Child Study Center Grand Rounds 02.22.2022

March 21, 2022

Information

Perseverance Tells a Story

ID7586

To CiteDCA Citation Guide

00:00Good afternoon everybody.
00:01For those who don't know me,
00:03my name is Terry Davila.
00:04I'm a Puerto Rican cisgendered multiracial
00:07currently without physical disability,
00:08clinical social worker and I work
00:10as the clinical coordinator for
00:12outpatient clinical services and I
00:14also serve as the Chief Diversity
00:16Officer for the Child Study Center.
00:18And it is really a pleasure to
00:20welcome you to our second annual
00:22Black History Month celebration
00:24at the Child Study Center today.
00:26The focus is on perseverance,
00:30and perseverance tells the story
00:32and looked up the definition,
00:34which is the content for perseverance,
00:36which is the continued effort to
00:38do or achieve something despite
00:40difficulty or opposition steadfastness.
00:43If you're a person with an or
00:46several personal identities which
00:48have been historically marginalized.
00:50And systematically oppressed.
00:52You are forced to persevere the systems
00:56constantly in opposition and everyday
00:58existence can be an experience.
01:00Excuse me,
01:00you can experience as an act of
01:03perseverance and while perseverance
01:04tends to be lauded in a meritocracy,
01:07just because one can be strong
01:09and persevere doesn't mean that
01:10we always want to.
01:11Facing the obstacles of everyday racism
01:13is exhausting and I often wonder
01:15what it would be like to use all,
01:17if not most of my energy just work.
01:19I wonder what would happen if those of
01:21us who consistently face the onslaught
01:24of microaggressions could have the
01:26privilege of not work worrying when
01:28the next microaggression will come.
01:30If we didn't have to worry if our hair
01:32will be scrutinized or measure the
01:34tone and volume that we used to say
01:36things in meetings and decide how to
01:38bring up an idea so that we can be
01:41cautious or be aware of how it's heard
01:43if we didn't have to think about all of that.
01:45If all of our energy could be used to create,
01:48innovate and contribute to our
01:50missions in unencumbered ways,
01:51our community would be even
01:53greater than we are.
01:55I was recently in a leadership training
01:57that highlighted that people feel
01:58most happy at work when they feel a
02:00sense of connection and belonging.
02:02This event, which is the second
02:03Black History Month event,
02:05is at the centre.
02:06Excuse me,
02:07at the center is an important step in
02:09creating a culture in which all gifts
02:11and talents are celebrated and to
02:12foster a deeper sense of belonging.
02:14The conversations and workshops we have,
02:17the reflection spaces and the
02:18increased conversations across the
02:20center contribute to culture change.
02:22Research has shown that cultural
02:24humility increases and microaggressions
02:26decrease when we actively learn about
02:28the lived experiences of people with
02:31personal identities outside of our own,
02:33we have a steady cohort,
02:34almost 200 people,
02:35who have made attending our DIY
02:38workshops and programs of priority.
02:39I encourage you,
02:41those of you who have not yet participated
02:43to show up for yourself for your
02:45colleagues and for our community.
02:47Every program you attend that allows
02:48you to hear about the lived experiences
02:50of people who are often stereotyped.
02:52You are countering the messages
02:53and stereotypes that media
02:55and others bombard you with.
02:56But your efforts cannot
02:58just be passive listening.
02:59You must take what you hear and examine
03:01your own biases and actively work to
03:03stand up to them and those of others.
03:06We're seeing some culture
03:07change in our center.
03:09In the training director who supports
03:12providing growth in leadership opportunity.
03:15By offering or looking for the
03:18next training director while
03:20they're still here in that process,
03:22we were able to pilot a new process
03:24of to minimize bias in internal
03:27searches and the result of that is
03:29a new practice and a new director.
03:31The majority of our recent searches all
03:34took steps to increase the diversity
03:37in the potential candidate pool.
03:39I was recently contacted by a lab who
03:41worked to commit to DEI in their work,
03:44created a statement and reached out to
03:46me to ensure that there was alignment
03:48with the center's efforts in theirs.
03:50And while these are wonderful
03:51steps as a community,
03:53we must persevere as Co conspirators
03:55in disrupting the structures that
03:58oppress some and support others.
04:00We must persevere in our efforts to
04:02create a culture in which our bipac
04:04and others with identities that are
04:06marginalized don't have to navigate
04:07obstacles but instead can put.
04:09All of our energy into contributing to
04:11furthering our mission and experience.
04:13The happiness in a workplace that
04:15comes from being valued and feeling
04:16below the sense of belonging.
04:18Our celebration today is an opportunity
04:20to center some of our colleagues
04:22and celebrate some of what we've
04:24done without losing sight of how
04:25much we still need to do.
04:27It's not under the pretense of perfection,
04:29but rather the acknowledgement of
04:30the imperfect system we are in and
04:33the desire to continue to change
04:34it with grace and further so.
04:36Please listen to these beautiful
04:38examples of perseverance shared by your
04:40colleagues with the desire to understand.
04:42And with that understanding
04:43and increased empathy,
04:44make decisions to continue your
04:46own practice of increased self
04:48awareness so that you can deepen your
04:50commitment to remove opposition and
04:52increase connection and opportunity.
04:53Monthly opportunities to join me in
04:55reflection will begin on March 11th at
04:5811 via Zoom. Details Will come soon.
05:00I hope you'll choose to join.
05:02Thank you for being here today.
05:03Thank you for your ongoing commitment
05:05and a special thank you to Doctor
05:07Crystal Finch and Belinda Oliver for
05:09their leadership and partnership in
05:11coordinating this event and so now I
05:13welcome again Doctor Crystal Finch,
05:14the coordinator of family based of
05:16FBR Family based recovery and one
05:18of our Grand Round Committee chairs.
05:22Thank you, thank you so much.
05:23I'm going to share my
05:25screen before I get started.
05:28And invite you on this
05:30journey of perseverance.
05:34OK. First and foremost,
05:38happy Black History Month.
05:40If you can't tell,
05:42I'm excited because this right here is
05:45how we persevere and tell our story.
05:48The topic for this year was intentional
05:50because it reminded me of my reason
05:52why this work is exhausting.
05:54This work is defeating.
05:56This work can feel worthless,
05:58but this work can also be inspiring.
06:00This work can be endearing and this work
06:03from me is an authentic representation
06:05of myself for changing the culture.
06:07The voice in holding,
06:08accountability in spaces where silence
06:10is often the loudest voice in the room.
06:13Doctor Martin Luther King said it best.
06:15The time is right to always do
06:17what is right there for black
06:19history is our nation's history.
