good evening it’s always tough to be the first to do something it’s awesome that
first to do something it’s awesome that
first to do something it’s awesome that we here at Blair high school at the
we here at Blair high school at the
we here at Blair high school at the first TED talk not sure why they asked
first TED talk not sure why they asked
first TED talk not sure why they asked me to talk but so if I do terrible you
me to talk but so if I do terrible you
me to talk but so if I do terrible you can talk to mr. Haig no I’m back home my
can talk to mr. Haig no I’m back home my
can talk to mr. Haig no I’m back home my career really really started here and
career really really started here and
career really really started here and the gang intervention and Prevention
the gang intervention and Prevention
the gang intervention and Prevention work and I’ll get into that in a second
work and I’ll get into that in a second
work and I’ll get into that in a second just a little bit of background about
just a little bit of background about
just a little bit of background about myself
myself
myself was raised in Washington DC Northwest up
was raised in Washington DC Northwest up
was raised in Washington DC Northwest up until the age of 12 single family home
until the age of 12 single family home
until the age of 12 single family home for the most part the streets really
for the most part the streets really
for the most part the streets really raised me from the age of five to two
raised me from the age of five to two
raised me from the age of five to two twelve years old and I don’t say that
twelve years old and I don’t say that
twelve years old and I don’t say that bragging I think that my my mom did her
bragging I think that my my mom did her
bragging I think that my my mom did her best that she could to provide and and
best that she could to provide and and
best that she could to provide and and my best friends in the in the district
my best friends in the in the district
my best friends in the in the district were my my leaders my mentors so saying
were my my leaders my mentors so saying
were my my leaders my mentors so saying that you know I was able to learn how to
that you know I was able to learn how to
that you know I was able to learn how to navigate the worlds of being at home
navigate the worlds of being at home
navigate the worlds of being at home coming from a central American family my
coming from a central American family my
coming from a central American family my mom from Oh salvadore she was part of
mom from Oh salvadore she was part of
mom from Oh salvadore she was part of that first wave that initially came over
that first wave that initially came over
that first wave that initially came over in the late 60s and early 70s and
in the late 60s and early 70s and
in the late 60s and early 70s and navigating that world between home the
navigating that world between home the
navigating that world between home the streets was a plan I didn’t understand
streets was a plan I didn’t understand
streets was a plan I didn’t understand it initially but as I got older I began
it initially but as I got older I began
it initially but as I got older I began to see it at about the age of 20 I
to see it at about the age of 20 I
to see it at about the age of 20 I hadn’t seen my uncle in a very long time
hadn’t seen my uncle in a very long time
hadn’t seen my uncle in a very long time and we’re at a party and he saw me and
and we’re at a party and he saw me and
and we’re at a party and he saw me and he looked at me and he said man you’re
he looked at me and he said man you’re
he looked at me and he said man you’re still alive I thought she would be dead
still alive I thought she would be dead
still alive I thought she would be dead by now
by now
by now and it really hit me because at that
and it really hit me because at that
and it really hit me because at that point I really began to reflect on my
point I really began to reflect on my
point I really began to reflect on my life and where I’d come from and he
life and where I’d come from and he
life and where I’d come from and he began to tell me some of the stories
began to tell me some of the stories
began to tell me some of the stories that he remembered about me and my
that he remembered about me and my
that he remembered about me and my brothers my older brothers and how we
brothers my older brothers and how we
brothers my older brothers and how we kind of ran the streets as little kids
kind of ran the streets as little kids
kind of ran the streets as little kids and this that and the other and and it
and this that and the other and and it
and this that and the other and and it just really began to resonate
just really began to resonate
just really began to resonate fast-forward as I was in the Marine
fast-forward as I was in the Marine
fast-forward as I was in the Marine Corps got it getting out of the Marine
Corps got it getting out of the Marine
Corps got it getting out of the Marine Corps I’m sorry I moved to Columbia
Corps I’m sorry I moved to Columbia
Corps I’m sorry I moved to Columbia South Carolina to go to the University
South Carolina to go to the University
South Carolina to go to the University of South Carolina and Columbia at that
of South Carolina and Columbia at that
of South Carolina and Columbia at that time that that seed was planted in me to
time that that seed was planted in me to
time that that seed was planted in me to really give back I went into middle
really give back I went into middle
really give back I went into middle school in the underserved part of
school in the underserved part of
school in the underserved part of Columbia South Carolina the name of the
Columbia South Carolina the name of the
Columbia South Carolina the name of the school is didn’t middle school large
school is didn’t middle school large
