he’s a liar he didn’t graduate from college he never keeps his word doesn’t
college he never keeps his word doesn’t
college he never keeps his word doesn’t know how to treat women you don’t want
know how to treat women you don’t want
know how to treat women you don’t want to be anything like him his name is big
to be anything like him his name is big
to be anything like him his name is big Jeff and that happened to be my father
Jeff and that happened to be my father
Jeff and that happened to be my father this narrative potted my memory for
this narrative potted my memory for
this narrative potted my memory for years and years until it mutated the
years and years until it mutated the
years and years until it mutated the affinity of man should have for his
affinity of man should have for his
affinity of man should have for his father into animosity animosity that
father into animosity animosity that
father into animosity animosity that mutated into my day-to-day behaviors
mutated into my day-to-day behaviors
mutated into my day-to-day behaviors where I wanted to be a man of my word
where I wanted to be a man of my word
where I wanted to be a man of my word I wanted to ensure that I went to
I wanted to ensure that I went to
I wanted to ensure that I went to college and graduated and did I wanted
college and graduated and did I wanted
college and graduated and did I wanted to do everything other than big Jeff and
to do everything other than big Jeff and
to do everything other than big Jeff and then one day when I finished my second
then one day when I finished my second
then one day when I finished my second master’s I was trying to get a job God
master’s I was trying to get a job God
master’s I was trying to get a job God spoke to me and said Jeff my commandment
spoke to me and said Jeff my commandment
spoke to me and said Jeff my commandment to you is for you to honor your mother
to you is for you to honor your mother
to you is for you to honor your mother and your father and in order for you to
and your father and in order for you to
and your father and in order for you to get to the next level of blessings I
get to the next level of blessings I
get to the next level of blessings I have for you you’re going to have to
have for you you’re going to have to
have for you you’re going to have to start to repair that relationship with
start to repair that relationship with
start to repair that relationship with your father
your father
your father so I was obedient and that day I started
so I was obedient and that day I started
so I was obedient and that day I started to call my father more and after having
to call my father more and after having
to call my father more and after having conversations with him in meeting with
conversations with him in meeting with
conversations with him in meeting with him and being of experience my father
him and being of experience my father
him and being of experience my father big Jeff this liar cheater stiller
big Jeff this liar cheater stiller
big Jeff this liar cheater stiller hustler I realized there were things
hustler I realized there were things
hustler I realized there were things about myself that I didn’t know there
about myself that I didn’t know there
about myself that I didn’t know there was this untapped potential that I had
was this untapped potential that I had
was this untapped potential that I had not unlocked
not unlocked
not unlocked there was this vision for myself that I
there was this vision for myself that I
there was this vision for myself that I had not articulated clearly I didn’t
had not articulated clearly I didn’t
had not articulated clearly I didn’t really understand my value and what I
really understand my value and what I
really understand my value and what I can contribute to the world and most
can contribute to the world and most
can contribute to the world and most importantly I didn’t understand that
importantly I didn’t understand that
importantly I didn’t understand that there was a village wrapped around me
there was a village wrapped around me
there was a village wrapped around me that was there to support me it was at
that was there to support me it was at
that was there to support me it was at that day in my life that I understood
that day in my life that I understood
that day in my life that I understood that my calling was to ensure that every
that my calling was to ensure that every
that my calling was to ensure that every young person that grew up in the hood
young person that grew up in the hood
young person that grew up in the hood just like me was going to be able to
just like me was going to be able to
just like me was going to be able to have the access to that vision that
have the access to that vision that
have the access to that vision that value that village and be able to tap
value that village and be able to tap
value that village and be able to tap into this innate potential that we all
into this innate potential that we all
into this innate potential that we all call hustle now you might look at the
call hustle now you might look at the
call hustle now you might look at the city or the County of Los Angeles and
city or the County of Los Angeles and
city or the County of Los Angeles and you know that we are separated from
you know that we are separated from
you know that we are separated from north to south by what I call the
north to south by what I call the
north to south by what I call the mason-dixon line of quality of life
mason-dixon line of quality of life
mason-dixon line of quality of life that’s called the 10 freeway when you
that’s called the 10 freeway when you
that’s called the 10 freeway when you cross the 10 freeway
cross the 10 freeway
cross the 10 freeway when you cross the 10 freeway great
when you cross the 10 freeway great
when you cross the 10 freeway great schools vanish when you cross the 10
schools vanish when you cross the 10
schools vanish when you cross the 10 freeway grocery stores dissipate when
freeway grocery stores dissipate when
freeway grocery stores dissipate when you cross the 10 freeway police are no
you cross the 10 freeway police are no
you cross the 10 freeway police are no longer Guardians they’re warriors when
longer Guardians they’re warriors when
longer Guardians they’re warriors when you cross the 10 freeway the land of
you cross the 10 freeway the land of
you cross the 10 freeway the land of Economic Opportunity is barren but when
Economic Opportunity is barren but when
Economic Opportunity is barren but when you cross the 10 freeway
you cross the 10 freeway
you cross the 10 freeway you also see Talent you see two hundred
you also see Talent you see two hundred
you also see Talent you see two hundred thousand young people that are
thousand young people that are
thousand young people that are disconnected from the world of work and
disconnected from the world of work and
disconnected from the world of work and school called opportunity youth you see
school called opportunity youth you see
school called opportunity youth you see two hundred thousand young people that
two hundred thousand young people that
two hundred thousand young people that are currently costing the Los Angeles
are currently costing the Los Angeles
are currently costing the Los Angeles economy three hundred and thirty million
economy three hundred and thirty million
economy three hundred and thirty million dollars in lost tax revenue in loss in
dollars in lost tax revenue in loss in
dollars in lost tax revenue in loss in an economic burden based upon public
an economic burden based upon public
an economic burden based upon public assistance and across this County you
assistance and across this County you
assistance and across this County you also have over three hundred thousand
also have over three hundred thousand
also have over three hundred thousand jobs that are currently vacant now
jobs that are currently vacant now
jobs that are currently vacant now Nelson just reported in his last report
Nelson just reported in his last report
Nelson just reported in his last report on economic consumerism of minorities
on economic consumerism of minorities
on economic consumerism of minorities that minority buying Power has grown
that minority buying Power has grown
that minority buying Power has grown four hundred and fifteen percent in the
four hundred and fifteen percent in the
four hundred and fifteen percent in the last two decades that means
last two decades that means
last two decades that means african-americans Latinos Asian Pacific
african-americans Latinos Asian Pacific
african-americans Latinos Asian Pacific Islanders are essential to the economy
Islanders are essential to the economy
Islanders are essential to the economy not just here locally but across the
not just here locally but across the
not just here locally but across the nation but when we reverse and think
nation but when we reverse and think
nation but when we reverse and think about those 200,000 young people in LA
about those 200,000 young people in LA
about those 200,000 young people in LA County that are out of school out of
County that are out of school out of
County that are out of school out of work over 70% look like that growing
work over 70% look like that growing
work over 70% look like that growing multicultural consumer base so the
multicultural consumer base so the
multicultural consumer base so the question to industry and our economy
question to industry and our economy
question to industry and our economy today is how can you ignore this talent
today is how can you ignore this talent
today is how can you ignore this talent that resides on the bottom half of the
that resides on the bottom half of the
that resides on the bottom half of the ten and what is allowing you to ignore
ten and what is allowing you to ignore
ten and what is allowing you to ignore this talent and what is allowing this
this talent and what is allowing this
this talent and what is allowing this talent not to be able to carpe diem and
talent not to be able to carpe diem and
talent not to be able to carpe diem and seize the opportunity that’s right in
seize the opportunity that’s right in
seize the opportunity that’s right in front of them well I’ll break that down
front of them well I’ll break that down
front of them well I’ll break that down for you I’m glad you asked there are
for you I’m glad you asked there are
for you I’m glad you asked there are three gaps that are actually impeding
three gaps that are actually impeding
three gaps that are actually impeding the progress of this talent base that is
the progress of this talent base that is
the progress of this talent base that is in South LA the first gap is the
in South LA the first gap is the
in South LA the first gap is the exposure gap when you look at South LA
exposure gap when you look at South LA
exposure gap when you look at South LA in the south accounting environment
in the south accounting environment
in the south accounting environment these young people lives in lives and
these young people lives in lives and
these young people lives in lives and it’s like living in our communities
it’s like living in our communities
it’s like living in our communities that’s like living in a house with no
that’s like living in a house with no
that’s like living in a house with no windows and we all letter that window
windows and we all letter that window
windows and we all letter that window allows you to see past a wall or barrier
allows you to see past a wall or barrier
allows you to see past a wall or barrier towards opportunity the reality is that
towards opportunity the reality is that
towards opportunity the reality is that young people don’t see
young people don’t see
young people don’t see successful folks that look like them on
successful folks that look like them on
successful folks that look like them on a day to day basis in South LA then I
a day to day basis in South LA then I
a day to day basis in South LA then I see a teacher a principal a counselor or
see a teacher a principal a counselor or
see a teacher a principal a counselor or caseworker but now I’m not seeing social
caseworker but now I’m not seeing social
caseworker but now I’m not seeing social entrepreneurs they’re not seeing the
entrepreneurs they’re not seeing the
entrepreneurs they’re not seeing the CEOs of color that looked like them and
CEOs of color that looked like them and
CEOs of color that looked like them and the reality is in our young people in
the reality is in our young people in
the reality is in our young people in South LA and other underserved
South LA and other underserved
South LA and other underserved communities across this nation they
communities across this nation they
communities across this nation they become what they see the exposure gap is
become what they see the exposure gap is
become what they see the exposure gap is plugging the talent base that we need to
plugging the talent base that we need to
plugging the talent base that we need to move our economy forward the second
move our economy forward the second
move our economy forward the second thing is the skills gap now interesting
thing is the skills gap now interesting
thing is the skills gap now interesting enough and the work that we lead at
enough and the work that we lead at
enough and the work that we lead at leaders up which is a non-profit focused
leaders up which is a non-profit focused
leaders up which is a non-profit focused on bridging the divide between the
on bridging the divide between the
on bridging the divide between the untapped potential of young people in
untapped potential of young people in
untapped potential of young people in the business challenge of finding and
the business challenge of finding and
the business challenge of finding and keeping the right talent that business
keeping the right talent that business
keeping the right talent that business leaders across the nation they do
leaders across the nation they do
leaders across the nation they do struggle with technical skills necessary
struggle with technical skills necessary
struggle with technical skills necessary to drive their business forward but more
to drive their business forward but more
to drive their business forward but more importantly they struggle with what we
importantly they struggle with what we
importantly they struggle with what we call power skills empower is often often
call power skills empower is often often
call power skills empower is often often refined in communities of color in the
refined in communities of color in the
refined in communities of color in the hood power is persistence and resiliency
hood power is persistence and resiliency
hood power is persistence and resiliency power is an orientation towards goals
power is an orientation towards goals
power is an orientation towards goals and action power is a strong work ethic
and action power is a strong work ethic
and action power is a strong work ethic power also is effective communication
power also is effective communication
power also is effective communication but most importantly with a community
but most importantly with a community
but most importantly with a community like the hood provides for you is
like the hood provides for you is
like the hood provides for you is relationships power is about ensuring
relationships power is about ensuring
relationships power is about ensuring that you’re able to collaborate and move
that you’re able to collaborate and move
that you’re able to collaborate and move a business or your community for it and
a business or your community for it and
a business or your community for it and that power that I learned back in 2005
that power that I learned back in 2005
that power that I learned back in 2005 when I started to build that
when I started to build that
when I started to build that relationship with my father is called
relationship with my father is called
relationship with my father is called hustle now the reality of this skills
hustle now the reality of this skills
hustle now the reality of this skills gap is also exasperated by the fact that
gap is also exasperated by the fact that
gap is also exasperated by the fact that we don’t have employers investing in our
we don’t have employers investing in our
we don’t have employers investing in our community colleges we don’t have the
community colleges we don’t have the
community colleges we don’t have the employers investing in K through 12
employers investing in K through 12
employers investing in K through 12 education why because it’s seen as an
education why because it’s seen as an
education why because it’s seen as an education system and not a talent
education system and not a talent
education system and not a talent development system the reality today is
development system the reality today is
development system the reality today is is that businesses must invest in these
is that businesses must invest in these
is that businesses must invest in these communities not just because it’s the
communities not just because it’s the
communities not just because it’s the right thing to do but it’s great for
right thing to do but it’s great for
right thing to do but it’s great for business it’s great for your consumer
business it’s great for your consumer
business it’s great for your consumer base but most importantly it’s a great
base but most importantly it’s a great
base but most importantly it’s a great way to connect to that next set of
way to connect to that next set of
way to connect to that next set of skilled talent so there’s this exposure
skilled talent so there’s this exposure
skilled talent so there’s this exposure gap there is the skills gap but the
gap there is the skills gap but the
gap there is the skills gap but the biggest chasm between young people and
biggest chasm between young people and
