[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] I’ve been ground bite the ballot for
I’ve been ground bite the ballot for
I’ve been ground bite the ballot for five years before I was told I was a
five years before I was told I was a
five years before I was told I was a social entrepreneur and before it was
social entrepreneur and before it was
social entrepreneur and before it was explained to me I had no idea what it
explained to me I had no idea what it
explained to me I had no idea what it was this idea of using business to make
was this idea of using business to make
was this idea of using business to make a social impact to affect the lives of
a social impact to affect the lives of
a social impact to affect the lives of others or communities or even the planet
others or communities or even the planet
others or communities or even the planet and when I heard it I was I yeah that’s
and when I heard it I was I yeah that’s
and when I heard it I was I yeah that’s me
me
me and now seven years in I’m stressed
and now seven years in I’m stressed
and now seven years in I’m stressed I’ve got barriers beyond belief but I
I’ve got barriers beyond belief but I
I’ve got barriers beyond belief but I keep going because if someone had told
keep going because if someone had told
keep going because if someone had told me at the very beginning I would be here
me at the very beginning I would be here
me at the very beginning I would be here now just in seven years and I’ve
now just in seven years and I’ve
now just in seven years and I’ve achieved what we’ve achieved I lap it up
achieved what we’ve achieved I lap it up
achieved what we’ve achieved I lap it up I’d bite there and off but the
I’d bite there and off but the
I’d bite there and off but the interesting thing about that is there’s
interesting thing about that is there’s
interesting thing about that is there’s a fine line between crazy and courage
a fine line between crazy and courage
a fine line between crazy and courage and I tend to dance in the middle of it
and I tend to dance in the middle of it
and I tend to dance in the middle of it because every new idea someone will tell
because every new idea someone will tell
because every new idea someone will tell you you’re crazy until you have that
you you’re crazy until you have that
you you’re crazy until you have that element of success and with me everybody
element of success and with me everybody
element of success and with me everybody around me was seeing my successes before
around me was seeing my successes before
around me was seeing my successes before I could and I really had to learn to
I could and I really had to learn to
I could and I really had to learn to embody my achievements and now it’s part
embody my achievements and now it’s part
embody my achievements and now it’s part of my own mental health and well-being
of my own mental health and well-being
of my own mental health and well-being just to take that time to reflect on
just to take that time to reflect on
just to take that time to reflect on what has been done on what we’ve
what has been done on what we’ve
what has been done on what we’ve achieved because it makes you stronger
achieved because it makes you stronger
achieved because it makes you stronger and it makes you ready for the next
and it makes you ready for the next
and it makes you ready for the next challenge and the next challenge and the
challenge and the next challenge and the
challenge and the next challenge and the successes have been amazing
successes have been amazing
successes have been amazing I mean we’ve we’ve grown by the ballot
I mean we’ve we’ve grown by the ballot
I mean we’ve we’ve grown by the ballot from a lunchtime Club in one school to a
from a lunchtime Club in one school to a
from a lunchtime Club in one school to a National Movement many of our games and
National Movement many of our games and
National Movement many of our games and activities they’re there in other parts
activities they’re there in other parts
activities they’re there in other parts of the world now our flagship campaign
of the world now our flagship campaign
of the world now our flagship campaign the national voter registration drive
the national voter registration drive
the national voter registration drive envy Rd we rolled it out here in 2014 it
envy Rd we rolled it out here in 2014 it
envy Rd we rolled it out here in 2014 it was a week’s worth of coordinated social
was a week’s worth of coordinated social
was a week’s worth of coordinated social action to reach those farthest away from
action to reach those farthest away from
action to reach those farthest away from politics those that are always being
politics those that are always being
politics those that are always being brutalized by politics and bring them in
brutalized by politics and bring them in
brutalized by politics and bring them in get them to realize their power get them
get them to realize their power get them
get them to realize their power get them to register
to register
to register to vote we grew it from 54,000
to vote we grew it from 54,000
to vote we grew it from 54,000 registrations to 1.8 3 million in three
registrations to 1.8 3 million in three
registrations to 1.8 3 million in three years and it was I okay this is cool
years and it was I okay this is cool
years and it was I okay this is cool we’re doing some good stuff and as you
we’re doing some good stuff and as you
we’re doing some good stuff and as you as you just heard even the man President
as you just heard even the man President
as you just heard even the man President Obama called me a change agent and it
Obama called me a change agent and it
Obama called me a change agent and it was wonderful and I thought this this is