school is didn’t middle school large Latino population started a mentoring
Latino population started a mentoring
Latino population started a mentoring program didn’t have a clue what I was
program didn’t have a clue what I was
program didn’t have a clue what I was doing but I just wanted to give back and
doing but I just wanted to give back and
doing but I just wanted to give back and was able to build relationships with
was able to build relationships with
was able to build relationships with seventh graders and eighth graders and
seventh graders and eighth graders and
seventh graders and eighth graders and and really began to do some good work
and really began to do some good work
and really began to do some good work this is the year about 1998 fast forward
working for the Washington Wizards I get
working for the Washington Wizards I get fired thank Michael Jordan for that he
fired thank Michael Jordan for that he
fired thank Michael Jordan for that he came back out of retirement and I was
came back out of retirement and I was
came back out of retirement and I was let go from that position lo and behold
let go from that position lo and behold
let go from that position lo and behold I wind up looking for a job just trying
I wind up looking for a job just trying
I wind up looking for a job just trying to provide ends meet for my family and
to provide ends meet for my family and
to provide ends meet for my family and myself so I become a security assistant
myself so I become a security assistant
myself so I become a security assistant for MCPS it’s not something I studied
for MCPS it’s not something I studied
for MCPS it’s not something I studied it’s actually somebody I knew and said
it’s actually somebody I knew and said
it’s actually somebody I knew and said hey why don’t you come do this until you
hey why don’t you come do this until you
hey why don’t you come do this until you find you know what your career I was
find you know what your career I was
find you know what your career I was like hey cool let’s do it you know
started my career at MCPS at Silver
started my career at MCPS at Silver Spring international middle school who’s
Spring international middle school who’s
Spring international middle school who’s from Silver Spring international school
from Silver Spring international school
from Silver Spring international school [Music]
[Music]
[Music] amazing and and from there I came to
amazing and and from there I came to
amazing and and from there I came to Blair high school started working as a
Blair high school started working as a
Blair high school started working as a security assistant here now this is in
security assistant here now this is in
security assistant here now this is in the heart of what I call the the gang
the heart of what I call the the gang
the heart of what I call the the gang major issues here in this area
major issues here in this area
major issues here in this area I was quote-unquote the gang coordinator
I was quote-unquote the gang coordinator
I was quote-unquote the gang coordinator for the security team here at Blair high
for the security team here at Blair high
for the security team here at Blair high school knew all the young men all the
school knew all the young men all the
school knew all the young men all the young ladies what was neat about is that
young ladies what was neat about is that
young ladies what was neat about is that I connect it with a esal teacher who had
I connect it with a esal teacher who had
I connect it with a esal teacher who had a passion for young people like myself
a passion for young people like myself
a passion for young people like myself we we began to do a indoor soccer
we we began to do a indoor soccer
we we began to do a indoor soccer program we had literally I’m not kidding
program we had literally I’m not kidding
program we had literally I’m not kidding you here at Blair high school 125
you here at Blair high school 125
you here at Blair high school 125 students coming to our indoor soccer
students coming to our indoor soccer
students coming to our indoor soccer program on a daily basis I discovered
program on a daily basis I discovered
program on a daily basis I discovered something I discovered that students
something I discovered that students
something I discovered that students loved soccer what was neat about this is
we had magnet students whose magnet
we had magnet students whose magnet students here we write is shout out bag
students here we write is shout out bag
students here we write is shout out bag of students we had isaw students playing
of students we had isaw students playing
of students we had isaw students playing together in this indoor soccer program
together in this indoor soccer program
together in this indoor soccer program and the gains were phenomenal they were
and the gains were phenomenal they were
and the gains were phenomenal they were incredible it was fascinating to watch
incredible it was fascinating to watch
incredible it was fascinating to watch to be a part of developing relationships
to be a part of developing relationships
to be a part of developing relationships with young people developing
with young people developing
with young people developing relationships with quote unquote gang
relationships with quote unquote gang
relationships with quote unquote gang members getting to know them getting to
members getting to know them getting to
members getting to know them getting to know their family is getting to know
know their family is getting to know
know their family is getting to know their moms and I made a connection well
their moms and I made a connection well
their moms and I made a connection well you guys know what that connection was
you guys know what that connection was
you guys know what that connection was they were like me they were growing up
they were like me they were growing up
