[Music] whoo I’m at the Fox Theater I can’t
whoo I’m at the Fox Theater I can’t
whoo I’m at the Fox Theater I can’t believe this
believe this
believe this usually I’m dropping off my friends down
usually I’m dropping off my friends down
usually I’m dropping off my friends down here off on the side of the road also
here off on the side of the road also
here off on the side of the road also I’m really feeling like the Clampetts
I’m really feeling like the Clampetts
I’m really feeling like the Clampetts right now from Beverly Hillbillies with
right now from Beverly Hillbillies with
right now from Beverly Hillbillies with this thing right here this is the second
this thing right here this is the second
this thing right here this is the second time I’ve actually operated this and
time I’ve actually operated this and
time I’ve actually operated this and yesterday was rehearsal so bear with me
yesterday was rehearsal so bear with me
yesterday was rehearsal so bear with me but I want to say greetings my name is
but I want to say greetings my name is
but I want to say greetings my name is shawni Harris aka mama shoe I am a
shawni Harris aka mama shoe I am a
shawni Harris aka mama shoe I am a mother I’m a minister I’m a community
mother I’m a minister I’m a community
mother I’m a minister I’m a community organizer activator
organizer activator
organizer activator I’m a creatorís in my town some of the
I’m a creatorís in my town some of the
I’m a creatorís in my town some of the other things that I’ve done I’ve served
other things that I’ve done I’ve served
other things that I’ve done I’ve served 27 years with the school system here in
27 years with the school system here in
27 years with the school system here in Detroit I’m a Highland Park housing
Detroit I’m a Highland Park housing
Detroit I’m a Highland Park housing commissioner I used to do that before I
commissioner I used to do that before I
commissioner I used to do that before I did that for two years I’m also a
did that for two years I’m also a
did that for two years I’m also a reserve police officer for the Highland
reserve police officer for the Highland
reserve police officer for the Highland Park Police Department yeah and I’m also
Park Police Department yeah and I’m also
Park Police Department yeah and I’m also the first woman chaplain for the
the first woman chaplain for the
the first woman chaplain for the Highland Park Police Department ever in
Highland Park Police Department ever in
Highland Park Police Department ever in its history yeah that’s a real cool
its history yeah that’s a real cool
its history yeah that’s a real cool that’s real cool I’m also the Charter
that’s real cool I’m also the Charter
that’s real cool I’m also the Charter Commissioner in charge of writing the
Commissioner in charge of writing the
Commissioner in charge of writing the Charter for Highland Park so we’re doing
Charter for Highland Park so we’re doing
Charter for Highland Park so we’re doing that right now
that right now
that right now so I do a bunch of things but one of the
so I do a bunch of things but one of the
so I do a bunch of things but one of the things that I’m mainly doing is that I’m
things that I’m mainly doing is that I’m
things that I’m mainly doing is that I’m building a village I am building Avalon
building a village I am building Avalon
building a village I am building Avalon village so most of my inspiration most
village so most of my inspiration most
village so most of my inspiration most of my inspiration from this project came
of my inspiration from this project came
of my inspiration from this project came from this little cute brown boy right
from this little cute brown boy right
from this little cute brown boy right here this is my baby Jacoby Rai he
here this is my baby Jacoby Rai he
here this is my baby Jacoby Rai he became an ancestor September to 23rd
became an ancestor September to 23rd
became an ancestor September to 23rd 2007 he was 2 years one month in six
2007 he was 2 years one month in six
2007 he was 2 years one month in six days old and he was hit by a hit-and-run
days old and he was hit by a hit-and-run
days old and he was hit by a hit-and-run driver basically that was the worst
driver basically that was the worst
driver basically that was the worst thing imaginable for a parent I don’t
thing imaginable for a parent I don’t
thing imaginable for a parent I don’t know if anybody who has lost a child or
know if anybody who has lost a child or
know if anybody who has lost a child or thought about lost a child
thought about lost a child
thought about lost a child and the the grief that it could cause
and the the grief that it could cause
and the the grief that it could cause but actually you can get through it
but actually you can get through it
but actually you can get through it because look at me now you can live with
because look at me now you can live with
because look at me now you can live with a broken heart but it doesn’t have to
a broken heart but it doesn’t have to
a broken heart but it doesn’t have to break your spirit you can go on you have
break your spirit you can go on you have
break your spirit you can go on you have to find somewhere to channel that energy
to find somewhere to channel that energy
to find somewhere to channel that energy so what I did was I chose pain to change
so what I did was I chose pain to change
so what I did was I chose pain to change pain into power my grief into glory and
pain into power my grief into glory and
pain into power my grief into glory and my loss into love what I’m doing is I’m
my loss into love what I’m doing is I’m
my loss into love what I’m doing is I’m using all of the energy that I could
using all of the energy that I could
using all of the energy that I could muster up from that experience and it
muster up from that experience and it
muster up from that experience and it actually gave me wings it gave me wings
actually gave me wings it gave me wings
actually gave me wings it gave me wings to fly and basically I’m using it to
to fly and basically I’m using it to
to fly and basically I’m using it to serve my community in and to go further
serve my community in and to go further
serve my community in and to go further to heal myself because this is a healing
to heal myself because this is a healing
to heal myself because this is a healing process as well and also to make my
process as well and also to make my
process as well and also to make my neighborhood strong so I’m gonna tell
neighborhood strong so I’m gonna tell
neighborhood strong so I’m gonna tell you a little bit about Highland Park
you a little bit about Highland Park
you a little bit about Highland Park Michigan Highland Park was the city of
Michigan Highland Park was the city of
Michigan Highland Park was the city of trees beautiful trees it’s the home of
trees beautiful trees it’s the home of
trees beautiful trees it’s the home of the Model T we have beautiful homes on
the Model T we have beautiful homes on
the Model T we have beautiful homes on our blog we have it’s just a beautiful
our blog we have it’s just a beautiful
our blog we have it’s just a beautiful city and we were known for our school
city and we were known for our school
city and we were known for our school system excellent school system people
system excellent school system people
system excellent school system people used to move to Highland Park for the
used to move to Highland Park for the
used to move to Highland Park for the school system right now Highland Park
school system right now Highland Park
school system right now Highland Park still has some wonderful places in it
still has some wonderful places in it
still has some wonderful places in it beautiful spots in it but a lot of it
beautiful spots in it but a lot of it
beautiful spots in it but a lot of it looks like this unfortunately some of
looks like this unfortunately some of
looks like this unfortunately some of our schools have closed our high school
our schools have closed our high school
our schools have closed our high school just got tore down a couple of months
just got tore down a couple of months
just got tore down a couple of months ago they repossessed our streetlights
ago they repossessed our streetlights
ago they repossessed our streetlights back in 2011 there’s a lot of blight
back in 2011 there’s a lot of blight
back in 2011 there’s a lot of blight right now this like I said the library
right now this like I said the library
right now this like I said the library has been closed for 15 years a lot of
has been closed for 15 years a lot of
has been closed for 15 years a lot of people left Highland Park but I decided
people left Highland Park but I decided
people left Highland Park but I decided to stay I wanted to stay and basically
to stay I wanted to stay and basically
to stay I wanted to stay and basically to give back and help to restore and
to give back and help to restore and
to give back and help to restore and resurrect my neighborhood in Highland
resurrect my neighborhood in Highland
resurrect my neighborhood in Highland Park we deserve to have a quality living
Park we deserve to have a quality living
Park we deserve to have a quality living experience like other neighborhoods
experience like other neighborhoods
experience like other neighborhoods right here this is one of my most
right here this is one of my most
right here this is one of my most proudest things thank you this is one of
proudest things thank you this is one of
proudest things thank you this is one of my most proudest things we put our first
my most proudest things we put our first
my most proudest things we put our first solar streetlight residential street
solar streetlight residential street
solar streetlight residential street light I should say is inside of Avalon
light I should say is inside of Avalon
light I should say is inside of Avalon Village and it was erected in 2014 on my
Village and it was erected in 2014 on my
Village and it was erected in 2014 on my son Jacobi Ryan’s birthday which is
son Jacobi Ryan’s birthday which is
son Jacobi Ryan’s birthday which is August the 17th it’s community owned and
August the 17th it’s community owned and
August the 17th it’s community owned and operated and we have no bills at all to
operated and we have no bills at all to
operated and we have no bills at all to pay for this light so it shines every
pay for this light so it shines every
pay for this light so it shines every single night
single night
single night jacobee rob park we basically recycled
jacobee rob park we basically recycled
jacobee rob park we basically recycled blighted lots and abandoned lots and we
blighted lots and abandoned lots and we
blighted lots and abandoned lots and we created a safe space for children and
created a safe space for children and
created a safe space for children and for families to play we do a lot of
for families to play we do a lot of
for families to play we do a lot of different activities like reggae in the
different activities like reggae in the
different activities like reggae in the hood hood camp we give out school
hood hood camp we give out school
hood hood camp we give out school supplies I marry folks and in the park
supplies I marry folks and in the park
supplies I marry folks and in the park we do a lot of activities and different
we do a lot of activities and different
we do a lot of activities and different things for the community and a lot of
things for the community and a lot of
things for the community and a lot of people just come and come chill so this
people just come and come chill so this
people just come and come chill so this is a photograph right here of me kind of
is a photograph right here of me kind of
is a photograph right here of me kind of Boston folks around like I do in the
Boston folks around like I do in the
Boston folks around like I do in the village anyway point and do this do that
village anyway point and do this do that
village anyway point and do this do that but that house right there is our
but that house right there is our
but that house right there is our homework house our homework house was on
homework house our homework house was on
homework house our homework house was on the demolition list but we just took
the demolition list but we just took
the demolition list but we just took charge of it and wanted to build
charge of it and wanted to build
charge of it and wanted to build something for the children
something for the children
something for the children it’s a space to for the children to do
it’s a space to for the children to do
it’s a space to for the children to do their homework for the children to eat
their homework for the children to eat
their homework for the children to eat we’re going to have a computer lab we
we’re going to have a computer lab we
we’re going to have a computer lab we have a recording studio in there there’s
have a recording studio in there there’s
have a recording studio in there there’s a laundry room things like that it’s
a laundry room things like that it’s
a laundry room things like that it’s just a bunch of stuff there that we’re
just a bunch of stuff there that we’re
just a bunch of stuff there that we’re building for the children activity
building for the children activity
building for the children activity courts all kinds of things there to help
courts all kinds of things there to help
courts all kinds of things there to help the children have a wonderful life help
the children have a wonderful life help
the children have a wonderful life help let them have a wonderful quality living
let them have a wonderful quality living
let them have a wonderful quality living experience in their own neighborhoods
experience in their own neighborhoods
experience in their own neighborhoods one of the great things that we’ve done
one of the great things that we’ve done
one of the great things that we’ve done to is that we’ve raised over two hundred
to is that we’ve raised over two hundred
to is that we’ve raised over two hundred and forty thousand dollars on our
and forty thousand dollars on our
and forty thousand dollars on our Kickstarter to start this project and
Kickstarter to start this project and
Kickstarter to start this project and we’re still going yeah
we’re still going yeah
we’re still going yeah that was kind of cool god we have other
that was kind of cool god we have other
that was kind of cool god we have other plans the goddess Marketplace we have
plans the goddess Marketplace we have
plans the goddess Marketplace we have the activity Kors basketball tennis and
the activity Kors basketball tennis and
the activity Kors basketball tennis and volleyball courts we have the healing
volleyball courts we have the healing
volleyball courts we have the healing house we also have the blue moon cafe
house we also have the blue moon cafe
house we also have the blue moon cafe and building a greenhouse as well all of
and building a greenhouse as well all of
and building a greenhouse as well all of this in alkaline village and we have
this in alkaline village and we have
this in alkaline village and we have plenty more to bring to the world to
plenty more to bring to the world to
plenty more to bring to the world to help to show that you can also restore
help to show that you can also restore
help to show that you can also restore your neighborhood so then this happened
your neighborhood so then this happened
your neighborhood so then this happened about two weeks ago right
Ellen found out the work that we were
Ellen found out the work that we were doing is she was very excited and she
doing is she was very excited and she
doing is she was very excited and she had us come on the show and then she
had us come on the show and then she
had us come on the show and then she gifted me with this right here $100,000
gifted me with this right here $100,000
gifted me with this right here $100,000 house yeah yeah and the house will be
house yeah yeah and the house will be
house yeah yeah and the house will be used as a headquarters for Avalon
used as a headquarters for Avalon
used as a headquarters for Avalon Village and a Welcome Center at
Village and a Welcome Center at
Village and a Welcome Center at administrative offices this day was very
administrative offices this day was very
administrative offices this day was very very special this was a ribbon-cutting
very special this was a ribbon-cutting
very special this was a ribbon-cutting our mayor was there on September 2 23rd
our mayor was there on September 2 23rd
our mayor was there on September 2 23rd we actually had a soft grand opening of
we actually had a soft grand opening of
we actually had a soft grand opening of the Avalon Village and specifically the
the Avalon Village and specifically the
the Avalon Village and specifically the homework house I want to leave you with
homework house I want to leave you with
homework house I want to leave you with a few things that I’ve actually
a few things that I’ve actually
a few things that I’ve actually collected throughout this journey
collected throughout this journey
collected throughout this journey basically I want for my neighborhood
basically I want for my neighborhood
basically I want for my neighborhood what I want for myself I don’t want to
what I want for myself I don’t want to
what I want for myself I don’t want to look at mattresses I don’t want to look
look at mattresses I don’t want to look
look at mattresses I don’t want to look at blight and toilets and things like
at blight and toilets and things like
at blight and toilets and things like that I want the beautiful life that’s
that I want the beautiful life that’s
that I want the beautiful life that’s what I deserve I’m gonna be living like
what I deserve I’m gonna be living like
what I deserve I’m gonna be living like that also some people look for a
that also some people look for a
that also some people look for a beautiful place I chose to make a place
beautiful place I chose to make a place
beautiful place I chose to make a place beautiful there was blight there was
beautiful there was blight there was
beautiful there was blight there was something to do
they say it takes a village to raise a
they say it takes a village to raise a child well I think that we need to build
child well I think that we need to build
child well I think that we need to build villages worthy to raise our children in
the day that my son died we used to have
the day that my son died we used to have conversations about children dying me
conversations about children dying me
conversations about children dying me and my friends like oh my god we would
and my friends like oh my god we would
and my friends like oh my god we would think it was so terrible and then
think it was so terrible and then
think it was so terrible and then basically when I woke up the next
basically when I woke up the next
basically when I woke up the next morning that was something that I fear
morning that was something that I fear
morning that was something that I fear my fears were over because I lasted the
my fears were over because I lasted the
my fears were over because I lasted the night that I slept when he when he died
night that I slept when he when he died
night that I slept when he when he died and I knew that I was basically
and I knew that I was basically
and I knew that I was basically invincible I just knew that I was the
invincible I just knew that I was the
invincible I just knew that I was the stuff then and basically I had no fear
stuff then and basically I had no fear
stuff then and basically I had no fear of anything else and I encouraged you to
of anything else and I encouraged you to
of anything else and I encouraged you to have no fear in any and everything that
have no fear in any and everything that
have no fear in any and everything that you choose to do you can do it you can
you choose to do you can do it you can
you choose to do you can do it you can work through it
work through it
work through it [Music]
thank you peace and love and remember
thank you peace and love and remember have no fear
have no fear
have no fear [Applause]
”
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