my name is melody and that’s not an accident I grew up in a home where drama
accident I grew up in a home where drama
accident I grew up in a home where drama and dance and music were everywhere if
and dance and music were everywhere if
and dance and music were everywhere if there was a lesson I was going to take
there was a lesson I was going to take
there was a lesson I was going to take it piano violin flute ballet and if
it piano violin flute ballet and if
it piano violin flute ballet and if there was a band I was going to play in
there was a band I was going to play in
there was a band I was going to play in it I loved nothing more than marching
it I loved nothing more than marching
it I loved nothing more than marching under the bright lights of Richmond City
under the bright lights of Richmond City
under the bright lights of Richmond City Stadium on a Friday night leading the
Stadium on a Friday night leading the
Stadium on a Friday night leading the Jefferson Huguenots with marching
Jefferson Huguenots with marching
Jefferson Huguenots with marching Trojans well that music you heard that
Trojans well that music you heard that
Trojans well that music you heard that was the happy pal stomp and it was
was the happy pal stomp and it was
was the happy pal stomp and it was played by Johnson’s happy my great-uncle
played by Johnson’s happy my great-uncle
played by Johnson’s happy my great-uncle William Allen and we called him uncle
William Allen and we called him uncle
William Allen and we called him uncle Beck was a member of Johnson’s happy
Beck was a member of Johnson’s happy
Beck was a member of Johnson’s happy pals
pals
pals he played with them from the late 1920s
he played with them from the late 1920s
he played with them from the late 1920s until the early 1930s they toured up and
until the early 1930s they toured up and
until the early 1930s they toured up and down the east coast and they even played
down the east coast and they even played
down the east coast and they even played the famed saveloy Ballroom in New York
the famed saveloy Ballroom in New York
the famed saveloy Ballroom in New York City now by now you probably have a
City now by now you probably have a
City now by now you probably have a sense that the arts have always been a
sense that the arts have always been a
sense that the arts have always been a life force for me even in my craziest
life force for me even in my craziest
life force for me even in my craziest days working in the United States Senate
days working in the United States Senate
days working in the United States Senate and they were crazy I would leave my
and they were crazy I would leave my
and they were crazy I would leave my desk and I would take acting classes at
desk and I would take acting classes at
desk and I would take acting classes at the studio theatre acting conservatory
the studio theatre acting conservatory
the studio theatre acting conservatory you could find me an improv pretending
you could find me an improv pretending
you could find me an improv pretending to be a tree or I took watercolor
to be a tree or I took watercolor
to be a tree or I took watercolor painting classes this is one of my yet
painting classes this is one of my yet
painting classes this is one of my yet to be completed masterpieces
to be completed masterpieces
to be completed masterpieces my best friend had the same reaction in
my best friend had the same reaction in
my best friend had the same reaction in fact she told me that she was a little
fact she told me that she was a little
fact she told me that she was a little bit surprised that I was going to share
bit surprised that I was going to share
bit surprised that I was going to share this with you she was stunned that I
this with you she was stunned that I
this with you she was stunned that I even still had it and she told me once
even still had it and she told me once
even still had it and she told me once that if I ever ever saw anything that
that if I ever ever saw anything that
that if I ever ever saw anything that looked like this in nature I should run
looked like this in nature I should run
looked like this in nature I should run well you may never find this hanging in
well you may never find this hanging in
well you may never find this hanging in 1708 gallery and you will probably never
1708 gallery and you will probably never
1708 gallery and you will probably never find me acting at the virginia rep but
find me acting at the virginia rep but
find me acting at the virginia rep but that’s not the point the point is that
that’s not the point the point is that
that’s not the point the point is that those painting classes and those drama
those painting classes and those drama
those painting classes and those drama classes they gave me profound joy and
classes they gave me profound joy and
classes they gave me profound joy and they changed me when I returned to that
they changed me when I returned to that
they changed me when I returned to that desk in the United States Senate I saw
desk in the United States Senate I saw
desk in the United States Senate I saw things differently in fact challenges
things differently in fact challenges
things differently in fact challenges that I had weren’t so challenging and
that I had weren’t so challenging and
that I had weren’t so challenging and solutions that had been out of reach
solutions that had been out of reach
solutions that had been out of reach were all of a sudden within my grasp my
were all of a sudden within my grasp my
were all of a sudden within my grasp my guess is that many of you have had the
guess is that many of you have had the
guess is that many of you have had the exact same experience with the arts so
exact same experience with the arts so
exact same experience with the arts so here’s my question for you do the arts
here’s my question for you do the arts
here’s my question for you do the arts just change people I don’t think so I
just change people I don’t think so I
just change people I don’t think so I think that the arts also change places
think that the arts also change places
think that the arts also change places Richmond is a city that has been shaped
Richmond is a city that has been shaped
Richmond is a city that has been shaped and defined by the Arts telling people
and defined by the Arts telling people
and defined by the Arts telling people who we are and what we do
dramatically reshaping our landscape and
dramatically reshaping our landscape and our architecture adorning our
our architecture adorning our
our architecture adorning our communities and bringing us together and
communities and bringing us together and
communities and bringing us together and sometimes tearing us apart the arts are
sometimes tearing us apart the arts are
sometimes tearing us apart the arts are reflection of our shortcomings and our
reflection of our shortcomings and our
reflection of our shortcomings and our aspirations our vision and our values
aspirations our vision and our values
aspirations our vision and our values for better or for worse you remember I
for better or for worse you remember I
for better or for worse you remember I was telling you about my great uncle
was telling you about my great uncle
was telling you about my great uncle uncle Beck he wasn’t just a jazz bassist
uncle Beck he wasn’t just a jazz bassist
uncle Beck he wasn’t just a jazz bassist he was a phenom
he was a phenom
he was a phenom talent he played with some of the great
talent he played with some of the great
talent he played with some of the great artists of his time but they like so
artists of his time but they like so
artists of his time but they like so many african-americans of that period
many african-americans of that period
many african-americans of that period were relegated to the chitlin circuit
were relegated to the chitlin circuit
were relegated to the chitlin circuit the clubs were only blacks could play
the clubs were only blacks could play
the clubs were only blacks could play because of segregation that legacy you
because of segregation that legacy you
because of segregation that legacy you know still lives with us today
know still lives with us today
know still lives with us today in fact uncle bits parents my
in fact uncle bits parents my
in fact uncle bits parents my great-grandparents had a farm on the
great-grandparents had a farm on the
great-grandparents had a farm on the east side of the city and when they
east side of the city and when they
east side of the city and when they owned that land it was flourishing and
owned that land it was flourishing and
owned that land it was flourishing and vibrant and green when they sold it now
vibrant and green when they sold it now
vibrant and green when they sold it now some of our fellow residents live there
some of our fellow residents live there
some of our fellow residents live there in grinding poverty some of the highest
in grinding poverty some of the highest
in grinding poverty some of the highest concentrations of poverty on the East
concentrations of poverty on the East
concentrations of poverty on the East Coast here in Richmond in Creighton
Coast here in Richmond in Creighton
Coast here in Richmond in Creighton Court so on the one hand we have these
Court so on the one hand we have these
Court so on the one hand we have these long-standing deep-seated challenges and
long-standing deep-seated challenges and
long-standing deep-seated challenges and on the other we have these enormous arts
on the other we have these enormous arts
on the other we have these enormous arts assets what if what if we were bolder
assets what if what if we were bolder
assets what if what if we were bolder with the arts this is a promise that we
with the arts this is a promise that we
with the arts this is a promise that we made to our city a commitment to our
made to our city a commitment to our
made to our city a commitment to our city three years ago we said that we
city three years ago we said that we
city three years ago we said that we were going to make Richmond a place of
were going to make Richmond a place of
were going to make Richmond a place of opportunity for absolutely everyone who
opportunity for absolutely everyone who
opportunity for absolutely everyone who lived here so if this is our moonshot
lived here so if this is our moonshot
lived here so if this is our moonshot then why can’t the art be the rocket
then why can’t the art be the rocket
then why can’t the art be the rocket booster to get us there we know that
booster to get us there we know that
booster to get us there we know that Richmond has a vibrant arts and cultural
Richmond has a vibrant arts and cultural
Richmond has a vibrant arts and cultural community in fact it’s one of the
community in fact it’s one of the
community in fact it’s one of the reasons that my husband and I wanted to
reasons that my husband and I wanted to
reasons that my husband and I wanted to move back here 18 months ago and I was
move back here 18 months ago and I was
move back here 18 months ago and I was so thrilled to move back home but let’s
so thrilled to move back home but let’s
so thrilled to move back home but let’s get real in a city where life expectancy
get real in a city where life expectancy
get real in a city where life expectancy differs by 20 years depending on whether
differs by 20 years depending on whether
differs by 20 years depending on whether you live in Gilpin court or Westover
you live in Gilpin court or Westover
you live in Gilpin court or Westover Hills we have a problem but the solution
Hills we have a problem but the solution
Hills we have a problem but the solution I proposed builds on work that I know
I proposed builds on work that I know
I proposed builds on work that I know many people in this room have started
many people in this room have started
many people in this room have started and have been working on for a very long
and have been working on for a very long
and have been working on for a very long time because in this room I know that we
time because in this room I know that we
time because in this room I know that we have
have
have eaters from the Richmond Performing Arts
eaters from the Richmond Performing Arts
eaters from the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance from spark from Ella from art
Alliance from spark from Ella from art
Alliance from spark from Ella from art 180 from the Opera the ballet the
180 from the Opera the ballet the
180 from the Opera the ballet the symphony we’ve got leaders from all of
symphony we’ve got leaders from all of
symphony we’ve got leaders from all of these great cultural programs because we
these great cultural programs because we
these great cultural programs because we are programmed rich but system poor so
are programmed rich but system poor so
are programmed rich but system poor so what if we thought about this a little
what if we thought about this a little
what if we thought about this a little bit differently tonight
bit differently tonight
bit differently tonight what if whether you’re a business leader
what if whether you’re a business leader
what if whether you’re a business leader or a nonprofit leader whether you’re a
or a nonprofit leader whether you’re a
or a nonprofit leader whether you’re a volunteer or elected official a student
volunteer or elected official a student
volunteer or elected official a student or an artist or someone who can barely
or an artist or someone who can barely
or an artist or someone who can barely carry a tune what if we all believed
carry a tune what if we all believed
carry a tune what if we all believed that the arts could be transformational
that the arts could be transformational
that the arts could be transformational for our city and then we acted with
for our city and then we acted with
for our city and then we acted with urgency and in coordination and with an
urgency and in coordination and with an
urgency and in coordination and with an eye toward scale to deal with the
eye toward scale to deal with the
eye toward scale to deal with the challenges in our public schools to
challenges in our public schools to
challenges in our public schools to build education to employment pathways
build education to employment pathways
build education to employment pathways for our residents and to finally finally
for our residents and to finally finally
for our residents and to finally finally deal with the stuff that just held us
deal with the stuff that just held us
deal with the stuff that just held us back for far too long so first let’s
back for far too long so first let’s
back for far too long so first let’s talk about our public schools whether
talk about our public schools whether
talk about our public schools whether you’re a resident or a school leader you
you’re a resident or a school leader you
you’re a resident or a school leader you know that we are not providing an
know that we are not providing an
know that we are not providing an excellent education for every child in
excellent education for every child in
excellent education for every child in Richmond public schools in fact in parts
Richmond public schools in fact in parts
Richmond public schools in fact in parts of our city we are struggling to provide
of our city we are struggling to provide
of our city we are struggling to provide a sufficient education to most and yet
a sufficient education to most and yet
a sufficient education to most and yet this affects absolutely everything that
this affects absolutely everything that
this affects absolutely everything that happens here our crime rate whether or
happens here our crime rate whether or
happens here our crime rate whether or not employers want to locate here health
not employers want to locate here health
not employers want to locate here health care life expectancy our housing
care life expectancy our housing
care life expectancy our housing patterns it affects everything that
patterns it affects everything that
patterns it affects everything that happens here so why don’t we think
happens here so why don’t we think
happens here so why don’t we think differently about using the arts to deal
differently about using the arts to deal
differently about using the arts to deal with these challenges I believe that we
with these challenges I believe that we
with these challenges I believe that we have a way forward if we think about
have a way forward if we think about
have a way forward if we think about these challenges and if we recognize
these challenges and if we recognize
these challenges and if we recognize that we’ve got a way to get better
that we’ve got a way to get better
that we’ve got a way to get better educational outcomes for our students
educational outcomes for our students
educational outcomes for our students there’s a wonderful program called
there’s a wonderful program called
there’s a wonderful program called turnaround arts see we’ve got turnaround
turnaround arts see we’ve got turnaround
turnaround arts see we’ve got turnaround arts fans in the audience for the rest
arts fans in the audience for the rest
arts fans in the audience for the rest of you let me tell you about it it’s a
of you let me tell you about it it’s a
of you let me tell you about it it’s a program that exists in 17 states and the
program that exists in 17 states and the
program that exists in 17 states and the District of Columbia and its sole
District of Columbia and its sole
District of Columbia and its sole purpose is to bring resources into our
purpose is to bring resources into our
purpose is to bring resources into our schools the lowest performing schools
schools the lowest performing schools
schools the lowest performing schools I’m talking about the bottom five to 10
I’m talking about the bottom five to 10
I’m talking about the bottom five to 10 percent of our schools so that our kids
percent of our schools so that our kids
percent of our schools so that our kids can get better educational outcomes
can get better educational outcomes
can get better educational outcomes those resources are things like coaches
those resources are things like coaches
those resources are things like coaches to work with our teachers instruments
to work with our teachers instruments
to work with our teachers instruments for students that don’t have them
for students that don’t have them
for students that don’t have them additional arts instructors to work with
additional arts instructors to work with
additional arts instructors to work with teachers and with students and celebrity
teachers and with students and celebrity
teachers and with students and celebrity artists people like Kerry Washington and
artists people like Kerry Washington and
artists people like Kerry Washington and yo-yo ma who routinely go back to those
yo-yo ma who routinely go back to those
yo-yo ma who routinely go back to those schools and work with the students to
schools and work with the students to
schools and work with the students to make sure that they can achieve and the
make sure that they can achieve and the
make sure that they can achieve and the thing is that we study turnaround arts
thing is that we study turnaround arts
thing is that we study turnaround arts after two years of implementation we
after two years of implementation we
after two years of implementation we looked at a group of those schools and
looked at a group of those schools and
looked at a group of those schools and this is what we found after two years a
this is what we found after two years a
this is what we found after two years a 22 percent improvement in math higher
22 percent improvement in math higher
22 percent improvement in math higher attendance rates lower disciplinary
attendance rates lower disciplinary
attendance rates lower disciplinary problems if this were some kind of
problems if this were some kind of
problems if this were some kind of education vitamin we would be at every
education vitamin we would be at every
education vitamin we would be at every Rite Aid every Walmart every CVS to buy
Rite Aid every Walmart every CVS to buy
Rite Aid every Walmart every CVS to buy it and yet these assets exist at our
it and yet these assets exist at our
it and yet these assets exist at our fingertips we are going to have three
fingertips we are going to have three
fingertips we are going to have three turnaround arts programs in Richmond
turnaround arts programs in Richmond
turnaround arts programs in Richmond Public Schools next year
but imagine this what if from pre-k on
but imagine this what if from pre-k on up
up
up we had these kinds of results for every
we had these kinds of results for every
we had these kinds of results for every child in Richmond Public Schools I’m not
child in Richmond Public Schools I’m not
child in Richmond Public Schools I’m not telling you that the arts are the
telling you that the arts are the
telling you that the arts are the solution to all of the problem and
solution to all of the problem and
solution to all of the problem and problems in our schools that would be
problems in our schools that would be
problems in our schools that would be naive what I am Telling You is that we
naive what I am Telling You is that we
naive what I am Telling You is that we have an effective way to create greater
have an effective way to create greater
have an effective way to create greater opportunity a richer educational
opportunity a richer educational
opportunity a richer educational experience and a pathway forward for our
experience and a pathway forward for our
experience and a pathway forward for our kids we just have to do this at scale
kids we just have to do this at scale
kids we just have to do this at scale number 2 education to employment
number 2 education to employment
number 2 education to employment pathways now I want you to stay with me
pathways now I want you to stay with me
pathways now I want you to stay with me on this one many of you have been here
on this one many of you have been here
on this one many of you have been here all day and you are a fantastic audience
all day and you are a fantastic audience
all day and you are a fantastic audience and you have heard some wonderful
and you have heard some wonderful
and you have heard some wonderful speakers but I know that I am standing
speakers but I know that I am standing
speakers but I know that I am standing between you and dinner
between you and dinner
between you and dinner now with that dinner you might have a
now with that dinner you might have a
now with that dinner you might have a fantastic glass of wine and that glass
fantastic glass of wine and that glass
fantastic glass of wine and that glass of wine may come from the Napa Valley
of wine may come from the Napa Valley
of wine may come from the Napa Valley region of California here’s what you may
region of California here’s what you may
region of California here’s what you may not know about that glass of wine 137
not know about that glass of wine 137
not know about that glass of wine 137 years ago the state of California
years ago the state of California
years ago the state of California mandated mandated that the University of
mandated mandated that the University of
mandated mandated that the University of California began an analogy and
California began an analogy and
California began an analogy and viticulture program to support its
viticulture program to support its
viticulture program to support its growing wine region now right now some
growing wine region now right now some
growing wine region now right now some of you are thinking okay well you’re
of you are thinking okay well you’re
of you are thinking okay well you’re right you do stand between me and dinner
right you do stand between me and dinner
right you do stand between me and dinner in that glass of wine but what does that
in that glass of wine but what does that
in that glass of wine but what does that have to do with change and the arts and
have to do with change and the arts and
have to do with change and the arts and Richmond here’s why I’m telling you this
Richmond here’s why I’m telling you this
Richmond here’s why I’m telling you this we are probably what a hundred paces
we are probably what a hundred paces
we are probably what a hundred paces from the number one public arts
from the number one public arts
from the number one public arts university in the country VCU that’s
university in the country VCU that’s
university in the country VCU that’s right
that’s something to be proud of and then
that’s something to be proud of and then if we just go a little bit to the west
if we just go a little bit to the west
if we just go a little bit to the west we’ve got the University of Richmond
we’ve got the University of Richmond
we’ve got the University of Richmond which is a university that is led by a
which is a university that is led by a
which is a university that is led by a world-renowned cellist and then if we go
world-renowned cellist and then if we go
world-renowned cellist and then if we go to the north
to the north
to the north we’ve got Virginia Union University a
we’ve got Virginia Union University a
we’ve got Virginia Union University a history it got some vu Panthers a
history it got some vu Panthers a
history it got some vu Panthers a university that has a history a legacy
university that has a history a legacy
university that has a history a legacy of graduating artists and singers and
of graduating artists and singers and
of graduating artists and singers and writers and we’ve also got Reynolds
writers and we’ve also got Reynolds
writers and we’ve also got Reynolds Community College so why wouldn’t we
Community College so why wouldn’t we
Community College so why wouldn’t we exactly why would we build education to
exactly why would we build education to
exactly why would we build education to employment pathways in the arts now I
employment pathways in the arts now I
employment pathways in the arts now I can see that look in some of your eyes
can see that look in some of your eyes
can see that look in some of your eyes you’re thinking okay Napa Valley
you’re thinking okay Napa Valley
you’re thinking okay Napa Valley University of California I get it but
University of California I get it but
University of California I get it but that’s got to be a once-in-a-lifetime
that’s got to be a once-in-a-lifetime
that’s got to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing well you better tell that to Walla
thing well you better tell that to Walla
thing well you better tell that to Walla Walla Community College in Walla Walla
Walla Community College in Walla Walla
Walla Community College in Walla Walla Washington because they are building
Washington because they are building
Washington because they are building education to employment pathways in
education to employment pathways in
education to employment pathways in winemaking recognizing the booming
winemaking recognizing the booming
winemaking recognizing the booming Washington State wine sector and we know
Washington State wine sector and we know
Washington State wine sector and we know you can get a great glass of Pinot from
you can get a great glass of Pinot from
you can get a great glass of Pinot from Washington State now some of you are
Washington State now some of you are
Washington State now some of you are probably thinking okay alright I can
probably thinking okay alright I can
probably thinking okay alright I can believe that and I know melody that you
believe that and I know melody that you
believe that and I know melody that you know that they’re building these kinds
know that they’re building these kinds
know that they’re building these kinds of pathways also in energy and
of pathways also in energy and
of pathways also in energy and manufacturing but come on in the arts I
manufacturing but come on in the arts I
manufacturing but come on in the arts I mean how many people could really be
mean how many people could really be
mean how many people could really be successful in the arts I mean let’s go
successful in the arts I mean let’s go
successful in the arts I mean let’s go to Exhibit A your watercolor painting
to Exhibit A your watercolor painting
to Exhibit A your watercolor painting yeah yeah see your reaction is a little
yeah yeah see your reaction is a little
yeah yeah see your reaction is a little hurtful hello thankful but your point is
hurtful hello thankful but your point is
hurtful hello thankful but your point is well-taken and to you I would say this
well-taken and to you I would say this
well-taken and to you I would say this broaden your aperture think more broadly
broaden your aperture think more broadly
broaden your aperture think more broadly think differently about what it means to
think differently about what it means to
think differently about what it means to have a career in the arts singer dancer
have a career in the arts singer dancer
have a career in the arts singer dancer sculptor yes
sculptor yes
sculptor yes but game designer web designer architect
but game designer web designer architect
but game designer web designer architect PR executive arts therapist music
PR executive arts therapist music
PR executive arts therapist music therapists these are all careers in the
therapists these are all careers in the
therapists these are all careers in the arts and we have the assets to build
arts and we have the assets to build
arts and we have the assets to build these pathways for our residents and to
these pathways for our residents and to
these pathways for our residents and to create greater economic security for
create greater economic security for
create greater economic security for them we just have to do it and so third
them we just have to do it and so third
them we just have to do it and so third I know of no other way to say it we have
I know of no other way to say it we have
I know of no other way to say it we have got to deal with the stuff that’s just
got to deal with the stuff that’s just
got to deal with the stuff that’s just dragged us down for far too long you
dragged us down for far too long you
dragged us down for far too long you know that we will never do what’s
know that we will never do what’s
know that we will never do what’s necessary in Richmond Public Schools
necessary in Richmond Public Schools
necessary in Richmond Public Schools until we finally see every child in
until we finally see every child in
until we finally see every child in those schools as bright as capable as
those schools as bright as capable as
those schools as bright as capable as worthy until we internalize what James
worthy until we internalize what James
worthy until we internalize what James Baldwin told us years ago they are all
Baldwin told us years ago they are all
Baldwin told us years ago they are all our children we will profit by or pay
our children we will profit by or pay
our children we will profit by or pay for what they become and we will never
for what they become and we will never
for what they become and we will never deal with the issues of crime that seem
deal with the issues of crime that seem
deal with the issues of crime that seem to have a stranglehold on our community
to have a stranglehold on our community
to have a stranglehold on our community right now until we ask ourselves why are
right now until we ask ourselves why are
right now until we ask ourselves why are we so comfortable with the cradle to
we so comfortable with the cradle to
we so comfortable with the cradle to Prison Pipeline
why is it that we have environments
why is it that we have environments where children are dying in their front
where children are dying in their front
where children are dying in their front yards where children are going to prison
yards where children are going to prison
yards where children are going to prison where good police officers lose their
where good police officers lose their
where good police officers lose their lives and we will never build those
lives and we will never build those
lives and we will never build those diverse and vibrant communities today
diverse and vibrant communities today
diverse and vibrant communities today until we ask ourselves why we didn’t
until we ask ourselves why we didn’t
until we ask ourselves why we didn’t build them in the past you see the art
build them in the past you see the art
build them in the past you see the art spoken word and dance and music and film
spoken word and dance and music and film
spoken word and dance and music and film they provoke and they challenge us they
they provoke and they challenge us they
they provoke and they challenge us they ask us and compel us to think about
ask us and compel us to think about
ask us and compel us to think about things differently they draw an empathy
things differently they draw an empathy
things differently they draw an empathy bridge between ourselves and people with
bridge between ourselves and people with
bridge between ourselves and people with whom we think we have nothing in common
whom we think we have nothing in common
whom we think we have nothing in common they allow us to deal with issues like
they allow us to deal with issues like
they allow us to deal with issues like race and the Confederacy like the
race and the Confederacy like the
race and the Confederacy like the changing core of our community and
changing core of our community and
changing core of our community and concerns about gentrification real or
concerns about gentrification real or
concerns about gentrification real or perceived about the resegregate of our
perceived about the resegregate of our
perceived about the resegregate of our schools and this one and I say this
schools and this one and I say this
schools and this one and I say this because I’m from here that come here
because I’m from here that come here
because I’m from here that come here from here syndrome that old guard new
from here syndrome that old guard new
from here syndrome that old guard new guard friction that held us back for far
guard friction that held us back for far
guard friction that held us back for far too long
too long
too long recently I was talking to our Julie moon
recently I was talking to our Julie moon
recently I was talking to our Julie moon and she is the founder of the Africana
and she is the founder of the Africana
and she is the founder of the Africana Film Festival and oddly told me that
Film Festival and oddly told me that
Film Festival and oddly told me that after people watched those films they
after people watched those films they
after people watched those films they think about and have different kinds of
think about and have different kinds of
think about and have different kinds of conversations deeper richer
conversations deeper richer
conversations deeper richer conversations conversations about
conversations conversations about
conversations conversations about complex and surprising and difficult
complex and surprising and difficult
complex and surprising and difficult issues it is as though the film provides
issues it is as though the film provides
issues it is as though the film provides them with a pathway into the
them with a pathway into the
them with a pathway into the conversation that they otherwise would
conversation that they otherwise would
conversation that they otherwise would not have had and also here in Richmond
not have had and also here in Richmond
not have had and also here in Richmond at VCU there’s a new program called I
at VCU there’s a new program called I
at VCU there’s a new program called I cubed
cubed
cubed it’s a transdisciplinary program it will
it’s a transdisciplinary program it will
it’s a transdisciplinary program it will bring together the School of Business
bring together the School of Business
bring together the School of Business and the School of Public Health and
and the School of Public Health and
and the School of Public Health and psychology and African American Studies
psychology and African American Studies
psychology and African American Studies and the School of the Arts and also the
and the School of the Arts and also the
and the School of the Arts and also the new Institute of Contemporary Art
new Institute of Contemporary Art
new Institute of Contemporary Art for the sole purpose of allowing us to
for the sole purpose of allowing us to
for the sole purpose of allowing us to think about issues that have challenged
think about issues that have challenged
think about issues that have challenged urban areas like Richmond and issues
urban areas like Richmond and issues
urban areas like Richmond and issues like equity and opportunity and when it
like equity and opportunity and when it
like equity and opportunity and when it comes to the arts will allow us to
comes to the arts will allow us to
comes to the arts will allow us to strengthen our arts infrastructure so
strengthen our arts infrastructure so
strengthen our arts infrastructure so that experts and residents alike can
that experts and residents alike can
that experts and residents alike can work together and so that we can address
work together and so that we can address
work together and so that we can address issues of social justice these are tools
issues of social justice these are tools
issues of social justice these are tools that will allow us to deal with these
that will allow us to deal with these
that will allow us to deal with these issues that have held us back you know a
issues that have held us back you know a
issues that have held us back you know a few minutes ago when I started speaking
few minutes ago when I started speaking
few minutes ago when I started speaking with you I reminded all of us that
with you I reminded all of us that
with you I reminded all of us that Richmond has a moonshot that we are
Richmond has a moonshot that we are
Richmond has a moonshot that we are going to make this a better community a
going to make this a better community a
going to make this a better community a stronger community for everyone who
stronger community for everyone who
stronger community for everyone who lives here by definition moonshots are
lives here by definition moonshots are
lives here by definition moonshots are big hairy audacious goals but they are
big hairy audacious goals but they are
big hairy audacious goals but they are also achievable remember we did get to
also achievable remember we did get to
also achievable remember we did get to the moon not because it was easy but
the moon not because it was easy but
the moon not because it was easy but because it was hard we gathered our
because it was hard we gathered our
because it was hard we gathered our energy and our assets and we came
energy and our assets and we came
energy and our assets and we came together and we better educated our
together and we better educated our
together and we better educated our children we built entire new industries
children we built entire new industries
children we built entire new industries and sectors and we created new jobs and
and sectors and we created new jobs and
and sectors and we created new jobs and we had a shared sense of spirit and
we had a shared sense of spirit and
we had a shared sense of spirit and commitment to a goal that we all
commitment to a goal that we all
commitment to a goal that we all believed in we can do that here today
believed in we can do that here today
believed in we can do that here today for our city the arts can be that rocket
for our city the arts can be that rocket
for our city the arts can be that rocket booster it can help us strengthen our
booster it can help us strengthen our
booster it can help us strengthen our schools it can build greater economic
schools it can build greater economic
schools it can build greater economic security for all of our residents and it
security for all of our residents and it
security for all of our residents and it can help us identify that which is
can help us identify that which is
can help us identify that which is inside of us that is profoundly human so
inside of us that is profoundly human so
inside of us that is profoundly human so we can heal those wounds there has never
we can heal those wounds there has never
we can heal those wounds there has never been a more important time for us North
been a more important time for us North
been a more important time for us North Side and south side he
Side and south side he
Side and south side he and and west to come together to build a
and and west to come together to build a
and and west to come together to build a stronger more vibrant Richmond a
stronger more vibrant Richmond a
stronger more vibrant Richmond a Richmond that is more beautiful inside
Richmond that is more beautiful inside
Richmond that is more beautiful inside and out
and out
and out thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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