I’m gonna talk to you today about why we matter the question is really I mean do
matter the question is really I mean do
matter the question is really I mean do i matter does my voice matter does my
i matter does my voice matter does my
i matter does my voice matter does my place in the world really matter I mean
place in the world really matter I mean
place in the world really matter I mean after all I’m just one person out of
after all I’m just one person out of
after all I’m just one person out of billions and billions this tiny speck of
billions and billions this tiny speck of
billions and billions this tiny speck of dust on this giant planet and do I
dust on this giant planet and do I
dust on this giant planet and do I really matter when 1963 a man by the
really matter when 1963 a man by the
really matter when 1963 a man by the name of Edward Lorenz attended the New
name of Edward Lorenz attended the New
name of Edward Lorenz attended the New York Academy of Science and he had this
York Academy of Science and he had this
York Academy of Science and he had this idea
idea
idea his idea was had a butterfly in China
his idea was had a butterfly in China
his idea was had a butterfly in China could move its wings and move molecules
could move its wings and move molecules
could move its wings and move molecules of air and those molecules of air would
of air and those molecules of air would
of air and those molecules of air would move other molecules of air and there
move other molecules of air and there
move other molecules of air and there would be enough molecules of air that
would be enough molecules of air that
would be enough molecules of air that were moved that it could create a
were moved that it could create a
were moved that it could create a hurricane or a tornado in New Mexico and
hurricane or a tornado in New Mexico and
hurricane or a tornado in New Mexico and of course he was left out and poor
of course he was left out and poor
of course he was left out and poor Edward had to go home with his tail
Edward had to go home with his tail
Edward had to go home with his tail between his legs and he was slightly
between his legs and he was slightly
between his legs and he was slightly embarrassed but 30 years later it became
embarrassed but 30 years later it became
embarrassed but 30 years later it became a law the law of sensitive dependence
a law the law of sensitive dependence
a law the law of sensitive dependence upon initial conditions what that meant
upon initial conditions what that meant
upon initial conditions what that meant was a single action could cause a
was a single action could cause a
was a single action could cause a reaction on the other side of the world
reaction on the other side of the world
reaction on the other side of the world far beyond this moment in this time and
far beyond this moment in this time and
far beyond this moment in this time and it became part of the chaos theory now
it became part of the chaos theory now
it became part of the chaos theory now I’m going to tell you that I’m not going
I’m going to tell you that I’m not going
I’m going to tell you that I’m not going to talk to you about butterflies because
to talk to you about butterflies because
to talk to you about butterflies because other than the fact that I really think
other than the fact that I really think
other than the fact that I really think they’re pretty I don’t know anything
they’re pretty I don’t know anything
they’re pretty I don’t know anything about butterflies and I’m not going to
about butterflies and I’m not going to
about butterflies and I’m not going to talk to you about weather patterns
talk to you about weather patterns
talk to you about weather patterns because I really really don’t know
because I really really don’t know
because I really really don’t know anything about weather patterns at all
anything about weather patterns at all
anything about weather patterns at all but I do want to talk to you about why
but I do want to talk to you about why
but I do want to talk to you about why we matter and going to tell you a story
we matter and going to tell you a story
we matter and going to tell you a story to illustrate why your first movement
to illustrate why your first movement
to illustrate why your first movement matters part of the original part of the
matters part of the original part of the
matters part of the original part of the chaos theory and to illustrate that I’m
chaos theory and to illustrate that I’m
chaos theory and to illustrate that I’m going to tell you a story
going to tell you a story
going to tell you a story in 1984 there’s a
in 1984 there’s a
in 1984 there’s a girl she’s 22 years old she’s attending
girl she’s 22 years old she’s attending
girl she’s 22 years old she’s attending a small college in a small town in North
a small college in a small town in North
a small college in a small town in North Carolina now she’s doing all the right
Carolina now she’s doing all the right
Carolina now she’s doing all the right things
things
things okay she’s dating the right guy he’s in
okay she’s dating the right guy he’s in
okay she’s dating the right guy he’s in med school she’s working two jobs
med school she’s working two jobs
med school she’s working two jobs because she wants to be an independent
because she wants to be an independent
because she wants to be an independent young woman and pay her own bills
young woman and pay her own bills
young woman and pay her own bills she studied really really hard she’s
