one when I got involved in politics too as a citizen of this great city and
as a citizen of this great city and
as a citizen of this great city and three as a woman who has grown up in
three as a woman who has grown up in
three as a woman who has grown up in Baltimore but also has raised my
Baltimore but also has raised my
Baltimore but also has raised my children in Baltimore
children in Baltimore
children in Baltimore you know I’m fortunate to call Baltimore
you know I’m fortunate to call Baltimore
you know I’m fortunate to call Baltimore my home for me Baltimore is my City the
my home for me Baltimore is my City the
my home for me Baltimore is my City the place where I raised my children
place where I raised my children
place where I raised my children attended Baltimore City Public Schools
attended Baltimore City Public Schools
attended Baltimore City Public Schools began my political career I’ve watched
began my political career I’ve watched
began my political career I’ve watched progress to revitalize neighborhoods in
progress to revitalize neighborhoods in
progress to revitalize neighborhoods in ways it seems as if I witnessed a
ways it seems as if I witnessed a
ways it seems as if I witnessed a resurrection of dreams deferred for
resurrection of dreams deferred for
resurrection of dreams deferred for decades yet we still have a long way to
decades yet we still have a long way to
decades yet we still have a long way to go we are Baltimore for the last three
go we are Baltimore for the last three
go we are Baltimore for the last three consecutive years we’ve surpassed 300
consecutive years we’ve surpassed 300
consecutive years we’ve surpassed 300 homicides each victim with a name a
homicides each victim with a name a
homicides each victim with a name a childhood a loved one a neighborhood
childhood a loved one a neighborhood
childhood a loved one a neighborhood they identified with and somewhere along
they identified with and somewhere along
they identified with and somewhere along the way they interacted with an
the way they interacted with an
the way they interacted with an institution that helps shape who they
institution that helps shape who they
institution that helps shape who they were I read a story about a homicide
were I read a story about a homicide
were I read a story about a homicide victim number 289 written through the
victim number 289 written through the
victim number 289 written through the eyes of his heartbroken art victim 289
eyes of his heartbroken art victim 289
eyes of his heartbroken art victim 289 was Antwone Lamont
was Antwone Lamont
was Antwone Lamont bond a 26 year old in Park Heights this
bond a 26 year old in Park Heights this
bond a 26 year old in Park Heights this one-line spoke to me in her narrative
one-line spoke to me in her narrative
one-line spoke to me in her narrative the truth of the matter is Lamont did
the truth of the matter is Lamont did
the truth of the matter is Lamont did the best with what he was given what
the best with what he was given what
the best with what he was given what Baltimore gave him
Baltimore gave him
Baltimore gave him what did Baltimore give Lamont and why
what did Baltimore give Lamont and why
what did Baltimore give Lamont and why do we keep falling short for our youth
do we keep falling short for our youth
do we keep falling short for our youth although I understand the tension and
although I understand the tension and
although I understand the tension and the frustrations now is not the time to
the frustrations now is not the time to
the frustrations now is not the time to point fingers and blame now is not the
point fingers and blame now is not the
point fingers and blame now is not the time but it is the time to inspire
time but it is the time to inspire
time but it is the time to inspire others and involve ourselves so I always
others and involve ourselves so I always
others and involve ourselves so I always say to myself every day what can I do to
say to myself every day what can I do to
say to myself every day what can I do to inspire others and involve others so I
inspire others and involve others so I
inspire others and involve others so I asked you to say what can you do to
asked you to say what can you do to
asked you to say what can you do to inspire others and involve others
inspire others and involve others
inspire others and involve others I am inspired by the number of community
I am inspired by the number of community
I am inspired by the number of community activists and volunteers who strive
activists and volunteers who strive
activists and volunteers who strive daily to promote efforts going on in
daily to promote efforts going on in
daily to promote efforts going on in this city let’s just take what just
this city let’s just take what just
this city let’s just take what just happened last weekend ceasefire which
happened last weekend ceasefire which
happened last weekend ceasefire which they do on a quarterly basis they
they do on a quarterly basis they
they do on a quarterly basis they represent those determined to turn pain
represent those determined to turn pain
represent those determined to turn pain into power tragedy into triumph and
into power tragedy into triumph and
into power tragedy into triumph and chaos into change there are a portion of
chaos into change there are a portion of
