everybody has a favorite quote if you’re like me if you’re like me you have 12
like me if you’re like me you have 12
like me if you’re like me you have 12 some of my favorite quotes are by
some of my favorite quotes are by
some of my favorite quotes are by prolific literary giants like those
prolific literary giants like those
prolific literary giants like those Persian Sufi mystic poets Rumi and Hafez
Persian Sufi mystic poets Rumi and Hafez
Persian Sufi mystic poets Rumi and Hafez the Lebanese poet and author Khalil
the Lebanese poet and author Khalil
the Lebanese poet and author Khalil Gibran
Gibran
Gibran the 16th President of the United States
the 16th President of the United States
the 16th President of the United States Abraham Lincoln and the renowned author
Abraham Lincoln and the renowned author
Abraham Lincoln and the renowned author of children’s books dr. Seuss but one of
of children’s books dr. Seuss but one of
of children’s books dr. Seuss but one of my favorite quotes of all time is by the
my favorite quotes of all time is by the
my favorite quotes of all time is by the German theoretical physicist Albert
German theoretical physicist Albert
German theoretical physicist Albert Einstein he is credited with saying that
Einstein he is credited with saying that
Einstein he is credited with saying that everybody is a genius but if you judge a
everybody is a genius but if you judge a
everybody is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it
fish by its ability to climb a tree it
fish by its ability to climb a tree it will spend its entire life believing
will spend its entire life believing
will spend its entire life believing that it is stupid I absolutely agree I
that it is stupid I absolutely agree I
that it is stupid I absolutely agree I also believe that every one of us was
also believe that every one of us was
also believe that every one of us was born with a unique and highly
born with a unique and highly
born with a unique and highly individualized potential to help make a
individualized potential to help make a
individualized potential to help make a difference in the world and to leave a
difference in the world and to leave a
difference in the world and to leave a legacy that will shape generations to
legacy that will shape generations to
legacy that will shape generations to come close your eyes take a deep breath
come close your eyes take a deep breath
come close your eyes take a deep breath imagine reaching deep down inside of
imagine reaching deep down inside of
imagine reaching deep down inside of yourself gathering up all of that great
yourself gathering up all of that great
yourself gathering up all of that great inner goodness that you have inside
inner goodness that you have inside
inner goodness that you have inside drawing it up and thrusting it out into
drawing it up and thrusting it out into
drawing it up and thrusting it out into the world imagine if we collectively did
the world imagine if we collectively did
the world imagine if we collectively did that what an impact that could make it
that what an impact that could make it
that what an impact that could make it could change the world I believe that we
could change the world I believe that we
could change the world I believe that we have a responsibility to use our talents
have a responsibility to use our talents
have a responsibility to use our talents our resources our skills to help improve
our resources our skills to help improve
our resources our skills to help improve the condition of society and do social
the condition of society and do social
the condition of society and do social good
good
good which is basically benefiting the most
which is basically benefiting the most
which is basically benefiting the most number of people in the greatest way
number of people in the greatest way
number of people in the greatest way possible give you an example this is my
possible give you an example this is my
possible give you an example this is my friend Chris Blauvelt
friend Chris Blauvelt
friend Chris Blauvelt he is a founder of launch good an online
he is a founder of launch good an online
he is a founder of launch good an online crowdfunding platform that was designed
crowdfunding platform that was designed
crowdfunding platform that was designed to do exactly what the name implies
to do exactly what the name implies
to do exactly what the name implies lunch good the mission is very simple
lunch good the mission is very simple
lunch good the mission is very simple together we will make the world a better
together we will make the world a better
together we will make the world a better place it was launched in October 2013
place it was launched in October 2013
place it was launched in October 2013 and after initial setbacks they went on
and after initial setbacks they went on
and after initial setbacks they went on to help raise 1 million dollars for
to help raise 1 million dollars for
to help raise 1 million dollars for worthy causes and projects today they
worthy causes and projects today they
worthy causes and projects today they have helped raise over 32 million
have helped raise over 32 million
have helped raise over 32 million dollars in the last several years to
dollars in the last several years to
dollars in the last several years to fund worthy campaigns it has become a
fund worthy campaigns it has become a
fund worthy campaigns it has become a global force for good in the world for
global force for good in the world for
global force for good in the world for the presence in over 20 countries around
the presence in over 20 countries around
the presence in over 20 countries around the world and Counting some other
the world and Counting some other
the world and Counting some other successful most successful campaigns are
successful most successful campaigns are
successful most successful campaigns are successful not only because of the human
successful not only because of the human
successful not only because of the human interest that they generate but also
interest that they generate but also
interest that they generate but also because the people who launched these
because the people who launched these
because the people who launched these campaigns have in place networks that
campaigns have in place networks that
campaigns have in place networks that enable them to get the word out and
enable them to get the word out and
enable them to get the word out and build momentum towards their campaigns
build momentum towards their campaigns
build momentum towards their campaigns one of their most successful campaigns
one of their most successful campaigns
one of their most successful campaigns was a campaign that was launched in the
was a campaign that was launched in the
was a campaign that was launched in the aftermath of the Portland attacks on
aftermath of the Portland attacks on
aftermath of the Portland attacks on three heroes who came to the defense of
three heroes who came to the defense of
three heroes who came to the defense of two young woman who are on a train who
two young woman who are on a train who
two young woman who are on a train who were targeted in an Islamophobic attack
were targeted in an Islamophobic attack
were targeted in an Islamophobic attack and when American Muslims around the
and when American Muslims around the
and when American Muslims around the country learned about this they were
country learned about this they were
country learned about this they were devastated and horrified and a small
devastated and horrified and a small
devastated and horrified and a small group of Muslims came together and
group of Muslims came together and
group of Muslims came together and decided that they wanted to help raise
decided that they wanted to help raise
decided that they wanted to help raise money to benefit the families of the
money to benefit the families of the
money to benefit the families of the victims and offset some of the costs
victims and offset some of the costs
victims and offset some of the costs that they had incurred so these been a
that they had incurred so these been a
that they had incurred so these been a modest goal of $60,000 before they knew
modest goal of $60,000 before they knew
modest goal of $60,000 before they knew it the campaign went viral they ended up
it the campaign went viral they ended up
it the campaign went viral they ended up ultimately raising over $600,000 for the
ultimately raising over $600,000 for the
ultimately raising over $600,000 for the families of the victims nothing can
families of the victims nothing can
families of the victims nothing can replace the lives of the individuals who
replace the lives of the individuals who
replace the lives of the individuals who was a whore lost but it helped alleviate
was a whore lost but it helped alleviate
was a whore lost but it helped alleviate some of the burden that they were facing
some of the burden that they were facing
some of the burden that they were facing expanding our social networks it
expanding our social networks it
expanding our social networks it enhances the impact of our skills and
enhances the impact of our skills and
enhances the impact of our skills and potential we ourselves are the nucleus
potential we ourselves are the nucleus
potential we ourselves are the nucleus of our world we have primary secondary
of our world we have primary secondary
of our world we have primary secondary tertiary
tertiary
tertiary relationships our parents our loved ones
relationships our parents our loved ones
relationships our parents our loved ones our spouses children colleagues
our spouses children colleagues
our spouses children colleagues neighbors these are all relationships
neighbors these are all relationships
neighbors these are all relationships that we can leverage to help build our
that we can leverage to help build our
that we can leverage to help build our networks and strengthen our
networks and strengthen our
networks and strengthen our relationships with people around the
relationships with people around the
relationships with people around the world this is what determines our social
world this is what determines our social
world this is what determines our social currency our social currency is
currency our social currency is
currency our social currency is basically the sum of our actual and
basically the sum of our actual and
basically the sum of our actual and potential resources both online and
potential resources both online and
potential resources both online and offline that arise from our presence in
offline that arise from our presence in
offline that arise from our presence in social networks and communities it until
social networks and communities it until
social networks and communities it until having reciprocity these are generally
having reciprocity these are generally
having reciprocity these are generally mutually beneficial relationships
mutually beneficial relationships
