
so why don’t we start why you all just introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a
introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a
introducing yourselves I’m Naomi I’m a senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m
senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m
senior at Maggie Walker i’m jin died i’m a junior at appomattox regional governor
a junior at appomattox regional governor
a junior at appomattox regional governor school for the arts and technology I’m
school for the arts and technology I’m
school for the arts and technology I’m Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at
Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at
Chloe Hagen’s and I’m a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School oh why
Thomas Jefferson High School oh why
Thomas Jefferson High School oh why don’t you tell me a little bit about
don’t you tell me a little bit about
don’t you tell me a little bit about what girls for change does here in
what girls for change does here in
what girls for change does here in Richmond what are you guys about yeah so
Richmond what are you guys about yeah so
Richmond what are you guys about yeah so we actually have two main locations one
we actually have two main locations one
we actually have two main locations one in Richmond than one in San Francisco
in Richmond than one in San Francisco
in Richmond than one in San Francisco and the main part of the program is the
and the main part of the program is the
and the main part of the program is the girl action teams and throughout the
girl action teams and throughout the
girl action teams and throughout the year we go to different like after
year we go to different like after
year we go to different like after school organizations from like Boys and
school organizations from like Boys and
school organizations from like Boys and Girls Clubs to community centers and we
Girls Clubs to community centers and we
Girls Clubs to community centers and we speak with the girls about problems that
speak with the girls about problems that
speak with the girls about problems that they see in their community and then at
they see in their community and then at
they see in their community and then at the end of the year they present like
the end of the year they present like
the end of the year they present like social change projects about how they
social change projects about how they
social change projects about how they personally and as a team won a better
personally and as a team won a better
personally and as a team won a better those problems okay that sounds amazing
those problems okay that sounds amazing
those problems okay that sounds amazing yeah so I know you guys got a chance to
yeah so I know you guys got a chance to
yeah so I know you guys got a chance to go to Ted woman is that right um can you
go to Ted woman is that right um can you
go to Ted woman is that right um can you tell me about your experience there may
tell me about your experience there may
tell me about your experience there may be your favorite talk my favorite talk
be your favorite talk my favorite talk
be your favorite talk my favorite talk was Kim and teak Milan they are the
was Kim and teak Milan they are the
was Kim and teak Milan they are the founders of the people’s project which
founders of the people’s project which
founders of the people’s project which is an organization that educates the
is an organization that educates the
is an organization that educates the world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is
world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is
world on the LGBTQ awareness antique is a transgender male and he was just
a transgender male and he was just
a transgender male and he was just talking about the struggles he’s had to
talking about the struggles he’s had to
talking about the struggles he’s had to face within himself and the people that
face within himself and the people that
face within himself and the people that surround him and he was just saying how
surround him and he was just saying how
surround him and he was just saying how Kim is so supportive and it’s just it
Kim is so supportive and it’s just it
Kim is so supportive and it’s just it was nice to see that love can really you
was nice to see that love can really you
was nice to see that love can really you know anybody can fall in love yeah it
know anybody can fall in love yeah it
know anybody can fall in love yeah it was okay and my favorite talk was the
was okay and my favorite talk was the
was okay and my favorite talk was the black lives matter people they did a Q&A
black lives matter people they did a Q&A
black lives matter people they did a Q&A like us and I feel like they set a
like us and I feel like they set a
like us and I feel like they set a legacy and they showed that that it was
legacy and they showed that that it was
legacy and they showed that that it was more than a hashtag and a movement my
more than a hashtag and a movement my
more than a hashtag and a movement my favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw
favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw
favorite talk was by kimberle Crenshaw she’s a professor at Columbia University
she’s a professor at Columbia University
she’s a professor at Columbia University in UCLA and she began her talk by having
in UCLA and she began her talk by having
in UCLA and she began her talk by having everyone in the audience like largely
everyone in the audience like largely
everyone in the audience like largely this I think was like a thousand people
this I think was like a thousand people
this I think was like a thousand people or something stand up and she said only
