WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.000 music 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000 music 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000 music 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:16.000 music continues throughout performance 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:24.000 singing in spanish 00:00:24.000 --> 00:00:28.000 singing continues 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:32.000 singing continues 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:36.000 singing continues 00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:40.000 singing 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:44.000 singing continues throughout performance 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:44.000 musical interlude 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:08.000 singing resumes 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:04.000 holding note 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.000 applause 00:03:06.000 --> 00:03:12.000 I officially welcome everyone here 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.000 to Western Oregon University. It's my pleasure to introduce to you 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:20.000 a representative 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:24.000 who's a student here at Western 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:28.000 Oregon University, and he's representing 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:32.000 Fifteen Miles West. He's going to lead us in the US National 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:36.000 Anthem. Por favor, welcome Eli Shank, 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:40.000 representing Fifteen Miles West. Por favor, please stand. 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:44.000 applause 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.000 Buenos dias. 00:03:56.000 --> 00:03:60.000 Oh, say 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.000 can you see? 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:08.000 By the dawn's early light 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 what so proudly 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:16.000 we hailed at the twilight's 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:20.000 last gleaming. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:24.000 Whose broad stripes and bright stars 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:28.000 through the perilous 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.000 fight, o'er the ramparts 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:36.000 we watched 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:40.000 were so gallantly 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:44.000 streaming. 00:04:44.000 --> 00:04:48.000 And the rocket's red glare, 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.000 the bombs bursting in air, 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:56.000 gave proof 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:60.000 through the night 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:04.000 that our flag was still there. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:08.000 Oh, say does that 00:05:08.000 --> 00:05:12.000 star-spangled 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.000 banner yet wave? 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.000 O'er the land 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:24.000 of the free? 00:05:24.000 --> 00:05:28.000 And the home 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:32.000 of the 00:05:32.000 --> 00:05:36.000 brave. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:40.000 Gracias. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:52.000 Alright, guys, how are we doing today? 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.000 cheering, applause. 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:60.000 That's it? Are we awake? I want to hear you guys? Are we here today? 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:04.000 Are we happy to be here? Come on, let me here you. Yeah! 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:08.000 Alright. My name is Jessica Rhys, and I am here 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 to welcome you on behalf of the entire Cesar Chavez leadership 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:16.000 committee, to welcome you to our twenty seventh annual Cesar Chavez 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:20.000 leadership conference. Are you excited to be here? 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.000 applause 00:06:24.000 --> 00:06:28.000 We have a lot of great things in store for you, a lot of great people that 00:06:28.000 --> 00:06:32.000 you're going to hear from. Your keynote is off the charts, so he is going to be amazing. 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.000 You are going to enjoy him, and we are super excited to have you here. 00:06:36.000 --> 00:06:40.000 David is going to go over some rules, because I like to be loud, and he likes to keep order. 00:06:40.000 --> 00:06:44.000 He's going to come and tell you about what we need to do. But before I go, 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:48.000 I want to hear, really loudly, all of us together. Se puede or no se puede? 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:52.000 Si se puede or no se puede? 00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.000 Louder, si se puede! Good job, thank you guys. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:08.000 I'm not sure if you knew, but she's a 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:12.000 graduate of Western Oregon University. 00:07:12.000 --> 00:07:16.000 Just so you know that. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:20.000 Again, my name is David Martinez, and I'm representing a group of 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:24.000 individuals que empasado; they started last May 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:28.000 preparing for today. It's really important 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:32.000 para nosotros, one of the things I think is 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:36.000 to say gracias, is to say thank you. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:40.000 So definitely, the planning committee, that represents 00:07:40.000 --> 00:07:44.000 each of your schools, each of your regions. They have 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:48.000 been working and organizing, and with the support of their school 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.000 districts, have made this possible. 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:56.000 Today, all of us have a job. 00:07:56.000 --> 00:07:60.000 Todos nosotros tenemos un trabajo. And it's really important that 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:04.000 we recognize this job that we have. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:08.000 The people with the purple shirts, the purple shirts. 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:12.000 Los estudiantes, the people, the staff with the purple shirts, please stand up. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:16.000 Or wave. Okay? 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.000 These individuals, 00:08:19.000 --> 00:08:24.000 el trabajodores, they are volunteers; 00:08:24.000 --> 00:08:28.000 Western Oregon University students 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:32.000 that are here today; they will be responsible 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.000 for making sure that you, los estudiantes, you, 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:40.000 the schools, that you are able to get to your workshops. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:44.000 That you're able to stay on schedule, and that you don't get 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:48.000 lost. Es muy importante, it's very important that when the 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:52.000 people in the purple shirts, if they 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:56.000 ask you to do something, que por favor, pay respect 00:08:56.000 --> 00:08:60.000 and you let them lead wherever you're going. 00:09:00.000 --> 00:09:04.000 Okay. Un aplausos para ellos. 00:09:04.000 --> 00:09:08.000 applause 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:12.000 So now, another important, important 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:16.000 group of people. The individuals wearing the blue shirts. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.000 If they can stand; all the school representatives 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:24.000 that are wearing the blue shirts. Un aplausos para ellos! 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:28.000 applause 00:09:28.000 --> 00:09:32.000 applause 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:36.000 We always say this conference 00:09:36.000 --> 00:09:40.000 is a partnership. It's a partnership with the people 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.000 in your school, in your building. 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:48.000 The teachers, the counsellors, the school staff that are here with you; 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:52.000 I'm talking to the students here. The people that brought you 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 today on the bus, who woke up with you at four or 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:60.000 five in the morning to get here, their job is 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:04.000 to support you, and to make sure that you get the most out of 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:08.000 your time here. Okay. Now, a very important 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:12.000 group of people. Los estudiantes, 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.000 por favor. The ones in the green kind of shirt, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:20.000 is that the official color? 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:24.000 Yeah! Un aplausos! 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:28.000 applause 00:10:28.000 --> 00:10:32.000 Your job, es trabajo de les estudiantes, 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:36.000 es mas importante. Your job is the most important. 00:10:36.000 --> 00:10:40.000 Because today when you're on campus, 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:44.000 when you're hearing the presenters, 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:48.000 when you're asking questions, para mi, this is 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.000 the whole point. So please know you're representing your school, 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:56.000 y como nuestros cultura, you're representing your familia, 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:60.000 so please, please, we are so excited that you're here. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:04.000 And so this day is for you. The last two groups 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:08.000 un aplausos for the presenters and volunteers 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:12.000 and the school administrators that are here. Un aplausos. 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:16.000 applause 00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:20.000 applause 00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.000 Again, they're volunteering their time to share their experiences. 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:28.000 So this conference is not possible without the presenters. 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:32.000 Without the people that are giving up their day and sharing their 00:11:32.000 --> 00:11:36.000 experience with us. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:40.000 The last group that I want to recognize - and they're the ones that we're 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:44.000 going to turn it over to them - now they're in charge. 00:11:44.000 --> 00:11:48.000 These are the students from your schools 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:52.000 that were selected to represent your region. 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:56.000 Students are the ones that are going to be introducing 00:11:56.000 --> 00:11:60.000 the rest of the speakers today. You'll see them again this afternoon. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:04.000 They're going to be running the program. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:08.000 If I could have the student leaders up here, por favor? 00:12:08.000 --> 00:12:12.000 Un aplausos! 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:16.000 applause 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:20.000 The last thing for me, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:24.000 so excited that you're here. So confident 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:28.000 in the job we all have, 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.000 and today when you're walking around campus, any question that you have, 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:36.000 you know which t-shirt to ask. When you see people in the red 00:12:36.000 --> 00:12:40.000 jacket, that's the planning committee. So gracias. If you see 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:44.000 them with the little red jacket. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.000 Now, the representative Oscar, 00:12:48.000 --> 00:12:52.000 por favor, the presenter Oscar, 00:12:52.000 --> 00:12:56.000 your student leader. 00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:60.000 applause 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:04.000 Are you guys excited? Alright, my name is Oscar and I'm here representing 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:08.000 Woodburn School District. Today, 00:13:08.000 --> 00:13:12.000 I'm presenting a man who was the former Provost of Eastern Washington 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:16.000 University. He created a college for health science and public health. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:20.000 He innovated 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:24.000 student success programs for eastern Washington. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:28.000 He was also instrumental at bargaining strategies for 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:32.000 faculties' contracts. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:36.000 He also created the university center for community engagement, and 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:40.000 that man got his PhD at the University of Utah 00:13:40.000 --> 00:13:44.000 and finished at the Institution of Education Management. And that man 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:48.000 is the 23rd president of Western Oregon University. Rex Fuller. 00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:52.000 applause 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:56.000 applause 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:60.000 Thank you so much, Oscar, it's great to be here. I want to ask you all 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 to stand and take a look around the room. Over two thousand strong, 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.000 so stand up and enjoy the moment, maybe take a selfie, stretch your legs. 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.000 laughter 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:16.000 Just look at this great crowd. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:28.000 Those of us on the platform took a selfie earlier with you while you were 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:32.000 getting settled, so enjoy this moment! 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:36.000 Once again, welcome to Western Oregon University and the 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:40.000 Cesar Chavez leadership academy, the twenty seventh year. 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:44.000 Two thousand strong, now more than ever. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:48.000 You have joined students from throughout the Willamette Valley for this annual 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:52.000 event in honor of Cesar Chavez. This event is the largest Latino student 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:56.000 leadership conference of the Pacific Northwest. The conference began 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:60.000 in 1990 as a gathering of high school students from the Portland 00:15:00.000 --> 00:15:04.000 Public School Districts. The first event took place in early February. 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:08.000 On the day before the event, a snowstorm hit Portland, much like 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:12.000 this year's winter. Despite that, a hundred and twenty five 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:16.000 determined students found their way to that conference, and here we are 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:20.000 twenty seven years later. Can I get a round of applause? 00:15:20.000 --> 00:15:24.000 applause 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:28.000 applause 00:15:28.000 --> 00:15:32.000 Today, over two thousand strong, you're here to find out about opportunities 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:36.000 that lie ahead, and I encourage you to listen carefully, 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:40.000 expand your wings, think about your future, 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:44.000 plan now to attend college and graduate. Students from the participating 00:15:44.000 --> 00:15:48.000 schools are eligible to participate in various competitions throughout the year 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:52.000 such as art, essay, poetry, video, and leadership. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.000 I also want to thank all the organizers who haven't been recognized already 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:60.000 by David. Their names are listed in the program. I encourage you to thank them 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.000 throughout the day. As you know, the mission is to instill in all 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:08.000 our Latino and Latina youth the value of education, which nurtures mind 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:12.000 body and spirit in order to develop a social consciousness 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.000 that empowers you as leaders for social justice and civic responsibility 00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.000 in the greater community. And how profound is that where we are 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:24.000 today in our times. It is so important that you're here. So a round of 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:28.000 applause for your volunteering. 00:16:28.000 --> 00:16:32.000 applause 00:16:32.000 --> 00:16:36.000 As the president of Western Oregon University, I'm proud to be here, because 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:40.000 you are the future of this nation. You're the future of this university, you're the 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.000 future of this state, and make now doubt about it, we are here to support you 00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:48.000 no matter what. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:52.000 So in closing, I hope 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:56.000 each of you makes plans now to go on to graduate 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:60.000 from high school, go on to college, graduate and finish, 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:04.000 and then have great lives and support your families 00:17:04.000 --> 00:17:08.000 in ways that are very powerful. So I ask you again, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:12.000 just enjoy the day, soak up the knowledge, and 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:16.000 set your aspirational goals high. Thank you. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:20.000 applause 00:17:20.000 --> 00:17:24.000 Next up, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:28.000 I would like to present Western Oregon University's associate Provost, 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:32.000 David McDonald. 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:36.000 applause 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:40.000 For ten years, I've had the chance to welcome you here. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:44.000 And for ten years, I've had the opportunity to watch you attend this event, 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:48.000 and then go on and do great things. Many of our students that are wearing 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:52.000 purple today were actually students in this conference. 00:17:52.000 --> 00:17:56.000 It's phenomenal. But today is your day. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:60.000 Today is the day we want you to really think hard about your future. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:04.000 Today is your day to learn, to push yourself, and then tomorrow is your 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.000 day to give back. So I want you to make sure, starting tomorrow, 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:12.000 that you share with your friends at home, your family members, things that 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.000 you learn today. This conference is great, but it's even greater when we 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:20.000 take the lessons we learn and expand them into our communities. 00:18:20.000 --> 00:18:24.000 As President Fuller said, today is really the start of your future, and we want you 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:28.000 to be successful, so I'm going to invite you today to think of yourselves not 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:32.000 as participants in this conference, but rather, today 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:36.000 you are members of Western Oregon University. You are now wolves 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:40.000 for the day. As wolves, we expect you to ask great questions. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.000 We expect you to challenge yourselves. We expect you to take care of 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:48.000 each other. But most of all we expect you to succeed. We expect you, as 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:52.000 students at Western Oregon, to be the best students. 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:56.000 I've done this for a long time, and one of the things I've learned is that there 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:60.000 are a lot of myths, a lot of false statements that stop us from being successful. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:04.000 The ones I hear most with our Latino students, 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:08.000 are that 'it's too hard to go to college, it's too expensive to go to college, 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:12.000 or Latino students don't graduate from high school or college'. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:16.000 Well, those are all false. On this campus, 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:20.000 our most successful students, every year, are our Latino students. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:24.000 applause 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:28.000 applause 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:32.000 They succeed as freshmen, 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:36.000 they succeed as sophomores, all the way through graduation, and they do that 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:40.000 because they join our family, and we help each other out. 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:44.000 I hear that college is not affordable, and it's true that it is expensive. 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:48.000 But if you don't go to college, that is even more expensive. 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:52.000 There are ways for you to pay for college. In fact, you're 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:56.000 going to talk to college reps today, and we have a new sponsor with us as well, 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:60.000 Dream US, who has some opportunities for dreamers 00:20:00.000 --> 00:20:04.000 that weren't available even last year. There are new opportunities 00:20:04.000 --> 00:20:08.000 for all of us, and we really encourage you today, if you want to go to 00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.000 college, please ask questions of the many college representatives 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.000 here about how they have scholarships and financial aid for you. 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:20.000 There is money available. Speaking of money, as part of our 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:24.000 commitment to this conference, this year again Western Oregon University is going 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:28.000 to give forty thousand dollars in scholarships to you. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:32.000 applause 00:20:32.000 --> 00:20:36.000 And that money 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:40.000 is a small part of the overall bit of money that's available to all of you 00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:44.000 from all kinds of schools. So, please, if you have the dream to go to 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:48.000 college, don't give up on it. Ask us how we can help you pay for college. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:52.000 There are a lot of great sponsors today, and I know that our 00:20:52.000 --> 00:20:56.000 host will talk about them, but I want to make sure that you acknowledge 00:20:56.000 --> 00:20:60.000 them throughout the day, especially ECMC, which has been with us for 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:04.000 ten years and has given us considerable report. Thank you again, and remember 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:08.000 today you are Western Oregon University students. Thank you. 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.000 Next up is Alex Gonzales from The College Place Oregon. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:17.000 applause 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:20.000 Thank you. 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:24.000 ECMC and The College Place Oregon is proud to 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:28.000 celebrate its tenth anniversary of sponsoring this conference. 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:32.000 We're excited. The College Place, if you' don't know who we are, we're a 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:36.000 free resource for college advising. We are based 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:40.000 in PCC, Sylvania Campus in Portland, but you might 00:21:40.000 --> 00:21:44.000 hear about us in college nights throughout Oregon. We support 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:48.000 your college nights with pizza and scholarships. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.000 In addition to that, we have another scholarship program called ECMC 00:21:52.000 --> 00:21:56.000 Scholars, where we support eight schools throughout the state of Oregon, 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:60.000 and in addition we provide support for those students that receive 00:22:00.000 --> 00:22:04.000 the scholarships. So it's scholarships with support. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:08.000 We have an additional scholarship this year through the OSAC scholarship 00:22:08.000 --> 00:22:12.000 and we'll continue to do that. So, seniors, look for us. 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:16.000 We weren't on the catalogue but we secretly 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:20.000 seek you out and find and award you scholarships, so, juniors, 00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:24.000 sophomores, and freshmen, make sure that 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:28.000 you're applying to the Oregon College Common Application for scholarships. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:32.000 But it really is about you. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.000 I will be table-ing in the college fair, so if you have 00:22:36.000 --> 00:22:40.000 questions about college, we help with college access, 00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:44.000 with your applications, with financial aid and 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:48.000 scholarships as well. Please enjoy the day. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:52.000 Seize the day; embrace the opportunity that you have 00:22:52.000 --> 00:22:56.000 here. Thank you very much. 00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:61.000 applause 00:23:01.000 --> 00:23:04.000 Good morning everybody, are you awake? 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:08.000 Come on, guys, you guys don't sound awake! 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:12.000 Louder, come on! 00:23:12.000 --> 00:23:16.000 Okay, much better. My name is Manuela, I'm here representing the 00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:20.000 Multnomah region, shoutout to David Douglas High School! 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:24.000 It is my great pleasure 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.000 to present to you guys a person who is an amazing 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:32.000 guy. He is down-to-earth and humorous. 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:36.000 He has dedicated his entire life to create positive change 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:40.000 in communities all over the country, and he has inspired over three hundred 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:44.000 and fifty thousand youth and community members, and he will definitely 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:48.000 inspire you. Everybody please help me give a hand 00:23:48.000 --> 00:23:52.000 to Roy Juarez. 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:56.000 applause 00:23:56.000 --> 00:23:60.000 Now when she asked 'what do I say' I said 'just tell them my name's Roy' 00:24:00.000 --> 00:24:04.000 but thank you for that amazing introduction. I'll be completely honest 00:24:04.000 --> 00:24:08.000 with you guys, I'm extremely nervous. I've been speaking in almost every state 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:12.000 in the continental United States - forty five states - and I've been sharing my 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:16.000 story all across this country. And every single time I get before an audience 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:20.000 my stomach starts to turn, my heart races, but I've always told myself, 00:24:24.000 --> 00:24:28.000 believe in is each and every one of you, but I have to explain why I say that. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:32.000 You see, I grew up as a homeless kid. I first became homeless at the age of 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:36.000 fourteen with my nine year old sister and two year old brother due to domestic 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:40.000 violence. I would have loved to wear a teal shirt and be at an amazing conference. 00:24:40.000 --> 00:24:44.000 But what breaks my heart, is that in this country there is an 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:48.000 estimate of one point six million homeless teenagers. 00:24:48.000 --> 00:24:52.000 Who I'm sure, more than half just dream 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.000 of having the opportunity that you have today. 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:60.000 I remember going to high school graduation, and there was this 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.000 cut in the curtain, you could see all the audience I'm standing behind the curtain. 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.000 My friend Emery Johnson grabbed his diploma. I stepped forward. 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:12.000 I could see 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:16.000 everyone. And they call my name and I 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:20.000 walked forward and I grabbed my diploma. 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:24.000 What I didn't realize that day, was I wasn't grabbing 00:25:24.000 --> 00:25:28.000 a piece of paper. What I was grabbing was freedom. 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:32.000 Because that's what education is. It's freedom. 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.000 It's freedom for your life, for your mind, for your family, for your community, 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:40.000 for this country. Education is freedom. 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:44.000 Call me optimistic or whatever, but I truly believe that we can all change tomorrow. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:48.000 If we just change a little of who we are today for the better. But that 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:52.000 change has to start in us. We have to be the change 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:56.000 that we want to see. We have to replace hatred with love. 00:25:56.000 --> 00:25:60.000 Anger with forgiveness. We have to be the 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:04.000 change. In May of 2009 I went from 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:08.000 eating ketchup packages in the streets of San Antonio, Texas as a homeless 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:12.000 teenager to becoming a college graduate. 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.000 When I crossed that stage for the second time, 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:20.000 education taught me so much. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:24.000 The biggest gift that my education gave me was my mother. 00:26:24.000 --> 00:26:28.000 It taught me to separate the illness from the 00:26:28.000 --> 00:26:32.000 person. You see, guys, let me share something with you. 00:26:32.000 --> 00:26:36.000 Over two thousand of you, let me share something with you. 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:40.000 Parents, they're human. 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:44.000 When I graduated college, I decided to live homeless for the second time in my life. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:48.000 I wanted to reach out to every young person that could understand my life and my story. 00:26:48.000 --> 00:26:52.000 I lived out of my car for two and a half years and I circled the entire country 00:26:52.000 --> 00:26:56.000 on a pro bono tour. It was no cost. It ran me over two hundred thousand 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:60.000 dollars that I had to raise, but it allowed me to speak to over a hundred thousand 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:04.000 young people and now I've spoken to over three hundred and fifty thousand. 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:08.000 But I'm going to be doing my second tour, which is called Rescuing Our Youth 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:12.000 tour. And it's called Rescuing Our Youth as a cross the country because it 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:16.000 stands for Roy, Rescuing Our Youth. And the reason it's called that is because 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:20.000 we're shooting a documentary, but this documentary is going to be about family. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.000 The reason I say that is, I've mended the relationship 00:27:24.000 --> 00:27:28.000 with my mother. And on this tour, 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:32.000 I asked my biological dad, who we were 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:36.000 in hiding from, if he would be willing to drive me. 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:40.000 And when I asked him, he just stared to cry and cry and he said 'I would love to, Roy. 00:27:40.000 --> 00:27:44.000 I said, 'dad, you need to think about it. Because we're going to have very deep 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:48.000 conversations about what happened between us. He said 'I don't care. 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:52.000 He said, 'I want to get a chance to know you. I said 'I want to get to know you 00:27:52.000 --> 00:27:56.000 dad. I said 'you may die tomorrow, I may die tomorrow. 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:60.000 And I want to give us this gift of a relationship. 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:04.000 So on August twentieth I'm going to start my second tour, 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:08.000 live out of my car, but my dad's going to be with me. My biological dad, and 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:12.000 he's going to be the one to drive me. 00:28:12.000 --> 00:28:16.000 Next slide please. This is the tour. Rescuing Our Youth 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:20.000 impact tour. I'm going to start in Northern California unless 00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:24.000 Oregon wants to be a part of it, I can move it a little further up. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:28.000 Next slide please. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:32.000 On this tour we're going to reach out to a hundred thousand young people as well. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:36.000 This is my family. I'm the really cute one one in the 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:40.000 white dress. I mean, no! I meant, that's me. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:44.000 But let me ask a question. Does this look like the face of a mother who wanted to 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:48.000 hurt her kids? No. Parents are human. My mother's amazing. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.000 She was just broken. Next slide, please. 00:28:52.000 --> 00:28:56.000 These are my sisters, Amy, Tammy, and Danielle. Next slide. 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:60.000 This is my sister Amy, my oldest, who has the biggest heart out of all of us. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:04.000 This girl just loves and loves and loves. This is my niece, who she had while 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:08.000 I was on my first tour. She was premature, three pounds, one ounce. We didn't 00:29:08.000 --> 00:29:12.000 think she was going to make it, but she did. She came out fighting, she's still 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.000 a little feisty, so we're not only saving for counselling but also college. 00:29:16.000 --> 00:29:20.000 Next, please. This is my sister Tammy. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.000 Tammy has to be the strongest one out of all of us. 00:29:24.000 --> 00:29:28.000 What we didn't know then that we know now was that my sister was being 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:32.000 molested as a young girl. She was molested up until the age of twelve, 00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:36.000 and becomes homeless at the age of fifteen. That is not the way to start a life. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:40.000 I would not blame my sister if she had chosen to be bitter for the rest of her life, but 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:44.000 she's chosen to be better. My sister is an advocate at a rape crisis center, so 00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:48.000 any time of a day or night, if a young lady is sexually assaulted, my sister will go there and be 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:52.000 with the girl throughout the entire process to make sure that she's not alone. 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:56.000 And I have to imagine that my sister has to relive everything that she went through. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:60.000 But she does it so that that girl does not have to be there alone. She has to be 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:04.000 the strongest out of all of us. This is my little sister 00:30:04.000 --> 00:30:08.000 Danielle, the nine year old. She's no longer nine because she has munchkins, 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:12.000 but this is like my daughter. I love, I love, I love 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:16.000 this girl. She's an amazing young woman. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:20.000 A huge heart. I can't imagine what my life would be without her. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:24.000 Oh, my god, I don't even want to imagine. I love this baby. 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:28.000 Next please. This is my little brother 00:30:28.000 --> 00:30:32.000 baby Ray. Look, he grew into his forehead, I love it. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:36.000 Baby Ray is amazing. He's a junior in college. 00:30:36.000 --> 00:30:40.000 I made him a promise. You will go to middle school, you will go to high school, 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:44.000 you will go to college. My baby brother 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:48.000 is an amazing young man. When I spoke at his high school, when he was 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:52.000 in high school, he was in tenth grade. I spoke to seniors, and at the end of the 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:56.000 presentation, someone asked, what happened to Baby Ray? I said, 'he's here. 00:30:56.000 --> 00:30:60.000 Please welcome him to stage. So Baby Ray comes up, he's in tenth grade and taller than me, 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:04.000 skinnier than me, I hate him. So we're laughing and we're talking, 00:31:04.000 --> 00:31:08.000 and I said ,'seniors' - it was all seniors, six hundred and fifty - 00:31:08.000 --> 00:31:12.000 I said, 'before I leave I need to ask you for a favor' and Baby Ray is like 'what are you 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.000 doing?' I said 'man, my baby brother 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:20.000 hasn't been able to find a date to prom yet. His face 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:24.000 turned red. Well, this real pretty girl in the front row, she raised her 00:31:24.000 --> 00:31:28.000 hand and I said 'yes, ma'am,' so she stands up and she says 'well, does he like 00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:32.000 black girls?' And I look at Baby Ray 00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:36.000 and he goes... 00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:40.000 Let me explain why I love that story. 00:31:40.000 --> 00:31:44.000 There are some people in this life, when they hurt, 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:48.000 they want others to hurt. Let us not be like those people. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:52.000 Let me say that again. There are some people in this life, when they hurt, they want others to hurt. 00:31:52.000 --> 00:31:56.000 Let us not be like those people. If anything, let us 00:31:56.000 --> 00:31:60.000 want more for others, even if it means that they have more than what we have. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:04.000 We have to be better. So that's my baby brother, that's why he's amazing. 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:08.000 Next slide. This is my mother, and my step-dad, the police 00:32:08.000 --> 00:32:12.000 officer. I love, I love, I love this man. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:16.000 Did he make mistakes, yes. But who hasn't made mistakes? 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:20.000 It's important that we make it right, and he has. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:24.000 He's extremely good to my mother. I had not seen her smile like that in years. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:28.000 He is so good to us, he is so good 00:32:28.000 --> 00:32:32.000 to her. The past is the past. 00:32:32.000 --> 00:32:36.000 We've learned from it, but we're only going to let it make us better. 00:32:36.000 --> 00:32:40.000 Next picture, please. This is my biological dad. 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:44.000 This was the first time in over fifteen years that we had a sit-down Thanksgiving dinner. 00:32:44.000 --> 00:32:48.000 And he loved it. And we loved it. 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:52.000 So we're working on mending that relationship. Next slide. 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:56.000 Life is too short to dream about tomorrow. Today's the day. 00:32:56.000 --> 00:32:60.000 You gotta dig deep, deep inside of you. 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:04.000 Because you have that strength. Next slide, please. 00:33:04.000 --> 00:33:08.000 If you guys want to follow me, please, I need your help for 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:12.000 the tour. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. Last slide. 00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:16.000 You can just add me right now on Snap. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:20.000 So if you decide to pull out your phone I won't hold it against you. 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:24.000 But if you do pull out your phone I also want you to text your mom or dad, 00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:28.000 whoever you consider your mom or dad, because for me, family 00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:32.000 isn't just that runs through your veins, it's the love that's in your heart. I want you 00:33:32.000 --> 00:33:36.000 to text your family today, and tell them 'I love you, and thank you. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:40.000 Text your mom or dad, whoever you consider, and say 'I love you, and thank you. 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:44.000 Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to share a part of my life with you. 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:48.000 I hope you have an amazing conference. Thank you very, very much. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:52.000 applause