most people assume that ninth grade students who have failing most of their
students who have failing most of their
students who have failing most of their classes have GPAs as low as zero living
classes have GPAs as low as zero living
classes have GPAs as low as zero living in concentrated poverty beset with drugs
in concentrated poverty beset with drugs
in concentrated poverty beset with drugs and violence are simply a lost cause
and violence are simply a lost cause
and violence are simply a lost cause that if you haven’t reached a child by
that if you haven’t reached a child by
that if you haven’t reached a child by the age of five it is too late well as a
the age of five it is too late well as a
the age of five it is too late well as a neuroscientist and after spending the
neuroscientist and after spending the
neuroscientist and after spending the last decade of my life getting to know
last decade of my life getting to know
last decade of my life getting to know the young people in Baltimore City I can
the young people in Baltimore City I can
the young people in Baltimore City I can tell you that that is simply not true
tell you that that is simply not true
tell you that that is simply not true threads model is unprecedented we enroll
threads model is unprecedented we enroll
threads model is unprecedented we enroll the most academically underperforming
the most academically underperforming
the most academically underperforming high school students in Baltimore City
high school students in Baltimore City
high school students in Baltimore City to give you a sense of what this means
to give you a sense of what this means
to give you a sense of what this means at Douglas high school the school at the
at Douglas high school the school at the
at Douglas high school the school at the epicenter of the unrest in Baltimore
epicenter of the unrest in Baltimore
epicenter of the unrest in Baltimore last year the average GPA of our first
last year the average GPA of our first
last year the average GPA of our first cohort of students was 0.15 not 1.5 0.15
cohort of students was 0.15 not 1.5 0.15
cohort of students was 0.15 not 1.5 0.15 on a 4’o scale our students are
on a 4’o scale our students are
on a 4’o scale our students are exemplary human beings that are in
exemplary human beings that are in
exemplary human beings that are in extraordinary circumstances the
extraordinary circumstances the
extraordinary circumstances the challenges they face outside of school
challenges they face outside of school
challenges they face outside of school range from homelessness to having a
range from homelessness to having a
range from homelessness to having a parent whose deceased are incarcerated
parent whose deceased are incarcerated
parent whose deceased are incarcerated once in thread they stay with us for a
once in thread they stay with us for a
once in thread they stay with us for a decade longer than your average American
decade longer than your average American
decade longer than your average American marriage so it’s the rest of high school
marriage so it’s the rest of high school
marriage so it’s the rest of high school and six years after we lovingly joke
and six years after we lovingly joke
and six years after we lovingly joke it’s like a gang or a sorority however
it’s like a gang or a sorority however
it’s like a gang or a sorority however you want to look at it once they’re in
you want to look at it once they’re in
you want to look at it once they’re in they can’t get out once your family are
they can’t get out once your family are
they can’t get out once your family are always family when enrolled each student
always family when enrolled each student
always family when enrolled each student is given a group of volunteers up to
is given a group of volunteers up to
is given a group of volunteers up to five volunteers for each student who do
five volunteers for each student who do
five volunteers for each student who do everything from pack their lunches give
everything from pack their lunches give
everything from pack their lunches give them rights to school provide tutoring
them rights to school provide tutoring
them rights to school provide tutoring if you can imagine doing it for your own
if you can imagine doing it for your own
if you can imagine doing it for your own child or your niece or your nephew we do
child or your niece or your nephew we do
child or your niece or your nephew we do it for ours and it is our unique
it for ours and it is our unique
it for ours and it is our unique volunteers structure that allows us to
volunteers structure that allows us to
volunteers structure that allows us to make this enduring 10 year commitment to
make this enduring 10 year commitment to
make this enduring 10 year commitment to all of our students so now I’m going to
all of our students so now I’m going to
all of our students so now I’m going to tell you a story about the most
tell you a story about the most
tell you a story about the most transformative relationship I have had
transformative relationship I have had
transformative relationship I have had with a young man named Maurice and that
with a young man named Maurice and that
with a young man named Maurice and that I’m going to tell you how that
I’m going to tell you how that
I’m going to tell you how that relationship is not unique it is
relationship is not unique it is
relationship is not unique it is actually one of hundreds of
actually one of hundreds of
actually one of hundreds of relationships and thread that are not
relationships and thread that are not
relationships and thread that are not only allowing our students to beat the
only allowing our students to beat the
only allowing our students to beat the odds but are fundamentally changing the
odds but are fundamentally changing the
odds but are fundamentally changing the odds for all students in Baltimore City
odds for all students in Baltimore City
odds for all students in Baltimore City Maurice grew up in West Baltimore and is
Maurice grew up in West Baltimore and is
Maurice grew up in West Baltimore and is mother a heroin addict reached a point
mother a heroin addict reached a point