06:22Now that was just the intro.
06:24So let me now really get started.
06:26Perseverance tells a story.
06:28A quick Google search will land you
06:31on the definition of perseverance
06:32as a difficult process in the
06:35quest for ultimate success.
06:36While an accurate description of the word,
06:39I also believe it could expand
06:40itself to include the words,
06:42grit, determination, and glory.
06:46Throughout black history,
06:47perseverance highlights the
06:48never ending fight for freedom,
06:50equality and justice uplifting songs
06:52which remind us of the beauty and
06:55blackness encouragement to move forward,
06:57and remembering to only look
06:59back to see how far we've come.
07:02And to never give up,
07:03our ancestors walked through the nights
07:06for Freedom March through city streets
07:08for miles and miles for equality,
07:10and demanded justice by holding
07:12those accountable for the change
07:14to use their voices for something,
07:16anything that brought the plights of our
07:18stories to the forefront of those in power.
07:21Maybe you recall Henry Box Brown,
07:23a slave who mailed himself for freedom.
07:26Or Ruby bridges the first African
07:29American child to desegregate an
07:31all white school in Louisiana.
07:33Then there was the Mexico
07:35City Olympics protest,
07:36which was one of the most iconic
07:38movements in sports history and activism.
07:41Tommie Smith and John Carlos were hailed
07:44as heroes as they stood with raised fists,
07:48black gloves to represent solidarity
07:50and support with black people and
07:52oppressed people around the world.
07:54Chulis,
07:54strategically wearing black socks
07:57to represent black poverty,
07:59perseverance tells a story.
08:01Perseverance is also told through
08:04the family church songs.
08:06The memories of sitting on our
08:08grandparents lap listening to
08:09the adults with the quiet air.
08:11You know that was us children as being nosy.
08:15Tapping on cans outside just to make music,
08:17which reminds you of the freedom
08:20useful very long for.
08:22Perseverance tells a story through activism,
08:24sports, politics, military,
08:26social service, the medical field,
08:30education law, the list goes on and on.
08:33Black historians came conquered
08:36and continued to persevere.
08:38Black History Month has always
08:40highlighted the knowns.
08:41Famous the known famous historians
08:42and the greats of the likes of
08:45Doctor Martin Luther King Rosa Parks,
08:47Harriet Tubman,
08:48Malcolm X and Booker T Washington.
08:51However,
08:51today I'm going to share a few chill
08:54Blazers who continue to inspire
08:56me on the path for perseverance.
09:01Shirley Chisholm, born in Brooklyn
09:04in 1924 to Barbadian parents.
09:06The story of Miss Chisholm makes
09:08my heart smile as a celebration
09:10to my native land of Barbados.
09:12Shirley grew up in Barbados and considered
09:14herself a scholar in American politics.
09:17She was best known as the first African
09:19American woman to be elected to the
09:21House of Representatives in 1968.
09:23Shirley said if they don't
09:24bring you a seat at the table,
09:27then bring a folding chair.
09:31James Baldwin,
09:31the man who sought truth,
09:33whether you liked it or not.
09:35Born in Harlem, New York in 1924,
09:38shared the Untold truths of racism,
09:40poverty and inequality.
09:42James Baldwin also advocated
09:44for gender rights as an open,
09:46openly gay black male who said his
09:49identity helped create his work.
09:50James Baldwin said I have to make you
09:54conscious of the things you cannot see.
09:56Madam CJ Walker was the first black
09:58billionaire in a time where black
10:00Americans didn't own much of anything.
10:02Madam, CJ knew the key to a black woman's
10:05heart was through the care of her hair.
10:07Miss Walker created black hair
10:09products but also educated,
10:11trained and inspired black women to
10:13be the best versions of themselves.
10:15Madam CJ said, don't sit down and
10:17wait for the opportunities to come.
10:19You have to get up and make them.
10:22You cannot speak of perseverance.
10:25Oops, sorry.
10:26Madam CJ.
10:28You cannot speak of perseverance
10:30without acknowledging our
10:31nation's first black president.
10:34Barack Obama and our first
10:36lady Michelle Obama.
10:37Despite political party or affiliation.
10:39In 2009,
10:40Black Americans were reminded of the
10:42hard work and dedication of those
10:44who paved the road for us to walk,
10:46and children wrote their names
10:47in the future of the country
10:49for longing for change.
10:50President Barack Obama said
10:52change is never easy,
10:53but it is always possible and
10:56it's this I say and leave you with
10:58perseverance for black Americans and
11:00for black individuals throughout
11:02our nation will always tell a story.
11:08Thank you. For that, and as
11:12we continue to move forward.
11:14I now welcome Belinda Oliver to share.
11:21Good morning or good afternoon everyone.
11:23Thank you for coming.
11:24I'm going to read can you
11:26see that change things I'm
11:28not gonna share my screen.
11:29It is a book by and children
11:32anthem words by Amanda Gorman
11:35and pictures by Lauren Lamb.
11:38So it's a little young
11:39black girl. Young child,
11:40I can hear a change humming
11:43and its loudest proudest song.
11:45I don't fear change coming
11:48and so I sing along.
11:50Ice cream with the skies of red and white,
11:53red and blue streamers.
11:55I dream with the cries of
11:58tried and true dreamers.
12:00I'm a chant that rises and rings.
12:03There is hope where my change sings.
12:07Though some don't understand it,
12:09those windmills of mysteries I
12:11sing with all the planet and
12:14its hills of histories.
12:17I hung with 100 hearts each
12:19of us lifting a hand.
12:21I use my strength and my smart
12:24take a knee to make a stand.
12:27I'm bright as the light each
12:29day brings, there's love
12:31where my change things.
12:34I show others tolerance,
12:36though it might take some courage.
12:40I don't make a taller fence,
12:43but fight to build a better bridge.
12:46I talked not only of distances
12:49from where and how we came.
12:52I also walk our differences
12:54to show we are the same.
12:57I'm a movement that roars and springs.
12:59There's a wave where my change sings.
13:03Change things where there inside me
13:06because I am the change I want to see.
13:12As I grow, it grows like seeds.
13:15I am just what the world needs.
13:19I am the voice where freedom rings.
13:22You're the love where bright heart brings.
13:26We are the wave starting to spring
13:29for we are the change we sing.
13:32Where the world is becoming
13:34and we know it won't be long.
13:37We all hear change strumming
13:39won't you sing along.
13:43For my mom who always believed in my voice.
13:46AG for Tracy, who was always a vital
13:49part of my work LOL.
13:53I can hear change humming and
13:55it's loud as bright as song.
13:57I don't fear change coming
13:59and so I sing along. Thank
14:01you. Thank you so much.
14:04So nice. Next we have had.
14:10My doctor has been emons.
14:19Yeah.
14:22Good afternoon, I thank Tara Davilla
14:25and Belinda Oliver and Doctor Finch,
14:29doctor Crystal Finch,
14:30for inviting me to present my prime today.
14:34I am honored to have my work showcased in
14:39the same venue as the remarkable Amanda
14:42Gorman and illustrious Maya Angelou.
14:46My point today is titled sell the
14:49Storm because over centuries we have
14:52been battered by many, many storms,
14:55and particularly within the last couple
14:59of years we've experienced unique storms.
15:04And so I chose the prim.
15:08Sell the storm.
15:13When you are battered by the storm.
15:16Drenched by the rain,
15:19buffeted by the wind.
15:21Harness the storm.
15:24Package and sell it.
15:28Capture the wind to turn into
15:30power to light your space and grind
15:34down the resistance that you face.
15:38Collect the rain to water the
15:40drive that flowers your dreams
15:43and turn it into flowing streams.
15:47Fetch the flash of lightning
15:49to measure the distance
15:51you have to travel. And deception
15:54and difficulties to unravel.
15:59Use the roar of Thunder to
16:02echolocate obstacles in your way.
16:06And the vibrations was to sweet.
16:12Then March into the
16:15marketplace and sell the storm.
16:19The power from the wind.
16:20The water from the
16:21rain. The technology to
16:23measure the distance of objects in space.
16:27Strategies that inform new
16:30ways of seeing twinned.
16:33Important stuff. Nothing inane.
16:38When you are battered by the storm. Harness
16:43package and sell it. Thank you.
16:52Thank you so much back, Diamond.
16:56And next we have Felicia
16:58Campbell. Thank you so much.
16:59We shall for being here today.
17:03Yes hello good afternoon everyone.
17:05I'm Felicia and I'm happy to
17:07be in this space with you all.
17:09Thank you all for being here.
17:11So I wrote a piece in my
17:12journey through grad school,
17:13which was a very important time in my life
17:15and also a journey and story perseverance.
17:17I have a hair so I'm just
17:19going to show what I wrote.
17:20When I started grad school,
17:22I was both nervous and excited.
17:24I couldn't wait.
17:25After a 7 hour car ride with my parents,
17:28I rather than Pittsburgh, PA.
17:29In August of 2017,
17:31Ready to start my journey and excited
17:33for what felt like a new beginning.
17:35I was so elated to be in grad
17:37school and so proud to be the
17:38first of my family to ever do it.
17:40I greeted my roommate,
17:41unpacked my boxes,
17:42and began to set up in decorate my room.
17:45I remember I posted a picture
17:46on Instagram with the caption.
17:48It's official y'all with
17:49a bunch of flower emojis.
17:51That first night six of my black classmates
17:53and I got together and went to the bars.
17:56All of us young black and in our early
17:5920s were excited to explore our new city.
18:02I remember that first night that
18:03none of the bars would let in my
18:05black male classmates because they
18:07weren't following their dress code.
18:08One had on a plain white T shirt
18:11and another had on sneakers.
18:12The girls and I decided that we were
18:14either going in together or not at all.
18:16So we all left,
18:17but realized this kept happening
18:18almost everywhere else.
18:19We went on this trip.
18:21At first I thought it wasn't a big deal.
18:23Maybe they're just videoscan out here,
18:25but then we noticed that this was a pattern.
18:27We later got confirmation from local
18:29residents and older students that
18:31these racialized dress codes were
18:32nothing known in a way of intentionally
18:35keeping us out of their establishments.
18:37The goal post would continue
18:38to move every time,
18:39no matter how we dress.
18:41Unbeknownst to us,
18:41this first weekend at the bars was
18:44just the beginning of a long two years.
18:46During my swears in Pittsburgh,
18:48I thought a different base of racism
18:49that I only saw or heard of on TV.
18:51I thought Pennsylvania was so close enough
18:53to New York to be on the safer side,
18:55but what I didn't know was that
18:57West of Philadelphia was nicknamed
18:59Pennsyltucky in the rural parts were a
19:01completely different world during the
19:03fall of my first year in Pittsburgh,
19:05I answered out of Black Majority
19:06Elementary school and I remember how
19:08come my students where the morning
19:09that they found a black doll hanging
19:11from a tree outside their school
19:13like the local residents who told us
19:14about the dress code at the bars.
19:16These elementary students and the
19:18school staff were disturbingly desensitized.
19:21During the fall of my second year,
19:23I remember waking up to missed
19:24calls and texts from family and
19:25friends, reaching out to check on
19:27me to see if I was safe and OK.
19:29I remember feeling so confused
19:30by all these messages.
19:32I quickly found out that
19:33while I was sleeping,
19:34eleven people were murdered during a
19:35hate crime at the Tree of Life Synagogue,
19:38which was 10 minutes from my apartment.
19:40My friend and I packed up and split the
19:42drive to Washington DC that evening.
19:44We had to leave a hate crime committed
19:46and a place of worship is something
19:48our community knew far too well.
19:50We understood what this meant.
19:53Fast forward to graduation.
19:55Weathered by two years of having a
19:57full course load internship work,
19:59lack of social support and then constant
20:02discomfort and worry over a safety.
20:04All of my black and brown classmates
20:06started leaving one by one for other cities.
20:08One left the morning after graduation,
20:10one didn't even attend because
20:11they were already gone.
20:13One tried to stick it out with me,
20:14but left eventually because
20:15she could not get a job.
20:17She immediately got hired when
20:19she returns to Philadelphia.
20:20Ironically,
20:21Pittsburgh is ranked as one of the
20:23most livable cities in America.
20:25But for whom?
20:26Why is the most livable city
20:27in America the same city with
20:29some of the worst disparities,
20:31antiblack racism and antisemitism.
20:33So again most livable city
20:35for who and at what cost?
20:37I left and came back to the Tri
20:39state after both direct and indirect
20:41encounters because eventually I felt
20:42like the only choice that I had.
20:44We cannot thrive where we are not safe.
20:46For starters,
20:47it's one thing to recruit people of color
20:49and another to actually support them,
20:51their safety and their growth
20:52when they're actually there.
20:54I appreciated the financial assistance
20:55I received, but we needed mentors,
20:58Community support, safe spaces,
21:00allies for everything that
21:01we were going through.
21:03While being resilient in the
21:05face of racism is important,
21:06anti racism itself is what's
21:08really necessary.
21:09Endurance has its limits.
21:10So here I am now,
21:12three years later, better mentally,
21:15emotionally, physically,
21:15professionally, financially,
21:16and I still get to continue
21:19doing the same work.
21:20I thought I was leaving behind
21:21just in a different community.
21:23I guess I continue working
21:24with Black and brown girls and
21:26support them in their healing.
21:27I guess to sell them that they
21:28matter regardless of what the rest
21:30of the world may think or say.
21:31I get to sell black children that
21:33they are brilliant, creative kind,
21:35brave, silly, playful.
21:37I guess it's L black teenagers that
21:39they're seeing, heard and respected.
21:41So this is my story of perseverance
21:43because every day that I get up,
21:45I get to continue doing more.
21:46Thank you.
21:51Absolutely beautiful. Thank you so
21:53much for sharing and bringing us
21:54along on the journey with you. Next
21:58we have tangela. There.
22:04Good afternoon everyone.
22:07I am so happy to be with you this afternoon.
22:10I have to say usually when
22:11I share my family story,
22:12I'm talking to 7/8 and 9 year olds so I'm
22:15not going to say this is intimidating,
22:17but this is just a little bit
22:19different than what I'm used to.
22:20So what I'm going to do is share a
22:22little bit more about the history,
22:23which is what I don't go into a lot
22:25of what I'm talking to the children,
22:27so my name is Tangela Irby as you
22:28know when I'm a part of the Yale
22:30Center of Emotional Intelligence
22:31and I thank all my colleagues,
22:33there are many of you who are on this call.
22:35I am the granddaughter of sharecroppers.
22:38From Alabama, my parents grew up in
22:40an area of Alabama that was called G.
22:43Spin. At the time it is no longer.
22:45Jeez man, it is called Boykin Alabama,
22:47so if you were to look it up on the map,
22:49you would not find GS.
22:50Vin G Spin has come into the world I for
22:56the wonderful quilts that they create.
22:58And so here is a book.
23:00When I turn the pages of this book,
23:02I see cousins I see on caisi uncles there.
23:06It was a very small community.
23:08When I turned they just.
23:09So look,
23:09I see my grandmother and this
23:11is one of her quotes.
23:12There are a couple here in this book.
23:14This is one of her quilts and so part
23:18of the history when you it was an
23:20area where people didn't have a lot.
23:22They came from very when I say very little.
23:24There was lots of love,
23:26lots of care but they didn't have
23:27a lot of resources and back then
23:30people had lots of children so
23:32my grandmother had 13.
23:34My mother's mother had 13,
23:36my father's mother had time,
23:38they did not have heat in those houses.
23:41So if you imagine as a mom
23:43would write moms or dads,
23:45you want to keep your babies warm.
23:46So what did they do?
23:47They make quotes.
23:48And they got together and they
23:50helped each other make those quotes.
23:54The quilts if you think about it,
23:56they weren't influenced by anyone
23:58else in order to get to jeans Ben.
24:00So even right now,
24:01if you want to go to the store,
24:02you have to get in the car for
24:0445 minutes to go to Walmart.
24:06If you're going to work at Walmart.
24:08If you're going to work,
24:08my uncle works in the Brickyard for
24:10years up at 2:00 o'clock in the morning,
24:12down there long, dusty Rd.
24:14The dirt is red.
24:16I mean, you are really that's what they say.
24:18We're going to the country.
24:19Yes, you are in the country
24:20when you go to Jesus in Alabama.
24:21As a child we would go and
24:23coming from the north.
24:24So you could imagine the things
24:25that I was used to write.
24:27So when I first went, there was an outhouse.
24:29That's where we went to the bathroom.
24:31We had to go to the outhouse
24:32if you wanted to take a bath.
24:34There was this big metal tub.
24:37They bring the water in,
24:38and that's where you took your bath.
24:40My mother.
24:40They had to go to the pump to get water,
24:42and I remember the water having
24:44the strangest taste ever because
24:46it was not what we were used to.
24:48But this was what you know.
24:50This was home and they had when we
24:52talk about the love you enjoyed going
24:54there because you knew when you went there,
24:56grandma was going to take care of you.
24:58We weren't allowed to call her grandma.
24:59She told us call me what your
25:01Mama calls me as a 6 year old.
25:03Well, how do you know who I'm calling?
25:05Am I calling my mother?
25:06Am I calling you,
25:07you know but you just did back then you
25:09did what they told you to do right?
25:11That's exactly what you did.
25:12So they go back to thinking about the
25:14quotes and how they've come into the world.
25:16I so people may say I've never seen
25:18a GS being called. I don't know.
25:20But what are you talking about?
25:21Well,
25:21have you seen the the official White
25:24House portrait of Michelle Obama?
25:26Have you seen those geometric
25:27shapes in that dress?
25:29Those were all influenced by genes,
25:31being quilters jeans,
25:33being quilts have appeared on
25:35postage stamps and you see mine
25:37are still in the package because
25:38I will never open them right.
25:40They've been on postage stamps.
25:42They're on puzzles right now.
25:43If you go to Amazon you can buy a puzzle.
25:46My grandmother's foot is on that puzzle.
25:48The footnote that I will add to
25:50all of this there was someone
25:52years ago who came around.
25:53Do you have any old pills?
25:54Do you have any old quilts
25:56so you think about?
25:57These people in Jesmyn,
25:58Alabama who don't have alot someone
26:00offering them money for their old
26:02quilt that's in the back of the
26:04closet that's in their old chest,
26:05so they pretty much gave these
26:08quotes away for nothing
26:09right? And now that quilt is in his book.
26:14So what's happening is the
26:16younger generation is getting
26:17together and saying you know what.
26:18There are books that are
26:20written about Gees Bend Alabama.
26:21You can go. Like I said,
26:22this book right here when I read
26:24some of the things that are written,
26:25my mom folded in the book my aunts
26:28quoted in the book and I have other
26:30aunts and uncles when I read the
26:32things that are quoted in my mind,
26:34I'm thinking I don't know if
26:35she would have said that.
26:37Right when I read what my uncle said
26:39in the book and he's talking about,
26:41you know, back then you got spankings
26:42and they called him whoopins.
26:44Well my uncle's talking about
26:45whippings and biscuit.
26:46Yeah I think my uncle really said that right?
26:49So one way of controlling that is for
26:51us to be able to tell our own stories
26:53and that's where the younger generation is.
26:56Right now we want to be the
26:57ones to tell our stories.
26:58We want to be the one that we're quilting.
27:01They're quilting.
27:01Those quotes are on Etsy right now
27:04where you can buy a GS van quilt.
27:06For years people would post.
27:07She's been inspired both.
27:09They weren't.
