I wonder how many different thoughts nice and how interesting that can
nice and how interesting that can
nice and how interesting that can possibly be so right I’m not offended
possibly be so right I’m not offended
possibly be so right I’m not offended I’m quite accustomed to that dinner
I’m quite accustomed to that dinner
I’m quite accustomed to that dinner party uncomfortable pause and people ask
party uncomfortable pause and people ask
party uncomfortable pause and people ask me what I do I’ve been working in social
me what I do I’ve been working in social
me what I do I’ve been working in social housing for almost 20 years and a lot of
housing for almost 20 years and a lot of
housing for almost 20 years and a lot of those years in finance so that’s
those years in finance so that’s
those years in finance so that’s something I’m quite used to having said
something I’m quite used to having said
something I’m quite used to having said that after the tragic events that Gwen
that after the tragic events that Gwen
that after the tragic events that Gwen fell in June this year people have a lot
fell in June this year people have a lot
fell in June this year people have a lot to say about what I do for a living and
to say about what I do for a living and
to say about what I do for a living and actually there are quite a lot of
actually there are quite a lot of
actually there are quite a lot of opinions the government this is probably
opinions the government this is probably
opinions the government this is probably my first experience of having been so
my first experience of having been so
my first experience of having been so directly connected to something that is
directly connected to something that is
directly connected to something that is really high-profile and highly
really high-profile and highly
really high-profile and highly publicized and it’s been an odd
publicized and it’s been an odd
publicized and it’s been an odd experience for me and it’s shown me how
experience for me and it’s shown me how
experience for me and it’s shown me how key we can all be to jump to conclusions
key we can all be to jump to conclusions
key we can all be to jump to conclusions to jump to stereotypes we have opinions
to jump to stereotypes we have opinions
to jump to stereotypes we have opinions about who lives in affordable housing
about who lives in affordable housing
about who lives in affordable housing about where people come from about how
about where people come from about how
about where people come from about how housing associations maintain their
housing associations maintain their
housing associations maintain their homes
and I’ve learned to trust very little
and I’ve learned to trust very little about the conclusions that the media
about the conclusions that the media
about the conclusions that the media come to about human suffering in crisis
I’m not here to promote social housing
I’m not here to promote social housing or housing as soon as you’ll be housing
or housing as soon as you’ll be housing
or housing as soon as you’ll be housing associations you’ll be really glad to
associations you’ll be really glad to
associations you’ll be really glad to know that but I am here to make a case
know that but I am here to make a case
know that but I am here to make a case for us to think twice about the
for us to think twice about the
for us to think twice about the assumptions we make about people and how
assumptions we make about people and how
assumptions we make about people and how they live we all come with these things
they live we all come with these things
they live we all come with these things with our own personal experiences and
with our own personal experiences and
with our own personal experiences and that might be how we grow up or who we
that might be how we grow up or who we
that might be how we grow up or who we know what our parents think or who we
know what our parents think or who we
know what our parents think or who we sit next to at a dinner party but you
sit next to at a dinner party but you
sit next to at a dinner party but you don’t need me to tell you that there are
don’t need me to tell you that there are
don’t need me to tell you that there are times so many times when those
times so many times when those
times so many times when those assumptions can just be off point my dad
assumptions can just be off point my dad
assumptions can just be off point my dad used to say that we all have a haze
used to say that we all have a haze
used to say that we all have a haze through which we see life and he said to
through which we see life and he said to
through which we see life and he said to me only you’ve got that haze and you
me only you’ve got that haze and you
me only you’ve got that haze and you can’t see life through anybody else’s
can’t see life through anybody else’s
can’t see life through anybody else’s and nobody else can see in life through
and nobody else can see in life through
and nobody else can see in life through yours but I’m here to argue that we
yours but I’m here to argue that we
yours but I’m here to argue that we should try that we should try to see
should try that we should try to see
should try that we should try to see life through other people’s things and
life through other people’s things and
life through other people’s things and other people’s experiences and that we
other people’s experiences and that we
other people’s experiences and that we need to bridge those gaps in
need to bridge those gaps in
need to bridge those gaps in understanding that’s so prevalent and
understanding that’s so prevalent and
understanding that’s so prevalent and destructive in society today now no
destructive in society today now no
destructive in society today now no matter how strongly I feel about social
matter how strongly I feel about social
matter how strongly I feel about social housing today my introduction to housing
housing today my introduction to housing
housing today my introduction to housing actually wasn’t as philanthropic as you
actually wasn’t as philanthropic as you
actually wasn’t as philanthropic as you might think
might think
might think I came from a place thirty years ago
I came from a place thirty years ago
I came from a place thirty years ago okay from the states next doesn’t have
okay from the states next doesn’t have
okay from the states next doesn’t have the strong system that we have here the
the strong system that we have here the
the strong system that we have here the sort of the strong social system we
sort of the strong social system we
sort of the strong social system we don’t have and didn’t have consistent
don’t have and didn’t have consistent
don’t have and didn’t have consistent access to how things consist
access to how things consist
access to how things consist access to health care that you have here
access to health care that you have here
access to health care that you have here and the world I came from all you had to
and the world I came from all you had to
and the world I came from all you had to do was to work hard and get a job and
do was to work hard and get a job and
do was to work hard and get a job and you don’t need social housing I remember
you don’t need social housing I remember
you don’t need social housing I remember when I first met my husband who’s
when I first met my husband who’s
when I first met my husband who’s British and we were going for a walk and
British and we were going for a walk and
British and we were going for a walk and I’m he was telling me all about the
I’m he was telling me all about the
I’m he was telling me all about the social system every year in the state of
social system every year in the state of
social system every year in the state of housing today and this was during my 30
housing today and this was during my 30
housing today and this was during my 30 years ago and I’m and I’ve seen housing
years ago and I’m and I’ve seen housing
years ago and I’m and I’ve seen housing and I’ll never forget the way he stopped
and I’ll never forget the way he stopped
and I’ll never forget the way he stopped in his tracks
in his tracks
in his tracks and he looked at me he said of course I
and he looked at me he said of course I
and he looked at me he said of course I have
have
have and he said Rachel are you I’ve been
and he said Rachel are you I’ve been
and he said Rachel are you I’ve been kidding me he was so shocked but I
kidding me he was so shocked but I
kidding me he was so shocked but I hadn’t had that experience and I felt so
hadn’t had that experience and I felt so
hadn’t had that experience and I felt so naive I was so embarrassed but my haze
naive I was so embarrassed but my haze
naive I was so embarrassed but my haze was bitch social housing wasn’t needed
was bitch social housing wasn’t needed
was bitch social housing wasn’t needed that it wasn’t something that if we
that it wasn’t something that if we
that it wasn’t something that if we aren’t our system in the States was so
aren’t our system in the States was so
aren’t our system in the States was so divided the social system is so divided
divided the social system is so divided
divided the social system is so divided and it is still today so my haze was
and it is still today so my haze was
and it is still today so my haze was something completely different and that
something completely different and that
something completely different and that meant that I was hugely embarrassed by
meant that I was hugely embarrassed by
meant that I was hugely embarrassed by the situation I can tell you so I’m
the situation I can tell you so I’m
the situation I can tell you so I’m going to tell you a little bit about how
going to tell you a little bit about how
going to tell you a little bit about how my haze has evolved over the last 30
my haze has evolved over the last 30
my haze has evolved over the last 30 years how I went from somebody who
years how I went from somebody who
years how I went from somebody who didn’t know a lot about social system
didn’t know a lot about social system
didn’t know a lot about social system and the need for it to somebody who does
my I don’t know how much you know about
my I don’t know how much you know about the Midwest of America but my dad came
the Midwest of America but my dad came
the Midwest of America but my dad came from a really remote town in Nebraska
from a really remote town in Nebraska
from a really remote town in Nebraska and he used a career in the army to get
and he used a career in the army to get
and he used a career in the army to get out of Nebraska and leave a narrow life
out of Nebraska and leave a narrow life
out of Nebraska and leave a narrow life there’s a one that he thought was gonna
there’s a one that he thought was gonna
there’s a one that he thought was gonna be much more interesting and prosperous
be much more interesting and prosperous
be much more interesting and prosperous so for me that was a shining example if
so for me that was a shining example if
so for me that was a shining example if somebody who could just pull themselves
somebody who could just pull themselves
somebody who could just pull themselves up by their bootstraps and it’s an
up by their bootstraps and it’s an
up by their bootstraps and it’s an important point because that was one of
important point because that was one of
important point because that was one of my case that anybody could pursue a life
my case that anybody could pursue a life
my case that anybody could pursue a life more prosperous and interesting if they
more prosperous and interesting if they
more prosperous and interesting if they just put their mind to it
the other thing about my dad is that
the other thing about my dad is that although he was quite a traditional man
although he was quite a traditional man
although he was quite a traditional man he was determined that his little girl
he was determined that his little girl
he was determined that his little girl was not going to do stuff in life just
was not going to do stuff in life just
was not going to do stuff in life just because she was a girl so when I said to
because she was a girl so when I said to
because she was a girl so when I said to him dad I really wanted to teach her he
him dad I really wanted to teach her he
him dad I really wanted to teach her he said that’s great really that’s a great
said that’s great really that’s a great
said that’s great really that’s a great profession what why you don’t you want
profession what why you don’t you want
profession what why you don’t you want to be a headmaster actually be a nurse
to be a headmaster actually be a nurse
to be a headmaster actually be a nurse he’s a fantastic Rachel but is there a
he’s a fantastic Rachel but is there a
he’s a fantastic Rachel but is there a reason why you don’t want to be a doctor
reason why you don’t want to be a doctor
reason why you don’t want to be a doctor so he was quite a tough taskmaster I can
so he was quite a tough taskmaster I can
so he was quite a tough taskmaster I can tell you but while he was encouraging me
tell you but while he was encouraging me
tell you but while he was encouraging me to be all I could be my mom was saying
to be all I could be my mom was saying
to be all I could be my mom was saying Rachel you follow your heart you do
Rachel you follow your heart you do
Rachel you follow your heart you do something that you love she was what you
something that you love she was what you
something that you love she was what you would probably call a typical 1950s
would probably call a typical 1950s
would probably call a typical 1950s housewife she was she had a good degree
housewife she was she had a good degree
housewife she was she had a good degree but she really valued but she did not
but she really valued but she did not
but she really valued but she did not want to have a big career she was she
want to have a big career she was she
want to have a big career she was she had a she decided after him after a
had a she decided after him after a
had a she decided after him after a while that she wanted to do some do some
while that she wanted to do some do some
while that she wanted to do some do some extra work she wanted us to have things
extra work she wanted us to have things
extra work she wanted us to have things in life we didn’t have so she got a
in life we didn’t have so she got a
in life we didn’t have so she got a part-time job and she then decided to
part-time job and she then decided to
part-time job and she then decided to get a masters degree and she eventually
get a masters degree and she eventually
get a masters degree and she eventually worked her way up to be the director
worked her way up to be the director
worked her way up to be the director within a major US government agency and
within a major US government agency and
within a major US government agency and that was quite something in the 70s and
that was quite something in the 70s and
that was quite something in the 70s and 80s I can tell you and it was also quite
80s I can tell you and it was also quite
80s I can tell you and it was also quite something because she was quite a woman
something because she was quite a woman
something because she was quite a woman of her time and my father was and while
of her time and my father was and while
of her time and my father was and while she was doing that she was doing all the
she was doing that she was doing all the
she was doing that she was doing all the cooking she was doing she was making
cooking she was doing she was making
cooking she was doing she was making sure you have food on the table
sure you have food on the table
sure you have food on the table she was making sure we had our lunch
she was making sure we had our lunch
she was making sure we had our lunch money so when people ask me why it is
money so when people ask me why it is
money so when people ask me why it is that I am so determined to have a
that I am so determined to have a
that I am so determined to have a successful career I say my dad told me
successful career I say my dad told me
successful career I say my dad told me and my mom shoot me
have you said all that training is an
have you said all that training is an accountant wasn’t exactly what they had
accountant wasn’t exactly what they had
accountant wasn’t exactly what they had in mind bearing in mind that my parents
in mind bearing in mind that my parents
in mind bearing in mind that my parents were very supportive of my art history
were very supportive of my art history
were very supportive of my art history degree when I told my dad that I was
degree when I told my dad that I was
degree when I told my dad that I was going to study become an accountant he
going to study become an accountant he
going to study become an accountant he put his head in his hands and said like
put his head in his hands and said like
put his head in his hands and said like flour child is gonna be a bean counter
and there’s a reason I chose that agency
and there’s a reason I chose that agency and I did that long after I got married
and I did that long after I got married
and I did that long after I got married and had children and I did it out of
and had children and I did it out of
and had children and I did it out of necessity and it’s an important point
necessity and it’s an important point
necessity and it’s an important point because it makes up a very important
because it makes up a very important
because it makes up a very important layer of my case I came from a
layer of my case I came from a
layer of my case I came from a comfortable average American suburb we
comfortable average American suburb we
comfortable average American suburb we didn’t want for much was anything
didn’t want for much was anything
didn’t want for much was anything flashed but I had never really
flashed but I had never really
flashed but I had never really experienced financial hardship and when
experienced financial hardship and when
experienced financial hardship and when I came over to this country thirty years
I came over to this country thirty years
I came over to this country thirty years ago it’s just a suitcase in my hand and
ago it’s just a suitcase in my hand and
ago it’s just a suitcase in my hand and my early twenties my husband and I
my early twenties my husband and I
my early twenties my husband and I decided that we needed to rural Devon
decided that we needed to rural Devon
decided that we needed to rural Devon and with all the idealism of youth we
and with all the idealism of youth we
and with all the idealism of youth we decided we were going to start a travel
decided we were going to start a travel
decided we were going to start a travel company so we got a business plan
company so we got a business plan
company so we got a business plan together
together
together we went to the bank
we went to the bank
we went to the bank and the bank managers were very
and the bank managers were very
and the bank managers were very impressed with that so they gave us this
impressed with that so they gave us this
impressed with that so they gave us this lens and just to add to madness we
lens and just to add to madness we
lens and just to add to madness we decided to start a family
timing is everything in life and just
timing is everything in life and just after a we took our lens out the Gulf
after a we took our lens out the Gulf
after a we took our lens out the Gulf War started Americans stopped traveling
War started Americans stopped traveling
War started Americans stopped traveling and Eddin prices rose jobs are hard to
and Eddin prices rose jobs are hard to
and Eddin prices rose jobs are hard to come by and our lives were called in so
come by and our lives were called in so
come by and our lives were called in so we ended up young and inexperienced and
we ended up young and inexperienced and
we ended up young and inexperienced and in a bit better with nothing
in a bit better with nothing
in a bit better with nothing so the first time in my life I
so the first time in my life I
so the first time in my life I experienced a financial difficulty big
experienced a financial difficulty big
experienced a financial difficulty big time
I remember the constant worry of how
I remember the constant worry of how expensive it was to put petrol in our
expensive it was to put petrol in our
expensive it was to put petrol in our car in a car that was so old we weren’t
car in a car that was so old we weren’t
car in a car that was so old we weren’t sure what’s gonna make the journey look
sure what’s gonna make the journey look
sure what’s gonna make the journey look at the first part they repossessed I
at the first part they repossessed I
at the first part they repossessed I remember we were in rented accommodation
remember we were in rented accommodation
remember we were in rented accommodation of course and never really knowing what
of course and never really knowing what
of course and never really knowing what the landlord was gonna decide to sell a
the landlord was gonna decide to sell a
the landlord was gonna decide to sell a house so we never knew whether we were
house so we never knew whether we were
house so we never knew whether we were gonna get kicked out or not
gonna get kicked out or not
gonna get kicked out or not and the benefit system in the job market
and the benefit system in the job market
and the benefit system in the job market at that time in Devon or such that with
at that time in Devon or such that with
at that time in Devon or such that with two people without much qualifications
two people without much qualifications
two people without much qualifications it was really difficult to find a job
it was really difficult to find a job
it was really difficult to find a job and for many years with two young
and for many years with two young
and for many years with two young children and very limited opportunities
children and very limited opportunities
children and very limited opportunities there was not a minute
there was not a minute
there was not a minute in any day when we did not worry about
in any day when we did not worry about
in any day when we did not worry about money or what their future held now the
money or what their future held now the
money or what their future held now the other gap is you can imagine that I had
other gap is you can imagine that I had
other gap is you can imagine that I had to bridge but not just the size of the
to bridge but not just the size of the
to bridge but not just the size of the ocean from the United States to the UK
ocean from the United States to the UK
ocean from the United States to the UK it was actually the million miles away
it was actually the million miles away
it was actually the million miles away culturally that rural Devon was from
culturally that rural Devon was from
culturally that rural Devon was from Washington DC in addition to all this of
Washington DC in addition to all this of
Washington DC in addition to all this of a way of life differences that you would
a way of life differences that you would
a way of life differences that you would expect I found it really hard to make
expect I found it really hard to make
expect I found it really hard to make friends I found the people in this
friends I found the people in this
friends I found the people in this country actually quite closed I mean you
country actually quite closed I mean you
country actually quite closed I mean you think all Americans really bouncing in
think all Americans really bouncing in
think all Americans really bouncing in your face and faith and all that stuff
your face and faith and all that stuff
your face and faith and all that stuff but I tell you what I really missed that
but I tell you what I really missed that
but I tell you what I really missed that warmth during that time and I know now
warmth during that time and I know now
warmth during that time and I know now that people just didn’t know how to take
that people just didn’t know how to take
that people just didn’t know how to take me but at the time it felt like people
me but at the time it felt like people
me but at the time it felt like people just seemed to like me I remember going
just seemed to like me I remember going
just seemed to like me I remember going to a drinks party with my husband when
to a drinks party with my husband when
to a drinks party with my husband when we first moved to Devon it’s quite a
we first moved to Devon it’s quite a
we first moved to Devon it’s quite a smart phrase party it was quite sort of
smart phrase party it was quite sort of
smart phrase party it was quite sort of hunting shooting fishing brigade
hunting shooting fishing brigade
hunting shooting fishing brigade and you know I mean what I went into
and you know I mean what I went into
and you know I mean what I went into this party and I really struggled
this party and I really struggled
this party and I really struggled talking to people people just didn’t
talking to people people just didn’t
talking to people people just didn’t want to talk to me you know what it’s
want to talk to me you know what it’s
want to talk to me you know what it’s like when you’re talking to people
like when you’re talking to people
like when you’re talking to people they’re looking over your shoulder
they’re looking over your shoulder
they’re looking over your shoulder trying to see if they can find someone
trying to see if they can find someone
trying to see if they can find someone else to talk to
else to talk to
else to talk to I know I’ve done it so I know I could
I know I’ve done it so I know I could
I know I’ve done it so I know I could read the signs and I just couldn’t work
read the signs and I just couldn’t work
read the signs and I just couldn’t work out what was going on this knife until I
out what was going on this knife until I
out what was going on this knife until I was talking to a girl and she stopped me
was talking to a girl and she stopped me
was talking to a girl and she stopped me mid-sentence and she said oh you’re
mid-sentence and she said oh you’re
mid-sentence and she said oh you’re American and she said oh and she turned
American and she said oh and she turned
American and she said oh and she turned to her friend since the dawning she’s
to her friend since the dawning she’s
to her friend since the dawning she’s American and they all had a bit of a
American and they all had a bit of a
American and they all had a bit of a giggle
giggle
giggle oh we thought you were from Devon so my
oh we thought you were from Devon so my
oh we thought you were from Devon so my heart arse made them think that was
heart arse made them think that was
heart arse made them think that was about Devon Ian and they finished busing
about Devon Ian and they finished busing
about Devon Ian and they finished busing we thought needed invited a stablehand I
we thought needed invited a stablehand I
we thought needed invited a stablehand I need you not it was a really interesting
need you not it was a really interesting
need you not it was a really interesting introduction the social system in this
introduction the social system in this
introduction the social system in this country I can tell you now bear with me
country I can tell you now bear with me
country I can tell you now bear with me I’ve just got one more layer of haze to
I’ve just got one more layer of haze to
I’ve just got one more layer of haze to share with you and I’m gonna go full
share with you and I’m gonna go full
share with you and I’m gonna go full circle and tell you a bit about how my
circle and tell you a bit about how my
circle and tell you a bit about how my husband and I got ourselves out of the
husband and I got ourselves out of the
husband and I got ourselves out of the mess that we got ourselves into for
mess that we got ourselves into for
mess that we got ourselves into for several years with two young children
several years with two young children
several years with two young children and limited job opportunities we both
and limited job opportunities we both
and limited job opportunities we both knew that we were never going to get
knew that we were never going to get
knew that we were never going to get anywhere if we didn’t get some
anywhere if we didn’t get some
anywhere if we didn’t get some qualifications I’ve been doing some
qualifications I’ve been doing some
qualifications I’ve been doing some part-time bookkeeping so I’m captain so
part-time bookkeeping so I’m captain so
part-time bookkeeping so I’m captain so I wasn’t following my hearts and it
I wasn’t following my hearts and it
I wasn’t following my hearts and it wasn’t my dream career I did it because
wasn’t my dream career I did it because
wasn’t my dream career I did it because I wanted to get out of the mess that we
I wanted to get out of the mess that we
I wanted to get out of the mess that we got into and being an accountant I
got into and being an accountant I
got into and being an accountant I thought was a meal ticket we agreed that
thought was a meal ticket we agreed that
thought was a meal ticket we agreed that I would work full time and that kids
I would work full time and that kids
I would work full time and that kids stay at home with the kids
stay at home with the kids
stay at home with the kids lady our strengths to say so I got the
lady our strengths to say so I got the
lady our strengths to say so I got the job as an analyst in a Housing
job as an analyst in a Housing
job as an analyst in a Housing Association again not my dream career it
Association again not my dream career it
Association again not my dream career it is now but it wasn’t then I did it how
is now but it wasn’t then I did it how
is now but it wasn’t then I did it how to possess
we took shifts on weekends my husband
we took shifts on weekends my husband was working the morning and I look after
was working the morning and I look after
was working the morning and I look after the kids and yesterday I picked the
the kids and yesterday I picked the
the kids and yesterday I picked the other way around and I have to say it
other way around and I have to say it
other way around and I have to say it was one of the hardest times of my life
was one of the hardest times of my life
was one of the hardest times of my life but it is one time in our lives that
but it is one time in our lives that
but it is one time in our lives that really binds us together as a true
really binds us together as a true
really binds us together as a true partnership a proper partnership as they
partnership a proper partnership as they
partnership a proper partnership as they would say in general and it’s it’s time
would say in general and it’s it’s time
would say in general and it’s it’s time about which we are really proud
about which we are really proud
about which we are really proud it’s probably hard to imagine but in the
it’s probably hard to imagine but in the
it’s probably hard to imagine but in the 1990s in Devon being a working mom was
1990s in Devon being a working mom was
1990s in Devon being a working mom was really weird I was the only working mom
really weird I was the only working mom
really weird I was the only working mom at the kids school but you can imagine
at the kids school but you can imagine
at the kids school but you can imagine what people thought of it
what people thought of it
what people thought of it my husband he was a combination of a
my husband he was a combination of a
my husband he was a combination of a sort of a rock star a freak depending on
sort of a rock star a freak depending on
sort of a rock star a freak depending on who you were talking to I could bore you
who you were talking to I could bore you
who you were talking to I could bore you with hours of stories about how people
with hours of stories about how people
with hours of stories about how people thought but he did was so amazing and I
thought but he did was so amazing and I
thought but he did was so amazing and I think it was amazing but it’s amazing
think it was amazing but it’s amazing
think it was amazing but it’s amazing whether you do it at the Manor is a
whether you do it at the Manor is a
whether you do it at the Manor is a woman so we had to let that one settle
woman so we had to let that one settle
woman so we had to let that one settle for a bit I remember a time when I was
for a bit I remember a time when I was
for a bit I remember a time when I was at the grocery store and what they need
at the grocery store and what they need
at the grocery store and what they need the checkout kept taking the bags for me
the checkout kept taking the bags for me
the checkout kept taking the bags for me in and kept packing the form and give me
in and kept packing the form and give me
in and kept packing the form and give me the bags I was starting to like a spare
the bags I was starting to like a spare
the bags I was starting to like a spare part that was my job and so and he said
part that was my job and so and he said
part that was my job and so and he said give it to me she wouldn’t give it to
give it to me she wouldn’t give it to
give it to me she wouldn’t give it to him and finally she handed it to me she
him and finally she handed it to me she
him and finally she handed it to me she looked at me and she said oh so it tells
looked at me and she said oh so it tells
looked at me and she said oh so it tells you a little bit about what she thought
you a little bit about what she thought
you a little bit about what she thought about men’s abilities what was her age
about men’s abilities what was her age
about men’s abilities what was her age but those difficult years were full of
but those difficult years were full of
but those difficult years were full of life lessons for me lessons that I take
life lessons for me lessons that I take
life lessons for me lessons that I take in to life every day lessons about
in to life every day lessons about
in to life every day lessons about gender stereotypes that I hope help me
gender stereotypes that I hope help me
gender stereotypes that I hope help me to support bright young women who just
to support bright young women who just
to support bright young women who just need a confidence boost lessons that my
need a confidence boost lessons that my
need a confidence boost lessons that my husband and I both hope mean that our
husband and I both hope mean that our
husband and I both hope mean that our children will not go into their
children will not go into their
children will not go into their long-term relationships with any
long-term relationships with any
long-term relationships with any assumptions about what role the woman
assumptions about what role the woman
assumptions about what role the woman who play
who play
who play lessons about cultural device I mean
lessons about cultural device I mean
lessons about cultural device I mean let’s be honest being American is a tiny
let’s be honest being American is a tiny
let’s be honest being American is a tiny cultural divide really it is compared to
cultural divide really it is compared to
cultural divide really it is compared to what some people have to go through when
what some people have to go through when
what some people have to go through when they come here and I have such
they come here and I have such
they come here and I have such admiration for people who come to this
admiration for people who come to this
admiration for people who come to this country when English isn’t even their
country when English isn’t even their
country when English isn’t even their first language and make a real success
first language and make a real success
first language and make a real success of their lives I also had real lessons
of their lives I also had real lessons
of their lives I also had real lessons about how financial hardship can happen
about how financial hardship can happen
about how financial hardship can happen to anyone
to anyone
to anyone and it’s why what we do at capitalist is
and it’s why what we do at capitalist is
and it’s why what we do at capitalist is so important to me that we make a
so important to me that we make a
so important to me that we make a difference to people who are worried
difference to people who are worried
difference to people who are worried about money every single day that we
about money every single day that we
about money every single day that we provide homes and opportunities for
provide homes and opportunities for
provide homes and opportunities for people for young people so that they can
people for young people so that they can
people for young people so that they can take advantage of opportunities in life
take advantage of opportunities in life
take advantage of opportunities in life without worrying that they’re going to
without worrying that they’re going to
without worrying that they’re going to be kicked out of their house because
be kicked out of their house because
be kicked out of their house because their mother’s gonna sell it and that
their mother’s gonna sell it and that
their mother’s gonna sell it and that we’re providing support to people who
we’re providing support to people who
we’re providing support to people who don’t have the advantages that I have I
don’t have the advantages that I have I
don’t have the advantages that I have I had I was able to get myself out of a
had I was able to get myself out of a
had I was able to get myself out of a mess because I had a lot of tools in my
mess because I had a lot of tools in my
mess because I had a lot of tools in my toolbox and there are a lot of people in
toolbox and there are a lot of people in
toolbox and there are a lot of people in this life that don’t have those
this life that don’t have those
this life that don’t have those advantages I still have to check the
advantages I still have to check the
advantages I still have to check the assumptions that I make about people and
assumptions that I make about people and
assumptions that I make about people and events every single day I ask myself
events every single day I ask myself
events every single day I ask myself what would I think about the situation
what would I think about the situation
what would I think about the situation and the people who live in bentonville
and the people who live in bentonville
and the people who live in bentonville if I didn’t work in housing everyone in
if I didn’t work in housing everyone in
if I didn’t work in housing everyone in this room has got their own Hayes and
this room has got their own Hayes and
this room has got their own Hayes and they bring their own experience to their
they bring their own experience to their
they bring their own experience to their life in my experience maybe no more i
life in my experience maybe no more i
life in my experience maybe no more i opening or different than anybody else’s
opening or different than anybody else’s
opening or different than anybody else’s so I stand here asking for nothing more
so I stand here asking for nothing more
so I stand here asking for nothing more than that we all use those experiences
than that we all use those experiences
than that we all use those experiences in our lives and reach beyond those
in our lives and reach beyond those
in our lives and reach beyond those experiences to understand people to
experiences to understand people to
experiences to understand people to understand things that are different and
understand things that are different and
understand things that are different and people that are different to question
people that are different to question
people that are different to question our temptation to jump on stereotypes
our temptation to jump on stereotypes
our temptation to jump on stereotypes and generalizations
and generalizations
and generalizations and that we take whatever steps possible
and that we take whatever steps possible
and that we take whatever steps possible to bridge the gaps of understanding that
to bridge the gaps of understanding that
to bridge the gaps of understanding that are so prevalent and disrupted in
are so prevalent and disrupted in
are so prevalent and disrupted in today’s society at a time when the world
today’s society at a time when the world
today’s society at a time when the world has never needed that more
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