[Music] [Applause]
[Music]
[Music] every candle would be lit Norah Jones
every candle would be lit Norah Jones
every candle would be lit Norah Jones would be drifting her way through the
would be drifting her way through the
would be drifting her way through the stereo red pepper bisque would greet my
stereo red pepper bisque would greet my
stereo red pepper bisque would greet my nose as it was bubbling on the stove I
nose as it was bubbling on the stove I
nose as it was bubbling on the stove I take my shoes off throw my dance bag
take my shoes off throw my dance bag
take my shoes off throw my dance bag down and shuffle over to the couch
down and shuffle over to the couch
down and shuffle over to the couch snuggle into the coziest throw blanket
snuggle into the coziest throw blanket
snuggle into the coziest throw blanket my life was warm and this was just a
my life was warm and this was just a
my life was warm and this was just a casual Friday night on Burton Street a
casual Friday night on Burton Street a
casual Friday night on Burton Street a night that I was privileged enough to
night that I was privileged enough to
night that I was privileged enough to come home to on a regular basis at 13
come home to on a regular basis at 13
come home to on a regular basis at 13 years old I was blinded by the innocence
years old I was blinded by the innocence
years old I was blinded by the innocence of my childhood I didn’t think about how
of my childhood I didn’t think about how
of my childhood I didn’t think about how it would take my mom four hours to make
it would take my mom four hours to make
it would take my mom four hours to make that famous recipe or at any given point
that famous recipe or at any given point
that famous recipe or at any given point there could be up to thirty dollars
there could be up to thirty dollars
there could be up to thirty dollars worth of candles burning throughout my
worth of candles burning throughout my
worth of candles burning throughout my house I didn’t think about how hard all
house I didn’t think about how hard all
house I didn’t think about how hard all of this would be for her to achieve with
of this would be for her to achieve with
of this would be for her to achieve with a chemotherapy bag on her hip you see my
a chemotherapy bag on her hip you see my
a chemotherapy bag on her hip you see my mom had an infectious warmth to her each
mom had an infectious warmth to her each
mom had an infectious warmth to her each day she created spaces that were
day she created spaces that were
day she created spaces that were approachable comfortable cozy supported
approachable comfortable cozy supported
approachable comfortable cozy supported places that would foster growth she was
places that would foster growth she was
places that would foster growth she was a woman who gave so much to all of those
a woman who gave so much to all of those
a woman who gave so much to all of those who were around her her presence was
who were around her her presence was
who were around her her presence was large and it definitely didn’t go
large and it definitely didn’t go
large and it definitely didn’t go unrecognized striving for such an
unrecognized striving for such an
unrecognized striving for such an impeccable quality of life was something
impeccable quality of life was something
impeccable quality of life was something that was so important to her
that was so important to her
that was so important to her so those spaces those memories and those
so those spaces those memories and those
so those spaces those memories and those lessons that she taught me is something
lessons that she taught me is something
lessons that she taught me is something that is so very deeply instilled in me
that is so very deeply instilled in me
that is so very deeply instilled in me so watching the woman who gave me life
so watching the woman who gave me life
so watching the woman who gave me life died almost killed me two years later
died almost killed me two years later
died almost killed me two years later and a casual Friday without her looked
and a casual Friday without her looked
and a casual Friday without her looked like any other day of the week gray cold
like any other day of the week gray cold
like any other day of the week gray cold damp meaningless I was stricken with
damp meaningless I was stricken with
damp meaningless I was stricken with post-traumatic stress disorder which
post-traumatic stress disorder which
post-traumatic stress disorder which created a huge barrier between me and my
created a huge barrier between me and my
created a huge barrier between me and my father resulting in spending many nights
father resulting in spending many nights
father resulting in spending many nights couch surfing I was lucky enough to have
couch surfing I was lucky enough to have
couch surfing I was lucky enough to have older friends at the time who were
older friends at the time who were
older friends at the time who were willing to open their doors to let me
willing to open their doors to let me
willing to open their doors to let me crash on their couch but being
crash on their couch but being
crash on their couch but being functionally homeless meant my mental
functionally homeless meant my mental
functionally homeless meant my mental health declined rapidly at that point in
health declined rapidly at that point in
health declined rapidly at that point in my life I would often find myself
my life I would often find myself
my life I would often find myself experiencing many things that were
experiencing many things that were
experiencing many things that were unrecognizable like going hungry at
unrecognizable like going hungry at
unrecognizable like going hungry at sixteen I didn’t know how to take care
sixteen I didn’t know how to take care
sixteen I didn’t know how to take care of myself
of myself
of myself I didn’t understand the value of a
I didn’t understand the value of a
I didn’t understand the value of a dollar so if I was on my way home from
dollar so if I was on my way home from
dollar so if I was on my way home from work and I’d find an extra $20 bill in
work and I’d find an extra $20 bill in
work and I’d find an extra $20 bill in my pocket I think to treat my friends to
my pocket I think to treat my friends to
my pocket I think to treat my friends to fast food instead of thinking to invest
fast food instead of thinking to invest
fast food instead of thinking to invest in myself by buying fresh groceries this
in myself by buying fresh groceries this
in myself by buying fresh groceries this worked out pretty well for me for a
worked out pretty well for me for a
worked out pretty well for me for a couple of months until I came to the
couple of months until I came to the
couple of months until I came to the harsh realization that you can’t make
harsh realization that you can’t make
harsh realization that you can’t make mom’s famous gourmet red pepper bisque
mom’s famous gourmet red pepper bisque
mom’s famous gourmet red pepper bisque with the items that you receive at a
with the items that you receive at a
with the items that you receive at a food bank
food bank
food bank I craved her instant comfort but I
I craved her instant comfort but I
I craved her instant comfort but I couldn’t find those candles or that
couldn’t find those candles or that
couldn’t find those candles or that throw blanket anywhere how was I
throw blanket anywhere how was I
throw blanket anywhere how was I supposed to adjust to such a drastic new
supposed to adjust to such a drastic new
supposed to adjust to such a drastic new normal my privilege had left me blind to
normal my privilege had left me blind to
normal my privilege had left me blind to the reality of the struggle I knew that
the reality of the struggle I knew that
the reality of the struggle I knew that life could be a warm and inviting place
life could be a warm and inviting place
life could be a warm and inviting place and I was so determined to try and find
and I was so determined to try and find
and I was so determined to try and find that again so I learned to embrace
that again so I learned to embrace
that again so I learned to embrace vulnerability I reached out to my
vulnerability I reached out to my
vulnerability I reached out to my community and I leaned on them I set
community and I leaned on them I set
community and I leaned on them I set myself up with stable supportive housing
myself up with stable supportive housing
myself up with stable supportive housing and I gave myself an environment that
and I gave myself an environment that
and I gave myself an environment that would allow for me to move forward so I
would allow for me to move forward so I
would allow for me to move forward so I started to grow despite the pain and
started to grow despite the pain and
started to grow despite the pain and some days growing simply looked like
some days growing simply looked like
some days growing simply looked like getting out of bed washing my face and
getting out of bed washing my face and
getting out of bed washing my face and cooking a healthy meal by setting these
cooking a healthy meal by setting these
cooking a healthy meal by setting these realistic day-by-day goals I was
realistic day-by-day goals I was
realistic day-by-day goals I was performing a critical act of self care
performing a critical act of self care
performing a critical act of self care and self preservation I was often
and self preservation I was often
and self preservation I was often fighting for my life I had to learn to
fighting for my life I had to learn to
fighting for my life I had to learn to give myself the tender love and care
give myself the tender love and care
give myself the tender love and care that I so desperately deserved during my
that I so desperately deserved during my
that I so desperately deserved during my journey I came to realize that my
journey I came to realize that my
journey I came to realize that my square-one look different than my peers
square-one look different than my peers
square-one look different than my peers because I knew there was something more
because I knew there was something more
because I knew there was something more than despair out there I knew what
than despair out there I knew what
than despair out there I knew what healthy looked like and in that I was
