hey written imagine if the infamous chicken who crossed the roll never left
chicken who crossed the roll never left
chicken who crossed the roll never left the comforts of his shell imagine he
the comforts of his shell imagine he
the comforts of his shell imagine he stayed in his a except exploring the
stayed in his a except exploring the
stayed in his a except exploring the world making an impact and just simply
world making an impact and just simply
world making an impact and just simply living life better yet imagine he never
living life better yet imagine he never
living life better yet imagine he never crossed the room your comfort zone is a
crossed the room your comfort zone is a
crossed the room your comfort zone is a place a situation at which you are at
place a situation at which you are at
place a situation at which you are at ease without stress and you’re safe so
ease without stress and you’re safe so
ease without stress and you’re safe so to say this may sound wonderful but in
to say this may sound wonderful but in
to say this may sound wonderful but in your comfort zone
your comfort zone
your comfort zone there is no progression you live day by
there is no progression you live day by
there is no progression you live day by day like a norm an ordinary person who
day like a norm an ordinary person who
day like a norm an ordinary person who does the bare minimum
does the bare minimum
does the bare minimum now I’d usually say a zombie but my
now I’d usually say a zombie but my
now I’d usually say a zombie but my friend here spongebob he was a better
friend here spongebob he was a better
friend here spongebob he was a better example in your comfort zone you first
example in your comfort zone you first
example in your comfort zone you first though you have control over your life
though you have control over your life
though you have control over your life because routine is comfortable for me I
because routine is comfortable for me I
because routine is comfortable for me I was comfortable waking up in the morning
was comfortable waking up in the morning
was comfortable waking up in the morning getting one bus that it of course if I
getting one bus that it of course if I
getting one bus that it of course if I made it on time going to school to
made it on time going to school to
made it on time going to school to practice coming home doing some homework
practice coming home doing some homework
practice coming home doing some homework and going to bed that was my set
and going to bed that was my set
and going to bed that was my set schedule and if it ain’t broke then
schedule and if it ain’t broke then
schedule and if it ain’t broke then though I fix it right but now I look
though I fix it right but now I look
though I fix it right but now I look back and it’s like did I do anything did
back and it’s like did I do anything did
back and it’s like did I do anything did I at least have fun most importantly did
I at least have fun most importantly did
I at least have fun most importantly did I do anything of value for myself or for
I do anything of value for myself or for
I do anything of value for myself or for my community no not at all
my community no not at all
my community no not at all this past November I experienced what
this past November I experienced what
this past November I experienced what getting out of my comfort zone looked
getting out of my comfort zone looked
getting out of my comfort zone looked and felt like first it was getting
and felt like first it was getting
and felt like first it was getting coupled with the idea that I had a voice
coupled with the idea that I had a voice
coupled with the idea that I had a voice and not only did it matter but it could
and not only did it matter but it could
and not only did it matter but it could have a positive impact on other people’s
have a positive impact on other people’s
have a positive impact on other people’s lives this kind of responsibility we
lives this kind of responsibility we
lives this kind of responsibility we don’t think for some people because it’s
don’t think for some people because it’s
don’t think for some people because it’s like my voice my voice my one voice
like my voice my voice my one voice
like my voice my voice my one voice could have any power but yes yes it can
could have any power but yes yes it can
could have any power but yes yes it can it was during my sports practice that I
it was during my sports practice that I
it was during my sports practice that I seen a disconnect between the community
seen a disconnect between the community
seen a disconnect between the community and local police officers but it made me
and local police officers but it made me
and local police officers but it made me within my community everyone loves to
within my community everyone loves to
within my community everyone loves to play basketball but they’d walk ten
play basketball but they’d walk ten
play basketball but they’d walk ten minutes
minutes
minutes down the block just to another quart why
down the block just to another quart why
down the block just to another quart why because they were uncomfortable with the
because they were uncomfortable with the
because they were uncomfortable with the police officers so they decided not to
police officers so they decided not to
police officers so they decided not to go to the basketball court right next to
go to the basketball court right next to
go to the basketball court right next to the police academy
the police academy
the police academy this was alarming to me because I had a
this was alarming to me because I had a
this was alarming to me because I had a good relationship with the officers at
good relationship with the officers at
good relationship with the officers at the completing their youth empowerment
the completing their youth empowerment
the completing their youth empowerment session two years ago and so this was
session two years ago and so this was
session two years ago and so this was when I realized I could use my voice to
when I realized I could use my voice to
