of higher poverty and yes that is a thing which meant that Abbas
that is a thing which meant that Abbas
that is a thing which meant that Abbas ie he went from having some stuff to
ie he went from having some stuff to
ie he went from having some stuff to having nothing and being afraid to ask
having nothing and being afraid to ask
having nothing and being afraid to ask his mom for things that she would
his mom for things that she would
his mom for things that she would complain that his dad was supposed to
complain that his dad was supposed to
complain that his dad was supposed to provide and and afraid to ask his down
provide and and afraid to ask his down
provide and and afraid to ask his down for things that he would complain that
for things that he would complain that
for things that he would complain that his mom was supposed to provide so he
his mom was supposed to provide so he
his mom was supposed to provide so he turned to the streets to figure out how
turned to the streets to figure out how
turned to the streets to figure out how to take care of himself when I say how
to take care of himself when I say how
to take care of himself when I say how to take care of himself
to take care of himself
to take care of himself I mean how to have shoes to wear to
I mean how to have shoes to wear to
I mean how to have shoes to wear to school how to have pencils to write with
school how to have pencils to write with
school how to have pencils to write with in school how to have food for he and
in school how to have food for he and
in school how to have food for he and his brother and sister in the evening he
his brother and sister in the evening he
his brother and sister in the evening he got in trouble and went to jail upon
got in trouble and went to jail upon
got in trouble and went to jail upon going to jail he went through our
going to jail he went through our
going to jail he went through our program obviously he graduated from our
program obviously he graduated from our
program obviously he graduated from our program and went to work with one of our
program and went to work with one of our
program and went to work with one of our employment partners the Hilton Anatole
employment partners the Hilton Anatole
employment partners the Hilton Anatole and within three months he was
and within three months he was
and within three months he was noted at 17 years old Albus ie is making
noted at 17 years old Albus ie is making
noted at 17 years old Albus ie is making between 700 and a thousand dollars a
between 700 and a thousand dollars a
between 700 and a thousand dollars a week which makes him the breadwinner of
week which makes him the breadwinner of
week which makes him the breadwinner of either household he has full health
either household he has full health
either household he has full health benefits a paid vacation and a 401k in
benefits a paid vacation and a 401k in
benefits a paid vacation and a 401k in January I got to go and watch Abba side
January I got to go and watch Abba side
January I got to go and watch Abba side walk across the stage as the first high
walk across the stage as the first high
walk across the stage as the first high school graduate ever of his family and
school graduate ever of his family and
school graduate ever of his family and he is about to enroll as a full-time
he is about to enroll as a full-time
he is about to enroll as a full-time college student at El Centro College
college student at El Centro College
college student at El Centro College what this tells us is that the effect
what this tells us is that the effect
what this tells us is that the effect goes beyond Abbas ie what it tells us is
goes beyond Abbas ie what it tells us is
goes beyond Abbas ie what it tells us is that his children will not grow up in
that his children will not grow up in
that his children will not grow up in poverty what it tells us is that his
poverty what it tells us is that his
poverty what it tells us is that his children will grow up in a household
children will grow up in a household
children will grow up in a household we’re going to graduating high school is
we’re going to graduating high school is
we’re going to graduating high school is expected we’re going to college is
expected we’re going to college is
expected we’re going to college is expected and we’re being a contributing
expected and we’re being a contributing
expected and we’re being a contributing member of your community as expected and
member of your community as expected and
member of your community as expected and that is why we call it momentum thank
that is why we call it momentum thank
that is why we call it momentum thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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