jumbo habari Gani Oh buddy sama that’s why he Lee for hello how are you doing I
why he Lee for hello how are you doing I
why he Lee for hello how are you doing I still remember some of my Swahili from
still remember some of my Swahili from
still remember some of my Swahili from 35 years ago when I served in the United
35 years ago when I served in the United
35 years ago when I served in the United States Peace Corps and it’s that
States Peace Corps and it’s that
States Peace Corps and it’s that experience in the Peace Corps that
experience in the Peace Corps that
experience in the Peace Corps that brings me here today to talk about
brings me here today to talk about
brings me here today to talk about service it’s a simple word and there are
service it’s a simple word and there are
service it’s a simple word and there are many different meanings for service but
many different meanings for service but
many different meanings for service but today I’m here to talk about
today I’m here to talk about
today I’m here to talk about volunteerism civic engagement building
volunteerism civic engagement building
volunteerism civic engagement building community giving back helping others
community giving back helping others
community giving back helping others it’s the kind of service that we do with
it’s the kind of service that we do with
it’s the kind of service that we do with an open heart and a willingness to learn
an open heart and a willingness to learn
an open heart and a willingness to learn that transforms it can change the life
that transforms it can change the life
that transforms it can change the life the lives of those whom we are serving
the lives of those whom we are serving
the lives of those whom we are serving as well as our own we can come at
as well as our own we can come at
as well as our own we can come at service from different vantage points a
service from different vantage points a
service from different vantage points a lot of people I know get involved in
lot of people I know get involved in
lot of people I know get involved in service out of urgency and necessity
service out of urgency and necessity
service out of urgency and necessity some folks are guided by their faith
some folks are guided by their faith
some folks are guided by their faith others work for good employers who are
others work for good employers who are
others work for good employers who are good corporate citizens and then there’s
good corporate citizens and then there’s
good corporate citizens and then there’s some of us who say I just want to pitch
some of us who say I just want to pitch
some of us who say I just want to pitch in and help show of hands how many of
in and help show of hands how many of
in and help show of hands how many of you are helping out somewhere that’s
you are helping out somewhere that’s
you are helping out somewhere that’s just about all of you that is
just about all of you that is
just about all of you that is outstanding and if you’re from
outstanding and if you’re from
outstanding and if you’re from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
Massachusetts you can count yourselves among the 1.3
you can count yourselves among the 1.3
you can count yourselves among the 1.3 million people in this state who
million people in this state who
million people in this state who volunteer
President John F Kennedy for whom this
President John F Kennedy for whom this great library is named for he founded
great library is named for he founded
great library is named for he founded the Peace Corps and he was big on
the Peace Corps and he was big on
the Peace Corps and he was big on service he wanted Americans to bring
service he wanted Americans to bring
service he wanted Americans to bring peace and goodwill and their positive
peace and goodwill and their positive
peace and goodwill and their positive can-do spirit to countries overseas I
can-do spirit to countries overseas I
can-do spirit to countries overseas I bet you remember those famous words is
bet you remember those famous words is
bet you remember those famous words is challenge to Americans don’t you and so
challenge to Americans don’t you and so
challenge to Americans don’t you and so my fellow Americans ask not what your
my fellow Americans ask not what your
my fellow Americans ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can
country can do for you ask what you can
country can do for you ask what you can do for your country not what your
do for your country not what your
do for your country not what your country can do for you ask what you can
country can do for you ask what you can
country can do for you ask what you can do for your country
do for your country
do for your country and those words they still resonate
and those words they still resonate
and those words they still resonate don’t they
don’t they
don’t they he knew that volunteer service abroad
he knew that volunteer service abroad
he knew that volunteer service abroad would be good for our country and he
would be good for our country and he
would be good for our country and he would be thrilled to know that since the
would be thrilled to know that since the
would be thrilled to know that since the Peace Corps was started over 230,000
Peace Corps was started over 230,000
Peace Corps was started over 230,000 Americans have served in a hundred and
Americans have served in a hundred and
Americans have served in a hundred and forty-one countries all over the world
forty-one countries all over the world
forty-one countries all over the world in 1981 I was one of them I got to go to
in 1981 I was one of them I got to go to
in 1981 I was one of them I got to go to Kenya I served in Africa
Kenya I served in Africa
Kenya I served in Africa I taught teaching I taught education and
I taught teaching I taught education and
I taught teaching I taught education and taught English as a Second Language to
taught English as a Second Language to
taught English as a Second Language to high school students it was an awesome
high school students it was an awesome
high school students it was an awesome experience now I came to this like I was
experience now I came to this like I was
experience now I came to this like I was a city girl I had no idea what to expect
a city girl I had no idea what to expect
a city girl I had no idea what to expect I was born in bred in Brooklyn New York
I was born in bred in Brooklyn New York
I was born in bred in Brooklyn New York I lived in a small apartment building
I lived in a small apartment building
I lived in a small apartment building and a neighborhood called Crown Heights
and a neighborhood called Crown Heights
and a neighborhood called Crown Heights didn’t think about going off to Africa
my neighborhood was small businesses and
my neighborhood was small businesses and working families and summers spent
working families and summers spent
working families and summers spent out-of-doors
out-of-doors
out-of-doors jumping rope playing basketball
jumping rope playing basketball
jumping rope playing basketball enjoying those hot days running through
enjoying those hot days running through
enjoying those hot days running through the spray of the open fire hydrant and
these were some of the images that
these were some of the images that informed our very limited view of Africa
thankfully there were other images as
thankfully there were other images as well that we could draw on from music
well that we could draw on from music
well that we could draw on from music and literature Nelson Mandela one of our
and literature Nelson Mandela one of our
and literature Nelson Mandela one of our heroes and anybody here remember the TV
heroes and anybody here remember the TV
heroes and anybody here remember the TV series roots based on Alex Haley’s novel
series roots based on Alex Haley’s novel
series roots based on Alex Haley’s novel of course that had a profound effect on
of course that had a profound effect on
of course that had a profound effect on our view of Africa and our connection to
our view of Africa and our connection to
our view of Africa and our connection to Africa and just a few years after that I
Africa and just a few years after that I
Africa and just a few years after that I was headed to Africa I went to teach but
was headed to Africa I went to teach but
was headed to Africa I went to teach but I’m the one who got the education an
I’m the one who got the education an
I’m the one who got the education an awesome experience it was living there
sure it was tough and there were
sure it was tough and there were challenges from communications to
challenges from communications to
challenges from communications to transportation and at my school I had no
transportation and at my school I had no
transportation and at my school I had no electricity plumbing or running water
electricity plumbing or running water
electricity plumbing or running water there was also no exterminator for those
there was also no exterminator for those
there was also no exterminator for those of you who aren’t too keen on those big
of you who aren’t too keen on those big
of you who aren’t too keen on those big bugs we had a lot of army ants that
bugs we had a lot of army ants that
bugs we had a lot of army ants that liked to march through our houses
liked to march through our houses
liked to march through our houses couldn’t get keep those away right but
couldn’t get keep those away right but
couldn’t get keep those away right but that’s okay because as volunteers we
that’s okay because as volunteers we
that’s okay because as volunteers we learned how to deal with those critters
learned how to deal with those critters
learned how to deal with those critters and also with bigger challenges through
and also with bigger challenges through
and also with bigger challenges through patience and diplomacy through
patience and diplomacy through
patience and diplomacy through resourcefulness and creativity through
resourcefulness and creativity through
resourcefulness and creativity through advocacy and we learned how to work live
advocacy and we learned how to work live
advocacy and we learned how to work live and appreciate people who have a
and appreciate people who have a
and appreciate people who have a different language a different culture
different language a different culture
different language a different culture and a different way of life Ghandi we
and a different way of life Ghandi we
and a different way of life Ghandi we often quote him right he has an
often quote him right he has an
often quote him right he has an interesting saying about service and its
interesting saying about service and its
interesting saying about service and its connection to self-discovery he says we
connection to self-discovery he says we
connection to self-discovery he says we can find ourselves when
can find ourselves when
can find ourselves when we lose ourselves in the service of
we lose ourselves in the service of
we lose ourselves in the service of others and I know as volunteers we found
others and I know as volunteers we found
others and I know as volunteers we found out a lot about ourselves starting with
out a lot about ourselves starting with
out a lot about ourselves starting with the importance of people and
the importance of people and
the importance of people and relationships beyond the family and
relationships beyond the family and
relationships beyond the family and friends that we left back in the States
friends that we left back in the States
friends that we left back in the States I know myself I will be forever grateful
I know myself I will be forever grateful
I know myself I will be forever grateful to the Kenyan people who looked after me
to the Kenyan people who looked after me
to the Kenyan people who looked after me for two years they got me to my school
for two years they got me to my school
for two years they got me to my school site they brought me food they taught me
site they brought me food they taught me
site they brought me food they taught me how to cook the food they got me settled
how to cook the food they got me settled
how to cook the food they got me settled as a teacher so I could be successful
as a teacher so I could be successful
as a teacher so I could be successful and they kept me safe
and they kept me safe
and they kept me safe I’ll also appreciate and I know other
I’ll also appreciate and I know other
I’ll also appreciate and I know other volunteers as well will appreciate how
volunteers as well will appreciate how
volunteers as well will appreciate how we learned the importance if we didn’t
we learned the importance if we didn’t
we learned the importance if we didn’t know before about our environment our
know before about our environment our
know before about our environment our natural resources
natural resources
natural resources starting with clean drinking water this
starting with clean drinking water this
starting with clean drinking water this was so important to my community and it
was so important to my community and it
was so important to my community and it was a regular practice to go down to the
was a regular practice to go down to the
was a regular practice to go down to the river to collect water to haul it back
river to collect water to haul it back
river to collect water to haul it back to our homes for our household needs we
to our homes for our household needs we
to our homes for our household needs we really appreciated the rainy season we
really appreciated the rainy season we
really appreciated the rainy season we wanted a good drenching rain so I could
wanted a good drenching rain so I could
wanted a good drenching rain so I could take that bucket you see there get my
take that bucket you see there get my
take that bucket you see there get my barrel my basin and put it outside so I
barrel my basin and put it outside so I
barrel my basin and put it outside so I could get as much of that fresh
could get as much of that fresh
could get as much of that fresh rainwater as I could and that was gonna
rainwater as I could and that was gonna
rainwater as I could and that was gonna last me for a few days but I was only
last me for a few days but I was only
last me for a few days but I was only one person in my household what about
one person in my household what about
one person in my household what about those big families so I knew listening
those big families so I knew listening
those big families so I knew listening to my neighbors and communicating with
to my neighbors and communicating with
to my neighbors and communicating with my neighbors that they wanted a better
my neighbors that they wanted a better
my neighbors that they wanted a better way so that they didn’t have to go down
way so that they didn’t have to go down
way so that they didn’t have to go down to that River given you know the health
to that River given you know the health
to that River given you know the health concerns associated with having to use
concerns associated with having to use
concerns associated with having to use river water and before I knew it I found
river water and before I knew it I found
river water and before I knew it I found myself at the US Embassy asking for help
myself at the US Embassy asking for help
myself at the US Embassy asking for help now I’m gonna say this is where
now I’m gonna say this is where
now I’m gonna say this is where transformation comes in for us when we
transformation comes in for us when we
transformation comes in for us when we get involved with service at first as
get involved with service at first as
get involved with service at first as volunteers we’re looking at ourselves
volunteers we’re looking at ourselves
volunteers we’re looking at ourselves our own comfort and survival okay I want
our own comfort and survival okay I want
our own comfort and survival okay I want my stove
my stove
my stove I need my lamp I need my pot I need my
I need my lamp I need my pot I need my
I need my lamp I need my pot I need my mosquito net but as time passes our
mosquito net but as time passes our
mosquito net but as time passes our focus turns out word toward our
focus turns out word toward our
focus turns out word toward our community doesn’t it
community doesn’t it
community doesn’t it we start thinking about our neighbors
we start thinking about our neighbors
we start thinking about our neighbors our students our co-workers our all the
our students our co-workers our all the
our students our co-workers our all the people around us the children in our
people around us the children in our
people around us the children in our community the community we start
community the community we start
community the community we start thinking about our community so before I
thinking about our community so before I
thinking about our community so before I knew it again I’m at the front door of
knew it again I’m at the front door of
knew it again I’m at the front door of the Embassy asking for a grant to see if
the Embassy asking for a grant to see if
the Embassy asking for a grant to see if we could get some money to start the
we could get some money to start the
we could get some money to start the development of a water tank so we could
development of a water tank so we could
development of a water tank so we could have an ample supply of water at our
have an ample supply of water at our
have an ample supply of water at our site and after back and forth you know
site and after back and forth you know
site and after back and forth you know with the embassy they responded and they
with the embassy they responded and they
with the embassy they responded and they replied yes and how happy we were that
replied yes and how happy we were that
replied yes and how happy we were that we could at least start this project get
we could at least start this project get
we could at least start this project get it going and just before I left I was
it going and just before I left I was
it going and just before I left I was able to say goodbye to my friends at
able to say goodbye to my friends at
able to say goodbye to my friends at that school turn it over to them and I
that school turn it over to them and I
that school turn it over to them and I left the country flew back home with a
left the country flew back home with a
left the country flew back home with a little more wisdom greater empathy a
little more wisdom greater empathy a
little more wisdom greater empathy a wider worldview and a lifelong
wider worldview and a lifelong
wider worldview and a lifelong commitment to community wherever that
commitment to community wherever that
commitment to community wherever that would be and it turns out that community
would be and it turns out that community
would be and it turns out that community has been right here in Boston in
has been right here in Boston in
has been right here in Boston in Dorchester that’s where we are in
Dorchester that’s where we are in
Dorchester that’s where we are in Dorchester where I’ve lived and raised
Dorchester where I’ve lived and raised
Dorchester where I’ve lived and raised my family this is an awesome community
my family this is an awesome community
my family this is an awesome community and as you can see there’s a beautiful
and as you can see there’s a beautiful
and as you can see there’s a beautiful library right here where we’re all
library right here where we’re all
library right here where we’re all gathered 35 years a lot has changed
gathered 35 years a lot has changed
gathered 35 years a lot has changed Kenya has changed Brooklyn has changed
Kenya has changed Brooklyn has changed
Kenya has changed Brooklyn has changed the Peace Corps has evolved in fact they
the Peace Corps has evolved in fact they
the Peace Corps has evolved in fact they partner right now with a hundred
partner right now with a hundred
partner right now with a hundred colleges and universities all across the
colleges and universities all across the
colleges and universities all across the United States trying to prepare young
United States trying to prepare young
United States trying to prepare young people for service abroad and there’s a
people for service abroad and there’s a
people for service abroad and there’s a partnership with UMass Boston in fact
partnership with UMass Boston in fact
partnership with UMass Boston in fact right on this campus that was the
right on this campus that was the
right on this campus that was the leather leather by the way that I got
leather leather by the way that I got
leather leather by the way that I got from the embassy and this is Dorchester
from the embassy and this is Dorchester
from the embassy and this is Dorchester my neighborhood
and this is the program that prepares
and this is the program that prepares undergrads so it’s great that Americans
undergrads so it’s great that Americans
undergrads so it’s great that Americans care about service it’s great that we
care about service it’s great that we
care about service it’s great that we volunteer we are a community of
volunteer we are a community of
volunteer we are a community of volunteers but the bottom line is you
volunteers but the bottom line is you
volunteers but the bottom line is you don’t have to travel 7,000 miles to
don’t have to travel 7,000 miles to
don’t have to travel 7,000 miles to serve and to reap the benefits of
serve and to reap the benefits of
serve and to reap the benefits of service there’s a lot going on right
service there’s a lot going on right
service there’s a lot going on right here and there are there opportunities
here and there are there opportunities
here and there are there opportunities to give back right here in our own
to give back right here in our own
to give back right here in our own communities by the show of hands earlier
communities by the show of hands earlier
communities by the show of hands earlier you all know that there are
you all know that there are
you all know that there are organizations thankfully that are
organizations thankfully that are
organizations thankfully that are working to support and promote service
working to support and promote service
working to support and promote service in our communities so that everybody has
in our communities so that everybody has
in our communities so that everybody has a chance to participate one such
a chance to participate one such
a chance to participate one such organization is the Corporation for
organization is the Corporation for
organization is the Corporation for National and Community Service and they
National and Community Service and they
National and Community Service and they estimate that at least one in four
estimate that at least one in four
estimate that at least one in four Americans volunteers for an organization
Americans volunteers for an organization
Americans volunteers for an organization and when it comes to our young people
and when it comes to our young people
and when it comes to our young people one in five or involved is involved in
one in five or involved is involved in
one in five or involved is involved in some kind of activity and that’s a good
some kind of activity and that’s a good
some kind of activity and that’s a good thing and it makes me say I have a
thing and it makes me say I have a
thing and it makes me say I have a message for our young people and I’ve
message for our young people and I’ve
message for our young people and I’ve worked with young people and I want to
worked with young people and I want to
worked with young people and I want to encourage our young people because I was
encourage our young people because I was
encourage our young people because I was 22 when I joined the Peace Corps and I
22 when I joined the Peace Corps and I
22 when I joined the Peace Corps and I have to say before I joined the Peace
have to say before I joined the Peace
have to say before I joined the Peace Corps I’m not sure I knew that my
Corps I’m not sure I knew that my
Corps I’m not sure I knew that my service was a particular value it’s in
service was a particular value it’s in
service was a particular value it’s in retrospect that I look back that I
retrospect that I look back that I
retrospect that I look back that I believe that it was so I want our young
believe that it was so I want our young
believe that it was so I want our young people to know that their service is
people to know that their service is
people to know that their service is needed and it is valued I also want them
needed and it is valued I also want them
needed and it is valued I also want them to know that it can definitely help them
to know that it can definitely help them
to know that it can definitely help them with their job prospects because
with their job prospects because
with their job prospects because employers want someone who is committed
employers want someone who is committed
employers want someone who is committed to community who has a good work ethic
to community who has a good work ethic
to community who has a good work ethic who knows how to work with different
who knows how to work with different
who knows how to work with different kinds of people who has strong
kinds of people who has strong
kinds of people who has strong interpersonal skills and strong
interpersonal skills and strong
interpersonal skills and strong organizational skills
and we also know that service can
and we also know that service can benefit the community as a whole there
benefit the community as a whole there
benefit the community as a whole there are some seemingly intractable problems
are some seemingly intractable problems
are some seemingly intractable problems that make us think that we’ll never
that make us think that we’ll never
that make us think that we’ll never solve them but volunteers can move the
solve them but volunteers can move the
solve them but volunteers can move the needle on a lot of the issues that
needle on a lot of the issues that
needle on a lot of the issues that plague our community including the need
plague our community including the need
plague our community including the need to improve educational outcomes now I
to improve educational outcomes now I
to improve educational outcomes now I know for myself I came back from Kenya
know for myself I came back from Kenya
know for myself I came back from Kenya and I volunteered in my community and
and I volunteered in my community and
and I volunteered in my community and what I found is that this experience and
what I found is that this experience and
what I found is that this experience and service impacted my career path and I
service impacted my career path and I
service impacted my career path and I worked with my neighbors I was a
worked with my neighbors I was a
worked with my neighbors I was a volunteer board member for a
volunteer board member for a
volunteer board member for a neighborhood community health center and
neighborhood community health center and
neighborhood community health center and also a volunteer reporter for my
also a volunteer reporter for my
also a volunteer reporter for my community newspaper I got to know my
community newspaper I got to know my
community newspaper I got to know my neighbors and they got to know me and
neighbors and they got to know me and
neighbors and they got to know me and they encouraged me to run for office
they encouraged me to run for office
they encouraged me to run for office something I never imagined that I would
something I never imagined that I would
something I never imagined that I would do but I listened to my neighbors I
do but I listened to my neighbors I
do but I listened to my neighbors I listened they became my friends and I
listened they became my friends and I
listened they became my friends and I ran and I won and I actually got to
ran and I won and I actually got to
ran and I won and I actually got to serve in the Massachusetts House of
serve in the Massachusetts House of
serve in the Massachusetts House of Representative
and what an awesome experience that was
and what an awesome experience that was and following that legislative
and following that legislative
and following that legislative experience I went back to my community
experience I went back to my community
experience I went back to my community and continued to volunteer in fact I
and continued to volunteer in fact I
and continued to volunteer in fact I volunteer to this day and this is a
volunteer to this day and this is a
volunteer to this day and this is a community where we have many people who
community where we have many people who
community where we have many people who give back and who volunteer and this is
give back and who volunteer and this is
give back and who volunteer and this is what it looks like here in Boston
so here’s my call to action volunteer
so here’s my call to action volunteer get back and while we’re on the topic
get back and while we’re on the topic
get back and while we’re on the topic why not run for office you know you
why not run for office you know you
why not run for office you know you really have little to lose and so much
really have little to lose and so much
really have little to lose and so much to gain and sometimes all we need is to
to gain and sometimes all we need is to
to gain and sometimes all we need is to have one person make the suggestion as
have one person make the suggestion as
have one person make the suggestion as they did for me to make the suggestion
they did for me to make the suggestion
they did for me to make the suggestion about how there are different ways that
about how there are different ways that
about how there are different ways that we can give back and different ways that
we can give back and different ways that
we can give back and different ways that we can serve and sometimes we just need
we can serve and sometimes we just need
we can serve and sometimes we just need a little encouragement so I went the
a little encouragement so I went the
a little encouragement so I went the state route but there’s City Council
state route but there’s City Council
state route but there’s City Council there’s school committee
there’s school committee
there’s school committee there’s your Union Local there’s your
there’s your Union Local there’s your
there’s your Union Local there’s your PTA there are all sorts of ways that we
PTA there are all sorts of ways that we
PTA there are all sorts of ways that we can get back and you know there are
can get back and you know there are
can get back and you know there are elections in this country every year so
elections in this country every year so
elections in this country every year so we need to work hard for those
we need to work hard for those
we need to work hard for those candidates who are gonna care about the
candidates who are gonna care about the
candidates who are gonna care about the issues that got us to volunteer in the
issues that got us to volunteer in the
issues that got us to volunteer in the first place and if we care about those
first place and if we care about those
first place and if we care about those issues and those candidates we’re gonna
issues and those candidates we’re gonna
issues and those candidates we’re gonna champion those issues then guess what we
champion those issues then guess what we
champion those issues then guess what we got to do we got a vote so this brings
got to do we got a vote so this brings
got to do we got a vote so this brings me to my next and final little personal
me to my next and final little personal
me to my next and final little personal story it’s a service story
story it’s a service story
story it’s a service story soon after I joined the Peace Corps I
soon after I joined the Peace Corps I
soon after I joined the Peace Corps I struck up a friendship with one of our
struck up a friendship with one of our
struck up a friendship with one of our stateside trainers and we stayed in
stateside trainers and we stayed in
stateside trainers and we stayed in touch
touch
touch correspondent he encouraged my
correspondent he encouraged my
correspondent he encouraged my excitement and interest in Africa and we
excitement and interest in Africa and we
excitement and interest in Africa and we stayed in touch for the full two years
stayed in touch for the full two years
stayed in touch for the full two years writing letters Zehra grams back and
writing letters Zehra grams back and
writing letters Zehra grams back and forth and when I returned home well we
forth and when I returned home well we
forth and when I returned home well we got married
and thirty-three years later we’re still
and thirty-three years later we’re still married in fact today’s our anniversary
married in fact today’s our anniversary
married in fact today’s our anniversary [Applause]
so not only did service reveal a way of
so not only did service reveal a way of life for me it brought me a partner for
life for me it brought me a partner for
life for me it brought me a partner for life and when I talk about if we all
life and when I talk about if we all
life and when I talk about if we all talk about paying it forward I’ve been
talk about paying it forward I’ve been
talk about paying it forward I’ve been paid and repaid many times old over
paid and repaid many times old over
paid and repaid many times old over Asante sana thank you
Asante sana thank you
Asante sana thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment