well I like to start off with the story if that’s if that’s okay with you so
if that’s if that’s okay with you so
if that’s if that’s okay with you so this is a beautiful picture of my son
this is a beautiful picture of my son
this is a beautiful picture of my son and if you can’t tell the resemblance
and if you can’t tell the resemblance
and if you can’t tell the resemblance it’s the young man to the left now when
it’s the young man to the left now when
it’s the young man to the left now when he was born I’ll be completely honest
he was born I’ll be completely honest
he was born I’ll be completely honest with you it was one of the most scariest
with you it was one of the most scariest
with you it was one of the most scariest things for me you know this is my first
things for me you know this is my first
things for me you know this is my first child I wanted to do any and everything
child I wanted to do any and everything
child I wanted to do any and everything to ensure that he would be successful if
to ensure that he would be successful if
to ensure that he would be successful if you can imagine you know wanting to be
you can imagine you know wanting to be
you can imagine you know wanting to be wanting to make your child better than
wanting to make your child better than
wanting to make your child better than you are
you are
you are does that make sense and that was my
does that make sense and that was my
does that make sense and that was my main mission and so one of the our past
main mission and so one of the our past
main mission and so one of the our past times one of the things that we love to
times one of the things that we love to
times one of the things that we love to do and I love to share with him was to
do and I love to share with him was to
do and I love to share with him was to share with him my passion and love for
share with him my passion and love for
share with him my passion and love for 80s movies right and so his favorite
80s movies right and so his favorite
80s movies right and so his favorite movie was the Karate Kid and I’m not
movie was the Karate Kid and I’m not
movie was the Karate Kid and I’m not sure if you know we’re not talking about
sure if you know we’re not talking about
sure if you know we’re not talking about you know Will Smith’s son I’m talking
you know Will Smith’s son I’m talking
you know Will Smith’s son I’m talking about Daniel’s son you know the original
about Daniel’s son you know the original
about Daniel’s son you know the original Karate Kid and my son was so excited
Karate Kid and my son was so excited
Karate Kid and my son was so excited about it he told me one day he said dad
about it he told me one day he said dad
about it he told me one day he said dad I want to run karate I want to I want to
I want to run karate I want to I want to
I want to run karate I want to I want to be able to do what he does so you know
be able to do what he does so you know
be able to do what he does so you know once again I want it to be a great
once again I want it to be a great
once again I want it to be a great father wanted to pour into his life and
father wanted to pour into his life and
father wanted to pour into his life and so I enrolled him into Taekwondo and
so I enrolled him into Taekwondo and
so I enrolled him into Taekwondo and this is actually a picture of him right
this is actually a picture of him right
this is actually a picture of him right before his first tournament and let me
before his first tournament and let me
before his first tournament and let me tell y’all he was so excited I mean he
tell y’all he was so excited I mean he
tell y’all he was so excited I mean he was just bouncing around
was just bouncing around
was just bouncing around he was shadow boxing and that and I’m
he was shadow boxing and that and I’m
he was shadow boxing and that and I’m and I love contact sports I played
and I love contact sports I played
and I love contact sports I played football so I was excited for him he was
football so I was excited for him he was
football so I was excited for him he was very confident he said daddy I’m gonna
very confident he said daddy I’m gonna
very confident he said daddy I’m gonna win me a trophy and now he didn’t
win me a trophy and now he didn’t
win me a trophy and now he didn’t realize that I actually had paid for
realize that I actually had paid for
realize that I actually had paid for those trophies that was registration
those trophies that was registration
those trophies that was registration cause that was the registration but yeah
cause that was the registration but yeah
cause that was the registration but yeah that’s right son that’s right you’re
that’s right son that’s right you’re
that’s right son that’s right you’re gonna win yourself a trophy and he says
gonna win yourself a trophy and he says
gonna win yourself a trophy and he says dad I’m gonna I’m gonna hurt him bad
dad I’m gonna I’m gonna hurt him bad
dad I’m gonna I’m gonna hurt him bad okay good I’m glad that you’re you know
okay good I’m glad that you’re you know
okay good I’m glad that you’re you know a little aggressive for my liking but
a little aggressive for my liking but
a little aggressive for my liking but good I’m glad glad that you’re very
good I’m glad glad that you’re very
good I’m glad glad that you’re very confident and he said dad I’m a Buster’s
confident and he said dad I’m a Buster’s
confident and he said dad I’m a Buster’s head to the white meat I’m like whoa
