[Music] I believe society is connected and we
I believe society is connected and we
I believe society is connected and we must work past our comfort zones to
must work past our comfort zones to
must work past our comfort zones to build bridges I grew up in a place where
build bridges I grew up in a place where
build bridges I grew up in a place where as manicured vibrant pretty I would let
as manicured vibrant pretty I would let
as manicured vibrant pretty I would let it later learn about neighborhoods that
it later learn about neighborhoods that
it later learn about neighborhoods that were sick suffering Beauty had left
were sick suffering Beauty had left
were sick suffering Beauty had left decades past this motivated me I decided
decades past this motivated me I decided
decades past this motivated me I decided I wanted to have a dream of becoming an
I wanted to have a dream of becoming an
I wanted to have a dream of becoming an affordable housing developer I wanted to
affordable housing developer I wanted to
affordable housing developer I wanted to turn these sick building sick
turn these sick building sick
turn these sick building sick communities around to have healthy
communities around to have healthy
communities around to have healthy environments on the Crete create hope
environments on the Crete create hope
environments on the Crete create hope where they’re suffering I want to
where they’re suffering I want to
where they’re suffering I want to restore beauty where none has existed
restore beauty where none has existed
restore beauty where none has existed for decades in order to do all this had
for decades in order to do all this had
for decades in order to do all this had to become a business person that’s what
to become a business person that’s what
to become a business person that’s what they called it when I first started now
they called it when I first started now
they called it when I first started now it’s entrepreneur so when I was in sixth
it’s entrepreneur so when I was in sixth
it’s entrepreneur so when I was in sixth grade I set out to start my
grade I set out to start my
grade I set out to start my entrepreneurial endeavors
I decided to be a grass cutter because
I decided to be a grass cutter because there’s grass in my neighborhood it
there’s grass in my neighborhood it
there’s grass in my neighborhood it needs to be cut so I went out to my
needs to be cut so I went out to my
needs to be cut so I went out to my neighbors and I was quickly met with
neighbors and I was quickly met with
neighbors and I was quickly met with objection you wouldn’t you couldn’t
objection you wouldn’t you couldn’t
objection you wouldn’t you couldn’t imagine how persnickety my neighbors
imagine how persnickety my neighbors
imagine how persnickety my neighbors were about their grass there’s a such
were about their grass there’s a such
were about their grass there’s a such thing as professional lawn care people
thing as professional lawn care people
thing as professional lawn care people instead of a young man with a lawn mower
instead of a young man with a lawn mower
instead of a young man with a lawn mower so I had to quickly overcome those
so I had to quickly overcome those
so I had to quickly overcome those objections by figuring out how I can
objections by figuring out how I can
objections by figuring out how I can provide a near professional service at
provide a near professional service at
provide a near professional service at half the cost I was able to do that and
half the cost I was able to do that and
half the cost I was able to do that and then a mass about a dozen or so clients
then a mass about a dozen or so clients
then a mass about a dozen or so clients when I of which I’ve kept throughout my
when I of which I’ve kept throughout my
when I of which I’ve kept throughout my high school years my second bridge that
high school years my second bridge that
high school years my second bridge that I was able to create on my 16th birthday
I was able to create on my 16th birthday
I was able to create on my 16th birthday I decided to go to a white tablecloth
I decided to go to a white tablecloth
I decided to go to a white tablecloth restaurant in my neighborhood I
restaurant in my neighborhood I
restaurant in my neighborhood I approached a restaurant toward Aksum for
approached a restaurant toward Aksum for
approached a restaurant toward Aksum for a job as a busboy he hired me told me to
a job as a busboy he hired me told me to
a job as a busboy he hired me told me to come back on a certain day two following
come back on a certain day two following
come back on a certain day two following week I came back and the interviewing
week I came back and the interviewing
week I came back and the interviewing process was to be known as he’ll week
process was to be known as he’ll week
process was to be known as he’ll week and that’s exactly what it was
and that’s exactly what it was
and that’s exactly what it was being a busboy is hot there’s no brakes
being a busboy is hot there’s no brakes
being a busboy is hot there’s no brakes it’s dirty
it’s dirty
it’s dirty is stressful it’s hell week
is stressful it’s hell week
is stressful it’s hell week so I almost quit at first two or three
so I almost quit at first two or three
so I almost quit at first two or three days but then I decided to look at what
days but then I decided to look at what
days but then I decided to look at what the job function of a busboy was and
the job function of a busboy was and
the job function of a busboy was and after I looked at that I started to find
after I looked at that I started to find
after I looked at that I started to find in efficiencies most of the wait staff
in efficiencies most of the wait staff
in efficiencies most of the wait staff or Busboys did what I call wait-and-see
or Busboys did what I call wait-and-see
or Busboys did what I call wait-and-see they stand in the corner and wait to see
they stand in the corner and wait to see
they stand in the corner and wait to see who comes through the door then they get
who comes through the door then they get
who comes through the door then they get water then they put it on table it’s
water then they put it on table it’s
water then they put it on table it’s wait and see so I developed a small
wait and see so I developed a small
wait and see so I developed a small innovation within the restaurant towards
innovation within the restaurant towards
innovation within the restaurant towards organization where he was able to save
organization where he was able to save
organization where he was able to save on his labor costs by having less
on his labor costs by having less
on his labor costs by having less Busboys and I was able to raise my
Busboys and I was able to raise my
Busboys and I was able to raise my revenue by managing the entire waitstaff
revenue by managing the entire waitstaff
revenue by managing the entire waitstaff so now as a 16 year old kid you can
so now as a 16 year old kid you can
so now as a 16 year old kid you can imagine do the math if you have $30 per
imagine do the math if you have $30 per
imagine do the math if you have $30 per waitress per night that’s pretty good
waitress per night that’s pretty good
waitress per night that’s pretty good for a six-year-old kid that’s my one of
for a six-year-old kid that’s my one of
for a six-year-old kid that’s my one of my second bridges I learned how to make
my second bridges I learned how to make
my second bridges I learned how to make moving toward actually pursuing my dream
moving toward actually pursuing my dream
moving toward actually pursuing my dream I was 19 years old and undergrad at
I was 19 years old and undergrad at
I was 19 years old and undergrad at DePaul University life started to come
DePaul University life started to come
DePaul University life started to come fast I started to become a young man
fast I started to become a young man
fast I started to become a young man with grown man bills so I learned how to
with grown man bills so I learned how to
with grown man bills so I learned how to buy my first small single-family home I
buy my first small single-family home I
buy my first small single-family home I didn’t have all the resources to buy it
didn’t have all the resources to buy it
didn’t have all the resources to buy it and do the rehab but I found folks that
and do the rehab but I found folks that
and do the rehab but I found folks that at the time needed help getting out of
at the time needed help getting out of
at the time needed help getting out of their homes because there was distress
their homes because there was distress
their homes because there was distress in the actual physical asset in other
in the actual physical asset in other
in the actual physical asset in other words the asset needed to be rehabbed so
words the asset needed to be rehabbed so
words the asset needed to be rehabbed so I would go after these owners they
I would go after these owners they
I would go after these owners they couldn’t sell to any other rehabber and
couldn’t sell to any other rehabber and
couldn’t sell to any other rehabber and present them with an opportunity where
present them with an opportunity where
present them with an opportunity where they keep everything above their ask
they keep everything above their ask
they keep everything above their ask excuse me they keep everything below
excuse me they keep everything below
excuse me they keep everything below their ask and I keep everything above in
their ask and I keep everything above in
their ask and I keep everything above in simple terms if a house costs $1 I put
simple terms if a house costs $1 I put
simple terms if a house costs $1 I put another dollar and sell it at $3 for
another dollar and sell it at $3 for
another dollar and sell it at $3 for profit they get what they want I get
profit they get what they want I get
profit they get what they want I get what I wanted I quickly learned that
what I wanted I quickly learned that
what I wanted I quickly learned that without me a lot of these folks
without me a lot of these folks
without me a lot of these folks be either bankrupt or the credit would
be either bankrupt or the credit would
be either bankrupt or the credit would be destroyed because they couldn’t pay
be destroyed because they couldn’t pay
be destroyed because they couldn’t pay off the mortgages that were on these
off the mortgages that were on these
off the mortgages that were on these houses fast forward to today 2017 my
houses fast forward to today 2017 my
houses fast forward to today 2017 my firm is now grown to be a construction
firm is now grown to be a construction
firm is now grown to be a construction and construction management firm we
and construction management firm we
and construction management firm we build new construction houses in some of
build new construction houses in some of
build new construction houses in some of the port on quote best neighborhoods and
the port on quote best neighborhoods and
the port on quote best neighborhoods and worst neighborhoods and also complete
worst neighborhoods and also complete
worst neighborhoods and also complete investment properties in those same
investment properties in those same
investment properties in those same areas now that I’ve took taking you
areas now that I’ve took taking you
areas now that I’ve took taking you through my journey as a bridge builder
through my journey as a bridge builder
through my journey as a bridge builder I’d like to give you three examples of
I’d like to give you three examples of
I’d like to give you three examples of how bridge building can lead to a
how bridge building can lead to a
how bridge building can lead to a positive outcome first example locally
positive outcome first example locally
positive outcome first example locally gender and community locally there’s two
gender and community locally there’s two
gender and community locally there’s two communities or subset of communities
communities or subset of communities
communities or subset of communities that exist in the Chicagoland North
that exist in the Chicagoland North
that exist in the Chicagoland North Shore South Shore to statistically
Shore South Shore to statistically
Shore South Shore to statistically different places on the map so anything
different places on the map so anything
different places on the map so anything that they have in common is Lake
that they have in common is Lake
that they have in common is Lake Michigan income employment education
Michigan income employment education
Michigan income employment education housing race both very very different
housing race both very very different
housing race both very very different however there’s bridges being built and
however there’s bridges being built and
however there’s bridges being built and maintained every day with these two very
maintained every day with these two very
maintained every day with these two very different parts of our beautiful city
different parts of our beautiful city
different parts of our beautiful city one North Shore banks and other
one North Shore banks and other
one North Shore banks and other financial institutions routinely partner
financial institutions routinely partner
financial institutions routinely partner up and/or invest in the apartment
up and/or invest in the apartment
up and/or invest in the apartment buildings and provide opportunities for
buildings and provide opportunities for
buildings and provide opportunities for first-time homebuyers the outcome is new
first-time homebuyers the outcome is new
first-time homebuyers the outcome is new apartments mean less blight and also
apartments mean less blight and also
apartments mean less blight and also gives first-time homebuyers the
gives first-time homebuyers the
gives first-time homebuyers the opportunity to create wealth for
opportunity to create wealth for
opportunity to create wealth for themselves and generationally it is said
themselves and generationally it is said
themselves and generationally it is said that folks that own homes can then
that folks that own homes can then
that folks that own homes can then afford to pay for their child’s college
afford to pay for their child’s college
afford to pay for their child’s college education more education means a better
education more education means a better
education more education means a better job which circles back to the
job which circles back to the
job which circles back to the neighborhoods creates stability
neighborhoods creates stability
neighborhoods creates stability – there’s several social organizations
– there’s several social organizations
– there’s several social organizations that provide mission based initiatives
that provide mission based initiatives
that provide mission based initiatives they range from after-school programs to
they range from after-school programs to
they range from after-school programs to voucher programs what this does allows
voucher programs what this does allows
voucher programs what this does allows the outcome of this allows a harvesting
the outcome of this allows a harvesting
the outcome of this allows a harvesting of talent these communities that are
of talent these communities that are
of talent these communities that are being overlooked have several avenues of
being overlooked have several avenues of
