yesterday when I was waiting for the train in New York I was looking around
train in New York I was looking around
train in New York I was looking around at all the different faces wondering
at all the different faces wondering
at all the different faces wondering about people’s childhood and the
about people’s childhood and the
about people’s childhood and the experience that shaped them when I was a
experience that shaped them when I was a
experience that shaped them when I was a kid I used to spend a lot of time
kid I used to spend a lot of time
kid I used to spend a lot of time outside one of my favorite things was
outside one of my favorite things was
outside one of my favorite things was exploring the woods behind my house I’d
exploring the woods behind my house I’d
exploring the woods behind my house I’d loved this fresh smell of cedar
loved this fresh smell of cedar
loved this fresh smell of cedar wildflowers
wildflowers
wildflowers there was this one tree that came out of
there was this one tree that came out of
there was this one tree that came out of the ground at about a 45-degree angle my
the ground at about a 45-degree angle my
the ground at about a 45-degree angle my friends and I used to run up the trunk
friends and I used to run up the trunk
friends and I used to run up the trunk to see who could get highest without
to see who could get highest without
to see who could get highest without falling off we spent hours running
falling off we spent hours running
falling off we spent hours running around outside playing acting like kids
around outside playing acting like kids
around outside playing acting like kids the first time I remember feeling like I
the first time I remember feeling like I
the first time I remember feeling like I was different that sense of otherness
was different that sense of otherness
was different that sense of otherness was in fifth grade I grew up in Waco
was in fifth grade I grew up in Waco
was in fifth grade I grew up in Waco Texas and I was the only Jewish kid in
Texas and I was the only Jewish kid in
Texas and I was the only Jewish kid in my class which isn’t surprising
my class which isn’t surprising
my class which isn’t surprising according to Pew 77% of Texans identify
according to Pew 77% of Texans identify
according to Pew 77% of Texans identify as Christian and only 1% Jewish but we
as Christian and only 1% Jewish but we
as Christian and only 1% Jewish but we didn’t need statistics to feel that
didn’t need statistics to feel that
didn’t need statistics to feel that reality Texas is really religious so
reality Texas is really religious so
reality Texas is really religious so during the Jewish holidays my mom used
during the Jewish holidays my mom used
during the Jewish holidays my mom used to come to school with traditional foods
to come to school with traditional foods
to come to school with traditional foods and all of my friends used to sit on the
and all of my friends used to sit on the
and all of my friends used to sit on the floor playing the dreidel game spending
floor playing the dreidel game spending
floor playing the dreidel game spending this little top that has Hebrew letters
this little top that has Hebrew letters
this little top that has Hebrew letters on the sides the way she introduced
on the sides the way she introduced
on the sides the way she introduced Judaism to my classmates
Judaism to my classmates
Judaism to my classmates made it yummy and fun and religion was
made it yummy and fun and religion was
made it yummy and fun and religion was never an issue there’s no reason to
never an issue there’s no reason to
never an issue there’s no reason to believe that things would have been
believe that things would have been
believe that things would have been different without the food and games but
different without the food and games but
different without the food and games but there’s definitely something to be said
there’s definitely something to be said
there’s definitely something to be said for the type of understanding that
for the type of understanding that
for the type of understanding that develops when you have the opportunity
develops when you have the opportunity
develops when you have the opportunity to share experiences and to connect on a
to share experiences and to connect on a
to share experiences and to connect on a level that’s deeper than labels the
level that’s deeper than labels the
level that’s deeper than labels the concept of other nests and questions
concept of other nests and questions
concept of other nests and questions about who belongs where and why are
about who belongs where and why are
about who belongs where and why are weighing heavy on the world
weighing heavy on the world
weighing heavy on the world the Syrian refugee crisis black lives
the Syrian refugee crisis black lives
the Syrian refugee crisis black lives matter brexit in the US election have
matter brexit in the US election have
matter brexit in the US election have exposed deep divides within our society
exposed deep divides within our society
exposed deep divides within our society and increasingly we’re surrounding
and increasingly we’re surrounding
and increasingly we’re surrounding ourselves with people who look and think
ourselves with people who look and think
ourselves with people who look and think like us the problem is the more we
like us the problem is the more we
like us the problem is the more we polarize and isolate ourselves from
polarize and isolate ourselves from
polarize and isolate ourselves from others the more we generalize and these
others the more we generalize and these
others the more we generalize and these generalizations are based on false
generalizations are based on false
generalizations are based on false negative narratives think about it
negative narratives think about it
negative narratives think about it individuals that we don’t know get
individuals that we don’t know get
individuals that we don’t know get lumped into groups and our primary
lumped into groups and our primary
lumped into groups and our primary source of information about these groups
source of information about these groups
source of information about these groups is the media stories are newsworthy
is the media stories are newsworthy
is the media stories are newsworthy because they’re not normal
because they’re not normal
because they’re not normal most news is negative because most of
most news is negative because most of
most news is negative because most of reality is normal normal people living
reality is normal normal people living
reality is normal normal people living normal lives like me as a kid despite my
normal lives like me as a kid despite my
normal lives like me as a kid despite my other Ness the negative narratives about
other Ness the negative narratives about
other Ness the negative narratives about migrants and refugees in particular
migrants and refugees in particular
migrants and refugees in particular drives me crazy because the number one
drives me crazy because the number one
drives me crazy because the number one thing that I love about my work as an
thing that I love about my work as an
thing that I love about my work as an immigration lawyer is that I’m
immigration lawyer is that I’m
immigration lawyer is that I’m constantly surrounded by amazing
constantly surrounded by amazing
constantly surrounded by amazing positive people people like Sam she came
positive people people like Sam she came
positive people people like Sam she came to the United States from Mexico when
to the United States from Mexico when
to the United States from Mexico when she was just seven years old and she’s
she was just seven years old and she’s
she was just seven years old and she’s never been back to Mexico her English is
never been back to Mexico her English is
never been back to Mexico her English is perfect she did well in school but she
perfect she did well in school but she
perfect she did well in school but she couldn’t go to college because she was
couldn’t go to college because she was
couldn’t go to college because she was undocumented so she started her own
undocumented so she started her own
undocumented so she started her own business in digital publishing and in
business in digital publishing and in
business in digital publishing and in 2012 when President Obama passed his
2012 when President Obama passed his
2012 when President Obama passed his first executive order to help kids like
first executive order to help kids like
first executive order to help kids like Sam who were brought to the United
Sam who were brought to the United
Sam who were brought to the United States by their parents she was finally
States by their parents she was finally
States by their parents she was finally able to get a work permit and now her
able to get a work permit and now her
able to get a work permit and now her business is thriving at the age of 31
business is thriving at the age of 31
business is thriving at the age of 31 she just hired her eighth employee if
she just hired her eighth employee if
she just hired her eighth employee if Sam has to leave the United States all
Sam has to leave the United States all
Sam has to leave the United States all of those workers lose their jobs and
of those workers lose their jobs and
of those workers lose their jobs and Sam’s US citizen child loses his mom her
Sam’s US citizen child loses his mom her
Sam’s US citizen child loses his mom her story flies in the face of all of the
story flies in the face of all of the
story flies in the face of all of the negative narratives all the stereotypes
negative narratives all the stereotypes
negative narratives all the stereotypes that we hear about Mexicans and the
that we hear about Mexicans and the
that we hear about Mexicans and the undocumented but
undocumented but
undocumented but truth is on the whole immigrants create
truth is on the whole immigrants create
truth is on the whole immigrants create more jobs than they take immigrants make
more jobs than they take immigrants make
more jobs than they take immigrants make up only about 13% of the US population
up only about 13% of the US population
up only about 13% of the US population 25 percent of US businesses are started
25 percent of US businesses are started
25 percent of US businesses are started by immigrants that’s significant there’s
by immigrants that’s significant there’s
by immigrants that’s significant there’s so much misunderstanding and bad
so much misunderstanding and bad
so much misunderstanding and bad information it blows my mind because I
information it blows my mind because I
information it blows my mind because I know countless migrants and refugees
know countless migrants and refugees
know countless migrants and refugees Mexicans and Muslims beautiful talented
Mexicans and Muslims beautiful talented
Mexicans and Muslims beautiful talented unique individuals who come from all
unique individuals who come from all
unique individuals who come from all over the world
over the world
over the world not to change this country but to
not to change this country but to
not to change this country but to realize their full potential as humans
realize their full potential as humans
realize their full potential as humans but facts and stories and statistics
but facts and stories and statistics
but facts and stories and statistics don’t matter when people are angry and
don’t matter when people are angry and
don’t matter when people are angry and feel threatened
feel threatened
feel threatened this is an emotional issue have you
this is an emotional issue have you
this is an emotional issue have you heard that phrase hurt people hurt
heard that phrase hurt people hurt
heard that phrase hurt people hurt people
people
people negativity is contagious and before you
negativity is contagious and before you
negativity is contagious and before you know it we’re looking for the worst
know it we’re looking for the worst
know it we’re looking for the worst examples to validate our frustration and
examples to validate our frustration and
examples to validate our frustration and ignoring everything else I find myself
ignoring everything else I find myself
ignoring everything else I find myself doing it too defensively like after the
doing it too defensively like after the
doing it too defensively like after the election angry afraid accusatory talking
election angry afraid accusatory talking
election angry afraid accusatory talking about people instead of talking with
about people instead of talking with
about people instead of talking with people and generalizing that’s not the
people and generalizing that’s not the
people and generalizing that’s not the impact that I want to have on the world
impact that I want to have on the world
impact that I want to have on the world around me I want to be part of the
around me I want to be part of the
around me I want to be part of the solution not part of the problem we are
solution not part of the problem we are
solution not part of the problem we are truly at a pivotal moment in time there
truly at a pivotal moment in time there
truly at a pivotal moment in time there are two forces at work the force that
are two forces at work the force that
are two forces at work the force that seeks to divide us and the force that
seeks to divide us and the force that
seeks to divide us and the force that seeks to unite us and both of these
seeks to unite us and both of these
seeks to unite us and both of these forces come from within us fear and hope
forces come from within us fear and hope
forces come from within us fear and hope fear is a reaction hope is an aspiration
fear is a reaction hope is an aspiration
fear is a reaction hope is an aspiration my clients fuel my hope
my clients fuel my hope
my clients fuel my hope just like hurt people hurt people
just like hurt people hurt people
just like hurt people hurt people inspired people inspire people and
inspired people inspire people and
inspired people inspire people and immigrants are inspiring they come here
immigrants are inspiring they come here
immigrants are inspiring they come here with dreams and goals they work
with dreams and goals they work
with dreams and goals they work and innovate forward that’s the
and innovate forward that’s the
and innovate forward that’s the immigrant spirit and that’s the spirit
immigrant spirit and that’s the spirit
immigrant spirit and that’s the spirit of Ted instead of looking for
of Ted instead of looking for
of Ted instead of looking for differences or focusing on flaws we come
differences or focusing on flaws we come
differences or focusing on flaws we come together seeking a new perspective with
together seeking a new perspective with
together seeking a new perspective with open minds open hearts and importantly
open minds open hearts and importantly
open minds open hearts and importantly with open ears through listening we
with open ears through listening we
with open ears through listening we develop deep connection and
develop deep connection and
develop deep connection and understanding and then we can innovate
understanding and then we can innovate
understanding and then we can innovate forward together
forward together
forward together so at this critical time it’s up to
so at this critical time it’s up to
so at this critical time it’s up to everyone of us to define the American
everyone of us to define the American
everyone of us to define the American spirit each one of us is responsible the
spirit each one of us is responsible the
spirit each one of us is responsible the whole is a sum of its part and we are
whole is a sum of its part and we are
whole is a sum of its part and we are the parts so with that in mind
the parts so with that in mind
the parts so with that in mind over the next year I’m traveling around
over the next year I’m traveling around
over the next year I’m traveling around the United States on a listening tour
the United States on a listening tour
the United States on a listening tour the project is called hope Domino
the project is called hope Domino
the project is called hope Domino recognizing that each one of us has a
recognizing that each one of us has a
recognizing that each one of us has a domino effect on everyone around us and
domino effect on everyone around us and
domino effect on everyone around us and the choice about how what that effect
the choice about how what that effect
the choice about how what that effect will be is ours local and national
will be is ours local and national
will be is ours local and national partners like TEDx organizers and an
partners like TEDx organizers and an
partners like TEDx organizers and an organization called welcoming America
organization called welcoming America
organization called welcoming America are hoping to bring people together from
are hoping to bring people together from
are hoping to bring people together from different groups in their communities to
different groups in their communities to
different groups in their communities to explore culture identity change and the
explore culture identity change and the
explore culture identity change and the challenges that we face through
challenges that we face through
challenges that we face through community events and also to identify
community events and also to identify
community events and also to identify people who are already making a positive
people who are already making a positive
people who are already making a positive impact the tour started in Kansas which
impact the tour started in Kansas which
impact the tour started in Kansas which is the geographic center of the United
is the geographic center of the United
is the geographic center of the United States I went to a town called McPherson
States I went to a town called McPherson
States I went to a town called McPherson in September for their annual Scottish
in September for their annual Scottish
in September for their annual Scottish festival which was really interesting
festival which was really interesting
festival which was really interesting and my friend Shannon organized a
and my friend Shannon organized a
and my friend Shannon organized a community event at the local public
community event at the local public
community event at the local public library Shannon is a TED Edie innovative
library Shannon is a TED Edie innovative
library Shannon is a TED Edie innovative educator so Kansas is predominantly
educator so Kansas is predominantly
educator so Kansas is predominantly white rural conservative and Christian
white rural conservative and Christian
white rural conservative and Christian what I found were tight-knit friendly
what I found were tight-knit friendly
what I found were tight-knit friendly communities where most people know each
communities where most people know each
communities where most people know each other feel safe and have job security so
other feel safe and have job security so
other feel safe and have job security so navigating change in the form of new
navigating change in the form of new
navigating change in the form of new residents from countries and cultures
residents from countries and cultures
residents from countries and cultures that appear different is challenging we
that appear different is challenging we
that appear different is challenging we were talking through that and
were talking through that and
were talking through that and we intentionally involved local
we intentionally involved local
we intentionally involved local immigrants in that conversation a white
immigrants in that conversation a white
immigrants in that conversation a white woman who participated in the event said
woman who participated in the event said
woman who participated in the event said that she really wanted to meet someone
that she really wanted to meet someone
that she really wanted to meet someone Muslim who lives in the community so
Muslim who lives in the community so
Muslim who lives in the community so that she could build a relationship and
that she could build a relationship and
that she could build a relationship and get to know the culture better and two
get to know the culture better and two
get to know the culture better and two of the immigrant women from India and
of the immigrant women from India and
of the immigrant women from India and the Philippines offered to host dinner
the Philippines offered to host dinner
the Philippines offered to host dinner parties
parties
parties they were both bragging about what great
they were both bragging about what great
they were both bragging about what great cooks they are and the conversation was
cooks they are and the conversation was
cooks they are and the conversation was so interesting that after the library
so interesting that after the library
so interesting that after the library closed everybody went together to the
closed everybody went together to the
closed everybody went together to the local bar that’s what I’m talking about
local bar that’s what I’m talking about
local bar that’s what I’m talking about when we let down our defenses and
when we let down our defenses and
when we let down our defenses and actually get to know people we usually
actually get to know people we usually
actually get to know people we usually find people likeable and when we seek
find people likeable and when we seek
find people likeable and when we seek solutions together we inspire each other
solutions together we inspire each other
solutions together we inspire each other inspired people inspire people it’s a
inspired people inspire people it’s a
inspired people inspire people it’s a domino effect that’s the impact that I
domino effect that’s the impact that I
domino effect that’s the impact that I want to have on the world
want to have on the world
want to have on the world don’t you so what can you do
don’t you so what can you do
don’t you so what can you do well it’s challenging times and there’s
well it’s challenging times and there’s
well it’s challenging times and there’s no easy answer or quick fixes but there
no easy answer or quick fixes but there
no easy answer or quick fixes but there are things that you can do to make a
are things that you can do to make a
are things that you can do to make a difference
difference
difference first think of yourself as an ambassador
first think of yourself as an ambassador
first think of yourself as an ambassador of hope make an effort to reach out to
of hope make an effort to reach out to
of hope make an effort to reach out to people who have different life
people who have different life
people who have different life experiences and worldviews be
experiences and worldviews be
experiences and worldviews be intentional about sharing your own
intentional about sharing your own
intentional about sharing your own cultural foods and traditions like my
cultural foods and traditions like my
cultural foods and traditions like my mom did
mom did
mom did sharing promotes unity and understanding
sharing promotes unity and understanding
sharing promotes unity and understanding and it’s fun second expand your horizons
and it’s fun second expand your horizons
and it’s fun second expand your horizons come to one of our Hope domino events
come to one of our Hope domino events
come to one of our Hope domino events we’ll have more information on the
we’ll have more information on the
we’ll have more information on the website soon like a calendar and also
website soon like a calendar and also
website soon like a calendar and also we’ll have materials that you can use to
we’ll have materials that you can use to
we’ll have materials that you can use to host your own conversations and our
host your own conversations and our
host your own conversations and our impact is amplified when we support each
impact is amplified when we support each
impact is amplified when we support each other so let us know what you’re doing
other so let us know what you’re doing
other so let us know what you’re doing connect with us on social media and use
connect with us on social media and use
connect with us on social media and use the hope Domino hashtag so that we know
the hope Domino hashtag so that we know
the hope Domino hashtag so that we know the awesome conversations that you’re
the awesome conversations that you’re
the awesome conversations that you’re starting in your communities and finally
starting in your communities and finally
starting in your communities and finally be mindful of the domino effect that
be mindful of the domino effect that
be mindful of the domino effect that you’re creating it’s time to shift from
you’re creating it’s time to shift from
you’re creating it’s time to shift from fear to hope I hope you’ll join me thank
fear to hope I hope you’ll join me thank
fear to hope I hope you’ll join me thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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