she studied really really hard she’s
she studied really really hard she’s maintaining a 4.0 GPA and she’s doing so
maintaining a 4.0 GPA and she’s doing so
maintaining a 4.0 GPA and she’s doing so well that she’s actually been invited to
well that she’s actually been invited to
well that she’s actually been invited to attend another University for a master’s
attend another University for a master’s
attend another University for a master’s program as a teaching assistant she’s
program as a teaching assistant she’s
program as a teaching assistant she’s gonna graduate summa laude she’s
gonna graduate summa laude she’s
gonna graduate summa laude she’s gonna be valedictorian of her class when
gonna be valedictorian of her class when
gonna be valedictorian of her class when she graduates now it’s July of 1984
she graduates now it’s July of 1984
she graduates now it’s July of 1984 she’s going out with her boyfriend they
she’s going out with her boyfriend they
she’s going out with her boyfriend they play tennis they go to dinner later that
play tennis they go to dinner later that
play tennis they go to dinner later that evening she becomes violently sick and
evening she becomes violently sick and
evening she becomes violently sick and she asked her boyfriend to please take
she asked her boyfriend to please take
she asked her boyfriend to please take her home and he does and he’s very
her home and he does and he’s very
her home and he does and he’s very polite about that her last memory of
polite about that her last memory of
polite about that her last memory of that night is her boyfriend giving her
that night is her boyfriend giving her
that night is her boyfriend giving her some aspirin as he leaves to go home
some aspirin as he leaves to go home
some aspirin as he leaves to go home sometime around three o’clock in the
sometime around three o’clock in the
sometime around three o’clock in the morning she hears a noise in her
morning she hears a noise in her
morning she hears a noise in her apartment she lives alone she struggles
apartment she lives alone she struggles
apartment she lives alone she struggles to wake up she’s trying to figure out if
to wake up she’s trying to figure out if
to wake up she’s trying to figure out if the noise is actually real or not real
the noise is actually real or not real
the noise is actually real or not real she feels something brush against her
she feels something brush against her
she feels something brush against her arm she looks to the side of her bed she
arm she looks to the side of her bed she
arm she looks to the side of her bed she sees the top of someone’s head she
sees the top of someone’s head she
sees the top of someone’s head she thinks this might be her boyfriend but
thinks this might be her boyfriend but
thinks this might be her boyfriend but she realizes there’s no way it could be
she realizes there’s no way it could be
she realizes there’s no way it could be your boyfriend he never spent the night
your boyfriend he never spent the night
your boyfriend he never spent the night with her she says who is it who’s there
with her she says who is it who’s there
with her she says who is it who’s there and at that moment a strange man jumps
and at that moment a strange man jumps
and at that moment a strange man jumps on her bed as she screams he straddles
on her bed as she screams he straddles
on her bed as she screams he straddles her body puts a gloved hand across her
her body puts a gloved hand across her
her body puts a gloved hand across her face and a knife to the left side of her
face and a knife to the left side of her
face and a knife to the left side of her throat and he says shut up or I will
throat and he says shut up or I will
throat and he says shut up or I will kill you now again in these moments
kill you now again in these moments
kill you now again in these moments she’s struggling to try to figure out
she’s struggling to try to figure out
she’s struggling to try to figure out what’s actually happening to her is this
what’s actually happening to her is this
what’s actually happening to her is this a joke could this possibly have been a
a joke could this possibly have been a
a joke could this possibly have been a break-in she startled him she offers him
break-in she startled him she offers him
break-in she startled him she offers him her car her credit cards her cash please
her car her credit cards her cash please
her car her credit cards her cash please she says don’t hurt me I won’t call the
she says don’t hurt me I won’t call the
she says don’t hurt me I won’t call the police you don’t have to do this
police you don’t have to do this
police you don’t have to do this and he says to her I don’t want your
and he says to her I don’t want your
and he says to her I don’t want your money
money
money and at that moment it becomes crystal
and at that moment it becomes crystal
and at that moment it becomes crystal clear what’s getting ready to happen to
clear what’s getting ready to happen to
clear what’s getting ready to happen to her she knows she know she’s gonna be
her she knows she know she’s gonna be
her she knows she know she’s gonna be raped she knows this but she doesn’t
raped she knows this but she doesn’t
raped she knows this but she doesn’t know though is will she die is this the
know though is will she die is this the
know though is will she die is this the last face she’ll see before she leaves
last face she’ll see before she leaves
last face she’ll see before she leaves this earth is this the last thing that
this earth is this the last thing that
this earth is this the last thing that will touch her skin before she dies and
will touch her skin before she dies and
will touch her skin before she dies and she wonders to herself how will it feel
she wonders to herself how will it feel
she wonders to herself how will it feel when I die will it be fast will I not
when I die will it be fast will I not
when I die will it be fast will I not know well it just be over with and I’ll
know well it just be over with and I’ll
know well it just be over with and I’ll just be dead or let me slow will he beat
just be dead or let me slow will he beat
just be dead or let me slow will he beat me well I die slowly well I feel it will
me well I die slowly well I feel it will
me well I die slowly well I feel it will it be painful and then she starts
it be painful and then she starts
it be painful and then she starts picturing her mother and her father and
picturing her mother and her father and
picturing her mother and her father and she wants to tell them one more time
she wants to tell them one more time
she wants to tell them one more time before she dies I love you thank you and
before she dies I love you thank you and
before she dies I love you thank you and then something happens she realizes that
then something happens she realizes that
then something happens she realizes that you know what I may die but it won’t be
you know what I may die but it won’t be
you know what I may die but it won’t be on my back there’s a way to survive I’m
on my back there’s a way to survive I’m
on my back there’s a way to survive I’m smart and I can figure this out and she
smart and I can figure this out and she
smart and I can figure this out and she begins to formulate a plan and her plan
begins to formulate a plan and her plan
begins to formulate a plan and her plan is this live remember everything about
is this live remember everything about
is this live remember everything about this person as he’s raping you and then
this person as he’s raping you and then
this person as he’s raping you and then help the police find him over the next
help the police find him over the next
help the police find him over the next 20 minutes as her body becomes a toilet
20 minutes as her body becomes a toilet
20 minutes as her body becomes a toilet and she’s assaulted she begins to look
and she’s assaulted she begins to look
and she’s assaulted she begins to look in his face and those moments and those
in his face and those moments and those
in his face and those moments and those glimpses of light she begins to memorize
glimpses of light she begins to memorize
glimpses of light she begins to memorize the shape of his eyes his voice his nose
the shape of his eyes his voice his nose
the shape of his eyes his voice his nose his hairline everything about his face
his hairline everything about his face
his hairline everything about his face because she will live and she will see
because she will live and she will see
because she will live and she will see him rot in hell she pulls a blanket off
him rot in hell she pulls a blanket off
him rot in hell she pulls a blanket off the edge of her bed at one point she
the edge of her bed at one point she
the edge of her bed at one point she says please um I’m afraid of knives
says please um I’m afraid of knives
says please um I’m afraid of knives please take the knife outside and if you
please take the knife outside and if you
please take the knife outside and if you do that I’ll let you come
do that I’ll let you come
do that I’ll let you come again and he believes her her plan is to
again and he believes her her plan is to
again and he believes her her plan is to somehow get to the bathroom and escape
somehow get to the bathroom and escape
somehow get to the bathroom and escape through the window when she gets to the
through the window when she gets to the
through the window when she gets to the bathroom she realizes she can’t fit
bathroom she realizes she can’t fit
bathroom she realizes she can’t fit through the window it’s too small
through the window it’s too small
through the window it’s too small she’s got to rethink her plan she
she’s got to rethink her plan she
she’s got to rethink her plan she remembers at that moment he said he had
remembers at that moment he said he had
remembers at that moment he said he had come through my kitchen door I must get
come through my kitchen door I must get
come through my kitchen door I must get to the kitchen door can I please get a
to the kitchen door can I please get a
to the kitchen door can I please get a drink of water first please before we do
drink of water first please before we do
drink of water first please before we do this and he says yeah I make me a drink
this and he says yeah I make me a drink
this and he says yeah I make me a drink and we’ll have a party she makes her way
and we’ll have a party she makes her way
and we’ll have a party she makes her way to the kitchen and she pulls her blanket
to the kitchen and she pulls her blanket
to the kitchen and she pulls her blanket tight she’s making noise and she runs
tight she’s making noise and she runs
tight she’s making noise and she runs it’s 3:30 in the morning it’s raining
it’s 3:30 in the morning it’s raining
it’s 3:30 in the morning it’s raining the grass is slippery she doesn’t know
the grass is slippery she doesn’t know
the grass is slippery she doesn’t know where she’s going to go he’s chasing her
where she’s going to go he’s chasing her
where she’s going to go he’s chasing her through the dark her only plans to
through the dark her only plans to
through the dark her only plans to somehow find light find safety maybe
somehow find light find safety maybe
somehow find light find safety maybe somebody will discover me somebody will
somebody will discover me somebody will
somebody will discover me somebody will saved my life she ends up in a carport
saved my life she ends up in a carport
saved my life she ends up in a carport the family happens to be home as she’s
the family happens to be home as she’s
the family happens to be home as she’s screaming and they let her in and she’s
screaming and they let her in and she’s
screaming and they let her in and she’s quickly taken to the hospital where her
quickly taken to the hospital where her
quickly taken to the hospital where her body now is a crime scene and the body
body now is a crime scene and the body
body now is a crime scene and the body must be processed because the evidence
must be processed because the evidence
must be processed because the evidence now is on her and in her and it’s got to
now is on her and in her and it’s got to
now is on her and in her and it’s got to be collected and put into a ziploc bags
be collected and put into a ziploc bags
be collected and put into a ziploc bags and it’s there she learns that he had
and it’s there she learns that he had
and it’s there she learns that he had left her apartment and had raped another
left her apartment and had raped another
left her apartment and had raped another woman down the street and she could hear
woman down the street and she could hear
woman down the street and she could hear the woman crying down the hallway in the
the woman crying down the hallway in the
the woman crying down the hallway in the emergency room and she hates him she
emergency room and she hates him she
emergency room and she hates him she wants to kill him the police asked her
wants to kill him the police asked her
wants to kill him the police asked her if you got a good look yes I did please
if you got a good look yes I did please
if you got a good look yes I did please I want to help you and she begins to
I want to help you and she begins to
I want to help you and she begins to help them come up with a description
help them come up with a description
help them come up with a description which results in a composite sketch
which results in a composite sketch
which results in a composite sketch which results in a suspect she’s caught
which results in a suspect she’s caught
which results in a suspect she’s caught at the police station she’s able to pick
at the police station she’s able to pick
at the police station she’s able to pick him out of a photographic lineup she’s
him out of a photographic lineup she’s
him out of a photographic lineup she’s able to pick him out of a physical
able to pick him out of a physical
able to pick him out of a physical lineup his name is Ronald cotton Ronald
lineup his name is Ronald cotton Ronald
lineup his name is Ronald cotton Ronald cotton would be arrested he would be
cotton would be arrested he would be
cotton would be arrested he would be tried in January of 1985 after two weeks
tried in January of 1985 after two weeks
tried in January of 1985 after two weeks of court he would be found guilty of
of court he would be found guilty of
of court he would be found guilty of first degree rape first free sex offense
first degree rape first free sex offense
first degree rape first free sex offense first degree breaking and entering and
first degree breaking and entering and
first degree breaking and entering and he would be sentenced to life in 54
he would be sentenced to life in 54
he would be sentenced to life in 54 years and then they would Pat her on the
years and then they would Pat her on the
years and then they would Pat her on the head and they would say now you get to
head and they would say now you get to
head and they would say now you get to put your life back together again you
put your life back together again you
put your life back together again you can move on you can move forward but she
can move on you can move forward but she
can move on you can move forward but she know
know
know she can’t because her life is over so
she can’t because her life is over so
she can’t because her life is over so your boyfriend doesn’t want to marry her
your boyfriend doesn’t want to marry her
your boyfriend doesn’t want to marry her now because well she needs a lot of
now because well she needs a lot of
now because well she needs a lot of support and her friends don’t really
support and her friends don’t really
support and her friends don’t really want to hang out with her because she
want to hang out with her because she
want to hang out with her because she cries a lot
cries a lot
cries a lot and she can’t go to class the next day
and she can’t go to class the next day
and she can’t go to class the next day because she couldn’t go to bed the night
because she couldn’t go to bed the night
because she couldn’t go to bed the night before because she can hear him coming
before because she can hear him coming
before because she can hear him coming up the steps she can feel him underneath
up the steps she can feel him underneath
up the steps she can feel him underneath the bed he’s there every night and the
the bed he’s there every night and the
the bed he’s there every night and the only way she can get through the days
only way she can get through the days
only way she can get through the days and the night it’s with drugs and
and the night it’s with drugs and
and the night it’s with drugs and alcohol and so she does and she consumes
alcohol and so she does and she consumes
alcohol and so she does and she consumes so much drugs and so much alcohol that
so much drugs and so much alcohol that
so much drugs and so much alcohol that by April of 1985 she’s almost dead she
by April of 1985 she’s almost dead she
by April of 1985 she’s almost dead she struggles to recover she graduates she
struggles to recover she graduates she
struggles to recover she graduates she gets a job she falls in love again
gets a job she falls in love again
gets a job she falls in love again she’s married in 1988 in the fall of
she’s married in 1988 in the fall of
she’s married in 1988 in the fall of 1989 she is pregnant in the spring of
1989 she is pregnant in the spring of
1989 she is pregnant in the spring of 1990 she gives birth to triplets two
1990 she gives birth to triplets two
1990 she gives birth to triplets two little girls and a baby boy these
little girls and a baby boy these
little girls and a baby boy these rewards right this thing this task this
rewards right this thing this task this
rewards right this thing this task this job she’s got a direction she’s got
job she’s got a direction she’s got
job she’s got a direction she’s got purpose she matters until 1995 when she
purpose she matters until 1995 when she
purpose she matters until 1995 when she gets a phone call from the investigator
gets a phone call from the investigator
gets a phone call from the investigator from the crime and he says hey there’s
from the crime and he says hey there’s
from the crime and he says hey there’s this thing called DNA have you heard of
this thing called DNA have you heard of
this thing called DNA have you heard of it yes she says well Ronald cotton after
it yes she says well Ronald cotton after
it yes she says well Ronald cotton after 11 years says he’s innocent well we know
11 years says he’s innocent well we know
11 years says he’s innocent well we know he’s not but your DNA your blood sample
he’s not but your DNA your blood sample
he’s not but your DNA your blood sample from your rape kit is disintegrated
from your rape kit is disintegrated
from your rape kit is disintegrated you’ll have to submit to a new blood
you’ll have to submit to a new blood
you’ll have to submit to a new blood test to which she says take my blood run
test to which she says take my blood run
test to which she says take my blood run the tests I’ve got five year-old
the tests I’ve got five year-old
the tests I’ve got five year-old children I can’t do this again
children I can’t do this again
children I can’t do this again she gives them the blood the test goes
she gives them the blood the test goes
she gives them the blood the test goes to the lab three months later in her
to the lab three months later in her
to the lab three months later in her kitchen they stand and they tell her
kitchen they stand and they tell her
kitchen they stand and they tell her it’s not Ronald Cotton’s DNA as Bobby
it’s not Ronald Cotton’s DNA as Bobby
it’s not Ronald Cotton’s DNA as Bobby pulls
pulls
pulls a serial rapist who had terrorized the
a serial rapist who had terrorized the
a serial rapist who had terrorized the city who had raped six more women who
city who had raped six more women who
city who had raped six more women who had created a lot of harm and trauma and
had created a lot of harm and trauma and
had created a lot of harm and trauma and she’s left with this and once again her
she’s left with this and once again her
she’s left with this and once again her life is now tattered and shredded like
life is now tattered and shredded like
life is now tattered and shredded like the aftermath of a hurricane and there’s
the aftermath of a hurricane and there’s
the aftermath of a hurricane and there’s pieces of her everywhere and she’s
pieces of her everywhere and she’s
pieces of her everywhere and she’s trying to pick up those pieces and make
trying to pick up those pieces and make
trying to pick up those pieces and make sense of it so for the next two years
sense of it so for the next two years
sense of it so for the next two years she becomes depressed and debilitated
she becomes depressed and debilitated
she becomes depressed and debilitated and paralyzed with depression and fear
and paralyzed with depression and fear
and paralyzed with depression and fear and anger and shame and guilt what do I
and anger and shame and guilt what do I
and anger and shame and guilt what do I do with this she thinks and so she makes
do with this she thinks and so she makes
do with this she thinks and so she makes a decision I need to meet Ronald cotton
a decision I need to meet Ronald cotton
a decision I need to meet Ronald cotton and so in a small church a mile and a
and so in a small church a mile and a
and so in a small church a mile and a half and where she had been raped 13
half and where she had been raped 13
half and where she had been raped 13 years before she waits for this man to
years before she waits for this man to
years before she waits for this man to come into the room and she sees him and
come into the room and she sees him and
come into the room and she sees him and she’s crying and she says mr. cotton if
she’s crying and she says mr. cotton if
she’s crying and she says mr. cotton if I spent every second of every minute of
I spent every second of every minute of
I spent every second of every minute of every hour of every day for the rest of
every hour of every day for the rest of
every hour of every day for the rest of my life telling you I’m sorry could you
my life telling you I’m sorry could you
my life telling you I’m sorry could you ever forgive me and he takes her hand
ever forgive me and he takes her hand
ever forgive me and he takes her hand and he cries and he says I’m not angry
and he cries and he says I’m not angry
and he cries and he says I’m not angry at you
at you
at you I gave you years ago we were both
I gave you years ago we were both
I gave you years ago we were both victims of the same person we were both
victims of the same person we were both
victims of the same person we were both victims of the criminal justice system
victims of the criminal justice system
victims of the criminal justice system now by now you’ve probably figured out
now by now you’ve probably figured out
now by now you’ve probably figured out that girl was me that initial movement
that girl was me that initial movement
that girl was me that initial movement changed my life it changed Ronald’s life
changed my life it changed Ronald’s life
changed my life it changed Ronald’s life it changed detective Gordon’s life but
it changed detective Gordon’s life but
it changed detective Gordon’s life but much like the aftermath of a hurricane
much like the aftermath of a hurricane
much like the aftermath of a hurricane or tornado two things happen right we
or tornado two things happen right we
or tornado two things happen right we either say forget it I can’t rebuild I
either say forget it I can’t rebuild I
either say forget it I can’t rebuild I walk away or we put
walk away or we put
walk away or we put we can back together again and we become
we can back together again and we become
we can back together again and we become our better angels I had a decision to
our better angels I had a decision to
our better angels I had a decision to make for the next 20 years I’d find
make for the next 20 years I’d find
make for the next 20 years I’d find myself on stages much like this telling
myself on stages much like this telling
myself on stages much like this telling my story bury myself and what I would
my story bury myself and what I would
my story bury myself and what I would find in those 20 years is the stories of
find in those 20 years is the stories of
find in those 20 years is the stories of the men and women who had been
the men and women who had been
the men and women who had been wrongfully convicted the men who had
wrongfully convicted the men who had
wrongfully convicted the men who had been walking to the store to get sweet
been walking to the store to get sweet
been walking to the store to get sweet potatoes for their grandmother only to
potatoes for their grandmother only to
potatoes for their grandmother only to be released to freedom 27 years later
be released to freedom 27 years later
be released to freedom 27 years later the mothers who would be accused of
the mothers who would be accused of
the mothers who would be accused of abusing their children and be separated
abusing their children and be separated
abusing their children and be separated from their children only to come home
from their children only to come home
from their children only to come home and their kids were grown the moms and
and their kids were grown the moms and
and their kids were grown the moms and the dads who had lost years their lives
the dads who had lost years their lives
the dads who had lost years their lives have been interrupted and they didn’t
have been interrupted and they didn’t
have been interrupted and they didn’t make memories with their families
make memories with their families
make memories with their families because their sons or daughters were
because their sons or daughters were
because their sons or daughters were incarcerated for crimes they had never
incarcerated for crimes they had never
incarcerated for crimes they had never forget who were children there were
forget who were children there were
forget who were children there were siblings and I would collect these
siblings and I would collect these
siblings and I would collect these stories I would collect stories from the
stories I would collect stories from the
stories I would collect stories from the original survivors about what those
original survivors about what those
original survivors about what those years had been like and who killed my
years had been like and who killed my
years had been like and who killed my child and I kept waiting for the system
child and I kept waiting for the system
child and I kept waiting for the system to fix itself I kept waiting for the
to fix itself I kept waiting for the
to fix itself I kept waiting for the criminal justice system to claim
criminal justice system to claim
criminal justice system to claim responsibility and it wasn’t happening
responsibility and it wasn’t happening
responsibility and it wasn’t happening so in 2015 I took a leap of faith I
so in 2015 I took a leap of faith I
so in 2015 I took a leap of faith I started the first national nonprofit
started the first national nonprofit
started the first national nonprofit that addresses the aftermath of wrongful
that addresses the aftermath of wrongful
that addresses the aftermath of wrongful convictions to everyone that gets harmed
convictions to everyone that gets harmed
convictions to everyone that gets harmed from the crime survivor and their
from the crime survivor and their
from the crime survivor and their families to the exonerees their families
families to the exonerees their families
families to the exonerees their families to the police prosecutors judges jurors
to the police prosecutors judges jurors
to the police prosecutors judges jurors everyone who gets impacted and to the
everyone who gets impacted and to the
everyone who gets impacted and to the other crime survivors who were harmed
other crime survivors who were harmed
other crime survivors who were harmed when we’ve left the true perpetrator on
when we’ve left the true perpetrator on
when we’ve left the true perpetrator on the streets and the idea was fairly
the streets and the idea was fairly
the streets and the idea was fairly simple I thought gosh if Ronald cotton
simple I thought gosh if Ronald cotton
simple I thought gosh if Ronald cotton and I can engage in restorative justice
and I can engage in restorative justice
and I can engage in restorative justice practices and we can become friends what
practices and we can become friends what
practices and we can become friends what would it look like
would it look like
would it look like if I brought these folks together what
if I brought these folks together what
if I brought these folks together what would it look like if we sat in circles
would it look like if we sat in circles
would it look like if we sat in circles and we leaned in and we shared our
and we leaned in and we shared our
and we leaned in and we shared our stories and mothers got to hear the
stories and mothers got to hear the
stories and mothers got to hear the stories of the siblings and the siblings
stories of the siblings and the siblings
stories of the siblings and the siblings heard the stories of the crime survivors
heard the stories of the crime survivors
heard the stories of the crime survivors and the children got to witness the
and the children got to witness the
and the children got to witness the stories of the exonerees what would it
stories of the exonerees what would it
stories of the exonerees what would it look like if we engaged in collective
look like if we engaged in collective
look like if we engaged in collective resilience what would that be how would
resilience what would that be how would
resilience what would that be how would it look if we began to unfold that grief
it look if we began to unfold that grief
it look if we began to unfold that grief could we heal as a community and the
could we heal as a community and the
could we heal as a community and the answer was yes we can we can laugh again
answer was yes we can we can laugh again
answer was yes we can we can laugh again we can play games we can begin to bridge
we can play games we can begin to bridge
we can play games we can begin to bridge the harm into healing and it became the
the harm into healing and it became the
the harm into healing and it became the most amazing thing to witness people who
most amazing thing to witness people who
most amazing thing to witness people who would walk in on a Friday and think to
would walk in on a Friday and think to
would walk in on a Friday and think to themselves there’s no way I can sit in
themselves there’s no way I can sit in
themselves there’s no way I can sit in space with someone who’s a crime
space with someone who’s a crime
space with someone who’s a crime survivor after what happened to my son
survivor after what happened to my son
survivor after what happened to my son and at the end of it what would happen
and at the end of it what would happen
and at the end of it what would happen is we would become a family and we would
is we would become a family and we would
is we would become a family and we would create a community of survivors so
create a community of survivors so
create a community of survivors so here’s what I want to say to you Victor
here’s what I want to say to you Victor
here’s what I want to say to you Victor Wooten who’s a famous phenomenal bass
Wooten who’s a famous phenomenal bass
Wooten who’s a famous phenomenal bass player says everything that ever ever
player says everything that ever ever
player says everything that ever ever forever vibrated is still vibrating and
forever vibrated is still vibrating and
forever vibrated is still vibrating and everything that ever was still is so at
everything that ever was still is so at
everything that ever was still is so at the end of the day do you matter the
the end of the day do you matter the
the end of the day do you matter the answer is yes everything you do and
answer is yes everything you do and
answer is yes everything you do and everything you say matters not just
everything you say matters not just
everything you say matters not just today and not just to you but tomorrow
today and not just to you but tomorrow
today and not just to you but tomorrow and forever and to those who come behind
and forever and to those who come behind
and forever and to those who come behind you because at the end of the day and at
you because at the end of the day and at
you because at the end of the day and at the end of our lives we are all here to
the end of our lives we are all here to
the end of our lives we are all here to walk each other home thank you and God
walk each other home thank you and God
walk each other home thank you and God bless
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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