mother a heroin addict reached a point where when he was 13 years old she could
where when he was 13 years old she could
where when he was 13 years old she could no longer take care of him she literally
no longer take care of him she literally
no longer take care of him she literally had to abandon him on a street corner
had to abandon him on a street corner
had to abandon him on a street corner having to figure out where to find food
having to figure out where to find food
having to figure out where to find food where to stay how to meet his most basic
where to stay how to meet his most basic
where to stay how to meet his most basic human needs
human needs
human needs Maurice fell into a life on the streets
Maurice fell into a life on the streets
Maurice fell into a life on the streets by the time we met during his freshman
by the time we met during his freshman
by the time we met during his freshman year he was not only in danger of
year he was not only in danger of
year he was not only in danger of dropping out or failing out he was in
dropping out or failing out he was in
dropping out or failing out he was in danger of ending up dead or in jail so
danger of ending up dead or in jail so
danger of ending up dead or in jail so we started with the basics I would drive
we started with the basics I would drive
we started with the basics I would drive to his house and provide a ride to
to his house and provide a ride to
to his house and provide a ride to school he would play basketball with my
school he would play basketball with my
school he would play basketball with my husband at our house on the weekends and
husband at our house on the weekends and
husband at our house on the weekends and when he sometimes didn’t have a place to
when he sometimes didn’t have a place to
when he sometimes didn’t have a place to stay he would stay with us we even went
stay he would stay with us we even went
stay he would stay with us we even went on a camping trip in the middle of
on a camping trip in the middle of
on a camping trip in the middle of January where there was 8 inches of snow
January where there was 8 inches of snow
January where there was 8 inches of snow on the ground I was much less
on the ground I was much less
on the ground I was much less experienced back then to take a bunch of
experienced back then to take a bunch of
experienced back then to take a bunch of teenagers camping in January but our
teenagers camping in January but our
teenagers camping in January but our biggest argument between Maurice and I
biggest argument between Maurice and I
biggest argument between Maurice and I was whether or not he could bring his
was whether or not he could bring his
was whether or not he could bring his gun so many many rides to school many
gun so many many rides to school many
gun so many many rides to school many basketball games and many overnights
basketball games and many overnights
basketball games and many overnights later we formed a relationship of deep
later we formed a relationship of deep
later we formed a relationship of deep trust it was difficult it took a long
trust it was difficult it took a long
trust it was difficult it took a long time and it wasn’t easy but eventually
time and it wasn’t easy but eventually
time and it wasn’t easy but eventually we found our common bonds as a result
we found our common bonds as a result
we found our common bonds as a result Maurice not only graduated from high
Maurice not only graduated from high
Maurice not only graduated from high school but this past spring he received
school but this past spring he received
school but this past spring he received his college degree from Coppin State
his college degree from Coppin State
his college degree from Coppin State University
and that’s not all he most recently
and that’s not all he most recently joined threads Board of Directors where
joined threads Board of Directors where
joined threads Board of Directors where he is now officially my boss and that’s
he is now officially my boss and that’s
he is now officially my boss and that’s not all it turns out that the camping
not all it turns out that the camping
not all it turns out that the camping trips became a formative part of
trips became a formative part of
trips became a formative part of maurices life so even once he was an
maurices life so even once he was an
maurices life so even once he was an alumni he continued coming on the trips
alumni he continued coming on the trips
alumni he continued coming on the trips and it was on one of the camping trips
and it was on one of the camping trips
and it was on one of the camping trips where he met a young man named Malcolm
where he met a young man named Malcolm
where he met a young man named Malcolm and offered to start driving Malcolm to
and offered to start driving Malcolm to
and offered to start driving Malcolm to school overtime
school overtime
school overtime Malcolm began to change the address that
Malcolm began to change the address that
Malcolm began to change the address that he was being I was asking rice to pick
he was being I was asking rice to pick
he was being I was asking rice to pick him up at having been homeless Maurice
him up at having been homeless Maurice
him up at having been homeless Maurice understood exactly what that meant so
understood exactly what that meant so
understood exactly what that meant so what did he do he asked Malcolm to move
what did he do he asked Malcolm to move
what did he do he asked Malcolm to move in with him
in with him
in with him so fast forward it’s now April 2015 and
so fast forward it’s now April 2015 and
so fast forward it’s now April 2015 and I’m sitting in back-to-back meetings I
I’m sitting in back-to-back meetings I
I’m sitting in back-to-back meetings I walk out and I looked out at my phone
walk out and I looked out at my phone
walk out and I looked out at my phone and it is blown up with text messages it
and it is blown up with text messages it
and it is blown up with text messages it says get to Douglas now it’s about to go
says get to Douglas now it’s about to go
says get to Douglas now it’s about to go down hurry up there were other words in
down hurry up there were other words in
down hurry up there were other words in there too which I won’t share before I
there too which I won’t share before I
there too which I won’t share before I could even text Maurice back I get this
could even text Maurice back I get this
could even text Maurice back I get this picture and it’s him it’s a selfie of
picture and it’s him it’s a selfie of
picture and it’s him it’s a selfie of Malcolm and Maurice driving away from
Malcolm and Maurice driving away from
Malcolm and Maurice driving away from Douglass high school so while other
Douglass high school so while other
Douglass high school so while other young people were facing off with police
young people were facing off with police
young people were facing off with police what did Maurice done he’d gone and
what did Maurice done he’d gone and
what did Maurice done he’d gone and gotten Malcolm and he had mobilized
gotten Malcolm and he had mobilized
gotten Malcolm and he had mobilized hundreds of thread staff and volunteers
hundreds of thread staff and volunteers
hundreds of thread staff and volunteers to go and locate all 200 of our students
to go and locate all 200 of our students
to go and locate all 200 of our students it took until 2:00 in the morning but
it took until 2:00 in the morning but
it took until 2:00 in the morning but thanks to maurices leadership we located
thanks to maurices leadership we located
thanks to maurices leadership we located all of our students and were able to
all of our students and were able to
all of our students and were able to ensure not just their physical
ensure not just their physical
ensure not just their physical well-being but their emotional
well-being but their emotional
well-being but their emotional well-being so when you think about
well-being so when you think about
well-being so when you think about Maurice is he a lost cause or is he the
Maurice is he a lost cause or is he the
Maurice is he a lost cause or is he the pipeline of leadership for our city
pipeline of leadership for our city
pipeline of leadership for our city is he our future and you have to ask
is he our future and you have to ask
is he our future and you have to ask yourself what is the what are the
yourself what is the what are the
yourself what is the what are the barriers that would hold someone like
barriers that would hold someone like
barriers that would hold someone like Maurice is talented and as special as he
Maurice is talented and as special as he
Maurice is talented and as special as he and every other young person and thread
and every other young person and thread
and every other young person and thread is back I like to boil it down to the
is back I like to boil it down to the
is back I like to boil it down to the most basic of decisions we know
most basic of decisions we know
most basic of decisions we know statistically that students that go to
statistically that students that go to
statistically that students that go to school graduate so let’s just take that
school graduate so let’s just take that
school graduate so let’s just take that as a very simple example and let’s walk
as a very simple example and let’s walk
as a very simple example and let’s walk through how the brain makes that most
through how the brain makes that most
through how the brain makes that most basic decision am I gonna go to school
basic decision am I gonna go to school
basic decision am I gonna go to school today or am I gonna do something else
today or am I gonna do something else
today or am I gonna do something else maybe there’s something else is to stay
maybe there’s something else is to stay
maybe there’s something else is to stay home and watch your younger siblings so
home and watch your younger siblings so
home and watch your younger siblings so that your parent can go to work and
that your parent can go to work and
that your parent can go to work and provide for your family
provide for your family
provide for your family maybe this something else is for you to
maybe this something else is for you to
maybe this something else is for you to actually go and work instead of go to
actually go and work instead of go to
actually go and work instead of go to school to provide for your family maybe
school to provide for your family maybe
school to provide for your family maybe there’s something else is a stand on a
there’s something else is a stand on a
there’s something else is a stand on a street corner because it’s what you know
street corner because it’s what you know
street corner because it’s what you know and provide for your family so how do we
and provide for your family so how do we
and provide for your family so how do we influence the decision making if we want
influence the decision making if we want
influence the decision making if we want a young person to go to school well this
a young person to go to school well this
a young person to go to school well this is a huge oversimplification but we’re
is a huge oversimplification but we’re
is a huge oversimplification but we’re gonna start with two things that drive
gonna start with two things that drive
gonna start with two things that drive the decision-making of all of us not
the decision-making of all of us not
the decision-making of all of us not just Maurice turns out we’re very much
just Maurice turns out we’re very much
just Maurice turns out we’re very much alike the first is reward so let’s
alike the first is reward so let’s
alike the first is reward so let’s imagine that you can sell drugs today
imagine that you can sell drugs today
imagine that you can sell drugs today and earn $200 standing on a corner if
and earn $200 standing on a corner if
and earn $200 standing on a corner if you go to high school graduate get into
you go to high school graduate get into
you go to high school graduate get into college graduate get a middle-class job
college graduate get a middle-class job
college graduate get a middle-class job maybe you can earn four hundred dollars
maybe you can earn four hundred dollars
maybe you can earn four hundred dollars a day which is more well even though
a day which is more well even though
a day which is more well even though four hundred is technically more than
four hundred is technically more than
four hundred is technically more than two hundred the problem is you don’t get
two hundred the problem is you don’t get
two hundred the problem is you don’t get the four hundred until many years in the
the four hundred until many years in the
the four hundred until many years in the future so our brain discounts the value
future so our brain discounts the value
future so our brain discounts the value of that four hundred dollars over time
of that four hundred dollars over time
of that four hundred dollars over time so actually the two hundred dollars that
so actually the two hundred dollars that
so actually the two hundred dollars that you’re gonna get today is more valuable
you’re gonna get today is more valuable
you’re gonna get today is more valuable so in the decision-making process we’re
so in the decision-making process we’re
so in the decision-making process we’re already losing when it comes to reward
already losing when it comes to reward
already losing when it comes to reward the second thing that your brain looks
the second thing that your brain looks
the second thing that your brain looks at is likelihood so it’s basically a
at is likelihood so it’s basically a
at is likelihood so it’s basically a sniff test how much do I believe if I
sniff test how much do I believe if I
sniff test how much do I believe if I perform that action I’m actually gonna
perform that action I’m actually gonna
perform that action I’m actually gonna get the reward so if I sell drugs do I
get the reward so if I sell drugs do I
get the reward so if I sell drugs do I believe I’m gonna get $200 what our
believe I’m gonna get $200 what our
believe I’m gonna get $200 what our brains all do is we go back through like
brains all do is we go back through like
brains all do is we go back through like a movie reel in our head and we look at
a movie reel in our head and we look at
a movie reel in our head and we look at the data points that we have so how many
the data points that we have so how many
the data points that we have so how many people have you known that have sold
people have you known that have sold
people have you known that have sold drugs and gotten $200 how many people
drugs and gotten $200 how many people
drugs and gotten $200 how many people have you known that have gone to high
have you known that have gone to high
have you known that have gone to high school graduated gone to college
school graduated gone to college
school graduated gone to college graduated and got in a middle-class job
graduated and got in a middle-class job
graduated and got in a middle-class job if you have a ton of data points that
if you have a ton of data points that
if you have a ton of data points that tell you it’s going to happen you’re
tell you it’s going to happen you’re
tell you it’s going to happen you’re going to get your $200 if you sell drugs
going to get your $200 if you sell drugs
going to get your $200 if you sell drugs why would you ever delay gratification
why would you ever delay gratification
why would you ever delay gratification for something that’s not going to come
for something that’s not going to come
for something that’s not going to come so you have to ask yourself is Marissa
so you have to ask yourself is Marissa
so you have to ask yourself is Marissa lost cause
lost cause
lost cause no more recent all of our young people
no more recent all of our young people
no more recent all of our young people are working with the data that they have
are working with the data that they have
are working with the data that they have so in thread what we work to do is we
so in thread what we work to do is we
so in thread what we work to do is we work to change the reward we work to
work to change the reward we work to
work to change the reward we work to change the likelihood how do we do that
change the likelihood how do we do that
change the likelihood how do we do that once students are enrolled like I said
once students are enrolled like I said
once students are enrolled like I said they have a thread family this is up to
they have a thread family this is up to
they have a thread family this is up to five volunteers who do anything you
five volunteers who do anything you
five volunteers who do anything you would do for your own child and they do
would do for your own child and they do
would do for your own child and they do it over the course of a decade what does
it over the course of a decade what does
it over the course of a decade what does that mean in terms of reward well when
that mean in terms of reward well when
that mean in terms of reward well when you show up to take someone to school
you show up to take someone to school
you show up to take someone to school you can
you can
you can provide a real-time reward maybe it’s as
provide a real-time reward maybe it’s as
provide a real-time reward maybe it’s as simple as bringing breakfast it’s a lot
simple as bringing breakfast it’s a lot
simple as bringing breakfast it’s a lot easier to go to school if you are not
easier to go to school if you are not
easier to go to school if you are not hungry if you have clean clothes and if
hungry if you have clean clothes and if
hungry if you have clean clothes and if you’ve had a place to sleep sometimes
you’ve had a place to sleep sometimes
you’ve had a place to sleep sometimes the reward could be as simple as just
the reward could be as simple as just
the reward could be as simple as just looking someone in the eyes and saying I
looking someone in the eyes and saying I
looking someone in the eyes and saying I know it was really hard for you to get
know it was really hard for you to get
know it was really hard for you to get up this morning given everything that
up this morning given everything that
up this morning given everything that happened in your house last night but I
happened in your house last night but I
happened in your house last night but I see you and you matter and I appreciate
see you and you matter and I appreciate
see you and you matter and I appreciate that you’ve got in this car
that you’ve got in this car
