To Be the Change, Follow the Kids | Joe Powers | TEDxElmwoodFranklinSchool

thank you very much it’s great to see so

thank you very much it’s great to see so many people here today to be the change

many people here today to be the change

many people here today to be the change follow the kids I don’t think this

follow the kids I don’t think this

follow the kids I don’t think this message hasn’t ever been more important

message hasn’t ever been more important

message hasn’t ever been more important than it is today when I was a kid I

than it is today when I was a kid I

than it is today when I was a kid I wanted to be a grown-up so bad I wanted

wanted to be a grown-up so bad I wanted

wanted to be a grown-up so bad I wanted to do grown-up things I wanted to travel

to do grown-up things I wanted to travel

to do grown-up things I wanted to travel I wanted to play baseball I wanted to

I wanted to play baseball I wanted to

I wanted to play baseball I wanted to have a job I wanted to see the world I

have a job I wanted to see the world I

have a job I wanted to see the world I wanted to be grown up but I would

wanted to be grown up but I would

wanted to be grown up but I would constantly hear you have to wait until

constantly hear you have to wait until

constantly hear you have to wait until you’re grown up to do those things I

you’re grown up to do those things I

you’re grown up to do those things I wanted a job so bad as a kid and I was

wanted a job so bad as a kid and I was

wanted a job so bad as a kid and I was told I had to wait until I was 12 or 13

told I had to wait until I was 12 or 13

told I had to wait until I was 12 or 13 or even 14 that my buddy Chris Herrmann

or even 14 that my buddy Chris Herrmann

or even 14 that my buddy Chris Herrmann and I started a pet detective business

and I started a pet detective business

and I started a pet detective business we drove around on our bikes in the

we drove around on our bikes in the

we drove around on our bikes in the neighborhood checking out the telephone

neighborhood checking out the telephone

neighborhood checking out the telephone poles and the signs for loft paths we

poles and the signs for loft paths we

poles and the signs for loft paths we put up signs with our phone numbers on

put up signs with our phone numbers on

put up signs with our phone numbers on that on those same pole poles and look

that on those same pole poles and look

that on those same pole poles and look for the pets in the neighborhood we did

for the pets in the neighborhood we did

for the pets in the neighborhood we did this for a couple of weeks and we would

this for a couple of weeks and we would

this for a couple of weeks and we would wait in his basement when we weren’t out

wait in his basement when we weren’t out

wait in his basement when we weren’t out on our bikes or we were literally out

on our bikes or we were literally out

on our bikes or we were literally out looking for these pets

looking for these pets

looking for these pets we never got one phone call and we never

we never got one phone call and we never

we never got one phone call and we never found one pet but I will say it’s one of

