Latest / The Wheelhouse / Navigating Spaces of Belonging: A Conversation with Mel King

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Navigating Spaces of Belonging: A Conversation with Mel King · The Wheelhouse

0:01
What
0:01
did
0:01
Mel
0:02
mean
0:02
when
0:02
he
0:03
said,
0:03
I
0:04
just
0:04
needed
0:05
to
0:05
be
0:05
in
0:06
a
0:06
space
0:06
where
0:07
I
0:07
could
0:07
breathe?
0:09
Find
0:09
out.
0:10
A
0:10
new
0:10
episode
0:11
of
0:11
the
0:11
Wheelhouse
0:12
begins
0:13
right
0:13
now.
0:25
Thank
0:25
you
0:25
so
0:26
much
0:26
for
0:26
taking
0:26
time
0:27
out
0:27
of
0:27
your
0:27
busy
0:27
day
0:27
to
0:28
give
0:28
us
0:28
a
0:28
listen.
0:29
Season
0:30
nine
0:30
features
0:30
a
0:31
panel
0:31
of
0:31
four
0:31
like
0:32
minded
0:32
friends
0:32
and
0:33
colleagues.
0:34
Kathy
0:34
Mone,
0:35
Michael
0:35
Pipa,
0:36
Dr.
0:36
Alicia
0:37
Monroe,
0:38
yours
0:38
truly.
0:39
You
0:40
know,
0:40
we've
0:40
opened
0:40
the
0:40
conversation
0:41
this
0:41
season
0:41
to
0:42
think
0:42
about
0:42
empowering
0:43
educators
0:44
to
0:44
cultivate
0:45
hope.
0:46
In
0:46
this
0:46
tenth
0:47
episode,
0:47
we
0:47
welcome
0:48
writer
0:49
and
0:49
leader
0:50
of
0:50
a
0:50
national
0:50
LGBTQ
0:51
advocacy
0:52
organization,
0:53
Mel
0:54
King,
0:55
to
0:55
the
0:55
Wheelhouse.
0:56
You
0:56
know,
0:56
this
0:57
episode
0:57
is
0:57
simply
0:58
one
0:58
of
0:58
those
0:58
must
0:59
listen
0:59
to
1:00
episodes
1:01
that
1:01
I
1:01
think
1:01
you're
1:02
going
1:02
to
1:02
want
1:02
to
1:02
listen
1:02
to
1:03
over
1:03
and
1:04
over
1:04
and
1:05
over
1:05
again.
1:06
At
1:07
the
1:07
end
1:07
of
1:07
the
1:07
day,
1:08
what
1:08
we
1:08
do
1:08
for
1:09
some
1:09
children
1:09
is
1:09
even
1:10
bigger
1:10
than
1:10
cultivating
1:11
hope
1:11
or
1:11
killing
1:12
dreams.
1:13
It's
1:13
a
1:13
matter
1:13
of
1:13
life
1:14
and
1:15
death.
1:16
You
1:17
know,
1:17
this
1:17
was
1:18
an
1:18
incredible
1:19
conversation
1:20
and
1:20
there
1:20
were
1:21
so
1:21
many
1:22
intriguing
1:23
ideas
1:24
and
1:25
amazing
1:26
images
1:27
that
1:27
Mel
1:28
brought
1:28
to
1:28
the
1:28
space.
1:29
You
1:30
know,
1:30
we
1:30
started
1:30
the
1:30
conversation
1:31
with
1:31
the
1:32
following
1:32
questions.
1:33
Simple,
1:34
easy
1:35
questions
1:36
from
1:36
your
1:37
experience
1:37
as
1:37
a
1:38
student
1:38
and
1:38
from
1:38
the
1:38
work
1:39
you're
1:39
currently
1:39
doing.
1:40
What
1:40
does
1:41
it
1:41
look
1:41
like
1:41
to
1:42
honor
1:42
the
1:42
continuum
1:43
of
1:43
identities
1:44
represented
1:45
within
1:45
the
1:45
LGBTQIA
1:47
community
1:48
and
1:49
what
1:49
is
1:49
important
1:50
for
1:50
educators
1:50
to
1:51
understand
1:52
in
1:52
order
1:52
to
1:53
cultivate
1:53
hope
1:53
for
1:54
those
1:54
students,
1:55
ensuring
1:56
that
1:56
they
1:56
experience
1:57
unconditional
1:58
belonging,
1:59
are
1:59
seen
2:00
and
2:00
heard,
2:01
and
2:02
are
2:02
treated
2:02
in
2:02
ways
2:03
that
2:03
honor
2:03
their
2:03
dignity
2:04
as
2:04
a
2:04
birthright
2:05
and
2:05
not
2:05
something
2:06
to
2:06
be
2:06
earned.
2:07
And
2:07
then
2:07
finally,
2:08
while
2:09
2025
2:10
certainly
2:11
adds
2:11
a
2:11
layer
2:12
or
2:12
several
2:12
hundred
2:13
layers
2:13
of
2:13
urgency
2:14
to
2:14
the
2:14
work,
2:15
what
2:15
do
2:15
you
2:16
believe
2:16
LGBTQIA
2:18
students
2:19
or
2:19
their
2:19
allies
2:20
want
2:21
from
2:21
the
2:21
school
2:21
experience?
2:23
Listen
2:23
to
2:24
the
2:24
entire
2:24
episode
2:25
to
2:25
hear
2:26
incredible
2:27
details.
2:28
Together,
2:29
let's
2:29
cultivate
2:29
hope
2:30
for
2:30
each
2:31
and
2:31
every
2:32
student.
2:32
And
2:33
now,
2:33
episode
2:34
10.
2:35
And
2:35
a
2:35
great
2:36
conversation
2:37
with
2:37
our
2:37
panel
2:38
and
2:38
with
2:38
Mel
2:39
King.
2:39
You
2:39
are
2:40
not
2:40
going
2:40
to
2:40
want
2:41
to
2:41
miss
2:41
this.
2:41
Take
2:42
a
2:42
listen.
2:47
Good
2:48
morning.
2:48
I'm
2:49
Grant
2:49
Chandler
2:50
and
2:50
this
2:51
is
2:51
another
2:51
episode
2:52
of
2:52
the
2:52
Wheelhouse.
2:53
And
2:54
not
2:54
to
2:54
sound
2:54
like
2:55
a
2:55
broken.
2:55
Record,
2:56
but
2:56
I've
2:56
really
2:57
been
2:57
looking
2:58
forward
2:59
to
2:59
this
2:59
conversation
3:00
and
3:00
bringing
3:01
this
3:01
amazing
3:01
person
3:02
to
3:02
the
3:02
Wheelhouse.
3:03
So
3:03
I'm
3:04
super
3:04
excited,
3:04
as
3:05
I
3:05
say
3:05
every
3:05
week,
3:06
but
3:06
I.
3:06
And
3:07
I
3:07
mean
3:07
it
3:07
every
3:07
week.
3:08
But
3:08
I'm
3:08
really
3:08
excited
3:09
today
3:10
to
3:10
bring
3:10
our
3:10
guest
3:11
to
3:11
the
3:11
Wheelhouse.
3:12
Before
3:12
I
3:12
do
3:13
that,
3:13
as
3:14
always,
3:14
let
3:14
me
3:15
say
3:15
good
3:15
morning
3:15
to
3:16
my
3:16
amazing
3:17
panel,
3:18
Kathy
3:18
Mone,
3:18
who's
3:19
not
3:19
here
3:19
today
3:20
because
3:20
of,
3:20
hey,
3:21
state
3:21
testing
3:21
around
3:22
the
3:22
world.
3:23
And
3:23
so
3:24
she
3:24
is
3:24
busy
3:25
diligently
3:25
supporting
3:26
students,
3:26
but
3:27
Michael
3:27
Pipa
3:28
and
3:28
Alicia
3:28
Monroe
3:29
are
3:30
here
3:30
in
3:30
the
3:30
Wheelhouse.
3:31
Good
3:31
Morning.
3:32
Good
3:32
morning.
3:33
Good
3:33
morning.
3:34
How
3:34
are
3:35
you
3:35
both?
3:36
All
3:37
is
3:37
well.
3:39
Michael,
3:39
are
3:39
you
3:40
well
3:40
conversation
3:41
today?
3:42
I.
3:42
Me
3:42
too.
3:43
Me
3:43
too.
3:43
Michael,
3:44
how
3:44
are
3:44
you
3:44
doing?
3:45
Yes,
3:45
I'm
3:45
very,
3:46
very
3:46
well
3:46
and
3:47
very,
3:47
very
3:47
happy
3:48
to
3:48
be
3:48
here
3:48
with
3:48
my
3:48
friends.
3:49
So
3:49
good
3:49
morning,
3:50
everyone.
3:50
Michael
3:51
is
3:51
joining
3:51
us
3:51
from
3:52
a
3:52
little
3:52
vacay,
3:53
so
3:53
talk
3:53
about
3:54
dedication,
3:55
right?
3:55
He
3:56
has
3:56
found
3:56
a
3:57
place
3:57
to
3:58
join
3:58
this
3:58
conversation
3:59
when
4:00
he's
4:00
not
4:00
even
4:01
at
4:01
home.
4:02
So.
4:02
Wow.
4:03
Thank
4:03
you,
4:03
Michael.
4:04
Yeah.
4:05
The
4:05
magic
4:06
of
4:06
the
4:06
interweb.
4:07
Yes.
4:08
So
4:08
I
4:09
am
4:09
really
4:09
excited
4:10
about
4:10
this
4:10
conversation,
4:11
and
4:11
I
4:11
want
4:12
to
4:12
say
4:12
thank
4:12
you
4:12
to
4:12
Michael
4:13
for
4:13
making
4:13
the
4:14
connection
4:14
to
4:15
this
4:15
amazing
4:16
individual.
4:18
This
4:18
person
4:18
that
4:18
you're
4:19
going
4:19
to
4:19
meet
4:19
here
4:19
in
4:20
the
4:20
wheelhouse
4:21
used
4:21
to
4:21
be
4:21
a
4:22
student
4:22
of
4:23
Michael's,
4:24
So
4:24
we've
4:24
been
4:25
joking
4:26
about
4:26
how
4:26
young
4:27
Michael
4:27
must
4:27
have
4:28
been
4:28
as
4:28
a
4:28
teacher.
4:29
Right.
4:30
A
4:31
few
4:31
years
4:31
ago,
4:31
maybe
4:32
one
4:32
or
4:32
two,
4:33
when
4:34
our
4:35
guest
4:36
was
4:36
a
4:37
high
4:37
school
4:37
student.
4:38
So
4:39
super
4:39
excited
4:39
to
4:40
bring
4:40
Mel
4:41
King
4:42
to
4:42
the
4:42
Wheelhouse.
4:43
He
4:43
is
4:44
a
4:44
writer,
4:45
and
4:45
he
4:45
works
4:46
for
4:46
a
4:46
national
4:47
LGBTQ
4:49
advocacy
4:50
organization.
4:51
Mel,
4:52
I
4:52
had
4:52
the
4:52
pleasure
4:53
of
4:53
talking
4:53
to
4:53
you
4:54
a
4:54
couple
4:54
weeks
4:54
ago,
4:55
and
4:55
I'm
4:55
so
4:56
super
4:57
excited
4:57
that
4:58
you
4:58
were
4:58
here
4:58
in
4:58
the
4:58
Wheelhouse.
4:59
So
4:59
welcome.
5:00
Thank
5:01
you
5:01
so
5:01
much.
5:02
It's
5:02
a
5:02
pleasure
5:02
to
5:02
be
5:02
here,
5:03
and
5:03
I'm
5:03
excited
5:03
for
5:03
our
5:04
conversation.
5:05
Absolutely.
5:06
I've
5:06
been
5:06
looking
5:06
forward
5:07
to
5:07
this
5:07
conversation.
5:08
You
5:08
know,
5:08
the
5:09
season
5:09
is
5:09
all
5:09
about
5:10
cultivating
5:11
hope
5:11
or
5:11
killing
5:12
dreams.
5:12
We've
5:13
been
5:13
talking
5:13
a
5:14
lot
5:14
about.
5:17
Who.
5:18
Gets
5:18
the
5:18
dreams
5:19
and
5:19
who
5:19
gets.
5:20
Where
5:21
do
5:21
we
5:21
forget.
5:22
Where
5:23
do
5:23
we
5:23
or
5:23
intentionally
5:24
not
5:24
choose
5:25
to
5:25
cultivate
5:27
hope
5:27
for
5:27
some
5:28
of
5:28
our
5:28
students?
5:29
And
5:29
so
5:30
super
5:30
excited
5:31
to
5:31
bring
5:31
someone
5:32
to
5:33
the
5:33
Wheelhouse.
5:33
And
5:33
we're
5:33
going
5:34
to
5:34
specifically
5:35
talk.
5:35
We'll
5:35
talk
5:35
about
5:35
all
5:36
marginalized
5:37
populations,
5:37
I'm
5:38
sure,
5:38
but
5:39
specifically
5:39
address
5:41
the
5:41
continuum
5:42
of
5:42
needs
5:42
for
5:42
our
5:42
LGBTQIA
5:45
population.
5:46
And
5:47
to
5:48
highlight
5:48
that
5:48
today
5:49
in
5:49
the
5:49
Wheelhouse,
5:49
I'm
5:50
super
5:50
excited
5:50
about.
5:51
So
5:51
I'm
5:51
just
5:52
going
5:52
to
5:52
open
5:52
it
5:52
up.
