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Girls for a Change | Jendayi Johnson, Naomi Vickers, Chloe Hagins | TEDxYouth@RVA


so why don’t we start why you all just

so why don’t we start why you all just introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a

introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a

introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m

senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m

senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m a junior at appomattox regional governor

a junior at appomattox regional governor

a junior at appomattox regional governor school for the arts and technology I’m

school for the arts and technology I’m

school for the arts and technology I’m Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at

Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at

Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School oh why

Thomas Jefferson High School oh why

Thomas Jefferson High School oh why don’t you tell me a little bit about

don’t you tell me a little bit about

don’t you tell me a little bit about what girls for change does here in

what girls for change does here in

what girls for change does here in Richmond what are you guys about yeah so

Richmond what are you guys about yeah so

Richmond what are you guys about yeah so we actually have two main locations one

we actually have two main locations one

we actually have two main locations one in Richmond than one in San Francisco

in Richmond than one in San Francisco

in Richmond than one in San Francisco and the main part of the program is the

and the main part of the program is the

and the main part of the program is the girl action teams and throughout the

girl action teams and throughout the

girl action teams and throughout the year we go to different like after

year we go to different like after

year we go to different like after school organizations from like Boys and

school organizations from like Boys and

school organizations from like Boys and Girls Clubs to community centers and we

Girls Clubs to community centers and we

Girls Clubs to community centers and we speak with the girls about problems that

speak with the girls about problems that

speak with the girls about problems that they see in their community and then at

they see in their community and then at

they see in their community and then at the end of the year they present like

the end of the year they present like

the end of the year they present like social change projects about how they

social change projects about how they

social change projects about how they personally and as a team won a better

personally and as a team won a better

personally and as a team won a better those problems okay that sounds amazing

those problems okay that sounds amazing

those problems okay that sounds amazing yeah so I know you guys got a chance to

yeah so I know you guys got a chance to

yeah so I know you guys got a chance to go to Ted woman is that right um can you

go to Ted woman is that right um can you

go to Ted woman is that right um can you tell me about your experience there may

tell me about your experience there may

tell me about your experience there may be your favorite talk my favorite talk

be your favorite talk my favorite talk

be your favorite talk my favorite talk was Kim and teak Milan they are the

was Kim and teak Milan they are the

was Kim and teak Milan they are the founders of the people’s project which

founders of the people’s project which

founders of the people’s project which is an organization that educates the

is an organization that educates the

is an organization that educates the world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is

world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is

world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is a transgender male and he was just

a transgender male and he was just

a transgender male and he was just talking about the struggles he’s had to

talking about the struggles he’s had to

talking about the struggles he’s had to face within himself and the people that

face within himself and the people that

face within himself and the people that surround him and he was just saying how

surround him and he was just saying how

surround him and he was just saying how Kim is so supportive and it’s just it

Kim is so supportive and it’s just it

Kim is so supportive and it’s just it was nice to see that love can really you

was nice to see that love can really you

was nice to see that love can really you know anybody can fall in love yeah it

know anybody can fall in love yeah it

know anybody can fall in love yeah it was okay and my favorite talk was the

was okay and my favorite talk was the

was okay and my favorite talk was the black lives matter people they did a Q&A

black lives matter people they did a Q&A

black lives matter people they did a Q&A like us and I feel like they set a

like us and I feel like they set a

like us and I feel like they set a legacy and they showed that that it was

legacy and they showed that that it was

legacy and they showed that that it was more than a hashtag and a movement my

more than a hashtag and a movement my

more than a hashtag and a movement my favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw

favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw

favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw she’s a professor at Columbia University

she’s a professor at Columbia University

she’s a professor at Columbia University in UCLA and she began her talk by having

in UCLA and she began her talk by having

in UCLA and she began her talk by having everyone in the audience like largely

everyone in the audience like largely

everyone in the audience like largely this I think was like a thousand people

this I think was like a thousand people

this I think was like a thousand people or something stand up and she said only

or something stand up and she said only

or something stand up and she said only sit down if you don’t know one of the

sit down if you don’t know one of the

sit down if you don’t know one of the names that I’m about to list and she

names that I’m about to list and she

names that I’m about to list and she proceeded to list a lot of names and we

proceeded to list a lot of names and we

proceeded to list a lot of names and we realized after a while it was a list of

realized after a while it was a list of

realized after a while it was a list of black men who had been killed by the

black men who had been killed by the

black men who had been killed by the police in the past two years and you

police in the past two years and you

police in the past two years and you know most of us were standing for like

know most of us were standing for like

know most of us were standing for like 10-15 names and then she started to name

10-15 names and then she started to name

10-15 names and then she started to name some other names and within four of the

some other names and within four of the

some other names and within four of the names that

names that

names that names only after after four names only

names only after after four names only

names only after after four names only like three people in the audience were

like three people in the audience were

like three people in the audience were standing and afterward she said that you

standing and afterward she said that you

standing and afterward she said that you it’s not just you this is representative

it’s not just you this is representative

it’s not just you this is representative of America the names that I listed at

of America the names that I listed at

of America the names that I listed at the end were the names of black women

the end were the names of black women

the end were the names of black women who had been killed by the police in the

who had been killed by the police in the

who had been killed by the police in the last two years and it was mind-blowing

last two years and it was mind-blowing

last two years and it was mind-blowing for me because I you know obviously I

for me because I you know obviously I

for me because I you know obviously I myself am a black woman and to realize

myself am a black woman and to realize

myself am a black woman and to realize that amidst all of my you know attempts

that amidst all of my you know attempts

that amidst all of my you know attempts to be like this social activist person

to be like this social activist person

to be like this social activist person like my political awakening my black

like my political awakening my black

like my political awakening my black awakening like I hadn’t known that so

awakening like I hadn’t known that so

awakening like I hadn’t known that so she was talking about this theory of

she was talking about this theory of

she was talking about this theory of intersectionality how you know we

intersectionality how you know we

intersectionality how you know we understand most of us that there are

understand most of us that there are

understand most of us that there are some issues with race in America we

some issues with race in America we

some issues with race in America we understand there’s some issues with

understand there’s some issues with

understand there’s some issues with gender in America and but then when you

gender in America and but then when you

gender in America and but then when you blend the two how much how much it

blend the two how much how much it

blend the two how much how much it magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard

magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard

magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard remembering yourself sometimes right do

