[Music] you
does anyone here have a favorite mantra
does anyone here have a favorite mantra or motto something that inspires you or
or motto something that inspires you or
or motto something that inspires you or helps you get through the day maybe it’s
helps you get through the day maybe it’s
helps you get through the day maybe it’s a post-it note stuck to the bathroom
a post-it note stuck to the bathroom
a post-it note stuck to the bathroom mirror or maybe it’s a print hung in
mirror or maybe it’s a print hung in
mirror or maybe it’s a print hung in your living room maybe it’s just a quote
your living room maybe it’s just a quote
your living room maybe it’s just a quote on your cell phone’s home screen let’s
on your cell phone’s home screen let’s
on your cell phone’s home screen let’s see a show of hands if you do the
see a show of hands if you do the
see a show of hands if you do the conference would love to know what
conference would love to know what
conference would love to know what inspires you please share it with us via
inspires you please share it with us via
inspires you please share it with us via social media using the hashtag evoke
social media using the hashtag evoke
social media using the hashtag evoke presence if you ever come to my house
presence if you ever come to my house
presence if you ever come to my house you may or may not notice that I have
you may or may not notice that I have
you may or may not notice that I have mantras everywhere the mantras aren’t
mantras everywhere the mantras aren’t
mantras everywhere the mantras aren’t overt but they are included in the art
overt but they are included in the art
overt but they are included in the art that I choose to live with in order to
that I choose to live with in order to
that I choose to live with in order to passively remind myself of different
passively remind myself of different
passively remind myself of different things for instance this large piece is
things for instance this large piece is
things for instance this large piece is a canvas wrap of a photo I took and it
a canvas wrap of a photo I took and it
a canvas wrap of a photo I took and it reminds me to question everything
reminds me to question everything
reminds me to question everything this piece hangs in my office and it
this piece hangs in my office and it
this piece hangs in my office and it reminds me to be kind
reminds me to be kind
reminds me to be kind this piece is on the stairs on the way
this piece is on the stairs on the way
this piece is on the stairs on the way up to my bedroom and it reminds me that
up to my bedroom and it reminds me that
up to my bedroom and it reminds me that if I like myself other people will like
if I like myself other people will like
if I like myself other people will like me too finally I made this piece in my
me too finally I made this piece in my
me too finally I made this piece in my bathroom to remind me that everything
bathroom to remind me that everything
bathroom to remind me that everything isn’t always the way it seems and it
isn’t always the way it seems and it
isn’t always the way it seems and it prompts me to imagine what else things
prompts me to imagine what else things
prompts me to imagine what else things could be I’m sharing my art collection
could be I’m sharing my art collection
could be I’m sharing my art collection with you not because I’m a master
with you not because I’m a master
with you not because I’m a master collector but because I believe in the
collector but because I believe in the
collector but because I believe in the power of art and I believe in the power
power of art and I believe in the power
power of art and I believe in the power of mantras since 2015
of mantras since 2015
of mantras since 2015 I’ve been spreading a positive and
I’ve been spreading a positive and
I’ve been spreading a positive and inclusive message around the city of
inclusive message around the city of
inclusive message around the city of Chicago as a kind of communal mantra I
Chicago as a kind of communal mantra I
Chicago as a kind of communal mantra I started doing this because too many
started doing this because too many
started doing this because too many things have unintentionally evolved into
things have unintentionally evolved into
things have unintentionally evolved into reasons for us to not get along so I
reasons for us to not get along so I
reasons for us to not get along so I wanted to create something that instead
wanted to create something that instead
wanted to create something that instead exists solely to remind us all to get
exists solely to remind us all to get
exists solely to remind us all to get along and help each other succeed I
along and help each other succeed I
along and help each other succeed I define a communal mantra as a positive
define a communal mantra as a positive
define a communal mantra as a positive publicly visible unifying statement that
publicly visible unifying statement that
publicly visible unifying statement that expresses a community’s basic beliefs I
expresses a community’s basic beliefs I
expresses a community’s basic beliefs I coined this phrase because I think
coined this phrase because I think
coined this phrase because I think communities could benefit from the power
communities could benefit from the power
communities could benefit from the power of mantras that
of mantras that
of mantras that that we all do as individuals you may
that we all do as individuals you may
that we all do as individuals you may think this is a newer novel idea but in
think this is a newer novel idea but in
think this is a newer novel idea but in fact it’s not take Matthew Hoffman’s you
fact it’s not take Matthew Hoffman’s you
fact it’s not take Matthew Hoffman’s you are beautiful he started this project 14
are beautiful he started this project 14
are beautiful he started this project 14 years ago when he passed out only a
