[Applause] different accents and bear with it you
different accents and bear with it you
different accents and bear with it you know life is a curious thing and
know life is a curious thing and
know life is a curious thing and sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get the
sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get the
sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever get the habit I wonder if there are actually
habit I wonder if there are actually
habit I wonder if there are actually anything if there’s actually anything
anything if there’s actually anything
anything if there’s actually anything certain in this world other than the
certain in this world other than the
certain in this world other than the typical death and taxes but after
typical death and taxes but after
typical death and taxes but after thinking about it I would like to
thinking about it I would like to
thinking about it I would like to suggest two things of which I am certain
suggest two things of which I am certain
suggest two things of which I am certain one every perfect person was born or the
one every perfect person was born or the
one every perfect person was born or the person of purpose and a passion let me
person of purpose and a passion let me
person of purpose and a passion let me say that again every person was born
say that again every person was born
say that again every person was born with a purpose and a passion and to
with a purpose and a passion and to
with a purpose and a passion and to every person was born for human
every person was born for human
every person was born for human connection I believe that the world
connection I believe that the world
connection I believe that the world changers the visionaries the influencers
changers the visionaries the influencers
changers the visionaries the influencers they are people that understand this the
they are people that understand this the
they are people that understand this the purpose of life is to live a life of
purpose of life is to live a life of
purpose of life is to live a life of purpose about ten years ago my husband
purpose about ten years ago my husband
purpose about ten years ago my husband asked me a question he said you could do
asked me a question he said you could do
asked me a question he said you could do anything what would you do now that
anything what would you do now that
anything what would you do now that seems like a simple question but it’s
seems like a simple question but it’s
seems like a simple question but it’s actually really complex it’s the
actually really complex it’s the
actually really complex it’s the question that helps us to understand our
question that helps us to understand our
question that helps us to understand our purpose and our passion in life and when
purpose and our passion in life and when
purpose and our passion in life and when you combine your purpose in your passion
you combine your purpose in your passion
you combine your purpose in your passion the sky is the limit because people with
the sky is the limit because people with
the sky is the limit because people with great passion can make the impossible
great passion can make the impossible
great passion can make the impossible possible I only needed a few seconds to
possible I only needed a few seconds to
possible I only needed a few seconds to answer that question I told them I would
answer that question I told them I would
answer that question I told them I would love to direct Broadway musicals and
love to direct Broadway musicals and
love to direct Broadway musicals and after a short conversation and a few
after a short conversation and a few
after a short conversation and a few days about compelled to write down a
days about compelled to write down a
days about compelled to write down a specific plan for this impossible dream
specific plan for this impossible dream
specific plan for this impossible dream a theatre performing arts group for
a theatre performing arts group for
a theatre performing arts group for teenagers now I know some of you are
teenagers now I know some of you are
teenagers now I know some of you are wondering is she crazy and I’m not sure
wondering is she crazy and I’m not sure
wondering is she crazy and I’m not sure if the craziness comes in with creating
if the craziness comes in with creating
if the craziness comes in with creating a theatre performing arts group or the
a theatre performing arts group or the
a theatre performing arts group or the fact that I wanted to work with
fact that I wanted to work with
fact that I wanted to work with teenagers but I remember being
teenagers but I remember being
teenagers but I remember being a teenager I remember that awkward stage
a teenager I remember that awkward stage
a teenager I remember that awkward stage and wise rod is convinced that no one
and wise rod is convinced that no one
and wise rod is convinced that no one would ever understand me or my dreams
would ever understand me or my dreams
would ever understand me or my dreams it’s a stage in life where your desire
it’s a stage in life where your desire
it’s a stage in life where your desire for human connection is at its highest
for human connection is at its highest
for human connection is at its highest and your understanding and purpose in
and your understanding and purpose in
and your understanding and purpose in life is at its lowest and that
life is at its lowest and that
life is at its lowest and that description I believe it’s still true of
description I believe it’s still true of
description I believe it’s still true of teenagers today
teenagers today
teenagers today hence my dream became a reality now the
hence my dream became a reality now the
hence my dream became a reality now the description of what I believed for today
description of what I believed for today
description of what I believed for today a place for people to create connections
a place for people to create connections
a place for people to create connections that it was called Nexus Nexus actually
that it was called Nexus Nexus actually
that it was called Nexus Nexus actually means connecting point and from the very
means connecting point and from the very
means connecting point and from the very beginning we were very clear on our
beginning we were very clear on our
beginning we were very clear on our vision creating connections building
vision creating connections building
vision creating connections building community nurturing creativity and
community nurturing creativity and
community nurturing creativity and producing excellence and I want to use
producing excellence and I want to use
producing excellence and I want to use those four things today to encourage you
those four things today to encourage you
those four things today to encourage you and how to build Purpose Driven
and how to build Purpose Driven
and how to build Purpose Driven connections
connections
connections the first idea creating connections has
the first idea creating connections has
the first idea creating connections has to be first people need to know that
to be first people need to know that
to be first people need to know that they belong brynbrown once said
they belong brynbrown once said
they belong brynbrown once said connection is the energy that’s created
connection is the energy that’s created
connection is the energy that’s created between people when they feel seen
between people when they feel seen
between people when they feel seen valued and heard and this is so true so
valued and heard and this is so true so
valued and heard and this is so true so from the very beginning
from the very beginning
from the very beginning Nexus created a mantra for its family
Nexus created a mantra for its family
Nexus created a mantra for its family once an EXO nyan and they would yell out
once an EXO nyan and they would yell out
once an EXO nyan and they would yell out always an EXO Nene we had a young lady
always an EXO Nene we had a young lady
always an EXO Nene we had a young lady that showed up came back to mixes after
that showed up came back to mixes after
that showed up came back to mixes after graduating and she came back to help
graduating and she came back to help
graduating and she came back to help with our latest production and the
with our latest production and the
with our latest production and the Phantom of the Opera and I remember the
Phantom of the Opera and I remember the
Phantom of the Opera and I remember the joy on her face when she walked into the
joy on her face when she walked into the
joy on her face when she walked into the room oh you know what’s in it
room oh you know what’s in it
room oh you know what’s in it and everybody held out always the next
and everybody held out always the next
and everybody held out always the next onion followed by a dog pile of hubs
onion followed by a dog pile of hubs
onion followed by a dog pile of hubs because that’s what happens at Nexus she
because that’s what happens at Nexus she
because that’s what happens at Nexus she hadn’t forgotten the power of belonging
hadn’t forgotten the power of belonging
hadn’t forgotten the power of belonging you know human connections so often
you know human connections so often
you know human connections so often gives us value in life to feel connected
gives us value in life to feel connected
gives us value in life to feel connected is to feel that you belong the second
is to feel that you belong the second
is to feel that you belong the second idea building community merge
idea building community merge
idea building community merge beautifully with creating connections
beautifully with creating connections
beautifully with creating connections you know we need to listen to this
you know we need to listen to this
you know we need to listen to this statement as Australia’s an around world
statement as Australia’s an around world
statement as Australia’s an around world it takes a village to raise a child we
it takes a village to raise a child we
it takes a village to raise a child we live in a world today where we are so
live in a world today where we are so
live in a world today where we are so isolated we drive into our garage we
isolated we drive into our garage we
isolated we drive into our garage we shut the door and we shut out the world
shut the door and we shut out the world
shut the door and we shut out the world and when we do that we lose the value of
and when we do that we lose the value of
and when we do that we lose the value of the people around us and unfortunately
the people around us and unfortunately
the people around us and unfortunately this reality creates a bad reality
this reality creates a bad reality
this reality creates a bad reality because people need to build community
because people need to build community
because people need to build community they need us to model to them that as
they need us to model to them that as
they need us to model to them that as they give back they actually become
they give back they actually become
they give back they actually become better versions of themselves I want to
better versions of themselves I want to
better versions of themselves I want to read you a small excerpt from the letter
read you a small excerpt from the letter
read you a small excerpt from the letter that we received in Nexus from a parent
that we received in Nexus from a parent
that we received in Nexus from a parent about her son and about building
about her son and about building
about her son and about building community my son joined his family a
community my son joined his family a
community my son joined his family a supportive and nurturing group of
supportive and nurturing group of
supportive and nurturing group of encouraging and accepting individuals
encouraging and accepting individuals
encouraging and accepting individuals whose goals in life were to lift you up
whose goals in life were to lift you up
whose goals in life were to lift you up lead you further and bring out the best
lead you further and bring out the best
lead you further and bring out the best in you over the following five years my
in you over the following five years my
in you over the following five years my son instead seen that he can go far he
son instead seen that he can go far he
son instead seen that he can go far he can share his ideas youth to others and
can share his ideas youth to others and
can share his ideas youth to others and have a whole lot of fun along the way
have a whole lot of fun along the way
have a whole lot of fun along the way here’s a place where the individual is
here’s a place where the individual is
here’s a place where the individual is given the space to shine and give it the
given the space to shine and give it the
given the space to shine and give it the opportunity to develop in a happy and
opportunity to develop in a happy and
opportunity to develop in a happy and nurturing and fire
nurturing and fire
nurturing and fire everyone is made to feel secure and
everyone is made to feel secure and
everyone is made to feel secure and confident in who they are the journey
confident in who they are the journey
confident in who they are the journey that preparing and rehearsing his gives
that preparing and rehearsing his gives
that preparing and rehearsing his gives time for performers to stretch their
time for performers to stretch their
time for performers to stretch their imagination to find ways to express
imagination to find ways to express
imagination to find ways to express themselves they never dreamed it
themselves they never dreamed it
themselves they never dreamed it possible and to start to become the
possible and to start to become the
possible and to start to become the fantastic individuals that they are
fantastic individuals that they are
fantastic individuals that they are I hope those who say that that you feel
I hope those who say that that you feel
I hope those who say that that you feel inspired to find something in which you
inspired to find something in which you
inspired to find something in which you are passionate about and through that
are passionate about and through that
are passionate about and through that create a place where you can create
create a place where you can create
create a place where you can create connections for other people the third
connections for other people the third
connections for other people the third concept near true creativity is it an
concept near true creativity is it an
concept near true creativity is it an amazing way for people to find their
amazing way for people to find their
amazing way for people to find their passions although next to started out as
passions although next to started out as
passions although next to started out as a place for people who loved the arts
a place for people who loved the arts
a place for people who loved the arts the Performing Arts in particular it
the Performing Arts in particular it
the Performing Arts in particular it didn’t stay that way we have an entirely
didn’t stay that way we have an entirely
didn’t stay that way we have an entirely eclectic group of people from all walks
eclectic group of people from all walks
eclectic group of people from all walks of life
of life
of life we have mainstream marginalized disabled
we have mainstream marginalized disabled
we have mainstream marginalized disabled young old talented not so talented but
young old talented not so talented but
young old talented not so talented but that’s okay as we all belong we have
that’s okay as we all belong we have
that’s okay as we all belong we have those that can make a monotone joyful
those that can make a monotone joyful
those that can make a monotone joyful noise we also have those that are
noise we also have those that are
noise we also have those that are blowing away their voices we have
blowing away their voices we have
blowing away their voices we have artists that paint like Monet I am NOT
artists that paint like Monet I am NOT
artists that paint like Monet I am NOT one of them we have people who love to
one of them we have people who love to
one of them we have people who love to express themselves through preparing
express themselves through preparing
express themselves through preparing food and loving giving to others you
food and loving giving to others you
food and loving giving to others you know teenagers that keep your heart
know teenagers that keep your heart
know teenagers that keep your heart incident we know and you’re never too
incident we know and you’re never too
incident we know and you’re never too old we have a Nexus Graham who’s an
old we have a Nexus Graham who’s an
old we have a Nexus Graham who’s an invaluable part of our community and she
invaluable part of our community and she
invaluable part of our community and she offers love and wisdom to kids around
offers love and wisdom to kids around
offers love and wisdom to kids around them that don’t have grandparents in the
them that don’t have grandparents in the
them that don’t have grandparents in the area or just don’t
area or just don’t
area or just don’t grandparents and their relationships
grandparents and their relationships
grandparents and their relationships with them and we have people who express
with them and we have people who express
with them and we have people who express themselves through Disney songs and show
themselves through Disney songs and show
themselves through Disney songs and show tunes we have lots of those and you know
tunes we have lots of those and you know
tunes we have lots of those and you know Nexus is around when you hear in the
Nexus is around when you hear in the
Nexus is around when you hear in the background to show to millions of them
background to show to millions of them
background to show to millions of them being sung in multiple parts of harmony
being sung in multiple parts of harmony
being sung in multiple parts of harmony mind you if you ever come visit Nexus do
mind you if you ever come visit Nexus do
mind you if you ever come visit Nexus do not ever say the words were all in this
not ever say the words were all in this
not ever say the words were all in this together or someone will sing the entire
together or someone will sing the entire
together or someone will sing the entire high school musical performance to you
high school musical performance to you
high school musical performance to you and it will drive you nuts and what we
and it will drive you nuts and what we
and it will drive you nuts and what we have the performers we have the safety
have the performers we have the safety
have the performers we have the safety people the people who build SATs good
people the people who build SATs good
people the people who build SATs good thank you for that note hammers are not
thank you for that note hammers are not
thank you for that note hammers are not for everyone
for everyone
for everyone we are all connected to each other in a
we are all connected to each other in a
we are all connected to each other in a circle sorry we are all connected to
circle sorry we are all connected to
circle sorry we are all connected to each other and we need to create safe
each other and we need to create safe
each other and we need to create safe places that desire to bring forward the
places that desire to bring forward the
places that desire to bring forward the creativity each individual conferring
creativity each individual conferring
creativity each individual conferring and the result will be this people will
and the result will be this people will
and the result will be this people will discover their passions because they’re
discover their passions because they’re
discover their passions because they’re free to dream and I’ve read this
free to dream and I’ve read this
free to dream and I’ve read this somewhere passion is the genesis of
somewhere passion is the genesis of
somewhere passion is the genesis of Jesus isn’t that beautiful
Jesus isn’t that beautiful
Jesus isn’t that beautiful and that’s where the fourth concept
and that’s where the fourth concept
and that’s where the fourth concept comes in producing excellence when
comes in producing excellence when
comes in producing excellence when everyone is invested everyone gives
everyone is invested everyone gives
everyone is invested everyone gives their best and when you measure success
their best and when you measure success
their best and when you measure success through connections and community and
through connections and community and
through connections and community and not productivity and output the result
not productivity and output the result
not productivity and output the result often looks like this people bring their
often looks like this people bring their
often looks like this people bring their best and excellence is achieved because
best and excellence is achieved because
best and excellence is achieved because your measure of success is placed in the
your measure of success is placed in the
your measure of success is placed in the most important place people my favorite
most important place people my favorite
most important place people my favorite moment that Nexus is at the end of the
moment that Nexus is at the end of the
moment that Nexus is at the end of the production we all gather together and
production we all gather together and
production we all gather together and have this big reflection box and we pass
have this big reflection box and we pass
have this big reflection box and we pass around a bowl get up everyone loves it
around a bowl get up everyone loves it
around a bowl get up everyone loves it was don’t think and each person takes
was don’t think and each person takes
was don’t think and each person takes out a skittle and removes this pill and
out a skittle and removes this pill and
out a skittle and removes this pill and says how the color of that skill
says how the color of that skill
says how the color of that skill represents something they loved about
represents something they loved about
represents something they loved about their
their
their journey in Nexus so one year were going
journey in Nexus so one year were going
journey in Nexus so one year were going around takes forever it’s an emotional
around takes forever it’s an emotional
around takes forever it’s an emotional time it’s awesome but this one really
time it’s awesome but this one really
time it’s awesome but this one really quiet shy boy holds up his skin and he
quiet shy boy holds up his skin and he
quiet shy boy holds up his skin and he says I sucked the color off my skittle
says I sucked the color off my skittle
says I sucked the color off my skittle so it would be what white was the color
so it would be what white was the color
so it would be what white was the color of purity and to me Nexus is pure I love
of purity and to me Nexus is pure I love
of purity and to me Nexus is pure I love it here I’ve often thought about that
it here I’ve often thought about that
it here I’ve often thought about that statement purity was strange word to use
statement purity was strange word to use
statement purity was strange word to use in today’s age but you know what I’ve
in today’s age but you know what I’ve
in today’s age but you know what I’ve thought about it and what I think he
thought about it and what I think he
thought about it and what I think he meant was this it is so different here
meant was this it is so different here
meant was this it is so different here this is a unique place where people
this is a unique place where people
this is a unique place where people don’t look at the best song the best
don’t look at the best song the best
don’t look at the best song the best performance the best actor instead it
performance the best actor instead it
performance the best actor instead it looks like the best an individual can
looks like the best an individual can
looks like the best an individual can dream that’s what mattered human he is
dream that’s what mattered human he is
dream that’s what mattered human he is the one that mattered people an
the one that mattered people an
the one that mattered people an eight-way desire to belong that’s what
eight-way desire to belong that’s what
eight-way desire to belong that’s what they wanted was and when they feel the
they wanted was and when they feel the
they wanted was and when they feel the value of connection and belonging they
value of connection and belonging they
value of connection and belonging they will become who they truly are and
will become who they truly are and
will become who they truly are and really creating environments like that
really creating environments like that
really creating environments like that they will breathe perpetual results they
they will breathe perpetual results they
they will breathe perpetual results they will ask you to do the same thing for
will ask you to do the same thing for
will ask you to do the same thing for someone else we need to create places
someone else we need to create places
someone else we need to create places where people feel free to ask themselves
where people feel free to ask themselves
where people feel free to ask themselves the question mile has
the question mile has
the question mile has asked me 10 years ago if you could do
asked me 10 years ago if you could do
asked me 10 years ago if you could do anything what would you do you see if
anything what would you do you see if
anything what would you do you see if everyone was born with a purpose and a
everyone was born with a purpose and a
everyone was born with a purpose and a passion and for community are we
passion and for community are we
passion and for community are we creating places for people to find and
creating places for people to find and
creating places for people to find and develop that purpose are we telling you
develop that purpose are we telling you
develop that purpose are we telling you people that discovering their passion
people that discovering their passion
people that discovering their passion will help to define them are we modeling
will help to define them are we modeling
will help to define them are we modeling connections that allow the next
connections that allow the next
connections that allow the next generation to discover and cultivate who
generation to discover and cultivate who
generation to discover and cultivate who they are and who they will become
they are and who they will become
they are and who they will become Marianne Williamson said one of my
Marianne Williamson said one of my
Marianne Williamson said one of my favorite quotes ever our greatest fear
favorite quotes ever our greatest fear
favorite quotes ever our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate our
is not that we are inadequate our
is not that we are inadequate our greatest fear is that we are powerful
greatest fear is that we are powerful
greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure she understood the idea
beyond measure she understood the idea
beyond measure she understood the idea that we have it within us to be great we
that we have it within us to be great we
that we have it within us to be great we need to move beyond the mundane and seek
need to move beyond the mundane and seek
need to move beyond the mundane and seek out our purpose and our passion the one
out our purpose and our passion the one
out our purpose and our passion the one that makes us powerful beyond measure
that makes us powerful beyond measure
that makes us powerful beyond measure Nexus is the fulfillment of that joy for
Nexus is the fulfillment of that joy for
Nexus is the fulfillment of that joy for me I do love it it breathes life into me
me I do love it it breathes life into me
me I do love it it breathes life into me I am so passionate I think you can tell
I am so passionate I think you can tell
I am so passionate I think you can tell about it it brings me joy a simple dream
about it it brings me joy a simple dream
about it it brings me joy a simple dream turned from my intrinsic satisfaction to
turned from my intrinsic satisfaction to
turned from my intrinsic satisfaction to something that brings connection and
something that brings connection and
something that brings connection and community to us a safe place for people
community to us a safe place for people
community to us a safe place for people to discover who they are and if you’re
to discover who they are and if you’re
to discover who they are and if you’re someone that’s asking today or thinking
someone that’s asking today or thinking
someone that’s asking today or thinking how do I just
how do I just
how do I just my purpose a lot of gave us idea to you
my purpose a lot of gave us idea to you
my purpose a lot of gave us idea to you from TD jakes if you can’t figure out
from TD jakes if you can’t figure out
from TD jakes if you can’t figure out your purpose figure out your passion or
your purpose figure out your passion or
your purpose figure out your passion or your passion will lead you right into
your passion will lead you right into
your passion will lead you right into your dream find a safe place where you
your dream find a safe place where you
your dream find a safe place where you can begin to explore the things you love
can begin to explore the things you love
can begin to explore the things you love be fearless and courageous in the
be fearless and courageous in the
be fearless and courageous in the pursuit of the things that set your soul
pursuit of the things that set your soul
pursuit of the things that set your soul on fire and help you to dream big and
on fire and help you to dream big and
on fire and help you to dream big and create connections with others now
create connections with others now
create connections with others now that’s an idea or this thank you
that’s an idea or this thank you
that’s an idea or this thank you [Applause]
”
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