- [Female Robotic Voice] Tree, two, one [electrostatic music plays] - [Male Robotic Voice] Research innovate.

♪ - [Female Robotic Voice] Educate.

♪ This is RTP.

♪ This is RTP 180.

♪ >> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE FRONTIER ON THE CAMPUS OF RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK FOR RTP 180.

HOW'S EVERYONE DOING THIS EVENING?

AWESOME!

YOU'RE SMALL, BUT MIGHTY.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT YOU.

NOW WE ARE HERE FOR RTP 180 FOR NOVEMBER 2021 OUR TOPIC IS PAY IT FORWARD, A WAY TO MAKE THE WORLD AROUND US BETTER.

AND THE WAY THIS WORKS IS WE WILL HAVE 5 SPEAKERS WHO WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

BUT BEFORE WE GET STARTED WITH THAT, I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS BUILDING THAT YOU ARE IN RIGHT NOW.

NOW BY QUICK SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE FRONTIER BEFORE IN YOUR LIFE?

PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU NEVER BEEN HERE?

AWESOME.

WELCOME TO THE FRONTIER.

BY ANOTHER SHOW OF HANDS, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE MAKING YOUR VERY FIRST VISIT TO THE FRONTIER HERE TONIGHT?

MOST OF THE SAME PEOPLE EXCEPT FOR THAT GUY EATING POPCORN.

AWESOME!

THAT WAS THE SAME QUESTION Y'ALL.

WELL FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE BEEN HERE FOR THE BEFORE OR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE COMING OVER THE VERY FIRST TIME, YOU'RE HERE AT THE REGION'S ONLY FREE CO-WORKING FACILITY AND THIS CO-WORKING FACILITY PRESENTS EVENTS LIKE RTP 180 PRESENTED BY OUR SPONSOR RTI INTERNATIONAL.

NOW IF YOU COME HERE DURING THE DAY YOU'LL SEE A PLACE THAT LOOKS A LITTLE BIT LIKE THIS BUT WITH DIFFERENT SORTS OF CHAIRS, IT LOOKS A LOT LIKE THAT.

NOW YOU CAN STOP BY HERE POST UP AT A DESK.

WE'RE CONVENIENTLY LOCATED IF NOT THE HEART OF RTP THEN AT LEAST THE DUODENUM, SO YOU CAN COME HERE IF YOU'RE HAVING MEETINGS OR YOU JUST NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE LIKE MOST OF US DO THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF EVENTS HERE.

THERE IS YOGA THERE ARE IS A YOU KNOW DOG PARKS.

THERE'S BUBBLES APPARENTLY AND RIGHT BEHIND ME THAT WAY IS THE BOXYARD WHICH IS NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN.

ALL THE VENDORS OF THE BOXYARD ARE OPEN THEY CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU.

SO AFTER RTP 180 TONIGHT IF YOU HAVE THE TIME I RECOMMEND JUST STOP BY OVER AT THE BOXYARD.

SAY HI CHECK OUT WHAT THEY'VE GOT GOING ON THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC FROM 07:00 PM TO 08:00 PM AND WHO DOESN'T LOVE LIVE MUSIC, ESPECIALLY IF I'M NOT SINGING.

NOW THE WAY THIS WORKS, I WISH I WAS KIDDING.

OKAY THE WAY THIS WORKS IS WE'LL HAVE 5 SPEAKERS UP HERE.

THEY WILL HAVE 5 MINUTES TO SPEAK TO YOU ON THEIR AREA OF EXPERTISE.

AT THE END OF THAT TIME THERE WILL BE 5 MINUTES OF QUESTION AND ANSWER.

IF YOU LOOK AROUND, THERE ARE EMPTY SEAT HERE.

SO THOSE OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE YOU HAVE TO PROMISE ME SOMETHING AND YES, THIS IS AN TV I CAN SEE YOU YOU HAVE TO PROMISE ME THAT YOU'LL BE LISTENING TO OUR SPEAKERS YOU'LL BE THINKING OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND WHEN I ASKED FOR Q AND A YOU WILL GIVE US THOSE QUESTIONS SO IT'S NOT AWKWARD SILENCE FOR ALL OF US.

CAN YOU DO THAT FOR ME AWESOME IT WAS MUTED, BUT ALL TOLD YOU TO THE CONTRACT THERE.

THE SUBJECT IS PAIRED FORWARD WE'VE GOT 5 GREAT SPEAKERS AND IT IS NOW TIME TO MEET OUR FIRST SPEAKER OF THE EVENING, SHE'S ORIGINALLY FROM GOLDSTON NORTH CAROLINA, WHICH I'VE BEEN INFORMED IS NOT GOLDSBORO NORTH CAROLINA GOT HER DOCTORATE AT UNC CHAPEL HILL AND IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND LEAD CURATOR OF "WE ARE" WHICH STANDS FOR "WORKING TO EXTEND ANTI-RACISM EDUCATION" PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE DOCTOR RHONDA TAYLOR BULLOCK.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.

GOOD EVENING.

EVERYONE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT WARM WELCOME.

BECAUSE DYLANN STORM ROOF MURDERED 9 BLACK PEOPLE AT A CHURCH IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

BECAUSE STUDENTS, EAST CHAPEL HILL HIGH SCHOOL THOUGHT IT APPROPRIATE TO MOCK SLAVERY USING CONFEDERATE FLAGS.

BECAUSE GEORGE FLOYD.

BECAUSE AHMAUD ARBERY.

BECAUSE BREONNA TAYLOR.

BECAUSE RACISM IS REAL RACISM BECAME REAL TO ME AT 5 IN KINDERGARTEN.

I WAS SITTING AT A ROUND TABLE.

ONE OF MY CLASSMATES WENT AROUND AND INVITED EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE TO HER BIRTHDAY PARTY EXCEPT FOR ME.

I WAS ONLY BLACK KID AT THE TABLE.

SO I JUST ASKED OR I KNOW SHE INVITED EVERYBODY AT THE TABLE TO BIRTHDAY PARTY EXCEPT FOR ME WHY DID YOU DO THAT AND SHE LOOKED TO ME SHE SAID, YOU CAN'T COME TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY BECAUSE MY DAD SAID BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT ALLOWED IN OUR HOME.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANT.

REMEMBER 5.

SO I WENT HOME AND I TOLD MY MOM WHAT HAPPENED AND HER HEAD TURNING TO LOOK AT MY DAD.

REMEMBER SHE'S I IMAGINE SHE SHOCKED.

SO SHE SAID TO ME RHONDA WE DON'T INVOLVE OURSELVES TO OTHER PEOPLE'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES.

I SAID OK MOM I WON'T DO THAT YOU KNOW THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT I DID HAS SAID OK SO THE ANSWER SUFFICED UNTIL HAPPEN AGAIN AT 7.

7 IN GIRL SCOUTS.

ANY CURRENT OR FORMER CONNECTION GIRL, SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUTS IN HERE.

SO WHEN I SAY WE'RE OUT DOING A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT TRYING TO EARN A BADGE YOU ALL UNDERSTAND WHAT I MEAN IT JUST SO HAPPENED THAT YEAR I WAS THE ONLY BLACK KID IN GIRL SCOUTS.

ALL THE GIRLS WERE IN A HUDDLE TALKING.

AND WHEN I WALKED UP ON THEM THEY STOP TALKING.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN YOU WALK UP ON A GROUP OF PEOPLE AND I STOPPED TALKING.

JOHN ABOUT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT YOU.

SO PULL MY BEST FRIEND OUT OF THE GROUP AND I LOOKED AT HER AND I SAID HEY WHEN I WALKED UP YOU ALL STOP TALKING THIS KIND OF WEIRD WANTED TO DO THAT.

SHE LOOKED TO ME SHE SAID RHONDA PLEASE DON'T BE MAD AT ME.

I'M HAVING A BIRTHDAY PARTY LATER TODAY, AND MY DAD SAID THAT YOU CAN'T COME BECAUSE YOU'RE BLACK.

I UNDERSTOOD MORE OF 7 THAT I DID IT 5 OR SO I THOUGHT AT THIS POINT I'M THINKING SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH ME AND MY SKIN COLOR BECAUSE IT'S KEEPING ME OUT OF THE SPACES.

SO WHEN HOME AND THIS TIME VISIBLY UPSET BECAUSE I GOT IT AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

MY MOM SAW ME AND ASKED ME AGAIN WHAT WAS WRONG.

SO I TOLD HER BUT THAT TIME HER ANSWER WAS DIFFERENT.

THAT TIME SHE SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT SLAVERY.

SHE SPOKE WITH ME BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN FREED THE SLAVES.

THOSE ADULTS WE SHOULD KNOW THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH LINCOLN IT'S A LITTLE MORE COMPLEX THAT WITH MY MOM COULD EXPLAIN.

SHE SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT RACISM.

SHE SPOKE WITH ME ABOUT WHY PEOPLE HATING BLACK PEOPLE BASED ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.

MY NAME IS THAT AROUND A TABLE.

I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT WHEN A RACE BECOME REAL TO YOU.

I AM THE CO-FOUNDER AND LEAD CURATOR AND WE ARE.

WE ARE STANDS FOR WORKING TO EXTEND ANTIRACISM EDUCATION AND WE ARE WE PROVIDING ANTI RACISM TRAINING FOR CHILDREN FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS.

WE USE A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM AND EDUCATION AND BEYOND BY OFFERING SUMMER CAMPS FOR KIDS AND RISING FIRST THROUGH 5TH GRADE PROFESSION DEVELOPMENT, THE EDUCATORS AND WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES.

A CRITICAL RACE COLOR.

I DO CRITICAL WHITENESS STUDIES SPECIFICALLY AND I STUDY WHY CHILDREN'S RACIAL IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION.

AND I USE WHAT I LEARN TO IMPLEMENT AND THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH CHILDREN TO IMPLEMENT AND THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES IN THE WORK THAT WE DO WITH EDUCATORS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OFTEN ASK HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THIS WORK THAT YOU DO WE WANT TO BE A PART OF IT.

IT WASN'T THAT WASN'T ALWAYS THE CASE WHEN WE STARTED BACK IN THE SPRING OF 2015, BUT GIVEN EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN OUR COUNTRY.

MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY.

THEY WANT TO JOIN MOVEMENTS THEY WANT TO JOIN ORGANIZATIONS THEY WANT TO BE IN A COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE FIGHTING FOR JUSTICE.