head to the white meat I’m like whoa
head to the white meat I’m like whoa whoa where did you get that from mama
whoa where did you get that from mama
whoa where did you get that from mama okay all right I got guy understand now
okay all right I got guy understand now
okay all right I got guy understand now let me tell y’all we got out there when
let me tell y’all we got out there when
let me tell y’all we got out there when you stood against his opponent he bowed
you stood against his opponent he bowed
you stood against his opponent he bowed started to fight he got he got whooped
started to fight he got he got whooped
started to fight he got he got whooped y’all he got what y’all laughing at my
y’all he got what y’all laughing at my
y’all he got what y’all laughing at my son yeah he got what now as a father who
son yeah he got what now as a father who
son yeah he got what now as a father who wanted all the best who had poured into
wanted all the best who had poured into
wanted all the best who had poured into him to ensure that he was going to be
him to ensure that he was going to be
him to ensure that he was going to be successful he faced his first failure
successful he faced his first failure
successful he faced his first failure and as he walked back towards me I can
and as he walked back towards me I can
and as he walked back towards me I can see it in his eyes I can see he was
see it in his eyes I can see he was
see it in his eyes I can see he was gonna break down and I know he was
gonna break down and I know he was
gonna break down and I know he was trying to hold it in before he got to me
trying to hold it in before he got to me
trying to hold it in before he got to me and he didn’t make it and he got to me
and he didn’t make it and he got to me
and he didn’t make it and he got to me he just fell into my lap and he said
he just fell into my lap and he said
he just fell into my lap and he said daddy I lost and at that particular
daddy I lost and at that particular
daddy I lost and at that particular moment I couldn’t conjure up much the
moment I couldn’t conjure up much the
moment I couldn’t conjure up much the only thing that I can think of was to
only thing that I can think of was to
only thing that I can think of was to say son I love you you did you did great
say son I love you you did you did great
say son I love you you did you did great you did your best and I’m proud of you
you did your best and I’m proud of you
you did your best and I’m proud of you and we’ll get him next time now I share
and we’ll get him next time now I share
and we’ll get him next time now I share that story for two reasons one because
that story for two reasons one because
that story for two reasons one because one of the things that I was truly
one of the things that I was truly
one of the things that I was truly scared of was not being there for my son
scared of was not being there for my son
scared of was not being there for my son whatever there looked like I just wanted
whatever there looked like I just wanted
whatever there looked like I just wanted to be there just be supportive to give
to be there just be supportive to give
to be there just be supportive to give him all that he needs to be able to
him all that he needs to be able to
him all that he needs to be able to bounce back and be a resilient healthy
bounce back and be a resilient healthy
bounce back and be a resilient healthy child
child
child the second reason I tell that story is
the second reason I tell that story is
the second reason I tell that story is because we have young people out there
because we have young people out there
because we have young people out there today and especially young folks that
today and especially young folks that
today and especially young folks that may have decided to get involved with
may have decided to get involved with
may have decided to get involved with the gang I shudder to think about who
the gang I shudder to think about who
the gang I shudder to think about who was not there for them how did they get
was not there for them how did they get
was not there for them how did they get to that place and so when we talk about
to that place and so when we talk about
to that place and so when we talk about the gang problem you know and I
the gang problem you know and I
the gang problem you know and I understand everybody knows that the gang
understand everybody knows that the gang
understand everybody knows that the gang gangs are a problem now we may not know
gangs are a problem now we may not know
gangs are a problem now we may not know that it’s a problem in our community but
that it’s a problem in our community but
that it’s a problem in our community but we know somewhere there is a city
we know somewhere there is a city
we know somewhere there is a city dealing with gangs
dealing with gangs
dealing with gangs I mean let’s just look at some of the
I mean let’s just look at some of the
I mean let’s just look at some of the headlines from August Brooklyn team
headlines from August Brooklyn team
headlines from August Brooklyn team survives 13 gunshots in a gang-related
survives 13 gunshots in a gang-related
survives 13 gunshots in a gang-related attack during broad daylight five
attack during broad daylight five
attack during broad daylight five arrests in 2015 gang-related killing in
arrests in 2015 gang-related killing in
arrests in 2015 gang-related killing in Dale local gang members sentenced to 15
Dale local gang members sentenced to 15
Dale local gang members sentenced to 15 years for murder eight plead guilty and
years for murder eight plead guilty and
years for murder eight plead guilty and gang-related racketeering conspiracy
gang-related racketeering conspiracy
gang-related racketeering conspiracy case
case
case gang members target of a narcotics raid
gang members target of a narcotics raid
gang members target of a narcotics raid now this was just in August right now a
now this was just in August right now a
now this was just in August right now a national gang center has actually
national gang center has actually
national gang center has actually informed us that we have across the
informed us that we have across the
informed us that we have across the country over 27,000 gangs comprising of
country over 27,000 gangs comprising of
country over 27,000 gangs comprising of about approximately 150,000 gang members
about approximately 150,000 gang members
about approximately 150,000 gang members and out of that percentage 35 percent of
and out of that percentage 35 percent of
and out of that percentage 35 percent of that total number our youth are young
that total number our youth are young
that total number our youth are young people engaged in gangs young people now
people engaged in gangs young people now
people engaged in gangs young people now you immediately may be thinking to
you immediately may be thinking to
you immediately may be thinking to yourself oh this is an urban problem out
yourself oh this is an urban problem out
yourself oh this is an urban problem out of the 850,000 five percent of them are
of the 850,000 five percent of them are
of the 850,000 five percent of them are in rural communities in small towns so
in rural communities in small towns so
in rural communities in small towns so the problem is really real so for us
the problem is really real so for us
the problem is really real so for us there is this notion that it’s a big
there is this notion that it’s a big
there is this notion that it’s a big gang theory notion that gangs are too
gang theory notion that gangs are too
gang theory notion that gangs are too large they’re too big they’re too
large they’re too big they’re too
large they’re too big they’re too dangerous there’s not much you can do
dangerous there’s not much you can do
dangerous there’s not much you can do other than suppress them or arrest our
other than suppress them or arrest our
other than suppress them or arrest our way out of it or just lock them up a
way out of it or just lock them up a
way out of it or just lock them up a well renowned researcher by the name of
well renowned researcher by the name of
well renowned researcher by the name of James buddy how he came up with a
James buddy how he came up with a
James buddy how he came up with a several myths about these large gangs in
several myths about these large gangs in
several myths about these large gangs in these large systems and he believes that
these large systems and he believes that
these large systems and he believes that this is indeed not the case this actual
this is indeed not the case this actual
this is indeed not the case this actual opposite we cannot arrest ourselves out
opposite we cannot arrest ourselves out
opposite we cannot arrest ourselves out of the gang problem we have to actually
of the gang problem we have to actually
of the gang problem we have to actually do the complete opposite and so when we
do the complete opposite and so when we
do the complete opposite and so when we talk about the enormity of the problem
talk about the enormity of the problem
talk about the enormity of the problem of gangs we cannot let it for clued any
of gangs we cannot let it for clued any
of gangs we cannot let it for clued any of our efforts to try to solve it no
of our efforts to try to solve it no
of our efforts to try to solve it no matter how big it seems and so for me
matter how big it seems and so for me
matter how big it seems and so for me when we think about a gang and I can if
when we think about a gang and I can if
when we think about a gang and I can if I say the word and I ask for you to
I say the word and I ask for you to
I say the word and I ask for you to think about gang members right now you
think about gang members right now you
think about gang members right now you couldn’t help but you thought about some
couldn’t help but you thought about some
couldn’t help but you thought about some of the acts and then the despicable
of the acts and then the despicable
of the acts and then the despicable things and the criminal activities that
things and the criminal activities that
things and the criminal activities that our gang members are engaging in from
our gang members are engaging in from
our gang members are engaging in from being drug deals extortion intimidation
being drug deals extortion intimidation
being drug deals extortion intimidation gun violence all of those things but I
gun violence all of those things but I
gun violence all of those things but I like for you to ask why how did it get
like for you to ask why how did it get
like for you to ask why how did it get to this place so I like for you to Piro
to this place so I like for you to Piro
to this place so I like for you to Piro peel back a layer let’s just peel back a
peel back a layer let’s just peel back a
peel back a layer let’s just peel back a layer and ask why and let’s look at some
layer and ask why and let’s look at some
layer and ask why and let’s look at some of the risk factors for some of those
of the risk factors for some of those
of the risk factors for some of those young people
young people
young people we have the same young people engaging
we have the same young people engaging
we have the same young people engaging and gang activity they’re dealing with
and gang activity they’re dealing with
and gang activity they’re dealing with some of these things from violent
some of these things from violent
some of these things from violent communities to substance abuse issues to
communities to substance abuse issues to
communities to substance abuse issues to dysfunctional families lack of
dysfunctional families lack of
dysfunctional families lack of meaningful relationships and a
meaningful relationships and a
meaningful relationships and a disconnection from their community all
disconnection from their community all
disconnection from their community all of those things across the board so for
of those things across the board so for
of those things across the board so for me I want to talk a little bit about my
me I want to talk a little bit about my
me I want to talk a little bit about my turn now I’m from New Bern’s that’s how
turn now I’m from New Bern’s that’s how
turn now I’m from New Bern’s that’s how we pronounce children okay just a
we pronounce children okay just a
we pronounce children okay just a translator for you i mentor 17 kids 16
translator for you i mentor 17 kids 16
translator for you i mentor 17 kids 16 boys and one young lady all of them at
boys and one young lady all of them at
boys and one young lady all of them at some point had been exposed had been a
some point had been exposed had been a
some point had been exposed had been a part of a gang had either dropped out
part of a gang had either dropped out
part of a gang had either dropped out had been on drugs all of them had a list
had been on drugs all of them had a list
had been on drugs all of them had a list of challenges every lasting on one of
of challenges every lasting on one of
of challenges every lasting on one of them now for me my engagement with these
them now for me my engagement with these
them now for me my engagement with these kids was always around career
kids was always around career
kids was always around career exploration it was always around what
exploration it was always around what
exploration it was always around what are you gonna do in next five years what
are you gonna do in next five years what
are you gonna do in next five years what are you gonna do in the next ten years
are you gonna do in the next ten years
are you gonna do in the next ten years and if you could imagine asking any kid
and if you could imagine asking any kid
and if you could imagine asking any kid about what they wanted to do in terms of
about what they wanted to do in terms of
about what they wanted to do in terms of a career more than likely just like my
a career more than likely just like my
a career more than likely just like my kids you were here some type of
kids you were here some type of
kids you were here some type of entertainment some type of athletics no
entertainment some type of athletics no
entertainment some type of athletics no no different than my kids all of my kids
no different than my kids all of my kids
no different than my kids all of my kids want it to be rappers and now I would
want it to be rappers and now I would
want it to be rappers and now I would push them I would say okay well let’s
push them I would say okay well let’s
push them I would say okay well let’s think about a plan B okay just the case
think about a plan B okay just the case
think about a plan B okay just the case the rap thing doesn’t work and so some
the rap thing doesn’t work and so some
the rap thing doesn’t work and so some of the Plan B’s were you know well if
of the Plan B’s were you know well if
of the Plan B’s were you know well if rap doesn’t work I’ll just become a
rap doesn’t work I’ll just become a
rap doesn’t work I’ll just become a lawyer or a doctor you know it you know
lawyer or a doctor you know it you know
lawyer or a doctor you know it you know it’s just if this doesn’t fault it if
it’s just if this doesn’t fault it if
it’s just if this doesn’t fault it if this doesn’t go my way you know I’ll
this doesn’t go my way you know I’ll
this doesn’t go my way you know I’ll just go to med school you know but one
just go to med school you know but one
just go to med school you know but one thing that I found is a common
thing that I found is a common
thing that I found is a common denominator for all of my kids every
denominator for all of my kids every
denominator for all of my kids every last single one of them was the
last single one of them was the
last single one of them was the disconnection to the community that’s
disconnection to the community that’s
disconnection to the community that’s the thing that I think was critical to
the thing that I think was critical to
the thing that I think was critical to understanding how we deal with the
understanding how we deal with the
understanding how we deal with the problem I mean what happened to this
problem I mean what happened to this
problem I mean what happened to this community what happened to the community
community what happened to the community
community what happened to the community that some of us grew up in you know what
that some of us grew up in you know what
that some of us grew up in you know what happened to the community where we would
happened to the community where we would
happened to the community where we would get excited when we saw a teacher in the
get excited when we saw a teacher in the
get excited when we saw a teacher in the grocery store I mean do you remember
grocery store I mean do you remember
grocery store I mean do you remember that going into the grocery store and
that going into the grocery store and
that going into the grocery store and you saw you tell me you will lose your
you saw you tell me you will lose your
you saw you tell me you will lose your mind absolutely I mean just think about
mind absolutely I mean just think about
mind absolutely I mean just think about it I remember seeing mrs. Jones I would
it I remember seeing mrs. Jones I would
it I remember seeing mrs. Jones I would run a ghost tell my my saw I saw Miss
run a ghost tell my my saw I saw Miss
run a ghost tell my my saw I saw Miss Jones
Jones
Jones fine milk oh it was amazing it was
fine milk oh it was amazing it was
fine milk oh it was amazing it was amazing because in my mind I my teacher
amazing because in my mind I my teacher
amazing because in my mind I my teacher actually you know after class would go
actually you know after class would go
actually you know after class would go into a closet and plug themselves back
into a closet and plug themselves back
into a closet and plug themselves back up that was my that’s where my thinking
up that was my that’s where my thinking
up that was my that’s where my thinking was but that community the community
was but that community the community
was but that community the community that my parents talked about when they
that my parents talked about when they
that my parents talked about when they would say well we had you know we had to
would say well we had you know we had to
would say well we had you know we had to walk 20 miles of school and snow up
walk 20 miles of school and snow up
walk 20 miles of school and snow up hills both ways you know that community
hills both ways you know that community
hills both ways you know that community but it was the same community that he
but it was the same community that he
but it was the same community that he said that if he got in trouble he could
said that if he got in trouble he could
said that if he got in trouble he could be disciplined by a neighbor the same
be disciplined by a neighbor the same
be disciplined by a neighbor the same community if something happened down the
community if something happened down the
community if something happened down the street his parents would know before he
street his parents would know before he
street his parents would know before he even got home that’s the community that
even got home that’s the community that
even got home that’s the community that they were talking about and for me I
they were talking about and for me I
they were talking about and for me I remember you know for me when I think
remember you know for me when I think
remember you know for me when I think about my responsibility to being a part
about my responsibility to being a part
about my responsibility to being a part of a community that’s supportive you
of a community that’s supportive you
of a community that’s supportive you know I remember seeing this kid walk
know I remember seeing this kid walk
know I remember seeing this kid walk around in my neighborhood and he would
around in my neighborhood and he would
around in my neighborhood and he would always smoke a cigarette I tell you guys
always smoke a cigarette I tell you guys
always smoke a cigarette I tell you guys he could not have been 13 14 years old
he could not have been 13 14 years old
he could not have been 13 14 years old just smoking a cigarette walking around
just smoking a cigarette walking around
just smoking a cigarette walking around now that should tell you something a 13
now that should tell you something a 13
now that should tell you something a 13 or 14 year old walking around with
or 14 year old walking around with
or 14 year old walking around with walked right by an adult smoking a
walked right by an adult smoking a
walked right by an adult smoking a cigarette so to me I said oh my goodness
cigarette so to me I said oh my goodness
cigarette so to me I said oh my goodness you know somebody needs to do something
you know somebody needs to do something
you know somebody needs to do something about this kid smoking cigarettes and it
about this kid smoking cigarettes and it
about this kid smoking cigarettes and it hit me why don’t I do something about
hit me why don’t I do something about
hit me why don’t I do something about this young man so I so next to my song
this young man so I so next to my song
this young man so I so next to my song he’s smoking I said hey man you you know
he’s smoking I said hey man you you know
he’s smoking I said hey man you you know you’re not old enough to smoke let’s put
you’re not old enough to smoke let’s put
you’re not old enough to smoke let’s put that down and he said you know he didn’t
that down and he said you know he didn’t
that down and he said you know he didn’t he didn’t really he just took another
he didn’t really he just took another
he didn’t really he just took another drag kept on walking saw him again hey
drag kept on walking saw him again hey
drag kept on walking saw him again hey come on man you shouldn’t be smoking
just ignored me this happened about 10
just ignored me this happened about 10 to 11 times by the 12th time this is
to 11 times by the 12th time this is
to 11 times by the 12th time this is what I saw hey how you doing how you
what I saw hey how you doing how you
what I saw hey how you doing how you doing sir what’s going on oh yeah man
doing sir what’s going on oh yeah man
doing sir what’s going on oh yeah man how the kids are they good he started to
how the kids are they good he started to
how the kids are they good he started to understand now the expectation that the
understand now the expectation that the
understand now the expectation that the bar had been raised that that wasn’t
bar had been raised that that wasn’t
bar had been raised that that wasn’t accepted that was no longer normality
accepted that was no longer normality
accepted that was no longer normality and so when we think about the community
and so when we think about the community
and so when we think about the community it really becomes something it becomes
it really becomes something it becomes
it really becomes something it becomes individual focused and so for me the
individual focused and so for me the
individual focused and so for me the answer is really complex and dealing
answer is really complex and dealing
answer is really complex and dealing with this problem okay I’m going to give
with this problem okay I’m going to give
with this problem okay I’m going to give it to you here it is y’all
we got to look in the mirror it’s time
we got to look in the mirror it’s time for us to look in the mirror and ask
for us to look in the mirror and ask
for us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves what’s my role in all of this
ourselves what’s my role in all of this
ourselves what’s my role in all of this and here’s the charge now I’m going to
and here’s the charge now I’m going to
and here’s the charge now I’m going to give you the charge in a very simple way
give you the charge in a very simple way
give you the charge in a very simple way I’ll call it the 3 R’s reach in which is
I’ll call it the 3 R’s reach in which is
I’ll call it the 3 R’s reach in which is focusing in on and thinking about this
focusing in on and thinking about this
focusing in on and thinking about this is a self-assessment think about your
is a self-assessment think about your
is a self-assessment think about your community thinking about what are the
community thinking about what are the
community thinking about what are the positive attributes to your community
positive attributes to your community
positive attributes to your community whether it’s now or before and what are
whether it’s now or before and what are
whether it’s now or before and what are some of those things that you felt like
some of those things that you felt like
some of those things that you felt like really helped you become who you are
really helped you become who you are
really helped you become who you are today and then think about what what and
today and then think about what what and
today and then think about what what and what are some of the reasons and
what are some of the reasons and
what are some of the reasons and reevaluate why we disengaged while
reevaluate why we disengaged while
reevaluate why we disengaged while slowly are we less involved and getting
slowly are we less involved and getting
slowly are we less involved and getting engaged with the young people within our
engaged with the young people within our
engaged with the young people within our community was it fear is it time
community was it fear is it time
community was it fear is it time constraints is it maybe you maybe we
constraints is it maybe you maybe we
constraints is it maybe you maybe we teach the way that we were taught if
teach the way that we were taught if
teach the way that we were taught if that makes sense to you so in other
that makes sense to you so in other
that makes sense to you so in other words I was taught and by looking at my
words I was taught and by looking at my
words I was taught and by looking at my parents my parents were never engaged so
parents my parents were never engaged so
parents my parents were never engaged so that became what I viewed community
that became what I viewed community
that became what I viewed community engagement it was about more about just
engagement it was about more about just
engagement it was about more about just dealing with what what’s in front of me
dealing with what what’s in front of me
dealing with what what’s in front of me and then lastly in our self-assessment
and then lastly in our self-assessment
and then lastly in our self-assessment start to think about some of the talents
start to think about some of the talents
start to think about some of the talents that you have everybody in here has a
that you have everybody in here has a
that you have everybody in here has a gift everybody has a talent what’s
gift everybody has a talent what’s
gift everybody has a talent what’s something that you could share so that’s
something that you could share so that’s
something that you could share so that’s reach-in the second one is reaching out
reach-in the second one is reaching out
reach-in the second one is reaching out now this is your opportunity to actually
now this is your opportunity to actually
now this is your opportunity to actually get into some actionable items become a
get into some actionable items become a
get into some actionable items become a mentor become a volunteer sharing your
mentor become a volunteer sharing your
mentor become a volunteer sharing your talents to a young person looking at
talents to a young person looking at
talents to a young person looking at opportunities to engage with them and
opportunities to engage with them and
opportunities to engage with them and for God’s sake know their names
for God’s sake know their names
for God’s sake know their names and I’m just saying just as simple as
and I’m just saying just as simple as
and I’m just saying just as simple as knowing the kid’s name in your community
knowing the kid’s name in your community
knowing the kid’s name in your community for me I’m always known in my
for me I’m always known in my
for me I’m always known in my neighborhood as the guy that asked you
neighborhood as the guy that asked you
neighborhood as the guy that asked you about what college you go into that’s my
about what college you go into that’s my
about what college you go into that’s my introduction that’s my thing that’s my
introduction that’s my thing that’s my
introduction that’s my thing that’s my stick okay if I see a kid hey man what
stick okay if I see a kid hey man what
stick okay if I see a kid hey man what college you going to so I saw this one
college you going to so I saw this one
college you going to so I saw this one kid I say hey man what college you going
kid I say hey man what college you going
kid I say hey man what college you going to and he just ignored me completely all
to and he just ignored me completely all
to and he just ignored me completely all right hey man what colored you going to
right hey man what colored you going to
right hey man what colored you going to he just walked right by me I this
he just walked right by me I this
he just walked right by me I this happened literally three to four months
happened literally three to four months
happened literally three to four months of me asking this young man about what
of me asking this young man about what
of me asking this young man about what college he was going to and so that one
college he was going to and so that one
college he was going to and so that one fateful day
fateful day
fateful day one day when I literally saw him I saw
one day when I literally saw him I saw
one day when I literally saw him I saw him out the corner of my eyes and he ran
him out the corner of my eyes and he ran
him out the corner of my eyes and he ran down the street to intersect with me and
down the street to intersect with me and
down the street to intersect with me and get in my path and I walked up to him he
get in my path and I walked up to him he
get in my path and I walked up to him he just stood there what was he doing
just stood there what was he doing
just stood there what was he doing waiting for me to ask the question and
waiting for me to ask the question and
waiting for me to ask the question and then I said hey man what color you going
then I said hey man what color you going
then I said hey man what color you going to he put his shoulders back chin up
to he put his shoulders back chin up
to he put his shoulders back chin up Harvick
Harvick
Harvick I said that’s beautiful man I gave him a
I said that’s beautiful man I gave him a
I said that’s beautiful man I gave him a dad I said aw man that’s awesome hey man
dad I said aw man that’s awesome hey man
dad I said aw man that’s awesome hey man where’s over that oh man but the next
where’s over that oh man but the next
where’s over that oh man but the next time I saw him he told me exactly where
time I saw him he told me exactly where
time I saw him he told me exactly where Harvick was he pulled out a piece of
Harvick was he pulled out a piece of
Harvick was he pulled out a piece of paper that was balled up and he also
paper that was balled up and he also
paper that was balled up and he also told me about the grades that you will
told me about the grades that you will
told me about the grades that you will need to get it to heart rate he even
need to get it to heart rate he even
need to get it to heart rate he even told me about the male to female ratio
told me about the male to female ratio
told me about the male to female ratio eight to one eight to one today now he’s
eight to one eight to one today now he’s
eight to one eight to one today now he’s talking and having conversation as he
talking and having conversation as he
talking and having conversation as he applied to different schools one being
applied to different schools one being
applied to different schools one being Harvard the other being Wake Forest
Harvard the other being Wake Forest
Harvard the other being Wake Forest University he went to Wake Forest and he
University he went to Wake Forest and he
University he went to Wake Forest and he gave me the letter from Harvard and
gave me the letter from Harvard and
gave me the letter from Harvard and hadn’t been opened and he said because I
hadn’t been opened and he said because I
hadn’t been opened and he said because I know I made it I don’t even have to look
know I made it I don’t even have to look
know I made it I don’t even have to look at it so for me the last R is the most
at it so for me the last R is the most
at it so for me the last R is the most important one they’re supporting youth
important one they’re supporting youth
important one they’re supporting youth advocacy supporting education advocacy
advocacy supporting education advocacy
advocacy supporting education advocacy looking for organizations in your
looking for organizations in your
looking for organizations in your community and just being there and
community and just being there and
community and just being there and saying how can I help and speak up and
saying how can I help and speak up and
saying how can I help and speak up and be heard never let your voice die down
be heard never let your voice die down
be heard never let your voice die down these are so important now I’m not going
these are so important now I’m not going
these are so important now I’m not going to lie to you I’m not gonna lie to you
to lie to you I’m not gonna lie to you
to lie to you I’m not gonna lie to you and say that every single time I’m not
and say that every single time I’m not
and say that every single time I’m not going to say that all of my kids were
going to say that all of my kids were
going to say that all of my kids were success I’ve actually lost six kids to
success I’ve actually lost six kids to
success I’ve actually lost six kids to gang violence six of those seven teens
gang violence six of those seven teens
gang violence six of those seven teens and I still talk about them inclusively
and I still talk about them inclusively
and I still talk about them inclusively my last young man died January 8 2004
my last young man died January 8 2004
my last young man died January 8 2004 and it’s tough I want to give up
and it’s tough I want to give up
and it’s tough I want to give up sometimes I even question if I’m really
sometimes I even question if I’m really
sometimes I even question if I’m really making a difference but when I look at
making a difference but when I look at
making a difference but when I look at my other kids when I look at my other
my other kids when I look at my other
my other kids when I look at my other turn I have young people that have
turn I have young people that have
turn I have young people that have gradual
gradual
gradual from East Carolina University other kids
from East Carolina University other kids
from East Carolina University other kids graduated from Howard University young
graduated from Howard University young
graduated from Howard University young man who said by 2028 he will be a
man who said by 2028 he will be a
man who said by 2028 he will be a running for the office of the presidency
running for the office of the presidency
running for the office of the presidency he told me that and I believe him I
he told me that and I believe him I
he told me that and I believe him I truly do I had a young man who told me
truly do I had a young man who told me
truly do I had a young man who told me he said you know what if you have an
he said you know what if you have an
he said you know what if you have an opportunity to speak to any adult I want
opportunity to speak to any adult I want
opportunity to speak to any adult I want you to tell them something for me so I’m
you to tell them something for me so I’m
you to tell them something for me so I’m gonna share that with you
gonna share that with you
gonna share that with you he said if you and he’s referring to the
he said if you and he’s referring to the
he said if you and he’s referring to the folks in the audience if you treat the
folks in the audience if you treat the
folks in the audience if you treat the children you are working within your
children you are working within your
children you are working within your community or that you know in the
community or that you know in the
community or that you know in the community the same way that you treat
community the same way that you treat
community the same way that you treat the child in your house or your child
the child in your house or your child
the child in your house or your child then we wouldn’t have a problem he told
then we wouldn’t have a problem he told
then we wouldn’t have a problem he told me that in 2003 my son was born in 2005
me that in 2003 my son was born in 2005
me that in 2003 my son was born in 2005 and that’s when I got it that’s when it
and that’s when I got it that’s when it
and that’s when I got it that’s when it hit me
hit me
hit me that’s when the culpability that’s when
that’s when the culpability that’s when
that’s when the culpability that’s when the importance that’s when I understood
the importance that’s when I understood
the importance that’s when I understood that we have to have it’s to sear
that we have to have it’s to sear
that we have to have it’s to sear passion to engaging our young people and
passion to engaging our young people and
passion to engaging our young people and sincere passion to ensure that they
sincere passion to ensure that they
sincere passion to ensure that they become successful so what I’ll leave you
become successful so what I’ll leave you
become successful so what I’ll leave you with is the greeting and a saying about
with is the greeting and a saying about
with is the greeting and a saying about the Masai people out of West Africa
the Masai people out of West Africa
the Masai people out of West Africa their greeting is because Kazarian and
their greeting is because Kazarian and
their greeting is because Kazarian and Guerra Caesarea and Guerra which means
Guerra Caesarea and Guerra which means
Guerra Caesarea and Guerra which means in how are the children
in how are the children
in how are the children thank you so very much
”
Be First to Comment