thank you I’m bringing out some water just in case I turn into a raisin in
just in case I turn into a raisin in
just in case I turn into a raisin in front of you guys g5 society
front of you guys g5 society
front of you guys g5 society I loved the theme for this evening
I loved the theme for this evening
I loved the theme for this evening because it reminded me of that quote
because it reminded me of that quote
because it reminded me of that quote here’s to the crazy ones The Misfits the
here’s to the crazy ones The Misfits the
here’s to the crazy ones The Misfits the rebels the troublemakers the round pegs
rebels the troublemakers the round pegs
rebels the troublemakers the round pegs in the square holes the ones who see
in the square holes the ones who see
in the square holes the ones who see things differently because to me that’s
things differently because to me that’s
things differently because to me that’s what defying society means seeing things
what defying society means seeing things
what defying society means seeing things differently not following the rules but
differently not following the rules but
differently not following the rules but following your passions I was asked to
following your passions I was asked to
following your passions I was asked to be here tonight to talk about arts and
be here tonight to talk about arts and
be here tonight to talk about arts and activism I am an actor with a passion to
activism I am an actor with a passion to
activism I am an actor with a passion to combat human trafficking and save the
combat human trafficking and save the
combat human trafficking and save the elephants but when I really had to look
elephants but when I really had to look
elephants but when I really had to look at what connected the dots for me
at what connected the dots for me
at what connected the dots for me between arts and activism it came down
between arts and activism it came down
between arts and activism it came down to one thing playing the odds because if
to one thing playing the odds because if
to one thing playing the odds because if you want to be someone who defies
you want to be someone who defies
you want to be someone who defies society you need to figure out what it
society you need to figure out what it
society you need to figure out what it is in your life you’re passionate enough
is in your life you’re passionate enough
is in your life you’re passionate enough to gamble on I always knew I wanted to
to gamble on I always knew I wanted to
to gamble on I always knew I wanted to be an actor when I was starting out I
be an actor when I was starting out I
be an actor when I was starting out I hated that everyone would say oh you
hated that everyone would say oh you
hated that everyone would say oh you want to be an actor it’s the hardest
want to be an actor it’s the hardest
want to be an actor it’s the hardest profession you should do anything else I
profession you should do anything else I
profession you should do anything else I always thought that being a brain
always thought that being a brain
always thought that being a brain surgeon would be hard or a lawyer or a
surgeon would be hard or a lawyer or a
surgeon would be hard or a lawyer or a social worker or a teacher being a
social worker or a teacher being a
social worker or a teacher being a teacher to me seems like a monumental
teacher to me seems like a monumental
teacher to me seems like a monumental task what I realized over time was it
task what I realized over time was it
task what I realized over time was it isn’t necessarily acting that’s the
isn’t necessarily acting that’s the
isn’t necessarily acting that’s the hardest thing it’s the lifestyle it’s
hardest thing it’s the lifestyle it’s
hardest thing it’s the lifestyle it’s being okay with the instability and the
being okay with the instability and the
being okay with the instability and the rejection and the fact that every now
rejection and the fact that every now
rejection and the fact that every now and then you’re gonna look in your bank
and then you’re gonna look in your bank
and then you’re gonna look in your bank account there’s gonna be four dollars
account there’s gonna be four dollars
account there’s gonna be four dollars and nine cents or in my case after
and nine cents or in my case after
and nine cents or in my case after moving to New York to pursue my dreams
moving to New York to pursue my dreams
moving to New York to pursue my dreams of Broadway being misdiagnosed for
of Broadway being misdiagnosed for
of Broadway being misdiagnosed for almost a year and having to go straight
almost a year and having to go straight
almost a year and having to go straight into surgery to remove a polyp in my
into surgery to remove a polyp in my
into surgery to remove a polyp in my head the size of a tennis ball kind of
head the size of a tennis ball kind of
head the size of a tennis ball kind of derailed things
derailed things