they were like me they were growing up like me their mom was working really
like me their mom was working really
like me their mom was working really hard
hard
hard the streets were raising them they were
the streets were raising them they were
the streets were raising them they were navigating to worlds from trying to grow
navigating to worlds from trying to grow
navigating to worlds from trying to grow up in a Central American home when you
up in a Central American home when you
up in a Central American home when you go home and you’re speaking Spanish or
go home and you’re speaking Spanish or
go home and you’re speaking Spanish or then when you come out here you’re
then when you come out here you’re
then when you come out here you’re speak in English and trying to figure
speak in English and trying to figure
speak in English and trying to figure this thing out over here and you’re
this thing out over here and you’re
this thing out over here and you’re going back and forth and that’s pretty
going back and forth and that’s pretty
going back and forth and that’s pretty complex believe it or not you have to be
complex believe it or not you have to be
complex believe it or not you have to be pretty talented to do that and I can
pretty talented to do that and I can
pretty talented to do that and I can tell you that some of the young men that
tell you that some of the young men that
tell you that some of the young men that I came across thankfully are now doing
I came across thankfully are now doing
I came across thankfully are now doing really really well really well fast
really really well really well fast
really really well really well fast forward now what I’m doing now now I’m a
forward now what I’m doing now now I’m a
forward now what I’m doing now now I’m a team leader for a gang intervention
team leader for a gang intervention
team leader for a gang intervention prevention program I’m a part of a team
prevention program I’m a part of a team
prevention program I’m a part of a team of some awesome caring people people say
of some awesome caring people people say
of some awesome caring people people say to me and they say to our staff hey so
to me and they say to our staff hey so
to me and they say to our staff hey so what are you doing about this gang
what are you doing about this gang
what are you doing about this gang problem that that Montgomery County has
my response to them is that Montgomery
my response to them is that Montgomery County doesn’t have a gang problem our
County doesn’t have a gang problem our
County doesn’t have a gang problem our country doesn’t have a gang problem our
country doesn’t have a gang problem our
country doesn’t have a gang problem our region doesn’t have a gang problem our
region doesn’t have a gang problem our
region doesn’t have a gang problem our state doesn’t have a gang problem what
state doesn’t have a gang problem what
state doesn’t have a gang problem what what are you talking about we’re seeing
what are you talking about we’re seeing
what are you talking about we’re seeing young ladies get kidnapped we’re seeing
young ladies get kidnapped we’re seeing
young ladies get kidnapped we’re seeing the the young lady found murdered in
the the young lady found murdered in
the the young lady found murdered in Virginia there’s an issue let me share
Virginia there’s an issue let me share
Virginia there’s an issue let me share with you guys tonight what’s the issue
unfortunately our issue is we have a
unfortunately our issue is we have a family issue let me say that again to
family issue let me say that again to
family issue let me say that again to you guys we have a family issue it’s not
you guys we have a family issue it’s not
you guys we have a family issue it’s not only happening in the Latino community
only happening in the Latino community
only happening in the Latino community it’s also happening in the
it’s also happening in the
it’s also happening in the african-american community it’s also
african-american community it’s also
african-american community it’s also happened in a Caucasian community it’s
happened in a Caucasian community it’s
happened in a Caucasian community it’s also happening across the races this
also happening across the races this
also happening across the races this ethnicities there’s a family issue
parents man I’m probably one of them
parents man I’m probably one of them working really hard to try to provide
working really hard to try to provide
working really hard to try to provide the best that we possibly can for our
the best that we possibly can for our
the best that we possibly can for our children I pray every day that I don’t
children I pray every day that I don’t
children I pray every day that I don’t miss it with my children making the
miss it with my children making the
miss it with my children making the sacrifices that are needed so our kids
sacrifices that are needed so our kids
sacrifices that are needed so our kids can be in a place where they’re doing
can be in a place where they’re doing
can be in a place where they’re doing well and I’m sure many of you are in
well and I’m sure many of you are in
well and I’m sure many of you are in that same boat but the reality is this
that same boat but the reality is this
that same boat but the reality is this we miss it we’re missing it this school
we miss it we’re missing it this school
we miss it we’re missing it this school here for example we’re talking about I
here for example we’re talking about I
here for example we’re talking about I think probably right now 2,500 to 2,800
think probably right now 2,500 to 2,800
think probably right now 2,500 to 2,800 students here round about my correcting
students here round about my correcting
students here round about my correcting saying that three thousand now wow that
saying that three thousand now wow that
