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Volunteering: A Passion | Gilberto Gonzalez | TEDxArcadiaUniversity


so I I grew up in loft in the spring

so I I grew up in loft in the spring garden community which was the largest

garden community which was the largest

garden community which was the largest Latino poor rican population is dead

Latino poor rican population is dead

Latino poor rican population is dead offensive eight after decades growing up

offensive eight after decades growing up

offensive eight after decades growing up there was was great because as a kid if

there was was great because as a kid if

there was was great because as a kid if he had vice we’d get it from the next

he had vice we’d get it from the next

he had vice we’d get it from the next door neighbor if the next door neighbor

door neighbor if the next door neighbor

door neighbor if the next door neighbor didn’t have beans that get it from us on

didn’t have beans that get it from us on

didn’t have beans that get it from us on any other day when kids took nap you

any other day when kids took nap you

any other day when kids took nap you will all sleep in the same bed together

will all sleep in the same bed together

will all sleep in the same bed together black white or again we’ve all seen shed

black white or again we’ve all seen shed

black white or again we’ve all seen shed bed so that’s great then things started

bed so that’s great then things started

bed so that’s great then things started to change gentrification came to the

to change gentrification came to the

to change gentrification came to the spring garden community and he hit hard

spring garden community and he hit hard

spring garden community and he hit hard and it was violent because people were

and it was violent because people were

and it was violent because people were being burned out of homes and forced out

being burned out of homes and forced out

being burned out of homes and forced out of their homes I didn’t know this back

of their homes I didn’t know this back

of their homes I didn’t know this back then but you know jobs were leaving and

then but you know jobs were leaving and

then but you know jobs were leaving and then the the gangs there to protect us

then the the gangs there to protect us

then the the gangs there to protect us now are dealing drugs of the corners and

now are dealing drugs of the corners and

now are dealing drugs of the corners and there’s just uh the violence starts to

there’s just uh the violence starts to

there’s just uh the violence starts to intensify that you need the ee n and I

intensify that you need the ee n and I

intensify that you need the ee n and I was you know it as I grew up I was part

was you know it as I grew up I was part

was you know it as I grew up I was part of that balance you know my head’s been

of that balance you know my head’s been

of that balance you know my head’s been cracked open twice damage to

cracked open twice damage to

cracked open twice damage to back but you know during that time I

back but you know during that time I

back but you know during that time I thought there was something wrong right

thought there was something wrong right

thought there was something wrong right so I had that difficult time and thank

so I had that difficult time and thank

so I had that difficult time and thank God to a great parent I had great

God to a great parent I had great

God to a great parent I had great mentors coming into my life and I left

mentors coming into my life and I left

mentors coming into my life and I left the violence and went to college I went

the violence and went to college I went

the violence and went to college I went to Community College for two years then

to Community College for two years then

to Community College for two years then I went to university art or graduated

I went to university art or graduated

I went to university art or graduated from and while i was going to working on

from and while i was going to working on

from and while i was going to working on my TV a you know my friends were dealing

my TV a you know my friends were dealing

my TV a you know my friends were dealing drugs in the corner you know I what I

drugs in the corner you know I what I

drugs in the corner you know I what I was working at jobs in center city to

was working at jobs in center city to

was working at jobs in center city to pay for my supplies and stuff at school

pay for my supplies and stuff at school

pay for my supplies and stuff at school you know I was going funerals on

you know I was going funerals on

you know I was going funerals on weekends so there was something wrong

weekends so there was something wrong

weekends so there was something wrong right there is just something wrong with

right there is just something wrong with

right there is just something wrong with this going on and then I’m a paladin I

this going on and then I’m a paladin I

this going on and then I’m a paladin I see there’s something wrong and it

see there’s something wrong and it

see there’s something wrong and it cannot community so so I graduated

cannot community so so I graduated

cannot community so so I graduated college and then go work in the industry

college and then go work in the industry

college and then go work in the industry I’m an artist I paint I graphic Emma

I’m an artist I paint I graphic Emma

I’m an artist I paint I graphic Emma graphic designer and I’m just clashing

graphic designer and I’m just clashing

graphic designer and I’m just clashing just pictures of stuff that I’ve worked

just pictures of stuff that I’ve worked

just pictures of stuff that I’ve worked on with with the community so um after

on with with the community so um after

on with with the community so um after college I’m working in industry in

college I’m working in industry in

college I’m working in industry in center city and to me I go back to my

center city and to me I go back to my

center city and to me I go back to my community there’s something wrong right

community there’s something wrong right

community there’s something wrong right there’s just something wrong and I’m

there’s just something wrong and I’m

there’s just something wrong and I’m like look I I gotta do something I got

like look I I gotta do something I got

like look I I gotta do something I got to do something about this so so i say

to do something about this so so i say

to do something about this so so i say i’m going to start volunteering so I

i’m going to start volunteering so I

i’m going to start volunteering so I start to volunteer i’m going to give you

start to volunteer i’m going to give you

start to volunteer i’m going to give you two examples of volunteering well that

two examples of volunteering well that

two examples of volunteering well that doesn’t work and one that that does

doesn’t work and one that that does

doesn’t work and one that that does impact so like there well first i did

impact so like there well first i did

impact so like there well first i did some research too

some research too

some research too research so a research in my community

research so a research in my community

research so a research in my community you know we are in North Philly we have

you know we are in North Philly we have

you know we are in North Philly we have a worse opiate epidemic we’re the second

a worse opiate epidemic we’re the second

a worse opiate epidemic we’re the second poorest community of the children in the

poorest community of the children in the

poorest community of the children in the nation they estimate about five hundred

nation they estimate about five hundred

nation they estimate about five hundred thousand needles lay across the enteric

thousand needles lay across the enteric

thousand needles lay across the enteric train tracks on second Indiana highest

train tracks on second Indiana highest

train tracks on second Indiana highest dropout rate you name it we guide but

dropout rate you name it we guide but

dropout rate you name it we guide but and at the same time we have more

and at the same time we have more

and at the same time we have more nonprofit money coming into our

nonprofit money coming into our

nonprofit money coming into our community than ever in the history of

community than ever in the history of

community than ever in the history of Philadelphia but yet the problems are

Philadelphia but yet the problems are

Philadelphia but yet the problems are worse so then this is why I start to

worse so then this is why I start to

worse so then this is why I start to look at what can I do right so I start

look at what can I do right so I start

look at what can I do right so I start to volunteer and so like these make a

to volunteer and so like these make a

to volunteer and so like these make a million-dollar nonprofits they go well

million-dollar nonprofits they go well

million-dollar nonprofits they go well let’s let’s have a clean-up day we’ll

let’s let’s have a clean-up day we’ll

let’s let’s have a clean-up day we’ll get people from all over the region to

get people from all over the region to

get people from all over the region to come up and clean up the neighborhood

come up and clean up the neighborhood

come up and clean up the neighborhood and that happens right you go home and

and that happens right you go home and

and that happens right you go home and you feel good now help clean up the

you feel good now help clean up the

you feel good now help clean up the neighborhood good but then what happens

neighborhood good but then what happens

neighborhood good but then what happens when you leave right the very next day

when you leave right the very next day

when you leave right the very next day the trash is back the drug dealers are

the trash is back the drug dealers are

the trash is back the drug dealers are back on the corner kids are still

back on the corner kids are still

back on the corner kids are still dropping out of school there’s still a

dropping out of school there’s still a

dropping out of school there’s still a lot of balance in the street so nothing

lot of balance in the street so nothing

lot of balance in the street so nothing has changed right so that kind of stuff

has changed right so that kind of stuff

has changed right so that kind of stuff just doesn’t work right so so then I

just doesn’t work right so so then I

just doesn’t work right so so then I looked at other ways of helping and I’ll

looked at other ways of helping and I’ll

looked at other ways of helping and I’ll give you the example of one of the last

give you the example of one of the last

give you the example of one of the last things that I worked on which was saving

things that I worked on which was saving

things that I worked on which was saving a mural sorry paintings

mattia but anyway there’s a hero on 17

mattia but anyway there’s a hero on 17 Tomorrowland it’s the Statue of Liberty

Tomorrowland it’s the Statue of Liberty

Tomorrowland it’s the Statue of Liberty with the boring and flag clicked on it

with the boring and flag clicked on it

with the boring and flag clicked on it and it’s been in and that’s the old

and it’s been in and that’s the old

and it’s been in and that’s the old battery that’s where I was raised and

battery that’s where I was raised and

battery that’s where I was raised and that murals been there for probably 34

that murals been there for probably 34

that murals been there for probably 34 years so its historical we were

years so its historical we were

years so its historical we were historical for the city and heart to me

historical for the city and heart to me

historical for the city and heart to me so the developer or all these buildings

so the developer or all these buildings

so the developer or all these buildings on my garden street and that’s when I

on my garden street and that’s when I

on my garden street and that’s when I start to get phone calls to go like yo

start to get phone calls to go like yo

start to get phone calls to go like yo they just purchased a building where the

they just purchased a building where the

they just purchased a building where the mural is and they’re going to check that

mural is and they’re going to check that

mural is and they’re going to check that our real what are you gonna do by I said

our real what are you gonna do by I said

our real what are you gonna do by I said I think you what are you going to

I think you what are you going to

I think you what are you going to do right so so then I get more phone

do right so so then I get more phone

do right so so then I get more phone calls that I can’t believe it into us

calls that I can’t believe it into us

calls that I can’t believe it into us collector do anything what go to do so

collector do anything what go to do so

collector do anything what go to do so then we pull the meeting together there

then we pull the meeting together there

then we pull the meeting together there about seven or eight hack most of the

about seven or eight hack most of the

about seven or eight hack most of the guys are going on and we start talking

guys are going on and we start talking

guys are going on and we start talking so here we found out the name of the

so here we found out the name of the

so here we found out the name of the company’s name is ingre me so that’s

company’s name is ingre me so that’s

company’s name is ingre me so that’s there are social media so its bottom on

there are social media so its bottom on

there are social media so its bottom on social media that’s email them and say

social media that’s email them and say

social media that’s email them and say please save our hero so we that’s one of

please save our hero so we that’s one of

please save our hero so we that’s one of the things we organize them a bit then

the things we organize them a bit then

the things we organize them a bit then we were going to have a big drug test so

we were going to have a big drug test so

we were going to have a big drug test so after bombing them in social media we

after bombing them in social media we

after bombing them in social media we started getting responses from entering

started getting responses from entering

started getting responses from entering it was amazing I mean I was like they

it was amazing I mean I was like they

it was amazing I mean I was like they said yeah we plan on keeping the neural

said yeah we plan on keeping the neural

said yeah we plan on keeping the neural right so we’re happy and now the protest

right so we’re happy and now the protest

right so we’re happy and now the protest is going to be a celebration so I called