years ago when he passed out only a
years ago when he passed out only a hundred stickers this phrase reminds
hundred stickers this phrase reminds
hundred stickers this phrase reminds people that they are beautiful the way
people that they are beautiful the way
people that they are beautiful the way they are now over three million stickers
they are now over three million stickers
they are now over three million stickers have been stuck that allows strangers to
have been stuck that allows strangers to
have been stuck that allows strangers to stumble upon them maybe when they need
stumble upon them maybe when they need
stumble upon them maybe when they need it the most
it the most
it the most the project was picked up by Oprah and
the project was picked up by Oprah and
the project was picked up by Oprah and this positivity has been embraced around
this positivity has been embraced around
this positivity has been embraced around the world
the world
the world his project has been a huge inspiration
his project has been a huge inspiration
his project has been a huge inspiration to me and my project and shows me the
to me and my project and shows me the
to me and my project and shows me the power and what a phrase can do there’s
power and what a phrase can do there’s
power and what a phrase can do there’s also a precedent already for this type
also a precedent already for this type
also a precedent already for this type of idea working for a city we all
of idea working for a city we all
of idea working for a city we all recognize this logo it was created by
recognize this logo it was created by
recognize this logo it was created by Milton Glaser in the 1970s as an image
Milton Glaser in the 1970s as an image
Milton Glaser in the 1970s as an image as part of an advertising campaign
as part of an advertising campaign
as part of an advertising campaign designed to heal a decaying New York
designed to heal a decaying New York
designed to heal a decaying New York City through tourism Glaser did the work
City through tourism Glaser did the work
City through tourism Glaser did the work entirely pro bono in the name of helping
entirely pro bono in the name of helping
entirely pro bono in the name of helping his city rise again if you’ve been to
his city rise again if you’ve been to
his city rise again if you’ve been to New York City recently this may seem
New York City recently this may seem
New York City recently this may seem like fake news but it’s not back in the
like fake news but it’s not back in the
like fake news but it’s not back in the 70s New York needed all the help it
70s New York needed all the help it
70s New York needed all the help it could get the city was just hours away
could get the city was just hours away
could get the city was just hours away from bankruptcy and President Ford was
from bankruptcy and President Ford was
from bankruptcy and President Ford was refusing a federal bailout they were
refusing a federal bailout they were
refusing a federal bailout they were laying off 1/6 of the city’s workers and
laying off 1/6 of the city’s workers and
laying off 1/6 of the city’s workers and despite the crime that included police
despite the crime that included police
despite the crime that included police officers as a protest the police
officers as a protest the police
officers as a protest the police themselves published and distributed a
themselves published and distributed a
themselves published and distributed a million copies of this guide for
million copies of this guide for
million copies of this guide for tourists called fear city teachers and
tourists called fear city teachers and
tourists called fear city teachers and garbage men went on strike and according
garbage men went on strike and according
garbage men went on strike and according to the city’s then police commissioner
to the city’s then police commissioner
to the city’s then police commissioner crime is at its highest level in the
crime is at its highest level in the
crime is at its highest level in the history of the city there was a crack
history of the city there was a crack
history of the city there was a crack cocaine epidemic in certain
cocaine epidemic in certain
cocaine epidemic in certain neighborhoods like the Lower East Side
neighborhoods like the Lower East Side
neighborhoods like the Lower East Side and parts of the Bronx were totally
and parts of the Bronx were totally
and parts of the Bronx were totally deteriorating but the logo gave the city
deteriorating but the logo gave the city
deteriorating but the logo gave the city something to love something to rally
something to love something to rally
something to love something to rally behind and crucially the campaign
behind and crucially the campaign
behind and crucially the campaign appeared to have awakened something
appeared to have awakened something
appeared to have awakened something within New Yorkers themselves Glaser
within New Yorkers themselves Glaser
within New Yorkers themselves Glaser said later that the shift in public
said later that the shift in public
said later that the shift in public mentality was the most
mentality was the most
mentality was the most ordinary thing one day people just woke
ordinary thing one day people just woke
ordinary thing one day people just woke up tired of sleep stepping in dog poop
up tired of sleep stepping in dog poop
up tired of sleep stepping in dog poop and garbage people got fed up and said
and garbage people got fed up and said
and garbage people got fed up and said this is our city we’re going to take it
this is our city we’re going to take it
this is our city we’re going to take it back and we’re not gonna allow this
back and we’re not gonna allow this
back and we’re not gonna allow this stuff to happen anymore a big part of
stuff to happen anymore a big part of
stuff to happen anymore a big part of that moment was this campaign so did I