derailed things the time there was only one 11-year old
the time there was only one 11-year old
the time there was only one 11-year old boy who had one bigger than me so
boy who had one bigger than me so
boy who had one bigger than me so sometimes things aren’t totally gonna go
sometimes things aren’t totally gonna go
sometimes things aren’t totally gonna go the way you planned them to but if
the way you planned them to but if
the way you planned them to but if you’re passionate enough about it
you’re passionate enough about it
you’re passionate enough about it you’re gonna stay on the roller coaster
so luckily I ended up getting recruited
so luckily I ended up getting recruited into a modeling agency and that was
into a modeling agency and that was
into a modeling agency and that was going to end up paying my medical bills
going to end up paying my medical bills
going to end up paying my medical bills a hell of a lot faster than bartending
a hell of a lot faster than bartending
a hell of a lot faster than bartending so I ended up modeling and that
so I ended up modeling and that
so I ended up modeling and that snowballed into a commercial career for
snowballed into a commercial career for
snowballed into a commercial career for me and if you’re wondering if my face
me and if you’re wondering if my face
me and if you’re wondering if my face seems somewhat familiar it’s probably
seems somewhat familiar it’s probably
seems somewhat familiar it’s probably because at this point I have sold you
because at this point I have sold you
because at this point I have sold you nearly every item in your household on
nearly every item in your household on
nearly every item in your household on television I have been lucky enough to
television I have been lucky enough to
television I have been lucky enough to kiss Tom Selleck and mark-paul Gosselaar
kiss Tom Selleck and mark-paul Gosselaar
kiss Tom Selleck and mark-paul Gosselaar and Charlie Sheen on television and
and Charlie Sheen on television and
and Charlie Sheen on television and while I would love to get a regular gig
while I would love to get a regular gig
while I would love to get a regular gig on a TV show my commercial campaigns
on a TV show my commercial campaigns
on a TV show my commercial campaigns have allowed me the financial freedom
have allowed me the financial freedom
have allowed me the financial freedom and flexibility to pursue my other
and flexibility to pursue my other
and flexibility to pursue my other passions so a few years ago I was asked
passions so a few years ago I was asked
passions so a few years ago I was asked to be ambassador to an organization that
to be ambassador to an organization that
to be ambassador to an organization that was using the entertainment and fashion
was using the entertainment and fashion
was using the entertainment and fashion industry is their platform to spread
industry is their platform to spread
industry is their platform to spread education and awareness of human
education and awareness of human
education and awareness of human trafficking I had always had an interest
trafficking I had always had an interest
trafficking I had always had an interest in human rights specifically women’s
in human rights specifically women’s
in human rights specifically women’s rights and I had supported organizations
rights and I had supported organizations
rights and I had supported organizations working to end the Virgen cleansing myth
working to end the Virgen cleansing myth
working to end the Virgen cleansing myth and female mutilation and those were
and female mutilation and those were
and female mutilation and those were fairly intense subjects so human
fairly intense subjects so human
fairly intense subjects so human trafficking didn’t seem like that much
trafficking didn’t seem like that much
trafficking didn’t seem like that much of a stretch for me but if you’re going
of a stretch for me but if you’re going
of a stretch for me but if you’re going to talk about human trafficking you’re
to talk about human trafficking you’re
to talk about human trafficking you’re going to take playing the odds to an
going to take playing the odds to an
going to take playing the odds to an entirely new level because most people
entirely new level because most people
entirely new level because most people would see these statistics and run the
would see these statistics and run the
would see these statistics and run the other way the Internet has made it so
other way the Internet has made it so
other way the Internet has made it so easy to exploit children that 70% of
easy to exploit children that 70% of
easy to exploit children that 70% of child sex trafficking victims are sold
child sex trafficking victims are sold
child sex trafficking victims are sold online which is why I just last week
online which is why I just last week
online which is why I just last week we saw ashton kutcher making a plea to
we saw ashton kutcher making a plea to
we saw ashton kutcher making a plea to Congress to help fund the technology
Congress to help fund the technology
Congress to help fund the technology they’ve developed to stop online
they’ve developed to stop online
they’ve developed to stop online traffickers and just to bring it a
traffickers and just to bring it a
traffickers and just to bring it a little closer to home Newport Beach sits
little closer to home Newport Beach sits
little closer to home Newport Beach sits in between San Diego and Los Angeles two
in between San Diego and Los Angeles two
in between San Diego and Los Angeles two of the FBI’s highest child sex
of the FBI’s highest child sex
of the FBI’s highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation so I
trafficking areas in the nation so I
trafficking areas in the nation so I don’t say this to scare you but just to
don’t say this to scare you but just to
don’t say this to scare you but just to point out if it was your child that went
point out if it was your child that went
point out if it was your child that went missing wouldn’t you play the odds well
missing wouldn’t you play the odds well
missing wouldn’t you play the odds well I was ambassador I ended up spearheading
I was ambassador I ended up spearheading
I was ambassador I ended up spearheading a crowdfunding campaign we named hope to
a crowdfunding campaign we named hope to
a crowdfunding campaign we named hope to Thailand we went and visited multiple
Thailand we went and visited multiple
Thailand we went and visited multiple rescue and rehabilitation centers there
rescue and rehabilitation centers there
rescue and rehabilitation centers there we wanted to support the NGOs doing the
we wanted to support the NGOs doing the
we wanted to support the NGOs doing the frontline work on the ground and while I
frontline work on the ground and while I
frontline work on the ground and while I would love to talk about each and every
would love to talk about each and every
would love to talk about each and every one of them that would be a whole other
one of them that would be a whole other
one of them that would be a whole other talk so just one of the things that I
talk so just one of the things that I
talk so just one of the things that I did was I ended up teaching a couple of
did was I ended up teaching a couple of
did was I ended up teaching a couple of jewelry making workshops and I taught
jewelry making workshops and I taught
jewelry making workshops and I taught two girls roughly aging between 11 and
two girls roughly aging between 11 and
two girls roughly aging between 11 and 17 we were operating on the premise of
17 we were operating on the premise of
17 we were operating on the premise of give a man a fish to eat he eats for a
give a man a fish to eat he eats for a
give a man a fish to eat he eats for a day teach a man to fish he eats for a
day teach a man to fish he eats for a
day teach a man to fish he eats for a lifetime one of the most important parts
lifetime one of the most important parts
lifetime one of the most important parts of rehabilitation for a trafficking
of rehabilitation for a trafficking
of rehabilitation for a trafficking survivor is vocational training because
survivor is vocational training because
survivor is vocational training because if you don’t have another way to sustain
if you don’t have another way to sustain
if you don’t have another way to sustain yourself the chances of you being Reed
yourself the chances of you being Reed
yourself the chances of you being Reed trafficked are extremely high one of the
trafficked are extremely high one of the
trafficked are extremely high one of the little girls that was in one of the
little girls that was in one of the
little girls that was in one of the workshops I taught had been reached nine
workshops I taught had been reached nine
workshops I taught had been reached nine times
times
times so human trafficking has been dubbed the
so human trafficking has been dubbed the
so human trafficking has been dubbed the modern-day slavery of our time and
modern-day slavery of our time and
modern-day slavery of our time and although the term human trafficking
although the term human trafficking
although the term human trafficking umbrellas child trafficking sex
umbrellas child trafficking sex
umbrellas child trafficking sex trafficking labor trafficking and organ
trafficking labor trafficking and organ
trafficking labor trafficking and organ trafficking eighty percent of that are
trafficking eighty percent of that are
trafficking eighty percent of that are women and half of that are children so
women and half of that are children so
women and half of that are children so this is where my passion as a women’s
this is where my passion as a women’s
this is where my passion as a women’s rights advocate comes into play now
rights advocate comes into play now
rights advocate comes into play now there’s a lot going out around about
