[Music] when I was ten in Trinidad and Tobago in
when I was ten in Trinidad and Tobago in
when I was ten in Trinidad and Tobago in a primary school on a playground
a primary school on a playground
a primary school on a playground four words gripped my heart and set me
four words gripped my heart and set me
four words gripped my heart and set me on a course to look for social justice
on a course to look for social justice
on a course to look for social justice and those four words came to me because
and those four words came to me because
and those four words came to me because among 200 to 300 children every day was
among 200 to 300 children every day was
among 200 to 300 children every day was one one individual whose hair was never
one one individual whose hair was never
one one individual whose hair was never cold whose shirt was never as white and
cold whose shirt was never as white and
cold whose shirt was never as white and as crisp as mine whose skirt was never
as crisp as mine whose skirt was never
as crisp as mine whose skirt was never as pressed and as pleated as mine and
as pressed and as pleated as mine and
as pressed and as pleated as mine and who never wore a decent pair of shoes
who never wore a decent pair of shoes
who never wore a decent pair of shoes and you know we were in that playground
and you know we were in that playground
and you know we were in that playground day in and day out and then one day I
day in and day out and then one day I
day in and day out and then one day I looked at that child and I saw her I saw
looked at that child and I saw her I saw
looked at that child and I saw her I saw her as a human being and it touched me
her as a human being and it touched me
her as a human being and it touched me and the only thing I can do is go home
and the only thing I can do is go home
and the only thing I can do is go home and say mummy how is it possible how is
and say mummy how is it possible how is
and say mummy how is it possible how is it possible that a child could be in a
it possible that a child could be in a
it possible that a child could be in a playground among all of us and no one do
playground among all of us and no one do
playground among all of us and no one do anything to change her circumstance what
anything to change her circumstance what
anything to change her circumstance what can we do and be in the humanitarian
can we do and be in the humanitarian
can we do and be in the humanitarian that my mom was she came in and she
that my mom was she came in and she
that my mom was she came in and she discovered what was happening as it
discovered what was happening as it
discovered what was happening as it turned out this young lady was actually
turned out this young lady was actually
turned out this young lady was actually living in an abandoned bus with her
living in an abandoned bus with her
living in an abandoned bus with her mother and siblings and therefore she
mother and siblings and therefore she
mother and siblings and therefore she could not show up to school as I did
could not show up to school as I did
could not show up to school as I did well that question that I asked at that
well that question that I asked at that
well that question that I asked at that point in my life when I was 10 years old
point in my life when I was 10 years old
point in my life when I was 10 years old what can I do it led to this young lady
what can I do it led to this young lady
what can I do it led to this young lady having a chance an opportunity to win
having a chance an opportunity to win
having a chance an opportunity to win fast forward about a decade I know I’m
fast forward about a decade I know I’m
fast forward about a decade I know I’m about 21 in New York City and against
about 21 in New York City and against
about 21 in New York City and against all odds I am determined to earn a
all odds I am determined to earn a
all odds I am determined to earn a degree in Communication Arts and
degree in Communication Arts and
degree in Communication Arts and thankfully enough my parents were able
thankfully enough my parents were able
thankfully enough my parents were able to cover that cost but they were not
to cover that cost but they were not
to cover that cost but they were not able to cover my living expenses and so
able to cover my living expenses and so
able to cover my living expenses and so I needed to work and so I head out
I needed to work and so I head out
I needed to work and so I head out looking for work and of all jobs that
looking for work and of all jobs that
looking for work and of all jobs that fall into my lap it’s a teaching gig I
fall into my lap it’s a teaching gig I
fall into my lap it’s a teaching gig I know if you had asked me if I was going
know if you had asked me if I was going
know if you had asked me if I was going to be a teacher I would have said no I
to be a teacher I would have said no I
to be a teacher I would have said no I was the worst student that existed I
was the worst student that existed I
was the worst student that existed I gave the teachers the most trouble in my
gave the teachers the most trouble in my
gave the teachers the most trouble in my school and therefore I was never going
school and therefore I was never going
school and therefore I was never going to be a teacher because I know God was
to be a teacher because I know God was
to be a teacher because I know God was wide awake yeah so nevertheless I needed
wide awake yeah so nevertheless I needed
wide awake yeah so nevertheless I needed to work and this is what came and that
to work and this is what came and that
to work and this is what came and that became my passion when in my early days
became my passion when in my early days
became my passion when in my early days of teaching I was running a video
of teaching I was running a video
of teaching I was running a video production class doing some video work
production class doing some video work
production class doing some video work with some young children about 20 of
with some young children about 20 of
with some young children about 20 of them and a little one comes into my room
them and a little one comes into my room
them and a little one comes into my room and she’s sprightly she’s colorful she
and she’s sprightly she’s colorful she
and she’s sprightly she’s colorful she has two different colored socks things
has two different colored socks things
has two different colored socks things in her hair she’s very busy but very
in her hair she’s very busy but very
in her hair she’s very busy but very very very friendly and she comes into my
very very friendly and she comes into my
very very friendly and she comes into my space and she’s looking at me and I said
space and she’s looking at me and I said
space and she’s looking at me and I said oh yes can I help you and she says I
oh yes can I help you and she says I
oh yes can I help you and she says I want to be here I said but you don’t
want to be here I said but you don’t
want to be here I said but you don’t have this class on your schedule so she
have this class on your schedule so she
have this class on your schedule so she says yes but I want to be here I said
says yes but I want to be here I said
says yes but I want to be here I said you don’t belong here she says miss
you don’t belong here she says miss
you don’t belong here she says miss Thompson you are wrong I belong here I
Thompson you are wrong I belong here I
Thompson you are wrong I belong here I said well why don’t you go to the office
said well why don’t you go to the office
said well why don’t you go to the office get it changed and come back and I will
get it changed and come back and I will
get it changed and come back and I will bring you in so she goes to the office
bring you in so she goes to the office
bring you in so she goes to the office gets a chance and she comes back and she
gets a chance and she comes back and she
gets a chance and she comes back and she comes back with such a passion to be the
comes back with such a passion to be the
comes back with such a passion to be the best performer that she can be that I
best performer that she can be that I
best performer that she can be that I hooked into that spirit and I used it as
hooked into that spirit and I used it as
hooked into that spirit and I used it as inspiration to be the best teacher that
inspiration to be the best teacher that
inspiration to be the best teacher that I could be
and then something happened a 14-year
and then something happened a 14-year old boy was shot dead on Madison Avenue
old boy was shot dead on Madison Avenue
old boy was shot dead on Madison Avenue and that question that question came
and that question that question came
and that question that question came back into my heart what can I do was i
back into my heart what can I do was i
back into my heart what can I do was i doing enough the answer to that question
doing enough the answer to that question
doing enough the answer to that question brought life to necessary arts and we
brought life to necessary arts and we
brought life to necessary arts and we ran programs in drama and dance to any
ran programs in drama and dance to any
ran programs in drama and dance to any child who would come off the street from
child who would come off the street from
child who would come off the street from 6:00 to 8:00 in the evening and then
6:00 to 8:00 in the evening and then
6:00 to 8:00 in the evening and then life happened and I had to return to
life happened and I had to return to
life happened and I had to return to Trinidad and Tobago and when I got to
Trinidad and Tobago and when I got to
Trinidad and Tobago and when I got to Trinidad and Tobago I questioned again
Trinidad and Tobago I questioned again
Trinidad and Tobago I questioned again what can I do what are the children of
what can I do what are the children of
what can I do what are the children of my country gaining through the Arts and
my country gaining through the Arts and
my country gaining through the Arts and I decided to register necessary arts as
I decided to register necessary arts as
I decided to register necessary arts as an NGO in Trinidad and Tobago while
an NGO in Trinidad and Tobago while
an NGO in Trinidad and Tobago while working a full-time job and using my
working a full-time job and using my
working a full-time job and using my salary to subsidize the cost of the
salary to subsidize the cost of the
salary to subsidize the cost of the program because I had to do something
program because I had to do something
program because I had to do something and there was a mandate that I said that
and there was a mandate that I said that
and there was a mandate that I said that necessary arts will bring in 10% of its
necessary arts will bring in 10% of its
necessary arts will bring in 10% of its participants as at-risk children any
participants as at-risk children any
participants as at-risk children any at-risk child who wanted to come into
at-risk child who wanted to come into
at-risk child who wanted to come into our program necessary arts found a way
our program necessary arts found a way
our program necessary arts found a way for them to be there and they were to
for them to be there and they were to
for them to be there and they were to make up 10% of our population and we
make up 10% of our population and we
make up 10% of our population and we were able to do that for good seven
were able to do that for good seven
were able to do that for good seven years four years into that something
years four years into that something
years four years into that something happened my mom was diagnosed with
happened my mom was diagnosed with
happened my mom was diagnosed with cancer and three years later she passed
cancer and three years later she passed
cancer and three years later she passed and when she passed I made a life
and when she passed I made a life
and when she passed I made a life decision
decision
decision and the question came up again am i
and the question came up again am i
and the question came up again am i doing enough what can I do well then I
doing enough what can I do well then I
doing enough what can I do well then I decided to travel halfway across the
decided to travel halfway across the
decided to travel halfway across the world and I ended up in the Middle East
world and I ended up in the Middle East
world and I ended up in the Middle East I ended up in Far East Asia Southeast
I ended up in Far East Asia Southeast
I ended up in Far East Asia Southeast Asia and now I’m back in the Middle East
Asia and now I’m back in the Middle East
Asia and now I’m back in the Middle East Dubai and I have a fabulous job in Dubai
Dubai and I have a fabulous job in Dubai
Dubai and I have a fabulous job in Dubai and I am teaching and I clock out at
and I am teaching and I clock out at
and I am teaching and I clock out at 3:30 and I go home and then the question
3:30 and I go home and then the question
3:30 and I go home and then the question starts to come back up Naima what can
starts to come back up Naima what can
starts to come back up Naima what can you do what can you do what can you do
you do what can you do what can you do
you do what can you do what can you do well while I am in this region it makes
well while I am in this region it makes
well while I am in this region it makes complete sense to me to get to the
complete sense to me to get to the
complete sense to me to get to the communities within this region with
communities within this region with
communities within this region with necessary arts and so I register
necessary arts and so I register
necessary arts and so I register necessary yards as a branch here in
necessary yards as a branch here in
necessary yards as a branch here in Dubai and I get on a plane and I travel
Dubai and I get on a plane and I travel
Dubai and I get on a plane and I travel to Kenya now I don’t know anybody in
to Kenya now I don’t know anybody in
to Kenya now I don’t know anybody in Kenya but I want to do something I want
Kenya but I want to do something I want
Kenya but I want to do something I want to feel as if my existence and my talent
to feel as if my existence and my talent
to feel as if my existence and my talent and my gifts are specifically to change
and my gifts are specifically to change
and my gifts are specifically to change people’s lives so I get on that plane
people’s lives so I get on that plane
people’s lives so I get on that plane and I get to Kenya and I tell the travel
and I get to Kenya and I tell the travel
and I get to Kenya and I tell the travel agent listen I don’t want a safari I
agent listen I don’t want a safari I
agent listen I don’t want a safari I don’t want to go jumping up and down
don’t want to go jumping up and down
don’t want to go jumping up and down with the Maasai I want children
with the Maasai I want children
with the Maasai I want children take me to children and we formed the
take me to children and we formed the
take me to children and we formed the program called reach the unreachable and
program called reach the unreachable and
program called reach the unreachable and we covered five areas across Kenya
we covered five areas across Kenya
we covered five areas across Kenya region up to a hundred children per
region up to a hundred children per
region up to a hundred children per location and throughout that year and a
location and throughout that year and a
location and throughout that year and a half of taken reach the unreachable to
half of taken reach the unreachable to
half of taken reach the unreachable to Kenya something happened I was diagnosed
Kenya something happened I was diagnosed
Kenya something happened I was diagnosed with cancer
I thought well what kind of God is this
I thought well what kind of God is this that is going to look at his daughter
that is going to look at his daughter
that is going to look at his daughter and inflict her with this disease and of
and inflict her with this disease and of
and inflict her with this disease and of course my mom had passed and saw the
course my mom had passed and saw the
course my mom had passed and saw the panic in my heart that I will not be
panic in my heart that I will not be
panic in my heart that I will not be able to fulfill what I knew my purpose
able to fulfill what I knew my purpose
able to fulfill what I knew my purpose would be and I laid many nights in so
would be and I laid many nights in so
would be and I laid many nights in so much pain deep in my bones so much pain
much pain deep in my bones so much pain
much pain deep in my bones so much pain from that chemotherapy and I had to ask
from that chemotherapy and I had to ask
from that chemotherapy and I had to ask Naima are you going to let this cancer
Naima are you going to let this cancer
Naima are you going to let this cancer suck the power out of you and take the
suck the power out of you and take the
suck the power out of you and take the opportunities that you have given to
opportunities that you have given to
opportunities that you have given to these children in Kenya away what can I
these children in Kenya away what can I
these children in Kenya away what can I do I asked myself in that pain and the
do I asked myself in that pain and the
do I asked myself in that pain and the answer that came was inspire other
answer that came was inspire other
answer that came was inspire other teachers to go to Kenya and so I
teachers to go to Kenya and so I
teachers to go to Kenya and so I inspired like-minded educators to go to
inspired like-minded educators to go to
inspired like-minded educators to go to Kenya and take reach the unreachable to
Kenya and take reach the unreachable to
Kenya and take reach the unreachable to the children and they did well I
the children and they did well I
the children and they did well I survived cancer and I am completely
survived cancer and I am completely
survived cancer and I am completely cancer-free thank you ah so the question
cancer-free thank you ah so the question
cancer-free thank you ah so the question comes up again in my life and now that
comes up again in my life and now that
comes up again in my life and now that you’re cancer-free what are you gonna do
you’re cancer-free what are you gonna do
you’re cancer-free what are you gonna do I find myself in a country in the Middle
I find myself in a country in the Middle
I find myself in a country in the Middle East standing among almost 40 children
East standing among almost 40 children
East standing among almost 40 children who have survived crisis and conflict
who have survived crisis and conflict
who have survived crisis and conflict and some of the worst atrocities and I
and some of the worst atrocities and I
and some of the worst atrocities and I am standing amidst these children and I
am standing amidst these children and I
am standing amidst these children and I realize I am so inadequate I am in
realize I am so inadequate I am in
realize I am so inadequate I am in adequate there is no way I can help
adequate there is no way I can help
adequate there is no way I can help these kids with everything that I have
these kids with everything that I have
these kids with everything that I have all the talent that I have I cannot help
all the talent that I have I cannot help
all the talent that I have I cannot help them and so the question comes up again
them and so the question comes up again
them and so the question comes up again what can I do and so I go and I have a
what can I do and so I go and I have a
what can I do and so I go and I have a meeting with some psychologists
meeting with some psychologists
meeting with some psychologists who share with me that they too were
who share with me that they too were
who share with me that they too were feeling inadequate and that conventional
feeling inadequate and that conventional
feeling inadequate and that conventional psychiatric methods were no longer
psychiatric methods were no longer
psychiatric methods were no longer enough to work with traumatized children
enough to work with traumatized children
enough to work with traumatized children and that they indeed had to become
and that they indeed had to become
and that they indeed had to become creative and innovative and risk takers
creative and innovative and risk takers
creative and innovative and risk takers and that it would be a good idea to
and that it would be a good idea to
and that it would be a good idea to collaborate with artists to try to find
collaborate with artists to try to find
collaborate with artists to try to find a middle ground where we can reach these
a middle ground where we can reach these
a middle ground where we can reach these children and in that process it occurred
children and in that process it occurred
children and in that process it occurred to me that I could pursue drama therapy
to me that I could pursue drama therapy
to me that I could pursue drama therapy and so the answer to my question what
and so the answer to my question what
and so the answer to my question what can I do was do some research find out
can I do was do some research find out
can I do was do some research find out more about drama therapy and pursue it
more about drama therapy and pursue it
more about drama therapy and pursue it and so I did and so now I am an intern
and so I did and so now I am an intern
and so I did and so now I am an intern drama therapist registered with the
drama therapist registered with the
drama therapist registered with the North American drama therapy Association
North American drama therapy Association
North American drama therapy Association in San Francisco and I am in the middle
in San Francisco and I am in the middle
in San Francisco and I am in the middle of studies to earn that certification
well in my quest to understand drama
well in my quest to understand drama therapy I wanted to try it out with a
therapy I wanted to try it out with a
therapy I wanted to try it out with a with a very specific program so I took
with a very specific program so I took
with a very specific program so I took myself to Tobago and with a team of us
myself to Tobago and with a team of us
myself to Tobago and with a team of us and we went to work with about 20 young
and we went to work with about 20 young
and we went to work with about 20 young people and it was there that I met a
people and it was there that I met a
people and it was there that I met a young man named diamond we set out to
young man named diamond we set out to
young man named diamond we set out to tell their stories we set out to have
tell their stories we set out to have