found one pet but I will say it’s one of

found one pet but I will say it’s one of the fondest memories I have as a child

the fondest memories I have as a child

the fondest memories I have as a child because it felt empowering to create

because it felt empowering to create

because it felt empowering to create something I felt like I was doing

something I felt like I was doing

something I felt like I was doing something that people told me I wasn’t

something that people told me I wasn’t

something that people told me I wasn’t allowed to do until I was older school

allowed to do until I was older school

allowed to do until I was older school schooling I went to great schools I had

schooling I went to great schools I had

schooling I went to great schools I had great teachers but the school I went to

great teachers but the school I went to

great teachers but the school I went to as many of us did at that time was very

as many of us did at that time was very

as many of us did at that time was very teacher senator on the left you’ll see

teacher senator on the left you’ll see

teacher senator on the left you’ll see the teacher at the center with students

the teacher at the center with students

the teacher at the center with students in rows listening and learning it’s the

in rows listening and learning it’s the

in rows listening and learning it’s the factory model the factory model was the

factory model the factory model was the

factory model the factory model was the schooling that I had and it worked and

schooling that I had and it worked and

schooling that I had and it worked and it was nice but it was a lot of

it was nice but it was a lot of

it was nice but it was a lot of listening there was a set way to do

listening there was a set way to do

listening there was a set way to do something and that was what it was there

something and that was what it was there

something and that was what it was there wasn’t a lot of creativity there

wasn’t a lot of creativity there

wasn’t a lot of creativity there wasn’t a lot of collaboration on this

wasn’t a lot of collaboration on this

wasn’t a lot of collaboration on this student in my opinion was not at the

student in my opinion was not at the

student in my opinion was not at the center it was the teacher and the

center it was the teacher and the

center it was the teacher and the textbook a funny story when I was in

textbook a funny story when I was in

textbook a funny story when I was in eighth grade we were doing that solving

eighth grade we were doing that solving

eighth grade we were doing that solving problems and probably pre-algebra

problems and probably pre-algebra

problems and probably pre-algebra I remember solving the problem following

I remember solving the problem following

I remember solving the problem following it down on the piece of paper showed my

it down on the piece of paper showed my

it down on the piece of paper showed my work and circle the answer my teacher

work and circle the answer my teacher

work and circle the answer my teacher called me up at the time and it wasn’t

called me up at the time and it wasn’t

called me up at the time and it wasn’t rude but but scolded me for not doing it

rude but but scolded me for not doing it

rude but but scolded me for not doing it the way the book told me to to solve for

the way the book told me to to solve for

the way the book told me to to solve for now my answer was correct but the way I

now my answer was correct but the way I

now my answer was correct but the way I did it wasn’t the way the book told me I

did it wasn’t the way the book told me I

did it wasn’t the way the book told me I had to do it so I had to stand up on my

had to do it so I had to stand up on my

had to do it so I had to stand up on my desk and start to sing Frank Sinatra’s

desk and start to sing Frank Sinatra’s

desk and start to sing Frank Sinatra’s in my way because apparently I had been

in my way because apparently I had been

in my way because apparently I had been doing that a lot and he had been telling

doing that a lot and he had been telling

doing that a lot and he had been telling me you shouldn’t do it this way you

me you shouldn’t do it this way you

me you shouldn’t do it this way you should do it this way and as the way the

should do it this way and as the way the

should do it this way and as the way the book said it and I remember thinking

book said it and I remember thinking

book said it and I remember thinking myself but I got it right and I showed

myself but I got it right and I showed

myself but I got it right and I showed my work that model right was there was

my work that model right was there was

my work that model right was there was one set way to do things the model on

one set way to do things the model on

one set way to do things the model on the right to me in the classroom of

the right to me in the classroom of

the right to me in the classroom of today in the future one that has very

today in the future one that has very

today in the future one that has very very stage the student is at the center

very stage the student is at the center

very stage the student is at the center of it and in this particular picture you

of it and in this particular picture you

of it and in this particular picture you don’t even see the teacher teachers are

don’t even see the teacher teachers are

don’t even see the teacher teachers are vital to education in this process but

vital to education in this process but

vital to education in this process but students must be at the center of

students must be at the center of

students must be at the center of Education the factory model is broken

Education the factory model is broken

Education the factory model is broken and the factory model is changing to one

and the factory model is changing to one

and the factory model is changing to one that is more of innovation you got two

that is more of innovation you got two

that is more of innovation you got two pictures up here and one is looking at

pictures up here and one is looking at

pictures up here and one is looking at green salad here in Buffalo and poke the

green salad here in Buffalo and poke the

green salad here in Buffalo and poke the picture of the Innovation Centre at the

picture of the Innovation Centre at the

picture of the Innovation Centre at the Buffalo Medical Center campus right this

Buffalo Medical Center campus right this

Buffalo Medical Center campus right this city was founded on industry and

city was founded on industry and

city was founded on industry and manufacturing and transportation with

manufacturing and transportation with

manufacturing and transportation with the Great Lakes and the need to have

the Great Lakes and the need to have

the Great Lakes and the need to have workers and factories and doing all the

workers and factories and doing all the

workers and factories and doing all the necessary jobs and responsibilities in a

necessary jobs and responsibilities in a

necessary jobs and responsibilities in a great city at the time the innovation

great city at the time the innovation

great city at the time the innovation and transformation that is happening in

and transformation that is happening in

and transformation that is happening in the city

the city

the city what’s in a sense what needs to happen

what’s in a sense what needs to happen

what’s in a sense what needs to happen in our world we need to innovate we need

in our world we need to innovate we need

in our world we need to innovate we need to build spaces for that innovation and

to build spaces for that innovation and

to build spaces for that innovation and at the center of that innovation our

at the center of that innovation our

at the center of that innovation our kids our youth and we talked a little

kids our youth and we talked a little

kids our youth and we talked a little bit more about that in a moment

bit more about that in a moment

bit more about that in a moment kids are makers and doers I I started

kids are makers and doers I I started

kids are makers and doers I I started working on this presentation before the

working on this presentation before the

working on this presentation before the events in parkland Florida and as I

events in parkland Florida and as I

events in parkland Florida and as I started to work on my topic was already

started to work on my topic was already

started to work on my topic was already set and I had some several examples

set and I had some several examples

set and I had some several examples which I’m gonna share a minute but

which I’m gonna share a minute but

which I’m gonna share a minute but seeing what kids are doing in Florida

seeing what kids are doing in Florida

seeing what kids are doing in Florida right now and across this nation to try

right now and across this nation to try

right now and across this nation to try and effect change it’s powerful it’s an

and effect change it’s powerful it’s an

and effect change it’s powerful it’s an amazing for me as an educator to see

amazing for me as an educator to see

amazing for me as an educator to see what kind of change kids can can make

what kind of change kids can can make

what kind of change kids can can make and it’s just just fascinating it’s so

and it’s just just fascinating it’s so

and it’s just just fascinating it’s so so powerful so I’m so encouraged by what

so powerful so I’m so encouraged by what

so powerful so I’m so encouraged by what kids are doing right now and the change

kids are doing right now and the change

kids are doing right now and the change that they’re affecting that I had to

that they’re affecting that I had to

that they’re affecting that I had to build that into this talk it’s an

build that into this talk it’s an

build that into this talk it’s an incredible incredible time for us our

incredible incredible time for us our

incredible incredible time for us our schools need to look like this kid

schools need to look like this kid

schools need to look like this kid museum picture on the Left there’s so

museum picture on the Left there’s so

museum picture on the Left there’s so much learning that takes place in this

much learning that takes place in this

much learning that takes place in this kind of environment some incredible kids

kind of environment some incredible kids

kind of environment some incredible kids and some credible examples of kids who

and some credible examples of kids who

and some credible examples of kids who are makers and doers and doing amazing

are makers and doers and doing amazing

are makers and doers and doing amazing things they’ve even had a chance on one

things they’ve even had a chance on one

things they’ve even had a chance on one of my favorite shows is Shark Tank and

of my favorite shows is Shark Tank and

of my favorite shows is Shark Tank and you’re always I watch it all the time to

you’re always I watch it all the time to

you’re always I watch it all the time to watch it with my kids and in one episode

watch it with my kids and in one episode

watch it with my kids and in one episode I learned about mikaila Ulmer this is

I learned about mikaila Ulmer this is

I learned about mikaila Ulmer this is the from probably from a few years ago

the from probably from a few years ago

the from probably from a few years ago she’s 11 years old and she started a

she’s 11 years old and she started a

she’s 11 years old and she started a company called with a bee sweet lemonade

company called with a bee sweet lemonade

company called with a bee sweet lemonade and I love seeing a child tame the

and I love seeing a child tame the

and I love seeing a child tame the sharks on the TV show it was it was

sharks on the TV show it was it was

sharks on the TV show it was it was great she got on there she was confident

great she got on there she was confident

great she got on there she was confident she talked about what she was doing

she talked about what she was doing

she talked about what she was doing and she created this branch and created

and she created this branch and created

and she created this branch and created this lemonade from her

this lemonade from her

this lemonade from her great-grandmother’s recipe that’s now

great-grandmother’s recipe that’s now

great-grandmother’s recipe that’s now sold in whole food stores nationwide and

sold in whole food stores nationwide and

sold in whole food stores nationwide and it’s not just about lemonade it’s also

it’s not just about lemonade it’s also

it’s not just about lemonade it’s also about saving the bees who in many places

about saving the bees who in many places

about saving the bees who in many places aren’t

aren’t

aren’t right now and her purpose is not just to

right now and her purpose is not just to

right now and her purpose is not just to have a great lemonade but it’s to do

have a great lemonade but it’s to do

have a great lemonade but it’s to do something great and to serve people I

something great and to serve people I

something great and to serve people I love listening to her I love watching

love listening to her I love watching

love listening to her I love watching her I’ve since followed her career and

her I’ve since followed her career and

her I’ve since followed her career and anytime in that wholefoods I make sure I

anytime in that wholefoods I make sure I

anytime in that wholefoods I make sure I buy her product business-school

buy her product business-school

buy her product business-school investors one of the great pieces I get

investors one of the great pieces I get

investors one of the great pieces I get to do my job is teach still and I teach

to do my job is teach still and I teach

to do my job is teach still and I teach a class called business school and it’s

a class called business school and it’s

a class called business school and it’s with 5th grade and one of the components

with 5th grade and one of the components

with 5th grade and one of the components of this course is that they learned to

of this course is that they learned to

of this course is that they learned to become investors they learn about money

become investors they learn about money

become investors they learn about money they learn about how to spend how to

they learn about how to spend how to

they learn about how to spend how to save how to share their money and what

save how to share their money and what

save how to share their money and what we do is we create a portfolio of real

we do is we create a portfolio of real

we do is we create a portfolio of real investments that they get to me and in

investments that they get to me and in

investments that they get to me and in most cases 10 and 11 year olds aren’t

most cases 10 and 11 year olds aren’t

most cases 10 and 11 year olds aren’t usually investing money for a school but

usually investing money for a school but

usually investing money for a school but ours do and I’m thankful that my school

ours do and I’m thankful that my school

ours do and I’m thankful that my school allows us to take a small amount and

allows us to take a small amount and

allows us to take a small amount and allow our students to do that and what

allow our students to do that and what

allow our students to do that and what we get to see what we’ve seen is it’s

we get to see what we’ve seen is it’s

we get to see what we’ve seen is it’s pretty amazing now I know the markets

pretty amazing now I know the markets

pretty amazing now I know the markets done really well over the last day

done really well over the last day

done really well over the last day eighteen months to two years but our

eighteen months to two years but our

eighteen months to two years but our students have produced a 27 percent

students have produced a 27 percent

students have produced a 27 percent return on their investment and what

return on their investment and what

return on their investment and what they’re gonna do with that money when

they’re gonna do with that money when

they’re gonna do with that money when they graduate as eighth graders they’re

they graduate as eighth graders they’re

they graduate as eighth graders they’re gonna turn that investment around and

gonna turn that investment around and

gonna turn that investment around and make a gift to the school and decide

make a gift to the school and decide

make a gift to the school and decide what that money is gonna go for to help

what that money is gonna go for to help

what that money is gonna go for to help make the school better

make the school better

make the school better so not only their investing and their

so not only their investing and their

so not only their investing and their learning about money and how it works

learning about money and how it works

learning about money and how it works and the importance of saving it and

and the importance of saving it and

and the importance of saving it and growing it but they’re learning they can

growing it but they’re learning they can

growing it but they’re learning they can make a difference with it they’re

make a difference with it they’re

make a difference with it they’re learning that they can do this and give

learning that they can do this and give

learning that they can do this and give back at the same time and it’s really

back at the same time and it’s really

back at the same time and it’s really powerful and I can’t wait to see what

powerful and I can’t wait to see what

powerful and I can’t wait to see what they do as eighth graders and how they

they do as eighth graders and how they

they do as eighth graders and how they then reinvest that back into the school

then reinvest that back into the school

then reinvest that back into the school like I said 10 and 11 year olds aren’t

like I said 10 and 11 year olds aren’t

like I said 10 and 11 year olds aren’t usually doing this kind of work but ours

usually doing this kind of work but ours

usually doing this kind of work but ours do and many others can as well we’ve

do and many others can as well we’ve

do and many others can as well we’ve also partnered with an organization

also partnered with an organization

also partnered with an organization called rural scholars which is focused

called rural scholars which is focused

called rural scholars which is focused on teacher teacher driven and

on teacher teacher driven and

on teacher teacher driven and student-run businesses they empower

student-run businesses they empower

student-run businesses they empower teachers and students to create business

teachers and students to create business

teachers and students to create business as a part of their curriculum to deliver

as a part of their curriculum to deliver

as a part of their curriculum to deliver real learn

real learn

real learn experiences for their kids and and in

experiences for their kids and and in

experiences for their kids and and in the majority of the profit that the

the majority of the profit that the

the majority of the profit that the students make in their businesses goes

students make in their businesses goes

students make in their businesses goes back to support their community so it’s

back to support their community so it’s

back to support their community so it’s a fascinating component and seeing that

a fascinating component and seeing that

a fascinating component and seeing that there are organizations and there are

there are organizations and there are

there are organizations and there are kids and programs out there supporting

kids and programs out there supporting

kids and programs out there supporting youth that are doing this great work

youth that are doing this great work

youth that are doing this great work because they are the ones who all affect

because they are the ones who all affect

because they are the ones who all affect change so before I get to my next slide

change so before I get to my next slide

change so before I get to my next slide Buffalo is a center for this work and

Buffalo is a center for this work and

Buffalo is a center for this work and they talked earlier it has it enlarges

they talked earlier it has it enlarges

they talked earlier it has it enlarges youth young adult populations and

youth young adult populations and

youth young adult populations and transformations of the city the

transformations of the city the

transformations of the city the Renaissance that Buffalo is going

Renaissance that Buffalo is going

Renaissance that Buffalo is going through is in large part due to the

through is in large part due to the

through is in large part due to the innovation and the entrepreneurial

innovation and the entrepreneurial

innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset that’s developed here and

mindset that’s developed here and

mindset that’s developed here and continues to develop and you are at the

continues to develop and you are at the

continues to develop and you are at the center of that movement so what do the

center of that movement so what do the

center of that movement so what do the adults need to do to help the kids be

adults need to do to help the kids be

adults need to do to help the kids be change talk less and listen more we’re

change talk less and listen more we’re

change talk less and listen more we’re good at talking I know I’m really good

good at talking I know I’m really good

good at talking I know I’m really good at talking my kids will tell you I talk

at talking my kids will tell you I talk

at talking my kids will tell you I talk for them way too much talk less listen

for them way too much talk less listen

for them way too much talk less listen more

more

more my wife had a great t-shirt that she

my wife had a great t-shirt that she

my wife had a great t-shirt that she talked about wearing as a kid that said

talked about wearing as a kid that said

talked about wearing as a kid that said kids are people too and she wore proudly

kids are people too and she wore proudly

kids are people too and she wore proudly around her house right I might add to

around her house right I might add to

around her house right I might add to that shirt today and say kids are

that shirt today and say kids are

that shirt today and say kids are powerful people to look at the change

powerful people to look at the change

powerful people to look at the change they’re effective look at the chain

they’re effective look at the chain

they’re effective look at the chain they’re making in our country right now

they’re making in our country right now

they’re making in our country right now we need to listen more we need to talk

we need to listen more we need to talk

we need to listen more we need to talk less and to follow their lead we also

less and to follow their lead we also

less and to follow their lead we also need to help kids find a purpose purpose

need to help kids find a purpose purpose

need to help kids find a purpose purpose is so important right if you ever get a

is so important right if you ever get a

is so important right if you ever get a chance and some of you have probably

chance and some of you have probably

chance and some of you have probably seen it Simon cynics TED talk on knowing

seen it Simon cynics TED talk on knowing

seen it Simon cynics TED talk on knowing your why your why is important you have

your why your why is important you have

your why your why is important you have we have to help our kids develop and

we have to help our kids develop and

we have to help our kids develop and understand purpose and why they are

understand purpose and why they are

understand purpose and why they are doing what they’re doing that passion

doing what they’re doing that passion

doing what they’re doing that passion that drive that’s what’s not only going

that drive that’s what’s not only going

that drive that’s what’s not only going to get you up in the morning but that’s

to get you up in the morning but that’s

to get you up in the morning but that’s what’s going to get you to stay up at

what’s going to get you to stay up at

what’s going to get you to stay up at night to work on a project to solve a

night to work on a project to solve a

night to work on a project to solve a problem to create

problem to create

problem to create something that knowing your why is so

something that knowing your why is so

something that knowing your why is so important as adults we must position our

important as adults we must position our

important as adults we must position our kids we must help them explore those

kids we must help them explore those

kids we must help them explore those wise and develop that passion because

wise and develop that passion because

wise and develop that passion because they are going to be the drivers for us

they are going to be the drivers for us

they are going to be the drivers for us in the future

in the future

in the future last but not least it’s failing forward

last but not least it’s failing forward

last but not least it’s failing forward I love this term and in my class I had

I love this term and in my class I had

I love this term and in my class I had was fortunate having an entrepreneur

was fortunate having an entrepreneur

was fortunate having an entrepreneur come in to talk to to the kids about

come in to talk to to the kids about

come in to talk to to the kids about lessons learned and messages share

lessons learned and messages share

lessons learned and messages share failing forward I think is one of the

failing forward I think is one of the

failing forward I think is one of the best phrases I’ve ever heard about

best phrases I’ve ever heard about

best phrases I’ve ever heard about learning from the stage we have to help

learning from the stage we have to help

learning from the stage we have to help our kids grow failure most people don’t

our kids grow failure most people don’t

our kids grow failure most people don’t wake up in the morning and say I can’t

wake up in the morning and say I can’t

wake up in the morning and say I can’t wait to fail at this right but it’s

wait to fail at this right but it’s

wait to fail at this right but it’s gonna happen and we are gonna fail we’re

gonna happen and we are gonna fail we’re

gonna happen and we are gonna fail we’re gonna fumble we’re gonna have balls

gonna fumble we’re gonna have balls

gonna fumble we’re gonna have balls picking ourselves up developing

picking ourselves up developing

picking ourselves up developing resilience learning from those mistakes

resilience learning from those mistakes

resilience learning from those mistakes learning from mistakes of others is

learning from mistakes of others is

learning from mistakes of others is fighting as we help our kids grow and

fighting as we help our kids grow and

fighting as we help our kids grow and not being afraid of it

not being afraid of it

not being afraid of it failure can paralyze us but it can play

failure can paralyze us but it can play

failure can paralyze us but it can play if what it must do is enlightenment

if what it must do is enlightenment

if what it must do is enlightenment enlighten us to grow and change and our

enlighten us to grow and change and our

enlighten us to grow and change and our kids are resilient our kids can brush

kids are resilient our kids can brush

kids are resilient our kids can brush their knees off and our kids are gonna

their knees off and our kids are gonna

their knees off and our kids are gonna be the ones they’re gonna learn from

be the ones they’re gonna learn from

be the ones they’re gonna learn from these mistakes ours and theirs and we

these mistakes ours and theirs and we

these mistakes ours and theirs and we must help them do that it’s so important

must help them do that it’s so important

must help them do that it’s so important so adults get out of the way kids will

so adults get out of the way kids will

so adults get out of the way kids will be the ones that make a change in

be the ones that make a change in

be the ones that make a change in closing as a kid I want to be a grown-up

closing as a kid I want to be a grown-up

closing as a kid I want to be a grown-up so bad to do all the cool things

so bad to do all the cool things

so bad to do all the cool things grown-ups did as an adult that paradigm

grown-ups did as an adult that paradigm

grown-ups did as an adult that paradigm is

is

is as an adult I want to be a kid because

as an adult I want to be a kid because

as an adult I want to be a kid because they do the coolest things well we can’t

they do the coolest things well we can’t

they do the coolest things well we can’t reengineering to make that happen yet oh

reengineering to make that happen yet oh

reengineering to make that happen yet oh I don’t think I want that to happen

I don’t think I want that to happen

I don’t think I want that to happen right we can and must listen more to and

right we can and must listen more to and

right we can and must listen more to and follow our kids they have incredible

follow our kids they have incredible

follow our kids they have incredible powers and energy and ideas that need to

powers and energy and ideas that need to

powers and energy and ideas that need to be heard they will be the

be heard they will be the

be heard they will be the once that effect change in the future

once that effect change in the future

once that effect change in the future and it’s time to listen and follow