is going to be a celebration so I called

is going to be a celebration so I called company ingerman SI hay

company ingerman SI hay

company ingerman SI hay appreciate what you guys are doing and

appreciate what you guys are doing and

appreciate what you guys are doing and keeping that mural because its struggle

keeping that mural because its struggle

keeping that mural because its struggle for us and it means a lot to us and I

for us and it means a lot to us and I

for us and it means a lot to us and I said would you be willing to come out

said would you be willing to come out

said would you be willing to come out this feedback celebration and he said

this feedback celebration and he said

this feedback celebration and he said he’ll be out be out there Gil I’ll be

he’ll be out be out there Gil I’ll be

he’ll be out be out there Gil I’ll be out there and support and at the same

out there and support and at the same

out there and support and at the same time I get a call from Jane golden for

time I get a call from Jane golden for

time I get a call from Jane golden for mural arts and she’s like yeah I’ve been

mural arts and she’s like yeah I’ve been

mural arts and she’s like yeah I’ve been here how that was going on so I was

here how that was going on so I was

here how that was going on so I was going on and I said well in humans going

going on and I said well in humans going

going on and I said well in humans going to be saying the girl you know so we’re

to be saying the girl you know so we’re

to be saying the girl you know so we’re going to have this celebration would you

going to have this celebration would you

going to have this celebration would you be willing to come out and talk and

be willing to come out and talk and

be willing to come out and talk and support the mineral that she goes feel

support the mineral that she goes feel

support the mineral that she goes feel I’m going to be there so here we are

I’m going to be there so here we are

I’m going to be there so here we are that they have celebration and the first

that they have celebration and the first

that they have celebration and the first eager is a kid that was born and raised

eager is a kid that was born and raised

eager is a kid that was born and raised in that community he starts talking

in that community he starts talking

in that community he starts talking about how important memories are how

about how important memories are how

about how important memories are how important history is then the guy from

important history is then the guy from

important history is then the guy from ingerman comes up and talking he latches

ingerman comes up and talking he latches

ingerman comes up and talking he latches onto those histories and memories and he

onto those histories and memories and he

onto those histories and memories and he says both of our intention is to keep

says both of our intention is to keep

says both of our intention is to keep that girl and where that will work with

that girl and where that will work with

that girl and where that will work with the community we’re not just coming in

the community we’re not just coming in

the community we’re not just coming in here and pushing everybody that we’re

here and pushing everybody that we’re

here and pushing everybody that we’re going to come in here going to work at

going to come in here going to work at

going to come in here going to work at the community and work in it it’s going

the community and work in it it’s going

the community and work in it it’s going to be mixed income living so a lot of

to be mixed income living so a lot of

to be mixed income living so a lot of people give a comeback to the units

people give a comeback to the units

people give a comeback to the units which is awesome I mean he’s really

which is awesome I mean he’s really

which is awesome I mean he’s really internet is doing a great job then y a

internet is doing a great job then y a

internet is doing a great job then y a golden speaks and she says you know

golden speaks and she says you know

golden speaks and she says you know talks about the importance of murals in

talks about the importance of murals in

talks about the importance of murals in Philadelphia and she says well we’re not

Philadelphia and she says well we’re not

Philadelphia and she says well we’re not just going to support you when I think

just going to support you when I think

just going to support you when I think just to support but regular restore the

just to support but regular restore the

just to support but regular restore the room so now this verse element and

room so now this verse element and

room so now this verse element and everybody is dancing

everybody is dancing

everybody is dancing we have loved LuPone videos de la kinda

we have loved LuPone videos de la kinda

we have loved LuPone videos de la kinda playing out there and that’s it right

playing out there and that’s it right

playing out there and that’s it right that’s I go home and I think Rob thats

that’s I go home and I think Rob thats

that’s I go home and I think Rob thats great and then I started phone calls the

great and then I started phone calls the

great and then I started phone calls the next day they’re like yo what I’m going

next day they’re like yo what I’m going

next day they’re like yo what I’m going to do now I like me now what we have we

to do now I like me now what we have we

to do now I like me now what we have we we want matter that what we didn’t do

we want matter that what we didn’t do

we want matter that what we didn’t do that or keep up we are kicking it I said

that or keep up we are kicking it I said

that or keep up we are kicking it I said well look you did you and I said what

well look you did you and I said what

well look you did you and I said what what are you gonna do what are you

what are you gonna do what are you

what are you gonna do what are you wanting so I got more phone calls and I

wanting so I got more phone calls and I

wanting so I got more phone calls and I said okay let’s let’s get a meeting

said okay let’s let’s get a meeting

said okay let’s let’s get a meeting together and see what people want to do

together and see what people want to do

together and see what people want to do so we’re sitting at the table and one

so we’re sitting at the table and one

so we’re sitting at the table and one group says what we want to do nutrition

group says what we want to do nutrition

group says what we want to do nutrition because there’s a report in 20 2013 that

because there’s a report in 20 2013 that

because there’s a report in 20 2013 that came out from the Philadelphia

came out from the Philadelphia

came out from the Philadelphia Department of Health that says and North

Department of Health that says and North

Department of Health that says and North Philadelphia has one of the highest

Philadelphia has one of the highest

Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of cancer in the country right so