that moment was this campaign so did I
that moment was this campaign so did I Love New York just helped create a new
Love New York just helped create a new
Love New York just helped create a new positive image for the city so the
positive image for the city so the
positive image for the city so the tourists would return no it did way more
tourists would return no it did way more
tourists would return no it did way more than that it awakened New Yorkers love
than that it awakened New Yorkers love
than that it awakened New Yorkers love for their own city and that’s what saved
for their own city and that’s what saved
for their own city and that’s what saved New York City I’m highlighting New
New York City I’m highlighting New
New York City I’m highlighting New York’s logo because I believe a communal
York’s logo because I believe a communal
York’s logo because I believe a communal mantra should incorporate art I say this
mantra should incorporate art I say this
mantra should incorporate art I say this because art has a unique ability to
because art has a unique ability to
because art has a unique ability to reach people when language fails
reach people when language fails
reach people when language fails sometimes words fail us because
sometimes words fail us because
sometimes words fail us because conversations are just too difficult
conversations are just too difficult
conversations are just too difficult people avoid talking about certain
people avoid talking about certain
people avoid talking about certain topics because they don’t want to hurt
topics because they don’t want to hurt
topics because they don’t want to hurt each other’s feelings or risk offending
each other’s feelings or risk offending
each other’s feelings or risk offending anyone it’s these topics where art helps
anyone it’s these topics where art helps
anyone it’s these topics where art helps the most
the most
the most and it’s these topics we need to talk
and it’s these topics we need to talk
and it’s these topics we need to talk about art allows a viewer to interpret
about art allows a viewer to interpret
about art allows a viewer to interpret the message themselves this individual
the message themselves this individual
the message themselves this individual dialog allows for a powerful change at
dialog allows for a powerful change at
dialog allows for a powerful change at best or at worst the viewer just says
best or at worst the viewer just says
best or at worst the viewer just says well that’s just art how I just
well that’s just art how I just
well that’s just art how I just described New York City reminds me a lot
described New York City reminds me a lot
described New York City reminds me a lot of how Chicago is thought of today in
of how Chicago is thought of today in
of how Chicago is thought of today in fact as a Chicagoan I’m constantly
fact as a Chicagoan I’m constantly
fact as a Chicagoan I’m constantly reminded of how terrible everything is
reminded of how terrible everything is
reminded of how terrible everything is by people who don’t live here so
by people who don’t live here so
by people who don’t live here so naturally this is something that’s
naturally this is something that’s
naturally this is something that’s always in the back of my mind and
always in the back of my mind and
always in the back of my mind and something I want to fix so one night in
something I want to fix so one night in
something I want to fix so one night in June 2015 I was walking my dog Benson
June 2015 I was walking my dog Benson
June 2015 I was walking my dog Benson god he’s handsome isn’t he I was
god he’s handsome isn’t he I was
god he’s handsome isn’t he I was thinking about my journey from Canada to
thinking about my journey from Canada to
thinking about my journey from Canada to America and how I had wanted to be a
America and how I had wanted to be a
America and how I had wanted to be a professional baseball player just before
professional baseball player just before
professional baseball player just before my senior year my mom allowed me to
my senior year my mom allowed me to
my senior year my mom allowed me to chase this dream I moved to Minnesota to
chase this dream I moved to Minnesota to
chase this dream I moved to Minnesota to live with my aunt my uncle and my three
live with my aunt my uncle and my three
live with my aunt my uncle and my three small cousins I thought about how it was
small cousins I thought about how it was
small cousins I thought about how it was so weird to go to school my senior year
so weird to go to school my senior year
so weird to go to school my senior year and not know a single person I was
and not know a single person I was
and not know a single person I was reminded that the worst thing about this
reminded that the worst thing about this
reminded that the worst thing about this transition wasn’t missing my family and
transition wasn’t missing my family and
transition wasn’t missing my family and it wasn’t even the feeling I used to get
it wasn’t even the feeling I used to get
it wasn’t even the feeling I used to get walking into the lunchroom and having no
walking into the lunchroom and having no
walking into the lunchroom and having no one to sit with the worst was the
one to sit with the worst was the
one to sit with the worst was the feeling I would get whenever I had to
feeling I would get whenever I had to
feeling I would get whenever I had to correct
correct
correct one of my new classmates when they set a
one of my new classmates when they set a
one of my new classmates when they set a so-called harmless racial comment the
so-called harmless racial comment the
so-called harmless racial comment the kind of ignorant comment where it didn’t
kind of ignorant comment where it didn’t
kind of ignorant comment where it didn’t matter if there was or wasn’t a minority
matter if there was or wasn’t a minority
matter if there was or wasn’t a minority in the room these things are always just
in the room these things are always just
in the room these things are always just wrong to say so I corrected people as a
wrong to say so I corrected people as a
wrong to say so I corrected people as a new kid in town I didn’t care if it was
new kid in town I didn’t care if it was
new kid in town I didn’t care if it was a prom queen or the captain of the
a prom queen or the captain of the
a prom queen or the captain of the football team
football team
football team sometimes my lecture was received
sometimes my lecture was received
sometimes my lecture was received properly but other times it was at best
properly but other times it was at best
properly but other times it was at best uncomfortable and at worst an actual
uncomfortable and at worst an actual
uncomfortable and at worst an actual altercation these moments happen
altercation these moments happen
altercation these moments happen infrequently where I grew up but in this
infrequently where I grew up but in this
infrequently where I grew up but in this new place I was needing to say something
new place I was needing to say something
new place I was needing to say something more often I noticed that what I had
more often I noticed that what I had
more often I noticed that what I had always felt comfortable doing
always felt comfortable doing
always felt comfortable doing infrequently was now happening
infrequently was now happening
infrequently was now happening frequently enough that I was starting to
frequently enough that I was starting to
frequently enough that I was starting to feel like a nag I also didn’t have the
feel like a nag I also didn’t have the
feel like a nag I also didn’t have the comfort of knowing people so I actually
comfort of knowing people so I actually
comfort of knowing people so I actually had the weird thought that what I was
had the weird thought that what I was
had the weird thought that what I was doing might be hurting me and allowing
doing might be hurting me and allowing
doing might be hurting me and allowing me to not make new friends so instead of
me to not make new friends so instead of
me to not make new friends so instead of having the strength to continue to do
having the strength to continue to do
having the strength to continue to do what I had always done what I knew is
what I had always done what I knew is
what I had always done what I knew is right I was weak and I stopped
right I was weak and I stopped
right I was weak and I stopped correcting people embarrassingly I
correcting people embarrassingly I
correcting people embarrassingly I started to pretend I just didn’t hear
started to pretend I just didn’t hear
started to pretend I just didn’t hear these hateful comments whenever they
these hateful comments whenever they
these hateful comments whenever they were sad so on this walk I realized that
were sad so on this walk I realized that
were sad so on this walk I realized that all these years later I was still mad at
all these years later I was still mad at
all these years later I was still mad at myself for that weakness I should have
myself for that weakness I should have
myself for that weakness I should have kept correcting those hateful comments I
kept correcting those hateful comments I
kept correcting those hateful comments I realized that if society is ever going
realized that if society is ever going
realized that if society is ever going to solve racism and hatred we all need
to solve racism and hatred we all need
to solve racism and hatred we all need to correct these comments right when
to correct these comments right when
to correct these comments right when they happen we need to be able to say
they happen we need to be able to say
they happen we need to be able to say that hate based comments are wrong but
that hate based comments are wrong but
that hate based comments are wrong but we need to do this in the right way a
we need to do this in the right way a
we need to do this in the right way a way that gives people the confidence to
way that gives people the confidence to
way that gives people the confidence to correct the hatred no matter what in a
correct the hatred no matter what in a
correct the hatred no matter what in a way that makes the message received
way that makes the message received
way that makes the message received we need a communal mantra it was with
we need a communal mantra it was with
we need a communal mantra it was with all these thoughts in my head that
all these thoughts in my head that
all these thoughts in my head that Benson and I passed a white wall in all
Benson and I passed a white wall in all
Benson and I passed a white wall in all the years of living in my neighborhood
the years of living in my neighborhood
the years of living in my neighborhood this wall had never been tagged and it
this wall had never been tagged and it
this wall had never been tagged and it had never been graffiti as a result it
had never been graffiti as a result it
had never been graffiti as a result it sticks out like a sore thumb to me for
sticks out like a sore thumb to me for
sticks out like a sore thumb to me for months I had been playing a pointless
months I had been playing a pointless
months I had been playing a pointless thought game saying what can I write on
thought game saying what can I write on
thought game saying what can I write on that wall that if I did
that wall that if I did
that wall that if I did it might not need to be removed so with
it might not need to be removed so with
it might not need to be removed so with all these horrible high school memories
all these horrible high school memories
all these horrible high school memories on my mind and my brain marinating on
on my mind and my brain marinating on
on my mind and my brain marinating on Chicago’s problems the phrase we all
Chicago’s problems the phrase we all
Chicago’s problems the phrase we all live here popped into my head the
live here popped into my head the
live here popped into my head the thoughts stop Benson and I in our tracks
thoughts stop Benson and I in our tracks
thoughts stop Benson and I in our tracks yes Benson and I I actually remember
yes Benson and I I actually remember
yes Benson and I I actually remember saying WOW out loud in that very moment
saying WOW out loud in that very moment
saying WOW out loud in that very moment to me the phrase meant racial equality
to me the phrase meant racial equality
to me the phrase meant racial equality gender equality sexual equality income
gender equality sexual equality income
gender equality sexual equality income equality and even environmental issues
equality and even environmental issues
equality and even environmental issues those four simple words encompass some
those four simple words encompass some
those four simple words encompass some of the most hard to talk about but
of the most hard to talk about but
of the most hard to talk about but important issues of our time and they
important issues of our time and they
important issues of our time and they did so on a disarming but effective way
did so on a disarming but effective way
did so on a disarming but effective way it’s the inclusion of the phrase that
it’s the inclusion of the phrase that
it’s the inclusion of the phrase that makes it powerful
makes it powerful
makes it powerful it’s the inclusion of the phrase that
it’s the inclusion of the phrase that
it’s the inclusion of the phrase that makes it safe to say and it’s the
makes it safe to say and it’s the
makes it safe to say and it’s the inclusion that makes it possible for a
inclusion that makes it possible for a
inclusion that makes it possible for a message to be received
message to be received
message to be received maybe we all live here could be a
maybe we all live here could be a
maybe we all live here could be a communal mantra that could give people a
communal mantra that could give people a
communal mantra that could give people a vocabulary and a reminder to help and
vocabulary and a reminder to help and
vocabulary and a reminder to help and hate maybe just casually seeing these
hate maybe just casually seeing these
hate maybe just casually seeing these words every day in the familiar
words every day in the familiar
words every day in the familiar surroundings of our own neighborhood
surroundings of our own neighborhood
surroundings of our own neighborhood could establish a new baseline thought
could establish a new baseline thought
could establish a new baseline thought of inclusion for us all I asked my
of inclusion for us all I asked my
of inclusion for us all I asked my friends with the phrase meant to them
friends with the phrase meant to them
friends with the phrase meant to them luckily they answered the same things
luckily they answered the same things
luckily they answered the same things that I had thought it meant so I was
that I had thought it meant so I was
that I had thought it meant so I was encouraged not being a shy person I
encouraged not being a shy person I
encouraged not being a shy person I printed some signs that said the phrase
printed some signs that said the phrase
printed some signs that said the phrase and I took them around the city I wanted
and I took them around the city I wanted
and I took them around the city I wanted to know if tourists or strangers would
to know if tourists or strangers would
to know if tourists or strangers would let me take their picture while they
let me take their picture while they
let me take their picture while they held the signs hundreds and then
held the signs hundreds and then
held the signs hundreds and then thousands of people did I posted all
thousands of people did I posted all
thousands of people did I posted all these pictures to a blog on tumblr and
these pictures to a blog on tumblr and
these pictures to a blog on tumblr and to my surprise tumblr featured the blog
to my surprise tumblr featured the blog
to my surprise tumblr featured the blog I ended up with thousands of followers
I ended up with thousands of followers
I ended up with thousands of followers in a week
in a week
in a week and what was really cool was I started
and what was really cool was I started
and what was really cool was I started waking up to messages from strangers all
waking up to messages from strangers all
waking up to messages from strangers all over the world
over the world
over the world urging me to keep spreading this message
urging me to keep spreading this message
urging me to keep spreading this message telling me they loved what I was doing
telling me they loved what I was doing
telling me they loved what I was doing and that the world needed to hear this
and that the world needed to hear this
and that the world needed to hear this message this particular message from a
message this particular message from a
message this particular message from a stranger in Vietnam was my favorite
stranger in Vietnam was my favorite
stranger in Vietnam was my favorite I really loved that last line everybody
I really loved that last line everybody
I really loved that last line everybody always smile it’s just beautifully
always smile it’s just beautifully
always smile it’s just beautifully grammatically incorrect because of the
grammatically incorrect because of the
grammatically incorrect because of the blog I was invited to speak to a high
blog I was invited to speak to a high
blog I was invited to speak to a high school Media Studies class taught by a
school Media Studies class taught by a
school Media Studies class taught by a teacher friend of mine just talking to
teacher friend of mine just talking to
teacher friend of mine just talking to his class even made the the local high
his class even made the the local high
his class even made the the local high schools paper after the school called me
