for 22 years I denied a part of myself a part that I wanted to just associate
a part that I wanted to just associate
a part that I wanted to just associate with but we’ll get back to that in the
with but we’ll get back to that in the
with but we’ll get back to that in the later moment tonight we’ll be speaking
later moment tonight we’ll be speaking
later moment tonight we’ll be speaking of something that I hold very dear to my
of something that I hold very dear to my
of something that I hold very dear to my heart tonight we will be speaking about
heart tonight we will be speaking about
heart tonight we will be speaking about immigration and poverty and how poverty
immigration and poverty and how poverty
immigration and poverty and how poverty feeds into that cycle and how it returns
feeds into that cycle and how it returns
feeds into that cycle and how it returns I learned something this summer it’s
I learned something this summer it’s
I learned something this summer it’s something that Albert Einstein once
something that Albert Einstein once
something that Albert Einstein once taught that the world is a dangerous
taught that the world is a dangerous
taught that the world is a dangerous place not because of those who do evil
place not because of those who do evil
place not because of those who do evil but rather because of those who look on
but rather because of those who look on
but rather because of those who look on and choose to do nothing so what does
and choose to do nothing so what does
and choose to do nothing so what does that even mean it means that when we’re
that even mean it means that when we’re
that even mean it means that when we’re looking at an issue if we don’t take in
looking at an issue if we don’t take in
looking at an issue if we don’t take in all of the different aspects and we just
all of the different aspects and we just
all of the different aspects and we just choose to look on then we contribute to
choose to look on then we contribute to
choose to look on then we contribute to that evil
that evil
that evil now immigration is like the scab poverty
now immigration is like the scab poverty
now immigration is like the scab poverty is like a bleeding artery and the wall
is like a bleeding artery and the wall
is like a bleeding artery and the wall is like trying to put a bandaid on it it
is like trying to put a bandaid on it it
is like trying to put a bandaid on it it just doesn’t work so tonight we’re gonna
just doesn’t work so tonight we’re gonna
just doesn’t work so tonight we’re gonna put a story in the life behind the
put a story in the life behind the
put a story in the life behind the number so that you can begin to
number so that you can begin to
number so that you can begin to understand what that picture looks like
understand what that picture looks like
understand what that picture looks like I would ask you although to consider the
I would ask you although to consider the
I would ask you although to consider the following three questions what if you
following three questions what if you
following three questions what if you had been dealt this hand in life how
had been dealt this hand in life how
had been dealt this hand in life how would you want to be addressed and what
would you want to be addressed and what
would you want to be addressed and what choices would you make to sustain and
choices would you make to sustain and
choices would you make to sustain and secure the stability of your children in
secure the stability of your children in
secure the stability of your children in your family’s life this is what that
your family’s life this is what that
your family’s life this is what that picture looks like it looks like my
picture looks like it looks like my
picture looks like it looks like my children fighting to want to be doctors
children fighting to want to be doctors
children fighting to want to be doctors lawyers teachers and contributing
lawyers teachers and contributing
lawyers teachers and contributing members to a society but because
members to a society but because
members to a society but because education
education
education isn’t taught to them in a way where they
isn’t taught to them in a way where they
isn’t taught to them in a way where they can elevate themselves and their parents
can elevate themselves and their parents
can elevate themselves and their parents are too busy working they fall behind in
are too busy working they fall behind in
are too busy working they fall behind in school it looks like a three-year-old
school it looks like a three-year-old
school it looks like a three-year-old orphan having to drop out of
orphan having to drop out of
orphan having to drop out of kindergarten because there was no safety
kindergarten because there was no safety
kindergarten because there was no safety net for him but that didn’t stop him
net for him but that didn’t stop him
net for him but that didn’t stop him from continuing forward and eventually
from continuing forward and eventually
from continuing forward and eventually he found opportunity for his family in
he found opportunity for his family in
he found opportunity for his family in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California it looks like it’s psychologist a
it looks like it’s psychologist a
it looks like it’s psychologist a teacher a curriculum builder only being
teacher a curriculum builder only being
teacher a curriculum builder only being paid nine dollars and 40 cents a day
paid nine dollars and 40 cents a day
paid nine dollars and 40 cents a day working insatiable hours to fight
working insatiable hours to fight
working insatiable hours to fight illiteracy and then after that going to
illiteracy and then after that going to
illiteracy and then after that going to a different job to sustain their family
a different job to sustain their family
a different job to sustain their family it looks like a fisherman my friend
it looks like a fisherman my friend
it looks like a fisherman my friend Antonia in the picture whom I met off
Antonia in the picture whom I met off
Antonia in the picture whom I met off the beaten path and professor working
the beaten path and professor working
the beaten path and professor working for 13 hours every night to sell his
for 13 hours every night to sell his
for 13 hours every night to sell his catch for about $7 and he doesn’t go
catch for about $7 and he doesn’t go
catch for about $7 and he doesn’t go work for those fishing companies because
work for those fishing companies because
work for those fishing companies because according to the Mexican government you
according to the Mexican government you
according to the Mexican government you were you will only have to be paid four
were you will only have to be paid four
were you will only have to be paid four dollars in 18 cents as minimum wage and
dollars in 18 cents as minimum wage and
dollars in 18 cents as minimum wage and that is it that doesn’t have a number of
that is it that doesn’t have a number of
that is it that doesn’t have a number of hours to it now according to the
hours to it now according to the
hours to it now according to the Institute of geography and data of
Institute of geography and data of
Institute of geography and data of Mexico we know that an individual needs
Mexico we know that an individual needs
Mexico we know that an individual needs at least 17 dollars and 38 cents to
at least 17 dollars and 38 cents to
at least 17 dollars and 38 cents to survive then that begins to look like
survive then that begins to look like
survive then that begins to look like families being separated because as the
families being separated because as the
families being separated because as the parents have to go out to work to
parents have to go out to work to
parents have to go out to work to sustain a home and put food on the table
sustain a home and put food on the table
sustain a home and put food on the table the children are left to fend for
the children are left to fend for
the children are left to fend for themselves and then it looks like a
themselves and then it looks like a
themselves and then it looks like a literacy when those same children are
literacy when those same children are
literacy when those same children are asked to help in the efforts to feed
asked to help in the efforts to feed
asked to help in the efforts to feed their family it looks like in a common
their family it looks like in a common
their family it looks like in a common economy that is not working for those
economy that is not working for those
economy that is not working for those who need it and it looks like an
who need it and it looks like an
who need it and it looks like an informal economy in Wichita
informal economy in Wichita
informal economy in Wichita aren’t paid so the infrastructure of the
aren’t paid so the infrastructure of the
aren’t paid so the infrastructure of the cities and the towns and educational
cities and the towns and educational
cities and the towns and educational programs that wouldn’t maintain an
programs that wouldn’t maintain an
programs that wouldn’t maintain an environment of opportunity are cut or
environment of opportunity are cut or
environment of opportunity are cut or diminished that picture looks like rich
diminished that picture looks like rich
diminished that picture looks like rich corrupt and inefficient politicians who
corrupt and inefficient politicians who
corrupt and inefficient politicians who launder money into their pockets and see
launder money into their pockets and see
launder money into their pockets and see riches that not even this audience can
riches that not even this audience can
riches that not even this audience can even think of while the country’s most
even think of while the country’s most
even think of while the country’s most vulnerable go uneducated and hungry to
vulnerable go uneducated and hungry to
vulnerable go uneducated and hungry to bed it looks like a government that’s
bed it looks like a government that’s
bed it looks like a government that’s willing to censor the political mind at
willing to censor the political mind at
willing to censor the political mind at any cost sending the army to kill
any cost sending the army to kill
any cost sending the army to kill teachers and students protesting for
teachers and students protesting for
teachers and students protesting for reform that was a 1968 shootings in
reform that was a 1968 shootings in
reform that was a 1968 shootings in Mexico City in that message of you can’t
Mexico City in that message of you can’t
Mexico City in that message of you can’t make a difference still lingers in their
make a difference still lingers in their
make a difference still lingers in their minds it looks like the 43 missing
minds it looks like the 43 missing
minds it looks like the 43 missing students whose bodies have not been
students whose bodies have not been
students whose bodies have not been found yet but according to police
found yet but according to police
found yet but according to police reports they were given the police
reports they were given the police
reports they were given the police actually gave them over to drug and gang
actually gave them over to drug and gang
actually gave them over to drug and gang drugs and gang members who then killed
drugs and gang members who then killed
drugs and gang members who then killed and burned the body so badly that DNA
and burned the body so badly that DNA
and burned the body so badly that DNA testing can’t be done
testing can’t be done
testing can’t be done you see I see these wounds as of a
you see I see these wounds as of a
you see I see these wounds as of a society that isn’t healing and that
society that isn’t healing and that
society that isn’t healing and that bleeding arted artery will continue to
bleeding arted artery will continue to
bleeding arted artery will continue to bleed and people will continue to flee
for 22 years of my life I denied this
for 22 years of my life I denied this part of me I bet you if you look at me
part of me I bet you if you look at me
part of me I bet you if you look at me you would never guess left for a
you would never guess left for a
you would never guess left for a majority of my adolescence I was an
majority of my adolescence I was an
majority of my adolescence I was an illegal immigrant and it took me 22
illegal immigrant and it took me 22
illegal immigrant and it took me 22 years to admit that to myself
I was afraid that I wouldn’t see my
I was afraid that I wouldn’t see my sister’s another day and my parents
sister’s another day and my parents
sister’s another day and my parents wouldn’t come home and then later I was
wouldn’t come home and then later I was
wouldn’t come home and then later I was told that I would never receive a
told that I would never receive a
told that I would never receive a college education and over a turn of
college education and over a turn of
college education and over a turn of events
events
events and finally after years and years of
and finally after years and years of
and finally after years and years of waiting everything worked out and when I
waiting everything worked out and when I
waiting everything worked out and when I finally had the opportunity to go back I
finally had the opportunity to go back I
finally had the opportunity to go back I came to understand something so
came to understand something so
came to understand something so beautiful for every thousand people
beautiful for every thousand people
beautiful for every thousand people hacking away at the leaves of evil
hacking away at the leaves of evil
hacking away at the leaves of evil there’s one hacking away at the roots
two years ago in August I was
two years ago in August I was vacationing in the Yucatan Peninsula
vacationing in the Yucatan Peninsula
vacationing in the Yucatan Peninsula wondering at the marvels of Mexico and
wondering at the marvels of Mexico and
wondering at the marvels of Mexico and after that we went to eat and a little
after that we went to eat and a little
after that we went to eat and a little boy came up to me for the first time and
boy came up to me for the first time and
boy came up to me for the first time and I experienced something so sad he came
I experienced something so sad he came
I experienced something so sad he came up to me and handed me a Jaguar and
up to me and handed me a Jaguar and
up to me and handed me a Jaguar and asked me to buy it from him but I had
asked me to buy it from him but I had
asked me to buy it from him but I had just bought in many at the resort so I
just bought in many at the resort so I
just bought in many at the resort so I was like I’m sorry I can’t so we turned
was like I’m sorry I can’t so we turned
was like I’m sorry I can’t so we turned him away but as I observed him and I saw
him away but as I observed him and I saw
him away but as I observed him and I saw a community of young men I came to
a community of young men I came to
a community of young men I came to realize that this could actually be a
realize that this could actually be a
realize that this could actually be a live example of child exploitation
live example of child exploitation
live example of child exploitation something I had never been exposed to
something I had never been exposed to
something I had never been exposed to and my heart broke as I had to get up
and my heart broke as I had to get up
and my heart broke as I had to get up and leave and I and the questions came
and leave and I and the questions came
and leave and I and the questions came to mind how can so much suffering and so
to mind how can so much suffering and so
to mind how can so much suffering and so much recreation coexist
much recreation coexist
much recreation coexist while people just entertained themselves
while people just entertained themselves
while people just entertained themselves to death so much suffering exists in the
to death so much suffering exists in the
to death so much suffering exists in the lives of these children and what if by a
lives of these children and what if by a
lives of these children and what if by a turn of events that had been my child I
turn of events that had been my child I
turn of events that had been my child I don’t know exactly what led their
don’t know exactly what led their
don’t know exactly what led their parents to do the choices that they had
parents to do the choices that they had
parents to do the choices that they had to to survive but I knew that day
to to survive but I knew that day
to to survive but I knew that day that I promised myself that I would go
that I promised myself that I would go
that I promised myself that I would go back and do something the world is a
back and do something the world is a
back and do something the world is a dangerous place
dangerous place
dangerous place not because of men who do evil but
not because of men who do evil but
not because of men who do evil but rather because of those who look on and
rather because of those who look on and
rather because of those who look on and do nothing the beautiful thing about the
do nothing the beautiful thing about the
do nothing the beautiful thing about the work that I’m doing and the projects
work that I’m doing and the projects
work that I’m doing and the projects that I’m starting in the research that I
that I’m starting in the research that I
that I’m starting in the research that I do is that with there is poverty
do is that with there is poverty
do is that with there is poverty alleviation there’s so many gaps and
alleviation there’s so many gaps and
alleviation there’s so many gaps and everyone in this room we can hear the
everyone in this room we can hear the
everyone in this room we can hear the sound of my voice has an innate gift
sound of my voice has an innate gift
sound of my voice has an innate gift given to you to help solve that missing
given to you to help solve that missing
given to you to help solve that missing puzzle piece we can all put something in
puzzle piece we can all put something in
puzzle piece we can all put something in whether we may think it’s small or big
whether we may think it’s small or big
whether we may think it’s small or big with our skill sets but there are three
with our skill sets but there are three
with our skill sets but there are three things that we can’t begin to do if you
things that we can’t begin to do if you
things that we can’t begin to do if you do want to help and you don’t know where
do want to help and you don’t know where
do want to help and you don’t know where to get started one we can start by
to get started one we can start by
to get started one we can start by changing the narrative along with
changing the narrative along with
changing the narrative along with immigration recognizing that the reason
immigration recognizing that the reason
immigration recognizing that the reason it even began is because of corrupt
it even began is because of corrupt
it even began is because of corrupt governments a lack of opportunity the
governments a lack of opportunity the
governments a lack of opportunity the inability to sustain the security and
inability to sustain the security and
inability to sustain the security and stability of your family that would lead
stability of your family that would lead
stability of your family that would lead a person or a father and a mother to
a person or a father and a mother to
a person or a father and a mother to protect their child and flee the second
protect their child and flee the second
protect their child and flee the second thing is that we need to begin to
thing is that we need to begin to
thing is that we need to begin to realize that it is people just like you
realize that it is people just like you
realize that it is people just like you and I that have left the greatest impact
and I that have left the greatest impact
and I that have left the greatest impact on our human’s history it began with a
on our human’s history it began with a
on our human’s history it began with a caring it began with courage and a
caring it began with courage and a
caring it began with courage and a disposition to act no matter how small
disposition to act no matter how small
disposition to act no matter how small you think your efforts or your influence
you think your efforts or your influence
you think your efforts or your influence may be through collaboration we’re
may be through collaboration we’re
may be through collaboration we’re allowed to create change the last thing
allowed to create change the last thing
allowed to create change the last thing that you can begin to change your mind
that you can begin to change your mind
that you can begin to change your mind about is that you can’t just throw money
about is that you can’t just throw money
about is that you can’t just throw money at these issues of poverty alleviation
at these issues of poverty alleviation
at these issues of poverty alleviation and although it’s a very important and
and although it’s a very important and
and although it’s a very important and vital fact to the process
vital fact to the process
vital fact to the process more importantly is you giving of your
more importantly is you giving of your
more importantly is you giving of your skill sets and your knowledge and the
skill sets and your knowledge and the
skill sets and your knowledge and the things that you learn in your
things that you learn in your
things that you learn in your professions to help organizations fight
professions to help organizations fight
professions to help organizations fight those things and through that reaching
those things and through that reaching
those things and through that reaching we can actually make an impact now I
we can actually make an impact now I
we can actually make an impact now I believe in a world where we don’t see
believe in a world where we don’t see
believe in a world where we don’t see people for what country they were born
people for what country they were born
people for what country they were born in I believe that every child deserves a
in I believe that every child deserves a
in I believe that every child deserves a shot at life regardless of where that
shot at life regardless of where that
shot at life regardless of where that child took their first breath and
child took their first breath and
child took their first breath and through collaboration we can create the
through collaboration we can create the
through collaboration we can create the impossible and refine the standard but
impossible and refine the standard but
impossible and refine the standard but it’s up to us and it’s up and it’s up to
it’s up to us and it’s up and it’s up to
it’s up to us and it’s up and it’s up to you to act and I would invite you to
you to act and I would invite you to
you to act and I would invite you to join me thank you
join me thank you
join me thank you [Applause]
”
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