there’s a lot going out around about
there’s a lot going out around about feminism at the moment and I just want
feminism at the moment and I just want
feminism at the moment and I just want to point out that feminism is not just
to point out that feminism is not just
to point out that feminism is not just about women the UN is working extremely
about women the UN is working extremely
about women the UN is working extremely hard
hard
hard to promote women’s health care education
to promote women’s health care education
to promote women’s health care education and equal pay because studies have
and equal pay because studies have
and equal pay because studies have proven that this is what’s going to fuel
proven that this is what’s going to fuel
proven that this is what’s going to fuel sustainable economies and benefit
sustainable economies and benefit
sustainable economies and benefit societies globally and if that doesn’t
societies globally and if that doesn’t
societies globally and if that doesn’t mean that much to you it essentially
mean that much to you it essentially
mean that much to you it essentially means that if your wife is pay the same
means that if your wife is pay the same
means that if your wife is pay the same is the guy sitting next to her doing the
is the guy sitting next to her doing the
is the guy sitting next to her doing the same job you aren’t gonna have to work
same job you aren’t gonna have to work
same job you aren’t gonna have to work so hard for that vacation at Disneyland
so hard for that vacation at Disneyland
so hard for that vacation at Disneyland so feminism is really about helping all
so feminism is really about helping all
so feminism is really about helping all of us which brings me to one of my
of us which brings me to one of my
of us which brings me to one of my favorite subjects elephants I know crazy
favorite subjects elephants I know crazy
favorite subjects elephants I know crazy this girl she’s talking about polyps and
this girl she’s talking about polyps and
this girl she’s talking about polyps and feminism track me well here’s hanging a
feminism track me well here’s hanging a
feminism track me well here’s hanging a link human trafficking and elephants in
link human trafficking and elephants in
link human trafficking and elephants in one second
most of us might remember this hashtag
most of us might remember this hashtag when it circulated a few years ago if
when it circulated a few years ago if
when it circulated a few years ago if you don’t in 2014 two hundred and
you don’t in 2014 two hundred and
you don’t in 2014 two hundred and seventy six girls were kidnapped in the
seventy six girls were kidnapped in the
seventy six girls were kidnapped in the middle of the night and taken by Boko
middle of the night and taken by Boko
middle of the night and taken by Boko Haram in Nigeria human trafficking and
Haram in Nigeria human trafficking and
Haram in Nigeria human trafficking and elephant conservation are inextricably
elephant conservation are inextricably
elephant conservation are inextricably linked because most of Boko Haram and
linked because most of Boko Haram and
linked because most of Boko Haram and the other terrorist organizations
the other terrorist organizations
the other terrorist organizations committing these type of atrocities are
committing these type of atrocities are
committing these type of atrocities are funded by illegal ivory and rhino horn
funded by illegal ivory and rhino horn
funded by illegal ivory and rhino horn poaching so if you don’t if you care
poaching so if you don’t if you care
poaching so if you don’t if you care about a little girl but not an elephant
about a little girl but not an elephant
about a little girl but not an elephant you should you also should care about
you should you also should care about
you should you also should care about elephant because they are the most
elephant because they are the most
elephant because they are the most loving emotional family-oriented large
loving emotional family-oriented large
loving emotional family-oriented large mammals on earth they laugh they cry
mammals on earth they laugh they cry
mammals on earth they laugh they cry they play they hug each other with their
they play they hug each other with their
they play they hug each other with their trunks when they see each other their
trunks when they see each other their
trunks when they see each other their babies are just as silly and naughty as
babies are just as silly and naughty as
babies are just as silly and naughty as human toddlers and they flail their
human toddlers and they flail their
human toddlers and they flail their trunks around trying to figure out how
trunks around trying to figure out how
trunks around trying to figure out how to use them as hilarious but because an
to use them as hilarious but because an
to use them as hilarious but because an elephants gestation period is two years
elephants gestation period is two years
elephants gestation period is two years they’re being slaughtered at a higher
they’re being slaughtered at a higher
they’re being slaughtered at a higher rate than they can reproduce 100
rate than they can reproduce 100
rate than they can reproduce 100 elephants a day so the numbers have
elephants a day so the numbers have
elephants a day so the numbers have shown that in less than 10 years
shown that in less than 10 years
shown that in less than 10 years elephants in the wild will no longer
elephants in the wild will no longer
elephants in the wild will no longer exist
exist
exist a few years ago it was a projected 10
a few years ago it was a projected 10
a few years ago it was a projected 10 years it’s less than 10 years now this
years it’s less than 10 years now this
years it’s less than 10 years now this is because poachers want elephants and
is because poachers want elephants and
is because poachers want elephants and rhinos to go extinct so that the price
rhinos to go extinct so that the price
rhinos to go extinct so that the price of ivory and rhino horn goes up so as
of ivory and rhino horn goes up so as
of ivory and rhino horn goes up so as much as I don’t want to admit it to you
much as I don’t want to admit it to you
much as I don’t want to admit it to you we’re fighting a losing war and here’s
we’re fighting a losing war and here’s
we’re fighting a losing war and here’s we’re playing the odds matters if I know
we’re playing the odds matters if I know
we’re playing the odds matters if I know I’m fighting a losing war do I still
I’m fighting a losing war do I still
I’m fighting a losing war do I still fight if I know that we can only save
fight if I know that we can only save
fight if I know that we can only save one girl or one elephant and not the
one girl or one elephant and not the
one girl or one elephant and not the thousands of others in that moment do we
thousands of others in that moment do we
thousands of others in that moment do we still try see I believe that we do
still try see I believe that we do
still try see I believe that we do because it’s at that exact moment in
because it’s at that exact moment in
because it’s at that exact moment in time you decide which side of history
time you decide which side of history
time you decide which side of history you want to be on complacency is the
you want to be on complacency is the
you want to be on complacency is the norm of society at the moment and if we
norm of society at the moment and if we
norm of society at the moment and if we go back to our theme of the evening defy
go back to our theme of the evening defy
go back to our theme of the evening defy society we’re going to see that the
society we’re going to see that the
society we’re going to see that the definition of defying means to openly
definition of defying means to openly
definition of defying means to openly resist or refuse to obey and this is
resist or refuse to obey and this is
resist or refuse to obey and this is where we have to resist complacency
where we have to resist complacency
where we have to resist complacency because complacency leads to stagnation
because complacency leads to stagnation
because complacency leads to stagnation and human beings by nature long for
and human beings by nature long for
and human beings by nature long for evolution so there’s something there’s a
evolution so there’s something there’s a
evolution so there’s something there’s a lot of issues going on in the world
lot of issues going on in the world
lot of issues going on in the world today and one of the reasons why I think
today and one of the reasons why I think
today and one of the reasons why I think that is if something is hindering
that is if something is hindering
that is if something is hindering evolution something is stopping us from
evolution something is stopping us from
evolution something is stopping us from moving forward see when they say resist
moving forward see when they say resist
moving forward see when they say resist you can be on one and to one of two
you can be on one and to one of two
you can be on one and to one of two playing fields one that moves us forward
playing fields one that moves us forward
playing fields one that moves us forward or one that moves us back resistance
or one that moves us back resistance
or one that moves us back resistance goes in both directions so again I say
goes in both directions so again I say
goes in both directions so again I say to you which side of history do you want
to you which side of history do you want
to you which side of history do you want to be on now your gamble may not pay off
to be on now your gamble may not pay off
to be on now your gamble may not pay off right away
right away
right away nothing changes overnight and they’re
nothing changes overnight and they’re
nothing changes overnight and they’re examples throughout history of big wins