remembering yourself sometimes right do

remembering yourself sometimes right do you remember any of the names at the

you remember any of the names at the

you remember any of the names at the mint let’s see I know gaint what gains

mint let’s see I know gaint what gains

mint let’s see I know gaint what gains was someone more recent uh Carrie I

was someone more recent uh Carrie I

was someone more recent uh Carrie I think was another last name janice

think was another last name janice

think was another last name janice burgess it was a french name like crew

burgess it was a french name like crew

burgess it was a french name like crew so i know that’s the last name i know

so i know that’s the last name i know

so i know that’s the last name i know because i had to hold the sign of Sandra

because i had to hold the sign of Sandra

because i had to hold the sign of Sandra bland and at the end they just scrolled

bland and at the end they just scrolled

bland and at the end they just scrolled like named after named after named after

like named after named after named after

like named after named after named after named after name and it it was crazy so

named after name and it it was crazy so

named after name and it it was crazy so I think we all can agree you’re

I think we all can agree you’re

I think we all can agree you’re definitely some girls to look up to

definitely some girls to look up to

definitely some girls to look up to right guys so who do you guys look up to

right guys so who do you guys look up to

right guys so who do you guys look up to in your lives I’ll start this one shout

in your lives I’ll start this one shout

in your lives I’ll start this one shout out to my grandmas in the audience hey

out to my grandmas in the audience hey

out to my grandmas in the audience hey grandma um she is amazing she had began

grandma um she is amazing she had began

grandma um she is amazing she had began a women’s refuge in England and in like

a women’s refuge in England and in like

a women’s refuge in England and in like in the middle of the night she would

in the middle of the night she would

in the middle of the night she would like go and rescue women who were like

like go and rescue women who were like

like go and rescue women who were like in terrible situations and she had like

in terrible situations and she had like

in terrible situations and she had like a youth group and she she she’s amazing

a youth group and she she she’s amazing

a youth group and she she she’s amazing and she’s like protesting like apartheid

and she’s like protesting like apartheid

and she’s like protesting like apartheid in South Africa and nuclear weapons and

in South Africa and nuclear weapons and

in South Africa and nuclear weapons and you know she’s like this white lady in

you know she’s like this white lady in

you know she’s like this white lady in England she’s awesome sounds amazing um

England she’s awesome sounds amazing um

England she’s awesome sounds amazing um my mom she’s also in the audience hey

my mom she’s also in the audience hey

my mom she’s also in the audience hey mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a

mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a

mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a single parent two three and a half she’s

single parent two three and a half she’s

single parent two three and a half she’s pregnant and she worked

she works at tries to go into the

she works at tries to go into the organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit

organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit

organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit organization what she does there what

organization what she does there what

organization what she does there what she did do there and she went to

she did do there and she went to

she did do there and she went to different food deserts like different um

different food deserts like different um

different food deserts like different um like housing developments or whatever

like housing developments or whatever

like housing developments or whatever and went to the corner stores that that

and went to the corner stores that that

and went to the corner stores that that just so like chips in like candy bars

just so like chips in like candy bars

just so like chips in like candy bars and she would stock them with fruits and

and she would stock them with fruits and

and she would stock them with fruits and vegetables and then she also gives like

vegetables and then she also gives like

vegetables and then she also gives like classes like little cooking classes but

classes like little cooking classes but

classes like little cooking classes but she’s also a chef and she’ll give

she’s also a chef and she’ll give

she’s also a chef and she’ll give cooking classes to let them know how to

cooking classes to let them know how to

cooking classes to let them know how to prepare these things because you just

prepare these things because you just

prepare these things because you just can’t give somebody a vegetable and

can’t give somebody a vegetable and

can’t give somebody a vegetable and expect them to know what to do with it

expect them to know what to do with it

expect them to know what to do with it so she would give them recipes you know

so she would give them recipes you know

so she would give them recipes you know recipes that they would actually like so

recipes that they would actually like so

recipes that they would actually like so she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw

she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw

she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw hey MA but i guess i would say my mom

hey MA but i guess i would say my mom

hey MA but i guess i would say my mom she inspires me because she pushed me to

she inspires me because she pushed me to

she inspires me because she pushed me to be myself and learn new things and try

be myself and learn new things and try

be myself and learn new things and try new things and yeah a lot of amazing

new things and yeah a lot of amazing

new things and yeah a lot of amazing woman out there right so I know you guys

woman out there right so I know you guys

woman out there right so I know you guys had to see this coming I have to ask you

had to see this coming I have to ask you

had to see this coming I have to ask you what now so what’s next for each of you

what now so what’s next for each of you

what now so what’s next for each of you and what’s next for girls for change

and what’s next for girls for change

and what’s next for girls for change definitely so uh what I want for

definitely so uh what I want for

definitely so uh what I want for Richmond specifically is for people to

Richmond specifically is for people to

Richmond specifically is for people to recognize our history and analyze

recognize our history and analyze

recognize our history and analyze injustice and then use positive action

injustice and then use positive action

injustice and then use positive action to better it so I the other day in the

to better it so I the other day in the

to better it so I the other day in the my gov class we looked at the New York

my gov class we looked at the New York

my gov class we looked at the New York Times racial dot map of Richmond and the

Times racial dot map of Richmond and the

Times racial dot map of Richmond and the way it’s split up is right along like

way it’s split up is right along like

way it’s split up is right along like Chamberlain Avenue you see like the

Chamberlain Avenue you see like the

Chamberlain Avenue you see like the black people on one side and the white

black people on one side and the white

black people on one side and the white people on the other side and it’s the

people on the other side and it’s the

people on the other side and it’s the exact like that’s that’s that’s where

exact like that’s that’s that’s where

exact like that’s that’s that’s where Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond

Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond

Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond was the separation line during

was the separation line during

was the separation line during segregation and it’s still there and

segregation and it’s still there and

segregation and it’s still there and it’s like I don’t people to see then

it’s like I don’t people to see then

it’s like I don’t people to see then just be like oh that’s a problem of

just be like oh that’s a problem of

just be like oh that’s a problem of society like that’s just random chance

society like that’s just random chance

society like that’s just random chance whatever I want them to realize hmm

whatever I want them to realize hmm

whatever I want them to realize hmm maybe it’s because with one group of

maybe it’s because with one group of

maybe it’s because with one group of those people we oppressed them for 400

those people we oppressed them for 400

those people we oppressed them for 400 years and the other we didn’t and I want

years and the other we didn’t and I want

years and the other we didn’t and I want to I want to see people talking about

to I want to see people talking about

to I want to see people talking about not not no I don’t even want to see them

not not no I don’t even want to see them

not not no I don’t even want to see them just talking about I want to see people

just talking about I want to see people

just talking about I want to see people acting but purposely and positively

acting but purposely and positively

acting but purposely and positively acting to change that well can we get a

acting to change that well can we get a

acting to change that well can we get a hand for that that was amazing

hand for that that was amazing

hand for that that was amazing [Applause]

um I definitely want to start in the

um I definitely want to start in the communities I want to start with the

communities I want to start with the

communities I want to start with the teams to let them know that I’m also a

teams to let them know that I’m also a

teams to let them know that I’m also a teen and I understand and we can just

teen and I understand and we can just

teen and I understand and we can just start talking like started conversations

start talking like started conversations

start talking like started conversations our dialect and see what people are

our dialect and see what people are

our dialect and see what people are feeling because I know they’re feeling a

feeling because I know they’re feeling a

feeling because I know they’re feeling a certain way they just don’t want to

certain way they just don’t want to

certain way they just don’t want to bring it up it’s just some issues that

bring it up it’s just some issues that

bring it up it’s just some issues that people just don’t want to bring up

people just don’t want to bring up

people just don’t want to bring up because they’re uncomfortable but we

because they’re uncomfortable but we

because they’re uncomfortable but we need people to be uncomfortable so we

need people to be uncomfortable so we

need people to be uncomfortable so we can get things done I love to write so

can get things done I love to write so

can get things done I love to write so I’m going to start writing more i did a

I’m going to start writing more i did a

I’m going to start writing more i did a TED talk like last year and i did a poem

TED talk like last year and i did a poem

TED talk like last year and i did a poem so I’m going to start writing more poems

so I’m going to start writing more poems

so I’m going to start writing more poems to let people know that I have a voice

to let people know that I have a voice

to let people know that I have a voice and it will be heard and I want to start

and it will be heard and I want to start

and it will be heard and I want to start grooming the younger ones in like

grooming the younger ones in like

grooming the younger ones in like elementary schools so that when i run

elementary schools so that when i run

elementary schools so that when i run for president that we can have people

for president that we can have people

for president that we can have people who so now we can have people who i will

who so now we can have people who i will

who so now we can have people who i will educated and know what we have to go

educated and know what we have to go

educated and know what we have to go through and what the political policies

through and what the political policies

through and what the political policies are and stuff like that at a young age

are and stuff like that at a young age

are and stuff like that at a young age wow you guys one more hand for them just

wow you guys one more hand for them just

wow you guys one more hand for them just wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now

wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now

wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now wow so thank you for being here we’re

wow so thank you for being here we’re

wow so thank you for being here we’re gonna see them all at the interactive

gonna see them all at the interactive

gonna see them all at the interactive session so if you guys have any

session so if you guys have any

session so if you guys have any questions for girls for change they’ll

questions for girls for change they’ll

questions for girls for change they’ll definitely be back thank you guys for

definitely be back thank you guys for

definitely be back thank you guys for being here on

being here on

being here on [Applause]

”

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