5:53
And
5:53
in
5:54
true
5:54
fashion,
5:54
we
5:55
see
5:55
where
5:55
this
5:55
conversation
5:56
takes
5:56
us.
5:57
From
5:58
your
5:58
own
5:58
experience
5:59
as
5:59
a
5:59
student
6:01
and,
6:02
of
6:02
course,
6:02
from
6:02
the
6:02
work
6:03
that
6:03
you're
6:03
currently
6:03
doing,
6:04
and
6:04
that
6:04
is
6:05
never
6:05
been
6:06
more
6:06
important
6:06
than
6:06
it
6:06
is
6:07
today
6:07
in
6:07
2020.
6:08
What
6:09
does
6:09
it
6:09
look
6:09
like
6:10
to
6:10
honor
6:11
the
6:12
continuum
6:12
of
6:13
identities
6:13
represented
6:14
within
6:15
the
6:15
LGBTQIA
6:17
community?
6:19
Such
6:19
a
6:19
beautiful
6:20
question,
6:20
Grant.
6:23
I
6:23
think
6:23
about
6:23
this
6:24
in
6:24
a
6:24
couple
6:24
of
6:24
different
6:25
ways.
6:25
I
6:26
think
6:26
as
6:27
a
6:27
student,
6:27
when
6:28
I
6:28
was
6:28
a
6:28
student
6:29
of
6:29
Michaels,
6:32
I
6:32
think
6:32
for
6:32
me,
6:33
it
6:33
meant
6:34
that
6:34
I
6:35
could
6:35
find
6:36
an
6:36
ally
6:36
in
6:37
a
6:37
teacher,
6:38
someone
6:39
who
6:39
would
6:40
see
6:40
me
6:41
and
6:42
all
6:42
the
6:43
journey
6:43
that
6:43
I
6:43
was
6:44
on
6:44
and
6:45
make
6:46
space
6:46
for
6:46
that
6:47
in
6:47
all
6:48
kinds
6:48
of
6:48
ways,
6:49
in
6:49
the
6:49
ways
6:49
that
6:50
Michael
6:50
did
6:50
and
6:50
the
6:51
way
6:51
that
6:51
our
6:51
GSA
6:52
did,
6:53
I
6:54
think
6:54
that
6:54
there
6:56
exists
6:56
in
6:57
education
6:58
at
6:58
all
6:58
levels,
6:59
possibility
7:00
and
7:00
pathways
7:01
for
7:01
exploration
7:02
in
7:02
a
7:03
safe
7:03
and
7:03
enclosed
7:04
environment,
7:04
right.
7:05
Where
7:05
you
7:05
can
7:05
create
7:06
community
7:06
and
7:07
create
7:07
space
7:08
for
7:09
students
7:10
to
7:10
build
7:11
their
7:11
own
7:11
community.
7:12
So
7:13
I
7:13
think
7:13
that
7:14
feels
7:14
so
7:14
fundamental
7:15
to
7:16
me
7:16
now
7:17
in
7:18
the
7:19
life
7:19
that
7:19
I
7:19
have
7:19
lived
7:20
since
7:20
high
7:20
school
7:22
and
7:22
for
7:23
who
7:23
I
7:24
was
7:24
as
7:24
a
7:24
high
7:24
school
7:25
student.
7:26
And
7:26
I
7:26
think
7:27
that
7:27
this
7:27
moment
7:27
that
7:27
we're
7:28
in
7:28
requires
7:29
more.
7:30
Right?
7:32
Because
7:33
education
7:34
is
7:34
under
7:34
attack
7:36
at
7:36
all
7:36
levels.
7:37
Curriculum,
7:39
books,
7:40
what
7:40
we
7:40
literally
7:41
like,
7:41
the
7:41
resources
7:42
that
7:42
students
7:42
have
7:43
access
7:43
to,
7:44
the
7:44
conversations
7:45
that
7:45
students
7:45
have
7:45
access
7:46
to.
7:47
I
7:48
think
7:48
that
7:48
piece
7:49
feels
7:50
really
7:51
critical
7:51
in
7:51
this
7:52
moment
7:52
to
7:53
address
7:53
that
7:55
education
7:55
as
7:56
a
7:56
concept
7:57
is
7:57
under
7:58
threat
7:58
and
7:59
education
8:00
for
8:01
people
8:01
who
8:01
need
8:01
it
8:02
most.
8:02
Right.
8:03
The
8:03
kinds
8:03
of
8:03
things
8:04
that
8:04
are
8:04
probably
8:04
not
8:05
taught
8:05
in
8:05
a
8:05
classroom,
8:05
that
8:06
I
8:06
was
8:06
never
8:06
taught
8:06
in
8:06
a
8:06
classroom
8:07
in
8:07
high
8:07
school,
8:09
that.
8:10
That
8:10
access
8:11
feels
8:13
like
8:13
it's.
8:14
It's
8:14
a
8:14
moment
8:14
that
8:14
we
8:15
are.
8:15
Are
8:16
in.
8:16
That
8:16
feels
8:16
very
8:17
scary
8:18
in
8:19
part
8:19
because,
8:20
you
8:20
know,
8:20
statistically,
8:21
right,
8:22
like,
8:22
LGBTQ
8:22
plus
8:23
people
8:23
are
8:24
10%
8:24
of
8:24
the
8:24
population.
8:26
That
8:27
pretty.
8:27
Pretty
8:28
recent
8:28
Gallup
8:28
poll,
8:29
right?
8:29
From
8:29
2024.
8:31
But
8:32
for
8:33
Young.
8:33
For
8:34
the
8:34
generation
8:34
that
8:35
is
8:35
in
8:35
school
8:35
now,
8:38
25%,
8:39
about
8:39
25%
8:40
of
8:40
them
8:40
identify
8:41
as
8:41
LGBTQ,
8:42
and
8:43
they
8:43
have
8:43
access
8:44
to
8:44
information,
8:45
the
8:45
Internet,
8:46
in
8:46
a
8:46
way
8:46
that,
8:47
I
8:47
mean,
8:47
I
8:47
feel
8:48
very,
8:48
very
8:48
grateful
8:49
to
8:49
have
8:49
been
8:49
a
8:49
millennial
8:50
who
8:50
grew
8:50
up
8:50
alongside
8:51
the
8:51
Internet.
8:53
And
8:53
like,
8:54
a
8:54
lot
8:54
of
8:54
the
8:55
resources
8:55
that
8:55
I
8:55
found,
8:55
I
8:56
found
8:56
on
8:56
my
8:56
own
8:57
and
8:58
in,
8:58
like,
8:59
through
8:59
conversations
8:59
with
9:00
other
9:00
people.
9:01
I
9:01
know
9:02
that
9:02
there
9:02
are
9:02
a
9:02
lot
9:02
of
9:03
resources
9:03
that
9:03
are
9:03
out
9:04
there,
9:04
but
9:04
do
9:05
students
9:05
know
9:05
how
9:05
to
9:06
access
9:06
them?
9:07
Who
9:07
can
9:07
be
9:08
sort
9:08
of
9:09
the
9:10
support
9:10
piece
9:11
inside
9:11
the
9:11
school
9:12
system
9:13
that
9:13
allows
9:14
for
9:15
more
9:15
and
9:15
deeper
9:16
access
9:17
to
9:17
the
9:18
resources
9:18
that
9:18
folks
9:19
might
9:19
need?
9:21
That's
9:21
where
9:21
my
9:21
mind
9:22
goes
9:22
immediately.
9:24
When
9:24
you
9:24
use
9:24
the
9:25
word
9:25
ally.
9:25
I
9:26
think
9:26
that
9:26
was
9:27
a
9:27
word
9:27
that,
9:27
as
9:28
soon
9:28
as
9:28
you
9:28
said
9:28
it,
9:29
I
9:30
needed
9:30
to
9:30
write
9:31
it
9:31
down
9:32
because
9:32
I
9:33
think
9:33
that's
9:33
an
9:33
important
9:34
concept
9:35
for
9:36
people
9:36
to
9:37
understand.
9:37
When
9:37
you
9:38
use
9:38
that
9:38
word
9:39
ally,
9:40
what
9:40
do
9:40
you
9:40
mean
9:41
by
9:41
that?
9:42
Oof.
9:43
I
9:43
love
9:44
you
9:45
diving
9:46
into
9:46
that
9:47
one
9:47
in
9:47
particular,
9:47
because
9:48
I
9:48
feel
9:48
like
9:49
it
9:49
is
9:49
one
9:49
of
9:50
those
9:50
words
9:50
that
9:50
gets
9:51
used
9:51
in
9:51
all
9:51
kinds
9:52
of
9:52
ways.
9:54
And
9:55
I
9:55
think
9:56
at
9:56
other
9:56
moments
9:57
in
9:57
time,
9:58
it
9:59
meant
9:59
something
10:00
like
10:00
putting
10:00
a
10:00
rainbow
10:01
sticker
10:01
in
10:02
your
10:02
window
10:02
and
10:03
maybe
10:03
not
10:03
having
10:04
the
10:04
language.
10:05
But
10:05
even
10:05
now,
10:06
that
10:06
is
10:06
a
10:06
political
10:07
act.
10:07
That
10:08
was
10:08
always
10:08
a
10:08
political
10:09
act,
10:09
right?
10:10
And
10:11
in
10:11
this
10:11
climate,
10:12
what
10:12
that
10:12
political
10:13
act
10:13
means
10:14
is,
10:15
can
10:15
you.
10:16
Are
10:16
you
10:16
willing
10:17
to
10:18
actually
10:19
do
10:19
that
10:20
and
10:20
put
10:20
yourself
10:21
on
10:21
the
10:21
line
10:21
as
10:21
a
10:21
teacher,
10:22
as
10:22
a
10:22
person
10:23
in
10:23
a
10:23
School
10:23
building
10:24
for
10:25
a
10:25
student,
10:25
for
10:26
a
10:26
student
10:26
to
10:26
feel
10:27
like
10:27
if
10:28
I
10:28
walk
10:28
through
10:28
that
10:28
door,
10:30
they
10:30
might
10:30
have
10:30
met
10:30
somebody
10:31
else
10:31
like
10:31
me.
10:31
They
10:32
might
10:32
know
10:32
some
10:33
of
10:33
the
10:33
words
10:33
that
10:34
I
10:34
might
10:34
use
10:34
to
10:34
describe
10:35
myself.
10:36
They
10:36
might
10:36
refer
10:36
to
10:37
me
10:37
with
10:37
the
10:37
pronouns
10:38
that
10:38
I
10:38
want
10:38
them
10:38
to
10:38
refer
10:39
to
10:39
me
10:39
with.
10:40
Right.
10:40
Like
10:41
they
10:42
might
10:42
be
10:42
here
10:42
for
10:43
me
10:43
in
10:43
this
10:43
moment
10:44
in
10:44
time
10:45
in
10:45
a
10:45
way
10:45
that
10:46
another
10:46
teacher
10:47
might
10:47
not,
10:47
or
10:48
another
10:48
counselor.
10:49
I
10:50
think
10:50
school
10:50
counselor
10:50
is
10:51
also
10:52
having
10:53
ways
10:53
of
10:54
acknowledging
10:54
or
10:55
identifying
10:55
themselves
10:56
like
10:56
that
10:56
feel
10:56
really
10:56
important
10:57
to
10:57
me,
10:58
felt
10:58
really
10:58
important
10:59
to
10:59
me
10:59
in
10:59
high
10:59
school.
11:01
So
11:01
I
11:02
think
11:02
about
11:02
that
11:03
moment.
11:03
I
11:03
also
11:03
think
11:04
about
11:05
what
11:05
it
11:05
actually
11:06
means
11:06
to
11:06
have
11:07
language.
11:08
I
11:09
think
11:09
that
11:09
there's
11:09
an
11:10
education
11:10
piece
11:11
that
11:11
a
11:12
lot
11:12
of
11:12
teachers,
11:13
educators,
11:14
people
11:14
in
11:14
school
11:15
buildings
11:15
do
11:15
not
11:16
get
11:16
around,
11:17
what
11:17
language
11:18
to
11:18
use,
11:18
how
11:18
to
11:19
talk
11:19
about
11:20
these
11:20
issues,
11:21
how
11:21
to
11:21
talk
11:21
about
11:21
these
11:22
identities.
11:24
And
11:24
I
11:24
think
11:25
that
11:26
that's
11:26
okay.
11:27
You
11:27
don't
11:27
have
11:28
to
11:28
always
11:28
use
11:28
the
11:29
right
11:29
words.
11:30
I
11:31
think
11:31
most
11:32
queer
11:33
and
11:33
trans
11:33
folks
11:34
will
11:34
tell
11:34
you
11:35
that
11:35
if
11:36
you
11:36
are
11:36
trying
11:37
that
11:37
means
11:38
so
11:38
much
11:39
more
11:39
than
11:39
any
11:40
than
11:40
not,
11:41
then
11:42
you
11:42
are
11:42
like,
11:43
willing
11:43
to
11:43
at
11:43
least
11:44
put
11:44
yourself
11:44
out
11:45
there
11:45
to
11:45
engage
11:46
in
11:46
the
11:46
conversation.
11:48
And
11:48
so
11:48
I
11:49
think
11:49
about
11:49
all
11:49
of
11:49
those
11:50
pieces.
11:50
I
11:51
mean,
11:51
obviously
11:52
I
11:52
can.
11:52
You
11:53
know,
11:53
there's
11:53
organizations
11:53
that
11:54
are
11:54
out
11:54
there
11:54
that
11:54
will
11:55
train
11:55
you
11:56
as
11:56
an
11:57
educator.