biggest chasm between young people and job opportunities is what I call the
job opportunities is what I call the
job opportunities is what I call the opportunity gap and that opportunity gap
opportunity gap and that opportunity gap
opportunity gap and that opportunity gap actually ensures that a young person
actually ensures that a young person
actually ensures that a young person doesn’t have
doesn’t have
doesn’t have access the opportunity not because they
access the opportunity not because they
access the opportunity not because they don’t have a great skillsets not because
don’t have a great skillsets not because
don’t have a great skillsets not because they don’t know what they want to be but
they don’t know what they want to be but
they don’t know what they want to be but because they don’t have the simple
because they don’t have the simple
because they don’t have the simple social capital see social capital
social capital see social capital
social capital see social capital actually manifests itself in our day to
actually manifests itself in our day to
actually manifests itself in our day to day relationships little johnny has an
day relationships little johnny has an
day relationships little johnny has an uncle who runs the law firm so little
uncle who runs the law firm so little
uncle who runs the law firm so little Johnny on the west side has an
Johnny on the west side has an
Johnny on the west side has an internship that allows him to prove
internship that allows him to prove
internship that allows him to prove himself and then become so one who’s in
himself and then become so one who’s in
himself and then become so one who’s in law school and then four years later or
law school and then four years later or
law school and then four years later or three years later excuse me he is back
three years later excuse me he is back
three years later excuse me he is back in that same law school law firm getting
in that same law school law firm getting
in that same law school law firm getting the job the work of leaders up on a day
the job the work of leaders up on a day
the job the work of leaders up on a day to day basis ensures that young people
to day basis ensures that young people
to day basis ensures that young people of color and opportunity you’ve across
of color and opportunity you’ve across
of color and opportunity you’ve across the entire nation have access to the
the entire nation have access to the
the entire nation have access to the capital to tell the business community
capital to tell the business community
capital to tell the business community and other employers that this young
and other employers that this young
and other employers that this young person is worth it this young person is
person is worth it this young person is
person is worth it this young person is not just worth it because they have the
not just worth it because they have the
not just worth it because they have the power skills but they have the talent
power skills but they have the talent
power skills but they have the talent and the hustle that the 21st century
and the hustle that the 21st century
and the hustle that the 21st century economy needs today and the reality that
economy needs today and the reality that
economy needs today and the reality that we are facing today is that it is hustle
we are facing today is that it is hustle
we are facing today is that it is hustle that show leader like me that we can
that show leader like me that we can
that show leader like me that we can grow from one bit one market to three
grow from one bit one market to three
grow from one bit one market to three markers across this nation Chicago Los
markers across this nation Chicago Los
markers across this nation Chicago Los Angeles in the San Francisco Bay Area
Angeles in the San Francisco Bay Area
Angeles in the San Francisco Bay Area it was hustle that allowed us to procure
it was hustle that allowed us to procure
it was hustle that allowed us to procure the services of over 80 businesses
the services of over 80 businesses
the services of over 80 businesses across the nation there are now pumping
across the nation there are now pumping
across the nation there are now pumping job opportunities into underserved
job opportunities into underserved
job opportunities into underserved resource erv communities it was hustle
resource erv communities it was hustle
resource erv communities it was hustle that also how leaders up to connect over
that also how leaders up to connect over
that also how leaders up to connect over 1500 young people in a year-and-a-half
1500 young people in a year-and-a-half
1500 young people in a year-and-a-half to career opportunities
it was also a hustler that poured into a
it was also a hustler that poured into a young man named Jeffrey Wallace to be
young man named Jeffrey Wallace to be
young man named Jeffrey Wallace to be the social entrepreneur that you see
the social entrepreneur that you see
the social entrepreneur that you see today so the reality of America in the
today so the reality of America in the
today so the reality of America in the 21st century is that we cannot ignore
21st century is that we cannot ignore
21st century is that we cannot ignore the talent that lives below the ten we
the talent that lives below the ten we
the talent that lives below the ten we cannot ignore the talent that we need to
cannot ignore the talent that we need to
cannot ignore the talent that we need to drive our businesses forward in America
drive our businesses forward in America
drive our businesses forward in America because your future is in colored you
because your future is in colored you
because your future is in colored you cannot ignore the talent that lives in
cannot ignore the talent that lives in
cannot ignore the talent that lives in South LA thank you
South LA thank you
South LA thank you [Applause]
”
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