being overlooked have several avenues of which there’s young talent that just is
which there’s young talent that just is
which there’s young talent that just is waiting to be found
finally Northshore currently is
finally Northshore currently is providing health care opportunities for
providing health care opportunities for
providing health care opportunities for folks down the south shore whereas the
folks down the south shore whereas the
folks down the south shore whereas the net result is access to affordable
net result is access to affordable
net result is access to affordable health care and then it’s also providing
health care and then it’s also providing
health care and then it’s also providing commercial real estate viability they’re
commercial real estate viability they’re
commercial real estate viability they’re taking dilapidated buildings and
taking dilapidated buildings and
taking dilapidated buildings and providing hubs for their offices which
providing hubs for their offices which
providing hubs for their offices which then in turn provides job creation and
then in turn provides job creation and
then in turn provides job creation and viable business corridors secondly my
viable business corridors secondly my
viable business corridors secondly my second example of building a bridge will
second example of building a bridge will
second example of building a bridge will will be viewed through the lens of
will be viewed through the lens of
will be viewed through the lens of gender have we seen the movie hidden
gender have we seen the movie hidden
gender have we seen the movie hidden figures so John Glenn in 1962 created a
figures so John Glenn in 1962 created a
figures so John Glenn in 1962 created a bridge with three women Katherine
bridge with three women Katherine
bridge with three women Katherine Johnson Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn
Johnson Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn
Johnson Mary Jackson and Dorothy Vaughn not only were there three women there
not only were there three women there
not only were there three women there were three African American
were three African American
were three African American mathematicians and back in 1962 it was
mathematicians and back in 1962 it was
mathematicians and back in 1962 it was socially different maybe right
socially different maybe right
socially different maybe right hopefully so John Glenn was able to
hopefully so John Glenn was able to
hopefully so John Glenn was able to reach out to these women to create the
reach out to these women to create the
reach out to these women to create the possibility of safely going into orbit
possibility of safely going into orbit
possibility of safely going into orbit and safely returning it is said because
and safely returning it is said because
and safely returning it is said because of this partnership because of this
of this partnership because of this
of this partnership because of this bridge John Glenn was able to
bridge John Glenn was able to
bridge John Glenn was able to successfully orbit the earth three times
successfully orbit the earth three times
successfully orbit the earth three times and come back home
and come back home
and come back home which led us let us do the space race
which led us let us do the space race
which led us let us do the space race again Steve Russians my third example is
again Steve Russians my third example is
again Steve Russians my third example is near and dear and I’ll speak a little
near and dear and I’ll speak a little
near and dear and I’ll speak a little bit about my work on this it’s community
bit about my work on this it’s community
bit about my work on this it’s community bridge building currently our community
bridge building currently our community
bridge building currently our community is in crisis it’s becoming an island
is in crisis it’s becoming an island
is in crisis it’s becoming an island what I call the world we do well in Oak
what I call the world we do well in Oak
what I call the world we do well in Oak Park but 15 minutes away from here we
Park but 15 minutes away from here we
Park but 15 minutes away from here we don’t do so well or we do well then
don’t do so well or we do well then
don’t do so well or we do well then universe Chicago ten minutes south of
universe Chicago ten minutes south of
universe Chicago ten minutes south of there we don’t do so well so we’re
there we don’t do so well so we’re
there we don’t do so well so we’re actually going out and creating
actually going out and creating
actually going out and creating mentorship programs and reaching out to
mentorship programs and reaching out to
mentorship programs and reaching out to at-risk youth to provide jobs where
at-risk youth to provide jobs where
at-risk youth to provide jobs where they’re doing everything from demolition
they’re doing everything from demolition
they’re doing everything from demolition to buildings to security to carpentry
to buildings to security to carpentry
to buildings to security to carpentry what that does is that allows them have
what that does is that allows them have