was wonderful and I thought this this is
was wonderful and I thought this this is really great but all I could think about
really great but all I could think about
really great but all I could think about was the next thing because when you’re
was the next thing because when you’re
was the next thing because when you’re trying to make a social impact when
trying to make a social impact when
trying to make a social impact when you’re trying to reach those farthest
you’re trying to reach those farthest
you’re trying to reach those farthest away from politics those those most
away from politics those those most
away from politics those those most affected by it all of these successes
affected by it all of these successes
affected by it all of these successes are wonderful but it feels too little
are wonderful but it feels too little
are wonderful but it feels too little too late because the people I’m talking
too late because the people I’m talking
too late because the people I’m talking about it might even be people like you
about it might even be people like you
about it might even be people like you the people that don’t have the courage
the people that don’t have the courage
the people that don’t have the courage to speak to each other when they have a
to speak to each other when they have a
to speak to each other when they have a different view and opinion they look at
different view and opinion they look at
different view and opinion they look at each other and see difference rather
each other and see difference rather
each other and see difference rather than seeing power if they come together
than seeing power if they come together
than seeing power if they come together they don’t challenge what’s being fed to
they don’t challenge what’s being fed to
they don’t challenge what’s being fed to them they don’t question the agenda
them they don’t question the agenda
them they don’t question the agenda behind it
behind it
behind it these were the constant issues we were
these were the constant issues we were
these were the constant issues we were face him and in many cases we were
face him and in many cases we were
face him and in many cases we were trying to change things that shouldn’t
trying to change things that shouldn’t
trying to change things that shouldn’t have existed in the first place so it
have existed in the first place so it
have existed in the first place so it was time to start again it was time to
was time to start again it was time to
was time to start again it was time to think
think
think prevention it was it was time to think
prevention it was it was time to think
prevention it was it was time to think about starting with four-year-olds and
about starting with four-year-olds and
about starting with four-year-olds and it was time to do it through play
it was time to do it through play
it was time to do it through play now that sounds crazy to me getting
now that sounds crazy to me getting
now that sounds crazy to me getting four-year-olds interested in politics
four-year-olds interested in politics
four-year-olds interested in politics through play but the research around
through play but the research around
through play but the research around play is amazing the academics that say
play is amazing the academics that say
play is amazing the academics that say that play is an integral part of a
that play is an integral part of a
that play is an integral part of a child’s education and should be right
child’s education and should be right
child’s education and should be right the way through to 11 yet we live in a
the way through to 11 yet we live in a
the way through to 11 yet we live in a country today where place on the
country today where place on the
country today where place on the national curriculum at age five an
national curriculum at age five an
national curriculum at age five an assessment that a basic testing kicks in
assessment that a basic testing kicks in
assessment that a basic testing kicks in but if you can learn essential skills
but if you can learn essential skills
but if you can learn essential skills through play and have fun surely you’re
through play and have fun surely you’re
through play and have fun surely you’re going to embody those skills and take
going to embody those skills and take
going to embody those skills and take them forward because you’re going to
them forward because you’re going to
them forward because you’re going to remember it a lot more I mean when was
remember it a lot more I mean when was
remember it a lot more I mean when was the last time you had a little play and
the last time you had a little play and
the last time you had a little play and not like that keep you clean I saw your
not like that keep you clean I saw your
not like that keep you clean I saw your face as though your face but seriously
face as though your face but seriously
face as though your face but seriously if this idea of play could work
if this idea of play could work
if this idea of play could work then I wanted to test it I wanted to see
then I wanted to test it I wanted to see
then I wanted to test it I wanted to see if we could give children essential
if we could give children essential
if we could give children essential skills and values through Play
skills and values through Play
skills and values through Play can we throw some of society’s most
can we throw some of society’s most
can we throw some of society’s most pressing issues an difficult dilemmas at
pressing issues an difficult dilemmas at
pressing issues an difficult dilemmas at them in a play based scenario and watch
them in a play based scenario and watch
them in a play based scenario and watch them come together as groups to solve
them come together as groups to solve
them come together as groups to solve them explore solutions and I’ve piloted
them explore solutions and I’ve piloted
them explore solutions and I’ve piloted the concept and it worked and it was
the concept and it worked and it was
the concept and it worked and it was amazing and it happened during the time
amazing and it happened during the time
amazing and it happened during the time of the referendum we’d piloted in one
of the referendum we’d piloted in one
of the referendum we’d piloted in one school with around 60 kids and the
school with around 60 kids and the
school with around 60 kids and the country was being swept with this sort
country was being swept with this sort
country was being swept with this sort of wave of fear and division and I
of wave of fear and division and I
of wave of fear and division and I watched these children just explore in
watched these children just explore in
watched these children just explore in such a beautiful way the way to
such a beautiful way the way to
such a beautiful way the way to challenge each other the way to question
challenge each other the way to question
challenge each other the way to question and I just thought if you could build
and I just thought if you could build
and I just thought if you could build upon that each year what happens when
upon that each year what happens when
upon that each year what happens when these guys are 11 and they go into
these guys are 11 and they go into
these guys are 11 and they go into secondary school and they’ve got the
secondary school and they’ve got the
secondary school and they’ve got the courage to question things they don’t
courage to question things they don’t
courage to question things they don’t agree but they do it with respect
agree but they do it with respect
agree but they do it with respect they’ve got the ability to challenge
they’ve got the ability to challenge
they’ve got the ability to challenge their friends to put forward their view
their friends to put forward their view
their friends to put forward their view but also appreciate the views of others
but also appreciate the views of others
but also appreciate the views of others and it got me a Lego fellowship I’m one
and it got me a Lego fellowship I’m one
and it got me a Lego fellowship I’m one of 30 Lego fellows around the world this
of 30 Lego fellows around the world this
of 30 Lego fellows around the world this idea of reimagine learning and play
idea of reimagine learning and play
idea of reimagine learning and play based learning and that’s cool man
based learning and that’s cool man
based learning and that’s cool man because I played with Lego my dad played
because I played with Lego my dad played
because I played with Lego my dad played with Lego it’s a brand that stood the
with Lego it’s a brand that stood the
with Lego it’s a brand that stood the test of time and so if it’s still here
test of time and so if it’s still here
test of time and so if it’s still here today and many parents and caregivers
today and many parents and caregivers
today and many parents and caregivers the chances are their children a plan
the chances are their children a plan
the chances are their children a plan with Lego so I thought to myself well
with Lego so I thought to myself well
with Lego so I thought to myself well what other brands are there that stood
what other brands are there that stood
what other brands are there that stood the test of time how can you take a good
the test of time how can you take a good
the test of time how can you take a good idea mix it with big resource and and
idea mix it with big resource and and
idea mix it with big resource and and big brands and an organization’s they’ve
big brands and an organization’s they’ve
big brands and an organization’s they’ve got a lot of resource and if you fuse
got a lot of resource and if you fuse
got a lot of resource and if you fuse the two this idea of collective
the two this idea of collective
the two this idea of collective change-making collaborating for the
change-making collaborating for the
change-making collaborating for the common good that that really got me
common good that that really got me
common good that that really got me excited and I do stand here before you
excited and I do stand here before you
excited and I do stand here before you to say straight that that old cliche
to say straight that that old cliche
to say straight that that old cliche saying this it’s not what you know it’s
saying this it’s not what you know it’s
saying this it’s not what you know it’s who you know is true but there is a
who you know is true but there is a
who you know is true but there is a twist you have to make yourself someone
twist you have to make yourself someone
twist you have to make yourself someone worth knowing and there’s a guy on my
worth knowing and there’s a guy on my
worth knowing and there’s a guy on my board really great guy he’s also on the
board really great guy he’s also on the
board really great guy he’s also on the board of Sesame Street and he picks up
board of Sesame Street and he picks up
board of Sesame Street and he picks up the phone he gets me in a meeting and
the phone he gets me in a meeting and
the phone he gets me in a meeting and I’ll fly over to New York and I meet the
I’ll fly over to New York and I meet the
I’ll fly over to New York and I meet the senior vice president of global social
senior vice president of global social
senior vice president of global social impact
impact
impact at Sesame Street and she called me an
at Sesame Street and she called me an
at Sesame Street and she called me an inspiration and I’m thinking well you
inspiration and I’m thinking well you
inspiration and I’m thinking well you know the deal was not done yet I’m
know the deal was not done yet I’m
know the deal was not done yet I’m pushing it forward and that’s all I can
pushing it forward and that’s all I can
pushing it forward and that’s all I can do you just got to keep pushing forward
do you just got to keep pushing forward
do you just got to keep pushing forward you sell your vision even if you don’t
you sell your vision even if you don’t
you sell your vision even if you don’t know all the steps to get there and
know all the steps to get there and
know all the steps to get there and believe it or not it just keeps coming
believe it or not it just keeps coming
believe it or not it just keeps coming and it suddenly comes true in and you
and it suddenly comes true in and you
and it suddenly comes true in and you take that moment to think well actually
take that moment to think well actually
take that moment to think well actually last year I was trying to do that and it
last year I was trying to do that and it
last year I was trying to do that and it and I couldn’t I couldn’t see the answer
and I couldn’t I couldn’t see the answer
and I couldn’t I couldn’t see the answer and now it’s done so this constant
and now it’s done so this constant
and now it’s done so this constant belief is there and the reason to bring
belief is there and the reason to bring
belief is there and the reason to bring these brands together as well as this
these brands together as well as this
these brands together as well as this idea of challenging that ire that that
idea of challenging that ire that that
idea of challenging that ire that that concept of play stopping at age five on
concept of play stopping at age five on
concept of play stopping at age five on our national curriculum can we let our
our national curriculum can we let our
our national curriculum can we let our games out can we measure our impact can
games out can we measure our impact can
games out can we measure our impact can we collate our numbers can we gather the
we collate our numbers can we gather the
we collate our numbers can we gather the attribution to change we have made and
attribution to change we have made and
attribution to change we have made and then can we come together collectively
then can we come together collectively
then can we come together collectively to advocate to change the education
to advocate to change the education
to advocate to change the education system because that sort of impact well
system because that sort of impact well
system because that sort of impact well that’s a game changer that means that
that’s a game changer that means that
that’s a game changer that means that children in the future will have these
children in the future will have these
children in the future will have these experiences without you needing to do it
experiences without you needing to do it
experiences without you needing to do it and that is what it’s all about if you
and that is what it’s all about if you
and that is what it’s all about if you ever think about scale you don’t think
ever think about scale you don’t think
ever think about scale you don’t think about scale in your organization you
about scale in your organization you
about scale in your organization you think about scaling your impact and with
think about scaling your impact and with
think about scaling your impact and with Lego and Sesame Street the chances are
Lego and Sesame Street the chances are
Lego and Sesame Street the chances are you can get games into the family home
you can get games into the family home
you can get games into the family home because that’s another root cause of
because that’s another root cause of
because that’s another root cause of poor community engagement poor civic
poor community engagement poor civic
poor community engagement poor civic engagement not having that safe space in
engagement not having that safe space in
engagement not having that safe space in our family home to just question each
our family home to just question each
our family home to just question each other in the respectful way so where are
other in the respectful way so where are
other in the respectful way so where are we now we’re about to kick off we’re
we now we’re about to kick off we’re
we now we’re about to kick off we’re about to roll it out but the chances are
about to roll it out but the chances are
about to roll it out but the chances are if if this gets going just imagine if
if if this gets going just imagine if
if if this gets going just imagine if this was present for all of us for all
this was present for all of us for all
this was present for all of us for all of you imagine if you grew up knowing at
of you imagine if you grew up knowing at
of you imagine if you grew up knowing at her look beyond your differences to come
her look beyond your differences to come
her look beyond your differences to come together if an issue or a cause demand
together if an issue or a cause demand
together if an issue or a cause demand you to imagine if you was ready to take
you to imagine if you was ready to take
you to imagine if you was ready to take your place at the table and no longer be
your place at the table and no longer be
your place at the table and no longer be on the menu
on the menu
on the menu this isn’t about a politics that is this
this isn’t about a politics that is this
this isn’t about a politics that is this is about a politics that can be and it
is about a politics that can be and it
is about a politics that can be and it all starts at play
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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