[Music] you
you
you [Music]
hi I’m Mary Vivian actually my name is
hi I’m Mary Vivian actually my name is Mary Agnes my parents couldn’t decide
Mary Agnes my parents couldn’t decide
Mary Agnes my parents couldn’t decide which grandmother to name me after so
which grandmother to name me after so
which grandmother to name me after so they picked up I grew up in a devout
they picked up I grew up in a devout
they picked up I grew up in a devout Catholic household we went to Catholic
Catholic household we went to Catholic
Catholic household we went to Catholic school and church every Sunday and it
school and church every Sunday and it
school and church every Sunday and it was a joke that when I became a nun I
was a joke that when I became a nun I
was a joke that when I became a nun I wouldn’t have to change my name sister
wouldn’t have to change my name sister
wouldn’t have to change my name sister Mary Agnes has a nice ring to it
my mother the nurse having compassion my
my mother the nurse having compassion my father a professional Boy Scout that’s a
father a professional Boy Scout that’s a
father a professional Boy Scout that’s a real job he taught me to serve my
real job he taught me to serve my
real job he taught me to serve my community we would visit the nuns with
community we would visit the nuns with
community we would visit the nuns with the nursing home near a house we had to
the nursing home near a house we had to
the nursing home near a house we had to get everything on our plate because
get everything on our plate because
get everything on our plate because there were children starving in China we
there were children starving in China we
there were children starving in China we gave up the things we loved for 40 days
gave up the things we loved for 40 days
gave up the things we loved for 40 days before Easter
before Easter
before Easter and we couldn’t see any movie that
and we couldn’t see any movie that
and we couldn’t see any movie that wasn’t approved by the local Catholic
wasn’t approved by the local Catholic
wasn’t approved by the local Catholic newspaper
newspaper
newspaper I remember badly wanting to see
I remember badly wanting to see
I remember badly wanting to see interview with the vampire mostly
interview with the vampire mostly
interview with the vampire mostly because of Brad Pitt but I couldn’t
because of Brad Pitt but I couldn’t
because of Brad Pitt but I couldn’t because it was in the radiant worldly
because it was in the radiant worldly
because it was in the radiant worldly offensive and you know it still haven’t
offensive and you know it still haven’t
offensive and you know it still haven’t seen it I was also raised to be a
seen it I was also raised to be a
seen it I was also raised to be a one-issue voter when I turned 18 just in
one-issue voter when I turned 18 just in
one-issue voter when I turned 18 just in time for the 2000 election and although
time for the 2000 election and although
time for the 2000 election and although I felt most aligned with one candidate I
I felt most aligned with one candidate I
I felt most aligned with one candidate I voted for the other because I was taught
voted for the other because I was taught
voted for the other because I was taught that portion was the most important
that portion was the most important
that portion was the most important issue and we should vote on that above
issue and we should vote on that above
issue and we should vote on that above all else then I was very hard on myself
all else then I was very hard on myself
all else then I was very hard on myself growing up and I never felt like I was
growing up and I never felt like I was
growing up and I never felt like I was good enough I remember someone telling
good enough I remember someone telling
good enough I remember someone telling me once that French kissing was a sin
me once that French kissing was a sin
me once that French kissing was a sin and I started to cry and they said oh
and I started to cry and they said oh
and I started to cry and they said oh honey it’s okay if you did it you can
honey it’s okay if you did it you can
honey it’s okay if you did it you can just confess in a priest I said although
just confess in a priest I said although
just confess in a priest I said although I have it but I was really looking
I have it but I was really looking
I have it but I was really looking forward to it
and impurity was hard for me to live up
and impurity was hard for me to live up to and as a teenager I felt full of
to and as a teenager I felt full of
to and as a teenager I felt full of guilt for my desires and although it was
guilt for my desires and although it was
guilt for my desires and although it was hard on myself for my personal choices I
hard on myself for my personal choices I
hard on myself for my personal choices I think of a whole lot of thought to where
think of a whole lot of thought to where
think of a whole lot of thought to where I was going in my life how I was just
I was going in my life how I was just
I was going in my life how I was just checking boxes for example I went to the
checking boxes for example I went to the
checking boxes for example I went to the college that gave me the most money
I studied information technology because
I studied information technology because I saw it once on the list of jobs and it
I saw it once on the list of jobs and it
I saw it once on the list of jobs and it made the most money chest I met a guy
made the most money chest I met a guy
made the most money chest I met a guy and I got engaged check and then twenty
and I got engaged check and then twenty
and I got engaged check and then twenty three we had two incomes two cars and
three we had two incomes two cars and
three we had two incomes two cars and the house in the suburbs
the house in the suburbs
the house in the suburbs big check so everything was going pretty
big check so everything was going pretty
big check so everything was going pretty great my parents were happy
great my parents were happy
great my parents were happy I think I’m happy yeah pretty good
I think I’m happy yeah pretty good
I think I’m happy yeah pretty good but then on December 26 2004 everything
but then on December 26 2004 everything
but then on December 26 2004 everything changed for me the tsunami that hit Asia
changed for me the tsunami that hit Asia
changed for me the tsunami that hit Asia and claimed the lives of 500,000 people
and claimed the lives of 500,000 people
and claimed the lives of 500,000 people in the matter of seconds broke my world
in the matter of seconds broke my world
in the matter of seconds broke my world apart I believe that we can feel each
apart I believe that we can feel each
apart I believe that we can feel each other’s energy and the energy generated
other’s energy and the energy generated
other’s energy and the energy generated by the sadness felt throughout the world
by the sadness felt throughout the world
by the sadness felt throughout the world that day affected me deeply I began to
that day affected me deeply I began to
that day affected me deeply I began to question everything all of my
question everything all of my
question everything all of my accomplishments in my life felt
accomplishments in my life felt
accomplishments in my life felt insignificant they could be taken away
insignificant they could be taken away
insignificant they could be taken away at an instant and what would it all
at an instant and what would it all
at an instant and what would it all happen for
happen for
happen for so I started looking online for ways
so I started looking online for ways
so I started looking online for ways that I could help and I found the Red
that I could help and I found the Red
that I could help and I found the Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity which
Cross and Habitat for Humanity which
Cross and Habitat for Humanity which ultimately led me to building houses in
ultimately led me to building houses in
ultimately led me to building houses in sri lanka
sri lanka
sri lanka only problem is that we weren’t skilled
only problem is that we weren’t skilled
only problem is that we weren’t skilled builders so instead of feeling like i
builders so instead of feeling like i
builders so instead of feeling like i was helping in our 10 days there i felt
was helping in our 10 days there i felt
was helping in our 10 days there i felt like we did more sightseeing and eating
like we did more sightseeing and eating
like we did more sightseeing and eating than we did actual building so I kept
than we did actual building so I kept
than we did actual building so I kept looking and I asked my parish priests
looking and I asked my parish priests
looking and I asked my parish priests for advice and he pointed me to a
for advice and he pointed me to a
for advice and he pointed me to a program called just faith just faith is
program called just faith just faith is
program called just faith just faith is a program through the church that takes
a program through the church that takes
a program through the church that takes 30 weeks to go in-depth and teach and
30 weeks to go in-depth and teach and
30 weeks to go in-depth and teach and taught me about social justice it blew
taught me about social justice it blew
taught me about social justice it blew me away justice my whole life up until
me away justice my whole life up until
me away justice my whole life up until this point I’d only known about acts of
this point I’d only known about acts of
this point I’d only known about acts of charity and I realized that charity is
charity and I realized that charity is
charity and I realized that charity is much easier than addressing justice it
much easier than addressing justice it
much easier than addressing justice it makes us feel good but it’s only a piece
makes us feel good but it’s only a piece
makes us feel good but it’s only a piece of the puzzle
of the puzzle
of the puzzle justice is different justice requires us
justice is different justice requires us
justice is different justice requires us to ask the tough questions of why why
to ask the tough questions of why why
to ask the tough questions of why why did he not buddies exist that create the
did he not buddies exist that create the
did he not buddies exist that create the need for charity and justice can make us
need for charity and justice can make us
need for charity and justice can make us feel uncomfortable defensive even angry
feel uncomfortable defensive even angry
feel uncomfortable defensive even angry as we’re forced to question our way of
as we’re forced to question our way of
as we’re forced to question our way of thinking in our way of life charity
thinking in our way of life charity
thinking in our way of life charity doesn’t really require us to change
doesn’t really require us to change
doesn’t really require us to change anything about ourselves in a way that
anything about ourselves in a way that
anything about ourselves in a way that we live but justice requires us to think
we live but justice requires us to think
we live but justice requires us to think hard about systems in our choices but
hard about systems in our choices but
hard about systems in our choices but not everyone is ready to acknowledge how
not everyone is ready to acknowledge how
not everyone is ready to acknowledge how their choices affect others
their choices affect others
their choices affect others and I often think that the fundamental
and I often think that the fundamental
and I often think that the fundamental divide in this country is that so many
divide in this country is that so many
divide in this country is that so many are unwilling to address and acknowledge
are unwilling to address and acknowledge
are unwilling to address and acknowledge our unjust and ugly past and its direct
our unjust and ugly past and its direct
our unjust and ugly past and its direct relationship to the inequities that
relationship to the inequities that
relationship to the inequities that exist today in our country in around the
exist today in our country in around the
exist today in our country in around the world and although the u.s. may be one
world and although the u.s. may be one
world and although the u.s. may be one of the most terrible countries that
of the most terrible countries that
of the most terrible countries that charity does nothing to undo the forces
charity does nothing to undo the forces
charity does nothing to undo the forces people more I remember thinking I was
people more I remember thinking I was
people more I remember thinking I was doing a good thing by purging my kitchen
doing a good thing by purging my kitchen
doing a good thing by purging my kitchen cabinets and food that I wasn’t going to
cabinets and food that I wasn’t going to
cabinets and food that I wasn’t going to eat like expired jiffy cornbread mix and
eat like expired jiffy cornbread mix and
eat like expired jiffy cornbread mix and dry bean soup mixes and donated them to
dry bean soup mixes and donated them to
dry bean soup mixes and donated them to the local food cupboard but when I
the local food cupboard but when I
the local food cupboard but when I volunteered hit the food cupboard I saw
volunteered hit the food cupboard I saw
volunteered hit the food cupboard I saw what that looks like on the other end
what that looks like on the other end
what that looks like on the other end racks that inspired food dented cans
racks that inspired food dented cans
racks that inspired food dented cans even food that people have already
even food that people have already
even food that people have already opened and I realized that giving food
opened and I realized that giving food
opened and I realized that giving food that I wouldn’t eat to the hungry is
that I wouldn’t eat to the hungry is
that I wouldn’t eat to the hungry is unjust
one Sunday in church check remember we
one Sunday in church check remember we were talking about Jesus’s statement
were talking about Jesus’s statement
were talking about Jesus’s statement that we should give our possessions to
that we should give our possessions to
that we should give our possessions to the poor and follow him and the priest
the poor and follow him and the priest
the poor and follow him and the priest was pretty quick to say no no Jesus
was pretty quick to say no no Jesus
was pretty quick to say no no Jesus didn’t mean that
didn’t mean that
didn’t mean that what do you man was to do outs of
what do you man was to do outs of
what do you man was to do outs of charity and so even in our churches we
charity and so even in our churches we
charity and so even in our churches we find it hard to face the injustice
find it hard to face the injustice
find it hard to face the injustice head-on but Jesus was a radical and I
head-on but Jesus was a radical and I
head-on but Jesus was a radical and I took him at his word and so I started on
took him at his word and so I started on
took him at his word and so I started on a journey of making changes in my own
a journey of making changes in my own
a journey of making changes in my own life trying to find justice and to my
life trying to find justice and to my
life trying to find justice and to my surprise I started to clash with my
surprise I started to clash with my
surprise I started to clash with my family my first attempt to justice was
family my first attempt to justice was
family my first attempt to justice was to have a garage sale where I sold a lot
to have a garage sale where I sold a lot
to have a garage sale where I sold a lot of my possessions and donated them to a
of my possessions and donated them to a
of my possessions and donated them to a local charity that was building wells in
local charity that was building wells in
local charity that was building wells in Sudan some of my family got mad at me
Sudan some of my family got mad at me
Sudan some of my family got mad at me for selling some of the presents they
for selling some of the presents they
for selling some of the presents they had given to me over over the years I
had given to me over over the years I
had given to me over over the years I couldn’t understand why they didn’t see
couldn’t understand why they didn’t see
couldn’t understand why they didn’t see that this was the right thing to do you
that this was the right thing to do you
that this was the right thing to do you know it was still charity this will be
know it was still charity this will be
know it was still charity this will be closer to justice so I was making the
closer to justice so I was making the
closer to justice so I was making the connections between the things that I
connections between the things that I
connections between the things that I own and someone across the world that
own and someone across the world that
own and someone across the world that didn’t have access to clean drinking
didn’t have access to clean drinking
didn’t have access to clean drinking water my next step was that I decided to
water my next step was that I decided to
water my next step was that I decided to shop only a goodwill
shop only a goodwill
shop only a goodwill my thinking was that in our throwaway
my thinking was that in our throwaway
my thinking was that in our throwaway society use more resources and throw
society use more resources and throw
society use more resources and throw more things away and is really fair and
more things away and is really fair and
more things away and is really fair and reusing keeps things out of the garbage
reusing keeps things out of the garbage
reusing keeps things out of the garbage a little longer but my father was upset
a little longer but my father was upset
a little longer but my father was upset because I wasn’t supporting our
because I wasn’t supporting our
because I wasn’t supporting our corporations and our American economy
and I was spending a lot of free time
and I was spending a lot of free time volunteering and then thought that if I
volunteering and then thought that if I
volunteering and then thought that if I could make money insert my community at
could make money insert my community at
could make money insert my community at the same time then I’d be killing two
the same time then I’d be killing two
the same time then I’d be killing two birds with one stone
birds with one stone
birds with one stone and I came across this job announcement
and I came across this job announcement
and I came across this job announcement that had qualifications like desire to
that had qualifications like desire to
that had qualifications like desire to help the materially disadvantaged check
help the materially disadvantaged check
help the materially disadvantaged check flexible management style well I’ve
flexible management style well I’ve
flexible management style well I’ve never done it so I’m pretty flexible
and so I put my high IT job they went to
and so I put my high IT job they went to work as assistant director at a local
work as assistant director at a local
work as assistant director at a local soup kitchen and I’ll admit I went there
soup kitchen and I’ll admit I went there
soup kitchen and I’ll admit I went there with the idea that I was going to save
with the idea that I was going to save
with the idea that I was going to save the poor but when I got there por que my
the poor but when I got there por que my
the poor but when I got there por que my friends and I realized that my role is
friends and I realized that my role is
friends and I realized that my role is not to save them but it’s to use my
not to save them but it’s to use my
not to save them but it’s to use my privilege to advocate for them and to
privilege to advocate for them and to
privilege to advocate for them and to help break down the barriers
help break down the barriers
help break down the barriers understanding the way of their success
understanding the way of their success
understanding the way of their success to afford my drastic salary cut I sold
to afford my drastic salary cut I sold
to afford my drastic salary cut I sold my house in the suburbs moved into the
my house in the suburbs moved into the
my house in the suburbs moved into the city and my mom especially she was in
city and my mom especially she was in
city and my mom especially she was in love with my house she could not
love with my house she could not
love with my house she could not understand why I would sell my beautiful
understand why I would sell my beautiful
understand why I would sell my beautiful contemporary house on a cul-de-sac
contemporary house on a cul-de-sac
contemporary house on a cul-de-sac overlooking the bay and to some that may
overlooking the bay and to some that may
overlooking the bay and to some that may seem like a sacrifice but to me living
seem like a sacrifice but to me living
seem like a sacrifice but to me living in the city has been an amazing
in the city has been an amazing
in the city has been an amazing experience it showed me what living in a
experience it showed me what living in a
experience it showed me what living in a community really looks like and the
community really looks like and the
community really looks like and the relationships that I’ve built with my
relationships that I’ve built with my
relationships that I’ve built with my neighbors have become strong assets we
neighbors have become strong assets we
neighbors have become strong assets we help each other and we teach each other
I also decided to take a trip to
I also decided to take a trip to Guatemala to visit a well that our
Guatemala to visit a well that our
Guatemala to visit a well that our church had built there and I felt a
church had built there and I felt a
church had built there and I felt a strong pull to return help
strong pull to return help
strong pull to return help and so I cashed in my 401k against
and so I cashed in my 401k against
and so I cashed in my 401k against everyone’s advice it will say that the
everyone’s advice it will say that the
everyone’s advice it will say that the market crashed in 2008 just a few weeks
market crashed in 2008 just a few weeks
market crashed in 2008 just a few weeks later so I think I made out there and I
later so I think I made out there and I
later so I think I made out there and I wish my bottom alla City how we take
wish my bottom alla City how we take
wish my bottom alla City how we take your children while their parents
your children while their parents
your children while their parents salvaged in the dangerous garbage shop
salvaged in the dangerous garbage shop
salvaged in the dangerous garbage shop and there I learned the role of global
and there I learned the role of global
and there I learned the role of global politics the disrupting lives
politics the disrupting lives
politics the disrupting lives destructing culture and deepening
destructing culture and deepening
destructing culture and deepening poverty and all of these experiences
poverty and all of these experiences
poverty and all of these experiences have shaped me and formed me into an
have shaped me and formed me into an
have shaped me and formed me into an active member of my community speaking
active member of my community speaking
active member of my community speaking at and leading march of that something I
at and leading march of that something I
at and leading march of that something I never thought I would be able to do and
never thought I would be able to do and
never thought I would be able to do and standing up for justice on a local
standing up for justice on a local
standing up for justice on a local national level now you may look at me
national level now you may look at me
national level now you may look at me and see me as a privileged white woman
and see me as a privileged white woman
and see me as a privileged white woman who can afford to make the changes that
who can afford to make the changes that
who can afford to make the changes that I did and you’re absolutely right but
I did and you’re absolutely right but
I did and you’re absolutely right but those of us here today are also
those of us here today are also
those of us here today are also privileged at least in some way and I
privileged at least in some way and I
privileged at least in some way and I challenge you to look justice in the
challenge you to look justice in the
challenge you to look justice in the face you can’t change what you can’t see
for me the first step was opening my
for me the first step was opening my eyes and then I didn’t see the things
eyes and then I didn’t see the things
eyes and then I didn’t see the things that were in my life that were holding
that were in my life that were holding
that were in my life that were holding me back and how I can bring justice into
me back and how I can bring justice into
me back and how I can bring justice into my everyday life and how I can use my
my everyday life and how I can use my
my everyday life and how I can use my privilege to change the systems that
privilege to change the systems that
privilege to change the systems that exist in our world and make that more
exist in our world and make that more
exist in our world and make that more just
just
just [Applause]
”
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