FIGHTING FOR OUR HEALTH FIGHTING FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

THESE ARE JUST A FEW WAYS THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT OUR WORK AT WE ARE BECOME AN ADVOCATE.

YOU CAN DO IT.

RIGHT NOW IN OUR COUNTRY THERE IS A CURRENT MOVEMENT AGAINST CRITICAL RACE THEORY, THERE'S A CURRENT MOVEMENT AGAINST TALKING ABOUT RACE AND RACISM IN SCHOOLS AND OUR COMMUNITIES.

COUNTER COUNTER THAT BOYS COUNTER THAT NARRATIVE AND BE ADVOCATE BECOME A MONTHLY SUSTAINER OF OUR WORK.

OUR WORK IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION WE LIVE AND THRIVE OFF OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU WHO BELIEVE IN THE VALUE OF THIS WORK.

IT WILL COME TOGETHER AND GET $5 HERE $10 THERE OR JUST EVEN THEIR TIME.

THEN LASTLY SHARE OUR WORK WITH OTHERS GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

WWW THAT WE ARE DESTINED SEE THAT WORD.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT GET INVOLVED PASS IT ALONG TO YOUR FRIENDS PASS ALONG TO PEOPLE IN YOUR COMMUNITY.

THIS WORK IS IMPORTANT.

THIS WORK IS RELEVANT.

THIS WORK IS PERSONAL SHOULD BE PERSONAL YOU TOO.

AND WE ARE.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE'RE THE ONES WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] THE STORY REALLY KIND OF HIT HOME TO ME.

>> I REMEMBER THE EXACT MOMENT I BECAME AWARE OF RACE.

I WAS SECOND GRADER IN RURAL SOUTHERN VIRGINIA WHERE I GREW UP.

AND MY BEST FRIEND WAS A BLACK BOY WHO RODE MY BUS RANDY RICHARDSON AND IT WAS MY BIRTHDAY COMING UP, I'M A LIST OF PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE PIZZA HUT BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE FEW TIMES WE'VE GOT TO GO THERE.

A RAINY WAS ON THE LIST BECAUSE HE'S MY BEST FRIEND.

AND I REMEMBER MY MOM PULLING ME ASIDE AND SAYING.

I DON'T THINK RANDY CAN COME TO YOUR BIRTHDAY PARTY BECAUSE YOUR GRANDMA'S GOING TO BE THERE AND SHE WOULDN'T APPROVE.

AND EVEN TODAY THAT MEMORY HITS ME LIKE A TRUCK BECAUSE BEFORE THAT DIVIDING LINE.

WE WERE JUST KIDS HANGING, HAPPY AND FRIENDS.

AFTER THAT DIVIDING LINE THERE WAS A DIFFERENCE.

AND I WISH IT HADN'T HAPPENED.

IT GOES TO ILLUSTRATE THAT FOR BE AND PROBABLY FOR A LOT OF YOU.

WE HAVE THOSE STORIES WHICH IS WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT SO JUST LOW PERSONAL ANECDOTE FROM 8.

WE'RE HERE TO IN A TIME SO IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON DOCTOR ON WORK AND THE WORK THAT SHE IS DOING AT THE COMMITTEE PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND I WILL BRING THE MIKE OUT TO YOU YOU CAN GET A PAIR OF SUNGLASSES THAT'S TRUE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE SOME I DOWN HERE, I'LL PUT MY MASK ON OR FIRST QUESTION RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

MY MY EXPERIENCE WITH THIS.

>> YOU CAN HEAR WHAT MY MY EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS SEEING OF THE SOCIAL CULTURE AND HOW IT'S CHANGED.

I'VE LEARNED A LOT FROM THE QUOTE IT'S HARD TO DEMONIZE THOSE WITH WHOM YOU FOR BROKEN BRETT AND I'VE LOOKED TO THE WORK OF DARYL DAVIS AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BUILT CONVERSATIONS AROUND THOSE WHOSE IDEAS, ONE MIGHT OPPOSE IN ORDER TO BUILD CONSENSUS AND RELATIONSHIPS.

I ALWAYS LIKE WHEN EVERY C PROJECTS LIKE THIS EFFORTS LIKE THIS.

I LIKE TO SEE WHAT OUR PAST ANCESTORS OR WHAT OTHER NATIONS AND CULTURES CAN TEACH US SO MY QUESTION TO YOU IS YOUR PRESENTATION, I HEARD WORDS LIKE MOVEMENT FIGHT ENCOUNTER.

CAN WE LOOK TO THE PAST FROM WHEN WE'VE INVITED OUR NEXT GENERATION OR YOUTH TO TAKE PART IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AND WHAT KIND OF SURPRISING.

INSIGHTS DID YOU DISCOVER FROM THAT FROM PULLING US INTO THIS KIND OF IT THE KIND OF DYNAMIC LOOKING AT SOMETHING WITH THAT COMPETITION.

THANK YOU.

>> I'VE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE YOUTH.

THEY ARE INSPIRATIONAL.

THEY'RE THEY GIVE ME HOPE AND THEY ASKED HARD QUESTIONS.

AND THEN SO MUCH OF WHO WE ARE AS ADULTS WE'VE BEEN DESENSITIZE US TO SOME OF THE VIOLENCE.

THAT WE'RE CURRENTLY SEEING AN EXPERIENCE AN AND SOMETIMES IT TAKES THE INNOCENCE OF A CHILD'S QUESTION TO BRING US BACK TO REALIZE.

>> HOW ABSOLUTELY CRAZY HORRIBLE AND VIOLENT RACISM AND BIGOTRY AND SO I SAY THAT TO SAY THERE'S SO MUCH OF THE CHILDREN HAVE TO TEACH US.

THERE'S SO MUCH I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE CARRYING THE SPIRITS OF THE ANCESTORS AND THE FIGHT.

SOME OF US AS ADULTS WE GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS QUO.

WE GET COMFORTABLE WITH THE RHYTHM.

A ROLE IN THE DAY TODAY, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE NOT THE TARGET OF DISCRIMINATION THAT THE CHILDREN ARE COMFORTABLE.

THEY IMMEDIATELY WANT TO JOIN THEY WANT TO LEARN MORE THEY HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT SOME OF US HAVE JUST TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

AND SO I LIKE TO SAY THEY'RE THEY'RE CARRYING THE SPIRITS OF THE ANCESTORS TO THEY'RE REMINDERS ARE DAILY REMINDERS THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL.

AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO BECAUSE THEY'RE WATCHING US IN LEARNING FROM US AND WHERE THEIR FIRST MODEL.

EXCELLENT STUFF UP.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS RAISE YOUR HAND AWESOME WE'VE GOT A COUPLE MORE WILL GO RIGHT HERE TO THE FRONT ROW AND THEN WE'LL COME DOWN TO THAT SIDE.

>> I NOTICE OR TWITTER HANDLE IS DISRUPTIVE PEAS TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU CAME TO THAT FREEZE AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR WE ARE.

>> YES DISRUPTIVE PIECE, ONE OF THE THINGS I WILL KNOW THAT MY MY TITLE IS DISRUPTIVE.

BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAVE A E AFTER THE V THAT WAS ACCIDENT BECAUSE TWITTER SOMEBODY ALREADY HAD HOWEVER THE DISRUPTIVE PIECE THAT IS THAT IS ME I REALIZE THAT I'M A PEACEMAKER.

I WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE.

I WANT TO LIVE IN UNITY.

I WANT TO LIVE IN COMMUNITY.

I BELIEVE IN DIVERSITY I BELIEVE IN INCLUSION I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE'S PIECE IS CONTINGENT UPON OPPRESSION.

SOME PEOPLE'S PIECE IS ROOTED IN WHITE SUPREMACY.

SOME PEOPLE'S PIECE IS ROOTED IN A PLACE OF COMFORT KNOWING THE OTHER PEOPLE ARE BEING HARMED.

SO YOU CAN'T JUST BE A PEACEMAKER.

YOU GOT TO DISRUPT SOME THINGS YOU GOT TO DISRUPT SOME PEOPLE'S COMFORT.

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THEM UNCOMFORTABLE.

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO TEAR SOME THINGS DOWN SO THAT YOU CAN BUILD SOME OTHER THINGS UP AND I BELIEVE THAT'S POSSIBLE AND I WAKE UP EACH AND EVERY DAY HOW MY BODY AND BEING A DISRUPTIVE PEACEMAKER.

I'M NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME WHILE I'M HERE LIFE IS SHORT OF COVID HAS TAUGHT US AND NOTHING ELSE.

IT IS TAUGHT US THAT THE NEXT MINUTE IS NOT PROMISED.

AND SO WHILE WE'RE HERE NOT GOING TO BURY MY TALENTS.

AND WHEN TO USE THEM TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY TO BE DISRUPTIVE THING AND TRY TO CO CREATE THE WORLD THAT I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE IN.

>> WE'VE GOT TIME FOR ONE MORE QUESTION ONE MORE QUESTION IF ANYBODY WANTS FREEZER AND ONE MORE QUESTION OK, WE'VE GOT ONE OVER HERE.

>> YOUR WORK IS A VERY POWERFUL WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO PARENTS WHO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE APPROACHING THAT CONVERSATION WITH THEIR CHILDREN I GUESS MAYBE WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT YOU'VE SEEN BE SUCCESSFUL WHEN PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE CONVERSATIONS OF RACE.

I WOULD ASK THE PARENT WHOSE PAIN ARE YOU PRIORITIZING WHOSE PAIN ARE YOU PRIORITIZING WHEN WE DECIDE NOT TO ENTER INTO THIS PLACE OF DISCOMFORT.

I WOULD SAY TO THINK ABOUT THE MOST MARGINALIZED, I WOULD SAY THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE TARGET OF DISCRIMINATION TO CENTER WHAT WHAT IT MIGHT FEEL LIKE TO HAVE THAT TARGET ON YOUR BACK ON YOUR FRONT AND USE THAT TO MOTIVATE YOU AND DRIVING PAST THAT DISCOMFORT.

IF THE LAST 2 YEARS HAVE TAUGHT US NOTHING ELSE IS THAT THERE IS A SENSE OF URGENCY WE CAN GO BACKWARDS.

AND DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF CONTRIBUTING TO GOING BACKWARDS DO YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF CONTRIBUTING GOING FORWARD.

AND THEN I WOULD TELL THEM TO E-MAIL ME AT ADMIN AND WE ARE DESTINED C DOT WAR, WE DO HOLD WORKSHOPS WITH PARENTS AND FAMILIES BECAUSE IT IS A REAL QUESTION A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE BATTLING DOES COME FOR IN FEAR AND UNCERTAINTY AND DON'T WANT TO MESS UP AND DON'T WANT TO MAKE A MISTAKE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO SAY THE WRONG THING TO GET OUT AND ALL THESE ANXIETIES AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU JUST AVOID THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE IT'S TOO HARD FOR US THE INDIVIDUAL.

SO THERE ARE ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS THAT ARE OUT THERE TO HELP TO WHO HAVE DONE THE WORK.

WE HAVE BOOKS THAT ARE ACCESSIBLE FOR US AS ADULTS TO USE WITH CHILDREN WE HAVE CONVERSATION STARTERS, WE HAVE ROLE PLAYS TO HELP SUPPORT YOU ALONG THAT JOURNEY AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT SAY WELL WHAT'S THE POINT YOU KNOW CHANGING RACES AND TRYING TO CHANGE IS ALL THESE THINGS IT FEELS OVERWHELMING SAY WHY ARE WE EVEN DOING THIS, YOU HAVE TO ZOOM INTO YOUR LOCUS OF CONTROL.

YOU MAY CAN'T CHANGE THAT NEIGHBOR YOU MAKE A CHANGE WASHINGTON OR EVEN RALEIGH THAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER HOW YOU CHOOSE TO RAISE YOUR CHILD AND THAT TAKES THAT BIG OVERWHELMING FEELING AND BRINGS IT DOWN SAID THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO.

I CAN POUR INTO MY CHILD AND HELP MY CHILD TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY RACIAL IDENTITY AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR KEY THINGS THAT WE DO WHAT WE ARE IN WORKING WITH OUR CHILDREN HOW DO WE HELP CHILDREN, FOSTER, HEALTHY RACIAL IDENTITIES WHERE THEY HAVE A HEALTHY LEVEL OF THEMSELF AND A HEALTHY LOVE OF THOSE FROM WHOM THEY ARE DIFFERENT.

AND THAT'S WHAT I WORK IS ROOTED IN SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD TELL THAT PARENT.

>> ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A BIG HAND FOR DR. RHONDA TAYLOR BULLOCK.

[APPLAUSE] >> POWERFUL STUFF THERE.

ALRIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OUR 2ND SPEAKER OF THE EVENING IS A CERTIFIED LIFE COACH AND DONOR ENGAGEMENT MANAGER WITH STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE, AMY DOZIER.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY WHY IT COMES FROM AN INCREDIBLY VULNERABLE PLACE IN MY LIFE.

THIS IS MY HUSBAND, JOHN.

WE MARRIED IN 2006.

IMMEDIATELY STARTED A FAMILY AND BEGAN TALKING ABOUT OUR FUTURE WE HAD REALLY BIG PLANS.

MY PLANS WERE CUT REALLY REALLY SHORT.

JANUARY /9/2008.

I GOT A KNOCK ON THE DOOR FROM 3 SOLDIERS AT FORT BRAGG JOHN AND 6 OTHER MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED EARLIER IN THE DAY BY AN I E D IN IRAQ.

OUR DAUGHTER HAD JUST TURNED ONE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY OUR FIRST FAMILY PHOTO.

IT'S NOT REALLY INTO NATIONAL CEMETERY.

BECAUSE CITY REALLY HONEST WITH YOU I JUST ASSUMED, WE'D HAVE MORE TIME.

BUT INSTEAD WE WERE WRAPPED UP IN THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THESE AMAZING ORGANIZATIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY.

AND IT IS THAT SUPPORT THAT REALLY PROPELLED ME TO WANT TO GIVE BACK TO A COMMUNITY THAT HAD DONE SO MUCH FOR MY FAMILY.

SO BACK TO SCHOOL, I GOT MY MASTER'S DEGREE I CONTINUE MY WORK WITH OTHER FAMILIES OF THE FALLEN HELPING THEM FIND PURPOSE IN THEIR PAIN.

AND THEN A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TRAGEDY STRUCK AGAIN.

THIS IS NECK.

NEXT UP WITH MY HUSBAND.

SURVIVED THE BLAST THAT KILLED MY HUSBAND.

NICK ALSO TOOK HIS LIFE.

I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT DAY I WAS SITTING AT THE PARK WATCHING MY DAUGHTER PLAY ON THE JUNGLE GYM.

BUT I KNEW I KNEW IN THAT MOMENT.

I HAD TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN MYSELF.

I WANTED TO BE A PART OF THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MILITARY.

AND I CAN TELL YOU IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT I LANDED HERE AT STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE.

AND TONIGHT I AM SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU A PROJECT THAT WE ARE WORKING ON IT'S CALLED THE BLACK BOX PROJECT.

I HOPE YOU WATCH THIS VIDEO WITH ME.

>> [VIDEO NARRATION]: AMERICA IS LOSING ITS WARRIORS TO SUICIDE AT A CATASTROPHIC RATE.

MOST SUICIDE PREVENTION MODELS DON'T ADDRESS HOW TO ACTUALLY FIND THOSE IN CRISIS.

WE NEED INSIGHT INTO WHAT THE FINAL DAYS HOURS AND MINUTES OF CRISIS LOOK LIKE.

BLACK BOX PROJECT IS THE SOLUTION.

LIKE THE BLACK BOX USED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF AN AIRCRAFT CRASH, OUR TEAM OF DATA EXPERTS SECURELY COLLECTS PROCESSES AND ANALYZES DEVICES AND VETERANS WHO DIED BY SUICIDE.

WE WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND LAST SURVIVORS AND WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT, WE INVITE THEM TO LEARN HOW DEVICE DONATION CAN PREVENT FUTURE LOSSES.

BY COLLECTING DATA SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, TEXT MESSAGES, MEDIA FILES AND BROWSER HISTORY OUR MACHINE LEARNING AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ALGORITHMS BUILD MODELS OF 3 SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND IDENTIFY RED FLAG PATTERNS.

THESE INSIGHTS EMPOWER US TO RAPIDLY DEPLOY OUR LIFESAVING SERVICES BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

ONCE THE DATA RETRIEVAL IS COMPLETE WE RETURN DEVICES WITH ALL HARDWARE AND DIDN'T ACT KNOW WARRIORS DEATH SHOULD BE IN VAIN, YOU CAN SAVE LIVES AND HONOR YOUR LOVED ONE'S LEGACY BY DONATING THEIR DEVICES TO BLACK BOX PROJECT.

LEARN MORE AT STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE .ORG / BLACK BOX PROJECT.

>> AT STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE.

WE HAVE THE ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE OF WALKING ALONGSIDE THE GRIEF JOURNEY OF SO MANY COURAGEOUS FAMILIES THAT HAVE SHARED THE STORIES AND THE DEVICES OF THEIR LOVED ONES THAT HAVE DIED BY SUICIDE.

MY JOB WELL, I JUST GOT TO LOVE ON THE FAMILIES AND IT'S PRETTY AWESOME.

THIS IS THE HICKS FAMILY.

THEY WERE RECENTLY HONORED AT THE NEW YORK GIANTS GAME WHERE THEY WERE GIVEN THE GAME BALL.

THEY WERE HONORING THEIR SON AND BROTHER MCCOY.

AND THESE ARE A FEW OF THE OTHER FACES THAT I GET TO LEARN ABOUT EACH AND EVERY DAY FROM THESE FAMILIES THAT JUST SHARE THEIR HEARTS WITH ME THEY SHARE THE STORIES.

THE SHARE THE LIVES OF THESE HEROES BECAUSE WE KNOW THE HERO REMEMBERED NEVER DIES.

YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT THESE.

I THINK AGAIN HE ALWAYS THINK YOU HAVE MORE TIME.

WHEN IT COMES TO STUFF LIKE MAKING THE MEMORIES.

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF OR EVEN SAVING A LIFE.

RIGHT NOW IS THAT TIME AND THAT'S WHY STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE IS HERE.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT SKEW IN A TIME IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT HER WORK WITH STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND WE'VE GOT OUR FIRST QUESTION HERE FRONT AND CENTER.

>> YOU KNOW HE DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT YOU KNOW PRESENTATION AND I'M ACTUALLY I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, SO THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT SO MANY PEOPLE DEAL WITH THAT THEY'RE NOT WILLING TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE CASE.

SORT OF SUBCONSCIOUSLY TAUGHT THAT IT'S AS A MAN IN THE MARINES, YOU DON'T TALK ABOUT THIS IN THIS PAST WEEKEND WHEN I WAS IN LYNCHBURG VIRGINIA ONE OF MY REALLY GOOD FRIENDS WE FOUND OUT THAT HE TOOK HIS LIFE BECAUSE HE WAS FIGHTING THESE BATTLES THAT WE ARE UNAWARE OF SO MY QUESTION WAS WHAT CAN WE DO IS SERVICE MEMBERS TO HELP BRING THESE RESOURCES INTO THE MILITARY BECAUSE WE'RE ONLY OFFERED P HOT WHICH IS RIGHT LIKE SOME COUNSELING, BUT SOME VERY BASIC, I'M NOT SO NOT SO IN DEBT RATING, IT'S IT'S AND IT'S NOT GOOD COUNSELING.

IT'S IT'S HERE THIS IS FREE WILL GIVE YOU SOME TIME SO WHAT CAN SUE WE SORTED YOU TOO TO PROVIDE MORE HELP WITHIN THE MILITARY.

>> SURE THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND I'M DEEPLY.

>> DEEPLY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS RECENTLY TRULY.

>> I HAVE A WONDERFUL COLLEAGUE CHUCK EAST TO MEN WHO IS HERE THAT CAN PROBABLY ANSWER YOUR QUESTION A LITTLE BIT BETTER ABOUT THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED THE WAYS THAT WE CAN HELP YOU YOUR BATTLE BUDDIES, YOUR NETWORK, SO I WELCOME CHUCK.

[APPLAUSE] >> IT'S A LITTLE UNEXPECTED.

BUT A GREAT QUESTION I SERVED THE ARMY FOR 20 YEARS.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S AN EXISTING PROBLEM WITHIN DOD, ONE OF THE BIG PROBLEMS IS THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH GOING AFTER HELP.

THAT EVERYONE IS WORRIED ABOUT LOSING FLIGHT STATUS OR LOSING SECURITY CLEARANCE ARE LOSING ACCESS TO THE ARMS ROOM.

SO FOR ACTIVE DUTY, ITS UNIQUE CHALLENGE.

UPSTREAM INTERVENTION IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ON ACTIVE DUTY.

SO AS A VETERAN, YOU KNOW IF I HAD A MOMENT OF CRISIS AND A PAIR OF URGENCY DEPARTMENT AND I DIDN'T SHOW UP TO WORK THAT NEXT DAY.

SURE MY BOSS, PROBABLY LET ME BUT THAT'S ABOUT IT AT ACTIVE DUTY, YOU DON'T SHOW UP TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.

IT BECOMES A WATERFALL EFFECT OF MORE BAD STUFF.

SO UCMJ AFFECT AFFECT SO UNIFORM CODE OF MILITARY JUSTICE.

YOU START GETTING IN TROUBLE THEN YOU START COPING WITH THAT AND THEN IT STARTS REPORTING.

SO I THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE TO ADDRESS THE ACTIVE DUTY AND THESE TO GET CHANGE THE NARRATIVE YOU KNOW IT'S OKAY TO BE OKAY AND IT'S OK TO SEEK HELP.

YOU CAN'T HOLD SOMEBODY AGAINST THAT FOR YOUR CAREER ACCESS TO WHATEVER OR JUST TO DO THEIR JOB.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT HELPS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.

>> ALL RIGHT ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR OUR TAG TEAM UP HERE?

YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HAND.

>> WE CAN ALSO GET YOU SOME WEB SITE INFORMATION AND SOME OTHER INFORMATION IF YOU'D LIKE IT AFTERWARDS.

>> GOT ANOTHER QUESTION HERE FROM THE AISLE.

>> HELLO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK IN PARTICULAR AND I HAVE AN ADOPTED SON THAT WAS IN THE NAVY.

HE HAD A SOLDIER THAT ALSO JUST JUMPED SHIP AND WAS GONE.

THEY HAVE NEVER FOUND HIM.

SO DO YOU WORK WITH THE MILITARY IN ANY WAY OR IS THIS JUST WITH THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS TRAGEDY AND LOSS OR HAVE YOU YOUR ORGANIZATION TRY TO WORK WITH THE VARIOUS SERVICE AGENTS SAY THAT.

YEAH.

>> SURE SO PERSONALLY I ONLY WORK WITH THE FAMILIES THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE DONATED A DEVICE TO OUR BLACK BOX PROJECT I I WORK WITH THOSE FAMILIES TO OFFER GRIEF SUPPORT.

SO MY PERSONAL JOURNEY IS JUST WORKING WITH THE FAMILIES AS AN ORGANIZATION.

YOU KNOW TO KIND OF SPEAK TO CHUCK'S POINT.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF UNDUE PENALTY THAT COMES WITH ASKING FOR HELP.

WE DON'T WANT TO REPORT THAT WE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE COMING TO US SHARING THEIR STORIES AND THEIR LIVES WITH US SO IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT WE DO NOT WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES WE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL WELLNESS COORDINATION TEAM THAT THAT DOES IN TAKE STATE OF THE ART ASSESSMENTS AND I WONDERFUL PROGRAM TO WORK WITH THESE MEN AND WOMEN ACTIVE DUTY OR VETERANS REGARDLESS OF DISCHARGE STATUS.

AND THERE'S NO REPORTING BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES YOU JUST NEED A PLACE TO GO SAID THEIR STUFF DOWN.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR WE'RE HERE TO JUST CARRY YOUR STUFF WITH YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT OUR LAST QUESTION WILL BE COMING HERE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE.

>> FROM THAT VIDEO THAT YOU SHOWED IT.

BUT JUST AND CORRECT ME THAT YOU'RE COLLECTING ELECTRONIC DATA FROM SOLDIERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED SUICIDE TO TRY TO IDENTIFY PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR AND LANGUAGE OR WHATEVER AND FROM THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DEVELOP SOME SORT OF LOGARITHM TOO SCANNED THE NET AND THEN PERHAPS PINPOINT WHO IS A LIKELY NEXT PERSON TO DO THIS.

YES.

SO I'M TRYING TO THINK IT THEN WHAT HAPPENS, LET'S SAY YOU DO THIS.

NOW OK FOR EXAMPLE, MY SON IS A NAVY DOCTOR IN JAPAN AND THANK YOU YOU MENTION THAT THAT HE JUST HAD TO DEAL WITH THE SUICIDE OVER THERE SO I'M THINKING SO SO LET'S SAY YOU'RE SCANNING THE WITH THE NEW YOU FIND WHICH YOU THINK MIGHT BE A DANGER, A DANGER SIGNAL.

WHERE DO YOU GO WITH THAT YOU GO TO THE COMMANDER OF THAT UNIT DO GO TO.

HOSPITAL WERE ASSIGNED TO THAT UNIT ARE OR HOW DO WITH WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP.

WHAT YOU IDENTIFY.

A DANGEROUS.

SITUATION RESULT FROM THIS A LOGARITHM SURE SO.

>> AS I SAID BEFORE THERE WE WE WILL NOT REPORT BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SOME PENALTIES THAT COME EARTH REPORTING AND WE JUST WE DON'T WE DON'T WANT TO DO THAT SO WITH THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM.

AND THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAID TO DO WAY BIGGER WORK THAN I COULD EVER DO IT SO FAR ABOVE MY HEAD, BUT FROM MY UNDERSTANDING KIND OF FROM WHERE FROM WHERE I SAID THEY CAN EXTRACT THIS DATA.

THEY CAN USE THINGS LIKE COMPUTATIONAL LINGUISTICS AND AI AND MACHINE LEARNING TO FIND THE TRENDS OVER TIME AND WITH THOSE TRENDS.

WHAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS KIND OF BUILD A BEHAVIOR MODEL TO KIND OF.

>> FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT WHAT DOES THIS DIGITAL FOOTPRINT LOOK LIKE WHERE CAN WE GO AND THEN IF OUR TECH PEOPLE AREN'T GREAT ENOUGH.

WE'VE GOT THIS INCREDIBLE MARKETING TEAM THAT AGAIN THEIR UNICORNS THEY WILL SOMEHOW STRATEGICALLY MARKET OUR SERVICES TO GO TO WHERE OUR MOST AT RISK POPULATION IS AND HOPEFULLY GET TO THEM BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

THAT IS MY VERY LAY PERSON.

THIS GOES BUT I DO HAVE TINA BACK HERE WHO COULD PROBABLY SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE ON THAT SIDE.

BUT FROM WHERE I SIT.

YES WE CAN USE THE DATA WE CAN BUILD BEHAVIOR MODELS AND WE CAN TRY TO FIND THE PEOPLE BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

>> ALL RIGHT, A BIG HAND FOR AMY DOZIER.

[APPLAUSE] EXCELLENT.

WE'RE NOW MOVING INTO OUR 3RD SPEAKER OF THE EVENING.

SHE'S A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER FROM EL FUTURO CREATING COLLECTIVE POWER TO ENSURE FAIR TREATMENT OF IMMIGRANTS IN DURHAM PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE.

CECILIA BARJA CHAMAS.

>> BUENAS NOCHES.

HOW IS EVERYBODY DOING?

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IT IS MY TOOL PRIVILEGE TO SHARE THE SPACE WITH ALL OF YOU.

SO MY NAME IS TO SEE GAME AND THEY FROM LEVY BUT THOSE FROM THE ROOM I AM UNDER MY AND THEY A BOARD MEMBER OF FOOD FOR FOOD.

FOOD USE THE NON-PROFIT CLINIC THAT PROVIDES MEANT THAT HIS SERVICES IN SPANISH AND THEN THESE BOTH 30 MIGRANT COMMUNITY IN THE TRIANGLE AREA BUT ALSO IN 20 DIFFERENT COMPANIES IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT LET ME INTRODUCE MYSELF SO THEY WON HERE WITH THAT BEING CHECK IT.

I WAS 15 YEARS OLD AT THE SCENE BELIEVE IN MY COUNTRY SO THE IDEA WAS WE KNEW THAT HE WAS EXTREMELY COLD.

MY DAD WHO WORK FOR THE COMPANY TURNED TO KEEP THE MONEY FOR A TREAT TO BE SAFE THAT AMERICA MARY NO CEASE TO THE SCHOOL OR WORKING WITH THE POOREST OF THE POOR WE DID WHAT ANY COMMUNITIES, YOU PEOPLE.

MY YOU WHEN WE ARE DRIVE TO THE CHECKS.

HE WAS SIMPLY SO WE DECIDED TO WALK TO THE RIVER WE ONLY FOUND THESE YOUNG PERSON POOLS ABOUT MY AGE.

WE SHOULD ACCEPT THE THE SAME FEATURES WE COME FROM THE SAME PLACE BUT SHE WAS NOT WEARING THE SAME JACKET THAT THAT WAS WEARING ACTUALLY MY MUM IT WAS WITH ME HERE AS A PROUD MOTHER HE BOUGHT ME THESE BEAUTIFUL BEING EJECTED FROM A DIFFERENT THEME AND I WAS SO PROUD TO BE WARM AND COZY AND FEELING FOR THINK THAT FROM THE WEEK THERE.

BUT SHE WAS ALMOST MAKE IT WITHOUT ANY SHOES SWEEP UP ANY JACKET AND THAT WAS THE FIRST FEELING THAT THEY HAVE TALKING ABOUT QUINN WAS MY CALLER FROM THAT WAS QUOTING A FRIEND JUST AS WE ARE SHARING THE SAME SPACE BUT IN SO THE FRONT WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THEN YEARS LATER AFTER THESE EXPERIENCE I FOUND THAT QUICKLY BECAUSE I THINK WE THOUGHT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN WOULD BE THE END FLORIDA NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE U.S. AND 6 MONTHS LATER, I WAS ELECTED THE YOUNGEST DP CAUSE AND WOMEN IN THE U.S.. WE OPENED THE REMARKS IN THE CONGRESS SAYING, BUT AGAIN MOST OF YOU GIVE ME A BILLION WITH A BIT AGO, IT'S BEEN SAID BECAUSE WE HAVE LOST IF YOU DIDN'T RECOVER HOPE.

AND I'M BETTY YU SLATED THEN PEOPLE MIGHT NOT BE THERE.

I RIDES THE ROOM WITH THE KEY TO MY HUSBAND WAS SO SLOW HERE.

AND WHEN THEY WAS KNOCKING ON THE DOORS WORKING AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS THERE US THAT THE MEDIA AND THEY SAID I DO THING ON THE FINE BUT WOULD IT BE THAT WAS OBVIOUS TO MY VIEW, BUT ALSO I FOUND PEOPLE WHO ARE AFRAID OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THOSE COPE THE SAME THAT HE MAY HOME COUNTRY BELIEVE YOU.

SO THE RACE LOOKS EVE.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FOOD FOR THOUGHT THAT THE SOURCE SHARING THE SPACE WITH US TONIGHT.

SO THAT MEANS TRACE EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THE MISSION THAT WE ACCOMPLISH AT THE FOOT DO SO SPANISH SPEAKING IMMIGRANTS AND ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS USE POLICY MEANT THAT HIS SERVICES IN THE ONE OF THE SENTENCES THEY USE GET THEM SOME CE GOOD, BUT LET ME BREAK THAT SENT IS BECAUSE EVERY SINGLE WAR DECENT CHALLENGE FOR US.

SO SPANISH SPEAKING.

IMMIGRANTS SOME HAVE ACCESS TO QUICK DIRTY AND RESPONSIVE IS NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW HOW TO SPEAK SPANISH MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST HEARD FROM AMY EVERY SINGLE STAPLE FOR MISSION IS A CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE ALMOST 2000 CLIENTS EVERY YEAR WE SERVED 14,000 THERAPIES.

WE WORK ACROSS 20 DIFFERENT COUNTIES IN NORTH CAROLINA, AN ONLINE.

70% OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE SERVE HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF CRIME.

SO WHAT COVID HAS THEM.

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS EXCESSIVE BETA CLUB HAS BEEN HAPPENING.

SO WHAT DID THE MOST TO MORE FREQUENT DIET MOST IS THAT WE HAVING IN FOR 2.

IT IS THE QUESTION.

AND HE'S FEELING THIS TRACE TO TELL MY.

THE SEAS IN JULY 2019 THOSE WERE THE SERVICES IN THE RED BAR, THOSE WERE THE SERVICES THAT WE WERE GETTING ONLINE 2019.

THOSE HAVE BEEN RAISED SERVICES THAT NOW WE'RE GIVING ONLINE BECAUSE IF YOU ARE WORKING FOR MOLDY THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR WEIGHT IN THESE SO JUST ALWAYS WORRY HOW MANY OF PEOPLE ARE WAITING TO RECEIVE OUR SERVICES SO PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY ASK FOR HELP.

WE ALWAYS HAVE ABOUT 100 PEOPLE WAITING TO BE SERVED WITH THERAPY.

LOOK WHAT COULD BE HAS THEM COMMUNITY IS HAS EXCESS A DEBATE THAT MEANT THAT HIT THE ISSUE WE ARE MOST CUB 450 PEOPLE WAITING, THE LEAST MUCH YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SPEEDING UP EVEN REACHING OUT TO US THAT EVEN VICTIM TO US.

SO WHAT THESE HAPPENING WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND NOT A MOSTLY MAKES A SOMETHING QUITE DIFFERENT TO SAY THE NAME IS SAFE.

SO WHEN WE WANT TO SPEAK ABOUT MEANT THAT HIS WE'VE HAVE DIFFICULT THAN THAT HAVE BEEN MAKING APPROACHES AND IF YOU WERE THE FEW NATIONS BUT ASHLEY LOOK THEY NEED TO BASE THE FIT NATION.

MENTAL HEALTH IS HEALING FRAGMENT THAT SOMOS HE'S HEALING FRAGMENT THAT RELATIONSHIPS.

SO THAT PEOPLE WILL COME GOOD FOR FOOD ON OUR PEOPLE WHO HAVE A FRAGMENT THAT SO BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR FAMILY.

WE'VE GOT AT WITH THEIR COMMUNITY.

BUT MAINLY WITH THEIR OWN SELVES IMMIGRANTS ARE LEAVING THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE THEY'RE RECEIVING HIM AND THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND THEY THEY WANT TO BE GETTING IN FOR 2.

BUT THEY HAVE LOST FAITH IN THEMSELVES IN THEIR OWN AGENCY.

SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS A WAY OF HEALING.

AND THEN WE'LL FEELING HEALING FOR US EASE THROUGH THE THERAPIES THAT WE PROVIDE 80'S BY DELIVERING PRESCRIPTIONS.

AMY WAS GATHERING THAT THEM.

BUT LOOK WHAT WE HAVE FOUND THAT SHOULD THESE THE BIGGEST WEIGHT TO CUTER FRAGMENT THAT SOSA IS BY BEAN BECAUSE SINCE THE AND THAT MEANS THAT WE'RE DOING COMMUNITY GATHERINGS LIKE THESE ONE TONIGHT WHERE WE SHARE PUPUSA SOME WOULD GREET THOSE HAMBURGERS HAVE FOLKS BUT LOOK I LEARNED TO SAY THAT UP BY THEN WE THOUGHT MAKING ANY MEANS THEY CAN WE WOULD LEARN TO SAY WHAT THEIR WE TOOK TOO MUCH ACCENT WHERE WE CAN BE A COMMUNITY A COMMUNITY THAT MAKES SENSE FOR US.

SO THIS IS THE INVITATION TO JOIN THAT WITH GOOGLE TO JAY TO JOIN WHAT WE DO.

IN THE GREEN AREAS AND WE WELCOME YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY AND THAT'S A WAY OF GETTING RID OF THE PINK JACKET FEELING THE COURTING THERE'S KEENE AND BEING PART OF A COMMUNITY SAY ALL OF YOU ARE WAY COME WITH US, THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE IT AS IF IT OR PLEASE RAISE YOUR HANDS, YOU CAN GET YOUR ANSWERS ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY IN DURHAM AND IN LOTS OF COUNTIES AROUND NORTH CAROLINA.

REMEMBER REMAIN AGREEMENT YOU ALL OKAY QUESTION FROM OVER HERE.

>> BUT IT'S ON THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK I WANT TO ASK IT'S HUMID AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE WAITING FOR RESOURCES AND THAT HAVE REACHED OUT AND ARE IN THAT KIND OF WAITING PERIOD FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION.

WHAT TYPES OF RESOURCES E PROVIDE TO PEOPLE IN THAT WAITING PERIOD BEFORE THEY CAN HAVE A COUNSELOR ASSIGNED TO THEM.

>> I THINK I'M GOING TO BE US JUST SORT OF SOUL AS AMY HAS BEING AN INVITE NEW KUZ OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

BECAUSE HE'S A CHAIN OF SERVICE IS NOTHING IN FOR FOOD ABOUT THOSE THING DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS SO LOOK YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

>> WELL NOW I'M UP HERE AND I WANT TO ASK A QUESTION.

WHAT'S CECILIA SO ELOQUENTLY DESCRIBED IS THAT BRINGING COMMUNITY TOGETHER IS A REAL HEALING MOMENT, SO ACTUALLY MOVING OUT OF THE WHAT WE'VE DEFINED AS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AND INTO COMMUNITY ORGANIZING INTO A FIESTA INTO PEER SUPPORT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE IN RECOVERY WHO CAN THEN GIVE A HAND TO THE NEXT.

BUT YEAH SAY YOU CAN SAY I WENT THROUGH IT TOO AND THEN GIVE PEOPLE HOPE TO MOVE INTO THE FUTURE A LOT OF CLASSES NOW AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THAT THE IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY HAS REALLY EXCEPT IN THE VIDEO TECHNOLOGY WHICH IS NO SURPRISE BECAUSE A LOT OF THEM ARE USING WHAT'S UP BEFORE THE PANDEMIC TO TALK WITH THEIR FANS FRIENDS AND FAMILY BACK HOME.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE FOR IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES HERE.

ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A QUESTION UP FRONT HERE.

>> I'M CURIOUS BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE GIANT MEDICAL SYSTEMS HERE WHO ALSO PROVIDE MENTAL HELP US IS IF YOU ALL HAVE INTERACTED WITH ANY OF THE OTHER MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS TO TRY TO BRING IN MORE CULTURALLY SENSITIVE UNINFORMED CARE TO THOSE SETTINGS AS WELL.

>> SO ACTUALLY THAT ONE OF THE MAIN COMPONENTS THAT WE HAVE THESE BILINGUAL SERVICES AND THEN EVERY TIME THAT WE ARE HIRING SAY QUALITIES WE ARE ALSO FIGHTING TO HAVE WHO'S GOING TO HIRE IS GOING TO BE SO THERE IS VERY LITTLE HUMAN RESOURCES.

THAT CAN PROVIDE BILINGUAL SERVICES AND WHO CAN ALSO BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE WHO WE LOVE THOSE THEM BUT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH.

SO WE ARE PART OF THE FUN IT WORK, BUT ACTUALLY GOOD FOR GOOGLE HAS BECOME THE DIFFERENCE POINT HE MEANT THAT HIM FOR THE EVEN COMMUNITIES.

SO WE HAVE BECOME THE SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE.

THAT'S WHY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE THESE LET ME SEE FACE AN ONLINE TRAINING.

AND WE HAVE 350 PEOPLE FROM THEIR CARLING THAT BEING TRAINED ON HOW TO DELIVER THESE SERVICES.

>> ALL RIGHT, A BIG HAND FOR CECILIA BARJA CHAMAS.

[APPLAUSE] I CAN TALKING TO THIS ONE TOO.

IT'S A PARTY HERE.

ALL RIGHT, LADIES GENTLEMEN, WE'RE MOVING ON TO OUR 4TH SPEAKER OF THE EVENING.

HE'S THE CEO OF THE UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER TRIANGLE PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE, ERIC GUCKIAN [APPLAUSE] >> THANKS I FEEL LIKE I'M A FIGHTER, I'M GETTING READY TO JUMP IN THE RING HERE.

IT'S GREAT TO BE WITH YOU MY NAME IS ERIC GUCKIAN, THE CEO AND PRESIDENT OF UNITED WAY THE GREATER TRIANGLE AND IT'S HUMBLING TO GET UP HERE AND FOLLOW THOSE ACTS, AND AMY COMING AFTER ME.