rates of cancer in the country right so

rates of cancer in the country right so they want to do nutrition because

they want to do nutrition because

they want to do nutrition because although the report says it’s probably

although the report says it’s probably

although the report says it’s probably muted smoking cigarettes if you know

muted smoking cigarettes if you know

muted smoking cigarettes if you know North Philadelphia you know yeah there’s

North Philadelphia you know yeah there’s

North Philadelphia you know yeah there’s not a lot of pop without not cigarettes

not a lot of pop without not cigarettes

not a lot of pop without not cigarettes so you know it’s some most of the people

so you know it’s some most of the people

so you know it’s some most of the people i know they have cancer never smoked a

i know they have cancer never smoked a

i know they have cancer never smoked a day in your life so but it’s it’s the

day in your life so but it’s it’s the

day in your life so but it’s it’s the grocery stores is that will they guys

grocery stores is that will they guys

grocery stores is that will they guys right they have all processed food you

right they have all processed food you

right they have all processed food you know just keeping grapes on shelf is

know just keeping grapes on shelf is

know just keeping grapes on shelf is difficult right because if you don’t

difficult right because if you don’t

difficult right because if you don’t teach people how to eat right they’re

teach people how to eat right they’re

teach people how to eat right they’re not going to do it by the grapes they’re

not going to do it by the grapes they’re

not going to do it by the grapes they’re just going by the Twinkies delivered by

just going by the Twinkies delivered by

just going by the Twinkies delivered by you know the so does you’re going to buy

you know the so does you’re going to buy

you know the so does you’re going to buy all the process stuff that’s bad for you

all the process stuff that’s bad for you

all the process stuff that’s bad for you so these kids are now

so these kids are now

so these kids are now this summer they’re going to throw in

this summer they’re going to throw in

this summer they’re going to throw in workshops all over North Philadelphia to

workshops all over North Philadelphia to

workshops all over North Philadelphia to teach nutrition to the young people and

teach nutrition to the young people and

teach nutrition to the young people and that’s one thing that came out of this

that’s one thing that came out of this

that’s one thing that came out of this beer on Regulus it’s not just about the

beer on Regulus it’s not just about the

beer on Regulus it’s not just about the wheeler to go and pack you know people

wheeler to go and pack you know people

wheeler to go and pack you know people on marrying themselves and doing more

on marrying themselves and doing more

on marrying themselves and doing more and then another group they came up with

and then another group they came up with

and then another group they came up with the idea of doing like baseball cards

the idea of doing like baseball cards

the idea of doing like baseball cards kind of like hero cards for a lot emails

kind of like hero cards for a lot emails

kind of like hero cards for a lot emails because you know I might sue the school

because you know I might sue the school

because you know I might sue the school district of philadelphia i graduated

district of philadelphia i graduated

district of philadelphia i graduated with a 6th grade reading level and i

with a 6th grade reading level and i

with a 6th grade reading level and i never learned about anyone who was

never learned about anyone who was

never learned about anyone who was Latino and that bothered me you know

Latino and that bothered me you know

Latino and that bothered me you know that’s one of the things I said there’s

that’s one of the things I said there’s

that’s one of the things I said there’s something wrong here why is the you know

something wrong here why is the you know

something wrong here why is the you know we learn about Lincoln you learn about

we learn about Lincoln you learn about

we learn about Lincoln you learn about Marlon UK but what about somebody’s like

Marlon UK but what about somebody’s like

Marlon UK but what about somebody’s like me you know or weaken robot Athena so

me you know or weaken robot Athena so

me you know or weaken robot Athena so these kids they’re going to do these

these kids they’re going to do these

these kids they’re going to do these cards we got some want to print them up

cards we got some want to print them up

cards we got some want to print them up and also along to go to be doing

and also along to go to be doing

and also along to go to be doing workshops with the children and saying

workshops with the children and saying

workshops with the children and saying look these are people that are just like

look these are people that are just like

look these are people that are just like you they have done amazing things and

you they have done amazing things and

you they have done amazing things and again that came out of the mural so what

again that came out of the mural so what

again that came out of the mural so what I guess what I’m going to ask you guys

I guess what I’m going to ask you guys

I guess what I’m going to ask you guys is to do is to do your research

is to do is to do your research

is to do is to do your research volunteer and impact right so do your

volunteer and impact right so do your

volunteer and impact right so do your research volunteer in that thang

”

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