schools paper after the school called me
schools paper after the school called me again and they said what could we do as
again and they said what could we do as
again and they said what could we do as a school with the phrase here was my
a school with the phrase here was my
a school with the phrase here was my opportunity to introduce a communal
opportunity to introduce a communal
opportunity to introduce a communal mantra I told him I’d come up with
mantra I told him I’d come up with
mantra I told him I’d come up with something and get back to them well what
something and get back to them well what
something and get back to them well what I came up with is a program for schools
I came up with is a program for schools
I came up with is a program for schools called act
called act
called act everyone knows schools love acronyms so
everyone knows schools love acronyms so
everyone knows schools love acronyms so mine stands for art community and
mine stands for art community and
mine stands for art community and technology three pillars of what I think
technology three pillars of what I think
technology three pillars of what I think make us all human and three things that
make us all human and three things that
make us all human and three things that I can build off of to make this and keep
I can build off of to make this and keep
I can build off of to make this and keep this interesting to students the main
this interesting to students the main
this interesting to students the main initiative of the program is to create
initiative of the program is to create
initiative of the program is to create public art using the phrase as a theme
public art using the phrase as a theme
public art using the phrase as a theme like you see on the screen I visit
like you see on the screen I visit
like you see on the screen I visit participating schools and I conduct
participating schools and I conduct
participating schools and I conduct assemblies for the entire school I do
assemblies for the entire school I do
assemblies for the entire school I do this so that every child goes through an
this so that every child goes through an
this so that every child goes through an exercise with me to understand what we
exercise with me to understand what we
exercise with me to understand what we all live here means in order to help me
all live here means in order to help me
all live here means in order to help me create a logo for the art project at
create a logo for the art project at
create a logo for the art project at their school from their drawings I
their school from their drawings I
their school from their drawings I source the ideas to make an official
source the ideas to make an official
source the ideas to make an official logo which gets put onto products that
logo which gets put onto products that
logo which gets put onto products that we sell to help raise the money
we sell to help raise the money
we sell to help raise the money necessary for the art it’s sort of like
necessary for the art it’s sort of like
necessary for the art it’s sort of like a hyperlocal
a hyperlocal
a hyperlocal I heart New York and this ownership
I heart New York and this ownership
I heart New York and this ownership strategy also has the dual benefit of
strategy also has the dual benefit of
strategy also has the dual benefit of ensuring that students care more about
ensuring that students care more about
ensuring that students care more about the art when they see it every day
the art when they see it every day
the art when they see it every day because they are directly involved in
because they are directly involved in
because they are directly involved in its creation they wear the clothes with
its creation they wear the clothes with
its creation they wear the clothes with pride and they show off the art to
pride and they show off the art to
pride and they show off the art to friends and family by creating public
friends and family by creating public
friends and family by creating public art and not art in a classroom or locked
art and not art in a classroom or locked
art and not art in a classroom or locked in a hallway of the school it also makes
in a hallway of the school it also makes
in a hallway of the school it also makes the local community get involved so they
the local community get involved so they
the local community get involved so they can help support the art this introduces
can help support the art this introduces
can help support the art this introduces students to local leaders and business
students to local leaders and business
students to local leaders and business owners who they may never have met
owners who they may never have met
owners who they may never have met otherwise while I worked on getting
otherwise while I worked on getting
otherwise while I worked on getting school signed up because we know that
school signed up because we know that
school signed up because we know that takes a while I started doing street art
takes a while I started doing street art
takes a while I started doing street art with the phrase
with the phrase
with the phrase all over the city to spread this message
all over the city to spread this message
all over the city to spread this message I use chalk so I wasn’t illegally
I use chalk so I wasn’t illegally
I use chalk so I wasn’t illegally tagging tagging anything also I think
tagging tagging anything also I think
tagging tagging anything also I think chalk as a medium perfectly symbolizes
chalk as a medium perfectly symbolizes
chalk as a medium perfectly symbolizes the struggles against racism and hatred
the struggles against racism and hatred
the struggles against racism and hatred that we have as a society and what I
that we have as a society and what I
that we have as a society and what I mean by that is there’s no pill for us
mean by that is there’s no pill for us
mean by that is there’s no pill for us all to take that will magically solve
all to take that will magically solve
all to take that will magically solve these problems it will take us all
these problems it will take us all
these problems it will take us all chipping in a little bit every day to
chipping in a little bit every day to
chipping in a little bit every day to make these problems go away and by
make these problems go away and by
make these problems go away and by having to maintain the murals after it
having to maintain the murals after it
having to maintain the murals after it rains or snows I feel like I’m embodying
rains or snows I feel like I’m embodying
rains or snows I feel like I’m embodying the struggle through my art finally it’s
the struggle through my art finally it’s
the struggle through my art finally it’s way more noticeable the kids when young
way more noticeable the kids when young
way more noticeable the kids when young kids see it they usually have to ask
kids see it they usually have to ask
kids see it they usually have to ask their parents what it means and that
their parents what it means and that
their parents what it means and that starts a conversation a very meaningful
starts a conversation a very meaningful
starts a conversation a very meaningful conversation I started getting positive
conversation I started getting positive
conversation I started getting positive feedback while writing on the walls from
feedback while writing on the walls from
feedback while writing on the walls from people walking biking or driving by
people walking biking or driving by
people walking biking or driving by people were frequently taking pictures
people were frequently taking pictures
people were frequently taking pictures of the art and tagging it allowing me to
of the art and tagging it allowing me to
of the art and tagging it allowing me to collect data that people loved this
collect data that people loved this
collect data that people loved this phrase the people were definitely into
phrase the people were definitely into
phrase the people were definitely into the communal mantra what I was doing
the communal mantra what I was doing
the communal mantra what I was doing helped make a community better could
helped make a community better could
helped make a community better could something just written on a wall or hung
something just written on a wall or hung
something just written on a wall or hung on a fence or communicated through art
on a fence or communicated through art
on a fence or communicated through art help a city like Chicago heal itself
help a city like Chicago heal itself
help a city like Chicago heal itself it’s still early but the answer is
it’s still early but the answer is
it’s still early but the answer is definitely yes a kindergarten teacher at
definitely yes a kindergarten teacher at
definitely yes a kindergarten teacher at the very first school to do the octane
the very first school to do the octane
the very first school to do the octane me this quote literally seeing the words
me this quote literally seeing the words
me this quote literally seeing the words we all live here in English and Spanish
we all live here in English and Spanish
we all live here in English and Spanish every day has gotten us talking about it
every day has gotten us talking about it
every day has gotten us talking about it first it was explaining to the students
first it was explaining to the students
first it was explaining to the students what it means now it is the kiddos
what it means now it is the kiddos
what it means now it is the kiddos sharing their various experiences of
sharing their various experiences of
sharing their various experiences of living or seeing we all live here in
living or seeing we all live here in
living or seeing we all live here in action it’s been the perfect way to tie
action it’s been the perfect way to tie
action it’s been the perfect way to tie our I be learner profiles and attitudes
our I be learner profiles and attitudes
our I be learner profiles and attitudes into the community around us again
into the community around us again
into the community around us again literally and figuratively this was
literally and figuratively this was
literally and figuratively this was incredible the phrase was already having
incredible the phrase was already having
incredible the phrase was already having an impact on kindergarteners this is
an impact on kindergarteners this is
an impact on kindergarteners this is important because I believe in order to
important because I believe in order to
important because I believe in order to actually end racism in hatred we have to
actually end racism in hatred we have to
actually end racism in hatred we have to start with our kids by working with
start with our kids by working with
start with our kids by working with schools of all ages we can help a
schools of all ages we can help a
schools of all ages we can help a generation of young people grow up with
generation of young people grow up with
generation of young people grow up with the vocabulary for safely and
the vocabulary for safely and
the vocabulary for safely and effectively correcting hatred whenever
effectively correcting hatred whenever
effectively correcting hatred whenever they encounter it
they encounter it
they encounter it but as a teacher told me early in this
but as a teacher told me early in this
but as a teacher told me early in this project the idea needs to be cool so how
project the idea needs to be cool so how
project the idea needs to be cool so how do we make ending hatred cool well we
do we make ending hatred cool well we
do we make ending hatred cool well we can use art fashion music and sports to
can use art fashion music and sports to
can use art fashion music and sports to highlight our communal mantras by
highlight our communal mantras by
highlight our communal mantras by becoming a part of popular culture the