saying that three thousand now wow that that’s what it was when I was working
that’s what it was when I was working
that’s what it was when I was working here you know you you walk the halls and
here you know you you walk the halls and
here you know you you walk the halls and you see the segregation magnet students
you see the segregation magnet students
you see the segregation magnet students over here
over here
over here he saw students over here other students
he saw students over here other students
he saw students over here other students over here and we see this issue of
over here and we see this issue of
over here and we see this issue of separation men let me ask you this
separation men let me ask you this
separation men let me ask you this question what would it be like and I’m
question what would it be like and I’m
question what would it be like and I’m not sure if this is happening but let’s
not sure if this is happening but let’s
not sure if this is happening but let’s just let’s just let’s just give the
just let’s just let’s just give the
just let’s just let’s just give the example here hypothetically speaking
example here hypothetically speaking
example here hypothetically speaking what would it be like if we took magnet
what would it be like if we took magnet
what would it be like if we took magnet students that are really smart right
students that are really smart right
students that are really smart right managers are pretty smart that’s what
managers are pretty smart that’s what
managers are pretty smart that’s what I’ve heard is that true no what would it
I’ve heard is that true no what would it
I’ve heard is that true no what would it be like if we took students who man
be like if we took students who man
be like if we took students who man we’re pretty good at English and they
we’re pretty good at English and they
we’re pretty good at English and they begin a tutor isaw students on how to
begin a tutor isaw students on how to
begin a tutor isaw students on how to speak and read English man think about
speak and read English man think about
speak and read English man think about that bridge that would be built there
think about the
think about the relationships that would happen
rewind we were playing soccer in this
rewind we were playing soccer in this gym right behind us here hundred 25
gym right behind us here hundred 25
gym right behind us here hundred 25 students there sometimes it was even
students there sometimes it was even
students there sometimes it was even bigger one time the the administration
bigger one time the the administration
bigger one time the the administration let us use the the big gym and we
let us use the the big gym and we
let us use the the big gym and we brought the bleachers out in the end of
brought the bleachers out in the end of
brought the bleachers out in the end of the the bleachers were packed kids came
the the bleachers were packed kids came
the the bleachers were packed kids came in there were flags from their countries
in there were flags from their countries
in there were flags from their countries other kids came in with a US flag he was
other kids came in with a US flag he was
other kids came in with a US flag he was amazing it was absolutely amazing and I
amazing it was absolutely amazing and I
amazing it was absolutely amazing and I just sat back and watched and all we did
just sat back and watched and all we did
just sat back and watched and all we did was we gave people the opportunity and
was we gave people the opportunity and
was we gave people the opportunity and relationships were built students that
relationships were built students that
relationships were built students that would never be a part of the soccer team
would never be a part of the soccer team
would never be a part of the soccer team here at the school man
here at the school man
here at the school man established relationships with some guys
established relationships with some guys
established relationships with some guys that would give him the information on
that would give him the information on
that would give him the information on how to tryout how about going into
how to tryout how about going into
how to tryout how about going into physical and being in a position to make
physical and being in a position to make
physical and being in a position to make the team because they had the skills
the team because they had the skills
the team because they had the skills they just didn’t know the process
the process when you don’t know the
the process when you don’t know the process you’re left out when you’re left
process you’re left out when you’re left
process you’re left out when you’re left out there’s someone there to pick you up
people say to me do you tell kids you
people say to me do you tell kids you tell students to get out of the the gang
tell students to get out of the the gang
tell students to get out of the the gang I would never tell a young man or a
I would never tell a young man or a
I would never tell a young man or a young woman to get out of the gang what
young woman to get out of the gang what
young woman to get out of the gang what are you talking about that’s let me just
are you talking about that’s let me just
are you talking about that’s let me just ask you guys a question I’m not sure how
ask you guys a question I’m not sure how
ask you guys a question I’m not sure how much time I got
much time I got
much time I got just give me five characteristics of a
just give me five characteristics of a
just give me five characteristics of a healthy family name and please love
healthy family name and please love
healthy family name and please love trust give me another one respect
trust give me another one respect
trust give me another one respect communication support let’s stop there
communication support let’s stop there
communication support let’s stop there we could keep going these are all