healthy looked like and in that I was
healthy looked like and in that I was privileged I found myself surrounded by
privileged I found myself surrounded by
privileged I found myself surrounded by a community that was overwhelmed with
a community that was overwhelmed with
a community that was overwhelmed with the suffering that stemmed from toxic
the suffering that stemmed from toxic
the suffering that stemmed from toxic cycles these cycles were results of
cycles these cycles were results of
cycles these cycles were results of broken support systems like child while
broken support systems like child while
broken support systems like child while their foster care and income support
their foster care and income support
their foster care and income support I was watching people fall into the
I was watching people fall into the
I was watching people fall into the bureaucracy seeing is nothing more than
bureaucracy seeing is nothing more than
bureaucracy seeing is nothing more than a number or a statistic in society human
a number or a statistic in society human
a number or a statistic in society human beings slipped through the cracks and
beings slipped through the cracks and
beings slipped through the cracks and live with demons that I never could have
live with demons that I never could have
live with demons that I never could have imagined and what didn’t make sense to
imagined and what didn’t make sense to
imagined and what didn’t make sense to me then at 16 was knowing that people
me then at 16 was knowing that people
me then at 16 was knowing that people were aware that these horrible things
were aware that these horrible things
were aware that these horrible things were happening in such a deadly
were happening in such a deadly
were happening in such a deadly repetitive nature but nothing drastic
repetitive nature but nothing drastic
repetitive nature but nothing drastic was being done to change these systems I
was being done to change these systems I
was being done to change these systems I didn’t have the answers at the time on
didn’t have the answers at the time on
didn’t have the answers at the time on how to create systemic change but I did
how to create systemic change but I did
how to create systemic change but I did have something that worked for me so out
have something that worked for me so out
have something that worked for me so out of an act of despair I created danced
of an act of despair I created danced
of an act of despair I created danced through it I’ve learned that in a world
through it I’ve learned that in a world
through it I’ve learned that in a world where we need so much how we choose to
where we need so much how we choose to
where we need so much how we choose to cope with what life throws our way is
cope with what life throws our way is
cope with what life throws our way is one of the few things we have control
one of the few things we have control
one of the few things we have control over but we aren’t taught that we aren’t
over but we aren’t taught that we aren’t
over but we aren’t taught that we aren’t taught how to cope positively with life
taught how to cope positively with life
taught how to cope positively with life struggles in school or in the media what
struggles in school or in the media what
struggles in school or in the media what does a healthy relationship look like
does a healthy relationship look like
does a healthy relationship look like how do we control our anger how do we
how do we control our anger how do we
how do we control our anger how do we process growth we need answers to these
process growth we need answers to these
process growth we need answers to these questions in order to thrive
questions in order to thrive
questions in order to thrive independently within society I had to
independently within society I had to
independently within society I had to act so I invested in a local community
act so I invested in a local community
act so I invested in a local community center starting by just volunteering one
center starting by just volunteering one
center starting by just volunteering one hour a week teaching young women who
hour a week teaching young women who
hour a week teaching young women who were growing up in housing dancing
were growing up in housing dancing
were growing up in housing dancing dancing has always acted as my filter
dancing has always acted as my filter
dancing has always acted as my filter dancing has taught me to embrace raw
dancing has taught me to embrace raw
dancing has taught me to embrace raw emotion create something beautiful from
emotion create something beautiful from
emotion create something beautiful from the dark places in my life
the dark places in my life
the dark places in my life dancing allows me to explore myself as I
dancing allows me to explore myself as I
dancing allows me to explore myself as I grow and dancing taught me to fall in
grow and dancing taught me to fall in
grow and dancing taught me to fall in love with myself again by expressing my
love with myself again by expressing my
love with myself again by expressing my emotions I find it easier to regulate
emotions I find it easier to regulate
emotions I find it easier to regulate and release them I will never forget
and release them I will never forget
and release them I will never forget those first few classes my students
those first few classes my students
those first few classes my students showed a need for a deeper connection by
showed a need for a deeper connection by
showed a need for a deeper connection by showing up early and insisting on
showing up early and insisting on
showing up early and insisting on staying late I came to realize I was
staying late I came to realize I was
staying late I came to realize I was breaching one of many huge gaps within
breaching one of many huge gaps within
breaching one of many huge gaps within support systems so I grew I started to
support systems so I grew I started to
support systems so I grew I started to facilitate conversations validate
facilitate conversations validate
facilitate conversations validate experiences and emotions and then
experiences and emotions and then
experiences and emotions and then translate that into movement helping to
translate that into movement helping to
translate that into movement helping to aid in students processing life’s
aid in students processing life’s
aid in students processing life’s challenges while enforcing the
challenges while enforcing the
challenges while enforcing the importance of positive coping
importance of positive coping
importance of positive coping interdependence self love and self care
interdependence self love and self care
interdependence self love and self care it’s been over a year now
it’s been over a year now
it’s been over a year now since that first class and dance threat
since that first class and dance threat
since that first class and dance threat has grown its own set of national legs
has grown its own set of national legs
has grown its own set of national legs on top of curriculum based programming I
on top of curriculum based programming I
on top of curriculum based programming I also travel across the country to
also travel across the country to
also travel across the country to provide customized sessions to
provide customized sessions to
provide customized sessions to organizations and companies that
organizations and companies that
organizations and companies that understand the importance of what I
understand the importance of what I
understand the importance of what I offer the influx of interest has been
offer the influx of interest has been
offer the influx of interest has been overwhelming and it shows no sign of
overwhelming and it shows no sign of
overwhelming and it shows no sign of stopping anytime soon my mom was a
stopping anytime soon my mom was a
stopping anytime soon my mom was a reminder of how resilient we can be when
reminder of how resilient we can be when
reminder of how resilient we can be when we’re dedicated to a cause from not
we’re dedicated to a cause from not
we’re dedicated to a cause from not letting a chemo bag stop her from
letting a chemo bag stop her from
letting a chemo bag stop her from coaching basketball teams to gold medals
coaching basketball teams to gold medals
coaching basketball teams to gold medals to cooking those meals filled with love
to cooking those meals filled with love
to cooking those meals filled with love even after a long day I’m well aware
even after a long day I’m well aware
even after a long day I’m well aware that being Susan Hicks’s daughter is
that being Susan Hicks’s daughter is
that being Susan Hicks’s daughter is such like
such like
such like and when things were dark I knew I had
and when things were dark I knew I had
and when things were dark I knew I had to have her resilience in me as well it
to have her resilience in me as well it
to have her resilience in me as well it just took finding the right cause to
just took finding the right cause to
just took finding the right cause to pull it out of me her death and all of
pull it out of me her death and all of
pull it out of me her death and all of the traumatic events that happened
the traumatic events that happened
the traumatic events that happened following suit pushed me outside of my
following suit pushed me outside of my
following suit pushed me outside of my comfort zone and in doing that resulted
comfort zone and in doing that resulted
comfort zone and in doing that resulted in creating something that’s bigger than
in creating something that’s bigger than
in creating something that’s bigger than I am
I am
I am by sharing what gets me through
by sharing what gets me through
by sharing what gets me through continues to save others and that’s what
continues to save others and that’s what
continues to save others and that’s what resilient leadership looks like I am my
resilient leadership looks like I am my
resilient leadership looks like I am my mother’s daughter you don’t need to know
mother’s daughter you don’t need to know
mother’s daughter you don’t need to know how to change the world to change worlds
how to change the world to change worlds
how to change the world to change worlds thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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