we all carry a backpack this backpack has things in it that will shape who we
has things in it that will shape who we
has things in it that will shape who we are whether their experiences items or
are whether their experiences items or
are whether their experiences items or ideals in my backpack you will find a
ideals in my backpack you will find a
ideals in my backpack you will find a picture of me and my mother and me and a
picture of me and my mother and me and a
picture of me and my mother and me and a Pokemon shirt I love that shirt so this
Pokemon shirt I love that shirt so this
Pokemon shirt I love that shirt so this is to signify the roots that I have in
is to signify the roots that I have in
is to signify the roots that I have in being an immigrant I moved here at the
being an immigrant I moved here at the
being an immigrant I moved here at the age of four from Puerto Rico and then
age of four from Puerto Rico and then
age of four from Puerto Rico and then the time between May and September I had
the time between May and September I had
the time between May and September I had to learn English to actually keep up
to learn English to actually keep up
to learn English to actually keep up with school in my backpack
with school in my backpack
with school in my backpack you will find a necklace with the Puerto
you will find a necklace with the Puerto
you will find a necklace with the Puerto Rican flag this is to signify my Latino
Rican flag this is to signify my Latino
Rican flag this is to signify my Latino culture and heritage it’s something that
culture and heritage it’s something that
culture and heritage it’s something that has shaped me into the person I am now
has shaped me into the person I am now
has shaped me into the person I am now and has also been a big way of how I
and has also been a big way of how I
and has also been a big way of how I Traverse and navigate this world in my
Traverse and navigate this world in my
Traverse and navigate this world in my backpack you will find a pin that I’m
backpack you will find a pin that I’m
backpack you will find a pin that I’m currently wearing uh-huh this pin is
currently wearing uh-huh this pin is
currently wearing uh-huh this pin is representative of the Rutgers University
representative of the Rutgers University
representative of the Rutgers University crust this was given to me by one of my
crust this was given to me by one of my
crust this was given to me by one of my mentees and it’s something that I very
mentees and it’s something that I very
mentees and it’s something that I very much cherish I’m the first person in my
much cherish I’m the first person in my
much cherish I’m the first person in my family to be able to go to university
family to be able to go to university
family to be able to go to university and this pin is something that reminds
and this pin is something that reminds
and this pin is something that reminds me of how passionate I want to be about
me of how passionate I want to be about
me of how passionate I want to be about fighting for education and access for
fighting for education and access for
fighting for education and access for all
[Applause]
[Applause] in my backpack you will find a lucky
in my backpack you will find a lucky
in my backpack you will find a lucky duck hat and this is something that I
duck hat and this is something that I
duck hat and this is something that I get made fun of a lot
get made fun of a lot
get made fun of a lot uh-hum this hat is probably one of my
uh-hum this hat is probably one of my
uh-hum this hat is probably one of my most prized possessions on the top
most prized possessions on the top
most prized possessions on the top picture that was the first time I ever
picture that was the first time I ever
picture that was the first time I ever became a mentor to a group of students
became a mentor to a group of students
became a mentor to a group of students and the bottom picture is when I was B
and the bottom picture is when I was B
and the bottom picture is when I was B when I became an RA but that hat
when I became an RA but that hat
when I became an RA but that hat represented how I learned how empathy is
represented how I learned how empathy is
represented how I learned how empathy is such a powerful way of how when we put
such a powerful way of how when we put
such a powerful way of how when we put ourselves in another person’s shoes that
ourselves in another person’s shoes that
ourselves in another person’s shoes that is a form of leadership and lastly in my
is a form of leadership and lastly in my
is a form of leadership and lastly in my backpack you will find a birthday letter
backpack you will find a birthday letter
backpack you will find a birthday letter this birthday letter was also given to
this birthday letter was also given to
this birthday letter was also given to me by one of my mentees during my fourth
me by one of my mentees during my fourth
me by one of my mentees during my fourth year of school cuz I’m a non-traditional
year of school cuz I’m a non-traditional
year of school cuz I’m a non-traditional student I was diagnosed with a
student I was diagnosed with a
student I was diagnosed with a disability it was a form of panic
disability it was a form of panic
disability it was a form of panic disorder and it almost cost me my shot
disorder and it almost cost me my shot
disorder and it almost cost me my shot at actually finishing school it was very
at actually finishing school it was very
at actually finishing school it was very difficult to understand and navigate
difficult to understand and navigate
difficult to understand and navigate what this meant for me what this meant
what this meant for me what this meant
what this meant for me what this meant for my professional my personal my
for my professional my personal my
for my professional my personal my academic life but it was in finding
academic life but it was in finding
academic life but it was in finding these resources and also the support
these resources and also the support
these resources and also the support that I had around me that this letter
that I had around me that this letter
that I had around me that this letter signifies the love that they gave me but
signifies the love that they gave me but
signifies the love that they gave me but hello everyone my name is Luis Fernandez
hello everyone my name is Luis Fernandez
hello everyone my name is Luis Fernandez and I’m a student here at Rutgers
and I’m a student here at Rutgers
and I’m a student here at Rutgers University
University
University I’m studying information technology and
I’m studying information technology and
I’m studying information technology and informatics and my passion lies at the
informatics and my passion lies at the
informatics and my passion lies at the intersection of human rights and
intersection of human rights and
intersection of human rights and technology it’s a lot of the work that I
technology it’s a lot of the work that I
technology it’s a lot of the work that I was able to do with Google and our work
was able to do with Google and our work
was able to do with Google and our work looked at bridging the digital divide
looked at bridging the digital divide
looked at bridging the digital divide that existed within our communities but
that existed within our communities but
that existed within our communities but one of the things that I’ve learned
one of the things that I’ve learned
one of the things that I’ve learned throughout my time at Rutgers and I’ve
throughout my time at Rutgers and I’ve
throughout my time at Rutgers and I’ve had the opportunity to be an RA I’ve had
had the opportunity to be an RA I’ve had
had the opportunity to be an RA I’ve had the opportunity to hold five national
the opportunity to hold five national
the opportunity to hold five national fellowships I’ve had the opportunity to
fellowships I’ve had the opportunity to
fellowships I’ve had the opportunity to attend hearings in the White House and
attend hearings in the White House and
attend hearings in the White House and also the UN and I’m also very passionate
also the UN and I’m also very passionate
also the UN and I’m also very passionate about making sure that there’s always
about making sure that there’s always
about making sure that there’s always access and opportunities for those who
access and opportunities for those who
access and opportunities for those who either look like me or have the same
either look like me or have the same
either look like me or have the same background as me but what I took away
background as me but what I took away
background as me but what I took away from all those experiences was that
from all those experiences was that
from all those experiences was that empathy was one of the most profound
empathy was one of the most profound
empathy was one of the most profound ways that we can make an impact in this
ways that we can make an impact in this
ways that we can make an impact in this world so what I did in my first activity
world so what I did in my first activity
world so what I did in my first activity was to unpack with empathy meant I
was to unpack with empathy meant I
was to unpack with empathy meant I showed you what my metaphorical backpack
showed you what my metaphorical backpack
showed you what my metaphorical backpack had and being vulnerable and being
had and being vulnerable and being
had and being vulnerable and being vulnerable as part of what empathy means
vulnerable as part of what empathy means
vulnerable as part of what empathy means and I think this is something that
and I think this is something that
and I think this is something that sometimes we were afraid to do it’s
sometimes we were afraid to do it’s
sometimes we were afraid to do it’s scary and trust me I know because I used
scary and trust me I know because I used
scary and trust me I know because I used to now be really good with expressing my
to now be really good with expressing my
to now be really good with expressing my feelings but I also learned that change
feelings but I also learned that change
feelings but I also learned that change can happen on a on a personal scale as
can happen on a on a personal scale as
can happen on a on a personal scale as well
well
well with that being said today’s talk I want
with that being said today’s talk I want
with that being said today’s talk I want to talk about how empathy can be a
to talk about how empathy can be a
to talk about how empathy can be a blueprint for changing the world we all
blueprint for changing the world we all
blueprint for changing the world we all want to change the world but change also
want to change the world but change also
want to change the world but change also starts on a personal level it’s by
starts on a personal level it’s by
starts on a personal level it’s by understanding how we can become the best
understanding how we can become the best
understanding how we can become the best versions of ourselves that can lead to
versions of ourselves that can lead to
versions of ourselves that can lead to how we can make macro-level change and
how we can make macro-level change and
how we can make macro-level change and as for the theme of this conference I
as for the theme of this conference I
as for the theme of this conference I wanted to really narrow in on what you
wanted to really narrow in on what you
wanted to really narrow in on what you can all get out of this experience and
can all get out of this experience and
can all get out of this experience and how empathy can be a way in a skill and
how empathy can be a way in a skill and
how empathy can be a way in a skill and a strategy of how you can change the
a strategy of how you can change the
a strategy of how you can change the world
world
world first though I want to talk about these
first though I want to talk about these
first though I want to talk about these two turns that I feel like are used
two turns that I feel like are used
two turns that I feel like are used interchangeably
interchangeably
interchangeably the first is sympathy and the second is
the first is sympathy and the second is
the first is sympathy and the second is empathy
empathy
empathy so sympathy is an acknowledgement of
so sympathy is an acknowledgement of
so sympathy is an acknowledgement of someone’s feelings it’s not necessarily
someone’s feelings it’s not necessarily
someone’s feelings it’s not necessarily deep you can see that someone’s sad you
deep you can see that someone’s sad you
deep you can see that someone’s sad you can acknowledge that someone is sad but
can acknowledge that someone is sad but
can acknowledge that someone is sad but empathy that’s where the work comes in
empathy that’s where the work comes in
empathy that’s where the work comes in that’s a lot deeper that’s something
that’s a lot deeper that’s something
that’s a lot deeper that’s something that you have to be able to dig deep
that you have to be able to dig deep
that you have to be able to dig deep within yourself and it’s a shared
within yourself and it’s a shared
within yourself and it’s a shared experience the reason I shared my doc
experience the reason I shared my doc
experience the reason I shared my doc pack was because I want you to
pack was because I want you to
pack was because I want you to understand what experiences have shaped
understand what experiences have shaped
understand what experiences have shaped my life and to empathize being a two-way
my life and to empathize being a two-way
my life and to empathize being a two-way street that is why I believe that
street that is why I believe that
street that is why I believe that sympathy is expressed it’s something
sympathy is expressed it’s something
sympathy is expressed it’s something that you give to someone but empathy is
that you give to someone but empathy is
that you give to someone but empathy is shared and also realizing that empathy
shared and also realizing that empathy
shared and also realizing that empathy to go deeper you have to be critical you
to go deeper you have to be critical you
to go deeper you have to be critical you have to use analysis because to change
have to use analysis because to change
have to use analysis because to change the world right it’s not easy but I do
the world right it’s not easy but I do
the world right it’s not easy but I do believe that empathy again is that
believe that empathy again is that
believe that empathy again is that blueprint for that but there are two
blueprint for that but there are two
blueprint for that but there are two factors that I want you to keep in mind
factors that I want you to keep in mind
factors that I want you to keep in mind as you navigate this one is someone’s
as you navigate this one is someone’s
as you navigate this one is someone’s identity our identity is very important
identity our identity is very important
identity our identity is very important these identities can be can be factors
these identities can be can be factors
these identities can be can be factors such as our race or gender or class our
such as our race or gender or class our
such as our race or gender or class our ability and also kimberlé crenshaw
ability and also kimberlé crenshaw
ability and also kimberlé crenshaw who’s a famous black feminist who’s
who’s a famous black feminist who’s
who’s a famous black feminist who’s paved the way for a lot of social
paved the way for a lot of social
paved the way for a lot of social justice movements talked about this idea
justice movements talked about this idea
justice movements talked about this idea of intersectionality that your
of intersectionality that your
of intersectionality that your identities are compounded right you’re
identities are compounded right you’re
identities are compounded right you’re not just so in this example I’m not just
not just so in this example I’m not just
not just so in this example I’m not just Lewis an immigrant right I’m not just
Lewis an immigrant right I’m not just
Lewis an immigrant right I’m not just Lewis a student I am a first-generation
Lewis a student I am a first-generation
Lewis a student I am a first-generation student I’m also a person who identifies
student I’m also a person who identifies
student I’m also a person who identifies with having a disability these things
with having a disability these things
with having a disability these things are all compounded and my identity will
are all compounded and my identity will
are all compounded and my identity will be very different than those of others
be very different than those of others
be very different than those of others but there’s also power in your story and
but there’s also power in your story and
but there’s also power in your story and your narrative
the second is context in history
the second is context in history understanding where someone lives their
understanding where someone lives their
understanding where someone lives their background how they were raised their
background how they were raised their
background how they were raised their circumstances whole myriad of other
circumstances whole myriad of other
circumstances whole myriad of other factors can be very important in
factors can be very important in
factors can be very important in understanding how you empathize when we
understanding how you empathize when we
understanding how you empathize when we approach a lot of our work within CLP we
approach a lot of our work within CLP we
approach a lot of our work within CLP we had to understand how is it that people
had to understand how is it that people
had to understand how is it that people were using technology or not using
were using technology or not using
were using technology or not using technology but we held saw but we also
technology but we held saw but we also
technology but we held saw but we also had to understand what was the what was
had to understand what was the what was
had to understand what was the what was the demographic of New Brunswick what
the demographic of New Brunswick what
the demographic of New Brunswick what were people using what were they not
were people using what were they not
were people using what were they not using what was their income level right
using what was their income level right
using what was their income level right it was important to understand how these
it was important to understand how these
it was important to understand how these contextual factors really were part of
contextual factors really were part of
contextual factors really were part of how we empathize with those who we were
how we empathize with those who we were
how we empathize with those who we were trying to best serve but I want to take
trying to best serve but I want to take
trying to best serve but I want to take a step back and think of how empathy is
a step back and think of how empathy is
a step back and think of how empathy is a strategy using this as a lens to
a strategy using this as a lens to
a strategy using this as a lens to change the world and if you think about
change the world and if you think about
change the world and if you think about it empathy is something that we use
it empathy is something that we use
it empathy is something that we use every single day though we sometimes
every single day though we sometimes
every single day though we sometimes don’t talk about it so empathy can be
don’t talk about it so empathy can be
don’t talk about it so empathy can be used as a way of how are we making sure
used as a way of how are we making sure
used as a way of how are we making sure that people who are being affected by
that people who are being affected by
that people who are being affected by decisions are in that space so if
decisions are in that space so if
decisions are in that space so if there’s an issue about women’s rights or
there’s an issue about women’s rights or
there’s an issue about women’s rights or women in that space if there are I’ve
women in that space if there are I’ve
women in that space if there are I’ve been to a lot of spaces where we’re
been to a lot of spaces where we’re
been to a lot of spaces where we’re talking about disability rights but
talking about disability rights but
talking about disability rights but there are people who were able body and
there are people who were able body and
there are people who were able body and they weren’t having an insane
they weren’t having an insane
they weren’t having an insane input from those who were who were
input from those who were who were
input from those who were who were disabled so it’s interesting to realize
disabled so it’s interesting to realize
disabled so it’s interesting to realize how empathy is not always necessarily a
how empathy is not always necessarily a
how empathy is not always necessarily a negative thing but it’s understanding
negative thing but it’s understanding
negative thing but it’s understanding how you can better design how you can
how you can better design how you can
how you can better design how you can build representation and visibility and
build representation and visibility and
build representation and visibility and I think this is important to see how
I think this is important to see how
I think this is important to see how empathy is a strategy in the way that we
empathy is a strategy in the way that we
empathy is a strategy in the way that we design spaces or even programs or even
design spaces or even programs or even
design spaces or even programs or even help someone be their authentic self in
help someone be their authentic self in
help someone be their authentic self in what they do one of the stories that I
what they do one of the stories that I
what they do one of the stories that I have is when I was diagnosed with my
have is when I was diagnosed with my
have is when I was diagnosed with my disability I almost filled out a school
disability I almost filled out a school
disability I almost filled out a school it was a very hard time and I took time
it was a very hard time and I took time
it was a very hard time and I took time off and I was trying to learn how to
off and I was trying to learn how to
off and I was trying to learn how to navigate what it meant to have this this
navigate what it meant to have this this
navigate what it meant to have this this panic disorder so I came across this
panic disorder so I came across this
panic disorder so I came across this organization called lime lime works to
organization called lime lime works to
organization called lime lime works to help students who identify with having a
help students who identify with having a
help students who identify with having a disability have access to corporate
disability have access to corporate
disability have access to corporate opportunities such as Google Facebook
opportunities such as Google Facebook
opportunities such as Google Facebook Bloomberg call Marriott of companies but
Bloomberg call Marriott of companies but
Bloomberg call Marriott of companies but what I love about lime is that they help
what I love about lime is that they help
what I love about lime is that they help me understand that
me understand that
me understand that my disability was not a form of
my disability was not a form of
my disability was not a form of inability my disability became another
inability my disability became another
inability my disability became another form of ability in the way that I really
form of ability in the way that I really
form of ability in the way that I really traversed and navigated the world it
traversed and navigated the world it
traversed and navigated the world it taught me that every day I have to make
taught me that every day I have to make
taught me that every day I have to make decisions right and that’s something
decisions right and that’s something
decisions right and that’s something that is strategy
that is strategy
that is strategy have to understand how to pick apart
have to understand how to pick apart
have to understand how to pick apart things and know exactly how to analyze
things and know exactly how to analyze
things and know exactly how to analyze but what I realize is that by one having
but what I realize is that by one having
but what I realize is that by one having a shared experience of how people know
a shared experience of how people know
a shared experience of how people know that my identity is part of who I am and
that my identity is part of who I am and
that my identity is part of who I am and also how I navigate the world that makes
also how I navigate the world that makes
also how I navigate the world that makes my experiences my insights and my
my experiences my insights and my
my experiences my insights and my identities valued in any space that I go
identities valued in any space that I go
identities valued in any space that I go one of the things that I wanted to talk
one of the things that I wanted to talk
one of the things that I wanted to talk about was the statistic of 1 in 4 & 1 &
about was the statistic of 1 in 4 & 1 &
about was the statistic of 1 in 4 & 1 & 18 so this week we had Joe Biden the
18 so this week we had Joe Biden the
18 so this week we had Joe Biden the former vice president come to Rutgers
former vice president come to Rutgers
former vice president come to Rutgers and and and one of the campaigns that
and and and one of the campaigns that
and and and one of the campaigns that was currently happening this week was to
was currently happening this week was to
was currently happening this week was to turn the campus purple campaign which is
turn the campus purple campaign which is
turn the campus purple campaign which is looking at how all of us at Rutgers can
looking at how all of us at Rutgers can
looking at how all of us at Rutgers can help combat the issue of sexual violence
help combat the issue of sexual violence
help combat the issue of sexual violence and sexual assault last year when I did
and sexual assault last year when I did
and sexual assault last year when I did my fellowship with Greg through one of
my fellowship with Greg through one of
my fellowship with Greg through one of the issues that I was looking at is how
the issues that I was looking at is how
the issues that I was looking at is how how is it that we can use empathy as a
how is it that we can use empathy as a
how is it that we can use empathy as a way to disrupt and dismantle these
way to disrupt and dismantle these
way to disrupt and dismantle these violent structures so the reason why
violent structures so the reason why
violent structures so the reason why this number is important is because one
this number is important is because one
this number is important is because one in four women will experience some form
in four women will experience some form
in four women will experience some form of sexual violence before the time that
of sexual violence before the time that
of sexual violence before the time that they graduate and one in 19 men will and
they graduate and one in 19 men will and
they graduate and one in 19 men will and what I’ve realized is that by using
what I’ve realized is that by using
what I’ve realized is that by using empathy and I don’t mean condoning I’m
empathy and I don’t mean condoning I’m
empathy and I don’t mean condoning I’m talking about putting yourself in the
talking about putting yourself in the
talking about putting yourself in the ways of how you can understand how these
ways of how you can understand how these
ways of how you can understand how these systems of violence work because if you
systems of violence work because if you
systems of violence work because if you can understand how a system works you
can understand how a system works you
can understand how a system works you can dismantle it so that led me to start
can dismantle it so that led me to start
can dismantle it so that led me to start a masculinity workshop within a Greek
a masculinity workshop within a Greek
a masculinity workshop within a Greek life to actually talk about how er
life to actually talk about how er
life to actually talk about how er these norms these ideas these behaviors
these norms these ideas these behaviors
these norms these ideas these behaviors really inflicting violence within our
really inflicting violence within our
really inflicting violence within our community and how is it that we can pick
community and how is it that we can pick
community and how is it that we can pick apart that so we talked about
apart that so we talked about
apart that so we talked about masculinity and all these things so I
masculinity and all these things so I
masculinity and all these things so I want you to think of how is the thing
want you to think of how is the thing
want you to think of how is the thing you can put yourself in the shoes of
you can put yourself in the shoes of
you can put yourself in the shoes of those whether it’s a positive or
those whether it’s a positive or
those whether it’s a positive or negative thing and learn how to pick
negative thing and learn how to pick
negative thing and learn how to pick apart these violence structures or even
apart these violence structures or even
apart these violence structures or even how we may cells be may be complicit
how we may cells be may be complicit
how we may cells be may be complicit within that as well one of the things
within that as well one of the things
within that as well one of the things that I’ve learned is that contrary to
that I’ve learned is that contrary to
that I’ve learned is that contrary to what you may believe truth is not
what you may believe truth is not
what you may believe truth is not objective it is subjective our
objective it is subjective our
objective it is subjective our experiences will shape our realities and
experiences will shape our realities and
experiences will shape our realities and our realities will shape our truth
our realities will shape our truth
our realities will shape our truth everyone here has their own individual
everyone here has their own individual
everyone here has their own individual truth
truth
truth these can be framed by the way that our
these can be framed by the way that our
these can be framed by the way that our politics and form our lives or ideals or
politics and form our lives or ideals or
politics and form our lives or ideals or even our purpose but it’s important to
even our purpose but it’s important to
even our purpose but it’s important to realize that everyone’s truth is valid
realize that everyone’s truth is valid
realize that everyone’s truth is valid and what I see is that there’s a lot of
and what I see is that there’s a lot of
and what I see is that there’s a lot of dismissiveness especially when we live
dismissiveness especially when we live
dismissiveness especially when we live in a very hyper partisan age but I want
in a very hyper partisan age but I want
in a very hyper partisan age but I want you to remember that everyone’s truth is
you to remember that everyone’s truth is
you to remember that everyone’s truth is crafted by
crafted by
crafted by they have felt and what they have
they have felt and what they have
they have felt and what they have experienced and to understand how you
experienced and to understand how you
experienced and to understand how you can connect your truth to theirs
can connect your truth to theirs
can connect your truth to theirs and how is it that you can understand
and how is it that you can understand
and how is it that you can understand how that has shaped their life what I’ve
how that has shaped their life what I’ve
how that has shaped their life what I’ve learned is that there are two barriers
learned is that there are two barriers
learned is that there are two barriers that I’ve seen usually that come in the
that I’ve seen usually that come in the
that I’ve seen usually that come in the way of empathy these are the two P’s the
way of empathy these are the two P’s the
way of empathy these are the two P’s the first P is privilege and the second P is
first P is privilege and the second P is
first P is privilege and the second P is perspective everyone in this room was
perspective everyone in this room was
perspective everyone in this room was brought up differently we have different
brought up differently we have different
brought up differently we have different ways of how we navigate the world or how
ways of how we navigate the world or how
ways of how we navigate the world or how we view the world but what I’ve realized
we view the world but what I’ve realized
we view the world but what I’ve realized is that our perspective may sometimes be
is that our perspective may sometimes be
is that our perspective may sometimes be a barrier in the way that we really
a barrier in the way that we really
a barrier in the way that we really navigate this work so I’ll go back to
navigate this work so I’ll go back to
navigate this work so I’ll go back to the example of a lot of our work within
the example of a lot of our work within
the example of a lot of our work within New Brunswick to bridge the digital
New Brunswick to bridge the digital
New Brunswick to bridge the digital divide we have access to technology
divide we have access to technology
divide we have access to technology every day so even though we were trying
every day so even though we were trying
every day so even though we were trying to do well in actually bridging that
to do well in actually bridging that
to do well in actually bridging that divide our perspective came from being
divide our perspective came from being
divide our perspective came from being able to know how this works so we have
able to know how this works so we have
able to know how this works so we have to step back and say we need to make
to step back and say we need to make
to step back and say we need to make sure that we have representation that we
sure that we have representation that we
sure that we have representation that we send through those who were trying to
send through those who were trying to
send through those who were trying to serve and make sure that their voices
serve and make sure that their voices
serve and make sure that their voices are heard and that they’re part of this
are heard and that they’re part of this
are heard and that they’re part of this process because our perspective may have
process because our perspective may have
process because our perspective may have blinded us without us even realizing and
blinded us without us even realizing and
blinded us without us even realizing and then the second was privileged
then the second was privileged
then the second was privileged understanding how privileges are
understanding how privileges are
understanding how privileges are relative to each other and understand
relative to each other and understand
relative to each other and understand how we may sometimes be complicit in a
how we may sometimes be complicit in a
how we may sometimes be complicit in a lot of these structures we even
lot of these structures we even
lot of these structures we even understand how we can use our privilege
understand how we can use our privilege
understand how we can use our privilege to leverage work and within even
to leverage work and within even
to leverage work and within even movements or even just in everyday life
movements or even just in everyday life
movements or even just in everyday life how is it that we can achieve liberation
how is it that we can achieve liberation
how is it that we can achieve liberation for all this is something that I keep in
for all this is something that I keep in
for all this is something that I keep in mind every single day and it’s something
mind every single day and it’s something
mind every single day and it’s something that again it takes a lot of critical
that again it takes a lot of critical
that again it takes a lot of critical analysis not just on other people but
analysis not just on other people but
analysis not just on other people but within yourself we had this idea of the
within yourself we had this idea of the
within yourself we had this idea of the other right that this person is
other right that this person is
other right that this person is describing to this narrative right
describing to this narrative right
describing to this narrative right we have biases and stereotypes that are
we have biases and stereotypes that are
we have biases and stereotypes that are reinforced every single day by either
reinforced every single day by either
reinforced every single day by either people that we’re surrounded with or
people that we’re surrounded with or
people that we’re surrounded with or even media but it’s important to make
even media but it’s important to make
even media but it’s important to make sure that which is something that leads
sure that which is something that leads
sure that which is something that leads it to my next slide that we learn
it to my next slide that we learn
it to my next slide that we learn unlearn and relearn learning we learn
unlearn and relearn learning we learn
unlearn and relearn learning we learn every single day but what I actually
every single day but what I actually
every single day but what I actually found myself doing more than ever is
found myself doing more than ever is
found myself doing more than ever is unlearning how is it that the ways we
unlearning how is it that the ways we
unlearning how is it that the ways we were taught how the world works how we
were taught how the world works how we
were taught how the world works how we have stereotypes on you know certain
have stereotypes on you know certain
have stereotypes on you know certain people how is it that those things can
people how is it that those things can
people how is it that those things can be violent and detrimental to mental
be violent and detrimental to mental
be violent and detrimental to mental health and even whole myriad of other
health and even whole myriad of other
health and even whole myriad of other issues what I’ve learned is that
issues what I’ve learned is that
issues what I’ve learned is that learning is the easy part
learning is the easy part
learning is the easy part unlearning is understanding how you can
unlearning is understanding how you can
unlearning is understanding how you can be critical of how you’ve learned and
be critical of how you’ve learned and
be critical of how you’ve learned and unlearn those hateful things
unlearn those hateful things
unlearn those hateful things empathy is a great way of doing that me
empathy is a great way of doing that me
empathy is a great way of doing that me being an immigrant there’s always this
being an immigrant there’s always this
being an immigrant there’s always this rhetoric there’s this bad immigrant who
rhetoric there’s this bad immigrant who
rhetoric there’s this bad immigrant who always wants to take up XYZ but I wonder
always wants to take up XYZ but I wonder
always wants to take up XYZ but I wonder how many of those people actually talk
how many of those people actually talk
how many of those people actually talk with immigrants how many of it or how
with immigrants how many of it or how
with immigrants how many of it or how many people have just heard these
many people have just heard these
many people have just heard these stories and will and will just continue
stories and will and will just continue
stories and will and will just continue to have their stereotypes and again we
to have their stereotypes and again we
to have their stereotypes and again we talk about social change on this a macro
talk about social change on this a macro
talk about social change on this a macro worldwide level but that all starts with
worldwide level but that all starts with
worldwide level but that all starts with us as well and then the last is relearn
us as well and then the last is relearn
us as well and then the last is relearn so you’re all at Ted today you’ve all
so you’re all at Ted today you’ve all
so you’re all at Ted today you’ve all probably learned a lot I want you to
probably learned a lot I want you to
probably learned a lot I want you to think of how you can apply these three
think of how you can apply these three
think of how you can apply these three things what you’ve learned what you’re
things what you’ve learned what you’re
things what you’ve learned what you’re unlearning and what you’re going to
unlearning and what you’re going to
unlearning and what you’re going to relearn to help you in achieving this
relearn to help you in achieving this
relearn to help you in achieving this world change and as I said I want you
world change and as I said I want you
world change and as I said I want you all to think of what you’ve learned in
all to think of what you’ve learned in
all to think of what you’ve learned in this space how is it that you can take
this space how is it that you can take
this space how is it that you can take what you learned here and apply to these
what you learned here and apply to these
what you learned here and apply to these small interactions that can lead on a
small interactions that can lead on a
small interactions that can lead on a macro level because the hope is that we
macro level because the hope is that we
macro level because the hope is that we are not the generation of tomorrow we
are not the generation of tomorrow we
are not the generation of tomorrow we are the generation of the present we’re
are the generation of the present we’re
are the generation of the present we’re building principled leaders that one day
building principled leaders that one day
building principled leaders that one day make an impact in the lives of others
make an impact in the lives of others
make an impact in the lives of others whether it’s in a small community level
whether it’s in a small community level
whether it’s in a small community level or on a world level but I want to thank
or on a world level but I want to thank
or on a world level but I want to thank you all for taking time to listen to my
you all for taking time to listen to my
you all for taking time to listen to my talk and I hope that you can continue to
talk and I hope that you can continue to
talk and I hope that you can continue to unpack what empathy means and make that
unpack what empathy means and make that
unpack what empathy means and make that a shared process with those around you
a shared process with those around you
a shared process with those around you thank you
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
”
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