that you’ve got in this car we also work to influence the likelihood
we also work to influence the likelihood
we also work to influence the likelihood function so when you think about the
function so when you think about the
function so when you think about the thread family they’re supported by what
thread family they’re supported by what
thread family they’re supported by what we call thread resource teams there’s
we call thread resource teams there’s
we call thread resource teams there’s legal health housing workforce
legal health housing workforce
legal health housing workforce development academics college and career
development academics college and career
development academics college and career preparation community service
preparation community service
preparation community service these are teams that are also volunteers
these are teams that are also volunteers
these are teams that are also volunteers who are experts so if a young person is
who are experts so if a young person is
who are experts so if a young person is being evicted instead of the thread
being evicted instead of the thread
being evicted instead of the thread family or their parents trying to figure
family or their parents trying to figure
family or their parents trying to figure out how to prevent an eviction they just
out how to prevent an eviction they just
out how to prevent an eviction they just call a thread legal resource team and
call a thread legal resource team and
call a thread legal resource team and they help provide them a pro bono
they help provide them a pro bono
they help provide them a pro bono attorney who will prevent that eviction
attorney who will prevent that eviction
attorney who will prevent that eviction why does that matter well one it’s good
why does that matter well one it’s good
why does that matter well one it’s good to have a place to stay but two what
to have a place to stay but two what
to have a place to stay but two what happens well all of a sudden we’re in a
happens well all of a sudden we’re in a
happens well all of a sudden we’re in a room and now you’ve got an attorney a
room and now you’ve got an attorney a
room and now you’ve got an attorney a young person their family and a bunch of
young person their family and a bunch of
young person their family and a bunch of volunteers now think about the data
volunteers now think about the data
volunteers now think about the data points that young person just met
points that young person just met
points that young person just met someone who went to college graduated
someone who went to college graduated
someone who went to college graduated god of middle class or better than
god of middle class or better than
god of middle class or better than middle class job so by striving together
middle class job so by striving together
middle class job so by striving together by having a common goal the common goal
by having a common goal the common goal
by having a common goal the common goal could be to prevent an eviction you
could be to prevent an eviction you
could be to prevent an eviction you actually form a deep and meaningful
actually form a deep and meaningful
actually form a deep and meaningful relationship and you influence the
relationship and you influence the
relationship and you influence the likelihood function of everyone involved
likelihood function of everyone involved
likelihood function of everyone involved what is this amount to well in the last
what is this amount to well in the last
what is this amount to well in the last 12 years and thread it has amounted to
12 years and thread it has amounted to
12 years and thread it has amounted to us never losing a single student we have
us never losing a single student we have
us never losing a single student we have retained a hundred percent of our
retained a hundred percent of our
retained a hundred percent of our students
it is messy at some point every single
it is messy at some point every single student and thread will tell you I’m not
student and thread will tell you I’m not
student and thread will tell you I’m not in thread I’ve dropped out but we just
in thread I’ve dropped out but we just
in thread I’ve dropped out but we just keep showing up and showing up and
keep showing up and showing up and
keep showing up and showing up and showing up and building that trust over
showing up and building that trust over
showing up and building that trust over time and eventually things change and
time and eventually things change and
time and eventually things change and what is that about – well that amounts
what is that about – well that amounts
what is that about – well that amounts to 92 percent of our students have
to 92 percent of our students have
to 92 percent of our students have graduated from high school within five
graduated from high school within five
graduated from high school within five years of joining thread these are
years of joining thread these are
years of joining thread these are students who come in who people have
students who come in who people have
students who come in who people have viewed as a lost cause in some cases
viewed as a lost cause in some cases
viewed as a lost cause in some cases disposable 92% of them graduate from
disposable 92% of them graduate from
disposable 92% of them graduate from high school so you have to ask yourself
high school so you have to ask yourself
high school so you have to ask yourself the data is super super clear we know
the data is super super clear we know
the data is super super clear we know that for a child to grow into a happy
that for a child to grow into a happy
that for a child to grow into a happy healthy adult what do they need they
healthy adult what do they need they
healthy adult what do they need they need one just one consistent caring
need one just one consistent caring
need one just one consistent caring adult in their life so as a scientist I
adult in their life so as a scientist I
adult in their life so as a scientist I like to run the math we have
like to run the math we have
like to run the math we have approximately 80,000 students in the
approximately 80,000 students in the
approximately 80,000 students in the Baltimore City public school system and
Baltimore City public school system and
Baltimore City public school system and we have around four to five hundred
we have around four to five hundred
we have around four to five hundred thousand adults in theory we should have
thousand adults in theory we should have
thousand adults in theory we should have extra where is everybody
extra where is everybody
extra where is everybody what’s going on well I’ll tell you
what’s going on well I’ll tell you
what’s going on well I’ll tell you what’s going on the adults are working
what’s going on the adults are working
what’s going on the adults are working with the same data set that the young
with the same data set that the young
with the same data set that the young people are why would you take time away
people are why would you take time away
people are why would you take time away from your family your job your spiritual
from your family your job your spiritual
from your family your job your spiritual life to go drive a kid to school if
life to go drive a kid to school if
life to go drive a kid to school if they’re gonna end up dead or in jail
they’re gonna end up dead or in jail
they’re gonna end up dead or in jail anyway you wouldn’t but if you knew that
anyway you wouldn’t but if you knew that
anyway you wouldn’t but if you knew that driving that student to school that’s
driving that student to school that’s
driving that student to school that’s showing up even when they didn’t want to
showing up even when they didn’t want to
showing up even when they didn’t want to see you could actually save their life
see you could actually save their life
see you could actually save their life and yours you would so what has happened
and yours you would so what has happened
and yours you would so what has happened is Maurice is not only providing a data
is Maurice is not only providing a data
is Maurice is not only providing a data point for our younger students he’s
point for our younger students he’s
point for our younger students he’s providing a data point for all of
providing a data point for all of
providing a data point for all of Baltimore City to say that this is
Baltimore City to say that this is
Baltimore City to say that this is possible it is happening there is not a
possible it is happening there is not a
possible it is happening there is not a single child who is a lost cause in our
single child who is a lost cause in our
single child who is a lost cause in our city what does that amounted to it is
city what does that amounted to it is
city what does that amounted to it is amounted to threat has grown to this
amounted to threat has grown to this
amounted to threat has grown to this year we will serve over 300 students and
year we will serve over 300 students and
year we will serve over 300 students and their families with the support of over
their families with the support of over
their families with the support of over a thousand volunteers and collaborators
a thousand volunteers and collaborators
a thousand volunteers and collaborators and it’s just the beginning so what’s
and it’s just the beginning so what’s
and it’s just the beginning so what’s next for thread we have worked to set
next for thread we have worked to set
next for thread we have worked to set out a plan where we will eventually
out a plan where we will eventually
out a plan where we will eventually reach five percent of every freshman
reach five percent of every freshman
reach five percent of every freshman class in the Baltimore City public
class in the Baltimore City public
class in the Baltimore City public school system the most academically
school system the most academically
school system the most academically underperform
underperform
underperform five percent that would mean reaching
five percent that would mean reaching
five percent that would mean reaching three thousand students and in order to
three thousand students and in order to
three thousand students and in order to do so we would have to weave together
do so we would have to weave together
do so we would have to weave together relationships between 3,000 students
relationships between 3,000 students
relationships between 3,000 students 7,000 volunteers the adult counterparts
7,000 volunteers the adult counterparts
7,000 volunteers the adult counterparts of our volunteers students collaborators
of our volunteers students collaborators
of our volunteers students collaborators donors board members staff all in it
donors board members staff all in it
donors board members staff all in it would be about 20,000 adults 20,000
would be about 20,000 adults 20,000
would be about 20,000 adults 20,000 adults well that’s that’s not only 5% of
adults well that’s that’s not only 5% of
adults well that’s that’s not only 5% of every freshman class in the school
every freshman class in the school
every freshman class in the school district that’s 5% of the adults in the
district that’s 5% of the adults in the
district that’s 5% of the adults in the city
city
city that’s a movement and we think about in
that’s a movement and we think about in
that’s a movement and we think about in thread what was originally intended in
thread what was originally intended in
thread what was originally intended in the civil rights movement it was to
the civil rights movement it was to
the civil rights movement it was to bring about a diverse and inclusive and
bring about a diverse and inclusive and
bring about a diverse and inclusive and equitable society how do you do that
equitable society how do you do that
equitable society how do you do that well we bring Baltimore together every
well we bring Baltimore together every
well we bring Baltimore together every day and thread through deep and
day and thread through deep and
day and thread through deep and meaningful relationships why should you
meaningful relationships why should you
meaningful relationships why should you care well you should care because it
care well you should care because it
care well you should care because it turns out that healthy relationships
turns out that healthy relationships
turns out that healthy relationships matter for all of us a study that came
matter for all of us a study that came
matter for all of us a study that came out of Harvard that began in 1938 looked
out of Harvard that began in 1938 looked
out of Harvard that began in 1938 looked at 724 men and followed them into their
at 724 men and followed them into their
at 724 men and followed them into their 80s and 90s and asked a single question
80s and 90s and asked a single question
80s and 90s and asked a single question what is the number one thing that drives
what is the number one thing that drives
what is the number one thing that drives whether or not these men were happy and
whether or not these men were happy and
whether or not these men were happy and healthy into late adulthood it wasn’t
healthy into late adulthood it wasn’t
healthy into late adulthood it wasn’t their race it wasn’t their job it wasn’t
their race it wasn’t their job it wasn’t
their race it wasn’t their job it wasn’t their educational attainment it was the
their educational attainment it was the
their educational attainment it was the relationships they had and it wasn’t the
relationships they had and it wasn’t the
relationships they had and it wasn’t the quantity so it wasn’t how many friends
quantity so it wasn’t how many friends
quantity so it wasn’t how many friends did they have on Facebook or how many
did they have on Facebook or how many
did they have on Facebook or how many tweets or how many likes it was the
tweets or how many likes it was the
tweets or how many likes it was the quality of relationships what mattered
quality of relationships what mattered
quality of relationships what mattered was did they have a core group of people
was did they have a core group of people
was did they have a core group of people that when things got really tough they
that when things got really tough they
that when things got really tough they knew had their back the men who had a
knew had their back the men who had a
knew had their back the men who had a group that had their back had less
group that had their back had less
group that had their back had less cancer less heart disease less dementia
cancer less heart disease less dementia
cancer less heart disease less dementia it fundamentally changed their physical
it fundamentally changed their physical
it fundamentally changed their physical and mental and emotional well-being and
and mental and emotional well-being and
and mental and emotional well-being and it turns out that relationships are not
it turns out that relationships are not
it turns out that relationships are not just important for individual health
just important for individual health
just important for individual health they’re important for our collective
they’re important for our collective
they’re important for our collective health another study that came out of
health another study that came out of
health another study that came out of Harvard looked at two towns Youngstown
Harvard looked at two towns Youngstown
Harvard looked at two towns Youngstown and Allentown demographically they
and Allentown demographically they
and Allentown demographically they looked quite similar they had a similar
looked quite similar they had a similar
looked quite similar they had a similar racial breakdown class breakdown
racial breakdown class breakdown
racial breakdown class breakdown religious preference but after they lost
religious preference but after they lost
religious preference but after they lost their main industries what they found is
their main industries what they found is
their main industries what they found is that the outcomes in those town
that the outcomes in those town
that the outcomes in those town were quite different Allentown was
were quite different Allentown was
were quite different Allentown was faring far better in terms of Education
faring far better in terms of Education
faring far better in terms of Education crime the economy and so they wanted to
crime the economy and so they wanted to
crime the economy and so they wanted to understand why what was driving that
understand why what was driving that
understand why what was driving that difference and it turned out it was
difference and it turned out it was
difference and it turned out it was something simple again in Young’s town
something simple again in Young’s town
something simple again in Young’s town the town that wasn’t doing well we might
the town that wasn’t doing well we might
the town that wasn’t doing well we might go to church together we’d also work at
go to church together we’d also work at
go to church together we’d also work at the factory together and we’d go bowling
the factory together and we’d go bowling
the factory together and we’d go bowling together but in Allentown the town that
together but in Allentown the town that
together but in Allentown the town that was doing well we might go to church
was doing well we might go to church
was doing well we might go to church together we would Bowl together and we
together we would Bowl together and we
together we would Bowl together and we would work at the factory together
would work at the factory together
would work at the factory together it was the diversity in the cross
it was the diversity in the cross
it was the diversity in the cross connections that actually led to a
connections that actually led to a
connections that actually led to a healthier City so when you think about
healthier City so when you think about
healthier City so when you think about why has this not been done why is this
why has this not been done why is this
why has this not been done why is this not been done in every city the answer
not been done in every city the answer
not been done in every city the answer to that question too is simple is
to that question too is simple is
to that question too is simple is because relationships are really hard
because relationships are really hard
because relationships are really hard they’re not a quick fix they’re messy
they’re not a quick fix they’re messy
they’re not a quick fix they’re messy they take time you have to pay attention
they take time you have to pay attention
they take time you have to pay attention to them and they don’t always feel great
to them and they don’t always feel great
to them and they don’t always feel great so how do we do this in thread its
so how do we do this in thread its
so how do we do this in thread its practicing change we have found that the
practicing change we have found that the
practicing change we have found that the key to our young people maturing into
key to our young people maturing into
key to our young people maturing into resilient self-motivated and responsible
resilient self-motivated and responsible
resilient self-motivated and responsible citizens is that the adults have to
citizens is that the adults have to
citizens is that the adults have to model that change it’s not just about
model that change it’s not just about
model that change it’s not just about success is not just defined as your
success is not just defined as your
success is not just defined as your students succeeding it’s as your own
students succeeding it’s as your own
students succeeding it’s as your own growth if we want our students to go to
growth if we want our students to go to
growth if we want our students to go to school and be responsible then when we
school and be responsible then when we
school and be responsible then when we say we’re gonna take them to school we
say we’re gonna take them to school we
say we’re gonna take them to school we have to show up and take them to school
have to show up and take them to school
have to show up and take them to school and be responsible ourselves if we want
and be responsible ourselves if we want
and be responsible ourselves if we want our students to not give up on
our students to not give up on
our students to not give up on themselves we have to not give up on
themselves we have to not give up on
themselves we have to not give up on them and when we show up it’s not just
them and when we show up it’s not just
them and when we show up it’s not just about showing up it’s how we show up are
about showing up it’s how we show up are
about showing up it’s how we show up are we vulnerable do we actually share our
we vulnerable do we actually share our
we vulnerable do we actually share our challenges and our burdens with them do
challenges and our burdens with them do
challenges and our burdens with them do we show up ready to help or do we show
we show up ready to help or do we show
we show up ready to help or do we show up ready to be helped
up ready to be helped
up ready to be helped you know when Reese and I would take our
you know when Reese and I would take our
you know when Reese and I would take our rides to school we’ve rarely talked
rides to school we’ve rarely talked
rides to school we’ve rarely talked about academics mostly we would argue
about academics mostly we would argue
about academics mostly we would argue over what to listen to on the radio
over what to listen to on the radio
over what to listen to on the radio station although over the years we
station although over the years we
station although over the years we finally figured out that we both love
finally figured out that we both love
finally figured out that we both love Motown favorites we would talk about
Motown favorites we would talk about
Motown favorites we would talk about everything from his complicated
everything from his complicated
everything from his complicated relationship with his mom and my super
relationship with his mom and my super
relationship with his mom and my super complicated in a relationship with my
complicated in a relationship with my
complicated in a relationship with my sister when his brother died suddenly we
sister when his brother died suddenly we
sister when his brother died suddenly we just sat there we didn’t talk at all and
just sat there we didn’t talk at all and
just sat there we didn’t talk at all and when I finally had
when I finally had
when I finally had breaking point overwhelmed by the fact
breaking point overwhelmed by the fact
breaking point overwhelmed by the fact that I couldn’t have a child and I felt
that I couldn’t have a child and I felt
that I couldn’t have a child and I felt like I could talk to absolutely no one
like I could talk to absolutely no one
like I could talk to absolutely no one Maurice listened years later when I
Maurice listened years later when I
Maurice listened years later when I collapsed turns out that I had an
collapsed turns out that I had an
collapsed turns out that I had an ectopic pregnancy was bleeding
ectopic pregnancy was bleeding
ectopic pregnancy was bleeding internally an emergency surgery for
internally an emergency surgery for
internally an emergency surgery for blood transfusions and chemotherapy
blood transfusions and chemotherapy
blood transfusions and chemotherapy later I awoke I awoke to Maurice I woke
later I awoke I awoke to Maurice I woke
later I awoke I awoke to Maurice I woke to my husband I woke to all the students
to my husband I woke to all the students
to my husband I woke to all the students volunteers collaborators my family and
volunteers collaborators my family and
volunteers collaborators my family and friends and thread who brought me back
friends and thread who brought me back
friends and thread who brought me back to life and when a few years later I
to life and when a few years later I
to life and when a few years later I welcomed my daughter
welcomed my daughter
welcomed my daughter EB grace into this world they celebrated
EB grace into this world they celebrated
EB grace into this world they celebrated with me
so we have to remember it is not just
so we have to remember it is not just children living in poverty that need
children living in poverty that need
children living in poverty that need these deep interpersonal bonds we all do
these deep interpersonal bonds we all do
these deep interpersonal bonds we all do and during these times of division and
and during these times of division and
and during these times of division and strife we must find a way to rediscover
strife we must find a way to rediscover
strife we must find a way to rediscover what is most important one another
”
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