>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TOTHE WFSU STUDIOS.

I'M DAVID MULLINS, GENERAL MANAGER OF WFSU PUBLIC MEDIA.

AND I'M THRILLED THAT WFSU CAN GREET YOU AND IS HOSTING TONIGHT'S EVENT.

THERE ARE LOTS OF SIMILARITIES BETWEEN WFSU AND THE SOUTH SIDE ARTSES AND HUMANITIES FESTIVALS.

WE BOTH ARE FOCUSED ON SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES AND INCLUSION, ENGAGEMENT, HISTORY, CULTURE AND STORYTELLING.

THEY'RE ALL A PART OF WHAT WE FOCUS ON TO PROVIDE THAT COMMUNITY SERVICE.

IN FACT, LOCAL HISTORY' BECOME A GREAT PROJECT FOR OUR TEAM HERE AT WFSU WITH DAILY STORIES ABOUT HISTORY AS PART OF OUR PROGRAM "LOCAL ROUTES."

AND YOU CAN CHECK IT OUT ONLINE DAILY.JUST GO TO WFSU.ORG/LOCALROUTES.

AND JUST LIKE THE SOUL SOUTH SIDE, WFSU COULDN'T EXIST WITHOUT PARTNERSHIPS.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SO EXCITED TO BE GREETING YOU ALL HERE TONIGHT AND, OF COURSE, ALL OF THOSE JOINING US ONLINE.

WE'RE GOING TO REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THE ORAL PRESENTATIONS THAT ARE GOING TOBE PRESENTED BY THE YOUTH TONIGHT.

MOST OF YOU MAY KNOW WFSU BY THE PBS PROGRAMS THAT YOU SEE ON TELEVISION OR MAYBE THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS THAT WE BRING EVERY DAY.

MAYBE THE DRAMAS OF THE ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAMS, THE PERFORMANCES, THE DOCUMENTARIES.

BUT SHOW OF HANDS HERE IN THE STUDIO, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN IN THE WFSU STUDIOS BEFORE?

THERE'S A FEW.

AND WE -- SO WE WELCOME YOU BACK.

AND SO EVERYONE -- TO EVERYONE WHOS HAS NEVER BEEN HERE, WELCOME AGAIN.

WE'VE GOT A GREAT PRODUCTION TEAM HERE AT WFSU.

THEY DO PROJECTS LIKE THIS ONE HERE TONIGHT, BUT THEY ALSO DO A LOT OF OTHER FUN AND ARTS-ORIENTED PROJECTS AND ALSO THINGS THAT DEAL WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

BUT OUR TEAM RECORD AND STREAM LIVE CONCERTS AT RUBY DIAMOND CONCERT HALL, OFFERMAN HALL OR VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN AS WELL AS PRODUCING GREAT STORYTELLING VIDEOS THAT WE AIR ON TELEVISION AND THEN STREAM ONLINE.

NOW, OTHER OTHERS OF YOU WITH MAY KNOW WFSU BY THE NPR PROGRAMMING THAT WE PROVIDE TO YOU ON THE RADIO, OR MAYBE IT'S THE TREMENDOUS LOCAL NEWS TEAM THAT WE HAVE COVERING LOCAL NEWS HERE AT WFSU.

TOM FLANIGAN, LYNN HATTER, THEY'RE RECOGNIZED BY THEIR PEERS HERE IN THE STATE AND ALSO NATIONALLY.

WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THEM.

OUR TEAM ALSO IS AT THE FLORIDA CAPITOL.

SOME OF YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT THAT.WE HAVE A PROGRAMMING SERVICE CALLED THE FLORIDA CHANNEL, AND OUR TEAM IS EMBEDDED THERE, 45-MEMBER TEAM THAT IS THERE TO COVER AND PROVIDE COVERAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT 24/7, PARTICULARLY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT JUST ENDED.BUT THE HIDDEN GEM OF WFSU THAT MAKES US SO SPECIAL, I I THINK, IN THIS COMMUNITY IS OUR EDUCATION TEAM.YOU ARE OUR EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH TEAM.

THIS TEAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO TEACHERS AND THE FAMILIES, TO PARENTS, TO STUDENTS.

AND THEY'RE ALSO RECOGNIZED AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE THERE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY, OUR CHILDREN WITH CONTENT AND TRAINING FOR TEACHERS.

THEY'RE ALSO INVOLVED IN HELPING DEVELOP PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCT AND CONTENT THAT MANY TIMES WILL MAKE IT ALL THE WAY UP TO PBS, THEY'RE THAT WELL RESPECTED ACROSS THE PBS LANDSCAPE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR EDUCATION TEAM IS THE FACT THAT EVERY DAY THEIR EFFORTS ARE POSITIVELY IMPACTING THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN HERE IN LEON COUNTY AND BEYOND.

NOW ENOUGH ABOUT WFSU.

I SEE I HAVE SOMEONE ABOUT TO COME UP ON STAGE WITH ME HERE.

LET'S GO TO THE FUN PART OF THE EVENING, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO A GREAT THE COMMUNITY LEADER.SHE'S A MEMBER OF OUR WFSU COMMUNITY COUNCIL AND PROBABLY THE MOST POSITIVE, LEAD BY EXAMPLE AND GODLY PERSON I KNOW.

CHRISTIC HENRY.

COME ON UP.

[APPLAUSE] >> HEY, Y'ALL.

LISTEN, FIRST OF ALL, ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I DO IS SERVE ALONGSIDE HIS FABULOUS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND PUBLIC EDUCATION TEAM AS A MEMBER OF THE WFSU COMMUNITY COUNCIL.

AND THAT'S HOW WE GET HERE THIS EVENING.

WE HAVE A PUBLIC MEDIA SERVICE THAT LISTENS TO ITS RESIDENTS, THAT LISTENS TO ITS CITIZENS, THAT IS ENCOURAGED AND COMMITTED TO TELLING OUR STORIES.

AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE HERE THIS EVENING.

BECAUSE AS A MOVEMENT, THE SOUL OF SOUTH SIDE ARTS AND HUMANITIES FESTIVAL, THE SOUTH SIDE REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS AND FRIENDS THAT WORK ALONGSIDE OF US ARE SERIOUS ABOUT PRESERVING NOT JUST THE PLACE OF SOUTH SIDE, BUT THE STORY, THE POWER, THE LEGACY, THE GOOD THINGS, THE LOVE, THE COMMERCE.

WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT.

SO YOU AS PARENTS TODAY WITH OUR YOUTH, WHO I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT HEARING FROM, PLAY A PART IN THAT.

WE PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING SURE WE DELIVER TO THEM THE LEGACY OF THE PLACE IN WHICH THEY LIVE ARE.

SO THAT WHEN THEY GROW UP, THEY HAVE A SENSE -- NOT JUST A SENSE OF PLACE, THEY HAVE A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP.

THEY HAVE A SENSE OF IDENTITY.

AND THEY HAVE A SENSE THAT THEY HAVE A COMMITMENT AND A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE THE PLACE THAT THEY CAME UP WITH IN WHETHER THEY'RE HERE LIVING OR THEY'RE SOMEWHERE ELSE IN THEIR CAREER OR THEIR PURSUIT.

THEY ALWAYS KNOW WHERE HOME IS.

SO I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE MOVEMENT HERE.

THE SOUTH SIDE -- THE SOUL SOUTH SIDE ARTS AND HUMANITIES FESTIVAL ACTUALLY CAME INTO FRUITION AS A RESULT OF RIGOROUS PLANNING THROUGH 2020.

WE LAUNCHED OUR FIRST COMMUNITY FESTIVAL IN THE WAKE OF A PANDEMIC.

AND PEOPLE WERE, LIKE, Y'ALL CRAZY.

EVERYBODY WERE CANCELING EVENTS, AND WE WERE PLANNING A WHOLE WEEKEND OF FEST VALUE ACTIVITIES, AND I -- FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES, AND I AM SO GLAD WE DID.

OUR FESTIVAL IS HEADQUARTERED AT THE THOMPSON PLAZA ON FAMU WAY, ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL STREETS THAT WE HAVE IN OUR CITY.

AND IT -- THIS MOVEMENT HOSTED OTHER 5700 NEIGHBORS, RESIDENTS AND VISITORS TO TALLAHASSEE'S SOUTH SIDE.

YES, I SAID THAT RIGHT, SOUTH SIDE, OVER THE COURSE OF ITS INAUGURAL WEEKEND.

THE SOUL SOUTH SIDE MOVEMENT IS AN EQUITY AND PRACTICE INITIATIVE THAT INTEGRATES DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT AS A VEHICLE TO GENERATE DATA-SUPPORTED EQUITY ADVANCEMENT WITHIN A GIVEN PLACE.

AND THIS IS GIVING US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE SUPPORTED BY OUR CITY, COUNTY, STATE AND NATIONAL FUNDING PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE OUR GOAL AS A COMMUNITY-BASED FESTIVAL IS TO 'EMING POWER LEGACY COMMUNITIES -- EMPOWER LEGACY COMMUNITIES LIKE TALLAHASSEE'S SOUTH SIDE VIA IN MOVEMENT.

WE ARE HERE TO CELEBRATE ITS HISTORY, ITS CULTURE, ITS COMMERCE AND ITS LOVE.

AND TO THE DATE, THE SOUL OF SOUTH SIDE ARTS AND HUMANITIES FESTIVAL MOVEMENT HAS HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OVER $457,000, AND THAT'S MONEY SPENT IN THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S MONEY SPENT BY THE COMMUNITY, THAT'S MONIESES GENERATED BY THE INVESTMENT THAT WE HAVE MADE WITH 73% OF THE OVERALL DOLLARS INVESTED WITH BLACK MINORITY AND SOUTH SIDE BUSINESS ENTERPRISES.

AND WITH OTHER 7 THE ,000 OF THOSE DOLLARS WITH CORRECT AND IN-KIND INVESTMENT AND YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT'S WHY YOU ARE HERE TONIGHT, BECAUSE OF OUR COMMITMENT TO INVESTMENT INTERGENERATIONALLY AND INVESTMENT AND TRANSFER TO OUR YOUTH.

PROUD OF THAT.

ALL RIGHT.

[APPLAUSE] AND A LITTLE ABOUT THE SOUTH SIDE REDEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL.

THIS COUNCIL WAS FORMED AT THE CRUX OF THE BLUEPRINT 2000 EXTENSION PROCESS BACK IN 20 THE 13 AS AN ADVOCACY BASE TO INSURE THAT SOUTH SIDE AND ITS AREA GOT THE ADEQUATE SHARE OF THE BLUEPRINT DOLLARS INVESTMENT TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND AS A RESULT OF MUCH OF THE ADVOCACY THAT WAS SUPPORTED BY THIS ORGANIZATION, WE WERE ABLE TO WORK ALONG WITH OTHER PARTNERS AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THAT COMMITTEE TO PROCURE OVER A QUARTER OF A BILLION DOLLARS MANY IN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT TO TALLAHASSEE'S SOUTH SIDE.

NOW, AT THE BEGINNING WE'RE GOING TO LEVERAGE THAT INVESTMENT WITH PRIVATE INVESTMENT AND CREATE HOME OWNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY, CREATE CULTURAL ADVANCEMENT, CREATE STANDING PRESERVATION WITHIN THIS COMMUNITY ALONGSIDE OUR CITY, COUNTY AND KNEW MISSAL PAL PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE SEE THE INVESTMENT OF OUR CITY REALIZE VALUE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND NEIGHBORHOODS INIAL HAS TALLAHASSEE'S SOUTH SIDE.

OUR SATE THED GOAL IS TO SPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE AREA'S CULTURAL IDENTITY AND TO WORK IN SYNERGY WITH INSTITUTIONS, ORGANIZATIONS AND EFFORTS TO INSURE THAT TALL HAS CEASE 'S --AL HAS CEASE NEIGHBORHOODS ARE CULTURALLY RICH, DESIRABLE PLACES TO LIVE, WORK, DO BUSINESS AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES.

WE ACCOMPLISH THIS BY CULTIVATING PARTNERSHIPS, COLLABORATIVE INVESTMENT, INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE FESTIVAL AND ADVOCACY FOR CHANGE THAT STRENGTHEN AND BRING SUSTAINABLE VALUE TO OUR COMMUNITY.

I SAY ALL THAT TO SAY WE ARE YOUR PARTNER IN MAKING SURE THAT SOUTH SIDE STAYS SOUTH SIDE.

WE CAN ACCOMMODATE GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT WHILE PRESERVING IDENTITY WITHIN THIS PLACE, AND WE CAN DO IT TOGETHER.

AND I'M COMMITTED AND MANY ARE COMMITTED TO THAT.

SO WE ARE THANKFUL TODAY FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I GIVE AN APPROPRIATE SHOUT-OUT TO OUR HISTORY AND CULTURE COMMITTEE WHO -- GO AHEAD, STAND UP.

THESE ARE OUR CHAIR AND CO-CHAIRS, RACHEL PORTER AND NICOLE WE'VE E RELATE.

THEY THE SERVE AS LEADERS WITHIN THE MOVEMENT.

[APPLAUSE]AND THIS PARTICULAR SPACE, YES, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN'T COANYTHING LIKE THIS WITHOUT HAVING APPROPRIATE THOUGHT LEADERSHIP IN ACTION.

SO WE ARE EXTREMELY PROUD TO HAVE THEIR INVESTMENT AND HAVE THEIR SUPPORT.

WANT TO ALSO GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO F FSU'S CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL CHANGE, IN THE HOUSE BACK HERE.

BRIDGET SHANNON AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.

[APPLAUSE]LISTEN, WE CAN'T DO THIS ALONE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIP, AND THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL IN TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION AND PROVIDING VOLUNTEERS FOR THAT PURPOSE.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, FOR ALL OF OUR ONLINE VIEWERS WHO ARE LOOKING AND LISTENING, WELCOME.

WELCOME.

COMMENT ON THE PAGE.

COMMENT ON THE BROADCAST.

SAY, GO, GIRL.

SAY GET IT, BOY.

ENCOURAGE THESE STUDENTS AND LET THEM SEE YOU ENGAGE WITH THEM, BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN WORKING HARD.

THEY'VE BEEN WORKING SINCE LAST YEAR.Y'ALL LET THEM FEEL THE TENOR AND THE GRAVITY OF THEIR WORK.

AND WE THANK YOU ALL, EVERY STORYEL THER, EVERY SUBJECT MATTER PERSON WHO IS HERE, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PARTICIPATION AND LET'S LET GOOD TIMES ROLL.

[APPLAUSE] >> CAN YOU ACQUIRE A SENSE OF SELF-WORTH BY DENYING YOUR PAST?

THIS IS WHAT AUGUST WILSON STATED BACK IN 2001 IN HIS MANY FAMOUS PLAYS.

THAT QUESTION STILL IS NECESSARY TO ASK.

AND WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE TONIGHT IS A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT OBVIOUSLY ADDRESSES THAT ANSWER WHICH IS, OF COURSE, HISTORY IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

WHAT ORAL HISTORY DOES IS GIVES US A WINDOW CAN, AN INSIGHT IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE PAST, LEARN THOSE LESSONS, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF OUR ELDERS.

THAT PAST BECOMES PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT WHEN YOU CONSIDER BOTH THE CONTEXT AS WELL AS THAT HISTORY OF ARE WHERE -- WHERE WITH WE CAME ARE FROM.

BEGINNING IN 1441 AS AN ACT OF WAR, WE WERE STOLEN, KIDNAPPED AND BROUGHT TO FOREIGN AND DISTANT LANDS IN CHAINS.

AND SINCE THEN WE'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RECREATE OUR PAST THAT BEGAN IN WEST AFRICA.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEPTHS AND THE HORRORS OF THE BOTTOM OF THOSE SHIPS, WHAT YOU SEE IS BLACK FOLKS -- PARTICULARLY BLACK WOMEN -- SINGING AND TRYING TO RECREATE CULTURE FROM A MYRIAD OF LANGUAGES AND GROUPS.

AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THAT RESILIENCY AND RESIS ANSWER THE.

AND SO I WANT TO ECHO CHRISUC HENRY'S WORDS -- CHRISTIC HENRY'S WORDS BY THANKING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FOR REFUSING TO GIVE UP ON US AND TO HONOR OUR ELDERS.THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> HELLO?

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> I'M NICOLE EVERETT.

>> I'M RACHEL PORTER.

>> BISHANNON.

>> AND WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT FAMILY DRS SINCE LAST OCTOBER TWICE A MONTH IF COMING IN, DOING PROGRAMMING.

THIS ALL KIND OF GOT STARTED THROUGH LAST YEAR'S SOUL OF SOUTH SIDE.

OUR FOCUS WAS ON EDUCATION.

AND SO WE A HAD SOUTH SIDE SCHOOLS, AND WE DID A TOUR OF SIX SCHOOLS ON THE SOUTH SIDE.

AND WE HAD STUDENTS PRESENT TO TO REPRESENT THEIR SCHOOLS.

AND SO FAMILY DRS WAS THERE, AND SHE WAS EXCITED ABOUT GETTING INVOLVED WITH THE SOUL OF SOUTH SIDE.

AND AS A RESULT, FAMILY DRS HAS BEEN JUST A JOY TO WORK WITH.

MS. WILSON, THE STUDENTS, IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL.

SO IS I AM TRULY EXCITED AND DELIGHTED TO BE HERE AT THIS PLACE IN SPACE TO SEE WHAT THEY HAVE CRATED.

CREATED.

>> I ECHO THAT.

I AM SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT EVERYBODY'S COME UP WITH.

AS NICOLE SAID, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A PROGRAM9 INTO THE SCHOOLS.

WE HAD BEEN WORKING TOGETHER FOR A YEAR ALREADY RECORDING ORAL HISTORIES IN THE COMMUNITY.

WE HAD 21 ELDERS WHO HAD SHARED STORIES.

AND FROM THERE WE KNEW THAT MANY MORE HEEDED TO BE TOLD.

-- NEEDED TO BE TOLD.

AND SO ONE OF THE KEY WAYS WE KNEW THAT THIS COULD REALLY TAKE HOLD AND BECOME A RIGGS THE -- A TRADITION WAS TO ENCOURAGE THE YOUTH TO TAKE PART IN IT.

AND SO WE WERE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF SUPERINTENDENT JOHNSON WHO'S HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DID TO USHER THIS INTO A WONDERFUL KICKOFF MEETING THAT WE HAD.

MS. OSBORN WHO BROUGHT US IN TO THE SCHOOL.

WE MET WITH THE STUDENTSES AND, OF COURSE, WITHOUT ANY STORY, I COULD NOT SHARE WITHOUT MS. TATIANA WILSON WHO HAS BEEN SUCH A CHAMPION OF THIS AND HAS BROUGHT THE STUDENTS HERE TONIGHT AND HAS WORKED WITH THEM TIRELESSLY.SO THANK YOU ALL FOR BRINGING THIS TOGETHER.

AS I SAID, WITHOUT THE STORIES THAT THE YOUTH ARE COLLECTING AND YOU ARE WORKING AS YOUNG PUBLIC HISTORIANS.

AND AS A HISTORIAN MYSELF, THAT IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT THING TO DO EVEN IF THAT'S ANOTHER NO-- THAT'S NOT YOUR JOB.

JUST TO KNOW WHERE YOU CAME FROM, TO KNOW WHERE OTHERS AROUND YOU ARE COMING FROM.

IT'S REALLY A FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY.

SO WE'VE BEEN LUCKY TO WORK WITH ALL OF THESE KIDS, THESE WONDERFUL LEADERS AND, OF COURSE, WITH PEACE JAM AND FSU.

TURN THE IT OVER TO BREE TO TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> THANK YOU.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING IN THE CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL CHANGE AT FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY.AND IN PARTICULAR FOR THE LAST, I DON'T KNOW, ALMOST 20 YEARS NOW WITH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED PEACE JAM THAT UNITES YOUTH AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNERS TO CREATE POSITIVE, SUSTAINABLE CHANGE IN THE WORLD.

TO DATE, THERE ARE OVER 105 MILLION ACTS OF PEACE THAT HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED BY YOUTH ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND THESE YOUTH WHO ARE HERE ARE PART OF THAT BILLION ACTS MOVEMENT.

AND EACH OF THEM TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN DEEP CONVERSATION, DEEP LISTENING, DEEP REFLECTION ABOUT THE WORK OF THE EL ELLERS AND EL THERES THAT THEY SPOKE -- TELLERS THAT THEY SPOKE WITH AND THEN TO THINK ABOUT WHAT DOES MEAN TO ME AND HOW I TELL MY STORY IN THE WORLD.

AND THIS EVENING UPSTAIRS WE SAW SOME OF THE ART PIECES THAT THE STUDENTS CREATED, AND SHORTLY WE'LL GET TO SEE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT WORK THAT THEY'VE DONE.

BUT THIS WORK THAT STARTED A YEAR AGO AND REALLY HAS DEEPER ROOTS THAN THAT IS JUST A MOMENT IN A LEGACY THAT THEY'RE MOVING FORWARD.AND WE WE KNOW THAT THE EXPERIENCES THAT THEY HAVE OVER THE COURSE OF THIS YEAR BUILT TOGETHER AND THE WAY THAT THEY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER AS A COMMUNITY, THE WAY HAY SUPPORT BOTH HYPER-LOCAL AND GLOBAL WORK IN THAT COMMUNITY IS JUST BEGINNING.THANK YOU ALL FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STUDENTS' WORK.

[APPLAUSE] >> SO I SEE THAT CITY COMMISSIONER CURTIS RICHARDSON HAS JOINED US.

WILL YOU PLEASE STAND AND BE RECOGNIZEDSOME.

[APPLAUSE]ALL RIGHT.

NOW FOR OUR STUDENTS.

[APPLAUSE] >> GREETINGS.

I AM JORDYN WEBB, A SENIOR GRADUATING FROM FAMU DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH SCHOOL.

I CURRENTLY SERVE AS STUDENT GOVERNMENT PRESIDENT.

>> I AM DAMAR YA WILLIAMS, I SERVE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE NHS CHAPTER, AND AND I'M ALSO VALEDICTORIAN OF THE CLASS OF 2023.

>> GREETINGS, I AM CHRISTAL NORMAN, AND I SERVE AS EXECUTIVE BRANCH SGA SECRETARY.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> SO FOR OUR STORYTELLING PROJECT, WE INTERVIEWED A MAN BY THE NAME OF TOMMY MILLSES WHO GRADUATED FROM FAMU HIGH CLASS OF '76.

IF YOU LOOK UP HERE, YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE DID.

WE CREATED A PUZZLE -- [INAUDIBLE] >> SO JUST TO GO INTO DETHE TAIL ABOUT OUR PUZZLE.

WE MAINLY WANTED TO DEPICT THE LOVE THAT WE, THE TELLERING TOLL US WAS IN THE COMMUNITY A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE SEE NOW.

SO IN THE PICTURE, WE HAVE WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS DIFFERENT TIME ZONES, AND THEN WE HAVE A ROAD GOING THROUGHOUT THE PIECE TO JUST SHOW THE JOURNEY OF LOVE.

AND WE HAVE A PIECE FROM THE CENTER OF THE PUZZLE THAT SAYS LOW ON LOVE JUST TO DEMONSTRATE THE LOVE THAT WAS ONCE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ISN'T, ISN'T AS MUCH NOW.

SO, YEAH, THIS IS JUST A FEW PICTURES WE TOOK OF OUR PIECE.

>> JUST TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT, THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF THE INTERVIEW WAS HOW DEEPLY ROOTED HE WAS IN THE SCHOOL AND HOW MUCH THE COMMUNITY HAS CHANGED FROM THEN TO NOW.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

MS. -- [APPLAUSE] >> GREETINGS.

GREETINGS, I AM CAMERON NORTON, A GRADUATING SENIOR CURRENTLY SERVING AS -- [INAUDIBLE] FOR THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR.

I ALSO SERVE AS THE SECRETARY FOR THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

MY TELLER WAS TAYLOR MARIE NORWOOD.AND BASICALLY WHAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED FROM WHAT I GATHERED FROM HER WAS HOW SHE WAS A COMMUNITY PERSON.

SHE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.SHE WAS SAYING HOW BASICALLY NOW FROM THAT -- WHAT'S DIFFERENT FROM BACK THEN IS HOW EVERYBODY WAS SO OUT AND NOW WE'RE SPACED OUT AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER.

SHE ALSO SAID HOW SHE WAS CLOSE WITH HER TEACHERS.

THEY WERE LIKE FAMILY.

IN THE AWE OWE -- AUDIO, YOU'LL SEE MORE ABOUT HER.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS TAYLOR MA EERIE MOREWOOD WILLIAMS.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED MANY IN TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA.

MY BROTHER AND SISTER GRADUATED FROM FAMU HIGH.

I ATTENDED LINCOLN ELEMENTARY IN MY FIRST AND SECOND GRADE YEARS.

MY MOTHER WAS MY FIRST GRADE TEACHER AT LINCOLN.

I THEN TRANSFERRED TO LUCY LOGAN FOR THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH, SIXTH -- SIXTH, SEVENTH AND EIGHTH GRADE.

I THEN WENT BACK TO LINCOLN -- [NO AUDIO]E>> HAD A LITTLE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY THERE.

OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS AN E-ZINE WHICH WAS CREATED BY A GROUP OF SOFT SOPHOMORES, ADRIENNE SLATER, McCLAIN STROUD AND DEJA RACKLEY.

NOW HERE'S THEIR PRESENTATION.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> -- A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF RACISM BUT -- [INAUDIBLE] LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST.

THANK YOU.

>> MY NAME IS -- [INAUDIBLE]I AM IN THE SIXTH GRADE, I INTERVIEWED ANDREA BROWN SLATER AND THE THING I LEARN FROM MY TELLER WAS THAT I COULD ALWAYS STRIVE FOR SUCCESS TO NO MATTER WHAT AND WITH THE PEOPLE AROUND ME AND LEARN FROM MY TEACHERS AND JUST ALWAYS KNOW I CAN GO FAR AND DO GREAT.

I ALSO LEARNED TO ALSO KNOW YOUD TO KNOW YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE TIME FOR EVERYTHING YOU LIKE.

WHAT INSPIRED ME ABOUT HER STORY THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO -- [INAUDIBLE] [AUDIO DIFFICULTY] AND FOR MY INSPIRATION -- OF MY TELLER, I MADE A COLLAGE OF HER TIME IN HIGH SCHOOL.

THANK YOU.

>> HI.

MY NAME'S TODAY YA RACKLEY, AND TODAY -- DEJA RACKLEY, AND I WILL BE PRESENTING MY PROJECT ON THE SOUL OF THE SOUTH SIDE.

I'M GOING TO SHARE MY SCREEN.

OKAY.

CLASS OF 1994.

OH, ANDED TODAY I WILL BE PARENNING -- CLASS OF 1994.

COMING FROM THE CLASS OF 1994, BONNIE HAD A GREAT PASSION FOR FOOTBALL.

DURING HIS TIME AT FAMU HIGH, MR. RACKLEY BELIEVED IT TO BE A FAMILY-ORIENTED SCHOOL.

STILL TO THIS DAY HE COMMUNICATES WITH HIS GRADUATING CLASS, AND THEY ARE THE ALWAYS HELPING EACH OTHER OUT WHEN THEY NEED.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN MY PROJECT, I SHOW TWO PICTURES OF THE FAMU HIGH SCHOOL WHICH IS STILL LOCATED ON FAMU UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.AND I ALSO ADDED TWO PICTURES THAT I GOT FROM THE OLD FAMU HIGH BOOK OF THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

THROUGHOUT THIS EXPERIENCE I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT FAMU HIGH.

BY INTERVIEWING LONNIE RACKLEY, I GOT DIFFERENCES FROM HOW FAMU HIGH WAS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIESES MEANING, LIKE, NOT THE MAIN CLASSES.

NOWADAYS FAMU-DRS DOESN'T REALLY HAVE ANY.

LONNIE RACKLEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAD WOOD SHOP CLASS, HOME ECONOMICS, AND THEY ALSO HELPED BUILD HOMECOMING FLOATS WHICH WE DON'T EVEN DO NOW, AND I ATTEND FAMU-DRS.

BUT SOMETHING SIMILAR THAT HE STATED WAS ALL THE HAIR STYLES FROM HIS HIGH SCHOOL ARE MAKING THEIR WAY BACK.

[LAUGHTER] SO I REALLY THANK THE SOS, SOUL OF SOUTH SIDE, FOR GIVING ME THIS EXPERIENCE AND LETTING ME JUST INTERVIEW LONNIE RACKLEY AND HELP ME EDUCATE AND GET MORE KNOWLEDGE ON HOW THE OLD FAMU HIGH WAS.

THANK YOU, LONNIE RACKLEY, FOR BEING A GREAT PERSON TO INTERVIEW.I LEARNED A LOT FROM YOU.

AND THANK YOU, EVERYBODY.

[APPLAUSE] I HOPE Y'ALL HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

BYE.

>> GREETINGS.

I AM McCLAIN STROUD, A 15-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE IF AT FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH SCHOOL.

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING --[INAUDIBLE]AND THE MOST INTERESTING THING I LEARNED WITH IS THAT HARD WORK PAYS OFF.

YOU -- [INAUDIBLE] WHATEVER GOAL YOU'RE TRYING TO ACHIEVE, AND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE THAT AND CONFIDENCE, YOU'LL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE IT.

THE MOST INSPIRING THING I LEARNED WAS THAT MRS. BARBARA JONES AND HER CLASS A MATES WERE LIKE A FAMILY.

THEY TRULY CARED FOR EACH OTHER AND KEPT UP WITH EACH OTHER.

THIS DIDN'T JUST STOP ONCE THEY GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL.

THEY CARRIED THIS THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFETIME UNTIL NOW.

THEY STILL TALK ON THE PHONE AND AND ATTEND ALUMNI EVENTS AND COME TO FAMU HIGH EVENTS, AND THIS WAS JUST SO REFRESHING, AND I'M SO GLAD SHE WAS ABLE TO EXPERIENCE THIS DURING HIGH SCHOOL.

FOR THIS PRESENTATION I HAVE CREATED A MAGAZINE COVER DEDICATED TO MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES AND HER HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

FAMU HIGH CLASS OF 1977, MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES -- [INAUDIBLE]BORN TO TWO PARENTS WHO SETTLED DOWN IN TALLAHASSEE AND GRADUATED FROM FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY, MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES ATTENDED FAMU HIGH 19THST- 1ST-12TH GRADE.

SHE IS ONE OF SIX CHILDREN WHO ALL AEND THED FAMU HIGH.

SHE WAS PART OF THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

THIS WAS AN ORGANIZATION SHE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A MEMBER OF.

IN ADDITION TO THIS, MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES HAD THE HONOR OF BEING AWARDED SALUTE TORIAN OF HER CLASS.

THIS IS KNOWN TO BE HER MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT AT FAMU HIGH.

THROUGH THE EYES OF MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES AT FAMU HIGH, SHE DEVELOPED A BOND WITH HER CLASSMATES LIKE NO OTHER.

SHE SAYS YOU ARE REALLY LIKE A FAMILY.

IT'S NOT JUST CLASSMATES.

WE ALL KNOW WHO IS MARRIED, WHO HAS KIDS AND GRANDKIDS.

THIS CLOSE-KNIT ATMOSPHERE INSTILLED A CONFIDENCE MANY HER THAT ENABLED HER TO EXCEL IN LARGER ENVIRONMENTS.

SHE LEARNED SHE COULD DO ANYTHING SHE SET HER MIND TO, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SHE DID.

NOW, WHILE GIVING THIS INTERVIEW SHE HAD A LOT OF STUFF TO SAY THAT REALLY INOR E IN-- INSPIRED ME, SO I DECIDED TO MAKE THESE INTO QUOTES WHICH YOU SEE ON THE SIDE OF HER PICTURE.

THE FIRST ONE SAYS I WAS THE SLEW TORIAN, AND IN MY SPEECH I STILL REMEMBER IT IS NOT WHO YOU KNOW, BUT IT'S WHAT YOU KNOW THAT GETS YOU AHEAD.

I THINK BECAUSE OF THE SMALL, CLOSE-KNIT ATMOSPHERE THAT WE HAD AT FAMU HIGH, IT GAVE ME A CONFIDENCE THAT I COULD DO ANYTHING.

AND LASTLY, PEOPLE WILL NOT ALWAYS GIVE YOU WHAT YOU DESERVE.YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THE THINGS YOU WANT.

I HAD A PLEASURE AND A GREAT TIME INTERVIEWING MRS. BARBARA CARR JONES, AND I LEARNED SO MANY LIFE ACCESSSONS WHILE CONDUCTING THIS INTERVIEW -- LIFE LESSONS.

I'M GRATEFUL THAT I WAS ABLE TO BE A PART OF THIS PROJECT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET A GLIMPSE INTO FAMU HIGH IN THE '.

-- IN THE '70s.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> HELLO.

MY NAME IS EDWARD CHAPMAN III.

I'M AN 11-YEAR-OLD, I AM 11 YEARS OLD, AND I I'M THE OWNER OF -- DRUM LINE ARE.

I STARTED MY BUSINESS WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD BECAUSE I LOVE DRUMMING.I WANTED TO EXPRESS MYSELF THROUGH MUSIC.

AND I WANTED TO INSPIRE OTHERS TO DO THE SAME.

MANY ANY -- IN MY BUSINESS I SELL APPAREL SUCH AS SHIRTS, HATS, MUGS, BOOK BAGS AND SO MUCH MORE.

I TEACH DRUM LESSONS TO AGES 5 AND UP, AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR BOOKING WHICH MEANS YOU CAN BOOK MYSELF OR MY BAND TO PLAY AT YOUR NEXT EVENT.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MY BUSINESS, YOU CAN GO TO MY WEB SITE, THIRDS CRUMB LINE.COM.

AND NOW -- DRUM LINE, AND NOW I WILL BE GIVING YOU A DRUM PRESENTATION.HOPE YOU ENJOY.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ MUCK.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> WELL, WELL, WELL.

[LAUGHTER] EDWARD CHAPMAN III, YOU DID THAY SEAT TO JUST GO OVER THERE AND DO A LITTLE DANCE.

Y'ALL GIVE HIM ANOTHER HAND CLAP.

[APPLAUSE]ALL RIGHT.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

I AM SAMUEL KING, A MEMBER OF THE FAMU DRS MATTHEW H -- [INAUDIBLE] I THINK I PRONOUNCED THAT RIGHT.

YOU WILL HELP ME.

ESTHERUS?CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

AND I ALSO SERVE AS THE SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT.

[APPLAUSE] SO IN TRYING TO FIND WHAT I WANTED MY FINAL PROJECT TO BE, I STARTED TO THINK ABOUT MY INTERVIEW WITH DR. NEW YORK CREAM ACT BAR.

AT THAT TIME HIS NAME WAS LUTHER, IN THE CLASS OF 1961.

AND TALKING WITH HIM I NOTICED THAT WE HAD IF MANY SIMILARITIES FROM THE FACT THAT WE WERE BOTH PART OF SGA, YEARBOOK, WE WERE BOTH DID THEATER OR AND PERFORMING ARTS AT THE SCHOOL.

IN FACT, HE WAS INVOLVED -- HE WORKED WITH IRENE -- WHO HAD COME DOWN TO THE SCHOOL TO DO PLAYS WITH THEM.

AND THE FACT THAT-ALSO A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST AND THAT PSYCHOLOGY WAS THE THING THAT I WAS GOING TO BE MAJORING IN IN THE FALL TO THEN BECOME A CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST LATER ON IN LIFE.

OUT OF ALL OF THE STORIES IN WHICH HE SHARED ORS THERE WAS ONE, THERE WAS ONE COMMENT IF OR ONE QUESTION THAT I'D ASKED HIM THAT REALLY STOOD OUT, AND THAT QUESTION WAS WHAT WAS THE GREATEST LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM ATTENDING FAMU DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL FOR 12 YEARS?

THE GREATEST LESSON FOR HIM WAS THAT HE KNEW HE COULD ACHIEVE ANYTHING AND -- ANYTHING BECAUSE OF WHAT HE HAD WITNESSED ALL OF HIS LIFE.

THERE WAS NOTHING OR NO ONE WHO COULD STOP HIM FROM BECOMING GREAT.

OR EVEN GROWING UP AND LIVING DURING A TIME WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESTROYED THIS IN TERMS OF THEIR SPIRITS, THAT IS, OF BEING DESTROYED.

THE THE JOYS IN WHICH WE HAD, THE LIVES IN WHICH WE LIVED SHOULD HAVE BEEN STRIPPED FROM US.

ONE THING HE SAID WHICH I THOUGHT WAS IS SO TRUE AND REAL WAS THAT WHITE PEOPLE WERE NOT THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES.

WE WERE ABLE TO LIVE FREELY BECAUSE THEY WEREN'T THE CENTER OF OUR STORIES.

WE WERE THE AUTHORS AND THE ILLUSTRATORS OF OUR OWN BOOKS.

THIS ALSO SHOWED ME THAT THE VALIDATION WE AS BLACK PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING FROM THE WHITE MAJORITY IN THIS COUNTRY TO BE ACCEPT WITHIN SOCIETY DOESN'T MATTER WHEN WE LEARN TO ACCEPT OURSELVES FOR WHO WE ARE AND FOR WHAT WE KNOW THAT WE CAN DO AND AKYIV.

ACHIEVE.

SO TO COMMEMORATE THIS, I WROTE A SHORT MONOLOGUE WHICH DOESN'T HAVE A TITLE, BUT I DID WRITE A MONOLOGUE TO SORT OF COMMEMORATE WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE INTERVIEW.

I AM TIRED OF NOT BEING ABLE TO LIVE MY LIFE.

I'VE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE TRYING TO PLEASE THE WHITE WORLD.

THE SAME FOLKS WHO PUT MY PEOPLE THROUGH THE MIDDLE PASSAGE IN A NET, UNDERWATER IN THE CHARLESTON HARBOR.

THOSE PEOPLE.

AND IAL AM TIRE OF IT.

-- I AM TIRED OF IT.

THE SAME PEOPLE WHO TELL ME I'M NOTHING, TRASH MY STREET, SPAT IN MY FACE AND CALLED ME A, YOU KNOW THE WORD.

MYMY TELLS ME -- MOMMY TELLS ME NOT TO LISTEN TO THEM, BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT RESPOND/RETALIATE WHEN THEY TELL ME I'LL NEVER BE ANYTHING.

I SAY, I'LL SHOW THEM WITH A FIST AND GIVE THEM A BLACK EYE.

BUT MAMA SAYS SHOW THEM WHO YOU ARE, THE PROVING THEM WRONG.

SHE SAYS WHEN THEY SAY YOU CAN'T BE AN ENGINEER OR PSYCHOLOGIST OR A PERFORMER OR A LAWYER OR A DOCTOR, WHO SAYS A BLACK BOY FROM THE SOUTH CAN'T PERFORM ON STAGE?IF THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO DO, AIN'T NOTHING MORE TO IT.

AIN'TING NOTHING GOING TO STOP ME EITHER.

BECAUSE I AM SOMEBODY.

THEY MAY HAVE TRIED TO FILL MY LIFE WITH SORROWS AND PAIN, BUT I KNOW THAT WITH GOD ON MY SIDE, JOY COMES IN THE MORNING.

SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, IF THERE'S ANY OF YOU OUT THERE WHO EVER STRUGGLE, STRUGGLE WITH SOMEONE TRYING TO STOP YOU FROM BECOMING WHAT YOU WANT TO BECOME, DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO, YOU LOOK THEM IN THE FACE AND YOU TELL THEM, I AM SOMEBODY.

I CAN BECOME WHAT I WANT TO BECOME.

I CAN DO WHAT I WANT TO DO.

AND THERE AIN'T NOBODY, NOBODY IN THIS WORLD WHO'S GOING TO STOP ME FROM DOING WHAT I PUT FORTHED TO DO.

THANK YOU.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS MILES JOHNSON, AND I'M A GRADUATING SENIOR AS WELL AS THE SENIOR CLASS SECRETARY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, I ALSO SERVE AS THE MAY DAY KING FOR THE 202 2- 2023 SCHOOL YEAR.

TONIGHT I WILL BE SHARING A SHOT AUDIO CLIP OF AN INTERVIEW I CONDUCTED WITH MR.

TENDERNESS HENSON.

MR.-- TERENCE HENSON.

HE GRADUATED FROM FAMU HIGH IN 1979, AND I WAS CURIOUS OF HOW MAY DAY WAS CELEBRATED BACK DURING HIS TIME.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> YOU KNOW, IT WAS A CORONATION OF OUR QUEENS, OF OUR YOUNG BLACK QUEENS.

FROM THE SENIOR CLASS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FIRST GRADE.

ALL OF THESE YOUNG LADIES WE CELEBRATED, AND THE MAY DAY QUEEN WAS, YOU KNOW, CORONATED AS THE QUEEN, AND THEN ALL OF THE ATTENDANTS FROM EACH CLASS WHETHER IT WAS 12TH GRADE, 2, A, 2, B, 11A, 1-RBGS 11 1-RBGS B ALL THE WAY DOWN TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO KINDERGARTEN, THE QUEENS WOULD COME DOWN TO THE STAGE AND BE, YOU KNOW, BE ACKNOWLEDGED, BE RECOGNIZED, AND THEY WOULD HAVE ESCORTS, YOU KNOW, MALE ESCORTS TO BRING THEM DOWN.

IT WAS A GREAT TIME.

EVERYBODY GOT DRESSED UP, YOU KNOW?

WE WORE TUXEDOS AS LITTLE KIDS.

THE GIRLS WORE THESE BEAUTIFUL DRESSES WITH, YOU KNOW, THE HAIR DOS AND THE NEW SHOES, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.

SERVICE, IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF, YOU KNOW, BLACK BEAUTY FROM YOUNG KIDS ALL THE WAY UP.

WE ALSO HAD WHAT WAS CALLED THE MAY DAY POLE.

IT WAS THIS POLE THAT A HAD THESE STRINGS THAT CAME OFF OF IT, PROBABLY 12-20 STRINGS, AND THE STUDENTS WOULD GRAB A STRING, THEY WERE ASSIGN EACH SPRING, AND THEY WOULD JUS KIND OF WRAP THE MAY DAY POLE WITH THESE COLORS.

THERE'D BE SPEECHES AND CELEBRATIONS, AND IT WAS A CELEBRATION OF BLACK BEAUTY.

[APPLAUSE] >> HI.

GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

MY NAME IS GEORGIA MAYA FORBES, I AM CURRENTLY A JUNIOR AT FAMU DRS.I HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING MS. STEPHANIE LEE, ME AND MY PARTNER DID A COLLAGE FOR YOU.

ST THE EASY TO GRASP, LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE LEARNED FROM HER.

THE MOST MEMORABLING THING I LEARNED FROM MY TELLER WAS THE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES THAT WE HAVE.

MS. STEPHANIE LEE WAS INVOLVED IN SGA AS I AM CURRENTLY.

MS. STEPHANIE LEE WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN THE MARCHING BAND.

AS I AM CURRENTLY THE FLUTE AND PICK LOW SECTION LEADER, I WILL BE GOING ON MY EIGHTH YEAR IN AUGUST, AND OUR DIFFERENCES WAS HOW RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO WEAR EMBROIDEREDDED TOPS AND BOTTOMS, AND SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT AT FIRST THEY DID NOT HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORMS.THAT WAS VERY SHOCKING TO ME.

AS WELL AS, LIKE, OUR PROM NOW IS ONLY FOR THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS, BUT SHE MADE IF IT CLEAR WHEN FRESHMEN WANTED TO GO TO THE PROM, THEY WOULD SIGN AND FORM THIS AND THEY WOULD, LIKE, SERVE THE JUNIORS AND SENIORS THEIR FOOD, AND AFTER THAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO PARTY ALONG WITH US AND THINGS OF THAT SORT.

SO THAT REALLY STUCK OUT TO ME, AND I WORE THIS BRIGHT PINK TOP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE WAS INTERVIEWING, SHE WAS REALLY WARM AND BRIGHT.

I THOUGHT THAT WOULD REPRESENT HER VERY WELL.

MY PARTNER, RAYMOND SIMMONS, COULDN'T BE HERE, BUT SHE DID LEAVE A MESSAGE, AND I'D LIKE TO THANK MS. WILSON AND WFSU HAVING ME FOR THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO, YEAH.

LET'S ROLL THE CLIP.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] >> GREETINGS.

I AM RAVEN SIMMONS.

MY PERSON WASNY LEE -- STEPHANIE LEE WHO AEND THED DRS FROM KINDER GARDEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE AND GRADUATED IN 2001 WITH TWO.

2001.

THE MOST MEMORABLE THING ABOUT MY PERSON WAS HOW SIMILAR WE WERE.

WE BOTH DID SIMILAR ACTIVITIESES INCLUDING BAND AND STUDENT GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS WE BOTH HAD AN INNATE LOVE FOR MATH.

>> THE THING THAT INSPIRED ME MOST ABOUT MY PERSON WAS HOW HAPPY AND ACTIVE SHE WAS DURING HER TIME AT KRS.

ALTHOUGH I AM BOTH OF THESE THINGS, HER JOY US ENERGY -- JOYOUS ENERGY DURING THE INTERVIEW MADE ME PROUD TO BE A RATTLER.THE FINAL PROJECT THAT I DECIDED TO DO WAS A COLLAGE BECAUSE DURING THE INTERVIEW MY PERSON TOLD A VERY INTERESTING STORY THAT I DECIDED THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU GUYS.

AND THAT WAS MY PROJECT.

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MS. WILSON AND SOUL OF SOUTHSIDE FOR GIVING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY AS WELL AS MS. STEPHANIE -- STEPHANIE LEEFOR ALLOWING ME TO INTERVIEW HER.THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ >> ALL RIGHT.

WELCOME BACK.

I DID NOTICE THAT WE HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SENATOR COREY FEINMAN'S OFFICE, MS. JONAH KNACK -- JACKSON HERE.

WILL YOU PLEASE STAND UP AND BE ACKNOWLEDGED.THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[APPLAUSE]ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU ALL ENJOYING YOURSELVES THUS FAR?

GOOD, GOOD.

I AM OOH.

SO NEXT WE HAVE MS. KRYSTEN HOOD WHO IS NOT HERE TODAY, BUT SHE IS A GRADUATING SENIOR AT FAMU DRS AND A MEMBER OF PEACE JAM'S LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

SHE IS ATTENDING OOH ANOTHER LEADERSHIP FUNCTION THIS EVENING, BUT SHE INTERVIEW GLORIA DIXON ROBINSON, THE MOST MEMORABLE ASPECT OF HER RESEARCH AND INTERVIEW WAS LEARNING THAT THE IDEA OF HER PEERS BEING THE KID WHO WHO DOES ALL OF THE THINGS IS A CONCEPT AS OLD AS FAM IF U HIGH -- FAMU E HIGH AND THAT BEING HEAVILY INVOLVED AT SCHOOL IS A COMMON PRACTICE OF LEADERS AT THE SCHOOL.

KRISTIN AND MS. ROBINSON SHARED THE VALUE OF BEING ENGAGED MANY IF THEIR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.

SHE LOVED LEARNING THAT SHE AND MRS. ROBINSON BOTH PARTICIPATED IN CHEERLEADING AND THE YEARBOOK COMMITTEE WHERE KRISTIN IS CURRENTLY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

KRISTIN WAS MOST INSPIRED BY THE MEMORIES OF FAMILY AND UNITY SHARE BY MRS. ROBSONND -- ROBINSON.SHE WANTED TO CAPTURE THE TRADITIONS THAT MADE THE CULTURE SO RICH AS WELL AS SHOWCASING THE EVENTS AND TRADITIONS THAT ARE STILL PRESENT IN TODAY'S CULL WHICH ARE OF FAM IF -- CULTURE OF FAMU DRS THROUGH HER COLLAGE FAMU LEADS IN THIS PRESENTATION.PLEASE CHECK OUT THE SCREEN.

♪ >> MY NAME IS GLORIA DIXON.

ROBINSON, DIXON WAS MY MAIDEN NAME.

I ATTENDED FLORIDA AGRICULTURE MECHANICAL UNIVERSITY HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1964 THROUGH 1968.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [APPLAUSE] >> GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS.

MY NAME IS NAVAEH GREEN -- >> AND E I AM HAYLEI RACKLEY, AND WE ARE BOTH 17-YEAR-OLD RISING SENIORS.

>> FOR OUR SOS PROJECT, WE HAD THE PLEASURE TO INTERVIEW MR. MONTY O.

GREEN WHO ATTENDED FAMU HIGH HIS ENTIRE PRE-COLLEGIATE CAREER AND GRADUATED THERE IN 1962.

>> THE MOST MEMORABLE THING I REMEMBER FROM INTERVIEWING MR. GREEN WAS THAT HE GREW UP IN A BIG FAMILY WHICH MEANS HE WAS VERY FAMILY-ORIENTED.

ANOTHER THING THAT I REMEMBER IS THAT HE WORKED MANY JOBS WHICH, FOR ME, SEEMS THAT HE WAS A VERY YOUNG, INDEPENDENT YOUNG MAN.

>> WHAT WAS MOST MEMORABLE FOR ME DURING OUR INTERVIEW WAS WHILE WE HAD OUR CONVERSATION, MR. MONTY MENTIONED HOW HE WAS THE STUDENT BODY PRESIDENT DURING THE HIS SENIOR YEAR, AND THAT REALLY RESONATED WITH ME BECAUSE I AM THE JUNIOR CLASS PRESIDENT, AND I HAVE EYES ON BEING THE SGA PRESIDENT NEXT YEAR, WHICH I WILL BE DURING THE 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR.

[LAUGHTER] [APPLAUSE] HE ALSO INSPIRED ME TO ALWAYS BE CURIOUS AND BE KIND BECAUSE THROUGHOUT HIS YEARS AND THROUGHOUT GROWING UP HE LEARNED AND HE GAINED WISDOM, AND HE WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH PEOPLE MY AGE.

>> FOR OUR NHS PROJECT, WE DECIDED TO BUILD A SCULPTURE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN, THE SCULPTURE IS A THEN AND NOW PRESENTATION.

THE FOOTSTEPS IN THE CAR REPRESENT HOW IN THE INTERVIEW MR. GREEN SAID HE USED TO WALK TO SCHOOL.

MEANWHILEED THE'S TIME WE JUST DRIVE TO SCHOOL OR USE CARS.

THE MAY POLE REPRESENTS HOW BOTH FAMU HIGH AND FAMU DRS STILL HAVE THE PAY POLE -- MAY POLE TRADITION TO THIS DAY.

THE FERRIS WHEEL REPRESENTS HOW BACK IN THE INTERVIEW MR. GREEN SAID THAT THE HE SOLD PECANS IN ORDER TO AFFORD THE THE FAIR.

>> AT THE TOP OF THE SCULPTURE, YOU WILL NOTICE A CAMERA.

AND WHILE WE INTERVIEW HIM, WE LEARNED THAT CAMERAS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOLS TO CAPTURE AND RETELL STORIES AND MEMORIES THROUGH PHOTOGRAPHS.

WITH PHOTOGRAPHS YOU'LL BE ABLE TO TELL YOUR STORIES AND YOUR LEGACY WILL LIVE ON.

EVEN WHILE YOUR MEMORY SLOWLY GOES AWAY, PHOTOGRAPHS WILL ALWAYS KEEP THEM ALIVE.

>> THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> GREETINGS.

I AM KA'MYA ERVIN.

GREETINGS, I AM KA'MYA ERVIN, AND I CURRENTLY SERVE AS THE 69TH MISS FLORIDA AGRICULTURE CHURL AND MECHANICAL DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH SCHOOL, AND I -- [APPLAUSE] AND I HAD THE PLEASURE TO INTERVIEW MRS.LY WELLS.

THE MOST MEMORABLE THING FROM MS. MARY WELLS THAT I LEARNED IS THAT SHE RAN FOR MISS JUNIOR ATTENDANT FOR THE FAM, HIGH ROYAL COURT IN HER HIGH SCHOOL YEARS.THIS WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE THING TO ME BECAUSE I ALSO RAN FOR MISS JUNIOR ATTENDANT FOR THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR.

AND I WON.

BUT -- [LAUGHTER] SHE, MISS MARY COULDN'T BE HERE TONIGHT, BUT IN HER HONOR, I HAVE A CROWN AND A SASH FROM MISS JUNIOR ATTENDANT, AND SHE WILL BE CROWNED.

YEAH.THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] ♪ >> GREETINGS.

MY NAME IS AGREEMENT HOGAN, A CURRENT 11TH GRADER, AND I HUM HUMBLY SERVE AS THE QUEEN OF ORANGE AND QUEEN.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] TODAY I HAVE THE HONORS OF PRESENTING TO YOU DONNY HOGAN.

THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF MY INTERVIEW WAS REALIZING THE HIGH PRIDE AND COURAGE THAT CAME ALONG BEING A FAMU HIGH ALUMNI.

WHAT INSPIRED ME THE MOST WAS WHEN HE OLD ME THAT BEING A FAMU HIGH ALUMNI, YOU HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO BE ANYTHING OTHER THAN MEDIOCRE.HERE IS MY VIDEO.

[APPLAUSE] ♪ ♪ >> SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS, WHAT EXTRA THAT CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WERE -- EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES WERE YOU INVOLVED IN, AND DID YOU ENJOY THEM?

>> I WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM.

I WAS ON THE TRACK TEAM.

AND I WAS WITH THE MARTIN LUTHER KING NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> THEY DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE, BUT -- TOP FIVE OF MY CLASS.

THERE WAS A RIBBEN, MARTIN LUTHER KING NATIONAL OHIOAN SOCIETY.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY.

>> WAS THE FOOTBALL TEAM ANY GOOD BACK THEN?>> OH, YES, MA'AM.

[LAUGHTER]WHEN WITH I WAS THERE?

OUR FIRST SEASON WAS -- OUR WORST SEASON WAS 7-3, AND THAT WAS MY SENIOR SEASON.

>> 7-3?

[INAUDIBLE CONVERSATIONS] >> WE ONLY WON ONE GAME.

>> [INAUDIBLE] >> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCE AT FAMU HIGH?

>> MY EXPERIENCE AT FAMU HIGH WAS EYE-OPENING IN THE SENSE THAT IT ALLOW ME TO UNDERSTAND -- ALLOWED ME TO TO THE UNDERSTAND AND REALIZE THE VALUE OF MY EDUCATION.

[INAUDIBLE]I WENT TO SCHOOL -- IN MY CLASS -- [INAUDIBLE] WITH IN MY CLASS.

BEING IN CLASS WITH THESE THE PROMINENT INDIVIDUALS' KIDS, HELPED ME TO TO REALIZE THAT BEING MEDIOCRE OR WASN'T ENOUGH.

YOU HAD TO BE GREAT.

>> WHO'S CAM RILEY?

-- KEN RILEY?>> KEN RILEY WAS THE HEAD COACH OF FAMU'S FOOTBALL TEAM -- [INAUDIBLE] SO I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THEIR KIDS, AND ALL OF US WERE IN THE SAME CLASS.

>> OH, THAT'S COOL.

[INAUDIBLE] ROYAL COURT FOR MAY DAY AT FAMU HIGH?

>> I SURE DID -- [INAUDIBLE]>> YOU WERE THE ESCORT9?

>> YEA.

I WAS THE ESCORT.

MS. -- [APPLAUSE] >> THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO SLIP THERE.

IT'S OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.

HELLO.

GREETINGS.

HI.

MY NAME IS NEEMA PITTS.

I AM A 16-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE, AND I GO TO SCHOOL LIKE REST OF YOU.ALL RIGHT.

I GOT THE HONOR TO INTERVIEW MSW TO PRONOUNCE THE HER LAST NAME, I'M GOING TO TRY THOUGH -- [INAUDIBLE] THERE WE GO, ALL RIGHT.

THE MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT OF OUR INTERVIEW WAS HOW SHE SPOKE.

WHEN SHE TALKED, YOU CAN TELL THAT SHE REALLY CARE ABOUT THE SCHOOL THAT SHE WENT TO THE.

SHELFS PROUD TO BE A BABY -- SHE WAS PROUD TO BE A BABY RATTLER.

I SAW THAT IN THE HOW SHE REACTED TO MY QUESTIONS AND HER OVERALL TONE OF VOICE.

IT WAS GREAT.

AND THIS INSPIRED ME.

THE OTHER THING THAT INSPIRED ME WAS HOW CLOSE PEOPLE COULD GROW TOGETHER ONLY SEEING EACH OTHER A FEW HOURS A DAY, EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK.

THAT'S A LOT IN ARE RETROSPECT.

BUT, LIKE, IF YOU TAKE IT APART, IT'S NOT THAT BIG.

IT'S LIKE, WHAT, 8 HOURS?

6 HOURS?

DEPENDS.

ANYWAY -- [LAUGHTER]I LIKE THE THOUGHT OF GROWING CLOSE AS A FAMILY WITH WITH PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT.

AND I WISH FAMU HIGH WAS MORE LIKE THAT NOW, BUT I'M GLAD YOU GOT TO EXPERIENCE THAT WHEN YOU WERE THERE.

SO THAT INSPIRE ME.

A LOT OF THINGS INSPIRED ME.

YOU'RE AN INSPIRING PERSON.

BUT THAT INSPIRED ME TO THE MAKE A COLLAGE.

TA DA.

IT'S PICTURES THAT YOU SENT ME THAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE; YOUR GRADUATION PHOTO AND A PHOTO I MADE OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS DARI BOATNER.

I AM A 5-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE -- 15-YEAR-OLD SOPHOMORE, AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF INTERVIEWING MS- [LAUGHTER] THE MOST MEMORABLE THING ABOUT HER WAS HOW CLOSE SHE WAS WITH HER COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST AT FAMU DRS, BUT HER FRIENDS AND HER FAMILY IN HER NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL THING ABOUT MISS HAWAII NET IS HOW DEDICATED SHE WAS TO PLANNING PROJECTS AND EVENTS FOR HER COMMUNITY.SHE PARTICIPATED IN PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR THE MAY DAY VENT, AND SHE PARTICIPATED IN PLANNING LITTLE SHOWS WITH HER NEIGHBORHOOD FRIENDS FOR HER COMMUNITY.

AND I HAD THE HONOR OF MAKING A PORTRAIT WITH HER FAVORITE FLOWERS WHICH ARE ROSES AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.

GOOD EVENING.

SO CAN WE JUST ALL GIVE THESE WONDERFUL SCHOLARS A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

[APPLAUSE] FOR THEIR INCREDIBLE INTEREST AND THEIR WORK.

ONE OF THE SCARIEST THINGS AS A HISTORIAN WHO DEDICATES THEIR LIVES TO PRESERVING HISTORY BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT IS THE FEAR THAT NO ONE CARES.

AND SO WHAT WE SEE DEMONSTRATED HERE TODAY IS THAT OUR GENERATIONS CARE AND THAT OUR HISTORY IS SAFE BECAUSE THEY CARE.

AND SO I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF DOING THE WORK THAT YOU WERE DOING.

AND NOT ONLY DO YOU PRESERVE IT IN THESE ORAL HISTORIES, BUT YOU PRESERVE IT IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR SPIRIT.

AND THAT IS WHAT CARRIES US GENERATION TO GENERATION TO GENERATION.

TO CONCERN SO CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR GREAT WORK.

WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE AT FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY BACK IN 1990 -- NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS -- [LAUGHTER] I WAS HOME ON ONE BREAK, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT THE BREAK WAS, AND I WAS DOING MY HOMEWORK.

AND I WAS ENROLLED IN A COURSE THAT WAS TAUGHT BY DR. MERLE DAWSON WHO BECAME THE DIRECTOR OF THE BLACK ARCHIVES.

AND I WAS STUDY THING ABOUT SEGREGATION.

AND I LOOKED UP AT MY FATHER WHO WAS SITTING AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE, AND MY FATHER WAS A PREACH.

AND HE ALWAYS HAD BOOKS ON THE TABLE, THAT WAS HIS DESK.

WE GREW UP VERY -- WITH MODEST MEANS.

HE HAD HIS BOOKS ON THE TABLE, HIS LEGS WERE STRETCHED AND ANKLES CROSSESSED IN -- CROSSED IN COMFORT.

AND I LOOKED UP, AND I SAID, DAD DOTY, DID -- DADDY, DID YOU HAVE TO DRINK FROM SEPARATE WATER FOUNTAINS, AND HE LOOKED UP FROM HIS BIBLE AND HE SAID, YEAH.

JUST MATTER-OF-FACTLY.

I INSTANTLY BEGAN TO CRY.

NOW I'M NOT THINKING ABOUT HISTORY AS WORDS IN A BOOK.

HISTORY WAS MY CADDIE.

AND MY DADDY WAS A LITTLE BOY WHO WAS GROWING UP IN HOT MIAMI, FLORIDA, AND WHO HAD TO KEEL WITH THE INDIGNITIES OF A SOCIETY WHO MADE A LITTLE BOY FEEL LESSER THAN IF HE DARED TO GET THIRSTY.

AND SO THAT SET ME ON A QUEST TO THE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE MY FATHER AND PEOPLE LIKE MY MOTHER WHO IMMIGRATED TO THIS COUNTRY, THAT THEIR STORIES ARE INTERWOVEN INTO THE FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND WE, HE TALKED AND HE SHARED THINGS WITH ME, AND I COULD REALIZE IT WAS GETTING HARD TO SHARE IT, SO I STOPPED MY QUESTIONS.BUT I I WANT TO TELL YOU ALL IS WE ARE GOING TO BE OKAY BECAUSE, NUMBER ONE, YOU CARE.

NUMBER TWO, YOU ARE CAPABLE.

YOU'RE CAPABLE OF DOING THE WORK.

AND, NUMBER THREE, YOU HAVE ANSWERED THE CALL.

AND WHEN A CALL IS GIVEN TO YOU, YOU BECOME A OR THE.

BEARER, AND YOU -- A TORCH BEARER, AND YOU BECOME A PRESERVATIONIST.AND YOU'RE PRESERVING HISTORY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S VITAL NOT ONLY TO JUST HISTORY IN ITSELF, BUT PARTICULARLY WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY, AFRICAN-AMERICAN SURVIVAL.

HISTORY IS THE EVIDENCE THAT A PEOPLE EXISTED.

IT'S THE EVIDENCE OF THEIR EXPERIENCES.AND IT'S THE EVIDENCE THAT GIVES YOU A FOOTPRINT ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE PRESENT AND TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

AND SO WE ARE JUST BLOWN AWAY BY THE LEVEL THAT YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR RESEARCH AS FAR AS TAKING IT SERIOUSLY AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

AND I CALL IT A MULTIGENERATIONAL CHARGE TO PRESERVE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY.

YOU'RE CONNECTING TO THE HISTORY AND THE EXPERIENCES, AND THIS IS ALL EMPOWERING, WHICH IS WHY A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO SEE IT HAPPEN.

AND IF, AND IT TURNS OUT THAT WHAT COUNTS AS HISTORY IS DETERMINED BASED ON WHO WAS DOING THE COUNTING.

SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS WHILE YOU ARE DOING THIS WORK AND YOU'VE PRESERVED IT, MAKE SURE YOU CONTINUE TO POSITION YOURSELF TO BE DOING THE COUNTING.

CONGRATULATIONS ON A POSSIBILITY WELL DONE.

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> YOU KNOW, I'M A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS RIGHT NOW.

BUT PREDOMINANTLY, I AM GRATEFUL.

WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL.

WHEN YOU COME INTO -- WHEN YOU'RE INVOLVED ON A COMMUNITY LEVEL, YOU HEAR A LOT OF THINGS ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY.

YOU DON'T HEAR THE STUFF THAT MATTERS.

YOU DON'T HEAR THE STORIES THAT TRANSCEND FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.YOU DON'T HEAR THE COMFORT, YOU DON'T HEAR THE FAMILIARITY, YOU DON'T HEAR THE IDENTITY.

AND WHAT I HEARD TONIGHT WAS FAMILIARITY, I A HEARD COMFORT, I HEARD IDENTITY, I HEARD OUR FUTURE.

NOW, THIS IS THE CHARGE.

YOU MUST CONTINUE.

QUITE SIMPLE.

WHATEVER SPACE YOU BECOME, WHATEVER AREA YOU GO INTO WHETHER YOU'RE A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, WHETHER YOU'RE A LAWYER, WHETHER YOU'RE A DOCTOR, WHERE YOU'RE A STATISTICIAN, WHETHER YOU'RE A COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY PERSON, YOU'VE GOT TO USE WHAT YOU DO TO CONTINUE.

BUT YOU'VE STARTED, AND THAT'S THE HARDEST PART.

THE HARDEST PART IS TO START.

BUT NOW THAT YOU HAVE STARTED, WE WANT YOU TO LIGHT EVERY FLAME IN THIS CITY, WE WANT YOU TO LIGHT EVERY YOUNG PERSON IN THIS CITY BECAUSE I WAS A PART OF A TROOP THAT WE USED TO GO AROUND AND DO BLACK HISTORY PROGRAMS ALL OVER, ALL OVER EVERYWHERE.

AND THE THING I REMEMBER ABOUT THAT TROOP WAS THEY USED TO ALWAYS RECITE TO US WHOSE HISTORY?

OUR HISTORY.

WHOSE HISTORY?

OUR HISTORY.

THAT WAS THE RESOUNDING CRY.

AND SO WHEN I SAY IT TO YOU, I WANT YOU TO SAY IT BACK TO YOU.

WHEN I SAY WHO'S HISTORY, I WANT YOU TO SAY OUR HISTORY, ALL RIGHT?

WHO'S HISTORY IN.

>> OUR HISTORY.

>> WHO'S HISTORY?

>> OURLY.

>> WHO'S HISTORY?

>> OUR HISTORY.

IF AND SOUTH SIDE'S HISTORY.

AND IT'S WORTHY TO BE CURATED, IT'S WORTHY TO BE PRESERVED.

IT'S WORTHY TO BE TOLD, AND YOU ARE TELLING IT TONIGHT, AND I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO KEEP TELLING IT.

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY THAT'S WORTH IT.WHEN I CAME TO TALLAHASSEE'S SOUTH SIDE, I WAS BORN IN DETROIT AND I WAS RAISED IN LAKELAND, BUT I CAME TO TALLAHASSEE AS A STUDENT.

AND I LIVED IN TALLAHASSEE FOR YEARS AND DIDN'T EXPERIENCE SOUTH SIDE.

WHEN I CAME ACROSS THE TRACKS, THAT IS WHEN I KNEW WHAT LOVE OF COMMUNITY WAS.

SO IT IS HERE.

THIS IS A SPECIAL PLACE.

IT AIN'T THE ONLY SPECIAL PLACE, BUT IT'S A SPECIAL PLACE.

YOU ARE ON GOOD SOIL.

YOU ARE ONED GOOD GROUND.

AND WITH THE TRADITION THAT FAMU DRS HAS FOR THIS COMMUNITY WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE ELEMENTARY AS IT TRANSLATES TO FAMU HIGH, AS IT TRANSLATES TO DRS, IT'S THE SAME BLOOD, IT'S SAME CHART, IT'S THE SAME STRIKE.

CAN AND SO AS A SEMINOLE, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU TODAY TO CONTINUE TO STRIKE, STRIKE AND STRIKE AGAIN, BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR HISTORY!

[APPLAUSE] AND WE WILL BE THANKFUL TO MAKE SURE IT'S TOLD AND RESERVED -- PRESERVED AND ALL THE STRENGTH THAT'S IN US.

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL THE COMMUNITY, SHOUT-OUT TO PARTNERS.

SHOUT-OUT TO ALL OUR SPONSORS, YOU SEE THEM ON THE SCREEN, AND THOSE WHO ARE CONTRIBUTED A.

HOST OF LEGISLATORS IN OUR CITY, AND WE'VE GOT OTHER SPONSORS THAT ARE COMING ONBOARD JUST BY VIRTUE OF HEARING YOU TONIGHT.

SO LET ME TELL YOU HOW POWERFUL YOU ARE.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MOVEMENT AS LONG AS YOU KEEP MOVING.THANK YOU SO MUCH.

CON GRAPH -- CONGRATULATIONS.

[APPLAUSE]