destiny and fate people think they’re the same thing
the same thing
the same thing but they’re not fate is fixed fate is
but they’re not fate is fixed fate is
but they’re not fate is fixed fate is something you come into this world with
something you come into this world with
something you come into this world with it
it
it you can’t control like your eye colour
you can’t control like your eye colour
you can’t control like your eye colour eventually your height the color of your
eventually your height the color of your
eventually your height the color of your skin but destiny is something that’s
skin but destiny is something that’s
skin but destiny is something that’s fluid
fluid
fluid I believe destiny is something we can
I believe destiny is something we can
I believe destiny is something we can create I believe destiny is the future
create I believe destiny is the future
create I believe destiny is the future that we can dream that we choose and
that we can dream that we choose and
that we can dream that we choose and I’ve dedicated a good part of my life to
I’ve dedicated a good part of my life to
I’ve dedicated a good part of my life to making destiny come true and reimagining
making destiny come true and reimagining
making destiny come true and reimagining it for 28 years I’ve been a dance
it for 28 years I’ve been a dance
it for 28 years I’ve been a dance educator an artistic director an
educator an artistic director an
educator an artistic director an executive director at an organization
executive director at an organization
executive director at an organization called destiny Art Center appropriately
called destiny Art Center appropriately
called destiny Art Center appropriately named and not by accident
named and not by accident
named and not by accident destiny Art Center is an arts education
destiny Art Center is an arts education
destiny Art Center is an arts education and violence prevention center based in
and violence prevention center based in
and violence prevention center based in Oakland California we teach dance
Oakland California we teach dance
Oakland California we teach dance theater martial arts self-defense
theater martial arts self-defense
theater martial arts self-defense conflict resolution and media arts to
conflict resolution and media arts to
conflict resolution and media arts to youth ages 3 to 24 our mission is to
youth ages 3 to 24 our mission is to
youth ages 3 to 24 our mission is to inspire and ignite social change through
inspire and ignite social change through
inspire and ignite social change through the arts because we know that it’s often
the arts because we know that it’s often
the arts because we know that it’s often the artists who reshape and reimagine
the artists who reshape and reimagine
the artists who reshape and reimagine our world and if we want to create a
our world and if we want to create a
our world and if we want to create a world that’s best for everyone if we
world that’s best for everyone if we
world that’s best for everyone if we want to create justice and equity we
want to create justice and equity we
want to create justice and equity we have so much to learn from the artists
have so much to learn from the artists
have so much to learn from the artists let me show you what I’m talking about
I haven’t seen many places like destiny
I haven’t seen many places like destiny just to really express myself just to
just to really express myself just to
just to really express myself just to try to be free dancing and acting and
try to be free dancing and acting and
try to be free dancing and acting and singing and all of that is a way to
singing and all of that is a way to
singing and all of that is a way to express yourself a safe place anyone can
express yourself a safe place anyone can
express yourself a safe place anyone can come and learn dance and other martial
come and learn dance and other martial
come and learn dance and other martial arts
the task is to try and live our lives in
the task is to try and live our lives in the way that we envision freedom looking
the way that we envision freedom looking
the way that we envision freedom looking like feeling like you should know that
like feeling like you should know that
like feeling like you should know that we are holding together the broken
we are holding together the broken
we are holding together the broken tatters of a broken economy and a broken
tatters of a broken economy and a broken
tatters of a broken economy and a broken democracy how do we hear each other how
democracy how do we hear each other how
democracy how do we hear each other how do we reconcile the conflict in a
do we reconcile the conflict in a
do we reconcile the conflict in a peaceful way in martial arts we really
peaceful way in martial arts we really
peaceful way in martial arts we really have to focus there translates over to
have to focus there translates over to
have to focus there translates over to their academics each spell represents
their academics each spell represents
their academics each spell represents what they’ve learned how long they’ve
what they’ve learned how long they’ve
what they’ve learned how long they’ve been in the Hall it’s also really cool
been in the Hall it’s also really cool
been in the Hall it’s also really cool in a martial arts program to see our
in a martial arts program to see our
in a martial arts program to see our young people grow with their confidence
young people grow with their confidence
young people grow with their confidence they feel more connected to society and
they feel more connected to society and
they feel more connected to society and want to actually affect change and where
want to actually affect change and where
want to actually affect change and where they see injustice to address it it’s
they see injustice to address it it’s
they see injustice to address it it’s important to learn what’s going on in
important to learn what’s going on in
important to learn what’s going on in the world I don’t really hear about it
the world I don’t really hear about it
the world I don’t really hear about it in school so I kind of have to go to
in school so I kind of have to go to
in school so I kind of have to go to destiny to learn about it I learned a
destiny to learn about it I learned a
destiny to learn about it I learned a lot about racism and how people battle
lot about racism and how people battle
lot about racism and how people battle it and making an impact on other
it and making an impact on other
it and making an impact on other people’s views it calls us to make a
people’s views it calls us to make a
people’s views it calls us to make a difference now
difference now
difference now [Music]
[Music]
[Music] and then don’t take no x-ray to see
and then don’t take no x-ray to see
and then don’t take no x-ray to see right Domus man
you should treat everybody with respect
you should treat everybody with respect and equity because everybody deserves a
and equity because everybody deserves a
and equity because everybody deserves a chance at a good life we also need to go
chance at a good life we also need to go
chance at a good life we also need to go to where young people are and we serve
to where young people are and we serve
to where young people are and we serve thousands of young people that way
thousands of young people that way
thousands of young people that way destiny partners with schools and
destiny partners with schools and
destiny partners with schools and communities because they are really
communities because they are really
communities because they are really trying to change the lives of under
trying to change the lives of under
trying to change the lives of under serves you it helps youth become their
serves you it helps youth become their
serves you it helps youth become their biggest self so that when they leave
biggest self so that when they leave
biggest self so that when they leave here they never dance again if they
here they never dance again if they
here they never dance again if they don’t ever study martial arts again that
don’t ever study martial arts again that
don’t ever study martial arts again that said that part of themselves is still
said that part of themselves is still
said that part of themselves is still there destiny Art Center serves over
there destiny Art Center serves over
there destiny Art Center serves over 3,000 young people in our Center in
3,000 young people in our Center in
3,000 young people in our Center in North Oakland and in public schools
North Oakland and in public schools
North Oakland and in public schools community centers and juvenile halls
community centers and juvenile halls
community centers and juvenile halls throughout the Bay Area
throughout the Bay Area
throughout the Bay Area we have to dance theatre companies some
we have to dance theatre companies some
we have to dance theatre companies some of the work that you saw up there was
of the work that you saw up there was
of the work that you saw up there was from them and they perform for up to
from them and they perform for up to
from them and they perform for up to 20,000 audience members every single
20,000 audience members every single
20,000 audience members every single year I for the last 25 years have
year I for the last 25 years have
year I for the last 25 years have co-directed the destiny arts youth
co-directed the destiny arts youth
co-directed the destiny arts youth performance company which is our team
performance company which is our team
performance company which is our team dance theater company so in essence for
dance theater company so in essence for
dance theater company so in essence for most of my 52 years social justice
most of my 52 years social justice
most of my 52 years social justice creativity and community have been right
creativity and community have been right
creativity and community have been right at the center of my life for better or
at the center of my life for better or
at the center of my life for better or for worse and it all started with my
for worse and it all started with my
for worse and it all started with my parents my parents are both social
parents my parents are both social
parents my parents are both social activists my stepmother is a social
activists my stepmother is a social
activists my stepmother is a social activist my stepmother and my mother are
activist my stepmother and my mother are
activist my stepmother and my mother are both visual artists my mother is
both visual artists my mother is
both visual artists my mother is african-american
african-american
african-american my father is white they got married and
my father is white they got married and
my father is white they got married and had me in the 60s when it was still
had me in the 60s when it was still
had me in the 60s when it was still illegal in many states for interracial
illegal in many states for interracial
illegal in many states for interracial couples to get married so in a way
couples to get married so in a way
couples to get married so in a way social justice is just in my blood and
social justice is just in my blood and
social justice is just in my blood and dance is also in my blood from the time
dance is also in my blood from the time
dance is also in my blood from the time I was little five years old I knew I
I was little five years old I knew I
I was little five years old I knew I wanted to be a dancer so I trained
wanted to be a dancer so I trained
wanted to be a dancer so I trained really hard in ballet and modern dance I
really hard in ballet and modern dance I
really hard in ballet and modern dance I performed in professional touring dance
performed in professional touring dance
performed in professional touring dance companies for many years and then I met
companies for many years and then I met
companies for many years and then I met the dance Brigade the dance Brigade is a
the dance Brigade the dance Brigade is a
the dance Brigade the dance Brigade is a fear
fear
fear feminist dance theater company out of
feminist dance theater company out of
feminist dance theater company out of San Francisco and they really brought
San Francisco and they really brought
San Francisco and they really brought together my passion for social justice
together my passion for social justice
together my passion for social justice and my passion for dance they were
and my passion for dance they were
and my passion for dance they were perfect for me and eventually inspired
perfect for me and eventually inspired
perfect for me and eventually inspired by that work I started the Destiny arts
by that work I started the Destiny arts
by that work I started the Destiny arts youth performance company and in that
youth performance company and in that
youth performance company and in that company I co-create original productions
company I co-create original productions
company I co-create original productions every single year with a group of
every single year with a group of
every single year with a group of teenagers to highlight the matter the
teenagers to highlight the matter the
teenagers to highlight the matter the the issues that matter the most of them
the issues that matter the most of them
the issues that matter the most of them issues like cyber bullying and lack of
issues like cyber bullying and lack of
issues like cyber bullying and lack of self esteem issues like racism and
self esteem issues like racism and
self esteem issues like racism and racial profiling issues like sexism and
racial profiling issues like sexism and
racial profiling issues like sexism and gentrification now if you know teenagers
gentrification now if you know teenagers
gentrification now if you know teenagers you’ve heard them say that’s not fair
you’ve heard them say that’s not fair
you’ve heard them say that’s not fair well my job as hard as it can be some
well my job as hard as it can be some
well my job as hard as it can be some days is to channel that obsession with
days is to channel that obsession with
days is to channel that obsession with fairness into a commitment to social
fairness into a commitment to social
fairness into a commitment to social justice my job is to channel their sense
justice my job is to channel their sense
justice my job is to channel their sense of annoyance and lack of agency into a
of annoyance and lack of agency into a
of annoyance and lack of agency into a knowing that they have the power to make
knowing that they have the power to make
knowing that they have the power to make an impact in a positive way on the world
an impact in a positive way on the world
an impact in a positive way on the world around them and they do that by telling
around them and they do that by telling
around them and they do that by telling their personal stories often
their personal stories often
their personal stories often excruciating ly painful and just as
excruciating ly painful and just as
excruciating ly painful and just as often ecstatically liberating they tell
often ecstatically liberating they tell
often ecstatically liberating they tell their stories through their bodies they
their stories through their bodies they
their stories through their bodies they challenge audiences to revision the
challenge audiences to revision the
challenge audiences to revision the world through their stories now I
world through their stories now I
world through their stories now I usually work with young people but the
usually work with young people but the
usually work with young people but the adults that I work with are also walking
adults that I work with are also walking
adults that I work with are also walking around with what I would say a dangerous
around with what I would say a dangerous
around with what I would say a dangerous sense of disillusionment especially
sense of disillusionment especially
sense of disillusionment especially right now when our social and political
right now when our social and political
right now when our social and political systems feel too big and too broken to
systems feel too big and too broken to
systems feel too big and too broken to fix we all need to be reminded that we
fix we all need to be reminded that we
fix we all need to be reminded that we can make a difference in the next video
can make a difference in the next video
can make a difference in the next video I’m gonna show it’s from a show called
I’m gonna show it’s from a show called
I’m gonna show it’s from a show called seed language in it Jessica who’s 17
seed language in it Jessica who’s 17
seed language in it Jessica who’s 17 plays Alicia Garza co-founder of the
plays Alicia Garza co-founder of the
plays Alicia Garza co-founder of the black lives matter movement take a look
black lives matter movement take a look
black lives matter movement take a look Ayanna Stanley Jones
Perle Underwood Miriam Carrie you have
Perle Underwood Miriam Carrie you have that Smith janeshia Anderson Shelly Frey
that Smith janeshia Anderson Shelly Frey
that Smith janeshia Anderson Shelly Frey darnisha Harris Melissa Williams Alicia
darnisha Harris Melissa Williams Alicia
darnisha Harris Melissa Williams Alicia Thomas Chantel Davis Rekia Boyd Charisse
Thomas Chantel Davis Rekia Boyd Charisse
Thomas Chantel Davis Rekia Boyd Charisse Francis and Renisha McBride these are
Francis and Renisha McBride these are
Francis and Renisha McBride these are all women who have been killed by the
all women who have been killed by the
all women who have been killed by the state there are thousands more who are
state there are thousands more who are
state there are thousands more who are missing disappeared murdered or simply
missing disappeared murdered or simply
missing disappeared murdered or simply forgotten black lives matter often gets
forgotten black lives matter often gets
forgotten black lives matter often gets framed as a movement that aims to save
framed as a movement that aims to save
framed as a movement that aims to save the lives of black men and it’s true
the lives of black men and it’s true
the lives of black men and it’s true black men are disproportionately
black men are disproportionately
black men are disproportionately impacted by incarceration
disproportionately impacted by police
disproportionately impacted by police murder but we are here too
murder but we are here too
murder but we are here too black women are the fastest growing
black women are the fastest growing
black women are the fastest growing population in prisons and jails in this
population in prisons and jails in this
population in prisons and jails in this country there are more than 1 million
country there are more than 1 million
country there are more than 1 million women who are behind bars and when we
women who are behind bars and when we
women who are behind bars and when we talk about women especially women of
talk about women especially women of
talk about women especially women of color specifically black women you
color specifically black women you
color specifically black women you should know that we are holding together
should know that we are holding together
should know that we are holding together the broken tatters of a broken economy
the broken tatters of a broken economy
the broken tatters of a broken economy and a Burke and democracy and let us not
and a Burke and democracy and let us not
and a Burke and democracy and let us not forget the many many many many
forget the many many many many
forget the many many many many indigenous women who have been
indigenous women who have been
indigenous women who have been disappeared who are holding their
disappeared who are holding their
disappeared who are holding their families together on a shoestring if
families together on a shoestring if
families together on a shoestring if that we carry the burden of inequality
that we carry the burden of inequality
that we carry the burden of inequality poverty lack of access to health care
poverty lack of access to health care
poverty lack of access to health care resources we carry that on our backs and
resources we carry that on our backs and
resources we carry that on our backs and we certainly carry that in our wounds
[Applause]
[Applause] so maybe you’re inspired by what you
so maybe you’re inspired by what you
so maybe you’re inspired by what you just saw to make a difference I believe
just saw to make a difference I believe
just saw to make a difference I believe that when people tell honest stories and
that when people tell honest stories and
that when people tell honest stories and skillful elegant ways we inspire people
skillful elegant ways we inspire people
skillful elegant ways we inspire people to make a change think about it so many
to make a change think about it so many
to make a change think about it so many social justice movement started by just
social justice movement started by just
social justice movement started by just a bunch of people getting together and
a bunch of people getting together and
a bunch of people getting together and telling their often painful stories like
telling their often painful stories like
telling their often painful stories like the me to campaign for instance when
the me to campaign for instance when
the me to campaign for instance when women are posting me to on social social
women are posting me to on social social
women are posting me to on social social media sites if they’ve been sexually
media sites if they’ve been sexually
media sites if they’ve been sexually harassed or sexually abused
harassed or sexually abused
harassed or sexually abused I believe that campaign has an amazing
I believe that campaign has an amazing
I believe that campaign has an amazing potential to galvanize huge numbers of
potential to galvanize huge numbers of
potential to galvanize huge numbers of people to make a difference I also
people to make a difference I also
people to make a difference I also believe that we need to be present in
believe that we need to be present in
believe that we need to be present in our bodies we need to move the bodies
our bodies we need to move the bodies
our bodies we need to move the bodies that we have if we want to shape a
that we have if we want to shape a
that we have if we want to shape a destiny that’s authentic right do you
destiny that’s authentic right do you
destiny that’s authentic right do you understand what I’m telling you because
understand what I’m telling you because
understand what I’m telling you because there’s lots of movements for social
there’s lots of movements for social
there’s lots of movements for social justice where people don’t move and then
justice where people don’t move and then
justice where people don’t move and then why do I think that’s important well
why do I think that’s important well
why do I think that’s important well what I know what I’ve experienced with
what I know what I’ve experienced with
what I know what I’ve experienced with my students and with myself is that if
my students and with myself is that if
my students and with myself is that if we move in collaborative mindful ways
we move in collaborative mindful ways
we move in collaborative mindful ways energetic rigorous ways if we get out of
energetic rigorous ways if we get out of
energetic rigorous ways if we get out of our heads and off our devices we feel
our heads and off our devices we feel
our heads and off our devices we feel our impact on each other more acutely
our impact on each other more acutely
our impact on each other more acutely we’re more tender we’re more
we’re more tender we’re more
we’re more tender we’re more compassionate we have more empathy we’re
compassionate we have more empathy we’re
compassionate we have more empathy we’re less likely to resort to violence
less likely to resort to violence
less likely to resort to violence when porn flick 2 rises and most
when porn flick 2 rises and most
when porn flick 2 rises and most importantly to me we feel this amazing
importantly to me we feel this amazing
importantly to me we feel this amazing sense of joy and to me in this time joy
sense of joy and to me in this time joy
sense of joy and to me in this time joy is an act of resistance joy is a
is an act of resistance joy is a
is an act of resistance joy is a revolutionary act
revolutionary act
revolutionary act right
so now you’ve been sitting down all day
so now you’ve been sitting down all day so you’re gonna stay seated but I’m
so you’re gonna stay seated but I’m
so you’re gonna stay seated but I’m gonna get you to move now if you were my
gonna get you to move now if you were my
gonna get you to move now if you were my kids you would be standing up but roll
kids you would be standing up but roll
kids you would be standing up but roll your shoulders a little bit just roll
your shoulders a little bit just roll
your shoulders a little bit just roll them right there in your seat sit on the
them right there in your seat sit on the
them right there in your seat sit on the edge of your seat ciao because that’s
edge of your seat ciao because that’s
edge of your seat ciao because that’s where we need to be to make a difference
where we need to be to make a difference
where we need to be to make a difference beyond the edge beyond as you know now
beyond the edge beyond as you know now
beyond the edge beyond as you know now remove your ribs from side to side yeah
remove your ribs from side to side yeah
remove your ribs from side to side yeah there you go ah
there you go ah
there you go ah then take your hips even though I’m just
then take your hips even though I’m just
then take your hips even though I’m just sitting down roll your hips because
sitting down roll your hips because
sitting down roll your hips because that’s where creation started we want to
that’s where creation started we want to
that’s where creation started we want to be creative roll your hips around
yeah now take your hands up take them up
yeah now take your hands up take them up shake them around shape around stick
shake them around shape around stick
shake them around shape around stick around I take a breath and drop your
around I take a breath and drop your
around I take a breath and drop your hands now you might feel a little
hands now you might feel a little
hands now you might feel a little awkward or silly you might have bumped
awkward or silly you might have bumped
awkward or silly you might have bumped somebody right but I bet sure your
somebody right but I bet sure your
somebody right but I bet sure your present
present
present I bet your present right now in a way
I bet your present right now in a way
I bet your present right now in a way that you may have not been when I
that you may have not been when I
that you may have not been when I started to talk and I believe presents
started to talk and I believe presents
started to talk and I believe presents presents being present with one another
presents being present with one another
presents being present with one another with whatever is going on in the world
with whatever is going on in the world
with whatever is going on in the world is required if we truly want to make a
is required if we truly want to make a
is required if we truly want to make a difference so I got you present one more
difference so I got you present one more
difference so I got you present one more video it’s a trailer from a documentary
video it’s a trailer from a documentary
video it’s a trailer from a documentary film about destiny called free we just
film about destiny called free we just
film about destiny called free we just moved in the movement twelve is when I
moved in the movement twelve is when I
moved in the movement twelve is when I really started thinking guns were pooled
really started thinking guns were pooled
really started thinking guns were pooled trust was tight I didn’t have a father
trust was tight I didn’t have a father
trust was tight I didn’t have a father to tell me how to live my life it was
to tell me how to live my life it was
to tell me how to live my life it was only the streets
first started cutting myself because Aki
first started cutting myself because Aki was having feelings for this other
was having feelings for this other
was having feelings for this other person since I was 8 I was being in 11
person since I was 8 I was being in 11
person since I was 8 I was being in 11 foster homes because my dad was
foster homes because my dad was
foster homes because my dad was incarcerated under drugs rape kidnapped
incarcerated under drugs rape kidnapped
incarcerated under drugs rape kidnapped charges
charges
charges [Music]
without dance I will be out there really
without dance I will be out there really acting a fool probably pregnant
and what are kids dealing with really
and what are kids dealing with really what worries like doing here is
what worries like doing here is
what worries like doing here is revolutionary for like a bunch of
revolutionary for like a bunch of
revolutionary for like a bunch of teenagers like the show that we create
teenagers like the show that we create
teenagers like the show that we create we grow from the bottom of our heart I
we grow from the bottom of our heart I
we grow from the bottom of our heart I am sitting on a sidewalk there’s a sign
am sitting on a sidewalk there’s a sign
am sitting on a sidewalk there’s a sign taped to my forehead that reads that far
taped to my forehead that reads that far
taped to my forehead that reads that far I am free
there’s some kids this process of being
there’s some kids this process of being in the company and creating work
in the company and creating work
in the company and creating work together is about saving their lives I
together is about saving their lives I
together is about saving their lives I think they’re taking with them a sense
think they’re taking with them a sense
think they’re taking with them a sense that telling the truth is better in the
that telling the truth is better in the
that telling the truth is better in the long run than holding it all in it’s not
long run than holding it all in it’s not
long run than holding it all in it’s not just another secret that clutters my
just another secret that clutters my
just another secret that clutters my mind it happens
mind it happens
mind it happens happened to me we know that there’s no
happened to me we know that there’s no
happened to me we know that there’s no such thing as being saved by some super
such thing as being saved by some super
such thing as being saved by some super hero right being saved is being a part
hero right being saved is being a part
hero right being saved is being a part of a community of people that tell the
of a community of people that tell the
of a community of people that tell the truth
I still get choked up watching that I
I still get choked up watching that I mean I’ve seen it a million times and
mean I’ve seen it a million times and
mean I’ve seen it a million times and that in my trailer you met Alicia she’s
that in my trailer you met Alicia she’s
that in my trailer you met Alicia she’s the one that said it’s not just another
the one that said it’s not just another
the one that said it’s not just another secret that clutters my mind it happened
secret that clutters my mind it happened
secret that clutters my mind it happened it happened to me while she was talking
it happened to me while she was talking
it happened to me while she was talking about being sexually abused as a child
about being sexually abused as a child
about being sexually abused as a child and she actually remembered her abuse
and she actually remembered her abuse
and she actually remembered her abuse and adjust in the sharing circle on
and adjust in the sharing circle on
and adjust in the sharing circle on retreat a year later she wrote a
retreat a year later she wrote a
retreat a year later she wrote a monologue about her experience and
monologue about her experience and
monologue about her experience and performed it in this documentary and in
performed it in this documentary and in
performed it in this documentary and in front of over 2,000 live audience
front of over 2,000 live audience
front of over 2,000 live audience members and eight public performances
members and eight public performances
members and eight public performances opening night her entire family in the
opening night her entire family in the
opening night her entire family in the front rows to support her
front rows to support her
front rows to support her Elijah performed and wrote that
Elijah performed and wrote that
Elijah performed and wrote that difficult monologue because she wanted
difficult monologue because she wanted
difficult monologue because she wanted to heal Elijah performed and wrote that
to heal Elijah performed and wrote that
to heal Elijah performed and wrote that difficult monologue as a gift to her
difficult monologue as a gift to her
difficult monologue as a gift to her audiences to anyone who may have
audiences to anyone who may have
audiences to anyone who may have experienced that same thing or to
experienced that same thing or to
experienced that same thing or to someone that may be close to
someone that may be close to
someone that may be close to experiencing that and she wanted to save
experiencing that and she wanted to save
experiencing that and she wanted to save them that experience now Elisha is
them that experience now Elisha is
them that experience now Elisha is getting a master’s degree in social work
getting a master’s degree in social work
getting a master’s degree in social work so she can give that gift to other
so she can give that gift to other
so she can give that gift to other people
because she knows that to tell the truth
because she knows that to tell the truth out loud is a piece of obliterating
out loud is a piece of obliterating
out loud is a piece of obliterating dissolving any of the obstacles that are
dissolving any of the obstacles that are
dissolving any of the obstacles that are in the way of creating a positive future
in the way of creating a positive future
in the way of creating a positive future for herself a positive destiny so
for herself a positive destiny so
for herself a positive destiny so finally I’m going to share with you a
finally I’m going to share with you a
finally I’m going to share with you a poem that I always share written by one
poem that I always share written by one
poem that I always share written by one of my former students named Jelena
of my former students named Jelena
of my former students named Jelena Jelena just graduated from Wellesley
Jelena just graduated from Wellesley
Jelena just graduated from Wellesley College and now is making social justice
College and now is making social justice
College and now is making social justice films when she wrote this poem she was
films when she wrote this poem she was
films when she wrote this poem she was 16 years old it’s called I wish I was a
16 years old it’s called I wish I was a
16 years old it’s called I wish I was a painter I wish I was a painter if I were
painter I wish I was a painter if I were
painter I wish I was a painter if I were a painter I would create the world the
a painter I would create the world the
a painter I would create the world the way it could be a world where sex wasn’t
way it could be a world where sex wasn’t
way it could be a world where sex wasn’t used as a weapon and my $10 shoes
used as a weapon and my $10 shoes
used as a weapon and my $10 shoes weren’t stitched by an 11 year old
weren’t stitched by an 11 year old
weren’t stitched by an 11 year old seamstress in Shanghai not a world
seamstress in Shanghai not a world
seamstress in Shanghai not a world without conflict but a world without
without conflict but a world without
without conflict but a world without ignorant not a world without anger but a
ignorant not a world without anger but a
ignorant not a world without anger but a world without apathy each brushstroke
world without apathy each brushstroke
world without apathy each brushstroke carefully creating communities and
carefully creating communities and
carefully creating communities and countries imagination innovation
countries imagination innovation
countries imagination innovation inspiration intertwined with the breeze
inspiration intertwined with the breeze
inspiration intertwined with the breeze if I were a painter I would recreate our
if I were a painter I would recreate our
if I were a painter I would recreate our cultural regression and relaunch a
cultural regression and relaunch a
cultural regression and relaunch a revolution we can reinvigorate our
revolution we can reinvigorate our
revolution we can reinvigorate our nation we can be the change we want to
nation we can be the change we want to
nation we can be the change we want to see together we can paint the world with
see together we can paint the world with
see together we can paint the world with our words Gelinas poem Gelinas words are
our words Gelinas poem Gelinas words are
our words Gelinas poem Gelinas words are a call to action a wake-up a shake up an
a call to action a wake-up a shake up an
a call to action a wake-up a shake up an invitation an incantation to action to
invitation an incantation to action to
invitation an incantation to action to step out of distraction and reimagine
step out of distraction and reimagine
step out of distraction and reimagine our destiny so let’s answer her call
our destiny so let’s answer her call
our destiny so let’s answer her call let’s do whatever it takes to
let’s do whatever it takes to
let’s do whatever it takes to take back the parts of our lives that we
take back the parts of our lives that we
take back the parts of our lives that we feel are spinning out of control and no
feel are spinning out of control and no
feel are spinning out of control and no mind and body that no matter how dire
mind and body that no matter how dire
mind and body that no matter how dire the situations are in our lives and the
the situations are in our lives and the
the situations are in our lives and the lives of our countrymen and countrywomen
lives of our countrymen and countrywomen
lives of our countrymen and countrywomen and the lives of people all over the
and the lives of people all over the
and the lives of people all over the world no matter how dire and it’s going
world no matter how dire and it’s going
world no matter how dire and it’s going to continue to be tough but if we can
to continue to be tough but if we can
to continue to be tough but if we can dream it if we can dream a destiny if we
dream it if we can dream a destiny if we
dream it if we can dream a destiny if we know that we can then we can create a
know that we can then we can create a
know that we can then we can create a destiny that’s positive a future that’s
destiny that’s positive a future that’s
destiny that’s positive a future that’s positive for our own lives and for the
positive for our own lives and for the
positive for our own lives and for the lives of everyone thank you so much
lives of everyone thank you so much
lives of everyone thank you so much thank you for moving with me thank you
thank you for moving with me thank you
thank you for moving with me thank you for being here as folks who want to be
for being here as folks who want to be
for being here as folks who want to be inspired and who and move with me
inspired and who and move with me
inspired and who and move with me literally so take it all with you y’all
literally so take it all with you y’all
literally so take it all with you y’all thank you so much
thank you so much
thank you so much [Applause]
”
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