becoming a part of popular culture the
becoming a part of popular culture the communal mantra can be cool hatreds out
communal mantra can be cool hatreds out
communal mantra can be cool hatreds out there lurking and we don’t know when it
there lurking and we don’t know when it
there lurking and we don’t know when it will strike but when it does young
will strike but when it does young
will strike but when it does young people need to be ready so they don’t
people need to be ready so they don’t
people need to be ready so they don’t shy away from correcting hatred like I
shy away from correcting hatred like I
shy away from correcting hatred like I shamefully once did do you want to help
shamefully once did do you want to help
shamefully once did do you want to help end racism in hatred
end racism in hatred
end racism in hatred do you want to help people know what to
do you want to help people know what to
do you want to help people know what to say when they hear hateful things then I
say when they hear hateful things then I
say when they hear hateful things then I challenge you create your own communal
challenge you create your own communal
challenge you create your own communal entre or just use the tools that I’ve
entre or just use the tools that I’ve
entre or just use the tools that I’ve created to introduce we all live here to
created to introduce we all live here to
created to introduce we all live here to wherever you live many people are
wherever you live many people are
wherever you live many people are waiting for America to be great working
waiting for America to be great working
waiting for America to be great working together and through communal mantras
together and through communal mantras
together and through communal mantras I’ve proven that we can make it greater
I’ve proven that we can make it greater
I’ve proven that we can make it greater than it’s ever been I’m going to finish
than it’s ever been I’m going to finish
than it’s ever been I’m going to finish today with a story that an artist friend
today with a story that an artist friend
today with a story that an artist friend once told me he told me how a nice old
once told me he told me how a nice old
once told me he told me how a nice old lady came up to him while he was
lady came up to him while he was
lady came up to him while he was painting a mural next to a park she had
painting a mural next to a park she had
painting a mural next to a park she had gone all the way out of her way to tell
gone all the way out of her way to tell
gone all the way out of her way to tell him how much she loved his work and
him how much she loved his work and
him how much she loved his work and right as he was about to hug her she
right as he was about to hug her she
right as he was about to hug her she said this is the kind of thing that will
said this is the kind of thing that will
said this is the kind of thing that will keep those people out of the park
keep those people out of the park
keep those people out of the park those people imagine the artists shock
those people imagine the artists shock
those people imagine the artists shock imagine the shock of going from wanting
imagine the shock of going from wanting
imagine the shock of going from wanting to hug someone to wanting to hurt them
to hug someone to wanting to hurt them
to hug someone to wanting to hurt them you know this story highlights the
you know this story highlights the
you know this story highlights the dangers of hateful comments we don’t
dangers of hateful comments we don’t
dangers of hateful comments we don’t know who or when or went what they will
know who or when or went what they will
know who or when or went what they will say so we don’t see them coming they
say so we don’t see them coming they
say so we don’t see them coming they offend us and inflame us so badly and
offend us and inflame us so badly and
offend us and inflame us so badly and when we react poorly this only
when we react poorly this only
when we react poorly this only strengthens the hateful person’s beliefs
strengthens the hateful person’s beliefs
strengthens the hateful person’s beliefs well I know where that Park is and I put
well I know where that Park is and I put
well I know where that Park is and I put a communal mantra up across the street
a communal mantra up across the street
a communal mantra up across the street so imagine if that hateful woman comes
so imagine if that hateful woman comes
so imagine if that hateful woman comes back again and when she does a child
back again and when she does a child
back again and when she does a child instead appears with the perfect
instead appears with the perfect
instead appears with the perfect response to her hatred a response that
response to her hatred a response that
response to her hatred a response that they had internalized from a lesson
they had internalized from a lesson
they had internalized from a lesson learned in school or the communal mantra
learned in school or the communal mantra
learned in school or the communal mantra on the wall across the street what if
on the wall across the street what if
on the wall across the street what if that child just calmly points out it
that child just calmly points out it
that child just calmly points out it and walks away imagine the power of that
and walks away imagine the power of that
and walks away imagine the power of that imagine how the woman would have to feel
imagine how the woman would have to feel
imagine how the woman would have to feel when she was left reflecting on the fact
when she was left reflecting on the fact
when she was left reflecting on the fact that she was reminded by a child that we
that she was reminded by a child that we
that she was reminded by a child that we all live here thank you
all live here thank you
all live here thank you [Applause]
”
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