11:57
There
11:58
are
11:58
organizations
11:59
out
11:59
there
11:59
that
11:59
you
11:59
could
11:59
plug
12:00
into
12:00
locally,
12:01
nationally,
12:02
that
12:02
you
12:02
could
12:02
know
12:02
about
12:03
to
12:03
be
12:03
able
12:03
to
12:04
provide
12:05
as
12:05
a
12:05
resource
12:06
to
12:06
students.
12:07
And
12:08
I
12:08
think
12:08
trying
12:09
counts
12:09
for
12:09
a
12:10
lot.
12:10
So
12:11
we
12:11
discuss
12:11
allyship
12:12
as
12:12
a
12:12
construct.
12:13
Right.
12:14
So
12:14
it's
12:14
interesting
12:14
that
12:15
Grant
12:15
wrote
12:15
that
12:16
down
12:16
because
12:16
I
12:16
wrote
12:17
that
12:17
down
12:17
as
12:17
well.
12:18
And
12:19
allyship,
12:20
and
12:20
I
12:20
loved
12:21
Mel,
12:21
how
12:21
you
12:22
lifted
12:22
that
12:22
up
12:23
right.
12:24
From
12:25
experience
12:25
for
12:26
feeling
12:26
safe.
12:27
Right.
12:28
Activated
12:29
belonging,
12:30
not
12:30
a
12:30
buzzword.
12:31
Right.
12:33
I
12:33
also,
12:34
when
12:35
we
12:35
talked
12:35
for
12:36
the
12:36
last
12:36
time,
12:37
as
12:37
a
12:37
collective,
12:38
I
12:38
also
12:39
focused
12:39
on
12:40
allyship
12:41
as
12:42
a
12:42
construct,
12:43
not
12:43
being
12:43
self
12:44
proclaimed,
12:45
but
12:45
earned.
12:47
That
12:47
means
12:48
that
12:48
we
12:48
are
12:49
not
12:49
weaponizing
12:50
allyship
12:52
to
12:52
cover
12:52
our
12:53
own
12:53
fragilities.
12:54
We're
12:55
ready
12:55
to
12:56
come
12:56
into
12:57
relationship,
12:59
human
12:59
relationships
13:00
with
13:01
each
13:01
other's,
13:02
to
13:03
lift
13:03
their
13:03
dignity.
13:04
Right.
13:04
If
13:05
we're
13:05
talking
13:05
about
13:05
powerful
13:06
student
13:06
care,
13:06
I
13:07
always
13:07
think
13:07
about
13:08
the
13:08
word
13:08
that
13:09
resonates
13:09
through
13:10
that
13:10
great
13:10
work.
13:11
Dignity.
13:12
Right.
13:12
As
13:13
humble
13:14
servants.
13:15
So
13:15
I
13:15
wanted
13:16
you
13:16
to
13:16
really
13:17
unpack
13:18
some
13:18
of
13:18
those
13:18
thoughts
13:19
and
13:21
really
13:22
make
13:22
that
13:22
your
13:22
own.
13:23
Because
13:23
I
13:23
just
13:23
love
13:24
the
13:24
fact
13:24
that
13:24
we're
13:25
here
13:25
right
13:25
now
13:25
in
13:26
this
13:26
conversation.
13:28
You
13:29
know,
13:29
I
13:29
think
13:29
for
13:30
me,
13:30
when
13:31
I
13:31
was
13:31
a
13:32
young
13:32
person
13:32
coming
13:32
out
13:33
and
13:33
finding
13:33
my
13:33
own
13:34
way,
13:35
I
13:35
was
13:35
the
13:35
only
13:35
person
13:35
that
13:36
I
13:36
knew
13:36
until
13:36
I
13:37
came
13:37
out.
13:37
Right.
13:38
Like,
13:38
until
13:39
I
13:40
took
13:40
that
13:40
step,
13:42
I
13:43
did
13:43
not
13:43
know
13:43
Anybody
13:44
of
13:44
my
13:45
own
13:45
age.
13:46
My
13:47
brother,
13:47
thankfully,
13:48
is
13:48
six
13:48
years
13:48
older,
13:49
you
13:49
know,
13:49
and
13:49
had
13:50
had
13:50
some
13:51
queer
13:51
friends.
13:51
Cause
13:51
he
13:51
was
13:52
a
13:52
theater
13:52
kid.
13:53
And
13:54
so
13:54
very
13:54
grateful
13:55
for
13:55
those
13:55
beacons.
13:57
But
13:57
I
13:57
didn't
13:57
have
13:58
anybody
13:58
in
13:59
my
13:59
immediate
14:00
to
14:00
mirror
14:01
back
14:01
my
14:01
experience
14:02
to
14:02
me.
14:03
And
14:03
that
14:03
was
14:04
even
14:04
more
14:04
true
14:04
when
14:05
I
14:05
came
14:05
out
14:05
as
14:05
trans
14:05
in
14:06
high
14:06
school.
14:07
And
14:08
when
14:08
I
14:08
came
14:09
out
14:09
as
14:09
trans,
14:09
it
14:10
was
14:10
in
14:10
a
14:10
moment
14:11
when
14:13
every
14:13
time
14:13
I
14:14
came,
14:14
every
14:14
time
14:14
I
14:15
said
14:15
the
14:15
word
14:15
transgender
14:16
to
14:16
somebody,
14:17
I
14:17
had
14:17
to
14:17
define
14:18
what
14:18
it
14:18
meant
14:18
because
14:19
they
14:19
had
14:19
never
14:19
heard
14:20
it
14:20
before.
14:20
We're
14:21
in
14:21
a
14:21
different
14:21
moment
14:22
now
14:22
where
14:23
I
14:23
think
14:23
people
14:23
have
14:23
heard
14:24
these
14:24
terms
14:25
enough,
14:26
maybe.
14:27
Maybe
14:27
in
14:27
scary
14:28
ways,
14:28
maybe
14:29
in
14:29
lovely
14:29
ways,
14:30
but
14:31
I
14:31
think
14:31
it
14:31
means
14:32
that
14:32
we
14:33
can
14:33
have
14:33
a
14:33
different
14:33
kind
14:33
of
14:34
conversation.
14:35
So
14:35
I
14:35
think
14:36
for
14:36
me,
14:37
what
14:37
it
14:37
meant
14:37
to
14:37
me
14:38
then
14:39
is
14:39
different,
14:39
I
14:39
think,
14:40
than
14:40
what
14:40
it
14:40
means
14:40
to
14:40
me
14:41
now
14:41
to
14:41
be
14:41
an
14:41
ally.
14:42
Because
14:42
I
14:42
think
14:43
then
14:43
it
14:44
meant
14:44
something
14:44
as
14:44
simple
14:45
as,
14:45
oh,
14:46
I
14:46
can
14:46
be
14:47
in
14:47
this
14:47
classroom
14:48
and
14:49
feel
14:50
like
14:50
I
14:50
can
14:51
stand
14:51
on
14:51
my
14:52
own
14:52
two
14:52
feet,
14:53
or
14:54
I
14:54
can
14:54
be
14:54
in
14:55
this
14:55
GSA
14:56
classroom
14:56
with
14:57
Mike
14:57
Pipa
14:58
and
14:59
feel
14:59
like
14:59
I
15:00
can
15:00
start
15:01
to
15:02
embody
15:02
what
15:03
it
15:03
might
15:03
mean
15:04
for
15:04
me
15:04
to
15:04
live
15:05
as
15:05
my
15:06
truest
15:06
self,
15:08
both
15:08
as
15:08
an
15:09
activist.
15:09
I
15:10
think
15:10
a
15:10
school
15:10
environment
15:11
is
15:11
an
15:11
incredible,
15:13
you
15:13
know,
15:13
petri
15:14
dish
15:14
for
15:15
testing
15:15
some
15:16
ideas
15:16
out,
15:17
right?
15:17
Like,
15:17
I
15:17
came
15:18
out
15:18
as
15:18
trans
15:19
in
15:19
2004.
15:21
I
15:21
had.
15:21
I
15:21
was
15:22
16.
15:23
And
15:23
the
15:24
first
15:24
thing
15:24
that
15:25
came
15:25
up
15:25
when
15:25
I
15:25
googled
15:26
transgender
15:27
or
15:27
Ask
15:27
Jeeves,
15:28
maybe
15:28
it
15:28
was
15:28
a
15:29
different
15:29
moment
15:29
in
15:29
the
15:29
Internet.
15:31
It
15:32
was
15:32
Transgender
15:33
day
15:33
of
15:33
remembrance,
15:34
right?
15:34
So
15:34
the
15:34
first
15:35
message
15:35
that
15:36
I
15:36
got
15:36
about
15:37
what
15:37
it
15:37
meant
15:37
to
15:37
be
15:38
a
15:38
trans
15:38
person
15:38
in
15:38
this
15:39
world
15:39
was
15:40
that
15:40
trans
15:41
people
15:41
are
15:41
killed
15:42
in
15:43
crazy
15:43
numbers
15:44
every
15:44
year
15:46
around
15:47
the
15:47
world.
15:47
Right?
15:47
And
15:48
so
15:48
that.
15:48
And.
15:49
And
15:50
what.
15:51
What
15:51
it
15:51
meant
15:51
to
15:52
feel
15:52
safe
15:52
in
15:52
school
15:53
was
15:53
that
15:53
I
15:53
could
15:53
bring
15:54
that
15:54
knowledge,
15:54
I
15:55
could
15:55
bring
15:55
that
15:55
list
15:56
that
15:56
I'd
15:56
printed
15:57
out
15:57
and
15:58
start
15:58
to
15:58
have
15:58
a
15:58
conversation
15:59
about,
15:59
what
16:00
do
16:00
we
16:00
want
16:00
to
16:00
do
16:00
about
16:00
this?
16:01
This
16:01
day
16:01
is
16:01
coming
16:01
up.
16:02
How
16:02
do
16:02
we
16:02
want
16:02
to
16:03
navigate
16:04
this
16:04
in
16:04
our
16:04
school
16:05
environment?
16:05
We
16:06
wound
16:06
up
16:06
having
16:06
a
16:07
vigil
16:07
walk
16:07
around
16:08
our
16:08
school
16:08
and
16:09
having
16:09
to
16:09
navigate
16:10
what
16:10
it
16:10
meant
16:11
to,
16:11
like,
16:12
talk
16:12
to
16:12
the
16:12
principal,
16:13
talk
16:13
to
16:13
the
16:13
school
16:13
building
16:14
about
16:14
how
16:14
we
16:14
would
16:15
do
16:15
that
16:16
and
16:17
what
16:17
it
16:18
meant
16:18
to
16:18
have
16:18
an
16:18
ally
16:19
in
16:19
our
16:19
advisor
16:20
at
16:20
that
16:20
moment
16:21
was,
16:22
okay,
16:22
let's
16:22
have
16:22
this
16:23
conversation.
16:23
I
16:23
am
16:24
here
16:24
to
16:24
help
16:24
you
16:24
figure
16:25
this
16:25
out
16:25
and
16:26
to
16:26
be
16:26
the
16:27
adult
16:27
validator
16:28
in
16:28
this
16:28
room
16:29
if
16:29
you
16:29
need
16:30
me,
16:30
when
16:31
you
16:31
need
16:31
me.
16:32
And
16:32
that
16:32
meant
16:33
so
16:33
much
16:33
to
16:34
me
16:34
at
16:34
that
16:34
moment
16:35
in
16:35
time,
16:35
because
16:35
it
16:36
was.
16:37
It
16:38
meant
16:38
that
16:38
I
16:38
had
16:38
a
16:39
place
16:39
where
16:39
I
16:39
Could
16:40
be
16:40
having
16:40
these
16:40
conversations
16:41
that
16:41
I
16:42
was
16:42
burning
16:43
to
16:43
have
16:43
all
16:44
day
16:44
long.
16:45
And
16:45
Thursdays
16:45
after
16:46
school,
16:46
you
16:46
know,
16:46
became
16:47
my
16:47
safe
16:48
haven.
16:50
Oh,
16:51
that's
16:51
so
16:51
such
16:52
a
16:52
beautiful
16:52
memory,
16:53
Mel.
16:53
And
16:54
to
16:55
shine
16:55
a
16:56
bit
16:56
of
16:56
a
16:56
light
16:57
on
16:59
how
16:59
I
17:00
understood
17:00
my
17:00
role.
17:01
I
17:01
first
17:02
met
17:02
Mel
17:02
when.
17:03
Mel,
17:04
you
17:04
were
17:04
a
17:04
seventh
17:04
grader,
17:05
I
17:05
think.
17:05
And
17:06
Maureen,
17:09
one
17:09
of
17:09
our
17:10
lovely
17:10
school
17:10
counselors,
17:11
had
17:12
said,
17:13
I'm
17:13
stealing
17:13
you
17:14
pipa
17:15
because
17:15
there
17:16
is
17:16
a
17:16
new
17:16
friend
17:17
you
17:17
need
17:17
to
17:17
make.
17:18
And
17:19
it
17:19
was
17:19
such
17:20
a
17:21
beautiful
17:22
introduction
17:23
to
17:23
you
17:23
as
17:24
a
17:24
young
17:24
person.
17:24
And
17:25
then
17:25
we
17:25
began
17:25
working
17:26
much
17:26
more
17:26
closely
17:27
in
17:27
high
17:28
school.
17:29
And
17:30
your
17:31
example.
17:32
And
17:32
whenever
17:32
I
17:33
talk
17:33
about
17:33
you
17:33
with
17:34
colleagues,
17:35
the
17:35
one
17:36
thing
17:36
that
17:37
we
17:37
feel
17:38
the
17:38
warmth
17:38
of
17:38
to
17:39
this
17:39
day
17:40
is
17:41
your
17:41
yes.
17:42
And
17:43
kind
17:43
of
17:43
approach
17:44
to
17:45
everyone
17:46
and
17:47
every
17:47
situation.
17:48
And
17:49
when
17:49
we
17:50
talk
17:50
about
17:50
the
17:50
word
17:51
ally,
17:52
honestly,
17:53
I
17:54
am
17:54
an
17:54
ally
17:55
for
17:55
every
17:55
one
17:55
of
17:55
my
17:56
students,
17:57
however
17:58
they
17:58
may
17:58
identify.
18:00
I
18:00
am
18:01
seeking
18:02
to
18:02
earn
18:02
that
18:02
position
18:03
for
18:03
them
18:03
and
18:04
that
18:04
level
18:04
of
18:04
trust.
18:07
I
18:07
think
18:07
what
18:08
linked
18:08
us
18:09
so
18:09
quickly
18:09
together
18:09
is
18:10
that
18:10
I
18:10
recognized
18:11
a
18:11
common
18:12
spirit.
18:13
And
18:13
that
18:13
was
18:14
how
18:14
you
18:14
were
18:15
seen
18:16
in
18:16
our
18:17
middle
18:17
school
18:17
and
18:18
then
18:18
in
18:18
our
18:18
high
18:18
school,
18:20
as
18:20
somebody
18:22
that
18:22
was
18:22
open
18:23
and
18:24
interested
18:24
and
18:25
genuinely
18:26
curious
18:26
about
18:27
every
18:27
person
18:28
whose
18:28
path
18:29
you
18:29
crossed.
18:30
And
18:30
it's
18:31
why
18:31
you
18:31
were
18:32
almost
18:33
unanimously
18:34
selected
18:35
to
18:35
speak
18:36
at
18:36
the
18:36
commencement
18:37
of
18:37
your
18:37
class,
18:38
because
18:39
you
18:39
were
18:40
that
18:40
kind
18:41
of
18:42
powerful
18:43
representation
18:45
of
18:45
who
18:45
we
18:45
wanted
18:47
and
18:47
how
18:47
we
18:48
wanted
18:48
our
18:48
lives
18:48
to
18:49
be.
18:50
And,
18:51
you
18:52
know,
18:52
I
18:53
think
18:53
in
18:53
your
18:53
work
18:54
going
18:54
forward,
18:55
that
18:56
is
18:56
really
18:57
the
18:57
spirit
18:58
and
18:58
strength
18:58
of
18:59
it,
18:59
is
19:00
that
19:00
you
19:01
work
19:03
to
19:03
earn
19:03
that
19:04
ally,
19:04
ship
19:05
that
19:05
ally
19:06
place,
19:09
and
19:11
to
19:12
help
19:12
kind
19:12
of
19:13
remove
19:14
all
19:14
of
19:14
the
19:15
layers
19:15
that
19:15
may
19:15
have
19:16
been
19:16
accumulated
19:17
for
19:17
an
19:17
individual
19:18
so
19:19
that
19:19
they
19:19
can
19:20
breathe,
19:21
they
19:21
can
19:21
step
19:22
forward.
19:25
When
19:25
you
19:25
think
19:25
about
19:26
your
19:26
trajectory
19:28
from.
19:28
From
19:29
high
19:29
school
19:29
and
19:30
all
19:30
of
19:30
the
19:31
leadership
19:31
work
19:31
you
19:32
began
19:32
doing
19:33
in
19:33
high
19:34
school,
19:35
has
19:36
that
19:36
path
19:37
felt
19:38
straight?
19:39
Has
19:39
it
19:40
had
19:40
surprising
19:41
curves?
19:44
Because
19:45
when
19:45
I
19:46
caught
19:46
up
19:46
with
19:46
you,
19:47
to
19:47
me,
19:47
it
19:48
just
19:49
felt
19:49
like
19:50
a
19:50
flowering
19:51
that
19:52
I
19:52
could
19:53
see,
19:53
but
19:53
that's,
19:54
you
19:54
know,
19:54
from
19:55
a
19:55
great
19:55
remove.
19:56
How
19:57
does
19:57
it
19:57
feel
19:58
as
19:58
we
19:58
think
19:58
back
19:58
to
19:59
Thursdays
20:00
and
20:00
now
20:00
where
20:00
you
20:01
are?
20:02
Does
20:02
it
20:02
feel
20:03
like
20:03
an
20:03
inevitability,
20:04
or
20:04
have
20:05
there
20:05
been
20:05
some
20:05
surprises?
20:07
I
20:08
love
20:08
that.
20:08
Such
20:09
a
20:09
beautiful
20:09
question.
20:10
And
20:10
I
20:11
also
20:11
love,
20:12
love
20:12
getting
20:12
to
20:13
hear
20:14
that
20:14
moment
20:15
in
20:15
time
20:15
reflected
20:16
and
20:16
refracted
20:17
back
20:17
through
20:17
your
20:17
experience.
20:21
In
20:21
some
20:21
ways,
20:21
it
20:21
feels
20:22
like
20:22
a
20:22
straight
20:22
line.
20:23
Like,
20:23
in
20:23
some
20:23
ways,
20:23
I
20:24
feel
20:24
like
20:24
the
20:24
work
20:25
that
20:25
I
20:25
do
20:25
for
20:25
my
20:26
day
20:26
job
20:26
is
20:27
the
20:27
work
20:27
that
20:27
I
20:27
have
20:27
been
20:27
doing
20:28
my
20:28
entire
20:28
life.
20:30
And
20:31
in
20:31
other
20:31
ways,
20:32
I
20:32
think
20:32
there's
20:32
been
20:32
some
20:33
twists
20:33
and
20:33
turns.
20:34
I
20:34
mean,
20:35
so
20:35
when
20:35
I
20:35
was
20:35
in
20:36
high
20:36
School.
20:36
I
20:36
got
20:36
involved
20:37
with
20:37
glsen.
20:38
The.
20:39
Their
20:40
acronym,
20:41
I'm
20:41
sure,
20:41
has
20:41
changed,
20:41
but
20:42
at
20:42
the
20:42
time
20:42
was
20:42
the
20:42
Gay
20:43
Lesbian
20:43
Straight
20:43
Education
20:44
Network,
20:45
and
20:45
they
20:45
have
20:46
local
20:46
chapters
20:46
all
20:47
over
20:47
the
20:47
country.
20:48
And
20:48
so
20:48
I
20:48
got
20:48
involved
20:49
on
20:49
the
20:49
local
20:49
level
20:50
in
20:50
the
20:50
New
20:50
York
20:50
Capital
20:51
Region
20:51
chapter
20:52
as
20:52
a
20:52
student
20:53
representative
20:54
on
20:54
that
20:54
board.
20:55
And
20:56
what
20:56
that
20:56
meant
20:56
was
20:56
that
20:57
we.
20:58
My
20:58
best
20:59
friend
20:59
still
20:59
to
20:59
this
21:00
day.
21:00
And
21:01
I
21:01
told
21:01
our
21:02
coming
21:02
out
21:02
stories
21:03
at
21:03
wherever.
21:04
Who.
21:04
Whoever
21:05
would
21:05
have
21:05
us.
21:06
We
21:06
would
21:06
go
21:07
and
21:07
talk
21:07
about
21:08
our
21:08
experiences.
21:09
Sometimes
21:09
that
21:10
was
21:10
for
21:10
teachers.
21:10
Sometime
21:11
that
21:11
was
21:11
for
21:12
different
21:13
community
21:13
groups.
21:14
It's
21:14
how
21:15
I
21:15
met
21:15
my
21:15
wife
21:16
way
21:17
back
21:17
when,
21:17
when
21:18
I
21:18
was
21:18
16
21:18
and
21:18
she
21:19
was
21:19
15.
21:20
But
21:20
we.
21:21
So
21:21
we
21:21
would
21:21
do
21:22
that
21:22
and
21:23
we
21:23
would
21:23
have
21:23
the
21:24
Day
21:24
of
21:24
Silence
21:24
every
21:25
year
21:25
and
21:25
the
21:25
Breaking
21:25
of
21:25
the
21:26
Silence
21:26
event.
21:26
And
21:27
it
21:27
was
21:27
a
21:27
way
21:27
to
21:28
feel
21:28
connected
21:28
to
21:29
something
21:29
bigger.
21:30
And
21:30
then
21:30
I
21:31
got
21:31
involved
21:31
in
21:31
GLSEN
21:32
as
21:32
a
21:33
youth
21:34
leader
21:34
to
21:35
the
21:35
national
21:35
organization.
21:37
They
21:37
had
21:37
a
21:37
new.
21:38
At
21:38
the
21:38
time,
21:38
they
21:39
were
21:39
working
21:39
to
21:39
pass
21:39
the
21:40
Dignity
21:40
for
21:40
All
21:40
Students
21:41
act.
21:41
What
21:42
a
21:42
brilliant
21:42
kind
21:42
of
21:43
moment
21:43
to
21:43
be
21:44
reflecting
21:44
back
21:44
on
21:45
in
21:45
this
21:45
environment.
21:47
But
21:48
we
21:48
were
21:48
so.
21:49
We
21:49
would
21:49
go
21:49
to
21:50
different
21:50
places
21:50
and
21:50
kind
21:51
of
21:51
talk
21:51
about
21:51
our
21:51
experiences
21:52
as
21:52
students
21:53
and
21:53
what
21:54
passing
21:54
something
21:55
like
21:55
that
21:55
would
21:55
mean
21:55
for
21:56
us.
21:57
And
21:58
then
21:58
after.
21:59
After
21:59
high
21:59
school,
22:00
I
22:01
had
22:01
a
22:02
sort
22:02
of
22:02
a
22:02
nonlinear
22:03
college
22:03
path.
22:04
I
22:04
knew
22:04
that
22:04
I
22:04
wanted
22:04
to
22:04
be
22:05
in
22:05
New
22:05
York,
22:06
and
22:07
so
22:07
I
22:08
applied
22:08
to
22:08
one
22:08
school.
22:08
I
22:09
applied
22:09
to
22:09
Brooklyn
22:09
College
22:11
in
22:11
part
22:11
because
22:12
I
22:12
just
22:13
wanted
22:13
to
22:14
be
22:14
in
22:14
New
22:14
York.
22:15
And
22:15
I
22:15
was
22:15
like,
22:15
I
22:15
think
22:15
maybe
22:16
I
22:16
could
22:16
get
22:16
in
22:16
here.
22:16
And
22:17
I
22:17
did,
22:18
but
22:18
it
22:18
was
22:18
a
22:18
commuter
22:19
school.
22:20
And
22:20
so
22:21
I
22:21
wound
22:21
up
22:21
living
22:21
in
22:22
an
22:22
apartment
22:22
with
22:23
some
22:23
Craigslist
22:24
strangers
22:25
and
22:25
having
22:26
a
22:26
very
22:27
interesting
22:27
freshman
22:28
year
22:28
of
22:29
commuting
22:29
on
22:29
the
22:29
subway
22:30
train
22:31
to
22:31
a
22:31
school
22:32
where
22:33
we
22:33
had
22:34
an
22:34
LGBTQ
22:35
alliance.
22:36
But
22:37
our
22:37
room
22:38
was
22:38
about
22:39
a
22:39
third
22:39
of
22:39
the
22:39
room
22:40
that
22:40
I'm
22:40
in
22:40
now.
22:41
Teeny,
22:41
tiny
22:42
little
22:42
closet
22:42
where
22:43
we
22:43
would
22:43
sit
22:43
on
22:43
couches
22:44
and
22:44
bump
22:44
knees.
22:45
And
22:46
at
22:46
that
22:46
school,
22:47
I
22:47
would
22:47
get
22:49
regularly
22:51
policed
22:51
when
22:52
I
22:52
would
22:52
go
22:52
to
22:52
the
22:52
bathroom,
22:53
presenting
22:54
as
22:54
a
22:55
very
22:55
ambiguous
22:57
human
22:58
in
22:58
the
22:58
world.
22:58
Buzzed
22:59
head,
22:59
not
23:00
on
23:00
hormones,
23:00
really
23:01
kind
23:01
of
23:01
figuring
23:01
out
23:01
my
23:02
gender
23:02
journey
23:02
in
23:03
a
23:03
lot
23:03
of
23:03
ways
23:03
still.
23:05
And
23:05
so
23:05
I
23:05
knew
23:06
that
23:06
I
23:06
liked
23:07
the
23:07
school.
23:07
I
23:07
really.
23:08
I
23:08
made
23:08
some
23:08
good,
23:09
good
23:09
human
23:09
connections
23:10
there,
23:11
but
23:11
I
23:11
needed
23:12
to
23:12
be
23:12
somewhere
23:13
where
23:13
I
23:14
could
23:14
breathe.
23:15
So
23:15
I
23:16
applied
23:16
to
23:16
transfer
23:17
schools
23:17
and
23:17
I
23:18
wound
23:18
up
23:18
at
23:18
NYU
23:19
in
23:19
part
23:20
because
23:21
my
23:21
dear
23:21
friend
23:22
with
23:22
whom
23:23
I
23:23
would
23:23
tell
23:24
our
23:24
coming
23:24
out
23:25
stories
23:25
had
23:26
started
23:26
there.
23:27
And
23:28
they
23:29
had
23:29
a
23:29
group
23:30
called
23:31
Tea
23:31
Party,
23:31
which
23:32
was
23:32
for
23:32
trans
23:33
and
23:33
gender
23:34
non
23:34
conforming
23:34
students
23:35
and
23:35
friends
23:35
and
23:36
allies.
23:37
And
23:37
she
23:37
asked
23:38
if
23:38
they
23:38
could
23:39
bring
23:40
in
23:40
non
23:41
NYU
23:41
students.
23:42
So
23:42
I
23:42
wound
23:42
up
23:43
going.
23:43
It
23:43
felt
23:44
in
23:44
many
23:44
ways
23:44
like
23:45
our
23:45
GSA
23:46
all
23:46
over
23:46
again,
23:47
but
23:48
specifically
23:48
for
23:49
trans
23:49
students.
23:50
And
23:50
so
23:50
that
23:51
opened
23:51
up
23:51
a
23:52
pathway
23:52
to
23:52
me
23:53
into
23:53
community
23:54
at
23:54
nyu,
23:55
into
23:56
new
23:56
information
23:57
and
23:57
new
23:57
pathways
23:58
about
23:58
how
23:59
my
23:59
life
23:59
might
24:00
turn
24:00
out.
24:01
And
24:01
so
24:01
I
24:01
wound
24:01
up
24:02
transferring
24:02
to
24:02
NYU
24:04
and
24:04
in
24:05
many
24:05
ways
24:05
studying
24:06
what
24:06
it
24:06
meant
24:06
to
24:06
transition.
24:07
In
24:07
undergrad,
24:08
I
24:09
was
24:09
at
24:09
Gallatin,
24:10
which
24:10
is
24:10
a
24:10
school
24:11
of
24:11
individualized
24:12
study,
24:13
and
24:13
I
24:13
studied
24:15
basically
24:17
transitioning,
24:18
an
24:18
undergrad,
24:19
writing,
24:19
but
24:20
also
24:21
LGBTQ
24:23
nonprofits.
24:23
I
24:24
was
24:24
very
24:24
interested
24:25
in
24:27
gender
24:28
and
24:28
queer
24:28
theory
24:29
and
24:29
grassroots
24:29
organizing.
24:30
And
24:31
so
24:31
that's
24:31
what
24:31
I
24:31
designed
24:32
my
24:32
concentration
24:33
around.
24:34
Interned
24:35
at
24:35
basically
24:36
any
24:36
queer
24:37
nonprofit
24:37
that
24:37
would
24:38
have
24:38
me
24:38
in
24:38
the
24:38
city.
24:39
Sylvia
24:39
Rivera
24:40
Law
24:40
Project
24:41
Queers
24:41
for
24:41
Economic
24:42
justice
24:43
and
24:44
really
24:45
studied
24:45
kind
24:45
of
24:45
how
24:46
those
24:46
organizations
24:47
were
24:47
functioning
24:48
and
24:49
what
24:49
it
24:49
meant
24:50
to
24:50
be
24:50
doing
24:51
the
24:51
kind
24:52
of
24:52
work
24:52
that
24:52
I
24:52
was
24:52
interested
24:53
in
24:53
doing,
24:53
the
24:53
kind
24:54
of
24:54
work
24:54
that
24:54
I
24:54
felt
24:55
like
24:55
I'd
24:55
been
24:55
doing
24:56
in
24:56
more
24:57
formalized
24:57
structures,
24:58
what
24:58
advocacy
24:59
actually
24:59
meant
25:00
at
25:00
the
25:00
city
25:00
and
25:01
state
25:01
level.
25:02
And
25:02
so
25:02
when
25:03
I
25:03
graduated,
25:04
finding
25:05
a
25:05
way
25:05
into
25:06
a
25:06
space
25:06
like
25:06
that
25:07
felt
25:07
like
25:07
the
25:08
pathway.
25:09
And
25:09
for
25:09
me,
25:11
my
25:12
North
25:12
Star
25:12
in
25:13
high
25:13
school
25:13
in
25:14
many
25:14
ways
25:14
had
25:14
been
25:15
Empire
25:16
State
25:16
Pride
25:16
Agenda,
25:17
because
25:17
it
25:17
was
25:18
the
25:18
most
25:18
visible
25:19
local
25:19
organization
25:20
doing
25:20
work,
25:21
and
25:22
it
25:22
was
25:23
New
25:23
York's
25:23
statewide
25:24
LGBTQ
25:25
advocacy
25:26
organization.
25:27
And
25:28
so
25:28
I
25:29
got
25:29
very
25:29
lucky
25:30
that
25:30
the
25:30
executive
25:31
director
25:31
at
25:32
the
25:32
time
25:33
remembered
25:33
me
25:33
from
25:34
a
25:34
lobby
25:34
day
25:35
talking
25:35
about
25:36
dignity
25:36
for
25:36
all
25:36
students
25:38
when
25:38
I
25:38
was
25:39
16.
25:40
And
25:41
he
25:42
said,
25:42
okay,
25:45
let's
25:46
see
25:46
what
25:46
we
25:46
can
25:46
do
25:46
together.
25:47
And
25:47
so
25:47
I
25:47
became
25:47
his
25:47
executive
25:48
assistant.
25:49
And
25:49
that
25:50
was
25:50
my
25:50
first
25:50
job
25:50
out
25:50
of
25:51
college.
25:52
And
25:52
that
25:53
directly
25:54
led
25:54
me
25:55
to
25:55
the
25:55
organization
25:55
that
25:56
I
25:56
work
25:56
for
25:56
now,
25:57
because
25:58
Empire
25:58
State
25:59
Pride
25:59
Agenda
25:59
was
26:00
New
26:00
York's
26:00
member
26:01
of
26:01
Equality
26:01
Federation.
26:03
And
26:03
so
26:04
anyway,
26:04
all
26:05
of
26:05
that,
26:05
and
26:05
I
26:05
went
26:06
to
26:06
grad
26:06
school
26:06
for
26:06
creative
26:07
writing.
26:07
I
26:07
think
26:08
writing
26:08
and
26:08
advocacy
26:09
have
26:09
always
26:10
been
26:10
kind
26:10
of
26:10
the
26:10
two
26:10
halves
26:11
of
26:11
my
26:11
heart
26:12
in
26:12
the
26:12
work,
26:14
but
26:14
it's
26:15
in
26:16
some
26:16
ways
26:16
a
26:16
very.
26:17
A
26:17
non
26:17
linear
26:18
path,
26:18
and
26:18
in
26:18
other
26:18
ways
26:19
it
26:19
feels
26:19
like
26:20
a
26:20
direct
26:20
route
26:21
to
26:21
where
26:21
I've
26:21
always
26:21
been.
26:23
So
26:24
I'm
26:25
struck
26:25
by.
26:26
Well,
26:26
by
26:26
everything
26:27
that
26:27
you
26:27
say,
26:27
actually.
26:28
But
26:28
there
26:28
were
26:28
several
26:29
things
26:29
that,
26:30
as
26:30
I
26:30
was
26:30
listening
26:31
to
26:31
you
26:32
and
26:33
thinking
26:34
about
26:35
dignity
26:35
as
26:35
a
26:36
birthright
26:36
and
26:37
belonging
26:38
and
26:39
knowing
26:39
that
26:40
the
26:40
national
26:41
statistics
26:42
on
26:42
belonging
26:43
in
26:43
schools
26:44
is
26:45
incredibly
26:46
low
26:47
for
26:47
everybody,
26:48
right.
26:48
That,
26:49
you
26:49
know,
26:49
every
26:49
student
26:50
who
26:50
walks
26:50
into.
26:51
Into
26:51
the.
26:52
The
26:52
school
26:52
environment
26:53
struggles
26:54
to.
26:55
To
26:55
belong
26:56
and
26:56
to
26:56
be
26:56
unconditionally
26:57
welcomed.
26:57
And
26:58
then
26:58
you
26:59
said,
26:59
you
27:00
know,
27:01
I
27:01
needed
27:01
to
27:01
be
27:02
in
27:02
a
27:02
place
27:02
where
27:02
I
27:03
could
27:03
breathe.
27:04
And
27:05
then
27:05
I'm
27:05
Thinking,
27:05
okay,
27:06
so
27:06
let's.
27:07
Let's
27:07
unpack
27:08
that
27:08
a
27:08
little
27:08
bit.
27:09
Because
27:10
if
27:10
all
27:11
of
27:11
our
27:11
students,
27:12
regardless
27:12
of
27:13
who
27:13
they
27:13
are
27:13
and
27:13
where
27:13
they
27:13
come
27:14
from,
27:14
are
27:15
struggling
27:16
to
27:17
experience
27:18
belonging
27:18
and
27:19
dignity
27:19
as
27:19
a
27:19
birthright,
27:21
and
27:21
then
27:21
you
27:21
have
27:22
other
27:22
populations
27:23
that,
27:23
in
27:23
addition
27:24
to
27:24
that,
27:26
are
27:26
struggling
27:27
to
27:27
find
27:27
a
27:27
place
27:28
that
27:28
they
27:28
can
27:28
breathe,
27:31
that's
27:31
so
27:32
much
27:32
further
27:34
than
27:34
just
27:35
belonging.
27:37
So
27:38
what
27:38
do
27:38
we
27:38
need
27:38
to
27:39
understand
27:39
about
27:39
that?
27:40
That's
27:41
a
27:41
huge
27:42
statement.
27:42
I
27:43
needed
27:43
to
27:43
be
27:43
in
27:44
a
27:44
place
27:44
where
27:44
I
27:45
could
27:45
breathe.
27:46
What
27:46
do
27:47
educators
27:47
need
27:47
to
27:47
understand
27:48
about
27:48
that
27:48
sentence?
27:50
Or
27:50
actually,
27:51
not
27:51
just
27:51
educators,
27:51
but
27:53
the
27:53
entire
27:54
world.
27:54
Right.
27:56
But
27:56
we
27:56
focus
27:56
on
27:57
educators
27:57
here
27:57
at
27:57
the
27:57
wheelhouse.
27:58
But
27:58
there's
27:59
always
27:59
a
27:59
link
27:59
to
27:59
the
27:59
outside
28:00
world
28:00
as
28:01
well.
28:01
But
28:01
that's
28:02
just.
28:02
That
28:03
is
28:03
such
28:03
a
28:03
powerful
28:04
statement.
28:04
If
28:05
you
28:05
would
28:05
just
28:06
talk
28:06
a
28:06
bit
28:06
for
28:07
a
28:07
moment
28:07
about
28:07
what
28:08
that
28:08
means.
28:09
Yeah,
28:09
yeah.
28:10
You
28:10
know,
28:11
I'm
28:11
struck
28:12
by
28:12
how
28:13
Michael
28:14
framed
28:14
the
28:14
way
28:14
that
28:15
I
28:15
made
28:15
space
28:15
for
28:16
other
28:16
people,
28:17
because
28:17
it
28:17
never
28:17
felt
28:18
like
28:18
I
28:18
was
28:18
trying
28:18
to
28:19
make
28:19
space
28:19
for
28:19
other
28:19
people.
28:20
It
28:20
always
28:20
felt
28:21
like
28:21
I
28:21
was
28:21
trying
28:21
to
28:22
make
28:22
room
28:23
for
28:23
myself
28:24
where
28:24
I
28:24
was,
28:25
whether
28:25
that
28:26
was
28:26
talking
28:27
about
28:27
Transgender
28:28
Day
28:28
of
28:28
Remembrance
28:29
or
28:29
coming
28:30
to
28:30
the
28:30
gsa.
28:31
Right.
28:31
Like,
28:31
I,
28:32
the
28:32
first.
28:33
My
28:33
first
28:33
week
28:33
of
28:34
high
28:34
school,
28:34
I
28:34
went
28:35
and
28:36
became
28:36
a
28:37
member
28:37
of
28:37
the
28:37
alliance
28:38
because
28:39
that
28:40
was
28:40
a
28:40
place
28:40
that
28:40
I,
28:41
I
28:41
knew
28:41
already
28:41
existed.
28:42
And
28:42
I
28:42
knew
28:43
that,
28:43
thankfully,
28:43
from
28:43
my
28:44
brother,
28:44
who
28:44
isn't.
28:45
Who
28:45
is
28:45
six
28:45
years
28:46
older,
28:46
you
28:46
know,
28:46
and
28:47
had
28:47
been
28:48
through
28:48
the
28:48
school
28:48
before,
28:49
before
28:50
me.
28:50
And.
28:51
And
28:53
so
28:53
having
28:53
that
28:53
be
28:54
that
28:54
place
28:54
where
28:54
I
28:55
could
28:56
know
28:56
that
28:56
I
28:57
belonged,
28:58
because
28:58
I
28:58
felt
28:58
like
28:59
I
28:59
already
28:59
belonged
28:59
there.
29:00
I
29:00
felt
29:00
like
29:00
I
29:01
had
29:01
wanted
29:01
a
29:01
GSA
29:02
in
29:02
middle
29:02
school.
29:03
I
29:04
was
29:05
trying
29:05
to
29:05
do
29:05
that
29:06
there
29:07
to
29:07
make
29:07
some
29:07
space.
29:08
And
29:08
I
29:09
think
29:09
what
29:10
happens
29:12
when
29:13
there
29:13
aren't
29:13
those
29:13
spaces
29:14
that
29:14
are
29:14
already
29:15
created
29:16
is
29:16
that
29:17
for
29:17
me,
29:18
my
29:18
experience
29:19
was
29:19
that
29:19
I
29:19
either
29:20
had
29:20
to
29:20
do
29:20
it
29:20
myself
29:22
or
29:24
find
29:24
some
29:24
other
29:24
like
29:25
minded
29:25
people
29:25
who
29:26
are
29:26
trying
29:26
to
29:26
do
29:26
it
29:27
and
29:27
do
29:27
it
29:27
with
29:27
them.
29:29
But
29:30
it's
29:30
a
29:30
lot
29:31
harder
29:31
when
29:31
those
29:31
spaces
29:32
don't
29:32
exist
29:33
already
29:34
because
29:34
it
29:34
doesn't
29:35
feel
29:35
like
29:35
there's
29:36
room
29:36
for
29:36
them
29:36
to
29:36
exist.
29:37
And
29:37
it
29:37
doesn't
29:37
feel.
29:38
Didn't
29:38
feel
29:38
like
29:38
there
29:38
was
29:39
room
29:39
for
29:39
me
29:39
to
29:39
exist
29:40
at
29:40
Brooklyn
29:41
College.
29:42
And
29:43
I,
29:43
I
29:43
was
29:44
so.
29:44
For.
29:45
I,
29:45
you
29:45
know,
29:45
I
29:45
spent
29:46
four
29:46
years
29:46
kind
29:46
of
29:47
working
29:47
and
29:47
chipping
29:48
at.
29:48
In
29:48
our
29:48
high
29:49
school,
29:50
and
29:51
I
29:51
was
29:52
so
29:52
ready
29:53
to
29:53
not
29:53
do
29:53
that.
29:54
I.
29:54
To
29:55
just
29:55
have
29:56
a
29:56
little
29:56
bit
29:56
of
29:56
a
29:56
rest
29:57
and
29:57
to
29:58
feel
29:58
like
29:58
I
29:58
could
29:58
walk
29:59
into
29:59
a
29:59
room
29:59
where
29:59
that
30:00
work
30:00
had
30:00
already
30:00
been
30:00
done.
30:02
And
30:04
I
30:05
think
30:05
it's
30:05
true
30:05
for
30:05
so
30:06
many
30:06
people
30:06
in
30:06
so
30:07
many
30:07
ways.
30:08
I
30:08
feel
30:08
it
30:08
so
30:09
acutely
30:09
for
30:09
queer
30:09
and
30:10
trans
30:10
folks,
30:10
especially
30:11
students,
30:13
but
30:15
having
30:15
teachers
30:16
who
30:16
are
30:16
willing
30:16
to
30:17
make
30:17
some
30:17
space,
30:17
having
30:19
other
30:20
kinds
30:20
of
30:21
folks
30:21
who
30:21
are
30:21
interested
30:22
in
30:22
those
30:22
conversations.
30:23
And
30:23
for
30:23
me,
30:24
that
30:24
meant
30:24
that
30:24
I
30:24
plugged
30:25
into
30:25
every
30:25
conversation
30:26
where
30:27
that
30:27
might
30:28
even
30:28
kind
30:29
of
30:29
talk
30:29
about
30:29
LGBTQ
30:30
issues.
30:30
Like,
30:31
I
30:31
got
30:31
involved
30:32
with
30:32
ncbi,
30:33
the
30:33
National
30:34
Coalition
30:34
Building
30:34
Institute,
30:35
in
30:35
part
30:36
because
30:36
they
30:36
were
30:36
talking
30:37
about
30:37
diversity,
30:37
they
30:37
were
30:38
talking
30:38
about
30:38
inclusion
30:39
in
30:40
ways
30:40
that
30:40
felt
30:41
like
30:41
the
30:41
conversations
30:42
that
30:42
I
30:42
wanted
30:42
to
30:43
be
30:43
involved
30:43
in.
30:45
But
30:45
I.
30:46
What
30:46
it
30:46
means
30:47
to
30:47
be
30:47
able
30:47
to
30:47
breathe
30:48
in
30:48
a
30:48
space,
30:49
I
30:49
think
30:49
is
30:49
so
30:49
different
30:50
for
30:50
everybody.
30:51
But
30:51
for
30:51
me,
30:54
it
30:55
meant
30:55
that
30:55
someone
30:56
else
30:56
like
30:57
me
30:57
might
30:57
have
30:58
passed
30:58
through
30:58
those
30:58
doors
30:59
before
30:59
me.
31:01
And
31:01
I
31:02
think
31:02
that
31:02
that
31:02
is
31:02
still
31:03
what
31:03
I
31:03
look
31:04
for
31:04
in
31:04
a
31:04
space.
31:06
And
31:06
when
31:06
I
31:07
am
31:07
trying
31:08
to
31:08
find
31:08
my
31:08
home,
31:09
right?
31:09
This
31:09
is
31:10
true.
31:10
When
31:10
I
31:11
found
31:11
a
31:12
synagogue,
31:12
right,
31:13
Like
31:13
I
31:13
found
31:13
a
31:13
synagogue
31:14
after
31:15
college
31:15
here
31:16
in
31:16
Brooklyn
31:16
that
31:16
is,
31:17
like,
31:17
still
31:17
my
31:18
spiritual
31:18
home
31:20
that
31:21
I
31:22
had
31:22
been.
31:22
I
31:22
tried
31:22
on
31:23
a
31:23
bunch,
31:23
and
31:24
there
31:25
were
31:25
so
31:25
many
31:25
places
31:26
where
31:26
I
31:26
walked
31:27
in
31:27
the
31:27
door
31:27
and
31:27
I
31:27
felt
31:28
like
31:28
I
31:28
was
31:28
the
31:28
first
31:29
trans
31:29
person
31:29
who
31:29
had
31:30
ever
31:30
walked
31:31
through
31:31
that
31:31
door.
31:32
And
31:32
the
31:32
place
31:33
that
31:33
I
31:33
found,
31:33
I
31:34
didn't
31:34
feel
31:34
like
31:34
that
31:35
because.
31:36
And
31:36
it's
31:36
true,
31:37
I
31:37
was
31:37
not.
31:38
They
31:38
had
31:38
had
31:38
those
31:39
conversations.
31:39
They
31:39
had
31:39
gender
31:40
neutral
31:40
bathrooms.
31:41
And
31:41
sometimes
31:41
it's
31:42
as
31:42
simple
31:43
as
31:43
something
31:43
like
31:43
that
31:44
where
31:44
it's
31:44
like,
31:45
they're,
31:45
okay,
31:45
you've
31:46
at
31:46
least
31:46
had
31:46
a
31:46
conversation
31:47
about
31:47
bathrooms.
31:48
That
31:48
means
31:48
that
31:49
we
31:49
don't
31:49
have
31:49
to
31:49
start
31:49
there.
31:50
We
31:50
can
31:51
have
31:51
a
31:51
different
31:52
level
31:52
of
31:52
conversation
31:53
when
31:53
I
31:53
come
31:53
through
31:53
this
31:54
door.
31:56
So
31:56
I'm
31:56
reeling
31:57
in
31:58
a
31:58
good
31:58
way.
32:01
When
32:02
you
32:02
talk
32:02
about
32:02
breathing,
32:03
that
32:03
resonates
32:04
strongly
32:05
for
32:05
me.
32:09
I
32:09
can't
32:10
breathe.
32:12
Emotes
32:13
a
32:13
lot
32:14
for
32:14
me.
32:16
Emotes
32:16
a
32:17
lot
32:17
for
32:17
all
32:17
of
32:17
us.
32:18
So
32:19
I
32:19
kind
32:19
of
32:19
want
32:20
to
32:20
sit
32:20
there
32:21
and
32:21
thank
32:22
you
32:22
for
32:23
leaning
32:24
into
32:24
that
32:26
and
32:26
lifting
32:26
that
32:27
up.
32:28
I
32:28
want
32:28
to
32:28
talk
32:28
about
32:29
environmental
32:30
shifts.
32:31
As
32:32
somebody
32:32
who
32:32
was
32:32
raised
32:33
in
32:33
New
32:33
York
32:34
City,
32:35
understanding
32:36
community
32:36
and
32:37
neighborhoods,
32:39
I
32:39
understand
32:40
the
32:40
need
32:40
for
32:40
you
32:40
to
32:41
move
32:41
from
32:41
Brooklyn
32:42
College
32:42
to
32:42
Gallatin.
32:43
Right.
32:44
So
32:45
what
32:45
is
32:45
community
32:47
and
32:47
acceptance
32:49
and
32:49
mattering?
32:52
I
32:52
kind
32:52
of
32:52
wanted
32:53
to
32:53
focus
32:53
on
32:54
that
32:54
because
32:55
it's
32:56
hard
32:56
to
32:56
create
32:57
spaces.
32:58
And
32:59
what
32:59
the
32:59
listeners
33:00
don't
33:00
see
33:01
is
33:01
everyone
33:02
nodding
33:02
their
33:02
head
33:02
in
33:03
this
33:03
space
33:03
when
33:04
you're
33:04
talking
33:04
about
33:05
certain
33:05
things,
33:06
like
33:08
the
33:08
burden
33:09
of
33:10
creating
33:10
a
33:11
space
33:11
instead
33:12
of
33:12
being
33:12
accepted.
33:14
Thank
33:14
you,
33:15
Michael.
33:15
Right.
33:16
For
33:16
being
33:17
the
33:18
teacher
33:18
that
33:18
accepted
33:19
and
33:19
created
33:20
a
33:20
space
33:22
so
33:22
that
33:23
Mel
33:23
didn't
33:23
have
33:23
to
33:24
not
33:24
only
33:24
be
33:24
burdened
33:25
with
33:25
the.
33:26
The
33:26
beauty
33:26
of
33:27
uplifting
33:27
his
33:28
intersectionality
33:30
and
33:30
the
33:31
richness
33:31
of
33:31
that.
33:32
And
33:32
now
33:32
you
33:33
have
33:33
to
33:33
create
33:33
a
33:33
space
33:34
because
33:34
I'm
33:35
not
33:35
the
33:36
square
33:36
peg
33:36
that
33:37
fits
33:37
in
33:37
the
33:37
round
33:37
hole.
33:40
Okay,
33:42
that's
33:42
major.
33:43
And
33:43
I
33:44
really
33:44
wanted
33:44
to
33:45
sit.
33:45
And
33:46
I
33:46
don't
33:46
know
33:46
if
33:46
this
33:47
connects,
33:47
Michael,
33:47
with
33:48
what
33:48
you
33:48
were
33:48
going
33:48
to
33:48
uplift
33:49
in
33:49
your
33:49
thoughts
33:51
around
33:52
space
33:55
and
33:56
an
33:56
extension
33:57
of
33:57
grant
33:58
and
33:58
dignity
33:59
and
34:00
human
34:00
dignity.
34:02
I
34:03
really
34:03
want
34:03
us
34:03
to
34:04
continue
34:04
because
34:04
we've
34:05
been
34:05
building
34:05
up
34:06
with
34:06
each
34:06
and
34:06
every
34:07
one
34:07
of
34:07
our
34:07
episodes
34:08
to
34:09
hear.
34:10
And
34:12
one
34:12
of
34:13
my
34:13
norms
34:13
is
34:13
we
34:13
got
34:14
to
34:14
go
34:14
slow
34:14
in
34:14
order
34:15
to
34:15
gain
34:15
momentum,
34:16
to
34:16
go
34:16
fast.
34:18
Hopefully
34:18
we
34:18
can
34:19
marinate
34:19
in
34:19
this
34:20
space
34:20
a
34:20
bit
34:21
and
34:21
unpack
34:21
it
34:22
a
34:22
little
34:22
bit
34:22
more
34:23
for
34:23
the
34:24
listeners,
34:25
because
34:25
this
34:25
requires
34:26
a
34:26
lot
34:26
of
34:27
a
34:28
paradigm
34:29
seeking,
34:31
self
34:31
reflection,
34:33
the
34:34
who
34:34
I
34:34
am.
34:36
So
34:36
it's
34:37
looking
34:37
at
34:37
me
34:38
instead
34:38
of
34:39
pointing
34:39
at
34:39
everyone
34:40
else.
34:41
It
34:41
talks
34:41
a
34:42
lot
34:42
around
34:43
what
34:43
I
34:43
first
34:44
started
34:44
with,
34:45
with
34:45
the
34:46
introduction
34:46
of
34:46
fragility
34:47
into
34:47
the
34:48
conversation.
34:49
So
34:50
I.
34:50
I
34:51
like
34:51
us
34:52
to
34:52
sit
34:52
with
34:52
this
34:52
a
34:53
little
34:53
bit
34:53
more.
34:54
And
34:55
Michael,
34:55
I
34:56
definitely
34:56
welcome
34:57
your
34:58
thoughts
34:58
around
34:59
this.
35:00
I'm
35:00
just
35:01
so
35:01
glad
35:01
that
35:02
you
35:03
paused
35:04
and
35:04
just
35:04
had
35:05
us
35:05
stay
35:05
in
35:05
the
35:06
moment
35:06
of
35:06
I
35:06
can't
35:07
breathe
35:08
and
35:09
to
35:09
hear
35:11
that
35:11
voice
35:12
again,
35:13
speaking
35:14
for
35:14
so
35:14
many
35:14
of
35:14
us,
35:19
you
35:19
know,
35:19
for
35:20
those
35:20
of
35:20
us
35:20
who
35:21
were
35:21
educated
35:22
in
35:24
leadership
35:25
tradition,
35:26
you
35:26
know,
35:27
there.
35:27
There
35:27
was
35:29
a
35:29
very
35:29
influential
35:31
author
35:32
and
35:33
book,
35:34
the
35:34
Seven
35:34
Habits
35:35
of
35:35
Highly
35:35
Effective
35:36
People,
35:36
Stephen
35:37
Covey.
35:38
And
35:39
his
35:39
first
35:41
habit
35:42
was
35:42
seek
35:43
first
35:44
to
35:45
understand
35:46
before
35:46
expecting
35:47
to
35:47
be
35:47
understood.
35:48
And
35:48
it
35:48
was
35:49
just
35:49
a
35:49
really
35:49
concise
35:50
way
35:50
of
35:51
speaking
35:51
the
35:51
truth
35:53
that
35:53
helped
35:54
me
35:54
understand
35:54
that
35:55
that's
35:55
what
35:55
I
35:55
was
35:55
aspiring
35:56
to
35:56
all
35:56
the
35:57
time.
35:57
I
35:57
was
35:57
trying
35:58
to
35:58
be
35:58
that
35:58
kind
35:59
of
35:59
presence
35:59
where
36:00
I
36:00
was
36:01
working
36:01
harder
36:02
to
36:03
gain
36:03
understanding
36:04
before
36:04
I
36:04
was
36:05
trying
36:05
to
36:05
make
36:05
my
36:05
point.
36:07
And,
36:08
Mel,
36:08
when
36:08
you
36:08
were
36:09
talking
36:09
about
36:09
the
36:10
experience
36:10
of
36:11
always
36:11
carrying
36:11
the
36:12
burden
36:12
of
36:12
trying
36:12
to
36:13
make
36:13
room
36:13
for
36:14
your
36:14
own
36:14
being
36:16
and
36:16
how
36:16
exhausting
36:17
that
36:17
is
36:18
for
36:18
everybody
36:20
who
36:20
does
36:21
not
36:21
see
36:21
themselves
36:23
in
36:23
the
36:23
center
36:24
of
36:24
the
36:24
dominant
36:25
culture,
36:27
but
36:27
is
36:28
crushed
36:29
beneath
36:29
its
36:29
blindness
36:30
and
36:30
its
36:31
blind,
36:31
ponderous
36:32
weight.
36:34
And
36:35
I
36:36
just
36:36
feel
36:37
like
36:37
when
36:38
we're
36:38
reminded
36:39
of
36:39
that
36:39
simple
36:39
tenet
36:40
that,
36:41
hey,
36:41
if
36:41
we
36:41
just
36:42
try
36:42
to
36:42
understand
36:43
first
36:43
before
36:43
we
36:44
expect
36:44
to
36:44
be
36:45
understood,
36:46
as
36:47
people
36:47
who
36:48
have
36:48
the
36:48
privilege
36:49
of
36:49
being
36:50
centered
36:50
in
36:50
that
36:50
dominant
36:51
culture,
36:53
we
36:54
can
36:54
easily
36:55
and
36:55
gracefully
36:56
make
36:57
room
36:57
for
36:58
everything.
37:00
What
37:00
was
37:00
clear
37:01
to
37:01
me
37:01
when
37:02
I
37:02
first
37:02
began
37:03
working
37:03
with
37:03
you,
37:03
Mel,
37:05
was
37:05
your
37:05
brilliance.
37:07
You
37:07
were
37:07
brilliantly
37:08
kind,
37:09
you
37:09
were
37:09
brilliantly
37:10
intelligent,
37:11
you
37:12
were
37:12
brilliantly
37:12
resourceful,
37:14
and
37:15
you
37:16
were
37:16
brilliantly
37:17
committed
37:18
to
37:18
yourself.
37:20
I
37:21
felt
37:21
it
37:21
in
37:22
each
37:22
of
37:22
our
37:22
conversations,
37:24
and
37:24
it
37:24
helped
37:24
me
37:25
understand
37:26
the
37:26
role
37:26
I
37:27
could
37:27
play
37:28
as
37:30
a
37:30
co
37:31
conspirator,
37:32
as
37:33
a
37:33
collaborator,
37:35
as
37:36
somebody
37:37
who
37:37
was
37:37
going
37:37
to
37:38
be
37:38
learning
37:38
right
37:38
with
37:38
you,
37:40
that
37:41
I
37:42
could
37:43
use
37:44
my
37:45
position
37:45
to
37:46
clear
37:46
the
37:46
way
37:47
so
37:48
that
37:49
everything
37:50
good
37:50
that
37:50
was
37:51
so
37:51
evident
37:52
could
37:52
grow.
37:54
And
37:54
that's
37:55
essentially
37:56
the
37:56
work
37:56
of
37:57
educators.
37:59
That's
37:59
our
37:59
job
38:00
with
38:00
each
38:00
child,
38:02
and
38:04
we
38:05
talk
38:05
about
38:06
it
38:06
in
38:06
terms
38:06
of
38:06
being
38:07
an
38:07
ally.
38:09
But
38:09
to
38:09
me,
38:11
we
38:12
are
38:12
cultivators
38:13
of
38:13
hope.
38:15
To
38:16
once
38:17
again
38:17
take
38:17
Dr.
38:17
Monroe's
38:18
phrase,
38:19
we're
38:20
cultivators
38:20
of
38:20
hope.
38:21
And
38:22
however
38:22
that
38:23
child
38:23
comes
38:24
into
38:25
our
38:25
midst,
38:27
to
38:27
first
38:28
learn
38:28
that
38:29
person
38:29
as
38:29
well
38:29
as
38:30
we
38:30
can,
38:31
to
38:31
understand
38:32
and
38:32
understand
38:33
and
38:33
never
38:34
feel
38:34
that
38:34
we
38:34
are
38:34
done
38:35
with
38:35
that
38:36
particular
38:36
part
38:36
of
38:37
the
38:37
work.
38:39
And
38:40
then
38:40
to
38:41
clear
38:41
the
38:41
way,
38:42
to
38:42
raise
38:42
up
38:43
and
38:43
to
38:43
make
38:44
evident
38:44
what
38:45
it
38:45
is
38:45
we
38:45
see
38:46
in
38:46
you
38:46
that
38:47
cannot
38:47
be
38:48
stopped.
38:49
And
38:50
so
38:50
that's
38:50
what
38:50
I'm
38:51
reminded
38:51
of.
38:53
And
38:53
I'm
38:54
also
38:54
feeling
38:55
that
38:55
burden
38:56
that
38:57
as
38:57
a
38:57
privileged
38:58
individual,
38:59
there
39:00
are
39:00
so
39:00
many
39:00
burdens
39:00
I
39:01
don't
39:01
have
39:01
to
39:01
carry.
39:03
But
39:03
I
39:03
can
39:03
see
39:04
the
39:04
weariness
39:05
on
39:05
my
39:05
friends.
39:08
And,
39:09
you
39:09
know,
39:09
just
39:10
when
39:10
you
39:10
walk
39:11
into
39:11
temple
39:12
and
39:12
you
39:13
see
39:14
that
39:14
they
39:14
already
39:15
have,
39:17
you
39:17
know,
39:18
gender
39:18
neutral
39:18
bathrooms,
39:20
I
39:20
mean,
39:21
you
39:21
know,
39:21
we
39:21
can.
39:22
We
39:22
can
39:22
be
39:23
reductive
39:24
inappropriately
39:25
and
39:26
say,
39:26
hey,
39:27
these
39:27
rights
39:27
are
39:27
just
39:28
about
39:28
people
39:28
wanting
39:29
to
39:29
go
39:29
into
39:29
any
39:29
bathroom
39:30
they
39:30
want,
39:31
or
39:31
we
39:32
can
39:32
be
39:33
reductive
39:33
positively
39:34
and
39:34
understand
39:35
that
39:36
when
39:36
you
39:37
choose
39:37
to
39:38
say,
39:39
we
39:39
get
39:39
it,
39:40
we
39:40
understand,
39:41
and
39:41
I'm
39:42
doing
39:42
for
39:42
you
39:42
what
39:43
I
39:43
hope
39:43
somebody
39:43
would
39:44
do
39:44
for
39:44
my
39:44
own
39:44
child
39:45
and
39:45
me.
39:47
The
39:47
power
39:48
of
39:48
that
39:48
simple
39:49
statement
39:50
is
39:50
infinite.
39:52
It
39:52
signals
39:53
so
39:53
many
39:53
things.
39:54
So
39:55
I'm
39:55
just
39:55
grateful
39:56
that,
39:56
you
39:56
know,
39:56
as
39:57
part
39:57
of
39:57
that
39:57
story,
39:58
you
39:58
were
39:58
able
39:58
to
39:58
talk
39:59
about
39:59
some
39:59
of
39:59
the
39:59
simple
40:00
moves
40:00
that
40:00
often,
40:01
often
40:02
get
40:02
mischaracterized,
40:03
but
40:04
they're
40:05
really
40:06
the
40:06
expression
40:07
of
40:07
humanity.
40:09
And
40:10
so
40:11
thank
40:11
you
40:11
for
40:11
that.
40:13
But
40:14
there's
40:14
the
40:14
flip
40:14
side
40:15
to
40:15
that,
40:16
Michael,
40:17
and
40:17
that
40:17
is
40:17
that,
40:18
yes,
40:18
our
40:18
job
40:19
is
40:19
to
40:19
cultivate
40:20
hope,
40:21
but
40:21
in
40:22
many
40:22
cases,
40:23
the
40:23
negative,
40:24
the
40:24
flip
40:25
side
40:25
is
40:25
that
40:25
we're
40:26
killing
40:26
dreams.
40:27
That's
40:27
right.
40:28
Right.
40:28
We're
40:28
killing
40:29
dreams.
40:29
And
40:29
we
40:30
have
40:30
to,
40:30
you
40:30
know,
40:31
we
40:31
have
40:31
to
40:31
keep
40:32
reminding
40:32
ourselves
40:33
that
40:34
there
40:34
are
40:34
children,
40:35
students,
40:36
young
40:36
adults,
40:38
adults
40:38
in
40:38
the
40:38
world,
40:39
right?
40:40
Whether
40:41
they
40:41
are
40:41
LGBTQIA
40:42
or
40:43
they
40:43
come
40:43
from
40:44
some
40:44
other
40:44
marginalized
40:46
group
40:47
of
40:47
people
40:48
that
40:48
are
40:49
looking
40:50
for
40:50
a
40:50
place
40:51
where
40:51
they
40:52
can
40:52
breathe.
40:54
And
40:54
I
40:54
think
40:55
we
40:55
have
40:55
to
40:55
remember,
40:57
right?
40:58
And
40:58
I'm
40:58
going
40:58
to
40:58
ask.
40:59
I'm
40:59
going
40:59
to
40:59
ask
41:00
Mel
41:00
to
41:00
talk
41:01
about
41:01
that
41:01
for
41:01
just
41:01
a
41:01
minute.
41:02
Right.
41:02
In
41:02
2025,
41:05
we
41:05
have
41:05
to
41:05
remember
41:06
that
41:06
we
41:06
only
41:07
as
41:07
educators,
41:08
as
41:08
humans,
41:09
there
41:09
are
41:09
only
41:09
two
41:10
options,
41:10
right?
41:11
Cultivate
41:11
hope
41:12
or
41:13
kill
41:13
a
41:13
dream.
41:15
That's
41:15
it.
41:17
Our
41:17
actions,
41:18
our
41:18
Actions
41:20
contribute
41:21
to
41:21
one
41:21
of
41:22
those
41:22
two
41:23
possibilities.
41:26
It
41:26
would
41:26
be
41:26
criminal.
41:28
It
41:28
would
41:29
be
41:29
criminal
41:29
to
41:29
think
41:30
that
41:30
we
41:31
would
41:31
do
41:31
anything
41:33
that
41:33
would
41:33
put
41:34
Mel
41:34
King
41:35
or
41:35
anybody
41:35
else
41:35
in
41:36
a
41:36
place
41:37
where
41:37
they
41:37
are
41:37
unable
41:38
to
41:38
breathe.
41:42
Just
41:43
sitting
41:43
in
41:43
it
41:43
for
41:43
a
41:43
moment.
41:44
But
41:47
I
41:48
think
41:49
some
41:50
of
41:50
the
41:50
most
41:50
impactful
41:52
actions
41:52
that
41:52
anybody
41:53
took
41:53
that
41:54
gave
41:54
me
41:54
hope
41:55
was
41:56
to
41:56
just
41:57
make
41:57
a
41:57
little
41:58
space
41:58
for
41:59
possibility.
42:00
And
42:01
I
42:01
think
42:01
that
42:02
in
42:02
this
42:03
moment,
42:04
what
42:04
it
42:04
means
42:05
to
42:05
make
42:05
a
42:05
little
42:05
space
42:06
for
42:06
possibility
42:09
is
42:09
a
42:09
bigger,
42:09
bolder
42:10
act
42:10
than
42:11
it
42:11
might
42:11
have
42:11
been
42:11
in
42:11
2004.
42:12
Even
42:13
though
42:13
it
42:13
was
42:13
a
42:13
big,
42:13
bold
42:14
act
42:14
in
42:14
2004,
42:15
in
42:16
many
42:16
ways,
42:16
I
42:16
actually
42:16
think
42:17
that
42:17
it
42:17
was
42:17
a
42:17
big,
42:17
bold
42:18
act,
42:18
and
42:18
then
42:18
maybe
42:19
not
42:19
as
42:19
big
42:19
a
42:19
bold
42:19
an
42:20
act
42:20
and
42:20
then
42:20
a
42:20
big,
42:20
bold
42:21
act
42:21
again,
42:21
because
42:22
I
42:22
think
42:22
we.
42:23
We
42:23
moved
42:23
through
42:24
a
42:24
moment
42:25
as.
42:26
As.
42:27
As
42:27
Americans,
42:28
as
42:28
a
42:28
society
42:30
where
42:31
we
42:31
saw
42:32
a
42:32
steady
42:32
accumulation
42:33
of
42:33
legal
42:34
rights
42:34
and
42:35
protections
42:35
for
42:36
LGBTQ
42:37
people
42:37
and
42:38
broader
42:39
understanding
42:41
or,
42:41
you
42:42
know,
42:42
at
42:42
least
42:43
the
42:43
sloganeering
42:44
of
42:45
compassion
42:46
in
42:46
the
42:46
Love
42:47
is
42:47
love.
42:48
But
42:48
I
42:48
think
42:49
that
42:51
what
42:51
it
42:51
means
42:52
now
42:53
is
42:53
that
42:54
any
42:55
act
42:56
to
42:56
say,
42:57
I
42:57
am
42:57
an
42:57
ally
42:57
to
42:58
LGBTQ
42:59
people,
43:00
to
43:00
say
43:00
that
43:00
I
43:00
am
43:01
an.
43:01
I
43:01
am
43:01
a
43:02
person
43:02
who
43:03
is
43:03
going
43:03
to
43:03
make
43:03
space
43:03
for
43:04
diversity
43:04
and
43:05
equity
43:05
and
43:05
inclusion
43:06
in
43:07
my
43:07
classroom,
43:08
what
43:08
that
43:08
means
43:09
right
43:09
now
43:09
is
43:10
that
43:11
it
43:11
might
43:11
put
43:11
a
43:11
target
43:11
on
43:12
your
43:12
back.
43:12
It
43:12
might
43:12
mean
43:13
that
43:13
you
43:13
lose
43:13
your
43:13
job.
43:14
Like,
43:14
there
43:14
are,
43:15
like,
43:15
real
43:15
and
43:16
true
43:16
ramifications
43:17
for
43:18
putting
43:18
yourself
43:18
out
43:18
there
43:19
in
43:19
this
43:19
moment
43:20
and
43:22
making
43:22
what
43:23
it.
43:23
The.
43:25
The
43:27
flip
43:27
side
43:27
of
43:28
not
43:28
doing
43:28
that
43:28
is
43:29
that
43:30
suicide
43:30
rates
43:30
are
43:31
already
43:31
on
43:32
the
43:32
rise.
43:32
Right.
43:33
And
43:33
that
43:33
we
43:33
will
43:33
lose
43:34
students
43:35
when
43:36
teachers
43:36
choose
43:37
not
43:37
to,
43:38
or
43:38
choose
43:38
not
43:38
to
43:39
say
43:39
the
43:39
thing
43:39
that
43:40
may
43:40
be
43:40
controversial
43:41
or
43:42
to
43:42
put
43:42
that
43:43
book
43:43
away
43:43
or
43:44
to
43:44
allow
43:45
for
43:46
these
43:46
school
43:46
boards
43:47
to
43:47
come
43:47
for
43:49
the
43:49
materials
43:50
that
43:50
are
43:50
going
43:51
to
43:51
make
43:51
a
43:51
little
43:52
bit
43:52
of
43:52
possibility
43:53
for
43:53
students
43:54
of
43:54
all
43:55
kinds.
43:57
And
43:58
so
43:58
I
43:58
worry
43:59
so
43:59
much
43:59
about
44:00
students
44:00
now
44:01
who
44:01
have,
44:01
in
44:02
many
44:02
ways,
44:02
more
44:02
access
44:03
to
44:03
information
44:03
than
44:04
anyone
44:04
has
44:04
ever
44:04
had
44:05
before,
44:05
and
44:05
in
44:06
other
44:06
ways
44:07
are
44:07
being
44:08
told
44:09
that
44:09
there
44:10
is
44:10
not
44:10
space
44:10
for
44:11
you.
44:11
And,
44:12
in
44:12
fact,
44:12
we
44:12
do
44:12
not
44:13
want
44:13
you
44:13
here
44:13
in
44:13
our
44:14
classroom,
44:14
in
44:15
the
44:15
school,
44:15
in
44:16
this
44:16
state,
44:17
in
44:18
this
44:18
world.
44:19
In
44:19
this
44:19
world.
44:20
Yeah.
44:20
Not
44:20
as
44:21
you
44:21
are.
44:21
Not
44:21
as
44:21
you
44:21
are.
44:22
Yeah.
44:22
You
44:22
have
44:22
to
44:23
change.
44:24
Yeah.
44:25
And
44:25
I.
44:26
So
44:26
I
44:26
think
44:26
that
44:27
it
44:27
is
44:27
not
44:27
a
44:28
small
44:28
thing
44:29
to
44:29
do
44:30
this
44:30
work
44:30
right
44:30
now.
44:31
It
44:31
has
44:31
never
44:31
been
44:32
a
44:32
small
44:32
thing.
44:33
And
44:34
the
44:34
humanity
44:35
that
44:35
it
44:35
requires
44:36
and
44:36
the
44:36
compassion
44:37
and
44:37
the
44:37
care
44:39
is
44:39
a
44:40
little
44:40
bit.
44:40
It's
44:40
asking
44:41
more.
44:41
It's
44:41
asking
44:42
more
44:42
of
44:42
educators,
44:42
I
44:43
think,
44:43
in
44:43
this
44:43
moment.
44:45
And
44:45
I
44:45
will
44:46
say
44:46
that
44:47
sometimes
44:47
that's
44:47
as
44:48
simple
44:48
as
44:48
opening
44:49
your
44:49
classroom
44:50
after
44:50
school.
44:50
Right.
44:51
And
44:52
letting
44:53
the
44:53
students
44:53
do
44:54
what
44:54
they
44:54
will
44:54
do.
44:55
And
44:56
what
44:56
that
44:56
meant
44:57
for
44:57
me
44:57
in
44:58
high
44:58
school
44:58
was
44:59
that
44:59
whoever
45:00
came,
45:00
came
45:01
into
45:01
that
45:02
room
45:02
and
45:03
we
45:04
made
45:04
community
45:05
with
45:05
who
45:05
showed
45:05
up.
45:07
And
45:08
I
45:08
loved
45:09
Alicia.
45:09
You
45:09
bring
45:10
the
45:10
community
45:10
piece
45:11
into
45:11
it
45:12
because
45:14
work
45:15
in
45:15
community
45:16
is
45:16
not
45:16
easy
45:17
work.
45:17
I
45:17
think
45:18
that
45:18
especially
45:19
right
45:19
now,
45:19
I
45:20
think
45:21
community
45:21
organizing
45:22
gets
45:23
lifted
45:23
up
45:23
as
45:23
a.
45:24
That's
45:24
where
45:24
we
45:25
go.
45:25
And
45:26
I
45:26
agree.
45:26
And
45:26
I
45:26
think
45:26
that
45:27
is
45:27
where
45:27
we
45:27
go.
45:28
And
45:28
I
45:29
think
45:29
that
45:29
is
45:29
how
45:29
we
45:29
move
45:30
hearts
45:30
and
45:30
minds
45:31
and
45:32
turn
45:32
back
45:33
what.
45:33
What
45:33
is
45:34
happening.
45:35
And
45:35
that
45:36
work
45:36
is
45:36
not
45:37
small.
45:37
The
45:38
work
45:38
of
45:38
relationship
45:39
and
45:40
conflict
45:40
and
45:41
repair
45:41
and
45:41
struggle
45:42
and
45:43
trying
45:44
to
45:44
build
45:44
and
45:45
move
45:45
together
45:46
is
45:47
hard
45:48
work
45:48
and
45:48
it
45:48
is
45:48
deeply
45:49
necessary.
45:50
And
45:51
students
45:51
get
45:52
a
45:52
taste
45:52
of
45:52
that
45:53
in
45:53
an
45:54
after
45:54
school
45:54
club
45:55
where
45:55
they
45:56
can
45:56
start
45:56
to
45:57
imagine
45:58
what
45:58
is
45:58
possible
45:59
together
46:01
and
46:01
make
46:01
some
46:02
space
46:02
for
46:02
conversations
46:03
that
46:03
show
46:03
up.
46:04
Weird
46:04
conversations,
46:05
good
46:05
conversations,
46:06
rowdy
46:07
conversations.
46:10
Human
46:10
conversations,
46:11
beautiful
46:12
ones.
46:12
Yeah,
46:15
I
46:15
want
46:15
to,
46:16
I
46:16
just
46:16
want
46:16
to
46:16
say
46:16
thank
46:16
you,
46:17
Mel,
46:17
for
46:17
joining
46:18
us
46:18
today
46:19
in
46:19
the
46:19
Wheelhouse.
46:20
My
46:20
only
46:21
regret
46:21
is
46:21
that
46:22
I
46:22
didn't
46:22
know
46:22
you
46:23
sooner.
46:24
It's
46:24
such
46:24
an
46:25
honor
46:25
to
46:26
get
46:26
to
46:26
listen
46:27
to
46:27
you,
46:27
to
46:27
get
46:27
to
46:27
talk
46:28
to
46:28
you.
46:29
I
46:29
hope
46:29
that
46:30
this
46:30
relationship
46:31
continues.
46:32
You
46:32
are
46:32
always
46:33
welcome
46:33
in
46:33
the
46:33
Wheelhouse.
46:34
We
46:34
would
46:34
love
46:35
to
46:35
have
46:35
you
46:35
come
46:35
back
46:36
and
46:36
to
46:36
share
46:37
more
46:37
of
46:37
your
46:37
insights.
46:38
So
46:38
it
46:38
has
46:38
been
46:38
an
46:39
absolute
46:39
pleasure
46:41
and
46:41
thank
46:41
you
46:41
very
46:41
much.
46:42
And
46:42
for
46:42
those
46:42
of
46:42
you
46:42
who
46:42
are
46:42
listening,
46:43
we'll
46:43
see
46:43
you
46:43
next
46:43
time
46:44
in
46:44
the
46:44
Wheelhouse.
46:50
And
46:50
that's
46:51
a
46:51
wrap
46:51
of
46:51
episode
46:52
10
46:52
in
46:53
this
46:53
season
46:53
of
46:53
the
46:54
Wheelhouse.
46:55
A
46:55
special
46:55
thank
46:56
you
46:56
to
46:56
our
46:56
good
46:57
friend
46:57
Mel
46:57
King
46:58
for
46:58
joining
46:59
us
46:59
in
46:59
this
46:59
episode
47:00
today.
47:01
Are
47:01
you
47:01
a
47:01
like
47:02
minded
47:02
educator
47:03
who's
47:03
committed
47:03
to
47:04
promoting
47:04
hope?
47:05
Subscribe
47:06
to
47:06
our
47:06
all
47:07
new
47:07
wheelhouse
47:08
newsletter@thewheelhouse.substack.com
47:13
how
47:14
does
47:14
Mel's
47:14
definition
47:15
of
47:15
what
47:15
it
47:15
means
47:16
to
47:16
be
47:16
in
47:16
a
47:16
space
47:17
where
47:17
he
47:17
can
47:17
breathe
47:18
resonate
47:19
with
47:19
you?
47:20
How
47:20
are
47:20
we
47:21
creating
47:21
spaces
47:22
like
47:22
these
47:23
for
47:23
each
47:23
of
47:24
our
47:24
students?
47:25
And
47:25
how
47:25
can
47:26
we
47:26
here
47:26
at
47:26
the
47:26
Wheelhouse
47:27
help
47:27
you
47:28
reach
47:28
these
47:28
aspirational
47:29
leaps
47:30
and
47:30
jumps?
47:30
You
47:31
know,
47:31
we
47:31
really
47:31
do
47:31
want
47:32
to
47:32
hear
47:32
from
47:32
you
47:32
and
47:33
we
47:33
hope
47:33
you'll
47:33
respond
47:34
to
47:34
those
47:34
questions
47:35
and
47:35
subscribe
47:36
to
47:37
our
47:37
all
47:37
new
47:37
Wheelhouse
47:38
newsletter.
47:39
The
47:40
Wheelhouse
47:40
is
47:40
a
47:41
production
47:41
of
47:41
Students
47:42
Matter,
47:42
LLC.
47:43
New
47:43
episodes
47:44
of
47:44
season
47:44
nine
47:45
will
47:45
drop
47:45
every
47:46
Tuesday
47:46
beginning
47:47
February
47:47
25th
47:48
and
47:49
will
47:49
continue
47:49
now
47:50
through
47:50
May
47:51
20th.
47:51
Our
47:52
show's
47:52
theme
47:52
music,
47:52
Off
47:53
We
47:53
Go
47:53
was
47:54
written
47:54
and
47:54
performed
47:54
by
47:55
Cody
47:55
Martin
47:55
and
47:56
obtained
47:56
through
47:56
soundstripe.com
47:58
youm
47:58
can
47:58
find
47:58
me
47:58
on
47:59
LinkedIn,
47:59
BlueSky
48:01
and
48:01
of
48:01
course,
48:01
stop
48:02
by
48:02
our
48:02
website
48:02
and
48:03
check
48:03
out
48:03
what
48:03
we
48:03
offer@our
48:05
studentsmatter.org
48:07
you
48:07
can
48:07
subscribe
48:08
to
48:08
this
48:08
podcast
48:09
on
48:09
either
48:09
itunes,
48:10
Spotify,
48:10
or
48:10
wherever
48:11
you
48:11
listen
48:11
to
48:11
your
48:12
podcasts
48:13
together.
48:14
Our
48:14
goal
48:15
is
48:15
to
48:15
prove
48:16
to
48:16
each
48:16
student
48:17
and
48:17
to
48:17
each
48:17
educator
48:18
that
48:18
they
48:18
are
48:18
both
48:19
distinctive
48:20
and
48:21
irreplaceable.
48:22
Until
48:22
next
48:22
time.
48:23
Remember,
48:23
we
48:24
got
48:24
this.