TREMENDOUS GROUP OF LEADERS AND PEOPLE I THINK THEY ALL DESERVE A ROUND OF APPLAUSE REALLY TRUE.

[APPLAUSE] SO OUR MISSION AT THE UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER TRIANGLE IS TO ERADICATE POVERTY AND INCREASE SOCIAL MOBILITY THROUGH THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS ERADICATE POVERTY AND INCREASE SOCIAL MOBILITY THROUGH THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS I'M AWARE THAT THAT'S A DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE MISSION.

IT'S NEVER BEEN DONE REALLY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT CAN HAPPEN IN THE TRIANGLE AND IT'S BECAUSE SOCIAL BECAUSE OF THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS THAT YOU'RE HEARING FROM TONIGHT.

AND WE SUPPORT OVER 90 OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE ONES THAT YOU HEARD TODAY, AND SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE TO WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT SUPPORTING STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE, THEY'RE NOT CURRENTLY ON OUR WEST BUT WE WOULD ACT ASKED FOR YOU TO APPLY.

BUT BUT IT'S I WANT TO TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF.

SOME SHARE SOME EMBARRASSING 70'S PICTURES AND AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT WHAT BROUGHT ME THE WORK AND WHAT MY WHY IS BUT JUST BEFORE I MOVE ON WE HAVE OVER 14,000 DONORS THAT THEY GIVE TO UNITED WAY HERE IN THE TRIANGLE AND THE AVERAGE GIFT IS LESS THAN $300.

SO THAT SPEAKS TO A COMMUNITY THAT WANTS TO GIVE THAT IS GIVING AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE.

AND WE'RE ALSO ATTRACTING A LOT OF NATIONAL ATTENTION FROM.

FOLKS LIKE MACKENZIE SCOTT AND PETER BUFFETT WARREN BUFFETT SUN AND IT'S IT'S NOT BECAUSE IT'S BECAUSE OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO RALLY THE SUPPORT OF FOLKS LIKE CECILIA AND DOCTOR BULLOCK AND THE 2 AMY'S AND WE JUST WE GET THEM TOGETHER.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THE YOU MIGHT HEAR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MONEY AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT WE DO.

BUT IT'S IT'S NOT ABOUT THE STRENGTH OF OUR OF OUR CAMPAIGN IT'S ABOUT THE POWER OF OUR PLATFORM AND OUR ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT HOW BECAUSE WE'RE NOT GOING TO ERADICATE POVERTY WITH ONE ORGANIZATION RIGHT WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE'RE NOT GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS PANDEMIC WITH ONE ORGANIZATION WE HAVE TO DO IT TOGETHER.

SOME OF THE SHARE SOME PICTURES ABOUT MYSELF AND TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT ME TO THE WORK.

I AND THEN AND HOW IT KIND OF EXPANDED FROM THERE.

SO THESE ARE THE EMBARRASSING EARLY 80'S PICTURES THAT I PROMISE THIS IS MY MOM AND DAD DENNIS AND EVROD YOU CAN AND THEY ARE MY HEROES.

MY DAD AS A PLUMBER.

HE'S A HE'S RETIRED NOW, BUT HE IS A 50 YEAR UNION MEMBER, AND MY MOM WAS ALL WHO'S ALSO RETIRED, IS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST, I'M THE FIRST PERSON IN MY FAMILY TO GO TO COLLEGE.

SO WE TALK ABOUT SOCIAL MOBILITY.

I AM I AM A PRODUCT OF THAT.

MY MY PARENTS WORKED EXTREMELY HARD TO FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL AND TO HAVE A JOB LIKE I HAVE A COOL JOB LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAVE TODAY AND HAVE THE KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I HAVE I JUMP TO CLASS AND I'VE DONE ALL OF THOSE THINGS I WOULD STRESS THOUGH WHILE I DID NOT GROW UP WEALTHY, I GREW UP WITH TREMENDOUS PRIVILEGE, I'M A WHITE MAN.

I AM A WHITE MAN AND I HAD ALL THE BENEFITS OF THAT AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS OF THAT.

I DON'T HAVE A STORY LIKE RHONDA AND CECILIA AND THAT IS BECAUSE OF MY WHITENESS SO WE TALK ABOUT BEING AN ANTIPOVERTY ORGANIZATION WE ALSO HAVE TO BE AN ANTI RACIST ORGANIZATION, AN ANTI RACISM IS FOR ALL OF US, ESPECIALLY US WHITE FOLKS.

OK.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY AND THAT'S WHY WE SUPPORT IT.

WE SUPPORTED OVER AND OVER AGAIN IN THE WORK THAT WE DO.

THIS IS ME THIS IS MY FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE I WORKED A TEACH FOR AMERICA IN THE AND I TAUGHT IT WAS A 4TH GRADE TEACHER IN THE SOUTH BRONX.

RIGHT BY YANKEE STADIUM, THE OLD YANKEE STADIUM.

IT WAS IT WAS THE POOREST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY AT THE TIME AND IT REMAINS SO AND WHAT I HEAR OFTEN WHEN PEOPLE SAY WELL YOU'RE TALKING THE SOUTH BRONX WHAT WAS THAT LIKE IT MUST HAVE BEEN REALLY CRAZY IN THAT.

POVERTY IS POVERTY WHEREVER YOU GO AND THEN MOVED ON TO GO TO WORK DOWN HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA, MY WIFE, LISA'S FROM IS FROM RURAL NORTH CAROLINA AND I WORK TO TEACH FOR AMERICA ALL IN RURAL NORTH CAROLINA.

AND I ALSO HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING A AN ADVISOR TO GOVERNORS OF THE STATE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE FOR EDUCATION AND WHAT I LEARNED AS I AS I GOT DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO EDUCATION IS WHAT I STARTED OFF AT THE OUTSET, WE ARE NOT GOING TO DO THIS WITH ONE PROGRAM ALL BY OURSELVES WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER ACROSS LINES OF DIFFERENCE TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

OK AND WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO TO TAKE ON INNOVATION AND TO SUPPORT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS LIKE THE ONES YOU HEARD FROM TO FROM HERE TODAY AND ESTABLISHED ORGANIZATIONS.

THIS IS THERE'S A TREMENDOUS NETWORK OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE HERE AND AND YOU JUST NEED TO LEAN IN AND ASK QUESTIONS AND GET ACTIVE BECAUSE THEY'RE THEY THEY THERE ARE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT YOU CAN ENGAGE.

SO SO THAT IS WHY I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORT.

IT IS NOT ABOUT US.

IT IS ABOUT THEM AND AS IT IS ABOUT WE WORKING TOGETHER ALL OF US, THINK OF US AS A MUTUAL FUND FOR SOCIAL IMPACT SO WHEN YOU GIVE TO UNITED WAY YOU'RE GIVING TO ALL OF THE ORGANIZATIONS, NOT JUST ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU ALSO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.

IF YOU WANT TO DESIGNATE TO TO GIVE TO ANY ONE OF THOSE ORGANIZATIONS AND YOU SHOULD DO THAT AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO AND THAT I'VE BEEN CEO UNITED WAY FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS NOW ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT I DID WAS WAIVE ANY ANY ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO COUNSEL PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR PASSIONS DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR GOES TO AND THROUGH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

SO I'M PROUD TO STAND HERE BEFORE YOU AS AS THE CEO OF UNITED WAY I ASK THAT YOU GET ENGAGED AND I'M I'M I'M TREMENDOUSLY HUMBLED TO BE SHARING THE STAGE WITH WITH US SO MANY GREAT SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND LEADERS.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> IT'S Q AND A TIME FOR THE UNITED WAY.

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GREAT WORK THEY'RE DOING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AGAIN THIS ISN'T TV.

I CAN SEE YOU WE'VE GOT ONE FROM SOMEBODY IN THE BACK, I WONDER WHO THIS COULD BE?

QUESTION.

I KNOW HER NOT GETTING FOR THE CAMERA AND WHAT IS YOUR NAME.

>> AMANDA >> ALL RIGHT A QUESTION FROM AMANDA.

>> HEY ERIC THANKS FOR SPEAKING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

QUESTION IF I WERE TO AN ORGANIZATION WHO WANTED TO GET INVOLVED IN GIVING WITH UNITED WAY HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT DOING THAT AND WHAT KIND OF PROGRAMS DO YOU HAVE.

>> YEAH YOU CAN REACH OUT GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND WE CAN WE CAN IMMEDIATELY GET OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU TO ENGAGE NOT ONLY IN TERMS OF OF FINANCIALLY BUT ALSO IN TERMS OF VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES.

YES, SKIP THE SLIDE EARLIER, BUT I'M OPEN I'M I DON'T.

SKIPPING IT.

WE PUT 7.1 5 MILLION DOLLARS INTO THE ORGANIZATION INTO INTO THESE ORGANIZATIONS THAT I SPEAK OF AND THESE ARE THAT AND YOU KNOW THESE ARE THE KIND OF THINGS THAT THAT OCCURRED AS A RESULT, PARENTAL ENGAGEMENT YOU'VE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH YOU'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT LITERACY HERE SOON ENOUGH.

AND WE DO THAT THROUGH ALL THAT AND THE RAPID RESPONSE FUND SO WE DO WE ACTUALLY HELPED PEOPLE NOT WE UNITED WAY, BUT WE AT THIS COMMUNITY AND THROUGH THE DOLLARS THAT WE SENT 1.9 MILLION TIMES.

SO I THINK THAT'S PRETTY POWERFUL SO WHETHER IT BE HEALTH FUTURE AND ALL THOSE OTHER DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

WE WERE PART OF THAT SO YOU CAN JUST GO TO WEB SITE.

>> ALL RIGHT NEXT QUESTION HURTING FROM THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BLUE MASS CARE.

THANK YOU ERIC, HEY, HEY IS GOING ON LOOK.

SO >> DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL EFFORTS AROUND INNOVATION RUN THIS SPACE HERE AND I KNOW YOU'RE LOCATED HERE BUT ANY SPECIAL EFFORTS AROUND THAT OR ANY EXAMPLES OF THAT IF YOU DO HAVE THAT.

>> YEAH WE'VE GOT A BUNCH.

FIRST I'D START OFF WITH OUR TEND TO WATCH PROGRAM.