mutually beneficial relationships developing trust and cooperation it’s a
developing trust and cooperation it’s a
developing trust and cooperation it’s a very simple concept people who trust us
very simple concept people who trust us
very simple concept people who trust us and who are familiar with us are more
and who are familiar with us are more
and who are familiar with us are more likely to promote our brand and they’re
likely to promote our brand and they’re
likely to promote our brand and they’re more likely to support our cause one of
more likely to support our cause one of
more likely to support our cause one of the biggest motivator is especially for
the biggest motivator is especially for
the biggest motivator is especially for young woman to build social currency for
young woman to build social currency for
young woman to build social currency for social good is to help promote causes if
social good is to help promote causes if
social good is to help promote causes if women’s raise issues and causes that
women’s raise issues and causes that
women’s raise issues and causes that impact you because of your gender
impact you because of your gender
impact you because of your gender history tells us that we have made
history tells us that we have made
history tells us that we have made progress over the last century when it
progress over the last century when it
progress over the last century when it comes to women’s rights we have more
comes to women’s rights we have more
comes to women’s rights we have more women in the workforce we have more
women in the workforce we have more
women in the workforce we have more women who are getting educated who are
women who are getting educated who are
women who are getting educated who are have access to different resources but
have access to different resources but
have access to different resources but there’s a difference between history and
there’s a difference between history and
there’s a difference between history and herstory right her story is a story of
herstory right her story is a story of
herstory right her story is a story of every woman who still is not receiving
every woman who still is not receiving
every woman who still is not receiving equal pay for equal work as men it’s a
equal pay for equal work as men it’s a
equal pay for equal work as men it’s a story of every woman who is still
story of every woman who is still
story of every woman who is still subjected to gender-based violence who
subjected to gender-based violence who
subjected to gender-based violence who is still enduring harassment who was
is still enduring harassment who was
is still enduring harassment who was still objectified who is still fighting
still objectified who is still fighting
still objectified who is still fighting for autonomy over her reproductive
for autonomy over her reproductive
for autonomy over her reproductive rights and her ability to make choices
rights and her ability to make choices
rights and her ability to make choices where her own body is concerned who’s
where her own body is concerned who’s
where her own body is concerned who’s fighting for her right to dress the way
fighting for her right to dress the way
fighting for her right to dress the way that she chooses who’s fighting for her
that she chooses who’s fighting for her
that she chooses who’s fighting for her ability to push back against
ability to push back against
ability to push back against institutional barriers in the workplace
institutional barriers in the workplace
institutional barriers in the workplace and in the school plays her story is
and in the school plays her story is
and in the school plays her story is every woman’s story and it tells
every woman’s story and it tells
every woman’s story and it tells that we still have work to do according
that we still have work to do according
that we still have work to do according to the National Women’s Law Center woman
to the National Women’s Law Center woman
to the National Women’s Law Center woman on average earns 78 cents to every
on average earns 78 cents to every
on average earns 78 cents to every dollar that men earn for equal work
dollar that men earn for equal work
dollar that men earn for equal work Fortune 500 companies
Fortune 500 companies
Fortune 500 companies make up two-thirds of the United States
make up two-thirds of the United States
make up two-thirds of the United States gross domestic product yet in 2017 only
gross domestic product yet in 2017 only
gross domestic product yet in 2017 only 32 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were
32 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were
32 CEOs of Fortune 500 companies were woman that’s less than 7 percent and
woman that’s less than 7 percent and
woman that’s less than 7 percent and this despite pew research telling us
this despite pew research telling us
this despite pew research telling us that woman there are more women in the
that woman there are more women in the
that woman there are more women in the United States today than there are men
United States today than there are men
United States today than there are men in 2017 only less than 110 woman in
in 2017 only less than 110 woman in
in 2017 only less than 110 woman in Congress are what only 100 and less than
Congress are what only 100 and less than
Congress are what only 100 and less than 110 Congress members are women including
110 Congress members are women including
