One of my all time
favorite interviews
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for Urban Report is
live in the studio today.
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Stay tuned to meet him.
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My name is Yvonne Lewis
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and you're
watching Urban Report.
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Hello and
welcome to Urban Report.
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My guest today
is Dr. Marco Clark,
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founder and CEO of the Richard
Wright Public Charter School
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for Journalism and
Media Arts in Washington, D.C.
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Welcome, Dr. Clark. Hi, hello.
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You know you were
here before via Skype
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and our viewers got to
hear some of your journey
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but for those who didn't
watch it and I encourage you,
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if you did not see that first
interview with Dr. Marco Clark
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you need to get that,
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go order it, check it out,
show it to your young people,
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your children, your youth group,
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it's a powerful testimony.
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Can you just give us, just
a little bit of your journey
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so that people will understand
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why you are one of my
favorite interviewers?
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Well, thanks for saying
that but one of the things
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that I encounter is that
at 11 years old I was told
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that I was
functionally illiterate
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by guidance counselor.
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I had no idea what functionally
illiteracy was when,
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she called me into the office,
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I actually thought I
had done something great,
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I mean the word functionally
illiteracy was a large word
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and you know, you were
calling me to the office,
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I just knew it
was something positive
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until my mom came to the school
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and I saw this
crazy look on her face
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that I had never seen before
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and I started to play through
my mind like any other child.
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What did I do wrong?
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Did I do
something that cause mom
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to really get
out of source with me
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and it wasn't that at all.
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She didn't have a answer
for me which was interesting.
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My mom was one of those
individuals who could talk
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until the night
comes and night comes again
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but she didn't
have a answer for me.
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So my journey led
me with that label,
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after I found out
exactly what it was.
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It led me into a
life of negativity.
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I began to be on
those street corners,
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I stole cars, I
didn't do well in school.
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It caused me to
actually graduate
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from high school
with a 1.6 grade average.
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I spent five years in
high school instead of four
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and I scoured 480 on
SAT and you know they only,
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they give you 200 points
side of your name you know
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and with that
journey I even was rejected
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to over 150
colleges and universities.
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That one label did
something to my life
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and it wasn't
until I got to college
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and met a
professor Dr. Johnny L Wilson
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at Clark Atlanta University,
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who is my hero that really
told me that all of the issues
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I ever
encountered and the reason
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I was called
functional illiterate
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was because I had
a issue with reading.
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I had a issue with
reading comprehension
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and with that I
pretty much was ready
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to give up even with college.
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You know, if it wasn't
for this particular gentleman
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and the dean who opened a door
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that allowed me to even
come into the university
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to give me an opportunity to
see if I could change my life.
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Imagine what I
would've become without them.
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Isn't that-- isn't
it amazing how a label
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can change the
trajectory of your life
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because prior to that,
you know, you're thinking
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you know, you
got it all together,
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you're just as
fun, happy go lucky kid
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and then you find out
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that you're a
"functional illiterate"
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and your whole life changes.
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It crumbled.
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In the fifth grade I
actually won the Spelling Bee.
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So you're talking to a kid
that really always loved words
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and many times
people don't recognize that,
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folks, you know,
can really love words
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and understand how to
define them and spell them
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but the
comprehension is the challenge
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that most of our kids
are facing with today.
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And we don't do a very good job
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of addressing that
comprehension level.
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And so when you think about it,
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here I was in a fifth grade
becoming a Spelling Bee winner
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and in the sixth
grade, in 11 years
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I was told I was
functionally illiterate.
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That just
damaged my whole premise
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on what I thought
education was about
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and why would I
want to move forward
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to do something
positive academically.
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And so you went from
being Spelling Bee champ
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to the "functional illiterate"
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who then began to
live out the label.
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Exactly.
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And so you in college, someone
turned you around this whole--
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and you know, of
course as we always talk about
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on Dare to Dream,
God had a plan for you.
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God had a plan for me.
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'Cause look at
what you're doing now.
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Tell us how you
got out from the label
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and into where you are now?
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Dr. Wilson made me have a tutor
for every class that I was in.
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So if you could
imagine here I was on a campus
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and everything was going on,
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I had a great
time more in the campus
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and I was having to
still ditch my friends
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in order to go have a tutor.
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So I never let my friends know
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that I actually had tutors
for every class that I was in.
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And the reading aspect came
about that I recognized that
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you know, if I could just
learn how to take large passages
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and chunk them and
begin to write notes
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that I will understand the work.
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And so when I went to
class I was so excited
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because I got the
work, I had the energy
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and this gentleman
had taught me something
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that I didn't know and it was--
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I went from graduating
from high school with 1.6
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to graduating from
undergraduate with a 3.3
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to graduating with the
Master's degree with the 3.6
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and getting a
Doctorate degree with a 3.9 GPA.
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Oh, come on now.
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God was really in my
corner pushing me along
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and show me
that I could overcome
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that label but I had no idea.
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Yes, yes, and that's
why what you're doing now
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is so important
because you've been there.
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Tell us what you're doing now?
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What are you doing?
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Currently, I
serve as the founder
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and CEO of Richard
Wright Public Charter School
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for Journalism and
Media Arts in Washington, D.C.
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and the premise of--
first of all Richard Wright
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was a great
writer in my opinion.
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He had some controversial
things but one of the things
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he was very
cautious about his community
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and that's one of the things
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that we serve some of
the most challenging students
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in the District of Columbia.
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The second thing is that
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if you could be a
great reader with my idea.
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If I could get you to read
then I can get you to write.
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And if I could get you to write
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you will become
a great journalist
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and the journalist's
requires you to do research
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which goes into reading
which then goes into writing.
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So if you could
become a great reader
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you could become a great writer.
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And if you could read and write
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then somewhere along a line
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you would have auteur
peace that comes along with you
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and you would be able
to voice your opinions
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and actually be a change
agent for your community.
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So we put it all together
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and we have Richard
Wright Public Charter School
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for Journalism and Media Arts
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where we can have a
voice of change for our kids.
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That is so incredible
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'cause our kids are so
desperately in need of change,
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in need of higher
education and quality education.
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What do you think is at
the root of the problems
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that we are
having educationally now?
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I without a doubt first of
all I believe that public school
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as we've known it in
the past is totally broken
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and I've worked in this
school around for over 20 years
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and I've seen so many
different things happen,
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with bureaucratic policies,
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things that are
just not for kids.
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I've seen our kids
become pawns for other's gains
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which is not what
is intended to be.
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The second thing is
that I've watched our kids
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come in three, four,
five grade levels behind
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by the time they
get to high school
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there is a major chance that
they will not be able to go out
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and become productive
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because the bottom line
is that our kids cannot read.
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We have issues with reading
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and that's why I'm so thankful
for the work that you guys do
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and that, you know, as a
body that believes in Christ,
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believes that we have a high
being that we must do something
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because the premise of
all churches is reading.
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The very foundation of the
work we do deals with reading.
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If you can't read
and study the word
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then how can you be productive?
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And so therefore it drops
right into the school systems
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that we must
change because listen,
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people start thinking
its just a school systems
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that's gonna be affected
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but if people grow
up and gonna take it
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to have generations
of illiterate folks,
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the church is going
to crumble eventually
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because eventually
somebody has to move on
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and new folks have to come in.
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They have to be able to read
in order to move it forward.
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So it's our job to make sure
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that we are doing
what's necessary to move along.
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That part of reading,
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it will affect other
assets of the community as well,
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aspects of the
community as well.
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That, and that's,
that-- reading you know,
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remember that program
Reading is Fundamental?
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Yes. Reading is Fundamental.
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If you can't read your
whole life is just damaged.
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If you are
illiterate your whole life
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is just not what it could be
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because reading opens
up new worlds for you.
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And one of my
concerns, Dr. Clark,
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as I talk to young people
around the country and stuff
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is they can't,
many of them can't read,
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they can't speak
properly, they can't write,
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I mean, you get things
that are written by kids
00:10:03.50\00:10:07.65
and you just want to go--
00:10:07.68\00:10:10.51
why didn't they learn how
to write even a basic letter?
00:10:10.54\00:10:14.00
So it could really
concerns me where we are
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and that our kids
don't have a burden to read
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and what you are
doing is you are stressing,
00:10:21.42\00:10:25.20
and your school is stressing
the importance of reading.
00:10:25.23\00:10:29.23
If you can't read, you
can't progress in life.
00:10:29.26\00:10:32.55
There is a notion that we have
to really begin to understand,
00:10:32.58\00:10:36.70
we are gonna have to go
back to training parents.
00:10:36.73\00:10:39.62
You know, the parents
are playing a major issue
00:10:39.65\00:10:42.51
in the destruction
of our communities.
00:10:42.54\00:10:45.48
And the reason I say
that, not all parents,
00:10:45.51\00:10:47.55
clearly there are
some great parents,
00:10:47.58\00:10:49.06
but there's not enough
that are really entrenched
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with the work of
their young people,
00:10:51.81\00:10:53.75
the work of their
children and nephews,
00:10:53.78\00:10:55.65
nieces and so on and so forth.
00:10:55.68\00:10:57.40
Reading starts at age zero.
00:10:57.43\00:11:00.34
When they sit in womb you have
to begin to nurture their mind
00:11:00.37\00:11:03.56
so that when kids are
of-- you know, out of the womb
00:11:03.59\00:11:07.39
and they are there and they
are laughing and joking with you
00:11:07.42\00:11:09.81
so they can begin to,
you know, love reading,
00:11:09.84\00:11:12.84
begin to take that
into their hearts and minds
00:11:12.87\00:11:15.55
and begin to move forward.
00:11:15.58\00:11:17.17
But reading is that, people
who can read don't commit crimes
00:11:17.20\00:11:21.33
because they have options.
00:11:21.36\00:11:24.30
Wow, that is deep.
Now that's a deep thing.
00:11:24.33\00:11:27.73
Unless it's a white collar
crime that's a whole thing.
00:11:27.76\00:11:30.11
Violent crimes
usually, no, no, they don't
00:11:33.91\00:11:36.20
but that's absolutely true.
00:11:36.23\00:11:38.38
You know, if-- well,
you said a few things,
00:11:38.41\00:11:41.32
number one,
parental involvement.
00:11:41.35\00:11:44.75
So many times and I, I mean,
00:11:44.78\00:11:47.67
some people might
get angry with me,
00:11:47.70\00:11:49.30
you might get over
angry with me for saying this
00:11:49.33\00:11:51.53
but I just have to say it.
00:11:51.56\00:11:52.67
So many times we push
everything onto the school
00:11:52.70\00:11:56.72
but what about at home?
00:11:56.75\00:11:58.00
What about reading?
00:11:58.03\00:11:59.10
Reading the Sabbath
school lesson to your children,
00:11:59.13\00:12:01.53
reading church-- reading
the Bible to your children,
00:12:01.56\00:12:05.61
taking your children to church
00:12:05.64\00:12:07.34
and letting them
read the memory verse.
00:12:07.37\00:12:09.99
I mean things like that,
00:12:10.02\00:12:11.98
we could be
doing from the outside,
00:12:12.01\00:12:14.33
reading in the
womb, when my babies--
00:12:14.36\00:12:17.52
when I was having my kids,
I read to them in the womb.
00:12:17.55\00:12:21.01
You know, they-- it gives them
an appreciation for learning.
00:12:21.04\00:12:27.04
Things like going to
the library, it's free.
00:12:27.07\00:12:30.30
They have story
hours. Absolutely.
00:12:30.33\00:12:32.19
Take your young
kids to the library.
00:12:32.22\00:12:33.90
There are things that we
can do that can actually,
00:12:33.93\00:12:38.19
really help and foster
00:12:38.22\00:12:39.96
and encourage
learning and reading.
00:12:39.99\00:12:43.08
So what you are
saying is so critical.
00:12:43.11\00:12:46.11
I just believe that, you know,
00:12:46.14\00:12:48.65
the churches
have to get involved,
00:12:48.68\00:12:50.16
the communities are
gonna have to do more as well.
00:12:50.19\00:12:53.02
We recognize that
there is a challenge
00:12:53.05\00:12:55.10
so I'm reaching out
to all of my churches
00:12:55.13\00:12:57.83
in my area
saying, host study hours.
00:12:57.86\00:12:59.85
Let's have you know,
community study hours for kids.
00:12:59.88\00:13:03.45
You have educators
that are in church,
00:13:03.48\00:13:05.69
have them come and
work with our young people.
00:13:05.72\00:13:08.29
We have to do something
to change what's going on
00:13:08.32\00:13:10.94
and people will
need to recognize
00:13:10.97\00:13:12.30
the critical aspect of
what's really going on.
00:13:12.33\00:13:15.86
The bigger part of
what I see that is,
00:13:15.89\00:13:18.72
is there with the parents,
00:13:18.75\00:13:20.29
is that-- our kids, if
they have parents around
00:13:20.32\00:13:22.80
they are not
accountable to them.
00:13:22.83\00:13:24.50
One of the reasons I
was not able to overcome,
00:13:24.53\00:13:27.26
my challenges is because I
was accountable to my parents.
00:13:27.29\00:13:31.26
I was accountable
regardless of what I did
00:13:31.29\00:13:33.46
even though I got in trouble
00:13:33.49\00:13:34.81
and I went out in the
street and did certain things,
00:13:34.84\00:13:37.59
I still was
accountable to my parents.
00:13:37.62\00:13:39.88
I would only do so much
00:13:39.91\00:13:41.78
and then I recognize I still
had to be accountable to them,
00:13:41.81\00:13:44.81
our young people
don't have that now.
00:13:44.84\00:13:46.78
So in order to
really engage them
00:13:46.81\00:13:49.59
in my public charter school,
00:13:49.62\00:13:52.44
I have a
relationship with the kids,
00:13:52.47\00:13:54.26
so if they have no
accountability to anyone else
00:13:54.29\00:13:56.94
they have accountability to me.
00:13:56.97\00:13:58.45
And the differences is,
00:13:58.48\00:13:59.58
is that I will show
up in their community,
00:13:59.61\00:14:02.02
I will go to
their outside events
00:14:02.05\00:14:04.25
that they are involved in,
00:14:04.28\00:14:05.39
so that when they see me,
00:14:05.42\00:14:07.03
the negative things
that they were going to do,
00:14:07.06\00:14:09.60
it changes at moment.
00:14:09.63\00:14:11.24
You know, you had kids
that would curse around masseuse
00:14:11.27\00:14:14.11
but when they saw a masseuse
00:14:14.14\00:14:15.47
they immediately
wanted to run away shy,
00:14:15.50\00:14:18.52
because they were accountable
to that particular person.
00:14:18.55\00:14:21.17
That's how we have
begin to do as a community
00:14:21.20\00:14:23.61
and begin to change
00:14:23.64\00:14:24.67
because we can't change
these parents right now,
00:14:24.70\00:14:27.04
we can try to educate
them and provide information
00:14:27.07\00:14:29.73
but the kids are who is
going to lead the future.
00:14:29.76\00:14:32.21
That you know,
it's so touching to me
00:14:32.24\00:14:34.78
that what you said is that,
00:14:34.81\00:14:39.17
if there is not
someone in the home
00:14:39.20\00:14:41.43
for them to be accountable to,
00:14:41.46\00:14:43.46
you will represent that dad
00:14:43.49\00:14:47.01
and one of the
things that is so critical
00:14:47.04\00:14:49.46
you had two parents
to be accountable to.
00:14:49.49\00:14:52.62
Your dad who happened
to be a preacher, right?
00:14:52.65\00:14:54.72
Yes, he is, absolute.
00:14:54.75\00:14:57.18
He was a very big man at that--
00:14:57.21\00:14:59.67
He was an advent.
00:14:59.70\00:15:01.50
So having a father in the home
makes such a big difference.
00:15:01.53\00:15:07.10
Absolutely.
00:15:07.13\00:15:08.26
Our men have to step up to
the play and parent these boys.
00:15:08.29\00:15:12.86
These boys are
desperate for a father
00:15:12.89\00:15:16.61
and if the father is not there,
if they can have a mentor,
00:15:16.64\00:15:21.00
someone that can, that they--
00:15:21.03\00:15:23.22
to whom they can be accountable,
00:15:23.25\00:15:24.92
that makes such
a big difference.
00:15:24.95\00:15:26.68
I mean, it almost
brings tears in my eyes
00:15:26.71\00:15:28.41
to know that you were
telling your students,
00:15:28.44\00:15:30.67
I'll be that for you
if you don't have it.
00:15:30.70\00:15:33.53
That's so tremendous.
00:15:33.56\00:15:35.01
I have so many
children out there.
00:15:35.04\00:15:36.68
Yes, yes. That are not mine.
00:15:36.71\00:15:39.12
Yes.
00:15:39.15\00:15:40.29
That I support
and really believe in.
00:15:40.32\00:15:43.57
I have paid for kids
to tuition, to colleges,
00:15:43.60\00:15:46.51
that they've gone on to graduate
00:15:46.54\00:15:48.39
that I've paid out of
my pocket for them to go
00:15:48.42\00:15:51.04
and become educated
00:15:51.07\00:15:52.73
and the way I see that we're
going to change the communities
00:15:52.76\00:15:55.02
that we have to
continue to do that.
00:15:55.05\00:15:56.92
I just, you know, I put
it on the table all the time,
00:15:56.95\00:15:59.75
these parents have not
done a great job whatsoever
00:15:59.78\00:16:03.27
and I'm very,
very upset with them.
00:16:03.30\00:16:04.94
The men like you just
stated they got men up
00:16:04.97\00:16:07.92
and do what's necessary to
work with these young males.
00:16:07.95\00:16:11.42
These ladies, they have sons,
they got to stop babying them
00:16:11.45\00:16:15.03
because they will
stay in your house forever,
00:16:15.06\00:16:17.29
all right, they
will stay there forever
00:16:17.32\00:16:19.19
and they will never be the
man that God called them to be.
00:16:19.22\00:16:22.35
Absolutely.
00:16:22.38\00:16:23.53
And they won't
understand the role of the man
00:16:23.56\00:16:27.11
because if mom
always took care of them
00:16:27.14\00:16:30.01
then when they
hook up with someone,
00:16:30.04\00:16:32.12
they're gonna be looking
at her to be the provider,
00:16:32.15\00:16:34.68
that's not how
God intended it to be.
00:16:34.71\00:16:37.13
That's not.
00:16:37.16\00:16:38.20
So, but a
woman, I maintain this,
00:16:38.23\00:16:41.99
that a mother can do a
great job with raising sons
00:16:42.02\00:16:46.18
but you need a man to
teach a boy how to be a man.
00:16:46.21\00:16:50.65
Absolutely.
00:16:50.68\00:16:51.71
I can't teach my sons how
to be men, but their dad could.
00:16:51.74\00:16:54.38
You know, what I mean?
00:16:54.41\00:16:55.44
So that's or
mentors, someone to say
00:16:55.47\00:16:59.79
hey, I'm gonna
help these boys along.
00:16:59.82\00:17:03.74
This is a
critical, critical thing.
00:17:03.77\00:17:06.25
Our boys-- that's why
they are joining gangs I think,
00:17:06.28\00:17:09.33
because they need
that accountability
00:17:09.36\00:17:12.28
and moms are babying,
you hit the nail on the head.
00:17:12.31\00:17:17.53
Babying the boys,
00:17:17.56\00:17:19.13
so that they have no
clue about how to be a man.
00:17:19.16\00:17:21.46
And they will never grow
up and do anything productive,
00:17:21.49\00:17:24.59
they will never do that.
00:17:24.62\00:17:26.06
And, you know, you're
mentioning gangs a moment ago,
00:17:26.09\00:17:28.42
one of the things
that I embrace gangs for,
00:17:28.45\00:17:31.09
not for the negativity but
for the structure that they have
00:17:31.12\00:17:34.03
and the reason I
say that the structure
00:17:34.06\00:17:35.96
is because they
bring young people in,
00:17:35.99\00:17:37.95
they provide
things that they need,
00:17:37.98\00:17:40.97
they nurture them,
they give them opportunity
00:17:41.00\00:17:43.93
to be promoted in a position
00:17:43.96\00:17:46.73
and then they become
leaders within that organization
00:17:46.76\00:17:50.59
and they've taught
them the whole streamline
00:17:50.62\00:17:52.90
and many of us even as
educators we turn our noses up
00:17:52.93\00:17:56.89
instead of
embracing and learning
00:17:56.92\00:17:58.63
how we can take that
energy in their structure.
00:17:58.66\00:18:01.37
Because they have a structure
and it's based on reading
00:18:01.40\00:18:04.07
because they have to learn,
they have to learn some things
00:18:04.10\00:18:06.61
and those same
kids that will learn
00:18:06.64\00:18:08.69
and will read that
information and be productive,
00:18:08.72\00:18:11.12
so we can take that energy
that the gangs are getting
00:18:11.15\00:18:14.09
and we can put it
in a positive spin
00:18:14.12\00:18:16.26
that work for the glory of God
and work for our communities.
00:18:16.29\00:18:19.05
Yes, that is so true, so true.
00:18:19.08\00:18:23.26
If we look at
the family structure
00:18:23.29\00:18:26.46
and make some changes
with, you know, accountability,
00:18:26.49\00:18:30.21
make some changes with
just getting our kids to study.
00:18:30.24\00:18:33.95
Turn off the television, turn
off the video games, you know,
00:18:33.98\00:18:38.93
and give them
some kind of incentive
00:18:38.96\00:18:41.53
to do better and to learn.
00:18:41.56\00:18:43.14
I think it could make
such a big, big difference.
00:18:43.17\00:18:46.52
Our kids really want to do well
00:18:46.55\00:18:48.39
and I just say this with
so much passion that I can't--
00:18:48.42\00:18:52.50
if I go back for a
movement and I just tell you,
00:18:52.53\00:18:55.76
I live with that
stigma being called
00:18:55.79\00:18:58.01
functional
illiterate for 30 years.
00:18:58.04\00:19:01.31
The labels that we
put on these young people
00:19:01.34\00:19:03.60
begin to push them to do
negative, negative things.
00:19:03.63\00:19:07.42
The labels that we talk about
00:19:07.45\00:19:09.38
will hold fast with
them for the next 30 years
00:19:09.41\00:19:13.41
or 40 years or 50 years.
00:19:13.44\00:19:15.17
What I tell you, folks, that we
have to watch what we're doing
00:19:15.20\00:19:17.71
and put work into action
that show kids a positive spin,
00:19:17.74\00:19:20.64
to show our
community a positive spin.
00:19:20.67\00:19:22.84
I live with that
00:19:22.87\00:19:24.18
until I was able to
release that conversation
00:19:24.21\00:19:27.85
I've had about my
functional illiteracy in jail.
00:19:27.88\00:19:30.55
I held that captive in my spirit
00:19:30.58\00:19:32.97
and though I was
working with other young people
00:19:33.00\00:19:35.18
I always had that
apprehension to tell that story
00:19:35.21\00:19:38.12
until one day it was like,
00:19:38.15\00:19:39.96
God said, this is
the story I gave you,
00:19:39.99\00:19:42.37
so go tell everyone so
that you can help them change
00:19:42.40\00:19:45.45
because believe that
somebody else is dealing
00:19:45.48\00:19:47.69
with the same challenges
that you've dealt with
00:19:47.72\00:19:49.76
and now they need you to come in
00:19:49.79\00:19:52.18
and help them
overcome those challenges.
00:19:52.21\00:19:54.79
And so I want this mission
as I travel around the country
00:19:54.82\00:19:58.17
that I see the young people
00:19:58.20\00:19:59.47
hurting in
these different places
00:19:59.50\00:20:00.98
as I was hurting
in that classroom.
00:20:01.01\00:20:02.24
Yeah.
00:20:02.27\00:20:03.30
And nobody was there to help me.
00:20:03.33\00:20:04.59
We got kids in these ragged
schools that are daily dying
00:20:04.62\00:20:08.17
and they cry in
there, please help me,
00:20:08.20\00:20:10.44
and nobody is helping them.
00:20:10.47\00:20:12.09
They are going to-- I'll
reach out too many pastors
00:20:12.12\00:20:15.54
and I ask them for
help and I never see,
00:20:15.57\00:20:18.22
that sometimes
I never them come.
00:20:18.25\00:20:20.32
And so I'm just
really, really pushing
00:20:20.35\00:20:23.06
and I will allow
folks to say get involved,
00:20:23.09\00:20:25.58
we need you, I'll help
you structure anything,
00:20:25.61\00:20:28.06
call me and we
can make it happen.
00:20:28.09\00:20:29.94
Yeah, tell us what we can do?
00:20:29.97\00:20:31.68
Tell the
viewers what they can do
00:20:31.71\00:20:34.00
to make a difference in
their local school district.
00:20:34.03\00:20:37.65
If you don't have a
child in a particular school
00:20:37.68\00:20:40.26
but you live in
that neighborhood
00:20:40.29\00:20:41.78
you need to go sign up
and say, how can I help?
00:20:41.81\00:20:44.32
Should I be here
to answer the phone?
00:20:44.35\00:20:45.95
Can I come to a PTA
meeting? How can I help?
00:20:45.98\00:20:49.13
If I live in that community,
00:20:49.16\00:20:50.38
whether I have a
child that graduated or not
00:20:50.41\00:20:52.41
and if I do have a kid that
went to school and they would,
00:20:52.44\00:20:55.03
I need my child to come back
and help provide some tutoring.
00:20:55.06\00:20:58.32
I also need some people
00:20:58.35\00:20:59.63
who are very serious
about change in the community
00:20:59.66\00:21:02.10
to come out and provide
workshops on the weekend.
00:21:02.13\00:21:04.74
We have empowerment
forums at our school
00:21:04.77\00:21:07.69
and we do it once a month
00:21:07.72\00:21:09.27
and we are bringing
these experts to come in
00:21:09.30\00:21:12.16
and talk to you
about healthcare,
00:21:12.19\00:21:13.99
insurance, time
businesses, literacy,
00:21:14.02\00:21:16.49
we bring the library, we
bring the community colleges,
00:21:16.52\00:21:18.80
we bring
everybody, we have no excuses
00:21:18.83\00:21:20.66
as to why you
can't be productive
00:21:20.69\00:21:22.62
and I think it takes that will.
00:21:22.65\00:21:24.64
If you can't get the
whole village to work
00:21:24.67\00:21:27.08
then bring the
village in one location
00:21:27.11\00:21:29.08
and then make people come there.
00:21:29.11\00:21:30.70
And so we can begin to
do that by reaching out
00:21:30.73\00:21:33.95
and just being honest with
the way that we are feeling
00:21:33.98\00:21:36.56
and being honest with the things
00:21:36.59\00:21:37.83
that we have dealt
within our challenges
00:21:37.86\00:21:39.73
and it takes
leaders to actually go
00:21:39.76\00:21:42.77
and provide the information
00:21:42.80\00:21:44.34
'cause some people don't
know how to ask questions
00:21:44.37\00:21:47.41
or they don't know how
to talk about those things
00:21:47.44\00:21:49.78
of which they need support then.
00:21:49.81\00:21:51.64
Yes. Yes, that is so true.
00:21:51.67\00:21:55.27
First of all let me ask you,
00:21:55.30\00:21:56.39
how many students do you
have at the Richard Wright?
00:21:56.42\00:21:58.84
We have
approximately 400 students.
00:21:58.87\00:22:00.76
Four hundred students.
00:22:00.79\00:22:03.17
And you had
mentioned on the program before
00:22:03.20\00:22:07.05
we were just ending
on the Skype program
00:22:07.08\00:22:09.83
that you have
because it's a public school,
00:22:09.86\00:22:12.40
you can't have chapel
or something like that.
00:22:12.43\00:22:17.41
But you do have
something called Family Matters,
00:22:17.44\00:22:20.11
tell us what that is.
00:22:20.14\00:22:21.17
Family Matters for
us every morning is,
00:22:21.20\00:22:24.95
we provide a
routine, our kids come in,
00:22:24.98\00:22:27.08
first of all they have
to turn in their homework
00:22:27.11\00:22:28.75
as they are coming in the door.
00:22:28.78\00:22:30.10
So we don't wait
till they get to class
00:22:30.13\00:22:31.58
that's their check-ins.
00:22:31.61\00:22:32.65
So we don't want our kids
with metal detectors or anything
00:22:32.68\00:22:36.44
'cause we're not
breeding inmates,
00:22:36.47\00:22:38.22
we're breeding students.
00:22:38.25\00:22:39.34
Oh, come on now.
00:22:39.37\00:22:40.60
And so with that they turn
in their homework assignments,
00:22:40.63\00:22:43.08
they come in the Family
Matters and we have breakfast,
00:22:43.11\00:22:45.28
we do the pledge, we
sing Lift Every Voice,
00:22:45.31\00:22:48.01
we sing Star-Spangled Banner
00:22:48.04\00:22:49.56
and then we have a
moment of a positive reflection
00:22:49.59\00:22:52.59
and that's my moment
of prayer essentially
00:22:52.62\00:22:55.87
that we have our
moment of reflection
00:22:55.90\00:22:57.79
and kids come with
the minute of things,
00:22:57.82\00:22:59.97
they'll come and say Dr. Clark,
00:23:00.00\00:23:01.26
can you ask for a
positive reflection?
00:23:01.29\00:23:03.79
My kid, my cousin
got shot last night
00:23:03.82\00:23:06.97
or you know such
and such happened.
00:23:07.00\00:23:09.01
And lot of times
it's also positive,
00:23:09.04\00:23:10.86
my grandmother
graduated from college,
00:23:10.89\00:23:13.04
can we give a shot out to her?
00:23:13.07\00:23:14.60
We use that moment
of time to do that.
00:23:14.63\00:23:17.02
Then we have some songs.
00:23:17.05\00:23:18.44
So in our school I let
the kids choose the song
00:23:18.47\00:23:21.11
so when they want to
play Christian songs,
00:23:21.14\00:23:23.75
nobody can say
that I made them do it.
00:23:23.78\00:23:25.95
All right, and we were
able to have that moment
00:23:25.98\00:23:28.40
and you should see
what happens of that
00:23:28.43\00:23:32.27
and for doing Family Matters
which is our devotional time.
00:23:32.30\00:23:35.14
You should see exactly
what happens with our kids.
00:23:35.17\00:23:38.44
It changes their
mindset in transition
00:23:38.47\00:23:41.23
because you would
remember some of kids
00:23:41.26\00:23:42.80
have been sleeping in
cold houses that night.
00:23:42.83\00:23:45.13
Some of our kids didn't have
running water the night before.
00:23:45.16\00:23:47.89
Some of our kids couldn't sleep
00:23:47.92\00:23:49.34
because they had
siblings all over the place
00:23:49.37\00:23:51.52
and when they
come to our building
00:23:51.55\00:23:53.05
it's a place of refuge.
00:23:53.08\00:23:54.45
So the name Family
Matters comes together
00:23:54.48\00:23:57.23
because we are one body
00:23:57.26\00:23:58.47
and we are one
family and it matters.
00:23:58.50\00:24:01.53
That is so great.
00:24:01.56\00:24:02.80
And I know that the students
00:24:02.83\00:24:04.34
have to appreciate
your passion for them
00:24:04.37\00:24:08.41
and your desire
to see them achieve
00:24:08.44\00:24:10.46
because this is
not just a job for you
00:24:10.49\00:24:13.00
and that's what
I've picked up from
00:24:13.03\00:24:15.80
when we've talked before
and during the interview.
00:24:15.83\00:24:19.53
This is not just a job
for you, this is who you are?
00:24:19.56\00:24:23.39
I start my day at 4:30 every
morning and I'm not finished--
00:24:23.42\00:24:27.18
4:30?
00:24:27.21\00:24:28.24
4:30, every morning
00:24:28.27\00:24:30.43
and I'm not finished till
about 9 or 10 every night.
00:24:30.46\00:24:33.78
This is a dream and I can
say to all of the congregation
00:24:33.81\00:24:37.88
and anybody else that is around
I can say this whole heartedly.
00:24:37.91\00:24:41.59
If you really
believe in your dream
00:24:41.62\00:24:43.61
remember this is
the dream God gave you
00:24:43.64\00:24:45.68
and I can honestly
say dreams do come true
00:24:45.71\00:24:48.68
because my dream of
opening my own school,
00:24:48.71\00:24:51.70
having kids that will go
out and fix their readings,
00:24:51.73\00:24:55.13
fix their writing and
begin to become pubic speakers.
00:24:55.16\00:24:58.64
My dream came true and it
was all to the glory of God
00:24:58.67\00:25:01.59
because that is
the dream that I ask,
00:25:01.62\00:25:03.58
I prayed for whole heartedly
00:25:03.61\00:25:05.33
and it took time
to make it happen.
00:25:05.36\00:25:07.57
But he-- when it happened,
oh, what a great day it was.
00:25:07.60\00:25:11.26
Yes, 'cause you dared to dream.
00:25:11.29\00:25:13.72
I dared to dream.
00:25:13.75\00:25:14.78
You dared to dream
and in view of that
00:25:14.81\00:25:17.15
I have a little something
for you, a little surprise.
00:25:17.18\00:25:20.18
Can you guys
pass me that, please?
00:25:20.21\00:25:23.69
I have a little surprise for you
00:25:23.72\00:25:25.44
that we want to give
you, from Dare to Dream.
00:25:25.47\00:25:29.14
Oh, wow. Yeah, a
cap and a T-shirt.
00:25:29.17\00:25:34.00
Hey, you know what purple
is like my favorite colors--
00:25:34.03\00:25:37.19
Is it? Every
time you cover color.
00:25:37.22\00:25:41.53
Royal purple-- Royal purple.
00:25:41.56\00:25:43.31
That's right, royal
purple. This is awesome.
00:25:43.34\00:25:45.82
You represent what we
talk about on Dare to Dream.
00:25:45.85\00:25:49.88
And that is having a dream
00:25:49.91\00:25:52.54
knowing that you're
walking in your divine destiny
00:25:52.57\00:25:55.96
and then moving forward,
00:25:55.99\00:25:58.13
you know, in that destiny
00:25:58.16\00:26:00.39
'cause God has placed you
where you are with this passion
00:26:00.42\00:26:03.70
and this desire
and this testimony.
00:26:03.73\00:26:06.40
So I've just want to tell you
00:26:06.43\00:26:08.81
that we appreciate
what you're doing so much
00:26:08.84\00:26:11.97
and I know your students do too.
00:26:12.00\00:26:13.46
And I tell you and I
humbly appreciate that
00:26:13.49\00:26:17.56
and I thank you for
this amazing opportunity
00:26:17.59\00:26:20.79
to just share my story
00:26:20.82\00:26:22.59
and I pray that what I've
said to others will help them
00:26:22.62\00:26:27.02
and that they can
continue to be positive
00:26:27.05\00:26:29.26
and that we can
continue to change our community
00:26:29.29\00:26:31.86
because I know
and I have in my heart
00:26:31.89\00:26:33.82
that one day we're gonna wake up
00:26:33.85\00:26:35.48
and everybody's
gonna be literate.
00:26:35.51\00:26:39.35
And we won't have some of
the challenges that we have.
00:26:39.38\00:26:41.68
I know it's gonna happen.
00:26:41.71\00:26:43.06
I believe it because I
had a dream of the school
00:26:43.09\00:26:45.28
so if that
dream could come true,
00:26:45.31\00:26:46.79
so can this other dream
that I have for our community
00:26:46.82\00:26:49.90
and I'm just very proud.
00:26:49.93\00:26:50.99
We need your
voice you keep it going.
00:26:51.02\00:26:53.10
Yes.
00:26:53.13\00:26:54.16
And I'm glad that you are
doing it for the glory of God.
00:26:54.19\00:26:57.16
We have to because
God is our all in all
00:26:57.19\00:27:01.66
and if we don't move in Him,
then what's the point, right?
00:27:01.69\00:27:06.79
What's the
point? What's the point?
00:27:06.82\00:27:08.51
And so we continue to do this
00:27:08.54\00:27:10.10
in our one hour
our church congregation
00:27:10.13\00:27:13.10
to really, really
continue to be involved
00:27:13.13\00:27:15.47
and if they need me,
they can reach out to me,
00:27:15.50\00:27:18.13
I'd be glad to come
and work with anybody
00:27:18.16\00:27:20.45
who wants to change.
00:27:20.48\00:27:21.51
How can they reach you?
00:27:21.54\00:27:22.80
You can go to my
website at Dr.MarcoClark.com.
00:27:22.83\00:27:26.72
That's
D-R-M-A-R-C-O-C-L-A-R-K.com
00:27:26.75\00:27:30.28
or they can reach
me at 860-997-6602.
00:27:30.31\00:27:35.34
And we'll put that
number upon the screen.
00:27:35.37\00:27:37.65
Thank you so much, Dr. Clark.
Thank you so much, all right.
00:27:37.68\00:27:40.45
You've been a
blessing. Thank you.
00:27:40.48\00:27:42.08
Dr. Clark has given
us some valuable insight
00:27:42.11\00:27:44.95
into the current status of
education in the Inner City
00:27:44.98\00:27:47.93
as well as some strategies
00:27:47.96\00:27:49.53
to impact our
children's academic outlook.
00:27:49.56\00:27:52.46
Share this with
your friends and family.
00:27:52.49\00:27:54.66
Let's do all that we can
00:27:54.69\00:27:56.28
to make a difference
in our children's lives.
00:27:56.31\00:27:58.72
And most of all let's
impact them for Christ.
00:27:58.75\00:28:01.30
Well, that's our program,
thanks so much for tuning in.
00:28:01.33\00:28:04.00
Join us next time,
00:28:04.03\00:28:05.07
it's just wouldn't
be the same without you.
00:28:05.10\00:28:07.09