examples throughout history of big wins
examples throughout history of big wins but the women’s suffrage movement began
but the women’s suffrage movement began
but the women’s suffrage movement began in the 1840s and women didn’t earn the
in the 1840s and women didn’t earn the
in the 1840s and women didn’t earn the right to vote until 1920 and even though
right to vote until 1920 and even though
right to vote until 1920 and even though women won the right to vote in 1920
women won the right to vote in 1920
women won the right to vote in 1920 black women couldn’t vote until the
black women couldn’t vote until the
black women couldn’t vote until the 1960s and then one light one and we made
1960s and then one light one and we made
1960s and then one light one and we made a few steps forward but we won’t go
a few steps forward but we won’t go
a few steps forward but we won’t go there
see I believe that if just one of us is
see I believe that if just one of us is enslaved we all are and I believe that
enslaved we all are and I believe that
enslaved we all are and I believe that if you can have an effect on just one
if you can have an effect on just one
if you can have an effect on just one person that’s gonna eventually add up
this little boy stood from afar was
this little boy stood from afar was watching one of the jury worse upset
watching one of the jury worse upset
watching one of the jury worse upset workshops I was teaching and he was so
workshops I was teaching and he was so
workshops I was teaching and he was so shy but he he finally snug up and sort
shy but he he finally snug up and sort
shy but he he finally snug up and sort of sat down quietly beside me and he
of sat down quietly beside me and he
of sat down quietly beside me and he picked up the tools I was teaching with
picked up the tools I was teaching with
picked up the tools I was teaching with and he picked it up so fast and put
and he picked it up so fast and put
and he picked it up so fast and put together such a great combo of beads
together such a great combo of beads
together such a great combo of beads that he chose that before the day was
that he chose that before the day was
that he chose that before the day was over he had sold three pairs of earrings
over he had sold three pairs of earrings
over he had sold three pairs of earrings while I was still sitting there now as
while I was still sitting there now as
while I was still sitting there now as some might say who cares Kelly youyou
some might say who cares Kelly youyou
some might say who cares Kelly youyou left was it really worth teaching that
left was it really worth teaching that
left was it really worth teaching that workshop do I think that I solved any
workshop do I think that I solved any
workshop do I think that I solved any big problems that day or issues no
big problems that day or issues no
big problems that day or issues no absolutely not but I think about that
absolutely not but I think about that
absolutely not but I think about that little boy often and I wonder if he
little boy often and I wonder if he
little boy often and I wonder if he continued making jewelry and possibly
continued making jewelry and possibly
continued making jewelry and possibly found a new way to sustain himself for
found a new way to sustain himself for
found a new way to sustain himself for his family because there is one in a
his family because there is one in a
his family because there is one in a million chance he did and I’d rather
million chance he did and I’d rather
million chance he did and I’d rather play those odds so there’s going to be
play those odds so there’s going to be
play those odds so there’s going to be big wins and there’s going to be small
big wins and there’s going to be small
big wins and there’s going to be small wins and sometimes you’re gonna have a
wins and sometimes you’re gonna have a
wins and sometimes you’re gonna have a polyp in your head the size of a tennis
polyp in your head the size of a tennis
polyp in your head the size of a tennis ball but to be someone who defies
ball but to be someone who defies
ball but to be someone who defies society you’re gonna have to stay on the
society you’re gonna have to stay on the
society you’re gonna have to stay on the roller coaster ride one way or another
roller coaster ride one way or another
roller coaster ride one way or another so I asked you what passion do you have
so I asked you what passion do you have
so I asked you what passion do you have in your life that’s going to give you
in your life that’s going to give you
in your life that’s going to give you the courage to play the odds that’s
the courage to play the odds that’s
the courage to play the odds that’s going to make you step up and roll the
going to make you step up and roll the
going to make you step up and roll the dice thank you
dice thank you
dice thank you [Applause]
”
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