AND DOCTOR BULLOCK IS ACTUALLY A MEMBER OF OUR TENDER OF THIS OF THIS YEAR'S CLASS OF TEND TO WATCH ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO, WE TOOK A LOOK AT OUR PORTFOLIO AND LESS THAN 15% OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WE SUPPORTED WERE LED BY PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THAT DID NOT SQUARE WITH US IT DID NOT SQUARE WITH OUR VALUES.

SO WE BEGAN OUR TEND TO WATCH MODEL WHERE WE CHOSE THROUGH A RIGOROUS IMPACT AND DATA BASED PROCESS WE CHOSE 10 LEADERS WHO ARE EITHER WOMEN AND OR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

ORGANIZATIONS UNDER A MILLION DOLLARS SO FAST FORWARD 4 YEARS LATER.

OUR PORTFOLIO IS NOW OVER 60% PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE I SAID IT IT'S BECAUSE OR IT'S BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY BUILT A PROCESS THAT WAS DATA-DRIVEN AND COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SO FOR SO WE'VE MOVED UP THE MOVE MADE THAT KIND OF MOVEMENT IN JUST THE LAST 4 YEARS AND I'M EXTREMELY PROUD OF THAT NUMBER.

SO THAT'S ONE THE OTHER ONE THAT WE'RE WE'RE THERE WE'RE BUILDING WITH AND WE'VE GOT SUPPORT FROM THE NOVO FOUNDATION AND PETER BUFFETT AND MACKENZIE SCOTT'S A MULTI YEAR MULTIMILLION DOLLAR JUST CALLED NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT AND THAT'S GETTING MORE PROXIMATE TO THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE BY ASKING THE PEOPLE THAT ARE CLOSEST TO IT.

SO WE BELIEVE IN PEOPLE PLACE AND PROXIMITY AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG PART OF THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG INNOVATION FOR US MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND OUR LAST QUESTION HERE OF THE GENTLEMAN RIGHT HERE IN THE MIDDLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND A FEW SUPPORT YES, SO ON I'VE NOTICED THAT FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.

YOU HAVE BEEN REALLY TRYING TO IN TERMS OF LEADERSHIP WITH YOU'VE BEEN TRYING TO EXPAND THE DIVERSITY WHEN THE LEADERSHIP AS WELL.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE THE.

>> DIVERSITY IMPACTS LEADERSHIP, I MEAN COULD YOU NOT HAVE JUST AS GOOD OF A LEADERSHIP WITH LESS DIVERSITY NOT THAT AND YOU KNOW IT OF COURSE, BUT IT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

I THINK ALL OF US ARE LEADERS.

>> AND I ALSO THINK THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE'RE SERVING IN PARTICULAR MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN POVERTY ARE PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WHEN 15% OF YOUR PORTFOLIO IS LEFT IS PEOPLE OF COLOR LEAD THAT THAT DOESN'T SQUARE.

SO SO WE NEED TO WE NEED TO PUT OUR THUMB ON THAT SCALE THAT BEING SAID YOU KNOW, I THINK LEADERS COME IN ALL SHAPES SIZES NATIONALITIES, BACKGROUNDS AND THAT'S THAT'S PART OF WHAT MAKES US.

WHAT MAKES US GREAT SO WE NEED WE NEED ALL THAT AS A WHITE MAN, I'M I'M PRETTY COMFORTABLE WORKING IN THIS SPACE THAT I WORK IN BUT I ALSO HAVE TO HAVE YOU KNOW HUMILITY ABOUT KNOWING THAT YOU KNOW THEY'RE THERE OUR I WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE WHAT DOCTOR BULLOCK JUST DESCRIBED AT THE OUTSET OF THIS I WILL NEVER EXPERIENCE THAT AS A WHITE MAN.

AND THAT'S IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AS A LEADER WHO IS REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS ENTIRE COMMUNITY.

>> ALL RIGHT BIG HAND FOR ERIC GUCKIAN.

[APPLAUSE] WE'RE JUST ONE.

YOUR DONATIONS WILL GO TO BUY US A NEW CLICKER.

ALL RIGHT.

AND IT'S TIME FOR OUR FINAL SPEAKER OF THE EVENING.

SHE SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DURHAM LITERACY CENTER PLEASE WELCOME TO THE STAGE AMY BOGIE.

[APPLAUSE] >> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I UNFORTUNATELY MISSED THE MEMO ABOUT THE EMBARRASSING CHILDHOOD PHOTOS YOU WON'T BE SEEING ANY OF MINE, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE THEM, YOU CAN COME SEE ME LATER, I'LL TRY TO FIND SOME I'M SURE THEY EXIST ON THE INTERNET.

SO I WORK WITH THE DURHAM LITERACY CENTER AND ONE OF OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES COMES FROM DOCTOR JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN WHO IF YOU'RE NEW TO THE AREA AND YOU'RE NOT FAMILIAR WITH HIS WORK, I ENCOURAGE YOU TO LOOK HIM UP HE'S A VERY INFLUENTIAL SCHOLAR WHO IS HERE AT DUKE FOR A LONG LONG TIME SO IS A GREAT SOURCE OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM, HE SAID THAT EVERY TIME WE SPEND 5 MINUTES OF OUR TIME TEACHING PEOPLE TO READ AND WRITE WE CONTRIBUTE TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF OUR SOCIETY AND DOCTOR JOHN HOPE FRANKLIN WAS ACTUALLY A BOARD MEMBER OF THE DOOR MOTORS, HE SAID ARE WHEN WE WERE FIRST GETTING STARTED.

SO AT THE DURHAM LETTERS YOU CENTER THIS GUYS ALL OF OUR WORK WE PROVIDE TUITION-FREE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ADULTS AND AROUND AGES, 16 AND UP WHO ARE LOOKING TO IMPROVE THEIR READING WRITING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS AS WELL AS GET VITAL CREDENTIALS LIKE THEIR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMAS DESPITE DURHAM'S INCREDIBLE PROSPERITY OVER THE LAST DECADES.

THERE ARE SO MANY DURHAM RESIDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND THROUGH THIS PROCESS, SO YOU MAY NOT REALIZE THAT EVEN THOUGH WE SEE ALL OF WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IN RTP AND SO MUCH GROWTH AND BIOTECH AND LIFE SCIENCES AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

ACCORDING TO CENSUS DATA, 12% OF DURHAM ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 25 DO NOT HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.

THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE HELD BACK FROM OBTAINING LIVING WAGE EMPLOYMENT BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS AND CREDENTIALS THAT THEY NEED TO BE A FULL PARTICIPANT IN THE ECONOMY AS WE MOVE FORWARD HERE AS A COMMUNITY AND GROW SO IN TERMS OF WHY I DO THIS WORK, I GREW UP HERE, I WAS BORN IN DURHAM.

I WENT TO DURHAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND I'VE SEEN OVER THE COURSE OF MY LIFE HOW MUCH OUR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN AND CHANGED AND I'VE SEEN KIDS THAT I WENT TO HIGH SCHOOL WITH WHO ENDED UP DROPPING OUT WHO HAVE STRUGGLED I'VE SEEN NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WHO ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION AND I'VE SEEN IMMIGRANTS COMING INTO OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE NOT ABLE TO GET JOBS BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE SKILLS THAT THEY NEED.

SO THIS IS WHAT THE DURHAM LITERACY DOES EVERY DAY WE SERVE OVER 500 ADULTS EACH YEAR THROUGH OUR PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE ADULT BASIC EDUCATION, ENGLISH FOR SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES, OUR YOUTH ACHIEVEMENT HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY PROGRAM WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY FOR STUDENTS AGES, 16 TO 24 BECAUSE THOSE STUDENTS ARE AT A VITAL POINT WHERE IF THEY'VE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY'RE NOT CONNECTED WITH SCHOOL OR WORK THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD BACK POTENTIALLY FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

ECONOMICALLY.

WE ALSO PROVIDE DIGITAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION WHICH AS YOU CAN IMAGINE HAS EXPANDED DRAMATICALLY THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC ACTUALLY IN PART, THANKS TO THE END OF WAY GIVE US A GRANT TO BUY CHROMEBOOKS FOR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN USE THEM FROM H#*#*#*.

SO WE'RE A VERY SMALL ORGANIZATION WERE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION LOCATED IN LAKEWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD OVER ON TOP OF A HILL ROAD ACTUALLY RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUTFIT TORO AND USE.

WE HAVE A STAFF OF 16 PEOPLE.

BUT WE SERVE OVER 500 STUDENTS HERE THIS IS REALLY ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF SOME INCREDIBLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VOLUNTEER THEIR TIME WITH US EVERY SINGLE WEEK.

OVER 200 PEOPLE VOLUNTEERED TO TUTOR IN OUR PROGRAMS EACH YEAR.

AND THEY'RE PROVIDING ONE-ON-ONE INSTRUCTION SMALL GROUP CLASSES, MENTORING AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS SO THAT THEY CAN REACH OUR STUDENTS CAN REACH THEIR SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER GOALS.

THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE VITAL TO EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY THANKFUL FOR ALL OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO I WANTED TO SHARE THE STORY OF ONE VOLUNTEER WHO'S BEEN WORKING WITH US OVER THE LAST COUPLE YEARS DOCTOR STEVEN SHE SPOKE AND HE IS A RESIDENT AT DUKE HOSPITAL.

HE'S ORIGINALLY FROM BANGLADESH AND WHEN HIS FAMILY MOVED HERE WHEN BOSH WAS A CHILD HIS PARENTS WERE DOCTORS IN BANGLADESH AND THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO RECERTIFY HERE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THIS IS A REALLY BIG ISSUE FOR IMMIGRANTS AND FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES COMING TO THE U.S. AND A LOT OF THEM END UP HERE IN DURHAM BECAUSE WE'RE THE CITY OF MADISON.

SO WHAT BOSH'S BEEN DOING FOR SOME OF OUR MORE ADVANCED, YES ALL STUDENTS, IT'S PROVIDING AS CLASS SPECIFICALLY GEARED TOWARDS FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES THAT THEY CAN LEARN THE TERMINOLOGY THAT THEY NEED THE CULTURAL INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED AS WELL AS INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMERICAN MEDICAL SYSTEM BECAUSE LET'S BE HONEST OUR SYSTEM IS REALLY STRANGE.

AND SO THAT THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO RECERTIFY EITHER IN THEIR EXISTING PROFESSION OR IN ANOTHER ONE HERE AND CONTINUE AS MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS IN THE UNITED STATES ONE OF HIS RECENT STUDENTS WAS ACTUALLY.

SHE WAS A DOCTOR IN HER NATIVE COUNTRY BUT HERE IN THE U.S. SHE DECIDED TO START WITH BECOMING A SURGICAL ASSISTANT AND SHE RECENTLY PASSED THE EXAM TO BECOME A SURGICAL ASSISTANT AND GOT A JOB WORKING AT A HOSPITAL AND ATLANTA.

SO WE MISSED IRENE A TERRIBLY BUT WE'RE ALSO INCREDIBLY EXCITED FOR HER SUCCESS AND SHE'S PLANNING TO CONTINUE HER EDUCATION AND MOVE UP THROUGH THE MEDICAL SYSTEM.

NOW THAT SHE'S HERE.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING ANYONE CAN DO.

ANY OF YOU HERE IN THE ROOM ARE WATCHING FROM HOME CAN BECOME A VOLUNTEER IN OUR PROGRAMS AND YOU CAN CHANGE SOMEONE'S LIFE THROUGH EDUCATION.

WE PROVIDE ALL THE TRAINING THAT YOU NEED YOU DO HAVE TO GO THROUGH A TRAINING TO LEARN OUR CURRICULUM AND LEARN HOW TO TEACH SOMEONE THE READING WRITING AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED.

OUR STUDENTS MOVE FORWARD, BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT AS I SAID HUNDREDS OF DURHAM ADULTS HAVE DECIDED TO DO EACH YEAR.

SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THOSE OR OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT DURHAM LETTER C .ORG SLASH VOLUNTEER.

YOU CAN ALSO ALWAYS MAKE A DONATION.

I'M THE DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, IT'S MY JOB TO ASK YOU FOR MONEY, SO YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO AT LETTER C .ORG SLASH DONATE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE MONETARILY OR IN OTHER WAYS AS WELL.

SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, I HOPE THAT WE WILL BE SEEING SOME OF YOU AT THE DURHAM LITERACY CENTER.

WE ARE PROVIDING A LOT OF REMOTE OPTIONS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LITTLE SCREEN GRAB THEIR OF ONE OF OUR STUDENT INTO REPAIRS WORKING ON ZOOM.

SO IF YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME OR IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IN-PERSON THAT IS OK WE'VE GOT TONS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS TO GET INVOLVED WHETHER THEY'RE ONLINE OR AT OUR CENTER OVER A CHAPEL HILL ROAD.

SO THANKS I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

[APPLAUSE] >> IT'S 2 AND A TIME ABOUT THE WORK BEING DONE AT THE DURHAM LITERACY CENTERS OR RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE GOT QUESTIONS REMY BOGEY ABOUT THE WORK SHE'S DOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND HOW THE DURHAM LITTER EAST LITERACY CENTER IS HELPING PEOPLE PROGRESS IN THEIR LIVES.

ALL RIGHT GOT A QUESTION IN THE BACK HERE, SOMEBODY REMEMBERED OUR CONTRACT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW NOT NAME NAMES.

I JUST WAS A A.

>> THIS IS MORE OF A COMMENT THAT QUESTION.

I HAVE BEEN TO MANY OF THESE PERFORMANCES ARE PRESENTATIONS EYESIGHT THE 4 LADIES AND GENTLEMAN TONIGHT HAVE TOUCHED MY HEART BECAUSE YOU ALL REPRESENT THE BEST OF PEOPLE AT THAT TIME THAT WE'VE LIVED IN RIGHT NOW THAT'S BEEN SO DIVISIVE.

AND SO HARSH TO SAY THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ALL THE OTHER PRISONERS TONIGHT.

REALLY THE BEST AT HEART HAS MOVED MAY BE ON.

I GUESS THAT COULD DESCRIBE IT, I JUST WANT TO SAY FROM OUR CHILDREN FOR ABOUT FUTURE GRANDCHILDREN.

IT'S PEOPLE LIKE YOU ALL.

THEY GIVE ME HOPE THAT WE CAN BECOME A BETTER NATION, A BETTER PEOPLE AND THAT YOU ALL HAVE DEDICATED OUR LIVES.

2 SUCH WONDERFUL CALLS IS GIVES ME HOPE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND FOR THAT I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL SAW.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> SO TO FOLLOW ON THAT WITH SOMETHING THAT IS A QUESTION WHAT IS IT THAT YOU SEE THAT IS THE MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR WORK AT THE DURHAM LITERACY CENTER OUT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY THAT WE SEE THE WAYS IN WHICH OUR STUDENTS TO BECOME EMPOWERED THEY GROW IN CONFIDENCE AS THEY GROW THEIR SKILLS AND THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY STAYING WITH US PAST THAT POINT BUT STUDENTS WHO GRADUATED FROM OUR PROGRAMS HAVE GONE ON AT OUR HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY GRADUATES HAVE GONE ON TO ATTEND NOT JUST TECH BUT FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES THEY'VE GONE TO GET ADVANCED DEGREES.

THEY HAVE AMAZING CAREERS AND WE SEE THAT THIS HAS OF TRICKLE DOWN EFFECT NOT JUST ON THEIR LIVES BUT ON THEIR WHOLE FAMILY.

SO LITERACY IS AN INTERVENTION POINT AT WHICH WE ARE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT ONE INDIVIDUAL BUT ALSO IT'S ABOUT A MOTHER READING LOOK TO HER CHILD OR HELPING THEIR CHILD WITH HOMEWORK WHICH IS GOING TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES FOR THAT CHILD AS THEY GROW UP AND THEN LATER FOR SUBSEQUENT GENERATIONS.

IT'S JUST A REALLY WIDE RANGING THING AND AS WE SEE THEM REACH THEIR GOALS AND ACHIEVE THEIR DREAMS IT'S I I MEAN THAT IS WHY WE DO THIS ABSOLUTELY.

>> OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT LETTERS THE CENTER OF THE WORK.

THEY'RE DOING QUESTION UP FRONT THIS GUY LOOKS FAMILIAR.

>> AMY HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR WORK AT THE CENTER.

>> SO WE WENT FULLY REMOTE ON MARCH 13TH OF 2020 AND WE ARE STILL FULLY REMOTE.

AND WHEN WE FIRST SHUT DOWN WE WERE THINKING THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE 2 WEEKS AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE AT ALMOST 2 YEARS SO EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED I THINK THE EMPHASIS ON DIGITAL LITERACY HAS I CAN'T EXPRESS ENOUGH HOW MUCH THAT HAS IMPACTED OUR WORK AND WE REALIZED THAT A LOT OF OUR PROGRAMS WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY INTEGRATING THOSE DIGITAL SKILLS IN EVERY SINGLE THING THAT WE DID THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE CHANGING AND HAVE ALREADY CHANGED.

WE ALSO BUILD OUT A WHOLE TECHNOLOGY LENDING LIBRARY.

SO NOW WITH THE HELP OF THE UNITED WAY AND THE DUDE FUNDING FROM OTHERS WE HAVE OVER 100 CHROMEBOOKS AND TABLETS THAT WE CAN LEND TO OUR STUDENTS THEY CAN TAKE THEM HOME, THEY INCLUDE WI-FI HOTSPOTS SOMETIMES THEY DON'T HAVE INTERNET AT HOME SO THAT THEY CAN GET ONLINE AND CONNECT CLASSES FROM HOME BUT ALSO DO WHATEVER ELSE THEY NEED TO DO CONNECT TO OTHER VITAL SERVICES SO IT'S REALLY CHANGED THE WAY THAT WE DO EVERYTHING TO SLOWLY AND I THINK IT'S HERE TO STAY SO AS WE LOOK WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO REOPEN.

THIS SPRING AS COVID NUMBERS HAVE STARTED TO COME DOWN.

AND WE'RE PLANNING TO CONTINUE OFFERING ONLINE OPTIONS BECAUSE WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM A LOT OF OUR STUDENTS THAT MEETING ONLINE IS WORKING WELL FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY CAN DO IT WHILE THEY'RE AT HOME WITH THEIR CHILDREN AND THEY DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CHILD CARE OR THEY CAN GET ONLINE TO AN ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM.

AND STUDY WHILE THEY'RE AT WORK ON THEIR BRAKES.

SO IT IS WORKING REALLY WELL FOR SOME FOLKS THERE ARE SOME STUDENTS WHO OFTEN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES, IT'S JUST NOT WORKING FOR AND SO WE'RE EXCITED TO WELCOME THEM BACK INTO OUR CENTER SOON.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, A BIG HAND FOR AMY BOGIE [APPLAUSE] ALL RIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS CONCLUDES RTP 180 FOR NOVEMBER.

WE DID RUN A LITTLE LONG, SO THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT PBS NC FOR STICKING WITH US.

BUT I THINK AS WE ALL AGREED TO KIND OF COLLECTIVELY, THIS DESERVED THE EXTRA TIME.

SO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT HERE, WE WILL BE BACK HERE IN JANUARY OUR TOPIC WILL BE REAL ESTATE.

WE SWITCH IT UP HERE FOLKS.

ALSO RIGHT AFTER THIS IS THE BAR WILL BE OPEN WAIT FOR IT.

AND ALSO THE BUCS YARD WILL BE OPEN.

SO YOU CAN WALK RIGHT ACROSS THE LAWN HERE CHECK OUT THE BOX CHART FULLY OPEN NOW MULTIPLE YEARS AND PLANNING A PANDEMIC IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

BUT IT IS FINALLY OPEN PLEASE GO CHECK THAT OUT IT'S BEEN AWARE OF THE AREA ALL WE START OFF ONLINE.

WE'RE ENDING UP IN PERSON.

THINGS ARE KIND OF BACK KIND OF NOT I THINK FROM OUR 5 SPEAKERS TONIGHT, THOUGH YOU'VE SEEN THAT EACH OF US HAS A WAY WE CAN CONTRIBUTE TO MAKE THE WORLD A LITTLE BIT BETTER LEAN ON THE EXPERT WHO ARE DOING THE WORK CONTRIBUTE HOWEVER, YOU CAN GET YOUR SHOTS, ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY.

WE WILL BE BACK IN JANUARY.

ON BEHALF OF RTP 180 PRESENTED BY RTI INTERNATIONAL, I'VE BEEN YOUR SEE WAIT MENTORS AND THANKS FOR COMING OUT ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS AND HAVE A SAFE JOURNEY HOME, GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.