I was born totally cross-eyed I like to think that being born with this
think that being born with this
think that being born with this condition which is called strabismus
condition which is called strabismus
condition which is called strabismus made me a particularly introspective
made me a particularly introspective
made me a particularly introspective person always kind of looking inward at
person always kind of looking inward at
person always kind of looking inward at myself this picture is from after the
myself this picture is from after the
myself this picture is from after the corrective surgery I had as a baby that
corrective surgery I had as a baby that
corrective surgery I had as a baby that as you can see is only half corrective
as you can see is only half corrective
as you can see is only half corrective as a kid I was pretty sensitive about my
as a kid I was pretty sensitive about my
as a kid I was pretty sensitive about my strabismus the kids in my class couldn’t
strabismus the kids in my class couldn’t
strabismus the kids in my class couldn’t always tell exactly where I was looking
always tell exactly where I was looking
always tell exactly where I was looking in the room which in retrospect I should
in the room which in retrospect I should
in the room which in retrospect I should have just embraced as a cool like
have just embraced as a cool like
have just embraced as a cool like superhero type power stir business girl
superhero type power stir business girl
superhero type power stir business girl you never know where she’s looking I
you never know where she’s looking I
you never know where she’s looking I grew up in the analog era many years pre
grew up in the analog era many years pre
grew up in the analog era many years pre Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and
Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and
Facebook and Instagram and Twitter and I’m really glad for that because my
I’m really glad for that because my
I’m really glad for that because my parents didn’t have an opportunity to
parents didn’t have an opportunity to
parents didn’t have an opportunity to post this picture of me online
eleven-year-old me let me tell you would
eleven-year-old me let me tell you would not have been happy about that but times
not have been happy about that but times
not have been happy about that but times have changed
have changed
have changed today many kids don’t really have a say
today many kids don’t really have a say
today many kids don’t really have a say in the creation of their own online
in the creation of their own online
in the creation of their own online identities they have the adults in their
identities they have the adults in their
identities they have the adults in their lives creating those identities for them
lives creating those identities for them
lives creating those identities for them often from the very day they’re born
often from the very day they’re born
often from the very day they’re born those identities are shaped and formed
those identities are shaped and formed
those identities are shaped and formed by others which makes me pause to wonder
by others which makes me pause to wonder
by others which makes me pause to wonder are they okay with that are we okay with
are they okay with that are we okay with
are they okay with that are we okay with that my guess is that most people in
that my guess is that most people in
that my guess is that most people in this room have at some point in time
this room have at some point in time
this room have at some point in time posted a picture or content about a
posted a picture or content about a
posted a picture or content about a child
child
child online without necessarily asking
online without necessarily asking
online without necessarily asking permission maybe we didn’t even think to
permission maybe we didn’t even think to
permission maybe we didn’t even think to ask didn’t even cross our minds maybe in
ask didn’t even cross our minds maybe in
ask didn’t even cross our minds maybe in hindsight we regret that we did it maybe
hindsight we regret that we did it maybe
hindsight we regret that we did it maybe the kids in our lives really wish that
the kids in our lives really wish that
the kids in our lives really wish that we hadn’t but this really just brings up
we hadn’t but this really just brings up
we hadn’t but this really just brings up a bigger question about how we engage
a bigger question about how we engage
a bigger question about how we engage young people in meaning
young people in meaning
young people in meaning always in decision-making that affects
always in decision-making that affects
always in decision-making that affects their lives so I spent almost 10 years
their lives so I spent almost 10 years
their lives so I spent almost 10 years living 230 miles above the Arctic Circle
living 230 miles above the Arctic Circle
living 230 miles above the Arctic Circle in Norway while I was there I fell in
in Norway while I was there I fell in
in Norway while I was there I fell in love with a treaty this particular
love with a treaty this particular
love with a treaty this particular treaty is the world’s most ratified
treaty is the world’s most ratified
treaty is the world’s most ratified treaty it’s called the United Nations
treaty it’s called the United Nations
treaty it’s called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child or
Convention on the Rights of the child or
Convention on the Rights of the child or the UN CRC for short or the CRC for even
the UN CRC for short or the CRC for even
