What are our young people thinking? That's what everyone wants to know. One of the goals of the Expanding Visions Foundation is help our young people gain perspective on life and the world around them. Perspective combined with education plays a key role in their development and preparation for their future. It also keeps them well rounded. Our young people have gain perspective on life from some of the activities in which EVF gets them involved. Read what they have to say.
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Our Community Mindset A trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center gave Akili some perspective of the African American community mindset. If he is able to apply what he has learn to his own life, the sky is the limit for Akili. |
My favorite section at the Freedom Center was called Slavery Today. The part that touched me the most was human trafficking. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where people profit from the control and exploitation of others. The average cost of a slave around the world is $90. Trafficking primarily involves exploitation which comes in many forms, including:
According to some estimates, approximately 80% of trafficking involves sexual exploitation, and 19% involves labor exploitation. It is estimated that there are approximately 27 million slaves around the world. African slaves were the worst victims of human trafficking, because during their voyage to America most slaves, men and women were beaten, raped and murdered. After going to the museum I made a connection with current African Americans. A connection that I made was that young African Americans make the fight look pointless, because mentally we are still slaves. Our current mindset of the slave would be disappointing to Rosa Park and Martin Luther King if they were still alive. The unity between the African American family and community is gone, there are more black on black murders, a large majority of African American drop out of school or don’t do their best while attending school. It’s amazing to think that decade’s later people chose to and are forced to live without the freedom that many ancestors have fought so hard for. “It’s not the man that is holding us down, it’s ourselves.” - Akili, Mentee |
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Graduation Speech Mackenzie earned the opportunity to give a speech to his graduating class of 2011. His words shows his maturity and growth over the years and provide inspiration to all. |
Thank you. I would like to begin by reading the first stanza of the poem "Can’t" by Edgar Guest "Can’t_ is the worst word that’s written or spoken; Doing more harm here than slander and lies; on it is many a strong spirit broken, and with it many a good purpose dies. It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning and robs us of courage we need through the day: It rings in our ear like a timely-sent warning and laughs when we falter and fail by the way." Now to my fellow students, The word _can’t_ has been a curse to our generation. We now have tools like the internet, cell phones, television, and so on. Through the years we have come to rely on them. If one of these items becomes unavailable, our lives come to a stop. This should be far from the truth. We have completed four years of high school including 2 years tech prep training so there should be no doubt that we have the skills needed to travel the road to success. Our persistence has paid off and our courage to face and overcome our everyday lives should give us a sense of accomplishment. With that being said I will finish this poem... "_Can’t_ is the word that is foe to ambition, an enemy ambushed to shatter your will; Its prey is forever that man with a mission and bows but to courage and patience and skill. Hate it, with hatred that’s deep and undying, for once it is welcomed ‘twill break any man; Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying and answer this demon by saying: 'I _can_'." Seniors, we will show previous generations that their sacrifices were not in vain, that we are more than our phones, iPods, text messages and even the latest fashion. We will not let the word can’t hinder our futures. WE CAN DO IT! And if there is any doubt in your mind, look at where we are now. We have made it this far and there is no turning back. We are at the end of one part of our lives but at the beginning of another. Class of 2011...WE CAN! Thank you. - Mackenzie, Mentee |