chaos into change there are a portion of the solution and should inspire us all
the solution and should inspire us all
the solution and should inspire us all to realize that we too are the solution
to realize that we too are the solution
to realize that we too are the solution I am noted also and always say we have
I am noted also and always say we have
I am noted also and always say we have to connect the dots what do I mean by we
to connect the dots what do I mean by we
to connect the dots what do I mean by we have to connect the dots I still believe
have to connect the dots I still believe
have to connect the dots I still believe in this but what are we doing to really
in this but what are we doing to really
in this but what are we doing to really connect the dots let’s look at the
connect the dots let’s look at the
connect the dots let’s look at the infrastructure of this great city we
infrastructure of this great city we
infrastructure of this great city we have great institutions we have agencies
have great institutions we have agencies
have great institutions we have agencies at the federal state local level we have
at the federal state local level we have
at the federal state local level we have faith-based institutions we have pan
faith-based institutions we have pan
faith-based institutions we have pan holistic organizations we have students
holistic organizations we have students
holistic organizations we have students parents guardians teachers employers
parents guardians teachers employers
parents guardians teachers employers institutions of learning medical
institutions of learning medical
institutions of learning medical institutions I can go on and on and on
institutions I can go on and on and on
institutions I can go on and on and on all have a part to play in revitalizing
all have a part to play in revitalizing
all have a part to play in revitalizing and reversing the hemorrhage that we are
and reversing the hemorrhage that we are
and reversing the hemorrhage that we are facing here in this city we are a city
facing here in this city we are a city
facing here in this city we are a city of neighborhoods and we have anchor
of neighborhoods and we have anchor
of neighborhoods and we have anchor institutions like schools like
institutions like schools like
institutions like schools like University of Baltimore and other
University of Baltimore and other
University of Baltimore and other schools places of worship as I said
schools places of worship as I said
schools places of worship as I said medical facilities and government
medical facilities and government
medical facilities and government agencies each institution should be a
agencies each institution should be a
agencies each institution should be a part and this is where I talk about
part and this is where I talk about
part and this is where I talk about solution oriented results because we can
solution oriented results because we can
solution oriented results because we can talk and I can talk and talk and talk
talk and I can talk and talk and talk
talk and I can talk and talk and talk but I also believe that we have to have
but I also believe that we have to have
but I also believe that we have to have an action plan and we have to connect
an action plan and we have to connect
an action plan and we have to connect those dots between all the great
those dots between all the great
those dots between all the great infrastructures of institutions and
infrastructures of institutions and
infrastructures of institutions and people in this city but how do we
people in this city but how do we
people in this city but how do we connect to resolve some of the problems
connect to resolve some of the problems
connect to resolve some of the problems that we face as relates to youth
that we face as relates to youth
that we face as relates to youth violence as relates to drug addiction
violence as relates to drug addiction
violence as relates to drug addiction and so many ills that we face and just
and so many ills that we face and just
and so many ills that we face and just right up the street from this great
right up the street from this great
right up the street from this great College somebody laying on the street
College somebody laying on the street
College somebody laying on the street right between 83 before coming on to
right between 83 before coming on to
right between 83 before coming on to Mount Vernon or Mount Royal each
Mount Vernon or Mount Royal each
Mount Vernon or Mount Royal each institution should be a part of a pair
institution should be a part of a pair
institution should be a part of a pair Guardian oriented action plan that
Guardian oriented action plan that
Guardian oriented action plan that addresses core issues that impact youth
addresses core issues that impact youth
addresses core issues that impact youth violence prevention social economic
violence prevention social economic
violence prevention social economic mobility and education residents want
mobility and education residents want
mobility and education residents want and need to trust those in charge to
and need to trust those in charge to
and need to trust those in charge to serve their best interests
serve their best interests
serve their best interests this isn’t accomplished by lip service
this isn’t accomplished by lip service
this isn’t accomplished by lip service alone but by solidifying real
alone but by solidifying real
alone but by solidifying real relationships at the neighborhood level
relationships at the neighborhood level
relationships at the neighborhood level people-to-people that’s how we make the
people-to-people that’s how we make the
people-to-people that’s how we make the difference now I talked about a young
difference now I talked about a young
difference now I talked about a young man who died number 289 and I’m gonna
man who died number 289 and I’m gonna
man who died number 289 and I’m gonna tell you a quick story I went to
tell you a quick story I went to
tell you a quick story I went to Northwestern High School which is about
Northwestern High School which is about
Northwestern High School which is about to close in a met a young man after the
to close in a met a young man after the
to close in a met a young man after the graduation and after the graduation I
graduation and after the graduation I
graduation and after the graduation I and the reason why I stopped him is
and the reason why I stopped him is
and the reason why I stopped him is because he had on a shirt and tie and I
because he had on a shirt and tie and I
because he had on a shirt and tie and I said to the young man congratulations
said to the young man congratulations
said to the young man congratulations are you excited about graduating from
are you excited about graduating from
are you excited about graduating from high school what are your plans now mind
high school what are your plans now mind
high school what are your plans now mind you this graduation was off the hook so
you this graduation was off the hook so
you this graduation was off the hook so identified with him because he had a
identified with him because he had a
identified with him because he had a shirt and tie line and he looked at me
shirt and tie line and he looked at me
shirt and tie line and he looked at me and he was dumbfounded so what’s your
and he was dumbfounded so what’s your
and he was dumbfounded so what’s your plans I said he says I have no plans I
plans I said he says I have no plans I
plans I said he says I have no plans I said how do you graduate from high
said how do you graduate from high
said how do you graduate from high school with no plans so I begin to ask
school with no plans so I begin to ask
school with no plans so I begin to ask questions as I do I don’t care who it is
questions as I do I don’t care who it is
questions as I do I don’t care who it is that I run into when I’m moving around
that I run into when I’m moving around
that I run into when I’m moving around in this city and I said so what do you
in this city and I said so what do you
in this city and I said so what do you like to do and he says I like
like to do and he says I like
like to do and he says I like constructions I like to put up sheetrock
constructions I like to put up sheetrock
constructions I like to put up sheetrock I like to paint I said so are you in a
I like to paint I said so are you in a
I like to paint I said so are you in a training program he said no I said where
training program he said no I said where
training program he said no I said where do you live he says I live in Park
do you live he says I live in Park
do you live he says I live in Park Heights
Heights
Heights my father’s raising me my mothers are a
my father’s raising me my mothers are a
my father’s raising me my mothers are a drug addict I said this is your lucky
drug addict I said this is your lucky
drug addict I said this is your lucky day I said I’m going to give you my card
day I said I’m going to give you my card
day I said I’m going to give you my card you give me your resume he says I don’t
you give me your resume he says I don’t
you give me your resume he says I don’t have a resume I said how do you graduate
have a resume I said how do you graduate
have a resume I said how do you graduate from high school with a degree no resume
from high school with a degree no resume
from high school with a degree no resume no plan of action
no plan of action
no plan of action so I said call he went back to school
so I said call he went back to school
so I said call he went back to school the next day his teacher helped him with
the next day his teacher helped him with
the next day his teacher helped him with a resume he contacted me I couldn’t
a resume he contacted me I couldn’t
a resume he contacted me I couldn’t guarantee anything but I said I will
guarantee anything but I said I will
guarantee anything but I said I will contact contractors to see if I can get
contact contractors to see if I can get
contact contractors to see if I can get you an internship
you an internship
you an internship he said he thanked me he sent me his
he said he thanked me he sent me his
he said he thanked me he sent me his resume you got an interview one of the
resume you got an interview one of the
resume you got an interview one of the contractors said I will bring you on as
contractors said I will bring you on as
contractors said I will bring you on as a intern if you
a intern if you
a intern if you you go through a jump start which is a
you go through a jump start which is a
you go through a jump start which is a pre-apprenticeship program he went
pre-apprenticeship program he went
pre-apprenticeship program he went through the program he graduated he
through the program he graduated he
through the program he graduated he invited me to the graduation he began to
invited me to the graduation he began to
invited me to the graduation he began to apply for jobs he’s now working for one
apply for jobs he’s now working for one
apply for jobs he’s now working for one of the contractors were building some of
of the contractors were building some of
of the contractors were building some of the new schools making 21 thousand our
the new schools making 21 thousand our
the new schools making 21 thousand our now mine you how do we connect it was
now mine you how do we connect it was
now mine you how do we connect it was only because he had a shirt and tie on
only because he had a shirt and tie on
only because he had a shirt and tie on because I had a headache when I left
because I had a headache when I left
because I had a headache when I left that graduation he had no plan and so we
that graduation he had no plan and so we
that graduation he had no plan and so we had the responsibility as individuals to
had the responsibility as individuals to
had the responsibility as individuals to really connect and inspire and it that
really connect and inspire and it that
really connect and inspire and it that and it’s not because of who I was but
and it’s not because of who I was but
and it’s not because of who I was but because of how I knew that he could make
because of how I knew that he could make
because of how I knew that he could make a difference in his life and so I shared
a difference in his life and so I shared
a difference in his life and so I shared the two stories of one young man in Park
the two stories of one young man in Park
the two stories of one young man in Park Heights who was number 289 who was
Heights who was number 289 who was
Heights who was number 289 who was murdered and dead and then this young
murdered and dead and then this young
murdered and dead and then this young man who’s now making a difference in his
man who’s now making a difference in his
man who’s now making a difference in his life so we are a city of neighborhoods
life so we are a city of neighborhoods
life so we are a city of neighborhoods and as I said we have anchors and
and as I said we have anchors and
and as I said we have anchors and institutions each institution should
institutions each institution should
institutions each institution should work with our parents and guardians and
work with our parents and guardians and
work with our parents and guardians and each other to come up with an action
each other to come up with an action
each other to come up with an action plan just like this young man did I
plan just like this young man did I
plan just like this young man did I helped him to put together an action
helped him to put together an action
helped him to put together an action plan to address the core issues that
plan to address the core issues that
plan to address the core issues that impact youth violence social economic
impact youth violence social economic
impact youth violence social economic mobility and education residents want
mobility and education residents want
mobility and education residents want and need to trust those in charge this
and need to trust those in charge this
and need to trust those in charge this is an accomplished again by lip service
is an accomplished again by lip service
is an accomplished again by lip service but people who are inspired create their
but people who are inspired create their
but people who are inspired create their own destiny so I ask you to say it with
own destiny so I ask you to say it with
own destiny so I ask you to say it with me again in your mind or in the audience
me again in your mind or in the audience
me again in your mind or in the audience inspire others involve ourselves we need
inspire others involve ourselves we need
inspire others involve ourselves we need robust infrastructures in place that
robust infrastructures in place that
robust infrastructures in place that allow residents to get involved be it
allow residents to get involved be it
allow residents to get involved be it mentoring volunteering at a
mentoring volunteering at a
mentoring volunteering at a community-based project neighborhood
community-based project neighborhood
community-based project neighborhood cleanups etc opportunities that involve
cleanups etc opportunities that involve
cleanups etc opportunities that involve residents create opportunities to build
residents create opportunities to build
residents create opportunities to build communities as I attend various events
communities as I attend various events
communities as I attend various events throughout this city I’m often
throughout this city I’m often
throughout this city I’m often confronted by young men and women who
confronted by young men and women who
confronted by young men and women who tell me how important it is to lobby for
tell me how important it is to lobby for
tell me how important it is to lobby for criminal justice reform as I stare in
criminal justice reform as I stare in
criminal justice reform as I stare in their eyes and I listen to horror
their eyes and I listen to horror
their eyes and I listen to horror stories I see young men and women living
stories I see young men and women living
stories I see young men and women living without hope hopelessness
without hope hopelessness
without hope hopelessness anyone down a dark path for some it
anyone down a dark path for some it
anyone down a dark path for some it leads a life of crime and violence for
leads a life of crime and violence for
leads a life of crime and violence for others it leads to apathy I believe
others it leads to apathy I believe
others it leads to apathy I believe there is no better time to address the
there is no better time to address the
there is no better time to address the real need of criminal justice reform
real need of criminal justice reform
real need of criminal justice reform than now we need to listen and involve
than now we need to listen and involve
than now we need to listen and involve ourselves and the voices of those who
ourselves and the voices of those who
ourselves and the voices of those who remain voiceless they are telling us
remain voiceless they are telling us
remain voiceless they are telling us what they need the streets of Baltimore
what they need the streets of Baltimore
what they need the streets of Baltimore crying out and I wonder who among us is
crying out and I wonder who among us is
crying out and I wonder who among us is really listening if you’re listening
really listening if you’re listening
really listening if you’re listening take a moment and think about where you
take a moment and think about where you
take a moment and think about where you can get involved and the part you can
can get involved and the part you can
can get involved and the part you can play in addressing this culture of
play in addressing this culture of
play in addressing this culture of violence as we approach this holiday
violence as we approach this holiday
violence as we approach this holiday season I hope we can come together as a
season I hope we can come together as a
season I hope we can come together as a city and create a way to work together
city and create a way to work together
city and create a way to work together to stop the hemorrhaging start the
to stop the hemorrhaging start the
to stop the hemorrhaging start the healing and create hope for our city in
healing and create hope for our city in
healing and create hope for our city in the future and so I have a thought I
the future and so I have a thought I
the future and so I have a thought I have a concept we are Baltimore for
have a concept we are Baltimore for
have a concept we are Baltimore for peace we need that I am going to
peace we need that I am going to
peace we need that I am going to challenge that all the faith-based
challenge that all the faith-based
challenge that all the faith-based institutions in this city come together
institutions in this city come together
institutions in this city come together and begin to pray peace starts with
and begin to pray peace starts with
and begin to pray peace starts with choosing faith instead of hopelessness
choosing faith instead of hopelessness
choosing faith instead of hopelessness I’m asking community organizations to
I’m asking community organizations to
I’m asking community organizations to plan at least one activity for those
plan at least one activity for those
plan at least one activity for those focused in the Baltimore for peace be a
focused in the Baltimore for peace be a
focused in the Baltimore for peace be a human chain a community conversation on
human chain a community conversation on
human chain a community conversation on peace or walk to promote peace in your
peace or walk to promote peace in your
peace or walk to promote peace in your neighborhood it’s your turn for
neighborhood it’s your turn for
neighborhood it’s your turn for Baltimore higher learning institutions
Baltimore higher learning institutions
Baltimore higher learning institutions are local colleges and universities in
are local colleges and universities in
are local colleges and universities in Baltimore our students represent some of
Baltimore our students represent some of
Baltimore our students represent some of the greatest minds in this city and in
the greatest minds in this city and in
the greatest minds in this city and in this country I’m asking that you extend
this country I’m asking that you extend
this country I’m asking that you extend the opportunity to a community
the opportunity to a community
the opportunity to a community organization to host a result-oriented
organization to host a result-oriented
organization to host a result-oriented forum or host a nearby high school for a
forum or host a nearby high school for a
forum or host a nearby high school for a tour it’s just City too
tour it’s just City too
tour it’s just City too we need to push for real vision for
we need to push for real vision for
we need to push for real vision for Baltimore we can come up with things we
Baltimore we can come up with things we
Baltimore we can come up with things we can come up with
can come up with
can come up with Dizz but if we constantly reinforce the
Dizz but if we constantly reinforce the
Dizz but if we constantly reinforce the piece that is needed amongst us I
piece that is needed amongst us I
piece that is needed amongst us I believe and I truly think that we can
believe and I truly think that we can
believe and I truly think that we can make the difference we need to restore a
make the difference we need to restore a
make the difference we need to restore a sense of hope in most challenging
sense of hope in most challenging
sense of hope in most challenging communities we need to have economic
communities we need to have economic
communities we need to have economic empowerment not just economic
empowerment not just economic
empowerment not just economic development and through all of this and
development and through all of this and
development and through all of this and connecting the dots as I said earlier we
connecting the dots as I said earlier we
connecting the dots as I said earlier we need to create mental health resources
need to create mental health resources
need to create mental health resources that are going to help each other now in
that are going to help each other now in
that are going to help each other now in closing I give you the challenge as you
closing I give you the challenge as you
closing I give you the challenge as you leave here and as you listen that we
leave here and as you listen that we
leave here and as you listen that we began to focus on result-oriented
began to focus on result-oriented
began to focus on result-oriented efforts that’s going to help us to
efforts that’s going to help us to
efforts that’s going to help us to create a real Baltimore and a Baltimore
create a real Baltimore and a Baltimore
create a real Baltimore and a Baltimore that we can say is about peace is about
that we can say is about peace is about
that we can say is about peace is about involvement and it is about really
involvement and it is about really
involvement and it is about really making the kind of difference that can
making the kind of difference that can
making the kind of difference that can change people’s lives just like the
change people’s lives just like the
change people’s lives just like the little conversation I had with the young
little conversation I had with the young
little conversation I had with the young man after the graduation because they
man after the graduation because they
man after the graduation because they had on a shirt and tie when I went into
had on a shirt and tie when I went into
had on a shirt and tie when I went into the bank two weeks ago and I was leaving
the bank two weeks ago and I was leaving
the bank two weeks ago and I was leaving the gym and I was behind this young man
the gym and I was behind this young man
the gym and I was behind this young man I was kind of listening to his
I was kind of listening to his
I was kind of listening to his conversation and I begin to ask some
conversation and I begin to ask some
conversation and I begin to ask some questions and he didn’t know who I was
questions and he didn’t know who I was
questions and he didn’t know who I was that on a cap in my workout clothes and
that on a cap in my workout clothes and
that on a cap in my workout clothes and he was trying to figure out why is this
he was trying to figure out why is this
he was trying to figure out why is this lady asking me questions and he worked
lady asking me questions and he worked
lady asking me questions and he worked for Federal Express and I said to him
for Federal Express and I said to him
for Federal Express and I said to him did you know that they had a franchise
did you know that they had a franchise
did you know that they had a franchise program that you could actually start
program that you could actually start
program that you could actually start your own franchise with Federal Express
your own franchise with Federal Express
your own franchise with Federal Express and when he left there he still didn’t
and when he left there he still didn’t
and when he left there he still didn’t know who I was and then he realized
know who I was and then he realized
know who I was and then he realized somebody leaving the bank bringing up my
somebody leaving the bank bringing up my
somebody leaving the bank bringing up my name said who I was but see how you
name said who I was but see how you
name said who I was but see how you connect the dots it’s just a matter of
connect the dots it’s just a matter of
connect the dots it’s just a matter of having that kind of conversation that we
having that kind of conversation that we
having that kind of conversation that we need to have with each other
need to have with each other
need to have with each other so in closing I challenge you to be
so in closing I challenge you to be
so in closing I challenge you to be inspired to touch someone to involve
inspired to touch someone to involve
inspired to touch someone to involve yourself if you’re not currently
yourself if you’re not currently
yourself if you’re not currently involved in something no matter what it
involved in something no matter what it
involved in something no matter what it is to help to make a difference because
is to help to make a difference because
is to help to make a difference because one by one Black by black person by
one by one Black by black person by
one by one Black by black person by person I know we can be the great city
person I know we can be the great city
person I know we can be the great city that we are thank you
that we are thank you
that we are thank you [Applause]
”
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