the UN CRC for short or the CRC for even shorter and I fell in love with the UN
shorter and I fell in love with the UN
shorter and I fell in love with the UN CRC while I was working as Regional
CRC while I was working as Regional
CRC while I was working as Regional Director with Save the Children one of
Director with Save the Children one of
Director with Save the Children one of the world’s leading children’s rights
the world’s leading children’s rights
the world’s leading children’s rights organizations I was fortunate during my
organizations I was fortunate during my
organizations I was fortunate during my eight years with this organization to
eight years with this organization to
eight years with this organization to witness the incredible impact this
witness the incredible impact this
witness the incredible impact this document has on children all over the
document has on children all over the
document has on children all over the world the UN CRC was adopted by the
world the UN CRC was adopted by the
world the UN CRC was adopted by the United Nations in November of 1989 it’s
United Nations in November of 1989 it’s
United Nations in November of 1989 it’s made up of 54 articles that outline the
made up of 54 articles that outline the
made up of 54 articles that outline the rights that children have regardless of
rights that children have regardless of
rights that children have regardless of where they live in the world their
where they live in the world their
where they live in the world their ethnicity and race their gender their
ethnicity and race their gender their
ethnicity and race their gender their religion their language their abilities
religion their language their abilities
religion their language their abilities or any other status and it also
or any other status and it also
or any other status and it also identifies how governments should be
identifies how governments should be
identifies how governments should be held responsible to make sure that these
held responsible to make sure that these
held responsible to make sure that these rights are upheld of these 54 articles
rights are upheld of these 54 articles
rights are upheld of these 54 articles there’s one in particular that has
there’s one in particular that has
there’s one in particular that has guided me in my work as a child advocate
guided me in my work as a child advocate
guided me in my work as a child advocate article 12 states the children have the
article 12 states the children have the
article 12 states the children have the right to voice their opinions and be
right to voice their opinions and be
right to voice their opinions and be heard in all matters concerning them and
heard in all matters concerning them and
heard in all matters concerning them and for adults to take those opinions
for adults to take those opinions
for adults to take those opinions seriously
seriously
seriously so in Norway you can see article 12 at
so in Norway you can see article 12 at
so in Norway you can see article 12 at work in myriad ways there is a daily
work in myriad ways there is a daily
work in myriad ways there is a daily children’s news program nationally
children’s news program nationally
children’s news program nationally syndicated that shares the news of the
syndicated that shares the news of the
syndicated that shares the news of the world in a child-friendly manner there
world in a child-friendly manner there
world in a child-friendly manner there are question and answer sessions for
are question and answer sessions for
are question and answer sessions for young people and politicians where young
young people and politicians where young
young people and politicians where young people can ask politicians the questions
people can ask politicians the questions
people can ask politicians the questions that they feel they have a burning need
that they feel they have a burning need
that they feel they have a burning need to have answered and more importantly so
to have answered and more importantly so
to have answered and more importantly so the politicians can listen to what’s
the politicians can listen to what’s
the politicians can listen to what’s important to those kids
important to those kids
important to those kids in 1981 Norway founded a children’s
in 1981 Norway founded a children’s
in 1981 Norway founded a children’s Ombudsperson position a public official
Ombudsperson position a public official
Ombudsperson position a public official whose sole duty is to make sure that the
whose sole duty is to make sure that the
whose sole duty is to make sure that the laws and rights affecting children’s
laws and rights affecting children’s
laws and rights affecting children’s interests are upheld and that Norwegian
interests are upheld and that Norwegian
interests are upheld and that Norwegian authorities follow the obligations
authorities follow the obligations
authorities follow the obligations outlined in the UN CRC some years ago I
outlined in the UN CRC some years ago I
outlined in the UN CRC some years ago I was at a conference for children’s
was at a conference for children’s
was at a conference for children’s rights advocates and a city planner
rights advocates and a city planner
rights advocates and a city planner presented a really interesting project
presented a really interesting project
presented a really interesting project that she’d worked on together with
that she’d worked on together with
that she’d worked on together with architects they were working on a
architects they were working on a
architects they were working on a building project in a part of town and
building project in a part of town and
building project in a part of town and they decided that they wanted input from
they decided that they wanted input from
they decided that they wanted input from the local kids so they invited the
the local kids so they invited the
the local kids so they invited the children and to do a mapping project
children and to do a mapping project
children and to do a mapping project they gave them pens and paper and they
they gave them pens and paper and they
they gave them pens and paper and they said show us what this area is for you
said show us what this area is for you
said show us what this area is for you and at the end of it what they found out
and at the end of it what they found out
and at the end of it what they found out was really interesting these young
was really interesting these young
was really interesting these young people identified places on the map that
people identified places on the map that
people identified places on the map that were not on any official map whatsoever
were not on any official map whatsoever
were not on any official map whatsoever but were on the map that they created
but were on the map that they created
but were on the map that they created there was a trail from an apartment
there was a trail from an apartment
there was a trail from an apartment complex kind of through a wooded area to
complex kind of through a wooded area to
complex kind of through a wooded area to the school it was a shortcut there was a
the school it was a shortcut there was a
the school it was a shortcut there was a hill that although not on any official
hill that although not on any official
hill that although not on any official map was there and the kids used it as a
map was there and the kids used it as a
map was there and the kids used it as a sledding hill and then there was a sort
sledding hill and then there was a sort
sledding hill and then there was a sort of open area adjacent to the school that
of open area adjacent to the school that
of open area adjacent to the school that was used after school and in the summer
was used after school and in the summer
was used after school and in the summer for soccer practice and so the city
for soccer practice and so the city
for soccer practice and so the city planners and the architects decided to
planners and the architects decided to
planners and the architects decided to adjust their building plans ever so
adjust their building plans ever so
adjust their building plans ever so slightly so as to keep those areas
slightly so as to keep those areas
slightly so as to keep those areas intact to put this in context article 42
intact to put this in context article 42
intact to put this in context article 42 in the UN CRC says that children have
in the UN CRC says that children have
in the UN CRC says that children have the right to know their rights so you
the right to know their rights so you
the right to know their rights so you can walk in to pretty much any classroom
can walk in to pretty much any classroom
can walk in to pretty much any classroom in mmm Elementary School in Norway third
in mmm Elementary School in Norway third
in mmm Elementary School in Norway third grade for example and you can say tell
grade for example and you can say tell
grade for example and you can say tell me about your rights and the hands will
me about your rights and the hands will
me about your rights and the hands will go in the air and they will say we have
go in the air and they will say we have
go in the air and they will say we have the right to education we have the right
the right to education we have the right
the right to education we have the right to health care if we get sick we have
to health care if we get sick we have
to health care if we get sick we have the right to shelter we have the right
the right to shelter we have the right
the right to shelter we have the right to a name and an identity and then as
to a name and an identity and then as
to a name and an identity and then as always happens someone will say we have
always happens someone will say we have
always happens someone will say we have the right to candy and then everybody
the right to candy and then everybody
the right to candy and then everybody will laugh so Norway has not only
will laugh so Norway has not only
will laugh so Norway has not only ratified the United Nations Convention
ratified the United Nations Convention
ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child but they’ve
on the Rights of the Child but they’ve
on the Rights of the Child but they’ve taken it a step further and they’ve
taken it a step further and they’ve
taken it a step further and they’ve incorporated into Norwegian law which is
incorporated into Norwegian law which is
incorporated into Norwegian law which is something very few countries have done
something very few countries have done
something very few countries have done having this particular children’s rights
having this particular children’s rights
having this particular children’s rights lens gives Norwegian children unique
lens gives Norwegian children unique
lens gives Norwegian children unique insights on empathy responsibility and
insights on empathy responsibility and
insights on empathy responsibility and global solidarity as mentioned this is
global solidarity as mentioned this is
global solidarity as mentioned this is the world’s most ratified treaty all
the world’s most ratified treaty all
the world’s most ratified treaty all United Nations member states have
United Nations member states have
United Nations member states have ratified it except for one the u.s. I
ratified it except for one the u.s. I
ratified it except for one the u.s. I visited the ninth grade classroom of a
visited the ninth grade classroom of a
visited the ninth grade classroom of a friend of mine at the high school that I
friend of mine at the high school that I
friend of mine at the high school that I attended in Duluth Minnesota she invited
attended in Duluth Minnesota she invited
attended in Duluth Minnesota she invited me in to talk to her very welcoming and
me in to talk to her very welcoming and
me in to talk to her very welcoming and bright ninth graders and I just stood in
bright ninth graders and I just stood in
bright ninth graders and I just stood in from the classroom and asked what do you
from the classroom and asked what do you
from the classroom and asked what do you know about children’s rights the UN CRC
know about children’s rights the UN CRC
know about children’s rights the UN CRC blank stares
blank stares
blank stares no hands in the air and then something
no hands in the air and then something
no hands in the air and then something happened that often happens when you
happened that often happens when you
happened that often happens when you talk to kids about children’s rights the
talk to kids about children’s rights the
talk to kids about children’s rights the room it’s electrified with energy let’s
room it’s electrified with energy let’s
room it’s electrified with energy let’s harness that energy because the u.s. is
harness that energy because the u.s. is
harness that energy because the u.s. is not just our government it’s all of us
not just our government it’s all of us
not just our government it’s all of us and we don’t have to wait for the UN CRC
and we don’t have to wait for the UN CRC
and we don’t have to wait for the UN CRC to get ratified on a national level we
to get ratified on a national level we
to get ratified on a national level we can do our part locally we could do it
can do our part locally we could do it
can do our part locally we could do it in our towns and cities we can do it in
in our towns and cities we can do it in
in our towns and cities we can do it in our schools we can do it in our
our schools we can do it in our
our schools we can do it in our businesses and our organizations because
businesses and our organizations because
businesses and our organizations because we still have this tendency to think of
we still have this tendency to think of
we still have this tendency to think of young people in terms of their future
young people in terms of their future
young people in terms of their future value we should invest in them today
value we should invest in them today
value we should invest in them today because they will be the leaders of
because they will be the leaders of
because they will be the leaders of tomorrow we hear that a lot but they’re
tomorrow we hear that a lot but they’re
tomorrow we hear that a lot but they’re leading right now there’s leading today
leading right now there’s leading today
leading right now there’s leading today the question is are we listening they
the question is are we listening they
the question is are we listening they are for example doing leading name
are for example doing leading name
are for example doing leading name change school name change campaigns in
change school name change campaigns in
change school name change campaigns in the city of Minneapolis
the city of Minneapolis
the city of Minneapolis they are designing TEDx youth events in
they are designing TEDx youth events in
they are designing TEDx youth events in Brookings they’re spending school nights
Brookings they’re spending school nights
Brookings they’re spending school nights every week of the academic year learning
every week of the academic year learning
every week of the academic year learning about community leadership in st. Paul
about community leadership in st. Paul
about community leadership in st. Paul they’re doing all of this together with
they’re doing all of this together with
they’re doing all of this together with young people I want to start a movement
young people I want to start a movement
young people I want to start a movement to ratify article 12 in our local
to ratify article 12 in our local
to ratify article 12 in our local communities we start small we start
communities we start small we start
communities we start small we start locally as I’ve grown older I decided
locally as I’ve grown older I decided
locally as I’ve grown older I decided just to embrace my strabismus
just to embrace my strabismus
just to embrace my strabismus it’s really
it’s really
it’s really just Who I am in the same exact way that
just Who I am in the same exact way that
just Who I am in the same exact way that Norway has embraced this children’s
Norway has embraced this children’s
Norway has embraced this children’s rights framework we need to follow suit
rights framework we need to follow suit
rights framework we need to follow suit here in the United States we need to
here in the United States we need to
here in the United States we need to move from this just being an idea to
move from this just being an idea to
move from this just being an idea to embracing this church help children’s
embracing this church help children’s
embracing this church help children’s rights framework and mindset as who we
rights framework and mindset as who we
rights framework and mindset as who we are here in the United States thank you
are here in the United States thank you
are here in the United States thank you [Applause]
”
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