when I realized I could use my voice to change this dynamic because I was on
change this dynamic because I was on
change this dynamic because I was on both sides I could be a powerful
both sides I could be a powerful
both sides I could be a powerful intermediary and so I began thinking I
intermediary and so I began thinking I
intermediary and so I began thinking I know I wanted to use basketball as a
know I wanted to use basketball as a
know I wanted to use basketball as a common ground and so I thought some more
common ground and so I thought some more
common ground and so I thought some more on how this was going to work eventually
on how this was going to work eventually
on how this was going to work eventually I got my March Madness event to connect
I got my March Madness event to connect
I got my March Madness event to connect the police officers with the youth and
the police officers with the youth and
the police officers with the youth and to encourage a deeper connection between
to encourage a deeper connection between
to encourage a deeper connection between these two groups the second part of
these two groups the second part of
these two groups the second part of reaching my comfort zone though was
reaching my comfort zone though was
reaching my comfort zone though was asking for help many people including
asking for help many people including
asking for help many people including myself see asking for help as a
myself see asking for help as a
myself see asking for help as a reflection of our intellect as if we ask
reflection of our intellect as if we ask
reflection of our intellect as if we ask the question and we don’t know what’s
the question and we don’t know what’s
the question and we don’t know what’s going on we’re not knowledgeable about
going on we’re not knowledgeable about
going on we’re not knowledgeable about this subject the course or even the
this subject the course or even the
this subject the course or even the situation but people are our strongest
situation but people are our strongest
situation but people are our strongest asset fortunately I have an exposed to a
asset fortunately I have an exposed to a
asset fortunately I have an exposed to a program called griptape who was seeking
program called griptape who was seeking
program called griptape who was seeking young people who wanted to grow in their
young people who wanted to grow in their
young people who wanted to grow in their learning journeys and so I applied and
learning journeys and so I applied and
learning journeys and so I applied and once accepted the coaches a griptape
once accepted the coaches a griptape
once accepted the coaches a griptape they mentored me on how to turn my plan
they mentored me on how to turn my plan
they mentored me on how to turn my plan into a reality
third part of reaching my comfort zone
third part of reaching my comfort zone though was the recruitment of both the
though was the recruitment of both the
though was the recruitment of both the officers and the young people I mean how
officers and the young people I mean how
officers and the young people I mean how do you get to groups who are
do you get to groups who are
do you get to groups who are diametrically opposed to one another to
diametrically opposed to one another to
diametrically opposed to one another to put aside their perceptions for a game
put aside their perceptions for a game
put aside their perceptions for a game of basketball and it was during the
of basketball and it was during the
of basketball and it was during the recruitment of the officers that I’ve
recruitment of the officers that I’ve
recruitment of the officers that I’ve seen I still had some girls to do in
seen I still had some girls to do in
seen I still had some girls to do in terms of getting comfortable with
terms of getting comfortable with
terms of getting comfortable with discomfort I mean I had a good
discomfort I mean I had a good
discomfort I mean I had a good relationship with the officers but due
relationship with the officers but due
relationship with the officers but due to the media I found it uncomfortable to
to the media I found it uncomfortable to
to the media I found it uncomfortable to an officer and talk to them about my
an officer and talk to them about my
an officer and talk to them about my project mainly to a white male officer
project mainly to a white male officer
project mainly to a white male officer but it wasn’t like I never tried I
but it wasn’t like I never tried I
but it wasn’t like I never tried I walked for lightly to his car and not
walked for lightly to his car and not
walked for lightly to his car and not and was quickly dismissed he looked at
and was quickly dismissed he looked at
and was quickly dismissed he looked at me stare for a few seconds and then
me stare for a few seconds and then
me stare for a few seconds and then continue to do his work
continue to do his work
continue to do his work I mean would if I needed help you’re an
I mean would if I needed help you’re an
I mean would if I needed help you’re an officer aren’t you from then on I didn’t
officer aren’t you from then on I didn’t
officer aren’t you from then on I didn’t talk to any officer that looked like him
talk to any officer that looked like him
talk to any officer that looked like him and to be honest I didn’t talk to any
and to be honest I didn’t talk to any
and to be honest I didn’t talk to any officer but that was part of my journey
officer but that was part of my journey
officer but that was part of my journey so I knew I had to do it I mean how can
so I knew I had to do it I mean how can
so I knew I had to do it I mean how can you connect the police officers with the
you connect the police officers with the
you connect the police officers with the community without the officers and so I
community without the officers and so I
community without the officers and so I talked to him and I was overwhelmed by
talked to him and I was overwhelmed by
talked to him and I was overwhelmed by the support that they had given me they
the support that they had given me they
the support that they had given me they were on board with the project and they
were on board with the project and they
were on board with the project and they were willing to be part of my event they
were willing to be part of my event they
were willing to be part of my event they were willing to be part of my event
were willing to be part of my event
were willing to be part of my event despite the rough start the event went
despite the rough start the event went
despite the rough start the event went well it was very successful
well it was very successful
well it was very successful but that doesn’t mean it was without
but that doesn’t mean it was without
but that doesn’t mean it was without mistakes I mean I made many mistakes one
mistakes I mean I made many mistakes one
mistakes I mean I made many mistakes one being I put off starting and if you
being I put off starting and if you
being I put off starting and if you don’t know I am a big procrastinator
don’t know I am a big procrastinator
don’t know I am a big procrastinator another one being that I could have
another one being that I could have
another one being that I could have better coordinated all the moving pieces
better coordinated all the moving pieces
better coordinated all the moving pieces to ensure that everyone was on the right
to ensure that everyone was on the right
to ensure that everyone was on the right page I could have allowed these mistakes
page I could have allowed these mistakes
page I could have allowed these mistakes to stop me from my main goal of
to stop me from my main goal of
to stop me from my main goal of connecting the officers in the community
connecting the officers in the community
connecting the officers in the community but I felt as though I was too far into
but I felt as though I was too far into
but I felt as though I was too far into the waters and this was something I was
the waters and this was something I was
the waters and this was something I was very passionate about and so I continued
very passionate about and so I continued
very passionate about and so I continued but dude trust me there were times when
but dude trust me there were times when
but dude trust me there were times when I felt abandoning the project so many
I felt abandoning the project so many
I felt abandoning the project so many mistakes have been made and so many
mistakes have been made and so many
mistakes have been made and so many obstacles put in my way I was
obstacles put in my way I was
obstacles put in my way I was discouraged now we all hate mistakes
discouraged now we all hate mistakes
discouraged now we all hate mistakes well hate is a strong word we all just
well hate is a strong word we all just
well hate is a strong word we all just like mistakes I’m sure you hear the word
like mistakes I’m sure you hear the word
like mistakes I’m sure you hear the word mistakes the hairs on your arm raised
mistakes the hairs on your arm raised
mistakes the hairs on your arm raised we’ve been taught to feel embarrassed
we’ve been taught to feel embarrassed
we’ve been taught to feel embarrassed when we must make a mistake or when
when we must make a mistake or when
when we must make a mistake or when things don’t go right mistakes are seen
things don’t go right mistakes are seen
things don’t go right mistakes are seen as a roadblock when instead they should
as a roadblock when instead they should
as a roadblock when instead they should be treated as a bridge they allow us to
be treated as a bridge they allow us to
be treated as a bridge they allow us to move forward but maybe not in the way
move forward but maybe not in the way
move forward but maybe not in the way that we intended to mistakes are not
that we intended to mistakes are not
that we intended to mistakes are not failures though mistakes are not
failures though mistakes are not
failures though mistakes are not failures what distinguishes a mistake as
failures what distinguishes a mistake as
failures what distinguishes a mistake as a failure is that you learn from that
a failure is that you learn from that
a failure is that you learn from that mistake or whether you allow that must
mistake or whether you allow that must
mistake or whether you allow that must overpower you in this monition stepping
overpower you in this monition stepping
overpower you in this monition stepping out of your comfort zone it’s
out of your comfort zone it’s
out of your comfort zone it’s uncomfortable it’s unfamiliar but it
uncomfortable it’s unfamiliar but it
uncomfortable it’s unfamiliar but it must be done
must be done
must be done because what would an egg be what would
because what would an egg be what would
because what would an egg be what would the chick beef and not like its egg
the chick beef and not like its egg
the chick beef and not like its egg nothing and that’s the same with us what
nothing and that’s the same with us what
nothing and that’s the same with us what would we be if we were stuck in our
would we be if we were stuck in our
would we be if we were stuck in our comfort zones
comfort zones
comfort zones nothing it’s impossible for us to learn
nothing it’s impossible for us to learn
nothing it’s impossible for us to learn for us to grow if we are stuck in our
for us to grow if we are stuck in our
for us to grow if we are stuck in our comfort zones because there’s nothing
comfort zones because there’s nothing
comfort zones because there’s nothing new to learn or to discover now I’m sure
new to learn or to discover now I’m sure
new to learn or to discover now I’m sure you’re sitting here thinking of the time
you’re sitting here thinking of the time
you’re sitting here thinking of the time you should have stepped out and you have
you should have stepped out and you have
you should have stepped out and you have many good reasons on why you have it see
many good reasons on why you have it see
many good reasons on why you have it see what happened was go enter your Excuse I
what happened was go enter your Excuse I
what happened was go enter your Excuse I I mean good reason but you can let go of
I mean good reason but you can let go of
I mean good reason but you can let go of these good reasons because luckily
these good reasons because luckily
these good reasons because luckily you’re not this guy you’re not the
you’re not this guy you’re not the
you’re not this guy you’re not the standing so you have every opportunity
standing so you have every opportunity
standing so you have every opportunity to step out stepping out is it
to step out stepping out is it
to step out stepping out is it comfortable again thank you there are
comfortable again thank you there are
comfortable again thank you there are six steps on why we here are six six six
six steps on why we here are six six six
six steps on why we here are six six six steps on what we can do to step out of
steps on what we can do to step out of
steps on what we can do to step out of our comfort zones one we can challenge
our comfort zones one we can challenge
our comfort zones one we can challenge ourselves take a risk it can be as small
ourselves take a risk it can be as small
ourselves take a risk it can be as small as raising your hand in the class that
as raising your hand in the class that
as raising your hand in the class that you better tip it in or as large as
you better tip it in or as large as
you better tip it in or as large as jumping out of an airplane and for some
jumping out of an airplane and for some
jumping out of an airplane and for some of you entering the Soul Train line can
of you entering the Soul Train line can
of you entering the Soul Train line can be a risk and not only a risk to you but
be a risk and not only a risk to you but
be a risk and not only a risk to you but a risk to us as well
don’t allow your inner self to deter you
don’t allow your inner self to deter you you’re going to have those thoughts like
you’re going to have those thoughts like
you’re going to have those thoughts like maybe we shouldn’t do this you’re going
maybe we shouldn’t do this you’re going
maybe we shouldn’t do this you’re going to have doubt you’re gonna have
to have doubt you’re gonna have
to have doubt you’re gonna have nervousness and most importantly that
nervousness and most importantly that
nervousness and most importantly that one thought in your head what if we mess
one thought in your head what if we mess
one thought in your head what if we mess up
up
up go ahead mess up make mistakes how can
go ahead mess up make mistakes how can
go ahead mess up make mistakes how can we learn if we do not make mistakes and
we learn if we do not make mistakes and
we learn if we do not make mistakes and learn from them again because if you
learn from them again because if you
learn from them again because if you don’t then yes it is a failure most
don’t then yes it is a failure most
don’t then yes it is a failure most lastly acts for help and accept and
lastly acts for help and accept and
lastly acts for help and accept and appreciate those who help you because we
appreciate those who help you because we
appreciate those who help you because we don’t have all the resources that we
don’t have all the resources that we
don’t have all the resources that we need what be tangible or intellectual
need what be tangible or intellectual
need what be tangible or intellectual I’m sure there’s someone there to help
I’m sure there’s someone there to help
I’m sure there’s someone there to help you
you
you there was a mince of arguing the
there was a mince of arguing the
there was a mince of arguing the mistakes that I made now for the future
mistakes that I made now for the future
mistakes that I made now for the future I understand time management and that I
I understand time management and that I
I understand time management and that I have a problem and I need to get help
have a problem and I need to get help
have a problem and I need to get help conflict resolution and strategies
conflict resolution and strategies
conflict resolution and strategies because so many obstacles have been
because so many obstacles have been
because so many obstacles have been putting away and so many mistakes made
putting away and so many mistakes made
putting away and so many mistakes made and most importantly community outreach
and most importantly community outreach
and most importantly community outreach because we’re not talking to those
because we’re not talking to those
because we’re not talking to those around us if we’re not talking to those
around us if we’re not talking to those
around us if we’re not talking to those within our community then what are we
within our community then what are we
within our community then what are we doing and how are we doing it these
doing and how are we doing it these
doing and how are we doing it these mistakes combined with me stepping out
mistakes combined with me stepping out
mistakes combined with me stepping out of my comfort zone allow me to be
of my comfort zone allow me to be
of my comfort zone allow me to be capable of being a true agent of change
capable of being a true agent of change
capable of being a true agent of change as it does to each and every one of us
as it does to each and every one of us
as it does to each and every one of us every day we have on this earth we have
every day we have on this earth we have
every day we have on this earth we have the opportunity step out and to progress
the opportunity step out and to progress
the opportunity step out and to progress to make mistakes and learn from them to
to make mistakes and learn from them to
to make mistakes and learn from them to have fun and make change while doing so
have fun and make change while doing so
have fun and make change while doing so will you be the chicken that crosses the
will you be the chicken that crosses the
will you be the chicken that crosses the road remember life begins at the end of
road remember life begins at the end of
road remember life begins at the end of your comfort zone so join me and let’s
your comfort zone so join me and let’s
your comfort zone so join me and let’s get uncomfortable
get uncomfortable
get uncomfortable [Applause]
”
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