110 Congress members are women including both the House and the Senate woman only
both the House and the Senate woman only
both the House and the Senate woman only make up one-fifth of Congress this
make up one-fifth of Congress this
make up one-fifth of Congress this despite the fact that I also believe
despite the fact that I also believe
despite the fact that I also believe like many of you that a woman’s place is
like many of you that a woman’s place is
like many of you that a woman’s place is in the house the House of
in the house the House of
in the house the House of Representatives and the Senate and the
Representatives and the Senate and the
Representatives and the Senate and the White House
according to the National Women’s Law
according to the National Women’s Law Center women are more likely to live in
Center women are more likely to live in
Center women are more likely to live in poverty than men and as if it’s not bad
poverty than men and as if it’s not bad
poverty than men and as if it’s not bad enough that we earn less we actually end
enough that we earn less we actually end
enough that we earn less we actually end up paying more than many men this is
up paying more than many men this is
up paying more than many men this is what’s called the pink tax this is the
what’s called the pink tax this is the
what’s called the pink tax this is the extra charge that’s added on to products
extra charge that’s added on to products
extra charge that’s added on to products and services like life insurance
and services like life insurance
and services like life insurance dry-cleaning grooming products that men
dry-cleaning grooming products that men
dry-cleaning grooming products that men do not end up having to pay there’s no
do not end up having to pay there’s no
do not end up having to pay there’s no justice in that every year on August 26
justice in that every year on August 26
justice in that every year on August 26 we celebrate what’s called women’s
we celebrate what’s called women’s
we celebrate what’s called women’s equality day this is the anniversary of
equality day this is the anniversary of
equality day this is the anniversary of the 19th amendment of the enactment of
the 19th amendment of the enactment of
the 19th amendment of the enactment of the 19th 19th amendment which granted
the 19th 19th amendment which granted
the 19th 19th amendment which granted woman the right to vote it’s important
woman the right to vote it’s important
woman the right to vote it’s important to note the woman of color were not
to note the woman of color were not
to note the woman of color were not actually freely able to exercise this
actually freely able to exercise this
actually freely able to exercise this freedom until many decades later when
freedom until many decades later when
freedom until many decades later when the Voting Rights Act was passed in the
the Voting Rights Act was passed in the
the Voting Rights Act was passed in the 1960s however we know that even though
1960s however we know that even though
1960s however we know that even though it’s important to celebrate the progress
it’s important to celebrate the progress
it’s important to celebrate the progress that we’ve made we still have a lot of
that we’ve made we still have a lot of
that we’ve made we still have a lot of work to do to really truly achieve
work to do to really truly achieve
work to do to really truly achieve gender equality in the United States and
gender equality in the United States and
gender equality in the United States and globally but we can overcome these
globally but we can overcome these
globally but we can overcome these hurdles working together we can make
hurdles working together we can make
hurdles working together we can make sure that women have an equal save
sure that women have an equal save
sure that women have an equal save social currency enables us to do that it
social currency enables us to do that it
social currency enables us to do that it helps us to advocate on issues that we
helps us to advocate on issues that we
helps us to advocate on issues that we care about it allows us to raise
care about it allows us to raise
care about it allows us to raise awareness and to mobilize communities
awareness and to mobilize communities
awareness and to mobilize communities and encourage other people to join us in
and encourage other people to join us in
and encourage other people to join us in our cause so make sure that the next
our cause so make sure that the next
our cause so make sure that the next generation of girls who are growing up
generation of girls who are growing up
generation of girls who are growing up in this world have equal access to
in this world have equal access to
in this world have equal access to opportunities that we do as men or as
opportunities that we do as men or as
opportunities that we do as men or as men do the key is to develop an
men do the key is to develop an
men do the key is to develop an authentic narrative that is true to your
authentic narrative that is true to your
authentic narrative that is true to your principles and to your values that
principles and to your values that
principles and to your values that speaks to who you are as an individual
speaks to who you are as an individual
speaks to who you are as an individual and that does not compromise your
and that does not compromise your
and that does not compromise your principles and it’s also important to
principles and it’s also important to
principles and it’s also important to understand what appeals to other people
understand what appeals to other people
understand what appeals to other people building social currency on an online
building social currency on an online
building social currency on an online setting could be as simple as what
setting could be as simple as what
setting could be as simple as what creating a Facebook page or a Twitter
creating a Facebook page or a Twitter
creating a Facebook page or a Twitter handle something that would allow us to
handle something that would allow us to
handle something that would allow us to enable enable us to develop an online
enable enable us to develop an online
enable enable us to develop an online presence in the physical realm it could
presence in the physical realm it could
presence in the physical realm it could be as simple as making a phone call me
be as simple as making a phone call me
be as simple as making a phone call me is setting up a meeting or
is setting up a meeting or
is setting up a meeting or emailing someone who is a community
emailing someone who is a community
emailing someone who is a community advocate or as an ally who is a
advocate or as an ally who is a
advocate or as an ally who is a community stakeholder in organizations
community stakeholder in organizations
community stakeholder in organizations that help push forward the issues that
that help push forward the issues that
that help push forward the issues that you care about just building those
you care about just building those
you care about just building those relationships introducing yourself and
relationships introducing yourself and
relationships introducing yourself and letting them know that you’re interested
letting them know that you’re interested
letting them know that you’re interested in getting involved and finding out what
in getting involved and finding out what
in getting involved and finding out what role you can play within that
role you can play within that
role you can play within that organization to help expand their work
organization to help expand their work
organization to help expand their work the way that we communicate says a lot
the way that we communicate says a lot
the way that we communicate says a lot about us whether we’re confident do we
about us whether we’re confident do we
about us whether we’re confident do we know what we’re talking about are we
know what we’re talking about are we
know what we’re talking about are we passionate about these issues are we
passionate about these issues are we
passionate about these issues are we relatable are we speaking in a language
relatable are we speaking in a language
relatable are we speaking in a language that others can understand and are we
that others can understand and are we
that others can understand and are we confident social media has become a
confident social media has become a
confident social media has become a dynamic tool to share content promote
dynamic tool to share content promote
dynamic tool to share content promote products and build individual and
products and build individual and
products and build individual and company brands its algorithms reflect
company brands its algorithms reflect
company brands its algorithms reflect our behavior and habits but they also
our behavior and habits but they also
our behavior and habits but they also direct and maneuver our social
direct and maneuver our social
direct and maneuver our social activities understanding how these
activities understanding how these
activities understanding how these algorithms work can really enable us to
algorithms work can really enable us to
algorithms work can really enable us to enhance our social currency amplify our
enhance our social currency amplify our
enhance our social currency amplify our brands and influence more people than we
brands and influence more people than we
brands and influence more people than we ever thought was possible our likes our
ever thought was possible our likes our
ever thought was possible our likes our retweets our posts our shares all of
retweets our posts our shares all of
retweets our posts our shares all of these on social media these are our
these on social media these are our
these on social media these are our digital thumbprint these the communicate
digital thumbprint these the communicate
digital thumbprint these the communicate information about who we are what we
information about who we are what we
information about who we are what we appreciate what we enjoy what appeals to
appreciate what we enjoy what appeals to
appreciate what we enjoy what appeals to us it’s very valuable information
us it’s very valuable information
us it’s very valuable information technology has changed our daily lives
technology has changed our daily lives
technology has changed our daily lives by bringing the world closer together
by bringing the world closer together
by bringing the world closer together it’s provided platforms for us to
it’s provided platforms for us to
it’s provided platforms for us to communicate in ways like never before we
communicate in ways like never before we
communicate in ways like never before we can even shape other people’s
can even shape other people’s
can even shape other people’s perceptions in real-time across multiple
perceptions in real-time across multiple
perceptions in real-time across multiple time zones from all around the world
time zones from all around the world
time zones from all around the world it’s it’s powerful its revolutionary and
it’s it’s powerful its revolutionary and
it’s it’s powerful its revolutionary and it’s something that we can leverage to
it’s something that we can leverage to
it’s something that we can leverage to help bring about positive change I think
help bring about positive change I think
help bring about positive change I think I really began to understand how
I really began to understand how
I really began to understand how normalized social media had become in
normalized social media had become in
normalized social media had become in our lives the day that my mom started
our lives the day that my mom started
our lives the day that my mom started following me on Twitter but it really
following me on Twitter but it really
following me on Twitter but it really hit home the day that I
hit home the day that I
hit home the day that I it’s an uncle who lives in a remote
it’s an uncle who lives in a remote
it’s an uncle who lives in a remote village in Pakistan where they speak
village in Pakistan where they speak
village in Pakistan where they speak little to no English or they have
little to no English or they have
little to no English or they have electricity maybe a few hours a day one
electricity maybe a few hours a day one
electricity maybe a few hours a day one day sent me a friend request on facebook
day sent me a friend request on facebook
day sent me a friend request on facebook all of a sudden this person who I’d
all of a sudden this person who I’d
all of a sudden this person who I’d never met before
never met before
never met before I’ve spoken to maybe twice in my entire
I’ve spoken to maybe twice in my entire
I’ve spoken to maybe twice in my entire life knew more about my activism and
life knew more about my activism and
life knew more about my activism and what was going on in my life
what was going on in my life
what was going on in my life then people within my own closest social
then people within my own closest social
then people within my own closest social dirt networks who were not connected to
dirt networks who were not connected to
dirt networks who were not connected to the on social media it was mind-blowing
the on social media it was mind-blowing
the on social media it was mind-blowing my mom would actually ask me about my
my mom would actually ask me about my
my mom would actually ask me about my activism based on what she learned from
activism based on what she learned from
activism based on what she learned from him like when they were talking about
him like when they were talking about
him like when they were talking about the phone and I was like wait what
the phone and I was like wait what
the phone and I was like wait what there’s no doubt about it in this world
there’s no doubt about it in this world
there’s no doubt about it in this world in today’s world you are inheriting
in today’s world you are inheriting
in today’s world you are inheriting great challenges but you’re also
great challenges but you’re also
great challenges but you’re also inheriting great opportunities all of us
inheriting great opportunities all of us
inheriting great opportunities all of us are gifted with unique talents and
are gifted with unique talents and
are gifted with unique talents and skills one of the greatest opportunities
skills one of the greatest opportunities
skills one of the greatest opportunities of your lifetime is to use those talents
of your lifetime is to use those talents
of your lifetime is to use those talents and skills to leave the world a little
and skills to leave the world a little
and skills to leave the world a little bit better than how you found it so
bit better than how you found it so
bit better than how you found it so whether the cause that appeals to you is
whether the cause that appeals to you is
whether the cause that appeals to you is gender equality or climate change or
gender equality or climate change or
gender equality or climate change or social justice issues debt alleviation
social justice issues debt alleviation
social justice issues debt alleviation eradicating poverty or whatever it is
eradicating poverty or whatever it is
eradicating poverty or whatever it is that sparks a fire in your heart you are
that sparks a fire in your heart you are
that sparks a fire in your heart you are in exactly the right place in your lives
in exactly the right place in your lives
in exactly the right place in your lives to begin that journey to help bring
to begin that journey to help bring
to begin that journey to help bring about positive change in the world so
about positive change in the world so
about positive change in the world so going out of the world launch all of the
going out of the world launch all of the
going out of the world launch all of the good that you possibly can it needs your
good that you possibly can it needs your
good that you possibly can it needs your talents your potential and your
talents your potential and your
talents your potential and your compassion now more than ever but
compassion now more than ever but
compassion now more than ever but remember one thing your job is not to
remember one thing your job is not to
remember one thing your job is not to change the world your job is to never
change the world your job is to never
change the world your job is to never stop trying thank you
stop trying thank you
stop trying thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment