I was born and raised in a suburb near Chicago
Chicago
Chicago I lived a very sheltered life in my
I lived a very sheltered life in my
I lived a very sheltered life in my comfortable middle-class white suburban
comfortable middle-class white suburban
comfortable middle-class white suburban neighborhood whenever my family would
neighborhood whenever my family would
neighborhood whenever my family would take a trip into the city we would see
take a trip into the city we would see
take a trip into the city we would see homeless people everywhere growing up
homeless people everywhere growing up
homeless people everywhere growing up all my life I heard things like don’t
all my life I heard things like don’t
all my life I heard things like don’t don’t make eye contact don’t give them
don’t make eye contact don’t give them
don’t make eye contact don’t give them money they’ll spend it on drugs and
money they’ll spend it on drugs and
money they’ll spend it on drugs and alcohol if they just got up and got a
alcohol if they just got up and got a
alcohol if they just got up and got a job maybe they wouldn’t be homeless I
job maybe they wouldn’t be homeless I
job maybe they wouldn’t be homeless I grew up learning to dehumanize people I
grew up learning to dehumanize people I
grew up learning to dehumanize people I grew up learning to suppress empathy but
grew up learning to suppress empathy but
grew up learning to suppress empathy but I didn’t let that ingrained bias or
I didn’t let that ingrained bias or
I didn’t let that ingrained bias or society’s view of homelessness stop me
society’s view of homelessness stop me
society’s view of homelessness stop me from taking personal responsibility of
from taking personal responsibility of
from taking personal responsibility of the issue so just two years ago I was a
the issue so just two years ago I was a
the issue so just two years ago I was a seventeen year old senior in high school
seventeen year old senior in high school
seventeen year old senior in high school and around December everyone is getting
and around December everyone is getting
and around December everyone is getting excited for prom looking care
excited for prom looking care
excited for prom looking care appointments buying fancy dresses now
appointments buying fancy dresses now
appointments buying fancy dresses now don’t get me wrong Hollywood teen chick
don’t get me wrong Hollywood teen chick
don’t get me wrong Hollywood teen chick flicks definitely hyped up prom for me
flicks definitely hyped up prom for me
flicks definitely hyped up prom for me but I just could not bring myself to
but I just could not bring myself to
but I just could not bring myself to spend hundreds of dollars on one dance
spend hundreds of dollars on one dance
spend hundreds of dollars on one dance so one night I was in my room
so one night I was in my room
so one night I was in my room procrastinating my homework and on a
procrastinating my homework and on a
procrastinating my homework and on a youtube binge and I came across a video
youtube binge and I came across a video
youtube binge and I came across a video of a man donating Thanksgiving dinners
of a man donating Thanksgiving dinners
of a man donating Thanksgiving dinners to the homeless in Los Angeles and
to the homeless in Los Angeles and
to the homeless in Los Angeles and honestly it brought me to tears and I’m
honestly it brought me to tears and I’m
honestly it brought me to tears and I’m a very aggressive crier so it was not
a very aggressive crier so it was not
a very aggressive crier so it was not pretty that video was the spark it was
pretty that video was the spark it was
pretty that video was the spark it was the push that I needed to decide to
the push that I needed to decide to
the push that I needed to decide to ditch my prom to help the homeless so
ditch my prom to help the homeless so
ditch my prom to help the homeless so immediately I started making a list of
immediately I started making a list of
immediately I started making a list of things homeless people often need I said
things homeless people often need I said
things homeless people often need I said my plan into motion of how I was going
my plan into motion of how I was going
my plan into motion of how I was going to sacrifice a night of fun for the
to sacrifice a night of fun for the
to sacrifice a night of fun for the service of others so $200 and a few
service of others so $200 and a few
service of others so $200 and a few months later my dad and I drove into
months later my dad and I drove into
months later my dad and I drove into downtown Chicago with 20 cardboard boxes
downtown Chicago with 20 cardboard boxes
downtown Chicago with 20 cardboard boxes scattered on the floor of our minivan
scattered on the floor of our minivan
scattered on the floor of our minivan and it was honestly one of the most
and it was honestly one of the most
and it was honestly one of the most exhilarating times of my life
[Music]
[Music] it is Saturday March 28th 2:30 p.m. and
it is Saturday March 28th 2:30 p.m. and
it is Saturday March 28th 2:30 p.m. and we’re at Costco to do a little shopping
we’re at Costco to do a little shopping
we’re at Costco to do a little shopping [Music]
[Music]
[Music] question
question
question [Music]
[Music]
[Music] the same always you change new days of
the same always you change new days of
the same always you change new days of strangers the world is in plumbing
strangers the world is in plumbing
strangers the world is in plumbing pieces too strong
pieces too strong
pieces too strong while the pieces above that don’t belong
while the pieces above that don’t belong
while the pieces above that don’t belong nations droppin bombs chemical gasses
nations droppin bombs chemical gasses
nations droppin bombs chemical gasses filling lungs of little ones with ongoin
filling lungs of little ones with ongoin
filling lungs of little ones with ongoin sufferin as the youth die young so ask
sufferin as the youth die young so ask
sufferin as the youth die young so ask yourself is the lovin really gone so I
yourself is the lovin really gone so I
yourself is the lovin really gone so I can ask myself really what is going
can ask myself really what is going
can ask myself really what is going wrong in this so what you just saw was a
wrong in this so what you just saw was a
wrong in this so what you just saw was a shortened version of the video that I
shortened version of the video that I
shortened version of the video that I posted on YouTube shortly after prom I
posted on YouTube shortly after prom I
posted on YouTube shortly after prom I posted on social media sent it to a few
posted on social media sent it to a few
posted on social media sent it to a few friends I even sent it to a few news
friends I even sent it to a few news
friends I even sent it to a few news media outlets and blogs because I know
media outlets and blogs because I know
media outlets and blogs because I know that no matter how good your content is
that no matter how good your content is
that no matter how good your content is if it doesn’t reach people it doesn’t
if it doesn’t reach people it doesn’t
if it doesn’t reach people it doesn’t inspire people
inspire people
inspire people so before I knew it Ashton Kutcher and
so before I knew it Ashton Kutcher and
so before I knew it Ashton Kutcher and Nicki Minaj posted about me on Facebook
Nicki Minaj posted about me on Facebook
Nicki Minaj posted about me on Facebook I was in news media outlets in Japan
I was in news media outlets in Japan
I was in news media outlets in Japan Mexico Ireland I raised over 62 hundred
Mexico Ireland I raised over 62 hundred
Mexico Ireland I raised over 62 hundred dollars on GoFundMe and I was getting
dollars on GoFundMe and I was getting
dollars on GoFundMe and I was getting facebook messages from people all over
facebook messages from people all over
facebook messages from people all over the world telling me that I inspired
the world telling me that I inspired
the world telling me that I inspired them and that they were going to start
them and that they were going to start
them and that they were going to start creating care packages for the homeless
creating care packages for the homeless
creating care packages for the homeless in their hometowns I was riding this
in their hometowns I was riding this
in their hometowns I was riding this invigorating wave of internet fame and
invigorating wave of internet fame and
invigorating wave of internet fame and morality but it quickly turned into
morality but it quickly turned into
morality but it quickly turned into something that I never saw coming
something that I never saw coming
something that I never saw coming nasty comments poured in online saying
nasty comments poured in online saying
nasty comments poured in online saying things like well she only did this for
things like well she only did this for
things like well she only did this for attention she did this because she
attention she did this because she
attention she did this because she couldn’t get a prom date she did this to
couldn’t get a prom date she did this to
couldn’t get a prom date she did this to Pat her college applications it was so
Pat her college applications it was so
Pat her college applications it was so upsetting and I understand that that
upsetting and I understand that that
upsetting and I understand that that comes from a place of privilege but
comes from a place of privilege but
comes from a place of privilege but after the time and the sacrifice and the
after the time and the sacrifice and the
after the time and the sacrifice and the money that I’d put in a single Facebook
money that I’d put in a single Facebook
money that I’d put in a single Facebook comment could tear me down but there was
comment could tear me down but there was
comment could tear me down but there was one thing that kept me going it was a
one thing that kept me going it was a
one thing that kept me going it was a letter I received from a fifth grader
letter I received from a fifth grader
letter I received from a fifth grader with special needs Jordan said you
with special needs Jordan said you
with special needs Jordan said you should keep helping people that are poor
should keep helping people that are poor
should keep helping people that are poor don’t let what people say stop you so I
don’t let what people say stop you so I
don’t let what people say stop you so I didn’t instead I started give a box a
didn’t instead I started give a box a
didn’t instead I started give a box a nonprofit organization dedicated to
nonprofit organization dedicated to
nonprofit organization dedicated to packaging and distributing boxes of food
packaging and distributing boxes of food
packaging and distributing boxes of food clothes and supplies to homeless people
clothes and supplies to homeless people
clothes and supplies to homeless people to date we’ve served more than 400
to date we’ve served more than 400
to date we’ve served more than 400 homeless men women and children across
homeless men women and children across
homeless men women and children across the country we decided to name the
the country we decided to name the
the country we decided to name the company give a box because it’s simple
company give a box because it’s simple
company give a box because it’s simple and giving is simple being an active
and giving is simple being an active
and giving is simple being an active citizen in our communities is simple it
citizen in our communities is simple it
citizen in our communities is simple it starts with empathy small acts of
starts with empathy small acts of
starts with empathy small acts of kindness to show others that you care
kindness to show others that you care
kindness to show others that you care about them genuinely showing love to
about them genuinely showing love to
about them genuinely showing love to your neighbors for the sake of humanity
your neighbors for the sake of humanity
your neighbors for the sake of humanity but what is empathy look like and how
but what is empathy look like and how
but what is empathy look like and how can we make tangible changes in our life
can we make tangible changes in our life
can we make tangible changes in our life to start incorporating it why was in
to start incorporating it why was in
to start incorporating it why was in Philadelphia last month and if you’ve
Philadelphia last month and if you’ve
Philadelphia last month and if you’ve ever been there you know they’re
ever been there you know they’re
ever been there you know they’re homeless people on every corner I came
homeless people on every corner I came
homeless people on every corner I came across a woman who looked like she could
across a woman who looked like she could
across a woman who looked like she could have been much older than me and she
have been much older than me and she
have been much older than me and she held a sign that says anything helps
held a sign that says anything helps
held a sign that says anything helps even a smile so what does it take for
even a smile so what does it take for
even a smile so what does it take for you to smile at a person a second out of
you to smile at a person a second out of
you to smile at a person a second out of your day well you have 86,400 of those
your day well you have 86,400 of those
your day well you have 86,400 of those every single day I know you can spare a
every single day I know you can spare a
every single day I know you can spare a second see I want you to understand that
second see I want you to understand that
second see I want you to understand that giving comes in many different forms you
giving comes in many different forms you
giving comes in many different forms you can give your attention you can give
can give your attention you can give
can give your attention you can give your time and your energy you can give
your time and your energy you can give
your time and your energy you can give your encouragement like Jordan the fifth
your encouragement like Jordan the fifth
your encouragement like Jordan the fifth grader gave me so you don’t get this
grader gave me so you don’t get this
grader gave me so you don’t get this wrong philanthropy isn’t about how much
wrong philanthropy isn’t about how much
wrong philanthropy isn’t about how much money you can donate philanthropy is
money you can donate philanthropy is
money you can donate philanthropy is about how much of your life you are
about how much of your life you are
about how much of your life you are willing to sacrifice for another person
willing to sacrifice for another person
willing to sacrifice for another person on this earth are you living this life
on this earth are you living this life
on this earth are you living this life solely for yourself because if so I
solely for yourself because if so I
solely for yourself because if so I challenge you to feel fulfilled on your
challenge you to feel fulfilled on your
challenge you to feel fulfilled on your deathbed when the only person you’ve
deathbed when the only person you’ve
deathbed when the only person you’ve impacted is yourself when you’ve only
impacted is yourself when you’ve only
impacted is yourself when you’ve only ever taken and you’ve never given all
ever taken and you’ve never given all
ever taken and you’ve never given all the successes in my life have come from
the successes in my life have come from
the successes in my life have come from people giving me time or hope or
people giving me time or hope or
people giving me time or hope or affirmation you can change someone’s
affirmation you can change someone’s
affirmation you can change someone’s life but you first have to believe that
life but you first have to believe that
life but you first have to believe that you can now I’m not saying giving is
you can now I’m not saying giving is
you can now I’m not saying giving is easy putting another person before
easy putting another person before
easy putting another person before yourself isn’t easy what’s easy is
yourself isn’t easy what’s easy is
yourself isn’t easy what’s easy is putting cookies into a bag at the food
putting cookies into a bag at the food
putting cookies into a bag at the food bank walking out and living your life as
bank walking out and living your life as
bank walking out and living your life as if food insecurity doesn’t exist in our
if food insecurity doesn’t exist in our
if food insecurity doesn’t exist in our communities giving is a change in the
communities giving is a change in the
communities giving is a change in the way that you live your life and it’s a
way that you live your life and it’s a
way that you live your life and it’s a change in your heart so what is the
change in your heart so what is the
change in your heart so what is the point of these give a box distributions
point of these give a box distributions
point of these give a box distributions it’s not so people can go out there and
it’s not so people can go out there and
it’s not so people can go out there and do them and forget about homelessness no
do them and forget about homelessness no
do them and forget about homelessness no it’s not so they can check off a box on
it’s not so they can check off a box on
it’s not so they can check off a box on their morality list dust their hands off
their morality list dust their hands off
their morality list dust their hands off and say my good deed of the month is
and say my good deed of the month is
and say my good deed of the month is done no it’s to start the spark it’s to
done no it’s to start the spark it’s to
done no it’s to start the spark it’s to get people thinking to get people caring
get people thinking to get people caring
get people thinking to get people caring when you come face-to-face with someone
when you come face-to-face with someone
when you come face-to-face with someone with the life so vastly different than
with the life so vastly different than
with the life so vastly different than your own that you can’t believe you just
your own that you can’t believe you just
your own that you can’t believe you just complained about the Starbucks Wi-Fi
complained about the Starbucks Wi-Fi
complained about the Starbucks Wi-Fi because trust me I was that person so
because trust me I was that person so
because trust me I was that person so what starts the spark my spark started
what starts the spark my spark started
what starts the spark my spark started from a YouTube video I was inspired by
from a YouTube video I was inspired by
from a YouTube video I was inspired by spark on YouTube social media plays a
spark on YouTube social media plays a
spark on YouTube social media plays a powerful role in philanthropy but for
powerful role in philanthropy but for
powerful role in philanthropy but for some reason Millennials are under fire
some reason Millennials are under fire
some reason Millennials are under fire for our use of it and I think it’s
for our use of it and I think it’s
for our use of it and I think it’s completely unfair I would not be
completely unfair I would not be
completely unfair I would not be standing on this stage sharing this
standing on this stage sharing this
standing on this stage sharing this message with you if it weren’t for
message with you if it weren’t for
message with you if it weren’t for social media why are we criticizing
social media why are we criticizing
social media why are we criticizing people for sharing acts of kindness
people for sharing acts of kindness
people for sharing acts of kindness online when their good deeds inspire
online when their good deeds inspire
online when their good deeds inspire others to perform similar acts it
others to perform similar acts it
others to perform similar acts it reaffirms that there is hope and good
reaffirms that there is hope and good
reaffirms that there is hope and good people in this world in a media flooded
people in this world in a media flooded
people in this world in a media flooded with conflict and war and politics but
with conflict and war and politics but
with conflict and war and politics but don’t get me wrong social media has its
don’t get me wrong social media has its
don’t get me wrong social media has its drawbacks
drawbacks
drawbacks Facebook has made slacktivism a very
Facebook has made slacktivism a very
Facebook has made slacktivism a very easy thing to fall into profile picture
easy thing to fall into profile picture
easy thing to fall into profile picture filters and liking pages can bring
filters and liking pages can bring
filters and liking pages can bring attention to the causes that we care
attention to the causes that we care
attention to the causes that we care about but they absolutely cannot be the
about but they absolutely cannot be the
about but they absolutely cannot be the only thing that we do do not mistake
only thing that we do do not mistake
only thing that we do do not mistake slacktivism for empathetic giving so
slacktivism for empathetic giving so
slacktivism for empathetic giving so what does empathetic giving look like
what does empathetic giving look like
what does empathetic giving look like well give a box create handwritten
well give a box create handwritten
well give a box create handwritten letters by each volunteer to include in
letters by each volunteer to include in
letters by each volunteer to include in our boxes volunteers often have a hard
our boxes volunteers often have a hard
our boxes volunteers often have a hard time thinking of what to write and I
time thinking of what to write and I
time thinking of what to write and I tell them imagine yourself in a similar
tell them imagine yourself in a similar
tell them imagine yourself in a similar situation and write what you would need
situation and write what you would need
situation and write what you would need to hear to remain hopeful that is
to hear to remain hopeful that is
to hear to remain hopeful that is empathy you have to believe that change
empathy you have to believe that change
empathy you have to believe that change starts from something small it starts
starts from something small it starts
starts from something small it starts from a moment or a decision or an idea
from a moment or a decision or an idea
from a moment or a decision or an idea change starts with you but I’m not
change starts with you but I’m not
change starts with you but I’m not asking you to make giving
asking you to make giving
asking you to make giving the biggest chunk of your day or of your
the biggest chunk of your day or of your
the biggest chunk of your day or of your life I’m asking you to Center your life
life I’m asking you to Center your life
life I’m asking you to Center your life on it and start thinking of everyday
on it and start thinking of everyday
on it and start thinking of everyday ways that you can incorporate giving buy
ways that you can incorporate giving buy
ways that you can incorporate giving buy coffee for the next person in line hold
coffee for the next person in line hold
coffee for the next person in line hold the door open compliment a stranger
the door open compliment a stranger
the door open compliment a stranger mentor someone giving is simple so I
mentor someone giving is simple so I
mentor someone giving is simple so I want to close on a quote from this
want to close on a quote from this
want to close on a quote from this homeless man in Chicago he said when you
homeless man in Chicago he said when you
homeless man in Chicago he said when you feel like giving up think of me because
feel like giving up think of me because
feel like giving up think of me because even when you think you have nothing you
even when you think you have nothing you
even when you think you have nothing you have something your heart and that is
have something your heart and that is
have something your heart and that is something no one can take away thank you
”
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