27:10Geez been quilters,
27:11but they were copying the
27:12designs in the patterns and then
27:14they were benefiting from it.
27:15But now the community is really
27:17stepping up and saying OK,
27:18wait a minute this is ours and we want
27:20to share our own stories and so my
27:22way of doing that is my grandmother.
27:24One of my grandmother is
27:26Pearly Kennedy Pettway,
27:27and I've written a children's book and it's
27:30called Pearl and her jeans being killed.
27:32I don't have children but I always
27:34said if I had a child I would name
27:36her Pearl after my grandmother.
27:37So I birth my baby Pearl in
27:40her jeans men quote.
27:42So in the book and I spent a lot of time
27:44talking to my aunt who was still injuries.
27:46Ben and I was supposed to set the timer
27:47so somebody can please let me know.
27:49I'm used to talking at least
27:50for 45 minutes with kids.
27:51So five or six minutes.
27:52It's hard for me, but I have plenty of time.
27:55OK, I'll do my best.
27:57So the cover of this book is actually a
27:59quote that my grandmother Pearlie made.
28:02Now these older quotes and I read it,
28:04it wasn't even a GS.
28:05Being quote UN quote was
28:07recently sold for $80,000.
28:08The most I had ever heard was
28:11maybe 10 or 1020 or $30,000,
28:13but this quote is worth a lot of
28:16money had I not been from jeans band,
28:19I don't think that I would ever be able to.
28:21I won't say, ever,
28:22right,
28:22but I can't see myself paying
28:24that kind of money for a quote,
28:25but I will never sell my grandmother quote,
28:28but I want other people to be able
28:31to see my grandmother's quotes.
28:32So I worked with an illustrator and she
28:34has illustrated a quote that
28:35was made by my grandmother.
28:37Now a funny story that I don't
28:38think I've ever shared publicly.
28:40I hadn't seen this quote,
28:42but when I learned to quote,
28:44I actually made the quote that was
28:46very similar to my grandmother's felt.
28:48So I need to put them side by side and
28:50so that you can see and it's kind of
28:51scary when you really think about it
28:53because I had never seen this full before,
28:55so throughout the book I also have pictures
28:58of other quotes like this was my baby quote.
29:01And I know it's the GS being pulled
29:03because it's tattered and torn
29:05and I can see the Katniss inside.
29:06And it's the same cotton that
29:08are in the other jeans.
29:09Sprinkles that I own because at this point
29:11I don't even remember who made that false.
29:13You know my mother is no
29:15longer here to tell me.
29:16So it goes back to why our stories are so
29:18important because we're losing people.
29:20And so as you lose someone,
29:22if you don't share your stories
29:23or explain to your kids with
29:25certain things in your house,
29:26mean if something happens to you,
29:28they're already thinking about how
29:29they're going to clean out that closet
29:31because they try to get you to do it.
29:32And you wouldn't do it.
29:33But you know what I'm doing that first,
29:35but they're gonna give away
29:36treasures and things that have
29:38stories that they have no idea of.
29:40So shame on you for not sharing that
29:43story with your baby so that they know.
29:45And like I said,
29:46I don't have kids,
29:47but I have two nieces and they'll
29:49never know the beauty of sitting
29:50on my grandmother's porch,
29:52watching the horses and the cows go by.
29:54Or I always I never wanted to wear shoes,
29:58so I'm walking around barefoot
29:59you step on stuff because their
30:01chickens were walking around the
30:02yard so you know you have to be.
30:04But they'll never know any of that.
30:06And so I wrote the book too,
30:07because I want them to be curious.
30:09Now I want them to ask questions now
30:11where there's still people here who
30:13can answer those questions for them.
30:15And so talking about perseverance
30:17and being able to just rise above
30:20your background and where you are.
30:22So in the book,
30:23the little Girl who's decided she spent
30:25so much time with her grandmother,
30:26she wants to make her own genes,
30:27being quote and many of the young people
30:29don't want to do what the older people did.
30:31But this little girl,
30:32because she's been around her grandmother.
30:34That's what she wants to do,
30:35and she talks about her grandmother making
30:38sewing and how hard some of the fabric is.
30:41So she says,
30:41you know what?
30:42No matter what Grandma keeps going.
30:45Now that goes beyond what this little
30:46girl is saying to her friends.
30:48But what she sharing with them is
30:50that when my grandmother sets a quo,
30:52she's gonna work hard.
30:53And no matter what,
30:54she's gonna make it happen.
30:55And that's another way of her saying,
30:57you know what one day I am
30:58actually going to make this call.
30:59I am going to do this in
31:01the quote in the story.
31:03My always talks about she was
31:05nine when her father passed
31:06away and he always she would.
31:08He would show her how to do everything.
31:10He had a sense.
31:11He knew that he wouldn't live long and
31:12so he wanted to show her everything
31:14that he could show her at that.
31:15Early age of nine and she found
31:17herself saying, you know,
31:19I don't know if I could do it like you
31:21and he said to her, you know what?
31:23You can't do my best.
31:24You can only do your best,
31:26so that's another one of the
31:28messages in the story in terms of
31:30what I want kids to know about my
31:32people and how hard they work.
31:34You know,
31:34I had a conversation with my
31:36brother the other day and we were
31:37talking and I talked to him a
31:38little bit about he's a doctor.
31:40Initially he went to school.
31:41He didn't go to school to be a doctor,
31:43but that was what he always wanted
31:44to do and he never gave that up.
31:46And right now he's a podiatrist.
31:47Here in the state of Connecticut,
31:49so I asked him where does that
31:50come from and he said, you know,
31:52I thought about how my mother and my
31:54father didn't have the opportunity
31:55to go to college and I think about
31:58how if you give a young black person
32:01the opportunity that they can do
32:03and become whatever it is they want it.
32:05If so,
32:06he says that he's taking that on that
32:09he wants to show the world he is
32:12what opportunity will be for a child.
32:15So think about that and you
32:16know talking to other people,
32:18hearing other people stories will
32:20help you kind of frame things in your
32:22own life that you never thought about.
32:24Like I never thought about that.
32:25But wow,
32:26what a burden and a blessing to
32:29carry to know that you can be
32:31the example that if we look at
32:33children as an opportunity,
32:35what can this child become?
32:36How can I help this child get
32:38to where they want to be?
32:40And so that was the take away that I
32:42had from listening to my brother story.
32:44And then the last thing I wanna
32:45share with you.
32:46Hopefully I have another minute.
32:48Is that one more minute?
32:49OK, so when I talk to kids you know,
32:51kids in my like adults,
32:53they're gonna ask you their questions.
32:54So I was in a school and you know
32:56I had read the book virtually and
32:57the little boy raised his hand.
32:59He didn't look like me.
33:00His question to me was why is it
33:03that's Pearl? Has hair like yours?
33:07All I can say is Mike and I
33:09couldn't have
33:09asked for a better question because I
33:11was able to say to him as this story
33:13is about the people in my family.
33:15So it was important that the
33:16people in the book look like me.
33:18I was able to say to him there aren't
33:20a lot of books that had people
33:22that look like me in their books,
33:25and he proved that because
33:26why was this stranger?
33:28Why was this something?
33:29Why did that cause him to have a pause?
33:32You know, we need to do better.
33:33We need to get our stories out.
33:34The world needs to hear our stories,
33:37so again.
33:37I just want to thank you for this
33:39opportunity for allowing me to share
33:41a little piece of my story with
33:43you and happy Black History Month.
33:46Yes, thank you so much
33:47tangela for that story.
33:49We will have all of the books
33:52and the Amazon links and all of
33:54those things to be able to send
33:55out as well to our community.
33:57So that way you can continue to
33:58support the work that our own
34:00faculty is doing here.
34:01And last but not least as we.
34:05Talk about perseverance and
34:07what it means to us all we
34:09have to end with a bang.
34:11So go ahead Camille.
34:12You should be able to share.
34:18Nope, you're on mute.
34:20Good afternoon, I'm Camille Cooper and
34:22I'm the director for teaching and learning
34:25for the school development program.
34:29I was asked by Belinda Oliver to share
34:34Maya Angelou's poem. Still, I rise,
34:38and when Belinda asks you something,
34:40you gotta do it. So. Here we go.
34:55Still, I rise. By Maya Angelou.
35:00You may write me down in history
35:02with your bitter twisted lies.
35:05You may try me in the very dirt,
35:08but still like dust our eyes.
35:14Does my sassiness upset you?
35:16Why are you beset with gloom?
35:19'cause I walked like I've got oil
35:23wells pumping in my living room?
35:25Just like moons and like Suns,
35:29with the certainty of tides,
35:31just like hopes, springing high,
35:35still I'll rise, did you see?
35:40Did you want to see me broken?
35:42Bowed head and lowered eyes shoulders
35:46falling down like teardrops
35:49weakened by my soulful cries?
35:52Does my hardiness offend you?
35:54Don't you take it off a hard
35:56'cause I laugh like I've got gold
35:59mines digging in my own backyard
36:02you may shoot me with your words
36:05you may cut me with your eyes you
36:08may kill me with your hatefulness
36:11but still like air I'll rise.
36:14Does my sexiness upset you?
36:17Does it come as a surprise that I
36:20dance like I've got diamonds in
36:23the meeting of my thighs out of
36:25the huts of history? Shame I rise.
36:30Up from the past that's rooted in pain.
36:34I rise. I'm a black ocean leaping and wide,
36:41welling and swelling.
36:43I bear in the tile.
36:46Leaving behind nights of terror and fear,
36:50I rise.
36:52Into a Daybreak that's wondrously clear.
36:56I rise bringing the gifts
36:59that my ancestors gave.
37:03I am the dream and the hope.
37:07Of the slave.
37:09I rise.
37:11I rise.
37:13Iraq.
37:18Thank you so much for that.
37:22And I wish I could have scripted
37:25this better other than the fact
37:27that we asked individuals to share
37:29and perseverance and each and every
37:31single one of us and intertwined
37:32with each other stories so very well.
37:35And, you know, as we celebrate another,
37:39you know, Black History Month
37:41here at the CHILD Study Center.
37:43I want each and every single one
37:45of you all to just realize and
37:47understanding that this work is.
37:49This work will support the work
37:52and perseverance,
37:53but it's every single day work, right?
37:57It's not Walt next February 2023.
38:00We're here again.
38:00It's each and every single day.
38:02As we move forward as we paint our
38:05stories and Tangela said it best
38:07as we again control the narrative
38:09of how the story is told, right?
38:11Is is so very important that we
38:13we do this with our Community
38:16that we join together and support
38:18and solidarity with one another.
38:20For the hard work you know,
38:23so I I just appreciate hearing
38:25each and every single story and
38:27hearing just the passion.
38:29Come through your voice is this
38:32today and you know we wanted to to
38:35leave time to have our community,
38:37you know, speak and our community.
38:39Share and join in this work with us.
38:41We will have many opportunities right now.
38:44The the Belinda and Terra myself
38:48we are looking to celebrate.
38:51Juneteenth, in June,
38:53with a lovely celebration and we would.
38:56We would love for each and every single
38:58one of us to be able to have the
39:00opportunity to hopefully be in person.
39:01But we are just looking forward to
39:04continuing our work here at Yale,
39:06which not only just elevates on
39:08our black and brown community,
39:11but continues the work that
39:13that everyone needs to hear.
39:15You know,
39:15because I think it's as you seen today,
39:17in each and every single one of our stories,
39:19we continue to persevere.
39:21So I thank you.
39:22I will open up this time for comments
39:26and questions or just statements,
39:29so feel free you can unmute yourself
39:30or you can put in the chat.
39:47Well, I will just start
39:48by saying thank you for.
39:52Planning this event and giving
39:56an opportunity for voice.
39:59Of those of us on the faculty that
40:03have always celebrated African
40:05American History Month and to
40:08introduce and share that celebration
40:11with others in our faculty.
40:15Right?
40:29Y'all are being really quiet. Someone
40:32needs to say something.
40:35I think, Camille, I think,
40:37at least for me, I'm just so moved.
40:39I think that's partly.
40:42Quietness the quietness is
40:43the quietness of being moved,
40:45not not from not having something to
40:48say thank you so much beautiful, thank
40:51you. Yes it was. It was like I said,
40:53we couldn't have planned this
40:57and it's it's tangela Felicia.
41:00Doctor Edmonds the poem Oh my goodness
41:01I'm I might go have a ice cream
41:03I'm supposed to not be doing that
41:05or I might have something sweet.
41:07I'm just so excited. Thank you.
41:11Well, crystal, I think you.
41:14Certain, certainly Belinda and
41:17Tara deserve a lot of credit
41:19for putting this together,
41:21and it's really quite wonderful
41:25to see what you're able to do
41:27and who wonderful people that you
41:30enlisted to help you with.
41:31So it's been a really very
41:34worthwhile hour. Thank you.
41:38Thank you and Jeanne.
41:39There's just there's so much
41:41beauty in our community.
41:43If we take the moment to
41:45create spaces to listen.
41:47So I appreciate all of you taking
41:49some time to be here today and
41:52making this something important
41:54that you celebrate with us.
41:56These are the kinds of moments
41:59that helped to shift how
42:01we engage with one another.
42:03So thank you for everyone.
42:05I mean, I've every single
42:06person voice here today.
42:08I mean, I knew it was coming
42:09and it was still very moving and
42:11very lovely to sit and listen to.
42:14So I also would like to just share
42:16my gratitude to everyone who came
42:18to listen but also to everyone who
42:20shared so freely from their hearts.
42:23Thank you. Go ahead Belinda. Don't
42:25raise your hand unmute.
42:28Listen, I am on my iPad and it's been
42:30very interesting today I wanted to say
42:33that I appreciate everyone for coming.
42:37And I'm reflecting how far we've
42:40come over the past two years.
42:42We're not quite there.
42:44The work sometimes gets tiring.
42:45I will admit I get tired.
42:47I get frustrated,
42:48but this is a process and this is
42:50what I wanted to remind everyone
42:52that this is a process we will have
42:54moments where we may not always agree.
42:56But what I often say is if we
42:58don't have the conversation,
43:00we can't make the changes and so we
43:03have to continue to have the difficult
43:05conversations because this is.
43:07We didn't get here overnight.
43:10You know we didn't get into certain
43:11places when we talk about systemic
43:13racism and it has been years and years
43:15and and I had a conversation Saturday,
43:17I was at a funeral in Philly for
43:20one of our bishops who has made
43:22huge change in the school system
43:24and I ended up talking to one
43:27of David Parker who's in Akron,
43:29OH, making changes at United Way
43:31and we started talking about how
43:33many changes that have to go.
43:35We have to work together.
43:36So I just want to say that
43:38I appreciate our allies.
43:40For those who are willing to put in the work,
43:42those are willing to understand,
43:44those are willing to take the hit
43:46sometimes because sometimes you
43:48have to take the hit and I just
43:49want to say I'm appreciate you.
43:51Thank you all for coming.
43:53You all are wonderful.
43:56Thank you bye. I
43:59want to thank Tangela for sharing that
44:02story about her family that others
44:04I I would have no idea about that
44:08and I really appreciate you sharing.
44:10I have family from Alabama not
44:11maybe from that particular area,
44:13but we need to connect to
44:16discuss some quilting.
44:19I actually attended was just about
44:22to write you a note for the same
44:25reason that quilting can unite can
44:27bring so many things together and
44:30so many stories and I too have a
44:33mother that that quilted and I would
44:35love to love to compare stories
44:37and quilts and just keep it going.
44:40That would be amazing. Please do, please do.
44:45Yep, and I just wanted to add
44:47in regards to Felicia story.
44:49I really want to say.
44:51Thank you because I think sometimes
44:54when we are coming into new jobs,
44:56new positions, we automatically
44:57think that it's easy and there
45:00are those those trials and
45:01tribulations that come with getting
45:03with where we are today.
45:05So I really want to
45:06thank you for
45:07sharing your story and your experience.
45:09So thank you very much.
45:14Thank you for listening.
45:18If I if I could just add a couple of
45:20couple of things on one. First of all,
45:23just to say thanks to everybody.
45:26Tara in particular I I was really taken
45:29by the way you framed the conversation.
45:33The what ifs I that really hit home to
45:36me a great deal and dumb and I wonder
45:41what what needs to be done or what can
45:43be done to follow up with that somehow
45:46because that you know a lot of people
45:48I think have addressed that in some
45:51ways over the years on a broad scale.
45:53But I I I I was just following
45:55you and wondering about that.
45:57Even as I think about our kids
46:01in school daily,
46:02that's where my mind went right away
46:05when you started talking about.
46:06What if we didn't have to think about
46:09how we sound when we were talking?
46:12Sometimes you know the black child,
46:14they they, they they angry,
46:16black child and and so forth.
46:18And I thought about what a friend of
46:21mine shared with me about his grandson.
46:25A6 year old little boy who his
46:28father was in an accident.
46:31A major accident that affected his brain
46:34and everything else and he was in the
46:37hospital for at least three months I think.
46:40And that little boy went to school his
46:44first day in school at six years old,
46:47and he threw a pencil out of frustration
46:51at some point and it hit another child.
46:54It didn't hurt the child.
46:56Thank God it hit another child,
46:58but they wrote him up and the way
47:02they wrote about the incident,
47:04they described it as assault and battery.
47:09And when my friend told me that description,
47:12I thought how could an adult in a
47:16school writing about a child a a
47:20mistake that a child made really framed
47:23it in terms of assault and battery?
47:27I thought that was something that
47:29people use with people in court,
47:31some men and a woman getting into
47:33a fight and God knows, you know,
47:35assault and battery.
47:35But a 6 year old child and put
47:38that in his record.
47:39They put it in his record,
47:41whereas a little black boy that's
47:44gonna follow him for a while,
47:46assault and battery.
47:47And so when you when you ask the question,
47:50the what if?
47:51That just resonated greatly with
47:53me and I think especially about
47:56what it means for little kids in
47:59schools or even big kids in school.
48:02But but African American kids and
48:05kids of color in schools always
48:07having to worry about the what ifs.
48:11It's bad enough when we have to do
48:13it as adults where we are right now,
48:15but when children they have to do it
48:19every day. That's what worries me.
48:21But when you framed it like that,
48:24Tara, it did something for me.
48:26It just resonated strongly.
48:35Thank you Faye, and I
48:36think too like it is the
48:37what ifs right? Because it's when
48:39we think of the what ifs that we can
48:42imagine something different because
48:44without even pausing to wonder we
48:47just continue to operate in in ways
48:49that we don't even think about.
48:51And so, pausing and thinking
48:53about the what ifs,
48:54finding ways to continuously have
48:57spaces like this to talk to others
49:01to understand the impact.
49:03Is there just such an important thing?
49:05So I thanks for sharing your words
49:08as wealthy doctor Brown I appreciate.
49:12Right, beautiful and and also just the
49:15opportunities that we have as a community.
49:18To that you know and and
49:20that the stories aren't,
49:21they may start off gloomy and they may
49:24start off with us trying to figure out.
49:26How did we get here, but that we always
49:28know that there's a but we're going to
49:30get there and we're going to complete
49:32and we're going to persevere, you know.
49:34And and you know, Belinda and many of
49:36us have said today it's hard, right?
49:38It feels like this is exhausting work.
49:40But then I feel like opportunities like
49:43today remind us of why we do it and
49:45remind us of why we continue to inspire
49:47not only ourselves but each and every
49:50single one of us here and in the Community.
49:52To continue doing this work
49:54and to I used to say lift up.
49:57But now I'm saying catapult,
49:59our black and brown community into
50:01positions where they can continue
50:03to thrive and to just, you know,
50:06be awarded the.
50:08The steps that are needed to get
50:10to get them going and 'cause you'll
50:13be surprised how much a little
50:15motivation and drive give.
50:17You know those individuals who feel
50:20powerless, you know, so you know.
50:22I was reminded that it's it's it's.
50:25It's never to get ahead.
50:28It's always to it for equality
50:29because we don't also want those
50:32other individuals who feel like,
50:33well, now they're ahead.
50:34Now I got to try to get ahead.
50:35It's always equality.
50:36That is what we strive for.
50:40So again,
50:40I thank you so much for this
50:43time we have more time from,
50:45you know questions and things of that nature,
50:48but. Or here. We welcome suggestions.
50:55We try to get planning around like November,
50:58so if you would like to continue in the
51:01efforts and to share and if you know
51:03even if you know individuals who do
51:05trainings and things of that nature,
51:06who will be more than willing and
51:09welcome to come to our community and to
51:11support this work that we're doing together,
51:14we would greatly appreciate it.
51:16Anyone else last words?
51:18Doctor Martin,
51:18you look like you were about to
51:20say something.
51:21Yes, thank you crystal.
51:22So first of all, thank you.
51:24Thank you everyone.
51:25This was really a very moving,
51:26very beautiful session.
51:28So thank you for that.
51:30I recently read something that
51:32stayed with me and it said that
51:34allyship is not a noun, it's a verb.
51:37And I I I just would love to
51:40hear from any of the speakers
51:43your thoughts about that?
51:44How could we become more
51:46active verbs in allyship and
51:49allying and being allies?
51:52Thank you.
51:55Well, one thing Andreas I can say is.
51:59That you know,
52:01saying it's a verb is an action word.
52:03For us and for my community,
52:06we must also remember that when you all help,
52:09it's difficult for you to get.
52:11That makes sense, and so one of the
52:14things I always try to do is be cognizant
52:17that with your help and support,
52:19you're going to get kicked back at the
52:21same time, I'm quite aware of that,
52:23and so there's many of us who get
52:25tired and so be patient with us.
52:28Sometimes we may be a little rude or out
52:30of sorts because we may explain it to you.
52:33But then we got explained
52:35it to say 50 other people.
52:36You know, two days later,
52:38and so there's times when
52:39we have these sessions.
52:41If it seems I'm a little out of sort,
52:42I do get tired.
52:44But I also realized that it's necessary,
52:47and so even after and then I will.
52:49I will just be transparent.
52:51After George Floyd,
52:52I actually had a conversation with someone
52:56and realized I needed to see if therapist.
52:59So I reached out.
53:00I have a therapist, she is.
53:01She missed our last appointment.
53:03I'm good.
53:04I'm a therapist providing
53:06therapy and seeing a therapist,
53:08but I understood that I needed the support
53:11to stay calm to continue to do the work.
53:14And so I need to remind that to my community
53:17we have to do what's necessary for ourselves.
53:20Self care,
53:21where clinicians.
53:22Here's where doctors to take care
53:24of us to can you do the work because
53:26we can't snap at those who are
53:28become of allies at the same time.
53:31Because if we do that then that
53:33pushes them away and so you know
53:35it's like a double edged sword
53:37and so that has been replaying.
53:39In my mind a lot,
53:40even particularly from from George Floyd.
53:42I appreciate my therapist
53:44as a woman of color.
53:46She helped me get my head right
53:48and the great part of that is,
53:50and I use this diagnosis a lot as
53:52she gave me adjustment disorder.
53:54She understood that there were stressors.
53:56There were issues going on with my health,
53:59my mental health surrounding
54:00what I was going for,
54:02and so I want to remind us I put in the
54:04chat that as you diagnose people of color,
54:07please be cognizant of what they're
54:09going through and and there are
54:11root causes to where they are from
54:13that particular so under that.
54:15Appreciate that you know I appreciate you.
54:17You know my superpower because
54:19you've stepped to the plate to
54:22really pull all this together.
54:23If it was not for you,
54:25I don't think we'd be here today.
54:27And for those who don't know the history,
54:29Andres is the one that I reached out to.
54:31Because I was concerned I was on this drop.
54:35In fact,
54:35because no one was having the conversations.
54:38So you are an intricate
54:40part of this process and
54:41you are so appreciated.
54:43If I haven't said it privately,
54:45so I think I have,
54:46but I want to say publicly.
54:48I appreciate you love you dearly.
54:50You are my heart, dude.
54:55Andreas, I would like to add that
54:58I would like to encourage those two
55:00be open to new information and get.
55:04I'd like to recommend two a great books
55:08that I think would be helpful for
55:11everyone and one is warmth of another
55:15of another son as well as caste by
55:19Isabel Whitaker that I think reading.
55:23Those two books, especially cast,
55:26will really help to open a open
55:30your thinking in terms of how you
55:34see the African American struggle
55:37within the United States.
55:39So I think just being open to new
55:43information is is one thing that
55:45I think would help in allyship.
55:47Yeah, and yeah
55:50I was just I was just.
55:53But I did also want to add that
55:55coming to conversations like this
55:57and attending things even we need
56:00people of diverse backgrounds and of
56:02diverse experience and being allies
56:04to be together in conversation,
56:06we learn from one another.
56:08We learn how to move the conversation along.
56:10One you know, one thing that
56:12each person who comes like takes
56:15something and leave something.
56:16And that's an important thing to do.
56:18So centering and making time for
56:21these kinds of conversations,
56:22the workshops,
56:23the trainings and the opportunities
56:24that we have across the center.
56:26Is another way to be active in allyship?
56:30Thank
56:31you so much for that question and I
56:33challenge all every single one of us.
56:34If you even haven't had the afternoon share,
56:36just think about what you
56:37would do and what you could do.
56:38You know, I say I say it best is you
56:40see something you say something if you
56:42see something that it is the little off.
56:44Say something and talk about it.
56:46And so I appreciate the time spent.
56:49I appreciate the questions.
56:50The speakers for those of you
56:52who stepped up and were just so
56:54brave to Share your story.
56:55I don't want to take that lightly.
56:56It's not easy.
56:57To do this in front of others and so I
56:59just thank you so much for being here.
57:01I hope this opportunity was.
57:03While we're rewarded in some way.
57:04And again,
57:05I truly truly thank you all for just
57:07taking your time and being here today so.
57:10Enjoy your day and be inspired.
57:13Thank you.
57:15Hi. Thanks everyone that was amazing.