today my students and I will start by sharing our class data we invite the
sharing our class data we invite the
sharing our class data we invite the audience to participate as well please
audience to participate as well please
audience to participate as well please raise your hand if you’ve ever been
raise your hand if you’ve ever been
raise your hand if you’ve ever been detained and questioned by police if
detained and questioned by police if
detained and questioned by police if you’ve been detained in questioned by
you’ve been detained in questioned by
you’ve been detained in questioned by police three or more times if you’ve had
police three or more times if you’ve had
police three or more times if you’ve had an immediate family member incarcerated
an immediate family member incarcerated
an immediate family member incarcerated for a significant period of time if
for a significant period of time if
for a significant period of time if you’ve been shot at if you’ve seen
you’ve been shot at if you’ve seen
you’ve been shot at if you’ve seen someone get shot if you’ve had a close
someone get shot if you’ve had a close
someone get shot if you’ve had a close loved one murdered this is my tenth year
loved one murdered this is my tenth year
loved one murdered this is my tenth year of teaching and so called at-risk youth
of teaching and so called at-risk youth
of teaching and so called at-risk youth and I have always gravitated towards
and I have always gravitated towards
and I have always gravitated towards each other but six years of watching
each other but six years of watching
each other but six years of watching countless youth move steadily on a
countless youth move steadily on a
countless youth move steadily on a conveyor belt to destruction led me to a
conveyor belt to destruction led me to a
conveyor belt to destruction led me to a devastating realization that I despite
devastating realization that I despite
devastating realization that I despite my best efforts had made almost zero
my best efforts had made almost zero
my best efforts had made almost zero difference in the lives of students I
difference in the lives of students I
difference in the lives of students I most wanted to reach zero forget turning
most wanted to reach zero forget turning
most wanted to reach zero forget turning off the conveyor belt I couldn’t think
off the conveyor belt I couldn’t think
off the conveyor belt I couldn’t think of a single instance where I had even
of a single instance where I had even
of a single instance where I had even slowed it down and when I started this
slowed it down and when I started this
slowed it down and when I started this survey I realized why I had been
survey I realized why I had been
survey I realized why I had been applying my solutions to their
applying my solutions to their
applying my solutions to their situations without even asking them
situations without even asking them
situations without even asking them their situations this realization came
their situations this realization came
their situations this realization came through my partnership with these young
through my partnership with these young
through my partnership with these young men I met in my leadership class at
men I met in my leadership class at
men I met in my leadership class at robert e lee high school and an effort
robert e lee high school and an effort
robert e lee high school and an effort we call the evac movement in just over
we call the evac movement in just over
we call the evac movement in just over one year and with no formal curriculum
one year and with no formal curriculum
one year and with no formal curriculum training or funding these young men went
training or funding these young men went
training or funding these young men went from being labeled as at-risk to being
from being labeled as at-risk to being
from being labeled as at-risk to being recognized as at Hope youth leaders
recognized as at Hope youth leaders
recognized as at Hope youth leaders whose accomplishments include speaking
whose accomplishments include speaking
whose accomplishments include speaking at the White House meeting President
at the White House meeting President
at the White House meeting President Obama making the front page of the New
Obama making the front page of the New
Obama making the front page of the New York Times and winning first prize and a
York Times and winning first prize and a
York Times and winning first prize and a contest sponsored by Harvard
contest sponsored by Harvard
contest sponsored by Harvard [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] that’s how I feel too despite enormous
that’s how I feel too despite enormous
that’s how I feel too despite enormous risk factors these young men stand here
risk factors these young men stand here
risk factors these young men stand here today with hope how did they get here
today with hope how did they get here
today with hope how did they get here and how do we empower other youth to get
and how do we empower other youth to get
and how do we empower other youth to get here too we start with their story and
here too we start with their story and
here too we start with their story and here it is our story starts with Plato’s
here it is our story starts with Plato’s
here it is our story starts with Plato’s allegory of the cave a philosophy piece
allegory of the cave a philosophy piece
allegory of the cave a philosophy piece written 2500 years ago about prisoners
written 2500 years ago about prisoners
written 2500 years ago about prisoners who’ve been chained in a cave since
who’ve been chained in a cave since
who’ve been chained in a cave since birth they are unaware of their chains
birth they are unaware of their chains
birth they are unaware of their chains over that there even in a cave until one
over that there even in a cave until one
over that there even in a cave until one day a liberator descends the steps
day a liberator descends the steps
day a liberator descends the steps unbinds their chains and leads them to
unbinds their chains and leads them to
unbinds their chains and leads them to the light in 2013 the best teacher I
the light in 2013 the best teacher I
the light in 2013 the best teacher I know mr. Reginald vineyard introduced me
know mr. Reginald vineyard introduced me
know mr. Reginald vineyard introduced me to the cave and it’s been my first
to the cave and it’s been my first
to the cave and it’s been my first lesson of the year ever since in 2014
lesson of the year ever since in 2014
lesson of the year ever since in 2014 these young men entered their ninth
these young men entered their ninth
these young men entered their ninth grade year sprinkled among my six co-ed
grade year sprinkled among my six co-ed
grade year sprinkled among my six co-ed leadership classes and that year I
leadership classes and that year I
leadership classes and that year I started a new assignment sharing your
started a new assignment sharing your
started a new assignment sharing your story students read the cave then watch
story students read the cave then watch
story students read the cave then watch The Lion King tracing Simba journey of
The Lion King tracing Simba journey of
The Lion King tracing Simba journey of grief as a model to analyze their own
grief as a model to analyze their own
grief as a model to analyze their own difficult experiences these young men
difficult experiences these young men
difficult experiences these young men stood out because they were among the
stood out because they were among the
stood out because they were among the first to do the assignments optional
first to do the assignments optional
first to do the assignments optional portion sharing their stories and
portion sharing their stories and
portion sharing their stories and sharing changed them my close friend and
sharing changed them my close friend and
sharing changed them my close friend and classroom volunteer Jay Harris one day
classroom volunteer Jay Harris one day
classroom volunteer Jay Harris one day looked around and said to me
looked around and said to me
looked around and said to me ami something’s happening here and it
ami something’s happening here and it
ami something’s happening here and it needs a name he wrote something down
needs a name he wrote something down
needs a name he wrote something down handed it to me and said what does cave
handed it to me and said what does cave
handed it to me and said what does cave backward spell evac he said ami sharing
backward spell evac he said ami sharing
backward spell evac he said ami sharing their stories is evacuating them from
their stories is evacuating them from
their stories is evacuating them from hopelessness this is an evac movement so
hopelessness this is an evac movement so
hopelessness this is an evac movement so my principal agreed to my request to
my principal agreed to my request to
my principal agreed to my request to teach a part two leadership course with
teach a part two leadership course with
teach a part two leadership course with some of these same young men and women
some of these same young men and women
some of these same young men and women the next school year but in June there
the next school year but in June there
the next school year but in June there is an abrupt principal change leading me
is an abrupt principal change leading me
is an abrupt principal change leading me to go up to the school to get the new
to go up to the school to get the new
to go up to the school to get the new principal’s approval to teach it which
principal’s approval to teach it which
principal’s approval to teach it which he gave but with a catch due to racial
he gave but with a catch due to racial
he gave but with a catch due to racial disparities in education he wanted the
disparities in education he wanted the
disparities in education he wanted the course to be all african-american young
course to be all african-american young
course to be all african-american young men
men
men I said I fully support that but as a
I said I fully support that but as a
I said I fully support that but as a white female I am not the right person
white female I am not the right person
white female I am not the right person for this and he pushed back saying I was
for this and he pushed back saying I was
for this and he pushed back saying I was the only teacher with room in my
the only teacher with room in my
the only teacher with room in my schedule basically it was me or no class
schedule basically it was me or no class
schedule basically it was me or no class so that fall our journey began their
so that fall our journey began their
so that fall our journey began their sophomore year
sophomore year
sophomore year and it was a disaster students either
and it was a disaster students either
and it was a disaster students either didn’t know each other I didn’t like
didn’t know each other I didn’t like
didn’t know each other I didn’t like each other they fought I cried every
each other they fought I cried every
each other they fought I cried every single lesson I taught fell flat and in
single lesson I taught fell flat and in
single lesson I taught fell flat and in desperation we went back to the one
desperation we went back to the one
desperation we went back to the one thing that yet again changed everything
thing that yet again changed everything
thing that yet again changed everything writing their stories and then c’mon the
writing their stories and then c’mon the
writing their stories and then c’mon the only one who in ninth grade never wrote
only one who in ninth grade never wrote
only one who in ninth grade never wrote or shared his story asked to share and
or shared his story asked to share and
or shared his story asked to share and our class changed forever that day and
our class changed forever that day and
our class changed forever that day and his bravery as he came to the front of
his bravery as he came to the front of
his bravery as he came to the front of the room and shared that the summer
the room and shared that the summer
the room and shared that the summer before ninth grade his brother had been
before ninth grade his brother had been
before ninth grade his brother had been murdered and that until now he never
murdered and that until now he never
murdered and that until now he never talked about it after his classmates
talked about it after his classmates
talked about it after his classmates began sharing that many of them too had
began sharing that many of them too had
began sharing that many of them too had lost brothers and they too didn’t know
lost brothers and they too didn’t know
lost brothers and they too didn’t know how to deal and by the end of class they
how to deal and by the end of class they
how to deal and by the end of class they were fighting again but this time over
were fighting again but this time over
were fighting again but this time over who got to share next in every class for
who got to share next in every class for
who got to share next in every class for the next two months a different student
the next two months a different student
the next two months a different student shared and a brotherhood was formed and
shared and a brotherhood was formed and
shared and a brotherhood was formed and soon one said to me this has been great
soon one said to me this has been great
soon one said to me this has been great but when are we gonna do something about
but when are we gonna do something about
but when are we gonna do something about all this so I had a great idea since
all this so I had a great idea since
all this so I had a great idea since many of their stories involved traumatic
many of their stories involved traumatic
many of their stories involved traumatic police stops I had invited local
police stops I had invited local
police stops I had invited local officers in to teach them their rights
officers in to teach them their rights
officers in to teach them their rights and they’d be here next class wasn’t
and they’d be here next class wasn’t
and they’d be here next class wasn’t that great
that great
that great the classroom erupted asked the police
the classroom erupted asked the police
the classroom erupted asked the police they weren’t censored either uh I’m not
they weren’t censored either uh I’m not
they weren’t censored either uh I’m not coming and then I erupted it and I said
coming and then I erupted it and I said
coming and then I erupted it and I said if that’s your attitude then go ahead
if that’s your attitude then go ahead
if that’s your attitude then go ahead and drop the class because that’s not
and drop the class because that’s not
and drop the class because that’s not leadership but I will never forget when
leadership but I will never forget when
leadership but I will never forget when one of them raised his hand and with
one of them raised his hand and with
one of them raised his hand and with incredible grace said this out of Rio we
incredible grace said this out of Rio we
incredible grace said this out of Rio we understand what you’re saying but you
understand what you’re saying but you
understand what you’re saying but you haven’t been handcuffed face down on
haven’t been handcuffed face down on
haven’t been handcuffed face down on concrete you haven’t had guns pulled on
concrete you haven’t had guns pulled on
concrete you haven’t had guns pulled on you and dog sticked on you for
you and dog sticked on you for
you and dog sticked on you for jaywalking he pointed to a classmate and
jaywalking he pointed to a classmate and
jaywalking he pointed to a classmate and said you haven’t missed your mom’s
said you haven’t missed your mom’s
said you haven’t missed your mom’s funeral
funeral
funeral because you were illegally detained we
because you were illegally detained we
because you were illegally detained we understand what you’re saying but this
understand what you’re saying but this
understand what you’re saying but this runs deep and I was so ashamed
runs deep and I was so ashamed
runs deep and I was so ashamed and just floored by my own ignorance and
and just floored by my own ignorance and
and just floored by my own ignorance and I immediately said I’d cancel but they
I immediately said I’d cancel but they
I immediately said I’d cancel but they told me not to in the next class every
told me not to in the next class every
told me not to in the next class every single young man showed up unfortunately
single young man showed up unfortunately
single young man showed up unfortunately the visit was essentially a lecture on
the visit was essentially a lecture on
the visit was essentially a lecture on respecting Authority but the person who
respecting Authority but the person who
respecting Authority but the person who set it up mr. Frank Talbot asked to come
set it up mr. Frank Talbot asked to come
set it up mr. Frank Talbot asked to come back and address some of their
back and address some of their
back and address some of their unanswered questions and he continued
unanswered questions and he continued
unanswered questions and he continued not only to come back but began bringing
not only to come back but began bringing
not only to come back but began bringing his colleagues it was these young men
his colleagues it was these young men
his colleagues it was these young men sharing their stories and adults with
sharing their stories and adults with
sharing their stories and adults with power were literally taking notes and
power were literally taking notes and
power were literally taking notes and soon we were becoming more than a class
soon we were becoming more than a class
soon we were becoming more than a class and we needed a name and so one said how
and we needed a name and so one said how
and we needed a name and so one said how about cave and we laughed but then Jay
about cave and we laughed but then Jay
about cave and we laughed but then Jay said how about evac and from there the
said how about evac and from there the
said how about evac and from there the opportunities just escalated in April to
opportunities just escalated in April to
opportunities just escalated in April to were chosen to go to the US Department
were chosen to go to the US Department
were chosen to go to the US Department of Justice in DC in August for other
of Justice in DC in August for other
of Justice in DC in August for other students presented at a national youth
students presented at a national youth
students presented at a national youth summit and a few weeks later we were
summit and a few weeks later we were
summit and a few weeks later we were asked to interview for a juvenile
asked to interview for a juvenile
asked to interview for a juvenile justice article to our utter shock that
justice article to our utter shock that
justice article to our utter shock that article ran on the front page of the New
article ran on the front page of the New
article ran on the front page of the New York Times and the next day the juvenile
York Times and the next day the juvenile
York Times and the next day the juvenile Law Center reached out to the student
Law Center reached out to the student
Law Center reached out to the student who was featured and asked him to come
who was featured and asked him to come
who was featured and asked him to come share his story on Capitol Hill
share his story on Capitol Hill
share his story on Capitol Hill when I told Jay he said Amy sky is
when I told Jay he said Amy sky is
when I told Jay he said Amy sky is clearly the limit with evac from now on
clearly the limit with evac from now on
clearly the limit with evac from now on you need to start dreaming crazy and I
you need to start dreaming crazy and I
you need to start dreaming crazy and I laughed but my mind started racing and
laughed but my mind started racing and
laughed but my mind started racing and the next class I told them my great idea
the next class I told them my great idea
the next class I told them my great idea I thought our whole class should go to
I thought our whole class should go to
I thought our whole class should go to DC next week with him we need about ten
DC next week with him we need about ten
DC next week with him we need about ten thousand dollars so we made a video we
thousand dollars so we made a video we
thousand dollars so we made a video we posted it to Facebook and the next day
posted it to Facebook and the next day
posted it to Facebook and the next day the Laura and John Arnold Foundation
the Laura and John Arnold Foundation
the Laura and John Arnold Foundation gave us ten thousand dollars for the
gave us ten thousand dollars for the
gave us ten thousand dollars for the trip that’s Sunday we flew out foremost
trip that’s Sunday we flew out foremost
trip that’s Sunday we flew out foremost it was their first flight for many it
it was their first flight for many it
it was their first flight for many it was their first time ever leaving
was their first time ever leaving
was their first time ever leaving Jacksonville when we got there we spoke
Jacksonville when we got there we spoke
Jacksonville when we got there we spoke at Capitol Hill and at the White House
at Capitol Hill and at the White House
at Capitol Hill and at the White House and the trip got us thinking anything is
and the trip got us thinking anything is
and the trip got us thinking anything is possible
possible
possible so our first class back we made our
so our first class back we made our
so our first class back we made our dream crazy list and we wrote down every
dream crazy list and we wrote down every
dream crazy list and we wrote down every crazy goal we could think of and
crazy goal we could think of and
crazy goal we could think of and throughout last year we continuously
throughout last year we continuously
throughout last year we continuously checked items off including meeting
checked items off including meeting
checked items off including meeting President Obama while he was still in
President Obama while he was still in
President Obama while he was still in office and our last class of their
office and our last class of their
office and our last class of their junior year they got the surprise
junior year they got the surprise
junior year they got the surprise announcement that they had won first
announcement that they had won first
announcement that they had won first prize nationwide in Harvard and the kind
prize nationwide in Harvard and the kind
prize nationwide in Harvard and the kind schools kind schools challenge so this
schools kind schools challenge so this
schools kind schools challenge so this fall these young men entered their
fall these young men entered their
fall these young men entered their senior year with countless adults
senior year with countless adults
senior year with countless adults recognizing their value and praising
recognizing their value and praising
recognizing their value and praising their success and also requesting a
their success and also requesting a
their success and also requesting a program formula so that Yvette can be
program formula so that Yvette can be
program formula so that Yvette can be replicated citywide so today I’m sharing
replicated citywide so today I’m sharing
replicated citywide so today I’m sharing the most important step needed to
the most important step needed to
the most important step needed to replicate ‘back our story and I asked
replicate ‘back our story and I asked
replicate ‘back our story and I asked them the most important part of our
them the most important part of our
them the most important part of our story to share today and they said tell
story to share today and they said tell
story to share today and they said tell them we shook hands with President Obama
them we shook hands with President Obama
them we shook hands with President Obama and then went right back to the hood
tell them that why I checked from my
tell them that why I checked from my letter from the White House I got
letter from the White House I got
letter from the White House I got stopped and searched by police for
stopped and searched by police for
stopped and searched by police for looking suspicious
looking suspicious
looking suspicious tell them to spend one weekend in our
tell them to spend one weekend in our
tell them to spend one weekend in our neighborhood before making programs that
neighborhood before making programs that
neighborhood before making programs that decide what’s best for us our real story
decide what’s best for us our real story
decide what’s best for us our real story is about youth who are waking up every
is about youth who are waking up every
is about youth who are waking up every day in a horror movie a reality that no
day in a horror movie a reality that no
day in a horror movie a reality that no class no program no accomplishment
class no program no accomplishment
class no program no accomplishment changes which is why evac is not and has
changes which is why evac is not and has
changes which is why evac is not and has never been a program it is simply a war
never been a program it is simply a war
never been a program it is simply a war for hope that we’ve chosen to fight
for hope that we’ve chosen to fight
for hope that we’ve chosen to fight together through sacrificing daily
together through sacrificing daily
together through sacrificing daily loving relentlessly and fighting
loving relentlessly and fighting
loving relentlessly and fighting fearlessly here’s what that’s looked
fearlessly here’s what that’s looked
fearlessly here’s what that’s looked like for us and what it’ll look like for
like for us and what it’ll look like for
like for us and what it’ll look like for others who’d like to do the same our
others who’d like to do the same our
others who’d like to do the same our story is full of countless people who
story is full of countless people who
story is full of countless people who love them and their story until they’re
love them and their story until they’re
love them and their story until they’re asked to deal with the reality of it our
asked to deal with the reality of it our
asked to deal with the reality of it our reality is 2 a.m. phone calls going to
reality is 2 a.m. phone calls going to
reality is 2 a.m. phone calls going to funerals baking birthday cakes at
funerals baking birthday cakes at
funerals baking birthday cakes at midnight and taking personal days to go
midnight and taking personal days to go
midnight and taking personal days to go to court hearings that end up cancelled
to court hearings that end up cancelled
to court hearings that end up cancelled embracing sacrifice destroys all dreams
embracing sacrifice destroys all dreams
embracing sacrifice destroys all dreams of being or feeling like a hero because
of being or feeling like a hero because
of being or feeling like a hero because what you’ll most have to sacrifice is
what you’ll most have to sacrifice is
what you’ll most have to sacrifice is your pride personally you’ve acts been
your pride personally you’ve acts been
your pride personally you’ve acts been the most humbling experience of my life
the most humbling experience of my life
the most humbling experience of my life I on a daily basis feel inadequate
I on a daily basis feel inadequate
I on a daily basis feel inadequate disrespected and just scared I
disrespected and just scared I
disrespected and just scared I frequently call friends sobbing that I
frequently call friends sobbing that I
frequently call friends sobbing that I have to quit that I’m not built for this
have to quit that I’m not built for this
have to quit that I’m not built for this that it costs too much and I’ve gotten a
that it costs too much and I’ve gotten a
that it costs too much and I’ve gotten a lot of lectures on on boundaries and
lot of lectures on on boundaries and
lot of lectures on on boundaries and work-life balance but y’all know those
work-life balance but y’all know those
work-life balance but y’all know those right but what I’ve had to learn is that
right but what I’ve had to learn is that
right but what I’ve had to learn is that those things don’t exist on the front
those things don’t exist on the front
those things don’t exist on the front lines war is ugly and it costs us
lines war is ugly and it costs us
lines war is ugly and it costs us something sometimes everything we win
something sometimes everything we win
something sometimes everything we win simply by being willing to keep showing
simply by being willing to keep showing
simply by being willing to keep showing up by far the most powerful strategy for
up by far the most powerful strategy for
up by far the most powerful strategy for hope is love
hope is love
hope is love their mentors and I had to teach them by
their mentors and I had to teach them by
their mentors and I had to teach them by learning ourselves what real love and
learning ourselves what real love and
learning ourselves what real love and loyalty looks like and it looks like
loyalty looks like and it looks like
loyalty looks like and it looks like people sticking around long term even
people sticking around long term even
people sticking around long term even and especially after being hurt we have
and especially after being hurt we have
and especially after being hurt we have had countless ugly blowouts that should
had countless ugly blowouts that should
had countless ugly blowouts that should have meant that our story was over but
have meant that our story was over but
have meant that our story was over but love is our choice to work through them
love is our choice to work through them
love is our choice to work through them no matter how bad one of us messes up
no matter how bad one of us messes up
no matter how bad one of us messes up including me love looks like choosing to
including me love looks like choosing to
including me love looks like choosing to walk through hell together it’s us
walk through hell together it’s us
walk through hell together it’s us driving to graduation with our classmate
driving to graduation with our classmate
driving to graduation with our classmate when he gets the text that his mother’s
when he gets the text that his mother’s
when he gets the text that his mother’s passed away and it’s us without
passed away and it’s us without
passed away and it’s us without hesitation canceling our lunch with the
hesitation canceling our lunch with the
hesitation canceling our lunch with the mayor to be there with him
mayor to be there with him
mayor to be there with him love is his classmate staying with him
love is his classmate staying with him
love is his classmate staying with him all night so that he wasn’t alone
all night so that he wasn’t alone
all night so that he wasn’t alone love is us driving an hour with roses
love is us driving an hour with roses
love is us driving an hour with roses and Gatorades to stand beside him as the
and Gatorades to stand beside him as the
and Gatorades to stand beside him as the only guests at the funeral in his own
only guests at the funeral in his own
only guests at the funeral in his own words evac is about our love for each
words evac is about our love for each
words evac is about our love for each other a love that leads us to do the
other a love that leads us to do the
other a love that leads us to do the only thing we can in these moments stand
only thing we can in these moments stand
only thing we can in these moments stand quietly alongside each other in the
quietly alongside each other in the
quietly alongside each other in the midst of it lastly what we love we’ll
midst of it lastly what we love we’ll
midst of it lastly what we love we’ll fight for two teachers program directors
fight for two teachers program directors
fight for two teachers program directors and others who take the song buckle up
and others who take the song buckle up
and others who take the song buckle up you are about to become the squeaky
you are about to become the squeaky
you are about to become the squeaky wheel for the voiceless understand that
wheel for the voiceless understand that
wheel for the voiceless understand that people who work with kids are loved
people who work with kids are loved
people who work with kids are loved people who liberate kids are dangerous
people who liberate kids are dangerous
people who liberate kids are dangerous and liberation requires persistently
and liberation requires persistently
and liberation requires persistently following up asking hard questions and
following up asking hard questions and
following up asking hard questions and advocating for exceptions and
advocating for exceptions and
advocating for exceptions and institutions that value uniformity
institutions that value uniformity
institutions that value uniformity expediency and hierarchy above our kids
expediency and hierarchy above our kids
expediency and hierarchy above our kids you are going to annoy your boss your
you are going to annoy your boss your
you are going to annoy your boss your colleagues you are going to be the
colleagues you are going to be the
colleagues you are going to be the person that makes the meetings run over
person that makes the meetings run over
person that makes the meetings run over but we can’t keep using statistics to
but we can’t keep using statistics to
but we can’t keep using statistics to label kids as at-risk yet force programs
label kids as at-risk yet force programs
label kids as at-risk yet force programs to compromise on what’s necessary to
to compromise on what’s necessary to
to compromise on what’s necessary to overcome those odds those compromises
overcome those odds those compromises
overcome those odds those compromises turn
turn
turn our programs into shams that help the
our programs into shams that help the
our programs into shams that help the kids who are gonna make it anyway and
kids who are gonna make it anyway and
kids who are gonna make it anyway and they leave the very kids were supposed
they leave the very kids were supposed
they leave the very kids were supposed to help behind to die hope is life and
to help behind to die hope is life and
to help behind to die hope is life and death so that’s our story here’s mine
death so that’s our story here’s mine
death so that’s our story here’s mine walking alongside these young men has
walking alongside these young men has
walking alongside these young men has been my life’s greatest blessing honor
been my life’s greatest blessing honor
been my life’s greatest blessing honor and joy they are warriors and our city’s
and joy they are warriors and our city’s
and joy they are warriors and our city’s heroes but my daily insecurity is still
heroes but my daily insecurity is still
heroes but my daily insecurity is still that I am not the right person for this
that I am not the right person for this
that I am not the right person for this and in so many factual real ways I’m
and in so many factual real ways I’m
and in so many factual real ways I’m truly not but by constantly bypassing
truly not but by constantly bypassing
truly not but by constantly bypassing reasons to label me as at risk they
reasons to label me as at risk they
reasons to label me as at risk they taught me the power of treating others
taught me the power of treating others
taught me the power of treating others with hope and empowers us to fly so
with hope and empowers us to fly so
with hope and empowers us to fly so today I didn’t give you a five-step plan
today I didn’t give you a five-step plan
today I didn’t give you a five-step plan to recreate evac because those steps are
to recreate evac because those steps are
to recreate evac because those steps are worthless without understanding what I
worthless without understanding what I
worthless without understanding what I hope is now clear that you can’t create
hope is now clear that you can’t create
hope is now clear that you can’t create effective programs for at Hope youth
effective programs for at Hope youth
effective programs for at Hope youth without knowing their story and making
without knowing their story and making
without knowing their story and making their story a part of yours because hope
their story a part of yours because hope
their story a part of yours because hope is not a program hope is actually seeing
is not a program hope is actually seeing
is not a program hope is actually seeing our youth who are courageous enough to
our youth who are courageous enough to
our youth who are courageous enough to fight and about being willing to
fight and about being willing to
fight and about being willing to courageously fight beside them even when
courageously fight beside them even when
courageously fight beside them even when it costs us hope is being willing to
it costs us hope is being willing to
it costs us hope is being willing to become a family and do what families do
become a family and do what families do
become a family and do what families do which is stay at the table even when one
which is stay at the table even when one
which is stay at the table even when one of you flips it over hope is about
of you flips it over hope is about
of you flips it over hope is about demanding our institutions start
demanding our institutions start
demanding our institutions start listening to our youth stories and end
listening to our youth stories and end
listening to our youth stories and end restrictions that make it impossible to
restrictions that make it impossible to
restrictions that make it impossible to help them ultimately our only way to
help them ultimately our only way to
help them ultimately our only way to evacuate the cave is together and our
evacuate the cave is together and our
evacuate the cave is together and our only hope to reach the light is in our
only hope to reach the light is in our
only hope to reach the light is in our willingness to love other people’s kids
willingness to love other people’s kids
willingness to love other people’s kids as relentlessly sacrificially and
as relentlessly sacrificially and
as relentlessly sacrificially and fearlessly as we love our own
fearlessly as we love our own
fearlessly as we love our own risks have margins the hope has no
risks have margins the hope has no
risks have margins the hope has no boundaries follow their lead choose hope
boundaries follow their lead choose hope
boundaries follow their lead choose hope thank you
”
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