sorry folks what makes a good story every story has a couple components
every story has a couple components
every story has a couple components there’s a hero and villain the villain
there’s a hero and villain the villain
there’s a hero and villain the villain could be a person it could be a
could be a person it could be a
could be a person it could be a situation it could be a system it could
situation it could be a system it could
situation it could be a system it could be that person’s own self getting in the
be that person’s own self getting in the
be that person’s own self getting in the way but there’s a conflict then the
way but there’s a conflict then the
way but there’s a conflict then the conflict has to come to a climax and the
conflict has to come to a climax and the
conflict has to come to a climax and the climax has to have a resolution now if
climax has to have a resolution now if
climax has to have a resolution now if you like rom-coms we could identify that
you like rom-coms we could identify that
you like rom-coms we could identify that pretty easily there’s a person that is
pretty easily there’s a person that is
pretty easily there’s a person that is just desperate for love they’re always
just desperate for love they’re always
just desperate for love they’re always getting in their own way they see the
getting in their own way they see the
getting in their own way they see the person of their dreams they want to
person of their dreams they want to
person of their dreams they want to engage this person but there’s always
engage this person but there’s always
engage this person but there’s always circumstances that prevent that they’re
circumstances that prevent that they’re
circumstances that prevent that they’re across the room from each other they
across the room from each other they
across the room from each other they don’t connect well when they do connect
don’t connect well when they do connect
don’t connect well when they do connect there’s this tension there’s this I want
there’s this tension there’s this I want
there’s this tension there’s this I want to say this I love you to you but I
to say this I love you to you but I
to say this I love you to you but I don’t know how to say it so you don’t
don’t know how to say it so you don’t
don’t know how to say it so you don’t say it and what happens oh there’s a job
say it and what happens oh there’s a job
say it and what happens oh there’s a job opportunity across the country and so
opportunity across the country and so
opportunity across the country and so the one person says well I’m gonna take
the one person says well I’m gonna take
the one person says well I’m gonna take the job because you’ve never said I love
the job because you’ve never said I love
the job because you’ve never said I love you
you
you and then what what’s going to happen
and then what what’s going to happen
and then what what’s going to happen well they part ways there’s a moment of
well they part ways there’s a moment of
well they part ways there’s a moment of clarity though and that person says all
clarity though and that person says all
clarity though and that person says all right I’m gonna go and find this person
right I’m gonna go and find this person
right I’m gonna go and find this person so they rush on the subway they take a
so they rush on the subway they take a
so they rush on the subway they take a taxicab they jump on the motorcycle and
taxicab they jump on the motorcycle and
taxicab they jump on the motorcycle and they get to the apartment only to find
they get to the apartment only to find
they get to the apartment only to find out that the person that they love left
out that the person that they love left
out that the person that they love left two minutes prior to go to the airport
two minutes prior to go to the airport
two minutes prior to go to the airport so what do they do they jump on that
so what do they do they jump on that
so what do they do they jump on that motorcycle the subway the taxi again and
motorcycle the subway the taxi again and
motorcycle the subway the taxi again and they now go to the airport and they run
they now go to the airport and they run
they now go to the airport and they run all the way there
all the way there
all the way there bypassing security and they get onto the
bypassing security and they get onto the
bypassing security and they get onto the plane without a ticket
plane without a ticket
plane without a ticket and they say I love you the person says
and they say I love you the person says
and they say I love you the person says I love you too and now we can live
I love you too and now we can live
I love you too and now we can live happily ever after
happily ever after
happily ever after now that is every rom-com so I just save
now that is every rom-com so I just save
now that is every rom-com so I just save you a ton of time in the future by not
you a ton of time in the future by not
you a ton of time in the future by not needing to go to these movies that’s
needing to go to these movies that’s
needing to go to these movies that’s every one of them my mom asked me yeah
every one of them my mom asked me yeah
every one of them my mom asked me yeah what do you think you’re really good at
what do you think you’re really good at
what do you think you’re really good at and I said mom I think I’m really good
and I said mom I think I’m really good
and I said mom I think I’m really good at a lot of things she said no you’re
at a lot of things she said no you’re
at a lot of things she said no you’re not
not
not she’s like what you’ve been really good
she’s like what you’ve been really good
she’s like what you’ve been really good at though through life is telling
at though through life is telling
at though through life is telling stories I said okay well I’m going to do
stories I said okay well I’m going to do
stories I said okay well I’m going to do this TED talk thing I’m gonna tell
this TED talk thing I’m gonna tell
this TED talk thing I’m gonna tell stories so people asked me how did you
stories so people asked me how did you
stories so people asked me how did you in the business of social injustice I
in the business of social injustice I
in the business of social injustice I said well there was a boy in fourth
said well there was a boy in fourth
said well there was a boy in fourth grade who as he walked down the hallway
grade who as he walked down the hallway
grade who as he walked down the hallway to the cafeteria he noticed something
to the cafeteria he noticed something
to the cafeteria he noticed something was wrong
was wrong
was wrong someone smelled a little off upon
someone smelled a little off upon
someone smelled a little off upon opening the doors he found out that yeah
opening the doors he found out that yeah
opening the doors he found out that yeah he was right
he was right
he was right the pizza was burnt he gets up to the
the pizza was burnt he gets up to the
the pizza was burnt he gets up to the the front of the line he gets his tray
the front of the line he gets his tray
the front of the line he gets his tray he sees that burnt slice of pizza
he sees that burnt slice of pizza
he sees that burnt slice of pizza accompanied by a heaping amount of
accompanied by a heaping amount of
accompanied by a heaping amount of prunes and he said oh no and he led the
prunes and he said oh no and he led the
prunes and he said oh no and he led the fourth and the fifth grade classrooms
fourth and the fifth grade classrooms
fourth and the fifth grade classrooms out of the cafeteria and sat in the
out of the cafeteria and sat in the
out of the cafeteria and sat in the hallway for the next hour and a half
hallway for the next hour and a half
hallway for the next hour and a half demanding better food gets called into
demanding better food gets called into
demanding better food gets called into the principal’s office the principal
the principal’s office the principal
the principal’s office the principal says hey get back in there and I said no
says hey get back in there and I said no
says hey get back in there and I said no sir
sir
sir I’m gonna call your mother I said yeah
I’m gonna call your mother I said yeah
I’m gonna call your mother I said yeah I’ve heard that before
I’ve heard that before
I’ve heard that before and sure enough he called my mom and my
and sure enough he called my mom and my
and sure enough he called my mom and my mom came in and we got waffles and ice
mom came in and we got waffles and ice
mom came in and we got waffles and ice cream because it was finally
cream because it was finally
cream because it was finally acknowledged this was not right we
acknowledged this was not right we
acknowledged this was not right we should not eat this burnt pizza so for
should not eat this burnt pizza so for
should not eat this burnt pizza so for the next two weeks as I sat or stood on
the next two weeks as I sat or stood on
the next two weeks as I sat or stood on the wall of detention during recess I
the wall of detention during recess I
the wall of detention during recess I contemplated and realized that if you
contemplated and realized that if you
contemplated and realized that if you want to challenge the status quo there’s
want to challenge the status quo there’s
want to challenge the status quo there’s always a cost it could be personal it
always a cost it could be personal it
always a cost it could be personal it could be financial could be relational
could be financial could be relational
could be financial could be relational but there’s always a cost well as a
but there’s always a cost well as a
but there’s always a cost well as a fourth grader I thought it was worth it
fourth grader I thought it was worth it
fourth grader I thought it was worth it i’ma tell another story about a lady
i’ma tell another story about a lady
i’ma tell another story about a lady named Melissa Melissa lived in New York
named Melissa Melissa lived in New York
named Melissa Melissa lived in New York at 3 a.m. one time she heard boom boom
at 3 a.m. one time she heard boom boom
at 3 a.m. one time she heard boom boom boom on her door she opens the door and
boom on her door she opens the door and
boom on her door she opens the door and finds her very abusive controlling
finds her very abusive controlling
finds her very abusive controlling boyfriend and father of her child now
boyfriend and father of her child now
boyfriend and father of her child now I’m not going to go into the details of
I’m not going to go into the details of
I’m not going to go into the details of what that night entailed but you could
what that night entailed but you could
what that night entailed but you could imagine it wasn’t kind she eventually
imagine it wasn’t kind she eventually
imagine it wasn’t kind she eventually moved to the Poconos seeking a better
moved to the Poconos seeking a better
moved to the Poconos seeking a better life but she was challenged by a way
life but she was challenged by a way
life but she was challenged by a way different world from new york city
different world from new york city
different world from new york city transportation job opportunities
transportation job opportunities
transportation job opportunities connectivity she was living with her
connectivity she was living with her
connectivity she was living with her parents when we met her and I
parents when we met her and I
parents when we met her and I interviewed her and I said do you want
interviewed her and I said do you want
interviewed her and I said do you want to be a part of a program
to be a part of a program
to be a part of a program that will help you gain self-sufficiency
that will help you gain self-sufficiency
that will help you gain self-sufficiency she said yes I said what are your goals
she said yes I said what are your goals
she said yes I said what are your goals she looked at me and said I want a
she looked at me and said I want a
she looked at me and said I want a degree I want a full-time job I want my
degree I want a full-time job I want my
degree I want a full-time job I want my own place I said anything else now as
own place I said anything else now as
own place I said anything else now as her eyes filled with tears they swelled
her eyes filled with tears they swelled
her eyes filled with tears they swelled and she uttered the simple words I want
and she uttered the simple words I want
and she uttered the simple words I want to be a role model to my children you
to be a role model to my children you
to be a role model to my children you fast forward she had to conquer many
fast forward she had to conquer many
fast forward she had to conquer many barriers in her life here in the Poconos
barriers in her life here in the Poconos
barriers in her life here in the Poconos but I can tell you that she graduated
but I can tell you that she graduated
but I can tell you that she graduated from ESU she has a full-time job she
from ESU she has a full-time job she
from ESU she has a full-time job she volunteers in our community and she sees
volunteers in our community and she sees
volunteers in our community and she sees self-worth she doesn’t deserve to be
self-worth she doesn’t deserve to be
self-worth she doesn’t deserve to be abused she deserves to be treated the
abused she deserves to be treated the
abused she deserves to be treated the right way in her and her children had
right way in her and her children had
right way in her and her children had the assignment to write about a role
the assignment to write about a role
the assignment to write about a role model you could imagine who they chose
model you could imagine who they chose
model you could imagine who they chose now she challenged the status quo
now she challenged the status quo
now she challenged the status quo because she said I’m gonna disrupt the
because she said I’m gonna disrupt the
because she said I’m gonna disrupt the routine I’m not going to be a statistic
routine I’m not going to be a statistic
routine I’m not going to be a statistic I’m not going to allow somebody to
I’m not going to allow somebody to
I’m not going to allow somebody to control me I’m going to write my own
control me I’m going to write my own
control me I’m going to write my own story now this person Melissa can be
story now this person Melissa can be
story now this person Melissa can be here in this room it could be your
here in this room it could be your
here in this room it could be your mother your sister neighbor but it’s far
mother your sister neighbor but it’s far
mother your sister neighbor but it’s far too often that situations like this
too often that situations like this
too often that situations like this happen and the status quo is maintained
happen and the status quo is maintained
happen and the status quo is maintained now we never actually defined what that
now we never actually defined what that
now we never actually defined what that is that is the norm that is what we see
is that is the norm that is what we see
is that is the norm that is what we see happening all around us that is when we
happening all around us that is when we
happening all around us that is when we look at something from afar when we say
look at something from afar when we say
look at something from afar when we say here’s the situation
here’s the situation
here’s the situation five years ago a group came into my
five years ago a group came into my
five years ago a group came into my office once and they said hey do you
office once and they said hey do you
office once and they said hey do you think children of all abilities
think children of all abilities
think children of all abilities especially but especially children with
especially but especially children with
especially but especially children with disabilities should have a place to play
disabilities should have a place to play
disabilities should have a place to play and I said yeah it’s a great sales
and I said yeah it’s a great sales
and I said yeah it’s a great sales tactic if you get somebody to say yes to
tactic if you get somebody to say yes to
tactic if you get somebody to say yes to your question it’s a positive experience
your question it’s a positive experience
your question it’s a positive experience after that so they asked do you think
after that so they asked do you think
after that so they asked do you think philosophically these children should
philosophically these children should
philosophically these children should have a place to play and I said yes and
have a place to play and I said yes and
have a place to play and I said yes and they said do you want to help and I said
they said do you want to help and I said
they said do you want to help and I said do why and they said we’re gonna build a
do why and they said we’re gonna build a
do why and they said we’re gonna build a playground I said
playground I said
playground I said it’s awesome and they said we have
it’s awesome and they said we have
it’s awesome and they said we have $25,000 I said even better usually
$25,000 I said even better usually
$25,000 I said even better usually people just come with ideas but they
people just come with ideas but they
people just come with ideas but they don’t have any money and then they said
don’t have any money and then they said
don’t have any money and then they said it’s gonna cost about 500,000 I said oh
it’s gonna cost about 500,000 I said oh
it’s gonna cost about 500,000 I said oh lordy
and they and I started backpedaling now
and they and I started backpedaling now I’m not really sure I really know how to
I’m not really sure I really know how to
I’m not really sure I really know how to do this I’m not very good at anything
do this I’m not very good at anything
do this I’m not very good at anything other than telling stories so and they
other than telling stories so and they
other than telling stories so and they said well let us tell you story with
said well let us tell you story with
said well let us tell you story with three photos they pulled out a photo and
three photos they pulled out a photo and
three photos they pulled out a photo and the first photo was three children
the first photo was three children
the first photo was three children getting out of the minivan and one was
getting out of the minivan and one was
getting out of the minivan and one was in a wheelchair the second photo was the
in a wheelchair the second photo was the
in a wheelchair the second photo was the three children getting to the edge of a
three children getting to the edge of a
three children getting to the edge of a playground and the third photo was the
playground and the third photo was the
playground and the third photo was the two able-bodied children running into
two able-bodied children running into
two able-bodied children running into the playground with the other child left
the playground with the other child left
the playground with the other child left behind and they said are you in or out
behind and they said are you in or out
behind and they said are you in or out and I said I am in because what they did
and I said I am in because what they did
and I said I am in because what they did was another example of challenging the
was another example of challenging the
was another example of challenging the status quo they said instead of
status quo they said instead of
status quo they said instead of critiquing create my challenge to you
critiquing create my challenge to you
critiquing create my challenge to you today is that instead of critiquing
today is that instead of critiquing
today is that instead of critiquing every idea that comes across you a
every idea that comes across you a
every idea that comes across you a create a solution to go with it now I
create a solution to go with it now I
create a solution to go with it now I don’t always do this very well myself I
don’t always do this very well myself I
don’t always do this very well myself I sit on the board of a food bank and we
sit on the board of a food bank and we
sit on the board of a food bank and we heard a story of somebody coming through
heard a story of somebody coming through
heard a story of somebody coming through the food pantry line and they scoffed at
the food pantry line and they scoffed at
the food pantry line and they scoffed at the idea of getting boxed macaroni and
the idea of getting boxed macaroni and
the idea of getting boxed macaroni and cheese now the attitude that I had that
cheese now the attitude that I had that
cheese now the attitude that I had that day was unbelievable how dare you scoff
day was unbelievable how dare you scoff
day was unbelievable how dare you scoff at the idea of getting food when we are
at the idea of getting food when we are
at the idea of getting food when we are giving it to you for free and the
giving it to you for free and the
giving it to you for free and the volunteer that was relaying the story to
volunteer that was relaying the story to
volunteer that was relaying the story to me they said yeah that was my attitude
me they said yeah that was my attitude
me they said yeah that was my attitude as well so I questioned them about this
as well so I questioned them about this
as well so I questioned them about this and I pulled them aside and I said why
and I pulled them aside and I said why
and I pulled them aside and I said why the attitude why are you not grateful
the attitude why are you not grateful
the attitude why are you not grateful and they said every week you pass out
and they said every week you pass out
and they said every week you pass out box macaroni and cheese and it does me
box macaroni and cheese and it does me
box macaroni and cheese and it does me no good why you’re getting food does it
no good why you’re getting food does it
no good why you’re getting food does it really matter what it is you’re hungry
really matter what it is you’re hungry
really matter what it is you’re hungry she said you don’t need box macaroni and
she said you don’t need box macaroni and
she said you don’t need box macaroni and cheese too often do you
cheese too often do you
cheese too often do you it requires milk and butter if you don’t
it requires milk and butter if you don’t
it requires milk and butter if you don’t know I haven’t had box macaroni and
know I haven’t had box macaroni and
know I haven’t had box macaroni and cheese since I was in college I remember
cheese since I was in college I remember
cheese since I was in college I remember that was the requirement she said I
that was the requirement she said I
that was the requirement she said I tried to serve my children right you
tried to serve my children right you
tried to serve my children right you just using water but
just using water but
just using water but wouldn’t eat it so I’m sorry I’m not
wouldn’t eat it so I’m sorry I’m not
wouldn’t eat it so I’m sorry I’m not grateful that I have this useless
grateful that I have this useless
grateful that I have this useless product in my shelf it prompted the food
product in my shelf it prompted the food
product in my shelf it prompted the food bank to take on the initiative of
bank to take on the initiative of
bank to take on the initiative of purchasing and supplying food countries
purchasing and supplying food countries
purchasing and supplying food countries with milk but it reminded me that
with milk but it reminded me that
with milk but it reminded me that challenging the status quo also is
challenging the status quo also is
challenging the status quo also is having a fresh mind in a new perspective
having a fresh mind in a new perspective
having a fresh mind in a new perspective I didn’t have that that day I was
I didn’t have that that day I was
I didn’t have that that day I was looking at it from my middle-class
looking at it from my middle-class
looking at it from my middle-class privileged eyes of saying just go to the
privileged eyes of saying just go to the
privileged eyes of saying just go to the store and buy milk without ever really
store and buy milk without ever really
store and buy milk without ever really identifying what the issue was now
identifying what the issue was now
identifying what the issue was now instead of just looking at the past and
instead of just looking at the past and
instead of just looking at the past and encouraging you to make sense of the
encouraging you to make sense of the
encouraging you to make sense of the stories that I tell I’m gonna challenge
stories that I tell I’m gonna challenge
stories that I tell I’m gonna challenge you to challenge the status quo yourself
you to challenge the status quo yourself
you to challenge the status quo yourself in your own lives three simple things
in your own lives three simple things
in your own lives three simple things that you can do to challenge challenge
that you can do to challenge challenge
that you can do to challenge challenge the status quo
the status quo
the status quo the first is get curious acknowledge
the first is get curious acknowledge
the first is get curious acknowledge that something’s wrong when I was in
that something’s wrong when I was in
that something’s wrong when I was in fourth grade I acknowledged something
fourth grade I acknowledged something
fourth grade I acknowledged something was wrong and I said I have to engage
was wrong and I said I have to engage
was wrong and I said I have to engage this so the second point of that is
this so the second point of that is
this so the second point of that is empower empower yourself and empower
empower empower yourself and empower
empower empower yourself and empower others we have seen this not happen
others we have seen this not happen
others we have seen this not happen enough where we question and we critique
enough where we question and we critique
enough where we question and we critique all the reasons why we can’t do
all the reasons why we can’t do
all the reasons why we can’t do something how could I do this how could
something how could I do this how could
something how could I do this how could I make a difference how can I help my
I make a difference how can I help my
I make a difference how can I help my community but you could change that
community but you could change that
community but you could change that entire sentence by changing one small
entire sentence by changing one small
entire sentence by changing one small word and it really is just one letter
word and it really is just one letter
word and it really is just one letter instead of how can I do this wow I can
instead of how can I do this wow I can
instead of how can I do this wow I can do this when you interact with children
do this when you interact with children
do this when you interact with children I have a four year old and a 20 month
I have a four year old and a 20 month
I have a four year old and a 20 month old instead of asking them how can you
old instead of asking them how can you
old instead of asking them how can you do that wow you can do that you can do
do that wow you can do that you can do
do that wow you can do that you can do it you can be that change empower people
it you can be that change empower people
it you can be that change empower people and power yourself and the last one is
and power yourself and the last one is
and power yourself and the last one is simply do something do something my
simply do something do something my
simply do something do something my grandfather once said to me there’s two
grandfather once said to me there’s two
grandfather once said to me there’s two kinds of people there are heroes and
kinds of people there are heroes and
kinds of people there are heroes and there are cowards
there are cowards
there are cowards really that’s hoon he said listen up I’m
really that’s hoon he said listen up I’m
really that’s hoon he said listen up I’m the storyteller cowards do nothing
the storyteller cowards do nothing
the storyteller cowards do nothing heroes do something we have all been
heroes do something we have all been
heroes do something we have all been witness just some pretty horrible things
witness just some pretty horrible things
witness just some pretty horrible things in our world even in the past couple
in our world even in the past couple
in our world even in the past couple months we’ve seen multiple hurricanes
months we’ve seen multiple hurricanes
months we’ve seen multiple hurricanes that have devastated our nation
that have devastated our nation
that have devastated our nation shootings the attack in Charlottesville
shootings the attack in Charlottesville
shootings the attack in Charlottesville and what we’ve done which is really
and what we’ve done which is really
and what we’ve done which is really dangerous is we pulled out our phone we
dangerous is we pulled out our phone we
dangerous is we pulled out our phone we pulled up Facebook we scrolled and we
pulled up Facebook we scrolled and we
pulled up Facebook we scrolled and we acknowledge that is wrong and then we
acknowledge that is wrong and then we
acknowledge that is wrong and then we continue to scroll without ever doing
continue to scroll without ever doing
continue to scroll without ever doing the empowerment or doing something about
the empowerment or doing something about
the empowerment or doing something about it now most of these events have have
it now most of these events have have
it now most of these events have have prompted people to think where do they
prompted people to think where do they
prompted people to think where do they stand on a certain topic in my for
stand on a certain topic in my for
stand on a certain topic in my for racial equality or do I care more about
racial equality or do I care more about
racial equality or do I care more about Veteran Affairs do I believe more in
Veteran Affairs do I believe more in
Veteran Affairs do I believe more in this issue over here or something on my
this issue over here or something on my
this issue over here or something on my side a candle is simply a silent protest
side a candle is simply a silent protest
side a candle is simply a silent protest against midnight it shines a light and
against midnight it shines a light and
against midnight it shines a light and when things are really dark it could
when things are really dark it could
when things are really dark it could shine really bright and it could
shine really bright and it could
shine really bright and it could illuminate not just the issue of your
illuminate not just the issue of your
illuminate not just the issue of your choice but those of another person love
choice but those of another person love
choice but those of another person love thy neighbor who would require us all to
thy neighbor who would require us all to
thy neighbor who would require us all to care equally about our neighbors issue
care equally about our neighbors issue
care equally about our neighbors issue is the one that that we have so
is the one that that we have so
is the one that that we have so challenging the status quo sometimes
challenging the status quo sometimes
challenging the status quo sometimes means thinking about it from another’s
means thinking about it from another’s
means thinking about it from another’s perspective having the empathy and
perspective having the empathy and
perspective having the empathy and caring I encourage you to take that with
caring I encourage you to take that with
caring I encourage you to take that with you to challenge others sin to challenge
you to challenge others sin to challenge
you to challenge others sin to challenge yourselves thank you
yourselves thank you
yourselves thank you you
”
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