we could keep going these are all
we could keep going these are all qualities that again gives young people
qualities that again gives young people
qualities that again gives young people you guys realize that so if I was to say
you guys realize that so if I was to say
you guys realize that so if I was to say to a young man or young woman hey you
to a young man or young woman hey you
to a young man or young woman hey you need to get out the gang I’m telling
need to get out the gang I’m telling
need to get out the gang I’m telling them you know do you need to leave your
them you know do you need to leave your
them you know do you need to leave your family I would never do that
family I would never do that
family I would never do that I would never tell you hey you know what
I would never tell you hey you know what
I would never tell you hey you know what sir you need to leave your wife and your
sir you need to leave your wife and your
sir you need to leave your wife and your kids and come hang out with me but what
kids and come hang out with me but what
kids and come hang out with me but what can I do what can I do I can give you
can I do what can I do I can give you
can I do what can I do I can give you opportunity I can give you an
opportunity I can give you an
opportunity I can give you an opportunity to expand your horizon what
opportunity to expand your horizon what
opportunity to expand your horizon what do I mean by that and I can take you
do I mean by that and I can take you
do I mean by that and I can take you canoeing and you go down to Potomac
canoeing and you go down to Potomac
canoeing and you go down to Potomac River I don’t know if you guys know this
River I don’t know if you guys know this
River I don’t know if you guys know this but one of the most fascinating rivers
but one of the most fascinating rivers
but one of the most fascinating rivers in the entire country and it’s 20
in the entire country and it’s 20
in the entire country and it’s 20 minutes from here and it will change
minutes from here and it will change
minutes from here and it will change your kid’s life I can offer you an
your kid’s life I can offer you an
your kid’s life I can offer you an internship with a company I’ll say you
internship with a company I’ll say you
internship with a company I’ll say you know what true story man we really like
know what true story man we really like
know what true story man we really like you in fact we’re going to pay for your
you in fact we’re going to pay for your
you in fact we’re going to pay for your college and we’re going to give you a
college and we’re going to give you a
college and we’re going to give you a job after you graduate I won’t
job after you graduate I won’t
job after you graduate I won’t mentioned the kids name I get a call on
mentioned the kids name I get a call on
mentioned the kids name I get a call on graduation day for Blair got a minute
graduation day for Blair got a minute
graduation day for Blair got a minute left I got to tell the story real quick
left I got to tell the story real quick
left I got to tell the story real quick kid calls me a bawling-crying
kid calls me a bawling-crying
kid calls me a bawling-crying known gang member I mean he’s crying I’m
known gang member I mean he’s crying I’m
known gang member I mean he’s crying I’m thinking oh man somebody got killed
thinking oh man somebody got killed
thinking oh man somebody got killed something’s wrong
something’s wrong
something’s wrong I mean he’s bawling and I’m like hey
I mean he’s bawling and I’m like hey
I mean he’s bawling and I’m like hey what’s wrong man and he couldn’t talk
what’s wrong man and he couldn’t talk
what’s wrong man and he couldn’t talk literally for about a minute and he said
literally for about a minute and he said
literally for about a minute and he said I just want to thank you I said what are
I just want to thank you I said what are
I just want to thank you I said what are you talking about
you talking about
you talking about he said the kid we had gotten him an
he said the kid we had gotten him an
he said the kid we had gotten him an internship with a company a software
internship with a company a software
internship with a company a software company the company hired him starting
company the company hired him starting
company the company hired him starting at 15 bucks an hour first thing he said
at 15 bucks an hour first thing he said
at 15 bucks an hour first thing he said to me I’m making more than both my mom
to me I’m making more than both my mom
to me I’m making more than both my mom and my dad now he said not only that mr.
and my dad now he said not only that mr.
and my dad now he said not only that mr. Gura check this out they’re gonna pay
Gura check this out they’re gonna pay
Gura check this out they’re gonna pay for my college this kid now right now
for my college this kid now right now
for my college this kid now right now today is the manager over the company’s
today is the manager over the company’s
today is the manager over the company’s federal contracts make it more money to
federal contracts make it more money to
federal contracts make it more money to me and I’m thankful for that I really am
me and I’m thankful for that I really am
me and I’m thankful for that I really am because it’s all about the opportunity
because it’s all about the opportunity
because it’s all about the opportunity it’s all about the opportunity be the
it’s all about the opportunity be the
it’s all about the opportunity be the one to build a bridge you never know
one to build a bridge you never know
one to build a bridge you never know the opportunity I will come from thank
the opportunity I will come from thank
the opportunity I will come from thank you guys
you guys
you guys [Applause]
”
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