weeds grow in my garden I look out at my plot of land and I just want to give up
plot of land and I just want to give up
plot of land and I just want to give up and let the dandelions take over once
and let the dandelions take over once
and let the dandelions take over once you see the crabgrass and the aphids the
you see the crabgrass and the aphids the
you see the crabgrass and the aphids the problems just become overwhelming and
problems just become overwhelming and
problems just become overwhelming and apparent kind of like life
apparent kind of like life
apparent kind of like life I see weeds where I work where I live
I see weeds where I work where I live
I see weeds where I work where I live and where I play I can envision some
and where I play I can envision some
and where I play I can envision some solutions to the problems but I want to
solutions to the problems but I want to
solutions to the problems but I want to hide from the realities of making real
hide from the realities of making real
hide from the realities of making real change like I’d like to lose 20 pounds
change like I’d like to lose 20 pounds
change like I’d like to lose 20 pounds but god I love potato chips changing
but god I love potato chips changing
but god I love potato chips changing patterns and systems is hard work kind
patterns and systems is hard work kind
patterns and systems is hard work kind of like tending a healthy and vibrant
of like tending a healthy and vibrant
of like tending a healthy and vibrant garden the urge to spread pesticides is
garden the urge to spread pesticides is
garden the urge to spread pesticides is alluring but it poisons the ground
alluring but it poisons the ground
alluring but it poisons the ground progress unfolds like the petals of a
progress unfolds like the petals of a
progress unfolds like the petals of a flower slowly and with surprise the
flower slowly and with surprise the
flower slowly and with surprise the reality of making lasting change
reality of making lasting change
reality of making lasting change requires a long-term commitment as the
requires a long-term commitment as the
requires a long-term commitment as the Director of Student Life and leadership
Director of Student Life and leadership
Director of Student Life and leadership I’ve watched students give up on their
I’ve watched students give up on their
I’ve watched students give up on their projects and dreams when faced with the
projects and dreams when faced with the
projects and dreams when faced with the creeping shifts I’ve also seen that they
creeping shifts I’ve also seen that they
creeping shifts I’ve also seen that they want to give up because of the unsexy
want to give up because of the unsexy
want to give up because of the unsexy work that they have to do some people
work that they have to do some people
work that they have to do some people might call it Loreen and they also get a
might call it Loreen and they also get a
might call it Loreen and they also get a little aggravated with each other and
little aggravated with each other and
little aggravated with each other and might annoy one another
might annoy one another
might annoy one another I’ve also observed as somebody who
I’ve also observed as somebody who
I’ve also observed as somebody who teaches in the humanities Department
teaches in the humanities Department
teaches in the humanities Department that new problems often germinate out of
that new problems often germinate out of
that new problems often germinate out of newfound solutions but probably one of
newfound solutions but probably one of
newfound solutions but probably one of the most disheartening elements of
the most disheartening elements of
the most disheartening elements of change for the student activists is
change for the student activists is
change for the student activists is realizing that you may not be there to
realizing that you may not be there to
realizing that you may not be there to enjoy the fruits of your labor the truth
enjoy the fruits of your labor the truth
enjoy the fruits of your labor the truth is some of us sow seeds and others
is some of us sow seeds and others
is some of us sow seeds and others harvest grassroots activism often begins
harvest grassroots activism often begins
harvest grassroots activism often begins with a rally cry that resonates with a
with a rally cry that resonates with a
with a rally cry that resonates with a larger group of people and brings them
larger group of people and brings them
larger group of people and brings them together
together
together tests are exciting and inspirational dr.
tests are exciting and inspirational dr.
tests are exciting and inspirational dr. King said the riot is the language of
King said the riot is the language of
King said the riot is the language of the unheard God knows I love a good
the unheard God knows I love a good
the unheard God knows I love a good March complete with signs songs and
March complete with signs songs and
March complete with signs songs and slogans a few words can ignite a crowd
slogans a few words can ignite a crowd
slogans a few words can ignite a crowd hell no we will do
hell no we will do
hell no we will do escucha estamos in la lucha we are in
escucha estamos in la lucha we are in
escucha estamos in la lucha we are in this fight together a battle cry that
this fight together a battle cry that
this fight together a battle cry that lets the powerful know that people are
lets the powerful know that people are
lets the powerful know that people are uniting protesters use music and songs
uniting protesters use music and songs
uniting protesters use music and songs to evoke the spirit and vote the spirit
to evoke the spirit and vote the spirit
to evoke the spirit and vote the spirit of the activists civil rights marchers
of the activists civil rights marchers
of the activists civil rights marchers gave voice to Charles tinleigh’s gospel
gave voice to Charles tinleigh’s gospel
gave voice to Charles tinleigh’s gospel music we shall overcome join me we shall
music we shall overcome join me we shall
music we shall overcome join me we shall overcome we shall overcome we shall
overcome we shall overcome we shall
overcome we shall overcome we shall overcome someday
a human beings have been making music
a human beings have been making music for thousands of years and some bright
for thousands of years and some bright
for thousands of years and some bright person realized that they’d be a great
person realized that they’d be a great
person realized that they’d be a great tool and a demonstration protest songs
tool and a demonstration protest songs
tool and a demonstration protest songs and chants help sow the seeds of change
and chants help sow the seeds of change
and chants help sow the seeds of change but words alone won’t produce that great
but words alone won’t produce that great
but words alone won’t produce that great fruit long term solutions required
fruit long term solutions required
fruit long term solutions required diligence and this sort of work grinds
diligence and this sort of work grinds
diligence and this sort of work grinds you know I remember when I was an
you know I remember when I was an
you know I remember when I was an undergrad I took class in New Testament
undergrad I took class in New Testament
undergrad I took class in New Testament literature and we were studying Gospel
literature and we were studying Gospel
literature and we were studying Gospel of Matthew and in Jesus is quoted as
of Matthew and in Jesus is quoted as
of Matthew and in Jesus is quoted as saying the poor will always be with you
saying the poor will always be with you
saying the poor will always be with you but you won’t always have me I remember
but you won’t always have me I remember
but you won’t always have me I remember thinking God Jesus you’re so selfish how
thinking God Jesus you’re so selfish how
thinking God Jesus you’re so selfish how could the Son of God not think that
could the Son of God not think that
could the Son of God not think that human beings could wipe out poverty my
human beings could wipe out poverty my
human beings could wipe out poverty my 20 year old self wanted results now I
20 year old self wanted results now I
20 year old self wanted results now I understand this verse profoundly
understand this verse profoundly
understand this verse profoundly different in my older age I realized
different in my older age I realized
different in my older age I realized that this isn’t an excuse for the
that this isn’t an excuse for the
that this isn’t an excuse for the well-to-do to give up on poverty justice
well-to-do to give up on poverty justice
well-to-do to give up on poverty justice rather it’s an ongoing obligation for
rather it’s an ongoing obligation for
rather it’s an ongoing obligation for people to raise others up justice and
people to raise others up justice and
people to raise others up justice and charity our values embedded in many
charity our values embedded in many
charity our values embedded in many traditions the third pillar of Islam
traditions the third pillar of Islam
traditions the third pillar of Islam asks Muslims to give to charity
asks Muslims to give to charity
asks Muslims to give to charity remembering that generations of people
remembering that generations of people
remembering that generations of people have been doing this work for poverty
have been doing this work for poverty
have been doing this work for poverty justice gives me a sense of connection
justice gives me a sense of connection
justice gives me a sense of connection and hope for the future just as
and hope for the future just as
and hope for the future just as Frederick Douglass said and he wisely
Frederick Douglass said and he wisely
Frederick Douglass said and he wisely observed to that without struggle there
observed to that without struggle there
observed to that without struggle there can be no progress so what does this
can be no progress so what does this
can be no progress so what does this look like on a college campus six years
look like on a college campus six years
look like on a college campus six years ago our queer Resource Center began
ago our queer Resource Center began
ago our queer Resource Center began demanding that there be all gendered
demanding that there be all gendered
demanding that there be all gendered restrooms on campus the initial response
restrooms on campus the initial response
restrooms on campus the initial response from the broader PCC community wasn’t so
from the broader PCC community wasn’t so
from the broader PCC community wasn’t so positive so slowly a committee
positive so slowly a committee
positive so slowly a committee group of people began educating faculty
group of people began educating faculty
group of people began educating faculty staff and administrative groups about
staff and administrative groups about
staff and administrative groups about the pain and suffering trans people face
the pain and suffering trans people face
the pain and suffering trans people face trying to access their basic right to
trying to access their basic right to
trying to access their basic right to pee slowly the ship began to turn and we
pee slowly the ship began to turn and we
pee slowly the ship began to turn and we now have 46 all gendered restrooms on
now have 46 all gendered restrooms on
now have 46 all gendered restrooms on our college campus in our buildings
despite this progress there’s still more
despite this progress there’s still more work to be done for trans justice the
work to be done for trans justice the
work to be done for trans justice the initial rejection from the broader PCC
initial rejection from the broader PCC
initial rejection from the broader PCC community hurt many people under the
community hurt many people under the
community hurt many people under the queer trans umbrella unfortunately the
queer trans umbrella unfortunately the
queer trans umbrella unfortunately the human condition is imperfect and shifts
human condition is imperfect and shifts
human condition is imperfect and shifts and culture make people uncomfortable
and culture make people uncomfortable
and culture make people uncomfortable radical alterations to systems to
radical alterations to systems to
radical alterations to systems to promote equity inherently create tension
promote equity inherently create tension
promote equity inherently create tension and create rocky relationships so where
and create rocky relationships so where
and create rocky relationships so where have I seen this well in one of my
have I seen this well in one of my
have I seen this well in one of my favorite pastimes watching the movies I
favorite pastimes watching the movies I
favorite pastimes watching the movies I watched film a couple years ago called
watched film a couple years ago called
watched film a couple years ago called pride and it’s a narrative that
pride and it’s a narrative that
pride and it’s a narrative that describes a real-life situation where
describes a real-life situation where
describes a real-life situation where minors who lived in the rural hills of
minors who lived in the rural hills of
minors who lived in the rural hills of Wales were striking they were supported
Wales were striking they were supported
Wales were striking they were supported by a group of inner-city queer and trans
by a group of inner-city queer and trans
by a group of inner-city queer and trans activists that lived in London this
activists that lived in London this
activists that lived in London this Alliance ruffled feathers and destroyed
Alliance ruffled feathers and destroyed
Alliance ruffled feathers and destroyed some long-term relationships but in the
some long-term relationships but in the
some long-term relationships but in the end progress was made alliances are a
end progress was made alliances are a
end progress was made alliances are a delicate balance that resemble a fragile
delicate balance that resemble a fragile
delicate balance that resemble a fragile ecosystem and rely on some of the most
ecosystem and rely on some of the most
ecosystem and rely on some of the most unusual partnerships Rachel Carson the
unusual partnerships Rachel Carson the
unusual partnerships Rachel Carson the author of Silent Spring said in nature
author of Silent Spring said in nature
author of Silent Spring said in nature nothing exists alone the same can be
nothing exists alone the same can be
nothing exists alone the same can be said for Humanity Alliance building
said for Humanity Alliance building
said for Humanity Alliance building requires a trust and faith in other
requires a trust and faith in other
requires a trust and faith in other people and this is not an easy task for
people and this is not an easy task for
people and this is not an easy task for those of us with power and privilege it
those of us with power and privilege it
those of us with power and privilege it means to form an alliance we might have
means to form an alliance we might have
means to form an alliance we might have to step back and let other voices take
to step back and let other voices take
to step back and let other voices take over feminist
over feminist
over feminist are slowly learning the extent to which
are slowly learning the extent to which
are slowly learning the extent to which people of color felt left out by the
people of color felt left out by the
people of color felt left out by the mainstream movement white people often
mainstream movement white people often
mainstream movement white people often ask alter abled people our queer friends
ask alter abled people our queer friends
ask alter abled people our queer friends and people of color to come and support
and people of color to come and support
and people of color to come and support our agendas and save precious little
our agendas and save precious little
our agendas and save precious little energy to help out with theirs
energy to help out with theirs
energy to help out with theirs intersectionality became the buzzword of
intersectionality became the buzzword of
intersectionality became the buzzword of the women’s March countless egos had to
the women’s March countless egos had to
the women’s March countless egos had to take a step back in order for other
take a step back in order for other
take a step back in order for other people to take a starring role this hurt
people to take a starring role this hurt
people to take a starring role this hurt some people but it created a healthier
some people but it created a healthier
some people but it created a healthier community that produce better fruit so
community that produce better fruit so
community that produce better fruit so accepting the possibility that the seed
accepting the possibility that the seed
accepting the possibility that the seed you plant won’t germinate until you’re
you plant won’t germinate until you’re
you plant won’t germinate until you’re gone is real so instead of focusing on
gone is real so instead of focusing on
gone is real so instead of focusing on the harvests think about what kind of
the harvests think about what kind of
the harvests think about what kind of seeds you’re sowing do you sow seeds of
seeds you’re sowing do you sow seeds of
seeds you’re sowing do you sow seeds of Hope of compassion of inclusion of
Hope of compassion of inclusion of
Hope of compassion of inclusion of respect or are you establishing roots of
respect or are you establishing roots of
respect or are you establishing roots of fear anger or isolation susan b anthony
fear anger or isolation susan b anthony
fear anger or isolation susan b anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton spent their
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton spent their
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton spent their lives fighting for women to get a right
lives fighting for women to get a right
lives fighting for women to get a right to vote and died before they ever cast a
to vote and died before they ever cast a
to vote and died before they ever cast a ballot AIDS activists urged the US
ballot AIDS activists urged the US
ballot AIDS activists urged the US government to invest in a cure for AIDS
government to invest in a cure for AIDS
government to invest in a cure for AIDS and many of those individuals died
and many of those individuals died
and many of those individuals died without ever seeing something occur
without ever seeing something occur
without ever seeing something occur happen if the people I just mentioned
happen if the people I just mentioned
happen if the people I just mentioned had given up future generations would
had given up future generations would
had given up future generations would suffer the struggles people face are
suffer the struggles people face are
suffer the struggles people face are part of the human condition new
part of the human condition new
part of the human condition new struggles germinate out of those new
struggles germinate out of those new
struggles germinate out of those new found solutions and the actions we take
found solutions and the actions we take
found solutions and the actions we take have real consequences change is
have real consequences change is
have real consequences change is daunting progress move slowly and the
daunting progress move slowly and the
daunting progress move slowly and the journey can be painful and yield
journey can be painful and yield
journey can be painful and yield unwelcome results but giving up is not
unwelcome results but giving up is not
unwelcome results but giving up is not the answer we let those weeds take over
the answer we let those weeds take over
the answer we let those weeds take over Martin Luther a 16th century reformer
Martin Luther a 16th century reformer
Martin Luther a 16th century reformer called sin or he explained sin as in
called sin or he explained sin as in
called sin or he explained sin as in Convergys and say meaning turning into
Convergys and say meaning turning into
Convergys and say meaning turning into yourself and dissing
yourself and dissing
yourself and dissing aging from the world I urge people to
aging from the world I urge people to
aging from the world I urge people to open their arms to the world invite
open their arms to the world invite
open their arms to the world invite people in let go of your own agenda and
people in let go of your own agenda and
people in let go of your own agenda and give service to others
give service to others
give service to others Luther gave us hope when he said if the
Luther gave us hope when he said if the
Luther gave us hope when he said if the world was to fall to pieces tomorrow I’d
world was to fall to pieces tomorrow I’d
world was to fall to pieces tomorrow I’d still plant an apple tree today so I’d
still plant an apple tree today so I’d
still plant an apple tree today so I’d like to end with this question what tree
like to end with this question what tree
like to end with this question what tree are you planting thank you
are you planting thank you
are you planting thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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