tell their stories we set out to have them be the protagonists in their own
them be the protagonists in their own
them be the protagonists in their own stories as we role-played their
stories as we role-played their
stories as we role-played their real-life stories and diamond story had
real-life stories and diamond story had
real-life stories and diamond story had to do with being an athlete diamond was
to do with being an athlete diamond was
to do with being an athlete diamond was representing Trinidad and Tobago as a
representing Trinidad and Tobago as a
representing Trinidad and Tobago as a track star and he took the block and
track star and he took the block and
track star and he took the block and before the gun could go off he went off
before the gun could go off he went off
before the gun could go off he went off and he held that failure that false
and he held that failure that false
and he held that failure that false start and it broke him and when he
start and it broke him and when he
start and it broke him and when he looked to his community for support they
looked to his community for support they
looked to his community for support they crushed him in the roleplay we rewind
crushed him in the roleplay we rewind
crushed him in the roleplay we rewind the story he takes the block again and
the story he takes the block again and
the story he takes the block again and before he can go off before the gun
before he can go off before the gun
before he can go off before the gun could go off he goes off and again he
could go off he goes off and again he
could go off he goes off and again he feels that failure but this time in the
feels that failure but this time in the
feels that failure but this time in the roleplay his community lifts him up and
roleplay his community lifts him up and
roleplay his community lifts him up and in that moment Dimon experiences what we
in that moment Dimon experiences what we
in that moment Dimon experiences what we call catharsis such a significant change
call catharsis such a significant change
call catharsis such a significant change in emotion that brought him to tears and
in emotion that brought him to tears and
in emotion that brought him to tears and to the realization that he can succeed
to the realization that he can succeed
to the realization that he can succeed and in that moment I realized that I had
and in that moment I realized that I had
and in that moment I realized that I had made the right choice and that pursuing
made the right choice and that pursuing
made the right choice and that pursuing drama therapy was absolutely the way to
drama therapy was absolutely the way to
drama therapy was absolutely the way to go the question what can I do when I was
go the question what can I do when I was
go the question what can I do when I was 10 years old in a playground has stayed
10 years old in a playground has stayed
10 years old in a playground has stayed with me my entire life and it drives me
with me my entire life and it drives me
with me my entire life and it drives me and guides me to do the best that I can
and guides me to do the best that I can
and guides me to do the best that I can do for Humanity and so the question is
do for Humanity and so the question is
do for Humanity and so the question is what can you do
can I urge you to dig deep for the power
can I urge you to dig deep for the power of you to ask the question what can I do
of you to ask the question what can I do
of you to ask the question what can I do might I make a suggestion that perhaps
might I make a suggestion that perhaps
might I make a suggestion that perhaps the next time you take a walk in the
the next time you take a walk in the
the next time you take a walk in the mall that you look for the hired help
mall that you look for the hired help
mall that you look for the hired help who is walking behind the privileged and
who is walking behind the privileged and
who is walking behind the privileged and let your eyes meet theirs look above
let your eyes meet theirs look above
let your eyes meet theirs look above their foreheads and see the words I have
their foreheads and see the words I have
their foreheads and see the words I have value and offer up a smile to that
value and offer up a smile to that
value and offer up a smile to that person or might I ask you on your next
person or might I ask you on your next
person or might I ask you on your next vacation if you are traveling for about
vacation if you are traveling for about
vacation if you are traveling for about ten days to take two of those days and
ten days to take two of those days and
ten days to take two of those days and go to a remote village in a developing
go to a remote village in a developing
go to a remote village in a developing nation and sit with a child with a book
nation and sit with a child with a book
nation and sit with a child with a book and read and see the images and the
and read and see the images and the
and read and see the images and the words come off of that page through your
words come off of that page through your
words come off of that page through your voice and touch a child that’s what I
voice and touch a child that’s what I
voice and touch a child that’s what I could suggest I don’t know what you
could suggest I don’t know what you
could suggest I don’t know what you would do but might I please add you to
would do but might I please add you to
would do but might I please add you to dig deep and recognize the power of you
dig deep and recognize the power of you
dig deep and recognize the power of you and act upon it by asking what can I do
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment