you [Music]
I believe the communities are the
I believe the communities are the lifeblood of humanity and that each of
lifeblood of humanity and that each of
lifeblood of humanity and that each of us has a deep-rooted desire to be a part
us has a deep-rooted desire to be a part
us has a deep-rooted desire to be a part of something bigger than any one of us
of something bigger than any one of us
of something bigger than any one of us individually rural already engaged in so
individually rural already engaged in so
individually rural already engaged in so many diverse communities and in fact
many diverse communities and in fact
many diverse communities and in fact we’re living in the most quote connected
we’re living in the most quote connected
we’re living in the most quote connected time that the world has ever seen how
time that the world has ever seen how
time that the world has ever seen how many people in this room have used their
many people in this room have used their
many people in this room have used their phone or tablet
phone or tablet
phone or tablet since the time you’ve been here to
since the time you’ve been here to
since the time you’ve been here to connect with someone or some outside
connect with someone or some outside
connect with someone or some outside community take a look around how many of
community take a look around how many of
community take a look around how many of you have started a conversation with
you have started a conversation with
you have started a conversation with somebody in the room who you didn’t know
somebody in the room who you didn’t know
somebody in the room who you didn’t know prior to arriving this morning a stark
prior to arriving this morning a stark
prior to arriving this morning a stark difference so at a time when we are more
difference so at a time when we are more
difference so at a time when we are more connected than we’ve ever been we
connected than we’ve ever been we
connected than we’ve ever been we actually might be as isolated as we’ve
actually might be as isolated as we’ve
actually might be as isolated as we’ve ever been spending more and more time on
ever been spending more and more time on
ever been spending more and more time on our own with our own devices research
our own with our own devices research
our own with our own devices research shows us that more and more Americans
shows us that more and more Americans
shows us that more and more Americans nearly 35 percent report that they never
nearly 35 percent report that they never
nearly 35 percent report that they never once met their next-door neighbors and
once met their next-door neighbors and
once met their next-door neighbors and fewer and fewer Americans report
fewer and fewer Americans report
fewer and fewer Americans report overtime spending quality time on a
overtime spending quality time on a
overtime spending quality time on a daily or weekly basis with the people
daily or weekly basis with the people
daily or weekly basis with the people that live right next door to them we are
that live right next door to them we are
that live right next door to them we are more connected than ever and yet
more connected than ever and yet
more connected than ever and yet sometimes oftentimes more isolated so my
sometimes oftentimes more isolated so my
sometimes oftentimes more isolated so my desire my graduation my curiosity would
desire my graduation my curiosity would
desire my graduation my curiosity would build community started at a really
build community started at a really
build community started at a really early age I was fortunate to grow up in
early age I was fortunate to grow up in
early age I was fortunate to grow up in one of the first planned cities in the
one of the first planned cities in the
one of the first planned cities in the United States of America a place built
United States of America a place built
United States of America a place built on the values of diversity and
on the values of diversity and
on the values of diversity and acceptance and inclusion and service a
acceptance and inclusion and service a
acceptance and inclusion and service a place they knew that if you brought
place they knew that if you brought
place they knew that if you brought people together if you intentionally
people together if you intentionally
people together if you intentionally made people collide you would build a
made people collide you would build a
made people collide you would build a special special community and I want to
special special community and I want to
special special community and I want to share a few examples of what
share a few examples of what
share a few examples of what sociologists more than 50 years ago
sociologists more than 50 years ago
sociologists more than 50 years ago developed to bring to life this vision
developed to bring to life this vision
developed to bring to life this vision the first example I’ll share with you is
the first example I’ll share with you is
the first example I’ll share with you is the example of a community mailbox so
the example of a community mailbox so
the example of a community mailbox so when I grew up every family had a shared
when I grew up every family had a shared
when I grew up every family had a shared mailbox you actually weren’t allowed to
mailbox you actually weren’t allowed to
mailbox you actually weren’t allowed to have your own mailbox and some people
have your own mailbox and some people
have your own mailbox and some people thought well that strange but the idea
thought well that strange but the idea
thought well that strange but the idea behind it was that every single day you
behind it was that every single day you
behind it was that every single day you had to walk up the street and in doing
had to walk up the street and in doing
had to walk up the street and in doing so you bumped into your neighbors
so you bumped into your neighbors
so you bumped into your neighbors you asked them how their day was and
you asked them how their day was and
you asked them how their day was and they asked about yours and it created
they asked about yours and it created
they asked about yours and it created this intentional collision the other
this intentional collision the other
this intentional collision the other thing these sociologists developed more
thing these sociologists developed more
thing these sociologists developed more than 50 years ago was the idea of a
than 50 years ago was the idea of a
than 50 years ago was the idea of a community fool Jim rouse the visionary
community fool Jim rouse the visionary
community fool Jim rouse the visionary developer of the city decided early on
developer of the city decided early on
developer of the city decided early on that he didn’t want people secluded in
that he didn’t want people secluded in
that he didn’t want people secluded in isolated in their backyards so they
isolated in their backyards so they
isolated in their backyards so they built community pools that were open
built community pools that were open
built community pools that were open accessible to
accessible to
accessible to whether you lived in a single-family
whether you lived in a single-family
whether you lived in a single-family home or an apartment or a townhouse
home or an apartment or a townhouse
home or an apartment or a townhouse congregating people together to share in
congregating people together to share in
congregating people together to share in community and the last and maybe the
community and the last and maybe the
community and the last and maybe the most audacious example from 50 plus
most audacious example from 50 plus
most audacious example from 50 plus years ago was that at the Interfaith
years ago was that at the Interfaith
years ago was that at the Interfaith Center a physical structure that housed
Center a physical structure that housed
Center a physical structure that housed multiple faiths on Friday night an
multiple faiths on Friday night an
multiple faiths on Friday night an interfaith Center served as a synagogue
interfaith Center served as a synagogue
interfaith Center served as a synagogue on Sunday morning they serve as a church
on Sunday morning they serve as a church
on Sunday morning they serve as a church the rabbi’s office just down the hallway
the rabbi’s office just down the hallway
the rabbi’s office just down the hallway from the pastor one physical structure
from the pastor one physical structure
from the pastor one physical structure for the community to congregate and it
for the community to congregate and it
for the community to congregate and it was an experiment and it worked
was an experiment and it worked
was an experiment and it worked phenomenally well and growing up there I
phenomenally well and growing up there I
phenomenally well and growing up there I thought that was normal it wasn’t till
thought that was normal it wasn’t till
thought that was normal it wasn’t till later that I realized that most
later that I realized that most
later that I realized that most communities were different and I also
communities were different and I also
communities were different and I also realized that while you can design
realized that while you can design
realized that while you can design community the way Jim rouse and these
community the way Jim rouse and these
community the way Jim rouse and these sociologists did in the post-civil
sociologists did in the post-civil
sociologists did in the post-civil rights era we also have a responsibility
rights era we also have a responsibility
rights era we also have a responsibility as individuals to step outside of our
as individuals to step outside of our
as individuals to step outside of our comfort zone into join a diverse
comfort zone into join a diverse
comfort zone into join a diverse multitude of communities we’ve all been
multitude of communities we’ve all been
multitude of communities we’ve all been involved in these communities in our
involved in these communities in our
involved in these communities in our past whether they be athletic or whether
past whether they be athletic or whether
past whether they be athletic or whether they be professional or whether they be
they be professional or whether they be
they be professional or whether they be Geographic or religious based or whether
Geographic or religious based or whether
Geographic or religious based or whether they be communities that come together
they be communities that come together
they be communities that come together around the cause a social movement like
around the cause a social movement like
around the cause a social movement like Pelotonia
Pelotonia
Pelotonia and a few years ago I was afforded an
and a few years ago I was afforded an
and a few years ago I was afforded an opportunity to witness firsthand what
opportunity to witness firsthand what
opportunity to witness firsthand what happens when people come together to
happens when people come together to
happens when people come together to achieve something
achieve something
achieve something of us could possibly do on our own to
of us could possibly do on our own to
of us could possibly do on our own to step outside of our comfort zone I
step outside of our comfort zone I
step outside of our comfort zone I traveled to Tanzania with 15 other
traveled to Tanzania with 15 other
traveled to Tanzania with 15 other individuals cancer advocates most of
individuals cancer advocates most of
individuals cancer advocates most of whom didn’t know one another at all when
whom didn’t know one another at all when
whom didn’t know one another at all when we got to Tanzania our guide leader
we got to Tanzania our guide leader
we got to Tanzania our guide leader Chris Warner sat us down as a group in
Chris Warner sat us down as a group in
Chris Warner sat us down as a group in the hotel and he said I’ve got a
the hotel and he said I’ve got a
the hotel and he said I’ve got a question for the group we were all here
question for the group we were all here
question for the group we were all here and anxious he said do you want to climb
and anxious he said do you want to climb
and anxious he said do you want to climb to the top of his mountain the roof of
to the top of his mountain the roof of
to the top of his mountain the roof of Africa as one group of 16 or do you want
Africa as one group of 16 or do you want
Africa as one group of 16 or do you want to split up into two groups a fast group
to split up into two groups a fast group
to split up into two groups a fast group and a slow group he said I’m going to
and a slow group he said I’m going to
and a slow group he said I’m going to leave you you guys can think about that
leave you you guys can think about that
leave you you guys can think about that when I come back and come give me your
when I come back and come give me your
when I come back and come give me your response everybody looked at each other
response everybody looked at each other
response everybody looked at each other we sort of sized each other out there
we sort of sized each other out there
we sort of sized each other out there was a 22 year old a 62 year old never
was a 22 year old a 62 year old never
was a 22 year old a 62 year old never where between people were wandering in
where between people were wandering in
where between people were wandering in that person baking and that person
that person baking and that person
that person baking and that person making can we do this when he came back
making can we do this when he came back
making can we do this when he came back he said what did you decide we’re going
he said what did you decide we’re going
he said what did you decide we’re going to go as one room he’s a great decision
to go as one room he’s a great decision
to go as one room he’s a great decision but let me just remind you that that
but let me just remind you that that
but let me just remind you that that means that we will all stand on the top
means that we will all stand on the top
means that we will all stand on the top of Kilimanjaro together or none of us
of Kilimanjaro together or none of us
of Kilimanjaro together or none of us will summon the mountain he then said
will summon the mountain he then said
will summon the mountain he then said everybody bring with you the gear that I
everybody bring with you the gear that I
everybody bring with you the gear that I suggested you bring and most people
suggested you bring and most people
suggested you bring and most people nodded did everybody bring with you the
nodded did everybody bring with you the
nodded did everybody bring with you the snacks and the items that I thought
snacks and the items that I thought
snacks and the items that I thought would be essential to this journey and
would be essential to this journey and
would be essential to this journey and most people not it he said great because
most people not it he said great because
most people not it he said great because they no longer belong to you they belong
they no longer belong to you they belong
they no longer belong to you they belong to the team and it was in that moment
to the team and it was in that moment
to the team and it was in that moment that I learned the idea of what’s mine
that I learned the idea of what’s mine
that I learned the idea of what’s mine is yours and in the community that’s how
is yours and in the community that’s how
is yours and in the community that’s how people engage what’s good for the
people engage what’s good for the
people engage what’s good for the community what’s good for the team is
community what’s good for the team is
community what’s good for the team is also good for the individual and I can
also good for the individual and I can
also good for the individual and I can tell you that five days after that
tell you that five days after that
tell you that five days after that meeting in the hotel when 16 of us stood
meeting in the hotel when 16 of us stood
meeting in the hotel when 16 of us stood on the roof of Africa with the tallest
on the roof of Africa with the tallest
on the roof of Africa with the tallest point in the continent if you look
point in the continent if you look
point in the continent if you look closely you can see that I’m wearing a
closely you can see that I’m wearing a
closely you can see that I’m wearing a black jacket a really warm technical
black jacket a really warm technical
black jacket a really warm technical puffy incredible jacket that doesn’t
puffy incredible jacket that doesn’t
puffy incredible jacket that doesn’t belong to me because three hours earlier
belong to me because three hours earlier
belong to me because three hours earlier around 3:00 a.m. in sub-zero
around 3:00 a.m. in sub-zero
around 3:00 a.m. in sub-zero temperatures one of my teammates reached
temperatures one of my teammates reached
temperatures one of my teammates reached over and said I think you need this
over and said I think you need this
over and said I think you need this realizing that my jacket was totally
realizing that my jacket was totally
realizing that my jacket was totally unequivocally inadequate this journey
unequivocally inadequate this journey
unequivocally inadequate this journey showed me once again the power of
showed me once again the power of
showed me once again the power of community and how we keep design
community and how we keep design
community and how we keep design community like Jim Halstead in Columbia
community like Jim Halstead in Columbia
community like Jim Halstead in Columbia Maryland we can also each self-select
Maryland we can also each self-select
Maryland we can also each self-select raise our hands and join a community
raise our hands and join a community
raise our hands and join a community that sometimes forces us outside of our
that sometimes forces us outside of our
that sometimes forces us outside of our comfort zone when I was growing up my
comfort zone when I was growing up my
comfort zone when I was growing up my parents taught my brother and I the
parents taught my brother and I the
parents taught my brother and I the difference between them community and a
difference between them community and a
difference between them community and a crowd and I’ll never forget what they
crowd and I’ll never forget what they
crowd and I’ll never forget what they told us they said you know in a crowd
told us they said you know in a crowd
told us they said you know in a crowd people push and they shove in the elbow
people push and they shove in the elbow
people push and they shove in the elbow and they try to get ahead of the person
and they try to get ahead of the person
and they try to get ahead of the person next to them thinking that that will
next to them thinking that that will
next to them thinking that that will equal success but in a community people
equal success but in a community people
equal success but in a community people hug and they smile and they embrace and
hug and they smile and they embrace and
hug and they smile and they embrace and they look around and they know that in
they look around and they know that in
they look around and they know that in order for any of us to move forward
order for any of us to move forward
order for any of us to move forward we all must move forward together so my
we all must move forward together so my
we all must move forward together so my humble request today is that before you
humble request today is that before you
humble request today is that before you leave this room before you go to lunch
leave this room before you go to lunch
leave this room before you go to lunch before you take the midday break say
before you take the midday break say
before you take the midday break say hello tap somebody in front of them turn
hello tap somebody in front of them turn
hello tap somebody in front of them turn to somebody behind you ask them who they
to somebody behind you ask them who they
to somebody behind you ask them who they are listen to their story and if we all
are listen to their story and if we all
are listen to their story and if we all do that we can turn this seemingly huge
do that we can turn this seemingly huge
do that we can turn this seemingly huge crowd here
crowd here
crowd here at the McCoy Center into a vibrant
at the McCoy Center into a vibrant
at the McCoy Center into a vibrant creative and transformational and
creative and transformational and
creative and transformational and inclusive community thank you so much
inclusive community thank you so much
inclusive community thank you so much [Applause]
”
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