what that does is that allows them have a different lens of the world they see
a different lens of the world they see
a different lens of the world they see folks like me that get dressed up and
folks like me that get dressed up and
folks like me that get dressed up and teach them a skill and motivate them the
teach them a skill and motivate them the
teach them a skill and motivate them the net effect of that is the areas of which
net effect of that is the areas of which
net effect of that is the areas of which we’re developing are now becoming hubs
we’re developing are now becoming hubs
we’re developing are now becoming hubs for hope you’re taking the worst crop of
for hope you’re taking the worst crop of
for hope you’re taking the worst crop of folks turning them around and they
folks turning them around and they
folks turning them around and they spread the word so that now the
spread the word so that now the
spread the word so that now the communities that we’re working on are
communities that we’re working on are
communities that we’re working on are viable why should we care about bridge
viable why should we care about bridge
viable why should we care about bridge building
currently if we turn on the news or the
currently if we turn on the news or the newspaper we see a lot of non
newspaper we see a lot of non
newspaper we see a lot of non bridge-building a lot of separation a
bridge-building a lot of separation a
bridge-building a lot of separation a lot of breakdown in society and what
lot of breakdown in society and what
lot of breakdown in society and what we’re about the essence of bridge
we’re about the essence of bridge
we’re about the essence of bridge building is creating the opportunity to
building is creating the opportunity to
building is creating the opportunity to succeed for everyone
succeed for everyone
succeed for everyone levels of success are different but
levels of success are different but
levels of success are different but everyone should have an opportunity to
everyone should have an opportunity to
everyone should have an opportunity to win steps of building a bridge be open
win steps of building a bridge be open
win steps of building a bridge be open to partnership I gave the example of
to partnership I gave the example of
to partnership I gave the example of John Glenn and the three mathematicians
John Glenn and the three mathematicians
John Glenn and the three mathematicians without that openness no innovation
without that openness no innovation
without that openness no innovation would have happened
would have happened
would have happened think about your daily lives of what
think about your daily lives of what
think about your daily lives of what partnerships you can create second be
partnerships you can create second be
partnerships you can create second be willing to accept help from unlikely
willing to accept help from unlikely
willing to accept help from unlikely sources this is important to me because
sources this is important to me because
sources this is important to me because I’m the only man in Oak Park woman right
I’m the only man in Oak Park woman right
I’m the only man in Oak Park woman right right
in the example I gave about the young
in the example I gave about the young youth I don’t come from that background
youth I don’t come from that background
youth I don’t come from that background it’s it’s it’s an opportunity to create
it’s it’s it’s an opportunity to create
it’s it’s it’s an opportunity to create change create a bridge and stay
change create a bridge and stay
change create a bridge and stay open-minded and help me work past my
open-minded and help me work past my
open-minded and help me work past my comfort zones of type of people I’m used
comfort zones of type of people I’m used
comfort zones of type of people I’m used to dealing with
to dealing with
to dealing with lastly the bridge the bridge building
lastly the bridge the bridge building
lastly the bridge the bridge building process is not easy much like building a
process is not easy much like building a
process is not easy much like building a house or a building the partners that
house or a building the partners that
house or a building the partners that you go out and cultivate the folks that
you go out and cultivate the folks that
you go out and cultivate the folks that you try to work with be prepared for
you try to work with be prepared for
you try to work with be prepared for failure or obstacles but have a clear
failure or obstacles but have a clear
failure or obstacles but have a clear end goal so that you can immediately
end goal so that you can immediately
end goal so that you can immediately make adjustments which leaves me with
make adjustments which leaves me with
make adjustments which leaves me with this if you want to go fast go alone if
this if you want to go fast go alone if
this if you want to go fast go alone if you want to go far go together
you want to go far go together
you want to go far go together let’s build a bridge
let’s build a bridge
let’s build a bridge [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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