or something stand up and she said only
or something stand up and she said only sit down if you don’t know one of the
sit down if you don’t know one of the
sit down if you don’t know one of the names that I’m about to list and she
names that I’m about to list and she
names that I’m about to list and she proceeded to list a lot of names and we
proceeded to list a lot of names and we
proceeded to list a lot of names and we realized after a while it was a list of
realized after a while it was a list of
realized after a while it was a list of black men who had been killed by the
black men who had been killed by the
black men who had been killed by the police in the past two years and you
police in the past two years and you
police in the past two years and you know most of us were standing for like
know most of us were standing for like
know most of us were standing for like 10-15 names and then she started to name
10-15 names and then she started to name
10-15 names and then she started to name some other names and within four of the
some other names and within four of the
some other names and within four of the names that
names that
names that names only after after four names only
names only after after four names only
names only after after four names only like three people in the audience were
like three people in the audience were
like three people in the audience were standing and afterward she said that you
standing and afterward she said that you
standing and afterward she said that you it’s not just you this is representative
it’s not just you this is representative
it’s not just you this is representative of America the names that I listed at
of America the names that I listed at
of America the names that I listed at the end were the names of black women
the end were the names of black women
the end were the names of black women who had been killed by the police in the
who had been killed by the police in the
who had been killed by the police in the last two years and it was mind-blowing
last two years and it was mind-blowing
last two years and it was mind-blowing for me because I you know obviously I
for me because I you know obviously I
for me because I you know obviously I myself am a black woman and to realize
myself am a black woman and to realize
myself am a black woman and to realize that amidst all of my you know attempts
that amidst all of my you know attempts
that amidst all of my you know attempts to be like this social activist person
to be like this social activist person
to be like this social activist person like my political awakening my black
like my political awakening my black
like my political awakening my black awakening like I hadn’t known that so
awakening like I hadn’t known that so
awakening like I hadn’t known that so she was talking about this theory of
she was talking about this theory of
she was talking about this theory of intersectionality how you know we
intersectionality how you know we
intersectionality how you know we understand most of us that there are
understand most of us that there are
understand most of us that there are some issues with race in America we
some issues with race in America we
some issues with race in America we understand there’s some issues with
understand there’s some issues with
understand there’s some issues with gender in America and but then when you
gender in America and but then when you
gender in America and but then when you blend the two how much how much it
blend the two how much how much it
blend the two how much how much it magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard
magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard
magnifies those issues yeah it’s hard remembering yourself sometimes right do
remembering yourself sometimes right do
remembering yourself sometimes right do you remember any of the names at the
you remember any of the names at the
you remember any of the names at the mint let’s see I know gaint what gains
mint let’s see I know gaint what gains
mint let’s see I know gaint what gains was someone more recent uh Carrie I
was someone more recent uh Carrie I
was someone more recent uh Carrie I think was another last name janice
think was another last name janice
think was another last name janice burgess it was a french name like crew
burgess it was a french name like crew
burgess it was a french name like crew so i know that’s the last name i know
so i know that’s the last name i know
so i know that’s the last name i know because i had to hold the sign of Sandra
because i had to hold the sign of Sandra
because i had to hold the sign of Sandra bland and at the end they just scrolled
bland and at the end they just scrolled
bland and at the end they just scrolled like named after named after named after
like named after named after named after
like named after named after named after named after name and it it was crazy so
named after name and it it was crazy so
named after name and it it was crazy so I think we all can agree you’re
I think we all can agree you’re
I think we all can agree you’re definitely some girls to look up to
definitely some girls to look up to
definitely some girls to look up to right guys so who do you guys look up to
right guys so who do you guys look up to
right guys so who do you guys look up to in your lives I’ll start this one shout
in your lives I’ll start this one shout
in your lives I’ll start this one shout out to my grandmas in the audience hey
out to my grandmas in the audience hey
out to my grandmas in the audience hey grandma um she is amazing she had began
grandma um she is amazing she had began
grandma um she is amazing she had began a women’s refuge in England and in like
a women’s refuge in England and in like
a women’s refuge in England and in like in the middle of the night she would
in the middle of the night she would
in the middle of the night she would like go and rescue women who were like
like go and rescue women who were like
like go and rescue women who were like in terrible situations and she had like
in terrible situations and she had like
in terrible situations and she had like a youth group and she she she’s amazing
a youth group and she she she’s amazing
a youth group and she she she’s amazing and she’s like protesting like apartheid
and she’s like protesting like apartheid
and she’s like protesting like apartheid in South Africa and nuclear weapons and
in South Africa and nuclear weapons and
in South Africa and nuclear weapons and you know she’s like this white lady in
you know she’s like this white lady in
you know she’s like this white lady in England she’s awesome sounds amazing um
England she’s awesome sounds amazing um
England she’s awesome sounds amazing um my mom she’s also in the audience hey
my mom she’s also in the audience hey
my mom she’s also in the audience hey mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a
mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a
mom um she’s she’s amazing she is a single parent two three and a half she’s
single parent two three and a half she’s
single parent two three and a half she’s pregnant and she worked
she works at tries to go into the
she works at tries to go into the organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit
organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit
organized date it’s a it’s a nonprofit organization what she does there what
organization what she does there what
organization what she does there what she did do there and she went to
she did do there and she went to
she did do there and she went to different food deserts like different um
different food deserts like different um
different food deserts like different um like housing developments or whatever
like housing developments or whatever
like housing developments or whatever and went to the corner stores that that
and went to the corner stores that that
and went to the corner stores that that just so like chips in like candy bars
just so like chips in like candy bars
just so like chips in like candy bars and she would stock them with fruits and
and she would stock them with fruits and
and she would stock them with fruits and vegetables and then she also gives like
vegetables and then she also gives like
vegetables and then she also gives like classes like little cooking classes but
classes like little cooking classes but
classes like little cooking classes but she’s also a chef and she’ll give
she’s also a chef and she’ll give
she’s also a chef and she’ll give cooking classes to let them know how to
cooking classes to let them know how to
cooking classes to let them know how to prepare these things because you just
prepare these things because you just
prepare these things because you just can’t give somebody a vegetable and
can’t give somebody a vegetable and
can’t give somebody a vegetable and expect them to know what to do with it
expect them to know what to do with it
expect them to know what to do with it so she would give them recipes you know
so she would give them recipes you know
so she would give them recipes you know recipes that they would actually like so
recipes that they would actually like so
recipes that they would actually like so she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw
she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw
she’s awesome and mine is my mom and saw hey MA but i guess i would say my mom
hey MA but i guess i would say my mom
hey MA but i guess i would say my mom she inspires me because she pushed me to
she inspires me because she pushed me to
she inspires me because she pushed me to be myself and learn new things and try
be myself and learn new things and try
be myself and learn new things and try new things and yeah a lot of amazing
new things and yeah a lot of amazing
new things and yeah a lot of amazing woman out there right so I know you guys
woman out there right so I know you guys
woman out there right so I know you guys had to see this coming I have to ask you
had to see this coming I have to ask you
had to see this coming I have to ask you what now so what’s next for each of you
what now so what’s next for each of you
what now so what’s next for each of you and what’s next for girls for change
and what’s next for girls for change
and what’s next for girls for change definitely so uh what I want for
definitely so uh what I want for
definitely so uh what I want for Richmond specifically is for people to
Richmond specifically is for people to
Richmond specifically is for people to recognize our history and analyze
recognize our history and analyze
recognize our history and analyze injustice and then use positive action
injustice and then use positive action
injustice and then use positive action to better it so I the other day in the
to better it so I the other day in the
to better it so I the other day in the my gov class we looked at the New York
my gov class we looked at the New York
my gov class we looked at the New York Times racial dot map of Richmond and the
Times racial dot map of Richmond and the
Times racial dot map of Richmond and the way it’s split up is right along like
way it’s split up is right along like
way it’s split up is right along like Chamberlain Avenue you see like the
Chamberlain Avenue you see like the
Chamberlain Avenue you see like the black people on one side and the white
black people on one side and the white
black people on one side and the white people on the other side and it’s the
people on the other side and it’s the
people on the other side and it’s the exact like that’s that’s that’s where
exact like that’s that’s that’s where
exact like that’s that’s that’s where Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond
Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond
Chamberlain Avenue was where Richmond was the separation line during
was the separation line during
was the separation line during segregation and it’s still there and
segregation and it’s still there and
segregation and it’s still there and it’s like I don’t people to see then
it’s like I don’t people to see then
it’s like I don’t people to see then just be like oh that’s a problem of
just be like oh that’s a problem of
just be like oh that’s a problem of society like that’s just random chance
society like that’s just random chance
society like that’s just random chance whatever I want them to realize hmm
whatever I want them to realize hmm
whatever I want them to realize hmm maybe it’s because with one group of
maybe it’s because with one group of
maybe it’s because with one group of those people we oppressed them for 400
those people we oppressed them for 400
those people we oppressed them for 400 years and the other we didn’t and I want
years and the other we didn’t and I want
years and the other we didn’t and I want to I want to see people talking about
to I want to see people talking about
to I want to see people talking about not not no I don’t even want to see them
not not no I don’t even want to see them
not not no I don’t even want to see them just talking about I want to see people
just talking about I want to see people
just talking about I want to see people acting but purposely and positively
acting but purposely and positively
acting but purposely and positively acting to change that well can we get a
acting to change that well can we get a
acting to change that well can we get a hand for that that was amazing
hand for that that was amazing
hand for that that was amazing [Applause]
um I definitely want to start in the
um I definitely want to start in the communities I want to start with the
communities I want to start with the
communities I want to start with the teams to let them know that I’m also a
teams to let them know that I’m also a
teams to let them know that I’m also a teen and I understand and we can just
teen and I understand and we can just
teen and I understand and we can just start talking like started conversations
start talking like started conversations
start talking like started conversations our dialect and see what people are
our dialect and see what people are
our dialect and see what people are feeling because I know they’re feeling a
feeling because I know they’re feeling a
feeling because I know they’re feeling a certain way they just don’t want to
certain way they just don’t want to
certain way they just don’t want to bring it up it’s just some issues that
bring it up it’s just some issues that
bring it up it’s just some issues that people just don’t want to bring up
people just don’t want to bring up
people just don’t want to bring up because they’re uncomfortable but we
because they’re uncomfortable but we
because they’re uncomfortable but we need people to be uncomfortable so we
need people to be uncomfortable so we
need people to be uncomfortable so we can get things done I love to write so
can get things done I love to write so
can get things done I love to write so I’m going to start writing more i did a
I’m going to start writing more i did a
I’m going to start writing more i did a TED talk like last year and i did a poem
TED talk like last year and i did a poem
TED talk like last year and i did a poem so I’m going to start writing more poems
so I’m going to start writing more poems
so I’m going to start writing more poems to let people know that I have a voice
to let people know that I have a voice
to let people know that I have a voice and it will be heard and I want to start
and it will be heard and I want to start
and it will be heard and I want to start grooming the younger ones in like
grooming the younger ones in like
grooming the younger ones in like elementary schools so that when i run
elementary schools so that when i run
elementary schools so that when i run for president that we can have people
for president that we can have people
for president that we can have people who so now we can have people who i will
who so now we can have people who i will
who so now we can have people who i will educated and know what we have to go
educated and know what we have to go
educated and know what we have to go through and what the political policies
through and what the political policies
through and what the political policies are and stuff like that at a young age
are and stuff like that at a young age
are and stuff like that at a young age wow you guys one more hand for them just
wow you guys one more hand for them just
wow you guys one more hand for them just wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now
wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now
wow uncle i’m looking up to you guys now wow so thank you for being here we’re
wow so thank you for being here we’re
wow so thank you for being here we’re gonna see them all at the interactive
gonna see them all at the interactive
gonna see them all at the interactive session so if you guys have any
session so if you guys have any
session so if you guys have any questions for girls for change they’ll
questions for girls for change they’ll
questions for girls for change they’ll definitely be back thank you guys for
definitely be back thank you guys for
definitely be back thank you guys for being here on
being here on
being here on [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment